Premier League

SAM ALLARDYCE has opened the door to a shock Premier League return.That’s by telling one relegation-battling side to “call me.”
Sam Allardyce is ready for a Premier League return with a team fighting relegationCredit: PA
Big Sam, 68, is a top flight legend after guiding several teams to safety.
The former England boss has taken charge at the likes of Newcastle, West Ham and Everton.
But Allardyce has not been in the dugout for 18 months after being sacked by West Brom in June 2021.
Despite that, the veteran has been linked with numerous vacancies this season.
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And there are currently two Premier League sides without a manager after some dodgy results.
Leeds parted ways with Jesse Marsch after moving to within a point of the drop zone.
And bottom-place Southampton are also leaderless after sacking Nathan Jones this morning.
Both clubs could be interested in a dogged relegation battler like Allardyce.
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But Big Sam admits it’s Leeds who take his fancy.
He believes they have all the characteristics required to stay up.
And Allardyce is more than ready to sign up should they come knocking.
That’s despite reports tipping ex-Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder for the hot seat.
Allardyce told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast he “wouldn’t see any problem” saving Leeds.
He added: “I’d have thought by now if they were interested in me, they know where I am, so call me.
“If someone called me I wouldn’t turn down going chatting about it, certainly not at Leeds United.
“But there has been no call, so before anyone starts any speculation, nobody from Elland Road has called me about the job in hand.
“I watched them against Man United and I wouldn’t see any problem sorting them out, from my point of view with my experience.” More

MICAH RICHARDS joked he’ll text Jack Grealish after his pal “made a meal” of winning a controversial penalty.Roy Keane compared the antics of Manchester City wideman Grealish to comedy actor Norman Wisdom but fans slammed the “dive of the season” in a 3-1 win against Aston Villa.
🗣️ “I’m going to text him later on… he made a meal of that!” 📞Roy Keane and Micah Richards discuss Jack Grealish’s fall that saw Man City earn a penalty. 💬 pic.twitter.com/Dzb89eSpvA— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 12, 2023

Grealish was well clear of Jacob Ramsey by the time he launched his twisting ‘dive’ but Richards and Keane felt he had been clippedCredit: PA
Sky Sports pundits Richards and Keane had fun re-watching Grealish’s tumble as City closed to within three points of leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
But observers on social media were less forgiving for what one labelled “blatant cheating” and another called “absolutely awful”.
With City 2-0 up at the Etihad, Grealish veered across Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who appeared to catch him with the merest of touches.
Grealish carried on for a split-second before flinging himself down with his arms raised, twisting to end up on his back.
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Former City defender Richards said: “He gets clipped, doesn’t he, but let’s be honest, I’m going to text him later on. He has made a meal out of that.”
Manchester United legend Keane chipped in: “You know who he reminds me of? Norman Wisdom!”
Asked by Richards who that was, the ex-Ireland midfielder explained: “He’s an actor, He used to fall over.”
Keane, though, also highlighted the guile of Grealish in winning the spot-kick.
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The former Sunderland boss said: “He was doing this for years at Aston Villa. He used to frustrate lots of teams.
“But when you get across people in the box you are almost asking to be punished. Ramsey is trying to get himself out of it, but Jack’s clever enough to get close enough.
“There’s almost a tangle of legs, the ref doesn’t have a choice, It’s smart by Jack.”
In contrast, fans on Twitter laid into the “embarrassing” England star.
One posted: “Grealish diving is hardly a surprise. That’s the sum total of his entire career.”
Another wrote: “It’s done the ‘Aston Vlla legend’ fanboys no favours.”
Other comments included: “He’s made a career out of this, I dunno why people are shocked” and “Grealish takes his diving skills to South American levels.”
A third said: “It’s never a penalty and Grealish makes the most of it. He’s been doing it for years. ”
Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Micah Richards seemed amused by Jack Grealish’s antics in winning a penalty for Man City
Grealish tumbles as he runs away from goal to win a spot-kick as Man City closed the gap on Arsenal to three pointsCredit: Sky Sports More

RIYAD MAHREZ brilliantly trolled himself after his shocking miss during Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.The Algerian was in action as the Prem champions got over their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham last week.

