Liverpool have recalled Nat Phillips from his loan at Stuttgart to bolster their options in defence.
Phillips was due to spend the entire 2019-20 season at the 2.Bundesliga side but has returned to Anfield and will be available for selection from the FA Cup meeting with Everton on January 5.
Injuries to Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip have left Liverpool short at centre-back, with Jordan Henderson having to play in defence for the Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey on December 18 when Virgil van Dijk was ruled out through illness.
However, 22-year-old defender Phillips could yet return to Stuttgart next month.
With their squad currently stretched by injuries and a busy schedule, Liverpool asked to recall the centre-back from his loan spell, a Stuttg…
Darwin Nunez is ready to make Everton regret it if they try to draw red mist from the Liverpool striker in Saturday s Merseyside derby.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp threw his support behind the striker on the eve of the Goodison Park match, backing the player who was sent off on his Anfield debut to come back stronger from his ban.
Former Benfica frontman Nunez was red-carded in the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on August 15 when he headbutted Joachim Andersen, after a running battle with the defender.
Throwing Nunez into derby duty on his return from suspension may represent a gamble, and it remains to be seen whether Klopp starts with the 23-year-old in the battle for local bragging rights.
Klopp said Liverpool have instructed Nunez he must calm down …
Ghana coach James Appiah is expecting a stern test from Cape Verde in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Sunday.
Ghana were in excellent form during the group stages of the tournament, notching victories against Mali and Niger.
That saw them top Group B, setting up a last-eight clash against Cape Verde, who are also unbeaten at the tournament so far.
Ghana did defeat Cape Verde 1-0 in a friendly in November but Appiah believes that has little to no relevance, while he also expressed his joy at the performances of the inexperienced players in his squad.
When you play a friendly game with a team you don t rely on that result and say I ve beaten them by one or 10 goals , because in a competitive situation the team will come up with different tact…
FIFA have decided to use goal-line technology (GLT) in the 2013 Confederations Cup and World Cup 2014.
FIFA have decided to use goal-line technology (GLT) in the 2013 Confederations Cup and World Cup 2014.
After what the footballing governing body deemed to be a successful trial at the Club World Cup in December last year, GLT will be used at the upcoming international tournament being held in Brazil this year.
Subsequently, GLT will be used at the World Cup in the South American nation, and it is safe to assume that if the two tournaments see the technology implemented successfully then they will be used in future competitions as well.
The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the suc…
Eden Hazard says he would only ever contemplate leaving Chelsea if they are crowned Premier League champions again.
The Belgium international has enjoyed a fine start to 2016-17, scoring seven top-flight goals and being named October s Premier League player of the month.
That comes after a miserable 2015-16 campaign that saw Hazard fail to score in the league before April and his performances criticised as the Blues struggled to a 10th-place finish under Jose Mourinho and latterly Guus Hiddink.
Hazard was again linked with a move away from Chelsea following the campaign, but the 25-year-old stressed he would never have wanted to leave on such a low note.
If I ever leave, it ll be after winning a championship, Hazard said to The Guardian.
You nee…
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard believes in-demand centre-back John Stones can develop into a brilliant defender.
Speculation is rife that Stones will swap Goodison Park for Chelsea s Stamford Bridge before the transfer window shuts, but Everton manager Roberto Martinez is determined to keep hold of the 21-year-old.
Despite the uncertainty, Stones remains an Everton player and will feature against Manchester City on Sunday.
Howard, who has played alongside Stones for the past three seasons following the England international s arrival from Barnsley, said his Everton team-mate has the potential to become one of the world s best.
John is a very good player, Howard told Soccer Saturday via Sky Sports.
As young as he is, he s full of confidence, but h…
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at criticism from Robin van Persie, insisting the Dutchman doesn t have a right to question his methods.
Working for BT Sport for United s 2-0 loss to Arsenal on New Year s Day, Van Persie questioned Solskjaer s demeanour in the aftermath of such a disappointing result at Emirates Stadium.
I would like to see him a bit more mean at times, just be angry, the former United forward who was signed from Arsenal said. I see him smiling now after a game like that. This is not the moment to smile.
Yet Solskjaer made clear he was not impressed by the comments on the eve of his team s FA Cup tie away at Wolves.
I don t know Robin and Robin doesn t know me, a defiant Solskjaer told the media. He pro…
Martin Odegaard does not want to go back at Real Madrid if Zinedine Zidane is still in charge of the Spanish club next season, according to . The Norway international attacking midfielder joined Arsenal on loan from Madrid in the January transfer window and is scheduled to stay at the Emirates Stadium until the end of the season.
The report has claimed that Odegaard knows that Arsenal want to sign him permanent in the summer of 2021 if the opportunity arises. The 22-year-old also knows that his playing time at Madrid under Zidane would be severely limited and does not want to be back at the defending Spanish champions if the Frenchman is still in charge of the team next season.
Madrid won the league title under Zidane last season, but things are not looking so good at …
(GSM) Dean Ashton is expected to confirm his retirent from professional football today. The 26-year-old West Ham United striker has been suffering from a serious ankle injury for three years now.
The Telegraph reports that Ashton is considering suing Chelsea and Shaun Wright-Phillips following the challenge in August 2006 which, he will claim, has ended his football career. The West Ham United forward sustained an ankle fracture during a training session while on England duty and has since featured in just 39 official matches for the Hammers. Ashton made his last appearance for West Ham in September 2008 against WBA (3-2 loss).
In an apparently ground-breaking case, Ashton is believed to be investigating whether both Wright-Phillips and his employers at the time, Chels…
Fiorentina sealed their place in the Coppa Italia final after a 0-0 draw against Cremonese on Thursday at Stadio Artemio Franchi, securing a 2-0 aggregate win.
A frantic start to the game did not lead to any goals, with few clear-cut chances for either team despite the pace of the play in the first half.
It took until the 73rd minute for Cremonese to have anything that could be called a chance, with Charles Pickel seeing a close-range header closed down by Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano.
Nicolas Gonzalez curled a shot wide at the other end moments later, but on the whole, it was a match devoid of any serious opportunities.
The hosts hit the target just once from 13 attempts, while Cremonese could only muster two shots at all as Vincenzo Italiano…