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Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland has been rewarded for his stunning exploits, named the 2020 Golden Boy recipient.

The prize, presented by Italian newspaper Tuttosport and won by Joao Felix last year, is given to the best player aged 21 or under from a top-tier league in Europe.

And Norway international Haaland – the leading contender – graced Saturday's front page of Tuttosport, beating the likes of Dortmund team-mate Jadon Sancho, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies, Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood and Barcelona sensation Ansu Fati to the award.

Haaland scored 44 goals across all competitions in 2019-20 – 16 of those coming in 18 appearances after a mid-season move from Austrian champions Salzburg to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund.

Among all Bundesliga players last season to have scored at least 10 goals, only Bayern star Robert Lewandowski (81.2) had a better minutes-per-goal record than Haaland (81.7).

Haaland has six goals in as many Bundesliga appearances for last season's runners-up Dortmund this term.

The 20-year-old has found the back of the net four times through three Champions League fixtures in 2020-21, taking his tally to 11 goals from 11 matches across all competitions.

Haaland continues to be linked with a blockbuster switch from Dortmund amid reported interest from the likes of LaLiga champions Real Madrid and Premier League giants United.

But his father Alf-Inge Haaland told SPORT1 during the week: "When you play well, it's only logical that big clubs knock on your door, but we're talking about speculation here.

"At the moment it's not in Erling's or my head that another club will be vying for him. We signed a long contract with Dortmund and they have a fantastic team for Erling right now. We don't want to look any further ahead."

Asked if the close season could bring about a move, he added: "You never know what will happen. We haven't talked about such a step yet. I think he would like to win some trophies with Dortmund. That is his goal. Erling can still achieve a lot in Germany and make great progress. Moving abroad is not a priority for us.

"I sometimes think he wants to and can assert himself in any league. At the moment, he is happy in the Bundesliga and focused on Dortmund. He just wants to be a better player and doesn't look too far ahead."

In exactly two years from now, the 2022 World Cup will kick-off at the Al Bayt Stadium with hosts Qatar in action. It’s been close to 10 years since the Middle East nation won the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup by beating the likes of Australia, South Korea, Japan and the United States.

One of the key themes was to use the World Cup as a platform to improve or upgrade the understanding of the Middle-East a region. It was an opportunity to showcase their rich cultural heritage, the hospitality of the people and most importantly, improve relations between the Arabic region and the rest of the world which would in turn create innumerable opportunities for economic and social growth.

Hassan Al Thawadi, the Secretary-General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy – the organization responsible for delivering the World Cup in 2022, stated that Qatar is leaving no stone unturned to extract the maximum benefit from hosting the greatest football extravaganza on earth.

“I think every day, it gains more significance in terms of meaning than the day before and it confirms what the World Cup always meant for us. It was first and foremost the embodiment of the passion for football and sports. Over the years it also shows how we are looking to extract the most amount of benefits from this tournament. This is not just a football tournament, this is one milestone for our country and region's story. We are trying to utilise it to the maximum benefit possible that should leave a lasting legacy beyond the tournament.

“It is an opportunity for us from which we are making the most. It is also a celebration of our culture, heritage and who we are. It is also an opportunity to celebrate our hospitality with the rest of the world. Now more than ever, with especially what Covid has done to the world, it is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate a common humanity.”

Al Thawadi highlighted the importance of human relationships and bonding and called for fans to shun the stereotypes they have been fed through the ages about people in the Middle East. Most importantly, he mentioned that the World Cup is a chance for the world to get to know the Arab region better and in the process, celebrate the differences and enjoy the similarities while watching their favourite sport.

“I hope the people who have participated here, the people who contributed to delivering the World Cup and the people of the region can look at it as a platform that would launch them into bigger and better things in their lives. Maybe, an entrepreneur looked at it as an opportunity that made his/her company grow into a great success. People who have participated here have created bonds and relationships forever.

“For the fans, it will be a moment of bonding and celebration. They should be able to look at these memories with great joy. They should experience the Middle East, who we are in our entirety, as people. Forgetting what they see in the news and the stereotypes that have unfortunately been embedded in people's minds. An opportunity for them to actually see us as a people. Very, very similar in many ways and different in other ways. But celebrate the differences and enjoy the similarities.”

With FIFA scrapping its plan for the Confederations Cup which acted as a precursor to the World Cup in a host nation, Qatar would instead host the Arab Cup towards the end of next year. Al Thawadi once again pointed that the 2022 World Cup is a moment of celebration for the entire Arab world as opposed to just a historical event for Qatar.

“This is a regional World Cup. If you look at the number of volunteers that have signed up and interested people in terms of attending events. By the end of 2021, we will be hosting the Arab Cup. All the Arab countries are participating. If you look at the Gulf Cup that we hosted last year and the Club World Cup, the amount of interest it generated amongst the fans and volunteers you can see that the people are yearning for the event. We continue to work to embrace the people of the region. The tournament is being held in Qatar, but it is first and foremost a regional tournament.”

