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Roy Keane thought Manchester United’s defence-first approach at Anfield deserved praise, even though he was frustrated with a missed Paul Pogba chance that he believes could prove crucial in the weeks and months to come.

Despite Liverpool fielding midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in defence, United surrendered possession and territory on Sunday in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash. 

It finished goalless, with the draw taking Premier League leaders United onto 37 points, keeping them three clear of the champions.

After a fast start from Liverpool, the match settled into a tense affair. The hosts had 17 attempts – nine more than United – yet only managed three on target.

It was the third league game in succession in which Liverpool have failed to score, with Jurgen Klopp's side without a top-flight win since they thrashed Crystal Palace 7-0 before Christmas.

United, who managed four efforts on target to the hosts' three, had the chances to snatch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first league win over Liverpool, who had goalkeeper Alisson to thank for a string of impressive stops in the second half.

Arguably United's best chance fell to Paul Pogba, but the France star – employed in an unfamiliar right-wing role – struck straight at Alisson from close range.

Though United great Keane was left frustrated by the failure to take full advantage of Liverpool's mini-malaise, he believed his old club deserved credit for a resilient rearguard performance.

Keane told Sky Sports: "The big opportunity is the [Pogba] chance. You can tell by his reaction. His first touch is excellent, my goodness, he has to score. Go anywhere, across the goalkeeper, but not straight at him.

"Because his first touch was so good he's given himself that opportunity to go across the goalkeeper – a huge moment in the season for United. Credit to the goalkeeper, he's stood up, but that's the moment they might've been praying for before the game.

"It's easier said than done [to come out of defence]. We knew Liverpool would be quick out of the blocks, they haven't played for nine days.

"United were always going to be on the back foot for the first half-an-hour. They were sloppy in some of their play. You knew United would get the opportunities, it was a case of whether they could take them.

"You can't say Liverpool have played badly, but they've lost their spark, definitely, and when you get the opportunities like Pogba did, it's so disappointing. We've been giving Pogba a big build-up, we've been quick to criticise him but that was a moment for him to say he wants to be the main man, you've got to take that chance.

"I wouldn't be too critical of United, I thought they showed a good mentality."

Scott McTominay and Fred both made a game-high five tackles for United, while Victor Lindelof – preferred to Eric Bailly alongside Harry Maguire – made 10 clearances, more than any other player.

Though disappointing going forward (he lost possession more times than anybody else), Pogba managed to keep Andy Robertson under wraps, and gained back the ball nine times, behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold (11) and Thiago Alcantara (10).

"I thought the back four, which always worries me, were brilliant," Keane continued.

"I know they gave up one or two chances in the first half-an-hour. [Luke] Shaw was brilliant defensively and going forward. When I look at the couple of chances United created, they still created the best chances in the game. Huge moments."

Tanzania Mainland League heavyweights Azam FC have parted ways with striker Richard Djodi on mutual consent.

The Ivorian forward has been struggling for form of late, and the Ice-cream Makers opted to let him go. The 2014-league champions have confirmed the latest development via their social media outlets.

"We thank you Richard Djodi so much for the services you have rendered us for the time we have been working together," the Chamazi-based charges announced on Sunday evening.

"We wish you all the best wherever you will be playing your football."

The 31-year-old signed for the Tanzanian outfit in July 2019, before extending his stay by a further two years; his current deal was set to expire in 2022.

"Coach [George] Lwandamina had no place for Djodi in his current squad and we had no option but to let him go," Azam's Communication's Officer Zakaria Thabith shed more light on the striker's release.

"The coach is already selecting his players for the second round of the league, and he had no place in the team. So we had to part ways on mutual consent."

Another player who rumours had it that he will be dropped as well is goalkeeper David Robert Mapigano who is commonly referred to as Kissu.

The shot-stopper joined Gor Mahia in the last transfer window and went on to command a starting berth in the team. However, his form dipped and recently, Mathias Kigonya was signed to strengthen the department.