Riyad Mahrez ballooned a shot over the bar
He got on the scoresheet in first half stoppage time, converting a penalty to put his side 3-0 up.
But he was left red faced later in the match.
With six minutes left on the clock, the winger was sent racing through.
But from barely outside the six yard box he rocketed a shot about as high over the bar as he possibly could have.
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Mahrez immediately had his head in his hands, scarcely able to believe what he’d just done.
And after the match, he took to Twitter to mock himself.
The 31-year-old wrote: “Has it landed yet ? 🛰⚽️🤦🏻‍♂️ Smh.”
If Rodri had his way, Mahrez wouldn’t even have scored earlier in the 3-1 win.
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After Jack Grealish’s theatrical fall, the Spaniard wanted to take the resulting spot kick – having already netted a header in the match.
After a brief squabble captain Ilkay Gundogan, scorer of City’s second goal, ripped the ball out of his hands – giving it to appointed taker Mahrez instead.
Following the match, Rodri explained: “It was clear, and the captain decides, I have to accept the decision.
“He just said Riyad is the normal shooter, but I just asked because I was filled with confidence in that moment, but I understand and accept the decision.”
City’s victory takes them to within three points of leaders Arsenal ahead of their meeting at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Pep Guardiola and Co have been dealt a blow, however, with Erling Haaland having had to be withdrawn at half time with an apparent thigh injury.
Mahrez, 31, did score from the spotCredit: AFP More

JAMIE CARRAGHER hilariously trolled Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.That’s by declaring the Spaniard must have heard his opinion on how to get the best from Erling Haaland following last weekend’s defeat at Spurs.
Pep Guardiola was trolled by Jamie Carragher after Man City’s 3-1 win over Aston VillaCredit: PA
Carragher was less than complimentary after last weekend’s defeat at SpursCredit: PA
Carragher and fellow pundit Micah Richards were less than complimentary about City’s performance when they were dominated in London a week ago.
The result saw the defending champs drop more points in their title race with Arsenal.
And both Carragher and Richards expressed their annoyance over City’s failure to ping long balls for star striker Haaland, 22, to chase down behind enemy lines.
Liverpool legend Carragher even suggested 31-goal Haaland may have joined the wrong club last summer.
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However, it appeared Guardiola got the message for today’s win against Villa.
Haaland came off at the break with a possible injury after bagging an assist in the 3-1 victory at the Etihad.
And he played a key role in the first-half by opening up space for teammates with his movement off the ball.
Haaland was also treated to a lot of clever passes by pals including Kevin de Bruyne, who was very quiet last Sunday.
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Carragher reckons City aren’t using Erling Haaland properlyCredit: Getty
And Carragher trolled Guardiola by insisting the world-class tactician must have tuned into his rant on Sky Sports before taking down notes.
Carragher tweeted: “That’s how you use Haaland! He’s that quick and powerful it doesn’t even need to be a good ball.
“City should play that ball 5/6 times a half, if they don’t it’s a waste of Haaland’s strengths!
“Pep watched Super Sunday last week @MicahRichards.”
Carragher was particularly scathing with his assessment of City and Haaland after last weekend’s defeat at Spurs.
He said at the time: “Haaland was very frustrated and I’ve felt this even when he was scoring all his goals at the start of the season.
“He’s obviously still well ahead in the top goalscoring ranks, but I think we’ve only seen 60 percent of Erling Haaland.
Haaland may have actually picked the wrong clubJamie Carragher
“You think of that goal he scored at West Ham on the first game of the season, where there’s space in behind, he makes that run. 
“Now I know that’s not there that often because of the way City play, but he’s come from Borussia Dortmund where it’s a counter-attacking league and it’s end to end, and you see that blistering pace that he’s got. 
“We don’t see it [now]. He may have actually picked the wrong club, to actually get the best out of him.
“We’re not seeing everything of Erling Haaland. And Manchester City now, not because of Erling Haaland, we can say they’re a different team, but they’ve scored exactly the same amount of goals.
“He’s scored 25 league goals, but Manchester City as a team have scored the same amount of goals [as this time last season]. But they’ve conceded more and it’s far easier to counter attack them as well.
“So they’re a different team, and a lesser team with Erling Haaland in the team. But again, it’s not his fault. Manchester City as a team will not play end to end football. 
“It’s not Pep Guardiola’s way. His players don’t have the energy or the power or the pace to play end to end.
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“They build up slowly and they push the opposition back to the edge of the box and they play from there, and when they lose it they win it back quickly, and they keep people hemmed in.
“Now, Erling Haaland has scored 25 league goals. A lot of those are coming across and he’s putting it in. But we’re not seeing the full package of what this player can do because of the team that he’s actually gone to.” More

