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      Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Blues host Emery’s high flyers in tasty FA Cup fourth round clash – team news, kick-off time

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      CHELSEA are set for another intense cup clash shortly after punching their ticket to the Carabao Cup Final.Now the Blues are gearing up for Friday’s fourth-round FA Cup tie against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea made it to the Carabao Cup Final after dominating MiddlesbroughCredit: Rex
      Aston Villa have been enjoying a successful run in the Premier League and Europa Conference LeagueCredit: Alamy
      The West Londoners enjoyed a much-needed boost on Tuesday after an emphatic 6-1 victory over Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-finals at home.
      Mauricio Pochettino’s strugglers are undergoing a turbulent campaign that has seen them tumble to ninth place but will still have the chance of winning a trophy at Wembley on February 25.
      Villa, on the other hand, are fourth in the Premier League table and will like their chances against Chelsea amid a successful run in the English top flight and the Europa Conference League.
      The Villans haven’t won a piece of silverware since the League Cup in 1996 but hope their barren run will come to an end amid a stunning campaign under manager Unai Emery.

      Team News
      Chelsea will be back in action less than 72 hours after their victory over Middlesbrough but manager Mauricio Pochettino isn’t dealing with any fresh injury concerns amid his injury crisis.
      However, Christopher Nkunku (hip), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), Wesley Fofana (ACL), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Reece James (thigh) are still sidelined.
      Nicolas Jackson is also still on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.
      But Malo Gusto may be back in action after missing the Carabao Cup semi-final due to a knock.
      Most read in Football
      Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, on the other hand, will be without Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings who are still dealing with a knee injury.
      Lucas Digne is also still nursing a thigh issue that should keep him out of contention, while Bertrand Traore has linked up with Burkina Faso at Afcon.
      However, Pau Torres, Jacob Ramsey and Robin Olsen could return to Emery’s squad.
      Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery don’t have any fresh injury concernsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      What is their form like?
      Chelsea made it to the fourth round after dumping out Preston with a comfortable 4-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
      And of course the Blues made it to the Carabao Cup Final after another triumph over Middlesbrough.
      The West Londoners have been on a roll despite this season’s woes as they won three out of four of their last games across all competitions, losing once to Boro at the Riverside Stadium.
      Aston Villa, on the other hand, made it to the Round of 32 in the competition with a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
      After winning a record 15 consecutive matches at home against Arsenal, Villa’s run came to an end against Sheffield United last month with a 1-1 draw.
      However, Unai Emery’s men have still won three out of seven matches that followed after the victory over the Gunners, but lost once to Manchester United.
      Chelsea star Cole Palmer has amassed seven goals and three assists in his last 10 matches
      Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins has registered 14 goals and 10 assists in 29 appearances
      Ones to watch
      Chelsea star Cole Palmer is making the most of his increased opportunities at Stamford Bridge after leaving Manchester City in the summer.
      Palmer has amassed a staggering seven goals and three assists in his last 10 matches across all competitions.
      However, the Blues will have to keep an eye on Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins who’s been in red-hot form this season.
      Watkins has registered a whopping total of 14 goals and 10 assists in 29 appearances.
      What has been said?
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino insists “people need to believe” in his players after they reached the Carabao Cup Final.
      Pochettino told Sky Sports: “Sometimes we can think about the history of Chelsea and the missing players. We are young and we need to grow. These types of games are a good experience for young players and it is about now growing and it will help us to compete.
      “We are building a very good team. The mentality is good. We have plenty but we need time. It is a new project. We are building a team and sometimes it is normal to play worse.
      “We played well and we didn’t win but now it will be a big boost for us. People need to believe and trust in us and we go to the final with the chance of winning the first trophy of the season.”
      Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, on the other hand, will be expecting more from his players after a drab 0-0 draw at Everton.
      Emery told Sky Sports: “We are frustrated because we had chances to score, but football is like that. You can control the game as you want but it’s not enough sometimes and today was not enough.
      “We are not happy with one point only, we are happy because this is the way and we increased our level before playing like that. We played a good personality today.
      “I am happy because we are getting stronger in our ideal style and feeling comfortable and confident in playing in the way we are continually creating. The point is not enough, we have to accept it.
      “But how we play, how we worked and how we showed our capacity on the pitch, this is the way. Now we get some rest days, we deserve. It. But I want to show and transmit to the players, this is the way.”
      When is Chelsea vs Aston Villa?

