Mark Hughes decision to make six changes paved the way for a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of champions Chelsea on Saturday, but the Stoke boss revealed he had one eye on the crunch clash with Newcastle.
With injuries depleting his defensive options and a huge game with Rafael Benitez s fellow strugglers on New Year s day, Hughes rung the changes at Stamford Bridge.
The effect was somewhat predictable Stoke found themselves 3-0 down inside 23 minutes, and although the visitors battled hard, Chelsea wrapped up a big win thanks to goals from Willian and Davide Zappacosta in the second half .
But afterwards, Hughes insisted he had always been focusing on finishing the hectic current schedule with a home win on Monday a game he expects to have Joe Allen, Xherdan …
Real Madrid can pull within a point of faltering La Liga leaders Barcelona with victory at Getafe on Saturday.
Barca s sudden and unexpected dip in form has seen the Catalans fail to register a win in three league fixtures, allowing chasing duo Atletico Madrid and Real to close in.
Luis Enrique s men looked to be coasting to the defence of their title, but back-to-back league defeats against Madrid and Real Sociedad have checked their momentum.
Madrid, by contrast, are on a six-match winning run in La Liga since losing to city rivals Atleti in February, and overcame a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Wolfsburg on Tuesday, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a hat-trick.
Barca, who host Valencia on Sunday,…
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has turned to yoga in a bid to curb his hyperactive touchline antics.
The former Juventus and Italy coach has urged English football s authorities to reconsider the hectic festive schedule in the Premier League for fear of it doing damage to players.
But when a tactician is so intensely animated as Conte, a rapid turnaround in fixtures can also take a toll in the dugout.
I think I am well trained for this but to play every three days is a big effort not only for my players but also for me, he said, with his reigning Premier League champions set to face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
When you live the game in this way, when you finish you are a bit exhausted.
Maybe in the future when I become older then I st…
Molde FK manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that English Premier League new boys Southampton have submitted a formal bid for highly-rated Norway international defender Vegard Forren, .
Forren, 24, was set to join Liverpool on a week-long trial, with the Reds keen on sealing a permanent switch for the centre-back.
However, the Saints surprise bid for the player has led to the cancellation of his week-long trial at Anfield, with Molde having reportedly accepted Southampton s offer for the Norwegian defender.
Forren is expected to open talks with Southampton about a possible move to the Premier League in the next couple of days.
There have been many inquiries from various English clubs, but Southampton submitted an offer, it was very int…