Liverpool’s hopes of an early progression to the knockout rounds of the Europa League were dashed in a dramatic clash against Toulouse on Thursday night, resulting in their first defeat in the competition this season. Despite a 5-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Anfield last month, Liverpool faced a lackluster start and conceded goals from Aron Donnum and Thijs Dallinga. An own goal by Cristian Casseres briefly brought Liverpool back into contention, only to fall further behind with a goal from Toulouse substitute Frank Magri. Although Liverpool’s Diogo Jota managed to score a late goal, the team experienced a…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
The father of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has been successfully rescued after being handed over to a group of United Nations representatives. Although both of Diaz’s parents were kidnapped in late October, his mother was promptly rescued. However, his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, endured nearly two weeks in captivity as negotiations between the UN, Colombian officials, and the responsible group—the Colombian rebel faction ELN—took place. On Wednesday, it was disclosed that the ELN had agreed to the safe return of Luis Manuel Diaz, and the handover has now been completed. A statement from the Colombian Football Federation expressed gratitude to…
Roberto Firmino has disclosed in his new book, “Si Senor: My Liverpool Years,” that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were never close friends during their time as Liverpool teammates. Despite the apparent underlying tension between them, Firmino emphasized their commitment to professionalism over personal differences. The Brazilian often played the role of mediator, acting as the glue that held the famous Liverpool trio together. This dynamic became particularly evident during a game against Burnley in 2019 when Mane reacted strongly to being substituted and Salah chose to shoot instead of passing to Mane in a better position. In an excerpt…
Chelsea is optimistic about Christopher Nkunku’s recovery, aiming to have him back in time for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United, according to sources from 90min. Despite the initial concerns following his knee surgery, Nkunku, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig for £52m in the summer, is ahead of schedule. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted at a possible return after the November international break, contrary to earlier fears that he might be sidelined until 2024. Chelsea is slated to resume action on November 25 with a Premier League match against Newcastle, followed by fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion,…
Moises Caicedo has disclosed that a conversation with Enzo Fernandez played a pivotal role in his decision to opt for Chelsea over Liverpool this summer. Despite initial negotiations between Chelsea and Brighton, with several unsuccessful bids, Liverpool made the first move by agreeing to a transfer fee for Caicedo during the summer transfer window. Nevertheless, Caicedo chose not to engage in discussions with Liverpool, directing his attention solely to Chelsea. He patiently awaited the Blues to eventually finalize a British-record fee of £115m to secure his move to Stamford Bridge. While Caicedo’s agent had previously cited his commitment to Chelsea,…
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Champions League knockout stages by comfortably defeating Braga 3-0 on Wednesday evening. Braga had a golden opportunity to take the lead early in the game when Alvaro Djalo missed a penalty, saved by Andriy Lunin. However, Real Madrid bounced back, and Brahim Diaz calmly converted Rodrygo’s cutback to give them a one-goal lead at halftime. In the second half, Vinicius Jr. extended Madrid’s lead with a neat finish from inside the penalty area, and Rodrygo made it three by chipping the ball over Matheus following Vinicius’ well-placed through ball. Braga couldn’t muster a…
Real Madrid has opted against signing Kylian Mbappe next summer, even in the event of his departure from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Despite being a longstanding target for the LaLiga giants, Madrid has officially terminated their pursuit of the French captain, according to CadenaSER. Currently, Mbappe is nearing the end of his existing contract with PSG, and attempts to secure a contract extension have proven unsuccessful. Should Mbappe choose to leave, Madrid has three compelling reasons for not pursuing his signature. Firstly, it is asserted that Mbappe would demand a salary of at least €20 million per year…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that the return of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez from their respective injuries is unlikely to happen before Christmas. The team’s performance this season has been affected by various injury and fitness concerns, preventing Ten Hag from fielding his strongest XI consistently. Casemiro, who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United, and Lisandro Martinez, who underwent surgery for a recurring metatarsal issue, are both currently unavailable. While Martinez was not anticipated to play again in 2023, Casemiro’s injury was initially expected to keep him out for a…
During the eerie lockdown days of matches played behind closed doors, one of the few benefits was the ability to overhear the running dialogue between top-level footballers. At Bayern Munich, when Radio Thomas Muller had a brief moment of respite, David Alaba emerged as one of the prevailing voices, offering a continuous stream of instructions for Alphonso Davies that echoed around the empty Allianz Arena. “He gives me a lot of information,” Davies mentioned at the time. “He makes sure I’m in the game. Communication is key, and I’m happy he’s constantly talking to me on the pitch.” Even after…
Marcus Rashford received a red card during the first half of Manchester United’s Champions League match against Copenhagen at Parken Stadium on Wednesday night. The forward returned to the team after a minor injury that had sidelined him during the previous weekend’s crucial Premier League victory over Fulham. While Rasmus Hojlund grabbed the first-half headlines in a positive light for Copenhagen, Rashford became the center of attention for the wrong reasons as he did not make it to halftime. The 26-year-old was sent off for an incident involving Copenhagen defender Elias Jellert. Initially unnoticed by Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas, a…
