Looking for Soccer News?

It is "paramount" that Liverpool sign a central defender in the January transfer window after Joel Matip sustained another injury, says former star Jamie Carragher.

The Reds' defensive crisis worsened on Sunday when the 29-year-old was taken off in the second half of their 1-1 draw with West Brom.

The reigning Premier League champions are already without star defender Virgil van Dijk, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in October, as well as Joe Gomez.

Although coach Jurgen Klopp has the likes of Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips to call on to partner Fabinho at the heart of the back line, Carragher feels the Reds must bring in extra cover as soon as possible.

He said on Sky Sports: "It's a massive worry, but it's not a new worry. Joel Matip will not play every game between now and the end of the season. We knew that even before the injury today, that's why it's paramount Liverpool sign somebody in January. I said that as soon as Virgil van Dijk had his injury against Everton.

"Fabinho's gone there and looked like a top-class centre-back in that position, so maybe people at the club felt the need wasn't as urgent. But Joel Matip is too injury prone, his body can't take the rigour of playing Premier League football week in, week out, we know that since he joined, he's a really good player.

"I still believe Liverpool are the best team in this league, even without Van Dijk and I think most people would say they're favourites to win the Premier League. The only way they don't win it is if they have problems at centre-back, where Rhys Williams or Nat Phillips have to play for a prolonged period of time.

"The odd game now and again, they've done fantastic, but I know, since that's the position I played, it's not really a position for young players as such. At times they will make mistakes as they're young players, they're learning.

"That's the only way that could cost Liverpool, and I don't necessarily mean bringing in a centre-back for £70-80 million like a Van Dijk type of signing, and not necessarily someone to go straight into the team. Just someone there so that Liverpool don't end up with two young lads at some stage for five or six weeks if Fabinho was to go down injured.

"At this moment, Liverpool have one senior centre-back who is available this season and he's injury prone, so they have to do something in January."

Liverpool now sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League after 15 matches and will face Newcastle on Wednesday in their last match of 2020.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola were honoured at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, the duo named player and coach of the century respectively. 

Juventus forward Ronaldo picked up the award in person at a ceremony held at the Armani Hotel on Sunday, beating longtime rival Lionel Messi to the prize. 

The 35-year-old, who has won domestic league titles in Spain, England and Italy and Euro 2016 with Portugal, admitted his pride at receiving the accolade, given to the player judged the best between 2001 and 2020. 

"It's a pleasure to win titles," said Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, at the event. 

"It's not easy to be top of the game for so many years. I am really proud, but without a team, great coaches and clubs it is not possible." 

Ronaldo would also respond on Twitter , saying: "Couldn’t be happier with tonight’s award! As I’m about to celebrate my 20th year as a professional footballer, Globe Soccer Player Of The Century is a recognition that I receive with so much joy and pride!"

Guardiola was honoured for a managerial career which has seen him win league championships in Spain, Germany and England, as well as the Champions League twice.

The Manchester City boss was not present at the gala, though he accepted the award via a pre-recorded video message. 

Both Ronaldo and Messi missed out on the men's player of the year award for 2020, however, as that went to Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. 

Bayern's treble of the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal also saw boss Hansi Flick rewarded as coach of the year.  

Real Madrid were named the club of the century at the ceremony, while Bayern picked up the team award for 2020. 

Jorge Mendes was named agent of the year for 2020, winning the award alongside his longtime client Ronaldo.

The Globe Soccer Awards, founded in 2010, acknowledge excellence in football with an annual gala dinner and awards ceremony.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has conceded that West Brom deserved a 1-1 draw in the Premier League match at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds dominated the first half to an outrageous degree and took the lead through Sadio Mane.

A second goal continued to elude the hosts and they were punished after the break as Semi Ajayi levelled for the guests.

“I don't think anyone can expect a team plays like West Brom in the first half, like a 6-4 [formation] or whatever it was. I thought we did OK,” the former Borussia Dortmund boss told Sky Sports . “Second half we didn't do the same again, they had like three counter attacks, too many corners. It is our fault and that is why it is only one point instead of three.

"It is an incredible challenge to stay active, to stay lively when you constantly face 10 men. To be fair, West Brom did their job inside 90 minutes.

