Erik Lamela says Tottenham are focused on securing a top-four finish in the Premier League for the first time since 2011-12.

Spurs sit fourth on the table at the midway point of the campaign following a 2-1 win over Watford on Monday, Mauricio Pochettino s men having lost just twice in the league this term.

Some observers have suggested Spurs can claim a Champions League spot while others have even predicted a title challenge may be possible.

And in-form Lamela who opened the scoring at Vicarage Road feels a top-four finish should be treated as a necessity at White Hart Lane.

I am happy with my performance but I am more happy with the team. The team is playing well, he told reporters.

This is very important because at the end of the season we ne…

Jurgen Klopp was, predictably, none too pleased after Liverpool lost 1-0 at Southampton on Monday.

Not only did the Premier League champions see a 12-game unbeaten run end, but they also gifted Manchester United the chance to go top of the table if the Red Devils win their game in hand.

Liverpool only managed one shot on target against Ralph Hasenhuttl s Saints after conceding a Danny Ings goal in the second minute, when a free-kick eluded Trent Alexander-Arnold and gave the former Reds striker the chance to score a fine lob.

Klopp admitted they should have done better with that set-piece, but he was further irritated in the second half when two penalty appeals were turned down, first for a tangle between Sadio Mane and Kyle Walker-Peters and then for a Georginio…

Yann Karamoh has left Inter to join fellow Serie A side Parma on a season-long loan with an obligation for a purchase.

Karamoh joined Inter from Caen in 2017, though failed to establish himself at San Siro, scoring just one goal in 18 appearances across all competitions.

The forward spent last season on loan at Bordeaux, netting three times in 32 games, and Karamoh has now been deemed surplus to requirements by Inter coach Antonio Conte.

Parma have secured the 21-year-old on an initial one-year loan, but are obligated to buy Karamoh who has penned a deal until June 2023 at the end of the season for a reported €13million fee.

Benvenuto Yann !

— Parma Calcio 1913 (@1913parmacalcio)

Karamoh looks set to be followed out of the exit …

Andrey Arshavin has claimed he was bored of sitting on Arsenal s bench after completing a permanent return to Zenit St Petersburg.

The Russian playmaker, who remains the Londoners record signing, made just 11 appearances in all competitions last term, and was allowed to leave on a free transfer upon the expiry of the contract he signed after moving to the Premier League for £15 million in 2008.

After moving back to the Petrovsky Stadium on loan during the 2011-12 season, he has now completed a permanent move back to his first club, and is delighted to have escaped his spell under Arsene Wenger.

The fact is I didn’t want to stay in England, this was clear since January, Arshavin told Sport Express.

I don’t regret anything, but I had to leave.

It was a p…

Ralf Rangnick said he is focusing on his current squad rather than potential signings in the January transfer window after his Manchester United side beat Burnley 3-1 at Old Trafford in the final Premier League game of 2021.

Goals from Scott McTominay, a Ben Mee own goal and Cristiano Ronaldo were enough to seal victory on Thursday evening, despite an Aaron Lennon strike pulling one back for the visitors.

After the game, the United interim manager was asked whether he will consider making additions in January. 

My focus is on the current players. We have enough players in the squad, so there is no lack of number of players, Rangnick told Amazon Prime Sport.

Transfers in the winter only make sense if they really help you, if they increase the qualit…

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is ready to move on from the Luis Suarez transfer saga, claiming the matter has been resolved .

The Anfield boss saw his side get their Premier League campaign up and running on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Stoke City.

Striker Suarez was in attendance as a Daniel Sturridge goal gave the club their first opening-day win since 2008 despite being banned for the encounter as he serves the remainder of his 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

His appearance in front of the Anfield crowd came just a day after returning to training, with the 26-year-old having been exiled from the first-team squad following his public outbursts over his desire to leave the club.

And while he refused to be drawn on whether…

Tottenham are out to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Penalties from Roberto Soldado gave Andre Villas-Boas men victories over both Crystal Palace and Swansea in their opening two games of the Premier League campaign.

But their recent record at the Emirates Stadium is far from impressive, with Arsenal strolling to emphatic 5-2 wins in their last two home league outings against their neighbours.

Arsenal bounced back well after losing their first match of the new campaign at home to Aston Villa with a victory at Fulham, and will be buoyed by their UEFA Champions League play-off win over Fenerbahce.

Manager Arsene Wenger has attracted criticism from some sections of the Arsenal support due to th…

Jordi Alba hopes Barcelona can maintain their phenomenal form when the Liga champions travel to Sporting Gijon on Wednesday.

Luis Enrique s men hold a three-point advantage over Atletico Madrid at the summit and will double that if they win their game in hand at Sporting – a match originally scheduled amid Club World Cup commitments in Japan back in December.

Preparations for the game at El Molinon began with Barcelona in high spirits on the back of Sunday s stunning 6-1 demolition of Celta Vigo.

John Guidetti s penalty six minutes before half-time cancelled out Lionel Messi s opener, but Barca wowed Camp Nou with a virtuoso display in the second period.

Luis Suarez completed a 22-minute hat-trick when Messi audaciously touched a penalty kick into …

Newly promoted Villarreal have been showing interest in Galatasaray midfielder Albert Riera, .

The Yellow Submarine have made several signings since securing their return to the top flight, bringing in Pedro Rios, Bojan Jokic, Tomas Pina, Aleksandar Pantic and Giovani Dos Santos.

However, they aim to continue summer spending and are pondering a move for Galatasaray s Albert Riera.

The Turkish giants are ready to sell even though the player has two years left on his deal, but his €3 million yearly wage could prove to be a major issue.

Villarreal are hoping the 31-year-old will accept a pay cut in order to return to Spain, as they are not prepared to break their wage structure to sign the experienced midfielder.

Alberto Riera has represented Live…

Atalanta, AC Milan, and Lazio managed to make Italy proud in Europe, although Juventus, Roma, and Napoli did not.

La Dea, the Rossoneri, and the Biancocelesti all came out on top in their respective Europa League fixtures. Atalanta were making their return to Europe after nearly three decades thanks to an impressive performance under Gian Piero Gasperini s tenure that saw them finish in fourth spot, and despite not featuring in their own stadium, they had no problems taking care of business against Everton. Many had expected the English side to cruise to victory, especially as they had brought back the highly experienced Wayne Rooney, who s no stranger to featuring in European competition. After all, he s not the all-time top goalscorer for Manchester United and the English nat…