Liverpool and Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk has explained the circumstances behind his accidental injury to teammate Ibrahima Konate during their Premier League win against Brighton on Saturday. Van Dijk noted that with many players around the ball, he inadvertently headed Konate on the arm. Konate left the match with an apparent injury after going down in pain following a challenge during a corner just before halftime. He exited the pitch with a makeshift sling and was replaced by Joe Gomez at the break. After the game, Van Dijk commented on the situation, saying, “There were so many bodies around…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Ademola Lookman is leading the pack among Serie A forwards in the 2024 calendar year. The Nigerian forward has been in outstanding form, supported by key statistics that highlight his superiority over other attackers in Italy’s top flight. Earlier this year, Lookman emerged as Nigeria’s standout player at the Africa Cup of Nations, netting three goals—joint-most in the tournament—contributing to the Super Eagles’ silver medal finish in Ivory Coast. He carried that momentum back to Bergamo, helping Atalanta secure a top-four finish. The pinnacle of his year came in the Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick, handing Bayer…
The Premier League issued a statement on Sunday, affirming that referee Robert Jones made the correct decision not to send off Lisandro Martinez after the Manchester United defender’s controversial tackle on Cole Palmer. United captain Bruno Fernandes had given his team a lead with a penalty 20 minutes from time, but Moises Caicedo equalized just five minutes later, resulting in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. A key moment occurred in the third minute of injury time when Martinez lunged at Palmer, making contact with his knee after the ball had gone airborne without him touching it. Referee Jones opted…
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticized his former club for missing the opportunity to sign Cole Palmer when he left Manchester City for Chelsea. Palmer was sold in the summer of 2023 due to intense competition at Man City. Since joining Chelsea, the England international has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout players. The 22-year-old scored 25 goals last season and already has 12 this season for the Blues. “Cole Palmer’s been brilliant, hasn’t he? I think he’s fantastic,” Scholes said on The Overlap. “He’s a big United fan too. How did we miss him?…
Marcelo is now a free agent after his contract with Fluminense was terminated. This news was confirmed by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on his X account on Saturday, stating: “Real Madrid legend Marcelo is now available as a free agent after his contract at Fluminense has been terminated.” The decision from the club appears to be linked to a clash between Marcelo and coach Mano Menezes, which resulted in Marcelo being benched following a heated disagreement over tactics. The 36-year-old left Real Madrid in 2022 after a stellar 15-year career that included five Champions League titles. He briefly joined…
Liverpool reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday. The home side fell behind in the first half after Ferdi Kadioglu scored with a low shot. However, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah struck late in the match to secure the win at Anfield. With this victory, Liverpool now has 25 points from 10 matches, two points ahead of Manchester City. City’s unbeaten start to the season ended with a 2-1 loss at the Vitality Stadium, where Josko Gvardiol’s late header only provided a consolation after goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson…
Bruno Fernandes achieved his 150th and 151st goal involvements for Manchester United during the 5-2 victory over Leicester City. In a feel-good win under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernandes scored his first two goals of the season, relieving some pressure after a disappointing start to the campaign that contributed to Erik ten Hag’s departure. With this achievement, Fernandes becomes only the seventh player to reach 150 goal involvements in Europe’s top five leagues since joining United on January 29, 2020. Notably, he is the only midfielder to accomplish this milestone in the last five years. Fans will be keenly…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team struggled to match Bournemouth’s intensity during their 2-1 defeat on Saturday, which ended their 32-game unbeaten streak in 2024. Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for Bournemouth, followed by a second goal from Evanilson. Although Josko Gvardiol managed to pull one back for City, it was only a consolation. In his post-match interview with BBC, Guardiola said: “We knew we couldn’t match their intensity. We discussed it beforehand. It was an open game, and while we had chances at the end, I congratulate Bournemouth on their victory. “They excelled in the 50-50…
Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana has reaffirmed his commitment to the Blues following summer interest from Marseille. After the transfer window closed, Fofana revealed that Marseille director Medhi Benatia reached out to him about a potential move. As a lifelong Marseille fan, this sparked some reflection before he ultimately decided to reject the offer. “We received a call from Mr. Benatia, and my heart went: boom boom,” Fofana shared in a recent interview with Telefoot. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca assured Fofana of his future at Stamford Bridge, which ultimately influenced the player’s decision to reject Marseille’s approach. “I wasn’t sure if…
Alex Iwobi is committed to inspiring young people through football and music. The Nigerian international recently released his second single, “What’s Luv?”, featuring his close friend SPKS and rising artist MBrown. This follows his debut single, “Don’t Shoot,” released in June. At 28, Iwobi expressed his desire to motivate young individuals to pursue their dreams. “Growing up in a challenging area of London, I understand how tough it can be, and I’m grateful to have a platform to make a difference,” he told BBC Sport. “I hope my music shows that young people don’t have to fit into just one…
