Arsenal go to Leicester in Saturday’s early kick-off aiming to close the gap on Liverpool who host Wolves on Sunday
Saturday 12.30pm TNT Sports 1 Venue King Power Stadium
Continue reading...Could a new rule finally give MLS much-needed transfer gossip?
Complex rules have stopped splashy moves between the league’s clubs. But the ‘cash-for-player’ mechanism could change all that
In any other Major League Soccer offseason, Jack McGlynn probably would have gone to Europe. Ready to take the next step in his career as one of the best young American midfielders in the league, he wouldn’t have had any other realistic option. This offseason, though, the landscape shifted; McGlynn ended up in Houston instead.
The Dynamo utilised a new mechanism introduced by the league last month to sign McGlynn for an initial $2.1m in what is now called a ‘cash-for-player’ trade. This same mechanism was used for FC Cincinnati’s $5m deal sending former MVP Luciano Acosta to FC Dallas, and also Sporting KC’s capture of striker Dejan Joveljić from the LA Galaxy for $4m. “Without the new mechanism it’s very, very, very unlikely that Dejan would have been with us,” said SKC sporting director Mike Burns.
Continue reading...Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Welington can beef up Saints, Ola Aina returns to SW6 and Raheem Sterling has the chance to roll back the years
It may have taken Brighton’s record signing a few months to settle in but the performance of Georginio Rutter in their thrilling FA Cup victory over Chelsea showed that the Frenchman was worth the £40m they paid Leeds in the summer. A brilliant header to equalise before setting up Kaoru Mitoma’s winner gave Fabian Hürzeler’s side the confidence boost they needed after their 7-0 mauling against Nottingham Forest, with Rutter justifying his manager’s decision to leave João Pedro on the bench. Rutter – who has seven goals in all competitions – did not start a Premier League game in January after struggling with a hamstring problem and Hürzeler has been mindful of protecting the 22-year-old, although he will be itching to face Enzo Maresca’s side for the second time in six days. “There were a lot of personal duels and he proved that he can win the majority of them, and that’s why I’m happy with him,” said Hürzeler. Ed Aarons
Southampton v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm
Continue reading...MLS rival? New top-tier men’s soccer league coming to the United States
The United Soccer League intends to launch a new men's professional league in 2027-28 that will play at the same level as MLS.
Porto 1-1 Roma, AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Galatasaray, Twente 2-1 Bodø/Glimt: Europa League – as it happened
AZ Alkmaar stunned Gala, 10-man Roma held on in Portugal and 16-year-old Jorthy Mokio helped Ajax beat Union SG
Ajax lead in Belgium. A fine, end-to-end move was finished off beautifully by Christian Rasmussen, who clipped a first-time shot into the far corner from 19 yards.
It’s all going swimmingly for Jose Mourinho. Youssef En-Nesyri has put Fenerbahce 3-0 ahead with a mighty header from Sebastian Szymanski’s cross. He was about 15 yards out and powered it into the bottom corner at the near post.
Continue reading...How the next 18 months could reshape soccer in the U.S. forever
A convergence of marquee events, ambitious reforms and long-awaited decisions could transform soccer in the United States at every level over the next 18 months — if the sport's stakeholders can seize the moment.
Champions League review: a fired up Vinícius Júnior and McKennie’s screamer
The knockout stages are here, and there were plenty of storylines to digest. We hand out honours and dishonours from the latest round of action
Feyenoord
Continue reading...Ratcliffe is being cast as Scrooge but Glazers made Manchester United’s mess | Jamie Jackson
Time will tell if the Ineos chief’s severe cost-cutting pays off, but this is a club that has been mismanaged for years
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is making drastic cuts to Manchester United’s operation for fear that the club are on a fast-track to bankruptcy. Whether such seismic concerns are legitimate or unfounded, it reflects a tale of off‑field financial woe that matches the club’s 12 years in the title‑contending wilderness.
The failure to reel in a 21st championship or make a genuine challenge for one is a direct corollary of slow decline and mismanagement under Malcolm Glazer, and then his six children after his death in 2014.
