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Serie A is the top level of football in Ecuador, with 16 teams from across the country fighting it out in the 2021 edition which started Friday. 

All games are live streamed on Fanatiz and you can sign up to watch free here.

The new campaign will be divided into two stages, with a winner crowned at the end of each phase.

The two victors will then advance to the finals in order to dispute the title of champion at the end of the year.

How to watch Mushuc Runa vs Barcelona

Mushuc Runa have enjoyed a fine run of form in recent weeks, winning their last two games and going unbeaten since the first day of the season. 

With 14 points they sit third and could level Barcelona and Emelec at the summit with victory on Friday.

Barcelona beat out Guayaquil arch-rivals Emelec in the Second stage of the 2020 season to book their place in the final against LDU Quito, who ran out winners in the first half of the year. 

Both legs of the finals ended in stalemate, and Barcelona eventually triumphed 3-1 on penalties to lift their first Serie A crown since 2016.

Four consecutive wins took them to the summit in the current campaign, but results have slowed down in recent weeks and they now share the summit with Emelec, with their last victory coming in bizarre circumstances when Aucas were forced to forfeit after 15 minutes, having only fielded seven players.

Mushuc Runa vs Barcelona is available to stream worldwide on Fanatiz, where you can sign up for a 7-day free trial.

You can watch all of the 2021 Serie A season live on  Fanatiz.

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What other Serie A matches are available on Fanatiz?

Watch Serie A live on Fanatiz.

Yakou Meite scored a crucial goal as Reading played out a 1-1draw against Cardiff City in Friday’s Championship game.

The 25-year-old was afforded his 16th league start of the season and made a significant contribution for the Royals at Madejski Stadium.

The Ivory Coast international formed a three-man midfield along with Nigeria’s Michael Olise and Ovie Ejaria while Lucas Joao led the Reading attack. 

The game started with both sides aiming to outwit each other but failed to convert the few chances that came their way in the first half.

With the game looking to end without goals, Kieffer Moore broke the deadlock in the 87th minute, converting from the penalty spot.

Meite then rescued the Royals from defeat when he found the back of the net moments before the end of the game after receiving a fine assist from Sam Baldock.

The draw helped Reading to avoid their second consecutive loss after losing against Watford in their last outing in the Championship.

The result ensured the Royals are seventh on the league table after gathering 67 points from 41 games and are one place below the play-off spots.

Meite featured for the duration of the game, struck five shots, made 33 touches on the ball and had a 78 percent successful pass rate as part of his contribution in the game.

The forward has now scored nine goals and provided one assist in 20 Championship games in the 2020-21 campaign.

His teammates and Nigeria’s Ejaria was also on parade for the entirety of the game, Olise featured for 90 minutes before his replacement and Sone Aluko was a 90th-minute substitute.

Ghana defender Andy Yiadom also played for 90 minutes before making way for Baldock while Anglo-Nigerian Sheyi Ojo was on parade for nine minutes after replacing Harry Wilson.

Meite will hope to continue his impressive goalscoring performances when Reading square off against Luton Town in their next league game on April 21.

The forward has been with Reading since the summer of 2016 when he teamed up with the club from Paris Saint Germain and has since established himself at Madejski Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to stay at Juventus by former Real Madrid team-mate Pepe, who affirmed the striker is "very happy" in Turin. 

The veteran looks set to finish 2020-21 on a low note, with his side out of the Champions League and facing an uphill struggle to retain Serie A. 

But even at 36, he still continues to impress in front of goal and, acccording to Pepe, could stay at the Italian giants for several more years. 

What was said? 

“Honestly, given how I know him, I don’t know if he would tolerate the way many people talk about football in Portugal,” Pepe said to Novo when asked if Ronaldo would consider a move back to his home nation.

“I think he’s happy in Turin, he’s the leading goalscorer in Serie A, those who criticise him don’t know how difficult it is to score more than 30 goals every year.

“What Cristiano can do is incredible. And I hope he will stay there for more years, giving joy to football lovers and representing Portugal very well, as he has always done.”

The bigger picture

Ronaldo caused a storm in 2018 when he cut short his time at Madrid shortly after leading the club to their third consecutive Champions League title. 

Hopes were high in Turin that he would bring European glory to Juve, but so far the Old Lady have fallen short even with the competition's record goal-scorer in their ranks. 

