In Jamie Carragher’s 2008 autobiography, there are 20 pages that reference Manchester United but one in particular perfectly frames the power shift in the north-west of England. The book paints the domestic landscape when Sir Alex Ferguson walked into Old Trafford in 1986 to undertake his “greatest challenge” of “knocking Liverpool right off their f—–g perch” — the Reds were up by 11 league titles and three European Cups at that point — before examining how United then became the conquerers-in-chief.

The…

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It has been a record-breaking start to the season for Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s team sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning all eight league games so far this campaign.

Another victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday would be Liverpool’s 18th consecutive league win, equalling the Premier League record set by Manchester City in 2017-18.

The Champions League winners are showing the kind of form that suggests they could go through the…

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Frank Leboeuf feels Olivier Giroud may need to leave Chelsea in order to secure regular first team action.

Kante made his name as a defensive midfielder and took Leicester and Chelsea to league titles. Now he’s playing a different role but is just as effective.

A couple of years ago, N’Golo Kante might have been the most valuable soccer player in the world.

In August 2015, Leicester City signed the relatively unknown French midfielder from Caen for £5.6 million. The season before his arrival, Leicester finished with 41 points. In Kante’s only season with the club, Leicester finished with 81 points, winning the most improbable championship in the history of modern sports.

Then, in July 2016, Chelsea signed the by-now-well-known French midfielder…

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Arsenal’s attack has always been exciting, but their inability to defend and their lack of physicality have made them harmless in top competitions.

Lee Hendrie scored in the third minute to put Aston Villa in front, but it didn’t matter. Arsenal would score and score again, and Arsenal would win. Because Arsenal always won.

Sure enough, Robert Pirès equalised from the penalty spot, and after Thierry Henry had given the home side the lead on the stroke of half-time, Pirès swept home his second goal to seal a routine 3-1 victory. “I don’t think they would have panicked at even two goals down,” beaten manager David O’Leary said. “They’ve…

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty for Portugal vs. Ukraine is his 700th career goal for club and country.

Craig Burley says that Fernando Santos seems to be struggling to balance Portugal’s stars into the side.
The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 700th goal of his senior career as Portugal fell to a 2-1 defeat to Ukraine in Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Kiev, putting him in a very exclusive club that includes some of the game’s greats..
Ronaldo had the chance to pass the milestone in Friday’s match against Luxembourg, but he was only able to find…

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic doesn’t shy away from a joke during his speech after receiving a statue of himself in Malmo.

Germany’s new-look team did more than enough to beat Estonia and remain on course for Euro 2020 despite losing Emre Can early on to a red card.

So what if we’re in the thick of an international break? It’s still Monday and it’s still time for another edition of Gab Marcotti’s Musings.

Jump to: Germany back on track? | Don’t rule out Ibra’s European return | Praise for Sergio Ramos | Italy book Euro 2020 spot | Maddison mess for England?

Are Germany firmly back on track?

The problem with qualifying in Europe, at least when it comes to the bigger countries, is that it’s really difficult to have any sort of frame of reference of where…

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Former Premier League ‘keeper Petr Cech reveals that making his ice hockey debut fulfilled a childhood dream.
The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.
Jump to: Jadon Sancho opens stunning new pitch in his home neighbourhood | Player tricked into wearing matchday lederhosen by teammates
Petr Cech became surely the first goalkeeper to have saved a penalty in both the Champions League final and the National Ice Hockey League South 2 on Sunday.
The 37-year-old made his debut for Guildford…

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is basically in a league of his own when it comes to MLS productivity.

It’s been 12 years since David Beckham absconded to Los Angeles from Real Madrid, in the name of bringing soccer to the forefront of American sports fans’ consciousness. (Hey, he tried.) There were only 13 teams in Major League Soccer then, attendance was roughly 16,770 a game, and the LA Galaxy (shocker) were the most valuable franchise at $100 million. In that decade-plus in MLS, the era of the Designated Player, few if any have been as prolific as The Lion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Designated…

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Gerardo Martino’s Nations League roster includes only four players from Mexico’s 2018 World Cup run.

Mexico manager Gerardo Martino won’t admit to promoting a youth revolution within his squad, but he doesn’t need to say a word. In sculpting his team for the CONCACAF Nations League, El Tri’s manager is quietly pushing for a much-needed infusion of young talent.

Mexico’s roster for the latest round of games includes 15 players with five or fewer national team caps, two of whom are enjoying their first call-ups. Martino’s management can make it easy to miss the absences of stalwarts such as goalkeeper…

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LAS ROZAS DE MADRID, Spain — Villarreal’s players were still out on the pitch, stretching the morning session at the old orange grove where the club has its training ground, when the news reached them. Santi Cazorla, Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres and Gerard Moreno had been included in the Spain squad for this week’s trip to Norway and Sweden. Together they travelled 450km west to Las Rozas, the Federation’s HQ outside Madrid; others arrived from all over the country and beyond, and mostly the players…

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