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Bernard Mensah and Vincent Aboubakar found the net on Friday as Besiktas defeated Kasimpasa 3-0 in Super Lig action.

The Ghana playmaker opened the scoring in the second-minute of first-half stoppage time against his former club when he reacted quickest after the visiting goalkeeper spilled the ball into his path, firing home with his right foot from close range.

Besiktas’s advantage grew 10 minutes into the second half when Florent Hadergjonaj was shown a straight red card for the visitors.

Atiba Hutchinson doubled the hosts’ lead in the 68th minute after fine work from Algeria wideman Rachid Ghezzal, before Vincent Aboubakar rounded off the triumph seventh minutes later as he continues his return to top form.

Fabrice N’Sakala, the hero against Fenerbahce last weekend, was introduced late on as Sergen Yalcin withdrew Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, and Besiktas comfortably saw out the contest to maintain their excellent recent form.

The victory was their sixth in their last seven matches in all competitions, and takes them up to 19 points after 10 matches.

They’ve moved four points behind unlikely league leaders Alanyaspor, who are away at Genclerbirligi on Saturday morning.

Besiktas’s victory comes on the back of their stunning 4-3 triumph at heavyweight rivals Fenerbahce on Sunday, as Aboubakar netted twice to continue his return to his top form.

It was Besiktas’s first victory away at Fener in 15 years, having not previously defeated their fierce rivals away from home since April 2005.

Including his goal against Kasimpasa, the Cameroon international now has five in eight in the Super Lig this season, a remarkable turnaround considering he failed to score any league goals for FC Porto last term during an injury-ravaged campaign.

The goal was Mensah’s second of the season, and his first since he scored in the win at Trabzonspor in his first league game of the campaign.

“I’m happy for myself,” Mensah said after the match, describing his eagle celebration. “I also made an eagle sign in my joy with the goal, because I know this gesture is valuable to fans.”

The 26-year-old is currently on loan at Besiktas from Kayserispor, having previously spent time in Turkey with Kasimpasa.

He was unable to make the breakthrough at Atletico Madrid after signing for the Spanish giants from Vitoria Guimaraes.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has provided an update on the country's senior women's national team in Santiago, where they have been placed in quarantine.

The Southern Africa side arrived in the Chilean capital last Wednesday for two international friendlies with La Roja in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.

And the Copper Queens had faced off with the Chileans last Saturday in Santiago, where they came from behind to earn a 2-1 win through goals from Barbara Banda and Racheal Nachula.

They were expected to play the second match against their hosts on Tuesday, December 1, when at least four players were initially tested positive for coronavirus before three more tested positive.

The development just hours prior to kick-off forced the cancellation of the game and also resulted in the confinement of the team to 14 days in isolation at Torremayor Hotel in Santiago by local authorities.

While corroborating Goal's earlier report, FAZ moved to douse worries over the safety, welfare and health condition of the team in Chile.

“Individuals with confirmed cases of Covid-19 would typically complete isolation for 11 days inside the sanitary residence, until December 12, 2020," the FAZ statement read on Friday.

"However, to keep the delegation together during their stay in Chile, the decision was made to extend the isolation of all members of the team until December 15, 2020."

Commenting on the situation, FAZ deputy general secretary Joseph Chimpampwe shared details of the efforts made to ensure the delegation's safety.

“On our part, we are in touch with our team and the Chilean Football Federation on the developments in Santiago," he said.

"This is part of the challenges posed by the ‘New Normal’, but we are doing everything possible to ensure that our team returns safely after completing the health protocols.

“For avoidance of doubt, the team was tested prior to their departure for Chile as per requirement for travellers under the new normal and underwent Covid-19 tests upon entry into Santiago which came out negative.

"The situation is part of what we have to endure under the Covid-19 crisis that the world is battling with.”

At it stands, hopes of Zaragoza having Nachula and Hellen Mubanga back before December 15 hangs by a thread, the same as Mary Mwakapila joining Hapoel Beer Sheva for the Israeli league's opener. 

Cristiano Ronaldo ‘has a different head to everybody else’, according to former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri – who says the Portuguese has the best mentality of any player he has worked with.

Allegri managed Ronaldo during his last year as Juve boss in 2018-19, and the pair enjoyed a fruitful relationship in their short time together.

Ronaldo scored 21 goals to help the Turin giants to another Serie A title, but even the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wasn’t immune to being the butt of the playful Allegri’s jokes when things didn’t go his way.

Having also coached AC Milan to the title in 2010-11, Allegri has worked with his fair share of superstars.

“I had a lot of strong players, with strong mentality,” he told The Times. “Defenders like (Giorgio) Chiellini and (Alessandro) Nesta, midfielders like (Gennaro) Gattuso and (Clarence) Seedorf and strikers like (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and (Cristiano) Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo is the top player for mentality. Ronaldo has a different head to everyone. He’s won five Ballons d’Or, five Champions Leagues and one European Championship for Portugal, and that is so difficult, and it’s always him being the difference. Every year he has a new objective.”

After some time away from management, Allegri has outlined his ambition to manage in the Premier League – and he explained his methods of working with players.

“A coach should not create anxiety for players. If you start only from your ideas, your credo, and you don’t start from the quality of the human material you have in your hands, I consider that a big mistake.

“The game is decided by players. I agree with other trainers that the team has to have the organisation, and tactics, but it is important that the individual plays well.

