Man City handed huge injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash
Premier League
Man City handed huge injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash
Kevin De Bruyne could be fit for Man City against Arsenal
Belgian midfielder has been carrying a groin strain
Missed recent FA Cup win over Newcastle & Belgium internationals
By Jamie Spencer
12:00 AM GMT
Kevin De Bruyne could be fit for the visit of Arsenal
Kevin De Bruyne could be fit for the visit of Arsenal / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne could be fit in time to face Arsenal in the huge Premier League title clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
De Bruyne missed City's FA Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle United earlier this month with a groin injury and subsequently didn't link up with the Belgium squad for their matches against Republic of Ireland and England during the international break.
But ESPN has reported there is "optimism" at City about De Bruyne being available for the Arsenal game. With most of the club's senior stars away, the 32-year-old is said to have come through a training session with the Under-23 squad on Tuesday unscathed.
By the time those who have been representing their various national teams begin reporting back for training on Thursday, De Bruyne is set to join them. That will give the Belgian up to three daily sessions to prove his fitness before matchday comes on Sunday.
Kevin De Bruyne
A groin injury saw De Bruyne miss out against Newcastle / Stu Forster/GettyImages
De Bruyne saw the early months of his 2023/24 season ravaged by a hamstring injury suffered just 23 minutes into City's Premier League opener against Burnley back in early August. It was the best part of five months before he played again, missing the whole Champions League group stage and FIFA Club World Cup, only to pick up a groin strain only 12 appearances into his comeback.
City trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by one point ahead of the weekend. Liverpool are also sandwiched between them, level on points with the Gunners but pushed into second place as a result of a slightly inferior goal difference.
With just ten games each left to play, it is developing into perhaps the best Premier League title race there has ever been as genuine three-horse races have been virtually non-existent in the past.
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Nottingham Forest fined over FA charges after Liverpool clash
Nottingham Forest fined £75,000 by the FA
Players & staff reacted after late Liverpool winner
Steven Reid banned for two games & fined £5,000
By Jamie Spencer
Mar 27, 2024
The end of Nottingham vs Liverpool descended into chaos
The end of Nottingham vs Liverpool descended into chaos / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
Nottingham Forest have been fined £75,000 after failing to control players and staff following the final whistle of their narrow Premier League defeat to Liverpool on 2 March.
Forest coach Steven Reid, who was shown a red card after the game had finished for abusive language towards a match official, has been fined £5,000 and issued a two-game touchline ban.
The game finished in controversial fashion when Darwin Nunez scored the only goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time, beyond the initial eight indicated by the officials. Forest were incensed when possession was returned to Liverpool after a pause for a head injury, just moments before the decisive goal went in. Forest had the ball prior to the game being stopped.
The club accepted the FA charge regarding the behaviour of players and staff, with independent regulatory commission settling on a £75,000 fine based on a history of seven similar incidents between 2017 and 2023. Fines have been increased each time from an initial £5,000.
Reid, part of Nuno Espirito Santo's backroom staff, admitted that his language towards referee Paul Tierney was abusive and insulting and the reason for his red card. He denied that he continued to act in an improper manner and/or use abusive language continued afterwards. However, the independent regulatory commission found that charge to be proven.
Forest coach Steven Reid was sent off after the game had finished
Forest coach Steven Reid was sent off after the game had finished / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages
Tierney gave his version of events in an incident report.
"Following the final whistle I was surrounded by members of Nottingham Forrest’s substitutes and backroom staff on the field of play," the official explained.
"One of those who approached me was Steven Reid (a coach of Nottingham Forest) who was not listed on the teamsheet. He asked me about a decision and I said to him that I will speak to him inside and not outside on the field of play.
"He then continued to question me and I repeated that I would speak to him inside. He then said, ‘it’s the same every week, you c***.' I showed him the red card and then he said 'I worked with you f***ing lot every f***ing week last season. It's the same every f***ing week you c***'. He then continued to use the word f*** and called me a c*** on at least one more occasion (making that a minimum of 3 in total) as we were making our way off the field of play."
In response, Reid had said in his own witness statement, "I did not repeat those words as we were making our way from the field of play."
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Atalanta send warning to Liverpool & Juventus over Teun Koopmeiners transfer
Koopmeiners has been linked with a number of top European clubs
The midfielder has told Atalanta he intends to leave this summer
Atalanta's director has discussed the transfer rumours
By Jack Gallagher
12:00 AM GMT
Highly-rated
Highly-rated / Emilio Andreoli/GettyImages
Atalanta director Luca Percassi has insisted that the club "does not need to sell" star midfielder Teun Koopmeiners amid Liverpool and Juventus interest.
The Dutch international has been one of the standout performers in Italy for the best part of the last 18 months, bagging an impressive 22 goals and eight assists in all competitions during that period.
Percassi has insisted in an interview with L'Eco di Bergamo that the midfielder hasn't asked to be sold, despite Koopmeiners himself recently stating that was the case.
"This club is solid and does not need to sell," the Atalanta official said. "Koopmeiners has not been sold to Juve, nor anyone else. In fact, he never asked us to be sold."
Teun Koopmeiners
Huge talent / Marco Luzzani/GettyImages
Koopmeiners' form has led to plenty of speculation over his long term future in Bergamo, with 90min reporting that Liverpool were among the teams scouting the talented 26-year-old.
The player himself has previously acknowledged links with the Anfield giants: "I saw the links and stories about Liverpool. It's nice to see."
Speaking in a recent interview with De Telegraaf, Koopmeiners gave the biggest hint yet regarding where his future lies, revealing that he has told Atalanta that he intends to leave the club during the upcoming transfer window.
"I told Atalanta that next summer I want to leave," he said. "Already last year there was a concrete interest from Napoli but in the end, the clubs couldn't find an agreement.
"My girlfriend and I love life in Italy, but for some clubs in England, I'd be willing to tolerate the rain! I hope that options arise that I can reflect on. And I also hope that Atalanta receives a good sum, because I had a wonderful time in Bergamo."
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