James Milner has stoked the flames ahead of Liverpool s trip to Manchester City by saying the Reds team he plays in is better than the City squad with which he won two Premier League titles.
Milner was a part of the City sides that lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2014, before completing a move to Anfield on a free transfer ahead of last season.
With Chelsea seemingly destined for domestic dominance this time around, City and Liverpool s main focus is securing a top-four finish and Champions League football for 2017-18.
Just a point and a place separates the clubs heading into the weekend s meeting at the Etihad Stadium and, despite their inconsistent nature, Milner believes Liverpool possess the quality to stand alongside City s title-winners.
I ve been ve…
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says he has nothing against James Rodriguez despite the attacking midfielder punching the dugout after being substituted against Leganes.
James was frustrated to be taken off for Isco with 18 minutes remaining of his side s thrilling 4-2 away LaLiga victory on Wednesday.
The Colombia international had produced a fine display, scoring the opener, assisting Alvaro Morata s hat-trick goal and creating a total of four chances for his team-mates.
But despite Marcelo attempting to calm him down, James let his anger be known when Zidane opted to replace him, walking straight past the head coach before punching the dugout after sitting down.
The substitution meant James has still only completed the full 90 minutes in two league ma…
Luka Jovic continues to make an impressive impact back at Eintracht Frankfurt after scoring again for the Bundesliga club – meaning the striker has already surpassed his goals tally for Real Madrid.
The Serbia international departed Frankfurt after a hugely productive 2018-19 season, during which he scored 27 times in all competitions.
Madrid paid €60million to sign him, though the move has failed to work out as hoped. During his 18 months in the Spanish capital, Jovic managed just two goals in 32 appearances, albeit he started on just 11 occasions.
However, a return to familiar territory has helped the 23-year-old who will spend the rest of the season on loan in Germany quickly rediscover his form.
He scored twice in his first game b…
Cristiano Ronaldo would have won the Ballon d Or if he played for Real Madrid, according to the Juventus superstar s agent Jorge Mendes.
Ronaldo – a five-time Ballon d Or winner – has not claimed the individual award since leaving Madrid for Juve in 2018, with Luka Modric and Lionel Messi honoured in back-to-back seasons.
Messi received a record sixth Ballon d Or this month as Portugal international Ronaldo finished third behind the Barcelona captain and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
Cristiano deserved to win the Ballon d Or at least once in the last two years, Mendes said. If he had played at Real Madrid, he would have won it, but next year I think he can win it again.
For me it is an injustice [that Cristiano hasn t won the Ballon d Or]…
Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo lauded Cristiano Ronaldo s adaptability as the defending Serie A champions beat Roma 2-0 on Saturday.
Ronaldo and an Ibanez own goal saw Juve to victory at Allianz Stadium, where the Italian giants claimed their third successive league victory.
A day after his 36th birthday, Ronaldo opened the scoring when his deflected strike clattered down off the underside of the crossbar in the 22nd minute before Ibanez s 69th-minute own goal put the result beyond doubt.
Ronaldo has been directly involved in 84 goals since his Serie A debut in 2018, scoring 68 goals and providing 16 assists, more than any other player in the competition, while the five-time Ballon d Or winner has now scored 16 times across 17 league appearances this season.
Benjamin Mendy has been charged with two additional counts of rape, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday.
The Manchester City defender had already been charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault and is being held in custody.
Mendy was charged initially by Cheshire Constabulary in August in relation to alleged attacks between October 2020 and August 2021. The new charges concern alleged rapes in the same timespan.
The 27-year-old France international was suspended by City at the time of the first charges, pending an investigation.
The CPS said it had authorised Cheshire Constabulary to charge Mendy, and another man, Louis Saha Matturie, with additional allegations of serious sexual assault .
Benjamin Mendy…
Robert Lewandowski scored an 85th-minute winner from the spot as Barcelona snatched a 2-1 LaLiga victory at 10-man Osasuna on Sunday.
The Spanish champions were outplayed for large spells of the game at El Sadar but Jules Kounde put them ahead in first-half injury time.
Chimy Avila looked to have rescued a deserved point for the hosts after 76 minutes but Alejandro Catena was sent off for pulling back Lewandowski in the box and the Pole scored the resulting penalty.
A victory with a great collective performance from our Parisians tonight! I 1-4
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)
Elsewhere, Portu scored in the 88th minute to hand Girona a 1-0 win over Las Palmas that leaves them second, two points behind Real Madrid, while Mallorca and Athle…
Former Germany head coach Berti Vogts hopes a new healthy culture of debate can help the national team return to its former glory.
Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage, which led to team director Oliver Bierhoff leaving his role.
There was speculation boss Hansi Flick would follow him, but the former Bayern Munich coach has confirmed he will be staying on board.
Vogts, who led Germany between 1990 and 1998, believes the German Football Association (DFB) has paid the price for fostering a harmonious atmosphere and wants Matthias Sammer appointed to ruffle some feathers.
2 – Germany have failed to get past the group stage at each of the last two World Cups, after they had made it past the first round in each of the previous 16 tourname…
Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol has joined Napoli, the Spanish club have confirmed.
The 27-year-old moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Valencia in 2009 and signed a four-year deal with the Serie A outfit on Sunday.
Real Madrid C. F. announces that Raul Albiol has been transferred to Napoli F.C, a club statement read.
He becomes the second player to move between the two clubs this close-season after Jose Callejon also made the switch to Rafel Benitez s side earlier this month.
Albiol moved to Real for €15million from the Mestalla Stadium and made 123 appearances in all competitions during his time at the club.
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Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has praised Edinson Cavani after his double in the 2-1 Coupe de la Ligue success over Saint-Etienne.
Cavani, signed from Serie A side Napoli back in July, scored the winner on Wednesday in the closing stages of extra-time after the holders had earlier levelled as former PSG striker Mevlut Erding cancelled out the Uruguayan s 24th-minute opener.
The brace made it 18 goals for the 26-year-old forward since his move to the Parc des Princes and Blanc was quick to single out Cavani for a fine performance.
Cavani played a great game, Blanc said.
He had everything in his game. He fought as always.
Technically, I think he played a very, very good match, And, like any striker, it has to be finished by goals, and then he scores…