ARSENAL fans blasted ex-boss Unai Emery after his new club Aston Villa failed to stop Manchester City closing the title gap.City’s 3-1 win left Pep Guardiola’s men just three points behind the table-topping Gunners and ended Emery’s scorching start as Villa chief.
Ex-Gunners’ manager Unai Emery saw his mid-table Villa side ship three goals in the first half in a 3-1 defeat at Man CityCredit: Getty

And many Arsenal supporters compared Villa’s tame performance to displays from Emery’s under-achievers in his 18 months at the Emirates.
The 11th-placed Villans dropped points for the first time in the Spaniard’s four away games in charge.
That prompted one Gunners’ follower to say “Can you believe that?” and another claimed, “that’s why we got rid of him”.
A third argued: “Watching Villa under Emery is exactly same as Arsenal under Emery…. sloppy playing from the back, Emi Martinez, penalties against City.”
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A similar message was: “Aston Villa playing like peak Unai Emery Arsenal.”
A few fans even blamed Villa’s defeat on Emery’s lack of feelings for his old club.
One supporter posted: “Emery hates Arsenal… that’s the only explanation for this performance.”
And this tweet backed up that wild theory: “Unai Emery and (ex-Gunner Calum) Chambers seem like have grudge against Arsenal. The way the team is playing.” 
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Mikel Arteta’s men host second-placed City, who have played one game more, on Wednesday.
But some fans seem almost as nervous about Arsenal visiting Villa next Saturday.
Such pessimism included: “Unai Emery losing to City but you just know he’ll beat Arsenal ffs.”
The Spaniard himself said of the Etihad loss: “We made some unusual mistakes.
“But at the end of the first half we kept our position on the pitch, trying to score one goal and not concede many chances and we did it.
“But really now it is finished and we think about the next match at home vs Arsenal on Saturday.” More

ILKAY GUNDOGAN blocked Rodri from taking Manchester City’s penalty against Aston Villa this afternoon.Pep Guardiola’s side were awarded a spot kick while leading 2-0 after a challenge on Jack Grealish.

Rodri tried to take the spot kickCredit: Alamy
Skipper Ilkay Gundogan wrestled the ball from himCredit: Getty
Midfielder Rodri, having netted City’s first of the afternoon, was keen to take the penalty.
But skipper Gundogan stopped him from doing so, wrestling the ball from him and giving it to appointed taker Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian made no mistake from 12 yards, putting his side 3-0 up on the stroke of half-time.
Following the 3-1 win, Rodri and Gundogan, scorer of City’s second goal, were interviewed together by Sky Sports.

Mentioning the incident, the former explained: “It was clear, and the captain decides, I have to accept the decision.
“He just said Riyad is the normal shooter, but I just asked because I was filled with confidence in that moment, but I understand and accept the decision.”
On whether Prem top scorer Erling Haaland should have taken it, Rodri added: “I don’t know, it depends on the coach who decides before the game, and it was Riyad.
“We have good shooters even though we have been very light this season with penalties.
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“But it is something we have to be ready to go because it can make the difference sometimes.”
Ollie Watkins pulled one back for Villa in the second half, but City held out for a 3-1 triumph.
Their victory takes them to within three points of leaders Arsenal ahead of their meeting at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Guardiola and Co have been dealt a blow, however, with Haaland having had to be withdrawn at half time with an apparent thigh injury.
Erling Haaland appeared to suffer a thigh issueCredit: Getty More