Cole Palmer has thrived since leaving hometown club Manchester City to join Premier League rivals Chelsea in search of regular first-team football.

Palmer made the move, in a deal worth up to £42.5million, in the summer after a treble-winning season with the Citizens.

Ahead of Palmer’s return to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the PA news agency looks at the impressive numbers he has posted since leaving City.

Chelsea v Man City: The statistics

After coming through the ranks at City, Palmer broke into the first-team squad during the 2021-22 campaign. Over three seasons, he made 41 appearances, scored six goals and added two assists in all competitions.

In his time at City, he played a total of 1,482 minutes but he has surpassed that with 2,178 minutes…

Cody Gakpo said the Netherlands performance against Romania represented the ideal answer to media criticism as they booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

Gakpo opened the scoring as the Oranje ran out 3-0 winners in Tuesday s last-16 tie, with Donyell Malen coming off the bench to add two more goals in the latter stages.

The Liverpool man has now scored six goals at the last two major tournaments, with Kylian Mbappe (nine goals) the only European to better that tally across the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

He is also one of just three players to net three or more goals in two separate tournaments for the Oranje, after Johnny Rep (1974 and 1978 World Cups) and Dennis Bergkamp (Euro 1992, 1994 and 1998 World Cups).

The Netherlands were fierce…

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker:

Two sides who are only separated by their goal difference, River Plate will welcome Sarmiento Junin to the Estadio Mas Monumental on Sunday night.

River Plate

Starting with the hosts, while River Plate might have got the 2024 campaign underway with a real statement of intent on May 11th as they stormed their way to a thumping 3-0 victory against Central Cordoba, Enzo Francescoli’s men have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Putting in another downbeat performance earlier in the week as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Godoy Cruz, the Argentinian giants have the feel of a squad seeking some crucial stability. Signing off June with a 1-0 loss away at Argentinos Juniors, the one-time Cagliari midfielder…

Best odds: 4/1

Bookmaker:

Dinamo Tbilisi will face Mornar Bar in a UEFA s Europa Conference League qualification match on July 18, 2024, at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia. In their first encounter, Mornar Bar secured a 2-1 victory at home, with goals from Darko Zoric and Veljko Trifunovic, while Dinamo Tbilisi s lone goal came from Vakhtang Salia​ (SofaScore)​​ (FOX Sports)​.

Dinamo Tbilisi

Dinamo Tbilisi had a competitive 2023/24 season in the Georgian Erovnuli Liga, finishing in a strong position that secured them a spot in European competition.

Known for their historic success domestically, they have claimed numerous league titles and cup victories. Their journey to the UEFA Conference League came through consistent perf…

Suspended former UEFA president Michel Platini has described his punishment as an
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enormous injustice but retains hope of having his ban lifted.

However, the former France international admitted it is unlikely his ban will be lifted before Euro 2016, set to be played in his homeland.

Platini was handed an eight-year ban, later reduced to six, from all football-related activity after the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee ruled a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million) authorised by Sepp Blatter to the former France captain constituted multiple infringements of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).

The ban means Platini is unable to attend the European Championship France will host starting in June.

The Euro 2016 is my child,…

Verdict: Chile win

Best odds:

Bookmaker: 

Drawing up the last adjustments before the start of the Copa America, Chile will take on Paraguay. The game will be played at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos and concludes the final preparations for the biggest national football tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.

Chile

While Chile s campaign to qualify for the World Cup 2026 isn t going according to plan, the host managed to reach the Copa America group stages. Chile s national team downfall was obvious as La Roja failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Despite claiming supreme success at the Continental level after winning their 2nd CONMEBOL Copa América in 2016 by defeating Argentina in the final following a dramatic penalty shootout,…

Xavi has called for Barcelona to “step up” in the Champions League and has targeted winning Group H ahead of the opening fixture against Antwerp on Tuesday.

Barcelona return to Europe’s elite competition after the LaLiga champions exited in the group stages last season.

And Xavi insisted his side need to perform if they want to progress from a pool including Antwerp, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Xavi: Mark van Bommel is doing a good job at . They’re a very dynamic side that is physically strong, especially on the wings. They are a blend of youth and experience. |

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

“It’s time to step things up in the Champions League,” Xavi said.

“We are starting at home, in front of our fans, and we are in…

Manchester City are keen on star goalkeeper Ederson to sign a new contract, according to . The Brazil international has two more years left on his deal after this season, and City, who won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup last season, want him to put pen to paper on a new contract and extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.

City are now ready to hold talks with Ederson and his agent over a new deal. The Citizens hope that they can convince the Brazilian to extend his stay at the club before the next season kicks off in August. City are aiming to win the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup yet again this campaign.

Ederson has been on the books of City since 2017 when he joined from Benfica. The 30-year-old has been superb f…

There were wins for Switzerland and Wales, while Russia snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw against England as Euro 2016 got into full swing across France.

But there was also plenty going on away from the field, from charm offensives to downright offensive. 

ALBANIANS BRING THE HOUSE DOWN

Albania s debut on a big international stage didn t quite go as they had hoped, but one thing s for sure they re here to celebrate.

Traffic was held up heading into Lens town centre as fans clambered out of windows to wave flags, or even stopped their cars completely so they could grab a flare or blow an air horn.

The carnival atmosphere continued into the city as dozens of fans, decked out in traditional dress and football tops, danced in front of music stations s…

Luton Town survived more than an hour with 10 men as they drew 0-0 with newly promoted Portsmouth to claim their first points of the campaign on Saturday.

Thomas Kaminski was given his marching orders in the 31st minute following two missed-timed challenges on Paddy Lane and Connor Ogilvie in quick succession.

But Pompey failed to make their man advantage count, with only six of their 15 attempts on target as well as having 66.5% possession.

Rob Edwards side did have their opportunities, however, missing four big chances, with the best of those falling to Elijah Adebayo, registering an xG of 0.51 from his three shots.

The points are shared by the seaside!

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown)

Meanwhile, at the Hawthorns, Leeds United remain…