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Liverpool Beware! Declan Rice Fires Direct Title Warning

Declan Rice has reiterated that there is a long way to go in the Premier League title race and says Arsenal have to focus on themselves.

The Gunners sit six points behind Liverpool in the battle to reach the top-flight summit but the gap could extend to nine points – if the Reds beat Everton on Wednesday.

The North London club, who utilised their free weekend after their FA Cup third round exit to Manchester United with a warm weather training camp in Dubai, take on strugglers Leicester City at 12:30pm on Saturday (February 15) hoping that Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals dent their title hopes.

Last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final exit leaves Arsenal’s only other competition as the Champions League as they await their round of 16 opponents. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have been near perfect, suffering just four defeats in all competitions so far during the Dutchman’s tenure.

With Bukayo Saka on the comeback trail and a good run of form, Arsenal will be hopeful that they can keep pace with Liverpool until the final day of the season, with Rice also making reference to recent comments made my Mikel Arteta.

“There’s still really a long way to go, we know what we want to achieve and look, the manager said in the press conference the other week, ‘no matter what, we can only worry about ourselves'” said Rice.

“But at the end of the season, we will be there. We can only keep believing in what we believe in, what we’re working on and have full trust in the manager, our players, everyone around us and we’ll achieve great things.

“It’s down to us to get over the line and that’s the next steps, [we have] big things coming up but we need to stay positive and keep going.”

Liverpool, meanwhile, face a gruelling fixture schedule with five fixtures in 15 days including the rescheduled trip to Villa Park to face Aston Villa following the Reds progression into the Carabao Cup final, next month.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Wednesday’s meeting with their local rivals is the biggest game of the season, with not only bragging rights at stake. The 47-year-old has claimed that if the Reds pick up a win in the final derby at Goodison Park, it will boost their title aspirations and land a psychological blow to their North London rivals – who are still due to visit Anfield in May.

“This could be a really special season for Liverpool, they’ve been in this situation where four trophies are available twice in the last three or four years,” he said. “They come away with two Carabao Cups and an FA Cup. They didn’t win the big ones.

“The most important thing is to win the big trophies, the Premier League and Champions League, they’re in a great position in the final – they’ll go into that as favourites. This has the capabilities to be a great season, when you look next week in the Premier League, that’s the biggest game of the season.

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Rubiales tells court Hermoso consented to kiss

Luis Rubiales has told a court that Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso gave her consent before he kissed her after the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.

The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is on trial accused of sexual assault and attempting to coerce Ms Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss had been consensual.

Mr Rubiales told Spain’s National Court in Madrid he was “absolutely sure” the player gave permission for the kiss, adding: “In that moment it was something completely spontaneous.”

The incident happened during the medal ceremony after Spain’s World Cup victory in Australia, triggering protests and calls for Mr Rubiales’s resignation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.

Giving evidence, Mr Rubiales described the kiss as “an act of affection”.

“This was a tremendous moment for her,” he said. “We were thanking each other, she pressed me very hard around the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes.”

He added: “I took hold of her so as not to fall back.”

Mr Rubiales was questioned in court over whether he asked Ms Hermoso for a kiss or a “little kiss”.

“I can’t remember exactly,” he replied. “But I think it was a little kiss.”

He was also asked if he was aware of the protocol against sexual harassment and sexual violence, to which he replied he was aware of it.

Ms Hermoso has previously told the court she had never given permission to be kissed and the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

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Sami Trabelsi Returns as Tunisia’s Head Coach

The Tunisia Football Federation (TFF) has appointed Sami Trabelsi as the new head coach of the Carthage Eagles.

Trabelsi, who previously led the former African champions from 2011 to 2013, replaces Faouzi Benzarti, who was dismissed last October after less than five months in charge.

Kais Yaakoubi served as interim coach following Benzarti’s departure.

Hamadi Daou has been confirmed as one of the national team’s assistant coaches, with the TFF exploring the addition of Mohamed Sahli to the coaching crew.

Tunisia will compete against Nigeria, Uganda, and Tanzania in Group C at the AFCON 2025 finals.

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Cristiano Ronaldo agrees to extend Al-Nassr Contract Until June 2026

Ronaldo shown red card as Al-Nassr lose 2-0 to Al-Hilal

Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed to extend his contract with the Saudi Pro League side, just days after celebrating his 40th birthday.

Ronaldo, who initially signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in January 2023, was set to remain with the club until the end of the 2024/25 season.

However, an Al-Nassr official confirmed that the Portugal captain has agreed to extend his stay by another year, keeping him at the club until June 2026.

“The sides have agreed on the renewable extension of Ronaldo’s contract, but it has not been signed yet. An announcement will be made over the coming days,” the official told AFP.

The extension comes on the heels of Ronaldo’s impressive performance against Al Feiha, where he scored a goal to help Al-Nassr secure a 3-0 victory.

Ronaldo’s continued presence at Al-Nassr is expected to bolster the club’s competitive edge in the Saudi Pro League and inspire younger players with his legendary experience and professionalism.