As for the visitors, while Everton may have left the Etihad on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat against the reigning champions, the Blues have made a string of improvements since parting ways with former boss Marco Silva. With Carlo Ancelotti s new squad asking City a string of questions on New Year s Day, they have skyrocketed away from the drop zone after picking up back-to-back victories over Newcastle and Burnley. With the mood around Goodison at a continued rise and the likes of Richarlison and starlet Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing an eye-catching job of leading Everton line, there is no doubt that Ancelloti will be calling on his side to find some much-needed stability on the road. Including being hit with a 5-2 defeat when they made the trip across Stanley Park last month, Sunday s gu…

Kyle Walker has given Manchester City an injury scare ahead of the Champions League final by sitting out training with a back problem.

The England right-back was not involved as the treble-chasing Premier League champions held a session open to media ahead of Saturday’s encounter with Inter Milan in Istanbul.

Walker was substituted in the last minute of City’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United at Wembley last weekend.

The 33-year-old was made available by the club for media commitments on Tuesday, suggesting the issue was not too serious, but manager Pep Guardiola said no chances were being taken.

“He has had a disturbance in his back,” said Guardiola at a press conference.

“Yesterday he was not good, today he was a little bit …

Alvaro Morata has ended his difficult time at Chelsea by securing a move back to Spain with Atletico Madrid.

The striker has signed a deal that will see him spend the rest of this season and 2019-20 on loan with Diego Simeone s side, who are reported to have the option of a permanent transfer.

Morata spent four seasons with Atleti as a youth player but made his breakthrough in world football with bitter rivals Real Madrid, with whom he won eight trophies, including two LaLiga crowns and two Champions Leagues.

He is certainly not the first to represent both of the capital s big boys, though. Here are six of the best players to have turned out for Atleti and Madrid in their careers

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Agreement with over the loan of for the remainder of the current se…

Sarina Wiegman said England’s trip had yielded “many positives” after the team concluded their double-header of friendlies in southern Spain with a 5-1 win over Italy.

Four days on from the 7-2 defeat of Austria at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, another thumping victory for the Lionesses at the same venue began with Lotte Wubben-Moy heading her first international goal in the opening minute.

Lauren Hemp extended the lead with a brace, the second via an excellent header, and after Michela Cambiaghi pulled a goal back for Italy in stoppage time at the end of the first half, substitutes Ella Toone and Rachel Daly completed the rout in the second half.

A five-star performance!

— Lionesses (@Lionesses)

Boss Wiegman told ITV: “I thi…

Pedro has completed his move to Roma, signing a three-year contract with the Serie A side.

The former Barcelona winger ended a five-year stay at Chelsea when his contract at Stamford Bridge expired at the end of last season.

The 33-year-old won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League during his time at Stamford Bridge and becomes Roma s first signing ahead of the new Serie A season, which begins on September 19.

I am delighted to be here at Roma, Pedro said. I m excited for this challenge and to compete to achieve our targets over the coming seasons.

I want to thank the fans for the welcome they ve given me. I hope to make them happy.

A product of Barcelona s feted La Masia youth academy, he twice won the treble with the Blaugrana – scor…

Jose Mourinho has confirmed his next job will not be at a Premier League club.

The 56-year-old has worked as a television pundit since leaving Manchester United last December.

He was linked with a return to Real Madrid, but they instead appointed Zinedine Zidane, while Bayern Munich are also reportedly interested.

Mourinho has been pictured watching a Ligue 1 game and took in the Premier League fixture between Fulham and Everton earlier this month.

And having earlier denied he could return to his homeland to take charge of Benfica, the Portuguese has offered a hint as to his next move.

I m back in London, now it s the starting point for me, two-time Chelsea boss Mourinho told DAZN. I think the next stop won t be in the Premier League.

Th…

Market: Lachlan Brook to score anytime

Odds: 2/1 @

Seeking a welcomed A-League boost on Friday morning, Western Sydney will welcome Western United to the CommBank Stadium.

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to losing ways last week as they fell to a 4-1 drumming at the hands of bitter local rivals Sydney, the Wanderers are desperate to claim some much-needed stability. Although Marko Rudan’s men might have secured a 2-1 victory away at Adelaide on February 24th, that is the only win that they have collected from their previous five appearances. Opening this weekend’s fixtures holding just a three-point buffer from slipping out of the play-off places, the former Wellington boss will also be concerned by his side’s glaring defensive issues. …

Arrigo Sacchi labelled Diego Simeone s Atletico Madrid as boring and says the Spanish club should have spent money on changing their style of play.

Atleti have become famed for their organised, defensive set-ups in their 11 years under Simeone, and those tactics were again on show in Tuesday s 1-0 loss to Manchester City.

Simeone s team failed to muster a single shot in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, making them the first side to do so in the competition since APOEL against Real Madrid in March 2012.

Indeed, since such data was first recorded from 2003-04, there have been only four instances of a side failing to register at least one shot in a single match.

Simeone s tactics have led to plenty of success over the past decade, however, wi…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic insisted Serie A leaders Milan need the  courage to dream  of lifting their first league trophy in 10 years.

Ibrahimovic was Milan s joint top goalscorer, netting 14 times, when the Rossoneri lifted their 18th and last Scudetto in 2011.

The 39-year-old has been in near unstoppable form this campaign, scoring 10 goals in six league matches to fire Stefano Pioli s undefeated Milan to a three-point lead over city rivals Inter atop the table after 11 rounds.

Defending champions Juventus have dominated Serie A over the past decade but Ibrahimovic is full of belief that Milan can prevent the Old Lady from clinching a 10th successive title.

The team must have the courage to dream of winning the Scudetto, we have a long way ahead, said Ibra…

Luka Modric acknowledged Real Madrid are in a very difficult situation with their Champions League hopes in the balance following another defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Madrid crashed to a 2-0 loss at Shakhtar on Tuesday in a result which leaves the LaLiga champions third in Group B and facing group-stage elimination heading into the final matchday.

Upstaged by Deportivo Alaves in LaLiga on Saturday, Madrid slumped to back-to-back defeats after succumbing to second-half strikes from Dentinho and Manor Solomon in Kiev.

Madrid have now conceded nine goals in the Champions League this season, their worst defensive total at this stage in the competition s history.

Zinedine Zidane s side also lost to Shakhtar at home and so trail Tuesday s opponents due to thei…