Back in 2015, Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), came up with a unique concept of ‘Challenge 22’ which is an innovation award challenging the creative and technological minds to find solutions in certain sectors which have been identified as ‘challenging’ by the organizers. The response has been encouraging and Al Thawadi believes that the World Cup will go a long way in showcasing the Arab world in positive light, a region with a lot of talent and capability.

“The most important aspect is showcasing the culture and heritage. Showcasing the capabilities and talent of the region in terms of delivering such an event at a global scale. We have launched a number of initiatives within the region like Challenge 22. There we tried to utilise entrepreneurs and businesses from within the region to deliver some services required in the World Cup and hopefully, again that would showcase the capabilities of the companies that are available within the region.

“I think ultimately it will show us as hospitable people, capable people, and people those who have set their minds on one thing can achieve it.”

Qatar has faced numerous challenges since they won the bid. From doubting the entire bidding process to workers welfare to climate issues to sustainability problems to footballing calendar and so on. However, it’s fair to state that the country has emerged for the better from each of these challenges and their resilience has been the quality which as shone the most.

“With 100 per cent certainty we can say that whatever challenge we face we can overcome it with resourcefulness, resilience. We will use that challenge as an opportunity as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. We have been waiting for 10 years, two more years to go and we are waiting eagerly to host you in Qatar. This is your World Cup, this is your time, this is your celebration, please come on over.”

The 2022 World Cup is set to be a 'one-of-a-kind' event, thanks to the awe-inspiring stadium designs and cutting edge technology being employed. Hassan Al Thawadi's confidence seems to be well placed and justifies the tagline of the event - 'Deliver Amazing'.

Kerala Blasters had 69.3 per cent possession of the ball in the first half against ATK Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League (ISL) season opener on Friday. Compared to figures from the 2019-20 season, that is the highest figure by any ISL team. However, after 90 minutes, Blasters were on the losing side. 

ATK Mohun Bagan looked more like ATK than Mohun Bagan in their first ISL match as Antonio Habas set them up to nullify the Blasters threat - and they did it really well.

Blasters started on the front foot. They worked the ball around really well and took control of the game early on. Their opponents were nonplussed for a bit in the first half as Vicente Gomez and Sergio Cidoncha took control of the midfield and picked out forward passes with ease. 

But once the possession entered the final third, there was no connection to new signing Gary Hooper who was left isolated up front right up until he was substituted in the second half. Sahal Abdul Samad, who had a free role behind Hooper, couldn't facilitate the kind of transition that Kibu Vicuna wanted in his setup. The 23-year-old's night went from bad to worse when he missed the easiest chance of the match from five yards in front of goal.

Roy Krishna too missed an easy chance to break the deadlock from a corner-kick within the first few minutes. Fans can be forgiven if they thought Blasters would punish that miss given how they were able to control the game but in the end, there were very few clear-cut chances to boast about and zero shots on target in the entire match for the Yellow Army. 

Krishna ensured that he did not miss more than one easy chance as Blasters' failure to deal with a clipped Manvir Singh pass in the 67th minute was deservedly punished. The Fijian who scored 14 goals from 18 appearances last season scored the first goal of the season with a clinical strike that easily beat Albino Gomes. 

Even after conceding, Blasters' issues in the final third remained unsolved. The nature of their cluelessness points to a lack of a proper pre-season that Kibu Vicuna's system demands. Remember, his title-winning Mohun Bagan team played nearly 30 matches before putting on an impressive show in the I-League last season. 

It is easy to get carried away but as Vicuna said before the game, 'This team will be better next month.' The defence led by the impressive Costa Nhamoinesu enjoyed more than a few good moments and the team, overall, will only get better. 

Nasser Al-Khater, CEO of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, stated that sustainability is an essential element in the preparations for the upcoming edition of the biggest footballing extravaganza in 2022.

It must be noted that Qatar is committed to hosting a carbon-neutral World Cup which shall kick-off in exactly two years at Al Bayt Stadium. The organisers are already adopting environmentally preferable business practices and innovative technology in order to undertake more green practices.

“When we planned for the World Cup, sustainability had been essential to our planning. Stadiums are being built according to the highest standards of the GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System). The country has committed to solar power energy for the requirements of the World Cup and this is something that will be a legacy of the World Cup,” said Al-Khater.

Covid-19 has affected the human populace at large this year and Al-Khater exudes confidence that the pandemic would come to an end by the time the World Cup kickstarts in November 2022.

“Covid-19 has affected the entire world and not only the sports industry. It has disrupted people's lives. We are confident about the health structure around the world to help us to get rid of the pandemic by 2022.