It was a sign that all was not good for the Tanzania custodian and rumours were rife that he was to be released.

"Mapigano will continue playing for us and he is in the team for the second leg," Thabith confirmed.

"The coach has confidence in him and he believes he will be helpful for the team. Rumours that he will be released are not true."

Azam are close to sealing the services of their former striker Yahya Zayd from the Egyptian side Pharco FC. The forward played for the 2018/19 FA Cup champions from 2013-2018 before leaving for Ismaily and later on to Pharco where he has failed to cement his place in the starting 11.

Jurgen Klopp admitted he's at a loss to explain Liverpool's lack of goals after their 0-0 draw with Manchester United , describing the situation as a "bit annoying".

United grabbed a point at Anfield on Sunday after a stalemate which saw Liverpool extend their scoreless run to three matches - their worst sequence since back in 2005.

Klopp saw his side take 17 shots at the visitors' net over the course of the game, but only three of those efforts tested Red Devils No.1 David de Gea, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Xherdan Shaqiri all ineffective on the night.

United might have snatched all three points had Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba not squandered clear opportunities in the final 10 minutes as Liverpool rode their luck to extend their unbeaten home record to 68 matches.

Previous draws against West Brom and Newcastle, along with a surprise defeat at Southampton, dampened the mood on Merseyside after a 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace on December 19, and their performance against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's league leaders will have done little to convince supporters that return to form is just around the corner.

Klopp has admitted that his team's lack of cutting edge in the final third has been a source of frustration in recent weeks, but he was pleased with their overall display against the Red Devils and has urged his players to maintain their focus amid a testing period.

“If we won 1-0 I'd think it was completely fine. You can't deny Manchester United chances for 90 minutes. You never could. They're in a good moment," the German head coach told Sky Sports .

“With all the things said before the game – they're flying and we're struggling – my boys did a good game tonight.

“First half the counter-press was great, passing was good. But we didn't score. That's the most important thing in football.

“The second half was a bit more open. They had two big chances – Alisson made two good saves.

“There is no easy explanation [for their recent lack of goals]. You always miss chances. You have to keep going and try to ignore the talk around it. Everyone wants to see goals. You cannot force it.

“It's football. These moments happen. You have moments where you can't explain why you score from all angles. Against Crystal Palace everything ended up in the net. It's a bit annoying in between these moments.

“I like the game. I saw a lot of really good individual performances and the team performance was good. Not the result we wanted, but the result we got.”

Liverpool will now look ahead to a meeting with Burnley at Anfield on Thursday, which comes three days before they take on United again - this time in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

Farida Machia made a winning debut for Ouriense as they earned a 1-0 win over Damaiense in Sunday's Portuguese relegation fixture.

The Cameroon international had teamed up with Portuguese Liga BPI side from Awa Ladies on a short contract following her previous two-year spell in the European nation with Sporting Braga.

Coincidently, Machia had scored an unbelievable goal from 30 metres for Braga in a 4-0 win over Ouriense on November 17, 2019.

The 29-year-old was handed a starting debut just a week after she arrived in Portugal and she put up a fine showing to help her side to a winning start in the quest to remain in the top flight.

Flavia Fartaria's goal in the 54th minute of the encounter earned the hosts the maximum points at home.

On her debut, Machia was in action in the opening 45 minutes, while Mozambique's Lucia Jose featured for 75 minutes.

The result moves Ouriense to second on the log with three points from the first match of the relegation playoff round.

They will lock horns with A-dos-Francos in their next fixture on January 24 and Machia will hope to inspire her side to back-to-back wins in their survival battle. 

Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara urged his team-mates to raise their game after being held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United on Sunday . 

The Reds failed to win in the Premier League for a fourth consecutive match as they drew against their arch-rivals at Anfield. 

That run has seen them lose ground at the top, with United sitting two points clear of Leicester City in first place and Jurgen Klopp's men a further point back in third. 

