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      Everton hold emergency board meeting as Frank Lampard faces sack with Rooney, Dyche and Nuno in running for job

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      EVERTON held crisis talks  yesterday as Frank Lampard faces being axed.The Toffees are joint bottom after Saturday’s 2-0 Prem loss at fellow strugglers West Ham.
      Under-pressure manager Frank Lampard says he doesn’t fear the sack but his future at Goodison Park looks bleakCredit: Getty
      Ex-Everton, Man Utd and England striker Wayne Rooney, now boss of DC United, is rated a contender for the Toffees’ job if Lampard goesCredit: Getty
      Owner Farhad Moshiri led an emergency board meeting as they mulled over sacking ex-England star Lampard.
      Moshiri faces huge financial pressure to keep the club up after having to sell key stars like Richarlison to Tottenham — in a deal worth up to £60million —  and fund the £500m new stadium they move to next year.
      After attending his first Everton game in 14  months, Moshiri was asked about Lampard’s  future.
      But he bizarrely replied: “I can’t comment. It’s  not my decision.”
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      Ex-Toffees stars Kevin Campbell and Alan Stubbs mocked Moshiri’s claim.
      Stubbs tweeted: “Not my decision? Whose is it then?”
      Former striker Campbell replied: “I can’t believe all this foolishness!”  
      Everton’s next match is  at home to Arsenal on February 4 before the Merseyside derby against Liverpool on February 13.
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      But Lampard, 44, said: “I absolutely don’t fear being sacked —  I’m proud to do the job. 
      “I just get up every day and think how we can get  better.”
      Sean Dyche, Nuno Espirito Santo and Everton legend Wayne Rooney are among candidates tipped to replace Lamps. More

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      Frank Lampard is on the brink of the sack… but who would want the Everton job with Moshiri and Kenwright in charge?

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      IS THERE anyone at Everton who is not on the brink?Boss Frank Lampard is on the brink of the sack.
      Frank Lampard is battling to keep his job as Everton managerCredit: Getty
      Owner Farhad Moshiri is on the brink of hiring a fifth manager in as many years.
      And the suffering Toffees fans are on the brink of giving up hope they will avoid relegation.
      They have gone eight Premier League games without a win — losing six.
      The latest — a 2-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers West Ham — leaves them joint bottom, only in 19th thanks to a marginally better goal difference than Southampton.
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      The most frightening thing for Everton fans is that those in charge are both devoid of answers.
      There seemed to be a mini post-match competition between Lampard, Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright: Who could utter the most obvious or useless phrase?
      Lampard went with: “The solutions aren’t easy.”
      Kenwright said: “We’ve just got to start winning.”
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      Moshiri then admitted Lampard’s future is “not my decision” to make.
      Everton supporters are fed up to the back teeth with the ineptness that sees their club free-falling towards the Championship.
      Don’t forget, this is a club that was last relegated in 1951.
      The new £500million stadium could be welcoming lower league sides when it opens at Bramley Dock next year.
      And the civil war between the fans and board has seen death threats, vandalism and Goodison sit-in protests.
      Banners in the packed-out away end at the London Stadium on Saturday summed it all up, from “A board full of liars” to one that read “To hell with Kenwright and Moshiri too”.
      For once, Moshiri had full sight of these, attending his first Everton game since October 2021.
      It was an appearance that has thrown up more questions than answers.
      GOODISON IN BAD WAY
      Was he there to gaze over Lampard’s flailing side in the flesh before making his decision on whether to swing the axe?
      The irony is that due to their financial restraints, it would be cheaper not to sack him.
      But fans would argue the cost of relegation would be far greater.
      And who would take on this circus of a potential career-ending job anyway?
      There are those that point to Sean Dyche, a man who knows a thing or two about survival.
      He has made clear his desperation to prove himself at a top club after overachieving with Burnley, but Everton are barely in that category anymore.
      Lampard has his critics but there are not many coaches who could do better with this current squad.
      Richarlison was never replaced. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injury prone. Seamus Coleman’s legs went years ago.
      And this motley crew are now expected to perform miracles in their next two league games against leaders Arsenal and Mersey foes Liverpool.
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      Lampard said: “We are trying to rebuild. That doesn’t mean you start climbing the stairs straight away. It means you have to dig in.”
      For now, he is digging in his fingernails to keep hold of his job, as is the club to their top-flight status.
      Owner Farhad Moshiri (second left) and chairman Bill Kenwright (right) were in the stands at West HamCredit: PA
      Fans in the away end showed their anger towards the club’s hierarchyCredit: Reuters More

