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Youssef Msakni has stated he is motivated to again lead Tunisia to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after he inspired the North African country to the last edition.

The29-year-old propelled Carthage Eagles to the 2018 global tournament, scoring a hat-trick in their away victory over Guinea during the qualifiers which sealed their return to the competition since 2006.

The forward was, however, ruled out of the global showpiece in Russia due to a serious knee injury he suffered seven weeks prior to the commencement of the competition.  

Msakni, who plies his trade with Qatari side Al Duhail, explained how playing in the new stadia that will host the 2022 World Cup has served as inspiration for him to help Tunisia qualify for the tournament.

"It is indeed hard to miss the chance to play at a World Cup and wear your country’s colours when you're only a few weeks away from the world's premier sports event," Msakni told Fifa website. 

"This could badly affect any player lacking the strength of character, but thanks to God I accepted the situation and told myself I’d make it next time.

"Yes. Soon I'll complete seven years in Qatar. I came here in 2013, three years after the country won the rights to host the 2022 edition. Since then, the construction of stadiums has never stopped. That has been great.

"But when we started playing on pitches that will host World Cup games, I became even more motivated to lead my national team to qualify and compete here.

"It's really exciting to experience playing on these pitches, which are luxurious and on par with the world's best arenas. They create the ideal environment for players to perform at their best. I'll convey these feelings to my team-mates to motivate them to battle fiercely in the African qualifiers and reach Qatar 2022."

The Carthage Eagles are in Group B of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers along with Zambia, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea.

Despite being the highest-ranked side in the group, Msakni feels his side’s opponents will not be a pushover.

"African football has changed over the past five years. They're no longer technical differences between the majority of teams,” he added.

“We know we must respect everyone and approach each game as if it was a final. We need to accumulate points and qualify. There's no room for mistakes this time."

Tunisia finished fourth in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after losing to Nigeria in the semi-final, Msakni revealed his countrymen were not pleased with their performances in the continental tournament but revealed his side has learned lessons from their shortcomings.

"Yes, we learned some lessons from that experience. We as players learn from both wins and losses. There's always an opportunity to learn, focus on positive things, and avoid the negative ones," he said.  

"The Tunisian fans weren't happy with our performance, but we qualified for the knockout phase, where we showed the ability to compete and win at the kind of tournament where small details can make all the difference.

“Again, we came close to making the final, which we’d managed in 2004, when we won but luck was not on our side when we missed a penalty and the game went into extra time.

"The lesson here is there will be some periods in these kinds of tournaments [African finals or international qualifiers] that require patience and good preparation to be able to win.

“Now we have a chance to enhance our displays and perform strongly to reach the final round of the qualifiers and secure our ticket to Qatar."

Msakni has made 62 appearances for Tunisia and scored 11 goals since he made his debut against the Gambia in January 2010.

Tammy Abraham will have a role to play for Chelsea in 2019-20 despite the arrival of Timo Werner at Stamford Bridge, says Mark Schwarzer.

The Blues have moved to bolster their attacking options for next season.

Hakim Ziyech represented their first piece of business, with the exciting Morocco international snapped up from Ajax. That deal was quickly followed by an agreement for Werner, with Frank Lampard preparing to add another proven goalscorer to his ranks.

Abraham has found the target on 17 occasions this season, with the 22-year-old seeing his patience in west London rewarded. He has, however, slipped behind Olivier Giroud in the pecking order of late, while Werner can be expected to slot straight into Chelsea’s starting XI.

Questions have been asked of whether Abraham will stick around with minutes hard to come by, but Schwarzer feels the home-grown star will have an important part to play in a deeper squad.

The former Blues goalkeeper told Stadium Astro: “Seventeen goals he's scored now, he scored again [versus Liverpool], I know he had a great first half of the season and he's dropped off a little bit but I kind of expected that with the younger players. I don't think Mason Mount's playing at the same level he was earlier in the season, he just doesn't have that same spark.

“Going forward Chelsea have always had an abundance of top talent and I think having that striker that scores you an abundance of goals, you can argue 17 goals for Abraham is a phenomenal return.

“I think that's a very good return. In terms of Timo Werner coming in, he can play through the middle or also as one of the wider players, interchanging between positions.

“I think you'll find Werner likes to sometimes drift out towards the left side a little bit and cut in.

“I think the number of games they're going to have, the rotation they'll be implementing, I think they do need quality and strength in depth.