Thiago finally made his Anfield bow on Sunday after an injury-affected debut season, but he acknowledged that he and his team-mates must improve if they wish to defend their Premier League title. 

"Without winning, we are never satisfied. We made a superb first half, then the second half was 50-50," the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder explained to Liverpool's official website after the final whistle.

"We are happy in some way with our performance – how we did in some moments of the game – but we have to do much better to be on top of the league.

"We were intense, we were creating the chances that made us closer to winning. When we didn’t realise and didn’t make the goals, we’re just getting our self-confidence a bit down and that’s why the game changed a bit. At the end, it’s football and in some minutes of the game you are in high emotions and sometimes you are low – it’s part of the game.

"At the end, we have the privilege to play football, to keep having our work, our love: that is playing football here. And we have to defend the desire of the people to be here. We have to play for them because it’s a hard moment for all of us. For sure, with fans everything is different."

At the root of Liverpool's recent struggles has been a loss of form in front of the net, with the club still waiting for their first league goal of 2021 after going three games without scoring .

Thiago, though, is in no doubt that the goals will soon start flowing again.

"Look at the guys we have in front – not just the big three, let’s say that," he added. 

"We have Div [Origi], we have Shaq [Xherdan Shaqiri], we have Taki [Takumi Minamino], we have many players that can score, people in the midfield that can score as well, people from the defence can score. It’s a matter of creating the chances that we are creating to be effective."

Liverpool are back in action on Thursday, when Burnley visit Anfield.

Jordan Henderson felt Liverpool were the "better team" against Manchester United, but has admitted that his side have allowed their standards to slip in recent weeks.

Liverpool welcomed United to Anfield on Sunday knowing that they could return to the top of the Premier League standings with a victory.

However, confidence within the Reds' camp wasn't at its highest point after uninspired draws against West Brom and Newcastle and a dismal defeat away at Southampton, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all struggling for form in the final third.

Unfortunately, the talismanic front three were quiet once again as Jurgen Klopp saw his team struggle to break down a well organised United outfit in a 0-0 draw. Liverpool had No.1 goalkeeper Alisson to thank for keeping them in the game late on as he made crucial point-blank saves from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.

Despite the fact Liverpool only managed three shots on target over the course of the 90 minutes, Henderson expressed his belief that they edged the contest overall and could even have walked away with all three points.

The midfielder did, however, concede that the defending champions have not been at their best of late, telling Sky Sports after the final whistle: "We are a little disappointed we haven't taken three points at home.

"I thought we did enough to win the game, especially first half.

"We had a lot of the ball we created chanced but just couldn't find back if then net

"Yes, they had one or two chances - they were dangerous on the counter - but overall I thought we were the better team to win the game.

"I would say the performance levels haven't been up to our standards in the past few weeks.

"We just showed that we have got to keep going, work hard and improving. We will not stop now."

Liverpool remain in third after their stalemate on Merseyside, three adrift of United and one behind second-placed Leicester, with another crucial home fixture against Burnley up next on Wednesday.

The Reds are currently in the middle of their worst home league offensive run since 2005, but will be expected to get back to winning ways against a Clarets outfit currently languishing down in 17th.

Oghenekaro Etebo returned from injury, Vincent Aboubakar, and Bernard Mensah featured while Mbaye Diagne was sent off as Besiktas secured a 2-0 victory over Galatasaray in Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig game.

Nigeria international Etebo has been out of action since December when he suffered a thigh muscle strain and last featured in a league game against Fatih Karagumruk.

After overcoming the injury setback, the midfielder was handed his ninth league appearance for the Turk Telekom Stadium outfit since teaming up with the side on loan from Stoke City.

Etebo gave a good account of himself in the encounter but his effort was not enough to help his side, who lost Diagne to a red card, avoid defeat.

Cameroon international Aboubakar played a key role in Besiktas victory along with Ghana international Mensah and Algeria’s Rachid Ghezzal.

