The argument over who had the biggest inauguration crowd is a battle for second place, as far as Newcastle United fans are concerned.
President Trump s advisors have been ridiculed for claiming the event in Washington DC to mark the start of the new commander-in-chief s tenure was more popular than that of Barack Obama in 2009, despite strong visual evidence to the contrary.
But Newcastle s fanatical supporters showed both politicians what real adulation looks like when local boy Alan Shearer was signed from Blackburn Rovers for £15million in 1996.
And the 46-year-old television personality, who briefly managed the club after becoming both Newcastle and the Premier League s record goalscorer, is clearly a fan of the comparison, sharing the tongue-in-cheek image…
Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about Manchester City s performances despite Demarai Gray s stunning equaliser denting the champions title hopes on New Year s Eve.
Gray picked out the top-right corner with Everton s first shot of the game after 64 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, cancelling out Erling Haaland s opener in a stop-start 1-1 draw.
Having lost to Brentford before the World Cup, City have now failed to win in back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2021 and remain without a Premier League victory on December 31 (D4 L1).
While City s dropped points handed Arsenal the initiative in an intriguing battle at the top of the table, Guardiola saw no reason to criticise his team s performance.
Great game. We ve played really well in …
Oman captain Ahmed Al Mahaijri is relishing the opportunity to take on Iran, insisting his side are not yet content with their Asian Cup campaign.
A 3-1 win over Turkmenistan on Thursday saw Oman book their place in the last 16 for the first time in the competition s history and they will now face one of the continent s top sides on Sunday.
But Al Mahaijri, who scored a stunning free-kick as Oman secured third place in Group F, does not fear Iran and believes the clear underdogs will enjoy playing on the big stage.
Iran are a very strong team but so are we, he said. We played Japan [1-0 defeat] and Uzbekistan [2-1 defeat] and showed that we can hold our own against teams who are ranked much higher than us.
We have already created history by making the k…
Aymeric Laporte has become Manchester City s record signing after completing a £57million move from Athletic Bilbao.
It is the fifth time City have broken their transfer record since coming under Abu Dhabi ownership in September 2008.
Sheikh Mansour has acted to arm Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and now Pep Guardiola with a formidable transfer budget, with a raft of stars excelling on the way to two Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and an FA Cup in City s era of plenty.
There have also been a fair share of big-money flops, but how did things pan out for City s record buy – a mantle 23-year-old French centre-back Laporte must now inherit.
Robinho £32.5m from Real Madrid, September 2008
September 1, 2008 was a breathless aff…
Luis Muriel struck a stunning stoppage-time winner for Atalanta as they beat AC Milan 3-2 in a pulsating contest in Bergamo.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side twice led through Ademola Lookman but Milan looked to be taking a point as they hit back through Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic.
However, Rossoneri captain Davide Calabria was sent off in stoppage time and moments later Atalanta sealed victory for the first time in five matches as Muriel cheekily backheeled past Mike Maignan from close range.
È FINITAAAA!!!
WE WIIINNN!!!
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC)
Giroud had an early chance for Milan well blocked from close range after Christian Pulisic’s cross.
Charles De Ketelaere then missed an incredible chance to give Atalanta t…
Paris Saint-Germain s appeal against UEFA s decision to reopen an investigation into alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
UEFA confirmed last September that it was looking again at a probe into PSG s financial conduct, which was first opened in September 2017 in the wake of the world-record €222million signing of Neymar and the €180m loan-to-buy deal for Kylian Mbappe.
UEFA s Club Financial Control Board closed the investigation last June after deciding PSG had complied with FFP rules but reopened it after a review.
However, CAS has now ruled that the original decision to close the case is final and binding after upholding PSG s claim that the CFCB s request for a review was made outside of…
At the age of 45, former Juventus midfielder and Ballon d Or winner Pavel Nedved is coming out of retirement.
Czech Nedved signed for amateur side FK Skalna in his homeland after retiring from football in 2009.
It is a return home for Nedved, who started his career in Skalna before going on to win Serie A titles among others with Juventus and Lazio.
Skalna is also the home of his 18-year-old son Pavel Jr.
It remains to be seen when Nedved – who won 91 caps for Czech Republic – will be available to play due his commitments with Juve, where he is vice-chairman of the Scudetto holders.
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Liverpool’s youngest European team in their history found the Europa League just too tough for them in Brussels as Jurgen Klopp’s experimental side lost the dead rubber 2-1 at Union Saint Gilloise.
A first senior goal for the ever-improving 20-year-old centre-back Jarell Quansah, their 14th different scorer this season, was the only highlight on a testing evening for Klopp’s young guns.
Quansah’s 40th-minute leveller equalled a club record 34th-successive goal-scoring match, with Manchester United on Sunday standing in the way of a new landmark and Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker all to return after being left at home.
Here s how Group E finished
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Liverpool’s top spot was already secure despite…
Everton have pulled off a major coup in appointing former Milan, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager.
Ancelotti, who parted company with Napoli earlier in December despite guiding the Serie A club to a second-placed finish last term, along with this season s Champions League knockout stages, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Goodison Park.
He replaces Marco Silva, who was sacked by Everton following a dreadful opening 15 matches of the Premier League campaign, with Duncan Ferguson having taken temporary charge in the interim.
Ferguson masterminded a home win against Chelsea and a draw at Manchester United in his first two matches in charge, before the Toffees headed out of the EFL Cup on penalties to Leicester City …
Tottenham s winless run in the Premier League was extended to four matches as Romain Saiss late header cancelled out Tanguy Ndombele s opener to earn Wolves a 1-1 draw.
After losses to title rivals Liverpool and Leicester City, Spurs were aiming to avoid suffering a third successive league defeat for the first time since November 2012 and made a flying start as Ndombele drilled in after just 57 seconds.
Wolves looked toothless for most of the remaining 89 minutes with star forward Raul Jimenez watching on from the stands, yet their knack of getting late goals came to fruition once more.
Pedro Neto s superb corner was met by Saiss, who glanced a brilliant header beyond Hugo Lloris to again frustrate Tottenham, who passed up the chance to move up to third and …