“Chelsea have always been looking to improve, to bring in big-name players and they're going for young and up-and-coming players but ones who have performed at the highest level already and done very well.

“It's exciting times for Chelsea. Let's not forget Chelsea are going to lose Pedro, they're probably going to lose Willian. You've got Ziyech coming in, whether it's Kai Havertz coming in, Werner, they're going to need extra bodies to replace them.

“Chelsea have already been proactive and have started to already bring in those replacements.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael has blamed the team’s inconsistent run in the Mainland Premier League and FA Cup to missing his key players owing to various reasons.

The Jangwani Street-based giants are fighting to finish the season in the second position after losing the chance to win a direct ticket to the Caf Confederation Cup following the humiliating 4-1 defeat against rivals Simba SC in the semi-finals of the domestic cup.

The Belgian coach has now told Goal how he has struggled in recent weeks to come up with a winning side, as several key players are either out injured while others have walked out of the team, giving the example of Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison, who is yet to report to training since the Simba defeat.

Eymael has further said he would love to see Simba in the same situation so he can observe what kind of results they will get from their matches.

“I am playing for the last few weeks with eight key players missing out and in these eight players you have my regular three from the midfield,” Eymael told Goal on Friday.

“You can also add [Morrison] that was the best winger here, but I have not seen him since we lost to Simba, then you can add the other very good winger Deus [Kaseke] who got unfair red card Wednesday, and you can add two experienced central defenders Lamine Moro injured last Wednesday during the game....and Kevin [Yondani] who is absent without reason since last week...the same with international winger from Rwanda Patrick Sibomana.

“Then you can add to that four very unprofessional players who are coming at very few training sessions Ally Ally, Banka, Dante and Dauda...imagine those are the conditions that we currently working under here at Yanga.

“I would love to see any other team...including Simba working under the same conditions and see how they can perform to their maximum. I have to say also that our injuries are injuries contracted during the games and not during training sessions and always during challenges or intentional tackles.”

On whether Yanga have released 13 players, among them Kenyan custodian Farouk Shikalo, Eymael said: “Those are stupid rumours, they are are propaganda, nothing like that has happened.”

Yanga are sitting on 69 points, same as second-placed Azam FC with one match remaining to end the season.

Mohamed Salah admits that winning “takes from your hunger”, but he expects Liverpool to be back in the business of collecting trophies in 2020-21.

The Reds have enjoyed a remarkable run of success through the last two seasons.

A Champions League triumph saw them get a taste for major silverware, with the floodgates opened again on Merseyside.

Jurgen Klopp has overseen UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup triumphs in the current campaign, while also delivering a long-awaited Premier League title.

Liverpool have positioned themselves back at the top of domestic and continental games, but the challenge facing them now is to stay there.

Salah concedes that complacency can set in when winning becomes a habit, with collective standards being allowed to dip.

The Egyptian is determined to ensure that does not happen at Anfield, with Klopp’s squad ready to raise their game again and add to ever-growing medal collections.

Salah told BBC Sport: “Hunger when you win something – you win the Champions League, you win the Premier League – when you win something, it takes from your hunger.

“The thing is now to change that mentality, you have to find the points in your head that drive you forward and keep that hunger for next season and the season after.

“I don’t know why we can’t win the Premier League two times or three times. So it’s only in our heads.

“I think if we keep that hunger and we fight for all that we have, it would be okay to do it next season, it would be possible.”

Liverpool, having bowed out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage against Atletico Madrid, are about to bring their 2019-20 campaign to a close.

A record-setting season has seen them bring an end to a 30-year wait for English top-flight glory, with it possible for them to finish on 99 points.

Klopp’s side will take to the field one last time on Sunday when they take in a trip to Newcastle, with attention then set to shift to the opening of another transfer window and the potential arrival of fresh faces on Merseyside.

David Silva says Pep Guardiola has improved Manchester City in every position “from the goalkeeper to the forward”.

The Spanish playmaker has been reflecting on his 10 years at the club, as he prepares to say his farewell to Manchester.

Silva will leave City at the end of the season, with just one more Premier League fixture and the Champions League still to play.

He has spent the last four seasons under Guardiola after previously playing for Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and he has enjoyed his role under the Catalan.

Asked by DAZN Spain how Guardiola had changed his game, Silva said: “I don’t know, he changed my position, now I have more contact with the ball than when I played as a winger.

“I have found myself very comfortable, really.