“I can see from how a player is running how he feels. “Body language tells you a lot. The same thing when you go to the paddock before a race and you see the horses moving. If you understand horses you can see who’s feeling best. I have this opinion about the similarity of horses and people.

“Racehorses are athletes as well, with the disadvantage that they can’t speak to you! So you have to read the body language.

“The trainer has to be a psychologist. 80 per cent is psychology, 20 per cent is tactics. We need to look in players’ heads because they’re young, they’re ‘children’.

“We need to speak to them every day, know everything about them, understand their problems. The problems of an 18-year-old boy are different from a veteran. When the trainer has to put a player on the bench, it’s important the player has faith in the trainer. The first quality for a coach is psychology.”

Valencia have announced they have locked down teenage star Yunus Musah to a new contract through 2026. 

The 18-year-old has made the breakthrough into Valencia's first team this season, making 10 La Liga appearances and scoring one goal. 

Musah, who was born in the United States and raised in England, accepted a call-up from the U.S. national team last month and earned his first two senior international caps.

The attacker has represented England at various youth levels and the Three Lions' Under-21 head coach Aidy Boothroyd has said that he hasn't given up hope of eventually bringing Musah back.

Because Musah appeared for the USMNT in friendlies, not official matches, he is still eligible to play for England or Nigeria, his parents' home country.

"I don’t know [if he has made his decision]," Boothroyd said. "I hope he hasn’t because I think if he came here and saw what we are all about that he would really enjoy it."

Speaking to Valencia's website after inking his new deal, Musah said he was happy to commit his future to the club. 

"I'm very happy to have signed for Valencia CF, and to have renewed my contract. I can't wait for what the future holds," Musah said.

"It's a dream come true for myself and for my family. Something that I've dreamed of ever since I was young was to have a first team contract with a big club. For that to happen at Valencia CF is even bigger.

"Valencia CF have shown trust in me and I want to carry on at this club which has helped me to start my career.

"I can't wait for the fans to be back at the stadium, as I haven't experienced that before. I've been to Mestalla to watch a lot of matches as a spectator, but it's going to be a different experience playing there on the pitch."

Valencia have made a slow start to the 2020-21 season and currently sit in 14th place, having won just three of their first 11 matches. 

The club's next match is on Monday when they travel to face Eibar in La Liga.

Former Juventus and AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri says he wants to manage in the Premier League.

The 53-year-old, who has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal among other clubs, has been without a club since leaving Juve at the end of the 2018-19 season.

He won five consecutive Serie A titles in Turin, adding to the singular Scudetto he won at Milan in 2011 – the last time a team other than Juventus won the Italian top flight.

Now, Allegri is improving his English language skills and looking for his next job.

“I would like to experience the Premier League,” told The Times. “In Italy, I was in Milan for four years. Five years in Juventus. Now I expect (to work again) in Italy, but it is difficult, or in England.”

“For me, English football is improving now because there are a lot of foreign trainers. There are more tactics compared to ten years ago. England now is more sophisticated, and more tactical, but is also respecting the tradition of English football.

“It’s a good balance of the spirit of English football and the new quality and new tactical approach of the new coaches.

“The important thing is every country has its own history. England is different from Italy, which is different from Spain, from Germany. It’s difficult to change the history of the country.”

Allegri believes Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the two best teams in Europe right now, and he is a fan of what Jurgen Klopp has achieved at Anfield.

“Every year they improve the team. Liverpool have players who are very fast, technical, are physically stronger, and they have character.

“To win trophies, we need to have character, the technical, the tactical, and the physical. And all Liverpool players work very hard, every match. Liverpool have the right mentality.

“At Tottenham, [Jose] Mourinho has the balance with the pragmatic and the technical. Because Tottenham are a big team, with big players, and Mourinho is about the strategic. The trainer must respect the quality of his players. Mourinho understands his players. He’s doing a great job at Tottenham.

“Manchester City don’t have a big history like United, so [Pep] Guardiola can work with a ‘virgin’ club and has the possibility to work his own way.”

Southampton's summer signing, defender Mohammed Salisu, is in line to make his debut in Monday's Premier League meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion, club boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed.

The Ghanaian joined the Saints on a four-year deal from La Liga side Real Valladolid in August but has had to bide his time to make an appearance for his new club due to a combination of injury and lack of match fitness.

"Ingsy [Danny Ings] and Reddy [Nathan Redmond] are starting to train now and this week will be part of the sessions and then we will have a look how competitive they are," Hasenhuttl said in his team news on Friday ahead of Monday's fixture away at Brighton, his club's official website reports.

"Sali [Salisu] is also a step further forward in his development, so we have a few more alternatives in the future and this is good.

"All of these players it is possible they are in the squad on Monday. We will have a look for whom it is possible and for whom it is too early.

"Now is the busiest time of the year, and in the beginning of this time we seem to have everybody back and fit in the team and we need everybody now, this is for sure, because now becomes a busy time."

Although Salisu completed his transfer to Southampton in August, he joined the club's pre-season training in the week of their Premier League opener in September.

The Saints have not done badly without the 21-year-old so far as they have overcome a poor start to the campaign to climb to a current sixth position on the league standings.

He caught the eye of Southampton with a run of fine performances for Valladolid, also consequently attracting offers from French side Stade Rennais and reportedly from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.

In what was his first and only season of senior professional football, the centre-back made 31 league appearances involving 30 starts and one goal for the White and Violets.

