..::Football IV::..

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AC Milan 1 Lazio 0: Kessie on the spot to get Rossoneri back on track



AC Milan claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over top-four rivals Lazio as Franck Kessie kept his cool amid penalty drama at San Siro.

Gennaro Gattuso's men won for the first time in five Serie A matches to finish Saturday in the Champions League qualification places after Kessie slotted in from 12 yards 11 minutes from time.

Milan had only just had a spot-kick award overturned via a VAR review after referee Gianluca Rocchi decided Francesco Acerbi could do little when Hakan Calhanoglu drove the ball at his elbow.


But Lazio substitute Riza Durmisi wasted that reprieve by barging into Mateo Musacchio, showing a level of composure in stark contrast to that of Ivory Coast midfielder Kessie.Tempers were frayed at full-time as players from both sides were involved in skirmishes, with Gattuso playing the unlikely role of peacemaker.

Pepe Reina, starting once more in place of the injured Gianluigi Donnarumma, made a stunning reaction save in the third minute when Ciro Immobile sidefooted towards the bottom corner after a twinkle-toed run from Joaquin Correa.

Milan struggled to impose themselves during the opening exchanges, but Suso lifted over in the 31st minute following excellent hold-up play from Krzysztof Piatek.
The Poland striker then looped a header narrowly wide before Immobile struck the post in the 43rd minute.Correa's departure through injury early in the second half hindered Lazio, although Lucas Leiva fired Luis Alberto's right-wing corner into the side netting.

Cristian Zapata came on for injured Milan captain Alessio Romagnoli and embarked upon a mazy 70th-minute run from defence, playing in Piatek to be denied by Thomas Strakosha.The Lazio goalkeeper then found himself preparing for two penalties in quick succession and guessed incorrectly from the one he faced.

In a taste of what was to come, Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi was sent off for losing his cool with the officials, while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's rejected penalty appeal following Ricardo Rodriguez's stoppage-time challenge also did little for the visitors' collective mood.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 2 Mainz 1: Sancho double puts pressure on Bayern

Borussia Dortmund moved back to the Bundesliga summit after two goals from Jadon Sancho secured a 2-1 win over Mainz on Saturday.

Bayern Munich took control of the title race with a thumping 5-0 win over Lucien Favre's side last weekend, but Dortmund returned to winning ways to leapfrog Niko Kovac's men ahead of their game with Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday.England international Sancho was in scintillating form from the outset, scoring twice from close range inside the opening 24 minutes.

Mainz responded well to those early setbacks, twice hitting the post through Karim Onisiwo, and set up a tense finale when Robin Quaison prodded home seven minutes from time. Dortmund held on, though, to crank up the pressure on Bayern.
Jacob Bruun Larsen was denied early on by a smart stop from Florian Muller before Sancho scored his first in the 17th minute, the 19-year-old steering home Mario Gotze's cross with a controlled half-volley from eight yards.He then took his league tally for the season to 10 seven minutes later when his low effort from Thomas Delaney's cross crashed off Moussa Niakhate and past the helpless Muller.



The hosts did not have it all their own way in the first half, however. Onisiwo went close to pulling a goal back but his improvised flick clipped the outside of the post.
The visitors did most of the pressing during the second period and Onisiwo was again denied by the upright shortly after the hour-mark.

Substitute Quaison pulled one back in the 83rd minute from close range and they could have even snatched a dramatic point if not for some remarkable goalkeeping from Roman Burki, who denied Anthony Ujah three times in quick succession.

