Klopp says missing top four would not mean long-term damage to Liverpool Champions League spot in doubt after fifth home defeat‘The club is in good hands. We have loyalty from the players’Jürgen Klopp has claimed failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League would not damage Liverpool long term or prompt any player to seek an exit.Liverpool’s prospects of finishing in the top four receded on Thursday when enduring a fifth successive home defeat for the first time. Klopp accepted the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea could undermine belief in his methods. Continue reading...

Improving Arsenal still have a long way to go to meet Arteta demands Arsenal seek third successive win at BurnleyClub announces £47.8m loss after tax for 2019-20Mikel Arteta says Arsenal remain “very far” short of the standards he wants to reach but believes his side have made clear progress in recent months, backed up by the win at Leicester last weekend.Arsenal visit Burnley at lunchtime on Saturday in search of a third successive win in all competitions. Their attacking play, in particular, has improved significantly since Christmas: they have scored 22 goals in their past 12 top-flight games, having managed 12 in their first 14 fixtures. But they remain 10th and Arteta knows a much higher level of performance will be required to challenge closer to the top. Continue reading...

Premier League 'trying to relegate' West Brom, says Sam Allardyce Manager angry at Sunday noon kick-off against Newcastle‘Any change we ask for has been completely ignored’Sam Allardyce has claimed the Premier League is “trying to get us relegated” after his West Brom side were told to play Newcastle at the Hawthorns on Sunday at 12pm.Allardyce feels kick-off against Steve Bruce’s struggling side comes too soon after Thursday night’s home defeat against Everton, particularly as Newcastle have had a free week. Continue reading...

Lions rule out Australia and may yet play in empty South African venues Lions want government guarantees to host tour at homeVirimi Vakatawa could return for France at TwickenhamThe fate of the British & Irish Lions tour this summer remains up in the air with a final decision having been deferred until next week. Lions officials, however, have ruled out any prospect of relocating the tour to Australia, and shifting it to the UK and Ireland will only happen if the government agrees to underwrite any potential losses in the event of another Covid-19 surge.Until now staging the tour behind closed doors in South Africa in July and August had been viewed as a last resort but organisers may yet be left with little other option. Holding the matches in empty stadiums would be a passion killer on many fronts but it would enable the three-Test series to proceed as originally scheduled. Continue reading...

Is Brooklyn the right move for Blake Griffin? According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Blake Griffin has officially been bought out by the Detroit Pistons, and is now cleared to sign with another team via free agency.Read more...

Man Utd made to regret Sancho decision as Solskjaer rues goal drought Manchester United have now gone three games without scoring a goal in all competitions, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could forgiven for regretting the decision not to sign Jadon Sancho last summer

Liverpool have had injury issues but Leicester and Newcastle have suffered more Every club has its issues with injuries and Liverpool have no doubt more than their fair share this season, but I’m not sure they have been hardest hit in that regard

Man Utd dealt blow as transfer target favours Chelsea due to 'Tuchel connection' A member of Thomas Tuchel's staff may give Chelsea the advantage in the race for a highly-rated defender who is also a target for a number of other Premier League clubs

Football Focus: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on 'exciting' return as Burton Albion boss Burton Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink tells Football Focus it is "exciting" to be back and says the job is "totally different" than when he was last in charge.

Let's make some NFL free agency predictions Someone in the NFL league office apparently doesn’t understand that March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, because they decided to make that the day that free agency begins this year. Thinking about it a little more though, nothing goes together quite like Guinness and top-tier talent changing teams and causing pandemonium…Read more...

Steve Bruce: Newcastle boss will do his 'utmost' to find source of leak Newcastle boss Steve Bruce says he will do his "utmost" to find out who leaked a training ground row with Matt Ritchie to the media.

Guardiola uses Liverpool as warning as he plays down Man City dominance talk City look set to become Premier League champions for the third time in four years and some believe they may rule English football for the foreseeable future

Cole adds to Klopp's Liverpool problems with damning Alexander-Arnold assessment The Reds have endured a miserable defence to their title crown this campaign, with Klopp's out-of-sorts side seventh in the table, 22 points behind leaders Manchester City

Griffin agrees buyout with Pistons Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a contract buyout, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Euro 2020: Scotland still 'absolutely intent' on hosting Euros - Sturgeon Scotland is still "absolutely intent" on hosting matches at Euro 2020 this summer, says first minister Nicola Sturgeon.