Stoke City will hope to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games when they host Southampton ahead of a tough period for the home team.
Forward pair Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones will head into the clash with Southampton with plenty of confidence after they almost single-handedly destroyed Liverpool 3-1 on Boxing Day.
Walters scored twice, with the second set up by Jones, while the Trinidad and Tobago international striker knocked in Stoke s other goal as Tony Pulis team picked up their fifth win in their nine-match unbeaten streak.
Stoke have moved up to eighth in the English Premier League but with games against Manchester City, Chelsea, Swansea to come after the visit of Southampton, a win on Saturday will be crucial to stay as high on the table as possib…
Manchester City assistant manager David Platt admits the club are concerned by captain Vincent Kompany s persistent calf problems.
The centre-back is set to miss the trip to face Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday after suffering a fresh injury blow and is expected to be absent for three weeks.
Platt feels City must get to the bottom of the issue to avoid being forced to cope without their skipper in the future.
It is a concern that it s not a fresh injury, he told reporters.
The calf is the strangest muscle there is probably more recurring issues with it than with hamstrings, groins and things like that.
And it has happened on a couple of occasions but the concern is to make sure we clear up the problem.
Kompany, who has made 198 appeara…
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko believes Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini do not deserve the eight-year bans imposed upon them by FIFA s Independent Ethics Committee.
Criminal proceedings were opened against the FIFA president in September, with an alleged disloyal payment to the UEFA chief for consultancy work, which Blatter authorised in 2011, forming the basis of the investigation.
The pair were handed provisional 90-day suspensions the following month but protested their innocence, claiming a verbal agreement was at the foundation of the transfer.
However, on Monday, an independent ethics committee announced eight-year bans from all football-related activities for Blatter and Platini, something which Mutko, a FIFA Executive Committee member, is sympatheti…
Inter striker Mauro Icardi has suggested that Juventus may be fearful of facing him in the Derby d Italia on Sunday.
With six career goals against the Turin side, stretching back to his time with Sampdoria, the 22-year-old averages one strike every 64 minutes.
The Argentine – who finished the 2014-15 Serie A season as the competition s joint top scorer, matching Luca Toni on 22 goals – feels that record may be cause for concern for Juve ahead of the San Siro clash.
I have scored six goals in five games against Juventus. I don t know if they are afraid of me in Turin, but it is certainly a special match any time you play against them, Icardi told La Stampa.
To score when you play against Juventus is an incredible feeling. I started scoring …
Are we about to see a Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic reunion?
Mourinho and Ibrahimovic worked together at Inter, before the Portuguese manager brought the Swedish star to Manchester United in 2016.
Now, new Tottenham boss Mourinho is reportedly eyeing the 38-year-old striker.
TOP STORY – MOURINHO TARGETING IBRA
Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho is poised to make a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to the Telegraph.
Ibrahimovic is on the lookout for a new club after opting to leave MLS outfit LA Galaxy following two seasons in the United States.
The 38-year-old has been linked to AC Milan, Bologna, Napoli, Manchester United and Australian team Perth Glory; however, Mourinho reportedly wants to reunite with Ibrahi…
According to , Liverpool s Emre Can has agreed a deal to move to Juventus this summer.
The German midfielder, also capable of deputizing in defence, came to on a four-year contract in 2014, and that is now set to expire. There have been many reports of negotiations for a new deal going back and forth, and the problem that was mostly quoted as the stumbling block for a deal to be struck was the club s refusal to include a buy-out clause in their offer. There have also been some reports of the player wanting a huge salary but Can himself has rubbished such claims more than once.
It would rather appear that the 24-year-old is unhappy with his status at the club, and sought assurances he would be starting more games in the future, which is something manager Jürgen Klopp …
Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden have been chosen to support Harry Kane in England s World Cup last 16 clash with Senegal.
It means Marcus Rashford, the scorer of two goals in England s 3-0 win against Wales in their final group game, has to settle for a place on the bench alongside Jack Grealish. Raheem Sterling was unavailable as he is dealing with a family matter.
Jordan Henderson retains his place in midfield alongside Declan Rice, with Jude Bellingham continuing in a more advanced role.
Kyle Walker starts at right-back ahead of Kieran Trippier at Al Bayt Stadium.
Idrissa Gueye misses out for Senegal due to suspension.
Ready for the Round of 16!
— England (@England)
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Achraf Hakimi only moved to Inter from Real Madrid at the start of the 2020-21 season.
But the future of the Morocco international is already making headlines.
Will Hakimi still be an Inter player at the end of the campaign?
TOP STORY – HAKIMI WANTED IN ENGLAND
Manchester City are interested in signing Inter star Achraf Hakimi, according to Calciomercato.
Hakimi has established himself as a key player for Antonio Conte s Inter after arriving from Real Madrid.
But Inter – in the spotlight amid reported financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic – are facing a battle to keep Hakimi, with Chelsea and Arsenal also chasing the Morocco international.
ROUND-UP
Calciomercato says Nap…
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers does not anticipate “many more” signings as the Scottish champions prepare to announce a loan deal for Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo.
The Hoops signed Honduras winger Luis Palma and on-loan Liverpool defender Nat Phillips earlier this week.
When asked if there could be some late deals, Rodgers said: “I’m not so sure. I don’t think there will be many more coming in.”
On the imminent signing of 21-year-old Bernardo, Rodgers said: “Again a young player that’s coming in with potential and that will hopefully be confirmed.
“He comes in with the opportunity to see him and give us more strength in depth in that midfield area and we will see how he develops.”
Rodgers expects Sead Haksabanovic to depar…
Ben Chilwell admits Chelsea need to find a ruthless streak as their inconsistent start to the Premier League season saw them lose at home to Nottingham Forest.
Anthony Elanga came off the bench to score the only goal of the game as Steve Cooper’s visitors left Stamford Bridge with a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino had named the same side that beat Luton last time out in the league but, despite dominating possession, the Blues failed to find a way past Matt Turner in the Forest goal.
The hosts had 21 shots to Forest’s seven but managed to get just two on target as Nicolas Jackson – one of their big-money summer signings – missed a sitter in the search for an equaliser.
Taking three points back to Nottingham!
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