SWANSEA striker Tammy Abraham is determined to earn a place in England’s World Cup squad after taking inspiration from Harry Kane’s labours on loan. The 20-year-old, on loan from Chelsea, ended a three-month goal drought with a brace in the 8-1 thrashing of Notts County on Tuesday night. England star Kane only scored 16 times during four spells away from Tottenham before bursting onto the scene to earn a place in the Three Lions’ squad for Euro 2016. And Abraham is determined to
MANCHESTER CITY could be boosted by the return of two key players from injury against Leicester City at the Etihad on Saturday (5.30pm). Pep Guardiola’s side are currently 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League after being held to a draw by Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend. The Manchester City boss will be buoyed by the potential return of David Silva and John Stones from injury against Leicester as his side look to get back to winning ways. Silva
TOTTENHAM managed to win Mauricio Pochettino’s 200th game in charge at the club without the help of Harry Kane but another horror show from Fernando Llorente showed just how much they will be relying again on their talisman this Saturday. An unfortunate own goal and Erik Lamela’s first goal since September 2016 were enough to see off plucky Newport at the second attempt but north London rivals Arsenal promise a far harder hurdle to clear in the next game here. Pochettino reserved praise
LIONEL MESSI and Cristiano Ronaldo have been compared by Brazil legend Ronaldo. The two footballing superstars have dominated the sport for the last 10 years, winning five Ballon d’Ors apiece in that time. There has often been much discussion about which player is the better as they battle for that number one tag. But before they came along it was Ronaldo of Brazil that dominated the headlines as he led the Real Madrid attack and help his country to two World Cups. And
EDEN HAZARD pipped Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne to a prestigious award. Hazard was named the Best Belgian player in a Foreign League for 2017 yesterday. The playmaker edged out De Bruyne, garnering 326 votes, winning by a mere 11 and was 56 ahead of Napoli's Dries Mertens. De Bruyne, who has been in irresistible form this season for Manchester City, had picked up the accolade for the past two seasons on the trot. The City star had topped the second round
REAL MADRID are reportedly willing to allow Marco Asensio to leave for Chelsea in the summer, but only if they get Eden Hazard in return. Whether Antonio Conte remains at Chelsea after this season or not, the Blues are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window. Their title defence has fallen by the wayside with Manchester City runaway leaders in the Premier League. Chelsea are in a dogfight to cling onto their top four position and Monday’s 4-1 defeat to Watford
One of the things that will be troubling the bright, competitive mind of Ernesto Valverde is whether FC Barcelona currently have an unhealthy or even Pyrrhic relationship with Spain's Copa del Rey? 'Unhealthy' is a concept you can understand quickly: all of us fall prey to things we know we shouldn't do but that feel 'irresistible.' If 'Pyrrhic' isn't a word you use daily, then think of it like this: It means a victory that comes at far too high a cost to
Last week, when Real Madrid experienced a brief respite from crisis talk following wins over Deportivo and Valencia, reports surfaced of their plans in the build-up to the Paris Saint-Germain game. It would be a mini preseason, designed by fitness coach Antonio Pintus and his staff with a focus on the physical side of Real's game. There would also be work done on the psychological aspect of the game as they try to build confidence and re-install consistency. After all, at this point
Jose Mourinho will not be grateful for the manner in which Tottenham swept his team aside in the Premier League on Jan.31, but he may eventually reflect that Mauricio Pochettino and his men did Manchester United a favour. Pochettino ruthlessly proved that, against elite competition, Paul Pogba is best accompanied in the middle of the park by two midfielders, who also serve as necessary protection for the defence. Here, Nemanja Matic -- assuming he is properly rested at some point -- and Ander
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes says it is 'quite normal' for his former club Real Madrid to be already out of the La Liga race, but adds that their experience in the Champions League makes them favourites against Paris Saint-Germain in their upcoming round-of-16 meeting. Zinedine Zidane's side sits fourth in the La Liga table, 19 points behind runaway leaders Barcelona, with defensive issues evident in last weekend's 2-2 draw at relegation battlers Levante. Many Blancos fans and pundits fear their side could suffer badly when PSG's