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      Arsenal vs Man Utd is the biggest game in English football again… both Arteta and Ten Hag have worked miracles

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      THE more things change, the more they stay the same.And after the best part of 20 years off the top of the agenda, Arsenal versus Manchester United is the biggest game in football once again.
      Mikel Arteta and Erik ten Hag have led sensational revolutions at their clubsCredit: Getty
      All of a sudden, this means more.
      Two clubs who feared their time as the eminent forces in England was over have revived their rivalry to slug it out for a Premier League title which has eluded them both for far too long.
      And up in the directors’ box, 81-year-old Sir Alex Ferguson was relishing the sight of two old adversaries absolutely refusing to take a backwards step.
      It is almost ten years since the most successful manager in British history retired but, on occasions like this, you still can’t keep him away.
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      And he was by no means the only enthralled onlooker perched on the edge of his seat.
      In fact, it is hard to think of a time when the Emirates has ever been this loud since it first opened its doors back in 2006.
      You could argue the Arsenal fans haven’t had a great deal to cheer about during that time, so have spent most of those years arguing among themselves.
      But suddenly they are all singing from the same hymn sheet in praise of ‘Super Mik Arteta’ and it’s hard to believe the positive effect their backing has had on the team.
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      The Arsenal boss has worked tirelessly to get those fans on board and was at it again here, dancing up and down the touchline like a man possessed.
      Even a 32nd-minute yellow card for demanding a booking for Luke Shaw couldn’t curb his enthusiasm — or keep him within the confines of his technical area.
      He was so close to the action he was almost blocking United throw-ins at times as he urged his players on to greater efforts.
      But he’s not the only one having a transformative effect on his team, because Erik ten Hag is working a similar miracle at Manchester United.
      This last-gasp defeat effectively ends their title challenge for another year but does not detract from the speed with which Ten Hag has turned United into a credible force again.
      Just like Arteta, he was constantly in the ear of fourth official Andre Marriner over every contentious decision as this game swung from end to end.
      And the way he has got his players throwing themselves into every challenge and defending as though their lives depended on it, suggested that the days of them being a soft touch at the back are well and truly over.
      In the end, it still wasn’t enough, as a second last-gasp goal conceded in four days left them down and out.
      And maybe Ten Hag will now be regretting his decision to send on Fred for Antony for the final 20 minutes to try to protect a point, rather than going for a late winner.
      Yet this Arsenal team has become so proficient at taking it right to the death that there is very little any opponent can do to stop them right now.
      The bad news for the chasing pack is that they are only going to get better after bolstering their squad this month with the signings of Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior.
      Trossard enjoyed a late cameo off the bench while Polish international Kiwior was watching from the stands ahead of this morning’s medical to seal his £22million move from Spezia.
      Arteta has been given the green light to spend because Champions League qualification is now a virtual certainty after six years out of Europe’s premier competition.
      This result leaves them 17 points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs with a game in hand and a scarcely believable 21 clear of Liverpool and Chelsea.
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      United still have work to do to cement their top-four status but will take heart from the knowledge they have caused more problems for Arsenal than any other team this season.
      And that is quite some achievement. More

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      Watch ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny make horror week worse for Juventus as he gifts Ademola Lookman goal

