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Category: Football

  • ‘I don’t think it’s going to hit me’ – Rice revels in free-kick magic

    ‘I don’t think it’s going to hit me’ – Rice revels in free-kick magic

    After 338 games in his professional career Declan Rice had never scored a free-kick.

    After 339 he’d scored two.

    He’d only taken 12 free-kicks across his entire career prior to Tuesday’s sensational 3-0 win for Arsenal over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates.

    With the Gunners on top but level at 0-0, the England midfielder stood up and curled round the Madrid wall and past Thibaut Courtois to put his side deservedly ahead after 58 minutes.

    Then 12 minutes later the 26-year-old stepped up and did it again, making him the first player to score two free-kicks in a Champions League knockout match.

    The sensational curling strike into the top corner was that good it left Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and boss Mikel Arteta with their hands on their heads in disbelief.

    Former Real Madrid and Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos – himself a master from a set-piece during his career – was seen looking glum-faced in the stands.

    “I don’t know whether it will ever sink in,” Rice told Amazon Prime after the game.

    “I’ve gone back to my phone then and it’s gone crazy. To score my first free-kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one… I just had the confidence. I’m speechless really.

    “I don’t think it’s going to hit me, what I’ve done tonight. It’s a historic night.”

    Arsenal are a team that have become renowned for their threat at set-pieces, but direct free-kicks are something different.

    Arteta said after the game they hadn’t scored one since September 2021, so to score two in 13 minutes against Real Madrid “showed the beauty of whoever invented this sport”.

    Arsenal’s free-kicks are usually taken by Bukayo Saka or Odegaard, but Rice said that he saw the space around the Madrid wall for the first goal and told Saka he was confident.

    The England winger responded “if you feel it, go for it” – and he’ll be glad he did.

    “It didn’t make sense from that angle to cross the ball [which Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was signalling to do on the touchline]. It would have to be a delicate pass,” Rice added.

    “I’m happy I took it because it was magic.”

    It didn’t stop Jover wheeling off in celebration and Rice said afterwards the coach was “claiming it”.

    Arteta added: “He can claim it if he wants, it doesn’t matter. It’s incredible.”

    The opener was the goal that Arsenal deserved for their dominance, but the best was yet to come.

    Alan Shearer said it was “absolutely incredible” and former Real Madrid midfielder Clarence Seedorf said “not even Superman would get it”.

    “It looks far out, you don’t even realise. We were going to touch and set it – me and Martin [Odegaard], but Mbappe was kind of stood too close.

    “But then I thought, I’ve got the keeper’s side, I practice this so much – I was going to go for it. I had the confidence from the first one. If it went over the bar it wouldn’t matter.

    “It’s not going to hit me now because there’s another leg to go. I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m over the moon.

    “It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar.

    “But in a few years time this will really hit me that what I’ve done tonight was really special.”

    For Rice this was his biggest moment so far in an Arsenal shirt, but Arteta and midfielder Mikel Merino – who scored the third goal – were not surprised by how the former West Ham man stood up.

    “If there’s a player who can do it, how clean he strikes it, it’s Declan,” said Arteta.

    “But you have to execute it at the highest level. And against one of the best keeper’s in the world as well. It’s amazing.

    “He’s been very determined because we have been talking the last few months. He has done it tonight.”

    Merino added: “He has one of the best shooting abilities that I’ve seen in my career. I’m not surprised, maybe you are. Hopefully more will come in the future.”

    Former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live it was “a night to remember” for Rice and he had “single-handedly made the difference”.

    ‘At the Bernabeu, special things happen for them.’

    The 3-0 win puts Arsenal in a dominant position for the return leg at the Bernabeu on 16 April.

    There are plenty of good omens, too.

    Their first-leg win is the 12th time an English side has won by three-plus goals in the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie, with each of the 11 previous instances seeing that team progress.

    However, Real Madrid is a different beast at the Bernabeu and will only need to look back to 2022 when they overturned a 5-3 aggregate score in the final minutes against Manchester City.

    “To beat Real Madrid in this competition – it’s a big night for us,” said Rice.

    “But even if we’re 3-0 up, the individual quality they have is scary.

    “At the Bernabeu, special things happen for them.

    “We want to win this competition, but we have to take it one game at a time.”

