Category: Football

Premiership bosses have defended the 43-week season being faced by England rugby players next year by insisting mental and physical welfare will be protected by mid-season breaks, while presenting data to show that injuries are more likely to occur if a player does not play often enough. In an exclusive interview with i, the Premiership’s chief executive Mark McCafferty, rugby director Phil Winstanley and…

Cristiano Ronaldo snapped a few times. Even Gareth Bale, the mild-mannered, quietly spoken character that he is, has glared in their direction from time to time. On Wednesday night, it was Isco’s turn to hit back at the notoriously tough to please Santiago Bernabeu crowd. And he went further than anyone else has before. The Real Madrid playmaker couldn’t take any more. Having been…

Game of the weekend The Premier League has a new leader. Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Bournemouth in last Saturday’s early kick-off lifted the Reds to the summit of the standings, which is where they remained when Manchester City lost 2-0 to Chelsea later in the day. There is, of course, a long way to go, but Liverpool’s record of 13 victories and three draws…

Liverpool head into Sunday's derby against Manchester United full of confidence after a 1-0 win over Napoli in midweek secured their place in the Champions League last 16 draw. United, already through in Europe, suffered another demoralising defeat, this time to Valencia, in what has been a wholly underwhelming season. Jose Mourinho and his misery men are seeking to close the 16 point gap…

After a strong start to their European campaign, enjoying a brief spell at the top of the group, Rangers now find themselves third in Europa League Group G. Having lost only one match, the future of Steven Gerrard‘s side is in their own hands as they travel to Austria to face Rapid Vienna. Read more: Rapid Vienna vs Rangers: How to watch, team news, and…

The fire has long since been put out, but the memories remain. The tower, blackened and desolated, stands as a constant reminder. There is still a sense of injustice, a feeling that more could have been done. It is a sentiment shared by members of Non-League for Grenfell, a movement created in the aftermath of Britain’s worst fire in a century. Their aim is…

Nottingham Forest will be looking to bounce right back to form in the East Midlands derby against their old rivals Derby County on Monday. Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last seven Championship matches away from home and have kept clean sheets in five of their last eight encounters. Derby County on the other hand have only kept one clean sheet in their last…

A 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp while Inter Milan were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at the San Siro. Through head to head rules, mission impossible was accomplished and Tottenham are through to the last 16 in the Champions League. No doubt any Spurs fan will tell you now that it doesn't matter how you get in the hat or which seed, all…

A 1-0 win against Napoli at Anfield means Liverpool have secured their place in the last 16 draw in the Champions League. Jurgen Klopp‘s side can now put their feet up for one evening to watch the remainder of the group games in the competition, anticipating who they may be drawn against on 17 December. Read more: Alisson save vs Napoli: World class or straight…

The end of the Champions League group stage is fast approaching, which can only mean one thing – the knockout draws are nearly here. Oh yes. No more thumpings in mismatched groups – from here on out it is only big boy fixtures. In terms of English representation in the latter stages, Manchester City are the only group winners, while Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool qualified as runners…

Although Manchester United‘s travels to Spain for their final Champions League Group H fixture against against Valencia wasn't a complete dead rubber, the Red Devils had already qualified and could've topped the group with a win. As Juventus failed to secure a result away from home at BSC Young Boys, United had a real opportunity to take the group, but they lost 2-1 due to a Carlos…

Moses Ashikodi had the world at his feet. Limbering up on the sideline in a pristine Millwall shirt, the teenager was set to become a record-breaker, the protégé who epitomised the potential of a generation. At just 15 years and 240 days old, Ashikodi was making his professional debut for the Lions against Brighton – becoming the youngest player to turn out in the…

Few clubs are more synonymous with the European Cup than Ajax. The Dutch giants have won the continent’s premier competition four times and finished as runners-up on two further occasions. Only Real Madrid, Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Barcelona have lifted the famous trophy more often. The difference between those five clubs and Ajax is that the latter are no longer able to challenge…

Barcelona put their feet up on the desk and lit a chunky cigar, and still started two players worth more than Tottenham Hotspur’s entire starting XI. There was no Lionel Messi (benched), no Sergio Busquets (benched), no Luis Suarez (rested). Second choice keeper? Stick him in for this one. Yet still there was room for a second string including Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele,…

Ever feel that you need to be in two places at once? As we sat high up in the Camp Nou, watching Barcelona and Tottenham play out a 1-1 draw, eyes were stuck fast on updates from the San Siro. It was like watching Tony Blair’s nervous smile in Sedgefield in May 1997 while Michael Portillo grimaced in Enfield. All you needed was to…