“Even before that, major sporting events are taking place. People want to travel freely, visit friends and family. Our preparations luckily have not been affected by the pandemic here in Qatar. The government has taken steps early on especially the Ministry of Public Health. The pandemic is very well under control in Qatar. That is a very good thing,” he mentioned.

He reiterated that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) would deliver all the stadiums at least one year before the kick-off date of the World Cup in 2022.

“Our preparations for World Cup 2022 are going according to plans. We have inaugurated three stadiums. We have completed works on two other stadiums. We are well on track to have all our stadiums ready at least one year prior to the World Cup. All training sites have been completed,” he stated.

Al-Khater added that Qatar would host several important competitions in the coming year which would act as test events at the said venues.

“We have been focussing on the planning for the past few years and now we are focussing on the operational tests that we put in place. We have hosted a few tournaments over the past few months and we are also hosting the Champions League for the Eastern Zone and the final on December 19. So there are a lot of tournaments and test events are in place to make sure that we are testing enough on these operational plans.”

Al-Khater believes that a unique experience awaits the football fans who will travel in 2022 to Qatar to watch the World Cup.

"The other thing that we are focussing on is the fan experience. We would like to welcome all fans to the World Cup. It is going to be a unique experience for them. The compact World Cup has been a unique selling point from the very beginning. We are going to see fans from all groups and teams congregating in one area.

“This will be very different from the World Cups held in Russia and Brazil, two very large countries. They had to travel by train or airplane. Here fans are going to be in one location and it would help them in a better experience and interacting with each other,” he signed off.

NorthEast United's new signing Kwesi Appiah is set to take the field for the 17th professional club in his career and after having spent most of it in England, it wasn't easy for the Ghanaian to come to India. 

Appiah's NorthEast United, coached by former Ghana national team assistant coach Gerard Nus, will take on Mumbai City FC on Saturday in their first match of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season. 

"Coming to India was an option I thought deeply about. It’s not an easy decision to leave England, but the opportunity was a good one and I’m very much looking forward to testing myself at a different level and compete in a different style of game," Appiah told Goal.

"It was an experience I knew I wanted so I’m very grateful to be here and look forward to getting underway."

Appiah will miss out experiencing the football culture of the northeast part of India but understands the importance of following safety guidelines amid the pandemic.  

"I’m sure that if it (ISL) were to be played under the normal conditions, it would add to the experience. However, it’s the safest way to continue the league and ultimately during the pandemic that’s the most important thing. Once the season is finished, I will try and explore (different) parts of India. That way I will be able to add that to my experience overall."

Appiah is excited to play in what will be a new-look NorthEast United team under Gerard Nus, who is the youngest coach in ISL this season. The Spanish coach has worked with Appiah previously during his stint with the Ghana national team as part of the technical staff.

"I know the head coach very well having worked together with him with the Ghana national team and so it was very easy to understand his style of play and tactics. The squad is a talented one with a good mixture of youth and experience along with foreign and local players. We're bonding really well and are forming a tight unity," he summarised. 

Appiah's first task will be to score goals against Sergio Lobera's Mumbai City team which looks strong on paper and he is ready to give ISL his all this season. 

"I look forward to playing against all the teams and players. For me it’s part of the whole experience I’m going to take it all in and give my very best on every occasion!"

Pep Guardiola has hit back at Jose Mourinho, who suggested that Manchester City put pressure on England boss Gareth Southgate to release Raheem Sterling early ahead of Saturday's game.

At the end of a week in which Guardiola signed a new two-year Man City contract and Mourinho celebrated a year in charge of Tottenham, the pair will meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mourinho has never shied away from finding issue with his various nemeses - and Guardiola has often been among them.

This week's discussion suggested City influenced Southgate to see Sterling released early from England duty, adding to earlier claims Guardiola's side are guilty of diving.

These criticisms initially prompted a joke about Mourinho's medical expertise and then a dismissive response.

"Mourinho has to go to the doctors for the national team from England and from Manchester City," Guardiola said.

"He has to go to the doctors - except if Mourinho maybe is a doctor. I don't know."

He added: "Listen, I'm not going to answer anything about Jose.

"I said about the doctor because he accused something we have done which is not true, so he has to speak with doctors about all these other things.

"Don't ask me because I'm almost 50, so I'm old enough to understand."

Mourinho's Tottenham are five points and eight places above City heading into the weekend, but Guardiola was rewarded with a new deal despite a shaky start to the new season.

He knows results must follow if he is to still be at the helm in 2023, though.

"When I arrived here, I didn't expect to be seven years here," Guardiola said. "I don't know what's going to happen - it depends on the results, to be honest.

"We have success and we are happy, so why not? If we don't have success, we will be less happy and want a change. It's simple.