“West Brom deserved the point tonight because we didn't finish the game. It is difficult to create. In the end everyone knows and feels we should have and could have done better tonight.

"They played different against Villa. Today, it was clear it would be defensive and over set pieces. When it clicks in the game, you cannot plan clicking you just have to work for it.”

Klopp admits that it is a fixture that the Anfield club will seek to put behind them.

“We played around, crossed the ball and instead of moving we didn't switch,” he said. “It is not a game we will talk about in 20 years but it is a game we have to play and we didn't play as we could.”

Liverpool continue to lead the standings, though their advantage to Everton is now just three points. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Manchester City can move within striking distance if they can win their respective fixtures in hand.

Klopp’s men, meanwhile, are back in action on Wednesday, when they will play their final match of 2020 against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Following that, they will tackle Southampton on January 4 at St Mary’s.

Patrick Bamford has moved behind former Ghana striker Anthony Yeboah on Leeds United's list of players to have recorded 10 Premier League goals in the fewest appearances after scoring to ensure a 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday.

The Englishman's fifth-minute strike at Elland Road has sent the Whites to 11th on the league table, six places above their matchday opponents.

The winning goal came in the fifth minute when the forward converted from the penalty spot, in Bamford's 15th league appearance of the season.

“I think that we defended brilliantly. We haven’t had to come up against too many teams like that, where they’ve tested our physical resolve with a different style of play,” Bamford said after the game, as reported by his club’s official website,

“I’ve been practising penalties all the time in training, it’s always been me and Klichy [Mateusz Andrzej Klich]. I took them last year until I missed, then it was Klichy until he missed, even though he scored.

“So I thought it was still his job, but he said ‘No, Pat it is yours today’, so I said thanks!  I think it is a good achievement [to get to 10 goals], I am really happy. I won’t stop now, there’s a lot of hard work to be done but it keeps me in touch with the top scorers.”

Former Australia striker Mark Viduka holds Leeds' record as the player who have scored 10 league goals in the fewest number of matches (nine), ahead of Yeboah, who achieved the feat in 14 outings.

Yeboah played for the Whites between 1995 and 1997, scoring 32 goals in 66 total appearances. 

The striker is famously remembered for his knack for great goals during his time at Elland Road, his strikes against Liverpool and Wimbledon during the 1995–96 season regularly featuring among the finest Premier League goals of all-time.

He joined the English side after a prolific five-year stint with German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt where he netted 68 times in 123 outings.

Yeboah, who played for Asante Kotoko, Kumasi Cornerstones and Okwahu United before travelling abroad, was also once on the books of FC Saarbrucken and Hamburg in Germany as well as Al-Ittihad in Qatar.

The 54-year-old scored 29 goals in about 59 outings for Ghana at international level. 

Naoufel Khacef was sent off in Tondela’s 2-0 loss to Nacional in Sunday’s Portuguese Primeira Liga showdown.

The former Algeria U23 defender was brought on as a replacement for Portuguese forward Salvador Agra in the 72nd minute, but he was given his marching orders 18 minutes later by referee Joao Bento.

The Gold and Greens’ ambition of claiming an away victory at Estadio da Madeira had suffered a massive setback after Brazil’s Bebeto was shown the way out in the first-half.

Ruben Micael put the hosts ahead in the first minute after beating Senegalese goalkeeper Babacar Niasse from close range thanks to an assist from Joao Vigario.

In the 68th minute, Brayan Riascos completed the triumph to help Luis Freire’s men to their third triumph of the 2020-21 campaign.

Struggling Tondela remain winless in their last four games across all competitions with their last victory a 1-0 away result versus Felgueiras 1932 in Taca de Portugal.

While Niasse was in action from start to finish, Guinea Bissau's Joao Mendes was brought on for Mario Gonzalez with 12 minutes left to play, while Algeria international who is on loan from Bordeaux, Abdel Medioub, was thrown into the fray for Yohan Tavares early in the second half.

Mauritania's Souleymane Anne saw every minute of action whereas Cape Verde's Telmo Arcanjo was not listed for the encounter by manager Francisco Ayestaran.

