Liverpool s quest to secure a trophy double this campaign continues on Sunday when they host Stoke City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Reds returned to winning form in the Merseyside derby with Everton on Tuesday, as inspirational captain Steven Gerrard nabbed a hat-trick to move them two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The win ended a three-game losing streak in the league and gave Kenny Dalglish s side plenty to build on ahead of their date with last season s FA Cup finalists.
Tony Pulis Stoke are virtually assured of top-flight football next season, with a 14-point buffer on the relegation places allowing the Britannia Stadium outfit to focus on trying to go one better in the FA Cup this term.
Stoke s campaign has…
Giacomo Bonaventura was AC Milan s hero as they claimed their first win under Gennaro Gattuso at the third time of asking with a 2-1 triumph over Bologna at San Siro.
Gattuso, whose reign began with a 2-2 draw against minnows Benevento and a Europa League loss to Rijeka, saw his side start strongly on Sunday and claim a deserved lead through Bonaventura in the 10th minute.
However, former Milan youth product Simone Verdi pulled Bologna level midway through the first half and it looked as though the Rossoneri would have to settle for a share of the spoils as they faded in the second period.
Bonaventura ultimately came to his side s rescue, timing his run and jump perfectly to meet an inviting cross from Fabio Borini and head home the winning goal with 14 minutes r…
Chelsea have signed France defender Axel Disasi from Monaco.
The 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge as the Blues moved quickly to cover the injury to Wesley Fofana.
Disasi has played 130 times in Ligue 1 and was part of the France squad that were runners-up in last year’s World Cup.
Blue is the colour, welcome Axel Disasi!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
The centre-back told the club’s official website: “I am so happy to be here, at this big club. I am really proud to be able to be a part of this great family, and I hope to achieve very big things here. To win titles.
“I will do everything I can to achieve those objectives. I am very ambitious.
“It’s a club that has been very popular for French play…
Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso called on Dusan Vlahovic to sign a new contract before entertaining the prospect of selling the in-demand star next year amid links with Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.
Vlahovic enjoyed a breakout season in 2020-21, scoring 21 Serie A goals, and his exploits have sparked reported interest from Premier League champions City and LaLiga holders Atletico.
Tottenham, Arsenal and Serie A champions Inter have also been linked with the 21-year-old Serbia international, who is contracted to Fiorentina until 2023 and valued around €70-80million (£59-68m).
Commisso remains unwilling to part with the forward sensation, at least not until the end of the 2021-22 campaign as he urged Vlahovic to re-sign in Florencia.
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Hamburg-based billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuehne wants fans to part-fund the potential transfer of Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.
The Netherlands international is reportedly nearing an exit at White Hart Lane, with several clubs interested in the 29-year-old.
And Kuehne believes that a Hamburg return could be a possibility for the player, who made a total of 112 appearances for the club between 2005 and 2008, with a potential outlay of 35 million euros in transfer fees and salary being mooted.
I do not want to take over for the most part. But whether I would participate or not is another issue, he told Bild.
I would have suggested If 60,000 members could come together and spend an average of 100 euros, it would be a considerable sum.
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Roberto De Zerbi insists leading Premier League clubs “can’t buy our soul” as Moises Caicedo edges closer to becoming the latest star name to depart Brighton.
Albion have accepted a British record transfer fee in the region of £110million from Liverpool for the Ecuador midfielder, although reports suggest he would prefer to join Chelsea.
The Seagulls, who start the new season at home to newly-promoted Luton on Saturday, have become accustomed to selling key players for hefty fees.
Argentina World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister moved to Anfield earlier this summer, while Arsenal pair Ben White and Leandro Trossard, Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella and Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma also left the Amex Stadium in the past two years.
De Zerbi is res…
According to Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean, midfielder Steven Nzonzi has asked for a transfer, with Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly keeping tabs on the 23-year-old, .
Subsequently, the Riversiders have placed a £10 million price tag on Nzonzi.
The former Paris Saint-Germain youth starlet was one of Blackburn s top players last term, tallying two goals and five assists in 32 league appearances.
Nzonzi did not travel with Blackburn as they headed to their training camp in Austria to prepare for the 2012-13 English Championship season.
Steven has asked for a transfer, confirmed Kean. I want players who want to be here. That’s the reason why Steven was left at the training ground when we went away.
Nzonzi joined Blackburn in June …
Celtic manager Neil Lennon is confident his side can pose problems for their rivals in Group G of the UEFA Champions League this season.
The Scottish Premier League giants open their campaign with a home tie against Portuguese outfit Benfica on Wednesday as they return to Europe s premier club competition for the first time since 2008-09.
And despite being involved in a tricky group that also involves Barcelona and Spartak Moscow, Lennon is adamant his side will not be easy beats.
We don t want to just be also-rans or make up the numbers, Lennon said.
We are going to compete in this group. I think we re ready. We are a couple of players light in terms of injuries.
But there is a huge motivation for this game and they (players) want to make the…
The Football Association (FA) has suspended its support for Michel Platini s bid to become FIFA president pending the outcome of an investigation by world football s governing body.
UEFA president Platini was provisionally suspended for 90 days by FIFA last week, along with the organisation s outgoing president Sepp Blatter.
The suspensions relate to a criminal investigation into an alleged disloyal payment made by Blatter to Platini in 2011, with the former France international named as a person of interest by the Swiss attorney general. This is also part of a FIFA Ethics Committee investigation.
UEFA released a statement last week confirming that Platini retained the organisation s collective support and on Thursday called for the investigation to be concluded …
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has pleaded guilty to tax evasion after appearing at a Spanish court on Thursday.
The Argentina star was accused of failing to alert Spanish authorities to earnings totalling more than €1.5million, reports said.
Mascherano is alleged to have used companies he owns in Portugal and the United States to cover up two payments for image rights in 2011 and 2012.
A spokesman for Mascherano told Argentine news agency Telam: The defendant acknowledged the facts and his responsibility for tax evasion.
Claims in the Spanish press said that Mascherano has already paid €1.5m to the tax office with a further €200,000 in interest, and it is thought that by pleading guilty he will avoid a prison sentence.
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