Market: Serbia win

Odds: 

Looking to make it two wins in as many games, Serbia will welcome a revitalized Romania side to Stadion Rajko Mitić on Monday night.

Starting with Mladen Krstajić s Serbia side, although Monday s hosts lost two of their three matches in Russia this summer, they do hold a very impressive record when playing on home turf. In competitive matches, The Eagles are now unbeaten in their last nine matches at Stadion Rajko Mitić, a run the stems back to a 2-1 loss to Portugal back in October 2015. One man that must be watched for the hosts is Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrović. Since making the move from St. James Park permanent over the summer, the 23-year-old now has four for the season and now sits joint top of the Premier League goalscor…

Southampton have announced that Maya Yoshida has signed a fresh three-year deal, which will keep him at St Mary s Stadium until 2020.

The Japan international defender, who put pen to paper on the new contract to celebrate his 29th birthday on Thursday, has made 138 appearances for the Saints since his arrival from Dutch side VVV in 2012.

Yoshida has played the full 90 minutes in Southampton s first two Premier League games of 2017-18 and could be set for a crucial role this season as Virgil van Dijk remains absent from the first-team picture.

Van Dijk, heavily linked with Liverpool earlier in the transfer window, is looking to force through a move away from the club, but no such thoughts have crossed the mind of Yoshida.

What a birthday present I got…

An emotional Julen Lopetegui dedicated Sevilla s Europa League final triumph over Inter to the club s late greats Jose Antonio Reyes and Antonio Puerta.

Sevilla edged a thrilling encounter in Cologne, as Los Nervionenses battled back from Diego Carlos third penalty concession in as many games – Romelu Lukaku converting this one.

A Luuk de Jong brace put Sevilla in front, but Diego Godin restored parity after Diego Carlos conceded a free-kick and then lost the Uruguayan.

But the Sevilla defender went from zero to hero 16 minutes from time, his overhead kick going in off Lukaku and Lopetegui s men held on to lift the trophy for a sixth time.

The last time they won it in 2016, Reyes was club captain. The former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Spain star died a li…

Verdict: Manchester United and under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

With both sides entering the international break with a loss to their records, Jose Mourinho will be desperate to close the gap on City at the top of the table. On Saturday evening Old Trafford will be playing host to a Newcastle side loitering around the middle of the table.

Manchester United

Before the international break, Jose Mourinho s side fell eight points behind their noisy neighbours at the top of the table. After losing 1-0 at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, United will be desperate to relieve some of the pressure and close the gap on the blue half of Manchester.

Although they might not be the same animal that started the season in such emphatic fashion. Pri…

Best Odds: 7/5

Bookmaker:

Looking to make it two in two when they return to the Etihad this weekend, Manchester City will play host to Leicester on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City

Starting with the hosts, watching his heavily-altered squad come past Bournemouth while on EFL Cup duties on Thursday night, Pep Guardiola was filled with praise after his side made a thumping return to Premier League action at Molineux. Holding onto their lead despite Wolves second-half charge earlier in the week, the Sky Blues landed an impressive 3-1 victory on their travels and will simply be looking to lay down another marker to Liverpool this weekend. Appearing to have put their Champions League heartbreak out in Portugal behind them, the one-time Barcelona boss has seen his s…

Antonio Conte believes changes must be made to Premier League fixtures to help English clubs progress further in the Champions League.

Chelsea face Qarabag in Group C on Wednesday before travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool in a key Premier League clash on Saturday.

No English clubs have reached the final of the Champions League since Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga giants Allianz Arena home in May 2012.

And Conte has called on sides in continental competitions to be given more help when it comes to scheduling their league matches around European trips.

For sure I have to make the best decision for these games, because we are playing every three days and it is normal to have rotation, Conte told a news conference on Tuesday. <…

Lionel Messi produced a masterclass with two goals and an assist as he made history in Argentina s 4-1 victory over Bolivia at the Copa America.

Messi became Argentina s all-time record appearances holder after surpassing former team-mate Javier Mascherano with his 148th international cap in Cuiaba on Monday.

On the field, Messi was in magical form as he scored twice to take his internationally tally to 75, while creating the opener in a devastating first-half display in Argentina s final Group A fixture.

Messi somehow scooped the ball to Alejandro Gomez, who finished on the volley in the sixth minute, before the six-time Ballon d Or winner stepped up to covert a 33rd-minute penalty and then beat Carlos Lampe with a superb lob nine minutes later.

 ¡Se …

Charlie Austin gave Ralph Hasenhuttl his first victory in charge of Southampton and ruined Arsenal s 22-game unbeaten run with an 85th-minute winner in a 3-2 triumph on Sunday.

Danny Ings and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both hit braces before Bernd Leno came and missed Shane Long s cross to allow substitute Austin to head the hosts to their first victory in 15 outings.

Much of the build-up centred on the role Laurent Koscielny, starting his first top-flight match since April, would play in stabilising a makeshift three-man defence, yet it was he who twice lost Ings for a pair of first-half headers.

Mkhitarayan replied with one of his own before the break and levelled for the second time with a deflected 53rd-minute shot, but the Gunners second-half fightback stopped …

Spain coach Luis Enrique sees plenty of room for growth in Barcelona star Pedri, suggesting he  can improve everything .

Pedri announced himself on the international stage at Euro 2020, where he made the most final-third passes (177), before achieving the same tournament-leading feat with the Under-23 squad at the Tokyo Olympics (83).

The midfielder also started in the 2-1 friendly win over Albania on Saturday, his 11th consecutive appearance under Luis Enrique without losing for Spain, only Jose Gaya (15) boasts a longer such streak.

Former La Roja midfielder Cesc Fabregas heaped praise on the 19-year-old, in an interview with Marca, while praising Barca head coach Xavi for trusting Pedri when others may favour a more combative  player.

Luis Enrique …

Lazio are working hard at the moment on re-signing Felipe Anderson from West Ham, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Brazilian winger joined the Hammers from Lazio back in 2018 for a reported fee of around £35 million. He was very prominent for the Premier League side during his first season in East London, starting 36 league games. However, he gradually lost his place in the starting XI over the course of 2019-20, and it s become quite obvious that manager David Moyes isn t counting on him anymore.

The 28-year-old spent last season at FC Porto on loan, but even there he sat out most matches on the bench or was left out of the squad completely. He is now due back at the London Stadium, but West Ham are apparently prepared to cut his contract 12 months short in order to …