OptiNews - Friday 08 to Thursday 14 September 2017

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Virgil van Dijk hasn’t featured for Southampton’s first team since January.

He could return on Saturday.… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/908370903507107840

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/09/2017 17:09:09

| | Le Tissier praises SaintsCLUBCALL |

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New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Southampton Predicted XI: Crystal Palace (A) | Southampton will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, when they travel to Crystal Palace. … 14-09-2017 |
| Southampton team news: Crystal Palace (A) | Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has delivered an update on the condition of his squad ahead of their trip to … 14-09-2017 |

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| Le Tissier: Southampton handled Van Dijk situation brilliantly17 hours ago |
| Saints defender Hoedt discusses prospect of playing next to Van Dijk2 days ago |
| Southampton man wary of Crystal Palace’s threat2 days ago |
| What did Mauricio Pellegrino get wrong against Watford?4 days ago |
| Our man of the match: Watford (H)4 days ago |
| Southampton Player Ratings: Watford (H)4 days ago |
| Juventus to make move for Liverpool and Chelsea target4 days ago |
| Southampton 0-2 Watford: Match report4 days ago |

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:movie_camera:

Watch as #SaintsFC continued their preparations for the trip to #CPFC, with a training session at St Mary’s:

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Liverpool have no leaders, they had to sign Virgil van Dijk - Rio Ferdinand

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The Reds’ defensive struggles were put on show once again last night during their Champions League tie against Sevilla.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were sloppy at the back and drew 2-2 with their Spanish opponents despite leading the game with just 15 minutes remaining.

That result came off the back of their 5-0 thumping at Manchester City last Saturday and Klopp’s defenders are coming in for plenty of criticism.

Liverpool tried to sign Southampton’s Dutch centre-back Van Dijk throughout the summer transfer window but failed to lure him to Anfield.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

‘Van Dijk must earn captaincy’

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Mauricio Pellegrino says Virgil van Dijk’s Southampton team-mates will decide whether he still deserves to captain the team.

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Press conference (part one): Pellegrino previews Palace

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Pellegrino will make late call on Van Dijk

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MAURICIO Pellegrino will decide tomorrow whether or not to include Virgil van Dijk in the squad for Saints’ trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

The central defender played his first game since January on Monday night for the club’s under-23s and now Pellegrino must decide if he’s ready for first team action.

Van Dijk has just come back to the fold after his summer transfer saga, which saw him banished to train alone after asking to leave.

He later handed in a transfer request, but Saints refused to sell and now he’s back with Pellegrino’s men.

The boss said: “Virgil was training well. He played 90 minutes the other day in the reserve game, but tomorrow we will decide [if he’ll be involved against Palace].”

On the 26-year-old’s fitness, Pellegrino added: “Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that because it’s not just about Virgil, it’s everybody right now ready to be part of the team.”

Van Dijk was made team captain last term after Jose Fonte’s exit to West Ham in January, but after agitating for a move away Pellegrino says it’s something he’d have to earn back.

“For me the captain is someone who the team may decide and something that you have to deserve – not something the manager can give the player to be a captain,” he said.

“This is my point of view.”

When asked if Van Dijk deserved the captaincy, he said: “Now, when he’s not playing? You cannot be captain if you’re not playing. Obviously Virgil was one of the leaders of the squad last season."

Saints take on a Palace side tomorrow who have just sacked manager Frank de Boer after just 77 days and five competitive games in all competitions in charge.

The former Ajax boss, who has been linked with he Saints job in the past, was replaced by former England manager Roy Hodgson on Tuesday.

Pellegrino, who is also just five games in to his tenure at St Mary’s, was surprised at the lack of patience for the departed Dutchman.

He said: "It’s something that we have to survive in our job [as a manager].

"Our job now, it’s not an easy job. How can we validate the work of one colleague in this moment after four (league) games?

"But we have to accept that. Obviously, I don’t like when something like this happens but we have to keep going.

"The results are everything in our life but Crystal Palace have got a good group of players.

