Los Blancos’ Champions League fate hangs in the balance after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Video: ‘I will not resign from Real Madrid’ – Zidane after Shakhtar defeat
‘Edinson is ready’ – Why Cavani is set to start for Man Utd against PSG despite FA investigation
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says that the Uruguayan has ‘learned his lesson’ after posting a racially insensitive message on Instagram on Sunday
The spotlight was always going to be on Edinson Cavani in Manchester United‘s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
After all, the striker spent seven years at the Parc des Princes before parting company with the French champions at the end of last season.
However, after his Instagram activity on Sunday, the focus on Cavani has only intensified ahead of the visit of his former club.
The Uruguayan posted a message on the social media site that has led to an investigation from the Football Association due to the allegedly discriminatory nature of the language used.
Cavani has apologised for causing offence and will co-operate fully with the FA, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backing the organisation’s inquiry.
However, the United boss has no doubts over Cavani’s state of mind ahead of a game that the Red Devils only need a draw from to secure a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
“Edinson is ready to play,” Solskjaer stated in his pre-match press conference.
“Of course, it’s special for him to play against PSG, where he is the top scorer. From knowing him, I think that will give him energy and he will be ready.
“He is so professional, experienced and he will work on his mindset today and tomorrow to be ready for the game.
“The same goes for the FA (investigation). He’s learned a lesson. It might affect him but he’ll have to put it to one side when the game’s on and the best players can put problems or the other thoughts away for a while and perform when they have to.”
The post, which could land Cavani a ban, will clearly have no impact on Solskjaer’s team selection and the Norwegian will clearly be very tempted to start the striker, given the impressive nature of his performance off the bench at St Mary’s on Sunday.
Two goals and an assist was quite the impact from a player many were sceptical about United signing. Of course, a couple of good performances isn’t reason enough for anyone to start getting carried away but Cavani undeniably brings a focal point to the team’s attack that has been lacking since Romelu Lukaku was sold to Inter over 18 months ago.
Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have all proven their worth since the Belgian departed at the start of last season but there have been occasions when the team has lacked the killer instinct only a real number nine has in his locker.
Cavani’s predatory finishing was very much in evidence at Southampton but it was his movement during his first start against Istanbul Basaksehir that really underlined what he offers to United.
He didn’t get on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford last week but he caused the Turkish side’s defenders all sorts of problems with his running on and off the ball, which in turn created opportunities for his team-mates.
“I think it’s really important, especially for me,” Donny van de Beek said of playing with Cavani. “If you come in the box, it gives you some extra space because defenders always look extra for the striker, so it gives extra space for the midfielders.”
PSG won’t need to do much homework on Cavani. Thomas Tuchel and his players know the striker inside out. They’re well aware of the threat he poses to their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Martial is expected to be back in contention for a recall, having missed the win against Southampton through illness, but Cavani has shown in their last two fixtures why he is a better option down the middle.
Solskjaer favours a back three in these bigger fixtures and Cavani is ideally suited to partnering Rashford up front in a likely 3-4-1-2 formation because of his movement, experience and killer instinct.
One point will be enough to send United through to the knockout round while three would secure top spot with a game to spare, something many thought impossible when the group stage draw took place in September.
Cavani has only had a bit-part role to play so far in the Champions League but with two crucial games on the horizon and the knockout stages within touching distance, the 33-year-old still has the opportunity to make a massive impact in this season’s group stage.
How big of an impact could depend on Solskjaer, and how he opts to use the striker.
But it’s clear that the manager has no doubts about Cavani’s mindset after a couple of difficult days for the striker.
‘Arsenal are learning how to suffer’ – Bellerin taking positives from testing time
The Gunners continue to struggle for consistency, but they battled bravely to take a point at Leeds with 10 men and are showing fighting spirit
Hector Bellerin says Arsenal are “learning to suffer”, with that considered to be a positive as Mikel Arteta’s side seek to play their way through a testing run and establish much-needed consistency.
The Gunners remain something of a work in progress during the 2020-21 campaign.
Encouragement has been offered during Arteta’s tenure, but there are still a number of issues to be addressed.
Those at Emirates Stadium are in the process of working through that list, with the north London giants aware that fighting spirit will be required in order to pull them through.
There was plenty of that on display during a 0-0 draw at Leeds last time out, with the Gunners battling their way to a point with 10 men after Nicolas Pepe’s reckless sending off.
Bellerin believes that performance could act as a springboard for Arsenal, with the club taking important lessons from problems that are often of their own making.
“I am happy with the character the team has shown,” Bellerin told reporters when reflecting on a goalless stalemate at Elland Road.
“We have solidified our defence throughout this season and that’s something we have proved in many games.
“We are learning how to suffer and that is really important nowadays when we don’t have control of the ball and it becomes vital that we don’t concede.
“But I can’t say that I feel happy with the draw because even when we were down to 10 men on Sunday we still had chances to score and that’s what makes the difference in the long run.”
Bellerin is refusing to condemn Pepe for the moment of madness that saw Arsenal left a player light against Leeds, with Arteta and Co waiting for the dust to settle before a needless headbutt is addressed.
“Everyone has a hot head straight after the game and there is a lot of adrenaline flowing,” added the Gunners full-back.
“So these things probably need to wait for later in the week.
“It’s something that must stay in the dressing-room but I am sure we will manage it just fine.”
For now, Bellerin is looking for the Gunners to kick on into a week that will see them face Molde in the Europa League on Thursday and Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Spaniard said: “We are showing signs of improvement in every game but we need to start winning again.
“Against Leeds, everyone would say that the roughness we showed in the second-half is something that this team didn’t have in the past.
“So there are many good things happening for us, but at the end of the day you win by scoring goals and this is something we need to start building on.
“We need to put our chances to bed and once we do that the results will come and we can start getting more confident.”
