Liverpool defender Joel Matip has signed a new long-term contract, the club have confirmed.

Centre-back Matip – whose previous contract was set to expire at the end of the season – finalised terms at the Reds Melwood training base on Friday.

The 28-year-old s new deal will reportedly keep him at Anfield until 2024.

It s a great feeling to be a longer part of the club. It s really just a great feeling, Matip told Liverpool s website.

From outside, you know Liverpool is such a big club – but when you are inside, then you really get a feeling for how big the club is. In all the countries, the supporters are everywhere. It s a massive and big club that I think every player would want to play for.

We have a young and talented team and I think …

Lionel Messi is set to break Diego Maradona s record of the most World Cup appearances for Argentina after being named in their starting XI against Poland.

The late, great Maradona played 21 games at World Cup tournaments and Wednesday s match at Stadium 974 will be Messi s 22nd on this stage.

But Messi will be hoping that is not the only way he can eclipse Maradona at the 2022 World Cup.

Argentina find themselves in a tricky position heading into the Group C encounter, with elimination a real possibility.

If La Albiceleste lose, they will be knocked out, while a draw may not be enough to take them through to the last 16 either.

Although regarded by many as the greatest player ever, Messi s legacy will forever be tinged by World Cup failure if he …

Jack Grealish scored his first international goal as England cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win over Andorra in World Cup qualifying Group I on Saturday.

Gareth Southgate named a largely second-string outfit at the Estadi Nacional but they had no problem dispatching a side ranked 153 places beneath them, Ben Chilwell setting them on their way in the 17th minute with his first international goal. 

Bukayo Saka added a second before half-time, while Tammy Abraham, James Ward-Prowse and substitute Grealish sealed the most routine of wins in the second period. 

A sixth win in seven group games means England move onto 19 points at the summit, while Andorra remain in fifth on three points. 

England went ahead when Chilwell lashed home from 10 yards after bei…

Michael McGlinchey s has been rewarded for his superb form by being handed a new two-year deal by the Central Coast Mariners.

The 26-year-old midfielder has ensured the Mariners have hardly missed Tom Rogic after the youngster s sale to Celtic in January, putting in a series of outstanding performances.

The Mariners have now warded off the advances of rival A-League teams with McGlinchey s previous deal set to expire at the end of the 2012-13 season by tying the New Zealand international down on a new contract.

Negotiations between club and player had been ongoing for some time, but McGlinchey will now be a Mariner until at least the end of 2014-15 season.

It has been going on for a while now and I am just happy to have reached an agreement so that I ca…

Michael Owen has defended himself against claims he abandoned Newcastle following their relegation from the English Premier League in 2009.

After an injury-hit four years at St James Park, the striker went on to sign for Manchester United, where he often struggled for game time.

The 33-year-old joined Stoke City after leaving United last year, and has since announced he will retire at the end of the season after failing to make an impact at the Britannia Stadium.

The former Liverpool man has now denied claims he opted not to remain with Newcastle in the Championship, insisting the club did not offer him a new deal.

He tweeted: Newcastle fans, following my Football Focus interview, plenty of you tweeting me saying you don t blame me for getting injured but…

Sought-after Mexico winger Hirving Lozano poured over the options with his family before penning a six-year contract with PSV.

The 21-year-old sealed a move from Pachuca to the Eredivisie giants amid a bid from Benfica and widely reported interest from Manchester City.

Manchester United are also understood to have monitored Lozano previously, but he left Mexico s Confederations Cup training base to tie up a switch to Eindhoven on Monday, returning to Sochi in time to flank boss Juan Carlos Osorio and Porto midfielder Hector Herrera at a pre-match news conference for Wednesday s Group A meeting with New Zealand.

Let me tell you that it s been a very special moment in my life but it s over, Lozano said. That was yesterday. Of course, I m focused 100 per cent on th…

Head coach Luis Enrique insists Barcelona can still beat Real Madrid to LaLiga glory, despite Zinedine Zidane s side taking a huge step towards the title on Sunday.

Madrid recorded a pivotal 4-1 home win over Sevilla, meaning they remain level on points with Barca – who won at Las Palmas by the same scoreline – with a game in hand.

Los Blancos will be crowned Spanish champions for the first time since 2012 if they pick up four points from their last two matches away to Celta Vigo and Malaga, although one defeat would put the title destiny back in the Catalans hands.

And Luis Enrique thinks there is still plenty of life in the title race given his side lost at both Celta and Malaga earlier this season, meaning the same is possible or Madrid.

They hav…

Former FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer has died aged 72, according to his lawyers.

Blazer, who served as CONCACAF general secretary and U.S. Soccer Federation executive vice-president, was handed a lifetime ban by FIFA from all football-related activity in 2015.

The American had pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering and tax evasion in late 2013.

As part of his plea, Blazer, who had been battling cancer up until his death, agreed to work undercover to help authorities with their investigation into corruption within FIFA.

We are truly saddened by the passing of our client and friend, Chuck Blazer, his lawyers Eric Corngold and Mary Mulligan said in a statement given to the BBC and AFP.

His misconduct, for which …

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists he is not close to leaving club football despite long-term aspirations to coach a national team.

The 55-year-old claimed in an interview in 2014 that he would like to spend his final few years in international football, when he decides he needs a little rest .

Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal at United in 2016, signed a new contract in January that could keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2020-21 season.

The former Chelsea boss appears set on seeing out the majority of that deal, claiming he feels less wearied by club management than he has in recent years, despite question marks over his long-term suitability for the job in the wake of the FA Cup final loss to his former team last month.

Ask…

As the battle for Neymar between Real Madrid and Barcelona continues, it seemed it would be difficult enough for the two giants to come to an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over a transfer fee, without the Brazilian setting unreasonable wage demands. But it apparently just got much more complicated for the two La Liga giants, with Neymar asking for a five-year contract worth €35 million per season.

That is according to Spanish outlet Jugones, as relayed by , who also say that Real Madrid wouldn t have dressing room issues over that as every member of the squad accepts Neymar s superstar status.

Neymar has already moved the boundaries in the transfer market when he moved from Barcelona to PSG for €222 million in 2017, but it might well happen again if any of the …