… Guardiola's rivalry with Jurgen Klopp, whose Liverpool side pushed City to even greater heights with their own swashbuckling brand of "heavy-metal football", was one of the high points of the Premier League era. …
… Football rivalries, particularly involving English Premier League clubs, often dominate online conversations across Africa, where support for teams such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool runs deep.
… If City were to be found guilty, there would likely be plenty of references by rival fans to the titles that Guardiola won by just one point (over Liverpool in both 2019 and 2022) and two points (over Arsenal in 2024). …
… But it was a big goal for Liverpool, who now have a three-point cushion over Bournemouth and a goal difference advantage of six heading into the final day battle to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.
… Liverpool boss Arne Slot has said his coaching philosophy was shaped by watching the City boss's Barcelona team, while new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso moved to Bayern in the final years of his playing career to gain the experience of working under Guardiola. …
… Many Liverpool fans were desperate for him to return to Anfield, where he starred for five years as a player between 2004 and 2009, to succeed the under-fire Arne Slot.
Aston Villa humble Liverpool to secure Champions League qualification By AFP May 16, 2026 05:05 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Aston Villa's English striker Ollie Watkins (R) watches his shot beat Liverpoo …
… "There are still games to play and points to take and we need to believe until the end." Champions League race Aston Villa's home game against Liverpool on Friday will have a huge effect on the fortunes of a clutch of clubs that harbour Champions League ambitions. …
Real Madrid announced the signing of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a reported fee of 55 million euros, on a contract until June 30, 2032. The 27-year-old left-back will join the club for six seasons.
Real Madrid announced the signing of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a reported fee of 55 million euros, on a contract until June 30, 2032. The 27-year-old left-back will join the club for six seasons.
Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella for 55 million euros ($63 million) after the World Cup, according to reports.
Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 in Texas, fighting back twice after falling behind to Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville's goals.
Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday to seize control of World Cup Group F. Yasin Ayari scored twice, while Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres also found the net as Tunisia's defensive record crumbled.
Curaçao, a Caribbean island of 160,000 people and the smallest nation by population in the tournament, makes its World Cup debut against four-time champion Germany on Sunday in Houston. Coach Dick Advocaat, the oldest in World Cup history at 78, believes the team can "steal some points" despite being underdogs.
Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup with a foot injury and announced his international retirement on June 12, 2026, three days before Japan's opener against the Netherlands. The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder was replaced in the squad by Shuto Machino.
Kenya's Coast region, once a heartbeat of Kenyan football that produced legendary players and dominant clubs like Feisal FC and Mwenge FC, is steadily rising again after decades of decline when many clubs folded.
Former Belgium striker Divock Origi, who scored memorable goals for Liverpool including two in a 4-0 Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona and in the final win over Tottenham Hotspur, has announced his retirement from football at 31.
Brazil defeated Egypt 2-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly in Cleveland on Saturday, with goals from Endrick and Bruno Guimaraes. The victory capped Brazil's preparations ahead of their World Cup Group C opener against Morocco on June 13.
Zamalek's Hossam Abdelmaguid, 25, said his childhood dream of playing at the World Cup has come sooner than expected, as Egypt targets a deep run in North America. The defender aims to help Egypt achieve more than winning a World Cup match for the first time, and said the team will not be burdened by fan expectations despite being in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran.
Columnist Linus Kaikai, an Arsenal supporter, reflects on the club's first Premier League title in 22 years and the passionate celebrations among Kenyan fans, including street parades and church processions, while also noting rival supporters' contrasting reactions.
Jose Mourinho has been lined up as a potential candidate in a Real Madrid election battle, with candidate Riquelme reportedly promising to bring in players including Haaland and Rodri.
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola to replace Arne Slot, who was sacked after a turbulent second season. The club has reportedly agreed a deal in principle with the Spaniard, with sporting director Richard Hughes spearheading the recruitment.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said Luis Suarez does not owe him an apology after omitting the 39-year-old striker from his 26-man World Cup squad, citing preference for other attacking options including Darwin Nunez. Bielsa said his selection was guided solely by what he considered best for the team's chances, despite earlier tensions between the coach and Suarez over alleged mistreatment during the 2024 Copa America.
Former England midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from football at age 40 after 24 seasons in the Premier League. Milner won three Premier League titles (two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool) and the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, and holds the record for most Premier League appearances with 658.
Raheem Sterling, a 31-year-old former England winger, was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving after he allegedly crashed his Lamborghini into barriers on the M3 motorway in Hampshire on Thursday morning. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Liverpool sacked manager Arne Slot on Saturday after the club finished fifth in the Premier League, 25 points behind champions Arsenal, despite spending nearly £450 million on new players. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is reportedly lined up to take over at Anfield.
Ghanaian midfielder Antoine Semenyo, now at Manchester City, is preparing for his second World Cup with Ghana under new coach Carlos Queiroz after a meteoric rise from a disappointing 2022 campaign where he played only 19 minutes across two substitute appearances.
France defender Ibrahima Konate will leave Liverpool when his contract expires next month after the two parties failed to agree on financial terms for a new deal, according to British media reports. The 27-year-old, who joined from Leipzig five years ago, becomes the third major departure this summer after Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois have been drawn in Group G of the 2026 World Cup alongside New Zealand and Iran, with the tournament likely being their last chance for glory on football's biggest stage.
Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah played his final match for Liverpool on Sunday, leaving as the club's third-highest all-time goalscorer with 257 goals. The 33-year-old, who will captain Egypt at the 2026 World Cup, played 74 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Pep Guardiola bid an emotional farewell to Manchester City after a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday, ending his 10-season spell as manager in which he won 20 trophies and made City the dominant force of English football.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he and Mohamed Salah both want what is best for Liverpool after Salah took aim at the Dutchman on his way out of the club. Salah's nine-year spell at Anfield ends after Sunday's clash against Brentford.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is widely reported to be in the final days of his tenure at the club, with Sunday's match against Aston Villa reportedly his last after a decade at the Etihad.
Manchester United rewarded Michael Carrick with a permanent head coach contract after he guided the club to third place in the Premier League and Champions League qualification following his interim appointment in January.
As Pep Guardiola's departure from Manchester City marks the end of an era, Spanish coaches including Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Unai Emery at Aston Villa, and Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth are maintaining a strong Spanish influence on English football.
Pep Guardiola announced Friday he will step down as Manchester City manager after the season, having won 20 major trophies in 10 years, including six Premier League titles and the club's only Champions League. Enzo Maresca, formerly on Guardiola's City staff, has been reported as his likely successor.
Manchester City announced Friday that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club after the final game of the season, a year before his contract ends. The 55-year-old Catalan coach leaves having collected 20 trophies in 10 years, including six Premier League titles and the club's first Champions League trophy in 2023.
Bernardo Silva, 31, says it is time for a new generation to take the lead at Manchester City as his nine-year contract expires at the end of the season. In a farewell interview, Silva said his generation won a lot but felt the club had been unlucky not to win more Champions League titles.
Aston Villa defeated Freiburg 3–0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul, with goals from Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, and Morgan Rogers. The victory ended Villa's 30-year trophy drought, securing their first silverware since the 1996 League Cup.