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Liverpool, Aug 19 (Ians) Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota scored a goal apiece as Liverpool came from behind to beat AFC Bournemouth 3-1 in their first home game of the new Premier League season at Anfield here on Saturday.

This was also Liverpool’s first win in the 2023 season after they started their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the first round last week.

In other early matches on Saturday, Fulham were thrashed 3-0 by Brentford while Wolverhampton Wolves went down 1-4 to Brighton.

Diaz, Salah and Jota got the goals to overturn Antoine Semenyo’s third-minute opener on an eventful home match in which Alexis Mac Allister received a straight red card for a foul on Ryan Christie just before the hour.

Diaz’s second strike in as many matches in the 2023-24 season was added to by Salah, who scored the rebound after Neto had saved his penalty,...

London, Aug 11 (Ians) Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Friday confirmed that his club has come to an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The deal is worth a reported 110 million pounds ($140 million), which would be a record fee for a transfer in Britain. The fee agreed for Caicedo exceeds the £107m Chelsea paid for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez earlier this year.

“I can confirm the (Caicedo) deal with the club is agreed, whatever that means in the end. Of course, we want the player and not just the agreement,” Klopp said at a news conference ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Chelsea on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Caicedo has yet to agree personal terms or undertake a medical examination.

However, several media reports have suggested that the midfielder has been keen to move to Chelsea, who have been unable to agree a fee with Brighton.

London, June 8 (Ians) Liverpool have completed the signing of World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton.

Mac Allister helped Brighton finish sixth in the Premier League last term to qualify for Europe for the first time.

“Liverpool Fc has reached an agreement for the transfer of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion on a long-term deal for an undisclosed fee,” the club said in a statement.

“The 24-year-old has successfully completed a medical and agreed personal terms to become the Reds’ first signing of the summer window,” it added.

The Argentina international, scored 20 goals in 112 appearances for the Seagulls and also helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup.

“It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started. I wanted to be in [from] the first day of pre-season, so it’s good that everything is done.

London, April 2 (Ians) Manchester City kept their calm after falling behind, to roar back and beat Liverpool 4-1 in a result that very much keeps them in the race for the Premier League title.

Although Mohamed Salah poached a goal for Liverpool in the 17th minute, Julian Alvarez, who was in the side for injured Erling Haaland, levelled 10 minutes later and then helped Riyad Mahrez set up Kevin de Bruyne to put City ahead in the first minute of the second half.

Ilkay Gundogan then put the result beyond doubt when he made it 3-1 in the 53rd minute after Alvarez’s shot had been blocked and the impressive Jack Grealish got the goal he deserved in the 74th minute after exchanging passes with De Bruyne.

“When we conceded the goal, we were playing really well. Of course, they are always a threat in the transitions, but we played really well in all departments.

London, March 5 (Ians) Arsenal retained their five point lead at the top of the Premier League in dramatic fashion following a second half fightback and a late winning goal at home over Bournemouth.

The Gunners kicked off the match after their lead was narrowed to just two points with Manchester City winning 2-0 at home over Newcastle United in the Saturday’s early kick-off.

Phil Foden, who seems to be firmly back in favor at the Etihad Stadium, put Pep Guardiola’s men in front after 15 minutes, before Bernardo Silva scored City’s second in the 67th minute with a neat finish shortly after coming on as a substitute, a Xinhua report said.

Arsenal got off to a dreadful start when Phillip Billing put Bournemouth ahead in the first 10 seconds of their match.

The home side controlled around 80 percent of the goal, but failed to score before halftime and fell...

Buenos Aires (Argentina), March 2 (Ians) Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has expressed a desire to remain in England amid reports that he will leave Brighton this summer.

The 24-year-old has been linked with Liverpool, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, among other clubs, since playing a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.

“There isn’t a particular team that makes me say, ‘That is the way I play’,” Mac Allister told Argentine media outlet TyC Sports on Wednesday.

“I think that here in the Premier there are very strong teams that play attractive football, like Manchester City and Arsenal. Chelsea too. I had [Graham] Potter as a manager and I know the way he wants to play. Manchester United are getting back to where they were before and Liverpool are going through some ups and downs but still have a very good team.”

Mac Allister has made 94 appearances...

London, Dec 27 (Ians) Premier League leaders Arsenal came back from a goal down to beat West Ham 3-1 and dispel doubts that their title challenge will be badly handicapped by the loss of Gabriel Jesus through injury.

Worries about Arsenal seemed to be confirmed on Monday when Said Benrahma put West Ham ahead with a 27th-minute penalty, but Bukayo Saka levelled the score in the 53rd minute after controlling Martin Odegaard’s mis-kick and Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead in the 59th minute.

Eddie Nketiah extended the Gunners’ lead after a cushioned pass from Odegaard with 21 minutes left to play and with former coach Arsene Wenger watching from the stands, Arsenal move seven points clear, reports Xinhua.

Just like the Premier League leaders, some other clubs too did not show any impact of the month-long break in the action because of the World Cup ahead of the festival season, which...

London, Dec 24 (Ians) The Premier League returns to action on December 26 for the traditional Boxing Day fixtures, just eight days after the FIFA World Cup final in Qatar, and that will affect the team selection of several coaches in the coming days.

