A's place 2023 All-Star Brent Rooker (rib) on IL

Mikel Arteta hailed Aaron Ramsdale for producing magic moments that could be pivotal in the Premier League title race after Arsenal s 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Arsenal goalkeeper produced a trio of expert saves to deny Liverpool a late winner after Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored to drag the Reds back into the game from 2-0 down.

Ramsdale denied Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, superbly tipped a deflected Salah curling effort around the post and somehow thwarted Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range in the dying seconds.

Arteta likened Ramsdale s influence to the impact Alisson has had for Liverpool in recent years after the England international starred at Anfield, where Salah missed a second-half penalty.

The Arsenal manager said durin…

Sky Sports understands that Aston Villa are lining up a move for Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

The Clarets are ready listen to offers for both Heaton and fellow shot-stopper Joe Hart after offering Nick Pope a new deal.

Heaton has played two hundred times for the Lancashire club, a tally which includes half of last season s league fixtures after he returned from a serious injury which kept him out of the 2018 World Cup finals in Brazil.

Villa are busy strengthening their squad after returning to the top flight after a three year absence.

They had been linked with a move for Stoke City s Jack Butland, though at £7m Heaton is valued at less than a third of his fellow England international.

Dean Smith s Villains start the campaign with a tri…

Erling Haaland has handed Manchester City a major injury boost after returning to training.

Haaland, with 19 goals in all competitions this season, has been sidelined with a foot injury since City’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on December 6.

But the Norway international was pictured in training with the squad ahead of their third-round FA Cup clash against Huddersfield on Sunday.

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Jeremy Doku, who has missed his side’s last eight matches with a muscular injury, also trained with his team-mates.

Both players had previously been training individually.

The imminent return of Haaland and Doku will send a warning to City’s rivals with Kevin De Bruyne also stepping up his return.

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Fabio Capello on Thursday warned his England stars not to get carried away by the rapidly-escalating hype over their chances of lifting the World Cup in South Africa next year.

A flawless qualifying campaign, culminating in Wednesday s 5-1 demolition of Croatia, has seen England installed behind Brazil and Spain as third favourites to win Africa s first World Cup.

Capello believes he has the players to match the world s best but he recognises that further improvement and good fortune with injuries will be required if England are to finally end what will be, by next year, a 44-year wait to lift a major trophy.

We made the first step, and we go to South Africa but it is only a first step, the Italian said Thursday. We are a good team, we are playing well but we h…

Hamburg attacker Rafael van der Vaart has hinted he would be prepared to take a pay cut to remain at the club.

The Dutchman s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but he is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

However, the former Real Madrid and Tottenham man insists money will not be an issue when it comes to discussing an extension.

It would certainly not fail on the question of money, the 31-year-old is quoted as saying by Bild.

Everyone knows HSV is my club. I m open to everything.  

Van der Vaart has scored 13 goals in 61 Bundesliga appearances since rejoining Hamburg from Tottenham in 2012.

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Victor Wanyama believes Southampton have the strength in depth to be able to handle the gruelling fixture schedule that comes with playing in the UEFA Europa League.

Clubs have typically struggled to replicate successful form in campaigns that include Europa League fixtures Everton last season finished six places and 25 points adrift of their 2013-14 results.

Wanyama expects Ronald Koeman s side to cope with the pressures, though, and believes their performance in Sunday s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United has already proved they are up to the task.

We know it s not easy, he told the Southern Daily Echo. But we showed in the second half [against Newcastle] what we can do, so I think we can cope with it playing Thursday and Sunday.

We just need the same spi…

We re just a few days away from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and while some teams may not be going into the tournament with all that much momentum, Brazil are certainly ready for whatever comes their way in Russia. The South Americans are the favourites to win it all next month, and they concluded their preparations in style with a convincing 3-0 victory over a strong Austria side.

The Europeans may not have qualified for the WC, but since bringing in a new coach towards the end of 2017, they ve been unstoppable that is, until they came up against Brazil. The five-time world champions are going in search of their sixth title in Russia, as they attempt to erase the painful memory of their 7-1 defeat against Germany four years ago in their own backyard.

In terms of this game,…

Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are the best central midfield pairing at the 2018 World Cup according to experienced Croatia defender Vedran Corluka.

Real Madrid playmaker Modric and his Barcelona counterpart Rakitic have resumed their alliance for the national team to fine effect in Russia, with both scoring second-half goals as Argentina were dispatched 3-0 on Thursday.

On the back of a 2-0 win over Nigeria that the duo controlled effortlessly, it meant Croatia s progress to the knockouts stages for their first time since their famous run to the 1998 semi-finals was secured with a game to spare.

They are playing in the biggest clubs and I think these are their best performances for Croatia during a major tournament, said Corluka, who will win his 100th cap again…

Manchester United and Chelsea are both said to be lining up bids for Everton prodigy Jack Rodwell, despite manager David Moyes denying any bid had been made yet.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is said have tracked the youngsters performances for over a year now, whilst Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is thought to be a keen admirer of the youngster and will hope to land the 18-year-old whilst the clubs transfer ban is uplifted for January.

However, Moyes has continually insisted that no club has expressed any interest in the defensive midfielder.

“You could come and look at my desk, check my phones to see if I have had any calls from Manchester United, or Chelsea, or whoever,” said the Toffees boss.

“We have had nothing. It is…

Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Matt O’Riley from Celtic in the final days of the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that La Liga club Atletico have already made an offer to reigning Scottish Premiership champions Celtic for midfielder O’Riley.

The report has claimed that Atletico were very impressed by the performances of O’Riley in the UEFA Champions League. The former La Liga champions have made an offer to sign the 23-year-old Denmark international midfielder to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent in the summer of 2024.

HITC has reported that O’Riley is ready to leave Celtic for Atletico this month. The 23-year-old midfielder has scored 10 goals and given seven assists in 21 Scottish Premiership matc…