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin insists his love for fashion doesn't take his focus away from football, as the Spain international became the first active Premier League player to address the Oxford Union. Bellerin has made a habit of posting photos of himself wearing various designer outfits on social media and made a much-publicised visit to London Fashion Week last month. Aside from the mixed reviews his choice of clothing often gets, some fans have also worried whether the right-back is spending too much
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler believes Roberto Firmino has fully vindicated Jurgen Klopp's decision to install him as first-choice centre-forward. The Brazilian arrived from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015 and was more accustomed to playing an attacking midfield role, but having requested the No, 9 shirt at the start of this season he has delivered the best return of his professional career. Firmino has 19 goals so far, 11 in the Premier League, and that easily eclipses his best campaign since coming to Europe
BARCELONA star Philippe Coutinho has apparently found out a top secret about Real Madrid.The Brazilian, through his contacts with former club Liverpool, has uncovered that Tottenham’s Harry Kane has an agreement with Real Madrid to sign in the summer, according to Spanish outlet Diario Gol. Coutinho raced to team-mates Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to tell them the news as soon as he found out. And Barcelona now know that they will have to strengthen further for next season as Real Madrid are expected to come back
ANTONIO CONTE will not resign as Chelsea manager and the under fire Italian has been granted a stay of execution by owner Roman Abramovich.Conte was expected to be axed after Monday night’s shambolic 4-1 defeat at Watford made it three losses in four games, and left Chelsea’s chance of a top four finish in the Premier League in jeopardy. But Conte, 48, who virtually challenged the Chelsea board to sack him after the game at Vicarage Road, is now expected to be still in charge
Andres Iniesta is a genius who makes his team-mates better, Barcelona attacker Philippe Coutinho said. Barcelona attacker Philippe Coutinho hailed team-mate Andres Iniesta, labelling the club captain a 'genius'. Iniesta, 33, continues to play a key role for the LaLiga leaders, featuring 25 times in all competitions this season. Coutinho, who arrived at Camp Nou in January, said the Spain international made the players around him better. 'Andres is a genius, and anyone who plays with him he will make them better,' Coutinho
Manchester United are still interested in signing Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic, according to reportsManchester United are still interested in signing Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic to replace Antonio Valencia, according to reports. The Manchester Evening News, as quoted by the Daily Express, is reporting that the Red Devils are interested in signing the Croatia international in the summer transfer window. The 28-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Red Devils last summer but Manchester United were unable to agree a fee with
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has reiterated that his 'heart is in Madrid' despite talks set to begin over a contract renewal at Stamford Bridge. Courtois, 25, also hinted at a return to Spain -- where he played with Atletico Madrid on loan for three seasons -- in December and again mentioned his desire to be closer to his two young children who live in the Spanish capital with his ex-girlfriend. 'My personal situation is related to the city of Madrid,' Courtois told Belgian outlet Sport/Foot Magazine.
LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino says Dele Alli deserved to be booked for diving against Liverpool but the Tottenham manager claims 'tricking' officials and opponents is part of the game he loves. The Spurs boss warned that excessive focus on 'small actions' like Alli's would over-sanitise football and said the game will suffer if referees are not allowed to make mistakes. Alli's booking in the dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield was his third for simulation since his Tottenham debut in August 2015 -- more
Liverpool's Loris Karius is determined to prove to manager Jurgen Klopp he does not need to buy a goalkeeper in the summer. The German has been installed as number one at Anfield ahead of Simon Mignolet over the last month. Liverpool continue to be linked with the likes of Stoke's Jack Butland, Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak and Roma's Allison, but with the position now Karius's to lose he is intent on not giving Klopp a decision to make. 'If you read the press
Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva has hit back at Sochaux captain Florian Tardieu after the Frenchman accused the Ligue 1 leaders of disrespect ahead of their Coupe de France round of 16 clash at Stade Auguste Bonal on Tuesday. An Angel Di Maria hat trick and an Edinson Cavani effort saw Unai Emery's men win 4-1 and Silva took the opportunity when speaking with France 2 postmatch to address his opposite number's prematch comments. 'What the Sochaux captain said irritated us,' admitted the Brazil international