“And then, he improves the team in every way, from the goalkeeper to the forward, which made the team grow.”

Since joining from Valencia in 2010, Silva has seen City transformed as a club.

Their Premier League win in 2011-12 was their first league title in 44 years, and City have added three more since then – while he has also won two FA Cups and five League Cups during his time in England.

Now, after a decade of investment, City are a team striving to win the Champions League, expected to compete with the best at home and abroad.

"When I arrived here, we were in other, smaller facilities,” Silva recalled. “It was not here in the city.

"The club has grown worldwide. We are growing because of the titles, for everything.

“When you win, people demand you win. The same happens with the Spanish national team.

“Before, you didn't win; we started to win and now they demand you win. And if you don't win, it's failure."

Silva’s final Premier League appearance for City will come on Sunday, as they welcome bottom club Norwich to the Etihad Stadium.

Less than two weeks later, Real Madrid will be the visitors as City return to the Champions League looking to cap a disappointing domestic season with a potential first European success.

Police FC have managed to tie down midfielder Johnson Odong for another two years.

The Law Enforcers are in a rebuilding process, with the club management stating they will strive to keep their best players and at the same time sign experienced ones.

The attacking midfielder, who can also play as forward, joined Police from lower division side Kibuli FC but has now agreed to open an extension that will see him stay with the ‘Cops’ until the end of 2022.

Police have confirmed the news on their social media pages: “Johnson Odong has extended his stay with us for the next two years. Thank you for your loyalty.”

Odong’s decision to extend his stay will become as good news for Police coach Abdallah Mubiru, who only three days ago managed to convince another midfielder Yousuf Sozzi to extend his stay at the club for the next two seasons.

In a recent interview, the club chairman Asan Kasingye revealed it was time they turned into big boys on the local scene and start winning trophies.

“We no longer just want to compete; we need to win trophies. We are former champions and its time to think big,” Kasingye told reporters after unveiling their first signing in former Uganda Cranes midfielder Tony Mawejje.

“Football is a big enterprise in the world that doesn’t entertain mediocrity. We need to do the right thing like other clubs.”

Kasingye added it was the right time for the team to secure sponsors because Police are a big organisation and many people want to be part of it.

The chairman also revealed the club will do what they can to retain most of their players to build a strong side ahead of the new season.

Police have already hit the transfer market, with coach Mubiru hoping to get the best from the transfers.

“We want to make sure we can also compete well with the best teams and our eyes on the transfer market are looking at all the good players available,” Mubiru told reporters.

“It is now a matter of building a strong team so that we can have at least cover for all positions, we must be ready to fight next season and make sure we win a trophy or two.”

Andy Robertson says their Premier League title triumph has made “legends” of Liverpool’s class of 2019-20, but the Scot says all of those at Anfield are determined to leave a “legacy”.

A stunning run of success has been enjoyed by the Reds, with their first English top-flight crown in 30 years adding the finishing touch to an enviable collection of silverware.

A winning habit has returned to Merseyside, with Robertson adamant that “you never get bored of winning trophies”.

There is, however, acceptance that staying on top is often more difficult than rising to it. That is the challenge now facing Liverpool, with Robertson eager to play a leading role in the establishment of a dynasty at Anfield to rival that of iconic sides from the club’s illustrious past.

The Scotland international full-back told the Reds’ official website: “You never get bored of winning trophies – never, never, never. Medals are to cherish. It’s something that, once you retire, you look back on more but it’s so important that when you get it around your neck to enjoy it.

“Moments like these don’t happen often but we hope to make it more often for this club. If we can do it, the lads are already legends, we will go on to leave a legacy at this club and that’s what we want to do.

“We know every team will improve next year, and it’s about us to be there again, being there 100 per cent again and I’m sure we will be.”

Liverpool’s hunger to remain on the trophy trail should be fed in 2020-21 by the return of supporters to competitive sport.

The Reds have landed and lifted the Premier League title this term in empty stadiums, with Robertson assuring a loyal fan base that their absence has hit everybody hard.

He added: “This hasn’t happened in 30 years for this club, and I think we would have all paid everything that we have to get the fans in. It wasn’t meant to be, but we’ve done it properly and the time will come for the fans to come – because it’s for them.

“It’s for every single one of them, it’s for all them that have been through 30 years of hurt and now we’ve produced the trophy that they’ve been waiting for, for so long. That’s what it means to all of us, that’s what has driven us forward the whole season. To get that champions sign above us is what it was for.”

