Man Utd's Player Joins Wolves on Loan

The young left-back has been allowed to go to the Championship side on a season-long deal following the return to fitness of Luke Shaw

Manchester United’s Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

The 19-year-old broke into United’s first team last season under Louis van Gaal following an injury crisis that saw full-backs Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia all ruled out, making his debut in the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in November.

He went on to make 14 appearances after impressing the Dutch manager, but new boss Jose Mourinho made it known to the young left-back that he is not in his immediate plans following Shaw’s return from a broken leg.

As a result he has been snapped up by Championship side Wolves, who are now managed by legendary former Inter and Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga.

Wolves are unbeaten so far after four games of their league campaign this season, sitting two points off the top with eight points.

Borthwick-Jackson joins James Wilson and Adnan Januzaj in being sent out on loan by United after the attacking pair joined Derby and Sunderland respectively for the rest of the season.

Conte: I don't understand Costa criticism

 The Blues boss believes the Spain international is picked on unfairly and hopes he can channel his anger elsewhere for the good of the English game

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed he does not understand those who choose to criticise striker Diego Costa for his on-field behaviour.

The Spain international has been booked for dissent during both of the Blues's first two Premier League matches of the season, with many believing he should have seen red after further misdemeanors later in both games.

Conte has defended his player, but has called on the former Atletico Madrid forward to stay focused on the match once he steps out onto the field.

"I don't understand that other players or managers or press all say bad (things) about him," he told reporters.

"Diego must be focused on the match. Because for me, the most important thing is the match - it's important to pay attention, because he is an important player and he can score a lot of goals and I want him to put himself in the game and not to think of other situations.

"Because it's not good for him, for me, for Chelsea or the fans. I think for the English league, this is no good.

"Have I spoken to him about it? Yes, I try to speak to all my players – all together and individually and its important to have these relations. But when I speak to them, I keep it between ourselves."

Wenger 'hopes Mustafi deal will be done'

The Arsenal manager has admitted to frustration in identifying targets to strengthen his squad but says negotiations are still ongoing for the Valencia defender

Arsene Wenger is hopeful Arsenal will complete the signing of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the German in recent weeks but as yet have failed to agree a deal, contributing to discontent among supporters with regards to their lack of action in the transfer market.

Wenger insists negotiations are still ongoing but did admit to frustration in his search to identify suitable targets.

"Mustafi? We hope it will be done," the Frenchman told SFR Sport. "We are struggling to find the players we need.

"He is one of a number of players we are looking at. Negotiations are ongoing."

Bale & Asensio leave little room for James as Madrid pass tough test

The Welsh winger scored twice at Real Sociedad, with the 20-year-old Spaniard also on target in an impressive win as the Colombian barely featured again

Zinedine Zidane will be delighted. The Frenchman was without Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Pepe and Keylor Navas on Sunday, but saw his side emerge with a win at a venue that is traditionally one of the most difficult in La Liga. All thanks to Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio.

There had been question marks over Bale's fitness after he returned later than most due to his participation in Euro 2016, but the Welsh winger was on target with a fine header after just 73 seconds at Anoeta, got up and down the pitch all night and rounded off the scoring with a breakaway goal right at the end to ensure an impressive 3-0 victory in the team's Primera Division opener.

This is a fixture Madrid have struggled with in the past and two seasons ago, Los Blancos took a 2-0 lead at Anoeta, only to lose out 4-2 with Carlo Ancelotti in charge. But not this time. Just before the break, 20-year-old sensation Marco Asensio raced onto a ball from Raphael Varane and coolly chipped Geronimo Rulli to make it 2-0. It was another fine goal after his stunning strike in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla earlier in August.

Despite all of their absences, Madrid had few problems and there was still no place in the team for Isco or James Rodriguez. Both came on as substitutes late in the game, but the Colombian in particular looks as if he could end up leaving before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

Bale's rapid return to full fitness, along with the emergence of Asensio - who now has two goals in his two competitive appearances for the club - means the former Monaco playmaker could yet be on his way out.

In the build-up to the match, Zidane revealed that new players would only arrive if one of the current squad is sold in this window. And with serious overbooking in midfield, James is the prime candidate, the Frenchman admitting earlier in the week that his situuation is "complicated".

Asked again and again about the South American's future, the Frenchman has repeated himself. "James is here," he says. "I'm happy with him and he will be staying."

However, it is never entirely convincing. And while he may be happy to have the 25-year-old at the club, the Colombian is unlikely to be content at his bit-part role that saw him feature for only 13 minutes in San Sebastian - and that with Ronaldo, Benzema and Modric all out, Mateo Kovacic picked in the starting XI and Isco brought on before him.

Earlier in the summer, the player himself said he was keen to fight to make his "dream" move to Real Madrid a success, but his situation is yet to improve under Zidane after a difficult start following the Frenchman's arrival last season and a repeat this time around.

It has been a quiet window so far for Madrid, with only Alvaro Morata brought back from Juventus, Asensio staying after a loan spell at Espanyol last season and Fabio Coentrao returning following a year at Monaco.

With a transfer ban still hanging over the club pending an appeal, this had looked set to be a busy summer for the club. It has been just the opposite so far, although Zidane has insisted that until August 31, "anything can happen". And that includes the possible sale of James Rodriguez.

Juventus 2-1 Fiorentina: Super sub Higuain nets winner on debut

Last term's Serie A top scorer marked his first appearance in Bianconeri colours with a decisive contribution, giving the hosts a winning start to their title defence

Gonzalo Higuain came off the bench to score the winner on his Juventus debut, as the Italian champions battled to a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday.