Continue reading...Championship: Argyle ride Cup fever to rout Millwall as Eustace joins Derby
- Hardie the hero again as Plymouth move off bottom
- Sunderland, Burnley and Sheffield United march on
The FA Cup giantkillers Plymouth roared to their second memorable win in three days to climb off the foot of the Championship table. Ryan Hardie, the penalty hero against Liverpool on Sunday, scored twice in a thumping 5-1 victory against Millwall.
Joe Bryan’s own goal gave Argyle the lead and another Hardie spot-kick put them two up. Home Park was buzzing again when Mustapha Bundu added the third eight minutes after half-time and Hardie grabbed his second before Bryan pulled one back.
Continue reading...Everton’s Tarkowski thwarts Liverpool as final Goodison derby ends in brawl
Four goals, four red cards, one mass brawl plus enough controversy, fury and entertainment to elevate the fixture way above the Premier League norm; the Merseyside derby bid a fitting farewell to Goodison Park.
David “Mystic” Moyes had predicted the 120th and final Goodison derby would, by the nature of an emotionally charged occasion, be explosive. James Tarkowski triggered a detonator under the old place. The Everton captain volleyed in a stunning 98th-minute equaliser to ensure Liverpool went seven points clear in the title race rather than nine.
Continue reading...Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich: Champions League playoff round, first leg – as it happened
Michael Olise and Harry Kane gave Bayern Munich the edge going into the second leg against Celtic, who pulled one back through Daizen Maeda
Justin Kavanagh emails: “Great photo of Rod! He’s certainly got the gladrags on tonight, but does that bandage on his right fist suggest he’s already had some handbags? If so, it probably won’t be the last we’ll see at Celtic Park tonight in what should be a quite tasty match. Don’t spare the Rod, Bhoys.”
The main plan for Celtic here is to keep it tight early on against one of the most exciting front fours in Europe. You do not get many Musiala-type players in the Scottish Premiership.
Continue reading...MLS unveils new jerseys for 2025: Miami’s Euforia, Crew’s ‘Goosebumps’ headline
All 30 Major League Soccer teams are unveiling new jerseys this week ahead of the 2025 season. Here's a look at each.
Bayern’s Scottish adventures: from wrath against Raith to a shock at Aberdeen
Before the German club face Celtic in a Champions League playoff we recount a rich history that goes back decades
Given Bayern Munich’s lengthy and storied history in European competition, it may come as no surprise that they have jousted with Scottish clubs over several decades. But the variation and drama attached to many of those fixtures gives cause for contemplation as the German team return to Glasgow for a Champions League playoff against Celtic.
Bayern are heavy favourites to progress, largely because of the economic tilt towards clubs of their standing in the modern era. It was not always thus, however, as a glance at the record books outlines.
Continue reading...‘It’s just bad decisions’: Guardiola rues late goals as City slip to Madrid defeat
- City conceded twice in final six minutes of 3-2 loss
- ‘Everyone has to take accountability – I take it’
Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City cannot be competitive if they continue to concede late goals as they did when surrendering an 86th-minute lead in Tuesday’s 3-2 home defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League playoff first leg.
City held the advantage at the Etihad Stadium through Erling Haaland’s 80th-minute penalty, with the striker’s 19th-minute opener having been cancelled out by Kylian Mbappé on the hour. Yet Guardiola’s side collapsed as the final whistle approached.
Continue reading...Championship roundup: Leeds rout Watford as Farke hails ‘poetry in motion’
- Leads win 4-0 away to surge five points clear at top
- Preston and Coventry boost playoff hopes
Daniel Farke hailed Leeds’s “top level” forwards after the emphatic 4-0 win at Watford increased their lead at the Championship summit to five points.
Dan James opened the scoring in the 20th minute after latching on to a misplaced pass from Edo Kayembe. The Wales winger made it 2-0 eight minutes later when Watford were caught out by a swift counterattack. Manor Solomon saw a shot deflected in for the third before half-time, with Joël Piroe slotting in the fourth midway through the second period after Watford were undone with some quick passing in tight spaces.
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