Juventus went out in the quarter-final stage during his debut season in 2018-19 and have fallen in the last 16 in the last two campaigns, while Madrid have battled through to the semis, where they will meet Paris Saint-Germain. 

The Turin side's stranglehold on the Scudetto also looks set to come to an end. 

After winning the last nine Serie A editions they now find themselves down in third place, trailing leaders Inter by 12 points - despite the best efforts of Ronaldo, who has netted 25 times in the league to top the scoring ranks.

Further reading 

Turkish Kadinlar Ligi side ALG Spor have completed the signing of Bassira Toure from Israel's Maccabi Kiryat Gat, on a one-year deal.

The 31-year-old had arrived in Turkey a few days ago, having parted ways with Maccabi Kiryat Gat, where she helped the team to a runners-up finish in the Israeli top-flight during the 2020 season.

Before her stint in Israel, Toure had impressed at Malian side AS Mande, where she scored 42 goals in 22 games before a stint with Spanish side Malaga, where she only played four times in 2019.
 
Following her signing, coach Asli Canan Sabirli will hope the Malian's arrival help their cause to retain their domestic league title.

Commenting on her transfer, Toure expressed joy over her switch to the Turkish giants and reveals eagerness to excel at ALG.
 
"I'm very happy to join the club and I'm enjoying a very good reception here," Toure told Goal.

"I did agree on a one-year deal with the club and looking forward to making huge success with the team during my stay in Turkey."

At international level, she starred at the 2016 Africa Women's Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where she scored twice before powering her side to their first-ever semi-final two years later in Ghana.

On her arrival, the Malian become the second African on the books of the Turkish champions for the new season, following the signing of Nigeria's Esther Sunday last September on a one-year deal.

ALG will begin their title defence in the Kadinlar Ligi on Sunday, at home against Dudulluspor, and Toure will hope to hit the ground running in Turkey.

Ronaldo Koeman has shut down the "strange" questions that have been asked over his future at Barcelona ahead of Saturday's Copa del Rey final.

Koeman was handed a two-year deal at Camp Nou after being drafted in to replace Quique Setien last August, and has endured a turbulent first full season in charge.

Barca went out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage and their La Liga title hopes were damaged by a Clasico defeat to Real Madrid last weekend, but the Dutchman thinks critics have been getting their knives out far too early.

What's been said?

Koeman can win his first trophy at the helm if Barca beat Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey final, and they have eight games left in La Liga to try and bridge a two-point gap on current leaders Atletico Madrid.

Asked to address reports that he could be sacked if he fails to deliver any silverware, the 58-year-old told a pre-match press conference: "It's a little bit strange that I need to answer these type of questions because we had a run of 19 games without losing.

"We're losing one game and I already need to talk about my future? Maybe I need to accept this. I have one more year of contract. I know it's a big pressure and I can handle that but sometimes it's a little bit strange."

Koeman went on to insist that he has the full backing of newly re-elected Barca president Joan Laporta and that he fully intends to see his contract through to its 2022 expiry date.

"I've got another year on my contract and I know what'll happen if we win or if we lose [against Athletic Club]," Koeman said. "I've spoken with the president and he's shown confidence in me.

"I don't think that every time something is written about a coach the president should have to give him a vote of confidence."

Barca's rollercoaster season under Koeman

Barca struggled for consistency in the early stages of Koeman's reign and fell way behind Atletico in the La Liga standings as a result, but did impress in the Champions League as they qualified for the last 16 as Group G runners' up behind Juventus on goal difference.

Paris Saint-Germain knocked the Blaugrana out 4-1 in the first knockout stage, but their performance in the second leg of the tie served as proof of significant progress, with Lionel Messi leading from the front by scoring a stunning long-range goal in the 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes.

Barca won all three of their subsequent La Liga matches, including a 6-1 drubbing of Real Sociedad, but missed the chance to go top of the league after losing 2-1 to arch-rivals Madrid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in their latest outing.

Koeman will hope his side can get back on track by winning the Copa del Rey final before their focus shifts to a meeting with Getafe on April 22.

Further reading

Mikel Arteta has admitted that he initially struggled to find Bukayo Saka's best role at Arsenal and says "It took me a while to figure him out".