His injury and fitness situations have prolonged his anticipated debut for Ghana who will be looking to call on him when the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers resume in March next year.

Yet again, URA FC and Mbarara City settled for a draw from Friday's Ugandan Premier League (UPL) encounter at Kakyeka Stadium.

The 1-1 result saw the two top-tier rivals share the points as the draw is the sixth between them in as many games. Steven Mukwala scored for URA while Jude Ssemugabi helped the Ankole Lions fight back to salvage the point.

Mbarara City could have opened the score in the 22nd minute but were denied by the post while the Tax Collectors broke the deadlock eight minutes later after they were saved by the woodwork.

Mukwala, who was making his URA debut, was assisted by Joachim Ojera to open his goal account. The scorer could have earned a double in the 48th minute but Muhammad Ssekaba denied him from the penalty spot.

In the 81st minute, Ssemugabi scored the equaliser as the two teams shared the points in their Premier League opener.

Meanwhile, Sports Club Villa and BUL FC recorded a high-scoring draw of the day in the other UPL tie.

Emmanuel Wasswa and Nicholas Kabonge scored for the record UPL champions while Richard Wandyaka and Musa Esenu were the scorers for BUL in the 2-2 draw.

Wasswa scored in the fifth minute before it was cancelled out by Wandyaka’s effort in the third minute past the half-hour mark.

Esenu gave BUL the lead in the 55th minute before Kabonge brought the score at par again in the 78th minute. Ten minutes before the SC Villa equaliser, the Jogoos had been reduced to 10 men after Benson Muhindo was red-carded.

The three minutes that were added was not enough for either side to register a winning goal.

This is the first season for the Jogoos since reverting into a community-owned club in the recent past.

Finally, Police FC and Wakiso Giants produced a 0-0 draw at the MTN Omondi Stadium.

Eyes were on Police’s captain Tony Mawejje who returned to the club since he last played for them in 2006. The experienced midfielder was, however, substituted in the 45 minutes as he walked out seemingly injured.

Frank Tumwesigye, Eric Ssenjobe, and Hassan Muhamood were given their debuts for Police as they are among the new signings.

Wakiso Giants gave debuts to Rahmat Ssenfuka and Joshua Lubwama as the draw is the first one between the rivals in three games.

Chennaiyin registered their first defeat in the Indian Super League 2020-21 season as they lost 0-1 against Bengaluru at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Friday.

Bengaluru talisman Sunil Chhetri scored the only goal of the match from the spot in the 56th minute. 

Chennaiyin coach Csaba Laszlo was infuriated by the actions of Ashique Kuruniyan as his challenge saw Anirudh Thapa eventually leaving the field in pain. The head coach said that Kuruniyan made at least three fouls in five minutes and suggested that the referee could have sent him off. 

"Anirudh Thapa's injury, I think, he will be okay but I'm angry just because it looks like this player No.22 (Ashique) made three fouls in five minutes. This season I'm also angry about what happened because for most of it you can give a yellow or red card. I don't think it was the right decision," Laszlo said after the game.

Laszlo made three changes in the second half and Chennaiyin looked like the better side towards the end of the game. He said that his team played better football due to the change in the system.

"We were the better team (in the second half) mostly because we changed the system. And we tried to run and score. We tried. In the second half I think we played one-way football," Laszlo said.

Cnennaiyin FC will next take on Mumbai City FC on Wednesday.  

Hector Bellerin is delighted to see fans back in some Premier League stadiums ahead of Arsenal’s north London derby clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

The Spain international says there is nothing more sad for a footballer than playing in an empty stadium, and he believes having supporters gives an advantage to the home team.

On Thursday, Arsenal welcomed supporters back to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since March and put on a show with a 4-1 thrashing of Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.

“The fans give an advantage to the home team,” Bellerin told beIN SPORTS. “When you do get the win away it’s a completely different feeling, for different reasons.

“There’s no better feeling than being able to share the win at home with your fans.

“I’ve missed them so much. It’s so difficult for me when the game’s finished and I walk around the pitch. To thank the fans ... playing with an empty stadium, there’s nothing more sad than that for a football player.

“The synergy you get with them when you win, or you score a goal; 60,000 people unite on the same wavelength and we’re really missing that as players."

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be far from full on derby day, with only 2,000 supporters permitted into the 62,000-capacity arena, but it is a welcome step towards some semblance of normality in the English game.

Whatever the attendance, Bellerin is sure the fixture will live up to expectations.

“It doesn’t matter what stage of the season it is. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing for something or not, it is always such a meaningful game.”

The right-back also recalled some of his favourite memories from the derby.

“There was a 4-1 or 4-2 at the Emirates … there was a 2-2 at White Hart Lane that, even though it wasn’t a win, I remember as a really tough game and entertaining.

“I’ve always enjoyed the pressure and the aggression of those games. I miss not being able to play with fans. They bring such an atmosphere to those kind of games. It’s not going to be the same.”

A busy December of LaLiga football lies ahead and it kicks off with several intriguing fixtures in Matchday 12. San Mames in Bilbao hosts the first match of the weekend as Athletic Club welcome Celta Vigo to the Basque Country on Friday night.

This will be a big test for new Celta Vigo coach Eduardo Coudet, who just won his first match since arriving in Galicia. The Argentine is making small tweaks and looking to get the best out of Iago Aspas, who has five goals against Athletic Club across the past four seasons.