"So I'm here and continuing because we have had incredible success, last year won two titles. We won eight in the last three and we want to try to do it so again. No more than this.

"Still I am enjoying doing this job, so what happens in two years I cannot answer you.

"I didn't know what was happening, what would happen 10 days ago, 15 days ago. Our conversation this week with the club and especially Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], we clarified the deal together, the targets and we decided to continue.

"What's going to happen in two years, no manager can say it because it depends on the results, depends on how good we are doing.

"Maybe we cannot win and we're performing well; okay, it's not a problem. Or maybe we're not performing well and maybe... sports can happen.

"You drop a little bit our performance and lack of titles and after the situation will be completely opposite, but it's in two years.

"In football, two months, three months is a lot of time. Imagine two years."

Ulsan Hyundai boss Kim Do-hoon has given a thumbs up to Qatar’s 2022 FIIFA World Cup preparedness and tournament hosting capabilities ahead of his team’s AFC Champions League Group F clash against Shanghai Shenhua on Tuesday.

Qatar stepped in as the centralized hosting venue for the pandemic-delayed 2020 season for the East Zone group and knockout matches after successfully hosting the West Zone phase of the tournament in September.

“The quarantine facility here is very good and monitoring of the safety procedures is fantastic,” the visibly satisfied Ulsan Hyundai boss told reporters. Kim’s team was recently rocked by the news of goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo testing positive for COVID just ahead of the start of the ACL while being with the South Korean national team in Austria.  

Kim praised the infrastructure on show at the host nation of the 2022 World Cup. “I came here twenty years ago as a Jeonbuk Hyundai player but now everything has changed,” he said. “The place looks totally different. As a country hosting the World Cup, it is well prepared.

The Ulsan boss also had a word of praise for Education City Stadium, the 2022 World Cup venue where his team will be taking on Shanghai Shenhua. “The ground and facilities are great,” he said. "There is great involvement to play football here. The stadiums are kept cooled at 23 degrees [Celsius] and this helps players a lot. I hope the players are motivated to be at their best.”

The veteran that Kim turns to for his experience, former South Korean winger Lee Chung-yong, admitted the difficulties of playing football in a bubble but said that players need to remain focused.

“Because we are in Coronavirus times, players have to be in the bubble and keep to their rooms,” said the former Bolton Wanderers man. “Therefore it is tough to be in good physical condition as we just go out for training. It is a difficult situation but there is no point complaining about it as it is the same for every team.

“We just need to focus on each match. We have a big good squad and if we concentrate hard we can go high every game,” concluded Lee, who is no stranger to playing a mega tournament in Qatar after being an integral part of the South Korean side which finished third in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Neymar returned to action in Paris Saint-Germain’s shock 3-2 loss to Monaco, and manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed the Brazilian will start their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.

PSG appeared in complete control against Monaco on Friday, as a pair goals from Kylian Mbappe - who got 68 minutes in his legs on his return from injury - had them two-nil to the good, but they collapsed in the second half.

Tuchel condemned the attitude of his side, accusing them of stopping playing, but the bright spot was the return of Neymar from injury.

The Brazil international climbed off the bench on the hour mark for his first appearance for the club since the Champions League win at Basaksehir on October 28.

He could not prevent the shock collapse, but got 30 minutes under his belt and will be let loose against Leipzig.

"The match against Leipzig is going to be very difficult, but it would not have been much different if we'd won," Tuchel said of Tuesday's game.

"We had to get Kylian out, not take any risk with Marquinhos and make Neymar play for a few minutes.

"The mix between the two matches, Monaco and Leipzig, is perhaps also a reason which explains why we lost our concentration.

"Neymar is determined. He will start against Leipzig."

PSG were cruising at half-time on their return to Ligue 1 action on Friday as the fit-again Mbappe scored twice.

But a third effort from the France international was ruled out and the half-time introduction of Cesc Fabregas changed the game.

Kevin Volland swiftly pulled a goal back for Monaco, before Fabregas teed up the German forward's second and then swept in the winner from the penalty spot after Abdou Diallo was sent off.

Fabregas created three chances - no player managed more despite the midfielder only playing 45 minutes - and also had three shots, trailing only Volland.

The former Chelsea midfielder completed 32 of his 36 passes, including 86.4 per cent of his attempts in the PSG half, but Tuchel said his side were to blame as they ceded control.

Diallo's costly foul was one of 12 from the visitors in the second half, while Monaco won five more duels than their opponents across the 90 minutes.

"We controlled the first half with two goals scored and two others [disallowed], I think the third was valid," PSG boss Tuchel told Telefoot after the 3-2 loss.

"In the second half, we lacked the same concentration, we did not play seriously enough, we did not take the ball with the same quality and we didn't defend seriously enough either.

"This is why we are completely responsible. Maybe it was too easy and the players got the impression that it was already 3-0 or 4-0 when it was only 2-0.