Nairobi City Stars have lauded the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for signing a lucrative deal with BetKing Kenya.

The Federation entered into a partnership with the Nigerian-based betting firm worth KSh1.2billion that will see each club in the top-flight receive KSh8million annually.

City Stars, who earned promotion to the top tier as they were leading the National Super League after the 2019-20 season was ended owing to the coronavirus pandemic, have now welcomed the move with club CEO Patrick Korir saying it will go a long way to boost the clubs financially.

“We are very happy with the sponsorship, we are extremely happy with the new deal,” Korir told Goal on Friday.

“That is a good package for starters and KSh8m will go a long way in helping clubs, you cannot say it is small money, eight million compared to zero shillings, it is a huge take home for the clubs and as City Stars, we are very happy with the deal.

“We also want to encourage FKF to add another shift and maybe sell broadcast and media rights so that the clubs can take more home.”

Meanwhile, Korir has confirmed to Goal they are yet to release any player ahead of the new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

There have been reports going around that the promoted club have axed five players but Korir has now said they are waiting for their coach to come up with the list of players he wants to stay and go.

“We have not released any players, in fact, most of the players’ people are claiming we have released have just run down their contracts, and as a club, we are waiting for the coach to give us the way forward,” Korir continued.

“We have not released anyone, they are all part of our squad until the coach tells us what to do, we will engage all of them and see if the contracts are extended or not, but for now, we have not released any player.”

The players whose contracts have run down include David Gateri, experienced Noah Abich, Tedian Esilaba, and Eric Ochieng.

City Stars were promoted to the top-flight alongside Bidco United.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Sam Nyamweya has faulted the Ministry of Sports for the ongoing financial problems faced by football in the country.

The administrator has revealed he pleaded with the Ministry to bail out clubs from the Sports Fund kitty which would have been the best way of ensuring players do not suffer.

"I have, from early 2019, been pleading with the Government of Kenya and the Ministry of Sports through the Sports, Arts and Social development fund to consider giving grants of between KSh15 to KSh30 million for each of the 18 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs to cushion them against the harsh economic times and the challenges brought about by Covid-19 pandemic, which has put restrictions to sporting activities,” Nyamweya said in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

Nyamweya says the total amount could have translated to about half a million shillings which is readily available from the Sports Fund and he believes the Ministry of Sports failed on this front.

"Lack of responsiveness from the parent Ministry of Sports has led to the current situation where any sponsorship dangled along the way of the KPL is accepted as a relief from the untold suffering experienced by the premier clubs, their Players, technical and support staff and service providers," the statement added.

The outgoing office announced BetKing as the new sponsors of the top tier league and every club will get at least KSh8 million per season.

Nyamweya has asked the clubs to cautiously accept the sponsorship despite some of the controversies associated with it.

"KPL clubs should cautiously accede to the sponsorship agreement with a rider to have it regularized once a new office is elected," Nyamweya continued.

"The sponsor BetKing should not interfere with the already running contracts which other betting companies have entered with the KPL clubs, ie the Betsafe sponsorship with Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards and Betika with Sofapaka among others."

Nyamweya has promised to streamline everything if elected to the office and try to get a broadcast sponsor as well.

"When elected president of FKF, my team and I will embark on a process of regularising the anomalies surrounding the BetKing sponsorship and looking at ways of enhancing it and getting a broadcast sponsor and other partners to enhance the grants given to the clubs," he concluded.

Mohamed Salah remains an “incredible” asset for Liverpool regardless of what certain critics may think, says Jordan Henderson, with the Reds skipper talking up the importance of a fearsome attacking unit at Anfield.

The remarkable run of success enjoyed at Anfield in recent times has been spearheaded by a prolific trio of forwards.

Salah, along with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, has led from the front and delivered a record-setting collection of goals.

Questions have been asked of a supposed selfish streak in the Egyptian’s game and his working relationship with some of those around him – while his efforts have sparked inevitable admiring glances from afar – but Henderson considers Salah to be a priceless commodity.

The Reds skipper told the Liverpool Echo: “People may be critical at times but Mo has been outstanding. He set the bar so high, people expect that every year but look at his performances and his goals, he is incredible.

“Just look at what he has achieved so far, he has made a huge difference since he came into the club. A great guy off the pitch and a great person to have around. I can't speak highly enough of him.”

