More stories

  • in

    Fikayo Tomori IN England squad, Chelsea lose to Juventus REACTION, Blues and Liverpool in for Saint-Maximin transfer

    FIYAKO TOMORI has been called up by Gareth Southgate for the upcoming Andorra and Hungary games.The AC Milan defender has been recalled while Jude Bellingham has been rested for the matches.
    Meanwhile his former side Chelsea lost a crucial Champions League group game at Juventus after Federico Chiesa scored the winner in Turin.
    The Blues have now lost two straight games without scoring a goal and will look to bounce back against Southampton on Saturday.
    Meanwhile on the transfer front, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has continued to impress this season.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
    ENGLAND SQUAD RECAP
    Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming fixtures against Andorra and Hungary.
    Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.
    Defenders: Conor Coady, Reece James, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
    Midfielders: Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
    Forwards: Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Ollie Watkins.
    JADON SANCH-WOE… STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
    Jadon Sancho has gone from assist king and useful goal-grabber for Borussia Dortmund to blank stats since his £73million summer arrival at Manchester United.
    The England winger, 21, has yet to score or register an assist in his eight United games this season.
    OptaJoe point out he notched five goals and five assists in his final eight matches for Dortmund.

    SPAIN RECALL ALONSO
    Marcos Alonso is back in the Spain squad after THREE YEARS out.
    In-form Alonso has kept the Chelsea left-back spot ahead of England’s Ben Chilwell this season.

    But the 30-year-old won the last of his three caps in a 3-2 Nations League defeat by England in October 2018.
    Now a mini injury crisis has opened the door for a return to the national side.
    Regulars Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno and Thiago Alcantara are out while PSG new boy Sergio Ramos is yet to recover from a thigh strain.
    Spain face Italy in the Nations League semi-finals next Wednesday.
    And there was also a surprise place in the 23-man squad for Barcelona’s Gavi.
    KIT MONEY TO BURN
    Burnley shirts are the cheapest in the Premier League while Tottenham fans are forced to cough up £25 more for a replica shirt.
    Clarets supporters appear to get the best value, while Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool followers pay more than 50 PER CENT extra.
    Burnley’s £45 shirt is the best value in England’s top flight with Brentford (£48), Crystal Palace (£50), Norwich (£50) and Brighton £52 completing the cheapest five list.

    WHY I AXED JUDE AND GREENWOOD
    Gareth Southgate admits axing England’s teen whizkids Jude Bellingham will surprise many – but is worried about “overloading” them.
    Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, 18, and 19-year-old Manchester United striker Greenwood have begun the season brightly.
    Southgate, though, said: “They don’t come as a pair but they are in similar situations. They are young players with a heavy load.
    “I have spoken to both players. Jude has had a high level of matches. He is playing Champions League, Bundesliga.
    “We have to remember these lads are still physically growing.
    “We think they can be exciting players for the future but we don’t want to overload them. 
    “I can understand why people may raise their eyes.”
    OLLIE GOOD ATTITUDE
    Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate praised recalled striker Ollie Watkins’ attitude.
    Aston Villa’s three-cap striker, 25, only missed out on the England squad early this month through injury.
    And Southgate said: “He was close to making the squad for the Euros. He is still close to getting back to full fitness. I love his mentality.”
    SOUTHGATE HAILS TOMORI PACE
    Gareth Southgate has explained why AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori is back in his England squad.
    He said of the former Chelsea starlet, 23: “I thought Tomori finished last season well and started well.
    “He plays for a club where this is an expectation to win every week so there is pressure.
    “He played well against Liverpool and the game was Juventus so has had big matches.
    “I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressive defending. Because of his speed he can defend on the front foot.
    “Milan have been delighted with him and ended up buying him.”
    KOEMAN AXE ‘WON’T SOLVE ANYTHING’
    Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong believes changing the manager – Ronald Koeman – won’t do anything.
    Speaking after yesterday’s bitterly disappointing 3-0 loss to Benfica, he said: ” “I can’t talk about Koeman, it’s not for me to say.
    “I don’t think changing the coach can solve anything. 
    “We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.”
    GAME DAY
    The Foxes are in action against Legia Warsaw tonight.

    ENGLAND SQUAD
    Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming fixtures against Andorra and Hungary.
    Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.
    Defenders: Conor Coady, Reece James, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
    Midfielders: Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
    Forwards: Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Ollie Watkins.
    HOLY SHIRT
    Tottenham fans are forced to fork out more than any of their Premier League counterparts for their team’s replica shirt, writes WILL PUGH.
    And Burnley supporters get best value for money as research shows English kits are the cheapest on the whole across Europe’s big five leagues.

    MOTM & POTM
    The nominations for both the Manager of the Month and Player of the Month for September have been confirmed.
    Manager of the Month nominees:

    Mikel Arteta, Arsenal – P3, W3, L0, GD+4
    Pep Guardiola, Man City – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+2
    Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+6
    Graham Potter, Brighton – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+2
    Dean Smith, Aston Villa – P3, W2, D0, L1, GD+1

    Arsenal boss Arteta looks to be the frontrunner with his team winning all three league games in September.
    Player of the Month nominees:

    Joao Cancelo, Man City – P3, W2, D1, L0, A1, CS3
    Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd – P3, W2, D0, L1, G3
    Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea – P3, W2, D1, L1, G1, CS2
    Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle – P3, W0, D2, L1, G1, A2
    Mohamed Salah, Liverpool – P3, W2, D1, L0, G3
    Ismaila Sarr, Watford – P3, W1, D1, L1, G3

    You’d expect the race to between Ronaldo and Salah.
    Credit: GETTY IMAGES

    GRAV THAT
    Barcelona are interested in signing Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, according to reports.
    Gravenberch has made a name for himself at Ajax, becoming a first team regular.
    And as a result of his performances, Fichajes are reporting that Barca are interested in signing him within the next year.
    The reported fee to sign the midfielder – who has three years left on his current deal – is 75 million Euros.
    WORK-SHY KAI
    Peter Crouch singled out Chelsea’s Kai Havertz for criticism after his ‘disappointing’ performance in their Champions League loss to Juventus last night, GEORGE MOORE.
    The 22-year-old played all 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact as Chelsea failed to break down a well organised Juve team, who took the lead just eleven seconds after the restart.
    Despite dominating possession, Chelsea were unable to find an equaliser and were beaten 1-0, with both Romelu Lukaku and Havertz missing golden opportunities to level it up in the second half.
    In his post-match analysis for BT Sport, Crouch, 40, said: “I thought Ziyech and Havertz were very disappointing. I think Havertz reminds me of Ozil.
    “He does things where it comes easy to him and he looks technically brilliant.
    “But he can also look lazy and laboured at times and he can frustrate you and I thought tonight they were frustrating.”

    POG TOP
    Man Utd’s Paul Pogba has incredibly registered seven assists in the Premier League so far this season.
    His nearest competitors are on three.

    GAME DAY
    There’s action in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League containing British teams.
    Here’s who is playing and WHEN:

    Legia Warsaw vs Leicester City, 5.45pm KO
    Sparta Prague vs Rangers, 5.45pm KO
    West Ham vs Rapid Wien, 8pm KO
    Celtic vs Bayer Leverkusen, 8pm KO
    Tottenham vs Mura, 8pm KO

    HAMMERS POSSIBLE LINE-UP
    Here’s how West Ham could possibly line-up against Rapid Wien in the Europa League.

    PROBLEM SOLVING
    Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong believes changing the manager – Ronald Koeman – won’t do anything.
    Speaking after yesterday’s bitterly disappointing 3-0 loss to Benfica, he said: ” “I can’t talk about Koeman, it’s not for me to say.
    “I don’t think changing the coach can solve anything. 
    “We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.”
    UNDERDOGS
    Champions League freshman Sheriff Tiraspol have more points than Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

    REIN ON THE PARADE
    Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has said Cristiano Ronaldo’s stoppage time winner shouldn’t have counted.
    Jesse Lingard – who assisted Ronaldo – was in the goalkeeper’s view, says Reina.
    He said on Twitter: “Offside all day long…”
     Responding to a fan that claimed it wasn’t offside, he added: “Enabled by who? It is in the line of the goalkeeper clearer impossible.”
    ‘THANK YOU’
    Eight-time Olympic gold medal winner and Man Utd fan, Usain Bolt, thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club.
    Bolt was in attendance for last night’s Champions League win over Villarreal.
    Speaking to the MEN after the match, Bolt said: “He [Ronaldo] helped to build the club and it was wonderful when he was here, the energy. So I’m happy he’s back.
    “I just saw Alex Ferguson inside and I thanked him for bringing Cristiano back, so I’m happy about it.”

    DOUBLE TROUBLE
    West Ham’s Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have formed one of the best midfield partnerships in the Premier League.
    But how do their numbers compare to each other?
    Both have completed 540 minutes of football in the league this season, making it a fair contest.
    The Hammers are in action tonight, taking on Rapid Wien in the Europa League at the London Stadium.

    NOT THE RON
    Lionel Messi is ‘still the greatest player in the world’, according to Joe Cole, writes ETIENNE FERMIE.
    The Argentine scored a stunner for Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night as Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Manchester City 2-0.
    Old foe Cristiano Ronaldo also sparkled 24 hours later, bagging a last-gasp winner as Manchester United squeaked past Villarreal 2-1.
    But despite both still excelling on the biggest stage, Chelsea icon Cole still firmly prefers Messi.
    Appearing as a pundit on BT Sport following the Argentine’s latest stunner, the 39-year-old said: “It was only a matter of time, it was a beautiful goal.
    “He was going to turn up in a big game against Man City.
    “You still get some people saying, ‘would he be able to do it in England?’
    “Well he’s scored goals against the best team in England at the moment.
    “What he does so well… to do that at that pace, he’s being leant on, and to get a nice connection and reverse it into the top corner is unbelievable
    “For me he’s still the greatest, still the best in the world, I’m just so excited to see what he can do with this PSG team.”