‘Mourinho has brainwashed Tottenham players’ – former Chelsea boss can deliver Premier League title, says Sherwood
The former Spurs head coach sees no reason why his old club can’t lift English football’s top prize under their current manager
Jose Mourinho has “brainwashed” his Tottenham players, according to Tim Sherwood, who believes the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss can deliver Premier League title this season.
Tottenham have emerged as the surprise early pacesetters in the top flight this season, having picked up 20 points from a possible 27 so far.
Mourinho’s men lost their opening game 1-0 at home to Everton, but have since regrouped to establish themselves as a formidable force, with thrilling wins over Southampton and Manchester United providing evidence of their attacking power.
Spurs have also proven they are capable of grinding out results when not at their best, seeing off Brighton and West Brom in an unconvincing but effective fashion, and they currently boast the best defensive record in the entire division.
Another impressive clean sheet was recorded in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Saturday, with talk of Mourinho being on track to win his fourth Premier League title increasing with each passing game.
Sherwood has praised the Portuguese for raising the collective confidence levels within his current squad, and sees no reason why they can’t lift the trophy if they continue on their current trajectory.
“He’s found a way with the group of players he has,” the ex-Spurs midfielder and manager told talkSPORT.
“He’s bought very well, [Sergio] Reguilon has been a good signing at left-back, but [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg for me has been the best signing. He fits into the style and just protects the two centre-halves.
“Jose has brainwashed his players to believe they have to work to achieve something – they need to win trophies, this group of players.
“When you play as solid as they do, he’s almost brainwashed them into believing.
“And why wouldn’t you believe in him? He’s won 20 major trophies in his career and you’re winning football matches, so then you start believing that this guy is the real deal, he knows what he’s talking about, and why can’t we win the league?”
Sherwood, who won the Premier League crown with Blackburn in 1994-95, added: “When we’ve got players like Son and Kane, who are world class and could probably play in any team in the world, you’ve always got a chance.
“They haven’t played fantastically well this season, but who cares? On the back of my medal it doesn’t say: ‘Oh, and by the way we didn’t play well for 24 games’.
“You just go and pick it up at the end of the season, and that’s it!”
One goal in eight games: Inside Sancho’s post-Man Utd saga slump
The Borussia Dortmund winger has not yet hit the heights of his previous seasons following the Red Devils’ public pursuit of him over the summer
Forget what you may have heard – rumours of Jadon Sancho’s decline have been greatly exaggerated.
While it is true that Sancho has not been at his best this season, few players ever even reach the benchmarks he has set in his career so far.
A long summer of transfer drama and speculation saw Manchester United fail to make a big enough offer for the 20-year-old, who remains at Borussia Dortmund for at least another season.
So far, that season has not gone exactly as hoped for any of the parties involved, but to claim Sancho is struggling would be a huge overstatement.
Last week, Dortmund’s player director Sebastian Kehl called the slump a “temporary phenomenon”, blaming the prolonged transfer saga for the lower numbers this season.
“Jadon is perhaps lacking a little fluency right now,” Kehl told Kicker. “His natural game is only partially recognisable at the moment.
“But this is only a temporary phenomenon, one that will soon vanish into thin air. It is not a distraction brought on by United’s interest.
“We will have to go through this together. Jadon doesn’t care [about speculation]. We know that he is working on it.”
He has yet to score a Bundesliga goal this season and has just a solitary strike in his last eight club appearances.
He has, however, been involved in five goals in nine games in all competitions, and netted his third goal for England during the most recent international break.
The goal came at the right time for Sancho, but at the wrong time for ITV co-commentator and ex-Arsenal defender Lee Dixon, who asked “What is his end product?” moments before he curled the ball into the net against the Republic of Ireland.
“He needs to be educated on what’s required of him, the spotlight is on him. When you play for England, you’ve got to perform,” Dixon added.
Sancho only played 34 minutes across England’s subsequent Nations League fixtures, but showed his skill with a clever run and pass to earn an assist in the 4-0 win over Iceland.
For some critics, this is still not enough, with many pundits expecting miracles every time he has the ball.
Sancho is partly to blame for that due to his own success across the last two seasons, with the ex-Manchester City academy star having recorded 29 goals and 30 assists in 66 league games between August 2018 and the start of this campaign.
Those kinds of numbers earned rave reviews and put a €120 million (£107m/$142m) price tag on his head – the magic figure which United were unwilling to pay.
The same onlookers now read his stats for 2020-21 and believe that the Red Devils were right not to give in, but those numbers will probably return as his performances have largely been good.
This season was always likely to be a more difficult one for Sancho on the pitch.
Dortmund lost Achraf Hakimi to Inter in the off-season and replaced him with Thomas Meunier, who does not have the same attacking or defending prowess from right-back as his predecessor.
Sancho, therefore, now has more work to do on his side of the pitch and is clearly attempting to make up for Hakimi’s absence, with his average of almost seven dribbles per 90 minutes comfortably the most of any player in Germany‘s top flight.
His dribbling has become more successful too, with a success rate of 62 per cent, a new personal high, while he is on target to match his chances created numbers from previous seasons.
All that is missing at the moment are goals and assists, leading Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre to comment that the transfer talk was to blame.
“Every player has slow periods,” Favre told reporters before Sancho scored against Zenit in the Champions League in late October. “There was a lot of talk about Jadon in the summer, something like that can also have an influence.
“But no player is consistently in top form for a year, that’s impossible. You have to accept that.”
Sancho has put the transfer talk behind him and is now focused on “bouncing back”, with the spotlight probably lessened away from the England camp and international football.
“I feel like every player has a little dip in their career, and I feel I’m going through that at the moment,” Sancho told ITV after scoring against Ireland.
“It is just how I’m bouncing back and I am just happy to have managers who have faith in and keep sight of me.
“I expect a lot from myself personally. When I play I try to assist and score, and help the team. For a couple of games I haven’t been assisting or scoring but I knew I had the chance to do that.”
Sancho has demonstrated more than enough to show that this slump is only temporary and that the goals and assists will return for club and country.
