Fernando Torres has admitted a burning desire to become part of a legendary generation at Liverpool by helping the club win its first English league title for nineteen years this season.
The Spain forward, who returned from a six-week hamstring injury lay-off by scoring in the 2-0 FA Cup third round victory at Preston last weekend, is eyeing a return to the starting line-up for the Premier League leaders at Stoke on Saturday.
Torres played a key role as Spain ended a 44-year wait for major silverware at Euro 2008 and the former Atletico Madrid striker admits he wants to enjoy that feeling of ecstasy all over again at Anfield this year.
He said: Having won the European Championships with Spain, I have experienced what it is like to be part of a generation of play…
Antonio Conte accepts Chelsea have some way to go to catch Tottenham ahead of Sunday s crunch Premier League clash.
Chelsea host Spurs at Stamford Bridge with a five-point gap to make up on their London rivals if the Blues are to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Although Conte led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in charge the Blues have struggled this term, with the FA Cup their only remaining hope of silverware, and Conte accepts Spurs are now ahead of his side in their development.
Yes, I think they have started before us, Conte said when asked if the Tottenham project is ahead of Chelsea s. I am talking about my period, my era.
For sure, now, they are ahead of us. But, despite this, last season we were able to w…
Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri was stunned by Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo s goals against Sampdoria, saying wow does not describe either strike.
Dybala scored a tremendous volley and Ronaldo an incredible header in a 2-1 victory that sent Juve back to the top of Serie A on Wednesday.
Sarri lauded both goals as he hailed his forwards, Ronaldo s 45th-minute header proving the match-winner after Gianluca Caprari – later sent off – had cancelled out Dybala s effort.
When Ronaldo scored I thought the same as the Dybala one – f***, wow, he told a news conference.
But wow does not describe it all. They both scored two outstanding goals.
PINPOINT!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
[Dybala] chose a left-footed volley in a si…
Watford are set to join the race to sign West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino, .
A number of clubs have been linked with a move for the striker, who aside from loan spells with Peterbrough United, Brentford and Northampton Town has spent his entire career so far with the Baggies.
He has scored thirty-six goals for the Midlands side in one hundred and thirteen appearances though he scored four in the league last season.
Stoke City had been in the hunt to secure his services but have been put off by his £20m valuation.
Berahino has been capped for England at every level from U16 to U21, scoring ten goals in eleven times for the latter though he is yet to make his debut for the senior side.
He was called up by Roy Hodgson for two matches ba…
Swansea City defender Stephen Kingsley has signed a new four-year contract with the club.
The 21-year-old signed for Swansea from Scottish Championship side Falkirk in June 2014 and made four Premier League appearances last season after returning from a loan spell with Crewe Alexandra.
Kingsley previously had a stint at Yeovil Town and is delighted to have finally had a taste of top-flight action.
The left-back s previous contract was due to expire at the end of 2016-17, but he is now tied to the club until June 2020.
The last six months have been a whirlwind, Kingsley told the club s official website.
Everything has happened so quickly. But this is just the start for me. I am just looking forward to getting into the new season and trying to pus…
Bundesliga side Hamburg have been dealt a blow with the news that goalkeeper Rene Adler has suffered an injury while on international duty.
The 28-year-old is to miss Hamburg s pre-season trip to Austria as he aims to recover from the slight knee ligament tear which occured while featuring in Germany s 4-2 win over Ecuador last month.
Adler also suffered bruising to the same knee and will undergo a two-week rehabilitation programme as he targets a return to action in time for his side s Bundesliga opener against Schalke on August 10.
In Hamburg, I m in the best possible place to speed up the recovery process, Adler told the Bundesliga website.
In Adler s absence, it will be between Jaroslav Drobny and Sven Neuhaus to battle it out for the goalkeeping position.…
Simon Kjaer s long-expected Lille exit has been confirmed with the Denmark international moving to Fenerbahce on a four-year deal.
The former Wolfsburg man had been linked with Premier League side Liverpool after Lille failed to qualify for Europe, having been one of Rene Girard s standout performers last term.
Kjaer was a regular feature in Girard s back line and has now made the switch to Istanbul with Fener, who will feature in the UEFA Champions League again this season.
The Turkish giants were banned from two editions of UEFA club competitions in 2013 for match-fixing.
Fener who finished three points off Turkish Super Lig winners Galatasaray last season recently appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach.
Pereira succeeds Ismail Ka…
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has called on his side to keep their unbeaten run at the Etihad alive on Sunday.
Current Premier League leaders Manchester United travel to last season s champions, looking for revenge following that dramatic season finale in May.
City are currently three points behind their rivals, and a win at the Etihad would put Roberto Mancini s side on top of the table.
But Toure understands the difficulty they will confront when they go against United, facing a strikeforce of Wayne Rooney and a player they reportedly tried to sign themselves in the summer, Robin van Persie.
We respect United but we are at home and confident against anyone on our own pitch, Toure told reporters.
These are the games, personally, I love…
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has promised that he will not to return to action too soon following his liver transplant earlier this year.
The Frenchman underwent the procedure in April and has been working his way back to health since.
Football is not the chief priority for the the 33-year-old left-back, who has said that his priorities lie with his family.
My wish is to return and at the moment I m very happy because I feel great, he told TV3.
I want to play, but I have a family and I m not going to take any risks. The first priority for me is them, and then myself.
If I can play then perfect, and if not I can be with my family and the people who love me.
Abidal was first diagnosed with cancer in March 2011 but made a return at th…
Manchester United have won three Premier League games in a row for the first time this year as they beat Leicester City 1-0 at the King Power Stadium on Thursday.
Although United s performance was by no means flawless, victory moved them up to fifth in the table, with the nightmares of their first two games of the season seemingly a distant memory.
United were fully deserving of the first-half lead that was given to them by Jadon Sancho at the end of an incisive move – though their level dropped significantly after the restart.
Leicester were encouraged and carried greater threat, but clear-cut chances remained at a premium as United s solid backline helped guide the visitors to another win.
United looked sharp right from the start and almost went ahead…