“To draw a conclusion in one team, you have to wait, you cannot analyse them after one month, it’s really difficult.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/09/2017 18:09:21

| | Huge boost for Southampton ahead of Crystal Palace matchup101GREATGOALS |
| | Pellegrino: 'Van Dijk was one of our leaders’SPORTSMOLE |
| | Pellegrino shrugs off Hodgson newsCLUBCALL |
| | Southampton boss comments on Crystal Palace clash this weekendCROYDONADVERTISER |
|

| Southampton: Mauricio Pellegrino confident of result against Crystal PalaceFANSIDEDSAINTSMARCHING |
| | Crystal Palace FC England Cricket Captain Heather Knight To Attend Southampton ClashCRYSTALPALACEFC |
| | TV ! Saints At Crystal Palace Preview - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Stat Pack: Crystal Palace vs Saints

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Get up to speed with all the key facts and figures before Southampton’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

Southampton have lost just two of their 16 Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, (W10 D4), although both defeats have come in the last four meetings (both at Selhurst Park).

Before then, Saints had enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run at Selhurst (W3 D3).

Saints have won three of their last four meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions, losing the other. Indeed, there hasn’t been a draw between the sides in any of the last 16 clashes (6 wins for Palace, 10 wins for Southampton).

Roy Hodgson (70 years old) will be only the third manager to take charge of a Premier League game in his 70’s after Sir Alex Ferguson and Bobby Robson. He is the first-ever PL manager to be appointed in his 70’s, however.

Should Crystal Palace lose and fail to score in this game, they’ll be the first top-flight side in history to open a season with five defeats and no goals.

Crystal Palace’s xG (expected goals) figure in the Premier League this season is 4.73 – suggesting that an average team would have scored five goals from the chances they’ve had. This xG tally is higher than Chelsea’s (4.08), who have scored eight goals.

The Premier League record for longest time taken by a team to score a goal in a season is 438 minutes, held by Newcastle United in 2005-06. If Crystal Palace don’t score before the 78th minute in this match, they’ll break this record.

No Southampton player has scored more goals for the club in the Premier League since the start of 2016-17 than Charlie Austin (7 – level with Nathan Redmond), despite the striker only playing 989 minutes in this period (a goal every 141 mins on average).

Christian Benteke has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Southampton, including three in two for Crystal Palace.

Steven Davis will make his 200th appearance for Southampton if he is involved against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Virgil van Dijk must earn Southampton captaincy, says Mauricio Pellegrino

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Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has refused to confirm whether Virgil van Dijk will remain as his captain.

Van Dijk was handed the team captaincy last season following the departure of Jose Fonte but, after submitting a transfer request this summer, his position at the club has been called into question.

“For me the captain is something that the team may decide and is something that you have to deserve, rather than the manager give the charge to be a captain,” Pellegrino told reporters.

“Now when he (Van Dijk) is not playing you cannot give the captaincy to someone who’s not playing, but obviously Virgil is…was one of the leaders.”

Pellegrino revealed to reporters he would be making a late call on whether the 26-year-old would be involved in the squad for their trip to Selhurst Park as they take on Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports, on Saturday.

Van Dijk, who has not featured for the Saints since January after sustaining an ankle injury, played 90 minutes for the U23s earlier this week as they lost 4-0 to Aston Villa.

“Virgil was training well - he played 90 mins the other day in the reserve game but tomorrow we will decide,” he said.

“Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that because I think everybody right now is ready to be part of the team.”

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile on Saturday, says boss Mauricio Pellegrino

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Wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile this weekend, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Holland international handed in a transfer request over the summer amid strong speculation linking him with a move away from St Mary’s.

Van Dijk has not featured in any of Saints’ five matches so far this campaign due to the uncertainty over his future, and has not played competitively since suffering a foot ligament injury against Leicester in January.

He was selected for an Under-23 game on Monday evening - a 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa - and may now be a surprise inclusion for the Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday as he attempts to get his career back on track.

Boss Pellegrino said: "Virgil was training well. He played 90 minutes the other day, the reserve game.

"But tomorrow (Friday) we will decide (whether he features against Palace).

“Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that - not just about Virgil because everybody I think is ready to be part of the team.”

Van Dijk, who has been linked with a host of clubs including Liverpool and Chelsea, will be sticking with Southampton until at least January following the closure of the summer transfer window.

He captained the Saints last season, but Pellegrino was coy on whether the former Celtic man would reclaim the armband from midfielder Steven Davis.

“For me the captain is something that the team-mates decide and something that you have to deserve,” the Argentinian boss added.

