Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel joins Stoke City

Inter s recent revival under Luciano Spalletti makes Wednesday s Milan derby impossible to call, according to Hernan Crespo.

After a stunning start to the season that saw the Nerazzurri top Serie A in December, their league campaign stuttered with a run of nine games without a win.

That ended any hope of the Scudetto for Spalletti s side, but three wins in their last four have reignited their Champions League dreams.

And Crespo, who had spells with both Milan clubs between 2002 and 2009, believes Inter s resurgence means their midweek clash could go either way.

Probably until a month ago everyone would have said [AC] Milan are favourites, Crespo told Omnisport, speaking courtesy of Hublot.

That s not because their players have changed but they h…

Blackburn held out for a 1-1 draw away to Burnley in the East Lancashire derby, despite playing the final 33 minutes of the match with 10 men.

Burnley opened the scoring after 10 minutes at Turf Moor after new signing Jaidon Anthony whipped in a perfect cross for Lyle Foster who remains at the club following a potential move to Ipswich breaking down to head home.

The home side dominated the early proceedings of the match and deservedly led until Blackburn struck against the run of play in the 23rd minute.

Forward Andi Weimann hit a sumptuous dipping shot from outside the penalty area, which looped over goalkeeper James Trafford, to level the scores.

What a way to mark your first league start, ! |

— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers)

Rovers t…

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo is confident the forward line will step up to cover for the pending absence of Mohamed Salah.

Darwin Nunez ended a run of 12 matches without a goal, while Diogo Jota came off the bench to score after a month out injured in Tuesday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Burnley which took Jurgen Klopp’s side top of the table.

Salah has one more game – at home to Newcastle on Sunday – before he departs for the African Nations Cup with Egypt and the 16-goal winger is likely to be away for a month.

What a feeling #50

— Diogo Jota (@DiogoJota18)

Therefore, Jota’s timely return boosts the numbers up top, while Nunez’s confidence has been lifted by his first Premier League goal since October.

Gakpo himself has seve…

According to a recent report from Calciomercato, Juventus are aiming to sell Aaron Ramsey during the summer transfer window later on this year – just 12 months after they first signed him from Arsenal. 

The belief is that Juve want to make a big profit on Ramsey, using that money to bring in an even greater force in the middle of the park. Paul Pogba is one name that comes to mind but in truth, this is more about Ramsey and what he may wind up doing next. 

It’d be the ultimate irony for him to make his way back to the Emirates in order to play for the Gunners, but the possibilities really are endless. He’s an efficient and dynamic midfielder that seems to be growing and improving with each and every passing year. 

Whether or not he is suited to a style…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a unique talent but Milan s improving form means they may not make a move for a new forward, says the club s chief football officer Zvonimir Boban.

The future of veteran free agent Ibrahimovic has been the topic of much discussion in recent weeks, with Milan and Serie A rivals Napoli and Bologna all tipped with a move for his signature.

Ibrahimovic is a former Rossoneri favourite and won a Serie A and a Supercoppa Italiana during two seasons with the club between 2010 and 2012.

Boban says even at the age of 38 Ibrahimovic, who decided not to renew his stay with LA Galaxy in MLS, can have an impact on the team but says Milan – who are unbeaten in their past four matches under Stefano Pioli – must take time to weigh up their options.

…

Phil Neville has been sacked as manager of MLS side Inter Miami.

The 46-year-old has paid the price for a poor run of form, with the 1-0 defeat to New York Red Bulls proving the final straw.

Neville, who was appointed in January 2021 after his resignation as England Women boss, leaves the club bottom of the Eastern Conference following four successive defeats.

hhttps://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/1664393619946471425

Co-owner David Beckham, who is Neville’s ex-Manchester United and England team-mate and friend, said it was the right time to make the change.

“When we appointed Phil we knew he would give Inter Miami his all and I have watched him work incredibly hard and with real commitment towards the ambitions we set out for the club,” h…

Dean Smith will be a very proud man when he leads Aston Villa out at Wembley after they dramatically beat Leicester City 2-1 to earn a place in the EFL Cup final.

The game at Villa Park looked destined for extra time after Kelechi Iheanacho cancelled out Matt Targett s opener to make it 1-1 on Tuesday and 2-2 on aggregate.

However, Trezeguet steered home a right-wing cross from Ahmed El Mohamady on the volley in stoppage time to spark scenes of jubilation, with fans invading the pitch following the final whistle.

Villa, who last won the trophy in 1996 and were runners-up in 2010, are likely to face Manchester City in the showpiece, with Pep Guardiola s side holding a 3-1 aggregate lead over Manchester United ahead of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednes…

Verdict: Over three goals

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

With their spot as league leaders entering 2019 already confirmed, Jurgen Klopp s high-flyers will welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Saturday evening.

Liverpool

Starting with the hosts, now holding a six-point buffer over Tottenham at the top of the table, Liverpool have confirmed their spot as league leaders entering 2019 and many believe it is now their title to lose. Still the only team in England yet to be beaten in the Premier League this season, the Reds are 16 points better off than at this stage last season. Along with holding the best defensive record in the top-flight, Jurgen Klopp will also be impressed by his sides stellar record at Anfield. They are undefeated in 30 Premier League home games,…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has jokingly questioned whether his Manchester United takeover rival Sheikh Jassim even exists after completing the purchase of a minority stake in the Red Devils.

Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim were the two public bidders looking to take full control of United from the Glazer family which has owned the club since 2005, before Ratcliffe’s focus switched to securing a smaller stake.

His Ineos company now controls football operations as part of a deal which will see him own 28.9 per cent of the club by the year’s end.

Reflecting on the long road to the completion of the deal, Ratcliffe admitted he did find it strange that there was an apparent lack of interest in buying United in comparison to when Chelsea came onto the market …

Ajax dumped Juventus out of the Champions League as a stunning 2-1 second-leg victory at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday completed a famous 3-2 quarter-final triumph.

Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt scored either side of half-time to overturn Cristiano Ronaldo s opener and send the Eredivisie side through to the last four of the competition for the first time since 1997.

The Bianconeri appeared on course to progress after Ronaldo, on target in last week s 1-1 draw in Amsterdam, nodded them ahead in contentious circumstances.

But Erik ten Hag s thrilling young side took command thereafter and collected another high-profile scalp having already ended Real Madrid’s reign in the previous round.

Ajax lost Noussair Mazraoui, deputising for suspended le…