Liverpool secured their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over Brighton, driven by a stellar performance from Cody Gakpo, who scored twice to break the game open after a cagey first half. After a goalless 45 minutes, Gakpo wasted no time, scoring just a minute into the second half. The Dutch forward cut inside and unleashed a stunning strike that left the Brighton goalkeeper no chance. The goal energized the game, and Liverpool’s debutant goalkeeper, Vitezslav Jaros, kept the momentum going with a brilliant one-handed save to deny Simon Adingra’s header shortly afterward. Brighton’s Evan Ferguson…
Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi
Rúben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon’s current manager and the man widely expected to take over Manchester United, is likely to remain with Sporting until the international break in mid-November. Despite reports suggesting a deal is “done” after Erik ten Hag’s departure, confusion persists as United and Sporting officials have yet to confirm an agreement. Sporting insists that no official deal has been finalized, though Manchester United board member Sir Dave Brailsford fueled speculation by telling fans “it’s done” before Wednesday’s EFL Cup victory against Leicester City. Sources in Portugal support Brailsford’s statement, yet Sporting holds firm that talks remain ongoing. The…
Atalanta has commended Ademola Lookman following his impressive 14th place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, making him the only African player on this year’s 30-man shortlist. Lookman, a standout for both club and country, was recognized at the prestigious award ceremony held in Paris, France, on Monday. Atalanta expressed pride in their star forward, posting, “14th place for Mola: proud of you, Ade.” The Nigerian international’s season was marked by remarkable performances, notably his hat-trick in the Europa League final, which secured Atalanta a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. His achievements at the club level were matched by…
The Phoenix Suns handed the Los Angeles Lakers their first defeat of the 2024 NBA season in a dramatic 109-105 clash at the Footprint Center on Tuesday night. The Suns’ dynamic duo, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, combined for an impressive 63 points, with Booker scoring 33 and Durant contributing 30. This stunning display secured a hard-fought win for Phoenix and ended the Lakers’ unbeaten start. Durant, who recently reached an extraordinary career milestone by surpassing 29,000 career points, displayed his usual scoring prowess. Meanwhile, Booker took charge down the stretch, helping the Suns rally past a Lakers team that…
Former Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has signed with Serie A club Genoa on a free transfer. The 34-year-old joins after a spell with Turkish club Adana Demirspor and will make his return to Italian football for the first time in over three years, following his departure from Monza in 2021. Balotelli’s move to Genoa marks a new chapter in a colorful career that has taken him across Europe. Known as much for his on-field talent as his off-field antics, Balotelli has remained a high-profile figure in football since his breakthrough. His time in the Premier League with…
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that forward Diogo Jota will be sidelined until after the November international break due to a rib injury. The Portuguese striker suffered the injury during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on October 20 following a collision with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo. Jota, 27, has missed the last two matches and has yet to return to training. He is expected to miss at least four more games, including Liverpool’s upcoming EFL Cup clash against Brighton, as well as Premier League and Champions League fixtures. The international break, running from November 11-19, will provide additional time…
Bayern Munich and England midfielder Georgia Stanway believes it was “inevitable” that the Lionesses would reach a “plateau” after recent successes, following mounting criticism of their performance in the Women’s Nations League and their failure to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games. The Lionesses, who celebrated historic milestones by winning Euro 2022 and reaching the 2023 World Cup final, have since faced growing scrutiny over recent results. On Friday, England suffered a 4-3 defeat to Germany in a Wembley friendly, marking the first time they’ve conceded four goals under manager Sarina Wiegman. Reflecting on the loss and the team’s recent…
FIFA has appointed former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to lead a taskforce dedicated to addressing growing concerns over player welfare, as calls to address an increasingly congested football calendar escalate. This new initiative comes after top European leagues and the players’ union, Fifpro, filed a complaint to the European Commission against FIFA, accusing the organization of abusing its power by overloading the international fixture schedule. The taskforce will include representatives from FIFA’s global football development team, led by Wenger, as well as delegates from member associations, confederations, the European Club Association, and the World Leagues Association. The players’ union Fifpro…
Zambia’s football community has been shaken by a tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC. The team was en route to a third-tier league match in the northwestern region of the country when the accident occurred, leaving the nation in mourning. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) released a statement expressing “deep shock” at the accident. FAZ President Andrew Kamanga confirmed they are coordinating with local authorities to gather comprehensive details of the incident. Alongside the seven fatalities, twelve other passengers sustained injuries, with five of the more critically injured being transferred…
Manchester United have confirmed the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag following a disappointing start to the season that leaves the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. The Dutchman’s final game at the helm was Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham, extending United’s dismal run to just three wins from their first nine league matches. The club has appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined as Ten Hag’s assistant last year, as interim manager while the search for a permanent head coach is underway. Van Nistelrooy will take charge immediately, hoping to rally the team after a troubled…
