Arne Slot aims to utilise the set-pieces that proved fruitful in his first Champions League game in charge of Liverpool when they welcome Bournemouth to Anfield this weekend.
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk netted headers from corner kicks in the Reds’ 3-1 win over Milan in midweek, bouncing back from their shock defeat to Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Liverpool’s loss to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side marked the first of Slot’s era since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, but the Dutch head coach is confident that the Red’s new-found weapon can punish the Cherries and get their Premier League campaign back on track.
“I don t look at the other team, I always look at my own team,” Slot said.
“I think we were a bit disappointed with the resul…
France s progression to the Euro 2024 knockout stages was confirmed on Monday, without Didier Deschamps side kicking a ball.
Les Bleus sit second in Group B behind the Netherlands having scored a goal less with four points from their opening two matches, ahead of facing Poland in Dortmund on Tuesday.
However, the two-time European champions will approach the game safe in the knowledge they are assured of a place in the last 16.
With Hungary and Croatia finishing third in Group A and Group B with three and two points respectively, even a defeat against Poland would see France advance as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Deschamps side are the only European nation to qualify from the group stage of all seven major international tournaments (World Cup…
Zinedine Zidane has the chance to hit the ground running in 2019-2020 as Real Madrid have been handed a favourable set of fixtures to start the new campaign.
Madrid have finished third in back-to-back seasons and endured a calamitous campaign last time out that saw them sack two managers before reappointing Zidane in March the man who led them to three successive Champions League triumphs.
However, after spending big during the close season to bring in Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic, the 33-time champions of Spain are expected to put up more of a fight this time around as they aim to take back the title from Barcelona.
And Madrid s first four fixtures are against teams that finished last season in the bottom half of the division, giving Zidane a chance to build up …
Footballing superpowers Italy and Germany can seal their places at the 2010 World Cup on Saturday as qualifying for South Africa enters the home straight.
England, Spain and the Netherlands are the only European countries to have already secured their tickets for next year s finals leaving six automatic places still up for grabs.
A further four countries will gain qualification through the play-offs.
World Cup winners Italy travel to Dublin to play the Republic of Ireland requiring only a point to guarantee their presence in South Africa as winners of Group Eight.
Germany are in Moscow to take on Guus Hiddink s Russia where a win for Joachim Loew s side will see them safely through from Group Four.
Portugal, semi-finalists in 2006, have struggled…
Virgil van Dijk conceded he had to respect greatness after losing out on the 2019 Ballon d Or to Lionel Messi.
Barcelona and Argentina forward Messi won the prize for a record sixth time having scored 41 times in 44 club appearances for Barcelona, with whom he won a 10th LaLiga title last season.
Success in the Champions League eluded him, though, as Van Dijk helped Liverpool oust Barcelona in the semi-finals en route to a sixth triumph in Europe s most premier club competition.
Van Dijk s performances for the Reds in that competition and with Nations League finalists Netherlands ensured he finished second in the voting for the Ballon d Or, though he had no qualms about being pipped to the prize by Messi.
It was amazing, Van Dijk said of his 2019.
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The Premier League kicked-off earlier today and there were some very interesting results. Newly promoted QPR suffered a nightmare start to their return to the top flight, as they lost 4-0 at home.
The Trotters took the lead just before half-time through a superb strike from defender Gary Cahill.
That lead was doubled as QPR defender Danny Gabbidon put the ball past his own keeper. And they were three up in the 70th minute as Ivan Klasnic’s deflected shot beat Paddy Kenny.
The home sides misery was completed in the 79th minute as midfielder Fabrice Muamba slotted home from a through ball from Ivan Klasnic.
Wolves enjoyed a good first day of the season with a 2-1 victory at Blackburn’s Ewood Park. Argentinian attacking midfielder Mauro Formica opened t…
In what seemed like a possible Super Bowl matchup a month ago, the sliding Buffalo Bills will head south to take on the Tampa Buccaneers and face a familiar foe in Tom Brady as 3-point road dogs in Week 14.
Can Sean McDermott finally beat Brady, who is 6-0 SU versus the Bills’ head coach, and 32-3 SU versus Buffalo over his career? Can the Bills shake off a 3-4 SU stretch and stay in the playoff race? Find out in our Bills vs. Buccaneers free NFL picks and predictions for Sunday, December 12.
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Sunday should be another fun day of NFL action, and the Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers has to be the best game on the Week 7 slate. What better way to end the afternoon than a contest between two teams with gobs of offensive talent and a 48.5-point total?
Will Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have big nights against one of the best defenses in the game, or will 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel steal the spotlight away from the dynamic duo?
Don’t miss our NFL prop picks for the Chiefs vs. 49ers.
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The NFL playoffs will be here before you know it, but there’s still lots to settle with four weeks left in the regular season. There are six teams in the NFC at 6-7, including the three top squads in the NFC South. I’m picking three of those clubs, all of whom are favored in the NFL odds, to get to the .500 mark and solidify their postseason standing.
I’m also anticipating some fireworks in a game not many would expect and taking advantage of some nicely-priced NFL player props in a same-game parlay. Join me as I break down the Week 15 odds and make my best free NFL parlay picks for Sunday, December 17.
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Week 2 of the NFL preseason is here with the battle of Los Angeles on Saturday night and my Rams vs. Chargers predictions expect it to be a low-scoring game with both teams sitting their starters in this one.
Find out more in my NFL picks for Saturday, August 17.
Rams vs Chargers prediction
My best betUnder 33.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
My analysis
NFL preseason games are typically lower-scoring and this one should be no different. The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers combined for just 16 points in their preseason openers and neither will have too many offensive weapons playing in this one.
Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett is getting his second straight preseason start after throwing for 224 yards with one tou…