Stoke City VS Liverpool Preview

Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool will secure a place in next season’s Europa League group stage if they beat Stoke in what will be Steven Gerrard’s 710th and final appearance for the club. Stoke are guaranteed a top-half finish for the second season in a row and have already surpassed their highest Premier League points tally, but Mark Hughes will not want to end the season with a defeat.

Kick-off Sunday 3pm

Venue Britannia Stadium

Last season Stoke City 3 Liverpool 5

Referee A Taylor

This season G29, Y109, R5, 3.93 cards per game

Odds H 13-5 A 6-5 D 13-5

Stoke City

Subs from Butland, Sorensen, Wilson, Bardsley, Muniesa, Ireland, Palacios, Odemwingie, Adam, Sidwell, Teixeira, Crouch, Ward, Shenton

Doubtful Ireland (back), Moses (hamstring)

Injured Krkic (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form DWDLWD

Discipline Y79 R1

Leading scorer Diouf 9

Liverpool

Subs from Jones, Ward, Johnson, Lambert, Balotelli, Touré, Markovic, Manquillo, Borini, Sinclair, Brannagan, Lucas, Allen

Doubtful Balotelli (foot)

Injured José Enrique (knee), Sakho (hamstring, both Aug), Flanagan (knee), Sturridge (hip, both Oct)

Suspended None

Form WDLWDL

Discipline Y65 R3

Leading scorer Gerrard 8

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Barcelona prepare £50m bid for Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has emerged as a £50m target for Barcelona, according to reports.

Barcelona are currently under a transfer embargo which prevents them from signing in players in 2015, but they have still been linked with a number of high-profile names in recent months.

Xavi's departure in the summer will create space in the squad for a midfielder, and The Sun claims that the Spanish champions are ready to approach Arsenal with a tempting offer.

The report suggests that Barcelona scouts have already watched the 24-year-old 10 times this season, but it remains unclear whether FIFA will allow the club to enter the transfer market this summer.

Ramsey still has four years remaining on his current deal with Arsenal.

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Klopp dismisses Fenerbahce rumors

Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp has dismissed reports that he was considering an offer to join Fenerbahce this summer.

Klopp will leave Dortmund at the end of the season after seven years in charge, and he was reported to have travelled to Turkey earlier this week for negotiations with Fenerbahce.

However, Klopp, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, claims that the suggestion he was in Istanbul was nothing more than a rumour.

"You don't have to believe every dumbass who tweets something," he told reporters on Thursday. "I wasn't in Istanbul. Every bit of me is here."

Klopp's final Bundesliga game in charge will be against Werder Bremen on Saturday afternoon.

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Al Sadd: 'Xavi will lead us to glory'

Al Sadd technical director Mohamed Ghanem Al Ali believes that Barcelona midfielder Xavi will guide the Qatari club to glory.

The veteran midfielder, 35, will leave Catalunya after a trophy-laden 17 years at Camp Nou in the summer.

Real Madrid legend Raul also had a spell with the Doha-based club until 2012 until 2014, winning two trophies, and Al Ali hopes to see Xavi have a similar impact.

"Xavi is a great player and one of football's legends," he told the club's website. "He has great experience, which will have a huge effect on our players, especially the young ones.

"Signing Xavi came from the club's philosophy to sign experienced players who can help the young players a lot on and off the pitch.

"That is what happened when former Real Madrid player Raul came here. We hope Xavi can help us to win the AFC Champions league for the third time in the club's history."

Xavi has won La Liga on seven occasions along with three Champions League titles and two Copa del Reys.

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Rafael Benitez wants Real Madrid job

Rafael Benitez "would be truly happy" to take over at Real Madrid this summer, according to his agent Manuel Garcia Quilon.

The 55-year-old, who is out of contract at current club Napoli at the end of the season, has been strongly linked with replacing Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.

Quilon revealed that no talks have yet taken place, contrary to previous reports, although he confirmed that two-time La Liga winning manager Benitez would be open to moving back to Spain.

"Rafa was a Real Madrid player, he is from Madrid and was a coach of their B Team, so I doubt anyone would be unhappy with that history," he told Spanish TV channel Cuatro. "I am not inside his head but I think he would be truly happy to manage Real Madrid one day."

Benitez guided Valencia to the La Liga title in both 2001-02 and 2003-04, while also making a name for himself as an expert on the European stage.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti's uncertain future is expected to be resolved in the coming weeks, with the Italian on the brink of being shown the exit due to an underwhelming trophyless campaign.

