Chelsea make it four in a row as Reading’s relegation is confirmed

Chelsea secured a fourth successive Women’s Super League title by coasting to a 3-0 victory at Reading which consigned the Royals to relegation.

Boasting a two-point lead over Manchester United, Chelsea only needed to win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium to become champions and Sam Kerr’s 18th-minute header from Guro Reiten’s cross put them ahead.

The provider turned goal scorer before half-time with a fine finish and Kerr rubberstamped a win which confirmed a league and cup double in the 88th minute with a tap-in after her initial shot hit a post.

The Blues have been dominant in recent weeks – this was their seventh win in a row – but even if Reading had ripped up the script and claimed an unlikely three points, their demotion to the Championship was …

Kylian Mbappe tells Paris St Germain he will not extend his contract – reports

Kylian Mbappe has told Paris St Germain he will not take up a one-year contract extension, according to reports, so could be sold this summer or will be able to leave as a free agent at the end of next season.

The 24-year-old, signed from Monaco for £160million in 2018 which was a world-record fee for a teenager, continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.

According to reports, France World Cup winner Mbappe left the PSG hierarchy stunned by the decision which was presented in a formal letter and follows on from Lionel Messi announcing his departure to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.

Pochettino close to PSG job after Tuchel sacking

Mauricio Pochettino is very close to succeeding Thomas Tuchel as the Paris Saint-Germain manager, according to multiple sources.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1342076200827695106

Having coached the likes of Espanyol and Southampton, the 48-year-old s stock rose significantly during a five-year spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Even though Spurs didn t win a trophy in his time there, he converted the team from slightly above average in the Premier League to regular Champions League participants, The peak of his reign there was the 2019 final of the elite European club competition which he ended up losing to Liverpool.

PSG are in the process of finalising a deal to make Mauricio Pochettino their manager, which has been in the club s thinking for a while. M…

Sheffield United offer new contract to Iliman Ndiaye

Sheffield United have offered star striker Iliman Ndiaye a new contract amid reported interest from Marseille.

The 23-year-old is entering the final 12 months of his current deal but has now been offered fresh terms, which are greatly improved, the PA news agency understands.

Ndiaye was a key player in the Blades’ promotion to the Premier League last season and speculation has linked him to Marseille, but it is understood there has been no official approach from the Ligue 1 club.

Ndiaye’s career has enjoyed a meteoric rise, with the Blades signing him from Boreham Wood in 2019.

He is now a Senegal international and was the subject of a £25million bid from Everton in the January transfer window, which his club rejected immediately.

The Blades�…

Griezmann celebrates Barca century and eyes history in Spain

Antoine Griezmann is happy and proud after reaching 100 appearances for Barcelona and the French star is targeting history with the LaLiga giants.

Griezmann brought up his century of games in Sunday s 4-2 rout of Real Sociedad and almost marked the occasion with his 36th goal for Barca, only to be denied by the crossbar.

With big shoes to fill after the departure of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain, Barca head coach Ronald Koeman will be hoping the forward can team up with recruit Memphis Depay to fire Barca back to the top of LaLiga.

Griezmann, who arrived from Atletico Madrid in 2019, told the club s media on Wednesday: I am happy and proud to have reached this figure.

It was very important to get a win in the first game with the fans back, who we h…

Watford relegated as Hodgson´s Premier League last dance ends in misery

Watford failed to save themselves as their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It meant Watford boss Roy Hodgson saw the final blow inflicted by one of his former clubs, as the Hornets missed out on the win they required to keep survival as a long-shot hope.

Wilfried Zaha s 31st-minute penalty, following a handball by Hassane Kamara, put Palace in front and proved to be the match-winner. Kamara was also sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence.

Even if Watford had won at Selhurst Park, they would have required further victories in their final three games against Everton, Leicester City and Chelsea, while hoping Leeds United or Burnley lost each of their remaining fixtures.…

Prediction: Everton vs Tottenham

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Looking to spring an upset on Monday night, Everton will welcome top-four contenders Tottenham to Goodison Park.

Everton

Starting with the hosts, last seen heading into the international break with a stunning late 2-2 draw away at Chelsea, Everton have certainly breathed life back into their charge for Premier League survival. While Sean Dyche’s side might mark their return from the international break at the heart of a relegation scrap, the Blues have largely found a much-needed boost since appointing the ex-Burnley boss. Claiming what could turn out to be a crucial 1-0 victory at home against Brentford on March 11th, Everton will be desperate to make another statement here. Although Monday’s hosts might have opened March in the …

Ibrahimovic: I don´t need Ballon d´Or to prove I´m the best

Zlatan Ibrahimovic insisted he does not need to win the Ballon d Or to prove the Milan star is the best.

Ibrahimovic has won league titles with Ajax, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, though the Swedish forward has never claimed the Ballon d Or.

The evergreen 40-year-old continues to produce for Milan in his second spell at San Siro, where the Rossoneri are dreaming of their first Scudetto since Ibrahimovic helped deliver silverware in 2010-11.

Ibrahimovic s outspoken agent Mino Raiola said he cannot take the Ballon d Or seriously due to the fact the Sweden international has never received the prized individual honour.

But during a presentation for his new book Adrenaline in Milan on Sunday, Ibrahimovic was quoted as sayi…

Ibrahimovic expects to retire in 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has indicated that he will end his playing career when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires in 2016.

The Sweden striker joined PSG from Milan in July 2012 and has enjoyed a prolific stint with the French capital club.

Ibrahimovic has fired PSG to two straight Ligue 1 titles, a Coupe de la Ligue crown and two Trophee des Champions successes in his time at the Parc des Princes.

The 32-year-old, who has scored 76 goals for the Parisian giants, has revealed that he expects to hang up his boots after the 2015/16 campaign.

I have a contract until 2016, Ibrahimovic told ESPN.

I will be 34 next season and I don t see myself continuing to play at the top level after that. So probably the answer is yes.

Ibrahimovic was one …

´Why not believe in ourselves?´ – Stengel spot-on as promoted Liverpool stun champions Chelsea

Champions Chelsea were stunned 2-1 by promoted Liverpool as the Women s Super League season got under way, with American Katie Stengel converting two second-half penalties.

All three goals came from the spot, with Chelsea s Fran Kirby firing home in the third minute, before Stengel equalised in the 67th minute and netted the winner three minutes from the end on her WSL debut.

It is the first time a promoted team have defeated the reigning champions in their opening match since March 2015, when Liverpool were on the receiving end of a 2-1 loss against Sunderland.

Stengel said Liverpool came into the contest against Chelsea with strong belief.

[We felt] we could win this game, she told Sky Sports. It s just another team out there, another 11 players, and…