He is still dominating opponents with his dribbles and creating chances for his team-mates. The goals will come.
Desperate Tuchel has eight days to save his PSG job
Only three matches into their Champions League campaign, the Parisians are walking a thin line and the slightest slip could see their coach jettisoned
Almost three months to the day since Paris Saint-Germain played their first Champions League final, Thomas Tuchel, the man who led them to that momentous occasion, stands on trial.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach has eight days to prove his worth to the club’s board. Quite simply, that means picking up a minimum of four points in clashes against RB Leipzig and Manchester United.
Anything short of that tally will likely see PSG consigned to the Europa League after Christmas, by which time it would be a miracle if Tuchel was still in charge.
Having hit the club’s European high point in August, this would make a dramatic low; the first time in the QSI era that last-16 qualification would not be attained.
The Parisians lead Ligue 1 on 24 points, but a log jam of teams hover in close proximity. If Marseille win their two games in hand, they can draw level with the Parc des Princes club, who have lost more domestic fixtures this season than Lille, Lyon and Lens to name a few.
On Friday, they led 2-0 in Monaco but crumbled embarrassingly in the second half to lose 3-2. Their inability to react to the game slipping away from them echoed the manner in which they lost control in Leipzig in the Champions League at the start of the month and was arguably even more worrying than the outcome of the game.
But it is not their domestic form, necessarily, that is causing consternation. On the continent, in a group that was considered to be relatively clement, PSG are ailing.
They have produced three lacklustre performances that have yielded three points. Defeats against Manchester United and Leipzig have put them on the precipice.
It is true that injuries and illness have contrived to test them. It is also true that the squad that has been left to Tuchel has gaping holes which were not evident a year ago. But it is equally true that they have underperformed to a grave level.
Tuesday’s match in the French capital, then, promises to be a nervy affair.
The levels of concern that PSG are suffering ahead of the clash have been made evident by the coach’s very public stance on Neymar’s lack of fitness. It is clear the Brazilian is not primed for such an encounter, but such is the desperation of the hour, he is required.
“We need him. It’s absolutely necessary that he plays,” he told the press. “He has the confidence, the quality and the experience. He is a key player for his.
“He’s not in the best physical state, but he will start tomorrow. He can physically and mentally handle this kind of match.
“I hope that it’s not too much for him and that we will help him. We must work for him. He is not alone.”
Never the most industrious of characters in a defensive sense, PSG are ready and willing to go shorthanded at the back to allow the 28-year-old the luxury of focusing on his offensive game.
That Neymar is “necessary” for PSG does not only reflect on his individual quality, though. It shines a light on both PSG’s failed summer transfer window and the one-dimensional nature of their side, which leans on both the Brazilian and superstar sidekick Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Indeed, the club’s Champions League struggles can be traced back directly to this pair, who have not found the net on a single occasion in the competition this season.
Never the most industrious of characters in a defensive sense, PSG are ready and willing to go shorthanded at the back to allow the 28-year-old the luxury of focusing on his offensive game.
That Neymar is “necessary” for PSG does not only reflect on his individual quality, though. It shines a light on both PSG’s failed summer transfer window and the one-dimensional nature of their side, which leans on both the Brazilian and superstar sidekick Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Indeed, the club’s Champions League struggles can be traced back directly to this pair, who have not found the net on a single occasion in the competition this season.
“If Kylian and Ney don’t score, it has a big impact on us because they are decisive players,” the coach admitted. “We need goals from them and great performances.”
Unfortunately for PSG, neither is at full capacity ahead of the clash. Furthermore, there are still worries over midfielders Marco Verratti and Ander Herrera, as well as forward Mauro Icardi, who has barely played this year.
Throw in injuries for Juan Bernat and Thilo Kehrer in defence, and suspensions for Presnel Kimpembe and Idrissa Gueye, and this is a full-blown selection crisis.
During the Final 8 in Lisbon, PSG were able to rally around as a team to overcome such difficulties.
On Tuesday, the focus will revert to the superstar pairing. Tuchel and PSG are staking their reputation on them.
“You don’t get to a Champions League final by clicking your fingers,” Marquinhos said on the eve of this clash.
Equally, though, you don’t get to the showpiece with performances like PSG have produced so far. After the wretched display in Germany at the start of the month, the coach said he did not fear for his job.
“If we win at the Parc, the situation is totally the opposite,” he noted.
With an uneasy relationship with sporting director Leonardo, anything but victory could be the beginning of the end.
Indeed, the club’s Champions League struggles can be traced back directly to this pair, who have not found the net on a single occasion in the competition this season.
Lionel Messi: Manchester City will not try to sign Barcelona forward, says Semra Hunter
Man City were understood to be the frontrunners to sign Lionel Messi last summer as he demanded to leave Barcelona during a bitter contract dispute, which culminated with the 33-year-old reluctantly staying put at the Nou Camp; His wages and age are said to be a concern for City
Manchester City have ended their pursuit of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to Spanish football expert Semra Hunter.
City were understood to be the frontrunners to sign Messi last summer as he demanded to leave Barcelona during a bitter contract dispute, which culminated with the 33-year-old reluctantly staying put at the Nou Camp.
Messi is out of contract at the end of the season, making him free to negotiate with other clubs from January and appearing to make a reunion with former manager Pep Guardiola all the more likely.
However, the Premier League club are no longer keen to sign the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, says Hunter, with his age and €100m-a-year wages (£89m) thought to be a deal breaker for City.
“I have it on good authority from someone close to the situation that Manchester City are not going to bid for Lionel Messi,” Hunter told Sky Sports News. “Based on the information I have, as of today, that door is closed.
“They have their reasons for this. They have two reasons for this: age and finances. Talking about age, he is heading into the twilight years of his career and you’ll be bringing on board a Messi that is different to what we’ve seen for the last 17 years with Barcelona. Even he himself has said that he is getting closer to the dreaded r-word of retirement more so than anyone cares to admit.
