Jurgen Klopp s contract extension at Liverpool pleased his Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard, who still hopes to bridge the gap to the Premier League leaders.

Klopp, who joined Liverpool in 2015, already had a contract at Anfield until 2022, but the Reds managed to secure his long-term future early with Friday s announcement of the new four-and-half-year deal.

It was a just reward for reinvigorating Liverpool, who are a genuine force again both in Europe and the Premier League, having lifted the Champions League trophy last term before dashing to the top of the domestic table this season.

After 16 matches, Liverpool have dropped just two points and are eight clear of second-placed Leicester City at the summit, with Klopp transforming the team into a winning machi…

Antonio Conte does not believe Chelsea can be considered favourites for the Premier League title as the Italian again suggested discontent with the champions close-season dealings in the transfer market.

Chelsea begin their 2017-18 campaign at home to Burnley on Saturday having  stormed to glory in Conte s debut season in England s top flight.

However, the failure to secure reported transfer targets such as Romelu Lukaku and Leonardo Bonucci, Diego Costa s pariah status and the departure of Nemanja Matic to the benefit of Manchester United all appear to have irked the former Juventus boss.

Conte has also penned a new Chelsea contract that did not extend his term at Stamford Bridge and he was evidently weary in the face of questions regarding further new singings…

Thierry Henry has described it as an honour to come up against Diego Simeone as he attempts to keep Monaco s Europa League hopes alive.

The Ligue 1 side cannot progress to the Champions League last 16, having taken just one point from their opening four Group A games, and a win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday is needed to give them a realistic chance of finishing third.

The trip to the Wanda Metropolitano represents one of Henry s toughest tests since taking charge in October and the former Arsenal star admits it will be a challenge to take anything from Simeone s side.

However, he insists his players will have no fear of a team they lost to 2-1 back in September.

He s one of the best coaches around at the moment, Henry told a news conference when ask…

Roy Keane is holding off on a return to club management as he continues to enjoy his role with the Republic of Ireland.

Under Martin O Neill and his assistant Keane, Ireland reached the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and will this week face Denmark in the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

And it is the task of reaching the finals in Russia next year that is on Keane s mind, rather than the club game, where his former side Sunderland are on the lookout for a new manager following Simon Grayson s sacking.

Asked about a second spell in charge at the Stadium of Light, the 46-year-old said: At this moment in time, I m really enjoying what I am doing with Ireland.

I enjoy working with Martin, the staff and the FAI, and the only thing on my mind in the next few day…

Arsenal made light of Gabriel Jesus absence as each of the Gunners attacking trio scored in Boxing Day s 3-1 win over West Ham on their return to Premier League action.

The blow of losing Jesus for three months due to a knee injury suffered during the World Cup had seen many write off the league leaders title chances, but at Emirates Stadium their mentality shone through.

Arsenal – who had a fifth-minute Bukayo Saka goal wiped out – looked to be in trouble when Said Benrahma scored a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

But their dominance eventually brought chances, and while they benefited from a hint of luck, Saka coolly levelled before Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah secured a deserved win.

Nketiah, the man tasked with replacing Jesus, was enc…

Paulinho s away goal was enough to send Guangzhou Evergrande into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after a 2-2 aggregate draw with Kashima Antlers on Tuesday, while Persepolis, Al Hilal and Kawasaki Frontale also went through.

The Brazilian midfielder had hit the only goal in the first leg and, after Pedro Junior bent in a brilliant 20-yard opener for the Japanese champions in the second leg, Paulinho scored again, tapping in after a long throw-in caused chaos in the box.

That left the Antlers needing to score twice and although Mu Kanazaki poked home off the underside of the crossbar in the first minute of added-time, his side could not score again to qualify, with 2015 winners Guangzhou moving into the last eight.

Kawasaki Frontale booked their pl…

Edinson Cavani called for Paris Saint-Germain to focus only on the future after they bounced back from their defeat to Real Madrid with a resounding 5-2 home win over Strasbourg on Saturday.

The Uruguay international scored twice both chipped finishes in the second half as the Ligue 1 leaders restored their 12-point cushion over nearest Ligue 1 rivals Monaco in impressive fashion.

The result also provided a much-needed boost in confidence following Wednesday s 3-1 loss to Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

While there is still a second leg to come on home soil, Cavani felt it was crucial PSG showed a good reaction after what happened to them at the Santiago Bernabeu.

We had to win to change our minds, what happened happened, s…

Barcelona extended their winning run in Liga F to 50 games after a 7-0 thrashing of Levante Las Planas on Wednesday.

A hat-trick for Asisat Oshoala guided the hosts to a resounding rout at Estadio Johan Cruyff, with a brace for Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic as well.

Goals from 16-year-old Vicky Lopez and Mariona Caldentey completed the scoring, with the former recording her first for the club.

Their victorious streak in the league stretches all the way back to June 2021, having last lost to Atletico Madrid.

Barca s only three defeats in any competition in that time all came in Europe.

They may not be able to challenge for a clean sweep this season though, having been expelled from the Copa de la Reina on Tuesday for fielding an ineligible player, though …

Tired of your mates recycling the same old football trivia questions from years gone by?

Bring them bang up to date and get them guessing with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz.

All the answers are at the bottom of the page, so you can claim the high ground when it comes to statistical knowledge!

1. Burnley s Ashley Barnes, who has had a hand in four goals in three league starts against Cardiff (three goals, one assist), has scored 10 times in the Premier League this season. Who is the only Clarets player to have scored more in a single Premier League campaign? 

PIC: Ashley Barnes celebrates in typical fashion following his goal!

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial)

2. Southampton are hosting Wolves in the Premier Lea…

Verdict: Croatia/Croatia

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

Buoyed by the promising performance against one of the main contenders for the 2018 World Cup title, Croatia play host to Senegal in their final warm-up game. The Lions of Teranga have not been too impressive in recent friendlies but the return of star player Sadio Mane will be a welcoming boost.

Croatia

It is fair to say that Croatia haven’t reached their full potential in recent years, having largely struggled since reaching the quarter-finals at the Euro 2008 and there are no doubts they will see the 2018 World Cup as an opportunity to make things right. A team that have players like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic pulling the strings should definitely perform better at ma…