    CAV THAT
    Edinson Cavani was an attacking option for Real Madrid in August.
    According to El Nacional, Real Madrid saw Cavani as an option to bolster their attacking options.
    The interest was believed to be driven by club president Florentino Perez.
    Real were looking for are looking for a reliable back up to Karim Benzema, with Luka Jovic proving unreliable.
    And the LaLiga giants failed to land No1 target Kylian Mbappe, but are expected to return for the Frenchman with his contract at PSG due to expire at the end of the season.
    STRONG BOND
    Arsenal summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga has said the tough start to the season – which saw Arsenal lose their first three games to Brentford, Chelsea and Man City – has brought the team together.
    The Gunners have won their last three league games, including beating north London rivals Tottenham 3-1 at the Emirates.
    Lokonga told Sport Foot magazine: “You are going to tell me that it is a cliche answer, but I believe that it is when we are in the hard times that we strengthen the links in a team, in a staff.
    “Here, now, we are all looking in the same direction. We all want to move the ship forward. We know we have to make further progress. In particular, we must learn to become meaner.”
    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Juventus 1 Chelsea 0 LIVE REACTION: Tuchel’s men LOSE in Turin as Juve put in defensive masterclass – latest updates

    CHELSEA lost their Champions League clash with Juventus thanks to Federico Chiesa’s second-half goal.
    RESULT: Juventus 1-0 Chelsea
    Juventus XI: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Rabiot, Bentancur, Locatelli; Cuadrado, Bernardeschi, Chiesa
    Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic; Ziyech, Havertz, Lukaku

    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    THAT’S ALL FOLKS
    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Max Allegri’s struggling Juventus got the better of Thomas Tuchel’s high-flying Chelsea in a tight but highly entertaining Champions League tie.
    The Blues dominated possession but lacked the creativity and cutting edge to find a breakthrough, despite both Lukaku and Havertz missing good chances in the second half.
    Credit: Getty
    It was a solid defensive display from the Old Lady, who deserved the win in the end for their performance, though Chelsea will feel hard done by to come away with nothing.
    It was a very tactical affair, with the Italian side showing a little more desire and resilience than their opponents.
    Credit: EPA
    Juve’s goal early in the second half gave them a lead to defend and gave Chelsea too much to do to break down their well organised opposition, who also had the crowd behind them all night.
    That’s two defeats on the bounce for Chelsea for only the second time under Thomas Tuchel and it’ll be back to the drawing board for when the two sides go head-to-head again at Stamford Bridge in November.
    Credit: Reuters
    Chelsea will have the chance to bounce back at home to Southampton on Saturday and Tuchel will expect a big reaction from his players.
    Juve take on rivals Torino in a local derby on Saturday and will hope to use the momentum from today’s win to kickstart their Serie A campaign after a troubled start.
    Credit: Sportphoto24/Marco Canoniero
    We hope you enjoyed our live coverage of this excellent Champions League clash between two European giants that ended in elation for Juventus and frustration for Chelsea. See you next time.
    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Federico Chiesa was awarded Uefa’s Man of the Match award for his display against Chelsea tonight, despite coming off after 76 minutes.
    It was reported that Chelsea made an £85m bid for the Italy international after his performances at Euro 2020, which was immediately rejected by Juventus.
    The Blues are said to be preparing another bid for the 23-year-old this summer, but will likely have to stump up an astronomical fee to prise him away from Turin.

    FULL TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    A huge result tonight for Max Allegri and the Juve players and you can see how much it means to them.
    They keep a much-needed clean sheet against a team who score for fun in the Premier League.
    Huge disappointment for Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea fans, who have high expectations for this season after last year’s Champions League win and the acquisition of Romelu Lukaku in the summer.
    But the striker was kept quiet by a commanding defensive performance from Juve, with Bonucci in particular having an outstanding game at the back.
    It’s been a tough start to the season for Juventus but Max Allegri has picked up a massive three points for the Old Lady! ✅The first #UCL group stage defeat for Chelsea in two years…FT: Juventus 1-0 Chelsea pic.twitter.com/bIWR7wnkxU— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 29, 2021

    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Federico Chiesa scored just ten seconds after the restart in the second-half and really impressed the BT Sport pundits with his performance tonight.
    “He’s that modern day striker, he can play anywhere across that front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace.”
    He was a constant thorn in Chelsea’s side as Juve’s main attacking outlet, with his pace causing real problems on the counter-attack.
    He closed down every Chelsea pass and finished spectacularly to win his side the game.
    A big performance from the young Italian forward.

    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Here are the new standings in Group H, with Juventus comfortably top after two wins out of two and no goals conceded.
    Chelsea are second despite their inferior goal-difference to Zenit because they have a better head-to-head record.
    Malmo have a mountain to climb after losing both of their opening two games and failing to score.
    Chelsea will have to get a result again Zenit in a few weeks time to guarantee their place and get the better of Juve at Stamford Bridge if they want to top the group.

    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Here are the results elsewhere, with Man Utd grabbing a last gasp winner to beat Villarreal at Old Trafford. Who scored, you ask? Who do you think?
    Benfica beat Barcelona 3-0 to condemn them to two defeats in their opening two games and Bayern smashed Dynamo Kyiv for five in some of the more surprise results.

    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    Juve put in a defensive masterclass to beat Chelsea by a single goal to nil.
    The Blues were on top throughout when it comes to possession but were unable to penetrate Juventus, who were both stubborn and resolute in their defensive duties.
    They stayed focused, kept their shape and didn’t allow Chelsea many chances at all, despite their dominance.
    A huge win for the home side who will hope to use this as a catalyst to kickstart their season after a difficult start in Serie A.

    PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPP!!!!!!
    FULL-TIME: JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    THE ITALIAN SIDE HAVE DONE IT
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    90+5 – Last chance saloon for Chelsea. A corner for the Blues after Hudson-Odoi’s cross is blocked by Chiellini and the home fans again cheer like it’s a goal.
    The corner comes in and Havertz leaps highest to meet it but again sends it way over the bar. That should be enough for Juventus…
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    90+4 – CLOSE! A ball is sent forward for Lukaku to chase and it’s a root race between him and Szczesny but the Poland international has the advantage and claims the ball.
    The Juve fans cheer like it’s a goal. More frustration for Lukaku, who hasn’t really had a sniff tonight but for that miss a few minutes ago.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    90+2 – Ross Barkley gets himself in an attacking position and whips the ball into the box with pace but there’s way too much on it and it goes out for a goal kick.
    Juve taking their time with everything at the moment. The full-time whistle can’t come soon enough for Max Allegri.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    90 – Chelsea look to break with Hudson-Odoi and Havertz combining well deep in the Juve half but Locatelli and Sandro manage to halt them in their tracks and earn a Juve throw in.
    Five minutes added on.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    89 – YELLOW CARD! Juve have a corner and Cuadrado is booked for time-wasting.
    They’re trying to keep it in the corner and earn themselves another corner-kick. Game management tactics here from Juve.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    88 – The resulting corner falls to Havertz in the box, who leaps high into the air to meet it, but heads it way over the bar.
    Chelsea throwing everything they’ve got at Juve here but the home side refusing to budge.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    87 – It’s a good floated delivery from Chilwell but it’s cleared for a corner by Chiellini.
    There’s a VAR check for handball after claims from the Chelsea players, but the check is over very quickly and nothing given.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    86 – Chiellini’s first involvement sees him foul Havertz in an good position for an attacking free-kick.
    It’s shooting distance, but it’s probably too wide for a shot and Chilwell and Hudson-Odoi are standing over it.
    JUVENTUS SUBSTITUTION:
    Mr. Juventus comes on to see this win out in Turin and he receives a huge reception from the Juve fans.
    OFF: Rodrigo Bentancur.
    ON: Giorgio Chiellini.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    83 – SO CLOSE! Lukaku has a shot from inside the box and it’s Chelsea’s best opportunity of the night.
    He’s less than 12 yards out and he blazes it over the bar and puts his head in his hands.
    Bonucci did really well to put enough pressure on him and close the angle.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    81 – Barkley has been bright for Chelsea since coming on, but Tuchel is absolutely furious down on the touchline.
    He’s going berserk at his players, waving and screaming instructions at them.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    79 – Chelsea keep pressing and probing but are almost punished on the break as Juve burst into their half at pace with Moise Kean and Juan Cuadrado.
    They’re unable to do anything with it as Kulusevski and Kean look to combine in the box after Chelsea are able to get back into their shape and they then break.
    Lukaku runs into the Juve half at speed and tries to cross it for Havertz but it’s a very poor ball.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    76 – The Juve fans give the goalscorer Chiesa a huge ovation for his contribution tonight. He didn’t stop running and chasing everything from the moment the whistle blew.
    The Bianconeri are willing their side to see this through, but Chelsea are upping the intensity slightly now after more fresh legs have come on to aid the cause.
    JUVENTUS SUBSTITUTIONS:
    OFF: Federico Chiesa, Adrien Rabiot.
    ON: Weston McKennie, Moise Kean.
    CHELSEA SUBSTITUTION:
    One last roll of the dice for Tuchel as he makes his final substitution of the night. This will surely mean a change of formation for Chelsea, with Hudson-Odoi moving further up to join Havertz and Lukaku up front.
    OFF: Andreas Christensen.
    ON: Ross Barkley.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    72 – A cross comes into the box from Hudson-Odoi and Lukaku gets his head on it, but it goes well wide.
    He’s been a little bit off the pace tonight and that sums up his performance quite nicely.
    Still 20 minutes including injury time, so plenty of time for the Belgian to switch it on the way Chelsea fans know he can.
    JUVE 1-0 CHELSEA
    73 – Chelsea doing well to starve Juventus of any possession and keeping them trapped in their own half. The home side will have to stay focused and not leave any gaps for Chelsea to exploit.
    They’ve not given the ball away as much in this second half, but their passing is still a little bit too safe and slow at times.
    Looks like Tuchel is bringing on Barkley in the hope he can unlock the Juve backline.
    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Lionel Messi Man City stunner REACTION, Rudiger future LATEST, Chelsea and Liverpool in for Saint-Maximin

