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Michael Owen has issued advice to Trent Alexander-Arnold as he admitted that playing for Real Madrid was an “amazing experience” – while conceding he lost “control” of the destiny of his career after leaving Anfield.

The full-back has enjoyed a bright start to the campaign, having featured 19 times to help the Reds to summit of the Premier League and Champions League standings. However, the debate over his long-term future on Merseyside refuses to go away with the homegrown defender’s contract set to expire next summer.

With just seven months left on his current agreement, Alexander-Arnold would be allowed to depart his boyhood club for nothing if he fails to renew his terms. Amid the uncertainty, speculation has abounded that the 26-year-old could be a target for Real Madrid at the end of the campaign.

Irrespective of these rumors, what is undeniable is that the player is within his rights to talk with foreign clubs about a pre-contract agreement from January 1. Now, ex-Liverpool striker Owen has waded into the discourse over the right-back’s future as he explained the pros and cons of a potential move away from Anfield.

The pundit is in a position to offer a unique perspective on the situation, having left Liverpool for Real Madrid back in 2004. His time at Santiago Bernabeu ultimately proved mixed as he spent just a single season in Spain before making the move to Newcastle United in 2005 – having instead desired a return to Merseyside.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Liverpool.com, arranged by AceOdds, Owen first outlined the positives of staying at Liverpool for Alexander-Arnold as his future remains unresolved at the club he has supported since he was a boy. He said: “He’s done everything at Liverpool.

“He’s won every trophy. He can continue in that vein and just have the most wonderful career at one club and forever be loved by that one club and all that comes with it, earn a good living and have great fun and be with his mates in the club that you’ve always been at, there are so many positives to be taken from that.”

“I’m a living example and people I played with, the likes of Jamie Carragher did exactly that,” he continued, as he weighed up the possibility of the right-back going on to potentially become a one-club man at Anfield. “He will reap all the benefits that come with that.”

On the flip side, Owen then explained what Alexander-Arnold can expect if he does decide to sign for Los Blancos, like he did over two decades ago. He continued: “I had the opportunity to do what Trent’s possibly considering.

“I chose that because I thought, ‘That’d be an amazing experience, I should give it a go’. You lose a little bit of control after that, you’re almost in a trading commodity, you’re out there and if you’re doing well or not doing well, then you’re not that attached and ingrained to a club like you used to be.

“But then again, the positives of going to Real Madrid, they’re there for all to see. The life experience… we only live once. Living in a different country, learning a language, having a different climate, different food, all these things are quite incredible.

“Playing with one of the biggest teams in the world, or probably the biggest team in the world could be quite tempting. There are pros and cons for both ways.”

Going back to his previous example, Owen then compared the story of his own career to that of one-club man Jamie Carragher as he gave Alexander-Arnold some final words of advice. He added: “[From] my generation, someone like me and Jamie Carragher are probably the two examples; if you want to have a look at the pros and cons.

“Carragher is probably loved more than me at Liverpool because of his loyalty than the others, but I probably had experiences and met more people and had more of a life experience and all the rest of it that he didn’t have, and all the positives and benefits that go with that. It just depends on what floats your boat.”

The former Kop hero added: “He’s certainly got to be happy and content with the way the team is and the trophies that he can win at Liverpool. But does he want a lifestyle change, and then it’s personal preference.”

The holders, England, were drawn in a group with France, the 2017 champions the Netherlands and their neighbours Wales for the 2025 Women’s European Championship in Switzerland.

It is the most eye-catching of the four groups, given that it includes the past two winners and will mean the England head coach, Sarina Wiegman, faces her native country, the Netherlands. Two teams qualify from each group for the quarter-finals.

The world champions Spain avoided many of the high-ranked opponents, in a group containing Portugal, Belgium and Italy, while Germany face a tricky-looking group that includes the 2017 runners-up Denmark and the 2022 semi-finalists Sweden.