Saturday’s action then begins with a match that is so important for Levante UD and Getafe CF, as the former haven’t won since September 27th and the latter since October 17th.

Both coaches know that a three-point haul is needed soon and there could be a cup tie feeling as they battle it out at the beautiful Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.

Then, at 16:15 CET, comes the huge fixture of Matchday 12. It’s Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid in the Andalusian capital, it’s fifth vs fourth, it’s Julen Lopetegui vs Zinedine Zidane and it’s one team in good form against a team in poor form.

Recent results have seen pressure mount at Real Madrid, who have won fewer than half their matches across all competitions in 2020/21 with seven wins from 15 games. Los Blancos won both meetings against Sevilla FC last season and would love for another victory on Saturday afternoon.

Atletico Madrid and Real Valladolid’s meeting in Spain’s capital follows as Atleti look for a victory that would – at least temporarily – put them top of the league table.

With Real Valladolid unbeaten in their past three, it promises to be a very competitive match.

Saturday’s LaLiga Santander action then concludes with a Spanish football fixture of yesteryear, one that hasn’t been seen in a decade and a half. Not since 2005 have FC Barcelona visited Cadiz CF’s Estadio Ramon de Carranza.

Lionel Messi played in that 3-1 Blaugrana win, which was just his 16th LaLiga Santander match.

This Saturday’s game will be his 495th and he’ll hope for another win.

On Sunday, SD Huesca’s quest for their first victory of the season will continue away at Granada CF.

The 2019/20 LaLiga SmartBank champions haven’t been terrible since winning promotion, as they’ve collected seven points via their league-leading seven draws, but, everyone at the club knows that a win is overdue and they’ll encounter a Granada CF side suffering a mini slump in form.

CA Osasuna vs Real Betis follows and it’s a match that promises goals. So far this season, Real Betis matches have produced 3.18 goals per game on average, which is the most in all of LaLiga Santander.

Unfortunately for Manuel Pellegrini and his players, the goals have been falling for the opposition in recent weeks. It’s three defeats in a row for Los Verdiblancos and CA Osasuna will hope to make it four from four.

Two regional derbies then round off the Sunday slate of fixtures, both of which will use the special PUMA Adrenalina football.

First off, Villarreal CF will welcome Elche CF from the other end of the Valencian Community for a colourful duel between the Yellow Submarine and the Green Stripes. Elche CF keep good memories from Vila-Real with a couple of promotions in the last seven years, and want to add another successful chapter.

Later, in the Sunday night match, in-form Deportivo Alaves host league leaders Real Sociedad for a clash that will feature technical skill in addition to the grit usually associated with Basque derbies.

There’s then one more game in Matchday 12 as SD Eibar face one of their favourite victims. Over their past eight meetings against Valencia CF, SD Eibar have won five, drawn two and lost just one.

With Valencia CF struggling to start 2020/21 and with several of their starters missing for this match at Ipurua, Los Armeros might finally secure their first home win of this season. Like the other nine matches of this weekend, that should be well worth tuning in for.

Watch LaLiga Santander live this weekend on SuperSport LaLiga on DStv Channel 204.

Gor Mahia stand-coach Sammy Omollo has admitted he is excited to have striker Benson Omalla available for their Caf Champions League match against APR of Rwanda on Saturday.

The Kenyan champions will face the Rwandese side in the return leg seeking to overturn a 2-1 defeat suffered in the first leg played in Nyamirambo Stadium last weekend.

While in Rwanda, Gor Mahia missed the services of Omalla, who was signed this season from Western Stima, as the young player was with the Kenya U20 team at the Cecafa tournament in Arusha, Tanzania, where Kenya finished third.

Omalla returned to training on Thursday and his presence has left stand-in coach Omollo excited since he feels the player will solve their striking problems against the army side.

“I think Benson [Omalla] coming in will give us a lot of options especially in the attacking area because he is a very good player, a very good finisher and that is one player we missed when we played in Rwanda,” Omollo told reporters at Nyayo Stadium.

“So I have a strong belief that the chances that will come tomorrow [Saturday], the boy [Omalla] is going to use them, so we are really relying on him for the goals and I know he will deliver, he will give us what we missed in Kigali.”

On the team’s preparations, Omollo said: “I think preparations was very important because when we went to Rwanda, we did not have enough preparations but since we came back [from Rwanda], we have been together, we have worked so much then, of course, we have been working on our weak and strong points and we know where to hurt them.”

Omollo, who will be standing in for suspended Brazilian Roberto Oliveira Goncalves, has also confirmed keeper Boniface Oluoch is a doubt to play in the fixture as he has been down with malaria.

“The only setback we have is the absence of keeper Boniface Oluoch, he has been down with malaria and I don’t know if he is going to make it, but if he does not make it then Gad Mathews, will start, he has really trained well this week, and I believe he is a good cover for Oluoch," he added.

On the absence of fans owing to the Covid-19 restrictions by the Ministry of Health, Omollo said: “I just wish the Green Army was with us but unfortunately it will not be the case, we really needed that 12th man but we will try and play our level best, we try and make our fans proud and make the country proud, we will work hard and work smart.”

Having seen how the Rwandan side play in the first leg, Omollo has an idea what to expect from APR in the return fixture.

“We worked on a team that is sitting back and defending deep and then they come with counters, so we are taking care of that, it only that we have to win the ball as quickly as we lose possession, if we do that, then they cannot beat us on the counter, we have to be aware what is happening around and give more than 100 percent," he concluded.

