Manchester City s Premier League title hopes hang by a thread after Liverpool gained a measure of revenge for their League Cup final heartache with a 3-0 triumph at Anfield.

Liverpool were beaten in a Wembley shoot-out on Sunday, but Jurgen Klopp s side soothed their penalty pain by completing a top-flight double over a City side who remain 10 points off the summit after a third league loss in a row.

Goals late in the first half from Adam Lallana and James Milner illuminated an opening period that had otherwise felt very much like a hangover from the weekend s encounter for both teams.

City were fourth when they previously won the League Cup in 2013-14 – as they are after Wednesday s loss – and subsequently went on a storming run to claim the league t…

Sevilla may be the most successful side in Europa League history but Taras Stepanenko is confident Shakhtar Donetsk can upset the two-time defending champions.

Unai Emery s side are preparing for the first leg of their third successive semi-final appearance on Thursday, with just one defeat in their last 12 matches in the competition, which they have won four times.

The two sides met in the competition in 2007, then in the guise of the UEFA Cup, when a dramatic conclusion saw Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop score to take the game into extra-time, before Javier Chevanton grabbed the decisive goal.

That stoppage-time header denied Shakhtar a place in the quarter-finals, but they quickly got over the heartache to win the competition two years later – their only Eu…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised Axel Tuanzebe for his display against Paris Saint-Germain and backed the defender to have a long and successful career at Manchester United.

Academy product Tuanzebe earned rave reviews for stifling Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in Tuesday s 2-1 Champions League win at the Parc des Princes.

The 22-year-old was playing for the first time in 10 months after battling back from injury and started on the right of a three-man defence, alongside Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw.

He made an unrivalled seven clearances – Layvin Kurzawa and Scott McTominay s four being the next best total on the pitch – and won both of his aerial duels in an impressive defensive performance in Paris.

Solskjaer has now challenged Tuanzeb…

Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi has warned his side they will need to be at their best if they are to get the victory they need at Red Bull Salzburg to clinch qualification for the Champions League knock-out stages.

Inter travel to the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday second in Group D, behind Real Sociedad on goal difference, and knowing a win would ensure progression with two games to spare.

The Serie A side beat Salzburg 2-1 in the reverse fixture last month, but Inzaghi says the Austrians, who lie third in the pool, are capable of causing last season’s beaten finalists problems.

On our way to Salzburg

— Inter (@Inter_en)

“We know the importance of tomorrow night’s match,” he said at a press conference.

“We know that we are …

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has instructed his employers to try and sign Eder Militao from Real Madrid this summer, according to AS.

The Brazilian centre-back joined Real from FC Porto back in 2019 for a reported fee of €50 million, and he s gone on to wear the famous white shirt on 72 occasions. His contract with Real does not expire before the end of 2024-25 season, and the Spanish giants apparently intend to open talks with his representatives over a new deal.

That obviously means that Chelsea, and any other potential suitor, would likely have to pay a huge sum to secure his services.

Meanwhile, Chelsea face a difficult situation at the end of the season, with the contracts of defenders Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta all set to…

Benfica president Rui Costa has said that a bid has been tabled for the services of 19-year-old midfielder Joao Neves.

Neves, who featured in Portugal s quarter-final run at Euro 2024, has been of interest to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Arsenal.

The midfielder made 55 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles last season, scoring three times and helping the club lift a ninth Portuguese Super Cup.

Neves played just 77 minutes at the European Championships in Germany, but has attracted interest for his assured midfield displays at club level.

The 19-year-old ranked second for most successful passes in the Primeira Liga (1794), only bettered by Sporting CP defender, Goncalo Inacio (2154).

Neves has a €120million (£101 mill…

Bayern Munich defender Bouna Sarr has confirmed he will miss Senegal s World Cup campaign after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

The 30-year-old has struggled with the problem for the past couple of years, restricting him to just 12 appearances for Bayern last season and none in the 2022-23 campaign.

Sarr started all seven of Senegal s games in their Africa Cup of Nations triumph earlier this year, but the versatile right-sided player will play no part for his country in Qatar.

I don t know how to express my disappointment to be away from the pitch for the coming months and especially to miss a World Cup, Sarr, capped 13 times, posted on Instagram.

It was not an easy decision to make, but after many months of thinking, I understood it would be the …

Neymar hailed fellow hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain assists king Lionel Messi as geniuses after the 6-1 win over Clermont.

The Brazilian also echoed Mbappe s verdict that it was a shame the superstar trio had not been able to link up more often this season.

Messi claimed three assists in the Ligue 1 leaders rampant away victory on Saturday night, becoming the first player to claim three assists on two separate occasions in the French top flight since Opta data for the competition began in 2006-07, having previously assisted three goals against Saint-Etienne in November.

The former Barcelona captain has averaged an impressive 0.73 assists per 90 minutes on the pitch during his first season in Ligue 1, a team-high.

Meanwhile, the t…

The Premier League is a week away from its winter break, but a feast of football awaits us before then, along with fantasy point-scoring opportunities.

Leaders Manchester City head to Southampton and will look to extend their 12-game winning run in the competition, at the expense of opponents who are unbeaten in their last seven league games at St Mary s.

Manchester United have a tricky assignment against David Moyes West Ham, and you might consider a Hammers forward to break down Ralf Rangnick s defence at Old Trafford.

If the time is right to back your strong start to the season, there are proven fantasy league performers to choose from here among this week s picks, and a strong case to be made for others you may not have considered.

EDERSON (Southam…

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is expecting a difficult test against Aston Villa following the appointment of Unai Emery, who has his first game in charge on Sunday.

The Spaniard makes his return to the Premier League after a previous stint with Arsenal, having rebuilt his reputation with Villarreal, where he won the Europa League against United in 2020-21.

A swift impact is needed at Villa, who enter the match on the back of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Newcastle United last time out and having won just one of their past six Premier League matches.

United, meanwhile, have enjoyed back-to-back 1-0 victories against West Ham and Real Sociedad but will need to make changes amid their packed schedule, with Ten Hag mulling over his defensive options.

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