"We have to accept the criticism because we have completely stopped playing football.

"We have not done what is necessary to win a match: defending in a block, remaining aggressive, remaining attentive in behind.

"We have lost also a little strength in the midfield but we had to make changes. It's always possible to lose but losing a match like that is very weird.

"In the first two minutes of the second half, we had two very high recoveries but then we stopped completely. It was not possible to win the duels; we were always late. It is not normal."

It was the first time PSG had let a two-goal slip to lose in the league since January 2015, a 4-2 reverse against Bastia.

NorthEast United host Mumbai City FC in an 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa, on Saturday. 

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

TEAM NEWS

NorthEast United Possible XI:   

Injured - None
Doubtful - None  
Suspended - None  

Key Players - Luís Machado, Federico Gallego  

Mumbai City FC Possible XI: 

Injured - None  
Doubtful - Mourtada Fall  
Suspended - None

Key Players - Hugo Boumous, Adam le Fondre   

Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder has hit out at "selfish" managers of big clubs who are strongly pushing for the Premier League to allow five substitutions per game this season.

Unlike other leagues across Europe, the Premier League has not continued allowing five subs per game this season as they did following the coronavirus-enforced break last term.

Allowing five changes per game is seen to favour bigger clubs with deeper benches and as such, a motion in September did not get the required 14 votes from clubs and the English top-flight went back to three permitted subs per game. 

With a condensed schedule this season leading to increased injury concerns, managers such as Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Man City's Pep Guardiola among others have been vocal in their belief that five subs per game are needed.

But Wilder has hit back at those claims, saying that clubs like the Blades - currently rock-bottom in the table - would be adversely affected by allowing five changes per game.

“Cards on the table, he’s going to look after his own club,” Wilder said of Klopp.

“I’ve got incredible respect for these top managers because they produce top results and win things.

“But they’re selfish, they look after their own clubs. They’re not going to be bothered about Sheffield United, they’re not going to be bothered about England.

“They’re going to be bothered about Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea, which I understand and respect. I would be the same, but I’m bothered about Sheffield United and it doesn’t help us to have five subs.

“I don’t think the common man is going to be too sympathetic to the mental aspect of players on £250,000-a-week not getting into an 18-man squad. That’s b*llocks as far as I’m concerned.

“My sympathy for them is not huge. If Man City are playing on a Wednesday night in Outer Mongolia and then have to play at 12:30 on a Saturday, they have to play at 12:30 on a Saturday!

Pep Guardiola’s decision to sign a new deal was met with widespread approval in the Manchester City squad, according to defender Aymeric Laporte.

City announced on Thursday that Guardiola had committed his future to the club until the summer of 2023, which is likely to mean the Spaniard is given funds to invest in his squad next year.

Should Guardiola see out the extra two seasons, it would take his stay at the club to seven years. His previous longest spell at any team was the four-year stint he spent at the helm of Barcelona.

His aims will be a deep run in the Champions League and a bid to regain the Premier League crown that was wrestled from City by Liverpool last season.

Laporte believes City have grown as a club under Guardiola and feels they are well placed to challenge for domestic and European honours.

"We are all very happy with the news,” Laporte told the club’s official website. “It makes us really happy to have him for two more years. 

“We all have seen everything he has done in this club. He has won many trophies, he has a 73 per cent winning rate. That is huge.

“Manchester City has increased its level under his command, so I'm very happy he is staying.

“Of course, winning trophies is always the goal with him. We want to win the Premier League again and the Champions League, hopefully it can happen this season and the next two as well.”

City’s Premier League challenge resumes with a visit to Tottenham on Saturday.

The trip to north London is a daunting one, as Spurs are second in the table with City sat in 10th, five points behind their opponents - albeit with a game in hand.

Tottenham won the corresponding fixture 2-0 last season and Laporte is looking to exact revenge.

“Of course, we want that (to take the revenge from last season),” he said. “Hopefully, we can win this time.

“We need it so we will fight until the end to beat them. I think they are very good players [Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Gareth Bale], but we also have very good defenders as well.

“We will have to be very focused and hopefully we can keep a clean sheet.”

Manchester United have revealed the club's technology systems have been attacked by cyber criminals in a "sophisticated" operation.

The Red Devils released a statement on Friday evening confirming the breach but said the club's IT defence system had brought the issue under control.

Despite the apparent skill of the hackers, Man Utd insist the club's website and app were not breached during the attack and that any personal data on fans and customers had not been compromised.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are set to host West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday evening with the club providing assurances that the cyber attack will have no impact on the status of that match.

"Manchester United can confirm that the club has experienced a cyber attack on our systems," the  statement on the club's official website said.

"The club has taken swift action to contain the attack and is currently working with expert advisers to investigate the incident and minimise the ongoing IT disruption.