      Chelsea’s clash with Aston Villa will take place on Friday, January 26.
      The game will be played at Stamford Bridge.
      Chelsea vs Aston Villa will kick off at 7.45pm GMT.

      Is Chelsea vs Aston Villa on TV?

      Unfortunately, Chelsea’s clash with Aston Villa hasn’t been selected for TV despite the Friday night fixture.
      Tottenham’s clash with Manchester City will be shown on terrestrial TV instead.

      Team news
      Chelsea have an extensive injury list which includes Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochukwu, Marc Cucurealla and Romelo Lavia.
      Reece James and Wesley Fofana are also both still out of action with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
      One positive for Chelsea is the return of Ben Chilwell, who was brilliant in the Blues’ 6-1 win over Middlesbrough.
      Emilio Buendía and Tyrone Minos continue to recover from their ACL injuries, while Lucas Digne is also still out.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Odds

      Chelsea – 11/10
      Draw – 12/5
      Villa – 23/10
      Both teams to score YES – 3/5

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Fulham vs Liverpool: Cottagers looking to overturn deficit against Klopp’s side in crucial Carabao Cup semi – team news

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      LIVERPOOL will be hoping to seal their spot in the Carabao Cup final when they face Fulham on Wednesday night.The Reds take on the Cottagers in the second leg of the semi-finals after winning 2-1 at Anfield.
      Liverpool won the first leg at Anfield 2-1Credit: Getty
      Willian opened the scoring before Liverpool fought back to winCredit: Alamy
      Despite losing, Marco Silva’s men performed brilliantly in the reverse fixture.
      Willian netted the opener in the match, and the visitors created some great chances to extend their lead.
      Jurgen Klopp had to rely on a quick-fire double from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo to grab victory.
      The result means that Liverpool only have a one-goal advantage heading into the clash at Craven Cottage.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Fulham will aim to put in a similar performance as they aim to reach their first final since 2010, when they were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League.
      The club has never won a major honour despite reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup six times.
      They were beaten in the final in 1975 as they lost 2-0 to West Ham.
      Liverpool last won the League Cup in 2022 after overcoming Chelsea via a penalty shootout.
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      The Reds have won the competition on nine different occasions.
      The victors will face either Chelsea or Middlesborough in the final at Wembley.
      The Championship side won their first leg 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium thanks to a goal from Hayden Hackney.
      What is their form like?
      Fulham have only played one game since the defeat at Anfield.
      The London side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the Premier League on January 13.
      Before the first leg, Fulham won back-to-back games against Arsenal in the league and Rotherham in the FA Cup.
      Liverpool are unbeaten since the Europa League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise on December 14.
      They won their most recent match in the league against Bournemouth 4-0.
      Team news
      Fulham have just one injury to worry about in Adama Traore, who is still recovering from a hamstring strain.
      But the Cottagers will be without Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey too, as they are on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
      Mohamed Salah is unavailable for Liverpool because of Afcon and an injury which could see him miss a month of action.
      The game also comes too soon for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has a knee injury.
      Wataru Endo is also out of the game as he is on Asian Cup duty with Japan.
      Who will be the star men?

      The match could be decided through the battle in midfield.
      Fulham’s key man will be Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese star has been linked with a big-money exit from the club due to his performances for the club.
      The midfielder will be tasked with trying to stop Liverpool’s impressive midfield.
      For the Reds, Curtis Jones could be key in breaking through the Fulham midfield.
      The Englishman scored in the first leg, thanks to a deflection by looked a constant threat throughout.
      He has been brilliant throughout the competition having scored three goals in four appearances.
      Should he get on top of the game then he could control the tempo and help Liverpool into the final.