While Salah continues to star on the right for Liverpool, Mane has become just as important to the collective cause on the opposite flank.

The Senegalese has registered 80 goals through 169 appearances for the Reds, and Henderson believes there is even more to come from the 28-year-old.

He said: “An incredible player. I wouldn't like to mark him on a weekend, he is so unpredictable. He can go either way with both feet, so strong and powerful and that doesn't just happen.

“He is in the gym every day before training doing strength work to get better and improve. I just see that will to improve in Sadio, that desire to get better and take more and that is really important for this team. Yet another standout performer from us in the Premier League. He deserves all the credit he gets.”

While Salah and Mane tend to steal the headlines, Firmino is the glue that holds Liverpool’s frontline together.

Henderson acknowledges as much, saying of the Brazil international: “I love Bobby. He is one of my favourite players. He is incredible. Everything about him, I love, really.

“He's such an important player for this team and a lot of what he does goes unnoticed. He is another world-class player who has had a brilliant season and another who has made a huge impact since he came from Germany.”

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year for the 2019-20 Premier League season.

The Reds midfielder played a central role as the Anfield club stormed their way to the Premier League title, their first English top-flight crown in 30 years.

Henderson saw off competition from Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, among others, to win the award.

The FWA Footballer of the Year - the oldest individual award in English football, given out every year since 1948 - is given to the player considered both to have had an outstanding impact on their club's performance in the season, as well as having performed well individually throughout the campaign.

Henderson was one of five Liverpool players to receive votes, with Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane also picked by some journalists.

De Bruyne came second in the voting with Rashford third, while Alisson and Van Dijk rounded out the top five.

The FWA said 15 players in total received votes from their members, with some surprising selections from the writers who put forwards their opinion on the outstanding performer in the 2019-20 English football campaign.

Raheem Sterling, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Sergio Aguero, Adama Traore, Danny Ings, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Jonny Evans were all picked by at least one writer.

Henderson told the FWA website : “I’d like to say how appreciative I am of the support of those who voted for me and the Football Writers’ Association in general. You only have to look at the past winners of it, a number of whom I’ve been blessed to play with here at Liverpool, like Stevie (Gerrard), Luis (Suarez) and Mo (Salah) to know how prestigious it is.

“As grateful as I am I don’t feel like I can accept this on my own. I don’t feel like anything I’ve achieved this season or in fact during my whole career has been done on my own. I owe a lot to so many different people, but none more so than my current team-mates, who have just been incredible and deserve this every bit as much as I do.

“We’ve only achieved what we’ve achieved because every single member of our squad has been brilliant. Not just in matches, not just in producing the moments that make the headlines and the back pages, but every day in training. 

“The players who’ve started the most games for us this season have been as good as they have been because of our culture and our environment at Melwood. No one individual is responsible for that – it’s a collective effort and that’s how I view accepting this honour.

“I accept it on behalf of this whole squad, because without them I’m not in a position to be receiving this honour. These lads have made me a better player – a better leader and a better person. If anything I hope those who voted for me did so partly to recognise the entire team’s contribution.

"Individual awards are nice and they are special and I will cherish this one, but an individual award without the collective achievement wouldn’t mean anywhere as much to me – if anything at all.”

In the same summer when striker Victor Osimhen appears set to join Serie A side Napoli for a fee in excess of €60 million, the most significant bit of Nigerian transfer activity may actually be at the other end of the pitch.

Within the space of a week, Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye inked permanent deals taking them to APOEL and Sparta Rotterdam respectively. In doing so, they may have finally provided Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr with clarity on his biggest area of concern since he took charge in 2016.

By the sheer number of goalkeepers Rohr has cycled through in his time at the helm of the Nigeria national team, he has made no secret of his discomfort with his options. At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, all three goalkeepers were used; perhaps he simply wanted everyone in the squad to get some time, but can anyone imagine depriving an established goalkeeper the opportunity to play in, say, a bronze medal match?

Increasingly, he has been forced into more and more unorthodox decisions: when Rohr first called up Uzoho, he had only recently come up from the reserves at Deportivo La Coruna; when Okoye was first called up (and indeed up until this summer), he was playing in the German fourth tier with Fortuna Dusseldorf II.

Those actions earned him no end of opprobrium for a large swathe of the local Nigerian press, who would rather have seen Rohr invest some effort into blooding a goalkeeper based in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Quite who the preferred candidate was, beyond vague allusions to long-time local league squad representative Ikechukwu Ezenwa not being the "best in the NPFL" remains unclear.