The €90 million signing was left out of Massimiliano Allegri's starting XI alongside fellow arrival Miralem Pjanic as the Bianconeri opened their Serie A campaign.

Despite beginning without their big-name signings, Juventus seized the initiative late in the first half when Sami Khedira rose highest to nod home Giorgio Chiellini's cross.

Higuain was then introduced in the 66th minute, but his first appearance in Bianconeri colours did not begin as expected as Nikola Kalinic pulled Fiorentina level with a brilliant header - one of their first meaningful attempts on goal.

That only set up the stage for Higuain to make his decisive contribution, however, as the striker got on the end of a loose ball in the 75th minute to stab home to the joy of the home crowd.

With Higuain on the bench, Mario Mandzukic - who scored twice against Fiorentina last season - started up front and Dani Alves was the only off-season recruit in the hosts' line-up.

Juve enjoyed a typically authoritative start and they should have been ahead within four minutes when Ciprian Tatarusanu's rushed clearance fell kindly for Khedira, who wastefully lifted his effort onto the roof of the net.

Fiorentina were becoming increasingly suspect in defence and debutant Davide Astori was fortunate to survive a penalty appeal when a cross bounced against his left hand.

And it was little surprise when Juve made the breakthrough in the 37th minute.

Chiellini crossed brilliantly from the left and Khedira was clinical this time with a thumping header high past Tatarusanu.

Alex Sandro then squandered an opportunity to double the lead in the final minute of the half, blazing over after Mandzukic had superbly played him in.

Paulo Dybala stabbed a low effort straight at the goalkeeper shortly after the restart, but Juve's momentum slowed and Higuain was summoned from the bench.

The move did not pay immediate dividends, though, as Kalinic rose above Sandro from a Fiorentina corner to brilliantly nod low past Gianluigi Buffon.

However, Fiorentina's joy was short-lived. Khedira's initial effort was blocked, but Higuain was alert to pounce on the loose ball and poke home the winner from tight inside the six-yard box.

Mario Lemina was twice denied a third goal in the closing stages, but it mattered little for the Juve faithful who were left to celebrate their new hero.

Blunt Liverpool blow it at Burnley

The Reds dominated every area of the game, except the one which matters most - the scoreboard - as they were caught cold by Sean Dyche's well-drilled Clarets

Well before full-time, Jurgen Klopp’s face was as moody as the sombre sky that hung over Lancashire. With 81 per cent possession, 26 shots, 12 corners and 852 passes to Burnley’s 207, Liverpool were undone 2-0 on Saturday afternoon. 

From the riveting 4-3 victory over Arsenal last weekend, in which the Reds were unplayable for a 15-minute period after the second half, they depreciated to look like they had forgotten how to play against Sean Dyche’s side.

The discussion in the days preceding the encounter centered around the club’s problem position, with James Milner coming for the under-fire Alberto Moreno. Despite the alteration, it was as though Liverpool were left back on the bus in the opening spell at Turf Moor. 

The hosts were rapid, aggressive and positive from the first whistle, catching Klopp’s side cold. It worked with Sam Vokes putting them a goal to the good after just two minutes.

Nathaniel Clyne ceded possession and Andre Gray fed the Welshman, who turned superbly and stuck the ball in the top corner. The provider nearly turned scorer shortly afterwards too, but for a last-ditch intervention by Dejan Lovren.

Such a strong start from Burnley allowed them to gift Liverpool possession, stay compact and wait to profit on the counter. 

The Merseysiders planned to draw them out, but were not patient or surgical enough in their approach, leading to mistakes which Burnley were happy to exploit. 

One such error saw Steven Defour slice the the Reds open on the break before playing in Gray. The 25-year-old showed fine feet and composure to shift two markers and find the far corner. 

Jamie Carragher, sat on the broadcast table, was hounded by supporters after the celebration for the second as the ground transformed into a cauldron of noise.

The former Liverpool defender already seemed staggered by proceedings, before being taunted with shouts of ‘Jamie, Jamie, what’s the score?’

Between both goals - too easily gifted - Liverpool owned the ball, but struggled to use it effectively. The midfield, overloaded with numbers, lacked nous and inspiration.

Their inability to trouble the hosts in turn troubled them, leading to poor decision-making and no penetration.

“It’s not allowed that you suffer under your own ball possession, that makes no sense. It’s not that we didn’t want it – six or seven times Phil [Coutinho] alone was in the right position to shoot," explained Klopp.

“In England you use the word ‘clinical’ – in a lot of situations I saw we were clinical but even then we didn’t score. That’s how it is and we have to accept it.

“I will watch the game again and I am pretty sure I will not see a lot of surprises in this game, I saw everything. When we conceded the first goal, we had a lot of time to win the game.

“Even at half-time I felt there was still a possibility to do it. In the last moments, we were not where we should have been and that was a little bit of the problem, in the box, around the box.

“I saw crosses – really good crosses – when nobody was in the box. I saw shots when the whole box was full.

“Our timing and decision-making today was not really good. It might have been forced by the result and by the passion of the opponent, but it is how it is.”

Burnley were hardly ever uncomfortable in the clash, and were fully deserving of the victory having executed their gameplan to perfection. 

It was the absolute opposite for Liverpool, who knew what was required to get the better of the two banks of four, but had no answers for how to achieve it. 

“It was a difficult game for us. We lost the ball in the wrong moments, in open moments, counter-attack and counter-pressing," added Klopp. 

The Reds made mistakes in the worst possible situations, but the wake-up call perhaps comes at the perfect time. 

Falling short against a stacked defence has been a familiar theme for Liverpool, but Klopp has to make sure it becomes a thing of the past - and quick.