Saul backs Griezmann for Ballon d´Or

Jurgen Klopp could feel the emotion inside Anfield as Jon Flanagan made his Liverpool return after almost 18 months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Flanagan received a rapturous ovation from the Liverpool faithful as he made his first competitive appearance for the senior side since the final day of the 2013-14 Premier League season against Newcastle United.

The 23-year-old came on as a substitute and replaced Connor Randall in the 51st minute of Wednesday s 3-0 win over Exeter City in the FA Cup third round replay.

The German was touched by Flanagan s return and his reception, praising the defender s character and spirit for getting himself back to fitness.

When Flanno [Flanagan] came in it was a great moment after this long time. To be hon…

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri claims he does not care about his side equaling the club s run of successive Serie A victories, but praised their convincing display in Sunday s 4-0 win at Chievo.

Alvaro Morata scored twice in the first half at the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi before Alex Sandro and Paul Pogba completed the triumph in Verona.

It matched Juve s record run of 12 successive league victories in a single season set during 2013-14 and kept the pressure on Napoli in the title race.

Aside from a Roberto Inglese effort well saved by Gianluigi Buffon in the final stages, Juve were rarely troubled and Allegri was thrilled to see his side continue the recovery from a woeful start to their Scudetto defence.

But, asked about equaling the …

According to reports in Italy, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are stepping up their interest in Joachim Andersen courtesy of the defender s fantastic form for Sampdoria as of late. The 22 year old put in yet another good shift against Cagliari in the week, with his coach stating that he s happy he took a chance on him when he did.

The Dane made the jump over to Italian football from FC Twente back in 2017, in what would prove to be the best move of his career thus far. While some fans would much prefer to see him continue his development with Sampdoria, he s at the age now where it makes sense for him to take a leap of faith so to speak by trying something different.

Inter and Dortmund would both serve as credible destinations for him to improve his skills, with the …

Thilo Kehrer has urged his team to write their names into the West Ham history books by winning the Europa Conference League final.

The Hammers face mid-table Serie A side Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday night with the aim of lifting their first major piece of silverware for 43 years.

The 1980 FA Cup was their most recent major trophy while their solitary success in Europe was clinching the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.

Kehrer is determined for West Ham to finish the job at the end of a rollercoaster season that produced a 14th-placed finish in the Premier League.

“Making history is being in the final, we know that. Now our focus and vision is completing the goal,” Germany defender Kehrer said.

“I said it at the beginning of the season witho…

Bayern Munich claimed their sixth European Cup on Sunday evening as they edged Paris Saint Germain 1-0 in Lisbon.

In what was a cagey final between the two European powerhouses, it was Kingsley Coman s strike just before the hour that proved to be the difference.

Here are five things we learnt from the conclusion to 2019/20 European season

Not a predicted goal-fest

Coming into the match, it was somewhat expected that there would be plenty of goals considering two of the highest-scoring teams in the competition this season were facing off. Indeed, Bayern had previously netted on 42 occasions throughout the campaign, whilst PSG had managed to score 25 goals in the Champions League this campaign.

Neither side really were able to harness that irrepressible…

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Stoke forward Jonathan Walters scored from the spot to seal all three points for the Potters against Arsenal this afternoon at a ground where the Gunners last win came in 2010. While many felt the record would all change due to a change in manager for Stoke in the summer, Arsenal just couldn’t find the breakthrough in the 90 minutes.

As a result, they’re being ruled out of the title race, and Coral are giving odds of a whopping 20/1 on the London side to win the Premier League with Arsenal currently four points off top, level on points with in-form Liverpool. If Manchester City win their two games in hand, they will go top of the table above second-placed Chelsea on goal-differen…

German international striker Kevin Grosskreutz boosted Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund on Sunday as he extended his contract by two years to 2014, announced club president Hans-Joachim Watzke.

The 22-year-old capped twice by the World Cup semi-finalists is one of several young players blooded this season by Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp which has seen them win 12 of their 14 matches.

They are seven points clear of second-placed Mainz and 14 ahead of champions Bayern Munich.

Grosskreutz, signed in 2009, has scored four times this season including one on Saturday in the crushing 4-1 victory over Borussia Monchenglabach.

Klopp himself has extended his contract to 2014 while goalkeeper and captain Roman Weidenfeller should also soon extend his present one…

LDU Quito coach Claudio Borghi hopes to tempt former Barcelona and Boca Juniors midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme out of retirement

The midfielder, who made 51 appearances for Argentina during his career, announced his retirement from football in January following a spell under the former Chile coach at Argentinos Juniors.

Borghi, who was unveiled as the new LDU coach this month, has revealed his ambition to reunite with Riquelme by coaxing him back into action ahead of the 2016 Copa Libertadores.

If I have the approval of the president, I will call Riquelme, Borghi told Radio Mitre.

I have a very special affection for him, I always like the idea of a return to playing.

Riquelme is very humble. The club has availabilities in its quota of foreig…

AS Roma are in pole position to sign Lazio youngster Moustapha Seck, La Repubblica has suggested.

The 19-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and with the Biancocelesti opting against offering him a new deal, the talented defender will soon become a free agent.

Lazio officials were hoping that Seck would leave Italy altogether, but the latest reports suggest he could cross the divide and sign for arch rivals AS Roma.

The Giallorossi sporting director Walter Sabbatini has already offered the left-back a three-year deal and it is only a matter of time before he joins Luciano Spalletti’s ranks.

The Senegalese joined Lazio on a free transfer from Barcelona in the summer of 2013, but he will now be leaving the Biancocelesti without making a …

Kieffer Moore headed home to earn Wales a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opening Group A match at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

The Cardiff City striker was recalled to Wales starting line-up for Saturday s clash and justified interim boss Rob Page s selection call by earning his side a crucial point.

Switzerland had won their previous six games and were on course for another victory when Breel Embolo guided in Xherdan Shaqiri s corner early in the second half.

However, Vladimir Petkovic s side could not hold on and were further frustrated late on when substitute Mario Gavranovic had a goal ruled out for offside.

The draw leaves Italy top of Group A following their 3-0 win over Turkey in Rome on Friday.

Four of Kieffer Moore s six goals for Wales…