“We have also worked hard on our endurance, if you look in Kigali, we had a very good first half and especially after they scored the first goal and towards the 75th minute, the energy went down, and all this was because of the preparations [we had from Nairobi], and I can tell you we have worked on the energy and you will see a very different team on Saturday.”

Midfielder Kenneth Muguna scored Gor Mahia’s away goal in Kigali.

Lionel Messi is known for many things - his superhuman ability on the pitch, his humble nature off of it and his status as one of the GOATs of football.

The Argentina forward is also known to sport a ginger beard, despite having dark hair.

So why is Messi able to grow a ginger beard even though he is brown-haired? Is it just merely one of his superhuman abilities? Goal takes a look.

No, Messi doesn't dye his hair artificially red in his free time.

Even though the Barcelona superstar is naturally a brunette, his red beard - which differs from the colour on his head - is a result of his unique set of genes.

Not all brown-haired people are capable of growing ginger beards. But in the case of Messi, and a few others, the ginger beard is due to having one set of the redhead gene from just one parent.

Because the colour of one's hair is set by the pigments in the hair, each person's individual DNA code determines the pigment of the hair colour - and the amount of that hair colour.

Those who are white possess two different hair colour pigments: black and red.

Dark-haired white people have black pigment in their hair, while blondes have a smaller number of black pigment. Full redheads have just red pigments.

So in the case of Messi, there is one gene in particular - MC1R - that plays a huge part in determining the presence of red hair in brunettes.

Just one of the mutated MC1R genes is needed for the red hair to grow on other parts of the body - such as the beard and face.

The one mutated MC1R gene prevents less black pigment from growing and allows more red on the body.

It doesn't happen for just everyone, and so those who have predominantly brown hair but sport ginger beards are one of a special few!

Messi isn't the only footballer to have a ginger beard.

Xabi Alonso is another entrant in the ginger-bearded footballer hall of fame, along with fellow Spaniard Juan Mata.

Having cultivated an image as an all-smiling, all-laughing purveyor of heavy metal football who excitedly embraces his players after games, it is somewhat jarring when Jurgen Klopp gets angry in interviews.

It happens though, and it has been happening a lot more often through the Covid-19 pandemic as the Liverpool boss vents his frustrations to broadcasters during post-match appraisals.

The imposing and head-strong German coach has butted heads with television reporters in the course of the 2020-21 season, but for what reason?

Goal takes a look at why Klopp is so angry and why he is pinning the blame for his ire on the broadcast media.

Why is Jurgen Klopp angry at Liverpool's fixture schedule?

Klopp's frustration with Liverpool's fixture schedule stems from the belief that they are playing too many games in quick succession.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss feels it is endangering the health of his players and leading to injuries, which in turn affects the on-field fortunes of his team.

The issue of fixture congestion particularly intensified for Klopp in October and November, with the Reds playing 12 games across the two months, with many fixtures coming at intervals of three and four days.

Dotted in between those games were a number of international breaks - coming in September, October and November - so a number of Liverpool players ended up with a lot of minutes in their legs.

Notably, key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Thiago, Naby Keita and James Milner joined Virgil van Dijk and Alisson on the injury table during those two months.

While complaints about fixture congestion have been common gripe among managers of the top Premier League clubs for years, it is fair to say that the disruption to the calendar by the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated issues.

The Premier League initiated 'Project Restart' over the summer of 2020 in order to conclude the 2019-20 campaign, but it meant that the players did not have much of a break or, indeed, a pre-season ahead of 2020-21.

The double-edged sword of success is that Liverpool, along with a handful of others, are competing on four different fronts - league, two domestic cups and Europe - at the start of the season, so they find themselves playing more games than the majority in the Premier League.

Why does Jurgen Klopp blame the TV broadcasters?

Klopp is not happy with television broadcasters and has even gone as far as blaming them for injuries suffered by his players.

The reason he has hit out at broadcasters is because of the fact that his team have been pencilled in for a number of 12:30pm GMT kick-offs on Saturdays after playing in the Champions League or another competition on a Wednesday evening. According to Klopp, this does not leave enough time for players to adequately recover.

In November, during a post-match interview with BT Sport's Des Kelly after Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Brighton, for example, Klopp sarcastically congratulated the broadcaster after being asked about James Milner, who sustained a hamstring injury in the game.

"Yeah, congratulations!" he jibed at the startled interviewer. "Hamstring. Surprise."

When it was suggested by Kelly that Klopp's anger was misdirected, the German quickly countered: "I don't know how often I have to say it, you picked [Liverpool for] the 12:30pm kick-off. You. Not you personally, but you (broadcaster) did it."

He added: "I'm not having a go at the broadcaster, I just say how it is: Saturday 12:30pm [kick-off] after Wednesday is really, really dangerous for the players."

While Klopp is particularly irked by the role played by broadcasters, it must be said that they are not the only ones who have been on the receiving end of his tongue-lashings.

Indeed, at the end of October he namechecked Premier League CEO Richard Masters in an animated complaint about the quandary of the Wednesday evening-Saturday afternoon scheduling.

“I think everybody would agree that if you play Tuesday night, you can play the Saturday 12:30pm game, but somehow the Premier League never realises that,” the Reds boss told BT Sport. “They always put in the Wednesday night game, like last Saturday, Man City had to play this game [12:30pm on Saturday] - I can’t believe it.

