With the EFL Cup final upon us, focus turns to who can be the biggest difference makers when Chelsea take on Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.
One player emerging as one of the chief influences for the Merseyside giants is Thiago Alcantara, who made his 50th appearance for the club in Wednesday s 6-0 thrashing of Leeds United.
He was a certified medal collector at Bayern Munich, and Sunday sees the former Barcelona midfielder s first opportunity to win a trophy with Liverpool. It has not all been a bed of roses for him, though.
A statement of intent
Liverpool were champions of England for the first time in three decades after romping to the Premier League title and had won the Champions League a year earlier.
Then in September 2020, the club announ…
Pep Guardiola has extended his contract at Manchester City until June 2023, the Premier League club have confirmed.
Guardiola s deal had been due to expire at the end of the season, but City announced on Thursday he had agreed to prolong his stay at the Etihad Stadium for another two years.
Since replacing Manuel Pellegrini in 2016, the Catalan has led the club to a pair of Premier League triumphs, the second coming in 2018-19 as part of a clean sweep of domestic trophies – a feat not previously achieved in England.
Pep s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years, said City chairman Khaldoon Mubarak.
It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire club.
Robert Lewandowski reached 50 goals for the season on the final day of Bayern Munich s campaign, as it emerged he wants to leave the club.
The Polish striker headed Thomas Muller s smart cross from the left past Koen Casteels for Bayern s second goal of the game against Wolfsburg, helping the visitors to a 2-1 half-time lead.
It took Lewandowski to 25 goals in 22 Bundesliga games versus Wolfsburg, including his only five-goal haul in the top-flight.
In Bundesliga history, only Gerd Muller has scored more goals against a single opponent, having hit 27 against Hamburg.
Lewandowski took his Bundesliga tally for 2021-22 to 35, while he has also scored 13 times in the Champions League and twice in the German Super Cup.
Before kick-off, Bayern sportin…
Manchester United have sent a message to the rest of the Premier League with their high-profile move to sign Jadon Sancho, says Steve McClaren.
Former United assistant and England manager McClaren feels Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s men can now field a formidable attacking unit even though there are still some calls for them to sign a new centre-forward.
United and Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal in principle for the transfer of Sancho, which is worth around £73million and expected to be completed after his involvement in Euro 2020.
Sancho scored 50 goals and provided 57 assists in 137 appearances across all competitions for Dortmund, with United poised to finalise the deal one year on from their initial frustrating and ultimately failed pursuit.
Last seas…
Manchester United midfielder Anderson has joined Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Internacional on a four-year deal.
The former Grêmio starlet, who joined United from Porto for £26 million in 2007, will move to Porto Alegre on a free transfer after falling out of favour at Old Trafford.
Thank you so much to Manchester United It is truly the best club in the world, I love it so much and have enjoyed every year I have spent there,” wrote Anderson on Instagram
Thank you to all the team who work at United and especially all the boys, I have made some amazing friends, all of whom are great players and will continue to do great things.
And one massive thank you to all of the fans, for your continuous love.. The best.
While at…
Lionel Messi is set to be reunited with a familiar face when Argentina face El Salvador in a friendly at Landover s FedEx Field on Saturday.
El Salvador coach Albert Roca is a Spaniard who spent five years at Barcelona as an assistant to Frank Rijkaard.
During his time at Camp Nou, between 2003 and 2008, Roca was able to witness Messi s emergence and development into one of the world s leading players.
Roca is quoted by ESPN Brasil as saying: I was lucky to be three or four years with him when he began to come to the first team.
Practically we are talking about the best player of all history.
It will be a dream to see him again. Even if having to face him is never pleasant.
Messi was briefly considered a doubt for the game against E…
Club president Silvio Berlusconi labelled former Milan striker Mario Balotelli a rotten apple on Monday.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Berlusconi claimed he had advised against signing Balotelli in February 2013.
Balotelli joined Liverpool before the 2014-15 season and has failed to score in the Premier League for the Anfield-based outfit, while Berlusconi is convinced Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi will find it easier to rebuild the Serie A club without the Italy international.
I remember that he [Balotelli] had been bought against my advice, Berlusconi said.
Berlusconi reckons Milan are on their way back to becoming the kings of Europe, adding that players like Balotelli would have held the seven-time Champions League-winners back.
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In what is set to be a heavyweight EURO 24 qualifying showdown from Wembley on Tuesday night, England will welcome Italy to Wembley.
England
Starting with the hosts, marking their return to international duties last week with a 1-0 victory against Australia in a friendly matchup, England will be desperate to lay down a heavyweight marker on Tuesday night. Opening up their showdown at Wembley holding a three-point buffer at the top of the Group C table, Gareth Southgate’s side find themselves within touching distance of punching their ticket to next year’s European Championships. mustering 13 points from their five qualifying contests and yet to suffer a single defeat, the Three Lions are tipped as a genuine contender out in German…
Vinicius Junior played a starring role as Brazil kick-started their Copa America campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over 10-man Paraguay, who were eliminated from the competition.
The Real Madrid forward scored twice for the Selecao, who opened the tournament with a drab goalless draw against Costa Rica on Monday, while Savinho and Lucas Paqueta were also on target at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Dorival Junior s side subsequently closed in on a quarter-final spot by moving onto four points in Group D – two behind leaders Colombia, who they will join in the last eight with a draw when the nations meet in their final group outing on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Omar Alderete s wonderful long-range strike proved academic for Paraguay, as La Albirroja bowed out…
Borussia Dortmund host Chelsea for the first leg of a Champions League tie that sees two of the world s best prospects go head-to-head.
Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez have a combined age of just 41. Between them, the pair have already stacked up 278 senior club appearances.
Bellingham has played 161 times for Dortmund and Birmingham City, while Fernandez has racked up 117 appearances across spells at Defensa y Justicia, River Plate, Benfica and now Chelsea.
As good as the duo have been for their clubs, they elevated themselves into the must buy category for Europe s elite sides with their performances at last year s World Cup.
Fernandez was named the tournament s best young player as he played a key role in Argentina claiming their third world crown, …