Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0: Boufal the difference at St Mary´s

A deflected strike from Sofiane Boufal helped Southampton to a first home Premier League win over Middlesbrough for 20 years as they claimed a 1-0 victory at St Mary s Stadium on Sunday.

The winger had yet to score in the league following his big-money move from Lille during the close-season, but he broke his duck in fine fashion with a long-range shot into the top-left corner early in the second half to secure the points.

Southampton were desperate to return to winning ways after last week s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace and their Europa League elimination on Thursday.

History was against the hosts, though, with Southampton having not beaten Middlesbrough at home in the Premier League since September 1996.

1996 Southampton haven’t w…

Origi eyeing first team place at Liverpool

Divock Origi is aiming to give Jurgen Klopp a selection headache as he eyes a regular first team spot at Liverpool in the closing months of the season.

Origi international has started just 13 Premier League games since linking up with the Reds in 2015, but has still contributed 18 goals in all competitions.

The form of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho, plus the return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge have seen Origi fall down the pecking order at Anfield.

While he is aware of the tough competition within the Liverpool squad, the Belgium international hopes to be given a chance to earn a place in Klopp s starting XI.

It s been a season of ups and downs for me, the forward told the Liverpool Echo. But, as a team this year, we have certainly …

Jurgen Klopp takes the positives from his touchline suspension

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not believe his touchline ban will have a detrimental effect on his in-form side.

The German received a two-match suspension, one of which will not come into effect unless he has another transgression before the end of next season, on Thursday and was fined £75,000 for comments questioning the integrity of referee Paul Tierney.

It means Klopp will sit out the club’s final home game of the Premier League season against Aston Villa.

Jurgen Klopp has been suspended from the touchline and fined following media comments that he made after Liverpool’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 30 April 2023.

Full statement:

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)

“I expected a punishment w…

Roma 1/1 to beat Verona in Sunday’s Serie A battle

Market: Roma win

Odds: 1/1 @

Looking to extend on what has been a stunning start to the 2021/22 campaign, a high-flying Roma will make the trip to the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday evening.

Starting with the hosts, while Verona might have managed to land themselves an eye-catching top-half finish last season, the Gialloblu have largely failed to keep up that momentum. Eventually opening the 2021/22 Serie A campaign last month with an action-packed 3-2 defeat against Sassuolo at the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi, Igor Tudor s side have now lost each of their first three top-flight contests. Marking their return from September s international break with a toothless display as they were hit with a deserved 1-0 loss at the hands of Bologna on the road las…

International Friendly Preview: Poland v Scotland

Darren Fletcher could play his first international match since October 2012 when Scotland face Poland in Warsaw on Wednesday.

Manchester United midfielder Fletcher has missed most of the last 18 months due to a chronic bowel condition called ulcerative colitis that forced him to have surgery.

The 30-year-old was originally diagnosed in 2011 and made his last Scotland appearance in the 2-0 defeat against Belgium.

Fletcher sat out the majority of last season, but Fletcher has made something of a comeback in 2013-14 for the Premier League champions and done enough to earn a recall.

With 61 caps to his name, Fletcher s availability has been welcomed by head coach Gordon Strachan.

He said: It was wonderful over the Christmas period to see him back playing f…

Mourinho: Foy should be kept away from Chelsea

Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League should not let Chris Foy officiate future Chelsea games after the defeat at Aston Villa.

The Premier League leaders title hopes suffered a setback when they were beaten 1-0 at Villa Park on Saturday, with Fabian Delph s ingenious flick proving the difference between the two sides.

But the match was marred by controversy, notably when referee Foy dismissed Willian after 68 minutes for a harsh second bookable offence for a tug on Delph to the ground with the game goalless.

Foy then reduced Chelsea to nine men in the closing stages when Ramires was given his marching orders for a poor challenge on Karim El Ahmadi.

Chelsea manager Mourinho came onto the pitch after Ramires dismissal and was subsequently sent to the stands, wi…

Bastian Schweinsteiger completes MLS move

Bastian Schweinsteiger is set to embark on a new adventure in the MLS with the Chicago Fire

Another ageing European star has decided to play out his twilight years in the MLS after German playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger joined MLS outfit Chicago Fire from Manchester United.

The 32-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Fire, reported to be worth £3.6million. The deal brings an end to an uncomfortable two years at Manchester United.

Didn’t quite work out at Manchester United

Schweinsteiger was in decline when he joined United from Bayern Munich in 2015. Then Bayern boss Pep Guardiola could see it, even if there were questions about the sale of one of German football’s most lauded players in recent years.

Schweinsteiger had suffered inj…

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona

Verdict: Barcelona

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

An electric atmosphere is expected at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night as home side Paris Saint-Germain look to beat the odds and upset the more fancied Barcelona side in the first leg of one of the most prominent UEFA Champions League last 16 ties.

Paris Saint-Germain

Unai Emery is given a proper test in the knockout stages of the competition he has come to Paris to conquer. The trophy-laden tactician has had successive successes with Sevilla in the Europa League and will use all of his experience and knowledge to push PSG forward in a competition which remains their biggest dream. Les Parisiens have been unable to reach the final stages of the competition for several seasons now despite heavy investments …

Klopp sees Porto progress from Liverpool as Man City clash comes into view

Jurgen Klopp was pleased to see Liverpool iron out a few issues on the pitch as they thrashed Porto, but insisted they will need to be better when they take on Manchester City next.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both scored twice on Tuesday as the Reds cut loose against their Portuguese opponents in the Champions League, easing to a 5-1 triumph on the road.

Liverpool capitalised on Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa s struggles to make it two wins from two in Group B, though Klopp admitted there were early moments of concern as their opponents appeared keen to follow Brentford s lead.

The German coach saw his team twice pegged back by the Bees in the second half as a pulsating Premier League game finished 3-3 on Saturday. However, there were no such issues in Eu…

Guardiola enjoys title taste again as he hails Man City´s ´massive´ success

Pep Guardiola savoured his latest slice of success with Manchester City as the Premier League champions tucked into late-night pizza.

Now Guardiola is targeting the Champions League for dessert, having clinched the trophy he regarded as the most important for the club.

City were able to celebrate on Tuesday evening after Leicester City won at Manchester United, a result across the city that was the cue for a party at the Etihad Stadium.

It was so nice, Guardiola said. Normally the unexpected parties are the nicest ones.

After Leicester won at Old Trafford, all together we came here in our bubble, everybody safe.

We drank a little bit, we danced, we hugged a lot, and we remembered how good it was, and especially at around 11.30-12 arrived 10-…