Liverpool (AFP) – Everton's Premier League clash with Newcastle on Thursday has been labelled the struggling club's "biggest game for 20 years" as they stare down the barrel of a financially ruinous relegation. Frank Lampard's arrival at Goodison Park to replace the unpopular Rafael Benitez as manager has not had the desired effect. A dismal […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Villarreal reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after humiliating Juventus 3-0 in Turin to go through 4-1 on aggregate. Penalties from Gerard Moreno and Arnaut Danjuma and Pau Torres's tap-in in the final quarter of an hour were enough for Unai Emery's well-organised side to see off the […]

London (AFP) – Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family have confirmed they are leading a consortium that will bid to buy English Premier League club Chelsea, as British athletics great Sebastian Coe announced his involvement in a rival effort to purchase the Blues. New York merchant bank Raine Group has set a Friday deadline for […]

Berlin (AFP) – Axel Witsel fired in a late winner Wednesday as Borussia Dortmund ground out a 1-0 victory at Mainz to trim Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points. The Belgium midfielder side-footed a Giovanni Reyna free-kick past Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner with three minutes left to claim his […]

London (AFP) – Marcus Rashford said "emotion got the better of him" after the Manchester United forward reacted to abuse from fans following his team's Champions League exit against Atletico Madrid. A video posted on social media on Wednesday showed Rashford walking past supporters outside Old Trafford after Tuesday's 2-1 aggregate defeat against the Spanish […]

London (AFP) – West Ham defender Kurt Zouma and his brother Yoan face prosecution under British animal welfare laws after a disturbing video circulated showing Kurt slapping and kicking one of his own pet cats. The footage, shot by Yoan, prompted widespread outrage and led to a hefty fine for Kurt when it surfaced last […]

London (AFP) – West Ham defender Kurt Zouma and his brother Yoan are being prosecuted under British animal welfare laws after a disturbing video circulated showing Kurt slapping and kicking one of his own pet cats. The footage, shot by Yoan, prompted widespread outrage and led to a hefty fine for Kurt when it circulated […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki will leave to join MLS side St Louis City SC at the end of the season, the Bundesliga club confirmed Wednesday. The 31-year-old has not made a first-team appearance this campaign and received permission to leave with a year left on his contract. "It was an honour […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have both been named in the Wales squad for next week's World Cup play-off against Austria despite limited game time for their clubs. Captain Bale became the second Welshman to win 100 caps against Belarus in November, but his season has been severely disrupted by injury. The […]

Berlin (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund advisor Matthias Sammer has spoken openly about the possibility of Erling Haaland moving to Manchester City amid reports Wednesday that a clause in the striker's contract would have to be actioned before April 30. Haaland is contracted to Dortmund until 2024, but German daily Bild claimed Wednesday that Haaland could […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United were established members of Europe's elite a decade ago but they have been reduced to the status of also-rans in the Premier League and even in their own city. Under Alex Ferguson, the club reached three Champions League finals in four years from 2008 to 2011. Since then they have won […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu told his players to finish the job and clinch qualification for the World Cup after naming his squad Wednesday for next week's clash against Australia. Japan can book their place at a seventh straight World Cup by beating the Socceroos in Sydney on March 24, having recovered from […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – "We are not good enough," admitted Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea when faced with the fact the Red Devils will now go five years without winning a trophy. A limp 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday saw United bow out of the Champions League at the last […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said the team were "not good enough" after being eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16 by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Renan Lodi scored the only goal at Old Trafford as Spanish champions Atletico advanced to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate. "We […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Darwin Nunez headed home in the 77th minute as Benfica stunned Ajax to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, winning the second leg of their last-16 tie 1-0 in Amsterdam to advance 3-2 on aggregate. The Portuguese side had not managed a single attempt on target until Uruguayan striker Nunez beat […]