Stories By Graham Ruthven
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Sport
Do Arsenal need a new centre-forward to reach the next level?
The sight of Arsenal sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table is proof of the progress Mikel Arteta’s team have made this season. The Gunners might still be a long way from the top of the English game but they stand a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in five years.
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Sport
Conor Gallagher in reckoning for England World Cup squad
The 2022 World Cup might be close to a full year off, but Gareth Southgate surely has a good idea of who will be on the plane to Qatar with him. By and large, the England squad that travels to the Gulf state will be the same as the one that made the Euro 2020 final this summer.
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Sport
The Liverpool defence is now back to its best
Despite all the plaudits given to Liverpool’s attacking threat, is it their defence which could win them the Premier League title this season? No Premier League team has scored as many goals as Liverpool have this season.
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Sport
Can Antonio Conte get Harry Kane back to his best?
The Premier League table looks better for Tottenham Hotspur than it did a few weeks ago. While the North London club sat in eighth place at the point of Antonio Conte’s appointment in early November, Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich City lifted them to within two points of the top four and Champions League qualification.
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Sport
Is John McGinn beginning to outgrow Aston Villa?
It didn’t take long for the £2m signing of John McGinn in the summer of 2018 to look like a bargain for Aston Villa. Indeed, the midfielder was an instant success at Villa Park, pushing the West Midlands club to promotion to the Premier League in his first season and playing a key role in re-establishing them in the English top flight.
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Sport
Steven Gerrard off to a promising start at Aston Villa
If any Aston Villa fans were unsure of what Steven Gerrard would offer their club, they surely have a clearer idea now. The former Liverpool and England captain has made a strong start to life at Villa Park with back-to-back wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace lifting the struggling side up to 13th place in the Premier League table.
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Sport
Graham Potter has progressed Brighton despite winless run
“We are sitting eighth in the Premier League but maybe I need a history lesson on this club,” an exasperated Graham Potter said in an interview after Brighton earnt a goalless draw with Leeds United.
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Sport
Benitez feeling the pressure as Everton crumble
Everton weren’t expected to take anything from the Etihad Stadium against the reigning Premier League champions. Indeed, a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City was no disgrace for the Toffees, but the manner of their performance prompted questions about the direction that the Goodison Park club is heading under Rafael Benitez.
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Sport
Diogo Jota embodies many of Liverpool’s best qualities
No Premier League team has scored more goals this season than Liverpool. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s side have found the back of the net 35 times in just 12 fixtures with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah forming the most formidable frontline in the European game at this moment in time.
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Sport
Billy Gilmour could be the key to Norwich survival
By the time the full time whistle blew on Scotland’s World Cup qualifying win over Denmark last week, Billy Gilmour had played more minutes for his country (589) than he had for his club (458) this season.
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Sport
Where should free agent Zinedine Zidane go next?
In retrospect, Zinedine Zidane probably shouldn’t have returned to Real Madrid for a second stint as manager. The Frenchman still managed to win a Spanish title in the 2019/20 season but, after an initial tenure that saw him leave after lifting three straight Champions League trophies, Zidane found a club in a state of transition upon walking through the door again.
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