Alexander-Arnold: Liverpool´s quadruple hunt ´special´, regardless of Premier League outcome

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Liverpool s quadruple tilt represents one of the greatest seasons from a Premier League side, regardless of the outcome of their final-day title tussle with Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp s team remain in contention for the second top-flight title of his tenure when they host Wolves at Anfield, having already won the EFL Cup and FA Cup, while reaching the Champions League final.

With Liverpool one point behind City and possessing an inferior goal difference, the Reds will need Pep Guardiola s men to slip up in their home game against Aston Villa to preserve their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple.

Liverpool and City have set a relentless pace at the top of the Premier League table this season with the Reds winning 15 and drawing th…

Prediction: Croatia vs Albania

Best odds: 40/85

Bookmaker:

Both having started their exploits at the Euros with defeats in Group B, neither Croatia nor Albania can afford to lose when they meet in Hamburg on Wednesday afternoon.

The obvious aim for the two teams will be to stay in contention for a place in the tournament s knockout phase.

Croatia

Tipped by some pundits to finally clinch silverware this summer, Croatia began their seventh European Championship appearance — and sixth in a row — with a humbling 3-0 defeat to Spain in Berlin.

Once again outclassed by La Roja, who also bested them in last year s UEFA Nations League final, Croatia were down by three before halftime, and a missed penalty from Bruno Petkovic — who faced criticism from his manager for jumping th…

Bowen backs Alexander-Arnold to adapt to new England midfield role

Jarrod Bowen backed Trent Alexander-Arnold to flourish in England s midfield having started the Three Lions opening two games at Euro 2024.

The Liverpool vice-captain, who operates as a right-back for his club, has featured alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in England s win over Serbia and draw against Denmark on Thursday.

Alexander-Arnold s inclusion in Gareth Southgate s midfield was a huge talking point heading into the tournament, yet it remains to be seen whether he will continue in that role in their final Group C fixture against Slovenia.

The 25-year-old has been replaced in both games by Conor Gallagher in the second half, despite no player created more chances (3) or played more line-breaking passes in the final third (5) for England against D…

Newcastle United eye Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga

Newcastle United are interested in signing Anthony Elanga from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Newcastle are looking at Elanga as a possible replacement for Miguel Almiron.

TEAMtalk has claimed that Newcastle are ready to sell Almiron this summer. The 30-year-old Paraguay international, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, is on the radar of a club in the Saudi Pro League.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is keen on signing an inverted winger to play on the right. Elanga is the player that the Magpies are looking to bring in this summer. The 22-year-old has been on the books of Forest since the summer of 2023 when he moved from Manchester United. The Sweden international …

Messi v Mbappe: World Cup showdown between PSG pals could define Qatar final

Lionel Messi has had a career most could barely even dream about, let alone achieve.

And yet, the greatest prize of all has continued to elude him – the closest he has come to being a World Cup champion was in 2014 when Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final in Brazil.

The magician has one last chance to right that wrong when Argentina face off against France in Sunday s showpiece in Qatar, the perfect stage to put the cherry on top of the cake.

But standing in his way is another Paris Saint-Germain megastar in the form of Kylian Mbappe, whose Les Bleus side know how to get the job done having been crowned winners four years ago in Russia.

So, will it be Messi walking off into the World Cup sunset finally a champion on international football …

Bale will take Euro 2016 in his stride, says Wales boss Coleman

Gareth Bale will relish the responsibility of being Wales main man at their first major tournament in nearly 60 years, manager Chris Coleman believes.

Real Madrid star Bale was the driving force behind his country s successful qualifying campaign for Euro 2016, scoring seven goals in 10 appearances as Coleman s side finished second behind Belgium in their pool.

Wales have not competed at a major finals since the 1958 World Cup, and all eyes will be on Bale in France as they look to negotiate their way through a group also containing England, Russia and Slovakia.

But Coleman expects the 26-year-old to rise to the occasion and act as an inspiration to his team-mates once again.

Bale is integral, on and off the pitch, Coleman told Omnisport.

Inter ´deserve´ last-16 tie as Inzaghi tells his side to face Liverpool with freedom

Liverpool must be considered favourites for the Champions League last-16 tie with Inter, but the Nerazzurri deserve to be back in the latter stages of the competition, according to Simone Inzaghi.

Inter finished second behind Real Madrid in Group D, progressing to the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 2011-12.

This will be the fifth meeting between Inter and Liverpool. Each of the previous four have been in the knockout stages of the European Cup/Champions League, with the Serie A side progressing over two legs in the 1964-65 semi-finals – a year in which they went on to lift the trophy – and the Reds emerging from the last 16 in 2007-08.

Inzaghi knows his team cannot be considered favourites, given the strength of Liverpool, yet he wants…

Azpilicueta: I would not swap any Chelsea trophy for World Cup win with Spain

Cesar Azpilicueta says he would not swap any of his Chelsea trophies for a World Cup title with Spain.

Azpilicueta has lifted nine trophies with Chelsea since signing for them in 2012, and the Blues Club World Cup win in February this year means the defender has won every club prize possible with the London outfit.

In contrast, the 33-year-old is yet to taste glory with his international side, having made his debut after their World Cup triumph in 2010 and the European Championship successes of 2008 and 2012.

Spain have not returned to a final since that 2012 victory, but Azpilicueta revealed he would not trade any of his club titles for a World Cup win, telling reporters: Why would I swap any trophies?

I want to get another one, this one [the World Cup]…

MLS move to blame if I miss out on Euro 2016 – Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo believes playing in the MLS is the reason behind his omission from Italy s training camp ahead of Euro 2016. 

The World Cup-winning playmaker won the last of his 116 caps in September s 1-0 win against Bulgaria in qualification for the upcoming tournament, and was left out of Antonio Conte s 28-man provisional party, despite the fact fellow midfielders Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio are injured.

And Pirlo feels that his move to New York City has damaged his chances of representing Italy at an eighth international finals  although he has no regrets about crossing the Atlantic.

When someone decides to come to the US, he knows what he s getting into. I reflected on this and I knew what the risks were, the 37-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport.…

´He is still one of our players´ – Inter vice president Zanetti coy on potential Sanchez departure

Inter vice president Javier Zanetti is unsure whether Alexis Sanchez will remain a Nerazzurri player amid reports of interest from Saudi Arabia.

The Chilean 33-year-old arrived from Manchester United in 2019, initially joining on a season-long loan before signing a permanent deal in 2020.

He was part of the 2020-21 Inter side which delivered their first Serie A title since the 2009-10 season, while he also scored a 121st minute winner to help his team lift the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana in January.

Sanchez only scored five goals in 27 Serie A appearances for Inter last season, though he was either substituted on or off in 25 of those matches, and there has subsequently been talk of a move away from San Siro.

It has been reported that Saudi Arabian club Al…