  • Lewandowski, Mbappe duel fuelling tight La Liga title race

    Lewandowski, Mbappe duel fuelling tight La Liga title race

    Just three points separate leaders Barcelona from Real Madrid at the top of La Liga in a gripping campaign and three goals also divide their main marksmen.

    Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski is the division’s top goalscorer with 25 and Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe trails him on 22, adding another facet to the engrossing battle.

    The Catalans host soaring Real Betis, sixth, on Saturday, shortly after champions Real Madrid welcome relegation-battling Valencia to the Santiago Bernabeu.

    Last weekend after Mbappe notched twice against Leganes as Madrid scraped a 3-2 win, Lewandowski responded with a brace of his own in Barcelona’s 4-1 rout of Girona.

    In the final stages his team spurned opportunities to score more goals and Lewandowski highlighted that.

    “In the last minutes there was more space and more chance of scoring,” noted the 36-year-old Poland international.

    “If we had a better final ball we could have scored one or two more goals.”

    Lewandowski has netted nine goals in his last nine league games and has 38 strikes from 43 matches across all competitions.

    Despite his age, he believes he still has the quality to make the difference at an elite club for years to come.

    “I know a lot of people are talking abut my age, but I’m working since (I was) 21, 22, until now and I want to play more years at the top level.

    “I feel very good physically, I think looking at the stats there’s no difference now to a few years ago.”

    Barcelona coach Hansi Flick insisted the striker was focused on team success as well as battling for Spain’s “Pichichi” award.

    “He’s fit, he’s 100 percent, I know he wants to win the Pichichi,” said Flick.

    “But like I’ve always said the most important thing is the team… and this is what I can feel more, that he thinks about the team and focuses on the team and helps the team.”

    Not far behind him is Mbappe, who boasts 33 goals in 46 games this season , equalling the tally Cristiano Ronaldo produced in his first season for Real Madrid.

    Mbappe idolised the Portuguese striker, who joined Los Blancos in 2009 from Manchester United and said it was “very special” to match him.

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said this week Mbappe could go on to become a “legend” like Ronaldo was at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    The Al-Nassr striker netted 450 goals to become Real Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer.

    Mbappe said he is not setting limits for himself this season in terms of goals, while Vinicius Junior said in January Madrid players would do “everything we can to make (Mbappe) the top scorer in all competitions”.

    Valencia’s visit offers a decent chance to bolster his numbers as Los Che trio Jose Gaya, Luis Rioja and Dimitri Foulquier were all booked last weekend and will miss the game.

    No player has scored more league goals in 2025 than Mbappe with 12, ahead of Lewandowski’s seven.

    Player to watch: Ayoze Perez

    Villarreal and Spain striker Perez has been in superb form this season when he has been able to play in between a few spells out injured. The former Newcastle and Leicester forward has netted 12 goals in 22 league games for his club and the Yellow Submarine, fifth, will need him at his best as they host fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Perez netted and set up another goal as Villarreal beat Getafe last weekend.

    Key stats

    3 – games Valencia have lost under Carlos Corberan in La Liga from 12 played, a drastic improvement on nine defeats in their first 17.

    7 – Osasuna’s Ante Budimir has converted all of the penalties he has taken this season in the top flight.

    521 – appearances for Antoine Griezmann in La Liga, more than any other player from abroad after overtaking Lionel Messi last weekend.

    Fixtures

    Friday

    Rayo Vallecano v Espanyol (1900)

    Saturday

    Girona v Alaves (1200), Real Madrid v Valencia (1415), Mallorca v Celta Vigo (1730), Barcelona v Real Betis (1900)

    Sunday

    Las Palmas v Real Sociedad (1200), Sevilla v Atletico Madrid (1415), Valladolid v Getafe (1630), Villarreal v Athletic Bilbao (1900)

    Monday

    Leganes v Osasuna (1900)

  • Maresca non-committal over Sancho’s future at Chelsea

    Maresca non-committal over Sancho’s future at Chelsea

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca on Wednesday admitted Jadon Sancho “could do better” but was non-committal over the forward’s future at Stamford Bridge.

    Reports last week said Chelsea were willing to sign the winger on a permanent deal from Manchester United despite a £5 million ($6.5 million) clause that would allow them to cancel the agreement.

