Steven Gerrard described Philippe Coutinho as a serial winner and a special footballer amid rumours Aston Villa want to sign the Barcelona midfielder.
Coutinho is reportedly keen to secure a return to the Premier League this month after four years at Camp Nou in which he has struggled for consistent form and fitness.
Barca, meanwhile, are said to be eager to remove the Brazil international from their wage bill to free up funds to register new signing Ferran Torres and explore further options in the January window.
Gerrard was Liverpool captain during Coutinho s impressive spell at Anfield, in which the former Inter star was twice named the club s player of the season by both fans and team-mates.
There is speculation the Villa boss would like to reunite wi…
Market: Goal to be score in both halves
Odds: 1/2 @
Looking to book their spot in the semi-final of this season’s FA Cup, Chengdu Rongcheng will welcome Nantong to the Phoenix Hill Stadium on Tuesday lunchtime.
Starting with the hosts, with their sights firmly set on punching a lucrative AFC Champions League ticket this season, Chengdu are in the midst of a real purple patch. Last seen over the weekend picking up a 2-1 victory at home against Tianjin Jinmen, Seo Jung-won’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Signing off June with a thumping 4-0 romp against Cangzhou, the Reds have now won all of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Extending on their FA Cup adventure last month as they edged past Shanghai Changning thanks t…
Bournemouth have sacked Scott Parker as head coach after a run of three league defeats.
The Cherries began their first season back in the Premier League with a 2-0 opening day win against Aston Villa.
Comprehensive losses to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool followed, though, with the 9-0 scoreline at Anfield on Saturday the joint-heaviest defeat in the league s history.
Following that game, Parker said: There is no denying we are under-equipped at this level .
A statement on Bournemouth s website on Tuesday read: AFC Bournemouth can announce that the club has parted company with head coach Scott Parker.
Gary O Neil will take interim charge of the team, and will be assisted by Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick.
AFC Bournemouth can anno…