Arsenal told to AVOID January transfer move for Real Madrid star: ‘He won’t fit’​

Leicester City have parted ways with manager Steve Cooper, the Premier League club confirmed in a statement on Sunday.

The 44-year-old took over at King Power Stadium in the summer and leaves the club in 16th place in the Premier League after 12 games. He also led Leicester to the Carabao Cup round of 16, where they were beaten by Manchester United.

Cooper’s last game in charge was Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea, who are managed by his predecessor, Enzo Maresca.

“Assistant manager Alan Tate and first team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also left the club,” the team said in a statement. “Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the club and with our best wishes for the future.”

The club said that first-team coach Ben Dawson and coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes will oversee training until they find a new manager.

Leicester began the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to record a win in their opening six league games.

Successive victories over Bournemouth and Southampton last month had eased the pressure somewhat before three defeats in their last four games led to Cooper’s downfall.

A stoppage-time penalty from Jordan Ayew in Saturday’s game at home to Chelsea gave them hope of snatching a draw, but another loss proved too much for the club.

Leicester’s next game is at Brentford on Saturday.

Cooper is the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season after Man United fired Erik ten Hag last month.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised his team for mounting a second-half comeback in a 3-2 win at Southampton when the Premier League leaders were in danger of losing to the bottom side before Mohamed Salah came to their rescue.

Liverpool were gifted the opener from a Southampton error but failed to capitalise in the first half before the home side took a shock 2-1 lead after the restart. Salah then grabbed a double that took Liverpool eight points clear at the top.

“In the second half I saw the intensity I was looking for in the first half. Southampton make it really difficult for many teams, including top clubs, and they made it difficult today, though we dominated the game completely,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“There was not enough urgency to arrive in the box [in the first half], we just kept the ball instead of attacking the box. Although we fell behind in the second half we showed more urgency and intensity.

“That led to numerous chances and eventually two goals. It is tough to create chances against a 4-5-1 low block but we know Southampton want to play out from the back so you have to be really aggressive, if not they have a really good game plan.”

Salah’s double took him to 10 league goals this season — two behind top scorer Erling Haaland — and the Egypt international has scored six goals in his last five league games.

His first goal took Southampton by surprise when all Salah did was take one touch outside the box to let the ball roll past the onrushing keeper and into the net before he scored the winner from the penalty spot.

“If you want to win you need to score goals and we know Mo can score,” Slot said.

“For me his first goal is the most important as we scored out of nowhere. Then after that it was just waiting for us to score another.”

Slot has now won 10 of his 12 Premier League games in charge of Liverpool in his debut season but he enters arguably his toughest week so far when they host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday followed by Manchester City next Sunday.

“They are two teams who have dominated football the last few years. So two big games and that’s why we needed to win today. That is what I am happy about,” Slot said.

Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé‘s performance after the Real Madrid forward scored from a new, left-sided role in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganés on Sunday.

Mbappé put Madrid ahead in the 43rd minute at Butarque, converting Vinícius Júnior‘s pass from close range, before Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham secured the three points in the second half.

It was Mbappé’s first Madrid goal in five games, having switched positions with Vinícius, starting on the left side of the attack.

“It was a good game from beginning to end,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. “The team was solid and focused. We changed the positions of the forwards a bit, with Mbappé on the outside, and he did well.

“Vinicius did well too, on the inside. We opened the scoring, and after that the team controlled the game well.”

Mbappé has now scored seven goals in 12 league appearances for Madrid but had faced criticism for his performances in recent weeks, going four matches without finding the net.

“I started in a different position than in recent games,” Mbappé said afterward. “But as I said the first day I arrived here, I can play in different positions. Today was different, and maybe in the next game it will be different again. I’m ready to help the team.

“It’s the story of my career. I can play on the right, on the left, as a front two, I don’t mind. What I want to do is play well, help the team and score goals.”

After the game, Ancelotti gave his reasons for the switch, adding the best part about the setup and the result was the growing partnership between his two superstars.

“I think [Mbappé] is more used to playing [on the left],” Ancelotti said. “Today that was best for the team, and for him too. On the outside it’s more tiring, and Vini had returned [from international duty] on Thursday.

“Mbappé was fresher than Vinicius. He did very well with the goal, after a fantastic assist from Vini. Little by little the two are getting better.”

With right-backs Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez both missing through injury, Ancelotti picked midfielder Valverde in the role, and suggested he could play there against Liverpool in the Champions League this week.

Madrid go into the game at Anfield on Wednesday in need of a win, after losing twice in four Champions League games so far.

“Valverde is a fantastic full-back,” Ancelotti said. “After Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, he’s the best in the world. The problem is choosing where he’s best for the team. But he’s incredibly versatile. We’ll see if Lucas and [Aurelien] Tchouameni recover for Wednesday, and then we’ll see.”