MATCH! -julkaisun 16 January 2024 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

MAN. CITY Despite some mixed results, Man. City are still the favourites to win their fourth Prem title in a row! They’ve had to make do without Kevin De Bruyne for most of the season, while Erling Haaland has also struggled with some knocks. They have a habit of ending the season really strongly, like when they won 10 games in a row last year! LIVERPOOL The Reds have only won the Premier League once in their history – back in 2019-20! Due to restrictions, they had to lift the trophy in front of an empty Anfield, so they’d love to put that right in 2024. They still haven’t lost a game at home this season, but things could get a bit tougher while Mohamed Salah is on AFCON duty……

PLAYER PROFILE! Even though he’s Brazilian, Roque is often compared to two Argentinian strikers – Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez! He’s not the tallest player on the pitch, but he’s physical enough to hold the ball up and he constantly presses defenders. He’s got a really powerful shot and can score with either foot! EARLY DAYS! Interestingly, Roque actually grew up playing as a defensive midfielder! It wasn’t until he was 14 years old, after realising his specialability to find the back of the net, that he became as triker. His early days as a midfielder still influences how he plays today, because he likes to drop deep and get involved in the game! SAMBA SUCCESS! He was part of the Brazil U20 side that won the 2023 South American…

1 He attended the same secondary school as David Beckham and attended Becks’ Football Academy when he was 11 years old. Wow! 2 His first senior professional debut and goals came for Leyton Orient when he was on loan there at the start of 2011 as a 17-year-old! 3 He still has a strong link to The O’s as he has sponsored their shirts in recent seasons, with the money going to charities! 4 He went on loan to Millwall in 2011-12 and ended the season as The Lions’ Young Player of the Year! on loan at Norwich and Leicester, where he sometimes warmed the bench with Jamie Vardy! 6 In October 2014, he scored his first pro hat-trick v Asteras Tripoli but was forced to play in goal for the final three minutes after…

Man marking! Joachim Andersen wasn’t gonna let Beto off the hook that easily! Worried Wood! What has Chris Wood lost behind the hoardings? Funny fans! These Villa supporters paid tribute to John McGinn! New specs! Ashley Barnes should have gone to Specsavers! Lights, camera, action! Kevin De Bruyne looks like he’s in an advert for a new shampoo! Rivals’shirt swap! If Trai Hume wanted Anthony Gordon’s shirt, he should have just asked for it! Selfie shot! Aldershot’s Ollie Bray was after a new phone wallpaper! Boro in denial! Middlesbrough’s Rav van den Berg didn’t want to see the scoreboard! Gallagher gaze! When you’re looking for the new MATCH mag on the shelves! Magic McAtee! We’d forgotten the Sheffield United star could do that!…

Hi, Harry! How are you enjoying life in the Bundesliga? KANE SAYS: I'm really enjoying life in the Bundesliga! The whole club, the team and the employees welcomed me and helped me settle in. I've been at the club for a few months and what surprised me the most were the fans. I've felt their extreme support since my arrival. I'm looking forward to expanding this relationship and getting to know everyone even better. So far, it’s been a brilliant start! Have you noticed any differences between the Bundesliga and the Premier League? KANE SAYS: I have already been able to test the atmosphere of several matches and I must say that the fans are different to some Premier League atmospheres I've experienced. German football has some of the most passionate…

TA-RA TONEY? Arsenal have lacked a real finisher this season, with strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah managing just eight PL goals from their first 34 appearances combined! They’d love to land Ivan Toney, but need Brentford to lower their £100m asking price. Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface, Feyenoord ace Santiago Gimenez and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic are cheaper alternatives! £75m WELCOME BACK, BOBBY? Roberto Firmino got off to a flying start in Saudi Arabia at Al Ahli after being named club captain and scoring a hat-trick in his first match, but he failed to score in his next 18 games! Gossips say he could be offered a surprise return to the Prem, with Fulham said to be interested in the £10m TOP TOON TARGET! Newcastle and Aston Villa are rumoured…

1 BLACKBURN V WREXHAM For the second season running, Wrexham have reached the FA Cup fourth round! That’s a great effort for a side still playing League Two football, and they’ve been rewarded with a tough away trip to Blackburn. It will be the teams’ first head-to-head since 1982, when The Dragons edged out Rovers 1-0. Game on! 2 CHELSEA V ASTON VILLA This all-Premier League clash has been really even in recent seasons, with their last eight head-to-heads ending with two draws and three wins apiece! Their league clash in September saw Blues defender Malo Gusto sent off in the second half and Ollie Watkins bag the winner! 3 TOTTENHAM V MAN. CITY Pep Guardiola said at the start of the season that his ambition for 2023-24 is to…

NAME THE CLUB! Can you name the awesome clubs that Fulham signed these top-class footballers from? BOGUS BADGE! Name the European club this ultra-cool badge belongs to! 10-YEAR CHALLENGE! Name the superstar from this LOL snap from back in 2014! the price is right! Match the stars with the money their current club paid for them! ACE ACTIVITY MATCH TIERS! Put these world-famous mascots into tiers according to how highly you rate them! ANSWERS Name The Club: 1. Lyon; 2. Wigan; 3. Cardiff; 4. Torino; 5. Liverpool; 6. Benfica. Bogus Badge: Benfica. 10-Year Challenge: James Maddison. The Price Is Right: 1A; 2B; 3C. MY SCORE/11…

GAME ONE MANICMANCHESTER! MAN. CITY 3-3TOTTENHAM DECEMBER 3 Sonny showed super desire and skill to open the scoring for his side, before setting up Giovani Lo Celso for Spurs first equaliser! He also became the first player in Prem history to score away at four different reigning PL champions! GAME TWO HAMMER BLOW! TOTTENHAM 1-2 WEST HAM DECEMBER 7 Playing as a central striker, Son really struggled to get involved in the game, despite his team bossing possession! It was a match to forget for the Korea legend as he watched his side blow a lead to lose the game! GAME THREE WING WIZARD! TOTTENHAM 4-1NEWCASTLE DECEMBER 10 Playing on the left wing, Son rolled back the years with some lethal wing play, twice beating Kieran Trippier and crossing before…

Arsenal Star man: William Saliba Must do better: Gabriel Martinelli Verdict: Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Man. City in October got their fans proper excited, but their form in December nosedived! AstonVilla Star man: Ollie Watkins Must do better: Youri Tielemans Verdict: Last season’s seventh place was their first-top-half finish since2010-11, and this season they’ve been better! Bournemouth Star man: Dominic Solanke Must do better: Dango Outtara Verdict: After failing to win any of their first nine games, The Cherries have been one of the form teams since October! Brentford Star man: Bryan Mbeumo Must do better: Saman Ghoddos Verdict: The Bees ended 2023 with seven defeats from their last eight games, but without star striker Ivan Toney… Brighton Star man: Joao Pedro Must do better: Mahmoud Dahoud Verdict: Juggling their firstever…