THIRD-TIER GERMAN SIDE TAKE ANOTHER HUGE BUNDESLIGA SCALP IN THE CUP

 The remarkable story of 1. FC Saarbrücken continues after they took another huge Bundesliga scalp in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

The German third-tier side, who caused a huge shock after knocking Bayern Munich out in the last round have gone and done it again tonight – with 2022 Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt the victims this time.

Kai Brünker took advantage of some hesitant defending to smash home from inside the box to give the hosts the lead in the 64th minute before the hosts found themselves in dreamland when Luca Kerber tapped in 14 minutes later.

Frankfurt then had Noel Futkeu sent off for a straight red card when chasing the game in the dying minutes.

The Pokal giant-killers now progress to the quarter-finals, becoming only the sixth third-tier side to make it through to this stage, with Paderborn achieving the feat last back in 2018.

Although Saarbrücken do have history in this competition having gone one step further to the semi-finals in 2020, when they were a fourth-division side.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/third-tier-german-side-take-another-huge-bundesliga-scalp-in-the-cup-38681621

THE DEBRIEF AS ARSENAL GO TOP AND CHELSEA FALL ONCE AGAIN

 As always, Saturday’s Premier League fixtures did not disappoint.

Here is the scoop on what you may have missed from across the grounds.

In the early window, first met second as Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points at the Etihad Stadium to allow Arsenal a chance to reclaim the top spot.

Mikel Arteta’s side pulled off a dramatic victory away to Brentford, with Kai Havertz scoring in the dying minutes to send them to the top of the league.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s apparent turnaround seems to have been a flash in the pan as Newcastle put four past the Blues in an almighty thumping at St. James’s Park.

You can read through all of the results here.

Brighton just seem to pluck these young stars from nowhere don’t they?

João Pedro is just the latest member of Roberto De Zerbi’s side to begin his launch towards stardom in the Premier League, and a brace against Nottingham Forest will help his cause.

The Brazilian now has five goal contributions in 13 Premier League games, but has really made his mark in the Europa League, where he has a staggering four goals in four games in Brighton’s first ever European campaign.

Is he the next Seagull to be hunted by one of the big boys?

Read more

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/the-debrief-as-arsenal-go-top-and-chelsea-fall-once-again-38620443

16 CONCLUSIONS ON MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 LIVERPOOL: ALEXANDER-ARNOLD, DOKU, ALISSON, NUNEZ, SILVA

 Will Virgil van Dijk or Pep Guardiola be happier with the result?

Jeremy Doku and Trent Alexander-Arnold were both somehow excellent, Liverpool finally returned the favour to Alisson and Bernardo Silva is something special.

handy post-international break trail to a gargantuan Saturday lunchtime clash between first and second in the Premier League, it was fitting to see Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp call it even again after 100 more minutes of battle. Both can lay a claim to being among the very best the sport has ever produced but after a 1-1 draw between the country’s two best teams of the past few years, Lightning McQueen remains the clear GOAT.

Klopp: We played 'ok' today | 'Trent...

2) It was a curious game perhaps best summed up by the man of the match being announced as Jeremy Doku over the Etihad stadium tannoy, shortly before Gary Neville anointed Trent Alexander-Arnold – there is not enough time to get into the ‘opposite number’ debate – as his pick.

And both were fair choices. Doku was the match’s persistent threat, electric on the left with more chances created than anyone, more dribbles completed (11) than the other 26 players combined (10) and more tackles made than any player bar Bernardo Silva; Alexander-Arnold scored a sublime equaliser, led the game for interceptions and held his own in that one-on-one after some shaky early moments.

That contrast between opinions suited a match in which perspective will be the king when examining the result. Both Manchester City and Liverpool have as much cause to see this as one point gained as they do two points dropped, depending on their chosen agenda.

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Man City.

3) Doku, though. Honestly. He is such a ridiculously effective footballer that it is easy to forget he has replaced a five-season veteran in Riyad Mahrez so seamlessly. The recent desperation to paint Manchester City and Guardiola as foolish in letting Cole Palmer go are best-advised to watch Doku in action again, because the Chelsea forward would have had a restricted diet of minutes up against the Belgian this season, and no argument to change that situation. 

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Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/16-conclusions-on-manchester-city-1-1-liverpool-alexander-arnold-doku-alisson-nunez-silva-38619755

CARLO ANCELOTTI LAUDS POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR AT REAL MADRID

 Carlo Ancelotti has touted Xabi Alonso as a future Real Madrid manager and says fans can expect an update on his contract situation soon

The Italian's current deal is due to expire in 2024 and there is significant interest in his services from the Brazilian national team, and talks with the South American nation's football federation have been held.

