Spalletti rules out Milan move

Best odds: 8/5

Bookmaker:

The month of December, always extremely busy when it comes to English football, is well under way. Following their midweek exploits, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool are set to take each other on at Molineux on Saturday, in what will be the 15th match of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign for both sides.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves have done reasonably well this season so far. At the moment, they occupy the eighth place in the Premier League a very good position for any team outside the usual top six, with 21 points. To put that into the right perspective, Manchester United in seventh also have 21, Tottenham Hotspur in sixth have 22, Arsenal in fifth 23, and West Ham in fourth are on 24.

Bruno Lage s team have obviousl…

Tottenham have completed the signing of Joe Rodon from Swansea City for a reported fee that could total £15million. 

The Wales international defender has signed a five-year contract with Jose Mourinho s side. 

Swansea have brought in Ryan Bennett from Wolves on a three-year deal as Rodon s replacement. 

Rodon, who had previously been linked with West Ham, has played 52 Championship games for Swansea since breaking into the first team during the 2018-19 season. 

He is Mourinho s eighth signing of a busy transfer window for Spurs, who face West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Joe can t wait to get going!  

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)

As well as making Giovani Lo Celso s move from Real Betis permanent, Spu…

Sarina Wiegman admits she was unaware of just how big the rivalry is between England and Australia after Alessia Russo’s winner against Colombia sealed a 2-1 win and set up a World Cup semi-final with the co-hosts.

The Lionesses fell behind after 44 minutes of their last-eight contest in Sydney when Leicy Santos looped the ball over England keeper Mary Earps, but saw her effort cancelled out before the break when Lauren Hemp pounced on an error from Colombian keeper Catalina Perez in stoppage time.

Russo completed the comeback with a fine low finish from Georgia Stanway’s delivery, the 2-1 result enough to book England a third trip to a World Cup final four – an encounter that has already drawn comparisons to the Ashes.

That win was

Semi-finals her…

Tite admitted it was a tough call to pick a starting striker, but he was thrilled with the performance of Richarlison after netting both of Brazil s goals in their 2-0 victory against Serbia on Thursday.

Richarlison got the nod at number nine ahead of Arsenal s Gabriel Jesus and Flamengo s Pedro, and after a scoreless first half, he was on hand to prod home the opener in the 62nd minute after Vinicius Junior s shot was parried into his path.

That would just be the appetiser, as just 10 minutes later he produced what will be a contender for goal of the tournament as he controlled Vinicius shin-high cross with his left foot, popping it up in the air before acrobatically spinning and volleying it home over his shoulder with his right boot.

It was his 19th senior int…

Everton s Seamus Coleman says he is taking inspiration from team-mate Leighton Baines as he looks to establish himself in the club s first-team.

The Irishman has been deployed at both right midfield and right-back by manager David Moyes since joining the club from Sligo Rovers in 2009.

And the 23-year-old has admitted he watches England full-back Baines closely in order to learn that position better.

Right-back is where I ve played all my life other than the last two seasons, Coleman told the Liverpool Echo.

When I m not playing games I am watching and I watch Bainesy and try and learn from him.

For me, he is the best left-back in England and if asked to play full-back, if I could do half as good a job as him that would be great.

I ve…

Inter Milan head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has laughed off any similarities between himself and former mentor Jose Mourinho.

Italian Stramaccioni hailed the Real Madrid head coach, who led Inter to the treble in 2009/10, for making football history in several countries.

Mourinho won the league and Champions League with Porto in his native Portugal, and has also guided Chelsea and Real to domestic glory in league and cup competitions.

I ve never compared myself to Mourinho, not for a second, Stramaccioni said.

I m a young manager trying to gain experience as fast as possible.

The only thing that we have in common is that I m training Inter Milan. That is the only thing I can think of.

He has written important pages of football histo…

Al Kuwait were crowned AFC Cup champions for the second time in four years after demolishing Iraqi club Arbil 4-0 in the final on Saturday.

Kuwait got off to the perfect start after Walied Ali won a penalty inside the opening two minutes. Tunisian import Chedi Hammami coolly converted the spot-kick to put his side 1-0 up.

Ion Marin s men continued to exert control over the game and converted their dominance into a 2-0 lead on the stroke of half-time after Rogerinho tapped in an Issam Jemaa pass.

Despite coming out after half-time more determined, Arbil were unable to break down their opponents and the game was put out of their reach in the 83rd minute when Abdualhadi Khamis found the back of the net.

Abdullah Al Dhafeeri capped off the win with a stoppag…

Diego Simeone gave a strong indication that he will still be Atletico Madrid head coach next season after claiming his presence, as a hologram, at an Audi Cup news conference was proof of his commitment.

Doubts over the long-term future of Simeone in the Spanish capital have persisted throughout the season, with the Argentine admitting to his desire to coach Inter – who he represented during his playing career – in the future.

Speculation of a San Siro return has gathered pace following the Nerazzurri s sacking of Stefano Pioli this week.

But Simeone – who led Atleti to LaLiga glory in the 2013-14 season – suggested that, at least for the time being, his future remains with his present employers, hence his appearance at a media conference to promote the p…

New Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha says he has taken over the biggest club in Scotland as he begins the challenge of restoring the club to its former glories.

Caixinha, most recently in charge of Al Gharafa in Qatar, has signed a three-year contract at Ibrox to replace Mark Warburton, who left in chaotic circumstances last month.

Celtic s dominance of Scottish football has been unrivalled in the wake of Rangers being liquidated, reformed and forced to climb back up the divisions, starting from the fourth tier in 2012-13.    

But in a dig at Brendan Rodgers side, Caixinha says it is Rangers who are the biggest team in the Old Firm rivalry.

We are talking about a worldwide club, he told Rangers TV.

It is a massive club the biggest club in Scotland.…

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone insisted he loves rebellious players after praising Joao Felix s angry goal celebration.

Joao Felix – a club-record €126million signing in 2019 – came off the bench in the second half to seal a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday as Atletico put their LaLiga title charge back on track.

The Portugal international looked unimpressed after scoring in the 69th minute – Joao Felix gesturing and shouting towards the Atletico bench – following Alfonso Pedraza s own goal.

Asked about the celebration, Simeone told reporters post-match:   You ll have to ask him.

…