 

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Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.04.14

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2019.04.14

Crystal Palace Vs Manchester City

Liverpool Vs Chelsea

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LA Liga Fixtures 2019.04.14

LA Liga Fixtures 2019.04.14

Real Valladoid Vs Getafe

Athletic Bilbao Vs Rayo Vellecano

Real Sociedad Vs Eibar

Girona Vs Villareal

Valencia Vs Levante​

 

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Serie A Fixtures 2019.04.14

Serie A Fixtures 2019.04.14

Torino Vs Cagliari

Fiorentina Vs Bologna

Sampdoria Vs Genoa

Sassuolo Vs Parma

Chievo Vs Napoli

Frosinone Vs Inter​

 

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Bundesliga Fixtures 2019.04.14

Bundesliga Fixtures 2019.04.14

Hoffenheim Vs Hertha Berlin

Fortuna Vs Bayern

Frankfurt Vs Augsburg​

 

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සුභ අලුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා!!!

Football Thread එකේ හැමෝටමත් සාමය සතුට සෞභාග්‍යය සපිරුණු සුභ අලුත් අවුරුද්දක් වේවා!!

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Sanchez & Matic named in Man Utd squad for Barcelona clash


Manchester United duo Nemanja Matic and Alexis Sanchez could be set to make a return from injury this week after both were named in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s travelling party for their Champions League clash against Barcelona.

The pair were named among a 22-man squad for the trip to Camp Nou as the Red Devils aim to overturn a first leg 1-0 deficit against Ernesto Valverde’s side and reach the semi-finals for the first time in eight years.

Matteo Darmian is also named after a spell on the sidelines, while Luke Shaw also heads to Spain despite being banned for the tie after picking up a yellow card in defeat last Wednesday.

However, there is no place for Ander Herrera, who remains out with a hamstring problem.

The return of Matic hands a prospective major boost to United if he is able to play, with the Serbia international likely to slot into midfield as Solskjaer looks to mastermind his second remarkable European turnaround of the season.

The Norwegian led his side to the quarter-finals with a shock 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain last month, overturning the 2-0 reverse sustained at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford snatching a berth in the last eight with his late penalty.

Much has already been made of Solskjaer’s return to Camp Nou, where he famously helped United to an injury-time comeback win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final after coming off the bench.

Sanchez has struggled for game time this season but could also be in line for an appearance against his former club if fit as the Red Devils looks to bounce back from a wobbly run of form in recent weeks.

Since Solskjaer took the top job at Old Trafford on a permanent basis, United have only won two of their four games, with Saturday's victory over West Ham requiring two spot-kicks from Paul Pogba to seal the three points in a laboured performance.

Manchester United squad in full: David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant; Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw; Fred, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata; Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford.

 

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'He's brave to take the job now' - Carvajal acknowledges the size of the task facing Zidane at Real Madrid


Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal says that Zinedine Zidane was "brave" to resume managerial duties at the club towards the end of a turbulent 2018-19 campaign.

The Blancos are destined to finish the season without a trophy, after struggling to maintain their high standards throughout the year under the stewardship of both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari.

The former was drafted in to replace Zidane last summer - who left the club after masterminding a third successive European Cup win - but the Spaniard only lasted in the hot seat until November.

Solari fared little better overall despite a promising start and by the time his short reign ended, Madrid were out of the Champions League and Copa del Rey, while also facing a huge points deficit in La Liga.

Zidane decided to return to the Bernabeu at the start of March and he has since managed to oversee three wins from four to restore a sense of confidence within the squad.

Carvajal, however, admits that Madrid are not the same force they were during the Frenchman's first spell in charge, as he told Marca of his re-appointment: "It was the right one, at the time it was the best thing that could happen to us."We know we don't play the same, he knows our confidence is low and he's brave to take the job now."He knows us all very well, he knows the club and I think he's the most suitable."

Barcelona look set to retain the Spanish title this season and they also have a Copa del Rey final against Valencia to look forward to in May, while negotiating the latter stages of the Champions League.

Madrid have been unable to keep pace with their arch-rivals this term and securing a runners-up league finish ahead of Atletico Madrid is now the club's main aim over the next seven games.

Carvajal went on to state that although the squad has faced plenty of difficult challenges over the last 12 months, the players are united and focused on improving for the 2019-20 campaign."Being without anything to challenge for since March is something I haven't experienced, but we have a good group," he added.

