Month: January 2024

Jan 31, 2024, 05:37 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DOHA, Qatar — Australia will enter their Asian Cup quarterfinal against South Korea with plenty of respect for Son Heung-Min but, after facing off repeatedly against Lionel Messi over the last 14 months, will not fear him. Saved by a 99th-minute equaliser from Cho Gue-Sung, Korea

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 31, 2024, 06:17 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Pep Guardiola said Julián Álvarez is already one of the best players in the world after he scored twice to help Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Burnley. Álvarez made it 15 goals for the season, just two behind last season’s tally, with

Open Extended Reactions Jurgen Klopp called Darwin Núñez “unlucky” after the Liverpool forward struck the woodwork four times and failed to score during Wednesday’s 4-1 Premier League win against Chelsea. Liverpool maintained their five-point lead over closest challengers Manchester City following goals from Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Díaz. Christopher Nkunku scored

Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff WriterJan 31, 2024, 09:11 AM ET Close Bill Connelly is a staff writer for ESPN.com. Open Extended Reactions Now is when the rubber meets the road. After a January loaded with (often delightful) cup ties, endless transfer rumors (most of which went nowhere), and lots of cold rain, February raises the

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 31, 2024, 05:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Erik ten Hag says punishments handed out to Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho following indiscretions were different because “Jadon chose to go public.” Rashford is available for Manchester United‘s Premier League fixture against Wolves on Thursday after clear-the-air talks with Ten Hag on Monday

Julián Álvarez celebrated his 24th birthday with two goals as Manchester City cruised to a 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Burnley at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to climb to second in the Premier League table. It was a stroll for the champions as Rodri added a third goal to ensure a 13th win in a

Barcelona‘s 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vitor Roque came off the bench and scored with a header to snatch a 1-0 win against visitors Osasuna in LaLiga on Wednesday. In their first game since manager Xavi Hernandez announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, Barca once again struggled up-front but

Jan 31, 2024, 01:02 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DOHA, Qatar — Japan skipper Wataru Endo believes he’s getting “better and better” with every game at the Asian Cup and is adamant club boss Jürgen Klopp’s recently announced departure from Liverpool won’t affect his efforts to lead the Samurai Blue to continental glory. Japan cruised

Jan 31, 2024, 11:53 AM ET Open Extended Reactions A22 Sports Management, formed to assist with creating the European Super League, made public on Wednesday a letter they sent to UEFA asking for the immediate cessation of anticompetitive behaviour. The decision to publish the letter on social media platform X came after A22 said UEFA

Cesar Hernandez Jan 31, 2024, 12:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Lionel Messi‘s title-holding Inter Miami CF will face Mexican powerhouse Tigres, while both the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes will take on Liga MX giant Chivas in the group stage of the revised Leagues Cup tournament this summer. Kicking off on July 26

Julien Laurens, CorrespondentJan 31, 2024, 07:42 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Karim Benzema will finish the season at Al Ittihad despite the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner wanting to leave Saudi Arabia this month, sources have confirmed to ESPN. As ESPN reported earlier in January, Benzema had been exploring his options in the transfer window after

Associated Press Jan 31, 2024, 10:22 AM ET Former Celta Vigo player Hugo Mallo will go on trial after being accused of inappropriately touching a mascot before a game in 2019, court officials said Wednesday. Mallo denies any wrongdoing. The alleged incident happened before a LaLiga match against Espanyol. The 32-year-old currently plays for Brazilian

Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Jan 31, 2024, 10:36 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The napkin which famously launched Lionel Messi‘s Barcelona career as a 13-year-old will be auctioned off in March with a starting price of £300,000 ($382,150). With Messi’s father, Jorge, beginning to doubt Barça’s commitment to his son in 2000, the club’s director

Adriana Garcia Jan 31, 2024, 07:58 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Brazil forward Neymar has hit back at critics who suggested he is fat, saying any added mass is “beauty weight.” Neymar, 31, is out of the rest of the season having sustained a serious knee injury in October while on international duty. – Stream

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 31, 2024, 07:38 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to punish Marcus Rashford and insisted players “need discipline” to be able to perform. Rashford was hit with a fine after visiting a Belfast nightclub last week before telling the club he was too

Jan 31, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The 2024 winter transfer window has entered its final hours as the clock ticks down to Thursday’s deadline. The Premier League is set to close for business at 11 p.m. GMT / 6 p.m. ET (find out when other leagues close here), and there are still