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe explained his team’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, highlighting the hard work and defensive effort of his players. Alexander Isak’s first-half goal secured the win for Newcastle at St. James’ Park. Speaking to BBC MOTD after the match, Howe credited his team’s determination and solid defending, especially in the second half. “Today’s performance was built on hard work, desire, and excellent defending in the second half,” Howe said. “We maintained 95 minutes of concentration and consistency in our attitude, effectively managing and controlling some very talented players.” He emphasized the…
Controversial British broadcaster Piers Morgan criticized Arsenal following their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday. He expressed disappointment in the team’s performance, stating that they have regressed since last season. Morgan noted that it was concerning Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had not secured a world-class striker or a suitable creative midfielder to fill in for the injured Martin Odegaard. After Alexander Isak’s decisive goal secured all three points for Newcastle at St. James’ Park, Morgan, a passionate Arsenal supporter, took to X to share his thoughts: “Newcastle deserved that win. They were the better team today. Arsenal have gone…
Viktor Gyokeres has expressed uncertainty about his future amid rumors linking him to Manchester United alongside Ruben Amorim, who will take over as head coach on November 11 after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. Gyokeres has been a standout performer in Europe, notably scoring four goals in Sporting CP’s 5-1 victory over Estrela, which helped maintain their perfect start to the 2024/25 league season. Having a strong relationship with Amorim, who signed him from Coventry City, Gyokeres remained noncommittal when asked about a potential move to Old Trafford. “I don’t know,” Gyokeres told Sport TV. “I’m happy here and focused on…
Manchester United fans have voted Alejandro Garnacho as the Player of the Month for October, as announced on the club’s official website. The 20-year-old forward stood out this season, surpassing teammates Casemiro and Andre Onana in the fan poll. Garnacho’s October featured two goals and an assist across six matches in various competitions. He started five of those games and came off the bench during the 3-3 draw with FC Porto. One of his standout performances came against Brentford, where he earned Man of the Match honors with 56% of the fan vote. His crucial equalizer at Old Trafford helped…
Lionel Messi has revealed that he is not considering a managerial role after his playing career ends. At 37, while acknowledging he expects to play for a few more years, he stated that he does not plan to transition into management. “I’m not planning to become a manager when I retire,” he told Fabrizio Romano. “This is not something I’m considering.” Messi noted that he understands how others, like former French star Zinedine Zidane, have changed their minds about management, but for now, he is more interested in a behind-the-scenes role, such as a sporting director. This would allow him…
Manchester United has announced the nominees for the Player of the Month (POTM) award, highlighting three standout performers: goalkeeper André Onana, winger Alejandro Garnacho, and midfielder Casemiro. Each player has made significant contributions to the team’s recent success. Since joining in the summer, André Onana has proven vital in goal, impressing fans and analysts with his shot-stopping skills and commanding presence in the penalty area, which have helped secure crucial points for United. Alejandro Garnacho has been a dynamic force on the left wing, using his speed and technical skill to create scoring opportunities and contribute important goals for the…
Enzo Maresca has reaffirmed his trust in Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez after explaining the reasons behind the Argentina international’s recent omission from the starting lineup. Fernandez, a £106 million signing from Benfica, began the season as a key player, captaining the team and starting six of the first seven matches, missing only the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth due to illness. However, he has recently found himself on the bench for Premier League games against Liverpool and Newcastle, with his only starts coming in the Europa Conference League and Carabao Cup. Maresca has rotated his squad frequently, especially in cup competitions,…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that winger Jadon Sancho will miss the Premier League match against Manchester United due to illness. Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Maresca explained that Sancho has been unwell for the past few days. Despite this, Sancho would have been ineligible to face his parent club, Manchester United, even if fit. Maresca added that the rest of the squad is fit and ready. “We are looking good,” Maresca said. “All players are available, except for Jadon. He has been ill, but he wouldn’t have been able to play anyway [ineligible vs. parent…
Inter Miami manager Tata Martino has downplayed the likelihood of Neymar joining the club, despite recent speculation sparked by Neymar’s purchase of a luxury property in Miami. Rumors began circulating after the 32-year-old Brazilian forward acquired a 13,000-square-foot waterfront loft in Miami’s exclusive Bal Harbour for $26 million, fueling talk that he may be considering a move to join Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the MLS club. Martino, who previously coached Neymar at Barcelona in the 2013-14 season, responded to the rumors by saying, “Now everyone who buys a house in Miami is coming? With Leo and the boys…
Anthony Taylor frustrated some Arsenal fans during their recent draw with Liverpool, and the Premier League has now announced its match official appointments for the weekend, confirming Taylor will referee again. This time, he will officiate Wolverhampton Wanderers’ match against Crystal Palace, a game under heightened scrutiny as it will be broadcast live by Sky Sports. The decision not to award Arsenal a first-half penalty for a potential foul on Gabriel Martinelli, along with Taylor’s call on a foul by Jakub Kiwior leading up to Gabriel Jesus’s disallowed goal, sparked frustration among Gunners fans at the Emirates. Taylor’s assistants, Gary…