OptiNews - Friday 08 to Thursday 14 December 2017

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 08/12/2017 09:06:42

| | ‘He’s not the messiah’ - Southampton fans react to management return for familiar faceFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

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| Football Related Arrests Fall Once More | The number of arrests at Football matches fell once again last season, meaning that they have almost halved in … 08-12-2017 |
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Premier League predictions: Lawro v Pointless presenter Richard Osman

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Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the season in the Champions League on Wednesday - will their first Premier League loss follow four days later against Manchester United?

BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson says: "I think the atmosphere at Old Trafford will be ramped up for this one.

"Yes, there have been plenty of times recently when United have been below City in the table when they have played them.

"But City have done so well this season, and that is something United are not really used to. That will add an edge to things.

Lawro is going for a 2-1 United win - do you agree? You can make your own predictions now, take on Lawro and other fans, create your own league and try to make it to the top of the table by playing the new-look BBC Sport Predictor game.

Lawro scored 80 points in week 15, which meant he slipped to 3,915th place out of more than 280,000 users.

He will be making a prediction for all 380 top-flight games this season, against a variety of guests.

Lawro takes on Pointless co-presenter Richard Osman for this weekend’s fixtures.

Osman, who supports Fulham and is a season ticket holder at Craven Cottage, did not end up with a score to match the aim of contestants that appear on his TV programme when he took on Lawro in April 2013 - he scored 100 points.

How will he do this time, though?

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.

It was a real shame for West Ham that they could not hold on for a draw at Manchester City last weekend, because they deserved a point and, in relation to his other results, it would have a very big one for David Moyes.

I think the Hammers will be buoyed by that performance, though, and I am backing them to get something against Chelsea.

Blues boss Antonio Conte thinks his team are playing too many games - along with Arsenal, City and United, Chelsea play nine times in December.

If they are feeling tired, then it might catch up with them here.

Richard’s prediction: I think Chelsea are hitting a rich vein of form and this game looks a tough one for West Ham. 0-3

Burnley could easily have nicked a point in their 1-0 defeat by Leicester but the really bad news for them from that game was losing Robbie Brady with a long-term injury, because he will be badly missed.

Watford drew with 10-man Tottenham last weekend and they have got enough about them to cause any team problems. Like Burnley they have a system - or, more accurately, systems - that work.

I am going with the Clarets to win at Turf Moor but you only have to look at the table to see how well both of these sides are doing.

Back in August, not many people would have thought that after more than a third of the season, they would both be up there, but you only have to watch them to realise why.

Richard’s prediction: For the glamour tie of the weekend, I am going for a draw. 1-1

Palace have been gradually picking up points since Roy Hodgson took over and now they are off the bottom of the table.

The next step for them is to get out of the relegation zone and, although that looks unlikely to happen this week, it will not take too long.

The Eagles fans at Selhurst Park play their part too - they are so vociferous and really do back the team.

I think they realise that Hodgson has got a chance of getting them out of the mire that they are in, and they are really behind him.

My chief concern about Bournemouth would be over their inconsistency - but I still think they will be fine in the end.

Richard’s prediction: I love Crystal Palace boss (and former Fulham manager) Roy Hodgson more than life itself so I couldn’t possibly predict a Palace defeat even though my brother is an Eagles fan. 2-0

Huddersfield are on a four-game losing run and the doubts about whether they are good enough for the Premier League may have started to creep in.

Like Brighton, they usually do not like to give very much away but, when I look at this game from the point of view of both managers, I am thinking why not have a bit of a go here to try to nick all three points?

Will either team do that? I am not sure, but surely three points here is worth the risk for both.

Richard’s prediction: Fulham destroyed Huddersfield in the Championship last season and yet Huddersfield still went up. Brighton did a number on us both times.

It is lovely to see them both in the Premier League, while we languish in the depths of the Championship. 1-1

West Brom have not won for 14 games, going back to August, but they have just picked up three successive draws with three very positive performances.

Swansea, meanwhile, continue to struggle and have now taken only one point from their past seven matches, and have dropped to the bottom of the table.

The Swans’ lack of goals - they have scored eight in 15 league games this season - is of as much concern as their lack of form.

But I am going to back them to get a point this weekend, which would be something to build on. A draw would be a decent result for West Brom too.

