Roberto Firmino was not supposed to be Liverpool s go-to man this season. If widespread reports were anything to go by, Firmino himself did not even envisage himself being at Anfield this campaign.
And yet here we are, midway through October, and no Liverpool player – not even the £350,000-a-week Mohamed Salah, despite his record-breaking six-minute hat-trick against Rangers – has played a part in more goals in all competitions this season than Firmino s eight.
Far from being the odd man out following the arrivals of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez this year, Firmino has regularly stepped up for the Reds this season and is surely in contention to start Sunday s Premier League showdown against Manchester City.
Liverpool quite simply have to win at Anfield, where F…
Arsenal s Aaron Ramsey has agreed a deal to move to Juventus in the summer, according to . This would be the conclusion of a long-drawn saga about the Welshman and his future.
Ramsey has been with Arsenal since 2008, when he arrived from Cardiff City, and is set to leave the club after 11 years of service. So far, he appeared 345 times and scored 61 goals for the Gunners. Even though his form throughout his time at the Emirates wasn t exactly consistent and he had a few long-term injury absences, the 27-year-old has often turned up when he was most needed and scored some extremely important goals.
Upon his arrival at the club last summer, manager Unai Emery claimed he was about to build a team around Ramsey, but somewhere along the line the negotiations about a new deal…
Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United need to get Old Trafford rocking in a bid to put their season back on track.
United host high-flying Aston Villa on Boxing Day, three days after slumping to a 2-0 defeat at West Ham, in what will be their first game since it was announced that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club.
The Hammers defeat was their 13th loss in 26 matches this term, and a 20th defeat in 2023 – their worst tally in a calendar year since 1989.
Full-time in the capital. ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp criticised the atmosphere at Anfield following their Carabao Cup win over the Hammers last week, and Ten Hag knows he needs to give the Old Trafford faithful something to s…
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has switched allegiance from England to the United States, FIFA has confirmed.
The New York-born 21-year-old, who is currently on loan at French club Reims, has represented England at Under-21s level but has opted to play his senior international football for the country of his birth.
A FIFA spokesperson told the PA news agency said: “The change of association of the player Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun from England to the USA has been approved.”
The news comes just weeks before England are due to launch their European Under-21 Championship finals campaign in Georgia and Romania.
Balogun has made 13 appearances for Lee Carsley’s side, but withdrew from the squad in March due to injury.
Having been born in America,…
Paulo Dybala vindicated Maurizio Sarri s decision to introduce him for the underwhelming Cristiano Ronaldo as the Argentina international clinched underwhelming Juventus a slender 1-0 win over AC Milan on Sunday.
Sarri s men were well below par for the visit of Stefano Pioli s Milan and Ronaldo was no different, as the Portugal star failed to inspire an Old Lady attack that looked bereft of creative ingenuity until matchwinner Dybala replaced the five-time Ballon d Or winner.
Belying the form table, Milan looked considerably more fluent and inventive in attack during the opening 45 minutes, but questionable finishing and a wonderful save from Wojciech Szczesny prevented them going into half-time ahead.
Juve remained short of ideas going forward initially in the s…
Wales overcame the absences of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey as Harry Wilson s stunning free-kick earned a 1-0 away Nations League victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Wilson scored with a wonderful set-piece in Derby County s penalty shootout defeat of Manchester United in the EFL Cup last month, and the midfielder produced a similar moment of magic to light up a tight contest Dublin.
Buoyed by a point against Denmark in their last outing, Ireland had started well, but Cyrus Christie and Shane Duffy squandered the best of the chances Martin O Neill s side managed to craft.
Wilson made the difference with a wicked 58th-minute free-kick, with Ireland then mustering little in response as Wales moved top of League B Group 4.
1 Other than Gareth Bale, who had…
Cole Palmer would love to stay and play for Manchester City but the homegrown talent admits his future is up in the air as he wants regular football.
The 21-year-old has been with the club since Under-8s level and progressed through the academy ranks, going on to make his first-team debut in September 2020.
But Palmer has found opportunities limited due to the fierce competition at City and has been linked with a summer move on the back of his role in England Under-21s’ European Championship triumph.
Breaking new ground in Europe!
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
The forward got the starts he craved in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup, scoring in both matches and being named man of the match for his role in the latter match.
Pep G…
Best odds: 11/20
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The Premier League is finally back in action, and after the two matches in midweek completed the 29th round of the 2019/20 season, round 30 brings the Merseyside Derby with it. On Sunday, Liverpool will make a very short trip across Stanley Park to Goodison Park, where they will be hosted by city rivals Everton.
Everton
It has been very difficult for the Toffees, looking across the park and seeing their neighbours prosper in the last several years. They haven t exactly just let it happen without trying to make some progress themselves, but they haven t been able to keep in step with the Anfield outfit.
Earlier this season, they parted ways with manager Marco Silva and replaced him with the legendary Carlo Ancelotti. Their per…
Market: Central Coast Mariners win
Odds: 1/2 @
Looking to extend on their A-League flurry this weekend, Central Coast will welcome Brisbane to the Industry Group Stadium on Saturday morning.
Starting with the hosts, making real history last season as they got their hands on just a second A-League crown, Central Coast are enjoying another domestic romp. Last seen putting in another eye-catching display as they secured a 2-1 victory at home against Melbourne City, the Mariners find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Opening the New Year with a 1-0 win away at Western Sydney, Mark Jackson’s side will be smelling the chance to make another statement here. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat four points adrift in the title chase, the former MK Dons boss fi…
FIFA has banned referee Kokou Hougnimon Fagla from football for life after finding him guilty of corruption.
The FIFA Ethics Committee opened an investigation last March after Fagla, an official affiliated to the Togolese Football Association, was accused of accepting bribes to manipulate the result of an international friendly match.
The case was part of a wide-ranging investigation into match-fixing by Wilson Raj Perumal, who was convicted of manipulating international games for betting purposes.
In a statement on Thursday, FIFA said: In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber [of the Ethics Committee] found that Mr Fagla had breached article 11 (Bribery) of the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and banned him for life from all football-related activit…