For Nacional, Tunisia's Larry Azouni was in action from start to finish with Cape Verde's Nuno Borges coming off for Nigeria's Abdullahi Alhassan in the 46th minute. Elsewhere, Mozambique’s Witi was not dressed for action.

Thanks to this result, the Nationalists, who now boasts of 13 points from 11 games, have now moved up to seventh on the log, while Tondela moved southward with just nine points from the same number of games to stay 17th.

Khacef will be missing in action when his team welcomes Famalicao to Estadio Joao Cardoso on January 3 as they aim to end their miserable run.

For Nacional, they travel to Estadio D. Afonso Henriques for a date with Vitoria de Guimaraes.

The Conquerors boast of Nigeria's Mikel Agu, South Africa's Lyle Foster, Ghana's quartet of Abdul Mumin, Gideon Mensah, Joseph Amoah, and Alhassan Wakaso, Mali's Gideon Mensah and Burkina Faso's Abou Ouattara.

Santos are disputing that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi now holds the world record for goals scored with a single club.

When Messi found the net against Valladolid for the Catalans in a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, it was widely accepted that his 644th strike for Barca eclipsed a mark set by Pele while turning out for the Brazilian side.

Santos, though, are claiming that goals scored in friendlies and exhibition matches should not be discounted and that the correct record remains Pele’s, which they state stands at 1091 goals.

In a lengthy statement published on the club’s official website, the Brazilians state: “The 448 goals which they are trying to omit today were scored against the top clubs from those seasons. Pele scored nine goals against each of Club America (Mexico) and Colo Colo (Chile). He also put eight past Inter Milan, one of the best European clubs in 1960.

“The list is immense and with big clubs: River Plate, Boca Juniors, Racing, Universidad de Chile, Real Madrid, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Benfica and Anderlecht. Barcelona themselves, where Messi plays, were also one of Pele's victims: four goals, scored in four games.

“The argument of some analysts is that many of these 448 goals scored in friendly matches were against weak opponents, like small teams or regional teams. Even so, the matches were played in official uniform with the official laws of the game and officially logged.

“We must remember that clubs could only play friendlies with the approval of the regional and national federations. That is one of the rules imposed by FIFA, the organiser of world football.

“Taking into account subjective attributes, like the strength of opponents, is not ideal for compiling statistical data. The numbers are absolute. A goal against Eibar is statistically the same as one scored versus Valencia. A goal against Transvaal (of Surinam) is worth the same as one scored against Real Madrid, in the middle of the Santiago Bernabeu.”

Pele, meanwhile, has already congratulated Messi on breaking his mark.

Messi will miss Barca’s last match of 2020 due to an ankle injury but is expected to return imminently as the Catalans look to make up an eight-point difference between themselves and table-topping pair Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Semi Ajayi claimed another valuable point for West Brom in their survival fight as his 82nd-minute header snatched a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. 

The centre-back's deflected shot - later credited as a Ruben Dias own goal - helped Albion to earn a share of the spoils at Manchester City earlier this month and his looping effort came off the post before spinning beyond a helpless Alisson at Anfield on Sunday. 

Liverpool were dominant during the first half and should have had more than Sadio Mane's sublime finish to show for their efforts. 

However, nerves set in and, after Joel Matip added to Jurgen Klopp's injury headache at centre-back, an increasingly emboldened West Brom drew level. 

Sam Johnstone saved magnificently to keep out a Roberto Firimino header as Liverpool had to settle for extending their lead at the summit over Everton to three points.

Reigning champions Simba SC picked up a 5-0 win over Maji Maji FC in a Sunday Sports Federation Cup encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Gadiel Michael, Chris Mugalu, Ibrahim Ame, Meddie Kagere and Luis Miquissone scored the five goals that gave Wekundu wa Msimbazi the victory.

Sven Vandenbroeck deployed most players who have been missing out on first-team slots for the Premier League and the Champions League against the lower league side. In goal, Beno Kakolanya replaced an ever-present Aishi Manula, who sat on the bench.