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      WOJCIECH SZCZESNY’S horror blunder summed up Juventus’ week.The ex-Arsenal keeper gifted Ademola Lookman an early opener as Juve were held 3-3 by Atalanta two days after being docked 15 points.
      A nightmare start for Juventus 😳Wojciech Szczęsny can’t keep out Ademola Lookman’s shot at the near post as the Old Lady’s problems continue. pic.twitter.com/9XTR54xDna— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 22, 2023

      Keeper Wojciech Szczesny looks back after Ademola Lookman’ s fierce shot somehow squirmed past him but Juve fought back to draw at home
      Massimiliano Allegri’s men have plunged from joint second to ninth after being heavily penalised for a transfer scam.
      And any hope of clawing back towards even a Europa League place was put in peril within four minutes by Champions League hopefuls Atalanta.
      Jeremie Boga’s fine pass set Lookman surging forward on the right for a flashing near-post shot that Szczesny fumbled in.
      Admittedly, the former Everton striker’s shot swerved viciously at the last moment.
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      But Szczesny accepted the blame after failing to get his whole body behind the ball.
      Some fans pounced on the mistake far better than the Pole did on the ball with jibes on social media.
      One said: “How on earth is Szczesny still playing for Juventus?
      “Every clip you seem to see of him on here is of him making an error. Surely they could get a better, more consistent keeper?”
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      And one wished they had retained Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon, now 44, who left for Parma in 2021.
      That post read: “Honestly Buffon is still way better. They should’ve kept him.”
      But a penalty from Argentina’s World Cup hero Angel Di Maria and an angled strike from Szczesny’s international team-mate Arkadiusz Milik put Juve 2-1 up.
      Denmark right-back Joakim Maehle and Lookman with his second goal then restored Atalanta’s lead early in the second period.
      Brazilian defender Danilo rescued a home point for Juventus with a clever clever free-kick into the corner on 65 minutes.
      But it still leaves Juve 11 points off the top six.
      It followed quickly after they were shocked by a 15-point deduction following claims they inflated transfer fees in dealings with rival Italian clubs for three years.
      That freed up millions of pounds in “capital gains” for tax purposes, boosting Juve’s ability to splash out on signings.
      Juventus were initially acquitted but Italian FA prosecutors successfully asked for the case to be heard again.
      Szczesny looks a lkittle bashful as he applauds fans after the lively drawCredit: Getty More

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      Gutted Luke Shaw admits Man Utd deserved to lose to Arsenal and says last-minute defeat is a ‘reality check’

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      DEJECTED Luke Shaw admitted Manchester United deserved to lose their blockbuster clash at Arsenal. And the full-back reckons the 90th-minute Eddie Nketiah sucker-punch was a “reality check” for a Red Devils team in transition under Erik ten Hag.
      Bukayo Saka gave Luke Shaw a difficult afternoon at the EmiratesCredit: Getty
      The left-back was visibly gutted to lose the match
      Arsenal managed a whopping 25 shots to United’s six and dominated the second half in the 3-2 comeback win.
      Shaw had a torrid afternoon at the Emirates as he found himself constantly backing into the penalty area while his England team-mate Bukayo Saka twisted and turned.
      And the defender, 27, was typically honest when he spoke to Sky Sports, admitting the Red Devils did not do enough.
      A crestfallen Shaw confessed: “In the second half maybe we deserved that.
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      “We were a bit passive and we let them control the game in the second half and to concede right at the end is gutting.
      “We know they’re an extremely good side and we were fighting all the way until that last second.

