Jurgen Klopp has described Neymar s reactions to challenges as completely normal ahead of Paris Saint-Germain s visit to Anfield.
Neymar is set to line-up for PSG against Liverpool on Tuesday night when the two sides meet in the opening round of this season s Champions League group matches, and Klopp warned his players that the Brazilian would be fresh after being rested on Friday night.
Liverpool go into the game on the back of five wins from five in the Premier League but Klopp admitted they would face an outstanding player in Neymar, whose approach to rough treatment he commended.
When I saw a few games at the World Cup and it looked like he made a bit more of the situation, it was for me a completely normal reaction, Klopp said of the 26-year-old.
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Former Liverpool forward Anthony Le Tallec has completed his transfer from Le Mans to AJ Auxerre. AJA have reportedly paid Le Mans 3 million euros plus young Ghanaian Moussa Narry. Le Tallec has signed a four year contract with the Burgundy outfit.
Le Tallec, a Le Havre youth product, was brought to Anfield by Gerard Houllier in 2001. He had stints on loan at Le Havre, Sunderland, Sochaux, St.Etienne and Le Mans before returning to France permanently in 2008 with MUC 72.
Auxerre finished third in the French Ligue last season and will be competing in the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Champions League. AJA were looking for attacking reinforcements following the departure of Daniel Niculae to AS Monaco.
[Source:- L Equipe]
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Stoke City s Premier League match with Southampton got off to a remarkable start as goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after only 13 seconds.
In windy conditions at the Britannia Stadium, a clearance from the Bosnia international bounced high over opposite number Artur Boruc to give Stoke a sensational early lead.
Begovic becomes the fifth goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal, following in the footsteps of Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson and Tim Howard. The latter s strike also came courtesy of a long punt upfield.
Stoke s surprising opener represented only the fourth goal Southampton have conceded in the league this season.
Begovic previously represented the south-coast club s rivals Portsmouth before joining Stoke in 2010.
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Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa could be offered yet another chance to succeed in Europe following his unsuccessful stint with Inter Milan.
The 22-year-old forward joined the Serie A outfit back in 2016 after a sensational spell with Santos but failed to live up to the expectations in Italy. Gabriel Barbosa – or Gabigol as he is commonly referred to – made only nine Serie A appearances before he was shipped out on loan to Benfica.
The Portuguese heavyweights cut his season-long loan short and the Brazilian ended up returning to his boyhood club Santos in an attempt to revive his career.
Gabigol seems to be back on track in Brazil where he scored 15 goals in 29 league matches with Santos. He added further four in eight Campeonato Paulista outings which was …
Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde insists he is not worried about his future at the club.
A 3-1 LaLiga defeat at Levante last Saturday was followed by a 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague at Camp Nou in the Champions League, in which home fans made their frustrations clear with whistles from the stands.
Barca sit top of LaLiga after 11 matches but criticism is nonetheless mounting on Valverde, who appeared close to the sack at the end of last season but was given support by president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Valverde says he still feels he has the backing of the board and that he is not concerned about his position, especially since Barca had previously been on a seven-game winning run in all competitions.
I m not worried about my future, he told reporters on …
Daniel Farke refused to lament his lacklustre Leeds side after the chance of a club-record 10 successive league wins was ended with a 1-1 draw in a West Yorkshire derby with 10-man Huddersfield.
The promotion-chasing Whites had enjoyed a perfect league start to 2024, but had to come from behind to rescue a point.
Substitute Michal Helik, the Terriers’ unlikely top scorer, put the hosts ahead before captain Jonathan Hogg was sent off in first-half stoppage time.
Patrick Bamford, making his first start since February 10, levelled in the second half but Farke’s charges failed to find a winner with Crysencio Summerville hitting the post late on.
“I’m far away from punishing my players for their performance,” stressed Farke, whose side missed the cha…
Costa Rica international forward Joel Campbell has revealed he will return to parent club Arsenal this summer amid increasing speculation linking the player with a host of English Premier League clubs.
Campbell, 21, joined Arsenal from Costa Rican FPD side Deportivo Saprissa in August 2011 and has spent each of the past three seasons on loan away from North London, with Lorient (2011/12), Real Betis (2012/13) and Olympiacos (2013/14).
The 21-year-old ace, who tallied one goal and one assist in Costa Rica s impressive 3-1 win over Uruguay on Saturday, has improved in each of the past three seasons and is believed to be rated at around €10 million.
His improvements may be enough to keep him at the Emirates Stadium next term, with you…
Argentina great Daniel Passarella has urged Gonzalo Higuain to ignore the pressure of his €90million price tag.
Higuain became the world s most expensive striker when he signed for Juventus from Napoli last July in a Serie A-record deal.
The 29-year-old has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season to propel Juve towards an historic treble, although his form in the Champions League has come under scrutiny.
Higuain has not scored in the competition since this season s group stage and has only managed two goals in 24 appearances in the knockout phase in his career.
His ability to perform on the big occasion has been questioned throughout his career, especially since key misses for Argentina in the finals of the World Cup and Copa America, but Passar…
Erling Haaland is the name on everyone s lips.
He has starred for club and country, but Real Sociedad s Swedish forward Aleksandar Isak has also impressed.
Isak could be lured to Barcelona if Haaland is not available.
TOP STORY – ISAK WANTED AT CAMP NOU
Barcelona are lining up a move for Real Sociedad forward Alexander Isak if they are unable to sign in-demand Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, according to Diario AS.
Haaland is wanted by Barca and Europe s elite, with the Norwegian linked with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
With competition fierce, LaLiga outfit Barca are looking close to home and at Isak as an alternative.
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Barcelona can take a big step towards a third successive La Liga title on Saturday when they welcome struggling Osasuna to the Nou Camp.
Pep Guardiola s men are eight points clear of Real Madrid on top of the league table with just six games to play, and they will no doubt have been stung by their 1-0 loss to Jose Mourinho s side in Wednesday s Copa del Rey final.
In a blow for the reigning champions, defender Adriano has been ruled out of action for four weeks after injuring a hamstring in the cup defeat.
Osasuna are sure to be fighting tooth and nail, having lost their past three matches to leave them sitting just two points outside the drop zone in 16th position.
Real Madrid kept their slim title chances alive thanks to a late penalty from Cristiano R…