"When you don't win the smiles aren't the same. We're united, we're aware that we must work to move forward."We look forward to finishing the season, winning the matches that are left and coming back strong next season."

Next up for Zidane's men is a trip to Leganes on Monday night and three points could see Madrid move back to within two points of Atletico in the La Liga standings.

 

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Salah: Four wins will give Liverpool the Premier League title


Liverpool will be champions if they win their last four Premier League games, says Mohamed Salah.The Reds went back to the top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Defending champions Manchester City had leapfrogged Jurgen Klopp's side earlier in the day by winning 3-1 at Crystal Palace but, after Sadio Mane headed in the opener at Anfield, Salah came up with a sensational long-range drive to seal all three points.

Liverpool will be champions if they win their last four Premier League games, says Mohamed Salah.The Reds went back to the top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Defending champions Manchester City had leapfrogged Jurgen Klopp's side earlier in the day by winning 3-1 at Crystal Palace but, after Sadio Mane headed in the opener at Anfield, Salah came up with a sensational long-range drive to seal all three points.

"I was lucky the ball hit the net like that."There are four other players within two goals of Salah and Aguero at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Sadio Mane’s opener against the Blues was his 18th league goal of the season, whilst Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Tottenham’s Harry Kane have all managed 17 so far this term.

 

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De Gea: Man Utd must improve to beat Barcelona


Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea warned the Red Devils must improve against Barcelona in the Champions League.

United travel to Barcelona on Tuesday trailing 1-0 in the quarter-final tie and struggling for form following their underwhelming Premier League victory against West Ham.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United – who had lost four of their past five games prior to Saturday's fixture – needed a late Paul Pogba penalty to see off West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer says that the club cannot look to past successes, including his in 1999, ahead of Tuesday's clash, but tee team can learn from their comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.

And De Gea issued a rallying cry ahead of the Camp Nou blockbuster after United failed to register a shot on target at home to Barca in the opening leg.

"Of course it's difficult, but if you want to be a top team you have to play big Champions League games, and the weekend after it's the Premier League," De Gea said.

"So you have to be focused and ready for a difficult game again. I think we didn't play well [against West Ham], we have to improve a lot and now we have a big challenge on Tuesday.

"We will try to fight and win the game. We can go with more confidence after the three points."It's a big challenge, a special occasion, in Spain, against Barcelona, a Champions League night, so it's going to be an amazing game.

"We're happy with the win, but at the same time we have to improve a lot."Manchester United currently sit fifth in the Premier League as they battle Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham for two spots in the top four.After facing Barca, they'll take on Everton on Sunday in their return to Premier League action.

 

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Ronaldinho offers Man Utd hope ahead of Barcelona clash


Ronaldinho says he expects Barcelona to overcome Manchester United and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals this week, but claims that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are still very much in the tie.

Barcelona emerged from the first leg as leaders after a Luke Shaw own goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.The Liga giants had chances to add to their lead but failed to take them and will go into Tuesday’s second leg at Camp Nou with a slender advantage.

And ex-Barcelona star Ronaldinho expects Barcelona to progress, but feels the first goal will be crucial.

“The truth is that Barcelona should have finished the game in Manchester - but at just 1-0 Manchester United will still believe that they are in this tie,” he claimed.
“With the way that Barcelona have been playing and the amount of goals they have been scoring, I do expect them to progress.“I see them even winning comfortably in Barcelona. It will all be on the first goal.“If Barcelona score it then it will be a long evening for Manchester United.

“But if they (Man Utd) can score the first goal then it's going to make the stadium nervous - and you never know what can happen then.”

The week’s other stand out quarter-final will come at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City will look to overturn Tottenham’s 1-0 lead from the first leg.
It was at this stage that City crashed out to English opposition in last season’s competition, with Liverpool getting the better of Pep Guardiola’s side over two legs.

