Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has agreed a new long-term contract with the Premier League club.

Sakho has made 47 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.

The France international centre-back, who has established himself as a favourite with the Anfield faithful, played for the first time this season when he captained Brendan Rodgers side to a 1-1 Europa League draw at Bordeaux on Thursday night.

Rodgers expressed his wish to retain Sakho s services earlier this week and the 25-year-old has obliged by penning his new deal.

Sakho told Liverpoolfc.com: I am very happy to sign a long-term contract with Liverpool because, as I ve always said, I am very happy here and my family are happy in Liverpool.

I will keep w…

Eden Hazard has been rewarded for an impressive campaign at Chelsea with an improved five-and-a-half-year contract.

Chelsea have extended star winger Eden Hazard s contract until 2020.

Hazard has scored 13 goals for Chelsea this season, helping them open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League and secure a place in the League Cup final.

Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho had joked earlier in the week that delays in tying the Belgian down to a new deal were down to him, and any fears that may have been brewing among the Chelsea faithful have been put to bed.

I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea, Hazard told the club s official website. 

Since I came here in 2012 I have always felt good and the club has been very sup…

Antonio Rudiger marked his 100th appearance for Chelsea with an unlikely brace but Frank Lampard s side are still looking for a first Premier League away win in 2020 after a 2-2 draw at Leicester City.

The battle between third and fourth in the Premier League table sparked into life after the interval, Chelsea going ahead at the King Power Stadium when Rudiger nodded in Mason Mount s corner.

However, Chelsea s lead lasted less than 10 minutes, Harvey Barnes drawing the hosts level with the aid of a deflection off Reece James to leave Willy Caballero picked ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance.

The Argentine goalkeeper, making his first league start since May 2019, had little chance of keeping out Leicester s second goal, Ben Chilwell popping up at the b…

Jose Mourinho admitted he was a little scared amid speculation of Nicolo Zaniolo leaving Roma, while he refuted suggestions the attacker was difficult to manage.

Zaniolo scored the winning goal as Roma ended a 14-year trophy drought, defeating Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final in May.

But speculation persisted in the close season that the 23-year-old may depart the Eternal City, with Juventus reportedly the favourites to secure his signature.

Zaniolo dismissed the move as never likely ahead of Thursday s Europa League clash with HJK Helsinki, which Roma won 3-0 after goals from Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Andrea Belotti.

While the Italy international suggested a transfer was never on the cards, Mourinho acknowledged h…

League Two promotion hopefuls Fleetwood Town have signed Nathan Tyson on a month-long loan from Blackpool, .

The 31 year old has made just six league appearances for the Seasiders, all off which have come as a substitute, having joined from Derby County on a free transfer in the summer.

He had a brief spell with Millwall towards the end of last season, but started just once for the Lions, and failed to hit the in any of his four outings for the club.

Tyson moved to Derby County in 2011 after spending six years with fellow East Midlands club Nottingham Forest.

He goes straight into the Cod Army’s side for their match against Millwall tomorrow afternoon, where victory could see them return to the top of the division.

The Reading born strike…

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke expects Saido Berahino will agree terms on a new deal at the Hawthorns within 24 hours, according to the club s official website, .

Berahino, 20, has been on sensational form to start the 2013/14 campaign, having scored six goals in nine first-team appearances, albeit just four starts, across all competitions.

The England Under-21 international, who netted in back-to-back matches against Arsenal and Manchester United in late September, is out of a contract at the end of the season.

A host of top European clubs, including the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Monaco, are reportedly monitoring the highly-rated 20-year-old ace.

However, Albion boss Steve Clarke is confident the player in question wil…

Burnley s hopes of reaching the Europa League group stage for the first time received a blow as Monday s draw for the third qualifying round pit them against Istanbul Basaksehir, if they can get past Aberdeen.

Sean Dyche s men were the surprise package of the Premier League last term as they managed to finish seventh, securing a return to European football after a 51-year absence.

They have to defeat Aberdeen in the second qualifying round, but should they succeed, Burnley will face the side that finished third, just three points behind champions Galatasaray, in the Turkish Super Lig in 2017-18.

Basaksehir boast a squad full of familiar faces – including Arda Turan, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gokhan Inler and Gael Clichy – and went very close to qualifying for the…

The expectations weren t particularly high for Scotland coming into this game against Russia, given that the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts are coming off the back of a strong tournament in their homeland. The Scots, on the other hand, continue to fail when it comes to securing qualification for either the World Cup or the European Championships.

In the end, Russia took their moments as and when they came to them, coming from behind to pick up all three points at Hampden Park. The atmosphere was strong and the home fans were intent on trying to force a positive result for their team, and they got off to the perfect start when John McGinn gave Steve Clarke s men the lead.

Heroes crumbling

Artem Dzyuba was able to pounce on poor defensive work from Scotland to level things up…

(GSM) A pair of first-half goals from Brad Evans and Fredy Montero gave Seattle Sounders a 2-0, opening-day victory over league debutants Philadelphia Union on Thursday night.

The MLS awarded Philadelphia a top-flight franchise in 2008, and they become the 16th team in the league for this season.

But their youth and inexperienced showed early against a lively Seattle side, who took the lead fairly early.

Montero had his hand in the opening goal on 12 minutes when he put Steve Zakuani through into the area with a deft flick. Zakuani then centered for Evans, who hit a nice left-footed drive beyond Chris Seitz for a 1-0 lead.

Matters got worse for Philadelphia in the 40th minute when Finnish defender Toni Stahl picked up a second booking for hauling down Mo…

The true cost of Manchester United s decision to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to leave for Real Madrid will become apparent at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ronaldo s absence has been felt less sharply than might have been anticipated after his 42-goal final season at the Theatre of Dreams, mainly because Wayne Rooney has stepped into his goalscoring boots with such aplomb.

But with Rooney now sidelined by an ankle ligament injury, it remains to be seen if Sir Alex Ferguson s squad have the depth of match-winning resources required to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive English title.

Victory over a Chelsea squad that has rediscovered form over the last two weeks would represent a huge step in that direction.

It would leave United four points clear at the top o…