“Now, when he’s not playing, you cannot put the captain on someone that is not playing, but obviously Virgil was one of the leaders of the squad.”

Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park will see Saints come up against former England boss Roy Hodgson.

The 70-year-old returned to management this week for the first time since leaving the national team job, replacing the sacked Frank de Boer in the Palace dugout.

Pellegrino is unsure whether the managerial change will make the game more difficult for his side.

“Yes and no,” he said. "Yes because we don’t have too much reference about them.

"We know how Roy Hodgson was playing in the past but when you have got another group of players, everything changes.

“And no because 90 per cent of our job is to think about us, about our style, our model.”

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/09/2017 19:09:37

| | Virgil van Dijk could end Southampton exile on Saturday - Mauricio PellegrinoBELFASTTELE |
|

| Crystal Palace vs Southampton: HOL Radio Preview Podcast | Red N Blue Army.co.ukREDNBLUEARMY |
| | Virgil Van Dijk Could Be In The Squad For The Trip To Palace - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

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Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Pellegrino makes no promises to Van Dijk over captaincy | Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has called on Virgil van Dijk to prove that he is worthy of being the team’s … 14-09-2017 |

Older content…

| Southampton Predicted XI: Crystal Palace (A)19 hours ago |
| Southampton team news: Crystal Palace (A)19 hours ago |
| Le Tissier: Southampton handled Van Dijk situation brilliantly19 hours ago |
| Saints defender Hoedt discusses prospect of playing next to Van Dijk2 days ago |
| Southampton man wary of Crystal Palace’s threat2 days ago |
| What did Mauricio Pellegrino get wrong against Watford?4 days ago |
| Our man of the match: Watford (H)4 days ago |
| Southampton Player Ratings: Watford (H)4 days ago |
| Juventus to make move for Liverpool and Chelsea target4 days ago |

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Virgil van Dijk could play for Southampton at Crystal Palace this week

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Wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile this weekend, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Holland international handed in a transfer request over the summer amid strong interest from Liverpool.

Van Dijk has not featured in any of Saints’ five matches so far this campaign due to the uncertainty over his future, and has not played competitively since suffering a foot ligament injury against Leicester in January.

He was selected for an Under 23 game on Monday evening - a 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa - and may now be a surprise inclusion for the Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday as he attempts to get his career back on track.

Boss Pellegrino said: 'Virgil was training well. He played 90 minutes the other day, the reserve game.

'But tomorrow (Friday) we will decide (whether he features against Palace).

‘Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that - not just about Virgil because everybody I think is ready to be part of the team.’

Van Dijk, who Liverpool are expected to come back in for, will be sticking with Southampton until at least January following the closure of the summer transfer window.

He captained the Saints last season, but Pellegrino was coy on whether the former Celtic man would reclaim the armband from midfielder Steven Davis.

‘For me the captain is something that the team-mates decide and something that you have to deserve,’ the Argentinian boss added.

‘Now, when he’s not playing, you cannot put the captain on someone that is not playing, but obviously Virgil was one of the leaders of the squad.’

Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park will see Saints come up against former England boss Roy Hodgson.

The 70-year-old returned to management this week for the first time since leaving the national team job, replacing the sacked Frank de Boer in the Palace dugout.

Pellegrino is unsure whether the managerial change will make the game more difficult for his side.

‘Yes and no,’ he said. 'Yes because we don’t have too much reference about them.

'We know how Roy Hodgson was playing in the past but when you have got another group of players, everything changes.

‘And no because 90 per cent of our job is to think about us, about our style, our model.’

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Sourced from The Independent article

Virgil van Dijk could end Southampton exile on Saturday, says Mauricio Pellegrino

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Wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile this weekend, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Holland international handed in a transfer request over the summer amid strong speculation linking him with a move away from St Mary’s.

Van Dijk has not featured in any of Saints’ five matches so far this campaign due to the uncertainty over his future, and has not played competitively since suffering a foot ligament injury against Leicester in January.

He was selected for an Under-23 game on Monday evening - a 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa - and may now be a surprise inclusion for the Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday as he attempts to get his career back on track.

Boss Pellegrino said: "Virgil was training well. He played 90 minutes the other day, the reserve game.