David Kameta, Ame, Kennedy Juma, Miraji Athumani, Larry Bwalya, and Francis Kahata enjoyed starting positions while regulars like Joash Onyango, Shomari Kapombe, Mohamed Hussein, Clatous Chama, Kagere and Miquissone were benched.

Michael gave Simba the opening goal in the third minute as they started on a high against Maji Maji, who preferred to sit back and invited attacks from the champions.

Mugalu added the second in the 16th minute as Simba looked a more solid side despite the changes made to the first team. Kahata, Ndemla, Bwalya and the second goal scorer, at this point, were reigning supreme in the final third and the visitors were lucky not to have conceded more.

Ame, who enjoyed a rare chance ahead of Onyango and Pascal Wawa, added the third goal for marauding Simba on the hour mark.

Kagere, after coming on when his teammates had already scored goals that had certainly assured them of a home win, stretched Simba’s lead further away from Maji Maji’s reach when he added the fourth in the 78th minute.

Miquissone, just like Kagere, came on and did not take long before he added the fifth goal in the 88th minute.

In another match, Premier League side Mtibwa Sugar fought to register a 1-0 win over First Division League (FDL) side Geita Gold. Ismail Mhesa scored the only goal of the encounter in the 47th minute to ensure the Sugar Millers advanced.

Simba and Mtibwa have now joined Azam in the next round of the domestic competition. The Wekundu wa Msimbazi all sailed through to the final stage and defeated Namungo FC to crown a stellar season with a treble last season.

Simba SC head coach Sven Vandenbroeck is optimistic his charges can still eliminate FC Platinum from the Caf Champions League and qualify for the group stage.

In the first leg, Perfect Chikwende scored the only goal to give the Zimbabweans a slight advantage ahead of the second leg to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday, January 6.

The Belgian states all that is needed is proper training and from there the team will be in a good position to advance.

"There is a chance for us to make it to the group stage of the [Caf Champions League]," Vandenbroeck told Championi.

"We did not lose the first leg because our opponents were better, we were punished because of the mistakes we made. But if we do proper training and ensure we rectify the mistakes we made, I am sure we will get the result we need to advance."

The 41-year-old believes playing the second leg at home will also be a plus for his team.

"Our focus is on the second leg that we will play at home," Vandebroeck continued.

"We will be much stronger with energy to fight for the win. Currently, we are also trying to improve the team tactically because we are going for nothing less than a big win at home.

"I am hopeful we will get it and give the fans something to celebrate about."

The Belgian tactician, who missed his key striker and captain John Bocco through illness, had initially said his team did not deserve to lose the fixture because they dominated the game, especially in the first half, but could not use their chances.

"I am not happy with the results because we did not deserve to lose, we dominated the game especially in the first half but we did not have focus whilst attacking," Vandenbroeck said after the game.

"They managed to score and now we have to be careful when we meet in the return leg.”

The 21-time champions came into the match hoping to get at least a draw and stand a better chance of winning the tie having qualified for the second preliminary round after a 1-0 aggregate win over Plateau United of Nigeria in the previous round.

On the other hand, Platinum made it to the next round after a 4-1 aggregate win when they eliminated Costa De Sol of Mozambique, winning the first leg played in Maputo 2-1 before claiming a 2-0 win in the return leg played in Harare.

Liverpool's defensive injury crisis grew on Sunday when Joel Matip was forced off against West Brom with a groin injury. 

With 15 minutes gone in the second half, Matip pulled up after attempting a clearance against the Baggies and signalled to the bench that he needed medical attention.

After the Cameroon centre-back received treatment on the pitch, he was forced off and replaced by Rhys Williams in the 60th minute of the 1-1 draw.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez already long-term injury absentees, Liverpool can ill afford another injury to a central defender. 

Matip helped the Reds take the lead against Sam Allardyce's side just 12 minutes into the clash at Anfield. The 29-year-old played a forward pass to Sadio Mane, who chested down before lashing past Sam Johnstone.

The home match against the Baggies was just Matip's eighth in the Premier League this season. The central defender had faced spells on the sidelines earlier in the season due to injury and returned to training just over a week ago following his most recent fitness troubles.

The former Schalke player had missed his side's home win against Tottenham on December 16 but returned to play a role in the 7-0 trouncing of Crystal Palace  last week. 