"Although this is a sophisticated operation by organised cyber criminals, the club has extensive protocols and procedures in place for such an event and had rehearsed for this risk. Our cyber defences identified the attack and shut down affected systems to contain the damage and protect data.

"Club media channels, including our website and app, are unaffected and we are not currently aware of any breach of personal data associated with our fans and customers. All critical systems required for matches to take place at Old Trafford remain secure and operational and tomorrow’s game against West Bromwich Albion will go ahead."

Manchester United have had a rocky start to their Premier League season and are currently sitting 14th position – eight points behind leaders Leicester City but with a game in hand.

The Red Devils' inconsistency has been highlighted by the gap between their best and worst performances, having suffered a 6-1 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford, but also winning 3-1 away at high-flying Everton in their most recent match.

Their best performances have come in Europe, with impressive wins against PSG and RB Leipzig putting the team in the box seat to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has downplayed the prospect of making a move for Real Madrids’s Isco, while heaping praise on Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira.

Ancelotti has worked with both midfielders in the past and is a huge fan of their talents.

Both Isco and Khedira are being linked with January moves away from their respective clubs.

Marca reports that Isco has decided to leave Real in January, while Khedira said he would be open to a transfer to the Premier League after falling out of favour in Turin.

Given Ancelotti’s relationship with the pair, it is hardly surprising that Everton are being linked.

The Italian did not bat back the questions about the pair at his press conference on Friday, but suggested the chances of either of them arriving at Goodison Park in January are slim.

“Isco is a rumour from the press, from the media,” Ancelotti said at a press conference ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Fulham. “It's not a rumour that went out from our side.

"We are not talking about the market in this period, we are talking about the problem that we had and we are working to try and solve this problem.

"Apart from this, Isco was my player at Real Madrid and was a fantastic player. He is a Real Madrid player."

While Isco would add a creative spark to his side, Khedira would be a more combative presence and Ancelotti has fond memories of working with the Germany international.

"I have a good memory of Sami Khedira, he was with me at Real Madrid and was a fantastic professional," Ancelotti said. "I would love to work with him, but unfortunately he's not the only one! I've had fantastic players in my career, I've had good memories of them.

"But to come here to Everton is another thing to consider."

The transfer market will come into focus in the weeks ahead, but the priority for Everton is to get their season back on track.

The Toffees opened the campaign with seven wins on the spin in all competitions, but they are on a run of three defeats in a row and will view a trip to Fulham as a big chance to claim three points.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel was dismayed after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead in a "catastrophic" second half at Monaco. 

The champions looked well on their way to three points in Friday's Ligue 1 encounter at Stade Louis II, as Kylian Mbappe's first-half double put them up 2-0 at half-time. 

PSG could have been four goals up at the break, but Moise Kean and Mbappe had efforts ruled out by VAR for offside, which would ultimately prove costly.

Kevin Volland's second-half brace and a late Cesc Fabregas penalty gave Monaco a stunning 3-2 comeback win, putting them into second place ahead of the weekend's games.

Speaking to Telefoot after the match, Tuchel lamented his side's capitulation in their first loss since the second match of the season.

“Catastrophic? Yes, the second half," Tuchel said. "We controlled the game, we scored two goals, and we could have scored two more. The third was onside. We had opportunities.

"In the second half, we didn't have the same concentration. We weren't serious enough. We didn't recover the ball with the same quality, and we didn't seriously defend. We are completely responsible for this defeat, when the match was almost over in our favour.

"They felt it was 3-0 or 4-0 when it was only 2-0. I have no explanation. I have to accept all the criticism, because we have completely stopped playing, and we haven't done what is necessary to win."

Catastrophic was also the word defender Presnel Kimpembe used to describe his side's performance.

"We had a catastrophic second half, even unacceptable," Kimpembe said. "We don't have the right to have a half like that with the team we have."

The last time PSG lost a Ligue 1 game after leading by two goals was back in January 2015, when they fell 4-2 to Bastia.

It was also the first time PSG had conceded at least two goals in a Ligue 1 match since they defeated Bordeaux 4-3 in February. 

Tuchel's side will be back in action on Tuesday when they face RB Leipzig in a Champions League match at Parc des Princes.

Mikel Arteta says he will find out who leaked details of a training ground bust up between Dani Ceballos and David Luiz and has warned there will be ‘consequences’ for the culprit.

It was revealed by the Athletic that Ceballos and Luiz had squared up during training after the latter had taken exception to a tackle made by the Spanish midfielder.

Luiz is said to have punched Ceballos, drawing blood, before the pair were pulled apart by team-mates.

Ceballos immediately took to social media to deny the incident, labelling it as ‘fake’, but Arteta has now admitted that there was a clash - although he insists there is no ‘no problem at all’ between the pair.

