Liverpool confirm Sahin loan deal

Dunga said Philippe Coutinho is growing in confidence after the attacker scored a hat-trick in Brazil s demolition of Haiti at the Copa America Centenario on Wednesday.

Coutinho netted a first-half brace and completed his haul in stoppage time as Brazil romped to a 7-1 victory over minnows Haiti in Group B at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The 23-year-old Liverpool star had only ever scored one international goal before kick-off in the United States, despite scoring 28 in total during his four years at Anfield.

Coutinho is taking advantage of his opportunity. He has been following us, Dunga told reporters.

Every game and every practice his confidence is growing.

We talked with him for him to be the Coutinho of Liverpool, dictate play, l…

Aston Villa v Arsenal

The battle for fourth place hots up with this one on Boxing Day. For those people who feel that there shouldn’t be football over the festive period, this is a mouth watering game to prove them wrong.

I’m not happy about the Summer break so I certainly wouldn’t support a Winter one. All year round football I say!

I think Arsene Wenger’s knowledge of how to get in and stay in that top four will see them through against the young pretenders to their fourth placed throne. They might have had a poorish season but wins against United and Chelsea and a ten man draw against Liverpool show that they are still one of the best four.

SoccerNews prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v West Brom
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Philippe Coutinho concedes he has not performed as expected during his time at LaLiga champions Barcelona.

The 27-year-old has failed to rekindle his Liverpool form following his €160million switch in January 2018, struggling to make an impact during his first full season at the club.

The attacking midfielder managed only five LaLiga goals in 34 appearances last season and failed to nail down a place in the starting XI, with 12 of his league outings coming from the bench.

Coutinho s underwhelming form has seen him become a target for Barca supporters who have jeered him on several occasions, while media reports have linked him with a move.

He put his club woes to one side on Saturday, though, scoring twice as Brazil opened their Copa America campaign…

Daryl Dike scored a double as the United States claimed their second win at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Martinique in Kansas City on Thursday.

USA, who won 1-0 in their Gold Cup opener against Haiti, found their goal scoring touch with four second-half goals to seal their passage into the quarter-finals.

The largely MLS-based US side was dominant, with 69 per cent possession and 20-9 shots against Martinique who lost 4-1 to Canada in their first-up game.

Orlando City forward Dike opened the scoring with a 13th-minute header from Schalke talent Matthew Hoppe s cross, before Dike s 23rd-minute header deflected in off Martinique s Samuel Camille.

After the break, defender Miles Robinson headed in from close range before Dike grabb…

Everton have unearthed another defensive gem in the form of Mason Holgate, with Ronald Koeman hailing the youngster s big quality after starring in Saturday s 1-0 win against Stoke City.

Shay Given s own goal settled the match after a Leighton Baines penalty rebounded in off the head of the unlucky goalkeeper, but Koeman was pleased with how his team defended.

The Dutchman picked out 19-year-old Holgate, who joined the club from Barnsley in 2015 to follow the path previously walked by John Stones, for special praise after he won his individual battle with Stoke s dangerous attacker Marko Arnautovic.

It s very positive how Mason Holgate is doing, how he is developing himself and the game time he is getting, Koeman told Everton s official website.

He was …

Serge Aurier says his Paris Saint-Germain counters are reset after a tumultuous 2015-16 season.

The Ivorian full-back was suspended by the Ligue 1 champions in February after an abusive video emerged online of him making derogatory comments about then head coach Laurent Blanc and team-mates.

Aurier was eventually brought back into the fold by Blanc, and the full-back is keen to kick on with his career at the Parc des Princes under new head coach Unai Emery.

The counters are reset, this is a new adventure, he told Le Parisien.

I am enjoying it to the fullest. As long as I am here and contribute to the team, I am always ready.

While 23-year-old remained at PSG, centre-back David Luiz departed the French capital to seal a return to Chelsea on tran…

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed the club are in talks with Eden Hazard over a new long-term contract.

Reports emerged over the weekend that Chelsea were eager to tie the Belgian, who joined from Lille in June 2012 for a reported fee of around £32million, down on fresh terms.

And, speaking ahead of his team s UEFA Champions League opener against Schalke on Wednesday, Mourinho revealed discussions with the 23-year-old are under way.

It s true that Chelsea is trying to have an agreement for a longer contract. He [Hazard] wants to stay for more years, said the Portuguese.

We can feel every day his motivation improving we have big hopes he can reach higher levels and become one of the best.

He was always a kid living on his natural talent,…

Jose Mourinho appears keen to hold on to midfielder Juan Mata, insisting there is space for the Spaniard at Manchester United.

Reports have linked Mata with a move away from Old Trafford, with fellow Premier League outfit Everton among those interested in the 28-year-old. 

But Mourinho who sold Mata to United when the pair were at Chelsea in January 2014 says unless Mata wants to leave, he has a place in Manchester.

He s here and he works hard, Mourinho said. He knows that I know he is a good player and he has space in the squad.

Until August 31 the market is open for every one of my players that is not happy, but to be fair I think he is [happy].

I think he is happy and I am not expecting him to ask to leave. I am expecting him to do what he …

Lyon manager Remi Garde has quashed speculation of a move for Arsenal forward Gervinho.

The Ivory Coast international has been reported as attracting interest from Serie A side Roma as well as the Ligue 1 club, with Garde having previously worked with the player at Lille.

Gervinho, 26, joined Arsenal in 2011 but reports in France have suggested a potential swap deal that would see Yoann Gourcuff make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.

But Garde ruled out that possibility, insisting he is not in the hunt for another attacker during the transfer window.

This has only come from the press, he told Le Progres.

I ve heard that Lyon is interested in Gervinho.

But Gervinho is a striker, and we have young and very good strikers already at the club.

…

Brazilian forward Julio Baptista has ended his contract with Malaga by mutual consent, the La Liga side revealed on their official website.

Los Boquerones allowed the player to leave the club on a free transfer after numerous injuries prevented him from showing all he s got at La Rosaleda.

Malaga have also revealed that the 31-year-old will be returning to Brazil to join Cruzeiro.

Julio Baptista and Malaga reached an amicable agreement on Friday to terminate the striker s contract, a statement on club s official website read.

Malaga would like to wish the Brazilian the best of luck for the future and his new career with Cruzeiro,

Julio Baptista spent three years at Sao Paulo before joining Sevilla in the summer of 2003, where some impressive s…