Tottenham’s failure to buy a top class back-up to Harry Kane could be another reason why Mauricio Pochettino may consider leaving the club, according to Tony Cascarino. Spurs could be without top striker Kane for up to 11 games following news he will be out until March with an ankle injury. It’s a huge blow […]
TalkSport - 16.01.2019 10:39
Alejandro Moreno sifts through all the big transfer news surrounding the likes of Isco, Alvaro Morata, Fernando Llorente and more. Check out what you may have missed at the weekend, including another Messi milestone, David De Gea's big night, Coppa Italia action and more. Luis Suarez found the net twice and Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal, as Barcelona cruised past Eibar at the Camp Nou. Unai Emery says Arsenal will not be making any permanent signings in January, including reports of a move for Barcelona's Denis Suarez. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said Ernesto Valverde will remain at Camp Nou next season, amid reports of uncertainty of the manager's future. Valverde, 54, signed an initial two-year deal when he replaced Luis Enrique as Barca boss in 2017. An option was included for that deal to be extended by an additional year but Valverde has been reluctant to commit to the club beyond the end of the campaign. How...
ESPN - 16.01.2019 05:19
Central Coast Mariners Melbourne City FC 2 1 FT Game Details Live football odds with bet365. Bet Now » GameCast Lineups and Stats Central Coast Mariners grabbed their first win of the season and broke their 10-match losing streak being Melbourne City at the Central Coast Stadium. Central Coast's 327-day A-League drought is over, with a last-minute Matt Simon goal helping the Mariners to an upset 2-1 win over Melbourne City at Gosford. The home side's' hearts appeared to be broken again when City equalised late through Lachlan Wales in front of a crowd of just over 4,000. But, veteran striker Simon had the chance to win it when he was shoved over in the box by Rostyn Griffiths and referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. However, his initial ...
ESPN - 16.01.2019 04:30
ESPN FC's La Liga correspondent Sid Lowe explains why Florentino Perez and and Real Madrid might consider bringing back Jose Mourinho. Steve Nicol and Craig Burley discuss the possibility of a shock return to Real Madrid for Jose Mourinho. Jose Mourinho will not be able to lift the lid on his Manchester United sacking when he returns to work as a pundit this week because of a non-disclosure agreement in his severance deal, a source close to the club has told ESPN FC. Mourinho is set to make his first public appearance since his dismissal from Old Trafford when he returns to work as a Bein Sports analyst for Thursday's Asian Cup group match between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the Premier League clash between Arsenal and former...
ESPN - 16.01.2019 03:41
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Major League Soccer will launch games by expansion team Austin FC beginning in 2021, officials announced on Tuesday. MLS Commissioner Don Garber was joined by Austin FC Chairman & CEO Anthony Precourt, Austin Mayor Steve Adler and soccer fans in Austin to officially launch the new team as the league's 27th member club. "Austin is a thriving metropolitan city — the embodiment of what we mean when we say MLS is a 'League for a new America,' " Garber said. "We are extremely proud to be the first major professional sports league to become part of the fabric of this important and thriving American city." With Adler at his side in making the announcement, Garber praised local officials'
Yahoo - 16.01.2019 00:06
Newcastle needed extra-time to see off a spirited Blackburn side on an entertaining night of FA Cup third-round replays. The only Premier League side in action lived to fight another day thanks to goals from Joselu and Ayoze Perez in extra-time. Elsewhere, Shrewsbury produced a stunning comeback to knock Stoke out of the competition, while […]
TalkSport - 15.01.2019 23:22
Fulham announced on Tuesday that the club has signed Ryan Babel from Besiktas. The club paid £1.8 million ($2.3m) to sign the former Liverpool attacker, who has a deal with the club running through the end of the season. Babel made made 146 appearances for Liverpool during a three-and-a-half year stint with the club from 2007-11.
Yahoo - 15.01.2019 19:21
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech says he is planning to retire from soccer at the end of the season
Fox Sports - 15.01.2019 13:05
After failing to find the all-important winning goal against Jordan, Palestine must wait to find out their Asia Cup fate. Tom Rogic's injury-time winner over Syria confirmed Australia's place in the Asia Cup knockout rounds. After an opening Asia Cup defeat to Jordan, Australia looked much more comfortable in a 3-0 win against Palestine. Uzbekistan prevailed 2-1 over Oman in their 2019 AFC Asian Cup opener courtesy of Eldor Shomurodov's late winner. Ritsu Doan added to Yuya Osaka's two goals to ensure Asian Cup favourites Japan kicked off their tournament with a 3-2 win. Japan's J League started in 1993. At the same time, the national team was doing well in qualification for the 1994 World Cup and what would be a first appearance on the global stage. Going into the final game against Iraq in Qatar, the Samurai Blue just had to win to book their ticket. The goal was duly scored, and at halftime the team's Dutch coach, Ha...
