Following the controversies caused by some statements from the two managers, the match between Chelsea and Liverpool on Sunday was much anticipated among the admirers of Premier League football. The two of them had a spat during Liverpool s 5-3 win at Anfield towards the end of last season, and the media sought to reignite that flame after Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool as a club different to those owned by states and oligarchs. Frank Lampard responded by naming a number of the significant transfers Liverpool have made since Klopp took over in 2015.
Both coaches played the whole business down in their pre-match press conferences, but it did nothing to lessen the interest in seeing this new star-studded Chelsea team take on the well-drilled machine that the defending champions…
Philippe Coutinho turned in a dazzling display as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Werder Bremen 6-1 in the Bundesliga.
On-loan Barcelona playmaker Coutinho scored a hat-trick and laid on another for Robert Lewandowski, who continued his prolific campaign with a brace.
Bayern headed into the match on the back of consecutive league losses to Bayern Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach and Bremen deservedly led at the Allianz Arena through a fabulous Milot Rashica strike.
But those struggles felt a lifetime ago by the time Coutinho set up substitute Thomas Muller for the fifth, while the former completed the rout with a brilliant finish from the edge of the area.
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Everyone is presumably looking forward to more talk of football coming home when the World Cup kicks off in November, with England among the favourites to win the tournament for the first time since 1966.
However, the Three Lions have had a stinker of a Nations League campaign in 2022, having failed to win any of their four games in June.
A 1-0 defeat in Hungary was followed by a draw in Germany thanks to a late Harry Kane penalty, before a dull 0-0 at Molineux against Italy and an abysmal performance in their 4-0 defeat to Hungary at the same venue.
Three months on from that chastening loss in Wolverhampton, manager Gareth Southgate picked his squad for the final two Nations League games against Italy and Germany, and while there was a new face in Brentford …
Manchester United s players must prove they deserve silverware as they continue to battle on multiple fronts under Erik ten Hag, according to midfielder Christian Eriksen.
The Red Devils defeated Burnley 2-0 on their return to action on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, where third-tier Charlton Athletic await.
Ten Hag s side are also still in the Europa League, albeit with Barcelona up next in the knockout round play-offs, while their FA Cup campaign begins against Everton next month.
Having not won a trophy since their Europa League success in the 2016-17 campaign, Eriksen accepts United are not in a position to prioritise certain competitions.
It s been a few years since winning a trophy the last time, Eriksen, who arrived at Unite…
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Desperate to claim what would be a crucial first-leg advantage in their bid to avoid the drop, Stuttgart will welcome Hamburger to the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Thursday night.
Stuttgart
Starting with the hosts, missing out on the chance to automatically extend on their Bundesliga status last weekend, Stuttgart know that they must go about things the hard way. Once again spending the whole of the 2022/23 campaign battling it out at the foot of the table, Sebastian Hoeneb’s men have continued to show some extended inconstancies. Despite laying down what was a real marker on May 21st as they stormed their way to a stunning 4-1 romp away at Mainz, that is the only win that Stuttgart have claimed from their last five appearances. Opening Ma…
France international Benjamin Pavard has hinted he could leave Bayern Munich if presented with an appealing project elsewhere.
Pavard joined Bayern from Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart in 2019 and has won three German top-flight titles during his time with the Bavarian giants, as well as lifting the Champions League trophy in 2020.
The 26-year-old has made 20 appearances for Bayern this season, starting 16 times and contributing to five clean sheets.
However, in an interview with L Equipe, Pavard suggested he may be open to swapping the Bundesliga for a new challenge, saying: I m not against discovering a new project. This may be the time.
There have been no specific discussions. For the moment, I am focused on the World Cup.
I have immense respect…
Manuel Ugarte insists he relishing the opportunity to take on the great responsibility that comes with playing for Manchester United.
Ugarte, who completed his £50.5million move from Paris Saint-Germain last week, was officially unveiled to supporters ahead of their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Uruguayan became Erik ten Hag s fifth and final signing of the transfer window, with it expected he will be in United s midfield after the international break.
He won 57 of his 98 tackles in Ligue 1 last season, more than any other player in the PSG squad, while also completing 1212 of his 1325 attempted passes, providing the Red Devils head coach a more mobile alternative to Casemiro in midfield.
Ugarte was also a part of Marcelo Bielsa s Uruguay sid…
Real Sociedad are interested in signing Donny van de Beek from Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that La Liga outfit Sociedad want to secure the services of the 26-year-old Netherlands international midfielder on a loan deal with the option to buy.
The report has claimed that Sociedad, who finished in the top four of the La Liga table last season and will play in the UEFA Champions League this campaign, have made an offer to United to sign Van de Beek on a loan deal. The Red Devils are willing to sanction a loan deal and are in talks with Sociedad over a potential transfer fee at the end of the spell.
Van de Beek has been on the books of United since 2020 and has struggled to make an impact for the Red Devils. The Net…
Steven Naismith heaped praise on “lethal finisher” Lawrence Shankland after the talismanic striker’s 50th goal for Hearts secured a 1-0 away win over St Johnstone.
The 28-year-old, who joined from Belgian club Beerschot in the summer of 2022, has taken just over one-and-a-half seasons to bring up his half-century in maroon.
“He is at the peak of his career, his numbers are the best of his career,” said manager Naismith after Shankland’s McDiarmid Park strike.
“That’s partly down to him and the team, he’s a lethal finisher. He’s got the finesse and the touch to take his chances when they come along.
“He’s showed why he’s the best striker in the league. He’s driven, he’s got drive – he’s got the Euros (in the summer with Sc…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United has obtained Premier League approval.
Confirmation that the league had given its backing to the deal was contained within an update to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday evening.
The club are still awaiting Football Association approval.
The period in which holders of Class A shares can tender them for sale has been extended from February 14 until 23:59pm on February 16.
So far 36.7 per cent of Class A shares have been tendered, already enough to complete the 25 per cent acquisition. Ratcliffe’s offer is capped at 25 per cent, so even though more shares are available, that is the most which will be purchased.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday aft…