"But tomorrow (Friday) we will decide (whether he features against Palace).

“Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that - not just about Virgil because everybody I think is ready to be part of the team.”

Van Dijk, who has been linked with a host of clubs including Liverpool and Chelsea, will be sticking with Southampton until at least January following the closure of the summer transfer window.

He captained the Saints last season, but Pellegrino was coy on whether the former Celtic man would reclaim the armband from midfielder Steven Davis.

“For me the captain is something that the team-mates decide and something that you have to deserve,” the Argentinian boss added.

“Now, when he’s not playing, you cannot put the captain on someone that is not playing, but obviously Virgil was one of the leaders of the squad.”

Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park will see Saints come up against former England boss Roy Hodgson.

The 70-year-old returned to management this week for the first time since leaving the national team job, replacing the sacked Frank de Boer in the Palace dugout.

Pellegrino is unsure whether the managerial change will make the game more difficult for his side.

“Yes and no,” he said. "Yes because we don’t have too much reference about them.

"We know how Roy Hodgson was playing in the past but when you have got another group of players, everything changes.

“And no because 90 per cent of our job is to think about us, about our style, our model.”

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Sourced from BBC article

Virgil van Dijk: Southampton centre-back could return at Crystal Palace

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Virgil van Dijk could make his first appearance for Southampton this season at Crystal Palace on Saturday, says manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Netherlands centre-back, 26, handed in a transfer request in August and had said he wanted to move to Liverpool.

He has not played first-team football since sustaining an ankle injury in January but featured in the Under-23s’ 4-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Monday.

“Hopefully he will be getting better every single week,” said Pellegrino.

“But I am happy with that - not just about Virgil because everybody, I think, is ready to be part of the team.”

Pellegrino ordered Van Dijk to train alone in July amid speculation over his future, but Saints refused to sell the former Celtic player, who signed a new six-year contract in May 2016.

Midfielder Steven Davis, who has taken over from Van Dijk as captain so far this season, said last month the Dutchman would be welcomed back by the rest of the squad.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Plenty of smiles at #SaintsFC’s official team photoshoot today! :grinning:

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 14/09/2017 20:09:51

|

| Reds fan urges John W Henry to sign Van Dijk in JanuaryGOLIVERPOOL |
| | UK’s Warsash Maritime Academy opens new £6m maritime campus | Ship Management InternationalSHIPMANAGEMENTINT |
| | Darren Way drops a positive hint about Fela Olomola’s fitnessSOMERSETLIVE |

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Sourced from London Evening Standard article

Van Dijk could end Southampton exile against Crystal Palace

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Wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile against Crystal Palace, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Holland international handed in a transfer request over the summer amid strong speculation linking him with a move away from St Mary’s.

Van Dijk has not featured in any of Saints’ five matches so far this campaign due to the uncertainty over his future, and has not played competitively since suffering a foot ligament injury against Leicester in January.

He was selected for an Under-23 game on Monday evening - a 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa - and may now be a surprise inclusion for the Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday as he attempts to get his career back on track.

Boss Pellegrino said: "Virgil was training well. He played 90 minutes the other day, the reserve game. But tomorrow (Friday) we will decide (whether he features against Palace).

“Hopefully he will be getting better every single week but I am happy with that - not just about Virgil because everybody I think is ready to be part of the team.”

Van Dijk, who has been linked with a host of clubs including Liverpool and Chelsea, will be sticking with Southampton until at least January following the closure of the summer transfer window.

He captained the Saints last season, but Pellegrino was coy on whether the former Celtic man would reclaim the armband from midfielder Steven Davis.

“For me the captain is something that the team-mates decide and something that you have to deserve,” the Argentinian boss added.

“Now, when he’s not playing, you cannot put the captain on someone that is not playing, but obviously Virgil was one of the leaders of the squad.”

Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park will see Saints come up against former England boss Roy Hodgson.

The 70-year-old returned to management this week for the first time since leaving the national team job, replacing the sacked Frank de Boer in the Palace dugout.

Pellegrino is unsure whether the managerial change will make the game more difficult for his side.

“Yes and no,” he said. "Yes because we don’t have too much reference about them. We know how Roy Hodgson was playing in the past but when you have got another group of players, everything changes.

“And no because 90 per cent of our job is to think about us, about our style, our model.”

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