    LIONEL MESSI scored a magical first goal for PSG against Man City in the Champions League last night.The curling effort produced spectacular scenes at the Parc des Princes as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners.
    Meanwhile on the transfer front, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has continued to impress this season.
    While we’ve the very latest on Antonio Rudiger’s future.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
    SEEING RED
    Well it’s safe to say Donny van de Beek is NOT a happy man.
    The Dutch midfielder – yet again overlooked for a place in the starting XI – was failed to be brought off the bench against Vaencia.
    Instead, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put Fred on instead of him, leaving Van de Beek visibly angry in the dugout as his team-mates held him back.
    He then threw his chewing gum on the floor next to Solskjaer.
    Watch the amazing clip below.

    RESULTS
    Here is the full rundown of the tonight’s Champions League matches.
    And the big news is that holders Chelsea lost away at Juventus.
    Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 95th winner for Manchester United against Villarreal.
    ⏰ RESULTS ⏰AND breathe! 😅Ronaldo scores added-time winner, Benfica beat Barcelona, European champions defeated…👀 Moment of the night?#UCL— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 29, 2021

    BERN BRIDGES
    Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno claims manager Mikel Arteta has given him ‘no clear reason’ for being dropped.
    The German stopper, 29, has not featured in the last three Premier League games for the Gunners and could be forced to move on.
    Leno told German outlet Sport Bild: “There was no clear reason why I was out, just that it had nothing to do with my performance.
    “He [Arteta] is the trainer, he decides. It’s difficult for me, of course.”
    Summer signing Aaron Ramsdale, 23, has played in goal for Arsenal’s recent Prem fixtures against Norwich, Burnley and Tottenham.
    Arteta hasn’t publicly confirmed Ramsdale as his first-choice stopper and Leno still has two years remaining on his Emirates deal.
    KEL OF A BLOW
    Kelechi Iheanacho has been forced to fly back to England after being refused entry to Poland for Leicester’s clash with Legia Warsaw.
    Border guards spotted an error in the Nigeria striker’s documentation when the Foxes’ chartered flight arrived at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
    Airport officials noticed a difference between Iheanacho’s official documentation and the visa he needed, as a Nigerian, to enter an EU country.
    While the rest of his team-mates were allowed through, Iheanacho had to stay behind at the airport with a Foxes’ official as the club tried to get him back to England.
    Brendan Rodgers said: “We’ve had an issue with Kelechi so his documentation coming into the country wouldn’t suffice.
    “Unfortunately he’s not available to play, which is a shame because he would have played in the game.
    “The paperwork didn’t allow him to enter the country, which is unfortunate. We’ll have to look at that when we get back.”
    CAN’T HAK IT
    Achraf Hakimi has trolled Manchester City star Jack Grealish with a photo he posted on his Instagram account.
    The photo shows Hakimi, 22, standing over Grealish moments after the right-back had floored the England star.
    Grealish’s face showed he had the wind knocked out of him on a tough evening at the Parc des Princes.
    The winger, 26, scored on his first Champions League appearance against RB Leipzig earlier this month but he got little joy up against Hakimi.
    The summer signing, who arrived at PSG for a reported fee of £59million, also thwarted the threat of Phil Foden after he replaced Grealish in the 68th minute.
    And as if that was not enough, Hakimi has attempted to wind up Grealish one more time.
    His caption read: “Big UCL night”, with Hakimi clearly proud at having flattened Grealish.

    HAMMER TIME
    Declan Rice says he has never been happier at West Ham – even though he has rejected two new contract offers from the club.
    Asked if this is the happiest he has ever been at West Ham, he said: “Yes, I would 100 per cent say so because I’ve played in teams here that have fought relegation and been mid-table.
    “But in the last two seasons, what the manager has built for us, and what we’ve bought into as players, has been amazing.
    “It’s a place where you wake up in the morning and you look forward to going in and having breakfast with the lads.
    “You look forward to having a laugh and you look forward to training. It’s like a big family. I think the gaffer said it before, we’re all like a bunch of kids.
    “Honestly, it’s such a great place to be around at the moment. With the results and how well we’re doing makes it that bit more special.”
    PELE UPDATE
    Brazilian legend Pele is set to leave hospital as he continues his recovery from an operation to remove a tumour from his colon.
    The three-time World Cup winner, 80, underwent surgery at the beginning of September after a tumour was discovered during tests.
    According to Estado de Sao Paulo via Reuters, Pele will be discharged from the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday.
    And his daughter Kely Nascimento has also confirmed the iconic footballer is heading home after a worrying month for his family, friends and fans.
    She wrote on Instagram: “Now that he’s stronger and leaving the hospital to continue recovering and treating himself at home, I’m going back home.”

    NOU MONEY
    Barcelona are battling to keep hold of the heir to Lionel Messi’s No10 shirt amid reports they have offered him a contract extension.
    Ansu Fati inherited the iconic jersey when Messi headed to Paris this summer and has told his agent Jorge Mendes that he wants to stay at Barca.
    The 18-year-old’s deal at the Nou Camp runs until the end of the season and reports in Spain say Barca have already offered an extension.
    Football director Mateu Alemany is set to meet Mendes to finalise the deal once the agent returns from holiday in Qatar.
    But there are fears the proposal could unravel due to the shocking state of the Catalan giants’ finances.
    And it has also been claimed that Pedri is reportedly willing to sign a new contract, according to Sky Sport Italia.
    It is said that all parties have agreed on the majority of the deal’s terms and a final agreement is expected by the middle of next month.
    MAJOR FLAW
    PSG star Idrissa Gueye claimed it was ‘simple’ to deal with Manchester City due to the lack of pace in the Citizens’ team.
    Gueye, 32, opened the scoring early on with a powerful effort and helped to nullify the City attack after that alongside Italian Marco Verratti.
    He told RMC Sport: “The most important thing is to remain solid.
    “It wasn’t an easy match and we were able to defend well, play on the counter and get opportunities. We were able to score, and now we need to concentrate on the next game.
    “We had to stay compact in the middle and make the most of our counters to score. Today it was simple to defend because they didn’t have a lot of pace.
    “The most important thing is the entire team’s performance. We had to win after the draw in Bruges. We attacked as a team, we defended as a team. Now we need to prepare the next match well.”
    TEAM NEWS
    Man Utd’s team to face Villarreal in the Champions League is out.
    The Red Devils are looking to exact revenge on the Spanish side after losing to them in last season’s Europa League final.
    And it should come as no surprise that Cristiano Ronaldo leads the line.
    And Chelsea’s starting XI for their away fixture against Juventus has been announced.
    Romelu Lukaku starts upfront for his return to Italy, with Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech slotting in behind.
    🚨 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 🔴Presenting your United team to take on Villarreal… 👊#MUFC | #UCL— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 29, 2021

    HAA-VING A LAUGH
    Borussia Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke has denied claims Erling Haaland will need to be sold next summer.
    It had been reported that the German outfit need to offload their star striker in order to raise funds to pay back shareholders – since the club is listed on the stock exchange.
    But Watzke revealed Haaland could end up staying at Signal Iduna Park, despite the transfer interest in him.
    Watzke told Sport1: “It has not yet been decided whether he will really leave in the summer. We’ll just have a look.
    “I heard someone say: “They have to sell Haaland because they are listed on the stock exchange.” This is all bulls**t.
    “The decision whether someone is sold at our company is made by the management and only by the management.”
    LOWER THE BAR
    Barcelona must cut their wage bill to just £85million after Real Madrid were given the green light to spend SEVEN TIMES more.
    The figure, which would not look out of place in the Championship, was calculated as part of LaLiga’s restrictions on spending.
    League bosses announced the figures on Wednesday with Barcelona’s spending once again coming into focus after the exit of Lionel Messi.
    The failure to keep the Argentine has also been questioned despite the club making a £400m loss last season, to rack up £1billion of debt.
    The salary cap is calculated with each club’s profit and losses, leading to the Blaugrana’s dropping from £591m in 2019-20 to £330m last season – and now by a further £245m for 2021-22.
    It is in stark contrast to Real Madrid, whose limit has risen from £404m to £638m – over £465m more than any other club.
    SHER THE LOVE
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to show Anthony Martial more love to get the best out of him, claims Teddy Sheringham.
    He told The Mail: “It’s similar to Harry Kane and Tammy Abraham, centre-forwards need to be loved.
    “If you’re not feeling loved and appreciated, if you feel you have one chance to do well in the Carabao Cup and if you don’t you’re not going to get anywhere near the Premier League games, it does put pressure on you.
    “Tammy has gone to Roma and Jose Mourinho has said ‘go in there and if you miss chances, you’re not going to be out the team straight away’.
    “It gives you a relaxed time. Footballers need to be relaxed and cool in front of goal, not snapping at chances.
    “When you are loved by a manager, you have that feeling. Martial obviously isn’t getting that at the moment because there are other players at the club in front of him and you feel like you have to snatch chances when you can.”
    DONE DEAL
    Steven Nzonzi has joined Qatari side Al Rayyan on a free transfer from Roma.
    The 32-year-old was unveiled by the Middle Eastern club yesterday, but the length of the midfielder’s contract is yet to be revealed, the News Observer reported.
    Nzonzi is one of the stars Roma had to sell due to financial difficulties the club faced caused by Covid-19.
    It had been reported earlier this summer that Jose Mourinho’s side were planning to offload 23 players to balance the books.
    The Frenchman was joined by his father Fidele, Al Rayyan’s chairman Ali Bin Saud al-Thani, and new boss Laurent Blanc during his unveiling at the club’s headquarters in the Qatari capital Doha.
    Also at the press conference, by Nzonzi’s side was ex-Everton star Tim Cahill, who is the chief sports officer for sports academy Aspire Academy in Qatar.

