Aston Villa s French midfielder Robert Pires is hopeful of extending his stay at the Midlands club beyond this season.
Pires linked up with manager Gerard Houllier at Villa in November on an initial six-month deal as his compatriot looked to add experience to his relegation-threatened squad.
The 37-year-old s arrival has coincided with an upturn in form for the Villans, who now just sit a point and goal difference out of the top-half of the Premier League table, and Pires hopes he can continue to make an impact next season.
For me, every morning I need to practice my football, Pires said.
I hope to play games and I hope to play next season. Why not? I would like to stay at Villa for another season. I really love this club.
I love the players …
Leicester City heads to Manchester United on Sunday (9 a.m. ET, NBC Sports Network) on the brink of securing a historic Premier League title, and Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri hopes his players get an American movie ending.
Having narrowly escaped relegation from the top flight last season by winning seven of its final nine outings, Leicester s dramatic turnaround continued into 2015-16 and has seen it set the pace at the top of the table.
Tottenham s failure to beat West Brom on Monday means Leicester, which is seven points clear and nine matches unbeaten, requires just three points from their three remaining games in order to be crowned champions.
The first opportunity to secure a first-ever top-flight title comes when Ranieri s side travels to Old …
Captain Jordan Henderson hopes Liverpool have put a season of injury struggles and inconsistency behind them as they begin a potentially pivotal run of fixtures at Augsburg in the Europa League.
England midfielder Henderson, who has been restricted to 16 appearances this term due to a chronic heel problem, completed 90 minutes as Liverpool romped to a 6-0 Premier League win at lowly Aston Villa on Sunday.
The result left Liverpool eighth in the table nine points behind fourth-place Manchester City, who they face in the League Cup final on February 28 before City visit in Anfield in the league three days later.
The most realistic route to Champions League football for Jurgen Klopp and his players is going all the way in Europe s second-tier competition, and …
Jose Mourinho defended Manchester United s players following the Red Devils 3-1 loss at Liverpool, reiterating that he has the full backing of his squad.
Two goals from substitute Xherdan Shaqiri condemned United to defeat on Sunday, and Mourinho s side now sit 19 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Mourinho left several star players, including Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba, on the bench, with the latter not brought on despite United attempting to haul themselves back into the contest late on.
However, when asked whether he had the full support of the United players, a frustrated Mourinho claimed the question suggested that his squad were dishonest.
Are you calling the players dishonest? Mourinho told Sky Sports.
I believe they …
Alexis Sanchez has been passed fit for Chile s second Confederations Cup Group B game against Germany on Thursday.
An ankle problem meant the Arsenal star could only manage a second-half appearance in their 2-0 opening win over Cameroon but head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi says he has been given the all-clear by the medical staff.
Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo remains short of fitness following a calf issue, however, and will not return to the side.
Alexis is available, Pizzi told a news conference. He showed he could play without problems and he recovered after a couple of days. He trained and didn t have any pain.
The doctors and physios are the ones who decide whether the players can play or not and they ve said he can play.
Claud…