Sports

Pep Guardiola is proud of the way Manchester City have engaged in a seemingly relentless battle with Liverpool this season but acknowledges it will mean little if they do not retain the Premier League title.

Defending champions City trail Liverpool by two points heading into their game in hand at home to Leicester City on Monday, with the Reds winning late at Newcastle United on Saturday.

This tense tussle will go to the wire and Guardiola is delighted to be able to keep pace with a Liverpool side he ranks among the best he has ever faced.

It has made for a title race Guardiola considers his toughest, but he feels City will not get the credit they deserve unless they are victorious.

It s the toughest league I ever played, with the quality from the rival…

Thomas Tuchel laughed off Ralf Rangnick s claim he was offered the Chelsea job in February, saying: Hopefully he got the date wrong.

Rangnick was this week appointed as Manchester United s interim manager until the end of the season.

The German confirmed in his first United news conference on Friday that he had turned down an opportunity to replace Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge on a four-month deal.

Tuchel was not surprised to hear his compatriot may have been approached by the Blues hierarchy, but hopes it came earlier than stated given the former Paris Saint-Germain boss took charge of the London club late in January.

When asked about Rangnick s comments, Tuchel served up a quip as he said: So maybe after our draw against Wolverhampton [Tuchel …

West Ham have completed the signing of Said Benrahma after days of uncertainty over the Brentford star s future.

The 25-year-old had appeared set to move to London Stadium after weeks of speculation, only for reports to emerge of complications with his medical on Friday.

Manager David Moyes insisted it was not true Benrahma had failed his medical but could not offer any guarantees the deal would be completed before the deadline of 1700 local time.

However, the Hammers later confirmed they have secured the signing of the Algeria international on loan with an obligation for a permanent deal.

COYI  

— West Ham United (@WestHam)

West Ham is a historic club, which has been in the Premier League for a very long time. It included and still …

England hit back from a goal down to defeat Colombia and book an appetising World Cup semi-final showdown against co-hosts Australia next week.

The Matildas were earlier tested to their limit but they kept their bid for success on home soil alive following a nail-biting penalty shoot-out triumph over France.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look back on the day as the last four line-up was confirmed.

Lionesses roar

The absence of the suspended Lauren James might have come back to bite England, who fell behind after 44 minutes when Leicy Santos looped an effort over Mary Earps at a sold-out Stadium Australia in Sydney.

However, England capitalised on a major slice of fortune to equalise before half-time as Colombia goalkeeper Catalina Perez inexplicably f…

Barcelona seized control of Group D in the Women s Champions League by thrashing Bayern Munich 3-0 in front of a crowd of 46,967 – a new group-stage record.

Second-half goals from Geyse, Aitana Bonmati and Claudia Pina helped Jonatan Giraldez s team maintain their perfect record in the competition on Thursday, as well as ending that of Bayern.

The Camp Nou crowd – which surpassed the competition s previous group-stage record of 18,341 by a considerable margin – had to remain patient for the opener, but the Blaugrana were good value for their win after Brazil international Geyse broke the deadlock.

The result moved Barca three points clear of their opponents as well as maintaining their six-point advantage over Benfica, who beat Rosengard 1-0 courtesy of Clo…

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has insisted that he wants to keep in-form striker Radamel Falcao Garcia at the Estadio Vicente Calderón, .

Radamel Enrique García King, Falcao s father, stirred up a bit of controversy after revealing that his son has always wanted to play for European giants Real Madrid, who happen to be Atleti s bitter inner-city rivals, earlier this month.

My son s dream is Real Madrid. Since he was little he has always wanted to play for Real Madrid, .

In response, Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo told AS:

I want to keep Falcao in the squad. For us, the Colombian is a reference point on the pitch and today he is key for Atletico.

I prefer not to comment on any controversy with his father. At…

Roma forward Francesco Totti has played down suggestions he is winding down his playing days.

The former Italy international has spent the entirety of his career with the capital club, racking up over 500 appearances since 1992 and becoming their all-time top goalscorer in the process.

He seemed to have dispelled fears he was close to retirement after penning a new five-year contract in 2009, but has only two years remaining on his deal.

Yet Totti is refusing to look too far ahead into the future, saying he is happy to take each match as it comes.

For me, it s just football, he told TV Sorrisi e Canzoni. I always think about the next game.

Maybe when I retire, I will figure something out to warmly greet everyone for their support, but now it i…

Schalke will be hoping to extend their lead on top of Group B when they host Arsenal at the Veltins-Arena on Tuesday.

The German outfit are currently one point ahead of the Gunners after their 2-0 victory at the Emirates on matchday three and victory in Gelsenkirchen will go a long way to ensure qualification into the knockout round for the second time in three seasons.

Huub Stevens men are currently second on the Bundesliga table and despite suffering a last-minute defeat to Hoffenheim on the weekend they have been in good form over the past month, winning six of their last seven matches.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has looked particularly dangerous for his side so far this season with the 29-year-old scoring in each of Schalke s three Champions League fi…

Han Berger says he is dissatisfied with his progress after being reappointed as Football Federation Australia s national technical director.

Berger is set to remain as technical director until July 2014 after FFA CEO David Gallop announced the extension of his contract on Wedesday.

The 62-year-old Dutchman was given the FFA s head technical role in January 2009 and introduced his national football curriculum four months later but remains convinced Australia has a long way to go in its football development.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue my work with FFA which has given me great satisfaction and enjoyment over the last four years, Berger said.

I am not at all satisfied that we have gone as far as we can go in lifting the quality of ou…

Jay Rodriguez scored one and assisted another as Southampton won 2-1 at relegated Middlesbrough to record their first victory in six games and move up to ninth in the Premier League.

Forward Rodriguez had not netted since January, but struck late in the first half to give Saints the early advantage.

And he set up half-time substitute Nathan Redmond to strike after the break, shortly before Shane Long struck the crossbar with a penalty.

Boro, playing their first match since their top-flight relegation was confirmed by defeat to Chelsea on Monday, got one back when Patrick Bamford headed in with 18 minutes remaining, the striker s first goal in over two years.

But there was no way back for the hosts who have now won just once in 20 league games as Saints bo…