Matip registered an assist in that match, too, as he set up Mohamed Salah for Liverpool's sixth goal at Selhurst Park.

Williams, 19, made his 10th senior appearance in all competitions and second in the Premier League this season when he came on to partner Fabinho in the heart of the Reds' back line for the final 30 minutes.

The England Under-21 international had previously started in the 2-1 victory against Jose Mourinho's side.

Liverpool's fitness issues in defence have been an ongoing problem throughout the first half of the season. 

But star centre-back Van Dijk gave supporters hope this week when he shared a video showing him working on his recovery.

Midfielder and defender Fabinho is looking forward to welcoming the Netherlands international back into the team, as he said this week: "Well we hope he returns soon and has a perfect recovery.

"He makes a real difference to the day to day in the dressing room and of course he will get his position straight back from me.

"I don’t know what the coach will do but I am sure Virgil will go straight in to the defence and I will go in to midfield. I hope that’s as soon as possible."

Kerala Blasters finally got their first win of the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season as they registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Hyderabad on Sunday.

A goal in each half scored by Abdul Hakku and Jordan Murray sealed the much-needed three points for the South Indian outfit. 

Coach Kibu Vicuna was pleased to finally register a win and credited his players for a satisfactory performance against strong opposition.

"I am satisfied because we played well against a very good team, a team who are playing well this season, " Kibu said after the match. "We played a good match, we deserved to win tonight and I am very happy because in the last three weeks we have been training well and we are seeing the results now."

Three important players in Kerala Blasters' starting lineup, Bakary Kone, Costa Nhameinesu and Gary Hooper were missing in the first eleven against Hyderabad and the coach confirmed injuries to the trio. 

"They had injuries and they were not ready to play. But the players who played were fantastic. The performances of Sandip (Singh), (Abdul) Hakku and Jordan (Murray) were good and they played well."

The Spanish coach explained why he utilised Sahal Abdul Samad on the left flank against Hyderabad and suggested that the India international's versatility gives the team an added advantage.

"Sahal is a very important player for us. He can play on both sides, he can play inside or outside and he is giving us the numerical superiority. He is a good player and this was his second game and I am very happy with his performance and I know he is going to get better in every game," said the Spaniard.

The former I-League winning coach revealed the instructions he gave his players after at the break.

"At half time, I spoke about some tactical issues, whatever they needed to do. But most important thing was to score a second goal because Hyderabad are a team who have good strikers like Aridane and Sandaza. At the beginning of the second half, we had the best chances, two good chances for Jordan Murray and Sahal. We didn't score then but Jordan scored in the end and we had a deserving win," the Spanish manager signed off.

Asante Kotoko and Medeama played out a 1-1 draw in a postponed Ghana Premier League (GPL) fixture on Sunday.

William Opoku Mensah netted first for the Porcupine Warriors but a late Abass Mohammed penalty levelled things for the hosts at Akoon Park.

After the result, Kotoko occupy the sixth position on the league table while Medeama hold the 13th spot.

Visiting coach Johnson Smith handed young midfielder Emmanuel Sarkodie a starting opportunity to debut for the club while also bringing Samuel Frimpong, Abdul Ganiyu and Habib Mohammed into the starting line-up

Medeama coach Samuel Boadu handed attacking responsibilities to Kwasi Donsu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Rashid Nortey and Eric Kwakwa in his set-up.

Before the match could witness any clear scoring chance, the home side were forced into an early substitution as Ali Ouattara went down injured and had to be replaced by Baba Musah in the 12th minute.

In the 16th minute, Kwakwa's shot from outside the box went off target, moments before Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora denied Patrick Yeboah the opener.

Four minutes prior to half-time, Ibrahim Osman went close for Kotoko after being picked out by Latif Anabila but Medeama goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi was alert to produce a save.

Shortly after the break, Kwame Opoku put the ball in the back of the net for the Porcupine Warriors with an overhead kick but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Kwame Opoku went close with another attempt, smashing a volley from the edge of the box wide. Then teammate William Opoku headed over the bar following a cross from Ibrahim Osman.