In any case, Rohr will feel justified in his choices with this rash of transfer activity. Uzoho, who enjoyed a productive loan spell (before it was cut short by injury) last season with city rivals Omonia Nicosia, will get a chance at European competition with APOEL. The real triumph, however, is Okoye, who gets to play in the Eredivisie.

While he will face opposition from 28-year-old Benjamin Van Leer (signed from Ajax), the 20-year-old does have the edge of being a senior international (by virtue of his debut appearance against Brazil in 2019). That ought to stand him in good stead, and the understanding is that he will be a vital cog for Sparta going forward.

The direct impact of these movements within the context of the Nigeria national team is two-fold.

First of all: for the first time since perhaps Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, the Super Eagles will now be able to count on genuine competition in the goalkeeper ranks.

The consequence of this is that Rohr's decision-making process immediately changes from picking the least worrisome (to illustrate his unease: he has, in the past, taken to sending his own goalkeeping coach to their clubs to train them) of the lot to selecting the best. The criteria are completely altered, and the forge of competitiveness will further harden both young goalies.

The second knock-on is a more holistic one, and is also a little more speculative.

One of the major criticisms Rohr has faced in his work with Nigeria is a seeming lack of ambition. This has been suggested in various ways, most pointedly in his approaches to matches (against Argentina and Algeria at the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations respectively) and selections (insisting on an ultra-defensive double pivot, playing Chidozie Awaziem at right-back, saddling wingers with greater-than-normal defensive burdens).

The addition of Rangers' Joe Aribo to the national team has seen the shackles taken off to a degree, which suggests that perhaps Rohr's cautiousness so far has been more down to expediency than a lack of gumption.

One of the big lessons of Liverpool's recent success is that having the right defensive personnel can completely transform a team: the presence of Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk has freed up the Reds' full-backs – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson – to fly forward at will.

Consider then how much bolder Rohr's side could be in the knowledge that the goalkeeper – far from a novice to be shielded at the expense of attacking expression – is a reliable component of the team in his own right, playing at a high level in his club career.

Indeed, in much the same way that Alisson was the final puzzle piece for Liverpool, the sorting of the previously uncertain goalkeeper position could be the making of the Super Eagles. The carefree attacking talent of Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Samuel Kalu, for so long constrained by the (coach's) knowledge of his team's inherent fragility at the back, may finally be able to ride roughshod over opponents in a manner befitting their abilities.

If so, it is these two transfers, more than anything else, that will come to represent the culmination of the German's work.

One of the biggest talking points around every release of a new FIFA game is which player has been given the highest overall rating.

For the past few seasons, Lionel Messi has topped the pile and is likely to do so again in FIFA 21 when it is released in October.

Cristiano Ronaldo has tied with Messi in some recent releases, but since EA Sports lost the naming rights of Juventus to Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series, the Barcelona forward has been clear at the top.

This year's ratings will probably not feature much change at the very top, but many other players across the football world will have their ratings upgraded to higher scores in FIFA 21.

When will the FIFA 21 ratings be released?

The Ratings Reveal usually begins a few weeks before the release of a new game, helping promote the latest edition of FIFA, counting down the top 100 players in the world.

In the past, this has begun two-and-a-half weeks before the launch of a new game. For FIFA 20, the countdown began on Sepetmber 8 ahead of the September 24 release date.

Taking that into consideration, the Ratings Reveal countdown is should begin around the week of September 20 to get fans excited for FIFA 21.

Which players will be upgraded in FIFA 21?

The highest-rated players in FIFA 21 are unlikely to receive huge boosts to their ratings from FIFA 20, as it is very rare for a player to go from unnoticed to become one of the world's best players.

However, some players have had breakout seasons in 2019-20 and will get big attribute changes in FIFA 21. Erling Haaland is the prime example of this. In FIFA 20, he was a 68-rated forward with Red Bull Salzburg, but now has an 80-overall score at Borussia Dortmund thanks to various updates to the game's live database.

The database is the best way to see which players are more likely to get a ratings change as this will be used to determine their scores in FIFA 21 and the overall ratings should be close to their scores in the most recent FIFA 20 database.

The following players are likely to be upgraded in FIFA 21, with the ratings shown taken from the latest live database:

Which players will be downgraded in FIFA 21?

The live database does not feature as many players getting their ratings downgraded from the beginning of a game's cycle to the end.