    UNWELCOME MATT
    Matteo Guendouzi is already falling out with his Marseille team-mates – just eight games into his loan spell with the Ligue 1 club, reports claim.
    The 22-year-old is reported to have clashed with a number of players in the squad.
    In the 3-2 home defeat to Lens at the weekend, L’Equipe claim Guendouzi asked team-mate Gerson ‘when he was going to start running,’ which didn’t go down well.
    Gerson had to be held back by team-mates as Guendouzi walked away, with captain Dimitri Payet stepping in to try and calm him down.
    The incident came after Lens’ second goal, with Guendouzi running up to the Brazilian before confronting him and allegedly accusing him of not running.
    LACAZETTE SWAP
    Arsenal are considering a swap deal involving Alexandre Lacazette in January.
    According to La Razon, the Gunners would be open to exchanging Lacazette for Sevilla ace Youssef En-Nesyri.
    The north Londoners are not at all keen to let the France international go for free.
    The centre-forward’s contract with Arsenal expires in June and the two sides have yet to reach a new deal
    MARTIAL PLAN
    Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Manchester United ace Anthony Martial.
    That is according to Marca, who hinted that this sort of move could lead to Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland going the other way.
    The same report also suggests United could seek a player-plus-cash type of deal that would involve star striker Haaland.
    But the Red Devils could still get embroiled in a transfer war with other suitors, such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid, who are also keeping tabs on the Norway international
    DAN AND DUSTED
    Liverpool will be watching Villarreal ace Arnaut Danjuma in action tonight against Manchester United.
    That is according to Voetbal International, who claim that the Reds will have scouts watching Danjuma in the Champions League.
    The Merseysiders are reportedly monitoring the winger “closely” as they consider their options ahead of the January transfer window.
    The Netherlands international joined the Yellow Submarine from Bournemouth earlier this year
    PAUL-ING TOGETHER
    Manchester United have received a significant boost in their bid to keep Paul Pogba at Old Trafford.
    Pogba’s contract with United expires in June and his future appears to be uncertain as some of Europe’s biggest hitters are circling in hoping for a free transfer.
    According to Sport, Barcelona are among the star midfielder’s suitors and have been monitoring him for a long time.
    However, the France international would be forced to take a significant pay cut if he agreed to move to the Nou Camp.
    The Blaugrana have endured a major economic fallout during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to meet LaLiga’s new salary cap rules
    GETTY IMAGES
    LENO UPDATE
    Inter Milan are not interested in signing Arsenal star Bernd Leno during the January transfer window.
    That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims Inter are close to landing Ajax star Andre Onana instead.
    That means the reigning Italian champions are not going to move for Leno, whose future at the Gunners is now uncertain.
    The Germany international has been linked with a move away while battling to become the north Londoners’ No1 with fellow keeper Aaron Ramsdale
    BONUCCI WARNING
    Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci has suggested he knows how to handle Chelsea ace Romelu Lukaku ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash between the two clubs in Turin.
    Bonucci told The Athletic: “Romelu Lukaku has proven himself to be a complete striker.
    “He can win games on his own. When you come up against him you have to be switched on for 100 minutes a game.
    “You must never engage Lukaku in a physical battle or play touch-tight. Instead, be ready to drop off because when his team has the ball, he will try to run in behind.
    “In the box, he’s great at playing man-to-man so you need to be on the front foot, try to read the game and play hard”
    LENO STATEMENT
    Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno insists he is “comfortable” at the Emirates despite reports suggesting he will leave during the January transfer window.
    Leno told BILD: “London is very nice; Milan is not bad either and closer to my home Stuttgart.
    “But I’m not seriously thinking about that yet. I feel comfortable at Arsenal and in London.
    “Only if nothing changes in my situation by winter would I have to think about things: what option do I have, how can I continue?
    “But I’m concentrating on my work in training; I can’t commit to anything else at the moment”
    KLOPP ON CITY
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Reds’ 5-1 victory at Porto can only help them so much against Manchester City, whom they face on Sunday at Anfield.
    Klopp said: “[It] always helps [momentum] but against City it doesn’t help at all.
    “We need much more things than just momentum and we need to play better than we did tonight but that’s clear anyway.
    “It will be a different game, I only heard the result now from the PSG-City game so City will and want to strike back.
    “We are back at home after a few games without our crowd so let’s give it a go”
    GETTY IMAGES
    ON THE LUKE OUT
    Manchester United ace Luke Shaw could play against Villarreal tonight at Old Trafford.
    Shaw didn’t train with the rest of the squad ahead of the upcoming Champions League encounter.
    But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will “give him a chance to be involved” against the Yellow Submarine.
    Solskjaer said: “Luke has been in today so I’ll give him a chance to be involved, he didn’t train with the team”
    PEP TALK
    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola issued a message of defiance following the Premier League title-holders’ Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
    Guardiola told BT Sport: “Now we’re going to eat good tonight, we’re going to drink a glass of wine, we’re going to recover and prepare for the game on Sunday [against Liverpool].
    “At the end, yeah, the last 10 minutes were better, good performance we did everything we couldn’t score.
    “We defend well, they defend deep and of course the counter attack of them is always dangerous with the quality they had but we controlled them unfortunately we couldn’t score but that’s football.
    “Nothing to say more than my biggest compliment for the team”
    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Man Utd 2 Villarreal 1 LIVE REACTION: Ronaldo nets dramatic stoppage time winner to complete Champions League comeback

    MANCHESTER UNITED have beaten Villarreal in the Champions League – and they have Cristiano Ronaldo to thank after his late, late winner.United were poor in the first half and had to rely on David De Gea’s heroics to keep the Spaniards at bay.
    Paco Alcacer put the visitors ahead after the break, only for Alex Telles to reply just 10 minutes later – and Ronaldo left it late to send Old Trafford barmy.

    Final score: Man Utd 2-1 Villarreal

    Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    THAT’S ALL FOR NOW!
    It’s another incredible chapter in the Cristiano Ronaldo story as he snatches a last-gasp win for Manchester United.
    Whether they deserved it is another matter against a Villarreal side who squandered a host of chances before finally going in front through Paco Alcacer.
    Alex Telles equalised with a brilliant volley on the hour mark, but Ronaldo had to have the last word, firing home with virtually the last kick of the game after great work by substitute Jesse Lingard.
    United’s next game in the competition sees them host Italian side Atalanta on 20th October.  
    36 – Cristiano Ronaldo (36y 236d) is the second oldest Man Utd player to score a goal in European competition at Old Trafford after Bryan Robson (36y 282d) vs Galatasaray in 1993. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/LkZf1UTFwd— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 29, 2021

    OGS: WE GOT LUCKY
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his side had more than a stroke of good fortune in their thrilling late win over Villarreal.
    “That’s what happens here at Old Trafford,” he told BT Sport.
    “We threw caution to the wind, and we got lucky.
    “They’re a hard team to play against. When you have Cristiano on the pitch there’s always a chance. Cristiano is so good in front of goal.
    “Jesse isn’t happy at not playing more. But he came on and made an impact.
    “It’s massive to win games in this fashion.”
    .Credit: PA
    BRUNO REACTION
    Bruno Fernandes was a happy man after Manchester United’s late, late show.
    He told BT Sport: “It’s always difficult to play against Spanish teams. They’re always well organised in defence.
    “When they scored, I still felt we could come. We got an unbelievable goal from Alex and the push from the fans was incredible.
    “Cristiano… strikers have that feeling to score and he always has it.”
    .Credit: EPA
    FT: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 VILLARREAL
    Extraordinary scenes at Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo, with virtually the last kick of the game, wins it for Manchester United.
    The Red Devils were trailing when Paco Alcacer deservedly put the visitors in front.
    Alex Telles levelled in style on the hour mark, but we looked to be heading for a draw until Ronaldo popped up at the death. Just incredible.

    PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES!
    MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 VILLARREAL
    90+5. Can you believe it! It’s that man Ronaldo! Fred’s cross is nodded down by Ronaldo to Lingard. He taps it back to Ronaldo who fires home at the near post. UNBELIEVABLE!
    GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!!
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    90+3. Good save by Rulli to keep out Lingard’s near-post effort as he latched on to Ronaldo’s cross.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    90+2. United break and Fernandes tries to find Ronaldo. His first touch is poor and forces him wide and the cross is cleared. Cavani wanted a penalty but there was nothing doing.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    90. There will be five minutes of added time. Pena is booked for a foul on Fernandes to hand United a free-kick. The set-piece is floated in and eventually falls to McTominay who sends a volley towards goal. However, it lacks power and is comfortably saved.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    89. Last roll of the dice for United as Lingard and Fred come on for Telles and Greenwood.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    86. How has that stayed out? Gomez is invited to shoot and is denied by De Gea’s glove. The save bounces straight off Dia and is heading in, but De Gea sticks out a hand to deny him. There’s then a crazy scramble but a combination of Varane and Telles keep the ball out as Dia tries to bundle it home.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    79. What a miss from Cavani. Greenwood whips in a delicious cross from the right and finds Cavani at the far post. With the goal gaping he heads it wide.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    74. Now United make some changes. Matic is on for Sancho and Pogba trots off for Cavani. The Uruguayan splashed his face with water before he came on. He just needed to look up at the sky to get a good soaking. It’s still not really clicked for Sancho in United colours yet.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    73. Three changes for Villarreal. Mandi, Gomez and Pena replace Albiol, Pino and Moreno. Meanwhile, in shocking news, it’s raining in Manchester.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    71. Greenwood skips down the right but Rulli gets a big paw to his cross. Telles is rightly booked for catching Pino.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    70. Danjuma looks to head towards goal again but Lindelof watches him all the way and snuffs out the danger.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    68. Greenwood picks up a yellow card for a pull of Dia’s shirt. Not the kind of card Greenwood wants this close to his birthday. Now Albiol is booked for hauling back Ronaldo.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    67. Pino goes into the book after a poor tackle on Telles.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    63. Just before the goal Alcacer had made way for Dia. Moreno was then booked for kicking the ball away when Greenwood won a free-kick, which United levelled from. Villarreal made another change immediately after the equaliser with Trigueros replaced by Estupinan.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    62. It should have been 2-1 to United but Sancho, who’s in acres of space, slips as he pulls the trigger and his shot rolls tamely to Rulli.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 VILLARREAL
    60. Cometh the hour. Fernandes chips a free-kick from the right all the way out to Telles on the far side. He hits a brilliant volley through a crowd of players and past Rulli. What… a… goal!

    GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLL MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!
    MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 VILLARREAL
    56. Oooooh. Fernandes takes aim from distance, but it flies a few yards wide.
    MANCHESTER UNITED 0-1 VILLARREAL
    53. It’s a lead they deserve. Dalot fails to cut out Trigueros’ pass to Danjuma and the winger’s square ball is poked in by Alcacer. Can United respond?

    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Lionel Messi Man City stunner REACTION, Chelsea and Liverpool in for Saint-Maximin, Champions League build up

    LIONEL MESSI scored a magical first goal for PSG against Man City in the Champions League last night.The curling effort produced spectacular scenes at the Parc des Princes as the hosts ran out 2-0 winners.
    Meanwhile on the transfer front, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has continued to impress this season.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
    LACAZETTE SWAP
    Arsenal are considering a swap deal involving Alexandre Lacazette in January.
    According to La Razon, the Gunners would be open to exchanging Lacazette for Sevilla ace Youssef En-Nesyri.
    The north Londoners are not at all keen to let the France international go for free.
    The centre-forward’s contract with Arsenal expires in June and the two sides have yet to reach a new deal
    MARTIAL PLAN
    Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Manchester United ace Anthony Martial.
    That is according to Marca, who hinted that this sort of move could lead to Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland going the other way.
    The same report also suggests United could seek a player-plus-cash type of deal that would involve star striker Haaland.
    But the Red Devils could still get embroiled in a transfer war with other suitors, such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid, who are also keeping tabs on the Norway international
    DAN AND DUSTED
    Liverpool will be watching Villarreal ace Arnaut Danjuma in action tonight against Manchester United.
    That is according to Voetbal International, who claim that the Reds will have scouts watching Danjuma in the Champions League.
    The Merseysiders are reportedly monitoring the winger “closely” as they consider their options ahead of the January transfer window.
    The Netherlands international joined the Yellow Submarine from Bournemouth earlier this year
    PAUL-ING TOGETHER
    Manchester United have received a significant boost in their bid to keep Paul Pogba at Old Trafford.
    Pogba’s contract with United expires in June and his future appears to be uncertain as some of Europe’s biggest hitters are circling in hoping for a free transfer.
    According to Sport, Barcelona are among the star midfielder’s suitors and have been monitoring him for a long time.
    However, the France international would be forced to take a significant pay cut if he agreed to move to the Nou Camp.
    The Blaugrana have endured a major economic fallout during the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled to meet LaLiga’s new salary cap rules
    GETTY IMAGES
    LENO UPDATE
    Inter Milan are not interested in signing Arsenal star Bernd Leno during the January transfer window.
    That is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims Inter are close to landing Ajax star Andre Onana instead.
    That means the reigning Italian champions are not going to move for Leno, whose future at the Gunners is now uncertain.
    The Germany international has been linked with a move away while battling to become the north Londoners’ No1 with fellow keeper Aaron Ramsdale
    BONUCCI WARNING
    Juventus star Leonardo Bonucci has suggested he knows how to handle Chelsea ace Romelu Lukaku ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash between the two clubs in Turin.
    Bonucci told The Athletic: “Romelu Lukaku has proven himself to be a complete striker.
    “He can win games on his own. When you come up against him you have to be switched on for 100 minutes a game.
    “You must never engage Lukaku in a physical battle or play touch-tight. Instead, be ready to drop off because when his team has the ball, he will try to run in behind.
    “In the box, he’s great at playing man-to-man so you need to be on the front foot, try to read the game and play hard”
    LENO STATEMENT
    Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno insists he is “comfortable” at the Emirates despite reports suggesting he will leave during the January transfer window.
    Leno told BILD: “London is very nice; Milan is not bad either and closer to my home Stuttgart.
    “But I’m not seriously thinking about that yet. I feel comfortable at Arsenal and in London.
    “Only if nothing changes in my situation by winter would I have to think about things: what option do I have, how can I continue?
    “But I’m concentrating on my work in training; I can’t commit to anything else at the moment”
    KLOPP ON CITY
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Reds’ 5-1 victory at Porto can only help them so much against Manchester City, whom they face on Sunday at Anfield.
    Klopp said: “[It] always helps [momentum] but against City it doesn’t help at all.
    “We need much more things than just momentum and we need to play better than we did tonight but that’s clear anyway.
    “It will be a different game, I only heard the result now from the PSG-City game so City will and want to strike back.
    “We are back at home after a few games without our crowd so let’s give it a go”
    GETTY IMAGES
    ON THE LUKE OUT
    Manchester United ace Luke Shaw could play against Villarreal tonight at Old Trafford.
    Shaw didn’t train with the rest of the squad ahead of the upcoming Champions League encounter.
    But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will “give him a chance to be involved” against the Yellow Submarine.
    Solskjaer said: “Luke has been in today so I’ll give him a chance to be involved, he didn’t train with the team”
    PEP TALK
    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola issued a message of defiance following the Premier League title-holders’ Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
    Guardiola told BT Sport: “Now we’re going to eat good tonight, we’re going to drink a glass of wine, we’re going to recover and prepare for the game on Sunday [against Liverpool].
    “At the end, yeah, the last 10 minutes were better, good performance we did everything we couldn’t score.
    “We defend well, they defend deep and of course the counter attack of them is always dangerous with the quality they had but we controlled them unfortunately we couldn’t score but that’s football.
    “Nothing to say more than my biggest compliment for the team”
    ALREADY DECID-ED
    Arsenal technical director Edu has already decided on the first two signings of the upcoming January transfer window.
    According to football.london, the Gunners are expected to target a new midfielder and defender this coming winter.
    The north Londoners could also go for a new goalkeeper if Bernd Leno leaves the club.
    That is why Arsenal are keeping tabs on Ajax shot-stopper Andre Onana
    XHAKA STATEMENT
    Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has issued a defiant message following news of his injury.
    Xhaka suffered a medial knee ligament injury during the weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham.
    The midfielder will be out for three months but won’t require surgery.
    Xhaka posted on Instagram: “The recovery starts now. Giving everything to get back onto the pitch as soon as I can”
    INSTAGRAM

    RUD AWAKENING
    Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger has not decided to leave Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
    That is according to Bild report Christian Falk, who claims that Rudiger is not guaranteed to leave the Blues in the summer.
    Falk added that Bayern haven’t offered the centre-back a salary of £400,000 a week.
    The Germany international’s contract with the west Londoners runs out in June

