Eddie Howe was very grateful to see a late Bournemouth winner disallowed against Newcastle United, acknowledging he could not initially see any issue with Dango Ouattara s goal.

A controversial encounter on Sunday ended in a 1-1 draw after a stoppage-time effort from Ouattara was overturned following a VAR review.

The officials decided the ball had struck Ouattara s arm, rather than his head, from a right-wing corner, although referee David Coote did not visit the pitchside monitor to assess the incident.

The decision gave Newcastle a reprieve, having rescued a point through Anthony Gordon s equaliser after Marcus Tavernier netted the opening goal in the first half.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola felt it was so obvious the ball had come off Ouattara s sho…

Harry Kane continued his record-breaking start to life at Bayern Munich with a brace in a 4-2 victory over Heidenheim that saw the defending champions move top of the Bundesliga.

The England captain’s first-half double at Allianz Arena took his tally to 17 goals in 11 league games for Bayern – 21 goals in all competitions – and saw him write more history.

Kane has now scored more goals than anybody else at this stage of the Bundesliga season, and his current tally is already more than the 2022/23 joint-leading scorers, Christopher Nkunku for RB Leipzig and Niclas Fullkrug for Werder Bremen, managed in the whole of last season.

Following Kane’s first-half brace, promoted Heidenheim had briefly threated an upset when they drew level at 2-2 but goals from Ra…

Jim Goodwin is optimistic that striker Steven Fletcher could return from injury for Dundee United’s crucial relegation battle against Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

Fletcher sat out Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Livingston with a groin problem amid suggestions his season could be over.

However, the 36-year-old could be back in action in midweek as United chase the victory they need in their bid to beat the drop.

The Tangerines, who had Aziz Behich sent-off for two yellow cards, were left two points adrift at the foot of the Premiership after Ian Harkes’ stunning volley was sandwiched by goals from Livingston pair Bruce Anderson and James Penrice.

But, with Killie and Ross County also both losing, the Tannadice outfit know victory on Wednesday will lift them of…

Alvaro Morata scored a brace to help holders Chelsea into the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest as Cesc Fabregas missed a penalty in what appears to be his final game for the club.

Maurizio Sarri named Ruben Loftus-Cheek in his starting line-up and made Fabregas captain for the day, but it was Morata and Callum Hudson-Odoi who impressed for the Blues as the pair combined for both goals at Stamford Bridge.

Fabregas had the chance to bow out with a goal before his rumoured move to Monaco, but had his first-half spot-kick saved. Morata struck twice inside 10 second-half minutes, aided by the impressive Hudson-Odoi, whose own future has been at the centre of intense speculation this week amid confirmed interest from Bayern Munich. 

Loftu…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to make a bid for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, according to . The report in the British tabloid has claimed that Jose Sa wants to leave Wolves in the January transfer window, and that the Wanderers are looking at Johnstone as a potential replacement.

The Sun has reported that Palace could make Johnstone available for transfer in the middle of the season. Dean Henderson, who joined the Eagles from Manchester United in the summer of 2023, is fit and starting matches now, so the London club could decide to cash in on Johnstone.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Sa from Wolves in the January transfer window. Clubs in Saudi Arabia are also keen on the 30-year-old Portugal international goalkeeper, who wants to move on a…

Liverpool assistant boss Pep Lijnders says Darwin Nunez is having “a much better season than last year” and that he sees him as a player “full of fire”.

The 24-year-old Uruguay striker, signed from Benfica in 2022 and scorer of 15 goals in all competitions for the Reds in the last campaign, has seven so far this term.

Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United made it 10 club appearances without netting, his last Liverpool goal coming in the 2-1 Carabao Cup fourth-round win at Bournemouth in early November, but Lijnders says Nunez should not be judged on goals alone.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at home against West Ham, Lijnders said: “I think Darwin is full of desire, you see this in each game, and if we would only judge p…

Real Madrid has officially announced that midfielder Luka Modric has signed a new one-year contract extension to stay with the Spanish giants.

It will mark the 10th season that the Croatian has spent with Real after making his way over from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, confirming what many had suspected he’d do for quite some time now.

A few years back it seemed likely that Modric would leave and could potentially even make his way over to Inter Milan. Now, he looks set to stay, and potentially even retire in Spain.

He will go down in history as one of the best midfielders in his generation and rightly so, but it ll be interesting to see what he can accomplish before he officially hangs up his boots.

Madrid are smart to keep him on the books as a veteran…

Cristiano Ronaldo s lawyer says the Juventus forward vehemently denies a rape allegation and claims statements reportedly originating from the player are fabricated .

American Kathryn Mayorga has accused Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portuguese has strenuously refuted.

German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit last month in an attempt to quash that agreement while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.

Ronaldo s lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but criticised a…

Prediction: Shamrock Rovers to win 4-0

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Shamrock Rovers and University College Dublin will lock horns with each other in the League of Ireland Premier Division this week. The match between Stephen Bradley’s side and Andrew Myler’s team will take place at the Tallaght Stadium in Tallaght, South Dublin and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Friday.

Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers are one of the biggest and most well-known clubs in the Republic of Ireland and regularly challenge for the title. The Hoops won the League of Ireland Premier Division title last season, and it is very likely that they will do the same this time around. Rovers became the champions of the Republic of Ireland in 2020 and 2021 as well.

Ste…

Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a hefty instant return on their €20million investment in Erling Haaland as the 19-year-old wonderkid produced a debut to savour on Saturday.

Introduced as a second-half substitute with Lucien Favre s side 3-1 down at Augsburg, Haaland promptly scored a hat-trick to inspire a 5-3 victory.

The Norway international s first moments in Dortmund colours are sure to live long in the memory and he is in good company when it comes to elite strikers announcing their arrival with a bang.

Here, we look back at some other standout debuts.

Wayne Rooney

The 18-year-old Rooney arrived at Manchester United from Everton amid huge fanfare after starring for England at Euro 2004, but he also suffered a metatarsal injury early in the Three…