Many are expecting an in-form City team to turn the tie around, but Ronaldinho believes that Tottenham are capable of going all the way in the Champions League this season.“Why can't Spurs win the Champions League?” he added.“Because they don't have the history in the competition - or because they have never won it before?

“Every team who has won the Champions League had to win it for the first time once.

“Their result against Manchester City, who are one of the best teams and have some of the best players in the competition, showed that they can compete with the best.

“At this stage they will believe they can go all the way - and if they play as they can then maybe they will.”

 

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Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0: Salah stunner sends Reds back to the summit

Mohamed Salah's incredible long-range rocket helped Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League with a crucial 2-0 win over Chelsea.Manchester City's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace earlier on Saturday piled pressure on the Reds and they passed the test thanks to two second-half goals in almost as many minutes.

Star man Salah rose to an emotionally charged occasion with a thumping 25-yard effort that whistled into the top-left corner and doubled the home side's lead following Sadio Mane's headed opener.


The victory, Liverpool's first against Chelsea at Anfield in seven Premier League meetings, restored a two-point lead at the top for Jurgen Klopp's men and exorcised the demons of the infamous 2-0 loss in this fixture that shattered their 2013-14 title hopes.

Salah, a Chelsea starter here five years ago, volleyed the earliest chance straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga.Eden Hazard and Willian issued warnings on the counter before Mane, provider of Salah's opportunity, shot wide from the Egypt star's cut-back.Chelsea encountered their first real disruption when a knee problem forced Antonio Rudiger to the bench before the break.

Two greater blows followed after the restart. Mane arrived at the far post to nod in Jordan Henderson's cute cross in the 51st minute and, moments later, Salah cut inside and sent Anfield ecstasy.

Hazard had an excellent pair of chances to hush the electric atmosphere, but the Belgian hit the base of the left post following Emerson Palmieri's ball over the top and then found Alisson from Willian's right-sided delivery.Maurizio Sarri's side otherwise had precious few opportunities as their grip on fourth weakened.

 

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Lille 5 Paris Saint-Germain 1: Galtier's men run riot against 10-man champions

Paris Saint-Germain crumbled at Stade Pierre-Mauroy as second-placed Lille postponed their visitors' title celebrations by inflicting an emphatic 5-1 victory after Juan Bernat was sent off.

On a night when nothing seemed to go to plan for his side, PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel saw Thomas Meunier put through his own net to give Lille the lead before Bernat pulled the visitors level.

The wing-back was then shown a straight red card for a foul on Nicolas Pepe, Meunier and captain Thiago Silva having already withdrawn due to injuries.


Pepe struck six minutes after half-time and further goals from Jonathan Bamba, Gabriel and Jose Fonte rubbed salt in the wounds of PSG, who failed to adjust to their man disadvantage.

PSG remain 17 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and will be expected to wrap up the title against Nantes in midweek, but Lille enjoyed one night of swaggering dominance as they strengthened their grip on second place.

Tuchel's men had a Kylian Mbappe goal disallowed after two minutes but then fell behind when Meunier unwittingly diverted Jonathan Ikone's looping cross into his own net.

Mpabbe ensured the visitors' response was swift and incisive, marauding down the right flank and showing exceptional control before chipping the ball to Bernat, who stroked in a first-time shot from close range.Mbappe thought he had scored himself after an electric burst of pace but he was flagged offside, shortly before both injuries and Bernat's rashness drastically altered PSG's prospects.

Pepe went through on goal again six minutes into the second half, when he latched onto Ikone's defence-splitting pass and rolled a finish under Alphonse Areola's body.

The lively Bamba scored the second of two superb opportunities that came his way, lashing the ball just inside Areola's near post after 65 minutes.

Gabriel, on for injured Lille skipper Adama Soumaoro, rose to head home Lille's fourth 19 minutes from time and fellow defender Fonte was similarly unmarked as he converted Pepe's corner to complete the rout.