      “In games like this, you need to be concentrating for the whole game because one lapse in concentration and you will concede against a good side. 
      “We started getting control of the game. We were winning the ball high up the pitch which led to us scoring the first goal.
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      “First half went well but second half we backed off a bit and let them have control of the game.
      “They were having chance after chance and it’s going to be like that at the end of the game then they are always going to get one more big chance.”
      United were just minutes away from clinging on to a point which would have kept them eight points off Arsenal.
      But with Michael Olise’s late free-kick on Wednesday followed by Nketiah’s flick, Erik ten Hag’s side have dropped three crucial points since winning the Manchester derby.
      They now sit on 39 points after 20 games, level with Newcastle, six clear of fifth-placed Tottenham but 11 behind Arsenal who have a game in hand.
      United’s next three games are all in the cups with the two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest either side of Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to Reading before returning to Premier League action on February 4.
      Shaw added: “You have to give Arsenal credit for what they have done this season.
      “We are only half way but they deserve to be at the top from the way they are playing.
      ‘WE ARE GUTTED’
      “There is a long way to go and we have to focus on our next game as we have a big semi-final coming up. 
      “The quality of these games are getting much more. It was a very tough game to be involved in but these are the games everyone wants to be involved in to test yourself against the best.
      “But we are gutted in the dressing room for conceding late on.
      “It is a bit of reality check to where we are at the moment but we have to get back to work with an extremely big game on Wednesday against Forest.”
      Shaw was named by Roy Keane as one of the four players that prove Manchester United are struggling to progress and are “well short” of where they should be, especially given Ten Hag oversaw £206million of summer spending.
      The Irishman said: “United have made progress but at the end of the game, I’m looking at Luke Shaw still at left-back – there are question marks over him.
      “Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Scott McTominay – it’s like Manchester United haven’t moved on from the problems in the past.
      “I’m not blaming them as it was a tough game, give credit to Arsenal. It was a reality check.
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      “For all the money United have spent they are still well short.
      “I think they are certs for top four, maybe win a cup but in terms of competing for league titles there is a bit to go.” More

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      ‘You’re not in this job to be liked’ – Roy Keane DEFENDS ‘passionate’ Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for touchline antics

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      ROY KEANE saw nothing wrong with Mikel Arteta’s emotional touchline behaviour during Arsenal’s thrilling 3-2 win over Man Utd.The Gunners regained their five-point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League title race on Sunday as Eddie Nketiah’s dramatic late strike handed them a huge victory.
      Mikel Arteta was booked during Sunday’s clash at the EmiratesCredit: Getty
      “You’re not in this job to be liked, he’s there to win football matches for Arsenal!”Roy Keane has no problems with Mikel Arteta’s passion on the sidelines 👇 pic.twitter.com/Kt11ib3Ces— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 22, 2023

      Roy Keane defended Arteta’s pitchside antics against Man UtdCredit: Twitter @SkySportsPL
      And while Arteta continues to lead his team through a superb campaign, his pitchside antics have been scrutinised.
      The Spaniard was booked during the win over Man Utd after furiously reacting to Luke Shaw’s innocuous foul on Bukayo Saka.
      But Keane does not believe Arteta deserves any criticism for his conduct.
      Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Well I certainly wouldn’t worry about yellow cards, it’s the reds that you’ve got to worry about!
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      “But from the Arsenal point of view I think they’d be OK with it, because he’s obviously passionate and you’re not in this job to be liked!
      “He’s there to win football matches for Arsenal and that’s what he’s doing.

      “Listen, he’s got the yellow card, he has to take his medicine, but I generally have no problem with it.
      “We see other managers doing stuff that we might not always agree with but they’re emotional, they’re passionate and I think that’s just because he wants to win. I wouldn’t be too harsh on him.”
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      Arsenal now have 50 points after 19 league games and have lost just once – in the reverse fixture against Man Utd.
      At this stage of the campaign, they have accumulated more points than any Gunners side in Premier League history.
      Next up for Arteta’s men is an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Man City on Friday, before they travel to Everton on February 4. More

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      Why does Marcus Rashford point at his head when celebrating goals for Man Utd?