“That goes hand-in-hand with finances because even though he would be able to join for free, his wages are astronomically high – he is earning about 100m euros-a-year. That would be a huge financial burden for any club to take on, especially given the fact that we are in the middle of a global pandemic.
“Economically, everyone has taken a hit and clubs are not immune from this either. We’ve seen in the transfer window over the past summer that clubs are changing their strategies. Some of them, like Real Madrid, didn’t even buy a single player, most of them are trying to sell, some of them are trying to bide their time and wait so they can make bigger transfers some time down the road. And 100m euros is a huge stress from a wage-bill point of view.
“Either you have to offload some of the highest earners or you have to sell off players or make other tweaks in other parts of the club depending on whatever formula a club would want to use to bring Messi on board.
“Perhaps, clubs would rather invest that money into bringing younger players in or bringing in reinforcements in positions where they actually need those reinforcements.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he wants to see Lionel Messi finish his career at Barcelona because of his own strong bond with the Spanish club.
“Leo Messi is a player for Barcelona and if you’re asking me for my opinion, I am a person who has a huge gratitude to Barcelona for what they did for me as a player, they gave me absolutely everything, from the start, from my time in the academy,” he said.
“So I want him to finish his career there. That is what I want. As a Barcelona fan, I would like for Leo to finish there.
“But this year he finishes his contract and after that, we don’t know what will happen and what is in his mind.”
Sergio Aguero: Pep Guardiola to be patient with Manchester City striker’s return from injury
Man City have struggled for goals in Sergio Aguero’s absence – managing no more than one in a league game since September’s 5-2 defeat to Leicester – and Pep Guardiola knows it: “I’m not going to say that we don’t need Sergio, we need him. I want Sergio fit”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his side need Sergio Aguero to return to full fitness, but is ready to be patient over the striker’s comeback from injury in order to avoid further setbacks.
Aguero, who was out for five months after undergoing knee surgery on an injury sustained in the early stages of last season’s restart, made only three appearances this campaign before picking up a hamstring injury.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham made it one win in three matches for City, who have failed to score more than once in a single Premier League match since September’s 5-2 defeat by Leicester.
Guardiola knows a fit and firing Aguero will be crucial to reviving City’s domestic campaign, but warns he will have to be cautious over how he uses the 32-year-old once he recovers.
“I’m not going to say that we don’t need Sergio, we need him,” said Guardiola after the reverse at Spurs.
“But Sergio, who is 32, was out for five months with a dangerous and difficult injury. He came back and played 50 or 55 minutes and he is injured again.
“We want him and I want Sergio fit because I’m not just discovering now how important he is for us.
“But we have to be careful [to make sure he does] not come back and get injured again. You have to see the right moment to put him in again and hopefully it can be soon and he can maintain the regularity to play games.”
Tottenham made a big title statement as a vintage Jose Mourinho operation saw them beat Manchester City 2-0.
Spurs had just 33 per cent possession and four shots to City’s 22, but once again came away with victory against Pep Guardiola’s City in a clinical smash-and-grab show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
During a lively opening, Spurs took the lead as Heung-Min Son tucked under Ederson from the edge of the box after Tanguy Ndombele’s chipped pass caught out a high City line (5). It was Spurs’ only shot on goal in the first 59 minutes as Mourinho’s side soaked up City pressure.
Despite some City half-chances either side of the break, Mourinho’s approach continued to work as they snatched a second, man-of-the-match Harry Kane turning brilliantly on halfway and feeding Giovani Lo Celso to finish under Ederson again just 35 seconds after coming on (65).
City were ragged thereon as Spurs closed out victory, and the result means Mourinho, celebrating one year at Spurs, sees his side sit atop the Premier League for 24 hours at least. City’s poor start continues, sitting 10th with just 12 points from eight games.
‘Pepe has let everybody down’ – Arsenal winger ‘needs better advice around him’, says Wright
The Gunners legend has criticized the Ivorian for being “unprofessional” after he was sent off against Leeds United on Sunday
Nicolas Pepe has “let everybody down”, according to Ian Wright, who says the Arsenal winger “needs better advice around him”.
Arsenal survived an onslaught to escape Elland Road with a valuable point after being outplayed by Leeds United on Sunday.
The hosts had to settle for a 0-0 draw despite being aided by a numerical advantage in the final forty minutes, with the Gunners reduced to ten men following a moment of madness from Pepe.
The Ivory Coast international was shown a straight red card for headbutting Ezgyjan Alioski, having been handed a rare start ahead of Alexandre Lacazette.
Mikel Arteta condemned Pepe’s actions post-match, telling reporters: “It is unacceptable. I’ve spoken to him; it is unacceptable.”
Wright has also singled the 25-year-old out for criticism, with it his belief that a man who cost Arsenal a club record fee of £72 million ($96m) is still showing no signs of living up to his price tag.
“I’m not saying that it’s a proper full-on headbutt but you can’t do that to people in this day and age,” the Gunners legend told Premier League Productions. “You can’t get into people’s face like that. Alioski has gone down like he’s really got a proper headbutt but at the same time that’s just totally unprofessional and just poor from him.
“From somebody that has been complaining about not getting enough game time, somebody that has now got his chance and he’s let everybody down.
“He has let everybody down and I’m very disappointed in him simply because I don’t know who his team is around him but he’s come to the club, we’ve spent a lot of money on him.
“He’s someone that we have a lot of faith in and he seems to me that he’s not getting better, he’s actually getting more in himself and more frustrated, where you want to see him improving. He needs better advice around him.” Arsenal have slipped to 11th in the Premier League standings after their latest setback, and must now turn their attention to a Europa League meeting with Molde on Thursday before preparations begin for a crucial showdown with Wolves at Emirates Stadium on November 29.
What crisis?! Injury-hit Liverpool send huge title-race statement
The Reds were without a host of star names but still dominated Leicester City at Anfield to secure a 3-0 victory over the Foxes
Crisis, what crisis?