For example, Marco Reus's injury has kept him sidelined but not seen his rating go down. However, in past versions of the game, injuries like this usually result in a player getting a couple of points taken off their overall score.

However, some players have seen their ratings go down to mirror real-life declines, such as Jesse Lingard's overall score dropping after a disappointing season where he struggled to influence the Manchester United attack.

The following players are likely to be downgraded in FIFA 21, with the ratings shown taken from the latest live database:

Mainland Premier League champions Simba SC led a host of clubs in the top-flight to mourn the sudden demise of former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa.

While relaying the news on Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) on July 24, current President John Pombe Magufuli said Mkapa died at Dar es Salaam Hospital where he was admitted.

“I call on all Tanzanians to receive the news of his death and to pray for Mzee Mkapa. More information will be released but Mzee Mkapa is no more,” he said in a brief television statement.

He also declared a seven-day mourning period. During this time, all flags in the country will be flown at half-mast.

Mkapa led Tanzania from 1995 to 2005 and was succeeded by Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

He was born on November 12, 1938.

Simba, who were crowned the league champions for the third season in a row, are among the club’s to have joined Tanzanians to pay their last respect to the ex-President, who is known for leading a number of peace mediation efforts in the region, including taking part in Kenya's post-election conciliation exercise in 2008.

In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto led the country in condoling with Tanzania for losing a statesman.

Below is how Twitter mourned Mkapa, who served as Tanzania's third President.

Jesse Lingard has addressed the speculation surrounding his future at Manchester United, with the England international struggling for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Old Trafford academy graduate has not started a Premier League game for the Red Devils since New Year’s Day and has seen just 28 minutes of top-flight action since the restart in mid-June.

The 27-year-old midfielder is also without a league goal since December 2018, with serious questions being asked of his value to the collective cause.

Lingard has also taken the decision to link up with so-called ‘super agent’ Mino Raiola, in what is considered to be a nod towards a push for a move elsewhere.

A man with 204 appearances for United to his name is, however, reluctant to be drawn on his plans with no window open.

Quizzed on his future in the Manchester Evening News, Lingard said: “Like I say, I've been at United for so long and I love it and I'll keep on loving it.

“I train with a smile and go in with a smile because it's my job and I love what I do and I love the club as well.”

United have just one Premier League game left to take in this season – a crunch clash with fellow top-four hopefuls Leicester – before attention then switches to the resumption of a Europa League quest.

Lingard is hoping to figure again before the end of 2019-20, with every effort having been made during and after lockdown to put himself in contention for a place in Solskjaer’s plans.

He added: “I know personally I've not been at it and I know what I needed to do to get that confidence back and I've been working hard and I’m just waiting for the opportunity now.

“I wanted to go back in flying [after the lockdown] and be the quickest and strongest, just about my own motivation really, and I've done well since I've been back in.

“Lockdown really made me sit back and re-evaluate everything. I wanted to go in as one of the best and work harder than anyone else, that was my own motivation. 

“I think I've got to be ready in all circumstances, whether you are starting or not. I feel like you can always make an impact in the game whether you get 25 minutes or five minutes. It’s about you being ready to make an impact and help the team, I feel.

“I feel like I've been training and getting that confidence and playing with confidence as well, it's just about taking what I do in training into games. I've been patient and I'll wait for my opportunity.”

Liverpool have been warned that they face a “problem” in the next transfer window, with Luis Garcia struggling to see how Jurgen Klopp is going to tempt proven talent into joining an already star-studded squad.

The Reds have captured domestic, continental and global crowns over the course of the last 13 months.

A core group of players have delivered on Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup stages, with Klopp benefiting from having a settled side and consistency across the board.

As long as key men stay put, there is every reason to believe that Liverpool can continue to tick over and add more major honours to their collection.

They are, however, going to find it difficult to bring in top talent when there are no obvious gaps to fill in their starting XI.

Klopp is said to be back in the market as the summer window prepares to open, but Garcia sees few deals being done on Merseyside.

The former Reds star told Stadium Astro: "I heard [Liverpool are] trying to find players who can [eventually] replace [Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah and [Roberto] Firmino.

"Yes it's true but if you want to bring in someone with the same level, is he going to be happy playing in Liverpool to only maybe replace these kinds of players?

"It's not easy at all, I'm sure that it's not going to be easy to find players who are happy to sit on the bench and wait for their chances to play, for their opportunity.