The game started with both sides aiming to outwit each other but despite their efforts to find the back of the net, the first-half ended 0-0.

After the restart, Galatasaray suffered a huge blow when they were reduced to 10 men after Diagne was punished for his serious foul play.

Sergen Yalcın’s men capitalized on their numerical advantage when Souza broke the deadlock in the 79th minute after he was set up by Rıdvan Yılmaz.

Moments before the end of the game, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou sealed Besiktas victory after receiving a fine assist from Cyle Larin.

Etebo featured for 80 minutes, while his teammate and Morocco international Younes Belhanda played for 69 minutes.

For Besiktas, Ghezzal was on parade for 67 minutes before he was replaced by Ghana star Mensah while Aboubakar featured for 87 minutes.

With the result, the Black and Whites maintained their lead at the top of the table after gathering 38 points from 18 games.

Galatasaray dropped to the fourth spot following their failure to add to their 34 points at Vodafone Park.

The African stars will hope to help their respective clubs secure victory in their next Super Lig outings on January 20 and 21 when Galatasaray will take on Denizlispor and Besiktas will square off against Fatih Karagumruk.

Manchester United winger Tobin Heath picked up an injury during the week, head coach Casey Stoney confirmed on Sunday, with her not involved in the Red Devils’ 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Heath was named on the bench as United travelled to Kingsmeadow but was stood at the side of the pitch with the likes of Alessia Russo and Lucy Staniforth, both unavailable due to injuries, while the team warmed up before the game.

The American sat among the substitutes for the match but was unused as United lost to the reigning Women’s Super League champions.

Heath had chosen to stay with her club rather than travelling to the United States for a training camp and two friendlies with the USWNT, who play Colombia on January 18 and January 22.

"Tobin got injured in the week and we wanted to give her as much time as possible to try and be involved," Stoney said.

"Unfortunately, she woke up this morning and she wasn't right, so it wasn't right to play her."

United went into the weekend leading the WSL standings, but slip to second on goal difference due to Sunday’s result.

Chelsea took the lead after half an hour through Pernille Harder, who squeezed the ball in from a corner after Fran Kirby had hit the post.

Lauren James equalised for United after coming off the bench, but Kirby decided the game just after the hour mark when she latched onto a long ball forward from goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and finished clinically.

"If we're going to press high, we have to be able to defend a long ball," Stoney said, reflecting on that goal.

"For me, a goalkeeper should never get an assist. That tells you that you haven't defended the situation very well. We have to head it, we have to clear it, we have to deal with it - we don't.

"I'm not going to single anyone out because I think my defence, especially my centre-backs, have been outstanding in the first half of the season, but you have to stay switched on all the time."

United were boosted by the return of Christen Press on Sunday, the forward having been suffering with illness for the last few weeks.

Press played 55 minutes in the game before being replaced by goalscorer James as she continues to build up her match fitness.

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer was disappointed by his side's first-half display in their defeat to Black Leopards on Sunday afternoon. 

The Buccaneers suffered their second defeat of the season in the PSL when they lost 2-0 to a struggling Lidoda Duvha side at Thohoyandou Stadium.

The first-half was dominated by Leopards and Pirates defender Innocent Maela scored an own-goal, before Roderick Kabwe doubled the hosts' lead.

"We were completely out of it in the first-half, the first-half I don't know what we did but it was not what we spoke about before," Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV. 

"When you play a relegation team, they run, they fight for the three points, they give 100 percent, more than 100 percent.

"We stayed on the field, watched a little bit of the game, you cannot win the game if you don't play in the first-half, it's not possible."

Zinnbauer felt that his charges were completely out of it in the first-half with Pirates shot-stopper Wayne Sandilands having been the busier of the two goalkeepers. 

"Mentally its another thing, all clubs now play a lot of games, it's a mental thing," the German tactician continued. 