Saka established himself as a regular in the Gunners first team under Unai Emery after graduating from the academy in 2018.

Arteta has helped the 19-year-old take his game to even greater heights since replacing Emery in the managerial hot-seat, but the Spaniard concedes that he wasn't sure how best to utilise his talents at first.

What's been said?

Arteta, who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract as Arsenal's new manager in December 2019, has used Saka in a variety of different positions, including as a left-back, left-winger, central midfielder and right-winger in a bid to gauge where he is most effective.

"It took me a while to figure him out," the Arsenal boss told Sky Sports. "That's why I tried to play him in different positions, to see how he reacted.

"I wanted to test his character as well because he was playing as a left-back and I know it wasn't his ideal position but he had to go through that period."

Asked what makes Saka so unique, Arteta responded: "Intelligence. We talk about physicality, we talk about spirit, we talk about technique. But the brain is the one that makes all the decisions.

"'B' makes a lot of good decisions because he is such an intelligent player who can read situations. And after that, of course, he has the ability to execute them the right way and that's obviously a big quality."

How has Saka performed for Arsenal this term?

Saka was handed a bumper new four-year contract at the Emirates last July after a bright start to life under Arteta, who has granted the teenager an even more prominent role during his first full season in charge at Arsenal.

The England international has already racked up 38 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners in 2020-21, scoring seven goals, including a fine solo effort in a 4-0 rout of Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Arteta added on the improvements Saka has made in the final third: "We've seen how he can affect the game more and be a real threat.

"He's got the quality to decide a football match and when you have that, you need to try to get the right position for him to be decisive as much as possible because then the team will be closer to winning more football matches."

What's next?

Saka will likely have another chance to shine when Arsenal welcome Fulham to the Emirates for a London derby encounter on Sunday, which comes five days before their next scheduled home game against Everton.

Further reading

Former Kenya head coach Sebastien Migne has stated he is convinced he will be able to lead the Democratic Republic of Congo to the 2022 World Cup.

The Frenchman has been linked with the coaching job of the Central African nation and has cited his experience as one of the reasons why he is the man to help the nation book a place in the finals that will be hosted in Qatar.

“I want to reassure you that I am convinced that I will help DR Congo qualify for World Cup in a campaign that begins in June,” Migne said according to Congo Profond.

“I am experienced having worked in Africa as a coach and also as an assistant for DR Congo in 2011 to 2013. I know the places and I have had results elsewhere even with weaker teams with and that is with no disrespect at all.

“I want to work with the players who are disciplined from the diaspora and a few who are the best local ones. I will find the right balance so that the Congolese can live and love their team.”

The Frenchman was in charge of the Harambee Stars when they qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2019. Kenya had missed the continental competition since appearing in 2004 in Tunisia before Migne came and helped fulfil their dream.

Kenya managed only one win against Tanzania as they were defeated by eventual finalists Algeria and Senegal in the group stage. The win against the Taifa Stars is what the coach cited as one of the positive results his team recorded.

The Frenchman left the Kenyan job when they entered into an agreement with the Football Kenya Federation to end their association in 2019. He had failed to help Kenya qualify for the 2021 African Nations Championship when they were eliminated during the qualification process by Tanzania in Nairobi.

Should he be appointed to take charge of DR Congo, he will come up against Benin, Madagascar, and Tanzania in the World Cup qualifiers. 

The World Cup qualifiers will begin in mid-2021 as some African nations battle in the first round.

Olanrewaju Kayode found the back of the net while Max-Alain Gradel provided an assist as Sivasspor secured a 3-2 win over Genclerbirligi in Friday’s Turkish Super Lig game.

After scoring in his side’s victory over Konyaspor last time out, Nigeria international Kayode continued the fine form in front of goal at Eryaman Stadyumu.

His teammate and Ivory Coast international Gradel also made a key contribution for Riza Calimbay’s men in the encounter to ensure they extended their winning run to three games.

Sivasspor started the game unimpressively, allowing Genclerbirligi to dominate the first half and were soon caught on the backfoot when Diego Angelo opened the scoring after he was set up Daniel Candeias in the 25th minute.

Mattias Johansson doubled the lead for the Wind of Ankara after receiving a timely assist from Sandro Lima in the 37th minute.

