Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker:

In an FA Cup showdown between two Midlands rivals, Wolves will travel to the Hawthorns on Sunday lunchtime when they meet West Brom.

West Brom

Starting with the hosts, putting in a flat performance last weekend as they eventually fell to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Norwich, West Brom will certainly be seeking an immediate response here. Sat firmly in the driving seat to clinch a Champions League play-off spot in 2024, Carlos Corberan’s squad will be relishing a return to the Hawthorns on Sunday lunchtime. Extending on their FA Cup adventure on January 7th as they secured a routine 4-1 romp against National League outfit Aldershot, the former Huddersfield boss has seen his squad win all of their previous four appearances in front of th…

Brazil head coach Tite said Vinicius Junior has to play well for Real Madrid if he is to be involved at the Copa America after the teenage sensation missed an opportunity during the international break.

Vinicius was set to make his Brazil debut before pulling out of friendlies against Panama and the Czech Republic due to an ankle injury.

Ajax star David Neres replaced the 18-year-old winger and impressed in Tuesday s 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic.

Vinicius may not return until early May and with the Copa America scheduled to get underway in June, Tite told reporters: Vinicius missed an opportunity, he s going to have to play very well in his club.

Neres is going to have to continue playing very well, just as Richarlison entered a situation where Pe…

Jurgen Klopp hailed the contribution of substitute goalkeeper Adrian to a special win after Liverpool beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 despite the late dismissal of Alisson.

Two first-half headers from Virgil van Dijk put the Premier League s runaway leaders on course for a routine success on Saturday, but Liverpool ended up hanging on at Anfield after Alisson was sent off in the 76th minute for handling outside his penalty area.

Adrian was caught out from the resulting free-kick as Lewis Dunk drilled the ball home with the keeper out of position and still setting up his wall.

However, the hosts still claimed three points equalling their record unbeaten top-flight run in the process as Adrian denied Aaron Mooy and then avoided embarrassment by regathering the b…

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker:

Two sides who gained a string of plaudits last season, Newcastle will welcome Aston Villa to St. James’ Park on Saturday evening for their opening Premier League showdown.

Newcastle

Starting with the hosts, enjoying what was a stunning campaign at St. James’ Park last season, Newcastle certainly find the mood in their camp at a continued red-hot high. Riding what has been an iconic wave of momentum since they welcomed Eddie Howe to the north east back in November 2021, the Magpies cruised their way to a first Champions League finish in two decades last year. Really upsetting the Premier League establishment last season and with their sights set on cementing themselves as a top-four regular this time around, the former Bournemouth b…

The festive season is here once more and that means a full round of Premier League action in the days following Christmas.

There are distractions aplenty, with presents to wrap and food to prepare, but do not let your fantasy team fall by the way side.

Our Opta-powered picks should see you safe once more this weekend.

EMILIANO MARTINEZ

Aston Villa are at home to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and looking for a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet for the first time since February 2010.

Martinez is the obvious pick to make the most of this hot streak in a chilly December, having kept more clean sheets (seven) than any other top-flight goalkeeper this season.

Thanks

— Emi Martínez (@emimartinezz1)

That tally has a…

Gerard Pique made his 500th Barcelona appearance when the LaLiga champions played Real Betis on Sunday and he sits proudly among the greatest defenders in the club s history.

The most decorated Barcelona defender of all time, Pique trails only Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta when it comes to honours won, and he can reflect on the memory of lifting no fewer than 29 trophies.

But there has been more to Pique s 11 years at Camp Nou than just silverware, and the 32-year-old has become renowned for his outspoken personality and uncompromising style.

To mark his milestone match, we take a look back at some of the moments that shaped a Barcelona great.

— Gerard Pique (@3gerardpique)

Unbeaten beginnings

Pique added steel to Barcelona…

Suffering a late collapse away at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against relegation scrappers Burnley.

While Erik ten Hag’s side might have been smelling the chance to claim a crucial Premier League victory here, the Reds struggled to find any kind of stability on either side of the half-time interval.

Although Brazil international Anthony might have opened the scoring late on following a well-taken effort in the 79th-minute, United suffered another public collapse in the red half of Manchester.

With Andre Onana costing his side three points after recklessly charging off his line in the final moment, second-half substitute Zeki Amdouni calm converted from the spot and salvaged a point for a spirited Burn…

Der Klassiker referee Felix Zwayer explained the controversial moments in Bayern Munich s 3-2 win over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund succumbed to defeat at home to defending champions and leaders Bayern, with the second half seeing controversial decisions go in favour of Die Roten.

Firstly, Marco Reus protests were ignored when the Dortmund man was tripped in the Bayern box by Lucas Hernandez, before the visitors got their winner in similarly contentious fashion.

Mats Hummels threw himself between two players in an attempt to reach a corner delivery, but he appeared to start stumbling and ultimately fell into the ball with his arm first.

While replays showed Hummels was not looking at the ball, seemingly rendering it accidental, Zwayer poi…

Pep Guardiola says the task of trying to stop Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is enough to keep him awake at night.

Manchester City are away to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday, neither side having won the famous trophy before.

Guardiola had left Barcelona by the time Neymar arrived at Camp Nou in 2013, the forward eventually forming a historic front three with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Such is the quality of Neymar, the City boss feels his former club would have won many more Champions League crowns had the Brazil talisman not moved to PSG in 2017.

Guardiola feels there is only so much that can be done against world-class opponents like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and wants City to impose themselves on the game …

Richarlison described his Champions League debut as one of the best days of my life after scoring his first two Tottenham goals in Wednesday s 2-0 win over Marseille.

The Brazil international opened the scoring for Spurs in the 76th minute of the Group D contest with a header after Chancel Mbemba had been issued a red card.

Richarlison, a £60million signing from Everton, glanced in a second five minutes later as Tottenham won their opening match in the competition for only the second time.

He became the 39th Brazilian to score on his debut in the competition, the most of any nation, and is the first Brazilian since Oscar in September 2012 to net a brace on his bow.

The 25-year-old was in tears at the end of the game as he embraced his father in the stand…