Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not planning to buy a centre-back to cover Joel Matip’s expected absence for the rest of the season but admits the nature of the Premier League means all clubs are “only two injuries away from a real problem”.

Matip’s anterior cruciate ligament injury means Klopp now has five senior players unavailable – Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic – with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister doubtful for the weekend trip to Crystal Palace after sustaining a problem in the midweek win over Sheffield United.

In central defence he has Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate – who has had two spells on the sidelines already this season – Joe Gomez and 20-year-old Jarell Quansah and he believes that will be enough to su…

Tottenham Hotspur strengthened their position in the top-four Premier League by booking fresh three points taken against Fulham at Craven Cottage, courtesy of a solitary strike by Harry Kane in the final seconds of the first half.

Kane the Inevitable

That winning goal was the 266th Kane scored for Spurs, equaling the club s all-time record set by the legendary Jimmy Greaves between 1961 and 1970. It really did seem inevitable for the 29-year-old to make history at the North London club, even though he s yet to win a single trophy. The 266 goals, along with 62 assists, have come from 415 matches in all competitions.

Kane s brilliance has often been enough to drag Spurs on and bring vital points, even in games when they arguably didn t deserve any. This goal was very typ…

Ex-Bordeaux man Cédric Carrasso has confirmed a two-year deal to join Libson, according to report from A Bola.

After talks to stay with Bordeaux broke down, the French goalkeeper decided to look for opportunities outside of his homeland and agreed to terms with the Lisbon-based club.

The 35-year-old Carrasso stated to Canal Plus that he rejected offers from Turkey, France and from Switzerland before deciding to pack his bags for Portugal.

However, he also said that there are some “differences with businessmen” about his contract and that he is “still waiting.”

Since starting his career with Olympique de Marseille in 2001, Carrasso has had a distinguished career playing for Crystal Palace, Guingamp in Ligue 2 and Toulouse.

Carrasso’s b…

Rangers suffered another selection blow ahead of two crucial matches after Todd Cantwell was ruled out of the trip to Spain.

The former Norwich midfielder will not feature in the Europa League decider against Real Betis on Thursday because of personal reasons.

Manager Philippe Clement was already missing Ryan Jack, Tom Lawrence and Nico Raskin from his midfield through injury as Rangers chase the win they need to guarantee progress.

Clement experienced other bad news this week. Ecuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes lost his appeal against the red card he received against Dundee on Saturday, which rules him out of Sunday’s Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen through suspension.

And striker Danilo has been ruled out for several months with the knee injury he s…

Marco Reus fired red-hot Borussia Dortmund into a three-way tie at the top of the Bundesliga and declared: We want to keep riding this wave.

The captain was restored to Dortmund s starting line-up on Sunday after sitting out the midweek Champions League win over Chelsea, taking over from Jude Bellingham who dropped to the bench and handed over the armband.

Reus hit a stunning free-kick for Dortmund s third goal in a 4-1 win over Hertha Berlin, thrilling a crowd of 81,365 at Signal Iduna Park, with Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen and Julian Brandt also on the scoresheet.

Bellingham came on as a second-half substitute and achieved his 50th Bundesliga victory. At 19 years and 235 days old, it made the England midfielder the youngest player to ever reach that landmark.…

After all the excitement in the build-up, the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham did not live up to the hype on Saturday.

Mohamed Salah scored with a second-minute penalty and there was little further action of note until substitute Divock Origi clinched victory late on.

The standard of play was desperately poor in a huge clash between two of the Premier League s top sides.

Liverpool will not mind after claiming a sixth European Cup, but this was not a contest that will live long in the memory.

This was far from the first final to disappoint, though, and we take a look some other underwhelming showpiece matches.

2003 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: JUVENTUS V MILAN

Some commentators had warned in the build-up to Saturday …

Rafael Benitez issued a familiar plea for backing in the transfer window after Newcastle United sleepwalked to a 0-0 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Magpies ended a run of five home defeats on the bounce against former manager Chris Hughton s men, but looked bereft of ideas for the most part.

Karl Darlow and Mat Ryan were barely tested at either end, leaving Newcastle just a point above the drop zone ahead of a potentially pivotal January, which could see transfer strategy battling for attention with a prospective takeover at St James Park.

We are not happy because we wanted to win, Benitez told Sky Sports. We created a little bit, but not too much. 

They were well organised, difficult to break down their keeper made couple of saves…

Paris Saint-Germain now have their sights on the all-time longest winning runs across Europe s top five leagues after setting a new record of 12 successive victories at the start of a season.

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were the main men for the Parisians in the 2-1 win over Lille, scoring in the last 20 minutes before Nicolas Pepe netted a late consolation from the penalty spot.

PSG already look certainties for the Ligue 1 title under new coach Thomas Tuchel, with Friday s triumph putting them 11 points clear of their visitors and closest title rivals.

The win also saw them surpass Tottenham s previous record of 11 straight wins at the start of a campaign, which they recorded in 1960-61.

But PSG still have a little way to go to match the most impressive run…

Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho said Christian Eriksen should hold his head high if he leaves Spurs amid growing links to Inter.

Serie A outfit Inter are reportedly in talks with Tottenham to bring soon-to-be free agent Eriksen to San Siro in January.

Eriksen – who is out of contract at the end of the season – is keen for a new challenge, having joined Spurs from Ajax in 2013.

Asked about Eriksen after he was booed by Tottenham fans during Tuesday s 2-1 FA Cup third-round replay win over Middlesbrough, Mourinho told reporters: He played very well. Played very well, very professional which is what I expect from him.

If his decision is to leave, I think he has to leave with his head up, if he gives everything which is what he tries to do for the tea…

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After what would seem like a very long international break to those preferring club football, the Premier League continues on Saturday as Champions League holders Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to open the fifth round of the 2019/20 season.

Liverpool

Having just missed out on the league title last time around, Liverpool had a rather quiet summer transfer window this year. The only changes in the first-team squad were the departures of striker Daniel Sturridge and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and while young Rhian Brewster made the step up to fill the Sturridge-shaped hole, the club signed Adrian, former West Ham shot-stopper, to replace Mignolet as the No.2 goalkeeper.

Despite all that, Liverpool remain the only team in the…