      What have the managers said?
      Marco Silva is aiming to lead Fulham to their first final in 14 years.
      He said: “My ambition is to always play cup competitions and go further.
      “The first game in the Carabao Cup was poor last season.
      “It was an important moment for us to talk about the approach in the future.
      “It’s going to be 90 minutes of us fighting for what we want. Fighting to play at Wembley.”
      Marco Silva wants to get Fulham to the finalCredit: Alamy
      Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has claimed that the competition has helped develop the team.
      He said: “I said before that playing finals is one of the most important things for a team to develop. Winning them!
      “Playing a semi-final in January is great in the season [and] being able to reach Wembley, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, is unbelievable.
      “All of these things have an impact on development. It creates a squad as well.
      “I said it two years ago when we play all four competitions until the end, it creates for players a constant opportunity that maybe they are not playing now, but in two weeks they know they are going to play so they train in a different way, so that’s really important.
      “I like a lot if we play every three days, the more games we play the better because it means everybody will be involved.
      “You are reaching finals and that means development [and] more difficult games means more development.
      “It’s important and it gives opportunity. We would not have seen all these players, these young ones, if you don’t play in four competitions.”
      Pep Lijnders has hailed the Carabao Cup for allowing opportunities for playersCredit: Getty
      SunSport prediction
      Fulham 1 Liverpool 3
      When is Fulham vs Liverpool?

      Liverpool’s visit to Fulham will take place on Wednesday, January 24.
      The match will be held at Craven Cottage.
      Fulham vs Liverpool will kick off at 8pm GMT.
      The winner will play Chelsea or Middlesbrough in the final.

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Liverpool’s clash with Fulham in the Carabao Cup will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
      You can live stream the action from the Sky Go or NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Odds

      Fulham – 16/5
      Draw – 14/5
      Liverpool – 4/5
      Fulham to qualify – 11/2
      Liverpool to qualify – 1/10

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Arsenal vs Crystal Palace preview: Gunners look to close gap on league leaders Liverpool in London derby – stream, TV

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      ARSENAL return from their Dubai training camp in need of three Premier League points against London rivals Crystal Palace.The Gunners currently find themselves five points off the pace after suffering two consecutive defeats in the league.
      Arsenal have lost three games in a rowCredit: Reuters
      And things went from bad to worse for Mikel Arteta’s men as Liverpool sent them crashing out of the FA Cup just a few days later.
      However, a win for Arsenal would see them climb above Aston Villa who dropped points at Goodison Park.
      Furthermore, the north London outfit will feel confident that they can do the double over Palace after a marginal triumph earlier this season.
      When is Arsenal vs Crystal Palace?

      Arsenal’s London derby against Crystal Palace will take place on Saturday, January 20.
      It is scheduled to kick-off at 12:30pm GMT.
      Emirates Stadium is the allocated arena for this huge match and it can host approximately 60,704.
      Martin Odegaard fired ten-men Arsenal to a 1-0 win when the sides last met in August.

      Read more on Arsenal
      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Arsenal vs Crystal Palace will be broadcast LIVE on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
      Coverage is expected to commence from 11am GMT – one hour and a half before kick-off.
      Fans can also stream the action on discovery+
      Alternatively, follow the entire match through SunSport’s live blog.

      What is the team news?
      Mikel Arteta would have been delighted to see Gabriel Jesus return to full-team training in Dubai after his knee issue.
      Gabriel Jesus has returned to full trainingCredit: Getty
      And the Gunners gaffer will be hoping Oleksandr Zinchenko can be fit enough to feature too following a calf problem that has kept him out for several weeks.
      However, Thomas Partey (thigh), Fabio Vieira (groin) and Jurrien Timber (knee) are all set to miss out.
      Most read in Football
      While Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are both away on international duty.
      Elsewhere, Roy Hodgson has lost Jordan Ayew to Afcon, while Cheick Doucoure (Achilles), Nathan Ferguson (muscle), and Sam Johnstone (calf) are unavailable.
      Michael Olise is also out after pulling up with a hamstring problem in their last fixture against Brentford.
      What are the odds?

      Arsenal to win 2/7
      Draw 4/1
      Palace to win 17/2

      *Odds courtesy of Paddy Power are correct at time of publication More

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      Man Utd vs Tottenham: Red Devils host Spurs in crunch Premier League clash at Old Trafford – team news, kick-off time

