Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were so optimistic. After the commendable – albeit imperfect – 2-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend, Liverpool seemed confident their luck was changing.

Liverpool had endured several previous instances this season of winning games but then struggling to build momentum.

This feels a little bit different, Van Dijk said. Alexander-Arnold struck a similarly defiant tone.

But Jurgen Klopp s men were brought crashing back to earth in brutal fashion on Tuesday, losing 5-2 to Real Madrid at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Let s not forget, Madrid were arguably fortuitous 1-0 victors over Liverpool in last season s final. But here, once Carlo Ancelotti s side were on the scoreb…

Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton remain without a win since their promotion to the Premier League after the weekend’s games.

It is only the second time a trio of promoted teams have all been winless having all played at least five games and, with those teams making up the current relegation zone, the PA news agency looks at the history of slow starts for Premier League newcomers and what it means for their survival prospects.

Wait goes on after Blades battered

Morning!

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)

Newcastle set a Premier League record as eight of their players scored in a stunning 8-0 rout of Sheffield United on Sunday, sending the Blades bottom on goal difference, with all three promoted sides on one point each.

Luton opened their acco…

Cristiano Ronaldo must stay patient and take his opportunities when they arise if he is to reignite his career, according to former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Portugal international Ronaldo has endured a difficult time of things in his second season back at Old Trafford, having started just one of United s seven Premier League games.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner led the scoring charts for United in the previous campaign with 24 goals, but his only goal in nine outings this term was a penalty against Sheriff.

That came in the Europa League, a competition Ronaldo – the Champions League s all-time record scorer – is now having to use to prove himself to manager Erik ten Hag.

Rooney, who played alongside Ronaldo between 2004 and 2009, s…

Leicester have announced the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a deal running to 2026.

The 43-year-old Italian arrives at the King Power Stadium having previously been working as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City.

Maresca succeeds Dean Smith, who failed to prevent Leicester being relegated from the Premier League after taking charge for the final eight games of the 2022-23 season following Brendan Rodgers’ exit.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Enzo Maresca as our new First Team Manager

— Leicester City (@LCFC)

Maresca told Leicester’s official website: “I’m very excited because of the club (I’m joining) and because we have a big season ahead of us.

“At the beginnin…

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini will be invited to the World Cup final in Russia, the country s sports minister has said.

Both men were handed eight-year bans from footballing activities in December following a £1.3million payment made from Blatter to Platini in 2011, which was deemed a breach of conflict of interest regulations by FIFA s ethics committee.

Blatter and Platini are appealing the sanctions and, according to Vitaly Mutko, would be at perfect liberty to attend the World Cup 2018 

Formally, the suspension prohibits them from any position in football, he told R-Sport.  But on the other hand, how
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is it that an outstanding player like Michel Platini can t go to the football?

We will invite them,…

Best Odds: 23/20

Bookmaker:

In what is a heavyweight EFL Cup showdown on Wednesday night, Manchester United will welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford for a repeat of last season’s final.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, putting in a nightmare performance in the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon, United find themselves in the midst of an extended rut. Eventually blown away at Old Trafford and hit with a routine 3-0 drumming, Erik ten Hag certainly finds some mounting pressure on his shoulders. Struggling to find any kind of stability since opening up the new campaign, the Reds already find themselves sat eight points adrift of breaking into the top-four. Likewise, still knowing that they face a real uphill battle in their bid to punch a Champions Lea…

With the opening round of Champions League fixtures getting underway in midweek, it return of Europe’s domestic elite will steal centre stage this weekend.

Watching Manchester City and Arsenal met at the Etihad for what promises to be a heavyweight showdown, we have plenty of eye-catching battles from across the continent.

For those of you looking to stick on a Sunday acca, we have taken a look at some of the most appealing European betting tips.

Sunday, September 22nd
BST 16:30 Manchester City vs Arsenal 

Although Manchester City might have relinquished their maiden European crown last season, Pep Guardiola’s men only shattered more domestic records. Becoming the first club in Premier League history to claim fourth consecutive top-flight titles,…

Real Madrid’s most decorated player Karim Benzema is to leave the club after 14 years.

France striker Benzema, 35, won 25 trophies during his time in Madrid and scored 353 goals in 647 appearances to become Real’s second all-time top scorer after Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Real Madrid and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable period as a player for our club,” read a club statement from the Spanish giants.

Comunicado Oficial: Benzema..

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)

“Real Madrid would like to show its gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.

“Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has rep…

With all eyes focused on what was a rollercoaster final round of group fixtures on Wednesday night, the 16 final nations finally took shape after a pair of 2-2 draws in Budapest and Munich.

24 hours after Scotland once again missed out on the chance to book their first-ever spot in the knockout stage of a major tournament, Hungary found themselves suffering a similar heartbreak on foreign soil.

Watching the heavyweight trio of France, Germany and Portugal all eventually claw their way out of the group of death in midweek, we have also seen the likes of Italy and Holland shock many across the continent.

On a list that doesn t include either the defending champions or the team that sits number one in the FIFA rankings, we have taken a look at the three leading pic…

England s Lionesses can roar to glory as Sarina Wiegman s host team get their Euro 2022 campaign under way this week, says former international star Sue Smith.

The tournament gets under way when England tackle Austria at Old Trafford in Group A on Wednesday, before they face further tests against Norway in Brighton and Northern Ireland in Southampton.

England are on a remarkable run of form under former Netherlands boss Wiegman, and despite a host of formidable rivals lying in wait, look to be one of the sides to beat this time around.

Smith, a member of the Lionesses squad that finished as runners-up to Germany at Euro 2009, believes the current team have the chance to go the distance, particularly on home soil.

[I ve] got to go with England [as favo…