Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 are all but over after they slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, losing 4-2 to Slovenia in Ljubljana.

Although Isaac Price’s first international goal quickly cancelled out Andraz Sporar’s third-minute strike, Petar Stojanovic’s strike deflected off Jonny Evans to put the hosts back in front in a frantic start to the match, and Benjamin Sesko added a third before the break.

Evans got Northern Ireland back into it with a deflected strike in the 53rd minute, but only briefly as Sporar got his second moments later.

It’s all over. Defeat in Slovenia

— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland)

Defeat leaves Northern Ireland three places and seven points off second in Group H going into Sun…

Liverpool owner John Henry says Fenway Sports Group (FSG) s commitment to Liverpool remains stronger than ever as talks continue with potential investors.

FSG announced in November it is open to new investment, but Henry made clear last month the Premier League club is not fully up for sale.

That remains the case, with Henry confirming in a rare interview on Tuesday that FSG is seeking a third party to add to their investment in order to grow the club.

While we formalised a process that has identified potential investors for the club, we remain fully committed to the long-term success of the club, Henry told the Liverpool Echo.

That has been the case since day one in 2010. Our efforts every day have been and continue to be focused on the long-term healt…

Antonio Cassano slammed Juventus season under Massimiliano Allegri, insisting it would be suicide if his former coach remains in charge of the Bianconeri next term.

Juve are eight points adrift of Serie A s top four with nine matches remaining, though their situation could look very different should the appeal they lodged against their 15-point penalty for transfer fee irregularities earlier in the campaign be successful.

Nevertheless, the Bianconeri would still trail runaway leaders Napoli by 15 points, while they exited the Champions League at the group stage.

Juve could still finish the season with silverware as they are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and Europa League quarter-finals.

However Cassano, who played under Allegri at Milan during the 2011-…

Paulo Fonseca insists AC Milan s derby victory over rivals Inter is irrelevant unless the Rossoneri beat Lecce on Friday.

Milan claimed bragging rights in Derby della Madonnina on Sunday, with Matteo Gabbia s late effort sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory at San Siro.

The Rossoneri subsequently ended a run of six straight defeats against the Nerazzurri stretching back to September 2022, while moving Fonseca s side level on eight points with their rivals.

Three points adrift of leaders Torino, Milan can move top of Serie A with victory over Lecce, who have won just one of their opening five matches this season.

And with his side riding the crest of a wave after beating the reigning Scudetto winners, Fonseca highlighted the importance of ensuring his side do no…

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said it was mission accomplished after his side cruised into the European Conference League group stage with an 8-0 aggregate win against Hibernian.

Villa were 5-0 up from a resounding win in Edinburgh last week and completed formalities in the second leg as first-half goals from Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey put them out of sight.

Substitute Matty Cash sealed a 3-0 win on the night as Villa hosted European football for the first time since 2010 and they now await Friday’s group-stage draw in Monaco to learn who they will face.

Unai Emery: For me, it is very important to be in Europe, for the club as well, for the supporters.

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)

Four-time Europa League winner Emery said: “Yes of course (I…

Atalanta beat 10-man Fiorentina 4-1 in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday to send them into the final with a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Ademola Lookman and Mario Pasalic netted in stoppage time to settle a thrilling tie, and Gian Piero Gasperini s Atalanta, who are also into the Europa League semi-finals, will now face 14-time Coppa Italia winners Juventus on May 15.

Atalanta, who lost the first leg 1-0, were quick to level the tie when midfielder Teun Koopmeiners scored in the eighth minute. However, Fiorentina defender Lucas Martinez Quarta netted with a header following a free kick after the break.

Gianluca Scamacca then levelled the tie again in the 75th minute with a stunning scissor kick, before Lookman made it 3-1 on the night in stop…

Rebecca Welch, who became the first female referee in charge of a Championship game in 2010, will become the first female referee in charge of a Premier League game as well when she steps out onto the pitch at Craven Cottage as Fulham welcome Burnley next week.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is obviously pleased about this big step towards gender equality in sports.

I am really happy

Maurico Pochettino says the introduction of a female referee into the Premier League can only be viewed as a positive

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)

…

Michael O Neill believes his Northern Ireland side were not helped by referee Martin Atkinson during their cruel 1-0 defeat to Wales in Euro 2016.

Gareth McAuley’s 75th-minute own goal ensured that it was Chris Coleman s Wales that progressed into the quarter-finals on Saturday, with Northern Ireland s tournament coming to an end.

However, despite the defeat O Neill was delighted with the effort put in by his side.

It hurts, it s a very, very cruel way to lose the game. We didn t deserve to lose the game, he said in his post-match press conference.

We felt if we kept [Gareth] Bale and [Aaron] Ramsey quiet, Wales would struggle to get momentum. We could have created more with our first-half dominance but we were fairly comfortable.

When you…

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter insisted Qatar did not buy the opportunity to host the 2022 World Cup as he continues to appeal against his ban from football.

Blatter was banned for eight years alongside UEFA president Michel Platini over an alleged disloyal payment of £1.3million between the two men.

However, Blatter has been under copious amounts of pressure since the controversial decision to hand Qatar the 2022 World Cup.

The 79-year-old, though, claims the middle-east nation prevailed not because of corruption but because of political pressure.

You cannot buy a World Cup, it will go at the end where the higher political influences are, he told The Times in an interview.

I am sure there is justice in this world and that I have commi…

With the 2018 World Cup in Russia kicking off in less than a month, SoccerNews.com is commencing its own series of group predictions where you will be able to find previews of all the teams taking part in this summer’s showpiece tournament, latest team news and best betting odds and suggestions.

Following on from our first three previews, we ve arrived at Group D. There s an argument to be made that this is the real Group of Death throughout the entire tournament, which is hardly something that people would ve been expecting to say if this group was drawn out back in 2014.

Argentina would usually be pinpointed as the clear favourites to reach the knockout stages, but given how they fared in qualifying, that may not wind up being the case. On the other hand, you ve got…