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      MANCHESTER UNITED host Tottenham in a thrilling Super Sunday clash – and a win for the visitors would see them close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just THREE points.Erik ten Hag will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways in the Premier League after United’s 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at the end of December.
      Manchester United cruised into the next round of the FA CupCredit: Rex
      Pedro Porro’s sublime strike fired Spurs through to the FA Cup fourth roundCredit: Getty
      While Postecoglou’s side start the day off in fifth – just one point behind Arsenal and treble winners Manchester City despite their little wobble.
      Spurs won the reverse fixture back in August by beating the Red Devils 2-0 in Postecoglou’s first win as Tottenham manager.
      And Timo Werner will be eager to impress help them do the double on his debut for Tottenham after making the switch from RB Leipzig.
      Tottenham go into this game with wind in their sails following a FA Cup third round win against Burnley.
      Read more on Man Utd
      But injury-hit United also booked their spot in the fourth round with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Wigan.
      What is the team news?
      Both sides will be without key players for this thrilling match because of AFCON and the Asia Cup.
      Spurs will be without top scorer Son Heung-Min who is on international duty with South Korea.
      Son will not to be available for this fixtureCredit: PA
      Unfortunately for Spurs fans, South Korea are the bookies’ second favourites to win the tournament which could potentially see them being without Son for a whole month.
      Most read in Football
      Midfield duo Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma will also represent their respective nations in AFCON.
      And the north London outfit will also be without Ivan Perisic, World Cup winner Christian Romero and Ben Davies for their trip to Old Trafford through injury.
      Elsewhere, Cameroon International Andre Onana is expected to be in goal for Manchester United, despite getting called up for AFCON.
      But Sofyan Amrabat has already travelled with Morrocco to play in Senegal.
      Erik ten Hag will be hopeful that Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Christian Eriksen will return to his injury-side on Sunday.
      However, United are certainly set to be without Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount and Victor Linderlof.
      Amad Diallo, Antony and Anthony Martial are currently being assessed over the fixture.
      What is their form like?
      Manchester United have endured a horrible run of form in the league by only winning one of their last 5 matches with conceding 10 goals in that period.
      The win in that period came at Old Trafford against Aston Villa with the Red Devils coming back from two goals down in the first half to win 3-2 against Unai Emery’s side.
      United’s last Premier League game came in a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest which saw Nuno Espírito Santo record their first win against United for 29 years.
      Erik ten Hag will be hoping that his side has turned the corner with United’s 0-2 win against Wigan Athletic on Monday to make it to the 4th round of the FA Cup.
      Tottenham’s form is very contrasting compared to the hosts with winning four out of their last 5 matches with scoring 13 goals in that period.
      Tottenham have the third best away record in the league with one point less than Manchester City and Liverpool.
      Postecoglou’s side last Premier League game ended Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth seven unbeaten streak with a 3-1 win.
      Who will be the star men?
      In-form Manchester United players have been hard to come by this season but the potential of Alejandro Garnacho is very promising for the Red Devils.
      The Argentinian winger has produced outstanding performances this season with arguably scoring one of the best overhead kicks of all time back in November.
      In United’s last three games, the winger has produced by scoring 2 goals and registering 1 assist.

      Garnacho, 19, produced an impressive performance on Monday against Wigan Athletic.
      The ever-impressive Son Heung-Min will be missed for Tottenham but one player that has had a rejuvenate season is Richarlison.
      The Brazilian currently sits on seven goals in all competitions with five of them coming in his last five Premier League games.

      The Brazilian forward endured a dismal last season by only scoring THREE goals in 35 appearances in all competitions with only one goal in the Premier League.
      Harry Kane’s exit to Bayern Munich last summer has paved the way for Richarlison to flourish in a Tottenham shirt.
      SunSport prediction
      Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
      When is Manchester United vs Tottenham?

      Manchester United will face Tottenham on Sunday, January 14.
      The match is scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm GMT.
      Old Trafford will host approximately 73,000 fans

      What TV channel is Manchester United vs Tottenham on and can it be live streamed?

      Manchester United vs Tottenham will be broadcasted LIVE on SKY Sports Main Event and SKY Sports Premier League.
      Coverage of the tie will commence at 4pm GMT
      Alternatively, follow SunSport’s live blog for minute-by-minute coverage.