If this is Liverpool when they are stretched, then the rest of the Premier League should be afraid.
Jurgen Klopp’s men, it seems, are nowhere near ready to surrender their position as English football’s top dogs.
The Reds may have an injury list longer than any in recent memory, but they shrugged that off in impressive fashion, beating Leicester City 3-0 at Anfield to move level on points with Tottenham at the top of the table.
It means they set a new club record in the process. They are now 64 games unbeaten in the league on home soil, a run which, remarkably, stretches back to April 2017 – a world of fans in stadiums, of Sam Allardyce and Christian Benteke celebrating, a world where the idea of a Liverpool title challenge was still some way off.
A different world.
They are thinking about the title now, that is for sure. This was a win which will send a message to the challengers.
If you are coming for the crown, you best be ready for the fight of your life.
This, remember, was a side without three of its first-choice back four, with its captain sidelined, its marquee summer signing missing and its top scorer isolating after testing positive for coronavirus. No Virgil van Dijk, no Joe Gomez, no Trent Alexander-Arnold, no Jordan Henderson, no Thiago Alcantara, no Mohamed Salah.
And they were facing a team that many had talked of as contenders, a team which had already beaten Manchester City and Arsenal on the road, which had wiped the floor with Leeds United and which had started the weekend on top of the Premier League.
Leicester, though, barely laid a glove on the champions. Beaten twice by the Reds last season, Brendan Rodgers’ men were put in their place once more here. “The best team won,” admitted the Foxes boss afterwards, making an early claim for understatement of the season.
The bulk of the damage was done in the first half, which Liverpool dominated from the word go and were rewarded for through a Jonny Evans own goal, and a superbly-crafted second courtesy of Diogo Jota, who headed home Andy Robertson’s delicious delivery at the end of a flowing team move.
Jota, bright, slick and dangerous, continues to impress. The Portugal international has now scored in all four of his home league appearances for the club, the first player in Reds history to manage such a feat. As several pointed out, he has scored more home goals this season than Manchester United.
He was the Man of the Match here, but he had plenty of competition. Klopp had asked for players to step up in the absence of so many stars. His wish was granted, and then some.
Jota led the way, but how pleasing it will have been for Klopp to see Curtis Jones, for example, performing so admirably in midfield. This was only the 19-year-old’s third Premier League start, but he looked like he had been there all his life.
Confident, robust and tactically perfect, he certainly outshone another England hopeful, James Maddison, on the opposition.
Jones, for sure, is the future, but he was matched in his excellence by Liverpool’s elder statesman. James Milner turns 35 in January, but you would never know it watching this.
He started at right-back and finished in midfield, his corners creating two of the Reds’ three goals; his experience, nous and quality setting the tone for this patched-up XI. What a player he has been, and continues to be, for Klopp.
Of course, this being Liverpool there was still another injury to contend with. Naby Keita had been excellent on his return to the side, but his evening was to be cut short by what looked like a hamstring issue early in the second half. At least he will have plenty of company in the treatment room…
Liverpool, though, overcame that blow as they have overcome all the others. They extended their lead through Roberto Firmino late on – a welcome goal for the Brazilian, who turned in a much-improved performance himself. Only he, and the goalline technology, knows how he didn’t collect another goal.
Not to worry, though. One was enough for Firmino, three enough for his team.
Maybe one day we will learn, eh? Write off Liverpool at your peril. The names may change, but the story does not.
This is, and remains, one hell of a football team.
Pressure on, Pep: Guardiola extension must result in Champions League success for Man City
The Catalan is closing in on a decade since he last lifted Europe’s biggest trophy after a run of disappointing exits during his time at the Etihad.
If Pep Guardiola is actually going to be the manager to finally end Manchester City’s wait to win the Champions League, then he has certainly given himself a little extra breathing space.
By signing a two-year contract extension that keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until 2023, the Catalan now has a total of three more shots at European success.
As the most successful coach in City’s history having collected six trophies in four seasons, Guardiola is assured of his legendary status at the club.
A European triumph, though, would only further strengthen his legacy as well as his reputation as the greatest coach of his generation.
But, with the extra opportunities comes extra pressure.
This year’s final at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul will come 10 years and one day after Guardiola last won the trophy back when he was with Barcelona.
The 49-year-old has half-joked in the past that he will be remembered as a failure if he does not win the Champions League at City. He does, to be fair, have previous in that regard.
Domestic dominance with Bayern Munich, where he won three Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokals in his three years at the Allianz Arena, was not enough to prevent some in Germany from writing off his time there as being underwhelming.
Seven attempts at trying to win the Champions League with City will now bring an added risk of a similar judgment to his time in England.
Guardiola has contested in the past that it is harder for a club without a pedigree of European success or experience to win the competition, and that it will take time for City to be on the same level as the elite clubs having only previously won the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1970.
They have, however, become regulars in Europe’s most prestigious tournament over the past decade, and following heavy investment in the first-team squad, one semi-final in nine successive seasons in the Champions League is a disappointing return.
Paris Saint-Germain have had a similar financial backing, which resulted in them reaching last season’s final. Premier League rivals Tottenham, meanwhile, managed to find their own route to the showpiece in 2018-19 despite not having had anywhere near the same amount of money spent on them when compared to City.
To their credit, City have competently got to grips with qualifying from the group stage of the competition without too many issues, and have reached the knockout stages in their last seven attempts.
This season is no exception, with three victories from their opening three matches ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Olympiacos putting Guardiola’s side on schedule for another early qualification and the opportunity to put all their focus on addressing their disappointing Premier League start.
It is when they get beyond the group stage that the problems have started.
Guardiola has never gone beyond the quarter-final stage with City and faced regular accusations that he overthinks the big matches, with the club having won just three of their seven knockout ties under the Catalan’s tutelage.
Of the successes, two came when they were overwhelming favourites against Swiss champions Basel and German club Schalke, with the other – against Real Madrid last season – the only time they have beaten an established European giant.
