Chelsea boss Rosenior urges review on set-piece defending — and more

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has urged the Premier League to have a ‘review’ on how set-pieces are defended at the end of the season.

The comments come after Chelsea conceded twice from corners during the club’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

Set-piece goals are on the increase in the Premier League this season, with 17.6% of all goals scored via corners in 2025-26. According to Opta, that is the highest percentage in a season in Premier League history.

Arsenal have regularly crowded penalty boxes to make advantage of dead balls, but Rosenior believes that goalkeepers need better protection.

Asked about comments from Liverpool boss Arne Slot, which criticised the current trend of set-pieces, the Chelsea coach called for a review on players affecting the goalkeepers to gain an ‘unfair advantage’.

“I think that is the beauty of football, you can do it in so many different ways. There’s no right or wrong way to play football for me,” he said.

“I’m sure when we scored from a corner yesterday, our fans didn’t care what the goal looked like. I’m sure Arsenal’s fans didn’t care what their goals looked like either. The game is about winning.

“What I would say about corners is that there needs to be a review at the end of the season in terms of the way teams are affecting the goalkeepers and are holding on during defensive set plays. I think that’s something that gives an unfair advantage to certain teams.”

Read – Chelsea boss gives update on Cole Palmer fitness ahead of Aston Villa clash

See more – Every Chelsea player sent off this season as total reaches nine

Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Celtics Linked To Former Cavs Guard In Creative Trade Talk originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey published a creative NBA article on Monday entitled, "1 Trade Every NBA Team Wishes It Could Make Right Now".

When it came to the Boston Celtics, Bailey imagined Boston sending Sam Hauser and a first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for point guard Ty Jerome. Obviously, this is impossible, considering the trade deadline has passed, but it was a fun theoretical exercise from Bailey.

"The Boston Celtics already managed to duck the tax by trading Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vučević and moving Xavier Tillman in a separate move," Bailey wrote.

"With that goal accomplished, and given how well they're playing without Jayson Tatum, Boston doesn't really need to make a deal at all. But this one saves it a little more money and gives it a playmaking boost without sacrificing shooting."

"Since the start of last season, Ty Jerome is 12th in the league in box plus/minus, with averages of 23.9 points, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals per 75 possessions and a 64.7 true shooting percentage," Bailey continued. "His heady, team-first game would make him an easy and obvious fit with the Celtics."

"He's worth a late first-round pick. In fact, the Memphis Grizzlies might be right to insist on more than that. But Jerome is a win-now player. And the Grizzlies, despite their inability to move Ja Morant, have clearly signaled a rebuild by moving Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr."

Hauser was thrown around in trade rumors leading up the deadline. He provides value on both ends of the floor, and as alluded to by Bailey, he's on an affordable deal that has him making between $10 million and $12.5 million every season through 2028-29.

Bailey's article makes you wonder if Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens will move Hauser in the offseason. For now, Boston fans are glad that Sam is still on board as the Celts chase Banner 19.

More NBA: Celtics' Eastern Conference Rival Receives Unfortunate Injury News

Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey will miss Scotland's World Cup warm-up friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast as injuries continue to plague several key players in Steve Clarke's squad.

The Premier League club have revealed they hope the 23-year-old, who was withdrawn at half-time against Brighton and Hove Albion on 21 February with a hamstring problem, "will return after the March international break".

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have yet to reveal a return date for winger Ben Gannon-Doak, who has missed the majority of the league season with a hamstring injury the 20-year-old picked up in the 4-2 win over Denmark in November.

• Iran, the US, and a World Cup that starts in three months
• 'Russell in talks over Dundee United return' - gossip
• Scotland fans secure Fifa approval to wear sporrans at World Cup

Having already lost Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland until April with a hamstring injury, Heart of Midlothian head coach Derek McInnes has also all-but ruled Craig Gordon out of Japan's visit to Hampden on 28 March and the match against Ivory Coast at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later.

The 43-year-old goalkeeper has already missed the Scottish Premiership leaders' latest six matches with a shoulder injury.

John McGinn is also doubtful, although the Aston Villa midfielder said last week that he is two or three weeks away from a return from a knee injury picked up on 18 January that required surgery and had the 31-year-old initially fearing for his place at this summer's World Cup finals.

