Football
Liverpool skipper out for the rest of the season
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The England midfielder limped out of a 3-1 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday after damaging his left knee in a challenge with Yves Bissouma. At a Friday news conference, Klopp revealed Henderson will play no further part in the champions’ bid to break Manchester City’s record Premier League points tally of 100. The former Sunderland man will not require surgery, however, and his manager is optimistic he will be fit for the start of the 2020-21 season. Klopp said: “Best possible news. It’s a knee injury, but no surgery is required. “He will not play this season, but I’m positive he will start the new season. He’s a quick healer.” Klopp also revealed Dejan Lovr...
Pep Guardiola: Bernardo Silva’s bad form may be my fault
Pep Guardiola says Bernardo Silva is one of the most special footballers he has ever coached despite the midfielder’s dip in form this season – something for which the Manchester City boss takes his share of responsibility. Silva was voted City’s player of the season as he and his team-mates swept to a domestic treble in 2018-19, but his performances this time around have been indicative of a general malaise, with Liverpool storming clear of their rivals to claim the Premier League title. The Portugal international has featured infrequently in the right-sided attacking midfield position he occupied for a chunk of last term, with Kevin De Bruyne back to full fitness and in prime form. Similarly adept on the right-hand side of attack, Silva has found his path blocked by Riyad Mahrez and, mor...
West Ham linked with a move for Michy Batshuayi
West Ham have been linked with a move for Michy Batshuayi. The Belgian has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge and he could be on the move this summer. As per DH, West Ham and Crystal Palace could be interested in the player. The Hammers could use more depth in their attack and Batshuayi wouldn’t be a bad option for them. Before his move to Chelsea, he was quite highly rated. If he manages to regain his confidence and sharpness, he could be a reliable Premier League striker. He would add pace and goals to the West Ham attack. It will be interesting to see if the Hammers make a move for the player in the coming weeks. Batshuayi has been on loan at Palace before and the Eagles will know all about him. The player could be keen on a return to Selhurst Park if the offer is right. He managed...
Rasheedat Ajibade hails CAF for introducing Women’s Champions League
Super Falcons and Norwegian Toppserien forward Rasheedat Ajibade has applauded the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to introduce Women’s CAF Champions League. Speaking in a chat, Ajibade said CAF women’s champions league will encourage female football development in the continent and also benefit women clubs more as they would have something to play at the end of every league season. “I must tell tell you that it is a very good development. I personally applauded CAF for the initiative to introduce Champions League for Women. “It will help in increasing numbers of female participation in football and strengthened female club management. ” It will also bring out healthy competition among clubs and also attract foreign players both within and outside Africa. “Also the ...
Gerard Houllier: Liverpool need tough love from Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool have always been a side that needs “tough love”, says Gerard Houllier, with Jurgen Klopp proving to be the perfect coach to deliver “vision” and long-term success at Anfield. Those on the red half of Merseyside are currently basking in the warm glow of a first title triumph in 30 years. Since last getting their hands on the English top-flight crown in 1990, many managers have tried and failed to get Liverpool back on the loftiest of perches. Houllier spent six years at the helm between 1998 and 2004, delivering domestic cup success and a UEFA Cup win. He also carried the Reds close to a long-awaited title, as did Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers. Klopp has been the man to get Liverpool over the line, while also claiming Champions League and Club World Cup honours, with the German...
Gernot Rohr: I have the team to qualify for 2022 AFCON, World Cup
Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has predicted that 2022 will be tough for Nigeria’s senior national football team because of the loaded qualifiers his team would have to negotiate to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup. The Eagles handler is however confident of his team’s chances of picking the two important tickets as a result of the quality of the team which according to him is loaded with ambitious and talented very young players that are desperate to make the Nation proud and also make name for themselves. “The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is postponed. It is the same for everybody so it is not a disadvantage. We have more time to prepare so also other countries too. “We can continue the qualifiers and start at the same time the World Cup qua...
