Liverpool have handed Chelsea a massive boost to their title ambitions with a poor result away to Sunderland.

A Jermain Defoe penalty double means the Reds start 2017 in a way they wouldn’t have liked, just days after ending 2016 in perfect fashion with a win against Manchester City.

Goalscoring hasn’t been a problem for Klopp’s side this season but again they’ve shipped too many goals at the back and now must wonder if they’ve been knocked out of the Premier League title race for good.

The draw means Chelsea can now move 8 points clear of the Anfield club if they win their match against Spurs on Wednesday night.

It was all going so well when Daniel Sturridge nodded home a poacher’s header to give them the lead at the Stadium of Light but Sunderland are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and were never going to give this one up without a fight.

Sadio Mane looked to have given the Reds victory with a 72nd minute goal but again Defoe was their to break hearts, slotting home his second penalty of the afternoon with just 6 minutes remaining.

It’s a result devastating to Liverpool fans who have seen their team pick up big results against elite clubs, before performing badly against the weaker teams in the division time and again.

Supporters took to Twitter to share their frustration and it wasn’t pretty…

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Every great adventure has a journey. And every journey has a story behind it. Nowhere is that more true than in football.

From fans who follow their side across the country to the clubs themselves whose season can definitely be described as a journey. Europcar, Arsenal’s official car and van rental partner, understands that the journey is just important as the destination. They have been exploring the ‘Footballing journey’ this season to discover the stories behind some great and meaningful journeys.

They recently managed to sit down with three Arsenal players to find out about their footballing journeys throughout their careers…

Professional footballers are privileged enough to have the opportunity to travel the world during their careers.

There is a a great deal of travelling involved, especially for those playing for the biggest clubs across Europe, who regularly compete in the Champions League.

Arsenal have been competing in European competitions for 24 consecutive years now, so their players will have been no strangers to travelling on a regular basis over the years.

Given the amount of time players spend on the road, it comes as no surprise to hear that three of Arsenal’s top players have some interesting stories about their travels, as well as preferred ways to be on the move.

New Gunners signing Granit Xhaka told Europcar, Arsenal’s official car and van rental partner, that the most memorable journey of his career to date is actually his first trip Emirates Stadium, but also blames London traffic for his worst, which led to him spending an hour and 30 minutes in a car on his way to Arsenal’s home stadium before a game.

Xhaka also admits he much prefers to be in the driver’s seat so that he is 100% certain he’s safe, and that there is one essential item he must always be in possession of when on his travels.

Here’s what the midfielder has to say about his travelling habits…

Worst journey to a game…

From home to Emirates Stadium on one occasion. It was my first journey. I was told that it would take 40 minutes, but it ended up taking 1 hour and 30 minutes! My first taste of London Traffic!

Aside from the Emirates, which is your favourite ground to travel to?

Aside from Arsenal? Borussia Monchengladbach and Basel. They are both very special to me, for both the atmosphere and for how the supporters treated me. I couldn’t choose between them and they hold a special place for me.

Which is your favourite ground to play at?

It has to be Emirates Stadium. The atmosphere against Tottenham was fantastic; it is an amazing stadium to play in and one that we hope to create many great memories in.

Most memorable journey to a game…

First trip to the see Emirates Stadium.

Name one item you can’t travel without…

It would have to be my phone because I have special people so far away and without it I couldn’t speak with them. I call my friends and family.

Are you early, late or on time?

Always on time. This is because in Switzerland they make the cuckoo clocks, so I have no excuse to not know what the time is!

Do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger?

Always the driver!! This way I can be sure I am 100% safe!

Do you prefer the city or the countryside?

This is a tough one. I would say the City because there is more to do and it is more exciting, but I like to relax in the countryside. I would say both, but City is where I would spend most of my time.

What is your car journey anthem?

It would have to be a song by Noizy – It is Albanian hip hop. I love it!

Favourite country to road trip in?

Switzerland, Kosovo and Albania. All beautiful.

Who is your favourite companion on a long journey?

Any of my family.

Read about Mesut Ozil and Hector Bellerin’s travelling habits, too!

It was an FA Cup weekend of shocks and stories. Granted, the big teams in the Premier League, and even the Championship, didn’t really take the Fourth Round overly seriously, that should not distract from some heroic performances and seismic upsets.

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It all kicked off on Saturday – after the Friday night draw between Leicester and Derby – with Wolves shocking Liverpool at Anfield and inflicting the third home defeat for Jurgen Klopp in the space of a week. The Championship side, who rotated their own team, have left the Kop outfit without a cup to challenge for after EFL Cup elimination at the hands of Southampton, which may even be a positive… well, sort of.