      What are the odds?
      Match result
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      Manchester United to win 23/20
      Draw 27/10
      Tottenham to win 2/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Why is Andre Onana still playing for Man Utd despite being called up to play at AFCON 2023?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Andre Onana has been called up for Cameroon in their upcoming games in AFCON.But why is he still playing for the Red Devils?
      Andre Onana played the full 90 minutes for Manchester United in their 0-2 win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup last nightCredit: Reuters
      This SATURDAY the tournament opening match will see hosts Ivory Coast play Guinea-Bissau in the Alassane Ouattara Arena in Abidjan.
      In this year’s AFCON, 24 nations will participate to see who can be named kings of Africa once again.
      Five cities will be hosted in Ivory Coast and they are Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo, Abidjan and San Pedro.
      The final will be on February 11 and will also be played in Abidjan in the Alassane Ouattara Arena.
      READ MORE ON AFCON
      Many Premier League fans across the UK are hoping that their players don’t go far in the later stages of the tournament.
      However, there is a possibility that Andre Onana will not be missed by Manchester United due to Erik Ten Hag’s men only playing TWICE in January.
      When is Andre Onana’s supposed to be traveling to AFCON?
      Andre Onana is expected to be in goal this Sunday when Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur.
      According to the Mail, Erik ten Hag may have persuaded the Cameroon goalkeeper to stay and help struggling United for another week.
      Most read in Football
      Onana will fly out to Ivory Coast straight after to be available for selection in Cameroon’s first game of the group stage where they face Guinea on Monday January 15.
      Potentially, Onana, 27, will be legible play TWICE in 24 hours for club and country.
      Several high profile professionals are making the trip to the southern coast of West Africa.
      Egyptian Mohamed Salah, Senegalese striker Nicholas Jackson and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi are all flying out to the competition.
      What does this mean for Altay Bayındır?
      Altay Bayındır joined Manchester United from Fenerbahce in a £4.3million deal last summer.
      Bayındır’s, 25, wait for minutes in a Manchester United shirt was expected to end in last nights 0-2 win over Wigan Athletic but that was not the case.
      Since his arrival, he has not made a single appearance for the Red Devils which have left fans surprised by Erik ten Hag’s decision.
      One fan took their opinion to X, saying, “Bayindr should be on the phone to his agent telling him to secure him a move away.”
      “He can’t even start him in the FA Cup against League One Wigan Athletic.”
      Altay Bayındır, 25, Turkish international has played 0 minutes so far this seasonCredit: Reuters
      What TV channel is AFCON being shown on and can it be live streamed?

      All tournament games will be broadcasted on Sky Sports in the UK.
      Games will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Mix.
      Alternatively, AFCON may broadcast live coverage of games on their YouTube channel – CAF TV.

      Who are the favourites to win AFCON 2024?
      Surprisingly, after only winning one AFCON trophy in their history, Morocco are this year’s tournament favourites.
      Morocco finished 4th in the World Cup which was the highest finish of any African Nation.
      Players to look out for will be Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, 26, Galatasary forward, Hakim Ziyech, 30, and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, 25.
      Captain Kalidou Koulibaly will be hoping his nation Senegal will retain the AFCON trophy after being second favourite to win the tournament.
      Read more on The Sun
      After all his club and individual accolades, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, 31, has never won the AFCON trophy.
      The forward fell short in two finals in 2017 and 2021 where he went against his former ex Liverpool team mate, Sadio Mane. More

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      Newcastle vs Man City preview: Guardiola’s Treble winners look to close gap on Premier League table toppers

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      MANCHESTER CITY visit struggling Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s men are hoping to close the gap to Liverpool to two points with a win over the Magpies.
      Bruno Guimaraes will brilliant in Newcastle’s win over SunderlandCredit: Getty
      Kevin de Bruyne could return to Premier League action against NewcastleCredit: Getty
      Man City won the previous fixture between these two sides thanks to Julian Alvarez’s brilliant goal.
      Manchester City will be looking forward for the return of Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian maestro came off the bench in a 5-0 win against Huddersfield Town.
      De Bruyne provided an assist for Jeremy Doku in a 33 minute cameo against the Championship strugglers.
      What is their form like?
      Newcastle United have the 3rd best home record in the Premier League by only loosing twice all season to Liverpool and quite recently, Nottingham Forest.
      READ MORE ON MAN CITY
      However recent form does not go for good reading for The Magpies.
      Eddie Howe’s men have endured seven defeats out of TEN matches in all competitions which has left his side currently sitting 9th in the league.
      After being 6 points adrift in early December, Manchester City have certainly found their form by being unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions.
      Pep Guardiola’s men are currently leading the Premier League with the most goals with 45, which is seven goals less after 19 games in their treble winning season.
      Most read in Football
      Not to mention, The Citizens away form in the league is better than any other side which makes Saturday a very compelling game due to Newcastle’s impressive home record at St .James’ Park.
      Who will be the star men?
      Fresh off a brace at the Stadium of Light, Alexander Isak is a man on a mission with the Newcastle forward scoring 13 goals in all competitions this season.
      The Swedish forward has already beaten his previous season tally which was 11 goals.

