London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Takumi Minamino as "super and outstanding" after the Japanese international made his debut in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Everton on Sunday. The 24-year-old Minamino, who signed for £7.25 million ($9.4 million) from Salzburg in Austria, was part of a much-changed Reds line-up at Anfield. The […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Success-starved South African club Kaizer Chiefs had a once big league lead cut to four points this weekend as they lost while closest rivals Mamelodi Sundowns won convincingly. Chiefs, who enjoyed a 10-point advantage one month ago, fell 2-1 to SuperSport United after being foiled by the woodwork three times in northeastern […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning an immediate inquest into his side's embarrassing FA Cup defeat against Liverpool's youngsters. Ancelotti's team wasted a golden opportunity to win at Anfield for the first time since 1999 as 18-year-old Curtis Jones fired Liverpool to a 1-0 win in the third round on Sunday. Liverpool-born […]

Milan (AFP) – Mario Balotelli lashed out on Sunday after again being targeted by racist insults, this time from Lazio fans after he scored for Brescia in a 2-1 Serie A defeat, telling his tormentors: "Shame on you". "A defeat that hurts but we will come back stronger and we are on the right track," […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool inflicted fresh misery on Merseyside rivals Everton as a superb strike from teenager Curtis Jones sealed a 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round on Sunday. Jones' second half curler sent Anfield in ecstasy as the club's youth academy graduates handed Everton an embarrassing derby defeat. The 18-year-old Liverpool-born midfielder […]

Limoges (France) (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas' Marseille needed penalties to win away to fourth-tier Trelissac in the last 64 of the French Cup on Sunday. Lassana Diakhaby and Ange Gnaleko missed the crucial spot kicks for the minnows as the 10-time former winners avoided a second straight cup exit to a side from National 2. […]

Limoges (France) (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas' Marseille needed penalties to win away to fourth-tier Trelissac in the last 64 of the French Cup on Sunday. Lassana Diakhaby and Ange Gnaleko missed the crucial spot kicks for the minnows as the 10-time former winners avoided a second straight cup exit to a side from National 2. […]

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho claimed Tottenham's stars were unsettled during their 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough because the FA Cup ball was too light. Mourinho's side needed a second half equaliser from Lucas Moura to earn a third round replay after falling behind to Ashley Fletcher's strike at the Riverside Stadium. But Mourinho suggested the […]

London (AFP) – Lucas Moura kept Tottenham's FA Cup hopes alive with the equaliser in their 1-1 draw at second tier Middlesbrough, while Callum Hudson-Odoi got back in the groove as Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the third round on Sunday. Tottenham haven't lifted a major trophy since 2008 when […]

Milan (AFP) – Mario Balotelli warded off the insults from travelling Lazio fans to strike the first goal of the decade in Italy but the title-chasers hit back with a Ciro Immobile double to snatch a late win at ten-man Brescia on Sunday. Simone Inzaghi's side stretched their winning streak to nine consecutive league games […]

Monaco (AFP) – Monaco's exciting young Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru is to spend the rest of the season on loan at Galatasaray, the Ligue 1 club announced on Sunday. It will be the 22-year-old's second loan spell in Turkey as he shone for Galatasaray last season when he was still at English club Everton. He […]

Milan (AFP) – Mario Balotelli warded off the insults from travelling Lazio fans to strike the first goal of the decade in Italy but the title-chasers hit back with a Ciro Immobile double to snatch a late win at ten-man Brescia on Sunday. Simone Inzaghi's side stretched their winning streak to nine consecutive league games […]

Madrid (AFP) – Espanyol's Wu Lei became the first Chinese footballer to score against Barcelona on Saturday and has revealed how the goal that went viral was planned while he was warming up. Wu earned Espanyol a dramatic 2-2 draw at the RCDE Stadium after he fired in an 88th-minute equaliser to salvage a point […]

London (AFP) – Port Vale striker Tom Pope claims Manchester City defender John Stones refused to talk to him after their FA Cup clash because of a social media feud. FA Cup holders City cruised to a 4-1 win over fourth tier Vale in the third round on Saturday. But Pope's goal for Vale was […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Harry Maguire faces a race to prove his fitness in time for the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday. Maguire appeared to be limping following a first-half challenge on Adama Traore during United's 0-0 draw with Wolves in the FA Cup third […]