After the restart, the Sivas Stadium outfit came back stronger and made several efforts to try and avoid defeat in the game.

Jorge Felix ignited the comeback when he found the back of the net in the 78th minute after he was set up by Erdogan Yesilyurt.

Kayode, who was brought on in the 46th minute for Isaac Cofie, levelled proceedings for Sivasspor in the 83rd minute with a fine strike after receiving a sumptuous assist from Gradel.

The Braves then got the winning goal moments before the end of the game after Pierre-Yves Polomat turned the ball into his own net.

The victory moved Sivasspor to the seventh spot on the league table after gathering 50 points from 33 games.

Gradel featured for 90 minutes before he was replaced by Chad's Casimir Ninga while Mali’s Mustapha Yatabare was on parade for 46 minutes before making way for Jorge Felix.

Kayode has now scored eight goals and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season.

The forward has been with the Braves since the summer of 2020 when he joined the side on a season-long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Gradel, meanwhile, has now provided 13 assists and scored ten goals in the current campaign across all competitions.

The African stars will hope to continue their impactful showings when Sivasspor take on Besiktas in their next league game on April 20.

Gor Mahia midfielder Karim Abdul Nikiema has explained the reason he ended up signing for the FKF Premier League champions.

The Burkina Faso midfielder was among the new signings at K’Ogalo at the start of the 2020-21 season and he arrived at the club from Armenia. Having featured for the club in a number of league matches, Nikiema has revealed it was coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto who enticed him to join the giants.

“I came to Gor Mahia because of Coach Vaz Pinto,” Nikiema told the club’s official website. “He was my coach at Saint George of Ethiopia before I moved to Armenia.

“But, it’s a new challenge here and I am ready to do my best and help this big club achieve the best.”

On how he has settled in Kenya and what he likes doing apart from playing football, Nikiema said: “Life is okay…Kenya is a Pan-African country with many foreigners but I am not really an outgoing person…I am an introvert so apart from training, I am always home playing PS games or watching some movies.”

On how he rates the Kenyan league, Nikiema explained: “The league is really competitive, there are a lot of good teams and good players.

“The toughest situation I have faced since I landed in Kenya, mmmmh…I must say the weather because, at the beginning, it was a little hard to adjust.”

On his toughest match since joining Gor Mahia, Nikiema picked the opening clash against Nzoia Sugar which they lost 2-1 by stating: “That was my first game and we lost 2-1 against Nzoia. That was a hard game for me because of the high altitude…I had difficulties in breathing.

“There is pressure in all positions in the team because all players want to be in the starting line-up but it’s good because it helps us to improve for better.”

On the lockdown situation and how he is handling the situation, the 27-year-old said:” Since the lockdown situation, I have been doing some home workout every day to maintain the form. Even without football activates, we just have to do our individual training to keep fit.”

The top-flight was halted with Gor Mahia lying seventh on the 18-team table with 22 points from 14 matches while Tusker are at the top with 36 points from 16 matches.

Asante Kotoko and Great Olympics settled for a 0-0 draw in their top-of-the-table clash in the Ghana Premier League on Friday.

In what is unarguably the biggest fixture of matchday 20's round of matches, the two sides drew blanks in the showdown at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The two teams still occupy the top two positions on the league table, with Kotoko sitting superior, but their sharing of the spoils plays into the hands of third-placed Karela United, fourth-spotted Hearts of Oak and fifth-positioned Medeama, who have the chance to close the gap separating them and the top two.

Kotoko coach Mariano Barreto made two changes to the starting team that faced Berekum Chelsea last weekend, Emmanuel Sarkodie replacing suspended Fabio Gama Dos Santos and former Atalanta man Patrick Asmah coming in for Augustine Okrah.

Olympics were led by talismanic playmaker Gladson Awako, former Ashanti Gold midfielder James Akaminko and Ghana B duo Samuel Ashie-Quaye and Michael Otou.

Awako drove a shot over the bar in the 20th minute, then Ashie-Quaye, having fended off a challenge from Mudasiru Salifu, sent a low but feeble shot straight into the arms of Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora.

Olympics made another attempt, this time around by Akaminko, who released a low shot off target after finding space. He would also get the first chance of the second half but once again, his shot was off target.