Before joining Barcelona, I was like a machine, Robert Lewandowski mused earlier this season. Here, I’ve embraced my humanity. Throughout his years at Borussia Dortmund and his entire tenure at Bayern Munich, Lewandowski epitomized the top-tier goal-scorer. Always striving for improvement, he pursued every possible upgrade. This striker, who engages in concentration exercises on his days off and consumes dessert before the main course for quicker sugar digestion than protein, was the epitome of dedication. Nevertheless, the relentless march of time is starting to make its presence felt even on the player praised by Pep Guardiola as “the most professional…
The father of Liverpool winger Luis Diaz is expected to be released by the Colombian rebel group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) in the near future. Luis Manuel Diaz and his wife Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped by armed gunmen on October 28, with the latter being released shortly afterward. Due to the distressing situation, Diaz opted out of Liverpool’s recent victories against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, returning in the 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday. In that game, the 26-year-old scored a 95th-minute equalizer and displayed a shirt with the message “Freedom for Papa” in Spanish. After the match,…
Chelsea is looking to intensify contract negotiations with midfielder Conor Gallagher ahead of the January transfer window, according to information from 90min. Despite having two years left on his current deal, Gallagher, who expressed his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge, was made available for transfer during the summer as Chelsea aimed to generate funds after a busy spending period. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United are still interested in Gallagher, a key player in Chelsea’s Premier League games this season. He even took on the captain’s role in the absence of Reece James. Manager Mauricio Pochettino, a…
Manchester United’s quest for a spot in the Champions League knockout stages is teetering on the edge following a surprising 4-3 defeat to Copenhagen on Wednesday night. Erik ten Hag’s team initially took a 2-0 lead in the first half courtesy of a double from Rasmus Hojlund against his former club. However, Marcus Rashford’s expulsion just before half-time added a layer of difficulty to their prospects. Mohamed Elyounoussi and a Diogo Goncalves penalty leveled the score for Copenhagen in first-half stoppage time. Bruno Fernandes then appeared to secure a victory for United by converting a penalty of his own. The…
Former Nigerian national team captain, John Obi Mikel, has expressed his willingness to make a comeback to the team, a decision he announced four years ago when he retired from international football. This comes a year after he retired from active football. Mikel boasts a distinguished international career, having played 91 matches for the Nigerian senior national team, progressing from the U17 and U20 levels to the senior squad. He also represented the U23 team as one of the overaged players during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. With experience in two World Cups and four AFCON tournaments, one of…
Nuno Espírito Santo, the former Tottenham coach, has been dismissed by Al-Ittihad due to reported conflicts with their standout player, Karim Benzema, following a series of losses in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese coach saw his Al-Ittihad team exit the AFC Champions League group stage after failing to secure a victory in their last five league matches. Al-Ittihad boasts a squad filled with talent, featuring former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, ex-Celtic winger Jota, and former Liverpool player Fabinho. However, despite their array of star players, Nuno managed to secure only two wins in their last nine matches across all…
Following Tuesday’s group fixtures in the Champions League, a minimum of two teams have secured their places in the Round of 16. Manchester City advanced with a commanding 3-0 victory over Young Boys at the Etihad. Erling Haaland notched a brace, and Phil Foden also found the net as the Premier League champions maintained their flawless record. The second squad to secure a spot in the knockout rounds is RB Leipzig, who defeated Crvena Zvezda 2-1. In other matches of the evening, AC Milan achieved a remarkable 2-1 triumph against Paris Saint-Germain, while Atletico Madrid dominated Celtic with a resounding…
Barcelona Manager Xavi Hernandez Provides Insight on the Team’s 1-0 Loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League Xavi Hernandez, the Barcelona boss, shed light on his team’s 1-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday’s Champions League match. Xavi observed as Danylo Sikan’s first-half goal secured a victory for Shakhtar Donetsk at Volksparkstadion. Barcelona managed only one shot on target compared to Shakhtar Donetsk’s four. In his post-game remarks, Xavi acknowledged that Barcelona did not perform well against the hosts and admitted that his team made a significant mistake against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Spaniard told the media (h/t BarcaBlaugranes): “We have…
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has elucidated the rationale behind Erling Haaland’s adoption of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba’s goal celebration. In Tuesday evening’s Champions League victory over Young Boys, Haaland replicated Drogba’s iconic celebration. The Norwegian international scored twice, securing Manchester City’s spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League. However, it was his celebration that truly captured attention. Lescott revealed that Haaland recreated Drogba’s celebration as a personal tribute to the Ivorian legend, who had requested this gesture during a meeting in Paris. Drogba asked Haaland to honor him with a throwback celebration the next time he…
It has been disclosed that Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, breached a Premier League regulation to honor a commitment he made to midfielder Harvey Elliott. Klopp’s adeptness in handling his players is regarded as one of his most remarkable managerial attributes, with numerous athletes attesting to their preference for playing under him. In a 2020 interview with Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Gary Neville disclosed that Klopp would have been his preferred manager to play under during his own career, second only to Sir Alex Ferguson. Since Klopp’s arrival at Anfield in 2015, he has transformed Liverpool into perennial contenders for…