Steve Bruce has blamed a coronavirus outbreak at Newcastle United’s training ground in December for derailing the team and increasingly putting them in danger of relegation.
Since the virus swept through the club, sidelining key players including Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles for several weeks, Newcastle have struggled. They prepare for Friday night’s game against Aston Villa at St James’ Park having won only two of their last 18 games in all competitions.
That run has seen Newcastle drop to 16th, a point ahead of Brighton – whom they visit next Saturday – and a resurgent Fulham. Their problems have also been exacerbated by the groin, hamstring and knee injuries which will sideline Saint-Maximin…
Switzerland enjoyed a 2-0 friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday, just two weeks before the Euro 2008 championships, which they are co-hosting, get underway.
Midfielder Valon Behrami opened the scoring in the 56th minute before he then turned provider seven minutes later setting up the second goal for veteran striker Alex Frei.
Captain Frei is now just one international goal away from the record of 34 set by Kubilay Turkyilmaz.
He could equalise the record, or even beat it next Friday in St Gallen during the last warm-up match for the Swiss, this time against Liechtenstein.
Swiss coach Kubi Kuhn also fielded Patrick Mueller, who left his club Lyon to join his national teammates in Lugano on Friday despite not getting permission from his French side w…
Lionel Messi, Neymar and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe are among the final players named on the 30-man Ballon d Or shortlist.
They are joined by Mbappe s France team-mates Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, as well as Croatia star Luka Modric, who won the World Cup Golden Ball.
Modric s international team-mates Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic are also on the shortlist, as are Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Completing the final 15 nominees for France Football s prize are Real Madrid s Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez.
Mbappe scored 21 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season before starring in France s triumphant Russia 2018 campaign, netting three times on their w…
RB Leipzig are interested in signing Tyler Morton from Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Liverpool are willing to sell Morton for £20 million.
Morton has been on the books of Liverpool since 2009 when he came through the youth system and has played for the Merseyside club’s first team. The 21-year-old midfielder had has loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull City in recent years.
Liverpool finished third in the Premier League table last season and will be determined to beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the league title next season under new head coach Arne Slot. As for RB Leipzig, the German club ended up fourth in the Bundesliga table last season and will be keen on at least challenging for the title in the next …
Pep Guardiola predicted it will not be long until Phil Foden is back to his best for Manchester City.
Foden was named PFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year following an exceptional season in 2023-24.
However, after featuring for England at Euro 2024, Foden has begun four of his five games this season on the bench, with his only start coming against Watford in the EFL Cup.
Speaking ahead of City s Champions League clash away in Slovakia against Slovan Bratislava, Guardiola said he was not concerned, though.
Maybe I can have some doubts in many things, but Phil Foden is going to be back! As much as he feels good, he will be back, Guardiola told reporters.
I think in 30 minutes at St James Park [against Newcastle on Satur…
Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi says there are no regrets at Emirates Stadium that new head coach Mikel Arteta was not appointed ahead of Unai Emery in 2018.
Former captain Arteta was unveiled as the new Gunners boss on Friday, leaving Manchester City, where he had served on Pep Guardiola s backroom team for three-and-a-half seasons.
The 37-year-old returns to London to find Arsenal struggling in mid-table, having endured a tough start to the season under Emery, who was sacked at the end of last month.
Emery arrived from Paris Saint-Germain upon Arsene Wenger s departure after the 2017-18 season, at which point Arteta was also in the running for the role.
But despite the way Emery s tenure panned out, Sanllehi is still content Arsenal made the best…
John Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 after being found guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, on this day in 2012.
The Chelsea captain denied the charge but a Football Association regulatory commission ruled he was guilty of misconduct during his side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to QPR at Loftus Road on October 23 2011.
The 31-year-old England defender announced his retirement from international football a week before the FA’s decision and decided not to appeal against it.
An FA statement read: “An independent regulatory commission has today found a charge of misconduct against John Terry proven and has issued a suspension for a period of four matches and a fine of £220,000, pending appeal.
“The Football Associa…
The New England Patriots, winners of three of their last four, head to Carolina Sunday to take on a Panthers team that has some big question marks ahead of the Week 9 matchup.
Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a concussion in Week 8 but got in a pair of limited practices this week and is questionable, while Christian McCaffrey, out since Week 3, has also been practicing this week. With all the uncertainties, the Patriots come in as 3.5-point road favorites with the second-lowest total on the board at 41.
If you’re betting this game on Sunday, November 7, then make sure you read our free NFL betting picks and predictions for the Patriots vs. Panthers first.
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It sure is convenient that Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos open up the season against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, on Monday Night Football.
But with most bettors uninterested in backing this Seattle offense against a very good Denver defense, is this a good spot to back the Seahawks’ skilled players even with Geno Smith under center?
Find out in our Monday Night Football props for Week 1 action between the Broncos and Seahawks.
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The NFL’s eagerly anticipated return is just hours away, and we have you covered with a full slate of NFL picks from our All-Star team of betting analysts. They’ve dissected reams of data, watched countless hours of film, and pored over the latest NFL odds to bring you their best bets for tonight’s marquee matchup between the Detroit Lions and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Our own Josh Inglis and Rob Paul are both big believers in Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, while Shawn Wronka is going all-in on reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes, whom he expects to run roughshod over Detroit.
Check out their Lions vs. Chiefs picks below and be sure to read our TNF props and TNF Patrick Mahomes picks for even more insights before kick-off.