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Arsenal close to completing double Cech and Schneiderlin signing

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is close to completing moves for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, according to a report.

The 33-year-old Czech has started just 14 games in all competitions for the Blues this season after Thibaut Courtois returned from his loan at Atletico Madrid to become number one under Jose Mourinho.

Meanwhile the 25-year-old Frenchman was linked with a move away from St Mary's last summer, but due to a flurry of departures, the coastal club refused to sanction a transfer.

According to The Secret Footballer, an insider within the game rumoured to be Dave Kitson, Cech's move to the Emirates is "pretty much done", while Schneiderlin will join in the summer transfer window.

I've been told that Morgan Schneiderlin will sign for Arsenal, but not until the summer transfer window. #AFC

— Secret Footballer (@TSF) January 7, 2015

Also, Petr Cech to Arsenal is pretty much done with the keeper desperate to leave Chelsea.

— Secret Footballer (@TSF) May 19, 2015

Arsenal appear set to finish the current Premier League season in third place.

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Tottenham join Everton in battle to sign Jonny Evans

Tottenham Hotspur will compete with Everton for the signature of Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, according to reports.

Injuries and suspensions, as well as competition from Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair, have limited Evans to just 17 appearances this season.

It has also been reported that Louis van Gaal is eager to add at least one more central defender to his squad this summer, which has resulted in speculation that the centre-back will be made available for transfer.

With Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz reportedly set to leave Everton in the summer, manager Roberto Martinez is said to be keen on the Red Devils veteran defender, but the Manchester Evening News claims that Spurs will attempt to bring him to White Hart Lane.

Evans has won three Premier League titles, two League Cups and one Club World Cup with United.

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Juventus join Lamela pursuit

Juventus have reportedly joined the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur attacker Erik Lamela ahead of the summer transfer window.

Lamela has struggled to deliver his best form on a consistent basis since joining Spurs from Roma for a club-record fee in the summer of 2013.

Atletico Madrid are believed to be interested in the Argentine, but the Daily Mail claims that Juventus are considering making an offer as they believe he could be a valuable source of creativity behind their strikers.

The 23-year-old has often been linked with a return to Italy due to his success with Roma, and both the Giallorossi and Fiorentina have previously been rumoured to be interested in his services.

Reports earlier this week suggested that Mauricio Pochettino was eager to keep Lamela at White Hart Lane.

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Klopp dismisses Fenerbahce rumors

Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp has dismissed reports that he was considering an offer to join Fenerbahce this summer.

Klopp will leave Dortmund at the end of the season after seven years in charge, and he was reported to have travelled to Turkey earlier this week for negotiations with Fenerbahce.

However, Klopp, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, claims that the suggestion he was in Istanbul was nothing more than a rumour.

"You don't have to believe every dumbass who tweets something," he told reporters on Thursday. "I wasn't in Istanbul. Every bit of me is here."

Klopp's final Bundesliga game in charge will be against Werder Bremen on Saturday afternoon.

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'sign Cech if De Gea leaves' - Scholes

The Red Devils legend believes that the Czech Republic international could have a similar impact to Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford if he replaces the 24-year-old

Manchester United should sign Chelse's Petr Cech if David De Gea leaves to join Real Madrid, according to Red Devils legend Paul Scholes.

The Spanish side have identified De Gea - who will soon enter the final year of his current contract with United and has so far declined to sign an extension - as the ideal replacement for Iker Casillas and have issued the 24-year-old an ultimatum to persuade him to join this year.

Cech, meanwhile, is ready to leave Stamford Bridge after being displaced as Chelsea No.1 by Thibaut Courtois this season and his agent, Viktor Kolar, on Tuesday revealed that his client would be open to joining United or Arsenal.

Scholes sees Cech as the outstanding available candidate to replace De Gea should he depart and believes the 33-year-old could have a similar impact at Old Trafford as Dutch goalkeeping great Edwin van der Sar.

"If De Gea does go, United should sign Petr Cech," Scholes wrote in his column for the Independent. 

"I remember the effect Edwin van der Sar had on the club when he arrived in 2005. United had struggled since Peter Schmeichel to find a really commanding goalkeeper. Fabien Barthez was the closest we got.

"Edwin came ready-made. He was a Champions League winner, he had four years’ Premier League experience with Fulham, and in the end our manager got six extremely successful years out of him.

"Edwin was almost 35 when he joined United. Cech has only just turned 33. He could potentially play another six years for United.

"There would be no concern about having to give him time to play his way into the position or the demands that the Premier League makes of a goalkeeper new to the country. United won’t want to lose De Gea but there is a solution in the offing."