    ONANA BOOST
    Arsenal have received a transfer boost in their bid to sign Ajax star Andre Onana.
    The Gunners haven’t got an established goalkeeper between the sticks this season as Bernd Leno and Aaron Ramsdale are battling to be No1.
    And it seems like the north Londoners are also keeping tabs on Onana ahead of the January transfer window.
    According to Voetbal International, Arsenal have received some good news as Ajax have cut off negotiations over a contract extension with the Cameroon international
    CAVANI BID
    Barcelona are keeping tabs on Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani ahead of the January transfer window.
    That is according to the Daily Star, who report that Barca are keen to land Cavani on loan.
    The same report claims the Blaugrana would also need United to subsidise part of the centre-forward’s £250,000 weekly wages, something that is highly unlikely.
    The Uruguay international has come back from injury but is likely to struggle for minutes following the return of Cristiano Ronaldo
    GRAN INJURY BLOW
    Arsenal have suffered a major injury blow as Granit Xhaka has been sidelined for three months due to a medial knee ligament injury.
    Xhaka got hurt during last weekend’s north London derby triumph over Tottenham.
    The midfielder looks set to be out until December but he does not require surgery.
    That works as quite a blow for manager Mikel Arteta, who turned things around after a miserable start to the campaign
    LET’S AV IT
    Liverpool are still keeping tabs on Porto star Otavio after scouting him last night in the Champions League.
    That is according to Record, who claim the Reds haven’t given up on the attacking midfielder.
    The Portugal international started for Sergio Conceicao’s side against the Merseysiders at the Dragao.
    But the 26-year-old couldn’t help the Portuguese giants avoid a heavy 5-1 loss to Jurgen Klopp’s men
    GETTY IMAGES
    GOING FOR THE KYL
    Juventus have joined the bidding war over Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
    A raft of Europe’s biggest hitters are keeping tabs on Mbappe, whose contract at PSG runs out next year.
    The likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool have both showed interest with the former posing as absolute favourites to land the star striker.
    According to Tuttosport, however, Juve have joined the race even though they may not have the necessary funds to attract the France international
    JUVE TEAM NEWS
    There will be no Chelsea reunion for Juventus star Alvaro Morata tonight at the Juventus Stadium.
    Morata hobbled off during Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Sampdoria with a hamstring injury.
    To make matters worse for Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri, Paulo Dybala also limped off with a thigh muscle problem during the weekend.
    The Bianconeri have announced that the two forwards won’t be back until after the international break
    CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
    Chelsea star N’Golo Kante will miss the Champions League clash against Juventus in Turin.
    That is because Kante recently tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating.
    Blues boss Thomas Tuchel will also be missing Mason Mount as the England international is nursing a knock.
    Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic and Reece James are both sidelined with an ankle injury
    TUCH AND GO
    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel disagrees with Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino’s statement that the Blues are “the team to beat” in the Champions League.
    Tuchel said: “It’s no secret we like this role to come from an outsider or challenger for this title, which we still are.
    “I don’t think we are the favourites but we showed everybody the performances we’re capable of.”
    Chelsea are in action tonight against Juventus in Turin in their bid to defend their European crown
    GETTY IMAGES
    FOUR REAL
    Arsenal legend, and TV pundit, Paul Merson believes there is still a chance his former club could finish in the Premier League’s top four.
    Merson told Sky Sports: “If Arsenal keep those players fit and they play every week, they would have a chance of getting in the top four and cause problems.
    “They have no Europe this season – so will have time to recover and work on the team.
    “But this is Arsenal though and has been since they last won the league in 2004, since when they have never really looked like winning the league”
    VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS
    Villarreal boss – and former Arsenal head coach – Unai Emery is not without problems of his own heading to tonight’s Champions League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
    The Yellow Submarine will be without ex-Gunners midfielder Francis Coquelin, who is suspended.
    To make matters worse, Emery will also be missing star striker Gerard Moreno, who scored in the Europa League final.
    Gerard is nursing a hamstring injury and won’t play against the Red Devils
    MAN UTD TEAM NEWS
    Manchester United are set for a rematch with Villarreal following last season’s losing effort in the Europa League Final.
    United will be missing captain Harry Maguire for a “few weeks” due to a calf injury.
    Luke Shaw also didn’t participate training but is expected to be fit in time for the Champions League clash with Unai Emery’s men tonight at Old Trafford.
    The Red Devils, though, will still be without Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo due to a shoulder and thigh problem respectively.
    And of course, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is suspended after being sent off against Young Boys
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
    As we all know Manchester City lost the derby of the billionaires to Paris Saint-Germain on the same night Lionel Messi scored his first ever goal for his new team.
    And Liverpool continued to dominate the “group of death” as they thrashed Porto 5-1 away.
    But none of last night’s results compare to minnows Sheriff Tiraspol picking up arguably the biggest upset in Champions League history as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
    More below:

    Load more entries… More

  • in

    PSG vs Man City LIVE REACTION: Lionel Messi SCORES sensational first goal for PSG in blockbuster clash – latest updates

    LIONEL MESSI lashed home his first goal for PSG as the French side beat Man City 2-0 in the Champions League.The Argentinian legend scored a trademark effort into the top corner after putting in a sensational performance for the Ligue 1 side.
    Idrissa Gueye had opened the scoring for the hosts as Mauricio Pochettino’s men stunned the Premier League champions.

    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

    Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
    AU REVOIR
    We’ll always have Paris? I don’t know about that but we’ll always have that Lionel Messi goal.
    Whether in Barcelona burgundy or PSG blue, the Argentine proved once again that he is capable of genius.
    In netting his first goal for the French club, he reminded the football world – as if they needed it – of his ability to win games single handedly. With the PSG goalkeeper, defence and and midfield all looking the part, maybe this really is the squad that brings the Champions League to the Parc des Princes.
    Manchester City will have other ideas, of course, but first return to England with a bruised ego after defeat here. They’ll have to regroup quickly for Sunday’s trip to Anfield in the Premier League, and maybe then they can decide on how they’re going to best conquer Europe.
    Goodnight.
    THE MAIN MAN (CITY TORMENTOR)
    Rumours of Lionel Messi’s demise had been greatly exaggerated.

    CAUSE FOR A-LARM?
    Paris Saint-Germain’s victory this evening takes them to the top of Group A with Club Bruges in close pursuit after the Belgians pulled off a surprise win in Germany.
    Manchester City find themselves in third place and will face Bruges twice over Matchdays 3 and 4. While Pep Guardiola’s men won’t expect to drop points, there is now minimal room for any further slip ups.

    PSG 2-0 Man City
    RB Leipzig 1-2 Bruges

    Credit: UEFA.COM
    FULL TIME STATS
    Manchester City had three times as many attempts on goal as their hosts, but struggled to break down a solid defence and an incredibly hard-working midfield.

    FT: PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    A defensive masterclass and a superb first PSG goal for Lionel Messi ensured the Ligue 1 club three Champions League points at the expense of their Premier League counterparts in Group A. City dominated possession for long periods, but couldn’t find a way through the hosts, who held firm between Idrissa Gueye’s opener and Messi’s magic.

    PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!GAME OVER AT THE PARC DES PRINCES!
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    90+3. Two free-kicks in additional time are thumped goalwards by Mahrez, the first is pushed away by Donnarumma, the second flies into orbit.
    This has not been Manchester City’s night.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    90. Referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande doesn’t want to let the game pass without getting his money’s worth so lets out several shrill blasts of his whistle after Gueye chops down Mahrez.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    88. Sorry, I missed a couple of minutes because I was too excited by Sheriff Tiraspol taking the lead at the Bernabeu.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    86. Mbappe almost adds the icing on the cake but can’t beat Ederson from a narrow angle on the left.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    84. This PSG defence looks impenetrable.
    Be it Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Hakimi or Nuno Mendes, they have all looked solid as a rock.
    It must be disheartening to realise that if you are able to find a way beyond them, you’ve then got to get past Donnarumma.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    82. Gabriel Jesus catches Messi with a clumsy boot to the knee. Well, it’s Brazil versus Argentina, what do you expect?
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    80. Into the last ten minutes now, and City’s players finally look resigned to defeat in Paris.
    For all the hype around PSG’s attacking riches and their front three, it’s been their defence that has been consistently impressive tonight.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    78. Marco Verratti is going off now, but not before one last act. The Italian takes a sliding swipe at a City player to earn himself a yellow card.
    On comes Georginio Wijnaldum to replace him.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    77. The game looks up for City now, but it’s not going to stop them trying. Gabriel Jesus is on for Raheem Sterling.
    PSG 2-0 MAN CITY
    74. Stunning! Absolutely stunning!
    It’s a goal we’ve seen Lionel Messi score many times before but never in the colours of Paris Saint-Germain.
    The Argentine collects the ball on the right just inside the Manchester City half, and attacks with blistering pace.
    As he approaches the penalty area, Messi plants a pass into Kylian Mbappe, who responds with a brilliant flick back into the path of his teammate.
    Taking the shot on first time, Messi unleashes a brilliant left-footer the curls away from Ederson and into the top right corner.

    GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!HE’S DONE IT!!LIONEL MESSI SCORES HIS FIRST FOR PSG!!
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    70. A lengthy spell of City possession fails to open up the PSG defence, and so it’s left to De Bruyne to strike at goal from 25 yards.
    It’s not a bad effort on the pull, but never looked like troubling Donnarumma as it drops wide.
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    68. Foden involves him immediately, and sends in two testing crosses in quick succession.
    Donnarumma gets to the first before Marquinhos expertly clears the second.
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    66. A well-timed tackle from Verratti on Grealish inside the penalty area spells the end of the latest Manchester City attack, a weaving run from the forward, and – ultimately – the the England star’s night.
    Grealish’s number goes up on the board, and he’ll be replaced by Phil Foden. It’s been a tough encounter for the departing City man up against Achraf Hakimi.

    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    64. Neymar almost makes a goalscoring return to the action following his pitchside treatment.
    The Brazilian latches on to a poor pass to speed through on goal, but finds himself against a worthy adversary in Kyle Walker.
    The defender matches the PSG forward for pace, and then does enough to ensure he’s off balance when striking into the side netting.