Group A Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland
Group B Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy
Group C Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
Group D France, England, Wales, Netherlands

England will be seeking to defend the title they won for the first time in 2022 on home soil, while Wiegman will be aiming to win the title for the third time in a row, having also guided the Netherlands to glory in 2017. Wiegman has reached four major tournament finals in a row as a manager, including back-to-back World Cup finals.

Wales have qualified for a major women’s tournament for the first time after their playoff victory over the Republic of Ireland.

Switzerland, as hosts, were seeded with Spain, France and the record eight-times winners Germany in the top pot for the draw and were therefore separated at the group stage.

Earlier Uefa’s executive committee approved a €41m (£34m) prize fund for the competition, more than double the €16m pot from the 2022 tournament, which was delayed by a year because of the pandemic. It was confirmed that between 30% and 40% of the prize money awarded to each participating nation would go to the players for the first time.

Barcelona’s disappointment after their Liga defeat to Leganes on Sunday night at the Nou Camp has been exacerbated following the news that teenage forward Lamine Yamal could be out for around a month after an injury suffered during the match. While Yamal lasted until the 75th minute after a blow in the first half, he will not play again until 2025.

Barcelona were dealt a further blow from their 1-0 defeat to Leganes on Sunday when it was revealed that Lamine Yamal could be out for a month with an ankle injury.

Yamal was injured when he took a knock to his right angle in the Liga match, with the defeat meaning Barcelona will lose top spot to Atletico Madrid should they lose when they meet next weekend.

The 17-year-old was able to continue until the late stages of the second half, when he was subbed off by the home side.

However, his club confirmed in a statement on their official website on Monday that he could be out of action for between three and four weeks. If that is the case, then he will not feature for the club again until the new year.

The statement read: “The first team player Lamine Yamal received a blow to the right ankle during the game against CD Leganes on Sunday.

“Tests carried out on Monday have revealed that the player has a grade 1 injury to the anterior tibiofibular ligament in the ankle. The player is expected to be out for three-to-four weeks.

“The Barca winger received a blow to the ankle in the game against Leganes at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. He lasted until the 75th minute when he was replaced by Gavi.

“Currently, he has a total of six goals and 11 assists this season, figures which place him third on the Barca list of top scorers behind [Robert] Lewandowski and Raphinha.

“In all of Europe’s top five leagues, Lamine is third on the list of players who have provided most assists.”

Barcelona have 38 points from 18 matches, while Atletico have 38 from a game fewer, and Real Madrid also have a game in hand, one point behind.

Premier League legend Cesc Fabregas is considering offering a route for Dele Alli to find his feet again in top-level football.

Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Fabregas is head coach at Serie A club Como and is hoping free agent Dele will start training with the Italian side in the next month.
Dele, 28, has been training with Everton to build fitness but has not played a league game since February 2023 for Besiktas.

The ex-Tottenham star watched Como beat Roma on Sunday.
Fabregas said after the match: ‘I don’t want to talk too much about this but perhaps there is a chance Dele will start training with us after Christmas.
‘It would be to help him get in shape and nothing more.’

Dele Alli was in the crowd to watch Como 1907 beat AS Roma 2-0 in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday. Como are managed by Cesc Fabregas, who could offer Dele a chance to train with his team.

Dele has been struggling with injuries and off-the-pitch issues in the last two years.

The midfielder said earlier this year that he had been targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup with England as he looks at an eventual return to international football.
Dele previously starred as an England regular and played at Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia two years later.

But he hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since making his 37th international appearance five years ago.
His contract with Everton expired at the end of last season.

Enzo Maresca has once again insisted that Chelsea are not in the Premier League title race despite moving two points behind leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over Brentford on Sunday.

Marc Cucurella opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge – and was later sent off after the full-time whistle – while Nicolas Jackson also found the net.

The Blues have been in fine form in recent weeks, winning their last five top-flight matches, with many pundits claiming they’re now in a title race.

Maresca, though, has played down their chances of landing the trophy and that hasn’t changed despite closing the gap to Arne Slot’s side, who have a game in a hand.

