Liverpool linked with Real Madrid star James Rodriguez / Image via express.co.uk
Proven quality.
Two words that were not quite commonly found in Liverpool’s vocabulary over the past few years. Two words that – in the case of James Rodriguez’s potential move to Anfield – also have the ability to change the public perception of the famed club and raise the profile closer to where Jurgen Klopp sees his club at.
It All Depends on the Champions League
have found competing with financially more powerful Premier League rivals to be grueling and exhausting, but their hard-work and heavy-metal football – with all of its pros and cons, benefits and problems which hit the surface this season – could bring some satisfaction in the end.
A chance to win the lea…
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been told not to stand for re-election by high-ranking UEFA officials at a meeting in Brazil.
Blatter, who took over as the world governing body s chief in 1998, became embroiled in controversy over the weekend when he suggested that criticism of FIFA s decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar were founded in racism.
In a meeting with UEFA officials on Tuesday, Blatter was asked to stand down by Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB), and David Gill, vice-chairman of the Football Association (FA).
Gill told Sky Sports News he felt Blatter should step down, after the Swiss announced in 2011 that he would do so, but since suggesting he will stand again.
My personal view is he should have stayed with his…
Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku headlined the list of Serie A s MVP winners for the 2020-21 season.
Ronaldo finished the campaign as the leading scorer in the competition, netting 29 times across 33 appearances for Juventus to be named the most valuable forward.
Lukaku ranked second in the scorer s list with 24 goals from 36 outings, though the Belgium striker did provide 11 assists compared to Ronaldo s tally of three as he was named the best overall MVP.
Both forwards only netted one goal from outside the area and scored six penalties apiece, while Lukaku had a better shot conversion rate than Ronaldo – 25 per cent compared to 17.26 as he helped Inter finish as champions.
Meanwhile, Gianluigi Donnarumma – whose future remains unclear as his co…
Lionel Messi reportedly wants to negotiate his exit from Barcelona, who have other plans.
Messi, 33, has sensationally requested to leave Barca, the club where he has spent his entire professional career.
Talk around the record six-time Ballon d Or winner continues.
TOP STORY – MESSI WANTS TO NEGOTIATE BARCELONA EXIT
Messi wants to negotiate his exit from Barcelona, according to widespread reports in Spain.
Mundo Deportivo claims Barca insist Messi is not for sale, while adding the Argentina international wants a meeting with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Messi no está en venta , nuestra de hoy
— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo)
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been most strongly linked …
Mikel Arteta hailed match-winner Kai Havertz as an “exceptional player” after his late header saw Arsenal beat Brentford to move top of the Premier League.
With title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City facing off on Sunday, any victory for Arsenal would have taken them to the summit for the first time in 2024 – they will stay there if that game is drawn.
It looked like they were on course to miss out after returning goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gifted a goal to Yoane Wissa to cancel out a brilliant Declan Rice header, only for Havertz to convert with four minutes remaining to secure a 2-1 victory.
Havertz was serenaded by the home fans at full-time as he made it four goals in his last four league games, continuing to bely the criticism of his early-season fo…
Jurgen Klopp was adamant Liverpool should have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty in a dramatic end to his title-chasing side’s 1-1 draw with champions Manchester City.
An absorbing top-of-the-table Premier League contest at Anfield was halted for a late VAR check after City’s Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister in the chest with his boot but nothing was given.
The Reds had already been given one penalty early in the second half, with Mac Allister converting to cancel out John Stones’ 23rd-minute opener.
For all football people on the planet it s a penalty!
Jurgen Klopp says it was the best Liverpool performance EVER against Manchester City in the second half but they should have had a penalty
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySport…
AC Milan look set to rekindle their interest in Napoli midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, .
The Rossoneri remain in the hunt for a central midfielder but they seem to have given up on Michael Essien and Romulo.
Tuttosport is reporting that Milan are instead set to bid for Napoli s Blerim Dzemaili, who has just a year left on his deal at Stadio San Paolo.
The player s €1.3 million yearly wage is unlikely to be a problem, while the Rossoneri hope to recruit the experienced footballer for less than €5 million.
Despite putting in some very good performances every time he was called upon, the Switzerland international never quite managed to nail down a regular starting berth at Stadio San Paolo and he will probably be interested in a fresh start.
The 28…
Manchester United do not want to purchase Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal due to his knee injury, according to Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Speaking to Chilean newspaper El Mercurio on Tuesday, Sampaoli who has extended his contract as Chile s coach until the 2018 World Cup in Russia claimed United manager Louis van Gaal is concerned about Vidal s recovery, after having knee surgery in early May.
Vidal underwent surgery in the hope of fixing a persistent meniscus injury once and for all but that decision cost the 27-year-old midfielder in Brazil, as he struggled to produce his best football as Chile were eventually eliminated in the round of 16 by the host nation.
United have been heavily linked with the Juventus man throughout the close-season and Sampaoli said …
Atlanta United 1.0 has been a roaring success in MLS.
In this era of Designated Players on big-money contracts, prompted by David Beckham s 2007 arrival in Los Angeles, Atlanta last year became only the fourth expansion side to reach the play-offs. Just 12 months later, they are hosting the MLS Cup.
Former Barcelona coach Tata Martino, with the help of owner Arthur Blank, president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, has built this club from the ground up with a South American flavour.
Martino was installed as head coach in September 2016 when Atlanta had just a handful of players to their name and he has since shaped a side playing vibrant, versatile football in front of crowds sometimes over 70,000.
The stars in Georgia come from Parag…
Manchester United have now conceded more Premier League goals this season than they did in the whole of 2017-18.
Jose Mourinho s side lost 3-1 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with Xherdan Shaqiri s double sealing the win after Jesse Lingard cancelled out Sadio Mane s opener.
The result means United have let in 29 goals in their first 17 league matches of 2018-19, having only shipped 28 in the entirety of the previous campaign.
Mourinho s side sit sixth in the top flight, with five defeats and just seven wins, and their goal difference stands at zero.
Liverpool, who moved back to the top of the table, are 19 points above their bitter rivals, with a goal difference of 30 and still no losses.
29 Manchester United have now conceded 29 goals in the …