Best odds: 6/10
Bookmaker:
The first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Arsenal was initially scheduled to take place last week at the Emirates Stadium, and the rematch was supposed to be this Thursday at Anfield. As it happened, due to a postponement of the first match requested by Liverpool after a number of positive COVID-19 tests within their squad, the Anfield clash on Thursday will now be the first leg, and the rematch takes place at the Emirates next week.
Liverpool
Controversies were quick to appear around the postponement, and they blew through the roof when manager Jurgen Klopp revealed that only one player, Trent Alexander-Arnold, was actually positive to the virus. The rest were false positives .
Putting such matters asid…
Mario Mandzukic rescued a draw in Massimiliano Allegri s final home game as Juventus head coach, coming off the bench to score the equaliser as the champions drew 1-1 with Atalanta.
Mandzukic slid in at the far post to meet Juan Cuadrado s cross and send the ball through the legs of visiting goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, denying Atalanta a victory that would have left them on the brink of qualification for next season s Champions League.
What was billed as Allegri s farewell party, and also featured a final appearance at Allianz Stadium for the retiring Andrea Barzagli, failed to provide the home crowd with too many reasons to celebrate, their team failing to win for a fourth consecutive match.
They also ended the game down to 10 men after substitute Federico …
Anderlecht have announced that Craig Bellamy will leave his role as Vincent Kompany s assistant coach to deal with mental health problems.
Bellamy, who talked extensively about his long battle with depression last year, had been part of the Anderlecht coaching staff since 2019.
The 42-year-old has been working as former Manchester City team-mate Kompany s right-hand man since earlier this year, but he will officially step aside on Monday.
A statement on Anderlecht s website on Sunday read: Assistant coach Craig Bellamy will leave the coaching staff of RSC Anderlecht on Monday.
Bellamy already struggled with mental problems in the past and these have resurfaced again recently.
With his departure, the Brit took a very difficult, but …
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward insisted the club s top priority is success on the pitch amid growing doubts over manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s future as the Red Devils struggle this season.
Solskjaer is under mounting pressure after United were outclassed 2-0 by neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League derby prior to the international break, having been humiliated 5-0 at the hands of Liverpool last month.
United have lost four of their past six games as the Red Devils already find themselves nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea ahead of Saturday s trip to Watford.
Woodward – who is due to leave his role at the end of the year – backed Solskjaer as he announced United s latest financial results.
Fully focused on the tas…
Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester City players are facing the toughest task in European football as they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Second-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez saw City come from behind to claim a 2-1 win in Paris last week, putting them in prime position to reach their first final in Europe s top competition.
Guardiola is a two-time winner dating back to his Barcelona tenure a decade ago, but knows the semi-final stage can be particularly unforgiving.
Inter and Chelsea ended Barca s title defences at the penultimate hurdle in 2010 and 2012, while LaLiga heavyweights Real Madrid, Barca and Atletico accounted for Bayern Munich in the semis across Guardiola s three seasons in Bavaria.
…
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes Joe Gomez’s England recall is fully deserved as the team’s popular utility man continues to impress.
It was not that long ago that speculation was linking the defender with a move away as he dropped down the pecking order at Anfield.
However, this season he has taken over the mantle of the veteran James Milner, who left for Brighton in the summer, in terms of being a reliable performer in a number of positions.
Joe Gomez has been called up to the England squad for two friendlies this month.
Well in, Joe
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
His 40 appearances have come across the back four, with a couple as an emergency holding midfielder, as injuries piled up in February and that versatility is something…
Manchester United wanted to sign Timo Werner from Chelsea before his return to RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window, according to . The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wanted to work with the Germany international forward, but he hoped to move to his former club RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga instead.
Werner struggled to score goals during his time at Chelsea and could not make a huge impact at Stamford Bridge. The forward arrived in England with a strong reputation of scoring goals, but he simply failed to get going and was often played out wide because of his lack of impact down the middle.
RB Leipzig will aim to challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title this season, and returning to his former club …
Erling Haaland could become the greatest player in Premier League history after making an astonishing start to his Manchester City career, according to Jamie Carragher.
Haaland has been in electrifying form for Pep Guardiola s champions since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, hitting nine goals in his first five league appearances for City.
That haul is the best managed by any player in their first five Premier League outings, and the towering Norwegian became the first player since Harry Kane in December 2017 to score back-to-back hat-tricks in the competition against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The City striker has averaged a goal every 43 minutes of league action this season, and Carragher believes Premier League fans are witnessing something special.
…
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.
Jorginho was due to be out of contract at the end of this season, having penned an 18-month deal when he left Chelsea to join the Gunners in a £12million transfer last January.
The Italy international has since emerged as a key part of Mikel Arteta s squad as Arsenal battle Manchester City for the Premier League title, making 35 appearances throughout all competitions in 2023-24.
Speaking to Arsenal s official media channels, Jorginho said: I m really happy to stay, because it s a privilege to be a part of this family.
There was not much to discuss to be honest, because I feel really good here.
Just to know that they appreciate me and want me to stay longer as…
Jurgen Klopp conceded his Liverpool side were not at their best against Manchester City on Sunday and would like to see them produce a better performance in Saturday s FA Cup semi-final against Pep Guardiola s side.
The two Premier League title rivals played out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, leaving City a point clear at the top of the table.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of his first FA Cup semi-final since arriving on Merseyside in 2015, Klopp said while City were really strong , he feels his players could have found other levels.
Having also drawn 2-2 at Anfield earlier in the season, Klopp was asked whether the two teams could still surprise each other.
Not just surprise, I think we all think a lot about these games, we have to, he said.<…