The Premier League season continues this weekend with Matchday 26, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of four games:
Saturday, February 25
• Chelsea vs. Swansea City, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Everton vs. Sunderland, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet ONE)
• Crystal Palace vs. Middlesbrough, 9:30 a.m. ET / 6:30 a.m. PT (Sportsnet World NOW)
Monday, February 27
• Leicester City vs. Liverpool, 2:00 p.m. ET / noon PT (Sportsnet World)
You can also follow all of the Premier League action this weekend online with SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend…
THE BIG GAME
Leicester City vs. Liverpool: The Foxes begin life without Claudio Ranieri on Monday when they host Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. The reigning champions fired the Italian manager on Thursday, and assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell have been put in temporary charge of the side.
The decision to part company with the popular Ranieri drew widespread criticism from fans and pundits after the Italian guided Leicester to the Premier League title a season ago. But it hardly came as a shock that the Foxes decided to make a change with 13 matches left in the current campaign when you consider the current situation.
Leicester enters this weekend’s slate of games in 17th place, one point and one spot out of the drop zone. The team hasn’t scored a goal in six league games in 2017 and has won just one of its last 10 matches. On current form, they look to be a strong candidate for relegation, so Monday’s game could set the tone for the rest of the season—if they earn a positive result against Liverpool, Leicester could build some much-needed momentum and put a bit of distance between themselves and the clubs at the very bottom of the table.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Manuel Lanzini, West Ham United: The Argentine is in good form, as he scored twice and tallied a pair of assists in his last five Premier League appearances—this after going seven games without being directly involved in a single goal. He’s become a key figure for the Hammers ever since the departure of Dimitri Payet, and the London club will once again look to the talented playmaker when they visit Bournemouth on Saturday.
ROONEY STAYING AT UNITED FOR NOW
Wayne Rooney was recently linked with a move to the Chinese Super League—their transfer window doesn’t close until next week—but the Manchester United forward said Thursday he’s staying with the Red Devils for now. Rooney has 18 months left on his contract.
“Despite the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I’m grateful. I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at Manchester United,” Rooney said.
United was originally scheduled to play Manchester City on Saturday. But that game has been postponed, as the Red Devils will play Southampton in the English League Cup final on Sunday.
LIVERPOOL EXTENDS LALLANA
Liverpool announced this week that it signed midfielder Adam Lallana to a new long-term contract.
Lallana, 28, joined the Reds in a 25-million pound transfer from Southampton in June 2014. He’s made 117 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 20 goals.
“I’m very proud and feel quite humbled by the show of faith from the club and the manager in particular,” Lallana told the team’s official website. “Signing for a club like Liverpool is obviously a big thing but to re-sign shows you’ve obviously contributed enough that the people who make the decisions want you to stay longer.”
BERAHINO READY TO START FOR STOKE CITY
Stoke City striker Saido Berahino has declared himself ready to make his first start for his new club on Sunday when they visit Tottenham.
Berahino joined Stoke from West Bromwich Albion in January, but he has made just two substitute appearances so far for the Potters. He made just five appearances for West Brom this season before his transfer and has not scored a league goal for close to a year.
“I have been doing a lot of work with the group but also a lot, every day, away from them too, to make sure I am getting my levels right back up to where we want them to be,” Berahino told the club’s website.
INTERESTING STAT
JAMES SHARMAN’S THOUGHTS
Sportsnet commentator James Sharman weighed in with his thoughts on Leicester City’s decision to fire Claudio Ranieri.
Here’s an excerpt from this week’s blog…
Just in case you forgot, or you conveniently let it slip your mind, we were reminded this week that pro sports, and English soccer in particular, can be a nasty and ruthless business, with little room for sentimentality.
In the end, results are all that count. Nothing more. The past is the past. “What have you done for me lately” has become the mantra of owners.
Leicester City fired Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, the Foxes’ decision to part ways with the Italian manager coming just weeks after he was crowned FIFA’s coach of the year. It also came with the memory of last season still fresh, when Ranieri guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in one of sports’ greatest shocks of all time.
To read the full blog, CLICK HERE
THE BIG QUESTION
Chelsea’s march to the title seems unstoppable. The Blues have been the class of the Premier League, and what’s stood out about them is that it’s not one or two guys leading the way—they’re getting major contributions from a number of players.
All of which leads us to ask “The Big Question”…
Who has been Chelsea’s MVP?
Sportsnet wants to know what you think, so have your say by voting in the poll. Then tune in to Sportsnet’s Premier League coverage this weekend as soccer commentators James Sharman, Craig Forrest and Danny Dichio debate “The Big Question.”
HE SAID IT
“I can categorically confirm that every single person is behind Claudio [Ranieri]. He’s a great guy and he’s the same as us, he doesn’t want to be in this position.” – Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy before Ranieri was fired.
SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
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