Speaking after the win, Chelsea boss Maresca blamed Bryan Mbeumo’s late consolation goal as the reason and said: ‘No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we’re not ready to compete for the title.

‘One of the reasons is I think the team that knows how to compete to win titles will not concede a goal like we concede.
‘On 90 minutes, a throw-in for us and we concede a goal. A team that knows how to win titles, that goal they’re not to going to concede.

‘It’s why I continue to say that we are not ready for titles. Even if you don’t believe me.
‘I would love the pressure to compete for the title. But we cannot concede the goal we concede and open the game and give them the chance to take a point here.’
Meanwhile, Maresca also singled out goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for praise in his post-match press conference.

‘If you remember Bournemouth away with the penalty; Aston Villa at home when one-v-one with Ollie Watkins; Nottingham Forest at the end of the game with the save; and then tonight, he (Sanchez) has made the save,’ Maresca added.

‘We are happy with Robert and sometimes when we say things, you struggle to believe [us].
‘But Robert is doing fantastic and then Filip Jorgensen is doing the same thing in the Conference League.

‘This is exactly what we want. Two keepers who can compete and they can help us win games.’

Despite the draw against Rayo Vallecano, there is a silver lining for Real Madrid with the continued outstanding form of Jude Bellingham in recent games. 

Once again, Bellingham took charge of leading the team in the absence of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. 

His exceptional form has allowed him to break a long-standing record in La Liga. The midfielder scored yet another goal against Rayo Vallecano, which came just before half-time. 
This crucial goal helped Real Madrid to equalize in a match that was becoming increasingly difficult in the opening minutes. 

With this goal, Bellingham made history by scoring in six consecutive La Liga matches as a non-striker. The last player to achieve this feat was Roque Olsen, a former Real Madrid player who also scored in six straight matches. 

Although his goal was a bright spot, Bellingham was visibly frustrated after the match. The referee failed to award a clear penalty for a foul on Vinicius Jr. in the final ten minutes, when the score was level at 3-3. 
Bellingham, clearly upset by the decision, took to social media to express his displeasure, sending a strong message about the incident.

Overall, while the draw may have been disappointing for Real Madrid, the performances of Bellingham are a reminder of the immense talent the club has in its ranks. 

His ability to lead the team, especially in the absence of key players, and his consistent goal-scoring form make him one of the most exciting players in world football right now.

On-loan Tottenham Hotspur wide forward Timo Werner had another underwhelming performance in the Lilywhites’ 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox on 12 December, where he was hooked at half-time by Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou before the former Celtic manager went on to publicly criticise the German international in a ‘strange‘ postgame press conference.

Werner has found it difficult to find his feet at White Hart Lane in his second spell with the North Londoners, and many claim that he will be on his way back to the Bundesliga when the winter transfer window comes around.

The 28-year-old might as well have played his final game donning the Spurs badge given all the criticisms surrounding his performance. However, John Wenham, owner of the reputed podcast Lilywhite Rose, RB Leipzig would only take back the former Chelsea star if they had a loan moved lined up for him elsewhere, and if that’s not the case, he insists that there is no chance for Tottenham to conclude his loan early.

With just one goal to his name this season and the mounting criticism from the fans as well as pundits, the 28-year-old’s future at N17 appears crisp, and if Leipzig cannot secure another loan move for him in the winter transfer window, Tottenham may be forced to keep him in the roster at Hotspur Way for the rest of the season, despite his struggles.

The Premier League issued a vague statement on Saturday night after Aston Villa were denied a first-half penalty in their dramatic 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Villa took the lead just after the hour when Jhon Duran struck from outside the box. However, late goals from Nikola Milenković and Anthony Elanga snatched victory for the home side.

The game was not without controversy as with 34 minutes gone in the first half, Elliot Anderson appeared to bring Morgan Rodgers down inside the penalty area. The referee waved play on while VAR looked at the incident but did not recommend any further action. According to BBC Sport, the view from VAR was that Anderson’s challenge was only a “fleeting grab” and not enough to “prevent the player playing the ball”.