Shortly afterwards, Kotoko threw on Godfred Asiamah for Sarkodie and he did not take long to announce his presence as he won the ball inside the box and forced Olympics goalkeeper Benjamin Asare into a save.

In the 76th minute, Samuel Frimpong's quest for a Kotoko opener saw him drive a shot from the edge of the box wide. A minute later at the other end, Otou shot from outside the box but Abalora was well placed to produce a save.

New Brazilian signing Michael Vinicius, after coming on for his second Kotoko appearance, connected to a ball into the box with a header but his effort went wide.

After three minutes of injury time, the referee whistled to bring the game to an end after the teams' inability to put the ball at the back of the net. 

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has called on his charges to brush up on their ball retention to nullify their vulnerability to counter attacks, albeit after recording a dominant 4-1 win over Orlando Pirates on Thursday.

The Premier Soccer League Champions survived a few scares but, overall, they were in control throughout in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash, scoring in each half through Peter Shalulile, Themba Zwane, Lesedi Kapinga, and Hlompho Kekana to progress to the semi-final.

Mnqithi, however, believes that the tie could have been even more comfortable with more precision on the ball.

''If we were a well-oiled machine, we would not have had so many counter-attacks in this match,'' Mngqithi told the media.

'We lost too many balls, and I think I was talking about this even at the beginning of the season, that as a coach, this is one area I don't find joy, in players losing possession so cheaply because I know when we lose possession, we are exposing our limitations defensively and we are challenging the team physically more.

''I think that is one area of our game that still has to improve a lot because I still believe at times, we become casual and make silly mistakes technically. Not mistakes that are forced because opponents are putting us under pressure, but a lot of unforced errors that result in turnovers.’’

The former Golden Arrows coach would go on to add that he wants his charges to be a bit more arrogant in attack to pile more misery on opposition defences and also demands that - while using domestic matches to prepare for the Caf Champions League - his side be even more comfortable and more clinical in front of goal.

''In our attacking play, there are some elements and runs that we are demanding in our triangulation,'' he added.

''We've got expectation of trying to break the line and create more problems in the last line of defenders, with the 'eights' taking the spaces between the centre-backs and the full-backs and the 'tens'  taking those spaces to try and dislocate the centre-backs into wrong positions so that when we come back we can have better possibilities inside the box.

''And at times we don't do that, we are prone to play to feet even when we have possibilities to try and make life a little bit difficult for the opponent and force their last line to be caught in wrong decisive positions. There is still so much.

''There will always be elements of our game that must improve and remember we are also using these games as preparations for the Caf Champions League and we are a very unfortunate team, to be honest, at times because if you check, Black Leopards that we played against, they had one chance, the one shot at goal and they scored and managed to salvage a draw out of nothing."

In their next outing, the Brazilians face Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the Nedbank Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Former Manchester City star Yaya Toure has revealed he wrote a letter of apology to try and end his long-running feud with Pep Guardiola over comments he made regarding the manager's treatment of African stars.

Toure left the Etihad Stadium on poor terms after starring at City for eight seasons between 2010 and 2018. 

His swashbuckling performances in midfield made the ex-Ivory Coast international an idol for supporters, and now he is trying to mend bridges with Guardiola and other City officials. 

What was said? 

"That interview was my big, huge mistake," Toure told the Daily Mail, in reference to his infamous chat with France Football.

"When you give your trust, your voice to someone, they can twist it.

"I was aware some staff were not happy. I emailed a letter to try to communicate with some important people there to apologise and say I've been indecent to the club but I haven't had any feedback.

"I want peace. We don't want this [acrimony] all the time. For the love of the fans, for the love of the club, sometimes things have to be settled the right way. I've been in touch with some people there."

'Problems with Africans wherever he goes' 

The interview in question, which was published after Toure's exit from the club in 2018, accused Guardiola of struggling to work with players from Africa. 

“He [Guardiola] insists he has no problems with black players, because he is too intelligent to be caught out,” Toure said. “But when you realise that he has problems with Africans, wherever he goes, I ask myself questions. He will never admit it.

"But the day he will line up a team in which we find five Africans, not naturalised, I promise I will send him a cake.”

Almost a Blue

While Toure achieved hero status at City, despite the later falling-out, he admits that things could have been very different for him had he accepted another offer from the Premier League. 