    Sancho moved to Stamford Bridge on loan in August in a deal that reportedly included an obligation for Chelsea to buy the player for between £20 and £25 million.

    But after a promising start to life at the club the 25-year-old’s form has dipped and details have emerged of a way out for the London club if they paid a cancellation fee.

    With just two goals in all competitions and none since December, Sancho has struggled to hold down a regular place in Maresca’s side as they chase qualification for next season’s Champions League.

    Maresca, whose fourth-placed team host Tottenham on Thursday, was asked at his pre-match press conference whether he wanted to sign Sancho permanently.

    “All the players that are with us, I love all of them,” he said. “But in this moment, it’s the moment to finish well and then it’s not the moment to think about next season.

    “I’m completely focused about nine games, two months to go. I’m completely focused about that. Then what happens in summer, we’ll see.”

    The Chelsea manager was pressed on what Sancho needed to do to prove himself.

    “For me, Jadon’s situation doesn’t change,” he said. “He’s exactly the same. For sure, in terms of numbers, he could do better, no doubt.

    “But it’s not just about Jadon. I think we have more players in the same situation. Now, I don’t need to give Jadon a message because I speak with Jadon every day.

    “I had a conversation yesterday with him. He has just to continue to give his best until the end.”

    The Italian, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, played down the significance of his decision last week to cancel a day off after his senior players lost to the under-21s in training.

    “It’s nothing,” he said. “Since I joined the club, I always demand high standards. International break, no official game, not many players here.

    “The day after off, sometimes it’s normal to be a little bit relaxed, but because I don’t allow this we decided the day after to train. But it’s nothing strange or nothing new.”

    Maresca said a win against struggling Tottenham would be a boost for the final stages of the season, with just nine league games to go.

    “From that win, probably you can build momentum until the end. But from now on, they are all important games,” he said.

    Attacking trio Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson are all available for selection again after missing recent matches because of injury.

  • Barca never had financial room to register Olmo – La Liga

    Barca never had financial room to register Olmo – La Liga

    La Liga said Wednesday that Barcelona did not have the financial capacity to register players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor and still lacks it, ahead of a decision by Spain’s sports council (CSD) over the duo’s eligibility to play.

    In Januar,y Barcelona announced a deal had been reached to sell VIP boxes at the club’s Camp Nou stadium, currently being rebuilt, worth a reported 100 million euros ($108 million), which gave them the financial fair play room for new licences for the players.

    La Liga said Barcelona used an unnamed auditor between December 31 and January 3, which recorded the deal on the club’s books, but their current auditor no longer includes it in the club’s interim financial statements for the first part of the 2024-25 season.

    “No amount from the (VIP box deal) is ultimately recorded in the profit and loss accounts, contrary to what had been certified by the club and the auditor at the time of said transaction,” said La Liga in a statement.

    La Liga said they were reporting the auditor Barcelona used between December 31 and January 3 to the Accounting and Auditing Institute.

    “Barcelona… did not have on December 31, 2024, or on January 3, 2025, nor has it had since that date, nor does it currently have (the financial fair play capacity) for the registration of the players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor,” continued La Liga’s statement.

    Barcelona declined to comment when asked about the matter by AFP.

    On January 8 the CSD granted Barcelona precautionary permission to use Olmo and Victor, after La Liga said Barca failed to register them before a deadline at the end of December when their temporary licences they were given after signing last summer expired.

    The CSD decided Olmo and Victor could be selected by Barca until they make a definitive ruling in the club’s case against La Liga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), who did not let the club renew their registrations. The ruling is set to come on or before April 7.

    The players were initially registered on a short-term basis, as Barcelona took advantage of a financial loophole following an injury to defender Andreas Christensen.

    Olmo, currently injured, has played 13 times since then, scoring two goals and providing four assists, while Victor has five substitute appearances.

  • The next Neymar & 43-year-old strikers – Copa Libertadores set to begin

    The next Neymar & 43-year-old strikers – Copa Libertadores set to begin

    The 66th edition of the Copa Libertadores, South America’s Champions League, kicks off on Tuesday with the start of the group phase.

    Over the next two months, 32 teams will be whittled down to the last 16, with the knockout phase coming to a close with a one-off final on 29 November. The venue is yet to be decided, but it is likely to be either Brasilia, capital of Brazil, or the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo.