 

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Frosinone 1 Inter 3: Nainggolan, Perisic and Vecino cement top-four berth

Inter held off Frosinone's second-half fightback to strengthen their position inside Serie A's top four thanks to Sunday's 3-1 win at Stadio Benito Stirpe.

Goals from Radja Nainggolan and Ivan Perisic before the interval appeared to put Luciano Spalletti's side on course for a routine victory over their relegation-threatened hosts, who remain eight points from safety.But Francesco Cassata halved the deficit just past the hour with an effort that Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic ought to have repelled.

That strike breathed fresh life into the contest as the Nerazzurri were forced to hold on somewhat grimly for the remainder, ultimately securing a success that cements their place in third thanks to Matias Vecino's injury-time goal.They now sit six points clear of fifth-place Roma, who visit San Siro next weekend.

Frosinone came into the game in possession of the division's worst home record and found themselves behind inside 20 minutes as Danilo D'Ambrosio crossed from the right and Nainggolan steered the ball into the bottom-left corner.

Luca Paganini ought to have done better than guide a free header over from eight yards as the hosts sought a swift response and they were masters of their own downfall in going two behind before the break.Raman Chibsah inexplicably bear-hugged Milan Skriniar to the floor at a corner and Perisic calmly converted the spot-kick, sending Marco Sportiello the wrong way.

Sportiello saved impressively from Matteo Politano one-on-one as Inter threatened to put the game completely to bed and that stop took on added importance as Cassata's effort from the edge of the box squirmed under Handanovic's right arm.

Camillo Ciano whipped a free-kick narrowly wide and Lorenzo Ariaudo headed straight at Handanovic as Frosinone harnessed their momentum, only for any hopes of salvaging a point to be decisively quashed by Vecino's well-worked goal.

 

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Fortuna Dusseldorf 1 Bayern Munich 4: Coman double sends Kovac's side top

Bayern Munich reclaimed their position at the Bundesliga summit with a comfortable 4-1 win at Fortuna Dusseldorf on Sunday.Borussia Dortmund had unseated Niko Kovac's men on Saturday after edging past Mainz, but the Bavarian giants restored their one-point advantage thanks to a double from Kingsley Coman and strikes from Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka.

Coman opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a low cross that deceived goalkeeper Michael Rensing and then added a second after 41 minutes by applying a cool finishing touch to a flowing move.


The impressive Gnabry added a third 10 minutes into the second half as Bayern – who lost Manuel Neuer to injury shortly after the interval – cruised to the most routine of victories despite Dodi Lukebakio's late penalty, after which Goretzka restored their three-goal margin.
Bayern started in typically dominant fashion and clipped the post inside five minutes when a combination of Coman and Fortuna defender Matthias Zimmermann got on the end of Gnabry's low cross.

Coman was not to be denied after 15 minutes, though. The France international whipped in a low cross from the left, and despite Thomas Muller's best efforts to get a touch, the ball nestled into the bottom corner without any assistance.

Robert Lewandowski then sent a 25-yard free-kick agonisingly wide of Rensing's right-hand post before Coman scored his second four minutes before the interval, the 22-year-old steering into the top corner from eight yards after he had been picked out by Joshua Kimmich.Bayern started where they left off at the beginning of the second period, Rensing superbly denying Thiago Alcantara from close range.

Moments after Neuer was withdrawn after pulling up making a pass, the visitors added a third when Gnabry stole in at the back post from a corner to prod home.

Lukebakio scored a consolation goal in the 89th minute after Mats Hummels had been penalised by a VAR review for handball but Goretzka had the final word, stroking home from close range as Kovac's side took another step towards a seventh consecutive Bundesliga title.

 

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Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 3: Sterling sends champions top

Raheem Sterling scored twice as Manchester City won 3-1 at Crystal Palace to move back above Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table.