After Abalora blocked Asamoah's goal-bound shot with his legs, Kotoko scored at the other end as William Opoku shot into the left bottom corner after pouncing on Emmanuel Gyamfi's lofted ball into the box in the 74th minute.

Seven minutes later, Kotoko brought on new Brazilian signing Fabio Gama Dos Santos for his debut.

Medeama found a way back into the game on 85 minutes as Abass scored from the penalty spot after Habib was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

The strike proved the last goal of the game as the referee brought the game to an end after three minutes of injury time.

In the second postponed game on Sunday, Bechem United recorded a 1-0 win over Ashanti Gold, courtesy of a Stephen Owusu 54th minute strike. 

The two matches were scheduled for earlier dates but had to be played on a later date due to Kotoko and Ashanti's involvement in Caf competitions.

Hyderabad suffered their second defeat on the trot as they went down 0-2 against Kerala Blasters in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash on Sunday.

Coach Manuel Marquez Roca stated after the match that his players lacked the attitude to win the tie against Kerala Blasters.

"We lost because they played with more attitude. It is one of those days when a coach is very angry because if the attitude fails it becomes impossible to win a game. In the first minute, they showed a better attitude. We also had our chances to score but only for their attitude, they deserved to win.

"Both teams had one week to recover but the same players are playing too many games and we were tired especially in the second half and we did not have clarity in front of the goal. Just before conceding the second goal, Fran (Sandaza) could have equalised but Albino (Gomes) made a good save," said the Spanish coach.

The Hyderabad manager also suggested that he is disappointed with the result as his side had enough opportunities to score but he was unhappy to see the attitude of his players in the first half of the match.

"We had clear chances. I don't know what happened in the first half when Aridane (Santana) didn't score the equaliser, his shooting was not good. Or just before the second goal of Kerala, Fran Sandaza got a clear chance. But these kinds of things happen in football. I am not disappointed that Kerala had the same number of chances as we had. I am disappointed with the attitude of the players in the first 25 to 30 minutes," said Roca.

The former Las Palmas manager also urged everyone to stop hyping up Hyderabad's young star Liston Colaco.

"I think people are speaking too much about Liston (Colaco). This is the first season wherein he is playing regularly and I think he needs to be calm and he doesn't need people speaking about him that he deserves to be in the national team. Liston will be a very good player but he has to improve a lot of things and he knows that. But maybe if people don't speak too much about him, it will be better for Liston." said the Hyderabad boss.

Roca also hinted that the club is looking to sign a seventh foreigner in the January transfer window also gave an update on striker Joel Chianese's fitness.

"If we sign another foreigner it will be because we have only six foreigners. Joel (Chianese) is close to playing, not yet but very soon. Let us see if we can sign another player."

Chelsea star Mason Mount says he and his team-mates have to be ruthless as they seek to bounce back from a derby thumping by Arsenal.

The Blues started the Boxing Day clash at the Emirates as strong favourites to take three points but were instead the victims of a 3-1 defeat.

England midfielder Mount wants to see Chelsea put the defeat behind them as quickly as possible and offered no excuse for the display.

“We have to be harsh on ourselves. We can’t start a game like that and expect not to be 2-0 down at half-time. It is a tough lesson and we need to learn that and we need to do better the next time,” he said to the club’s official website.

“It is something where we need to look at ourselves as players. We didn’t start the game anywhere near what we should be. We are representing Chelsea, we’re a big club and we really need to look at ourselves as players and say that was not good enough. We know that it is a big London derby and we need to start the game way better than we did.”

He is backing his side to bounce back when they play Aston Villa on Monday.

“We are big players so we can get together and really bounce back after that performance,” he added.

“It is probably better we have that quick turnaround because now we look at another game. The Arsenal one is gone, there are still big things we need to work on but now we have that one day before our next game and we can put it in the back of our heads and really go into Villa with a strong mindset, starting the game very well and hopefully doing well in the game.”

Frank Lampard’s side presently reside seventh in the Premier League standings, having played the full complement of 15 games.

They are, however, in the midst of a disappointing spell of form, with three defeats in their last four.

After they close out their 2020 calendar against Villa, they can look forward to their first game of the New Year against Manchester City.