    With the European Champions League reaching the business stage, it is easy to overlook the Libertadores – but the South American competition is full of a fascination all of its own.

    As fans all over the continent are fond of chanting, the Copa Libertadores is an obsession, so here are a few things to look out for as, from Argentina to Venezuela, the action gets under way.

    Can anyone stop the Brazilian domination?

    In the early years of the competition Uruguay were the leading force, and then came decades of Argentine dominance.

    But the recent years have belonged exclusively to Brazil.

    The past six editions have been won by Brazilian clubs, with the country providing both of the finalists in four of those years. This level of domination is unprecedented.

    The financial gap between Brazil and the rest of the continent is growing, and the clubs are using it to snap up players from elsewhere around the continent. Big hitters such as Flamengo and Palmeiras might well field as many as five foreigners in their starting line-up.

    And here is an extra reason for Argentina to worry: their clubs have won the title 25 times, while Brazil have now pulled up to 24. This, then, is the year when Brazil are likely to pull level.

    Can they be stopped? At least the field looks tougher than in recent years.

    As well as four-time champions River Plate, Argentina has Racing and Estudiantes, who look strong, plus the rising force of Talleres from Cordoba.

    Colombia’s Atletico Nacional look better than any time since they last won the trophy in 2016, and the two countries who have been punching highest above their weight are also well represented – Paraguay with the traditional trio of Olimpia, Cerro Porteno and Libertad, and Ecuador with LDU (or Liga de Quito), Barcelona (who eliminated Brazilian giants Corinthians in the qualifying round) and the ever-fascinating Independiente del Valle.

    So perhaps there are grounds for thinking that this year might prove more competitive, especially because of a new factor…

    What impact will the Club World Cup have?

    Fifa’s new competition is not considered an inconvenience in South America. Instead, doing well in the Club World Cup is a priority.

    Brazil has even changed its calendar to accommodate the new tournament. And for those teams taking part, there is prestige and money to win – but there is also a price to pay.

    The South American calendar – and in Brazil more than anywhere else – is already very cluttered. Now River Plate of Argentina plus the current big three from Brazil – Flamengo, Palmeiras, Botafogo – will be pushing themselves to the limit in the intense heat of the North American summer during June and July. Meanwhile, their rivals will be enjoying some much-needed rest.

    This is bound to have some effect. Those taking part in the Club World Cup will be fighting on so many fronts that it will not be easy to administer their efforts – offering a glimmer of hope that this year’s Libertadores might be harder to predict.

    A stage for the up-and-comers

    It was early in the group stages of last year’s Libertadores that Palmeiras gave a first start to a teenage winger called Estevao.

    He was off to a flyer, scoring against Liverpool of Uruguay – and making it very clear that he had the talent to be taking on a much bigger club of the same name. And soon that will be happening, as after the Club World Cup he joins Chelsea.

    These are the last few months for South American crowds to appreciate the most talented Brazilian prospect since Neymar.

    The Libertadores gave him a stage to move within a few months from promise to reality, a senior Brazil international on his way to the Premier League. Can anyone make a similar impression in 2025?

    Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle are always worth watching. The club, from the outskirts of Quito, have made a name for themselves in the past 15 years as specialists in youth development.

    Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo is one of their graduates – and he will soon be joined at Stamford Bridge by playmaker Kendry Paez, a type of Ecuadorian Phil Foden. These are his last few months in South America, and it will be fascinating to see his progress.

    A first-team player at 15, a senior international at 16, Paez has endured a difficult few months as he struggles with the new demands. But the potential is undeniable.

    Last week, Ecuador gave a start to 17-year-old Darwin Guagua in World Cup qualification – before he had even made his debut for Independiente del Valle. He, and many other youngsters, will be striving to catch the eye over the next few months.

    And at the other end of the scale…

    The coach of Paraguayan club Libertad has a dilemma at centre-forward.

    Does he select the former Premier League striker Roque Santa Cruz, now 43? Or should he go with the more youthful option – one time Benfica target man Oscar Cardozo, now 42?

    Last year, the coach taking that decision was only 27!

    Ander Herrera will not be laughing at the age of opposing strikers – the Libertadores adventure of the one-time Manchester United midfielder ended early.

