Johannesburg (AFP) – Midfielders Sofiane Feghouli of Algeria and Hakim Ziyech of Morocco and striker Basem Morsy of Egypt will be notable absentees from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon this month. They all failed to find favour as national coaches put the final touches to plans for the tournament, which kicks off […]

West Bromwich (United Kingdom) (AFP) – James Morrison rounded off a superb second-half performance by West Brom as they came from behind to beat struggling Hull 3-1 and mark their 400th Premier League appearance in style on Monday. Morrison's goal added to those of Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley saw the hosts come from 1-0 […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave a tetchy television interview to a BBC journalist following his team's 2-1 Premier League win over Burnley on Monday. City overcame the first-half dismissal of Fernandinho to prevail through goals from Gael Clichy and substitute Sergio Aguero, but Guardiola seemed less than impressed. Told […]

Liverpool (AFP) – Enner Valencia came off the bench to make a decisive impact as the Ecuadoran striker inspired Everton's 3-0 win over Southampton on Monday. Valencia hadn't scored a club goal since netting twice for West Ham against Manchester City in January 2016. But the 27-year-old was back on the scoresheet at Goodison Park […]

London (AFP) – Jermain Defoe scored two penalties as third-bottom Sunderland prevented Liverpool from significantly trimming Chelsea's lead at the Premier League summit in a 2-2 draw on Monday. Liverpool twice went ahead, through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, but Defoe's two spot-kicks mean Chelsea will move eight points clear if they win at Tottenham […]

Sunderland (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was an angry man after two penalties from Jermain Defoe slowed his team's pursuit of the Premier League leaders Chelsea as they were held to a 2-2 at lowly Sunderland on Monday. Liverpool led twice through goals from Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, but two disputed […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City overcame the first-half dismissal of Fernandinho and another Claudio Bravo error to secure a nervy 2-1 Premier League victory over Burnley on Monday. Fernandinho's third red card in six games will lead to a four-game suspension, but after City's worst first half to a league season in eight […]

London (AFP) – Jermain Defoe scored two penalties as third-bottom Sunderland prevented Liverpool from significantly trimming Chelsea's lead at the Premier League summit in a 2-2 draw on Monday. Liverpool twice went ahead, through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, but Defoe's two spot-kicks mean Chelsea will move eight points clear if they win at Tottenham […]

Middlesbrough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leicester City's underwhelming season continued on Monday as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough that did little for either side's hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation. With Jamie Vardy completing his three-game suspension and Riyad Mahrez again disappointing, Leicester lacked a cutting edge and it was Boro […]

Brussels (AFP) – China's buying binge continued into the New Year with Tianjin Quanjian FC luring Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel away from Zenit Saint Petersburg with an 18 million euro annual pay packet, Belgian media reported Monday. Over the four-year deal Witsel, 28, will pocket 72 million euros ($75 million) in salary at the club […]

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 […]