Stories By Jamie Smith

• Sport

  5 of the best Maradona goals ever

  The death of Diego Maradona has hit the football world hard. Compatriot Lionel Messi was among those to pay an emotional tribute to the Argentina icon after his death at the age of 60. Maradona is considered by many to be the most talented footballer to play the beautiful game.

• Sport

  Who are the best Premier League signings of the 2020/21 season?

  The transfer window reopening is just a month away, with managers no doubt pushing hard for the reinforcements that can boost their squads over the second half of the season. But who are the best Premier League signings who have made the biggest impact in the 2020/21 campaign so far? We have picked out half a dozen players who have already become stars for their new sides.

• Sport

  Euro 2020 contenders | Who are the favourites?

  The final international break of the year saw some incredible results including Spain’s demolition of Germany, with the countdown to the European Championship now on. The tournament is still going by the name Euro 2020, despite its delay of a year due to the Coronavirus crisis.

• Sport

  Contenders to be the next England manager

  Another underwhelming international break has led to suggestions from a growing number of fans that Gareth Southgate is no longer the right man to manage England. Southgate led the Three Lions to the semi-finals of the last World Cup with a functional team but, amid the emergence of creative playmakers like Jack Grealish, England have seemingly gone backwards.

• Sport

  Can Liverpool retain the title without van Dijk and Gomez?

  Retaining the Premier League title is hard. Since the 2000/01 season, it has only happened twice with Manchester United and Manchester City both achieving the feat once. Liverpool already had their work cut out in a season shortened by the coronavirus crisis but injuries to their two main centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, have made Jurgen Klopp’s task even harder.

• Sport

  Who are the best players in the Championship 20/21?

  With almost a quarter of the Championship season played, the table is taking shape. Reading lead the way despite a recent dip in form while Watford, Norwich City and Bournemouth are all looking good to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

• Sport

  The fans want Southgate out. Should England move on?

  England will almost certainly go into next year’s Euros with Gareth Southgate in charge. However, increasingly an increasingly large number of fans on social media want Southgate out so is it time for the Three Lions boss to be replaced? England’s below-par showing in the Nations League, coupled with a safety-first approach from Southgate, have led to suggestions that time could be running out for the 50-year-old.

• Sport

  Outsiders to make the England Euro 2021 squad

  With only one more international break to go until the end of the domestic season, Gareth Southgate is running out of time to finalise his squad selection for Euro 2021. Injuries are likely to restrict Southgate’s options significantly with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez potentially missing the tournament as a result of a knee injury sustained in training.

• Sport

  5 outsiders to win the Premier League Golden Boot 2020

  With most Premier League teams having played eight games, the race for the Golden Boot is starting to heat up. Jamie Vardy took the prize last season after hitting 23 goals for Leicester City and the striker is likely to be in the running again this time out, even though he turns 34 in January.

• Sport

  Champions League 2020 contenders

  The Champions League 2020 group stage is at the halfway point, with some contenders for the title having made a stronger start than others. With the international break offering the ideal chance to take stock, this is how the top teams are shaping up in the Champions League so far.

• Sport

  Premier League own goals | 5 of the best ever

  There is nothing as funny in football as a spectacular own goal – unless your team scores it. But everyone can appreciate the comedy value of someone inadvertently sticking the ball into their own net and the history of the game is littered with some sensational examples, with Richard Dunne having managed the most own goals in Premier League history with an impressive ten.

More Posts