Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admits the team was probably guilty of trying too hard to compensate for the absence of a host of star players in the 4-1 victory over Luton.
Forwards Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah were the latest added to an absentee list, which had grown to 11 senior players and left manager Jurgen Klopp short of options, certainly of match-winners, as his bench comprised three defenders and four academy players.
The likes of Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo, and to a lesser extent Luis Diaz, all struggled up front in the first half, but four goals in an impressive second-half comeback after going behind in the 12th minute re-established a four-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.
Klopp’s side have won now 22 points from losing pos…
Manchester United bid to pull off an unlikely win at Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they continue their attempts to salvage a poor season.
The clubs have enjoyed contrasting fortunes domestically this season, with Bayern having already retained their Bundesliga title while English champions United languish sixth in the Premier League.
All-conquering UEFA Champions League holders Bayern were expected to sweep David Moyes team aside in the first leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford last Tuesday, but a spirited display from United saw them claim a 1-1 draw to take to the Allianz Arena this week.
United have endured a tricky first campaign under Moyes, who replaced the legendary Alex Ferguson last July, with the club now mathematically certain to relinquish their Prem…
Lille coach Rene Girard is not looking too far ahead after his side edged closer to UEFA Champions League qualification on Sunday.
The 2011 Ligue 1 champions left the Stade Velodrome with a share of the spoils after playing out a goalless draw against rivals Marseille.
Despite the draw, Lille remain in the box set to qualify for Europe s premier club competition.
Lille are third in the standings on 64 points, seven points clear of nearest rivals Saint-Etienne with four games remaining.
It is a beautiful course and it would be a shame to lose the third place in terms of our season, Girard said.
Now, as mathematically, nothing is done, we must be very focused. We still have four games to deliver 12 points to.
We will try to reap a maximum. I take a lot …
Paulo Dybala believes it could finally be Juventus year to win the Champions League, insisting the club s long-serving players deserve to lift the trophy in Cardiff.
Juventus travel to Monaco in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday as Massimiliano Allegri s men close in on the treble, with the Serie A title almost secured and a place in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio already booked.
Dybala said Juventus players such as Gianluigi Buffon, Claudio Marchisio, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini deserve to win the competition due to their long service at the club, with Juve having lost the 2015 final to Barcelona.
This could be our year – we re doing very well in all the competitions we re involved in, Dybala told the UEFA websit…
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has sparked plenty of transfer rumours as he refused the most lucrative contract offer in Everton’s history.
The Toffees had hoped that the 23-year-old would go on to sign a new five-year deal which was thought to be worth £140,000 a week and even Lukaku’s agent Mino Raiola was certain his client would extend his stay at the Goodison.
However, the big man himself has informed Everton he has no desire to extend his deal which still has two years to run.
Romelu Lukaku has thus sent the rumour mill flying and are now reporting that believe they will be able to persuade their former striker to come back to Stamford Bridge.
According to other reports , Real Madrid and Juventus are also looking at the possibility to sign the…
Lyon sporting director Juninho confirmed there will be departures following the club s Champions League semi-final loss, though he is not worried about the Ligue 1 outfit.
After stunning Juventus and Manchester City en route to the final four, Lyon s memorable 2019-20 European campaign came to an end after losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Lyon s early wastefulness was punished as Serge Gnabry s brace and a late goal from Robert Lewandowski guided Bundesliga champions Bayern through to Sunday s decider against Paris Saint-Germain.
While disappointed with the result, Juninho turned his attention to 2020-21 amid speculation over the futures of Moussa Dembele, Houssem Aouar and captain Memphis Depay.
Dembele has previously been linked to Chelsea and …
Xavi believes Neymar has to mature if he is to reach the same level as Lionel Messi.
The former Barcelona midfielder was asked to assess the merits of his two ex-team-mates and, although he remains a fan of Neymar, thinks Messi is a step ahead at the current time.
Neymar left Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain for a world record €222 million in August 2017 but reports in Spain suggest the Brazil star is eager to return and re-form a previously prolific triumvirate with Messi and Luis Suarez.
Speaking to Super Deportivo de Villa Trinidad, Xavi said of Messi and Neymar: They are different. I see Leo with great footballing maturity. He does everything well. Neymar is a person who has to mature, but he seems like a player with enormous capacity to make a differe…
European football s governing body said Thursday that it had opened an internal inquiry following reported remarks by a UEFA official allegedly suggesting corruption at German giants Bayern Munich.
UEFA President Michel Platini and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge discussed recent events that have been covered in the news media and agreed on the need to have absolute clarity on the matter, at a meeting on Thursday, UEFA said in a statement.
Bayern Munich started legal action in Germany against UEFA disciplinary chief Peter Limacher on Wednesday, bitterly denying the allegations reported by German weekly Stern and said the comments were totally untrue and slanderous .
UEFA said that its officials and Bayern had held an open and constructive conversation.
AC Milan s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a new attack on Pep Guardiola, telling Monday s Gazzetta dello Sport that, like Tiger Woods, his former coach at Barcelona was not perfect.
The Sweden forward, who spent just one year in Spain, said: Guardiola wants to appear perfect in public. Tiger Woods is the same. But no one is perfect.
He also took aim at what he believed was Guardiola s inexperience.
He s a great manager but with little experience, and still too young to manage a team with 22 stars with different personalities.
Guardiola guided Barcelona to six trophies in 2009 but Ibrahimovic commented: It s not difficult to win at Barcelona. With such a team, who couldn t win?
He had more favourable words for Jose Mourinho, his coach at Inte…
Luis Fernando Suarez has confirmed that he has left his post as Honduras coach following the FIFA World Cup.
Suarez took over in 2011, filling the void of Mexican Juan de Dios Castillo and he subsequently coached the country to two editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2012 London Olympic games and this year s World Cup.
The Ecuador native guided Honduras to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup on both occasions, while they also reached the second round of the Olympics, helping to knock out Spain.
After ending the World Cup with no points following defeats to France, Switzerland and Ecuador, Suarez opted to not renew his contract and he leaves his post, suggesting the team needs fresh impetus.
Five minutes ago I decided to leave my post, he revealed to repor…