Fellow midfielder Scott McTominay picked up an injury in Napoli's win over Genoa on 7 February and, although he said last week he had an outside chance of playing against Hellas Verona, was absent for a fourth consecutive match.

However, Billy Gilmour made his second substitute appearance since picking up a groin injury in November as the midfielder helped Napoli win 2-1.

Romelu Lukaku held off the attentions of Scotland striker Kieron Bowie, making his fourth start for the hosts, to score the late winner - the first time they have won this season with McTominay absent.

McTominay could make his club squad on Friday at home to Torino, for whom fellow 29-year-old Che Adams might also return after a two-game absence with a calf strain.

The striker had been passed fit for Sunday's 2-0 win over Lazio but did not make the match-day squad.

Meanwhile, Derby County right-back Max Johnston is expected to return in mid-March after four months out with a hamstring injury but might not be match fit in time for the Scotland friendlies.

However, defender Ross McCrorie returned to the Bristol City side that lost to Watford at the weekend after three games out with concussion.

Centre-half Grant Hanley is expected to return to action this week after missing five games for Hibernian.

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron, who has been out with a knee injury since early January, is expected back this month.

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn has at least made the Nottingham Forest bench since recovering from November's knee ligament injury, but his lack of game time is another worry for Clarke.

Manchester United have been told they have a natural replacement for Luke Shaw in the shape of Godwill Kukonki.

Shaw has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career, but he has been omnipresent in Man Utd’s lineup this season, starting in all 28 Premier League fixtures thus far.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

But unfortunately for the 30-year-old, he picked up a knock during the win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, forcing him to leave the pitch prematurely.

Michael Carrick replaced the London native with Noussair Mazraoui, who’s originally a right-back, but also capable of playing on the left flank.

While the severity of Shaw’s injury remains unclear at this stage, MUFC might have to do without him in the coming weeks.

Michael Carrick could promote Godwill Kukonki to fill in for Luke Shaw

As things stand, fielding Mazraoui at left-back appears to be the most obvious solution, especially since Tyrell Malacia has been almost ruled out of consideration. The Dutchman, who was desperate to leave the club in January, is simply biding his time, waiting to see out his contract and trying to revive his career elsewhere.

(Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

In addition to Shaw, Man Utd have another injured left-back in the shape of Patrick Dorgu, who won’t return to action for several weeks.

Therefore, Man Utd might have to resort to their academy to bolster their full-back options while waiting for the injured players to return to the squad.

As UnitedAnalyst argues, United’s first team could do with a left-back like Godwill Kukonki, who can dart down the flank and make important contributions at both ends of the pitch.

The same X account had already dubbed Kukonki as ‘too good’ for the U18 level on the back of a dominant display against Man City last month.

A closer look at Godwill Kukonki’s path at Man Utd

The 18-year-old is a towering centre-half who stands at 196cm. Nevertheless, Man Utd U18 head coach Darren Fletcher has been capitalising on his ever-improving technical skills by fielding him as a left-back.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash against Crystal Palace, the teenager was included in Man Utd’s matchday squad, but he didn’t make it to the bench. He was only selected on one occasion this season, and it happened to be Ruben Amorim’s last game in charge.

While the youngster was on the bench against Leeds United, he has yet to make his senior debut for United, even though Amorim had identified Kukonki as one ready for a promotion. Hence, it remains to be seen if the mini-injury crisis will finally see him make his first-team bow.

Valencia has received concerning news for their sports planning. After medical tests conducted this Monday, it has been confirmed that goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala suffers from a meniscal injury in his left knee. The incident occurred accidentally during last Friday's training session, immediately raising alarms for the medical team.

Urgent Evaluation in Vitoria

Given the seriousness of the diagnosis, the goalkeeper will travel this afternoon to be evaluated by specialists. This consultation will be crucial in deciding whether the player needs surgery or if a conservative treatment will be chosen.

Impact on the Che Goal

Agirrezabala's absence is a significant setback for Corberán at a key point in the 2026 season. Depending on the type of tear and the procedure to follow, the recovery time could range from several weeks to a couple of months, leaving the goalkeeping duties to the substitute goalkeepers.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.