"We are obviously not friends, we play against each other and fight against each other, but how is that possible? Maybe I’m too dumb. Premier League CEO Richard Masters and all the others have all said it before: ‘Come on, that’s how it is.’ They just aren’t bothered. I don’t understand why.”

Then, at the beginning of November he slammed the Premier League again, this time for "a lack of leadership" over the fact that the number of permitted substitutes was reduced from five to three again.

He has aimed a number of digs at Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder since then, calling him "selfish" due to the fact that the Blades boss was in favour of the reduction.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has suggested that Klopp is emulating Sir Alex Ferguson by using complaints as a cerebral weapon, arguing that the volume of games for successful teams is not a new phenomenon.

"The biggest risk to Klopp winning the league again this season is another big injury or two. So, he wants to try and gain that advantage to put some psychological thing into people's minds. Sir Alex Ferguson did it for 15 or 16 years," Neville told Sky Sports when asked about the German's attacks on broadcasters.

Some observers may, like Neville, find the way in which Klopp is campaigning a source of bemusement, but he is certainly backed by his own players, with Andy Robertson suggesting that "a little bit more help" is needed from somewhere.

"I just believe we should be trying to help the players," the Scotland captain told reporters at the end of November. "I don’t know the exact percentage or the exact number but a lot more muscle injuries have happened this season. It seems every game I watch on telly or every game I’m involved in, somebody is going off injured with something.

“I think the Premier League is the best league in the world but you want your best players on there and you want all squads to have their best team available and being able to compete for different things.

"We’re maybe not seeing that as much just now because players are unfortunately picking up muscle injuries.

“I just think maybe we could get a little bit more help. We’ll crack on with it and let that kind of get decided elsewhere. As it stands we’ll prepare for a game every three days and we’ll try to be as fit and as healthy as possible.”

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick has said that a new contract for defender David Alaba "is not an issue at the moment" ahead of his side's top-of-the-table clash with RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Alaba's deal expires at the end of the current season and the defender has rejected multiple offers of an extension from the Bundesliga champions.

The saga has become personal for the Austria international, with his father saying last month that the defender is "so disappointed and upset because so many falsehoods are being aired in public."

With Bayern having taken their latest offer off the table, Flick told a media conference on Friday: "That's not an issue at the moment. There's a game every third day, that's the focus at the moment."

Flick also spoke about winger Leroy Sane, a player he believes needs more time to establish himself with the Bundesliga champions.

Since joining Bayern from Manchester City for an initial €49 million (£45m/$55m) in July , Sane has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven Bundesliga games, three of which have been starts.

He has also created four big chances, with only Thomas Muller (six) and Serge Gnabry (five) creating more for Bayern.

The attacker missed almost the entire 2019-20 season with City after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and suffered a knee injury against Hoffenheim at the end of September.

Flick has largely been impressed with Sane's contribution but believes there is plenty more to come once he has settled at the club.

"You have to consider the background," Flick said.

"He had a serious injury and was injured again in the Hoffenheim game. I know from my own experience that you need some time.

"What I see in training is good. It's not that easy when you come to a new club; you have to integrate first. At the moment we can't train like we did in pre-season."

Bayern are two points clear of Leipzig at the Bundesliga summit and will hope to improve on their recent record against Julian Nagelsmann's side when they visit the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Bayern won their first three meetings with Leipzig but have triumphed only once in their last five matches. Indeed, since 2017-18, only Hertha Berlin (four times in seven games) have picked up points in as many games against Bayern as Leipzig (four times in six games).

Leipzig are also the only team to stop the Bavarian giants from scoring in their last 70 Bundesliga matches, holding them to 0-0 draws in May 2019 and February 2020.

And Flick is in no doubt his side are in for a tough game against Nagelsmann's forward-thinking outfit.

"Leipzig have developed tremendously," the Bayern boss said. "Even before I was at Hoffenheim, I knew that Julian was a top coach.

"Leipzig play forward very quickly and are very variable. The idea of their football appeals to me and I value Julian as a coach. That's why Leipzig are where they are."

Alphonso Davies returned to full training this week after six weeks out with ankle ligament damage, while Joshua Kimmich stepped up his own personal fitness programme following surgery on a right lateral meniscus injury.

Saturday's game will come too soon for them, but Flick holds out hope Davies could make an appearance in Wednesday's final Champions League Group A game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

"Alphonso has trained, but is not yet ready for tomorrow," Flick said. "Maybe he will be back on Wednesday.

"Otherwise, except for Coco Tolisso and Joshua Kimmich, everyone is on board. That is a good sign, especially in the current situation."

Juventus have claimed their innocence after it was confirmed the club's management is under further investigation by Italian police over the collapsed transfer of Luis Suarez from Barcelona.

The Serie A giants looked well-placed to sign the forward over the summer but the deal fell through.

Juve had already filled their quota of non-EU players in their squad so Suarez took a ‘B1’ citizenship test. Suarez’s wife, Sofia Balbi, has an Italian passport so passing the test would mean he did not take up a non-EU place in their squad, but in September it was alleged that it had been fixed.

It was alleged topics of the exam were agreed in advance, allowing for the result to essentially be predetermined.

Now the Perugia Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the club was ‘activated, even at the highest institutional levels, to accelerate the recognition of Luis Suarez’s Italian citizenship’, and that more investigations are ongoing.

On Friday, Juventus released a statement saying the club was confident sporting director Fabio Paratici, who has been accused of providing "false information to the public prosecutors", had done nothing wrong and that the ongoing investigation “will help clarify his position within a reasonable time”.