    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    61. Grealish is furious that the game has been stopped in order to allow Neymar to receive treatment when there is clearly little wrong with the Brazilian.
    Mind you, you wouldn’t think that if you had heard the screams that greeted a robust challenge from Rodri.
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    59. An excellent tackle by Hakimi prevents Grealish from getting to the byline.
    It’s such a good challenge that it’s hard to feel aggrieved by a goalkick being awarded when it clearly came off the defender last.
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    58. Donnarumma denies De Bruyne again! This time the goalkeeper is brave in darting off his line to knock Cancelo’s cross away from the dangling foot of City’s Belgian.
    PSG 1-0 MAN CITY
    56. The home side continue to double up on Grealish whenever the City forward comes into possession.
    It’s just as well because when the England international gets away from Hakimi on the left with ease, it’s left to Herrera to step in and block the cross that follows.
    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Porto 1 Liverpool 5 LIVE REACTION: Salah and Firmino bag brace each as Reds run rampant in Portugal – latest updates

    LIVERPOOL ran rampant as they beat Porto in the Champions League thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah (2), Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino (2).
    RESULT: Porto 1-5 Liverpool
    Porto XI: Diogo Costa, Tecatito, Marcano, Pepe, Zaidu, Uribe, Sergio Oliveira, Otavio, Taremi, Toni Martinez
    Liverpool XI: Alisson, Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Jones, Henderson, Mane, Salah, Jota

    Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
    THANKS FOR JOINING US
    That’s all from us tonight, as Liverpool made light work of Porto at the Estadio do Dragao and swept aside their Portuguese opponents 5-1.
    Two goals from Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, as one as one for Sadio Mane, saw Liverpool canter to a second win from two in the Champions League.
    Mehdi Taremi scored for the hosts but the Reds never looked in danger of letting Porto get anything from the game.
    It means Liverpool have now beaten Porto 5-1, 4-1 and 5-0 in their last three games at the Estadio do Dragao under Jurgen Klopp, and just love playing in Portugal.
    Next up for Jurgen Klopp’s side is a huge Premier League clash against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
    A win in that one for the Reds would see them go into the international break top of the Premier League table.
    Porto meanwhile return to league action against Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday before club football takes a two week break for international fixtures.
    And that’s all from us tonight as well.
    Thanks for joining us, it’s been a pleasure.
    LOOKING AHEAD
    Jurgen Klopp also previews this weekend’s mouthwatering clash against Manchester City.
    He says: “We need to play better than we did tonight but that’s clear anyway.
    “So it will be a completely different game.
    “I only heard [just] now the result obviously from [the] PSG [vs] City game, so City will want to strike back for sure.
    “But we are at home finally after a few games without our crowd so let’s give it a go.”
    JURGEN’S ANALYSIS
    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to BT Sport after his team swept Porto aside.
    “First and foremost I have to say the most important thing in football is obviously results, and that’s a massive one away at Porto,” he said.
    “Winning already, but winning in the way we won makes it even better.
    “Performance wise it was good in a lot of moments.”
    GOAL GETTERS
    Liverpool have now scored three goals or more in their last SIX games.
    Jurgen Klopp’s side have started the season really strongly, and look like a force to be reckoned with in both the Premier League and in Europe.
    STAT ATTACK
    The Reds managed 21 efforts in total, compared to just six from the home side.
    And a whopping 13 of those efforts were on target.
    Porto meanwhile managed just three shots on target across the entire 90 minutes.

    ACTION AREAS
    Complete and utter domination from Liverpool tonight.

    ‘IT’S AN HONOUR’
    On the day of his 400th appearance in a Liverpool shirt, Henderson say: “I try to give my all for this club every single day.
    “So when I put the shirt on every game it’s an honour, and I don’t take it for granted.
    “So to do it 400 times so far is pretty special, but I feel as though I’ve still got a lot left to contribute to this club and hopefully I can do it many more times in the future.”
    HIGH PRAISE
    Henderson also praised the performance of Curtis Jones, saying: “Curtis has been fantastic.
    “I know on paper he’s so young but I feel as though he’s been around the first team for a few years now.
    “I feel as though he’s settled in really well, he’s matured really well and now you’re starting to see what a good player he is over the last few weeks.
    “He’s had to be a little bit patient at the beginning of the season, but he’s come in, he’s done fantastically well and you can see he’s got all the attributes to be a top player.”
    SKIPER SPEAKS
    Jordan Henderson has been giving his post match reaction after Liverpool’s comfortable win in Portugal.
    “We’ve had two brilliant performances against Milan and now Porto,” he says.
    “Yeah we’ve applied ourselves very well, put on good performances and got the result we deserved.
    “So a good start, but [it’s] far from over.”
    CONGRATULATIONS CURTIS
    Jurgen Klopp gives Curtis Jones a huge bear hug at full time.
    The 20-year-old was superb for the Reds tonight in the middle of the park, and contributed two assists – one for Mo Salah and one for Roberto Firmino.

    GROUP B RESULT
    There’s also been drama in the other game in Group B.
    After playing for the majority of the game with ten men, AC Milan looked destined to be heading towards a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
    That’s until the Spanish side were awarded a 96TH minute penalty.
    And Luis Suarez duly converted to earn Diego Simeon’e side a dramatic three points.
    AROUND THE GROUNDS
    There have been some big results in the Champions League tonight.
    Lionel Messi has also scored his first goal for PSG this evening, netting a sublime goal in a 2-0 win against Manchester City.
    Moldovan minnows Sheriff have also beaten REAL MADRID, in Madrid.

    Porto 1-5 Liverpool
    AC Milan 1-2 Atletico Madrid
    Dortmund 1-0 Sporting
    PSG 2-0 Manchester City
    RB Leipzig 1-2 Club Brugge

    FT: PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    That’s just about as easy as they come in the Champions League.
    The Reds cruise to a 5-1 win at the Estadio do Dragao.
    It’s now FOURTEEN goals in Liverpool’s last three games against the Portuguese side.
    Jurgen Klopp’s side still remain unbeaten, and go top of Group B with two wins from two in the Champions League.
    PEEEEEEEP!
    THAT’S FULL TIME!
    A TUESDAY EVENING STROLL IN THE PARK FOR THE REDS!
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL!
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    91. Nope I stand corrected.
    Three minutes of added time are indicated by the fourth official.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    90. Into the final minute of the ninety at the Estadio do Dragao.
    The referee might blow without any added time, the Porto players just want to be off this pitch.
    And none more than their no99 Diogo Costa.
    Yes that’s right, the goalkeeper is wearing the number 99 shirt.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    89. Liverpool have a free-kick on the left hand side in a dangerous position here.
    Oxlade-Chamberlain goes for goal, and forces Costa to tip over the bar and concede the corner.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    88. Diogo Jota is the latest man to make way for the Reds.
    Divock Origi is on to replace him for the last couple of minutes.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    86. Curtis Jones fancies himself a goal after an excellent display from midfield.
    He lets fly from the edge of the box, and forces Costa into a half decent save to the goalkeepers left.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    85. Five minutes left to play in Portugal.
    Liverpool might have been worried for 60 seconds after Taremi scored for the hosts, but it didn’t take long for normal service to resume.
    PORTO 1-5 LIVERPOOL
    83. After a lengthy VAR check the goal is given.
    That’s now FOURTEEN goals that the Reds have scored in just three games against Porto.
    GOAL GIVEN!
    ROBERTO FIRMINO HAS A SECOND!
    LIVERPOOL JUST LOVE PLAYING AGAINST PORTO!
    GOAL DISALLOWED!
    Roberto Firmino has the ball in the back of the net again.
    The flag is up for offside though.
    VAR are checking this, Firmino looks like he might be onside.
    PORTO 1-4 LIVERPOOL
    80. After looking like they could maybe find a way back into this game, Porto now look dead and buried again.
    Diogo Costa really has had a night to forget in between the Porto posts.
    He’s been directly at fault for three out of Liverpool’s four goals.
    PORTO 1-4 LIVERPOOL
    76. That is an absolute shocker from Diogo Costa.
    He comes charging out of his goal to near enough the halfway line as the ball falls out of the sky.
    The no99 is nowhere near it though and it drops into the path of Firmino.
    With Costa in no man’s land Firmino passes the ball towards goal with his left foot, and JUST puts enough power on it for the ball to cross the line with Costa scrambling back.
    Load more entries… More

  • in

    Roger Hunt death reaction, Henry LATEST on Arsenal takeover, Messi set to feature for PSG vs Man City TONIGHT

    ALL eyes will be on the Parc des Princes when PSG face Man City in the Champions League tonight.And Lionel Messi is set to return from injury to make the Ligue 1 side’s squad for the mammoth clash.
    Meanwhile Chelsea are in the hunt to sign Monaco’s defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, 21, who is valued at around £34million.
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
    EU’VE CHANGED
    Man City and Paris Saint-Germain both a combined £1BILLION of talent in their 2021-22 squads – but things were once very different.
    In fact, 13 years ago – when the two clubs first met in Europe – they looked VERY different.
    Here’s how they lined up in their 2008 UEFA Cup clash…

    BRACE YOURSELF
    Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is set for a lengthy spell out after being fitted with a knee brace.
    The Gunners midfielder hobbled off towards the end of their 3-1 win against rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
    He has now been spotted wearing the brace after his wife Leonita posted a picture on Instagram with their young daughter.
    It is not known how long the 29-year-old will be out of action for but it is suspected to be around six to eight weeks, according to reports.
    CHAMPIONS COLLIDE
    UEFA have announced Euro 2020 winners Italy will meet Copa America winners Argentina in a new competition between the two confederations.
    The highly-anticipated match will be played next June.
    And it will be the first of a series of three ties over the next five years as part of the deal between Europe’s governing body and South American chiefs in Conmebol.
    OLE IN THE HEAD
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be without skipper Harry Maguire for ‘a few weeks’.
    But Luke Shaw is set to return for Man Utd’s Champions League clash with Villarreal tomorrow.
    Solskjaer said: “Luke has been in today so I’ll give him a chance to be involved, he didn’t train with the team.
    “Harry (Maguire) is more or less definitely out it doesn’t look good it might take a few weeks.”