Arsenal’s game at home to West Ham is the standout fixture, and all eyes will be on whether Mikel Arteta’s exciting side can continue the form that took them into the World Cup break with a five-point lead over Manchester City, reports Xinhua news agency.

The big worry for Arteta is the knee injury suffered by striker Gabriel Jesus in the World Cup, which will keep him out for a significant period of time.

Meanwhile, defender William Saliba is a doubt after forming part of the France squad that participated in the World Cup final on December 18.

The World Cup is also a factor for Liverpool’s visit to Aston Villa,...

Lionel Messi: FIFA World Cup champion. Perhaps the greatest soccer player of his generation, the Argentina star capped his storybook career Sunday with an extra time goal to help his home country secure its first World Cup tournament win in 36 years as Argentina defeated France in a gripping, rollercoaster final match in Qatar.

The yerba mate-infused Argentina controlled the pace from the onset, keeping possession and applying pressure that — while not resulting in a goal or any close calls — kept France, the defending World Cup champions, on the defensive...

Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat France to clinch the World Cup title in a lively game at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar Sunday evening.

The South American side beat the holders 4 – 2 on penalties. Argentina is the first country from outside Europe to lift the trophy since Brazil, which did so 20 years ago in Japan. It’s also the country’s third World Cup title after wins in 1978 and 1986.

The first 80 minutes of the final were largely one-sided, with France failing to have a single shot on goal for the entire first half. Argentina opened the goal-scoring in the 20th minute with Messi calmly converting a penalty given away by Ousmane Dembélé.

Argentina doubled their lead in the 35th minute when Ángel Di María raced to the end of a through-ball from Alexis Mac Allister. The dynamic attack was, once again, started by Leo Messi, who ran the show from the start,...

Doha, Dec 1 (Ians) Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz believes that his side deserve their place in the last 16 of the World Cup, despite a poor performance as they lost to Argentina 2-0 on Wednesday.

Poland were never in the game against Argentina, who took the points and finished top of Group C with second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez. In the closing moments they were clinging on for their World Cup future as Argentina pressed for a third goal that would have knocked them out of the World Cup.

“We have worked hard and we got four points in the group, we knew the rules and we controlled the second half,” said the Polish coach, whose side failed to have a shot on target all game.

“Let’s enjoy it. We have not got into the next round for a very long time. It’s wasn’t nice football,...

On Wednesday night at the 974 Stadium, one goal apiece from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez helped two-time champions Argentina to collect full points.

La Albiceleste scored both the goals in the second half to finish with six points, having started their campaign with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the Group C opener.

Argentina as group winners will take on Australia, which finished second in Group D. Poland with one win against Saudi Arabia and one loss, the same as Mexico, qualified on account of better goal difference over their Latin American opponent. Saudi Arabia finished at the bottom with three points for the lone win against Argentina.

Poland which finished behind the group leaders Argentina also qualified for the last 16 stage and will take on defending champions France, which despite their 1-0 loss to Tunisia finished as group winners.

Dider Deschamps side aiming to retain the...

On Wednesday night at the 974 Stadium, one goal apiece from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez helped two-time champions Argentina to collect full points.

La Albiceleste scored both the goals in the second half to finish with six points, having started their campaign with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the Group C opener.

Argentina as group winners will take on Australia, which finished second in Group D. Poland with one win against Saudi Arabia and one loss, finished second behind the group leaders and also qualified for the last 16 stage and will take on defending champions France, which despite their 1-0 loss to Tunisia finished as group winners.

Dider Deschamps side aiming to retain the trophy will aim to continue their strong start to the tournament in the hope of reaching the quarter-finals.

Argentina and Poland join Australia, Portugal, Brazil, England, France, the Netherlands, Senegal and USA,...

Buenos Aires, Nov 12 (Ians) As Roma forward Paulo Dybala has been named in Argentina’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar despite a hamstring tear, the country’s football association has said.

The 28-year-old has not played since sustaining the injury in a 2-1 home win over Lecce in Italy’s Serie A on October 9.

Local media reported on Friday the former Juventus star began light training this week and he will be in a race against time to be fit for Argentina’s first match against Saudi Arabia on November 22. The Albicleste will also face Mexico and Poland in Group C, reports Xinhua.

As expected, Argentina’s wealth of attacking options also include Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi, Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

Manager Lionel Scaloni also called up midfielders Leandro Paredes (Juventus) and Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid) in his 26-man squad.

Newcastle, Aug 21 (Ians) Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva scored in the second half as defending champions Manchester City survived a scare, before coming back strongly to hold Newcastle United 3-3 at the St James’ Park in Premier League 2022-23 clash on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s City staged a stirring second-half fightback, scoring two goals inside four minutes, to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw at Newcastle in what was a classic Premier League encounter.

In a clash that had everything, the champions had raced into a fifth-minute lead through Ilkay Gundogan only for the Magpies to go ahead before the break thanks to goals from Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson.

A spectacular Kieran Trippier free-kick on 54 minutes further extended Newcastle’s advantage before two quickfire strikes from Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva either side of the hour brought Manchester City back level.

Guardiola’s side also saw Haaland hit the post...

Liverpool, Jan 2 (Ians) Alexis Mac Allister scored twice as Brighton and Hove Albion defeated Everton 3-2 in an away match in the Premier League on Sunday. The midfielder scored Brighton’s quickest-ever Premier League away goal inside three minutes and Dan Burn got his first of the season with a close-range header midway through the […]...