Premier League: Mario signing risky, admits Rodgers after City claim win August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER CITY 3 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers admits the signing of Mario Balotelli represents a gamble after Manchester City delivered a statment of intent and issued an early hammer blow to their title rivals thanks to a double from Montenegro hitman Stevan Jovetic at the Etihad Stadium last night. The former Fiorentina frontman [...]
Balotelli feels the English top flight is home August 25, 2014 ITALY striker Mario Balotelli savoured his return to English football last night and revealed his regret at quitting the Premier League for an 18-month spell at AC Milan. Balotelli watched from the stands as his new club Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by his former team Manchester City, hours after his £16m had been confirmed. The [...]
United poised to push summer spending to £140m with Di Maria August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED were last night attempting to finalise the British record signing of Argentina winger Angel di Maria in a deal that would take the club’s summer spending close to the £140m mark. The Old Trafford side are believed to have agreed a fee of £59.7m with European champions Real Madrid, with United keen to [...]
Reds roll the dice in £16m Balotelli bid August 21, 2014 LIVERPOOL could hand Mario Balotelli a debut in Monday’s top-of-the-table Premier League clash against former club Manchester City after closing in on a £16m deal for the controversial AC Milan star yesterday. Balotelli is expected to sign a contract worth around £90,000 per week at Anfield, where it is hoped the Italy striker will ease [...]
Europa League: Lamela spark sees Tottenham secure Europa advantage August 21, 2014 AEL 1 TOTTENHAM 2 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino praised the impact of his super subs as Spurs overturned a half-time deficit to secure a narrow first-leg lead in their Europa League qualifier against AEL last night. England Under-21 forward Harry Kane netted the winner with 10 minutes remaining after Spanish striker Roberto Soldado cancelled out [...]
A draw is best buoyant Arsenal can hope for at Goodison Park August 21, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION AND BILL ESDAILE GIVES US HIS RACING BETS FOR TOMORROW ARSENAL fans have every right to be optimistic at the moment. The once tight-fisted Arsene Wenger splashed the cash again – on Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Calum Chambers – and the Gunners have made a [...]
£16m Balotelli deal adds to record Liverpool transfer spend – but is signing the Italian a risk? August 21, 2014 Superstar, goalscorer and mischief maker Mario Balotelli is on the verge of joining Liverpool from A.C. Milan and returning to the Premier League after a 20-month absence. A fee of £16m has been reported for the transfer, which would take Liverpool’s total transfer spend this summer to over £130m* – a new record for [...]
NFL teams are on average more valuable than top Champions League sides August 21, 2014 What's the most valuable sports league in the world? Guesses for the La Liga, whose leading clubs have indulged in some lavish spending this summer, or the continued of the powerhouse Premier League would be understandable, but ultimately wrong. According to data compiled by Forbes, the National Football League (NFL) remains the most valuable sports [...]
Spurs target a Champions League place via back door August 20, 2014 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino is focused on the bigger picture as Spurs take their first step towards securing Europa League football this season with a first-leg qualifier against AEL in Cyprus tonight. Pochettino dismissed the Europa League as an unattractive competition while in the Southampton hotseat but has changed his tune now a rule change [...]
Palace disarray deepens as Mackay talks stall August 20, 2014 CARETAKER manager Keith Millen looks increasingly likely to take charge of Crystal Palace’s Premier League match with West Ham on Saturday after negotiations with leading candidate Malky Mackay stalled yesterday. The former Cardiff City boss had seemed in pole position to succeed Tony Pulis in the Selhurst Park hotseat but doubts have emerged about whether [...]