The weekend then meandered on with Spurs just edging past Wycombe via a late goal from Heung-min Son before Oxford United ran out 3-0 victors over Newcastle. Sunday then followed with a Bastian Schweinsteiger-inspired win over Wigan (his impressive stats are below) but the headlines were really stolen when non-league Sutton United made it into the Fifth Round by beating in-form Leeds. The fifth-tier team will be joined in the draw by Lincoln… who said the romance of the cup is dead?

As always, we have @RyanJayBailey in the house to give his view on the weekend…

Enjoy!

There seemed to be a big tug of war for Robert Snodgrass between Premier League clubs in the lower regions of the table during the January transfer window.Middlesbrough and Burnley pursued him, but it was West Ham United who nabbed his signature from Hull City for a fee reported to be in the region of £10m.Not many people would assume that he would be among the elite players in the league in terms of attacking stats, but Squawka has revealed that Snodgrass has created the third-most chances in the league since the turn of the year.[ad_pod id=’now-tv’ align=’centre’]

As the tweet above shows, the Scotland international, who signed for the Hammers on January 27 has created 13 goalscoring opportunities in 2017, which is one more than Arsenal star Mesut Ozil.

Snodgrass has produced just one fewer chance than Ozil’s teammate Alexis Sanchez, while Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen leads the way with 19.

Overall this season, Snodgrass has scored seven league goals and produced three assists (all for Hull) and he left the KCOM Stadium as the club’s top scorer.

The midfielder has made just two appearances, one off the bench, for the Hammers so far, but after looking at these stats the East London outfit will feel encouraged that he can become more influential as the season progresses.

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The EFL Cup Final is almost here and by the end of Sunday we’ll all know the winner of the first piece of serious silverware available in England.

Southampton and Manchester United will battle for the trophy at Wembley, and an interesting sub-plot is both managers’ desire to get their reigns off to the best possible start with a major tournament win.

For Claude Puel, winning the EFL Cup could ensure that his name is etched into Saints folklore, while for his own club it could be an important sign of progress being made following their solid return to the top-flight after financial issues saw them tumble to League One.

Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, is a veteran when it comes to winning the League Cup, with three victories on his CV, but this one could be his most vital yet as he looks to bring a winning mentality in from the off for a Red Devils squad that has meandered since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.

In the build-up to this epic bout – our Fixture in Focus here at FootballFanCast – we asked Man United supporters which Southampton stars they would welcome into their own squad, and here are the top THREE…

3) Dusan Tadic

Often overlooked in the great debate regarding the Premier League’s top playmakers, Tadic has been a huge hit at Southampton since his 2014 arrival. Signed to replace Adam Lallana, the Serbian, although he blows hot and cold, has been excellent on the south coast, combining a fine eye for a pass and a goalscoring touch with clever movement and fine all-round technique.

Where he would fit into the Man United team remains another issue, but not as much of a problem as it is with the next man on this list…

2) Fraser Forster

Man United have, arguably, the best goalkeeper in the country in David de Gea and a fine No.2 in Sergio Romero, but the Saints star those who voted in our poll want second most is Forster. The former Celtic man has been a big hit since swapping Scottish football for the English game, with his commanding presence a standout trait. He may be a little weak in terms of shot-stopping, but he’s certainly at the upper end of the Premier League’s goalkeeping ranking.

1) Virgil van Dijk

No.1 is no shock at all. Van Dijk has really kicked on this season under Puel, building on an excellent debut campaign at St Mary’s Stadium last term, with his sheer physicality and technique making him one of the division’s standout defenders. Man United fans clearly want him amid their own defensive issues and they’ll be glad that injury means he’ll be watching on from the stands at Wembley.

CLICK THROUGH TO REVEAL THE FULL RESULTS

Results

David Moyes returns to Everton this weekend with his struggling Sunderland side, hoping for better fortune upon his return to Goodison Park after losing in 2014 as Manchester United boss.

Moyes spent 11 successful years on Merseyside with the Toffees but has failed to succeed in his following jobs with United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, with the Black Cats precariously sitting rock-bottom of the Premier League and two points from safety.

The odds clearly looked stacked against Sunderland this weekend as they travel to face an Everton side who have not lost a league game since December but BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson is predicting a positive outcome this weekend.

“Goodison Park will be familiar territory for a few of Sunderland’s players, as well as Black Cats boss David Moyes. After 11 years as Everton manager, Moyes lost the first time he went back there, as Manchester United manager in 2014, and he will clearly be desperate to avoid the same outcome on Saturday.”

“It will be tough for them because Everton are in excellent form. They have not lost in the league since the Merseyside derby before Christmas – and they were unlucky to be beaten in that game. But I just have a feeling Sunderland will get something here. They will have their chances, and I think they might find a way of picking up a point.”

