Davies closing in on new Spurs deal

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted his team were still enjoying the pressure of chasing a double late in the season.

While Manchester City hold a game in hand, Liverpool are two points clear atop the Premier League and have just four matches left to play.

Despite being close to capturing the club s first league title since 1990 – while also preparing for a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona – Klopp said the pressure was being embraced.

We still don t feel the pressure. We see and feel it as an opportunity. We are used to the challenge, playing a season like we played – it s usually pretty positive, he told UK newspapers.

They are massive games, such an interesting period and so positive. We are really enjoying it. It s good that yo…

Viktoria Plzen head coach Pavel Vrba criticised his defenders after a CSKA Moscow equaliser deep in second-half stoppage time denied the Czech team a long-awaited victory in the Champions League.

Nikola Vlasic converted a penalty in the 95th minute to make the final score at Doosan Arena 2-2 but the game looked very different after 45 minutes.

Michael Krmencik scored two first-half goals to put Plzen on course for their first Champions League group-stage victory since they beat CSKA 2-1 in December 2013, but Fedor Chalov narrowed their advantage shortly after half-time.

Rather than blaming the referee, who disallowed two CSKA goals before awarding the late penalty, Vrba pointed the finger at his own players for gifting the visitors such a late chance to claim a s…

According to reports in Italy, Liverpool are interested in signing Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne. The 27 year old has been with the club ever since the age of 15, and in that time he s been able to establish himself as a firm fan favourite. Alas, there s always going to interest from elsewhere if you re making noise in a league like Serie A, and that has certainly been the case with a host of European clubs wanting to sign him.

Insigne has been on good form thus far this season, with one of his goals actually being a last minute winner against Liverpool in the Champions League. Jurgen Klopp clearly took notice and appears to be very invested in the idea of signing the Italian, who has made a series of appearances for the Italian national team too since debuting back in 2012.

Saudi Arabia remain top of World Cup qualifying Group B after they held second-placed Australia to a goalless draw in a feisty contest at the Western Sydney Stadium.

Playing their first home game since October 2019 and backed by an expectant crowd in driving rain on Thursday, the Socceroos were devoid of quality in the final third as they had to settle for a point.

Herve Renard s men lost their 100 per cent record, but remain three points clear of Australia and on course to secure their place in the World Cup in Qatar next year.

The Socceroos missing Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Adam Taggart made a strong start but lacked a cutting edge as Ajdin Hrustic was off target before Awer Mabil fired wide.

Graham Arnold s side continued to dictate the play after the …

European champions Italy missed out on automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland.

Jorginho s penalty miss against Switzerland last time out meant Italy headed into their final Group C game at Windsor Park level on points with the Swiss, ahead only on goal difference.

And while Switzerland managed to beat Bulgaria on Monday, Italy were frustrated by Ian Baraclough s side in Belfast.

A star of the Euro 2020 success, Federico Chiesa went closest to breaking the deadlock for Roberto Mancini s side as Italy – who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup – had to settle for a place in the play-offs.

Lorenzo Insigne s sublime pass put Giovanni Di Lorenzo through inside the opening 10 minutes, th…

Argentina are one of the first options on everyone’s mouth when talking about some of the biggest countries in the world when it comes to footballing history. La Albiceleste have won the World Cup twice, reached the Finals in 1990 and 2014, and currently own the best player in the world in Lionel Messi. With that track record, what could possibly go wrong?

Well a lot of things. First of all, La Albiceleste have not won a title since the 1993 Copa America. And they have been on a negative run of results in recent years. They lost the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final against Germany, and both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America Finals against Chile through penalties. Plus, they couldn’t lift any title despite having a star-studded squad with names such as Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio A…

In what was billed as a battle between two of Europe s heavyweights on Tuesday night, Real Madrid signed off their Group D adventure with an eye-catching 2-0 win against Inter Milan.

While the Spanish giants might have been forced to play their midweek meeting in front of a marginally full Bernabéu, Los Blancos found the net on either side of the break to wrap up a dominant group stage run.

Managing to make it back-to-back victories against the defending Italian champions after landing a 1-0 win at the San Siro back in August, we have taken a look at the main talking points following Tuesday s victory in the capital.

Los Blancos go marching on

Already booking their spot in the knockout stage of this year s Champions League with time to spare, it was clear that…

Competition: Premier League

Market: Everton to beat Newcastle

Odds:

The Premier League returns almost immediately after yet another enthralling round of games at the weekend. The league table has continued to mutate, and it will do so further with another cluster of matches in midweek, as the busy festive period begins to gather pace. With this in mind, rejuvenated Everton travel to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

Newcastle have been struggling massively this season and they are in danger of letting their good start come to nothing. After 16 games they find themselves in 16th-place in the league with 15 points, just two clear of the relegation zone. They have taken just one point from a possible 15 in their last five games, which has seen the pres…

Market: Cincinnati win

Odds: 7/10 @

Looking to extend their stay at the top of the Eastern Conference table this weekend, Cincinnati will welcome Charlotte to the TQL Stadium in the early hours of Sunday.

Starting with the hosts, laying down another sensational marker last weekend as they stormed their way to a 6-1 romp against Inter Miami, Cincinnati are in the midst of another major MLS purple patch this season. Once again leading the chase at the top of the Eastern Conference table, Pat Noonan’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Opening July with an action-packed 3-2 victory away at DC United, the Garys have rightfully received a string of plaudits since opening up the 2024 campaign. In fact, along with winning all of their previous three M…

Matthijs de Ligt s protracted move to Juventus has finally been completed, with the defender becoming one of football s priciest teenagers.

The Ajax captain will play for the Serie A champions next term after Juve saw off competition from clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United.

De Ligt s star rose last term with Ajax reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, as well as claiming a domestic double under coach Erik ten Hag.

But he now faces justifying a fee of €75million, rising to €85.5m, that makes him the most expensive under-20 defender of all time. Omnisport takes a look at the 10 biggest teenage transfers and how they fared.

 LIGTS  | Matthijs de Ligt officially signs for Juventus! 

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