Liverpool monitoring Jota fitness but Firmino out for EFL Cup final clash

Cristiano Ronaldo has declared Euro 2024 will without a doubt be his last European Championships, after Portugal scraped past Slovenia to reach the quarter-finals.

Ronaldo missed chance after chance as Slovenia held on for a goalless draw in Monday s last-16 tie, seeing an extra-time penalty turned away by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner was seen in tears at the extra-time interval, later saying he hit rock bottom at that moment.

However, he recovered to convert Portugal s first kick of the shoot-out, while goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three of Slovenia s efforts as the Selecao booked a quarter-final date with France.

Ronaldo is playing at his 11th major tournament (World Cup/Euros) and this is the first in which he failed to sc…

Manchester United s owners must invest to make the club attractive to potential signings amid a reported battle with Brentford to sign Christian Eriksen.

That is the message from United great Gary Neville, who is frustrated with how the Glazer family run the club.

Eriksen is said to be considering a move between Brentford and United, which might seem unusual given the contrasting statures of the two clubs.

The offer from United is reported to be far more financially lucrative, but the Denmark midfielder may repay the faith shown in him by Thomas Frank, who gave him a chance to prove his fitness – and quality – a little over six months after Eriksen had collapsed on the pitch at Euro 2020 due to a heart problem.

Eriksen scored once and assisted fou…

When it comes to recruitment and squad construction, there aren t many clubs – if any – that are run more effectively than Manchester City.

Their Premier League title success in the 2021-22 season was just another reminder of how good they are on the pitch, yet the people in charge are not the types to simply sit around admiring their achievements.

Even before winning a fourth Premier League crown in five years – a feat only ever previously managed by Alex Ferguson s Manchester United – it was clear where City were going to strengthen.

A deal for arguably the most sought-after striker in world football, Erling Haaland, was wrapped up two weeks before the season ended, and then with Fernandinho expected to depart, another central midfielder was to be the …

Colombia became the final team to qualify for football at the Rio Olympics after a 2-1 win over the United States on Tuesday.

Carlos Restrepo s side completed a 3-2 aggregate victory with their win at Toyota Stadium, becoming the final team to reach Rio.

Roger Martinez s first-half opener in Texas had been cancelled out by a Deiver Machado own goal just before the hour-mark.

But Martinez struck again to send Colombia on their way, with Chelsea s Matthew Miazga and substitute Luis Gil sent off for USA.

It marks the fifth time Colombia have qualified for the Olympics as they joined 15 others for the Games.

USA were fourth at Sydney 2000, but last reached the Games in 2008.

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Leicester City are interested in signing Pontus Jansson from Premier League rivals Brentford in the January transfer window, according to The Guardian. Jansson is out of contract at Brentford at the end of the season, and Leicester want to secure the services of the former Leeds United central defender in January.

Jansson has been on the books of Leicester since the summer of 2019 when he joined from Leeds. The Sweden international central defender helped the Bees get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season and is also the club captain of the London club.

The 30-year-old central defender has scored one goal and provided one assist in 16 Premier League games for Brentford so far this season. The Bees are 11th in the league table at the moment with 20 poin…

Harry Kane matched Alan Shearer s record of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year with a hat-trick in Tottenham s 3-0 victory over Burnley.

England striker Kane opened the scoring at Turf Moor from the penalty spot in just the seventh minute, adding two more in the space of 10 second-half minutes.

The 24-year-old consequently moved past Robin van Persie s 35-goal haul in 2011 and drew level with Shearer, who set the record while at Blackburn Rovers in 1995.

Kane has the opportunity to set a new benchmark when Tottenham entertain Southampton at Wembley on Boxing Day – their final outing of 2017.

36 Harry Kane (36 goals in 35 games during 2017) now shares this Premier League record with Alan Shearer (36 goals in 42 games in 1995). Target.

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Mason Greenwood has been released on bail pending further investigation following his arrest on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Manchester United footballer was questioned on suspicion of rape and assault following allegations made on social media.

He was then further arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed in a statement on Wednesday: A 20-year-old man arrested (on Sunday 30 January 2022) on suspicion of the rape and assault of a woman has been released on bail pending further investigation.

There has been no public comment from Greenwood since the allegations were made.

In a statement on Monday, sportswear company Nike said it had put its relationship with the player on hold.

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According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Porto have expressed their interest in going after Eliaquim Mangala during the summer transfer window. The defender made the move to City from Porto for a fee of around £32 million back in 2014, but has only made four Premier League starts under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. The club are hoping to sign another defender during the summer in order to replace Vincent Kompany, which would only serve to push Mangala further down the pecking order. Mangala is considered to be a very underrated defender by most, but even with that being the case, it doesn’t feel like there’s any value in him staying at City as Pep tends to make his mind up pretty quickly about players he likes and doesn’t.

If he does return to Porto, it’s a virtu…

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Simply looking to sign off the 2022/23 Premier League campaign with a welcomed boost in north London, Arsenal will welcome Wolves to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, while Arsenal might have marked their return from March’s international break with their sights set on making real Premier League history, Mikel Arteta’s young squad have endured a public collapse over recent times. Putting in a flat display last weekend as they were hit with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest, that result was enough to confirm that the Premier League title will be staying in Manchester. Although Arsenal might have eventually cruised their way to a lucrative Champions League return this season, fans around n…

Schalke have sacked Dimitrios Grammozis ahead of the run-in to the 2. Bundesliga campaign, with the club citing a loss of confidence in the coach s ability to earn them promotion this term.

Grammozis originally arrived in March last year as the successor to Christian Gross, but he was unable to keep Schalke in the Bundesliga with an 18th-placed finish.

The former Darmstadt coach was tasked with ensuring a swift return to the top flight this season, yet the seven-time German champions slipped six points off the automatic promotion places with Saturday s 4-3 defeat at home to Hansa Rostock.

Nils Froling s 95th-minute winner for Hansa also left Schalke four points behind Werder Bremen, who occupy the play-off place in third and have a game in hand.

Simon…