Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, was named on the bench for Friday's crucial Premier League game against Huddersfield after returning from a year out with a knee injury. Oxlade-Chamberlain had been sidelined for a year and two days since sustaining serious ligament damage in the Champions League semi-finals against Roma last April. After […]

Lausanne (AFP) – UEFA on Friday ordered Montenegro to play their next home Euro 2020 qualifier behind closed doors as punishment for racist chants by supporters during last month's game against England. Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi were among the England players targeted by racist abuse by home fans during the 5-1 win […]

Lausanne (AFP) – Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to Manchester United. The Brazil star missed the 3-1 Champions League second leg last 16 defeat on March 6 through injury, but told match officials "to go […]

London (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers is hoping Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp won't withhold his rent if the Leicester boss fails to help his tenant in the Premier League title race. Klopp rents the Formby mansion that Rodgers lived in during his spell in charge at Liverpool from 2012 to 2015. The German joked on Thursday […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal boss Unai Emery is seeking to rebuild the confidence of his players after consecutive defeats dealt a severe blow to their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four. The Gunners suffered a surprise 3-2 home loss to Crystal Palace last weekend before a 3-1 reverse at Wolves on Wednesday. […]

London (AFP) – Maurizio Sarri admitted on Friday Chelsea face a "very difficult" task to reach the levels of Premier League pacesetters Liverpool and Manchester City as he prepares his team to face Manchester United. The Italian believes the Blues must close the gap in a maximum of two seasons, though his position at Stamford […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola says Manchester City and Liverpool have raised the bar in what is required to win a Premier League title after a blockbuster campaign by both teams. If both sides win their remaining three games, Liverpool would finish the campaign on 97 points — the third-highest tally in the […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says it is "not fair" that Ajax have the weekend off ahead of their Champions League semi-final while Spurs face a testing Premier League match against West Ham. Spurs host their London rivals on Saturday ahead of the first leg of their European last-four clash against Ajax at […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich stars Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are on the mend, but both are likely to remain sidelined for Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Nuremberg, coach Niko Kovac said on Friday. Veteran wingers Robben and Ribery are both struggling with injuries as they approach the end of their final season at Bayern. […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney has warned his team to take nothing for granted in Saturday's high-stakes derby at home to struggling rivals Schalke. The two grand old clubs from Germany's industrial Ruhr region meet for the 154th time in a competitive match on Saturday, with both of them under pressure to […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident that Paul Pogba will still be at Manchester United next season but admits he cannot guarantee the French World Cup winner will stay. Pogba fuelled speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid last month, suggesting Real were "a dream club for any player", […]

London (AFP) – Fernandinho says Manchester City's desire to fight "like animals" is fuelling their Premier League title charge as they strive to hold off Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's City returned to the top of the table with victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The 2-0 win, from their game in hand, took […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's pursuit of a fifth successive French Cup title will be bolstered by the return of Neymar and Edinson Cavani from long-term injuries for Saturday's showdown with Rennes at the Stade de France. Brazil star Neymar made his first appearance since January 23 as a second-half substitute in Sunday's 3-1 win […]

Rome (AFP) – Juventus may have clinched an eighth straight Serie A title and Chievo might be doomed to relegation but for the teams in between there is a lot at stake in Serie A. AFP Sport looks at five key games in Italy this weekend. Inter have greater needs than Juve Juventus travel to […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp will send his Liverpool team onto the pitch in their ongoing pursuit of the Premier League title against relegated Huddersfield on Friday knowing he has already rewritten the club's record books. The only question that remains in their neck-and-neck race with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is whether that will be […]