Benzema scores 300th Real Madrid goal

Liverpool kept themselves in the hunt for a top-four Premier League finish as they earned a 2-0 win over Southampton at Anfield.

Sadio Mane s 31st-minute header and a late Thiago Alcantara strike his first for the club  proved the difference as the hosts ensured their slim hopes of clinching Champions League qualification remain alive.

The Saints, meanwhile, failed to make themselves mathematically safe from relegation as they suffered defeat, though with 10 points separating them from 18th-placed Fulham, it is highly unlikely they will be dragged into the mix.

Liverpool s last two outings 1-1 draws against Leeds United and Newcastle United were largely defined by a failure to take their opportunities, rather than any issues creating them.

And Jurgen K…

Hansi Flick acknowledged he remains in contact with Mario Gotze after rumours circulated the Germany World Cup winner could return to Bayern Munich.

Gotze spent three years at Bayern between 2013 and 2016, winning the Bundesliga in each season and the DFB-Pokal twice, before returning to Borussia Dortmund.

The attacking midfielder was released at the end of last season, though, after struggling to regain the form that saw him rise through the ranks at Signal Iduna Park.

Flick was assistant to Joachim Low when Gotze scored the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final and German publication Bild suggested the Bayern boss is keen on bringing him back to bolster his midfield, an option that has proved attractive as there is no fee involved.

Asked …

Sergio Ramos moved level with Iker Casillas as Spain s most-capped player on 167 appearances after being named in their starting XI to face the Faroe Islands.

Ramos, 33, has been an ever-present since making his international debut in 2005 and featuring on Sunday leaves him on the brink of history.

The centre-back was a key player in Spain s greatest international triumphs, helping them to European Championship success in 2008 and 2012, as well as their first World Cup title in 2010.

Casillas had been out in front by himself ever since retiring from international football in 2016, but Ramos is now just a single appearance from setting a new outright record.

167 Sergio Ramos has played 167 international games for Spain equaling Iker Casillas as the player …

Germany benefited from two own goals as they came from behind to seal a thumping 4-2 win over Portugal in Euro 2020 Group F on Saturday. 

Cristiano Ronaldo had put holders Portugal ahead early on with a strike that took him level with Miroslav Klose as the European player to have scored the most combined goals (19) across the World Cup and European Championship. 

Joachim Low s side stormed back before half-time, however, courtesy of two own goals in the space of four minutes from Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro. 

The 2014 world champions wrapped up an emphatic first victory of the tournament in the second half thanks to strikes from Kai Havertz and the impressive Robin Gosens, with Diogo Jota pulling one back for Fernando Santos men.  

<…

Italy were drawn to face England and Germany in a tough 2022-23 Nations League group on Thursday.

The Azzurri beat England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley in July and the two sides will do battle again in Group A3 of the Nations League.

They will also face Germany and Hungary home and away in matches that will take place next June and September 2022.

Holders France are in Group A1 along with Croatia, Denmark and Austria.

World champions France were crowned champions when they came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 at San Siro in October.

Spain were drawn in Group A2 and will come up against Portugal, Czech Republic and Switzerland in the third edition of the UEFA competition.

Belgium, who squandered a two-goal lead to lose against France…

And you thought the rivalry would calm down when he moved to Serie A…

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi might not be operating in such close proximity any more, but their exploits continue to prompt wonderment and debate over who is the best footballer of their era and all time.

Ronaldo fired an equaliser for Juventus in their 1-1 Derby d Italia draw against Inter on Saturday to bring up his 600th club goal.

Four days later, having already got on the scoresheet in Barcelona s Champions League semi-final with Liverpool, Messi dispatched a stunning free-kick from 30 yards to crown a 3-0 first-leg win for the Blaugrana and reach the same milestone.

Among the numerous parallels of excellence the fellow five-time Ballon d Or winners have thrown up during…

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker:

Turning their attention back to World Cup qualifying duties on Wednesday night, Portugal will welcome Ireland to the Estádio Do Algarve when the September international fixtures get underway.

Portugal

Starting with the hosts, eventually crashing out of this summer s European Championships without making much of a mark, Portugal will be seeking a much-welcomed boost on Wednesday night. Hit with a round of 16 1-0 loss at the hands of Belgium, the Seleção managed to collect just a single win during the whole of their European adventure, a run highlighted by that action-packed 4-2 loss against an inconsistent Germany. However, tipped as a landslide pick to make a return to winning ways in midweek, Head Coach Fernando Santos finds his s…

Harry Kane sits fifth in England s all-time scoring charts, but he could overtake Wayne Rooney s competitive record for the Three Lions against Andorra.

Kane has found the net nine times in 13 appearances in 2021 for Gareth Southgate s men to leave him 12 goals behind Rooney (53) as England s leading scorer.

However, the Tottenham forward has 36 goals to his name in competitive international fixtures – one fewer than Rooney – before the trip to the Estadi Nacional on Saturday.

Kane is also one shy of becoming just the second player to score 10 or more in two separate calendar years for the Three Lions, after Vivian Woodward in 1908 and 1909.

But comparisons between Kane and Rooney are likely to be the focus in the coming months, as the England…

It is finally official. Manchester City will be the new home of Erling Haaland next season after the announcement of an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the superstar s capture.

Barring an unexpected issue with personal terms, the striker will arrive after two and a half years in the Bundesliga to bring even more firepower to the Premier League champions.

Having flirted with Tottenham s Harry Kane throughout last year s pre-season transfer window without landing their man, City have decided to go down the Haaland route to finally bring in the number nine they have sought since Sergio Aguero left.

Pep Guardiola has told anyone who will listen all season how incredible it is that his team has maintained the standards they have without a striker , which can …

Frank Lampard said Mason Mount would sign a new contract at Chelsea “in an ideal world” but accepted the situation may not be so straightforward for the England midfielder.

The 24-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club he joined aged six.

The parties have been in talks for much of the season over a new deal but have failed to reach an agreement, and it seems increasingly likely that he will leave with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly interested.

If no extension is agreed it will mean he is free to begin negotiating with other clubs at the start of next year, but Chelsea could look to sell in the summer to avoid the possibility of the academy graduate leaving on a free tran…