The Big Friday Premier League Quiz

There s a full deck of Premier League fixtures this weekend, bookended by two major clashes between the four teams that once dominated the competition.

League leaders Arsenal square off with Manchester United on Sunday.

First, Liverpool and Chelsea go head-to-head in a battle between two sides who are desperately in need of a return to their best form on Saturday.

In between, champions Manchester City face Wolves, high flyers Newcastle United make the trip to Crystal Palace and Everton meet West Ham in a basement battle.

Ahead of the latest slate of matches, test your football expertise with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz. The answers are at the bottom.

5 Manchester City have now avoided defeat in each of the last five Premier League matches…

I knew I would return to Barcelona one day – Alves

Dani Alves claims he knew in his heart and soul that he would return to Barcelona at some point in his career. 

The club announced the free signing of the 38-year-old on Friday following his departure from Sao Paulo, with the veteran right-back under contract for the rest of the campaign. 

Alves, who left Camp Nou five and a half years ago, will not be eligible to play until January but took to Instagram to declare his excitement at being back at the best club in the world.  

The Brazilian international posted: Almost five years of struggling like a madman to get to this point. I didn t know it would last this long, I didn t know it would be this hard, but I knew in my heart and inside my soul that this day would come. 

I m coming home from whe…

Saha: Conte must instil aggressiveness at fragile Tottenham

Antonio Conte needs to instil aggressiveness in his squad in order to transform fragile Tottenham into a force to be reckoned with, according to Louis Saha.

The Italian, who has won major honours with the likes of Inter, Juventus and Chelsea, admitted he was facing the biggest challenge of his career at Spurs.

He has inherited a side in decline, with last season s seventh-placed finish their lowest since 2008-09.

After the failed reign of Jose Mourinho and the ill-fated stint of Nuno Espirito Santo, it is Conte s job to revive Tottenham s fortunes, with a return of 10 points from his first four Premier League games hinting at a brighter future to come.

But a chastening loss to Slovenian minnows Mura in the Conference League – a competition in which Spur…

Pique felt like an ´idiot´ after defending ex-Barcelona president Bartomeu

Gerard Pique says he felt like an idiot for coming out in defence of former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu following the Barcagate scandal.

The Blaugrana stalwart was one of several players who were found to have been the targets of reported smear campaigns orchestrated by the ex-Camp Nou supremo during his time as president.

Bartomeu, whose tenure saw success in La Liga and the Champions League, left the club in financial difficulties when he resigned in October 2020.

Speaking to YouTube personality Jordi Wild, Pique launched a scathing critique of Bartomeu, accusing him of poor management skills and a lack of commitment to the club.

He s a person who doesn t know how to say no or deal with problems, the centre-back stated.  In recent tim…

Balotelli to watch Euro 2016 on TV – Conte

Italy coach Antonio Conte has dampened Mario Balotelli s hopes of playing in Euro 2016 by suggesting the AC Milan striker may have to watch the tournament on television.

Balotelli has not played for his country since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Italy crashed out in the group stages after losing 1-0 to Costa Rica and Uruguay.

But after Italy were drawn alongside Belgium, Ireland and Sweden for the tournament, Balotelli posted a message on his Instagram page saying he can t wait for Euro 2016 to begin.

He can t wait for what? To watch us on TV or to play in the Euros? Conte said.

It s up to him, just as all the others, to prove himself.

Balotelli, 25, has played just four times for Milan this season and has only scored one goal, with a gro…

June 27th: Tuesday’s Daily Double – 6/1 Special, Tips & Predictions

With the Champions League preliminary stages getting underway in midweek, we are treated to a stacked schedule from across the footballing globe.

So, for those of you that are looking to stick on a Tuesday flutter, we have found a pair of helpful tips that can offer a great return for your bet.

16:00 KuPS vs Mariehamn

While KuPS might have been forced to settle for a Veikkausliiga silver medal finish last season, Tuesday’s hosts are desperate to go one step further in 2023. Marking their return from the international break with a rugged 1-0 victory against HIFK last week, Jani Honkavaara s high-flying squad are certainly riding what has been a stellar wave of momentum.

Along with heading into the fortnight interval with a routine 2-0 win awa…

Berhalter sacked as USA head coach after early Copa America exit

Gregg Berhalter has been relieved of his duties as the USA head coach following their early Copa America exit on home soil.

The USA got off to a promising start in Group C, winning their opening match against Bolivia 2-0.

However, a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Uruguay meant they finished third, missing out on a spot in the knockout stages.

Those results raised doubts over Berhalter s future with the team, despite it being believed he would lead them out at the 2026 World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.

Gregg Berhalter has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately »

— U.S. Soccer Men s National Team (@USMNT)

He was the first American to coach the team having played for th…

Belgium 0-2 Morocco: Sabiri and Aboukhlal sink Red Devils for famous World Cup win

A superb second-half performance from Morocco secured a famous 2-0 World Cup victory against Belgium at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

Victory for Roberto Martinez s side would have seen the 2018 semi-finalists become the second side to book their spot in the knockout stage, alongside France, but the Red Devils fell short.

Having seen a first-half free-kick from Hakim Ziyech disallowed, the same tactic provided dividends in the second period as Abdelhamid Sabiri put Morocco on course for just a third win in their World Cup history.

The win was then secured in the final minutes of the game, Zakaria Aboukhlal smashing home from close range after Ziyech s fine work to leave Group F wide open with one round of games to go.

1 Abdelhamid Sabiri has scored Morocc…

Sarina Wiegman ‘grateful’ for Women’s World Cup growth 35 years after experiment

England manager Sarina Wiegman distinctly remembers the day she and her Netherlands team-mates checked into the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou, China to launch an experiment that would forever change women’s football.

It was 1988, Wiegman was 18, and while men had been participating in World Cups for 58 years, a women’s equivalent existed only as an idea – one FIFA decided first needed to be tested in the form of a proof-of-concept, 12-team tournament at a time when even the now-dominant Americans had played just 22 matches.

Thirty-five years later, Wiegman’s Lionesses are one of the favourites to win the ninth edition of a global championship that has expanded to 32 teams, boasts a $110million (£84.7m) prize pot, has already sold out the 80,000-plus seat Stadium…

´Disappointed´ Walcott wishes England well for Euro 2016

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott says he wishes England well at Euro 2016 despite his disappointment at missing out on a place in the squad.

The 27-year-old was left out of Roy Hodgson s 26-man provisional squad ahead of friendly matches with Turkey, Australia and Portugal.

Hodgson handed a surprise call-up to Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford and Newcastle United winger Andros Townsend, but there was still no room for Walcott, despite the blow of his Gunners team-mate Danny Welbeck being ruled out of the tournament in France with injury.

Walcott says he spoke with the England manager before the announcement on Monday and respects the decision to leave him out.

I am of course disappointed not to make the squad, but I have spoken with Roy and respect …