Gossip column: Neymar, Pogba, Cavani, Benzema, Bale

Manchester United are willing to spend £240m on a deal for Barcelona's Brazil forward Neymar, 23. (Sun - subscription required)

Chelsea will continue to pursue Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 22, until the transfer window closes despite the France international's £70m price tag because manager Jose Mourinho has concerns over current midfielders Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas. (Evening Standard) 

Arsenal are considering a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, 28, after France international Karim Benzema, 27, closed the door on any prospect of him leaving Real Madrid. (Daily Mirror)

The Sun's back page story on Neymar

The Sun's back page story on Neymar

Chelsea winger Victor Moses, Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj are all on West Ham boss Slaven Bilic's wanted list as he looks to add width to his squad before the end of the transfer window. (Evening Standard)

Dick Advocaat's future as Sunderland boss is in doubt after he criticised owner Ellis Short and revealed he is not happy at the Stadium of Light. (Daily Mail)

Pedro, 28, says he turned down offers from Manchester City and Manchester United to sign for Chelsea and confirmed he joined the Premier League champions because they showed more interest in the former Barcelona winger. (Telegraph)

West Brom are targeting Manchester United's Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 27, in their sights as defender Joleon Lescott, 33, is told he can leave The Hawthorns. (Talksport)

West Ham's loan move for Emmanuel Adebayor, 31, is back on with Tottenham ready to subsidise the Togo striker's £100,000-a-week wages. (Daily Mirror)

Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, 26, has ruled out replacing 24-year-old Spain international David De Gea at Manchester United. (Talksport)

Real Madrid have told Manchester United that 26-year-old Wales winger Gareth Bale is not for sale for any price. (Daily Mail) 

(source:http://www.bbc.com/sport)

Read more dailysport about: Cech Earns Arsenal A Point: Arsenal vs Liverpool 0-0 

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Cech Earns Arsenal A Point: Arsenal vs Liverpool 0-0

Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they played out a thrilling goalless draw with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. 

In a game littered with chances, brilliant goalkeeping and defensive mistakes, it was almost beyond belief that neither side could carve out a victory and deliver an early psychological blow among the contenders at the top of the table.

Liverpool dominated the first half but found Petr Cech in magnificent form as the former Chelsea goalkeeper saved miraculously from Christian Benteke and turned Philippe Coutinho's shot on to a post.

Coutinho also struck the bar in the third minute - and while Arsenal's opportunities were few, they were furious that Aaron Ramsey's early strike was ruled out for offside.

Arsenal regrouped and dominated much of the second half, Alexis Sanchez hitting the post and Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet producing a fine reflex save from Olivier Giroud.

The Reds will be delighted with a third successive clean sheet on the back of victories against Stoke City and Bournemouth, while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be equally pleased by the character shown by his side after a difficult first half.

 

Cech shows his worth

When Arsenal bought Cech for £10m from Chelsea in June, the instant wisdom was that his presence alone could be worth an extra 10 points to the Gunners.

Time will tell, but this was the night when the 33-year-old showed just how important a signing he could be as the Gunners try finally to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.

 Cech was castigated to an exaggerated degree after a poor debut in the home defeat by West Ham, but he was magnificent here when Liverpool laid siege to his goal in the first half.

He spread himself brilliantly to turn away Benteke's close-range effort when it seemed certain the Belgium striker would score, then showed he still retains the old athleticism to stretch and tip Coutinho's curling shot against an upright.

If any Arsenal fans harboured doubts about his purchase, this was a display to dispel them.

Coutinho plus Benteke equals danger

When Liverpool almost won the title in 2014, it was spearheaded by the superb attacking triumvirate of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool floundered last season with Suarez at Barcelona, Sturridge injured and Sterling disaffected and out of sorts before his £49m move to Manchester City.

While there can be no comparisons with that trio, there are so many signs of promise in the understanding already established between Coutinho and £32.5m summer signing Benteke.

Coutinho's darting runs and fast footwork are dangerous on their own while also looking for an outlet in Benteke, whose easy movement shows he is so much more than a big target man.

They have shown Liverpool can offer a different type of threat this season - and manager Brendan Rodgers will face an intriguing conundrum when Sturridge finally declares himself fit.

Will either of these teams be title contenders?

 Top four is more realistic for both and they don't look like threatening Manchester City on this very early evidence.

Liverpool, however, will be delighted at maintaining their recovery from the trauma of last season, with a third successive clean sheet and more signs that confidence is slowly returning.

BBC Sport pundit Steve Claridge said Arsenal were lop-sided in commentary and, with the direction of play from right to left, this heatmap shows their main threat was from the left flank

Arsenal showed great spirit to recover from a first half in which their defending was horrendous to have the better of the second.

It should be placed in context by the fact they were robbed of their first-choice central defensive partnership of Per Mertesacker through illness and Laurent Koscielny with a back injury.

