Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has signed a new contract, the English Premier League club announced Monday. Although Liverpool's statement did not specify the duration of the extension, Britain's Press Association said that Mignolet's new deal meant he would stay at Anfield for a further five years until 2021. The Belgium international had more clean sheets […]

Playing up front for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side cannot be easy. After all, in a team which is so focused on forging a cohesive shape, clearing danger quickly and frustrating opponents, attacking incision often seems as though it’s a secondary concern. But over the years the Madrid side have had special attacking players who […]

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness on Monday won early release from prison, with a German court ruling that he would be freed in February after serving around half of his sentence for tax evasion. "Uli Hoeness will be released on February 29," said Herbert Veh, chief judge of the court in Augsburg, adding that […]

Former Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin has been confirmed as the new head coach of Swansea, the Premier League strugglers announced on Monday. Guidolin has been brought in to work alongside interim manager Alan Curtis until the end of the season, although Swansea said the 60-year-old Italian will have the final say on team selection. Swansea […]

Barcelona on Monday played down fears that striker Lionel Messi injured his hamstring during Sunday's 6-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, after the Argentine was replaced at half-time at the Camp Nou. "The tests carried out this morning (Monday) allowed us to rule out a hamstring injury. It's just a bit of minor […]

The continued discussions over the future of Jordan Morris, the young American striker who has already recorded seven senior caps for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) before turning pro, have dominated the recent headlines around US soccer. Morris, who is from Seattle, has been reportedly been offered the most lucrative contracts for a youngster […]

When Jürgen Klopp was brought in by Liverpool, this author was one of those who thought that Adam Lallana was unlikely to fit into the German’s gegenpressing style. Not particularly pacy, rarely completing 90 minutes and, at 27, entering his prime as a footballer so he would be perhaps too old to learn new tricks. […]

There are only a handful of clubs who start the season with the realistic goal of winning the Premier League, yet there are many more who can entertain the thought of lifting the FA Cup. Yet so great is the wealth gap between England's top-flight clubs and the rest that many teams now regard avoiding […]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes playmaker Mesut Ozil will be fit to face Chelsea after the German was forced to miss Sunday's goalless draw at Stoke with a foot injury. Ozil is well clear at the top of the Premier League's 'assists' charts with 16, compared to nine for his nearest challenger, Manchester City’s Kevin […]

Democratic Republic of Congo made a blazing start to the 2016 African Nations championships when they shocked Ethiopia 3-0 in their Group B opener at Butare's Huye stadium on Sunday. Midfielder Heritier Luvumbu was the hero, scoring one and creating two goals to give the 2009 champions an impressive start. Luvumbu tormented Ethiopia and could […]

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League but their Britannia Stadium hoodoo was extended with a goalless draw against Stoke City on Sunday. A point was enough to take Arsene Wenger’s side clear of Leicester City on goal difference but it was another afternoon of frustration in the Potteries for the veteran French […]

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted the Real Madrid squad are much happier under French legend Zinedine Zidane than in Rafael Benitez's unhappy seven-month spell in charge. Zidane's dream start in charge continued with a 5-1 thrashing of Sporting Gijon on Sunday with three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo scoring twice as did Karim Benzema. Gareth […]

Paulo Dybala hit a brace and Alex Sandro struck his maiden Juventus goal in a 4-0 rout away to Udinese that closed the gap on Serie A leaders Napoli to two points on Sunday. Napoli, who are gunning for a first title in 26 years, went top of the pile on Saturday thanks to a […]

Zinedine Zidane's dream start to life as Real Madrid boss continued as Los Blancos scored four times in the opening 18 minutes on their way to a 5-1 rout of Sporting Gijon on Sunday. However, Madrid's joy was tempered as Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema both had to be replaced due to injuries. Bale limped […]

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney pounced to score a 78th-minute winner as his side stunned eternal rivals Liverpool with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at a freezing Anfield on Sunday. Presiding over his first game against United, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp watched his team dominate, but Rooney punished their profligacy with his fifth goal in four […]