Virgil van Dijk admits Liverpool s confidence is creeping away after making their worst start to a Premier League campaign in a decade.
Liverpool s 3-2 loss to Arsenal in Sunday s contest at Emirates Stadium leaves them with 10 points from eight games – their lowest return since the 2012-13 season (nine).
The Reds have conceded 16 goals across their past 12 league matches and kept just two clean sheets, while conceding the opening goal of the game on 10 occasions.
And centre-back Van Dijk, who has come in for criticism for his performances this campaign, accepts a lack of belief is playing a part in Liverpool s disappointing run of form.
Confidence is definitely a thing that plays a part. We re all human beings, he told Sky Sports.
Sometimes y…
Pep Guardiola revealed he is learning from his former assistant Mikel Arteta, despite Manchester City overcoming Arsenal on Sunday.
City s storming form continued as they sealed an 18th straight victory in all competitions – making it 13 wins from their last 13 games in the league – thanks to Raheem Sterling s early goal.
The visitors started in superb fashion at Emirates Stadium though failed to keep up the blistering pace. Arsenal, however, managed only one attempt on target despite some promising flashes.
Guardiola s team are 10 points clear at the top of the table, and 25 ahead of 10th-place Arsenal, who have lost their last eight league games against City, their joint-longest run of consecutive league defeats against an opponent, along with an eight-ga…
Rangers and Celtic meet for the first time this season when they clash at Ibrox in the cinch Premiership on Sunday.
Both sides have already dropped points in the cinch Premiership title race.
Here are some major talking points ahead of the noon kick-off.
Form has already gone out the window
FULL-TIME: PSV 5-1 Rangers (Agg 7-3)
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC)
The cliche claims that recent results do not matter when these teams meet, although that is not always backed up by facts. However, this time round both sides come into the game looking for a lift. Celtic crashed out of the Viaplay Cup at Kilmarnock and were then held to a goalless league draw by bottom club St Johnstone at Parkhead. It was the first time since May 2018 they had fail…
Stoke City are interested in signing Conor Coady from Leicester City in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Leicester, who have won promotion to the Premier League for next season, do not have Coady in their plans, and that Stoke are keen on a loan deal for the former Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers players.
Coady has been on the books of Leicester since the summer of 2023 when he joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The defender spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Everton, who decided not to make the deal permanent last summer. The 31-year-old made eight starts and four substitute appearances in the Championship for the Foxes last season. He also played four times in the FA Cup and once in the Carabao Cup for Leicester this campaign.
The wife of former England captain Dave Watson has welcomed the creation of a new fund designed to support ex-professionals living with neurodegenerative disease.
The Brain Health Fund, which has an initial £1million available immediately to support former players and their loved ones, has been set up by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the Premier League.
It has faced criticism from some quarters, including the family of former Manchester United and England midfielder Nobby Stiles, who had been living with dementia for many years prior to his death in 2020.
PFA and announce creation of new Football Brain Health Fund
Read more below
— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA)
However, Penny Watson, whose hus…
Rafael has signed a four-year contract at Manchester United which will keep the full-back at the club until the end of the 2015/16 season.
The 21-year-old arrived at Old Trafford along with his twin brother Fabio from Fluminense in 2008, and his performances for the first team have warranted a call-up to the Brazil squad.
Rafael expressed his delight at securing his future, telling the club s website: I am so happy to sign a new contract.
I love playing for Manchester United. There is a great team spirit here and a real desire to win.
My time here has been unbelievable winning two league titles, a league cup and a Club World Cup has made me hungry for more trophies.
I would like to thank Sir Alex for his belief in me and I would also like to t…
Premier League clubs have agreed to trial an alternative league-wide financial system alongside the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
The decision to trial Squad Cost Rules (SCR) and Top to Bottom Anchoring Rules (TBA) was taken in Thursday s Premier League s Annual General Meeting, where they also voted in favour of keeping VAR.
SCR is meant to regulate a club s on-pitch spending to 85 per cent of its revenue and net profit and loss on player sales, while TBA is being trialled to protect the competitive balance of the league .
In April, Premier League clubs agreed in principle to introduce squad cost ratio rules to replace PSR. However, the league has said it will remain in place once again next term.
The state…
Erik ten Hag is set to stay at Manchester United after surviving a review over his future, according to widespread reports.
United stunned neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final, winning 2-1 last month at Wembley, but a second trophy in two seasons was not expected to be enough for Ten Hag to keep his job.
The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League this season, with that being their lowest-ever finish in the competition.
An underwhelming league campaign saw speculation grow over the former Ajax head coach s future, though reports on Tuesday claim Ten Hag is set to remain in charge at Old Trafford.
United are said to have concluded their review of the 2023-24 season and started negotiations on a contract extension with Ten Hag, whose curr…
Hansi Flick praised Germany s mentality and remains upbeat despite their World Cup destiny no longer being in their hands after Sunday s 1-1 draw with Spain.
Niclas Fullkrug cancelled out Alvaro Morata s earlier effort to earn a point but, following the 2-1 defeat by Japan, the four-time champions have failed to win their opening two matches at the finals for the first time.
Die Nationalmannschaft must beat Costa Rica in their final Group E match to stand any chance of progressing to the last 16, while hoping the Samurai Blue fail to beat La Roja in the other showdown.
Addressing the media during his post-match conference: Flick said: The team maintained a great level. I am very satisfied with the mentality and the team s work today. This was a match on a high le…
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti prefers the day-to-day running of club management amid questions about whether he would take up an international role.
Ancelotti has guided Madrid to the summit of LaLiga, 12 points clear of a resurgent Barcelona, who do have a game in hand.
Madrid are also in contention to go all the way in the Champions League. Los Blancos are 3-1 up in their quarter-final against reigning European champions Chelsea heading into Tuesday s second leg.
While Ancelotti has Madrid on course for success this season, speculation swirls as to whether president Florentino Perez will stick with the 62-year-old for next season.
The failure of Italy to qualify for two straight World Cups has also brought Roberto Mancini s position into …