Three members of staff at the University Giuliana Grego – CEO Simone Olivieri and professors Stefania Spina and Lorenzo Rocca – have been suspended for eight months ‘for the offence of disclosure of professional secrecy aimed at undue profit and multiple ideological falsehoods in public acts.’

The Prosecutor’s statement clarified: “It emerged that the contents of the test had been communicated in advance to the player, in order to arrive at a predetermined outcome and examination score to meet the requests that had been made by Juventus, with the aim of achieving a positive image return, both personal and for the University.

“Investigations have also allowed us to understand how, in the first days of September 2020, the management of the Turin club was activated, even at the highest institutional levels, to accelerate recognition of Italian citizenship of Suarez.

“This suggests new hypotheses of crime against persons other than those belonging to the university, still in the process of study.”

Suarez eventually signed for Atletico Madrid, from whom Juventus re-signed Spain international forward Alvaro Morata.

The Naples city council has unanimously approved a resolution that will change the name of Napoli's home stadium from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. 

The resolution was proposed by Naples mayor Luigi De Magistris only hours after the news that Maradona had passed away at age 60 last week.

Maradona is a revered figure in Naples after leading the city's club to two Serie A titles during his seven-year run with Napoli from 1984 to 1991. 

"With his immense talent and his magic, he honoured the Napoli shirt for seven years, giving it two historical championships and other prestigious cups, and receiving in exchange from the whole city an eternal and unconditional love," a statement from the council read. 

The statement also noted the connection the working-class city shared with Maradona, who was raised in poverty in his native Buenos Aires. 

"Through the football victories of the Argentine champion, it was not only the Napoli team that won but the whole city, which fully identifies with him," it read.

"Always on the side of the weakest and the common people, Maradona fought the prejudices and discrimination that Neapolitans were still subjected to inside the stadiums, becoming the idol of the entire city."

Napoli had the chance to pay tribute to Maradona last week during their Europa League match at home against Rijeka. Captain Lorenzo Insigne laid a wreath before kick-off, while the Napoli team lined up in 'Maradona 10' shirts. 

After the game, which Napoli won 2-0, forward Dries Mertens told Sky Sport Italia: "It was an awful moment for me, so I can only imagine how those who lived through his time at Napoli must have felt.

"He made such a big impact on this city and for everyone in the south of Italy. I want to be positive, and focus on my memories of a smiling man who loved football. It was tough to pull that shirt on. In some ways, it was always a dream, but not like this."

The final step in the stadium's name change will be the authorisation of the Prefect of the Province of Naples, which is expected to be a formality. 

Swansea City talisman Andre Ayew believes his influence on the team must go beyond simply finding the back of the net as the club continues their chase for Premier League promotion.

The Ghana attacker has become a key element in the Jack Army's quest, having become the most trusted source of goals at Liberty Stadium.

Last season, he netted 16 times in 46 Championship outings to finish the term as his team's top scorer and most outstanding player. This campaign, he continued just where he left off as he currently stands as the club's top scorer, with six goals in 14 appearances.

“I know I must help the team and have a style of play that's not just about scoring goals; it's about trying to help the team to play better football," Ayew said, as reported by his club's official website.

“I think we're doing well. It's very important for me to try and be as complete as I can be.

"If I can get goals, that's the icing on the cake, but it's important to play our game.

“The gaffer and the players trust in each other and we have the freedom to play our game."

Swansea are looking forward to bouncing back with a win in Saturday's home match against Luton Town following a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

The Jack Army are currently seventh on the league table after matchday 15.

“You cannot go through a season such as this without losing games or having disappointment but, if you react right, you can make sure those feelings do not last long,” Ayew added.

“We need to keep going because this league is long and hard. We're a squad who want to do something big this year. To do that, we need to learn how to deal with frustrating situations like this.

“We need to stay calm, realise what we did good and bad, and prepare for Saturday and look to make it count.

"It’s about sticking together and standing by each other, because that’s what the best teams do."

Last season, Swansea came close to securing a Premier League return as they reached the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs.

When Youssef En-Nesyri’s tame header trickled into the arms of Edouard Mendy in the closing seconds of Sevilla’s humbling night against Chelsea on Wednesday, it was hard not to feel sorry for the frontman.

On a night where Julen Lopetegui made a swathe of changes to the side, last year’s Europa League winners were thoroughly beaten 4-0 in Andalusia, with the North African forward cutting an isolated figure for the majority of the game in Seville.

Even though qualification was already sewn up, both sides opted to rest usual starters despite first place in the group up for grabs. In the end, Chelsea’s superior quality told, as Frank Lampard was still able to call upon talented players who many will argue should be in the Blues legend’s best line-up.

Lopetegui, on the other hand, utilised a front four that comprised a triumvirate of Franco Vazquez, Oussama Idrissi and En-Nesyri making their first starts in the competition, while Oscar Rodriguez had started one game on the continent before facing the London giants.

Breaking it down further, the fact all but the Moroccan have featured consistently in La Liga — one start for Rodriguez and none for Vazquez and Idrissi — emphasised the lack of cohesion in a rejigged Sevilla team.

Their xG of 1.4 per Fbref already seemed unlikely to the naked eye given the paucity of notable chances on the night, but the realisation that the starting attackers accounted for just 0.3 of their Expected Goals was beyond jarring.