With the Reds at home to Chelsea later on Sunday, City put pressure on their title rivals despite Fernandinho, who missed December's loss to the Eagles, being absent with an injury that may rule him out of next week's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Tottenham.

City led in the 15th minute when Sterling found the top corner and he seemingly made sure of all three points after the interval by converting Leroy Sane's driven cross, although Sergio Aguero going off with an apparent injury will have concerned Pep Guardiola.


And the City boss was further frustrated as his side lost their clean sheet to Luka Milivojevic's 81st-minute free-kick, although the defending champions were still able to close out another victory at Selhurst Park thanks to Gabriel Jesus' precise finish.
Sterling wasted a golden opportunity to put City in front in the 10th minute, somehow missing from close range after being brilliantly set up by David Silva.

But the England forward was soon celebrating his 20th club goal of the season in all competitions, racing on to a perfect pass from the recalled Kevin De Bruyne to lift a fine finish into Vicente Guaita's top-left corner, with the goalkeeper's positioning questionable.Guaita saved from De Bruyne after Ilkay Gundogan's chip into the Palace box caused chaos and Benjamin Mendy fired straight at the goalkeeper before the interval.

Palace were holding on admirably, but City unlocked the door again in the 63rd minute. Silva and Aguero combined on the left to free Sane and when he fired the ball across the box, Sterling turned it in at the back post despite a slightly scruffy contact.

Aguero's substitution, the striker going down the tunnel after being replaced by Jesus, could affect City's chances of clinching a historic quadruple and they had to endure a nervy few minutes after Palace captain Milivojevic exploited a huge hole in the wall to beat Ederson.

But Jesus ended any hopes of a Palace fightback at the death, De Bruyne leading a clinical counter-attack to set the Brazil striker up to beat Guaita at his near post, although the offside flag should have been raised.

 

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‘Real Madrid are speaking to his family’ – Ex-West Ham star claims Rice is wanted by Zidane


West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice is wanted by Real Madrid, according to former Hammers midfielder Scott Minto.

Rice shone during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday and has been the subject of recent transfer speculation after an impressive season under Manuel Pellegrini.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with Rice themselves, but Minto claims that Real Madrid are in talks with the player’s family about a summer move to Spain.

Speaking to Stadium Astro following Saturday’s match at Old Trafford, Minto said: "I’m hearing that even Real Madrid are knocking on the door and speaking to his family. That’s what I’m hearing."When pressed on his where he had heard this information, Minto added: "I’m not going to say. But it’s a reliable source."

Much has been made of Rice’s fine form for West Ham this season. The 20-year-old was substituted at half-time in the Hammers’ first game of the campaign, a 4-0 defeat away to Liverpool in August, and has recently admitted that he considered asking for a loan move after the match.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength and earned his first England call-up in March, having changed allegiances from the Republic of Ireland."West Ham I’m sure know about the potential he has,” Minto added. "Man United will be knocking on the door."The big boys of the Premier League and world football will be saying this is a young lad at a club that could sell for the right price.

"He could become one of the stars in that particular position."Real Madrid have already begun their summer overhaul under Zinedine Zidane, after agreeing a €50 million (£43m/$57m) deal to sign Porto defender Eder Militao, and it remains to be seen whether Rice will also be a target.

Manchester United are also expected to be busy in the transfer market, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently claiming that it will be ‘survival of the fittest’ for his squad this summer.

 

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'It will go down to the wire' - Sterling expecting Liverpool to push Man City all the way in title race


Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has predicted that the title race will "go down to the wire" after another thrilling weekend of Premier League action.Pep Guardiola's men secured a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace to return to the top of the league on Sunday , thanks to a Sterling double and a late Gabriel Jesus strike.

However, they were knocked back into second spot hours later, as Liverpool earned a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Anfield - with Sadio Mane grabbing the opener before Mohamed Salah fired home one of the goals of the season.

The Reds are now two points clear at the summit having played a game more than the defending champions, with just over a month of the 2018-19 campaign left to negotiate.