But the Arsenal boss is far from happy that details of the fight emerged in the first place and will now investigate exactly how the information was leaked out to the media - holding talks with his players and staff.

“I don’t like the fact that that incident comes out at all,” he said. “I will find out where it is coming from.

”That goes completely against what I expect from each other, the privacy and the confidentiality that we need, and there will be consequences.”

The training ground clash with Luiz means Ceballos has now been involved in two separate incidents with team-mates since the start of the season.

He was also caught on camera clashing with Eddie Nketiah during the warm-up ahead of Arsenal’s game at Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.

Ceballos posted a picture of himself with Nketiah after the game, insisting all had been forgiven, but the fact he has now found himself embroiled in another incident has raised questions about his temperament.

When asked whether it was just coincidental that Ceballos was again involved in a clash with a team-mate or whether it suggested there was a bigger problem with the midfielder, Arteta said: “Well, whether it's a coincidence or not it doesn't change things much, it's just the competitive levels that we demand and the standards we want to set.

“But obviously it's a very thin line, where it's a competitive issue and where it goes somewhere else that we obviously we don't support and don't want.

“But it's a contact sport and incidents and going to happen, it's about how you resolve them within the team and individuals and how you move from there.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended Paul Pogba after his comments while away on international duty, explaining the midfielder has been frustrated by his own form and lack of game time.  

The 27-year-old said he had "never known such a difficult period" in his career during the latest international break, having started just five times across 12 games in all competitions this season. 

“It’s a period I didn’t know in my career. Before, I used to play a lot and have rhythm,” Pogba said last week. “There (playing for France), I resume my feelings little by little, I find myself. I have to do performances like that (against Portugal), be consistent."

His comments come after he talked up a potential move to Real Madrid during the last international break, and after a period at Old Trafford when he has struggled to hold down a spot in the starting XI following a number of disappointing performances.

France national team boss Didier Deschamps said earlier this month that Pogba "could not be happy" with his situation at United, comments that Solskjaer feels were blown out of proportion.

“We always get questions and we try to answer as well as we can. I think the press sometimes makes more of it and people maybe at home not having the whole interview make more of it. We’re all experienced enough to try to avoid big massive headlines,” Solskjaer said.

The United manager confirmed he had spoken to Pogba upon his arrival back to the club’s Carrington training base ahead of the Premier League clash against West Brom on Saturday evening. But he hit back at Deschamps’ claims that he was playing Pogba out of position.

“I spoke to Paul today about it. Of course he’s not been happy when he’s not playing, and not playing really well. He’s not been happy with his performances,” Solskjaer explained. “He plays in the same position for France and he does for us, so that’s not a different scenario.

"It’s about getting momentum and rhythm and, as I said earlier, he felt really strong towards the end against Portugal and towards the end of the game with Sweden which is natural because he had Covid and he needed time. That’s the same with all of our players, they look stronger and fitter and he’s the same.”

Pogba’s inconsistent displays coupled with Deschamps comments have led to recurring discussions about where his best position is. Solskjaer has alternated between playing him as one of two defensive midfielders this season and on the left in a midfield diamond, but the Norwegian believes he can be effective in a variety of different spots.

“There are always discussions about players who can play in different positions because they have the quality to do so many things and they can play in different positions,” Solskjaer said. “Paul is the same, he can do the role and he has the qualities to do many things, it’s about the balance of the team, that’s on the XI you pick that day, that’s the key.

"Sometimes it’s an 8, sometimes a 10, sometimes in off the left in a diamond, sometimes one of the two, he can do everything. And now, the fitter he gets the more he can do.”

Leicester City defender James Justin thinks that Liverpool's injury problems are similar to ones faced by his own club ahead of their top-of-the-table clash at Anfield on Sunday.

The Foxes have had long-term injuries to Wilfred Ndidi, Caglar Soyuncu and Ricardo Pereira, while they have also had short-term concerns around Jamie Vardy, James Maddison and Jonny Evans this season.

Jurgen Klopp's side are facing a similar injury crisis with Vigil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold all currently absent. Furthermore, Mohamed Salah has tested positive for Covid-19 and Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are also doubts ahead of the match at Anfield.

Justin is team-mates with some outstanding young Liverpool players with England's Under-21 side and hopes Klopp will give the likes of Curtis Jones and Rhys Williams a chance as Brendan Rodgers did with him.

"The season has been tough for a lot of teams and there’s been a lot of injuries at certain clubs and we are one of them, but you’ve got to not only build a first XI, you need to build a squad," Justin said during the international break. 

"That’s what these times are for. We are proving we have a really good squad and Liverpool obviously have an excellent squad at theirs. I’m sure they won’t be scared going into the game, and be more than happy with what they’ve got.

England's U21s have produced back-to-back wins over Andorra and Albania to top their group and qualify for the European Championships next summer.