Twice, eliminations have come against English rivals – Liverpool and Spurs – when City would later be crowned Premier League champions.
The others were a last-16 defeat to an exciting, Kylian Mbappe-inspired Monaco side in Guardiola’s first campaign and last summer’s shock exit to fellow French side Lyon in a one-off encounter.
“Different year, same stuff,” was Kevin De Bruyne’s honest but withering assessment following the shock quarter-final defeat in Lisbon back in August.
And while much of the focus will be on trying to wrestle back the Premier League title this term, the Champions League remains the most sought-after prize among City’s hierarchy.
In signing Guardiola up for a further two years, they believe they have the best coach available to deliver that dream.
Former Barcelona & Chelsea star Fabregas ‘disappointed’ in Guardiola but still considers Mourinho a ‘friend’
The Spanish midfielder, who now plies his trade in France with Monaco, has opened up on his relationship with two of his former managers
Former Barcelona and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has expressed “disappointment” in his old mentor Pep Guardiola, while revealing he still considers Jose Mourinho a “friend” to this day.
Guardiola lured Fabregas to Camp Nou from Arsenal back in 2011, having seen him emerge as one of the best midfielders in Europe at Emirates Stadium.
Barca went on to win four major trophies during the Spaniard’s first full season at the club, but ultimately missed out on La Liga and Champions League honours.
Guardiola decided to call time on his four-year reign in Catalunya at the end of the campaign, and took a 12-month sabbatical before returning to management at Bayern Munich.
Fabregas says he hasn’t spoken to the 49-year-old, who is now in charge at Manchester City, since his departure from Camp Nou, and has hinted that the pair’s relationship has been damaged beyond repair.
Asked if he’s been in contact with Guardiola at all over the past eight years, the Monaco playmaker told CCMA: “No, no, with Pep nothing at all.
“I don’t know if the disappointment with Pep is mutual. Things happened, but I prefer not to talk about it. Pep was my idol since I was a child. It is from him that I have learned the most, perhaps, since I was four until now.”
Fabregas eventually left Barca to join Chelsea in 2014, and went on to pick up his first Premier League title under Mourinho.
The 33-year-old has credited a man currently occupying the hot seat at Tottenham for helping him to rediscover his best form at Stamford Bridge, having previously seen him as a rival during his time at Arsenal and Barca.
“Mourinho inspired me the most when I left Barca,” Fabregas added.
“He told me that we had had our issues on the pitch when he was at Chelsea and I was at Arsenal and then when he was coaching at Real Madrid and I was at Barcelona, but that for him, it all ended there. We turned the page.
“He told me about his project. I had to go where I thought I would do best, the decision was mine and it didn’t depend on what people said. I prioritized the professional [aspect], and today I still write to him and I consider him a friend.
“He helped me a lot at a difficult time in my career and perhaps I played one of my best seasons with him.”
Fabregas brought the curtain down on a hugely successful five-year spell at Chelsea when he signed for Monaco last year, and will be back in action when the French outfit play host to reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on Friday.
Former Super Eagle star, Christian Obodo has been rescued after he was kidnapped for the second time in Warri.
Christian Obodo has been freed. The former Super Eagles midfielder was abducted in Nigeria.
The Udinese star, who spent last season on-loan to Serie B side Lecce, was sensationally kidnapped in his hometown , Warri on Saturday, November 14. He was reportedly with his girlfriend when he was kidnapped.
The 28-year-old, who has represented the Super Eagles 21 times, reportedly stopped to buy bananas with his girlfriend when he was seized from his car in the Effurun area with the kidknappers demanding a £121,000 ransom.
He was safely rescued by the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday in nearby Isoko, after Delta State governor Emmanuel Uguaghan ordered authorities to rescue the star within 48 hours.
Delta FA spokesman Timi Ebikagboro told KickOffNigeria.com: “He was found at Isoko and has been rescued. The police are bringing him back to Warri.”
The is the second time Obodo will be kidnapped in Nigeria. He was also abducted by unknown gunmen on June 9, 2012, on his way to church in Warri.
AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles blow four-goal lead against Sierra Leone
SIERRA LEONE fought back from 4-0 down away to Nigeria to draw 4-4 on Friday in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after a spectacular comeback in Benin City.
The Super Eagles were coasting towards a third win from three in Group L after racing to a 4-0 lead inside the first half hour of the match.
Everton forward Alex Iwobi scored twice, with his first goal coming in the fourth minute. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen found the net after 21 minutes on his return to Nigeria’s team.
Osimhen then set up Iwobi who got his second goal six minutes later and Villareal’s Samuel Chukwueze added a fourth, with another assist from Osimhen.
Sierra Leone began their stunning fight back just before half-time when Kwame Quee grabbed what looked to be a consolation goal.
Alhaji Kamara began to stamp his mark on the match. He added a second for the visitors after 72 minutes to make it 4-2.
Mustapha Bundu then added a third for Sierra Leone to make it 4-3 with 10 minutes remaining.
Nigeria were left stunned as Alhaji Kamara completed an astonishing performance by his team with an equaliser four minutes from time.
Nigeria remain top of their group on seven points – with Sierra Leone third, five points adrift. Second placed Benin play bottom side Lesotho on Saturday.
Also on Friday, Niger beat Ethiopia 1-0 in Niamey thanks to a second half Youssef Oumarou penalty.
Niger and Ethiopia are both on three points in Group K behind the top two, Ivory Coast and Madagascar, who are both on six points. The Africa Cup of Nations finals will be played in Cameroon in 2022.
Meanwhile, disappointed Nigeria football fans at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium prevented the Super Eagles players from leaving the match venue after disappointing 4-4 scoreline in the Nigeria versus Sierra Leone match-day 3 CAF African Nations Cup qualifiers BSNSports.com.ng can report.
The Super Eagles had scored four goals in the first half only to lose the four goals to Sierra Leone in the second half.
The fans stayed back as Nigeria were leading 4-0 only to be shocked when the Sierra Leoneans levelled up.