"You cannot more than say, 'Be careful, they fight, they give all for three points, fight for this, win your duels, it's important in the first 20 minutes' and the whole 45 minutes it was not in."

The Buccaneers came into the clash oozing with confidence having thrashed Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 3-0 in a league game at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday. 

Zinnbauer was also disappointed to see his side fail to record another victory at the same venue. 

"Last game it was same game, same field, the 45 minutes in and then you have a chance to win the game but at half-time, you get [concede] two goals, it's not possible," he added. 

"They did a better job in the second-half but it's not enough to win a game."

The defeat saw Pirates remain fifth on the league standings and they will get a chance to climb up the log when they face Lamontville Golden Arrows on Wednesday.

Pirates will host Arrows at their iconic home ground, Orlando Stadium. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to celebrate a hard-earned point at Anfield, pointing out that Manchester United are now required to win their next outing to keep up their Premier League chase. 

Liverpool were held 0-0 by the leaders on Sunday,  a result that meant Jurgen Klopp's men missed out on the chance to retake the summit from their arch-rivals.

United lead by two points over Leicester City with 18 games played, with the Merseysiders a further point back in third. 

Aside from a late flurry of chances the Red Devils had few opportunities to win Sunday's title six-pointer, and Solskjaer warned that his charges cannot rest on their laurels with another Premier League test away to Fulham looming on Wednesday.

"It's only a good result if we win the next game," the manager explained to  BBC Sport   after the final whistle.

"It was an opportunity missed with the chances we had but then again we were playing a very good side. I'm disappointed but still a point is OK if you win the next one.

"We were stronger towards the end. We didn't start at all in the first half. We didn't have any composure or try to impose ourselves.

"The team is working hard for each other. We have improved and progressed. It's not just the result we're disappointed with, it's some of the performance. I know these boys can play better.

"Fair play to them - with two central midfielders at the back (Fabinho and Jordan Henderson) and to defend as well as they did shows their quality."

Solskjaer added to  Sky Sports : "I think we grew in the game and toward the end it was there for us to win. We created two massive chances and it was two brilliant saves by the keeper.

"We can play better than this, we can be more composed, we can have the ball more. We had to defend really often today. There are a couple of things for us to improve on

"I thought Paul [Pogba] was absolutely brilliant today. We knew he had to do a job defensively to help us with [Andy] Robertson and I thought he was excellent and should have got the goal his performance deserved."

Harry Maguire has admitted that Manchester United were left "disappointed" with their result against Liverpool after the top-of-the-table clash largely failed to live up to the pre-match hype.

United missed the chance to open up a six-point lead over Liverpool after being held to a 0-0 draw by the defending champions on Sunday .

Both sides struggled to create chances in a game which saw Liverpool boss possession while the Red Devils tried to pick them off on the counter, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all putting in subdued performances.

Fernandes and Paul Pogba squandered the best opportunities of the game late on as Alisson protected the home side's 68-game unbeaten record at Anfield, while Fabinho and Jordan Henderson also shone as makeshift central defenders for Jurgen Klopp's team.

Maguire has insisted that United set out to get three points instead of one, but he wasn't completely satisfied with their attacking display against their arch-rivals.

"They started better than us but second half we came into it a lot more. We created the best chances and on another day we win," the Red Devils defender told Sky Sports .

"It was cagey. Two good teams matching up. We created openings and had two great chances, two great saves.

"There is a lot of talk of Liverpool being without their first-choice centre-halves but they've had a great defensive record since these injuries. They have lots of options.

"We wanted to win. You could see our intent in the second half, we wanted three points. We'll feel a bit disappointed. It's a tough place to come.

"You can see our performance compared to last year when we weren't brave at all. We were a bit timid."

United are now only top of the standings by two points ahead of second-placed Leicester, who beat Southampton 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Solskjaer will now start preparing his players for a midweek trip to Fulham, while Liverpool have a home fixture against Burnley to look forward to a day later.

