Hull City boss Mike Phelan says he has nothing to prove to David Moyes when they take on his Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Phelan was dismissed as Manchester United assistant manager when Moyes cleared out the existing backroom staff after taking over from Alex Ferguson in 2013.

Ferguson himself questioned that move last year, suggesting that Moyes decision to oust his old number two helped to set the tone for what proved to be a dreadful spell in charge at Old Trafford.

Phelan, however, maintains that he holds no grudges over his departure.

I have no point to prove, he told Friday s pre-match media conference.  I had a fantastic career at Manchester United. It s not for me to hold any grudges.

I had 18 years there overal…

Jurgen Klopp felt Liverpool s ever-increasing Champions League experience was vital in their 6-1 aggregate quarter-final win over Porto, and dubbed his side special after they secured a semi-final place for the second consecutive season.

The Reds are the only side among 2017-18 s semi-finalists to return to the last four this season and they progressed in some style as Porto were brushed aside 4-1 in the second leg at Estadio do Dragao.

Sadio Mane s second goal in as many games opened the scoring and there were further strikes from Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool absorbed plenty of Porto pressure while being ruthless in attack.

The introduction of Jordan Henderson and Firmino in the second half seemed to knock the last bit of steam…

Sergio Ramos has added to the intrigue surrounding his proposed move from Real Madrid to Manchester United by insisting that he is not currently in negotiations with any club.

Reports had suggested that the Old Trafford outfit were poised to part with around £32 million to bring the much-decorated Spanish defender to the Premier League as early as next week.

But when asked about his future while attending a wedding in Seville, the 29-year-old claimed that no talks of any sort were currently underway.

I am not negotiating with anyone, he said, before refusing to be drawn on whether he will be staying at Real Madrid.

His ambiguous response suggests that he is also not discussing a contract renewal at the Santiago Bernabeu and will therefore do little to d…

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that he has opened talks with Walter Mazzarri with a view to extending the coach s contract.

Speculation in Italy has suggested that Mazzarri could stand down from his position at the Serie club in the off-season, despite guiding the club to Coppa Italia glory with a 2-0 final win over Juventus.

However, De Laurentiis has looked to end speculation about the coach s future at the San Paolo and added that he is already making plans around the 50-year-old staying at the helm.

I am very satisfied, the Napoli chief told the club s website. We have already had a long talk, analysing the season that has just ended and laying the foundations for the preparations of the upcoming campaign.

We are in sync to tak…

Sevilla head coach Jorge Sampaoli has waded into the debate over Lionel Messi s injury, arguing South American players are not given enough time to recover from their international duties.

The Argentina and Barcelona star was ruled out for up to three weeks following a recurrence of a groin injury during the Liga champions 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The events prompted Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza to criticise Barcelona s handling of Messi this week, before later insisting he did not want a war with the club.

But his point was supported by compatriot Sampaoli, who has extensive experience of the demands of the international scene, having served for four years as head coach of Chile between 2012 and 2016.

I think players are being abused,…

Jose Mourinho says the champagne is not on ice as Chelsea bid to secure the Premier League title in front of their own fans against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Chelsea have dominated domestically this season, losing just twice in the league, and another win would confirm a first top-flight crown since 2010.

A 3-1 come-from-behind victory at lowly Leicester City in midweek left Chelsea on the cusp of a fourth Premier League triumph and a third under Mourinho.

The Portuguese is understandably eager to ensure the task is finished at Stamford Bridge, but stressed it would be foolhardy to feel the job is already done.

It s easy. We need two or three points to be champions. Let s say three, to make sure we don t depend on goal difference, Mourinho said.

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The West Ham supporter whose comments provoked an angry response from West Brom s Jake Livermore has been indefinitely banned from home and away matches.

After being substituted in the second half of West Ham s 2-1 win at London Stadium this month, Livermore appeared to react to a fan close to the visitors dugout and was led away.

According to West Brom, Livermore was provoked by a comment made about the death of his infant son in 2014.

And following the conclusion of an investigation, the Hammers have taken now action aimed at preventing the individual in question from attending the team s matches.

The Club have issued an indefinite ban to the supporter involved in a verbal altercation with Jake Livermore.

— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd)

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Manchester City claimed a remarkable 5-3 victory over Monaco in an all-time Champions League classic at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The first competitive meeting between the two sides will live long in the memory after goals inside the final 13 minutes from John Stones – atoning for an earlier error – and Leroy Sane put City in command of the last-16 tie.

Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao had scored two apiece – the latter also missing a penalty – while Raheem Sterling and Kylian Mbappe also got in on the act.

Leonardo Jardim s side, who have scored over 100 goals in all competitions this season, will rue the moment Falcao squandered a chance to make it 3-1 from the spot, as City hit back.

It was Sterling who opened the scoring 26 minutes …

James Maddison is having a meteoric rise! After spending 2017-18 at Norwich City, finishing in bottom half of the Championship, the Englishman joined Leicester City in the summer of 2018 and has had a brilliant first season in the top flight. He provided seven goals and seven assists for the Foxes and now the top echelon of Premier League is considering signing him.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all set to battle for the player, according to the Daily Star. The 22-year-old impressed at Leicester after a £20m move. Leicester feel under no obligation to sell but could be tempted to cash in should a massive offer arrive for Maddison, who is valued at £60m ($76m).

This could especially be the case if all or most of these four c…

Former Canada international Kaylyn Kyle says she has received death threats after calling the United States disrespectful and disgraceful for their celebrations in their 13-0 mauling of Thailand.

Alex Morgan scored five times as USA recorded the biggest win in Women s World Cup history in Reims on Tuesday, but the manner of their one-sided victory drew flak on social media, with American players criticised for over-celebrating their rampant humiliation of inferior opposition.

Kyle was one of three Canadians appearing as pundits on TSN to have blasted the defending world champions.

I m all about passion and I think as a Canadian we would never think about doing something like that, said Kyle.

We ve played against the Americans before and you ve got…