Manager Aidy Boothroyd is hoping to use Justin as a starter in the tournament and he is also increasingly leaning on Liverpool duo Williams and Jones. The 22-year-old thinks these two are ready to make the step up this season.

"The first time I trained with both of them I was really impressed with the talent that they had," he added.

"To be honest, I hadn’t seen much of their talent when I had been watching football because they’ve only been in and out [of the first team], but hopefully now they can get a few games under their belts and show everyone the ability they’ve got.

"I’ve seen that first-hand and they are definitely good players for Liverpool. Hopefully, they can make it into regular first-team players.”

Meanwhile, Justin has big ambitions for himself after making the breakthrough at Leicester in recent months.

He has had to be patient with Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira ahead of him in the pecking order but after Chilwell's transfer to Chelsea and a big injury to Pereira, Justin got his chance.

He is thankful to Rodgers for developing him into a Premier League player and a contender for England following his transfer from League One Luton Town in 2019.

“Brendan is a great manager," he continued. "I knew when choosing Leicester that the road into the first team was going to be hard but that I would also become a better player playing under the coaching staff there.

“It’s been a really good 12 months for me, personally. On the pitch, it’s been excellent. I have been getting a lot of help from the coaches at Leicester and from Aidy and the coaching staff with England – just little pointers that can improve my game.

"Hopefully, now I can show everyone I’m a senior player. This year we’re playing a lot of games with Europa League and the Premier League back-to-back. We’re doing well in both competitions.

“When we get our full squad back fit, there will be a lot of competition for places and we can keep pushing as a squad.”

Jurgen Klopp insists he has no idea if Liverpool will target a new defender in the January transfer window.

But the Reds boss has backed his young centre-backs to step up and help the club through its current injury crisis – starting against Premier League leaders Leicester on Sunday. 

Klopp has been left reeling after seeing a host of first-team regulars fall in recent weeks – with his backline, in particular, left decimated.

First Virgil van Dijk suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that could keep the Dutchman out for the remainder of the season. Then, a week later Fabinho, who moved to centre-back from midfield, suffered a hamstring issue.

Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a calf strain against Manchester City which will see him sidelined until next month and then, during the international break, came the news that Joe Gomez had damaged the patella tendon in his left knee during a training session with England, an injury that required surgery and will keep the 23-year-old out for a number of months.

It leaves only Joel Matip, who himself has a history of injury issues at Anfield, as a senior, specialist centre-back, with Klopp forced to use the inexperienced pair of Nat Phillips and teenager Rhys Williams in recent weeks.

A far from ideal situation, of course, and one which has understandably led to suggestions Liverpool will look to spend when the transfer window opens in the New Year.

Klopp, though, was giving little away when asked about that at a press conference on Friday.

He told reporters: “We will see. I don’t know what we can do in January, I have no idea. We can look for solutions from outside, that’s clear. But at the moment we have the situation we have.

“I don’t want to compare situations, but I came to Dortmund in 2008 and my two centre-halves were 19 and 20 that winter, [Mats] Hummels and [Neven] Subotic, and we played with them for pretty much the entire time. 

“We have talent here. They are young, 18, 19, 23, and we have more experienced players. And in a couple of weeks hopefully we will have midfielders who can play the more defensive role as well. 

“In January, I have no idea if we can do something. I have no idea in the moment even if we want to do something. In the moment we are fine. We use the boys we have, and I’m really happy about the chance they have.

“You should see them in training, they can smell the chance! That’s good. I’m really confident it will work out with the boys, and hopefully we can convince the rest of the world as well.”

Klopp could well have Fabinho available for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Leicester, the Brazilian having joined in team training this week. 

Thiago is likely to need a little longer, though. The Spanish international has not featured since the Merseyside derby with Everton on October 17 due to a knee injury picked up in a challenge with Richarlison, but Klopp hopes to have his summer signing back in action sooner rather than later.

“So am I!” he smiled when told that fans were desperate to see the former Bayern Munich man. “But I cannot change these things. We have to deal with the consequences of the injuries, the accidents, or in this case the harsh fouls. 

“If he could have played before, he would have, but he couldn’t. He’s out there on the pitch, he’s running, he’s doing a lot of stuff, so it will not be too long.

“In the same day, we got the horrible pictures from Virgill and we were kind of relieved that it was not that serious for Thiago. But it was always clear it would not be two or three days. We thought it would settle quickly but it didn’t, and that’s what we have to accept.

“We will not rush it. We prepare him for the rest of the season, not [just] for the first game he can play. That’s the situation.”

Klopp added: “Players have to train with the team, and not only once. If it was really serious and we had no other players then maybe once would be enough from time to time, but that doesn’t happen often.

“Fabinho was part of it. What we make of that, we will see. We will see the reaction, but he was part of normal team training."