London (AFP) – Carlo Ancelotti says Everton will get a true measure of their improvement when the surprise Premier League leaders face champions Liverpool on Saturday. Ancelotti's side have reeled off four successive wins in a perfect start to the season. But the Everton manager knows this weekend's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park will provide […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale is set to make his second Tottenham debut against West Ham on Sunday, according to Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, who revealed the Welshman is already feeling back at home. Bale rejoined Tottenham on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid last month after seven years in Spain, where he struggled […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola revealed on Friday that Kevin De Bruyne would miss this weekend's visit of Arsenal after picking up an injury while on international duty. The City playmaker was withdrawn in the second half of Belgium's Nations League defeat against England last Sunday and did not play against Iceland […]

London (AFP) – Frank Lampard confirmed Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will miss Saturday's Premier League clash against Southampton after a suffering a thigh injury, but the Blues boss would not reveal if Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line for a recall. Mendy has replaced error-prone Kepa as Chelsea's first choice keeper following his £22 million ($28 […]

London (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp insisted those behind controversial plans to reform English football were interested in the general health of the game, rather than a power grab. The "Project Big Picture proposals", backed by Liverpool owner John Henry and Manchester United, were rejected this week by Premier League clubs, with fears the 'big six' […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho said Friday that Gareth Bale will "probably" play against West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday, in what would be his first Spurs appearance after rejoining the club on loan from Real Madrid. The Wales international has spent the past two weeks training after a knee injury […]

Paris (AFP) – Neymar will sit out Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 game away at Nimes on Friday, hot on the heels of his starring role on international duty for Brazil. The world's most expensive player scored a hat-trick for his country in a 4-2 win in Peru in 2022 World Cup qualifying. That match in […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Harry Maguire will "bounce back" after his torrid start to the season but could miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Newcastle through injury. The 27-year-old — the world's most expensive defender — has struggled for Manchester United since his well-documented Greek court case in August. On Wednesday he […]

London (AFP) – Rangers manager Steven Gerrard remains supportive of playing international football despite a huge rise in players who will be unavailable for their clubs this weekend after contracting Covid-19 on international duty. Gerrard's men travel to Celtic for the first Old Firm derby of the season on Saturday, but their cross-city rivals could […]

Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona must weigh up the decision whether to rest Lionel Messi for Saturday's trip to Getafe ahead of a congested run of fixtures, while Real Madrid are still waiting on the return of Eden Hazard from injury. Messi played the full 90 minutes in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia […]

Paris (AFP) – A resurgent AC Milan are looking to reclaim local bragging rights, while Hoffenheim target another big scalp in the Bundesliga and an awkward assignment awaits Barcelona. AFP Sport picks out some of the standout action in Europe this weekend: – Can Hoffenheim do it again? – Hoffenheim v Borussia Dortmund, Saturday 1330 […]

London (AFP) – Racing 92, having seen off the threat of Covid-19, will hope it's a case of third time lucky when they take on Exeter in Saturday's Champions Cup final, with both clubs bidding to be crowned champions of Europe for the first time. The showpiece match in Bristol was under a cloud after […]

Milan (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic prepares to return in Saturday's Milan derby but Juventus will be without Cristiano Ronaldo as Serie A swings back into action after the international break in the shadow of coronavirus. In a week where Napoli were deducted a point and handed a 3-0 defeat to Juventus for failing to turn […]

London (AFP) – Lifted by Carlo Ancelotti's astute leadership and the transformative signing of James Rodriguez, Everton have a golden opportunity to prove their rise to the top of the Premier League is no fluke when they face Liverpool on Saturday. Everton have gone 22 matches without a win over Liverpool since their last Merseyside […]

Berlin (AFP) – European champions Bayern Munich face a test of their strength in depth with a flurry of fixtures, starting Saturday in the Bundesliga as the defending Bundesliga champions attempt to bounce back from an uncharacteristic dip in form before the international break. The Bavarian giants have questions to answer on Saturday at newly-promoted […]