The Reds will be aiming to bring a four-game winless streak to an end against the Clarets, having slipped to third in the table.

Ghana's Mohammed Kudus was again missing in the Eredivisie on Sunday but new Ivorian signing Sebastien Haller made his presence count one more time as Ajax registered a 1-0 home win over Feyenoord.

With three points in the matchday 17 fixture at Johan Cruijff Stadium, Ajax consolidated their position at the top of the table, leaving Feyenoord fourth on the standings.

After missing Ajax's league encounter with FC Twente on Thursday on precautionary grounds and the suggestion of a prompt recall by coach Erik ten Hag, the Ghanaian midfielder was expected back in action for Sunday's De Klassieker.

The 20-year-old was, however, missing once again altogether when Ajax unveiled their matchday squad for the Feyenoord showdown.

In the end, Ivorian striker Haller, who joined the Lancers from West Ham United earlier this month, proved his worth one more time with the assist for Ryan Gravenberch's 22nd-minute match-winner.

It was Haller's third assist in three games for Ajax so far, having found the back of the net once.

The 26-year-old was replaced by Ghana target and Netherlands U19 star Brian Brobbey seven minutes to full-time.

There were more Africans in action for Ajax in the game as Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana lasted for the duration while Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui saw 66 minutes of action. His compatriot Zakaria Labyad replaced Antony Santos in the same minute.

"For Kudus, this game was too soon after the last one. Let’s not forget he had a serious injury. I expect him to be back in the squad on Sunday. I don’t think he’ll start, so as a substitute," Ajax coach ten Hag told ESPN about the absence of Brazilian winger David Neres and Kudus after Thursday's match.

After three months out due to injury, Kudus made a return to action last week Sunday as an 80th-minute substitute in a 2-2 draw with PSV.

He had been on the sidelines after sustaining a meniscus injury while in Champions League action against Liverpool in October.

It is currently unclear the reason behind his Sunday absence as he trained with the side on Saturday.

Racheal Nachula scored the winner for Zaragoza as they secured a 1-0 win at Collerense in Sunday's Spanish Reto Iberdrola encounter.

The Zambia international had arrived at Aragon from Zambian side Green Buffaloes in the summer of 2020 and has continued to impress for the Spanish outfit in their top-flight promotion bid this season.

Before Sunday's tie, she had scored two goals in five games for Zaragoza and made a return from Chile, where she helped Zambia to a 2-1 friendly win, and a 0-0 draw with AEM on December 20.

Coincidently, Nachula's last starting role for Zaragoza came in a 3-2 win at Collenrense, where she netted the winner on November 22.

This time at home, the Zambian struck the winner in the 32nd minute to ensure Nacho Bracero's side recorded their first win in three consecutive matches.

Nachula, who was involved in the match until the 69th minute, has now scored three goals in six appearances for Bracero's team.

Her compatriot Hellen Mubanga also played for the last 13 minutes of the contest, while Morocco's Hanane Ait El Haj lasted the duration of the encounter for Zaragoza.

The win at Enrique Porta moves Zaragoza to fourth on the log with 16 points from nine games - six adrift of leaders Deportivo Alaves.

Up next, Zaragoza will aim to close the gap on the Alaves and will rely hugely on in-form Nachule to inspire them again at eighth-placed side Espanyol II on January 24.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has theorised that his former club signed Donny van de Beek in the expectation that Paul Pogba would depart.

Van de Beek was the Red Devils’ marquee summer signing, yet the Netherlands international has been forced to way much of the campaign from the bench.

He has started only twice in the Premier League and has netted only once for his new club.

“It’s interesting, something’s happened – the Van de Beek signing’s an interesting one – I still can’t get my head around it,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“It’s almost as if that signing was sort of done in anticipation of one of the others leaving because Van de Beek has just sat on the bench for the last few months and he cost £40m. I think that Manchester United are preparing for someone leaving.