"I was close to joining Chelsea,' he added to the Mail. "Juventus and Inter as well. Chelsea would've been easy because they already had a story as a great club. Didier Drogba was there as well.

"City were more demanding, if you understand what I mean. They said they were going to change, they want to be a big club, better than their neighbour.

"Carlos Tevez was a huge figure in that moment but he was quite concerned, when you see players like (Emmanuel) Adebayor, Robinho… City was doing good business but then those players were able to leave. They weren't adapting well with the club.

But I was thinking in my mind to get to a club where people can see me. At Barcelona I was surrounded by great players – Xavi, Iniesta, Messi – and that meant people thought it was easy for me to play with them. After I moved to City, people started to realise how capable I was."

Further reading 

Leicester City need to hurt Southampton first and do more than their Premier League rivals in Sunday’s FA semi-final clash, according to Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Foxes are yet to lift the FA Cup in their history and they are aiming to reach the final of the competition for the first time since 1969.

Iheanacho who has been in fine goalscoring run for the Foxes this campaign, said they are hungry for a silverware and they will give their all against the Saints.

“We always have that hunger and desire to win trophies, of course other teams are preparing as well. We need to sacrifice so many things and give our best shot,” Iheanacho told LCFC TV.

“That's what we need to do. In training and on the game, we need to do what we can, work extra and give extra than what we do, I think we are getting ready to do that.

"They are a strong side, they have quality individual players and they play as a team as well. We need to do more than them, we need to fight and hurt them first in the first-half so we don’t need to go behind."

During Leicester City's quarter-final win over Manchester United last month, Iheanacho became the highest scoring African in the oldest cup competition in the world with his brace.

After beating Didier Drogba's record of 12 goals in the competition, the Super Eagles forward said: Personally, I'm proud of it but I don't want to think about it, I don't want to lose my focus in the game.

"After the season, I will start thinking about it because we have big weeks in the FA Cup and the Premier League. We need that concentration and determination to win games and get to where we want.

"I'm in a good place at the moment, I just need to keep helping my team. I need to put in the hard work everyday, the form is coming now and I just need to keep going."

Mohamed Salah has continued to outshine Sadio Mane at Liverpool in a testing campaign at Anfield because injuries to others have hit the Senegalese star hard, says John Barnes.

Jurgen Klopp has seen his side knocked from the Premier League summit this season, their long-awaited title surrendered with little resistance, and key men have struggled to find form and fitness on a consistent basis.

Mane is among those to have suffered a slump, leading to him being dropped to the bench for the recent meeting with Aston Villa, and the 29-year-old has mustered just 12 goals in all competitions compared to the 28 that Egyptian star Salah has recorded.

What has been said?

Speaking in association with BonusCodeBets, Reds legend Barnes told Goal: “If you look at the Liverpool team, with the players that are missing, it’s clearly affected Sadio Mane. 

"Maybe it has affected him more than Mohamed Salah, but that’s because their games are different to each other. Mane relies on the midfielders and defenders giving him the ball, whereas Salah relies on Mane to assist him. 

"They’ve [Mane and Salah] never scored the same number of goals in a season, Salah has always scored more.

"People are always looking for reasons and excuses why [Salah scores more], the same with Roberto Firmino, who also gives you more than just scoring goals. Mohamed Salah is the main goal-scorer, you shouldn’t compare the two.” 

Will Mane rediscover his spark?

Klopp returned a proven performer to his starting XI for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, but a 0-0 draw dumped the Reds out of Europe.

Liverpool will be hoping their spark is rediscovered over the coming weeks, as they continue to chase down a top-four finish.

Mane could have a big role to play, having netted 93 times in 211 appearances while on Merseyside, and Barnes believes any further urge to rest and rotate from this point should be resisted by Klopp.

He added: "Plenty of people are saying that Sadio Mane needs a rest, but he doesn’t need a rest as he’s not tired. He’s playing well, the team are starting to play more consistently and the players around him are playing better. 

"He plays all the games because he is fit and is playing well, despite everyone else struggling with confidence. Every game he’s a threat with and without the ball, and even though things may not be going well for him, he is still helping the team.  

"Sadio Mane is playing through his slight dip in form and getting his confidence back over time, so resting him won’t help him."

