Liverpool are in talks with defender Ibrahima Konate over a new contract, according to . Konate has two more years left on his current deal, and the player and the club are in discussions over extending to.

Konate has been on the books of Liverpool since 2021 when he joined from RB Leipzig for £36 million. The 25-year-old centre-back has not always had the best of times at Liverpool, but he has been an important player under former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp and is now a regular under boss Arne Slot.

The France international centre-back has scored one goal and given one assist in six starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Liverpool so far this season. Konate has scored one goal in two UEFA Champions League for the Merseyside club so far this camp…

Borussia Dortmund are determined to replicate the heroics of their remarkable Champions League campaign last season, head coach Nuri Sahin said ahead of Wednesday s opener at Club Brugge.

The 36-year-old Sahin will lead Dortmund in Europe s elite club competition for the first time when the Bundesliga side visit Bruges.

Dortmund announced Sahin, their former assistant coach, in June as their new manager to replace Edin Terzic, who led the German club to the Champions League final last term.

Terzic s men subsequently lost to LaLiga giants Real Madrid 2-0 in the Wembley showpiece, though Sahin is desperate for another deep run in Europe.

After two or three matchdays, you will see how it s going, Sahin told reporters on Tuesday. As a finalist last year, we …

Sven-Goran Eriksson heaped praise on perfectionist Roberto Mancini as the Italy head coach continues to oversee the stunning transformation of the Azzurri at Euro 2020.

Italy will face Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday after setting a new national record by extending their unbeaten streak to 31 games thanks to a last-16 triumph over Austria.

A proud football country but a national team on their knees after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, their first World Cup absence since 1958, Mancini is the mastermind behind a drastic recovery following his appointment more than three years ago.

Banishing the nightmares of Gian Piero Ventura s dismal tenure, Italy have only conceded more than once in one of their past 18 matches at major tournaments, dating back to t…

Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona through to 2021, ensuring the continuation of a remarkable career with the club.

When Messi made his competitive debut in October 2004 at the tender age of 17, there was already plenty of buzz about the Argentine wizard following his quick rise through the ranks of La Masia.

The forward was not only seen as one of Barca s brightest prospects, but there were also murmurs he could potentially become an all-time great.

Fast-forward 13 years and it is fair to say Messi has lived up to those prodigious expectations, to the extent his latest terms include a mammoth €700million release clause.

The prolific forward, now 30, holds numerous individual records, while acting as the driving force behind Barca s …

Germany great Alexandra Popp has confirmed her impending international retirement.

Popp, the captain of Germany s women s team, will play her final game for her country on October 28, against Australia.

The 33-year-old has played for Germany since 2010, and has scored 67 goals in 144 appearances.

She won gold at the Rio Olympics and claimed bronze in Paris this year, while also leading Germany at two World Cups and skippering them at the 2022 Euros, in which they reached the final before losing to England.

I have always stressed that my gut will make the decision, and now it has, Wolfsburg s Popp said in a video posted on social media on Monday.

Poppi hat eine Nachricht für euch

— VfL Wolfsburg Frauen (@VfL_Frauen)

Af…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Pau Torres from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, according to . The report has claimed that Spurs are one of three clubs from the Premier League who are keen on securing the services of the 25-year-old Spain international centre-back at the end of the season.

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has reportedly told his bosses that he needs reinforcement at the back. Conte is not convinced by Clement Lenglet or Davinson Sanchez and wants to bring in another centre-back for next season.

So far this season, Torres has made six appearances in La Liga for Villarreal. During the 2021-22 campaign, the 25-year-old Spain international centre-back scored five goals and gave one assist in 33 La Liga matches. Torres also scored one goal in 12…

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

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Qatar and Ecuador will face each other in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar this weekend. The Group A match between the home nation and the South American team will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor and is scheduled to kick off at 4pm UK time on Saturday.

Qatar

Qatar are playing in their first ever World Cup. The Maroon have never come close to qualifying for the finals, and they are playing this year because they are the host nation. Qatar, though, did win the 2019 AFC Asian Cup where they beat heavyweights Japan in the final. In a group that also has Senegal and the Netherlands, it will be extremely tough for Qatar to finish in the top two. However, a win ag…

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool s dramatic defeat to Chelsea in April 2014 will have no bearing on Sunday s Premier League clash between the two sides.

Brendan Rodgers Reds faced Chelsea at Anfield needing just seven points from their remaining three games to win the title.

Chelsea, then managed by Jose Mourinho, took all three points, though, with Demba Ba taking advantage of Steven Gerrard s slip and Willian scoring late on to all but hand the title to Manchester City.

Liverpool are again locked in a battle with City for the title this season and go into this weekend s game two points ahead of their rivals at the summit, although Pep Guardiola s side do have a game in hand.

Klopp – who was crowned Premier League manager of the month for March on Fr…

Mexico and Canada played out a 1-1 draw in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying as El Tri failed to beat their emerging North American rivals for the first time in 13 years.

Not since 2008 had Mexico been unable to defeat Canada, a run of five consecutive victories across all competitions.

Mexico were forced to share the spoils with fellow unbeaten side Canada at the Azteca on Thursday after Jonathan Osorio cancelled out Jorge Sanchez s 21st-minute opener before half-time.

The result left Mexico level on eight points alongside the United States atop the standings in the final round of qualifying on the road to Qatar 2022, two points ahead of third-placed Canada through four matchdays.

FT from Mexico City  1:1 MEX

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN)…

Week 12 is a crucial stop in the schedule for the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins, who meet in South Florida this Sunday, with both teams holding on to postseason hopes.

The NFL betting odds paint a tight contest with the opening spread bouncing between Dolphins -1 and +1 before money showed up on the Panthers on Tuesday and pushed this line to Miami +2.5 despite the Fins riding a wave of momentum from a three-game winning streak. Carolina is coming off a tough loss at home to Washington in Cam Newton’s homecoming.

Here are our free NFL picks and predictions for Panthers at Dolphins on November 28.

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