Chelsea take on Hull this afternoon (Picture: Getty) Chelsea are back in Premier League action today following their dramatic midweek victory over Leeds in the Carabao Cup. Xabi Alonso’s men will start this afternoon’s clash at Stamford Bridge as favourites but will be wary of a Hull side who have impressed since returning to the top flight. The Tigers actually sit one point ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League table, having picked up seven points from their first three games – and without conceding a single goal. The six goals they scored against Leeds on Wednesday night should give Chelsea the confidence they can break down the resolute Hull defence, however, as the Blues look to return to winning ways in the league having been beaten last time out against Arsenal. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
⚽️ Buildup, news and discussion before Saturday’s games⚽️ This weekend’s fixtures | Tables | Mail us your thoughtsSaturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Venue Tottenham Hotspur StadiumReferee Darren England This season G2 Y7 R0 3.50 cards/game Continue reading...
Xabi Alonso has hailed an ‘outstanding’ Chelsea star (Photo: Getty) Xabi Alonso has heaped praise on one of his Chelsea players, likening him to a former Real Madrid teammate and Ballon d’Or winner. Chelsea have enjoyed a great start to the season under new manager Alonso, winning four of their opening five games across all competitions and only narrowly losing to champions Arsenal last week. Their formidable attack has already notched up 16 goals, though they face a tricky test on Saturday, against Hull City who are yet to concede in the Premier League this season. Cole Palmer and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers have earned plenty of plaudits but it is Joao Pedro who was recently voted Premier League Player of the Month for August. Sign up for In The Mixer, Metro's football newsletter Get exclusive analysis and previews of the biggest games every Friday. Sign up now for free. The centre-forward, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Brighton last year in a transfer worth up to £60m, has scored twice and assisted two in the opening three league games. Last season, Pedro was a rare bright spot in an otherwise awful campaign for the Blues, recording 20 goals and nine assists, and was named Chelsea Player of the Season. And Alonso believes the 24-year-old should already be considered among the best No.9s in the world, like Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland. Joao Pedro has been voted Premier League Player of the Month for August (Photo: Getty) ‘If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I am sure that Joao is there. So I would rate him that way,’ the Chelsea manager said in his pre-match press conference. ‘He has been top. Not just football-wise, personality-wise. His maturity, his desire. ‘He has a very strong goal this year: to have a great season, to score many goals, and to be a nominee for not just this month but more months. Karim Benzema won five Champions Leagues and the Ballon d’Or (Photo: Getty) ‘I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao.’ The praise for Pedro did not stop there however, with Alonso positively comparing the Brazil international to one of the greatest centre-forwards of the last decade: Karim Benzema. The pair were teammates at Real Madrid where the Frenchmen won four La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues across a 14-year spell, which culminated with him lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022. ‘In many things he reminds me of him,’ Alonso added, boldly tipping Pedro to emulate Benzema’s great success. ‘Because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to the left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete and he is intelligent. ‘He is still young. He still has things to develop. But he has many, many absolutely outstanding qualities.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has opened up about his failed move to Chelsea, with Liverpool now potentially handed a major opportunity to sign the Senegal international. Camara was on the verge of joining Chelsea on deadline day after the Premier League club agreed a deal worth around £47 million with Monaco. However, the transfer collapsed […] The post Chelsea target breaks silence after failed move to Stamford Bridge appeared first on CaughtOffside.
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