Chelsea defender David Luiz revealed that his exceptional free-kick against Liverpool on Tuesday came in spite of him struggling with a knee injury in training.
The Brazil international blasted home from 25 yards to put the Premier League leaders ahead at Anfield before Georginio Wijnaldum equalised in the second half to force a 1-1 draw.
David Luiz took advantage of a loss of concentration from the defensive wall and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to fire a dipping shot into the corner, earning praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in the process.
The centre-back feels that the element of surprise was key and said he had not even been able to practice recently due to fitness concerns.
I think sometimes you need to try to surprise, he told BT Sport. I …
Prediction: Manchester United to win 3-0
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Manchester United and Watford will face each other in the FA Cup this weekend. The third-round tie between the Premier League club and the Championship outfit will kick off at 8pm UK time at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United
Manchester United will head into the third-round tie against Watford at Old Trafford on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at home in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. The Red Devils conceded both goals in the second half, John Stones putting Pep Guardiola’s side in the lead in the 50th minute and Fernandinho making it 2-0 with a brilliant strike seven minutes from the full-time whistle.
The EFL Cup was a genuine chance of United winning a…
Ada Hegerberg cannot change the world alone insists Marta, who called on female footballers to come together in the fight for equality as the Norway and Lyon star sits out the Women s World Cup.
Hegerberg winner of the first women s Ballon d Or will be a notable absentee when the World Cup gets underway in France next month after being left out of the Norway squad.
The 23-year-old forward has not played for her country since the 2017 European Championship due to her frustrations with the state of the women s game in Norway.
Brazil sensation Marta, who is regarded as the greatest female footballer of all time, is a UN women goodwill ambassador for women and girls in sport, and the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year says Hegerberg should not be carrying the res…
Iran scored deep in stoppage time twice to beat Wales in the second round of the World Cup group stage, but having lost the opener to England, they obviously have work to do if they want to qualify for the round of 16, and coach Carlos Queiroz is aware of that.
Iran play the USA on Tuesday.
This is just a win, 3 points. We did not finish our job.
Carlos Queiroz is pleased with the win but knows the job is not finished
— Football Daily (@footballdaily)
…
What the papers say
Chelsea have reportedly added Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson to their list of potential targets up front. According to The Guardian the Blues have already held initial talks with the 22-year-old, as Forest are believed to want £40million for his services.
The Independent says Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is attracting a lot of attention from Premier League heavyweights. West Ham, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea are all said to be interested in the 21-year-old.
According to The Telegraph, Monaco have set their sights on Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez. The 27-year-old is unlikely to feature in manager Ange Postecoglou’s future plans, and could make his exit this summer.
And the Daily Mail says Manchester City are looking …
Cristiano Ronaldo crafted a decisive hat-trick as Al Nassr hammered Al Wedha 6-0 in Saturday s Saudi Pro League meeting.
Portugal veteran Ronaldo found the net twice in the first 12 minutes at Al Awal Park before completing his treble after the interval.
Sadio Mane teed up Ronaldo s third finish, as well as an 18th-minute strike from Otavio, who returned the favour for the Senegal international to score on the stroke of half-time.
Mohammed Al Fatil added a late sixth as Al Nassr recorded their seventh straight league win since their March 7 loss against Al Raed, moving them back within nine points of leaders Al Hilal.
Brozo’s assist Ronaldo’s header celebrations
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN)
Jorge Jesus s Al Hilal swept Al Tauwoon a…
The Viaplay Cup last-16 round concluded with drama at Rugby Park as Kilmarnock knocked out holders Celtic 1-0.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main talking points from the ties played over the weekend.
Shock defeat for Celtic
Kilmarnock defied the odds to beat holders Celtic 1-0 in the last 16 as Marley Watkins’ second-half goal set up a quarter-final clash with Hearts at Rugby Park. For Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers, it was his first domestic cup defeat in Scotland in 25 games and came as a shock to those who have watched them dominate Scottish football.
Hearts display their depth
Match sponsor, IT Sameday, name Alex Lowry as today s Man of the Match
Our Ambassadors have selected Odel Offiah as their Man of the Match
— Heart of…
Wayne Rooney insists he never filed a formal transfer request at Manchester United after a bust-up with then manager Alex Ferguson.
The United captain fell out with Ferguson back in 2010 after he had been dropped from the starting XI, leading to suggestions he had formally demanded a move.
Rooney eventually signed a contract renewal instead, though, and he has now made it clear that he never requested an exit, hailing his former boss as the best ever in the process.
I went in to see him and I said, If you re not going to play me it might be better if I move on . And then all of a sudden it was all over the press that I d put a transfer request in, which I never did, Rooney was quoted as saying by the Daily Star.
I don t know what happened, why it pan…
Celtic F.C. defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama has ruled out the possibility of joining Premier League leaders Manchester United in January, citing the club s UEFA Champions League dream as one of his reasons for staying in Glasgow, .
Wanyama, 21, has been absolutely superb for the Scottish champions this season, with the latest reports suggesting that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was planning to submit a £12 million bid for the Kenya international.
The 21-year-old insisted that he is fully focused on Celtic for the remainder of the 2012-13 season, while opening the door to for a potential move away from Celtic Park in the summer.
Wanyama has totaled 32 appearances, 31 starts, (in all competitions) for the Celts this season, tallying sev…
Ronald Koeman has included four uncapped players and recalled Eljero Elia from the wilderness in Netherlands provisional 30-man squad for friendlies against Slovakia and Italy.
PSV winger Steven Bergwijn, Club Brugge midfielder Ruud Vormer and goalkeepers Marco Bizot and Sergio Padt are all in contention for an international debut.
They could be joined in the final 23-man squad by Istanbul Basaksehir forward Elia, who has not been involved with the Oranje since 2015, when he was an unused substitute on three occasions.
His five league goals in Turkey have led to links with the likes of Championship title-winners Wolves, and the 31-year-old has clearly done enough to catch Koeman s attention.
Huddersfield Town defender Terence Kongolo is also in the fram…