USMNT talking to former Chelsea, Tottenham manager in huge coup ahead of England

Curtis Jones netted an outstanding first senior goal to carry a youthful Liverpool side to an impressive 1-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton in the third round of the FA Cup at Anfield.

Top of the Premier League and through to the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool appeared to be prioritising their other commitments until Jones came to the fore.

Jurgen Klopp included new signing Takumi Minamino among a clutch of established names at Anfield but largely put his faith in young stars, who held their own admirably against an experienced Everton outfit.

Adrian was required to make a string of saves in the first half, before the hosts took control of the second period and scored in stunning fashion through 18-year-old Jones with 19 minutes to play, extend…

Alexis Sanchez is eyeing a dream Champions League crown with Manchester United as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.

Sanchez missed out on European glory at Barcelona, who won the 2011 trophy prior to his arrival from Udinese and again in 2015 after the Chilean star left for Arsenal.

And Sanchez, who has struggled for form since swapping Arsenal for United in January last year, is determined to fulfil his dream at Old Trafford.

The Champions League is a dream for any footballer, Sanchez told the Mirror ahead of Tuesday s first leg against PSG in Manchester.

I lived with that dream at Barcelona and saw what it was like. I hope I can win it one day and why not here?

We have got through the group stage and PSG are next. It…

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has ruled out selling Robert Lewandowski, who is reportedly a target for Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old, who has scored 32 goals this season, has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the campaign, with the European champions said to be eager to bring in a new striker to compete with Karim Benzema.

Lewandowski s decision to make Pini Zahavi his new agent has encouraged talk that he wants to bring his four-year spell at Bayern to an end.

However, Rummenigge pointed to a failed attempt from Chelsea to sign Franck Ribery 10 years ago as proof that the Bundesliga champions will not be forced into selling their best players.

Magik!  

— Łączy nas piłka (@LaczyNasPilka)

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa is set to make the jump back over to Brazil in order to join Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo. The proposed deal is believed to be worth around £25 million, with Costa joining a handful of players that have made the move back down to South America. 

The controversial forward has done a solid enough job at Atletico since arriving from Chelsea, but his personality and general attitude always seems to be a much bigger source of intrigue for the masses than his actual playing ability. 

Whether or not this marks the end of his time in European football remains to be seen, but considering how much noise he likes to make with pretty much every step he takes in the game, you’d have to …

Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has admitted that it would be a “dream” to play in Serie A at some point in his career.

The Belgium international left his homeland for a career in England as a teenager in 2011 and represented Chelsea and Everton, as well as having a productive loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, prior to moving to United in 2017.

At some point the 25-year-old would like to test himself in Italy, but Lukaku insists he is only thinking about his future at Old Trafford for the time being.

Winning is all what matters

— R.Lukaku Bolingoli9 (@RomeluLukaku9)

Playing in Serie A is a dream, it would be really a dream,” he told Sky Italia.

I hope to be able to play sooner or later, even if at the moment I am foc…

Karim Benzema has been given the green light to join Arsenal at the end of the season, according to the Express.

The North London club have long been linked with the former Lyon man and with the European Champions suffering a stuttering start to this campaign, his time at the Bernabeu could finally be over.

Should he make the switch to the Emirates Stadium, it would see him link up with fellow France internationals Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud though the latter could himself be on his way after continuing speculation surrounding his future.

Benzema moved to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2009 and has so far racked up three hundred and seventy-eight appearances in all competitions, scoring one hundred and eighty-two times.

During that…

Pep Guardiola claimed this season s Champions League will be more difficult than ever for Manchester City to win.

City are in their 10th consecutive season in the competition and have never got further than a semi-final appearance in 2015-16 when Manuel Pellegrini was charge.

Guardiola, who twice won the Champions League as Barcelona head coach, was appointed City manager with a remit to bring European silverware to the club.

Under the Catalan they have consistently reached the knockout phase, but have never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

And ahead of their Group C clash with Olympiacos on Tuesday, Guardiola acknowledged the quest to become European champions seems to become more of a challenge with each passing season.

It’s tough…

Mohamed Elyounoussi s first-half double was not enough for Celtic as they squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Lille in Thursday s Europa League Group H clash at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Celtic attacker Elyounoussi went some way to easing the growing pressure on boss Neil Lennon with his brace in the space of four minutes against the in-form hosts, who are now unbeaten in 10 games this season.

Scott Bain kept out Jonathan David s penalty and Sven Botman hit the crossbar before the interval in what was looking like being a frustrating day for Lille.

But a first victory away at French opposition in nine attempts since 1966 ultimately eluded Lennon s men as Zeki Celik and Jonathan Ikone struck in the second half to snatch a point for the Ligue 1 club.

A s…

Ninety minutes was not enough to separate Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final on Sunday.

Madrid emerged victorious in a penalty shoot-out in Jeddah after extra time finished with the two sides still locked at 0-0.

It marked the fifth straight time a single-game final between the city rivals has gone to the additional 30 minutes.

Here we look back at an incredible run of all-Madrid marathons.

2013 Copa del Rey final: Real Madrid 1-2 Atletico Madrid

The third trophy won by Diego Simeone with Atletico, the Rojiblancos beat their rivals in their own backyard in a dramatic final at the Santiago Bernabeu that saw then Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabi sent off.

Ronaldo had put Madrid ah…

Aliou Cisse vowed Senegal will leave our mark at the World Cup as they look to extend their perfect opening-game record at the tournament when they face the Netherlands.

The reigning African champions have won their previous two openers – a shock 1-0 win over France in 2002 and a 2-1 victory against Poland in 2018.

Senegal reached the quarter-finals 20 years ago, but they were eliminated in the group stage in the most recent edition and Cisse is hoping for a different outcome this time.

The aim is to get out of this group. Once we get out of this group, we know that it will be a knockout tournament, he told reporters.

We will leave our mark. People are already looking ahead to the last 16, the quarter-finals, but we will be taking it a game at a time…