London (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes his goal-scoring form for Manchester United has forced his critics to eat their words. There were fears that, aged 35, the former Paris Saint-Germain star would struggle to cope with the ferocious pace of the Premier League. But he has risen to the challenge in style, scoring 17 goals […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea striker Diego Costa has revealed he came close to leaving the club during the close-season transfer window. The Brazil-born Spain international had a poor 2015-16 campaign as Chelsea's title defence unravelled and said he decided to leave the club for personal reasons at the end of the season. But he changed […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Oscar landed in Shanghai on Monday where the 25-year-old was set to smash the Asian transfer record with a reported 60 million euros ($63 million) deal with Shanghai SIPG. Dozens of supporters chanting club songs swarmed the former Chelsea player at the city's Pudong airport. Oscar's arrival in the Chinese […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud's stunning strike against Crystal Palace as a work of art and one of the top five Arsenal goals in his 20-year reign. Giroud's mid-air back-flicked volley gave Arsenal the lead at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and set them on course for a 2-0 victory. The France […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes rival Premier League managers and fans want his team to win when they tackle leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. With Chelsea six points clear, Pochettino thinks Liverpool, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs will be hoping for a Spurs victory to […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud scored a stupendous "scorpion kick" volley as Arsenal climbed to third place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 New Year's Day victory over Crystal Palace. Giroud netted with a breathtaking improvised strike reminiscent of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's recent goal for Manchester United and Alex Iwobi was also on target […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola does not believe his first season as Manchester City manager should be classed as a failure if he cannot guide the team to Premier League glory. Guardiola won the league in his first seasons at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but his City side lie 10 points below leaders Chelsea and […]

Dakar (AFP) – Senegal will begin plotting their assault on the Africa Cup of Nations when a squad boasting the likes of Liverpool winger Sadio Mane gathers in the capital Dakar from Monday. Senegal are among the favourites for the January 14-February 5 tournament in Gabon and coach Aliou Cisse has named a strong 23-man […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud stole the show as the Arsenal striker's outrageous "scorpion kick" stung Crystal Palace and inspired his side's 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Giroud produced an audacious mid-air shot from behind his back to open the scoring and illuminate a dank afternoon in north London with one of […]

London (AFP) – Olivier Giroud said he got "maximum luck" with an outrageous scorpion-kick strike in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace that he labelled as the best goal of his life. Giroud opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with an audacious mid-air back-flicked volley that looped into the top corner of […]

Watford (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tottenham Hotspur recorded an impressive 4-1 win at Watford on Sunday that sent them above Manchester City on goal difference and into the top four of the Premier League. An injury-weakened Watford side put up little resistance as two goals by Harry Kane and another from Dele Alli gave Spurs […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is unsure what kind of team he will be able to pick for Monday's trip to Sunderland in the Premier League. The Reds beat title rivals Manchester City 1-0 on New Year's Eve, taking them back to within six points of leaders Chelsea, but have […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has warned Anthony Martial he must listen to him rather than his agent if he wants to be a success at Old Trafford. Martial was United's top scorer last season with 17 goals, but his equaliser in Saturday's 2-1 home win over Middlesbrough was just […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Kashima Antlers completed Japan's double on Sunday by beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in the Emperor's Cup final. Kashima, who won their eighth J-League title last month, crushed Kawasaki as midfielder Fabricio dos Santos Messias struck a goal in the fourth minute into extra time. "All I was thinking was to help the […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says he will "sleep happy" after his side made it to the turn of the year by equalling the Premier League record for consecutive victories in a season. Two goals from Willian and one apiece from Gary Cahill and Diego Costa ensured they claimed a 4-2 win over […]