Month: November 2024

Liverpool s one club mentality has been proven by their run to the EFL Cup final, according to Jurgen Klopp s assistant Pep Lijnders.

Reds assistant coach Lijnders has taken all of the pre-match news conferences ahead of EFL Cup games this season and Liverpool saw no reason to break with that tradition ahead of Sunday s clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

It will be the third major final between the sides, with Chelsea winning the previous two meetings – 3-2 in the 2004-05 EFL Cup and 2-1 in the 2011-12 FA Cup.

Liverpool, however, are in the hunt for a record ninth EFL Cup crown, with their last success in the competition coming in 2012 via a penalty shoot-out win over Cardiff City. This is their 13th final in the competition – at least four more than any other …

Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday desperately searching for form away from St James’ Park. The Magpies, who won eight times on the road last season as they surged to a fourth-place finish, have collected three points away from Tyneside only once in seven attempts so far this season, courtesy of an 8-0 drubbing of Sheffield United. Spurs have lost their last three games on their own pitch to Chelsea, Aston Villa and West Ham. Something seemingly has to give.

Everton back in business

How things stand after Matchweek 15

— Premier League (@premierleague)

Everton’s response to the 10-point penalty which has left them fighting for their top-flight lives has been hugely impressive. Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over Newcastle – their fourth in six leag…

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker:

In what is a heavyweight Portuguese showdown on Wednesday night, Benfica will welcome Braga to the Estadio da Luz.

Benfica

Starting with the hosts, making real history last season as they got their hands on a first domestic crown since 2019, Benfica are enjoying another major Primeira Liga romp this time around. Opening up the New Year with another eye-catching display as they cruised their way to a 3-0 victory against Arouca, Roger Schmidt’s side have won each of their last five straight appearances across all competitions. Receiving a string of plaudits from across the continent this year and guaranteeing a Europa League knockout stage ticket, the Eagles have also not suffered a single loss since way back on November 8th. Signing o…

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been hit with an eight-month ban after admitting breaches of betting rules.

Toney was charged by the Football Association last November for 262 alleged breaches over a four-year period.

The 27-year-old – who made his long-awaited England debut in March – admitted to 232 of the counts, with 30 having been subsequently withdrawn.

Following a personal hearing an independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions, which included a £50,000 fine.

He will not be able to play until January 17, 2024, but can train with Brentford from September 17.

“Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January …

Joshua Kimmich has mixed feelings about playing a World Cup in Qatar but insisted players cannot be expected to boycott the finals at this late stage.

The Germany and Bayern Munich player says the time for action was 12 years ago, when Qatar was awarded the tournament, rather than now, two months out from the opening game.

Kimmich spoke at a Germany press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Nations League games against Hungary and England, the last get-together of Hansi Flick s squad before the coach chooses his players for the World Cup.

The November and December dates for the tournament are unusual, and all part of the package that has come since Qatar was surprisingly awarded hosting rights in December 2010.

Concern about the country s human rights record…

Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker:

Looking to pick up some pre-Euro 24 momentum on Wednesday night, Belgium will welcome Montenegro to Brussels for a friendly showdown.

Belgium

Starting with the hosts, suffering an infamous World Cup nightmare in the winter of 2022 as they failed to progress out of the group stage, Belgium found themselves at the heart of a public crisis. However, turning to Domenico Tedesco last year in an attempt to steady the ship, the Red Devils are clearly enjoying life under the former RB Leipzig boss. Storming their way to this summer’s European Championships and unbeaten in all of their eight Group F appearances, Wednesday’s hosts find the mood in their camp at a recent high. Last seen during March’s international break putting in another…

Stefano Pioli is set to unleash Rafael Leao on Inter in Saturday s Milan derby after keeping suitors at bay before the transfer window closed.

The exciting Portuguese forward was thought to be a target for Chelsea but remains with Milan and is poised to make his 100th Serie A appearance against the Nerazzurri.

Up to this point, Leao has started in 69 of his 99 league games, and among players born from 1999 onwards he has provided the most assists (16) in the competition.

In terms of goals scored among that age group, the 23-year-old stands third on the list with 24, behind only Dusan Vlahovic (55) and Andrea Pinamonti (25).

Pioli never believed he would lose Leao before the shutters went up on the market on Thursday, but the finality will have come as a …

Pep Guardiola says there is a greater chance of him leaving Manchester City than staying, despite the Spaniard wanting to continue in charge after Sunday s Premier League title triumph.

City manager Guardiola offered a cryptic description over his future after his side lifted their fourth successive top-flight trophy following the 3-1 victory over West Ham at Etihad Stadium.

That success marked Guardiola s sixth Premier League title, with only Alex Ferguson (13) managing more in the competition s history, though speculation persists over his future.

When pressed on his plans by Sky Sports after the title celebrations, Guardiola said: The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying.

We have talked with the club – my feeling is that I want to stay now…

Granit Xhaka found himself at the centre of another controversy involving Serbia after donning a shirt with Jashari on the back following Switzerland’s 3-2 win in Doha on Friday.

Xhaka produced a man of the match display as the Swiss hit back from 2-1 down to secure second place in Group G and advance to a last-16 clash with Portugal on Tuesday.

But his actions after the final whistle could attract the attention of FIFA.

In the post-match celebrations, Xhaka put on a shirt carrying the name Jashari . Asked afterwards what it meant, the Arsenal midfielder claimed it was for Switzerland squad member Ardon Jashari.

However, the name carries significance in other ways with Adem Jashari a late founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army, a Kosovo Albanian separati…

Harry Kane is trying not to think about becoming Tottenham s record all-time goalscorer after he moved one shy of Jimmy Greaves haul with an FA Cup winner against Portsmouth.

The England captain put Spurs into the fourth round with a clinical finish early in the second half of the tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Kane s next goal will put him level with the legendary Greaves on 266 for the London club, a feat he could achieve against fierce rivals Arsenal next Sunday.

The prolific striker, who has scored four times in as many games since the World Cup and 17 this season, is determined not to let the prospect of making history play on his mind.

I try to not think about it, he told BBC Sport.

Sometimes you can think too much. Obviousl…