‘He really wants to leave’ – Maradona to be discharged from hospital imminently
The Argentine legend underwent surgery last week and his doctor provided an update on the 60-year-old’s condition on Tuesday.
Diego Maradona is set to be discharged from hospital imminently, according to his personal doctor Leopoldo Luque.
Maradona has been recovering in hospital since undergoing a “routine” operation for a subdural haematoma last week, a day after being admitted due to concerns over anaemia and dehydration.
Luque provided a further update on the 60-year-old Argentina and Napoli great, who is head coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
“Diego has a very good clinical picture, very favourable in terms of surgery and the withdrawal picture that we had talked about,” Luque told reporters on Tuesday.
“A discharge is being considered, he really wants to leave and, although he had already expressed this desire, this is another context and another clinical picture. A patient with great consistency asks us to be discharged and we are ordering the place that will receive him, a comfortable house for his recovery.
“This is generated thanks to the support of the doctors and the hospital, but above all by the support of their environment, family and representatives. The discharge of Diego is imminent, he is not leaving today but it will be soon.”
Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and guided Napoli to two Serie A titles, has been in charge of Superliga Argentina club Gimnasia since 2019.
He appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last month.
“Regarding his family reunion, I want to highlight everyone’s interest, seeking the same goal, Diego’s improvement,” Luque added.
Gimnasia were in action on Sunday for the first time since their head coach was hospitalised, drawing 2-2 with Velez Sarsfield in Argentina’s top tier.
Their players held a banner reading “we are with you” ahead of the game, and assistant boss Sebastian Mendez hopes his side did Maradona proud with their display.
“It has been a complicated week,” he said. “Diego is still hospitalised and we are all aware of that.
“We have built a very strong group and we are a family. When one falls, another picks him up. There is always a word of encouragement and that makes the group healthy. It also results in a team that is hard to beat on the pitch. It was a difficult week and we managed to play well.
“The latest news I have from Diego is that he is very well, luckily, and thank God because it is what we all hope. He is in a good mood and passes these days in the best possible way.”
Setien’s criticism of Messi rubbished by Rivaldo as Griezmann is urged to stay at Barcelona
The Blaugrana icon says a former coach should not be shifting the blame for an “awful end of season” and wants a French forward to keep the faith
Quique Setien was looking to “shift responsibility for an awful end of season” in his claims that Lionel Messi boasts too much power at Barcelona, claims Rivaldo, with said accusations being refuted by a Camp Nou legend.
A coach unceremoniously dumped from a prominent post in Catalunya has been discussing his experiences with the Liga giants.
Setien has claimed that mercurial Argentine forward Messi was “difficult to manage”, given how important he is to the collective cause at Barca.
Rivaldo believes better managers would have found a way around any such issues, with a man who flopped badly after being handed the most prestigious of reins considered to be looking for excuses.
The Blaugrana icon told Betfair: “Setien has complained in an interview about Lionel Messi controlling the locker room and having too much say in the club’s decisions.
“I have my doubts that Setien’s claims are true. But if they were, he should have told the board that he wasn’t happy with the situation.
“A manager should always communicate when something is unpleasant for him. Setien shouldn’t be trying to shift the responsibility for an awful end of season.”
It remains to be seen how long Messi – who was named on the bench for a meeting with Real Betis on Saturday – will be sticking around at Barcelona, with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner still seeing a move mooted on the back of his efforts to leave over the summer.
Antoine Griezmann is another facing questions of his future, with the France international failing to make the desired impact in Catalunya, but Rivaldo believes the World Cup winner should stick around.
He added: “Antoine Griezmann is still struggling to get things going at Barcelona, but I don’t think going out on loan is the right option for him. Barcelona need all parts of their squad and he is one of the best players.
“We’ve seen good things from Griezmann against Juventus and Alaves this season, so his poor performance against Dynamo Kiev shouldn’t detract from that. As players, we all have bad days.
“He needs to build more confidence and start proving his real value as no one doubts his ability.”
‘Pogba has been nothing but problems’ – Ince tells Pogba to forget about Real Madrid & start performing
The former Red Devils midfielder believes patience has worn thin with a France international who will be questioning his own role at Old Trafford
Paul Pogba has been “nothing but problems” for Manchester United since returning to the club in 2016, says Paul Ince, will all concerned at Old Trafford now asking questions of where they go from this point.
The Red Devils invested £89 million ($116m) in bringing a France international back onto their books, with their transfer record smashed when doing business with Juventus.
Pogba’s capture was considered to be a quite a coup, with there plenty of potential in his game still to be unlocked.
United have, however, been unable to bring the best out of an enigmatic 27-year-old, with regular questions being asked of his form and future.
Pogba has become a World Cup winner during his second spell in England, but domestic struggles have contributed to the Red Devils being unable to kick on as a collective.
There is now no obvious role for an expensive asset within Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, with a place on the bench taken up in a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir, and Ince admits those on and off the field need to be mulling over their options.
The former United midfielder told Ladbrokes: “I love Pogba. I think he’s a world-class player on his day. We saw that at Juventus. But since he’s come to Manchester United it’s been nothing but problems.
“Under Jose Mourinho and things with his agent, there’s always something. His performances haven’t been up to scratch, the fans have almost gone against him.
“If I was playing with him, I’d be saying ‘listen, you just go out there and play. Go out there and start performing. Once you start performing like you should be performing, then you can talk about wanting to sign for Real Madrid, because at the moment you can’t even get into the Man United side.’
“If I’m Paul Pogba, I’m sitting on the bench thinking ‘hang on, I’ve got Fred, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes all playing in midfield and I’m sat on the bench? There’s got to be something wrong with me.’
“Man United is not about Paul Pogba.”
Pogba has aired a desire to represent Real Madrid at some stage in his career, but United have taken up an extension option in his contract that is due to keep him in his current surroundings through to the summer of 2022.