    Together with ex-Old Traffordites Marcos Rojo and Edinson Cavani, Herrera’s Boca Juniors were eliminated in the qualifying round by Alianza Lima of Peru, who switched up front between Argentine centre-forward Hernan Barcos, 40, and Peru’s all time top scorer Paolo Guerrero, 41.

    From adolescents to veterans, there is a place for everyone in South America’s Copa Libertadores.

  • The Premier League is back – when can title & relegation be decided?

    The Premier League is back – when can title & relegation be decided?

    The Premier League is back after a two-week international break.

    And just in case you needed a reminder of how things stand at both ends of the table we are here to get you up to speed.

    At the top, Arne Slot’s runaway leaders Liverpool hold a 12-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal.

    At the bottom, all three promoted sides – Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester – are well adrift in the relegation zone and looking as if they are destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

    It feels like a matter of ‘when, not if’ those eventualities play out as we head into the final stretch of the season.

    But when could the relegation places and title be decided?

    What do Liverpool need to win the title?

    Liverpool are currently on 70 points – and nearest challengers Arsenal can only reach a maximum of 85 points if they win their remaining nine matches.

    The Reds therefore require 16 points from a possible 27 to clinch their second Premier League title – and record-equalling 20th overall.

    Fifteen points could also be enough given Liverpool’s goal difference is vastly superior to Arsenal’s (currently +42 to +29).

    In fact, given their goal difference supremacy, Slot’s side might only need four wins- as long as one of those is against the Gunners – to secure the title.

    When is the earliest Liverpool can win the title?

    Arsenal beat Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in their game in hand over Liverpool before the international break.

    That victory reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table from 15 points to 12.

    But, in terms of when Slot’s side can win the title, it has made little difference.

    The earliest date Liverpool could win their 20th league title is 13 April, when they play West Ham at Anfield.

    For that scenario to play out, Arsenal need to lose their next two matches against Fulham and Everton, with Liverpool beating Everton and Fulham in that time.

    That would leave Arsenal 18 points behind Liverpool with 21 points left to play for.

    A Brentford victory against Arsenal on 12 April would leave the Gunners 18 points behind with 18 points left to play for, leaving Liverpool needing a single point against the Hammers on 13 April to claim the title.

    Statisticians Opta give Arsenal just a 0.8% chance of winning the title, with Liverpool given a 99.2% chance based on their position and remaining fixtures.

    Liverpool’s next four fixtures

    Liverpool v Everton – 2 April – 20:00 BST

    Fulham v Liverpool – 6 April – 14:00 BST

    Liverpool v West Ham – 13 April – 14:00 BST

    Leicester v Liverpool – 20 April – 16:30 BST

    Arsenal’s next four fixtures

    Arsenal v Fulham – 1 April – 19:45 BST

    Everton v Arsenal – 5 April – 12:30 BST

    Arsenal v Brentford – 12 April – 17:30 BST

    Ipswich v Arsenal – 20 April – 14:00 BST

    Arsenal were due to face Crystal Palace on 26 April but that match will be rearranged after Palace reached the FA Cup semi-finals. Liverpool will host Tottenham on 27 April.

    What about relegation?

    Wolves’ 2-1 win against Southampton before the international break was a bitter blow to the bottom three.

    Vitor Pereira’s side are the only realistic candidates to be dragged into a relegation battle but that win took them nine points clear of safety.

    Both Leicester and Ipswich still retain hope but time is running out for them to close the nine-point gap.

    With 27 points left to play for, Wolves could secure their Premier League status by collecting 10 points from their next four matches, provided Leicester and Ipswich both lose their next three matches.

    In that scenario, Wolves would go 19 points clear of the bottom three and there would only be 18 points left to play for.

    What about Southampton?

    Southampton require a minor miracle to stay up, given they are 17 points adrift with just 27 points left to play for.

    Instead, Ivan Juric’s side are fighting to avoid earning the tag of the worst Premier League side ever.

    That unfortunate title – if we are judging on points alone – belongs to Derby County in 2007-08.

    Paul Jewell’s side finished the season on 11 points, fewer than the previous record set by Sunderland in 2005-06 when they finished with 15.

    Southampton, therefore, need three points in the next nine matches to pass the unwanted mark set by Derby 17 years ago.

