Kevin De Bruyne expressed his pride after Manchester City sealed a dramatic Premier League title win on the final day of the season, highlighting how his side had to be consistently excellent in the face of Liverpool s challenge.

City went into their home contest with Aston Villa knowing a win would confirm their fourth top-flight title in five seasons, though things looked desperate for Pep Guardiola s men when Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho gave Steven Gerrard s men a 2-0 lead.

But an Ilkay Gundogan brace, scored either side of Rodri s leveller, sparked jubilant scenes as City retained their crown despite Liverpool s 3-1 victory over Wolves, with De Bruyne providing the assist for the all-important winner.

The win marked the first time City had come from tw…

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne vowed the champions will keep fighting for the Premier League title despite the huge gap to leaders Liverpool even after crushing Arsenal.

The Belgium international scored two goals and provided an assist in City s clinical 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

City are 14 points adrift of table-topping Liverpool and four behind second-placed Leicester City, who they face next weekend.

But while manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged a third straight City championship is not realistic , De Bruyne was encouraged by the response to last week s Manchester derby defeat.

We keep fighting, De Bruyne told Sky Sports. I think every time you lose a game, the only reaction you can show is to win the next one. 

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William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes scored first-half goals to secure a 2-0 win for Arsenal over Lyon in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.

The defenders both punished Lyon from corners, while Bukayo Saka missed a glorious chance to make it a more emphatic win.

Mikel Arteta s side showed their intent ahead of the new Premier League season, taking an early lead as Declan Rice s corner cleared everyone at the near post, leaving Saliba with an easy header in the middle.

Lyon were caught out in the same way just before the half-hour mark as Rice sent a corner deep this time, and Gabriel flicked a header into the gap left by Lucas Perri.

Saka should have made it 3-0 in the second half after peeling off the back of the defence to reach Oleksandr Zinchenko s cross, b…

Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died when his helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium after Saturday s 1-1 draw against West Ham, will be forever associated with his club s finest hour and one of the most remarkable triumphs in sporting history.

Srivaddhanaprabha s decision to sanction Claudio Ranieri s appointment as manager was met with a lukewarm response after predecessor Nigel Pearson led the Foxes to an unexpected escape from Premier League relegation in 2014-15.

Another battle to retain top-flight status was widely expected but Ranieri s Leicester – inspired by the Srivaddhanaprabha-bankrolled recruits Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N Golo Kante and Kasper Schmeichel – started impressively and kept winning.

Famous victories�…

Ronaldinho says Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho will perfectly suit Barcelona . 

The 25-year-old Brazil international was heavily linked with a switch to Camp Nou in the off-season as Barca sought a replacement for Neymar.

The Catalan giants ultimately sealed a deal to sign Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund, but Coutinho could yet find himself the subject of interest from Ernesto Valverde s team in the future.

And compatriot Ronaldinho, who starred for Barca from 2003 to 2008, believes the former Inter attacking midfielder would be well-suited to the club.

I would be very happy to see such a talented player wear the shirt I wore for so many years, he told Sky Sports.

I believe the way he plays will perfectly suit Barcelona and would …

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid have a hugely talented squad but he as coach is letting them down.

Atletico were LaLiga champions as recently as the 2020-21 season, yet they are way off the pace in the title race this term.

Barcelona lead the way with 37 points, with Simeone s side way back on 24 points in fifth place.

But the coach thinks his squad are still capable of challenging, suggesting he is at fault for their difficult campaign.

We have a great squad – four players in the World Cup final, Simeone said on Wednesday ahead of facing Elche.

Maybe the one who is not giving everything is the coach. We have a great squad. I m the one I have to improve so they can raise their level in LaLiga.

A reason to smile: Griezmann

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It shouldn t be the case that a player who always wants to give his best and give 100 per cent for this team, when he makes his first mistake people whistle.

It s not correct. And when you are on a difficult run that is when you need extra support from outside not less. Sometimes we don t have it.

I spent a lot of years at Manchester United and it never happened to me. Not even once. Maybe England is a case apart – the mentality is different.

I m very happy being in Spain but obviously I also miss England because you can t just turn off the memories.

Ronaldo is contracted until 2021 but the Portugal captain plans to continue playing until he is at least 40.

He added: I said when I signed my latest contract that it would be my penultimate an…

It s hard not to love the Germany international and Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller.

By no means is this 28-year-old Weilheim in Oberbayern born player someone who can be profiled as a classic footballer. Standing 1.86 m tall with his lean and mean figure and that ever-present wicked smile on his face, Thomas Muller would hardly strike you as an ultimate athlete due to the lack of muscles or a clearly defined physical appearance.

But Muller is the classic example of that good old saying – appearance can be deceiving – as behind all of his raw physique lies a relentless spirit and unbound football talent which has graced the scene over the past decade.

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Thomas Muller made his professional debut back in 2008 when he played 35 league matches for Baye…

Chelsea completed an extraordinary spending spree by landing World Cup star Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, the biggest deal of transfer deadline day.

It was Premier League clubs that featured front and centre as big-name players found new homes on Tuesday, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City kept busy.

Deals struck on this day can be born of desperation; however, if the right player becomes available, those that jump at the opportunity to reinforce might be thankful they took that choice come May.

Here Stats Perform assesses five deals that went through and could prove hugely significant come the season s end.

Enzo Fernandez: Benfica to Chelsea, £106.8million

A World Cup wonder for Argentina, Fernandez s stock soared over four weeks…

Arsene Wenger has criticised the decision to disallow Alexandre Lacazette s goal as Arsenal fell to a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.

Lacazette thought he had scored an equaliser with 18 minutes to go in Saturday s Premier League encounter, emphatically finishing into the top corner after racing on to Olivier Giroud s flick.

But he was adjudged to be offside in an extremely close call, meaning Stoke debutant Jese Rodriguez s 47th-minute strike settled the match.

Wenger was unhappy with the decision after the match, insisting it was very easy to see Lacazette was in fact onside.

I think we scored a goal that is not offside, Wenger said to BT Sport.

It is a very easy decision. When the ball is kicked he is not offside, Lacazette.

It was a very …