    TUCH AND GO
    Thomas Tuchel has now confirmed N’Golo Kante will miss tomorrow night’s Champions League clash against Juventus after testing positive for Covid-19.
    Chelsea will also be without Mason Mount, Reece James and Christian Pulisic for the game.
    Meanwhile, Juventus are missing strikers Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala, which means Moise Kean is likely to start.
    ‘A TRUE GENTLEMAN’
    Ian Rush joined Liverpool legends in paying tribute to Anfield great Roger Hunt who passed away at the age of 83 on Monday following a long illness.
    In a message posted on Twitter with a heart emoji and a picture of Hunt, Rush wrote: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Sir Roger Hunt, someone I would always look up to.
    “He was a fantastic goal scorer and a true gentleman on and off the pitch. My thoughts are with his family. May he rest in peace.”
    KANTE COVID TEST
    N’Golo Kante has reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 according to CBS Sports correspondent James Benge.
    Reports claim the Chelsea midfielder will miss the Blues Champions League clash with Juventus on Wednesday.
    The highly-rated defensive midfielder had only recently recovered from a groin problem.
    ‘A TRULY GREAT STRIKER’
    Gary Lineker joined legends from across the game in paying tribute to Liverpool hero Roger Hunt who passed away on Monday.
    In a post on Twitter, the BBC Sport presenter wrote: “Saddened to hear that yet another of the heroes of ‘66 has left us.
    “Roger Hunt was a truly great striker for both LFC and his country.
    “He may be gone but his achievements will always be remembered. RIP Roger.”
    HUNT ‘SECOND TO NO-ONE’
    Jurgen Klopp has paid a touching tribute to Roger Hunt following the death of the 83-year-old who is Liverpool’s record league goalscorer.
    The former England striker, who helped the Three Lions win the World Cup in 1966, passed away on Monday evening.
    The Anfield boss said: “It’s really sad news and our thoughts and our love go to his family.
    “Unfortunately, it feels too frequent in this moment we are saying farewell to these giants of our club.
    “Roger Hunt comes second to no-one in his importance in the history of Liverpool FC, that much is clear.
    “To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to actually achieve promotion and then go on to win those precious league titles and the FA Cup puts him in a bracket of LFC legends who are responsible for making us the club we are today.
    “Not only that, he was also a World Cup winner in 1966, too.
    “I am told the Kop christened him ‘Sir Roger’ for all his achievements.”
    RIP ROGER
    Robbie Fowler has joined other Liverpool icons expressing their condolences following the death of Anfield hero Roger Hunt.
    Via his Twitter account Fowler posted a picture of Hunt in his famous Reds kit with a simple message with a heart emoji which said: “Rest in peace Sir Roger Hunt.”
    And on their official Twitter account Bolton Wanderers wrote: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Wanderers forward and World Cup winner, Roger Hunt.
    “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

    HUNT GOAL CELEBRATION
    Danny Baker reckons Roger Hunt’s iconic goalcelebration played a big part in convincing official’s that England’s third goal in the 1966 World Cup final had crossed the line.
    The Treehouse Podcast presenter tweeted: “The great Roger Hunt has died.
    “After England’s controversial third in the 66 World Cup Final, his swift turning away from the goal in celebration did more than anything to convince the officials it was in.”

    ‘THOUGHTS WITH ROGER’S FAMILY’
    Everton have shared their reaction to Roger Hunt’s death.
    Via its official Twitter account the club wrote: “Our thoughts are with Roger Hunt’s loved ones and everyone at LFC at this sad time. RIP.”
    ‘GREATEST GOALSCORER’
    Jamie Carragher says Roger Hunt was ‘one of the greatest’ goalscorers Liverpool had ever had.
    In a post via shared via his Twitter account, Carragher wrote: “RIP Sir Roger Hunt.
    “One of the greatest goal scorers our club has ever seen. Sir Roger along with the other Legends from the 60’s made LFC the club it is today.”
    HUNT’S RECORD
    Roger Hunt was Liverpool’s second-highest goalscorer, with 285 goals in 492 appearances.
    The legendary Anfield goal machine netted 244 goals in 404 league games.
    Sqwawka reports only Ian Rush is ahead of Hunt on Liverpool’s all-time top scorer list across all competitions.

    ALDRIDGE’S HUNT TRIBUTE
    John Aldridge shared a moving tribute to Roger Hunt via his account on Twitter.
    The former record-breaking Liverpool striker, 63, wrote: “I’m absolutely gutted to hear of the passing away of one, if not THE BEST Lfc strikers Sir Roger Hunt.
    “What a striker and a true Gentlemen,I had the great pleasure of being with him on many occasions. My No 1 Legend and Hero.”
    LIVERPOOL HAIL HUNT
    On social media Liverpool confirmed Hunt had passed away ‘peacefully at home following a long illness’.
    The former forward was regarded as one of the Reds’ greatest-ever strikers by fans, netting a staggering 285 goals in 11 years.
    In a short statement on Twitter Liverpool wrote: “We are mourning the passing of legendary former player Roger Hunt.
    “The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Roger’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.
    “Rest in peace, Sir Roger Hunt 1938 – 2021.”
    ROGER HUNT PASSES AWAY
    Liverpool and England legend Roger Hunt has passed away at the age of 83.
    Hunt’s passing means there are now three surviving members from the England team that won the World Cup in 1966.
    Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst and George Cohen are now the only living players from the team that defeated West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley.
    PEACOCK PICKED
    Sheffield Wednesday keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has been called up to Northern Ireland’s squad for their two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
    The team are due to take on Switzerland and Bulgraria in October.
    It is thought the player could be unavailable for his club’s clash with Bolton Wanderers which falls on October 9, the same day as Northern Ireland’s clash with Switzerland.
    RICHARLSON RUMOUR
    Everton forward Richarlson has reportedly refused to dismiss speculation linking him with a move away from the club.
    It comes weeks after the player was linked with transfer interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
    And the Mirror reports Barcelona lodged an eye-watering £85million bid for the player in January 2020.
    Richarlson told Brazilian outlet Ole: “I have great affection for the people of Everton and for the club, who received me so well from the first day I arrived.
    “I don’t know what the future holds. If one day I have to go, it must be good for me, but also for the club.
    “But if I stay, I will continue giving my life for this shirt and for the fans, who have always supported me and were with me at all times.”
    DUBAI CASH
    Barcelona have reportedly been offered a financial lifeline by a firm based in Dubai.
    The club are currently contending with an eye-watering £1billion debt compounded by the loss of superstar playmaker Lionel Messi.
    According to the TV show El Curibito via Mundo Deportivo, a company from the United Arab Emirates has offered the Catalan giants a €1.5bn (£1.3bn) loan to pay their debts.
    And it is claimed the firm would over a two-year moratorium on repayments meaning the club may not need to make repayments until 2023.
    NUNO NEEDS TIME
    Tottenham are being urged to give Nuno Espirito Santo more time in the club’a managerial hot seeat following losses to Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
    The club conceded nine goals and scored just once during the three defeats in the Prem.
    And talkSPORT reports speculation concerning pressure on Nuno is mounting following a cryptic Instagram post shared by former Spurs caretaker boss Ryan Mason.
    The post featured a picture of the club’s building with the caption which read, ‘see you in the morning’.
    Darren Bent believes Nuno should be given more time to turn reverse the team’s poor run.
    Bent told talkSPORT: “You’ve got to give him more time. They weren’t saying this at the start of the season when they were at the top of the table three games in, no goals conceded and Arsenal were rock bottom.”
    TUCHEL TACTICS
    Rio Ferdinand reckons Thomas Tuchel made several tactical errors during Chelsea’s loss to Man City at the weekend.
    And the Old Trafford hero reckons the Blues could be out of the title race this term. 
    Chelsea lost 1-0 courtesy of a solitary goal netted by Gabriel Jesus.
    Ferdinand told the Vibe with FIVE YouTube show: “I think Chelsea looked a little bit [overawed]. Tuchel said after that maybe they were a bit fazed by the occasion.
    “He changed his style of play, the formation, played two up front, which I think backfired. They didn’t play long enough, they tried to keep playing and got caught with the press.
    “I said Chelsea were favourites a couple of weeks ago, but after watching them two – probably the best two teams in the league for the last six months – I can’t see past City. Seriously I can’t.”
    NOA’S A GOER
    Arsenal are rumoured to be in a transfer tug-of-war with AC Milan for the services of Noa Lang.
    And it is reported the Brugge striker is keen on a move to the Emirates.
    Voetbal24 claims Mikel Arteta sees the forward as a top transfer target for next year.
    Lang, 22, who is also a Leeds and Sevilla target has been valued around the £20million mark.
    MESSI TEST FOR CITY
    Lionel Messi could be in line to feature for Paris Saint-Germain against City with clubs set to go head-to-head in the Champions League tonight.
    The player had picked up a knee injury during a Ligue 1 game but has been back in training for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
    Pochettino said: “(Messi) is progressing very well and I think he’ll be in the squad, but I don’t know if he’ll start.
    “He’s the best player in the world, but he’s still a human like everyone else. He also needs to adapt to this new team, new culture and new country.
    “He was at Barcelona for 20 years, everything is new here for him”
    SPURRED ON
    Tottenham fans have reportedly demanded to have a meeting with club chief Daniel Levy following the team’s wobbly start to the season.
    The club have registered losses to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal after three successive 1-0 wins including a defeat of Man City.
    The Tottenham’s Supporters Trust are reported to want a meeting with the board to discuss the club’s long-term direction.
    Load more entries… More