“Nemanja Matic might be finishing at the end of next season, maybe, maybe Pogba could leave.

“So they’ve already got Van de Beek in to maybe assume that role, but I think now, the way Paul Pogba’s playing and the way Manchester United’s season is going, there’s no one who’s going to come in in January and buy Paul Pogba, I don’t think Manchester United would let him go.”

The 23-year-old had arrived from Ajax and was expected to be a star performer at Old Trafford. His lack of game time, however, has prompted manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to offer him reassurance over his future.

“There are so many examples of players needing a little bit of time, quality players, we have many examples ourselves and there are other clubs with examples and sometimes it takes time,” Solskjaer said in the wake of criticism of United’s handling of the player.

“You don’t expect people who care for him to be quiet at times, especially when they want the best for them. Donny is going to play tomorrow, it’s another chance for him.

"And, yes, I’ve spoken to him and made him aware of how much we rate him, but he will play tomorrow and it’s a good chance again for him to kick on.”

Al Duhail SC coach Sabri Lamushi has backed Kenya striker Michael Olunga to fit into his style of play well after sealing his transfer to the club.

The 26-year-old striker was officially unveiled on Saturday night, three days after he had made his debut for the team in a 3-1 Qatar Stars League defeat against Al Sadd.

Olunga played for 67 minutes with Algeria star Baghdad Bounedjah scoring a hat-trick in the fixture as the Xavi-led team claimed maximum points.

Despite playing for the team almost a day after landing in Qatar, Olunga should have scored on his debut after he missed a glancing header in the 20th minute.

Duhail coach Lamushi has now backed the former Gor Mahia striker to come good after adapting well with his colleagues.

“The player Michael [Olunga] made the first match with the team against Al Sadd and did not show his known scoring prowess, but he will add to the team and he is the top scorer in the Japanese League and is also trying to adapt with his colleagues,” Lamushi told the club’s official website.

The tactician further said his team must respond and return to winning ways when they face Qatar Club.

“A difficult match awaits us in front of Qatar Club and we must compensate for our loss against Al Sadd, and we know very well that Qatar Club play very well but we must respond strongly in order to compensate for the recent loss," he added.

Olunga played for two seasons in Japan with Reysol and managed to finish as the top scorer in the 2020 J1 League season with 28 goals, winning the Golden Boot and the 2020 MVP, becoming the first African player to win the J-League MVP award.

On Saturday, Al Duhail confirmed the signing of the former Gor Mahia striker on a three-year contract, and following his switch to the Middle East, Olunga has joined former Morocco captain Medhi Benatia in Sabri Lamouchi's team as they compete for the top-flight title.

“The club's management have succeeded in signing a contract with the top scorer in the Japanese League, with a professional contract for three seasons, coming from Kashiwa Reysol,” the club statement read.

Al Duhail are second on the league table with 27 points from 14 matches, and they trail leaders Al Sadd by 11 points.

On Saturday, Al Duhail were guaranteed a spot in the Fifa Club World Cup for the first time in their history following Auckland City's withdrawal due to coronavirus restrictions in New Zealand.

Olunga will be targeting his first victory in Qatar when Al Duhail visit Qatar SC for their next Stars League fixture on Tuesday.

Harry Kane defended Jose Mourinho's tactics after Tottenham's win at Sheffield United, insisting the Portuguese manager has never advised his players to sit back when in front.

Tottenham have developed an unwanted reputation for squandering leads during the first half of the 2020-21 campaign.

Mourinho has seen his side drop points from winning positions against Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Fulham - with draws in those five matches ultimately preventing them from setting the pace at the top of the Premier League standings.

However, Spurs were able to move back into the top four with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday, thanks to goals from Serge Aurier, Kane and Tanguy Ndombele.

It has been suggested that Mourinho's pragmatic approach does not suit a Tottenham side bursting with top-quality attacking talent, but Kane insists that it is the players who should be taking full responsibility for their inconsistent form.

