Match coverage

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga

Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus celebrates with Dortmund's Turkish midfielder Salih Ozcan and Dortmund's German midfielder Emre Can scoring a...

First-half goals from Emre Can and a Marco Reus penalty saw an in-form Borussia Dortmund side extend their winning run to ten games across all competitions, returning top of the Bundesliga after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against rivals RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg pulled one back for Marco Rose’s side, before they almost snatched a point at the death in stoppage-time. Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga”

Match coverage

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester...

Individual mistakes from Gunners defensive duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhaes during both halves helped reigning champions Manchester City rally from a tetchy start to return top of the Premier League, earning a hard-fought 3-1 away win over long-running leaders Arsenal in north London. Erling Haaland ended his three-match goalscoring drought to wrap up the points, combining with – who else – Kevin de Bruyne. Continue reading “Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top”

Match coverage

Guardiola confirms red-hot Haaland will be rested when time is right, after Manchester derby treble

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates their sides sixth goal and their hat trick with team mate Erling Haaland during the Premier League match...

Having broken another league record with his third hat-trick of the campaign against Manchester United, Erling Haaland’s formidable form has not gone unnoticed – 14 goals and three assists in his first eight Premier League games. It’s important not to be transfixed by the moment, and is why head coach Pep Guardiola has tonight reaffirmed the fact the Norwegian will be rested when the time is right, with a heavy year-long fixture schedule to consider.
Continue reading “Guardiola confirms red-hot Haaland will be rested when time is right, after Manchester derby treble”

Match coverage

Haaland haunts Hammers as defending champs City preview life with Norwegian leading their line

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and...

Erling Haaland became the second Manchester City player to score a brace on his Premier League debut, after now-retired legendary striker Sergio Aguero did so during a memorable substitute appearance against Swansea in 2011. The 22-year-old’s first foray in England’s top-tier was predictably devastating away at West Ham yesterday, but eyes will be on the encore.
Continue reading “Haaland haunts Hammers as defending champs City preview life with Norwegian leading their line”

Match coverage

Reports: Declan Rice has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to leave West Ham in summer of 2023

Declan Rice of England controls the ball during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 match between England and Italy at Molineux on June 11, 2022...

Per reports, West Ham’s talismanic midfielder Declan Rice has a gentleman’s agreement with the club to stay for the 22-23 season before leaving next summer – where he’ll have 12 months remaining on his contract and more of Europe’s suitors will undoubtedly circle for his signature. Continue reading “Reports: Declan Rice has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to leave West Ham in summer of 2023”

Analysis, feature pieces

Scary hours indeed: Erling Haaland’s City move could shift the needle further in their favour

In this photo released on June 13, 2022 Manchester City unveil new signing Erling Haaland at Manchester City Football Academy in Manchester, England.

Jadon Sancho’s ‘scary hours’ tweet shortly after his £73m move to United was swiftly ridiculed by rival fans amid limited minutes and disappointing displays. His former teammate in Germany, Erling Haaland, has this week been unveiled as a City player – with an overwhelming feeling the striker’s impact will by contrast be a significant one felt immediately across Europe. Continue reading “Scary hours indeed: Erling Haaland’s City move could shift the needle further in their favour”

Analysis, feature pieces

Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title

Courtois Thibaut of Real Madrid elected man of the match kissing the cup during the UEFA champions league final match between Real Madrid and...

It felt fitting that, eight years after suffering stoppage-time heartbreak against Real with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon, Thibaut Courtois was Los Blancos’ impenetrable wall here, defiantly stifling Liverpool throughout – breaking the record for most saves in a Champions League Final with nine, producing greatness with the lights shining brightest on a career-defining night. Continue reading “Courtois’ inspired display – once again – proves a fitting end as Real clinch 14th CL title”

Analysis, feature pieces

Why Aston Villa are boosting their European ambitions with £26m Diego Carlos deal

Diego Carlos Santos Silva of Sevilla FC in action during the LaLiga Santander match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Estadio Wanda...

After watching a potentially promising campaign fizzle out rather unceremoniously from mid-March onwards, it makes sense Steven Gerrard is bolstering his squad over the summer as they look to bridge a fairly feasible gap between themselves and the division’s top seven sides.
Continue reading “Why Aston Villa are boosting their European ambitions with £26m Diego Carlos deal”

Analysis, feature pieces

Contingency plans: Adeyemi fee impasse, Dortmund also linked with other Haaland replacements

Karim Adeyemi of FC Red Bull Salzburg runs with the ball under pressure from Benjamin Pavard of FC Bayern Muenchen during the UEFA Champions League...

While still battling over a fair price for RB Salzburg’s latest hotshot, around the €45m (£37.4m) figure, Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have been linked with approaches for other strikers this summer as they prepare for life after Erling Haaland – whose €75m (£62.4m) release clause is active and will inevitably be explored by Europe’s elite in the weeks to come. Continue reading “Contingency plans: Adeyemi fee impasse, Dortmund also linked with other Haaland replacements”

Match coverage

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Second-half goals from Jota, Firmino see Reds close gap on leaders City

Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on March...

Second-half strikes from Diogo Jota and impact substitute Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to just one point, as the Reds rallied from a sluggish first-half showing to end Arsenal’s six-match unbeaten run in north London. Continue reading “Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Second-half goals from Jota, Firmino see Reds close gap on leaders City”

Match coverage

Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson of Liverpool sit and look on after the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley...

After riding their luck at times against another wasteful Chelsea showing, Liverpool emerged victorious in yesterday’s action-packed Carabao Cup Final – winning 11-10 on penalties. However, it was again the individual displays of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable fullback pairing which stand them in good stead for the rest of the season with more silverware up for grabs. Continue reading “Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea”

Archives, Specials

Sergio Aguero’s abrupt retirement, aged 33, is upsetting but tinged with relief

Kun Aguero of FC Barcelona announces his retirement from football due to a heart condition during a press conference at Nou Camp on December 15, 2021...

Less than six months into his Catalan adventure, Manchester City’s all-time top goalscorer wept during the announcement as he explained what we’ve known for a few weeks now: having to retire prematurely with a heart condition. But as we reflect on his greatest moments and angrily wonder what could’ve been, I’m relieved he’s okay at a time where nothing is certain. Continue reading “Sergio Aguero’s abrupt retirement, aged 33, is upsetting but tinged with relief”