Unfortunately for the Black Cats, a point would not be enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but with Crystal Palace clashing with relegation rivals Middlesbrough this weekend and Leicester facing a huge test against Leicester, there’s certainly scope for them to cut the deficit on their rivals.

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Dimitri Payet left West Ham United on a sour note, and he does not seem to be mending fences.

The Frenchman rejoined Marseille in the January transfer window for £25m after essentially going on strike at West Ham.

Payet refused to play for Slaven Bilic’s side such was his desire to leave, and he eventually secured the move that he wanted back to his homeland, revealing that family reasons were behind the shock exit.

Now, though, the 29-year-old has revealed that he felt “bored” playing for the Hammers when they were struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Dimitri Payet has admitted he left West Ham in January because he was “bored” with playing for a team in the lower half of the Premier League table.

In a interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, Payet criticised the team’s style of play and even launched a thinly-veiled dig at the players for celebrating a 1-0 win over Hull City.

“I had no desire to play in the lower reaches of the Premier League. The defensive system that we put in place did not give me any pleasure. With a 5-4-1 in front of our box, I could have had all the freedom in the world, so it’s difficult for me to explain. You could say that I was pissed off, yes. I worked hard in every game without taking any pleasure. You could say I was bored.

“With West Ham at home against Hull, we won 1-0 and they hit the post four times. In the changing room everyone was happy, but the man of the match that day was the post. I thought that I would not have room for improvement. On the contrary, I risked regressing. I needed another challenge.”

As expected, some fans have not taken kindly to Payet’s words, while others agree with the midfielder’s sentiment.

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Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has been ruled out for around a month after picking up a thigh injury while on international duty with England, meaning he will miss this Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.

The news will come as a boost to the Toffees, who know they can close to within three points of their arch-rivals and the Champions League positions, with Lallana featuring in 27 of the Reds’ 29 Premier League matches this term.

Everton supporters were quick to have their say on social media as the news broke, with few showing any sympathy following the devastating double leg break that their own Seamus Coleman suffered on international duty with the Republic of Ireland himself over the weekend.

However, others were disappointed that one of the in-form players wasn’t going to be a part of the occasion.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction from the Toffees fans…

A new sporting salary survey conducted by Sporting Intelligence has revealed that Rangers have severely underperformed this season in the Scottish Premiership, not when compared to Celtic, but in relation to Aberdeen.

What’s the story?

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team have romped home to the Scottish Premiership title this season, winning the league with an incredible eight games to spare. However, that should perhaps come as no surprise when you consider Celtic’s wage bill.

Sporting Intelligence have analysed professional sporting leagues around the world to lift the lid on what athletes are paid and in Scottish football it highlights the financial imbalance across the league.

As you’d expect, Celtic’s average annual salary per player far outstrips the rest of the division’s, at a reported £717,860, however the same could be said for Rangers too.

Their average annual salary per player is said to be £316,888, almost double that of Aberdeen’s and many multiples more than most other sides.

Remarkable then that Derek McInnes has managed to guide his side to second place right now, a massive 10 points ahead of the Ibrox side.

Courtesy Sporting Intelligence

Where did it all go wrong?

The figures are a fairly damning indictment of Mark Warburton’s season in charge of the Light Blues, unable to produce anything like the consistent form you need to challenge for the title or even comfortably finish second.

Signings like Joey Barton, Joe Garner, Philippe Senderos and Niko Krancjar haven’t helped, none of whom delivered massively on the pitch despite significant financial outlay.

However it does highlight that new boss Pedro Caixinha should have the resources to effect significant change at Ibrox next season. If he can leverage the financial advantage the Gers have over the rest of the division outside of Celtic then he should be able to give supporters a much improved campaign next year.

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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Ander Herrera and Ashley Young will both come into his team for Sunday’s Premier League match against Burnley.

Neither Herrera nor Young featured in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg, which Man United won 2-1 after extra-time to book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.

However, Mourinho has confirmed that the duo will both start against Sean Dyche’s team this weekend as the Man United boss desperately looks to keep his players fresh approaching the business end of the campaign.

He told Man United’s official website:

“Herrera plays [against Burnley]. He didn’t play on Thursday – one yellow card and he would have missed the semi-finals. I was thinking about him and [fellow substitute Marouane] Fellaini both at the same time but, because I made a change with Marcos Rojo, I couldn’t do that and he didn’t play.

“So Herrera is fresh to play. Ashley Young is fresh to play and who else? Nobody else is fresh to play! Now we need absolutely everyone.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are both expected to miss the Burnley fixture after picking up injuries against Anderlecht, whilst Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Juan Mata remain on the sidelines for the Red Devils, who are currently four points off the top four in the Premier League table.