      If Newcastle end up getting a result on Saturday, there would be no surprise if Isak contributes to that with the striker scoring 4 goals in his last 3 games.
      Silky Phil Foden is in fine form this season with the midfield maestro scoring 11 goals and producing 8 assists for his side.
      Similarly, the Stockport born midfielder is also coming off the back of a brace last weekend by scoring two instinctive goals in the sides win over Huddersfield Town.

      The England International has certainly stepped up for the treble winning side after Premier League’s leading goal scorer Erling Haalandendured a small period on the side lines with an ankle injury.
      What is the team news?
      Injury hit Newcastle United still have several key players out for the fixture.
      Nick Pope, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson will be unavailable on Saturday.
      Brazilian midfielder, Joelinton, is currently being assessed ahead of the game.
      Manchester City will be without defender John Stones after sustaining an ankle injury at Goodison Park in late December.
      Bernardo Silva and Kalvin Phillips are expected to feature after the duo missed the FA Cup win against Huddersfield due to illness.
      Pep Guardiola will be hoping that his star man, Erling Haaland, will be available for the trip to St. James’.
      What have the managers said?
      Pep Guardiola said: “[Erling has had] two or three sessions and feels good. Hopefully, [he can play soon but], I don’t know for Sunday or for Newcastle.”
      Eddie Howe said after his sides win over Sunderland on the weekend that: “It’s been a frustrating time for us and our injuries are still a big problem.”
      “Physically we look stronger. That extra gear was back. And we’ve not just won the game but kept a clean sheet.”
      When is Newcastle v Man City?

      Newcastle United will face Manchester City on Saturday, January 13.

      The match is scheduled to get underway at 5:30pm GMT.
      St. James’ Park will host approximately 52,000 fans in Tyneside.

      What TV channel is Newcastle v Man City on and can it be live streamed?

      Newcastle United v Manchester City will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate.
      Coverage of the tie will be expected to be at 4:45pm GMT.
      Alternative, you can watch Newcastle United V Manchester City LIVE on the streaming platform, discovery+.

      SUNSPORT prediction
      Newcastle United 1-2 Manchester City
      Read more on The Sun
      What are the odds?

      Newcastle to win 9/2
      Draw 16/5
      Manchester City to win 4/7

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Liverpool vs Fulham – Carabao Cup semi-final: Klopp’s Reds host Cottagers as they look to secure spot in Wembley final

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      LIVERPOOL host Fulham on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.Jurgen Klopp’s men are trying to avoid an upset against the Cottagers, with the last fixture between the two sides resulting in a Liverpool comeback, scoring two goals in a minute to win 4-3.
      Liverpool beat title rivals Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday eveningCredit: GETTY
      Fulham overcame Championship side Rotherham 1-0 in the FA Cup last time outCredit: GETTY
      After the Reds beat Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup and secured their place in the fourth round, their attention has now turned to the Carabao Cup.
      Liverpool and Fulham will play in a mandatory two-legged tie in order to decide who will play in the final at Wembley.
      The winner will go on to face either Middlesbrough or Chelsea on Sunday, February 25th 2024.
      The Reds are hoping to extend their record amount of EFL Cups as they seek a record-breaking tenth title.
      READ MORE IN LIVERPOOL
      What is their form like?
      Top of the table Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, while Fulham have won their last two matches, which includes their win against title-challengers Arsenal.
      Fulham have the fifth leakiest defence in the Premier League, conceding 35 goals.
      That will make good reading for Jurgen Klopp and his team, as the Reds are the third-highest goalscorers with 43 goals.
      Liverpool have won 13 games in the top flight this campaign, which is the most wins by any side other, apart from Aston Villa.
      Most read in Football
      What is the team news?
      The Reds will be without Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai, Kostas Tsimikas and Stefan Bajcetic as they have injuries.
      Virgil van Dijk is expected to be back after missing the Arsenal game last time out due to illness.
      Liverpool will be missing their top scorer Mohamed Salah and midfielder Wataru Endo for their upcoming semi-final due to the duo participating in Afcon and the AFC Asian Cup respectively.
      The Cottagers will be without Adama Traore as he continues to recover from a thigh injury.
      Tim Ream will also be unavailable for the trip to Anfield due to an ongoing calf problem.
      Fulham will definitely be without Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo-Toure and Alex Iwobi due to commitments to Afcon.
      Who will be the star men?
      Influential Mo Salah will be hugely missed by the Reds but a player that may step up to the plate is Darwin Nunez.
      Darwin Nunez will be a player to look out for with the forward scoring five goals and assisting six times in the league so far this season.
      The Uruguayan netted once in the Carabao Cup in Liverpool’s 1-2 win against Bournemouth in the round of 16.