    But the Saints are also battling to avoid becoming the ‘earliest’ team in Premier League history to be relegated.

    That title is currently shared between Derby and Huddersfield Town side of 2018-19.

    On both occasions, the two teams were relegated after gameweek 32 – when there were six matches still to play.

    Southampton can ‘beat’ that unwanted record if they lose their next two fixtures, provided Wolves win theirs.

    That would leave the Saints 23 points behind Wolves, with just 21 points left to play for.

    What about the top four?

    The teams that finish in the Premier League’s top four automatically qualify for the following season’s Champions League.

    Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea currently occupy those spots.

    But just five points separate fourth-placed Chelsea and Bournemouth in 10th, meaning there is a seven-team race on for that fourth spot.

    Hold on, what about fifth place?

    Here’s where it gets slightly more complicated.

    As things stand, finishing in the top four in the Premier League is the only official way to qualify for the Champions League via a team’s domestic position.

    But, it looks increasingly likely that England will be granted an additional Champions League spot thanks to its co-efficient ranking.

    That means the team that finishes in fifth would also earn a Champions League place.

    That team is currently Manchester City. But there are just four points between City and 10th-placed Bournemouth – and every team in the top half will fancy their chances of grabbing that extra spot.

  • Haaland out for up to seven weeks with ankle injury

    Haaland out for up to seven weeks with ankle injury

    Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be out for up to seven weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth, says manager Pep Guardiola.

    The Norwegian was substituted in the 61st minute after scoring the equaliser as City went on to beat the Cherries 2-1 and reach the semi-finals.

    A video was posted on social media showing the 24-year-old leaving the Vitality Stadium on crutches and with his left ankle in a protective boot.

    “They told me the doctors say between five to seven weeks,” said Guardiola. “So hopefully the end of the season and by the Club World Cup he will be ready.

    “Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It happened all season.”

    City said on Monday that Haaland would see a specialist about the injury and anticipate he “will be fit to play a further part in the remainder of this season including this summer’s Fifa Club World Cup”.

    Haaland missed a penalty and two big chances on Sunday, but he turned in Nico O’Reilly’s cross to level the game before Omar Marmoush scored the winner.

    The FA Cup is City’s only remaining chance of silverware this season following a difficult Premier League campaign and early exits from the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

    Manager Guardiola has had to deal with injuries to key players throughout the campaign. His side are fifth in the Premier League, one point behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot.

    What games will Erling Haaland miss?

    A five-week absence would see Haaland miss six matches including the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on 26 April. That timeframe means he would be looking to return in the Premier League game against Southampton on 10 May.

    If he were to miss seven weeks, Haaland would be a doubt for the FA Cup final on 17 May – should City beat Forest.

    Haaland would then aim to be fit for the final league game of the season on 25 May at Fulham, before the Club World Cup is played in June and July.

    City’s Premier League match against Aston Villa has been postponed because of their involvement in the FA Cup semi-final and has yet to be rescheduled.

  • Haaland sidelined by injury in major Man City blow

    Haaland sidelined by injury in major Man City blow

    Manchester City were dealt a major blow on Monday with leading scorer Erling Haaland set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury as the season reaches its climax.

    The 24-year-old Norwegian was injured in Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth.

    Having just scored his 30th goal of the season to level the tie, he was then hurt in a challenge with Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook.

    The Premier League champions did not provide a timescale for the player’s return.

    “The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup,” said a club statement.

    “Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.

    “Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain a full prognosis.”

    City are currently fifth in the Premier League and battling to ensure a spot in the Champions League next season.

    Pep Guardiola’s side face matches against Leicester and Manchester United this week.

    They then have a visit from Crystal Palace and a trip to Everton before their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, at Wembley on April 26.

  • Alexander-Arnold backlash: ‘Brilliant servant’ or ‘tarnished legacy’?

    Alexander-Arnold backlash: ‘Brilliant servant’ or ‘tarnished legacy’?

    After months of speculation, Liverpool fans are trying to process the prospect of Trent Alexander-Arnold possibly joining Real Madrid.

    The 26-year-old Liverpudlian has entered the final three months of his contract and can negotiate with potential suitors before he becomes a free agent this summer.

    Though there is no agreement between the player and Real Madrid, BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that work towards completing a deal is reaching the closing stages.

