David Silva scored both goals as Manchester City made light work of Stoke City in a routine 2-0 win at the bet365 Stadium, despite being without the injured Sergio Aguero.

Pep Guardiola was unable to select Aguero due to a knee injury, but the Argentina star s absence was hardly noticed as City edged a little closer to the Premier League title, with Silva stealing the show.

Any chance of struggling Stoke causing an upset looked over as early as the 10th minute, as Silva opened the scoring with aplomb after good work from Raheem Sterling, back from five games out with a hamstring injury.

The league leaders doubled their advantage early in the second half – Silva again providing a good finish after a well-worked move involving Gabriel Jesus, starting his first Pr…

A number of Premier League sides are in the running to sign Anthony Martial from Manchester United this summer, according to the Daily Star.

Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have all been linked with a move for the France international, who’s future at Old Trafford is still in doubt.

Since signing from Monaco in the summer of 2015, Martial has racked up one hundred and thirty-one appearances in all competitions, scoring thirty-six goals.

Reports in his home country claim the twenty-two year old has turned down the chance to sign a new five-year deal and is ready to consider his options after falling down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho.

This season Martial has started just sixteen games in the Premier League tho…

Timo Werner can be very satisfied with his development at Chelsea, says Germany head coach Hansi Flick.

The 25-year-old joined Chelsea for a reported €50million (£45m) from RB Leipzig contract ahead of the 2020-21 season.

He endured a difficult debut campaign in English football, though the versatile attacker s 12 goals was the joint-most of any Chelsea player alongside Tammy Abraham.

After initially losing his place in the side this term following the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, Werner has been a starter in Chelsea s last three domestic matches.

With two goals and an assist from eight appearances overall, Flick is pleased with Werner s form in a Chelsea shirt.

Everyone has to take responsibility and show their own initiative, he said in a news …

Fabinho revealed he and Alisson are set to miss Liverpool s Premier League clash with Watford due to international commitments with Brazil.

The Reds duo were part of Tite s squad for October s World Cup qualifying fixtures against Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay, the latter of which will be played in the early hours of Friday morning in United Kingdom time.

Fabinho believes they will not have time to return from South America in time for Saturday when Liverpool face the Hornets in the league for the first time since losing 3-0 in February 2020, a result that ended their 44-game unbeaten run in the top flight.

I believe that this first match against Watford, it will be very hard for us, he told reporters in Brazil. I don t think we ll play. Neither Alisson nor my…

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is unconcerned by the criticism aimed at him this season by the club’s supporters.

Pulis has polarised opinion with Stoke fans over the past few months as his side has been dragged into the relegation dogfight.

Back-to-back wins over QPR and Norwich in the past fortnight has eased the pressure on Pulis, who guided Stoke into the top flight in 2008.

The Welshman, though, is unruffled by the flak aimed at him as he prepares to face Sunderland on Monday.

I understand the nature of human beings and the nature of people in sport, Pulis told The Sentinel.

Your football club will ebb and flow, especially this club in the Premier League, so you will get taps on the back and kicks up the backside.

This is one …

AC Milan s recent revival was stunted as M Baye Niang found the back of the net for the third Serie A outing in succession to salvage a 1-1 draw with Udinese at San Siro.

Niang, who achieved the scoring feat for the first time in his career in Italy, fired home in the third minute of the second half to earn Milan a point after Pablo Armero had handed the visitors the lead against his former club early on.

The Rossoneri went into the game looking to extend a three-match winning run and had numerous chances in front of goal, but Udinese keeper Orestis Karnezis was in fine form on a sodden and blustery afternoon and Andrea Bertolacci cannoned an effort against the crossbar in the dying moments.

The visitors were not outplayed by Sinisa Mihajlovic s side, however, an…

The Spanish capital will be a city divided on Friday when Real Madrid take on neighbours Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

Both teams have been standout performers in La Liga this term, with Real certain to take second spot behind runaway champions Barcelona, while Atletico will finish in third place after a sterling campaign under Diego Simeone.

Much of their success has been down to the influence of star Colombian attacker Radamel Falcao, whose haul of 28 Primera Division goals accounted for almost half of the 62 Atletico scored.

It was Diego Costa who provided the attacking spark in Atletico s two-legged semi-final win over Sevilla, although two of the three goals he scored in the 4-3 aggregate win came from the penalty spot.

Simeone s team, E…

Neymar is very happy to stay at Barcelona amid growing speculation over his future, according to team-mate Sergi Roberto.

Brazil star Neymar is heavily linked with a shock move to Paris Saint-Germain, with the Ligue 1 giants reportedly ready to offer €222million for the 25-year-old.

Roberto talked up Neymar and said he believed the star forward was still happy at Barca, who are in the United States for the International Champions Cup.

All I know is that Neymar is here with us in the U.S. and we are really happy about that, the Spaniard told reporters.

We are so happy to have a player like Neymar at Barcelona. He has given us a lot through the last four years.

We want to have the best players in the world with us and Neymar is one of them. I s…

Serie A side Fiorentina have issued an official confirmation on their website confirming the acquisition of Victor Hugo Franchescoli de Souza from Sociedad Esportiva Palmeiras.

The 26-year-old Brazilian defender is scheduled to go through routine medical examinations later today after which he will put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Viola, with an option for a fifth year.

Fiorentina have splashed €8 million for the transfer of Victor Hugo who plays as a central defender.

Hugo began his professional career with Santo Andre. After only nine senior appearances for his boyhood club, Victor Hugo was snapped by Sport Club do Recife where he failed to make a single appearance during a year’s time.

Another year-long spell followed for Victor Hugo …

Ousmane Dembele

Signed from Borussia Dortmund as part of the initial splurge after Neymar s departure, Dembele s time at Barca has been curious. While few doubt his ability and potential, the French winger has missed a frustrating amount of games through injury at Camp Nou, while various stories in the media have suggested the 22-year-old isn t as professional as he should be. The latest transfer rumours claim Barca have offered €170m plus Dembele for Neymar – and they might not get a better bid, as the winger would be a like-for-like replacement. Similarly, if Neymar signs and Dembele stays, he could be the main victim of the Brazilian s arrival.

FC Barcelona player has been diagnosed with a strain to his left hamstring, and is set to miss the next five weeks with …