Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Marcus Rashford has proved with England that he has all the qualities required to be a consistent attacking threat — but his task now is to replicate that form for Manchester United. Rashford impressed as England beat Croatia 2-1 last Sunday to secure a place in next June's Nations League […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has signed a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, the Premier League club announced on Friday. The France international, signed from Leicester in the summer of 2016, has been an ever-present in the league for Maurizio Sarri's side this season. Chelsea are third in the table, four points […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola faces Manuel Pellegrini — his predecessor as Manchester City manager — this weekend with his defending Premier League champions on course to smash even more records. While City go to West Ham with only a two-point lead at the top of the table, Guardiola's side has nevertheless looked […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham will be banking on more Harry Kane heroics at the start of a potentially season-defining week against Chelsea after their talisman fired England to a dramatic last-gasp victory at Wembley. Kane scored the winner at Tottenham's temporary home last weekend to relegate Croatia in the Nations League and exact some revenge […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp must juggle Liverpool's Premier League ambitions with a pivotal Champions League trip to Paris Saint-German while Tottenham hope to prove their mettle with victory against Chelsea in the game of the weekend. For the first time in English top-flight history, there are three unbeaten teams after 12 matches, with Liverpool […]

Berlin (AFP) – Arjen Robben insists that Bayern Munich are not good enough to retain their Bundesliga crown as the off-form champions prepare for the visit of strugglers Fortuna Duesseldorf on Saturday, with their title-winning streak under threat. Bayern have won the last six German titles but they currently trail leaders Borussia Dortmund by seven […]

Rome (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo gets back to business for Italian champions Juventus against SPAL on Saturday after missing Portugal's qualification for the Nations League semi-finals amid reports he has been snubbed for the final three in the Ballon d'Or award. The 33-year-old Ronaldo has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or five times but could be […]

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain return to Ligue 1 to defend their 100 percent record against struggling Toulouse on Saturday but all eyes in the French capital are on whether star attackers Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be ready for Liverpool on Wednesday. The pair were both injured during friendlies in the international break, and […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid have a chance to take advantage of a topsy-turvy La Liga campaign when they host champions Barcelona on Saturday with the chance to take top spot this weekend despite their own patchy form. Diego Simeone's side are just a point behind leaders Barca despite having drawn five times and lost […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp is convinced that Liverpool are a stronger team now than they were a year ago but the next week promises to test that theory to the limit. Klopp's side, second in the Premier League, face a trip to seventh-placed Watford on Saturday, followed by a critical Champions League visit to […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League giants, the club announced on Thursday. The 26-year-old joined Jurgen Klopp's side from Southampton in June 2016, and has scored 40 goals for Liverpool, forming a deadly frontline alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. "I am very happy, […]

London (AFP) – Leicester City manager Claude Puel says the team must now look to the future following last month's helicopter crash that cost the life of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Vichai died with four others when his helicopter came down following a 1-1 home draw with West Ham on October 27. Heartfelt tributes were paid […]

Berlin (AFP) – Canadian teenager Alphonso Davies has started training with Bayern Munich, but fans must wait until January for the 18-year-old wunderkind to make his Bundesliga debut. "Alphonso will train normally during the four weeks until the winter break (starts December 23) to have time to settle in here," Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic […]

London (AFP) – Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that Tottenham are working hard to get Christian Eriksen to commit his future to the club after tying down a clutch of other top players. Eriksen, who has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid, still has 18 months to run on his current deal but […]

Madrid (AFP) – Arsenal manager Unai Emery has claimed the club needed a breath of fresh air after 22 years of Arsene Wenger and that he took over a team in decline. Former PSG coach Emery has enjoyed an encouraging first few months as Wenger's successor, with Arsenal currently unbeaten in 16 matches and buoyed […]