    If agreed, it would see local boy Alexander-Arnold, who joined Liverpool’s academy at six years old and has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with the club, leave for the Spanish giants on a free transfer.

    Reaction to the news on BBC Sport’s football pages, social media and fans’ forums has ranged from the comedic to the extreme.

    Some social media accounts have been insulting, turning his famous “I’m just a normal lad” quote against him. Others have photoshopped the text on his mural round the corner from Anfield.

    Not even his iconic quick corner that completed the famous Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019 has escaped the treatment. Multiple edits now have either Andy Robertson, James Milner or Wataru Endo setting up Divock Origi’s winning goal instead.

    Another post, widely recirculated, simply says: “Corner wasn’t even taken that quickly.”

    If parts of this online re-writing of history are presumably tongue in cheek, there is also a darker, more extreme backlash visible as well.

    “It’s unfair,” Steve McManaman, who left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 1999, told BBC Sport. “If Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah leave then it’s Liverpool’s fault, if Trent were to leave then it’s Trent’s fault.

    “His legacy, I hope, is one of an outstanding homegrown footballer who’s done incredibly well for this club.”

    Some believe Alexander-Arnold simply wants to push himself to the next level.

    “He wants to aim to win the Ballon d’Or,” says Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague.

    “I think he has reached the conclusion that to reach his potential he has to move abroad and leave his comfort zone. He wants to conquer the world and I find that admirable.

    “If you have a bit of empathy, forget about tribalism, you should clap him out. He’s a Liverpool kid that fell in love with Spanish football.”

    ‘We’re all living vicariously through Trent – and are gutted’

    Liverpool are cruising towards a Premier League title at the first attempt under Arne Slot, but off the pitch, this season has not been as straightforward.

    The club have had four directors of football since the start of 2022, and now Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk have entered the final months of their contracts.

    It has been a particularly unsettled year for Alexander-Arnold, who unlike his team-mates, has deliberately chosen not to speak on his future.

    Though the right-back has started 26 of his side’s 29 league games under Slot and made eight goal contributions in the Premier League, his contract situation has cast him in a light previously unthinkable at Anfield.

    It spilled over in January when home fans targeted Alexander Arnold during a below-par performance against rivals Man Utd.

    Alexander-Arnold’s deep-rooted connection with the club and city has placed added scrutiny on his situation and a comment in an interview with Sky Sports that he would rather win the individual Ballon d’Or title than another Champions League with his boyhood club has been thrown back at him by some fans.

    “As a Liverpool fan you’re just devastated… but he has won everything there is to win at Liverpool,” supporter Abigail Rudkin said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

    “We are all living vicariously through Trent and now [it looks like] he has decided Madrid is the new dream. That’s why we’re all gutted.”

    The fact that Alexander-Arnold’s performances have not been as consistent as Salah’s and Van Dijk’s this term hasn’t helped either.

    Two stark statistics neatly summarise the Alexander-Arnold conundrum.

    Since 2017-18 no defender in Europe’s top five leagues has made more assists, or created more chances – and no player in any position has played more passes into the opposition box, including crosses

    No Premier League player this season has been dribbled past more times than Alexander-Arnold (53) and only Ipswich’s Ben Johnson has a lower duel success rate among Premier League full-backs (46.6% for Alexander-Arnold)

    For some, the emergence of right-back Conor Bradley has softened the blow of potentially losing Alexander-Arnold.

    The full-blooded performances of the Northern Ireland international have already made him a fan favourite, suggesting he could fill part of Trent’s role on the pitch and in the stands.

    What else are fans saying?

    There have been few transfer sagas in recent history that have divided fan opinion quite like this.

    “[I] can’t believe the negativity directed towards Trent Alexander-Arnold and his potential move away from Liverpool,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock wrote on X.

    “I’ve seen comments like ‘he should be ashamed’ and he’s ‘not loyal to the club’. [They] are deluded.

    “He’s entitled to make his own choices and challenge himself in a different league and different country. He’s won everything with LFC, been an incredible servant to the club and should be given a great send off by the fans.”

    Part of the issue for Alexander-Arnold is the inevitable comparison to Steven Gerrard, a local lad who turned down opportunities to leave the club and improve his chances of winning team and individual honours.

    “It completely tarnishes his image,” Liverpool fan Rory told BBC Sport.