90min understands that Madrid are prepared to accelerate contract talks with Ancelotti in 2024 with a view to tying the legendary boss down to an extension - something he has now suggested may be his priority.

Alonso, meanwhile, has led Bayer Leverkusen to ten wins in 11 Bundesliga outings, providing a genuine and real threat to Bayern Munich's hopes of a 12th consecutive league title.

"I think I’ve had a great time with him. He is having a fantastic career," Ancelotti said of Alonso in a press conference to the media. "He has the knowledge of football, he has the personality. I really like the way his team plays as a coach.

"He’s one of the coaches I like the most, yes. I like Thiago Motta as well. Obviously Xabi can have the profile to be coach of Madrid, obviously because he knows the club very well."

Ancelotti also spoke about being linked to the Brazil vacancy and confirmed that Madrid supporters and the world will soon know what's going to happen.

"I’m proud that one of the best international teams in the world like Brazil is linked to me, that gives me a lot of pride," he said. "But I have a contract until June 30.

"My future will soon be known. I am here for at least six more months."

Asked whether he would wait until the final day of his current deal with Madrid for an extension to be offered, Ancelotti insisted: "Of course".

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/carlo-ancelotti-lauds-potential-successor-at-real-madrid-38618507

5️⃣0️⃣ ERLING HAALAND BREAKS A REMARKABLE PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD

 Erling Haaland has become the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals.

The Norwegian goal machine did it after 27 minutes of Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday, in his 48th game.

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The Norwegian goal machine did it after 27 minutes of Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool on Saturday, in his 48th game.

Haaland found space between two defenders and finished with aplomb past Alisson.

It means that the City sensation has reached a half century faster than the previous record-holder, Andy Cole.

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/50-erling-haaland-breaks-a-remarkable-premier-league-record-38618060

REAL MADRID PREPARING FOR HAALAND/MBAPPE GALACTICO SIGNINGS

 Real Madrid are preparing to make a ‘Galactico’ signing next summer and are targeting deals for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

The Spanish side want to sign an elite centre-forward in next summer’s transfer window and have been raising cash behind the scenes in preparation for a big-money bid.

Mbappe has been a long-term target for Real Madrid and is approaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, having turned down the option of an extension at the Parc des Prices.

Real Madrid have offloaded several high earners from the club’s wage bill in recent windows, with Marcelo, Isco and Gareth Bale moved on in 2022, and Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard all departing last summer

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The additional wage bill provides room to manoeuvre in the market, according to AS, particularly when presenting a proposal to sign Mbappe on a free transfer at the end of the season.

However, the Spaniards also have significant sums with which to spend, with €128m available in cash and a further €265m already approved to spend, according to the club’s official accounts.

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Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/real-madrid-preparing-for-haalandmbappe-galactico-signings-38611433

HOW PEP GUARDIOLA BORROWED FROM JURGEN KLOPP TO ELEVATE MANCHESTER CITY

 In 2021, Pep Guardiola was reflecting on an epic managerial rivalry that then only lasted a mere eight years. “He made me a better manager,” he said of Jurgen Klopp. When he registered his greatest achievement since leaving Barcelona, it owed something to Klopp, too.

In swift succession, his captain lifted the Premier League, the FA Cup and then the Champions League. A decade after scoring for Klopp in a Champions League final at Wembley, Ilkay Gundogan struck twice for Guardiola in an FA Cup final at Wembley. Gundogan felt like a footballing soulmate of Guardiola – as well as a neighbour in the same deluxe Manchester apartment block – but a diplomat had links in each camp: Klopp often texted his former midfielder congratulations when Manchester City won something, just as he got in touch when Liverpool drew Guardiola’s team in the Champions League in 2018.

Gundogan is gone now – to Guardiola’s old club and spiritual home, Barcelona – but he remains an example of how the Catalan has been influenced by the manager who has beaten him most often. As Guardiola’s haul from the seasons when they have faced each other stands at five Premier League titles and two Bundesligas, Klopp is likelier to defeat him over 90 minutes than nine months. That Guardiola has always tended to have greater resources is a factor: a mantra of Klopp’s is that he has never wanted to be the best team in the world as much as beat the best. And, with great regularity, that is how he describes City.

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Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/how-pep-guardiola-borrowed-from-jurgen-klopp-to-elevate-manchester-city-38611211