Liverpool, who sit sixth in the English top-flight, will be back in action on Monday at Leeds.

Further reading

West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal is struggling to understand why Manchester United were prepared to let Jesse Lingard leave and has billed Declan Rice as "the best number six in the world".

A star-studded squad has been assembled by David Moyes in east London, with the quality at his disposal allowing a push for European qualification to be pieced together.

Two England internationals are leading that charge, with Rice taking on captaincy duty while Lingard has netted eight goals through nine games since securing a winter loan switch from Old Trafford.

What has been said?

Hammers full-back Coufal is impressed with the talent around him at the London Stadium, with the Czech Republic international telling Sky Sports: "Jesse Lingard came from the biggest team in England and he brings something different. 

"His quality is unbelievable, and I can't understand why he didn't play for Manchester United or get a chance. He's an unbelievable player and I'm really happy to be able to play with him.

"It's the same with Declan Rice. Declan is maybe the best number six in the world, but he can still improve, and he knows it. 

"I am just glad I can play with them, with Tomas Soucek, with Mark Noble and some very experienced players.

"It's been a beautiful season so far and everyone is hoping it will continue like this. Our goal is to qualify for Europe for next season and we are hoping we can finish the job."

The driving force at West Ham

While proven performers on the field have helped to lift West Ham into the Premier League's top four, the presence of Moyes on the touchline has aided the collective cause considerably.

Coufal admits as much, saying of the former Everton and Manchester United boss: "He is one of the main reasons we are playing like we are playing.

"He is a big personality and he has big respect from the players and our group and now, he is teaching us how to play more effectively and how to win. 

"He is a great person and everyone here is glad to have him."

Moyes has West Ham sat fourth - one point clear of London rivals Chelsea - with seven games left to take in, with the first of those set to take the Hammers to Newcastle on Saturday.

Further reading 

Hansi Flick has confirmed he held talks with Oliver Khan amid reports he could leave Bayern Munich this summer, with Stefan Effenberg warning his departure would be “fatal” for the Bavarian giants.

Flick’s position has been placed in some doubt amid reports of a disagreement with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

The imminent vacancy with the German national team has further fuelled the uncertainty, with Flick rumoured to be in contention to succeed Joachim Low when he steps down after the European Championship.

What did Flick say?

Flick hinted that the rumours of a rift between himself and Salihamidzic are true, though stressed he does not think that has to be a barrier to success.

“I prefer harmony [to friction]. But there is never anything that is 100 per cent, so you have to accept both,” he told reporters. “But with harmony - I believe - the chances [of success] are more promising.”

On the content of his talks with Kahn, who sits on the Bayern board and will succeed Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as executive board chairman at the end of the year, he added: "I talked to Oliver Kahn briefly, but about other things.

“It's not as if there's any pressure on me or us. We talked very briefly. We talked about this week and how important this week is.

"We also talked about how we digested the Champions League exit. That's what we talked about - nothing else, not the future."

Despite seemingly being calm about the future, Flick admits he is still hugely frustrated at the side’s Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, with the French side progressing on away goals despite a 1-0 victory for Bayern in France earlier this week.

"The Champions League exit is still present - this doesn't go away that quickly," he added. "I'm not sleeping great at the moment. I think you can probably tell. The truth is that life continues. We have a big challenge ahead, three important games ahead for our season goals."

What did Effenberg say?

Responding to reports about Flick’s future, Effenberg had a dire warning for Bayern officials should they fail to keep hold of their manager.

"If Hansi Flick voluntarily resigns from his contract in the summer, that would be fatal for the next few years, because he is one of the best Bayern coaches in history," he told the Sport1 Podcast.

The bigger picture

Bayern's early exit from the Champions League has increased the pressure on Flick, while his vague response to reports linking him with the Germany job did little to quell suggestions he is ready to move on at the end of the season.

After leading the club to an unprecedented treble last year, Flick has added the DFB-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to his collection this campaign.

With another Bundesliga title - the club's ninth in a row - also looking likely, Flick may feel he has done all he can at the Allianz Arena.

RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann has been tipped as a potential successor, though he was forced to publicly deny reports he had held talks with the club earlier this week.

Former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is also on Bayern's potential list of candidates, according to reports in Italy.

Further reading