Barcelona outclass Villarreal after recent disappointments
Barcelona responded to a trying week by thrashing Villarreal 4-1 away to stay alive in the Liga title race, producing one of their best displays under coach Quique Setien. The Catalans had drawn their last two matches to hand more momentum to league leaders Real Madrid but Sunday’s win took them to 73 points after 34 games, four behind their arch-rivals who won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao earlier on Sunday. An own goal from Pau Torres put Barca in front in the third minute, with Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno levelling on the rebound in the 14th before the visitors restored their lead through an outstanding curling strike from Luis Suarez six minutes later. Antoine Griezmann stretched Barca’s advantage just before the break with a sublime chip, having been dropped from the starting lineup in the la...
Jose Mourinho claims Arsenal are ‘in trouble’ ahead of upcoming derby
Jose Mourinho has hit back at Arsenal after their social media account taunted his side after they failed to beat Sheffield United on Thursday evening. The Gunners moved to taunt our rivals with a post of our side beating Sheffield United the morning after Spurs were beaten 3-1 by the same side below. The Spurs boss moved to react to the post, claiming that we wouldn’t be enjoying their misfortune in such a way if they had more to celebrate themselves. “I think if they were top of the league or fighting for top four in a really good moment they wouldn’t enjoy the problems of others,” he said ahead of his side’s game with Everton on Monday night. “You only enjoy the problems of others when you are also in trouble. “In the end it says more about them, they don’t have much to celebrate, they ...
Pep Guardiola ‘interfered in medical matters’ at Bayern Munich – ex-team doctor
Getty Images Pep Guardiola “interfered in medical matters” at Bayern Munich, according to former team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, who says the highly-rated coach thought he “knew everything better than I did”. Guardiola was drafted in to replace Jupp Heynckes in the Allianz Arena hot seat in the summer of 2013, inheriting a treble-winning squad brimming with world-class talent. The Spaniard had already established himself as arguably the finest manager in Europe by that time, after assembling one of the greatest teams in history at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012. As expected, Bayern continued to dominate the domestic scene in Germany with Guardiola at the helm, but he was unable to deliver success in Europe. The 49-year-old picked up seven major trophies during his time at the A...
Liverpool reiterate need for safe celebrations ahead of Villa clash
Liverpool have again urged their supporters to avoid mass gatherings in the city and to celebrate their Premier League triumph safely at home in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, chief executive Peter Moore said on Friday. Liverpool’s 30-year wait for their 19th English top-flight crown ended last week when Manchester City lost at Chelsea and thousands of fans turned up at their Anfield stadium to celebrate. Local media reported that fans launched fireworks at the Royal Liver Building, with a fire breaking out on the balcony of the landmark owned by Farhad Moshiri, the majority shareholder of the side’s local rivals Everton. Liverpool, Merseyside police and the City Council issued a statement condemning the “wholly unacceptable” behaviour, while manager Juergen Klopp requeste...
FIFA U-20/U-17: CAF set to announce African qualifiers new dates
Getty Images The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to announce a revised date for the remaining qualifying matches of the 2021 FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cup slated for January to March of next year. Prompt News exclusively gathered that CAF will within a week write Member Associations (MAs) including Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the new dates for the African qualifiers which came to a halt at the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. “I want to assure you that Member Associations will next week or before then receive directives from CAF headquarters on the new dates for the African qualifier matches. I can confirm that CAF Competitions Department, Youth Department and Organising Committee are currently working out the modalities for the restart ...
Dean Henderson praises David de Gea amidst talk over future
Manchester United star Dean Henderson has addressed the talk surrounding his future and fans will love to hear what he had to say. The young goalkeeper is currently on loan at Sheffield United and has rightfully gained plenty of plaudits for a brilliant season so far. Henderson’s good form has coincided with the time David de Gea has looked the most human he has since arriving at Old Trafford. This has led to some sections of supporters to call for the Spaniard’s head, with some claiming the Englishman would be better off as the club’s number one next season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t addressed the topic head-on but recently insisted De Gea is the best goalkeeper in the world and there’s nothing to worry about in regards to his form. Earlier in the season Solskjaer had said Henderson wil...