Summing everything up, it largely explains why the Andalusians were unable to muster anything noteworthy going forward, and En-Nesyri’s performance suffered as a consequence of the changes to the side.

Given how players thrive on momentum, Wednesday night was especially disappointing for the North African due to his form going into that Chelsea game. The 23-year-old’s goals in recent weeks have been vital to Sevilla’s improvement in form in La Liga after a slow start to the campaign, while a splendid super-sub showing was crucial to a 3-2 comeback win over Krasnodar in matchday three on the continent.

What’s been particularly noteworthy about the young forward’s contribution has been the importance of his goals in the recent run of five goals in six before facing Lampard’s men: a three-minute brace to overturn a 2-1 deficit for 10-man Sevilla vs Krasnodar, the equalizer in an eventual 4-2 win over Celta Vigo and an 83rd-minute winner shortly after his introduction as Lopetegui’s team beat Huesca 1-0 last weekend.

The goal that began the striker’s fine run came against Athletic Club in late October but Los Nervionenses failed to hold on at San Mames, losing 2-1. Still, it doesn’t shed the assertion that En-Nesyri tends to score mostly important goals even though consistency remains the forward’s challenge.

This is somewhat evidenced by his mini drought after scoring a late winner against Levante at the start of the month, although it should be noted that the frontman started just one of the following five games after that strike.

In total, he’s won a quarter of Sevilla’s 16 points in the league but playing 90 minutes against Chelsea during the week probably counts against him for Saturday afternoon’s clash vs Real Madrid.

Lopetegui has largely rotated his two primary centre-forwards this season, and leaving the Morocco striker on for the duration of Wednesday’s clash hints at the former Real coach’s thinking for this weekend’s clash against the under-fire visitors.

This seems odd on the outside looking in due to de Jong’s scoreless run in the league since bagging in a deserved 1-1 draw at Barcelona. He’s netted just one goal in all competitions since but there’s an argument that the Dutch forward remains his manager’s first pick up top.

En-Nesyri not only leads the way for xG per 90 minutes in La Liga this season but also edges the 30-year-old for Shot-Creating Actions per game in the league, ties the experienced attacker for key passes per game and has missed more big chances, despite playing fewer minutes.

While the latter usually paints a negative picture in football analytics, the North African striker’s misses to the Dutch striker’s none probably suggests he’s more of a natural goalscorer than de Jong, to begin with.

Thus, it leaves Lopetegui with a choice to make against an ailing Los Blancos side he’ll want to beat badly. The Europa League-winning manager’s short history with the Madrid giants ended after four months and, even if doesn’t admit it publicly, will have a personal quest to beat his old side.

Saturday unquestionably represents the right moment to play Zinedine Zidane’s side, given their rather indifferent results which has reportedly put the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year on the brink of being jettisoned.

Despite facing the risk of falling 10 and nine points behind Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid respectively, there’s a feeling next week’s make-or-break Champions League showing against Borussia Monchengladbach and Madrid Derby next weekend may be prioritised over the imminent encounter in Andalusia.

Lopetegui’s team will fancy their chances against a Jekyll and Hyde Real team and, in En-Nesyri, the ex-Spain trainer has an in-form frontman capable of hurting Zidane’s outfit.

Whether the Sevilla boss chooses to trust him from the start, however, remains up in the air.

Under-fire Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is convinced he retains the full support of the club and his players amid a difficult run of results.

Madrid head to Sevilla on Saturday having failed to win any of their previous three Liga matches, suffering losses to Valencia and Deportivo Alaves either side of a draw with Villarreal.

Los Blancos have never endured a winless run of four league games under Zidane, and the champions are already seven points adrift of pacesetters Real Sociedad, although arguably the greater concern is second-place Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone's men are unbeaten this term and, although a point off the top they have two games in hand on Sociedad and one on their city rivals.

Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk increased the pressure on Zidane as their Champions League progression hopes were left hanging in the balance, but the Frenchman continues to put on a brave face.

When asked if he felt he had the club's backing, he told reporters: "Yes, completely, I feel the support of the club. I can't be happy when we lose a game, but we know where we are. We are lucky to fight for this club and that's what I'm going to do until the last day, and the players too. We have to be together with what we know how to do."

Zidane was then asked if the players have given him their backing, which seemed to irk the former France international.

"In the end, you guys [the media] always try these things, asking whether the players are with me or not," he replied. "What the players want is to compete and they have always shown their care for me, but it is not the most important thing.

"I have been a player here, coach, I know the history I have with this club and sometimes it is true that things do not work out for us.

"[Criticism] doesn't bother me. It's my position, it's what it is, when you don't win it's like that, it's normal for there to be criticism, but it won't change what I think. We will continue."

Traditionally, Madrid do well against Sevilla – Los Blancos have beaten them 19 times in their previous 30 Liga meetings, while Zidane has not claimed more wins against any other opponent across all competitions than he has over the Andalusians.

Nevertheless, Europa League holders Sevilla – coached by former Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui – are likely to be fresh having rested many first-team regulars during the 4-0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea.

They are also unbeaten in 15 league games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, keeping seven clean sheets in their past 10 home games - and will move above Madrid with a win - but Lopetegui remains wary of Madrid, suggesting their difficult form might make them even more threatening this weekend.

"Real Madrid are always dangerous, and even more so in these situations," he said. "They're a team that have answers for many situations and now that feeds into them to give a good performance. I'm expecting a strong Real Madrid, who will demand the best version of us."