Erling Haaland an inspiration for club and country – Man City winger Oscar Bobb

Oscar Bobb has described his Manchester City and Norway team-mate Erling Haaland as an inspiration.

Haaland got the only goal as City edged out Brentford 1-0 on Tuesday night in a match that saw emerging talent Bobb, 20, make his first Premier League start.

It was Haaland’s 17th goal of the season despite missing two months of the campaign with a foot injury, and took him to 53 in 55 league appearances since joining City in the summer of 2022. A goal against the Bees meant he has scored against all 21 Premier League opponents he has faced.

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

“What he’s achieved is crazy, right?” Bobb said. “He’s only three years older than me, same country, everything. Yes, he’s an inspiration.”

Asked if he w…

Wirtz will stay at Leverkusen amid transfer interest, Rolfes insists

Florian Wirtz will stay at Bayer Leverkusen next season despite interest from Europe s elite clubs, says Die Werkself s managing director Simon Rolfes.

Wirtz has been in irresistible form throughout Xabi Alonso s first full season at the BayArena, which could yet end with an unbeaten treble.

Leverkusen won 28 of their 34 games as they became the first team to go unbeaten through a Bundesliga campaign, and they face a pair of finals this week – against Atalanta in the Europa League and Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal.

Wirtz was named Bundesliga Player of the Year earlier this week, having scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists throughout the campaign. He has also been involved in eight goals (four goals, four assists) and created 28 chances from open play in th…

Henderson: Liverpool start even better than 2013-14

Jordan Henderson believes Liverpool have started this season even better than they did in the 2013-14 campaign, which saw them come so close to winning the Premier League.

Liverpool finished two points behind champions Manchester City that season when they had Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge starring as part of a lethal strike partnership.

The Reds were in contention to win the title until the final weeks of the season, but an infamous home defeat to Chelsea and a draw at Crystal Palace during their final three games dramatically ended their hopes.

Captain Henderson, though, feels Liverpool s team is stronger now under the management of Jurgen Klopp, as they sit level on points with leaders City after 10 matches.

I don t think we started that one as we…

A-League Men season kicks off with return of star power to herald another new dawn

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, for the A-League Men is back, this time celebrating its 20th season. It’s a time for hope, for spirits swelled by the promise and potential that comes with the blank slate of a new season. And that goes not just for the 13 sides taking part in this year’s competition but, as has invariably been the case of late, also the league itself, which has lurched from crisis to crisis in recent years to test the depths of even the most ardent supporter’s endurance.

‘The best left foot is back’: Juan Mata lands at Wanderers amid A-League Men fanfareRead more

It all begins on Friday, when Central Coast host Melbourne Victory in a rematch of the 2023-24 grand final. In that contest, the Mariners yet again…