Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle: What Were The Main Talking Points As City Punch Their FA Cup Semi-Final Ticket?

In a showdown that was largely one-way traffic on Saturday evening, Manchester City punched their FA Cup semi-final spot as they secured a 2-0 victory against Newcastle.

While both of Bernardo Silva’s deflected efforts might have been fortunate to have found a route past Martin Dubravka in the first-half, Pep Guardiola’s men dominated on either side of the interval.

Not really having to get out of third gear here and cruising their way to this season’s final four, the Sky Blues should have their sights set on completing another domestic romp this season.

Putting in another dominant display at the Etihad and tipped as a standout contender to get their hands on a eighth FA Cup crown in 2024, Guardiola’s men have also not suffered a single defeat across any…

Jarell Quansah keen to become ‘top centre-back’ after Liverpool breakthrough

“It’s not expected from being on loan at Bristol Rovers to going straight into the first team, and to do as well as I did. That’s where the surprise came from.”

Quansah made his debut in Liverpool’s late 2-1 win at Newcastle in August, coming on as a substitute for the injured Joel Matip after Virgil Van Dijk was sent off.

He also had a goal disallowed in the Reds’ 3-2 Europa League defeat in Toulouse last week, while Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all offered words of wisdom.

He said: “They just say enjoy it. It sounds so simple and cliche but it is easy for young centre-halves to not play their game, play safe and not do what they do at other levels just because it is a step up.

“Them saying that relaxes you…

Euro 2016 Social Round-Up: Last 16 sides prepare for the knockout rounds

After a frantic group stage, Euro 2016 paused for breath on Thursday, with no matches played.

However, that did not stop players and their teams from going online and keeping fans engaged with a variety of pictures, videos and statistics.

Some sides were resting, others were preparing for the next round, and a few were offering teasing comments ahead of those forthcoming fixtures.

Here, we take a look at some of the highlights seen on social media during the day:

One Direction s Niall Horan basked in the Republic of Ireland s progression.

Unbelievable scenes !! Congratulations to .. Very proud to be Irish , have goosebumps as a write this .. COYBIG

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial)

Germany s Sami Khedira made the most of his res…

Arsenal linked with Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025, according to . The report has claimed that Arsenal were keen on a deal for Sesko in the summer of 2024 and are considering a move for the striker at the end of the season.

Sesko is one of the best young strikers in Europe and has been superb in recent years. The Slovenia international striker has been on the books of Leipzig since 2023. The 21-year-old has given one assist in four Bundesliga matches and has scored one goal in one UEFA Champions League game so far this season. Sesko scored 14 goals and gave two assists in 17 Bundesliga starts and scored two starts in four UEFA Champions League starts for Leipzig last season.

Arsenal are fourth in the Premier League table at the moment…

Aguero: It was always the plan to leave City in 2019

Sergio Aguero says he could leave Manchester City for a return to boyhood club Independiente when his contract expires in 2019.

The Argentina international joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and became the club s all-time leading scorer when he netted his 178th goal against Napoli last week.

And Aguero has revealed he always had designs on turning out for his former club again, claiming a move back to Argentina may not be far away.

It came out that Milan and Real Madrid wanted me and I don t know where I read it but they said: They just spoiled Independiente s dream ,  he told reporters on international duty.

But the idea was always to go back to Independiente when my contract with City runs out in 2019.

I have an option to extend one m…

Ronaldo backs Mbappe to beat Haaland and Bellingham to Ballon d´Or

Five-time Ballon d Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has backed Kylian Mbappe to win the award this year, tipping Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal to provide his competition.

Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo, like his great rival Lionel Messi, was left off the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 edition of world football s most prestigious individual honour.

It is the first time since 2003 that neither man has featured among the nominees, having shared the prize among them exclusively from Ronaldo s first triumph in 2008 to his last in 2017.

With a first-time winner guaranteed, Ronaldo has provided his backing to Mbappe, who finished third in the voting last year, behind Messi and Haaland.

Mbappe scored 44 goals and provided 10 assists in all competitions th…

Loew expects Germany to peak at 2014 World Cup

Germany coach Joachim Loew said Wednesday that he expects his team, third at this summer s football World Cup, to peak at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

We have a hard core for the future. There are a lot of changes to make and this team should evolve to its maximum potential for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Loew told Sport Bild magazine.

After the withdrawal of Michael Ballack, Simon Rolfes and Heiko Westermann because of injuries before the South African tournament, Loew lined out with a young and inexperienced side which made a big impression.

Newcomers Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Thomas Muller, the top scorer and best young player of the tournament, blended with veterans such as Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and Per Me…

World Cup 2018: Brazil, Uruguay, England? Who wins Russia 2018?

Some of the usual heavyweights rub shoulders with surprise packages in the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, which get under when France take on Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday.

That mouth-watering clash is followed by another packed with prime talent as Brazil face a Belgium team on the other side of their great escape against Japan.

On Saturday, with their penalty shoot-out hoodoo slain for now, England meet Sweden in Samara before hosts Russia aim to extend their dream run against perennial dark horses Croatia.

Along with the eight teams, five of our reporters remain in Russia. Here s who they think will go all the way.

Harry West – Brazil

We re at the business end of the World Cup now and I haven t seen a stronger side than Brazil. …

SAfrica´s WC2010 readiness praised, challenges remain

South Africa s 2010 readiness got a thumbs up on Monday after a successful Confederations Cup, with organisers confident that hitches will be ironed out ahead of the continent s first World Cup.

Security passed with no major incident, a critical concern with crime levels in South Africa among the world s worst, while the football curtainraiser was also praised for unifying South Africans 15 years after democracy.

The rehearsal, as this tournament has become known, has been very satisfactory. We are happy with the level of commitment shown by the organising committee and the government, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter told journalists.

The world football body gave organisers a 7.5 out of ten for the Confeds Cup, saying it hoped the score will rise to 10 by next year for…

Euro 2020 final: Foden misses training ahead of England´s Italy showdown

Phil Foden sat out England s training session on the eve of the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

Manchester City midfielder Foden was absent due to a minor knock , with all other members of Gareth Southgate s 26-man squad present.

Southgate will address the media later on Saturday, when he is expected to give an update on Foden s condition.

The 21-year-old was named Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year in 2020-21 after scoring 16 goals and supplying 10 assists in all competitions as City won the Premier League and retained the EFL Cup.

He began Euro 2020 on the right-hand side of England s attack, hitting the post during the early stages of the opening 1-0 win over Croatia.

But Foden was substituted during the lacklus…