Man Utd can prove Premier League title pedigree with victory at Liverpool, says Shaw

Manchester United have an opportunity to prove their Premier League title pedigree with victory in Sunday s match at Liverpool, according to full-back Luke Shaw.

Erik ten Hag s side trail Arsenal by 11 points ahead of the leaders match against Bournemouth on Saturday, with the Red Devils also holding a game in hand.

United are still in the hunt for three more trophies this season, having already won the EFL Cup last week, but they realistically cannot afford to drop any points at Anfield.

Having been talked up as outside title challengers, Shaw wants United to lay down a further marker with a first league win away at Liverpool since 2016.

They re always big, big games, Shaw told Premier League Productions. I think if we want to be challenging for the tit…

Ellen White tips ‘proven winner’ Sarina Wiegman to lead England to further glory

Ellen White has hailed Sarina Wiegman as “a proven winner” and tipped the England manager to guide the country to World Cup glory this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

White – the Lionesses’ all-time leading goalscorer – talked up Wiegman’s impact and admitted she is “fascinated” by her former boss as England’s opening group game of the tournament against Haiti rapidly approaches.

And after winning last year’s European Championship, Wiegman is looking to make it consecutive wins in major tournaments this summer.

“It would be unheard of wouldn’t it? (winning the World Cup),” White said.

“She (Wiegman) won the Euros in 2017 with the Netherlands, she got to the final in 2019, she won the Euros with England and what if she went…

Ousmane Dembele wants to join PSG, says Barcelona boss Xavi

Ousmane Dembele has told Barcelona that he wants to leave to join Paris St Germain, according to manager Xavi.

The Ligue 1 side have made the 26-year-old an offer that Barca “cannot match” and he has informed his manager that he wishes to move.

The France international has a £43million release clause in his contract which PSG have reportedly triggered, shortly before the terms of his deal stipulated the figure would rise to £86m.

Xavi: “Dembélé came and told me he wanted to leave. He has an offer from PSG that we cannot match.”

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Talks have taken place between the parties and Dembele has made up his mind that his future lies away from Barca, whom he joined from Borussia Dortmund for £125m in 2017.

World Cup chief says ´improvements have to happen´ after death of ´400 to 500´ workers

World Cup chief Hassan Al-Thawadi admits improvements have to happen after estimating between 400 and 500 migrant workers died working on projects related to Qatar 2022.

The awarding of the competition to the Gulf state in 2010 has only grown more controversial in the years since due to its chequered past on human rights issues, its treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality.

The official count for those to have died on World Cup sites is 37 among non-work related deaths and three from work-related accidents. However, it was reported by The Guardian last year the overall figure may surpass 6,500 deaths.

FIFA has constantly reiterated it is fully committed to protecting the rights of workers on projects such as constructing stadia, while pres…

Rob Edwards urges Luton to play ‘like our lives depend on it’ against Sunderland

Rob Edwards has called on Luton to play “like our lives depend on it” in Tuesday’s Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Sunderland.

The Hatters’ dreams of reaching the Premier League for the first time in their history suffered a setback on Saturday after Sunderland hit back from an early deficit to claim a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.

And Luton boss Edwards has stressed the need for his side to combine a red-hot desire with ice-cold thinking if they are to book a place in the play-off final against either Middlesbrough or Coventry at Wembley later this month.

Ready to go again tomorrow. |

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown)

“We have got to be calm because we need 11 players on the pitch, but we need fire and th…

England going to Euro 2016 to win, says Hart

Joe Hart says there is no point in England going to Euro 2016 without the conviction that they can win the tournament.

Roy Hodgson s side qualified with a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 and will face Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B in the finals in France.

England have only reached the semi-final stage of the European Championship once when they were beaten by Germany on home soil in 1996 and their triumph at the 1966 World Cup remains their only major trophy win.

Hart, however, insists the team are full of confidence heading into this year s tournament.

We ll have to go for it. We ve got three weeks to mould ourselves, know each other inside out and be ready to hit the ground running, he told BBC Sport.

We believe it, there s no point …

Real Madrid return would be ´the best´ for Ronaldo – Fonte

But international team-mate Fonte believes a return to Madrid would be the best outcome for Ronaldo, who won four Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles with Los Blancos between 2009 and 2018, as well as becoming the club s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals.

Lille defender Fonte, who along with Ronaldo was part of the Portugal squad that won Euro 2016, told talkSPORT: What I do know is that the man loves the Champions League. 

He believes it is the best competition in the world and knows how he has to perform [in it] to win Ballons d Or.

He needs to be winning trophies and competing for trophies for the Ballon d Or. He is a serial winner, as everyone knows.

He might be looking at the [United] squad and thinking, Am I going to be able to win so…

Prediction: Scotland vs Spain

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker:

Two nations who will be looking to clinch back-to-back qualifying victories on Tuesday night, Scotland will welcome European heavyweights Spain to Hampden.

Scotland

Starting with the hosts, opening their European qualifying campaign with a rampant display on home soil over the weekend, Scotland should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Eventually breezing their way to a 3-0 romp against Cyprus, Steve Clarke’s men will have their sights firmly set on finding a route out of Group A. Gaining a string of plaudits last year as they secured a Nations League promotion, the one-time Kilmarnock boss his seen his squad lose just one of their last six appearances across all competitions. With their eye-catching flurry highlighted by a…

Mauricio Pochettino cannot compare Spurs return to bumping into ex-girlfriend

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is unsure if reuniting with former club Tottenham will feel like bumping into an ex-girlfriend because he cannot remember having one.

Pochettino enjoyed five full seasons in charge of Spurs between 2014 and 2019 but is poised to return for the first time as manager of one of their fiercest rivals.

The Argentinian, who believes Tottenham are genuine Premier League title contenders this term, is uncertain how he will be greeted by home supporters on Monday evening.

Yet he insisted a negative response would not tarnish his memories as he laughed off an analogy referencing his love life.

“My goodness,” he replied with a hearty chuckle when the situation was compared to meeting a former girlfriend.

“It’s difficu…

Romelu Lukaku has first half to remember as Belgium hammer Azerbaijan

Romelu Lukaku scored four times in 20 first-half minutes as Belgium thrashed 10-man Azerbaijan 5-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Lukaku headed the opener from Jeremy Doku’s cross before Eddy Pascual was shown a second yellow card for a foul on the Roma striker, who is on loan from Chelsea.

The 30-year-old completed his hat-trick by the half-hour mark and grabbed his fourth after 37 minutes before being substituted at half-time. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard completed the rout late on.

Lukaku’s total of 14 goals is a record for a European Championship qualifying campaign, beating the mark of 13 set by Northern Ireland’s David Healy in 2008 and equalled by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in 2016.

Belgium had already booked their place at next year’s tou…