      Marco Silva striker concerns may have eased after the summer departure of Alexandra Mitrovic with Raul Jimenez returning to form.
      The Mexican has scored four goals in Fulham’s last five matches but the forward is yet to find the net in the Carabao Cup.

      SunSport prediction
      Liverpool 4-1 Fulham
      When is Liverpool vs Fulham?

      Liverpool will face Fulham on Wednesday, January 10th.
      The match is scheduled to get underway at 8pm GMT.
      Anfield will host approximately 57,000 fans after the expansion of the Anfield Road stand.

      What TV channel is Liverpool vs Fulham on and can it be live streamed?

      Liverpool vs Fulham will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
      Coverage of the tie will commence at 7pm GMT.
      Alternatively, follow SunSport’s live blog for minute-by-minute coverage.

      What are the odds?
      Match result
      Read more on The Sun

      Liverpool to win 4/11
      Draw 4/1
      Fulham to win 15/2

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More

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      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea – Carabao Cup semi-final preview: Blues face Boro with Wembley in sight – stream, TV, team news

      by

      CHELSEA hop from one cup competition to the next as they prepare to do battle with Championship side Middlesbrough in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.Goals from Armando Borja, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez saw the Blues comfortably cruise past Preston in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
      Chelsea ran riot at Stamford Bridge to send Preston crashing out of the FA CupCredit: Rex
      And Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be expected to pull off a similar result against a Middlesbrough side who were beaten at home by high-flying Aston Villa on the same night.
      However, its never a foregone conclusion in football, especially when it comes to a cup tie plus Chelsea’s inconsistency this season will give the Born a glimmer of hope.
      But the Championship have lost NINE consecutive matches against the Blues with the most recent encounter happening as recent as 2022.
      When is Middlesbrough vs Chelsea

      Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough will take place on Tuesday, January 9.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 8pm GMT.
      Riverside Stadium is the allocated arena for this exciting fixture and it can host approximately 34,742 fans.
      Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech sent Middlesbrough crashing out of the FA Cup when the sides last met in a quarter-final tie.

      Read more on Chelsea
      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Middlesbrough vs Chelsea will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football in the UK
      Coverage is expected to commence from 7pm GMT on both channels – a whole hour before kick-off.
      Fans have the option to stream the entire action through NOW TV.
      Alternatively, follow SunSport’s live blog for minute-by-minute coverage of the match.

      What is the team news?
      Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick would have been distraught with the Aston Villa result.
      But the Boro boss got to finally see the return of Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte Lath in the FA Cup third round tie, while Matt Crooks was an unused substitute.
      Elsewhere, Mauricio Pochettino delivered some damning news that Christopher Nkunku has suffered a hip injury shortly after returning from his long-term knee issue.
      Most read in Football
      Christopher Nkunku has picked up another injuryCredit: Getty
      And the Frenchman is expected to be sidelined along with Wesley Fofana (knee), Trevor Chalobah (thigh), Reece James (hamstring), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle) and Romeo Lavia (thigh).
      However, the Chelsea boss was optimistic about Benoit Badiashile returning from his muscular injury for the first leg, while Ben Chilwell who has been out with a hamstring problem and Carney Chukwuemeka who has a knee issue have been training.
      But Nicolas Jackson will certainly not play as he is away on international duty with Senegal at AFCON.
      What are the latest odds?

      Middlesbrough to win 9/2
      Draw 16/5
      Chelsea to win 4/7

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication More