OptiNews - Friday 15 to Thursday 21 December 2017

Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Pellegrino in blistering attack on Southampton stars’ commitment after 4-1 loss

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Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has launched a blistering attack on his players, accusing them of ­lacking ­commitment against Leicester.

The Argentinian was forced to apologise to furious fans after his team slumped to a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to sacked former boss Claude Puel’s Foxes on Wednesday.

An angry Pellegrino said: “It was a bad game from the beginning.

“I feel like there was a lack of connection in ­different moments. We were not ­connecting 100 per cent on the game. When you see all the goals we conceded, we don’t usually make these type of ­mistakes. Lack of connection is when you are not ­mentally 100 per cent on the pitch.

“The mood and the feeling before the game and the preparation was right. When you are not mentally ready, it’s ­difficult to be physically ready on the pitch.

“In difficult moments you have to come back to the foundation of the team, the discipline of the team and think about the possibility they have to be in this club and to be in the Premier League.

“Not many players are [lucky enough to be] in this situation.

“We have to start to choose the players that want to help the club, 100 per cent. Their behaviour has to be committed to the club, 100 per cent.

“There are not too many times I have to say sorry to my fans, because when you do everything and you lose I know I have tried my best.”

Summer appointment Pellegrino, who has just one win in eight matches, also revealed he has let his players know how he felt about the turgid display — and that he expects a response at champions Chelsea on Saturday.

The former Liverpool defender added: “I was talking with the players. In football, a bad result is part of our life.

“My ­players are ­intelligent and know it was a really bad game and they have to be humble in this moment.

“They are human ­beings that play football. They are not machines and sometimes they do not have a good night. My players know ­exactly what we need to be a better team and to bounce back.

“The good thing when you play badly is you have another game quickly — we want to play this game as quickly as ­possible.

I have to try and find solutions, to inspire my players and be stronger in difficult moments. My job is to try to achieve good results and play good football.”

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Sourced from A tweet by AdamBlackmore tweet

@AdamBlackmore - Adam Blackmore

Unlike Koeman when he went to Everton, Claude Puel said hello, shook my hand, and simply said ‘your hands are cold’… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/941071016377413632

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 08:47:45

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| Thibaut Courtois states his prediction for Chelsea v SouthamptonSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | City Summary – December 14: Van Dijk back on radar, Pep praises Silva, Leicester referee announced – City WatchCITYWATCH |
| | Steven Gerrard raves about Chelsea star ahead of Southampton clashSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Liverpool Dealt Blow In Pursuit Of Key Transfer Target As Man City Are Braced To Sign Him – The Kop Times | …THEKOPTIMES |
| | ALLNIGERIASOCCER |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

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Young striker Michael Obafemi reflects on a successful night in the #FAYouthCup, after his second-half treble in… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/941594042957053952

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 09:48:00

| | PMB: Chelsea v Southampton - talking pointsOFFCHELSEA |
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| Michael Owen makes Eden Hazard prediction for Chelsea v SouthamptonSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Conte To Make 3 Changes – Predicted 3-4-2-1 Chelsea Lineup To Face Southampton On Saturday – SoccerSoulsSOCCERSOULS |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

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Check out the best images from #SaintsFCU18s’ victory over #Wolves in the #FAYouthCup: http://sfcne.ws/U18FAYCGallery

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 10:48:13

| | Just how far can Leicester City go under Claude PuelLEICESTERMERCURY |
| | Chelsea vs. Southampton: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV InfoBLEACHERREPORT |
| | Arsene Wenger considering move to break Arsenal’s transfer record for a second time this seasonCAUGHTOFFSIDE |
| | Forget van Dijk: Liverpool should sign this £22.5m-rated 23-year-old in January instead – agreed? | | Where football …THETRANSFERTAVERN |

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Read Southampton

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| Southampton predicted XI: Chelsea (A) | Southampton travel away to face Chelsea this weekend as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Leicester. The … 15-12-2017 |

Older content…

| Pellegrino is in no position to bemoan Saints’ lack of connectiona day ago |
| Manchester City make signing Southampton star their prioritya day ago |
| Our man of the match: Leicester (H)a day ago |
| Southampton 1-4 Leicester: Match Reporta day ago |
| Southampton, West Brom, Swansea scout Norwich youngster Godfreya day ago |
| Southampton leading race for Dani Garciaa day ago |
| Southampton player ratings: Leicester (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton vs Leicester: Combined XI3 days ago |
| Southampton vs Leicester City: Match Preview3 days ago |

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

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#SaintsFCU18s fired four goals past #Wolves in last night’s #FAYouthCup encounter. Watch how the victory unfold… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/941624995842736133

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 11:48:26

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| Chelsea v Southampton Preview: Team News, Stats & Key MenEPLINDEX |
| | Chelsea Prepare To Face SouthamptonVITALFOOTBALL |
| | Chelsea v Southampton: Bench Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante.ACHELSEAFANSBLOG |
| | Pedro makes admission about Eden Hazard ahead of Chelsea v SouthamptonSPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Let’s play FIFA 18: Chelsea vs. SouthamptonSBNATIONWEAINTGOTNOHISTORY |
| | Celtic set to cash in with Manchester City windfallVIDEOCELTS |

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

The 2017 Premier League Christmas Jumper power rankings

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The day-long event in aid of Save The Children sees thousands and thousands of people go to work in their favourite festive knitwear for a good cause, but what if you also want to promote your favourite football club at the same time?

Well luckily the Premier League have (largely) got you covered.

And in the spirit of the season, we’re here for the second year in a row with our league table of the best and worst official club Christmas Jumper efforts of 2017.

This year it was a little more difficult as some clubs have come out with multiple designs, but after precisely no deliberation we’ve basically pretended that that didn’t happen.

So who comes out as the Christmas No. 1, and who is left with nothing but a lump of coal in their stocking?

What do you think they’re smoking over there at the Bet365?

For the second year running (or at least the second year one of us has decided to do this) there is no Christmas Jumper on offer on the Potters’ website. Not one.

You can get a portrait of Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting for a quid if you want, but no natty knitwear.

Failure to comply again next season will result in automatic relegation.

It’s not quite as bad as no jumper at all, but Southampton’s decision to simply re-list the 2016 design sees them slide down the table.

Well it is an improvement on last season’s pitiful Christmas t-shirt spits, but this dull, dreary, grey effort from the Swans lands them in the relegation zone.

Also available at Sports Direct, oddly enough, this black and white Magpies number is all a bit too predictable.

Don’t be afraid to get a bit more creative, lads.

A jaunty effort based on their mascot from Huddersfield Town in their debut campaign at this level, but there’s just something a bit off about Terry the Terrier here.

After all dogs are for life, not just for Christmas.

LOUD WORDS are coming from the direction of the south coast and they are wishing you a “Cherry Christmas”.

Which is probably for the best, as if they weren’t then you might mistake those cherries on the jumper for some sort of cartoon bomb that Wile E. Coyote would try and use to stop the Road Runner.

The penguin on skis could have been quite a cute image, and we’re all for that here.

But it’s the fact that said penguin seems more than a little out of control as it uneasily hurtles downwards that loses this effort points.

We’re just saying, if Palace get relegated this season will this awkward metaphor be to blame? Maybe.

Now what has gone on here?

Is there some sort of freelance company that specialise in football club Christmas Jumpers that you can hire to come in and knock out a design for you? And if so, have Burnley, Brighton and Liverpool been tricked into something here?

“Yeah just knock out the same design for them all lads, they’ll never know.”

It’s okay, but it’s nothing more than that. It’s just a bit disappointing, that’s all.

You’re Watford. You play in slightly mad colours. Make use of that.

We wanted to see Harry the Hornet with a Santa hat on giving a lump of coal to Wilfried Zaha.

West Brom wear blue and white. Santa wears red and white. You can see the problem here.

And for some reason the Baggies have tried to counteract that by making the Santa who features on their jumper as giant as possible.

A jovial figure full of fun, with hair as white as crisp snowfall, Alan Pardew was appointed West Brom’s manager last month.

Top of the actual Premier League table but only in the middle of this one, this cutesy City effort is about as heartwarming as a David Silva smile.

You just want to tickle its little belly.

And the penguin’s too.

As with all teams who play in red, United were at a bit of an advantage here already. But they’ve used it well.

The colour scheme is a good one, and the smiling Santa a lovely touch.

He does like he’s celebrating Christmas a bit too much though, so that could cause a few issues with the club’s management.

There’s a lot going on here, but it’s alright y’know.

Rumours suggest that West Ham did consider moving to a bigger, bolder, brighter design a little distance away from what they were used to, but they decided to stick with what they knew.

It was the right decision.

Another strong showing from the Blues, who maintain a top six place with this Christmas pudding-inspired design.

No Big Sam jokes here please.

Yes it is ridiculously expensive, but this is Arsenal we’re talking about here. You expect that.

The Gunners maintain their top four place (too easy) with this lovely effort that combines snowflakes with Arsenal’s famous cannons on the sleeves.

It’s the reindeer’s eyes that have secured Tottenham’s second successive third place finish. There’s something so happy and hopeful in them.

Like the eyes of every Spurs fan between August and April.

The perfect present for the Chelsea fan in your life who doesn’t exactly want to constantly shout about being a Chelsea fan, this mainly blue number is pretty special.

There’s an icy coolness to it, something that Chelsea haven’t been able to pull off since the Gianfranco Zola days.

And here we have it.

In the greatest success that we can remember them having in the last couple of years, Leicester City take the honours with this understated design that shows that Christmas Jumpers don’t have to be loud to be good.

You could actually imagine Jamie Vardy and the boys running out to face Manchester United in this at the King Power on Saturday.

And getting 90 minutes’ use out of a garment that you’ll put away for 51 weeks on Boxing Day is surely something worth celebrating.

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Sourced from Reuters.co.uk article

Courtois says Chelsea expect tough challenge from Saints

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(Reuters) - Premier League champions Chelsea will not underestimate Southampton on Saturday as they aim to keep up the pressure on the sides around them in the top four, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said.

Chelsea are third in the league, 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester City and three behind second-placed Manchester United after 17 games, and Courtois says the London side must continue winning to either chase down City or at least finish second.

“It’s a tough game, Southampton drew against Arsenal and it’s always difficult against them home or away,” Courtois told the club’s website. (www.chelseafc.com)

”We have to be careful because these are the games we have to win if we want to stay near the top and try to close the gap on Man City. Obviously we are far away but we want to keep on pushing and if we can’t catch them, we want to finish second.

“It was very good that we showed from the start we wanted to win against Huddersfield and that’s the mentality we need in every game.”

Chelsea beat promoted Huddersfield Town 3-1 on Tuesday to maintain a four-point gap above Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Burnley with seventh-placed Arsenal a further point behind.

Southampton are 11th in the standings and winless in their last four league games.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

We’ve been speaking to #SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino ahead of the trip to face #CFC in the #PL:

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Thibaut Courtois wary of Southampton threat ahead of Saturday’s clash

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Premier League champions Chelsea will not underestimate Southampton on Saturday as they aim to keep up the pressure on the sides around them in the top four, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said.

Chelsea are third in the league, 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester City and three behind second-placed Manchester United after 17 games.

However, Courtois maintains that the London side must continue winning to either chase down City or at least finish second.

‘It’s a tough game, Southampton drew against Arsenal and it’s always difficult against them home or away,’ Courtois told the club’s website.

'We have to be careful because these are the games we have to win if we want to stay near the top and try to close the gap on Man City.

'Obviously we are far away but we want to keep on pushing and if we can’t catch them, we want to finish second.

‘It was very good that we showed from the start we wanted to win against Huddersfield and that’s the mentality we need in every game.’

Chelsea beat promoted Huddersfield Town 3-1 on Tuesday to maintain a four-point gap above Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Burnley with seventh-placed Arsenal a further point behind.

Southampton are 11th in the standings and winless in their last four league games.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 12:48:42

| | No Fresh Injury Concerns Following Leicester DefeatVITALFOOTBALL |
|

| Gossip: Man City and Liverpool in Van Dijk ‘bidding war’, Ozil 'to replace Mkhitaryan at Man Utd’YAHOOSPORTUK |
| | Liverpool set to battle it out with Manchester City for star defender101GREATGOALS |
| | Matt Le Tissier hits back at Leicester City fansHEREISTHECITY |
| | Media Watch: Van Dijk, Carvalho, CeballosARSENAL |
| | A Stamford Bridge Too Far |Chelsea Fan Blog | Opinions & Transfer NewsA Stamford Bridge Too Far |Chelsea Fan Blog | …ASTAMFORDBRIDGETOOFAR |

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Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Chelsea v Southampton: Combined XI | Southampton travel away to face Chelsea this weekend as they look to return to winning ways on Saturday. The Saints … 15-12-2017 |

Older content…

| Southampton predicted XI: Chelsea (A)12 hours ago |
| Pellegrino is in no position to bemoan Saints’ lack of connection2 days ago |
| Manchester City make signing Southampton star their priority2 days ago |
| Our man of the match: Leicester (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton 1-4 Leicester: Match Report2 days ago |
| Southampton, West Brom, Swansea scout Norwich youngster Godfrey2 days ago |
| Southampton leading race for Dani Garcia2 days ago |
| Southampton player ratings: Leicester (H)2 days ago |
| Southampton vs Leicester: Combined XI3 days ago |

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/12/2017 13:48:54

| | Celtic set for ÂŁ7m windfall if Virgil van Dijk joins Manchester CitySCOTS |
| | EPL Fixtures: Chelsea v Southampton - injury news, kick-off time, form guide & betting oddsTHESOUTHAFRICAN |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

U18 Gallery: Saints 4-1 Wolves

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View the best of the images as captured by our club photographer at St Mary’s as Saints ran out 4-1 winners over Wolves in the FA Youth Cup.

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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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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Chelsea FC team news: Predicted Blues XI for Premier League match v Southampton

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Chelsea face Southampton hoping to keep some sort of pressure on runaway league leaders Manchester City.

The Blues are 14 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side after 17 games of the 2017/18 Premier League season, and already find themselves struggling to remain in the title race.

Further defeats would knock Chelsea even further back, and would surely destroy any chance they have of potentially toppling City at the end of the campaign.

So, who will Antonio Conte select for the match at Stamford Bridge? Click the right arrow, above, to see talkSPORT’s predicted Chelsea XI for the clash against Southampton…

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