An official statement from the Premier League Match Centre on X read: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Anderson on Rogers was checked and confirmed by the VAR.”

Former Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie felt that the visitors were denied a penalty. He said: “Once Rogers gets in the box you can clearly see there’s a real tug [from Anderson] as he gets by him. He gets hold of him and then he yanks him back which means he loses his footing..

Premier League issues vague statement after controversy in Aston Villa’s defeat at Nottingham.

Aston Villa lost against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday night

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The Premier League issued a vague statement on Saturday night after Aston Villa were denied a first-half penalty in their dramatic 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Villa took the lead just after the hour when Jhon Duran struck from outside the box. However, late goals from Nikola Milenković and Anthony Elanga snatched victory for the home side.

The game was not without controversy as with 34 minutes gone in the first half, Elliot Anderson appeared to bring Morgan Rodgers down inside the penalty area. The referee waved play on while VAR looked at the incident but did not recommend any further action. According to BBC Sport, the view from VAR was that Anderson’s challenge was only a “fleeting grab” and not enough to “prevent the player playing the ball”.

An official statement from the Premier League Match Centre on X read: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Anderson on Rogers was checked and confirmed by the VAR.”

Former Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie felt that the visitors were denied a penalty. He said: “Once Rogers gets in the box you can clearly see there’s a real tug [from Anderson] as he gets by him. He gets hold of him and then he yanks him back which means he loses his footing. For me, it’s a penalty.”

The fixture schedule for the FIFA World Cup 26 qualifying campaign has been confirmed. 

Ireland were drawn in Group F earlier today against either Portugal or Denmark, Hungary and Armenia in a four-team group with the campaign set to start in September 2025

Confirmed this evening, Ireland will start their bid to qualify for the finals tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026 with a home game against Hungary on Saturday, September 6th, with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland will then travel to Armenia on Tuesday, September 9th, with kick-off at 5pm (Irish Time). 

October will see Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team travel to either Portugal or Denmark on Saturday, October 11, with kick-off at 7.45pm (Irish Time) before returning to Dublin to face Armenia on Tuesday, October 14th, with kick-off at 7.45pm. 

Ireland will conclude their qualifying campaign in November 2025 with a home game against Portugal or Denmark on Thursday, November 13th, with kick-off at 7.45pm before the conclusion of the campaign against Hungary on Sunday, November 16th, with kick-off at 2pm (Irish Time).

Fixture Schedule – FIFA World Cup 26 Qualifying
06/09 – Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
09/09 – Armenia v Ireland, TBC, 5pm (Irish Time)
11/10 – Portugal/Denmark v Ireland, TBC, 7.45pm (Irish Time)
14/10 – Ireland v Armenia, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
13/11 – Ireland v Portugal or Denmark, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
16/11 – Hungary v Ireland, TBC, 2pm (Irish Time)

Alan Shearer has praised Ruud van Nistelrooy for taking on the challenge of trying to keep Leicester City up – even if he doesn’t want the Dutchman to do well this weekend.

Van Nistelrooy, 48, became Leicester’s new boss last month following a brief interim stint at Manchester United and his new club are currently five points clear of the relegation zone.

The former Premier League goal machine now faces the pressure of trying to keep Leicester’s head above water rather than challenging for honours like he’s used to.

Leicester face Shearer’s beloved Newcastle today and the Magpies legend has plenty of admiration for Van Nistelrooy’s desire to manage in the Premier League – but he’s hoping the Toon Army can inflict more misery on the Foxes at St James’ Park.

Betfair ambassador Shearer said of Van Nistelrooy: “He’s made a positive start and I think it’s always nice if you can get off to a good start. It sort of sets the foundations for the players to look and listen to you and [you can] get your ideas across. But he’s got a tough job.
“I think it’s great that someone of his stature and ability still wants to be involved in the game and manage.”

Van Nistelrooy was unbeaten during his four-match stint at the helm of United and, ironically, beat Leicester twice.