City's destiny is still in their own hands, but with Tottenham and Manchester United still to play in the coming weeks, there could yet be more twists and turns before the crown is handed over.

After another match-winning display against Palace, Sterling conceded that Liverpool have a "great squad", before insisting he is still confident City will ultimately come out on top.

“Yes, 100 per cent, the way Liverpool have been playing it will go down to the wire,” he began.“I don’t see us slowing down now. Liverpool have a great squad, great self-belief, but so do we.”

The Citizens have won their last nine consecutive Premier League matches, which is a remarkable feat given their ongoing pursuit of silverware on four fronts.Having already won the Carabao Cup, City are also into the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals - as they chase an unprecedented quadruple.

Sterling's continued presence in the starting line up will be key to their chances of glory, but he was guilty of missing a guilt-edge chance before firing his brace against Palace.The England star admitted he needlessly squandered the opportunity before adding that his mental strength was key to a quick resurgence in the game.

“I tried to be a bit too clever with the first one,” Sterling said. “But the game is 90 minutes and it was still 0-0, so I knew there would be more chances.“When I was younger you always want to score your first opportunity and sometimes it doesn’t happen like that. You don’t beat yourself up.

“There are 80 minutes left, you just have to be ready for the next opportunity. That’s the mentality, just keep going and the chance will come.”

Next up for Guardiola's side is a crucial second leg in their European tie against Spurs at the Etihad Stadium, which they head into 1-0 down from the reverse fixture.

City host Spurs once again in the Premier League three days later, as the must-win fixtures start to come thick and fast with the season swiftly drawing to a close.

 

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Champions League final will be Man City vs Barcelona - Mertesacker


Per Mertesacker believes Manchester City will be triumphant in their Champions League quarter-final with Tottenham and go on to meet Barcelona in the final.The reigning Premier League champions went down 1-0 to their domestic rivals in the first leg but welcome Mauricio Pochettino's men to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

While former Arsenal and Germany defender Mertesacker is confident City can complete a comeback this week, he does not expect the same of their city rivals Manchester United, who trail Barcelona 1-0 ahead of Tuesday's game at Camp Nou.

"Does Pep still know how to succeed in the Champions League? Of course he does and City will progress," he told Goal. "When City play the second leg at home and the team have the feeling they have to make up for something, that's when they play best."Plus, Spurs always had big problems in Manchester and got some heavy defeats.

I don't expect that now, but they will surely miss Harry Kane. City have the big goal to win the Champions League and I don't think Tottenham will spoil that. I actually believe the final will be Man City vs Barcelona."

The 34-year-old is also confident in Liverpool's ability to protect their 2-0 aggregate lead over Porto when they meet again in Portugal, but he believes Jurgen Klopp's team are too intense to stay in the fight with City for the Premier League crown."Liverpool and Klopp have a had a certain journey so far and that journey absolutely calls for success," he added. "They've had a fantastic season and have kept up with Man City – the best team in England.

"I count a lot on Liverpool in the Champions League, because in knockout matches they are always able to bring that intensity into their game. Also I am convinced of Klopp's skills as a motivator. He is able to make the players even more hungry in these matches."In the Premier League I'd rather go with City. Liverpool's intense style makes it problematic for me to see them fighting for the title until the end."

Mertesacker says there could be one shock on the cards in the Champions League, though, with Ajax and Juventus level at 1-1 before meeting again in Turin.

But the presence of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo could tip the scale in the Italian side's favour."I think there could be another surprise, but I expect the Ronaldo factor to be decisive in the end," he said. "Still, Juventus were not too experienced for Ajax.

"Ajax's calm way of playing can be very dangerous for Juve. Ajax definitely have a chance away from home and Juve know that. Real Madrid's exit is a good warning. I expect Juve to defend deep, while Ajax lacked some patience in the final third in the first match. They must improve in that area."