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      MARCUS RASHFORD is in the form of his life this season after scoring again for Manchester United at Arsenal.The England forward, 25, has turned a page under Erik ten Hag, since the Dutchman took over as Old Trafford boss.
      Marcus Rashford has been celebrating by pointing at his head when he scores for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      And Rashford has cited a clear mind as the reason why he is doing so well for Manchester United.
      Why does Marcus Rashford point at his head and what does his celebration mean?
      After putting the ball in the back of the net, Rashford has been raising his finger to his temple.
      The celebration is an ode to his clearer head space under Ten Hag’s regime at United.
      He said: “It’s a complete different energy around the club and the training ground.
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      “That puts me in a better headspace and I just feel really motivated now. That’s the area I was struggling in.
      “I was struggling at times with more mental things. It wasn’t really my own performance but other things off the pitch. That’s the biggest difference from last season.
      “Too often last season, I wasn’t in the right headspace for games. I wasn’t surprised by some of the stuff that was happening.”
      Does Bukayo Saka copy Marcus Rashford’s celebration?
      The Arsenal star also pointed to his head after scoring against Manchester United in the Premier League.
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      The celebration looked to be a carbon copy of Rashford’s.
      Although it looked to be a compliment to his England team-mate rather than a parody from Saka.
      Rashford and Saka were in the same boat in the summer of 2021 as they both missed penalties for England in their Euro 2020 final shootout against Italy.
      Both players were targeted by vile trolls after the match and have fought back to the top of their games.
      Bukayo Saka points to his temple after scoring for Arsenal against Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty More

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      Roy Keane says Man Utd are ‘well short’ and claims four players show club ‘haven’t moved on from the past’

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      ROY KEANE reckons Manchester United are still “well short” of where they should be for all the money spent.And the former captain identified four players that prove the club “hasn’t moved on from the past”.
      Roy Keane was not afraid to air his views on the Manchester United teamCredit: Twitter @SkySportsPL
      Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay felt the wrath of the former captainCredit: Getty
      Keane, 51, was in the Sky Sports studio for United’s 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
      Eddie Nketiah scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner – after Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli had tormented the Red Devils’ full-backs throughout the Emirates blockbuster.
      Irishman Keane praised the Gunners as they regained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
      But he also remains unconvinced by a number of the players still in the United squad and that was exposed in the absence of the suspended Casemiro, despite spending £206million last summer.
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      Keane referenced long-term strugglers £33m Luke Shaw, £50m Aaron Wan-Bissaka, £52m Fred and academy graduate Scott McTominay for his criticism.
      He said: “United have made progress but at the end of the game, I’m looking at Luke Shaw still at left-back – there are question marks over him.
      “Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Scott McTominay – it’s as if Manchester United haven’t moved on from the problems in the past.
      “I’m not blaming them as it was a tough game, give credit to Arsenal. It was a reality check.
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      “I still think United are well short.
      “They were missing players today but a squad like United should be able to deal with it. 
      “Then when the going got tough you are looking at the bench and it wasn’t great.
      “For all the money United have spent they are still well short.
      “I think they are certs for top four, maybe win a cup but in terms of competing for league titles there is a bit to go.”
      Shaw found himself constantly backing into the penalty area as his England team-mate Saka danced inside and out.
      The left-back confessed the Red Devils did not do enough in the second half and “deserved” to lose in the end.
      He said: “We were passive and let them control the game completely.
      ‘REALITY CHECK’
      “To concede at the end is gutting but they are an extremely good side.
      “We were fighting all the way to that last second – you need to concentrate for the entire game.
      “It’s a bit of a reality check to where we are at the moment.”
      It was on the other side, though, that Keane was particularly disappointed as he tore into Wan-Bissaka’s defending as Granit Xhaka crossed for Nketiah to head in for 1-1.
      Keane added: “I don’t think he’s great going forward or in possession.
      “People say he’s a really good defender – I actually don’t think he’s that good a defender and we saw that for the goal.
      “He needs to do a lot better. He seems surprised.
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      “This is big boy stuff, big moments. Do your job. Go and attack the ball.
      “Looking at him over the last few years, I don’t see that improvement for a Manchester United full-back.”
      Aaron Wan-Bissaka at times struggled at the EmiratesCredit: AP
      Fred has struggled to live up to his £52m price tagCredit: Getty More