Man of the match: Petr Cech

A magnificent performance from a goalkeeper who remains world class - he made eight saves and constantly rescued a weakened Arsenal defence.

Post-match reaction:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

"We scored a regular goal that was disallowed, I don't believe I can do something about it. At the end of the day, the referee cancelled out a regular goal. Like it or don't like it, it is a fact.

"We had chances, but we couldn't finish them off. When you play at home and don't win, people always find problems.

"It is not the result or the complete performance, but we came back in the second half."

Arsenal keeper Petr Cech:

"It is a shame we couldn't snatch the three points, but the game was so crazy - 0-0 we can take. First half, we scored a goal and it was ruled out for offside. That could have changed the game.

"We could have won the game, we could have been losing after the first half."

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers:

"I thought we were very good. First half, Petr Cech was the man of the match.

"Second half, we were always a threat going forward. The players worked ever so hard."

The stats you need to know

• This game was the first time both Mertesacker and Koscielny have missed a Premier League game for Arsenal since April 2012 versus Wigan
• Liverpool are the fifth team to start a Premier League game with three or more Brazilians in their XI, after Middlesbrough, Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea
• Cech kept only one clean sheet in his final nine Premier League appearances against Liverpool for Chelsea
• Liverpool's possession figure of 34% is the lowest they have recorded in the top flight under Rodgers
• Arsenal have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League home games
• Arsenal have failed to score in their opening two league home games for the first time since August 1979

Pundit analysis

BBC Radio 5 live's Steve Claridge: "What you can take from this is that if Arsenal are expecting to get into top four then why can't Liverpool, because both teams were equally as good as each other.

"Mesut Ozil is the weakest link for Arsenal. He doesn't do enough on the ball and he doesn't do anything defensively. (source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/)

Read more about dailysport is Coming To MU VS Newcastle United

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Coming To MU VS Newcastle United

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini completes a ban while Phil Jones remains absent with thrombosis.

Bastian Schweinsteiger could make his first start for the Red Devils but Marcos Rojo is still not match fit.

Newcastle could give a debut to new winger Florian Thauvin but defender Daryl Janmaat is banned after being sent off at Swansea last weekend.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko was substituted in that game with a groin injury but he could still play.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Bower: "The midweek European win will have put an extra spring in the Manchester United step because, despite two victories, it has been an underwhelming start to their league season.

"Their challenge now is to build on it against Newcastle and try to find some momentum.

"Newcastle will have to click quickly if they are to make it a happy return to Old Trafford for Steve McClaren.

"His task on Tyneside will take time, and one area that will need drastic improvement is their awful away record. He'll need his team to be disciplined and organised to try to change recent fortunes in Manchester."

Twitter: @SteveBowercomm

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal on recent criticism of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over transfer dealings: "I have the idea you want to separate Ed Woodward with me. Never. Never.

"Every day I am updated by him and I trust him. I don't think they (the critics) have to doubt Ed Woodward because he has proven already for many, many years he is the right person.

"When you ask me, 'Is Pedro fitting the profile?', I cannot lie, I said 'Yes'. But I do not say that I'm interested in the player. That is the difference. I have said before what we are doing is guiding a process and in that process we make decisions."

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren on the club's transfer dealings: "I'm very pleased with what we have got, very pleased. I think that's it for now - we are not expecting, we are not chasing anything. We are not trying to make things happen.

"There comes a point where we just have to sit down and stop and say, 'You know what, this is what we have, and now we have to work and develop them, and try to make them into a team that is hard to beat and no one wants to play against'."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Both these teams are a work in progress but the difference is that, defensively, Newcastle do not look convincing at the moment. Lawro's full predictions v comedian Jack Whitehall
 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The Red Devils have won their last three meetings with the Magpies, scoring eight goals and conceding just one.
• Newcastle's only Premier League victory at Old Trafford was by a 1-0 scoreline in December 2013 (D7, L13).
• Newcastle have lost 25 Premier League games against Manchester United, more than they have against any other side.

Manchester United

• United are looking for a third consecutive league win - they are one of four Premier League teams with maximum points after the first two games.
• They have kept clean sheets in their opening two games for the first time since 2005-06 - and have not conceded a goal in the four Premier League games that David De Gea has missed since the start of 2013-14.
• Louis van Gaal's side have scored more than once in just one of their last eight league matches.
• They have won 15 of their last 19 Premier League games at Old Trafford.

Newcastle

• Newcastle have lost seven consecutive Premier League away games. They haven't lost eight league fixtures in a row since a run of nine defeats in October 1977.
• The Magpies have lost 10 of their last 13 league games (W1, D2).
• Newcastle have been shown a league-high eight red cards since the start of last season.
• Head coach Steve McClaren spent two-and-a-half years as assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United from 1999 to 2001, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup - when they beat Newcastle in the final.

  (Source:http://www.bbc.com/sport)

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