    “He was supposed to follow in Stevie’s [Gerrard] footsteps and become the captain, a Liverpool icon. Instead, he’s decided to pursue personal glory and made a mockery of his previous declarations of loyalty.”

    Richard said: “What hurts the most is that he’s run down his contract to go for free. A player that not all that long ago wanted to become club captain and now doesn’t care that we won’t even get a fee to help replace him.”

    Keith told BBC Sport: “I’m just wondering what colour we should paint the wall where his mural is painted. Any legacy as a Liverpool legend was tenuous in the first place, but he isn’t good enough as a defender to achieve that anyway.”

    On the other side of the debate, Liverpool supporter Stew said: “I hold nothing against Trent leaving. He’s given his all and won everything with the club. The biggest crime is [the club] letting him go on a free.”

    Jonathan told BBC Sport: “Real represents something unique for English players, as so few have had that opportunity.

    “Trent has been a brilliant servant for Liverpool, and playing for Real Madrid could help him develop into an even more amazing player.”

    Gary argued: “Surely Liverpool fans should be directing their ire at the owners and management who have allowed a homegrown player to get to the point where he can leave for nothing, rather than the player for accepting an offer from another club when Liverpool have done little to try to get him to stay?”

    Alex said: “Football is a business and players rise and fall and new ones come. You can see why the club might be keen to cut a few big salaries to finance some up and coming talent.”

    Other fans use the departures of Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Luis Suarez to argue Liverpool will do just fine without Alexander-Arnold.

    “No player is bigger than the club,” says Jed. “Liverpool have always managed to replace players without a lot of fuss.”

    Liverpool return to action against Everton in the Merseyside derby on 2 April, though Alexander-Arnold is likely to miss out because of an ankle injury.

    If he does play again this season, all eyes will be on his reception from fans who have idolised him over the past nine years.

  • Brazil captain Marquinhos has apologised to the fans after an “embarrassing” display in their 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Argentina in Buenos Aires.

    Brazil captain Marquinhos has apologised to the fans after an “embarrassing” display in their 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Argentina in Buenos Aires.

    Brazilian captain Marquinhos has apologised to the fans after an “embarrassing” display in their 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Argentina in Buenos Aires.

    Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone were on target for Argentina, whose World Cup qualification was confirmed before kick-off by Bolivia’s draw with Uruguay.

    Matheus Cunha replied for the five-time world champions, who suffered their worst defeat in World Cup qualifying and are not yet guaranteed a place in next year’s finals.

    “What we did here can’t happen again,” Marquinhos told Brazilian TV station Globo. “It’s hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment. It’s embarrassing.”

    He added: “We started the game badly, far below what we could do, and they’re on a great run of confidence. They knew how to play smart. I’m sorry for our fans.”

    Argentina, which was without Lionel Messi, went 2-0 ahead in the opening 12 minutes through Alvarez and Fernandez.

    A mistake from Cristian Romero allowed Cunha to pull one back, but Mac Allister restored Argentina’s two-goal advantage before half-time.

    Argentina wasted several chances to extend their lead before Simeone wrapped up the win with 19 minutes left, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.

    “It was a historic result, winning by 4-1, which makes us proud. I’m so happy for the fans,” said Atletico forward Alvarez.

    Brazil forward Raphinha wound up the Argentina players before the game when he told a TV station that Brazil were going to “beat them up on the pitch and off the pitch”, and that he was guaranteed to score.

    A late challenge by Raphinha in the first half prompted several Argentina players to surround the former Leeds forward, who needed to be ushered away by his team-mates.

    Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni defended Raphinha after the game in an attempt to calm the situation, saying: “I know he didn’t do it on purpose, he is just defending his team and I don’t think there was any intention to offend anyone.”

    Argentina top the South American table with 31 points from 14 matches, 16 points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela, with the top six automatically qualifying for next year’s finals.

    Brazil are fourth on 21 points and not yet guaranteed of qualification with four matches remaining.

    Elsewhere, Paraguay stayed fifth and one point clear of sixth-placed Colombia after the sides drew 2-2 in Barranquilla.

    Luis Diaz and Jhon Duran put Colombia 2-0 up inside 13 minutes. Junior Alonso pulled one back just before the break, before Julio Enciso levelled in the second half.