‘Speak about Man Utd & Liverpool’ – Furious Mourinho fires back at media over Kane penalty criticism
The Spurs striker earned a spot-kick after a foul by Adam Lallana in the win over Brighton and his manager isn’t happy with the backlash he’s received
Jose Mourinho took issue with the suggestion Harry Kane was “clever” in winning penalties as the Tottenham boss encouraged the media to look at similar incidents involving rival top clubs.
Spot-kick awards were a popular topic of discussion in the Premier League last weekend as both Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah and Spurs striker Kane drew criticism for the manner in which they earned penalties.
Kane appeared to step into a challenge with Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Adam Lallana, who was already in the air contesting a header.
Rather than award a foul against the Tottenham man, though, the referee pointed to the spot to the bemusement of Lallana after a VAR check confirmed the incident occurred inside the penalty area.
But Mourinho, speaking ahead of a Europa League trip to Ludogorets where he promised to go “full power”, believed it was a genuine foul and defended his player.
“I think you are confused,” Mourinho fired back when asked about the decision.
“You could be speaking about some Manchester United players, some Man City players, some Liverpool players, some Chelsea players. You are speaking about Kane?
“He was in position to control the ball and Lallana came in a reckless action and committed the foul. It was a foul. What are the media speaking about? It’s a foul.
“Direct free-kick or penalty, that’s for the VAR to decide. It’s inside [the box].
“It’s not being clever. Harry Kane is there to score goals. Lallana was reckless, he made a mistake. What are you speaking about?
“You have to speak about something that happened that could have a direct impact on the result of the game, which was their goal.
“Speak about Liverpool, Man United, these penalties where you see the ‘clever’ guy on the floor. Don’t speak about Harry Kane.”
“I just talk about the Spanish media, the media that used to not be very nice with Gareth,” he said on Wednesday.
“Yes, they were very fair, very honest, praising his connection with [Sergio] Reguilon. I think they were very honest and I’m happy with that.
‘Ronaldo is ignorant & has no respect for his team-mates or Italians’ – former Juventus defender Pasquale Bruno
The Portugal international has spent over two years in Turin but is yet to learn the local language
Cristiano Ronaldo has been labelled “ignorant” by Pasquale Bruno, with the former Juventus defender of the opinion that the Portuguese superstar lacks respect for both his team-mates and the country of Italy as a whole.
Largely regarded as one of the best footballers in history, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner ended a nine-year stay at Real Madrid in 2018 as he opted to start a new chapter in his career with Juventus.
Despite his advancing years, the 35-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down since his arrival, doing his fair share of graft and bagging plenty of goals to help the Bianconeri to back-to-back Serie A titles.
But, while the Portugal captain’s talent is unquestioned, Bruno believes that a refusal to learn Italian throughout his two years in the country smacks of a lack of respect for the rest of the Juventus squad and general public in his new home.
“He is ignorant,” the 58-year-old said during an appearance on Tiki Taka. “He has been in Italy for two years and has not yet learned to speak our language. He uses Spanish to express himself. He has no respect for his team-mates or for the Italians.”
Ronaldo is unlikely to be affected by those comments, however, with Juan Cuadrado stating at the recent Champions League pre-match press conference that the attacker is a model professional who helps to drive his team forward.
“Ronaldo is very happy, he couldn’t wait to come back and play,” the Colombian said of his team-mate’s return from a coronavirus-enforced lay-off. “You saw that from the moment he stepped onto the pitch [against Spezia].
“He’s an extra weapon for us, we all know what he gives to the team. He is very confident and that helps us too, passing on the professionalism and desire to win that we all ought to have.”
While Ronaldo came off the bench against Spezia, he is expected to feature from the start against Ferencvaros on Wednesday and head coach Andrea Pirlo confirmed that he will not change his tactics despite switching up his on-field personnel.
“The attitude is the same. The players change from game to game but the positions are the same,” the Italy legend said. “[Weston] McKennie played against Spezia, [Aaron] Ramsey was there two games ago and [Dejan] Kulusevski before that.
“It doesn’t matter who plays, the model remains the same.”
‘Barcelona need to take care of Messi in a special way’ – Rakitic urges former club to get behind Argentine
A six-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to see questions asked of his future, with a former team-mate saying we may never see another like him
Lionel Messi needs to be treated in a “very special way” at Barcelona, says Ivan Rakitic, with a former team-mate of the mercurial Argentine admitting that a player of his ilk may never be seen again.
A standing among the all-time greats has already been secured by a six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
At 33 years of age, though, it is yet to be determined where the final chapters of a remarkable career will be written.
Barca are hoping to see a one-club man extend his association with them beyond the summer of 2021, but exit thoughts have already been formed.
Messi pushed for a move elsewhere on the back of a disappointing end to the 2019-20 campaign, only to see the Blaugrana block his path.
As things stand, he will be free to discuss pre-contract terms with any of his many suitors from January.
A presidential election is set to be held at Camp Nou before then, as Josep Maria Bartomeu is forced out amid a vote of no confidence, and it may be that change leads Messi to reconsider his options.
Rakitic hopes that proves to be the case, with the ex-Blaugrana midfielder aware of the need for those in Catalunya to handle a mercurial talent with care.
He told Muchodeporte: “Players of that level are different from everyone else and the other players have to take care of them in a very special way because of their ability to make a difference.
“We do not know if in the future we will be lucky enough to see a footballer like Leo again.”
While Barcelona are refusing to give on keeping Messi around, presidential candidate Pere Riera has claimed that the South American will be given no special treatment if he takes the reins at boardroom level.
He has told Radio Marca: “In my opinion, Messi has to stay at Barcelona and not with history. It’s not good for anyone.
“In the end, it’s Messi who decides [his future]. I very much doubt that Messi wanted to leave Barcelona [in the summer].
“I wouldn’t pull out all the stops for Messi.”
Former Barca boss Quique Setien, who was relieved of his duties over the summer, has told El Pais that Messi can be “difficult to manage”, given his standing in the global game.