ESPN - 15.01.2019 12:24
David De Gea's 11 saves helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer become the first Man United manager to win his first six matches with a huge win at Tottenham. David De Gea's 11 saves helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer become the first Man United manager to win his first six matches with a huge win at Tottenham. Craig Burley goes to the tape and demonstrates how the pace of Manchester United's front three played a key role in their win at Tottenham. Stewart Robson shares his thoughts on how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tactics and vital saves from David de Gea helped them overcome Tottenham 1-0 at Wembley. Check out the best of David De Gea's 11-save performance for Manchester United in a crucial 1-0 win at Tottenham. David De Gea's 11 saves helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer become the first Man United manager to win his first six matches with a huge win at Tottenham. Harry Kane will be sidelined for two months after scans confirmed ankle lig...
ESPN - 15.01.2019 10:10
Willian's sublime second-half curler gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Newcastle, at Stamford Bridge. Willian's sublime second-half curler gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Newcastle, at Stamford Bridge. Willian's sublime second-half curler gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Newcastle, at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri says he needs to have cover for Jorginho after Cesc Fabregas left the club to join Monaco. Cesc Fabregas may no longer be a Chelsea player, but he has aimed a parting shot to former teammate Alvaro Morata that may have kicked off 2019's first social media craze. If you are one of the many people who are trying to cut meat and dairy out of your diet for "Veganuary," or just bristle at the sight of food being wasted, best look away now. At some point during a standard day at training, Morata obviously took Fabregas aside and told him about his theory that an egg won't break if it lands...
ESPN - 15.01.2019 09:30
Craig Burley says Arsenal's recent poor form was always expected, and the club have to respect Unai Emery's treatment of Mesut Ozil. With reports Mesut Ozil would reject a January loan move, ESPN FC's Raf Honigstein examines how he can get in Unai Emery's squad on a regular basis. With Mesut Ozil reportedly missing out on Arsenal's trip to Liverpool, the FC crew assess his future at the club and the issue his wages present. The transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs is open again. Transfer Talk has been scouring the world's media and setting our correspondents loose to see who could be heading to/out of your club this month. TOP STORY: Ozil out, whatever the cost Arsenal are willing to pay some of Mesut Ozil's wages after he leaves the Emirates if that would make a potential move more likely, according to the Mirror. Just one year ago, the German signed a new contract that made him the club's highest-earning player...
ESPN - 15.01.2019 05:53
Rafael Nadal, the 2009 champion, was impressive on Wednesday night as he advanced to the Australian Open third round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Matthew Ebden. Nadal served superbly, mixing up his service placement with his refined service motion, throughout the one-hour and 56-minute clash on Rod Laver Arena. The 249th match win of his career at Grand Slam championships (248-36), included losing just 10 of his first-service points (43/53) and 33 winners. World No. 2 Nadal will next play #NextGenATP Australian Alex de Minaur, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam championship for the third consecutive time after he stifled a comeback from Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3 in three hours and 52 minutes during the night session. De Minaur held one match point at 7-6 in the third set tie-break. Nadal leads De Minaur 1-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, having won their Wimbledon 2018 third-round encounter 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Last week,...
ATP - 16.01.2019 13:04
Marin Cilic needed three hours and 37 minutes to overcome Mackenzie McDonald 7-5, 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Wednesday. The sixth seed, who has reached the third round in Melbourne on eight occasions, hit 67 winners and won 77 per cent of first-serve points (63/82) to improve to 28-10 at the event. Last year, Cilic beat Rafael Nadal and Kyle Edmund to reach his first final at Melbourne Park (l. to Federer). This marks the second straight year that McDonald has pushed a Top 10 seed in the Australian Open second round. In 2018, the American fell in five sets to No. 3 seed Grigor Dimitrov. Cilic will face 2009 semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco for a place in the fourth round. The 35-year-old Spaniard defeated Radu Albot of Moldova 6-1, 7-6(2), 6-3 in two hours and 28 minutes. Karen Khachanov reached the third round in Melbourne for the first time, defeating Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. The 10th seed, who beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to claim the Rolex Paris Masters t...
ATP - 16.01.2019 08:11
Roger Federer might have preferred a quicker or a tidier second-round showing in Melbourne, but the two-time defending champion will take a ticket to the third round however it comes. Federer fought off Brit Dan Evans, who was ready for the occasion, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-3 to stay perfect in Australian Open second-rounders (20-0). The 37-year-old did more than continue to ease his way into the season's first Grand Slam. Federer more than tripled his winner to unforced error tally (56 to 17) and took the match to Evans, winning 74 per cent of his net points (45/61). [ALSO LIKE] But credit Evans, who also played an attacking brand of tennis and had chances to put a real scare into the 20-time Grand Slam champion. The 28-year-old mixed in his honed backhand slice with his heavy forehand and had the first set on his racquet, serving at 5/4 in the tie-break. But two errant forehand volleys, including one to an open court, gave Federer a set point on his racquet, an opportunity the third seed d...