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Liverpool to offload Lucas Leiva

Liverpool have reportedly made Lucas Leiva available for transfer as they plan for another busy summer in the transfer market.

The Brazilian midfielder was a target for Inter Milan in January, but Brendan Rodgers blocked his move to San Siro as the club did not have a replacement available in their unsuccessful bid for Champions League football.

However, Lucas could now be on his way out of Anfield as the club's officials make plans to bring in James Milner when his Manchester City contract expires next month, according to The Mirror.

Milner's versatility means that he could play out wide or in a central position, and Lucas is expected to be given the green light to move to Inter should Liverpool complete a deal for the England international.

Joe Allen has often been selected ahead of Lucas this season, while Emre Can remains an option in midfield after spending most of his debut season in defence.

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Ander Herrera: 'I can only get better'

Ander Herrera has told Manchester United fans that he is expecting to make further strides next season.

The Spaniard, a £30m summer signing from Athletic Bilbao, has netted eight goals during his maiden season at Old Trafford.

"It's been a tough season, a lot of change at the club and a lot of change in the squad, but I'm happy with my development," he told The Mirror.

"Of course I have to keep improving and keep going, but eight goals for a midfielder is a good stat.

"I'm an ambitious player so I want to keep improving. There are 25 players in the squad and I have to fight a lot if I want to play."

Herrera has started 21 games in all competitions this season.

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Giroud blasts "dull" Thierry Henry

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has hit back at Thierry Henry's "dull" criticism of him last month.

The club's record goalscorer Henry suggested that the 28-year-old was not "top quality" and doubted his ability to fire the Gunners to Premier League glory next term.

Giroud had been in fine form prior to his fellow Frenchman's comments but has failed to find the net in the four games since the damning assessment.

"I heard he was saying too many dull things. That was a bomb and it had its desired effect," he told L'Equipe.

"It was surprising to hear him take apart the team. I say 'team' because it wasn't just me, it was the spine. I think he's wrong.

"I didn't enjoy hearing it. Coming from an ex-France and Arsenal striker, it's a shame. It was a bit easy for him to say that after Chelsea game. We were doing well, unbeaten in 10, my stats were good. It hurt my pride."

Giroud has netted 18 goals from 32 games in all competitions.

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Ancelotti set for the sack at Madrid

Saturday's game will be the Italian coach's final one in charge of the Bernabeu club after a disappointing season, with the Napoli coach interested in replacing him

Real Madrid’s fixture against Getafe on Saturday will be Carlo Ancelotti’s last in charge of the team, as he is set to be sacked at the end of the season, with Napoli boss Rafael Benitez the favourite to replace him.

The future of the Italian coach, who has guided the Blancos to success in the Champions League, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup since taking over in summer 2013, has come under immense scrutiny in recent months.

Their Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Juventus followed by their failure to win La Liga and an early exit in the Copa del Rey has brought the board to the conclusion that a change is needed.

While the club have not confirmed to Ancelotti that he will be relieved of his duties come the conclusion of the campaign, he has been informed that they are searching for “another kind of coach".

The former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan boss is understood to appreciate that the club would feel justified to sack him after a campaign without a major title - other than the Club World Cup - and is quite happy with his time at the Bernabeu.

The 55-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Milan in recent weeks, but it is not an option he is seriously considering at present and it is believed he could go on a sabbatical until a top job opens up for him.

Expected to leave Napoli at the end of the campaign, Benitez is currently top of the list of candidates to take the Italian's role. The Spaniard has a fan in Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez and is a coach Florentino Perez has previously considered for the job.

Some figures at the capital club believe the hiring of Benitez is a done deal, but his representatives insisted there has been no contact from Madrid and he is not exploring his options until the Serie A season finishes on May 31. However, his agent Manuel Garcia-Quilon told Spanish TV channel Cuatro that the coach "will surely be interested in coaching Madrid".

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Liverpool reject Manchester United approach for Sterling

Liverpool have reportedly rejected an approach from Manchester United for Raheem Sterling as the race for his services heats up ahead of the transfer window.

It was reported earlier this week that Sterling had decided to inform the club he wanted to leave in the summer, and he was immediately linked with both Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, The Telegraph claims that United are also interested in the England international, but Liverpool were quick to knock back the approach from their fierce rivals.

Liverpool have made it clear that they are keen to keep Sterling beyond this summer, despite suggestions that he will not sign a new contract, but it is unclear whether they would be more welcoming to an offer from another club.

No player has moved directly between the two clubs since 1964.

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