"Fantastic performance from everyone today - started really well, aggressive with our press and were clinical to go 2-0 up. Even in the second half, when they scored, we didn't panic," the England international told BBC Match of the Day.

"Tanguy [Ndombele} scored a fantastic goal and we saw the game out well, which we haven't done in the past few weeks.

"It's never been the manager saying that (we should sit back) it's been us on the pitch having a mentality where we want to drop and hold on to to the win. The most important thing is us as players to go and take responsibility, and we did that today.

"Tanguy's goal was incredible, the technique he had to flick that ball back over the keeper was truly special.

"There were a couple of chances I could have done better with, the most important thing is winning games. Anyone who can put a good spell together (is in the title race), that's why it has been disappointing and frustrating for us dropping points from winning positions."

Aurier echoed his team-mate's sentiments, telling BBC Sport: "We started very well with the pressing and scored a good goal. Tonight we did what the gaffer said and wanted, when we play like that everything is OK. We have to stay with this mentality.

"We will see in the next battle, but today we are happy. Before the game the gaffer wanted me in the first post, and I go, I asked to go and today he gave me the opportunity and I scored. But it's not about me, it's about the team and I am happy.

"Sometimes we missed the second goal after we score, but tonight we are happy and we have to keep this mentality if we want to stay near the top of the league."

Asked for his reaction to Ndombele's stunning lobbed effort which rounded off the scoring against Sheffield United, Aurier responded: "This guy, he always touches the ball and something happens, I am happy for him, he played well and scored an amazing goal."

ATK Mohun Bagan played out a 1-1 draw against FC Goa in the Indian Super League clash at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.

Edu Garcia (75') opened the scoring for the visitors before super-sub Ishan Pandita equalised in the 85th minute. 

After back-to-back games without a win, the Kolkata giants' head coach Antonio Habas said that his team had the opportunity to beat Goa but they wasted their chances.

"A lot of alternatives for both the teams. The scored in the final third. We had the chance to win the match before we scored the goal. I want to win all three points. But one point is very important," Habas said after the game.

Habas believes it is not possible to create a lot of chances while playing against big clubs.

"I think in a big match between two big teams, lots of chances to score are not possible. It is impossible that one team will have four, five or six chances," he said.  

"Maybe we were afraid to lose. I am very happy with the performance," he added.

Simy Nwankwo scored twice as Crotone secured a 4-1 victory over Benevento in a Serie A game on Sunday.

The 28-year-old was handed his 15th league start of the season and utilized the opportunity to add to his tally in the encounter.

The Nigeria international’s effort helped the Red and Blue return to winning ways after three consecutive defeats - to Inter Milan, AS Roma and Hellas Verona.

Crotone started the game on the front foot when Kamil Glik opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the encounter after turning Pedro Pereira’s cross into his own net.

Moments before the half-hour mark, Super Eagles forward Simy doubled his side’s lead with an individual effort.

The Stadio Ezio Scida outfit continued their domination of the game and got their third goal when Simy fired a fine strike past goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo after he was set up Emmanuel Riviere.

The Nigeria forward then set up Milos Vulic in the 65th minute of the game to seal the victory despite a late effort from Iago Falque.

Simy featured for the duration of the game in his 19th appearance of the season across all competitions.

The forward has now bagged six goals and provided two assists in the current campaign, amid other dazzling displays.

Despite the victory, Crotone remain at the bottom of the league table after gathering 12 points from 18 games.

Simy has been with the Stadio Ezio Scida outfit since the summer of 2018 and played a significant role as the club returned to the Italian top-flight last season.

The lanky centre-forward scored 20 goals to emerge as the top-scorer in Serie B in the 2019-20 campaign.

Simy will hope to continue his eye-catching performances for Crotone when they take on Fiorentina in their next league game on January 23.

The attacker has four caps for the Nigeria national team since he made his debut against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018.

Simy will aim to continue his fine club form for a chance to get a call-up for the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.