With less than three months to go until this summer’s festival of international football, anticipation is rising. For millions of football fans around the world, the 21st edition of the ultimate football event will be the sports highlight of the year, and for those lucky players who have a chance to line up to represent … Read more
A disallowed Luis Suarez goal summed up a frustrating afternoon for Barcelona as the leaders of La Liga dropped points for the second week running after a 0-0 stalemate with Getafe on Sunday. After needing a late equaliser to grab a point in the Catalan derby at Espanyol last weekend, Barca could not break down … Read more
A moment of Philippe Coutinho magic lifted Liverpool to a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the final of the preseason Premier League Asia Trophy on Saturday. With Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rejecting a big-money offer from Spanish giants Barcelona for Coutinho earlier this week, the mercurial Brazilian underlined his important to the Reds with … Read more
Brazilian club Vasco da Gama have been ordered to play home matches behind closed doors after a fan was shot dead during disturbances at their ground. Vasco’s 1-0 defeat on Sunday at home to title-chasing Flamengo in the Rio de Janeiro derby was marred by crowd trouble at the final whistle. Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, … Read more
Brazilian club Vasco da Gama have been ordered to play home matches behind closed doors after a fan was shot dead during disturbances at their ground. Vasco’s 1-0 defeat on Sunday at home to title-chasing Flamengo in the Rio de Janeiro derby was marred by crowd trouble at the final whistle. Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, … Read more
Diego Souza will replace injured striker Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho is line to lead Brazil in Tuesday’s friendly with Australia in Melbourne. A replacement had to be found for Manchester City’s Jesus, who has returned home after suffering a fractured eye socket in Brazil’s 1-0 Superclasico loss to Argentina at the MCG on Friday. … Read more
The world’s number one team Brazil will not be under-estimating Australia as they bid to rebound from their Superclasico loss to Argentina, officials said Sunday. The five-time World Cup champions are eager to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to their great South American rivals in Tuesday’s friendly against the Confederations Cup-bound Socceroos in Melbourne. … Read more
New manager Jorge Sampaoli says he is looking to superstar Lionel Messi to revive Argentina’s World Cup fortunes starting with Friday’s friendly with Brazil in Melbourne Sampaoli has been installed to kick-start the two-time world champions’ ailing South American campaign where they lag outside the automatic qualifying positions in fifth spot with four games left. … Read more
Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years despite a 3-1 win over Everton on the final day of the Premier League. The Gunners began the day a point behind fourth-place Liverpool and were on course to displace the Reds when they took an eighth-minute lead. But Liverpool, … Read more
The Reds manager knows his side must be active in the transfer market as they juggle European football in 2017-18 Jurgen Klopp insisted Liverpool will invest in quality players as they prepare for European football next season, while he said there is no alternative to winning trophies at Anfield. Liverpool have been ravaged by injuries … Read more
Liverpool left their Champions League qualification hopes in the balance as James Milner had a second-half penalty saved in a forgettable 0-0 draw against Southampton at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side did little to trouble an amply stocked and well-drilled Saints defence until Jack Stephens was penalised for handball in the 64th minute. Milner headed into … Read more
Christian Benteke came back to haunt his former club as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool at Anfield to take a giant stride towards Premier League survival and dent their opponents’ top-four aspirations. Benteke scored in either half as Sam Allardyce’s Eagles mounted a brilliant fightback after Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho’s fine free-kick. Liverpool … Read more
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will wear the iconic red shirt once again when Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Australia in May. Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Steve McManaman will be part of the Liverpool team who will play a post-season friendly against A-League side Sydney FC next month as part of the club’s … Read more
Roberto Firmino’s header was enough to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win at West Brom and keep their top-four challenge on track. The Brazilian nodded in a first-half winner to settle an unremarkable game and extend the Reds’ unbeaten Premier League run to seven matches. Jurgen Klopp’s side climbed over Manchester City into third, having played … Read more
West Ham secured their first league win in eight games to ease the pressure on under-fire boss Slaven Bilic. Heading into the clash, reports suggested the Croatian would lose his job should the Hammers suffer defeat against the Swans. But the Hammers board were not forced into action as Cheikhou Kouyate’s late first half strike … Read more
Liverpool continued their Merseyside derby dominance over Everton with a 3-1 victory at Anfield on Saturday, a result that could have big implications in the race for Champions League football. Sadio Mane, who scored a last-minute winner at Goodison Park in the reverse fixture, struck early on with his 13th Premier League goal of the … Read more
Liverpool enhanced their prospects of a top-four place by beating derby rivals Everton, whose own hopes of breaking into the battle for a Champions League qualification spot were severely damaged by the defeat. Sadio Mane gave the hosts an early lead when he played a one-two with Roberto Firmino and finished off an angled run … Read more
Brazil became the first team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Paraguay to clinch an eighth consecutive victory as Argentina’s campaign stumbled after the shock suspension of Lionel Messi. Five-time champions Brazil had been left waiting in suspense after goals from Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo handed them a 3-0 win … Read more
Brazil have become the first side to seal their place at the World Cup finals in Russia next year. Their 3-0 win over Paraguay, along with defeats for Argentina and Uruguay, means they cannot finish lower than fourth in South American qualifying. Neymar also missed a penalty as his side moved nine points clear of … Read more
Leicester City caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare said he was ready to take on the role fulltime after overseeing an impressive 3-1 win against Liverpool in his first game. Shakespeare was promoted from his role as assistant following Claudio Ranieri’s sensational dismissal last Thursday, nine months on from Leicester’s 5 000-1 Premier League title triumph. Leicester … Read more