The former PSV Eindhoven coach still ranks highly on the Premier League’s all-time scorer list but, as Shearer points out, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be successful as a manager.
Shearer added: “He obviously had another taste of [management] in the Premier League with Man United.
“He did well, and then he said himself didn’t he that it was amazing how many offers came along [as a result of that] so I’m pleased for him.

Pep Guardiola has blamed the global football schedule for his team’s alarming struggles and has told his bosses he will need a bigger squad to cope with demands.

On a day when Manchester City announced a record annual revenue of £715million – with a profit of £78million – Guardiola said: “There are more games than ever, we have more injuries than ever. It made me reflect that with this calendar you need a squad of 25-30 players.

“It will be more difficult financially for the club but we are going to play the Club World Cup in summer, three weeks, then start the Premier League again, and maybe we have to have a deeper squad.”

City made a £139million profit on transfers in the last financial year but Guardiola goes into Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad with only THREE defenders available. Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake are all injured, while Rico Lewis is suspended.

Guardiola is also without long-term absentee Rodri nand there are still doubts over the fitness of Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden. And the City boss said: “When people ask what the problem is, it’s the schedule.

“It’s not the training, not the doctors, not the physios, not the players, not how they eat or how they rest. It’s just one problem: the schedule. This is the truth. Without players, everything is more difficult. When we won the Treble or four in a row, we had one, two or three muscular injuries and were so stable.

“That’s why we could compete and now we cannot. It’s time to survive and stay there and, sooner or later, the players come back. Champions League qualifying will not be easy but if we can be there, I don’t know what will happen in January or February to my team. We always respond well.”

City’s bolstered accounts may give reason to hope for a January of heavy spending. But rather than reinforcements, Guardiola is instead crossing his fingers that his player return to fitness soon.

“What I want is my players back. The complete squad we had at the beginning of the season. My regret is that we don’t we have these and not needing new ones,” the City boss added.
“Massive congratulations on the accounts because the club must be sustainable. That doesn’t mean we have big, big resources to buy whatever we want, especially with how expensive the transfer market is.”

“In our jobs we will always do our best and when the best doesn’t happen you are more uncomfortable than when the situation is going well. As a manager you are in scrutiny for every step of the team.

“But I am fine. I have more thoughts at this moment but what I feel right now is the same as what I’ve said for the last few weeks or month. Nothing has changed. I’m really pleased with the way we’ve played. We just have to keep working and moving forward.”

Ajax coach Francesco Farioli feels they caused Lazio more problems than anyone this season and deserved more, but he is ‘happy they are representing Italian football’ in the Europa League.

It was quite an achievement for the Aquile to conquer the Johan Cruijff ArenA, especially considering the Dutch giants had won their last three European home fixtures with 12 goals scored and zero conceded.
Bertrand Traore cancelled out the Loum Tchaouna opener, but Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and a Pedro curler into the top corner secured a 3-1 result.

“We saw a lot of Lazio games and this was probably the one where they suffered the most,” Farioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“They are a team in a moment of great confidence and form, their organisation is remarkable, their quality and physicality, but my lads dominated both with and without the ball. There are regrets over the result and we certainly deserved more.”

Lazio are no fluke, winning 14 of their last 17 competitive matches between Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Europa League.

Ajax had an Expected Goals score of over 2 tonight, but apart from rattling the crossbar a couple of times, Christos Mandas was not forced into as many saves as Remko Pasveer.

“We lacked precision in our finishing. Lazio are in a magical period of form and everything is going their way at the moment. They all feel positive, are fighting for the maximum result in every game and are competitive on three fronts,” added Italian tactician Farioli.
“I congratulate them and am happy that Lazio are representing Italian football around Europe.”

Ajax are still in 11th place in the Europa League with 10 points from six games, so are they on track for this term?

“I think we are in fact doing much better than anyone expected at this stage. The last two years have been very complicated, we were unable to bring any new players in and had to only sell, so the priority is to balance the books,” explained Farioli.

“Unfortunately, and it’s the first time since the start of the season, we are without a win in three, but overall we are heading in the direction where we want to be.”