"You can do that with young players or players who are in that slower position of talent, of qualities than the ones in the playing XI and maybe they know they have to wait.

"But when you bring in a player of the same level, you know if he's not playing he's not going to be happy and maybe if you don't know how to control this environment, maybe you can have a problem.

"So we'll see what happens but I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of players Liverpool are thinking of bringing in."

Thiago Alcantara is one of those Liverpool are said to have in their sights, with the Spain international midfielder mulling over a move away from Bayern Munich.

Garcia is not convinced that Klopp should be snapping up the former Barcelona star as there is still plenty of potential to unlock in the game of Naby Keita.

The former Spain international said: "That's the thing [whether Thiago can fit in].

"If top players come to Liverpool and you have to move one of the ones that are moving at the moment, that's not easy.

"If you see Keita, the way that Keita plays is similar to Thiago. The way they move, the place that they play is very similar.

"Keita is still adapting to the Premier League, are you going to move him from that place?"

Leon Balogun has sent a heartfelt farewell message to Wigan Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion after leaving the Latics.

The Nigeria international joined the Seagulls in the summer of 2018 on a two-year deal from Bundesliga side Mainz 05.  

The centre-back, however, found game-time difficult to come by as he was behind Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy in the pecking order and only featured in eight Premier League matches for the side.

In his quest to turn around his situation, the defender teamed up with Championship side Wigan on a short-term loan contract in January.

The deal was expected to end in June but the outbreak of the coronavirus across the world ensured the season was forced into a hiatus and only returned in mid-June.

Wigan handed the Super Eagles defender a short permanent deal to enable him to complete the 2019-20 season with the side.

Balogun made a key contribution for the Latics during his time and featured in 11 games, even though they were relegated after being handed a 12-point deduction when they went into administration.

The 32-year-old, who played his last game for Wigan in a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Wednesday, which confirmed their relegation, has taken to social media to appreciate the Latics and Brighton for the opportunities he was afforded to play for the clubs.

“I want to say thank you and goodbye to Paul Cook and his staff, the team and the whole Tics Family It’s been a very short and super intense time and I’m happy to have played my part in it,” Balogun tweeted.

“Regardless, I will always remember this as a very special time in my career, in a very special place with a very special club full of very special people. Thank you WEgan, I salute you.

“[Looking forward to my next football adventure - news coming very very soon] As things have finally come to an end on this strange season I’d like to say thank you Brighton and every soul involved for opening the door for me to Premier League football.

“I’ve felt at 'home' from the first second of my time with the Seagulls; beating Man United in the Amex, having you guys singing my very own chant, playing at Anfield and of course scoring against Palace in front of you are memories I’ll carry with me forever. Thank you for making my time in your beautiful city a time I will never forget!”

Balogun has spent most of his career in Germany, playing for Turkiyemspor Berlin, Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and Mainz.

The centre-back played 52 league games for the 05ers before joining Premier League club Brighton in 2018.

Balogun, who was born to a Nigerian father and German mother, has 32 caps for the Super Eagles and was part of the side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Jeremy Ebobisse found the back of the net as Portland Timbers played out a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC in Friday’s MLS is Back Tournament outing at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

After scoring in his previous two games against LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, the Cameroonian was again on the scoresheet against the Black and Gold to help his side move to the top Group F with seven points.

The Timbers opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute of the game after a fine finish from Jaroslaw Niezgoda.  

LAFC, however, came back into the game with quick-fire goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and Mark-Anthony Kaye before the half-time break.

With his side down 2-1, manager Giovanni Savarese brought on Ebobisse for Niezgoda in the 58th minute of the encounter and the 23-year-old scored an equalising goal for his side.

The Cameroonian headed home Bill Poni Tuiloma’s cross in the 81st minute of the game to salvage a point for his team.

The forward has now scored six of his previous 17 MLS goals in the regular season for Portland Timbers through headers, while six were scored from his left foot and five came from his right foot.

The draw was enough to help Savarese’s side clinch the top spot in the group and qualify for the knockout stage of the league along with LAFC, who finished second in the group with five points

Ebobisse was born in France to Cameroonian and Malagasy parents and has represented the United States at U20 and U23 level.

Notwithstanding, the striker is still eligible to feature for Cameroon and Madagascar, having not played a competitive game for the USA senior team.

The forward will hope to continue his impressive performances when Portland Timbers take on Cincinnati on July 29.