Richard’s prediction: I think maybe Alan Pardew will have an immediate impact at West Brom. It often seems to happen. 0-2

Stoke came from 1-0 down against Swansea to get a much-needed win, and stop their slide a little bit.

Tottenham’s form in the Champions League has been impressive and although they have dropped some points in the Premier League recently, I only see that as a blip - nothing more.

I’ve heard a few theories about why Spurs have been stuttering but I think it is fair to say that some of their players just have not reached the heights they did last season.

We have seen flashes from them of course, because they are outstanding players, but they are just not in form at the moment. That happens, and it can change very quickly.

Richard’s prediction: Spurs have been stuttering a little bit recently, but they have got to hit form again some time soon. 3-1

Newcastle’s poor run continued with their defeat at Chelsea, and they have now taken only one point from their past six matches.

Leicester, in contrast, beat Burnley to maintain their improvement under Claude Puel. The Foxes are ninth in the table, which is around where they should be.

I just fancy Newcastle to edge this one, though.

Benitez has made his feelings clear about the limitations of his squad but he is still usually very good at negating the opposition’s main strength. His side need a win, and I think they will get one.

Richard’s prediction: This is a tough one to call. I like the way both teams play, and I think Leicester are coming back into a bit of form - especially Riyad Mahrez. It could be a good game. 2-2

Without David de Gea in goal for Manchester United, Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat last week could have been very different - but that is what makes him such an outstanding goalkeeper.

The Gunners were decent going forward but, defensively, you see them and say ‘oh my goodness’.

You can be the best attacking side in the world but if you can’t defend on a given day against a good side, then you are always going to be in trouble.

Southampton came back to get a point against Bournemouth last week and I am going to go for another draw here.

I don’t think Saints will test Arsenal’s defence in the same way United did, but they won’t give too much away at the back either.

Richard’s prediction: Ah, Arsenal. They win, they lose, they win, they lose. They are so inconsistent and I am trying to work out what they are due - a loss, I think - sorry Gunners fans. 2-1

I am at Anfield for BBC Radio 5 live, and I am expecting Liverpool to win.

Everton have got a new manager and have won their past three games. This early spell is when Sam Allardyce usually has a big effect on results, but I think Liverpool might alter that statistic on this occasion.

Because of their Europa League tie on Thursday, Allardyce will not have had much time to train with his squad, Everton ship a lot of goals and boy do Liverpool like scoring them at the moment.

The Reds record in front of goal is just staggering, as is the amount of chances they are creating at the moment too,

It will not be one-way traffic - it is a derby, and I know what kind of games they are - but even if it is a lot tighter, I cannot see Liverpool making lots of chances without taking a couple of them.

Richard’s prediction: I think this will be a cracking game - they always seem to be - and I think there will be a few goals. I am backing Liverpool to win it, because they are at home. 3-2

Paul Pogba is out for Manchester United and, while it looks like David Silva will be fit for City, they have a worry over their captain Vincent Kompany.

That doubt over Kompany is part of the reason I am predicting City’s first defeat of the season.

I just think United have hit a run of form, and their win at Arsenal last week was very comfortable and impressive.

If Kompany is missing, that will give United more opportunities from set-peces and, although City will create plenty of chances themselves, David de Gea is obviously in such fine form in goal for Jose Mourinho’s side.

The key will be what Mourinho tries tactically. You know he will have a plan, and he will have had a team in mind for the past three or four matches too.

So Pogba’s suspension is a blow for him as far as that is concerned, but I just have a feeling United will go and beat City, in not a particularly good game.

Richard’s prediction: City look absolutely unstoppable - what a pleasure it has been watching them this season. If anyone can stop them, it’s Jose Mourinho, but I don’t think that he can. 0-3

From the last round of games, Lawro got five correct results, with one perfect score, from 10 matches, for a total of 80 points.

He beat comedian Nish Kumar who got six correct results, but with no perfect scores, giving him 60 points.

*Foster and Cram both provided predictions on week one, but only Foster’s score contributes to the guest total.

**Anderson and Moeen both provided predictions on week nine, but only Anderson’s score contributes to the guest total.

Lawro’s worst score: 40 points (week four v Umenyiora and Bell, and week five v Non Stanford)

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:fox_face: :zero:-:four: :innocent:

#OnThisDay in 2001, it was a memorable trip to #LCFC for #SaintsFC:

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Eddie Howe says the @premierleague refs’ body the PGMOL have contacted him to say the Adam Smith penalty decision was wrong #afcb #saintsfc

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 08/12/2017 11:07:43

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| Wenger To Make 11 Changes – Strongest 3-4-2-1 Arsenal Line-up To Face Southampton – SoccerSoulsSOCCERSOULS |

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Find out how you can continue to support @SportPesa_UK’s #KitsForAfrica campaign at #SaintsFC’s upcoming home match… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/939095756832571393

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The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

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DEFAULTVideo: On this day in 2001: Leicester 0-4 Southampton

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10 transfers that could go through in January

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Premier League clubs may be primarily occupied with a relentless December fixture schedule but behind the scenes, work is already underway ahead of the January transfer window.

The start of the year is a notoriously tricky time for clubs to do business but with a World Cup on the horizon, some players will be more open to moving in pursuit of first-team football.

Sportsmail looks at 10 players who could switch sides next month.

Interest: Plenty, including West Ham, but figures are high and Liverpool will need to agree to let him go as they also have interest in Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings.

Interest: Chelsea and Liverpool with the latter expected to win the contest but at a huge price. Key is whether Southampton sell in January or summer but they have scouted replacements.

Interest: Manchester City and Arsenal are both ready to revive their bids from the summer. Leicester and Everton have also considered the classy Northern Ireland defender.

Interest: Everton have tried in the past and remain keen on the former Stoke City midfielder despite his moods. Juventus have him as back up to their plan to sign Emre Can.

Interest: Brighton and Hove Albion will consider making an offer for the 21-year-old who has managed eight goals in 16 games this season. West Ham and Everton like him too.

Interest: Real Madrid have Luiz on their radar as they weigh up defensive additions in January and the Brazilian is keen to move as he looks to galvanise his place in his country’s World Cup squad

Interest: Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City all like Deeney for his aggression and goals. Watford will sell for a set price that gives them a substantial profit and sell-on to Walsall

Interest: Chelsea and Tottenham. Barkley rejected a move to Chelsea in the summer and they retain an interest despite his hamstring injury. Sam Allardyce would like him to stay

Interest: Manchester City and Everton have both considered the Palace left-back but he is not their prime target. City also like Inigo Martinez at Sociedad while Everton have asked about Baba Rahman at Chelsea.

Interest: West Ham lead the way for the Russia international striker who has been banging in the goals for club and country but Real Madrid have also watched.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 08/12/2017 13:08:14

| | EIRSPORT |
| | Vital Preview - Premier League - 9th-10th December 2017VITALFOOTBALL |
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| Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott hoping Europa League performances open door to Premier League startsIBTIMES |
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| | Michael Owen states ‘open’ prediction for Southampton v ArsenalSPORTREVIEWCOM |

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Arsenal squad vs Southampton revealed

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Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of Shkodran Mustafi ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Southampton .

The defender was forced off early on in last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United and could be out of the St Mary’s clash with a thigh problem.

Santi Cazorla (ankle) is the only other absentee with manager Arsene Wenger set to recall a host of first-team players rested for Thursday’s 6-0 Europa League win over BATE Borisov.

Despite his ability to rotate his team between competitions, Wenger has been unable to keep pace with those at the business-end of the Premier League table and the 68-year-old has conceded talk of a first title since 2004 is not on the agenda.

“At the moment we have different worries than the title,” he said. "After such disappointment, you have to think about winning the next game.

“We are too far from the title at the moment to speak about the title. It’s not realistic. Let’s try to win our next game and over a longer distance see if we can come back.”

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Watch live as #SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino speaks to the media ahead of the #PL visit of #Arsenal: https://www.pscp.tv/w/bPk8lTMxOTB8MXZBeFJNYkxtT3ZKbAtOahPtd78TU1lllAF9xDzD4-fMOZKwwmzn1b4W81Dc

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MP: “I hope @chazaustin10 can continue in the same way, he is in great scoring form and his confidence is high."… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/939130196996829184

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 08/12/2017 14:08:28

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| Wenger - There should be goals in Saints gameARSENAL |
| | Mustafi could miss Arsenal-Southampton clashEIRSPORT |
| | THE72 |

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Southampton vs Arsenal: Team news, kick-off time, odds and stats

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Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Southampton’s home clash with Arsenal.

Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of Shkodran Mustafi ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Southampton.

The defender was forced off early on in last weekend’s defeat by Manchester United and could be out of the St Mary’s clash with a thigh problem.

Santi Cazorla (ankle) is the only other absentee with manager Arsene Wenger set to recall a host of first-team players rested for Thursday’s 6-0 Europa League win over BATE Borisov.

Southampton have only lost one of their last six home Premier League games against Arsenal (W2 D3), though it was in the last such meeting back in May (0-2).

Arsenal haven’t won successive away league games against Southampton since August 1997.

However, Arsenal did win twice at St Mary’s last season, earning a 5-0 victory in an FA Cup fourth round match thanks to a Theo Walcott hat-trick, and a 2-0 win in the Premier League.

Southampton have never lost three home games in all competitions against a single opponent in a calendar year, while Arsenal last won three away matches against an opponent in a calendar year in 1987 against Spurs (four wins).

Only two Arsenal players have scored more goals in their first 15 Premier League appearances for the club than Alexandre Lacazette (8) – Alexis Sanchez (9) and Ian Wright (10).

The Gunners have lost 11 league matches in 2017, their worst tally in a calendar year since 1995 (14).

No Premier League player has made more Premier League appearances without starting a game than Olivier Giroud this season (12, level with Diafra Sakho) – at a single club, only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man Utd (17) has more Premier League substitute goals than Giroud does for Arsenal (16), including three this season.

Arsenal have already recovered as many points from losing positions this season as they managed in the entirety of last season (9) and won more matches from behind this season (3) than last season (2).

Fraser Forster has conceded just five goals in his five Premier League games against Arsenal, despite the Gunners having 30 shots on target against the England keeper.

Charlie Austin has scored seven goals in his last 10 Premier League starts for Southampton, including three in his last two.

Austin has scored in both of his previous two Premier League appearances against Arsenal, but he ended up on the losing side for QPR (both 1-2) on both occasions.

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Arsene Wenger admits his Arsenal team are focusing on next game and not Premier League title

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Arsene Wenger admits his Arsenal team are focusing on next game and not Premier League title

Arsene Wenger has admitted Arsenal are further away from being title hopefuls as ever ahead of Sunday’s trip to Southampton.

The Arsenal manager conceded it was unrealistic for the Gunners to talk about winning the Premier League, after losing 3-1 at home to rivals Manchester United last weekend.

Arsenal are in fifth place, 15 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, ahead of travelling to St Mary’s and it is expected Wenger will once again rotate the entire starting XI.

Players such as Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, who all featured in the 6-0 Europa League thrashing of BATE Borisov at the Emirates, are likely to make way for Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette.

“At the moment we have different worries than the title,” Wenger said. "After such disappointment, you have to think about winning the next game.

“We are too far from the title at the moment to speak about the title. It’s not realistic. Let’s try to win our next game and over a longer distance see if we can come back.”

Wilshere again shone in Europe’s secondary competition but he, along with Walcott, Giroud, Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin, are likely to be kept waiting to make an impact in the league.

Although he will make sweeping changes at Southampton, Wenger did question the fairness of playing the game at noon on Sunday.

“I have nothing against the fact that we have to do that, as long as our opponents have the same recovery days,” he said when asked about the time between the BATE and Southampton games.

“That was not the case last week and will not be the case again. Between three days and five days is a big gap on the recovery side. If we have to play every day I don’t mind as long as our opponents do as well.”

Another player enjoying a resurgence in the Arsenal side is defender Mathieu Debuchy, who got the ball rolling in the win over BATE as he scored his first goal in almost three years.

“He is under contract [until 2019],” Wenger replied when asked if his 32-year-old had a genuine future at the club.

"That’s down to his performances now and I opened the door for him [to leave] many times because he didn’t play and because he has (Hector) Bellerin in front of him.

“I consider him like anybody else and I must say I have a huge respect for his professional side and how much he did fight to come back to the top. He’s a tough, tough guy. Tough worker.”