ATP - 16.01.2019 07:44
Fifth seed Kevin Anderson cruised through the opening set against Frances Tiafoe but lost his way thereafter, allowing the American youngster to seal a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 upset victory.
Daily Mail - 16.01.2019 06:48
Sloane Stephens made it through to the third round of the Australian Open with a reasonably comfortable straight-sets victory over Timea Babos in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Daily Mail - 16.01.2019 04:07
All the kinks had been worked out for Viktor Troicki. The 32-year-old Serbian had already played four matches, including qualifying, and he knew the Melbourne conditions as well as anyone before his second-round match. But it didn't matter against Greece's #NextGenATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas, who played aggressively and outdid the Serbian veteran on Wednesday 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the first time. Tsitsipas made history on Monday, becoming the first Greek player to win a match at the Australian Open. Next he'll try to match some personal best Grand Slam showings. He reached the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, his best Grand Slam performance. He'll face Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in the fourth round. Basilashvili found a way to beat Italian qualifier Stefano Travaglia 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 despite hitting more unforced errors (57) than winners (42). [ALSO LIKE] Tsitsipas dominated for the first set and a half be...
ATP - 16.01.2019 03:54
Milos Raonic barely put a foot wrong and played with great discipline on Tuesday night to work his way past Australian hope Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open. The No. 16 seed from Canada dominated on serve to beat Kyrgios 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4 for a second-round meeting against 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka. Raonic lost just 11 of his service points — six on first serve (52/58) and five on second serve (17/22) — against Kyrgios, who received treatment for a right knee injury that required re-strapping. He struck 53 winners to improve to 4-3 lifetime against Kyrgios, who hit 15 aces and committed 15 unforced errors. [ALSO LIKE] Raonic broke Kyrgios in the 10th game to seal the first set and his greater weight of shot, in addition to his willingness to play at the net, reaped dividends in the second set. After missing out on a set point at 5-4, with Kyrgios serving at 30/40, Raonic held his nerve to win the 200th tie-break of his career (200-123). He carried the momentum into the...
ATP - 15.01.2019 11:58
Six-time former champion Novak Djokovic extended his perfect record to 17-0 against qualifiers at major championships on Tuesday night as he began his Australian Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over American Mitchell Kruger for a place in the second round. World No. 1 Djokovic, who is hoping to capture his 15th Grand Slam championship crown and move ahead of Pete Sampras (14) in the all-time major singles title list, will now challenge France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 finalist, who is returning from left knee surgery last year. Djokovic leads Tsonga 16-6 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Earlier in the day, Tsonga lost just three of his first-service points (50/53) and struck 23 aces in a 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Martin Klizan of Slovakia in two hours and 26 minutes. [ALSO LIKE] Having lost his first service game in the third game, Djokovic immediately bounced back to dominate baseline rallies and push around Krueger, who was playing just his second major ...
ATP - 15.01.2019 10:41
For two sets on Tuesday, Poland's Kamil Majchrzak played the match of his life against Japan's Kei Nishikori at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old was blasting winners from the corners, withstanding Nishikori's aggressive style and, incredibly, the No. 176 player in the ATP Rankings was winning. The Polish qualifier, in his Grand Slam debut, led the eighth seed 6-3, 7-6(6) and had fans inside Margaret Court Arena rooting for an upset. But it turned quickly. He started cramping in his legs and in his hands. He stopped sprinting for balls and stopped winning games. Nishikori stayed focused, and, after nearly three hours, advanced 3-6, 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-2, 3-0 when Majchrzak retired. [ALSO LIKE] The Brisbane International champion, who missed Melbourne last year because of a wrist injury, avoided his first opening-round exit at a Slam since the 2015 US Open (l. to Paire). Nishikori will next meet Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who dismissed Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 7-6(5)....
ATP - 15.01.2019 04:36
For the first time since the 2002 Australian Open, recently retired Max Mirnyi is not competing in the doubles draw of a Grand Slam. A former No. 1 player in the ATP Doubles Rankings, the Belarusian played 84 of the past 86 doubles majors. But Mirnyi is still keeping a close eye on the sport he played professionally for more than 20 years, and he is excited to watch what happens at the 2019 Australian Open. With that being said, Mirnyi does not want to make predictions, knowing how tough all the teams competing are. “To comment and predict any tennis event is a very hard and unpredictable thing, and doubles is much moreso,” Mirnyi said. However, ‘The Beast’ told ATPTour.com what to look out for in Melbourne during the fortnight. The Bryan Brothers Are Back Together "I’m happy to see that Bob and Mike are back together. They had a promising start in Auckland by taking out Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, I think that’s a good sign. I would recomme...
ATP - 14.01.2019 22:14
Andy Murray has been knocked out the Australian Open after losing to Roberto Bautista Agut in what may be his final ever match. The Brit lost the first two sets but displayed his remarkable ability and spirit to fight back and force the clash into a fifth set. However, Bautista Agut eventually triumphed 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-7 […]
TalkSport - 14.01.2019 13:13