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Premier League team news, odds and stats from every match this weekend

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Ahead of this weekend’s matches in the Premier League, Sportsmail brings you the latest squad news, odds and stats on every top flight fixture as it breaks.

Simply click on your team in the fixture list below to find out who is ruled out and who is making a return as well as all the key statistics surrounding your club’s fixture.

In or out? Keep up-to-date with all the latest team news and stats ahead of the weekend

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Boufal: ‘there’s so much more to come’

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SOFIANE Boufal insists that Saints have not seen his true quality yet and says just “wait and see”.

The Moroccan attacking midfielder is growing in influence at St Mary’s, having had a difficult first season after his then club-record £16m move from Lille in the summer of 2016.

The 24-year-old rarely played at the beginning of this campaign, either, but a sensational solo goal against West Bromwich Albion “helped” him establish himself at Saints.

Now, after increasingly good performances, Boufal, who is adamant there’s so much more to come from him, is starting to deliver what the club must have dreamt of when they signed the mercurial talent.

“I have more confidence and I feel fitter. I now feel very good in my body and in my head,” he said.

“Now I play more regularly it’s easier for me to show my qualities and I know my qualities and at the moment you don’t see a lot of my qualities; I know I can do better.”

When asked what more Saints supporters can expected to see from him, he smiled and said: “Wait and see.”

He continued: “I feel better and better and I feel more fit and confident. Yes, I need to progress, I need to be more consistent, I know this, but now the most difficult period is gone and now I look forward to the future.

“To be honest with you, I’m confident for the future.”

A knee injury he suffered in May 2016 while at former club Lille hampered his early progress at Saints, having had to wait until October 2016 to make his debut.

Inflammation of that same knee later in the season meant he missed the Africa Cup of Nations and other fitness niggles meant he never really got any momentum last term, despite making 30 appearances in all competitions.

“I don’t know one player who just do the good, good, good moments in football – all players do bad moments and a bad season,” he said, talking about his first season at St Mary’s.

“I came last season and I was injured. I didn’t do preseason and I knew my first season would be difficult. But all these things are behind me and now I look forward.”

After that tough first campaign, Boufal didn’t rest.

During the summer, while most of the football world were sunning themselves, the tricky attacker was putting in extra hours of training so he could really make his mark this campaign.

“I had four weeks holidays and I didn’t take much of that as holiday because I worked a lot in the summer to prepare for this season,” he explains.

“I knew this season was very important for me.

“The start of this season did not go as well as I’d hoped for, but it’s football and I worked hard in this moment. I stay focused and I knew when the manager gave me my chance I would take it.

“Now I feel better, I feel fit and I’m confident about the future.”

Certainly, those extra sessions have started to pay dividends. His wonderful winning solo goal against West Brom as well as a brilliant touch and assist at Manchester City for Oriol Romeu’s strike at the Etihad Stadium is testament to that.

The Baggies strike, which saw him burst out of his own half, weave past several opponents before slotting home, will live long in the memory for Saints fans, and Boufal knows how significant that goal was to changing his fortunes at St Mary’s.

Boufal, who now wants to find more consistency, started just one of Saints’ opening eight Premier League matches, mainly being used as an option from the bench by boss Mauricio Pellegrino.

“If the manager put me out it’s because he had a good reason, so I needed to work harder,” he said.

“Yes, my goal against West Brom helped me because I play more now and I’m more confident. It helped my confidence.

“Now I’m playing regularly and I’m happy and I need to progress better, but I’m not so worried about that.”

He added: “I know my qualities and I know this kind of goal I can do, because in France I did this – I scored one or two goals like this.

“That’s my qualities; I can score a goal like that.”

Boufal is now targeting his first World Cup with Morocco, but knows his form at Saints will be important in making his dream of going to Russia next summer become a reality.

Morocco were drawn against Euro 2016 champions Portugal, Spain and Iran in their group for the tournament.

“For going to Russia I need a very good season with Southampton, so now I’m focused about my club,” Boufal said.

“But it’s a dream to play in a World Cup. We have very difficult games, a difficult group, against some big teams, but we have good players and we have nothing to lose.

“Now I’m more focused with my club because it’s the club who will help me to play at the World Cup.”

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