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Playing at Anfield gives Premier League leaders Liverpool "power", according to Japanese forward Takumi Minamino. 

The champions have gone 66 top-flight games without defeat at home – a club record – and have triumphed in all seven of their matches at Anfield during the 2020-21 season. 

The Reds' last loss at home in the Premier League came in April 2017 when Crystal Palace claimed a 2-1 victory courtesy of a brace from former player Christian Benteke. 

It was a Palace side managed by Sam Allardyce, who brings West Brom to Merseyside on Sunday.

Minamino, who joined the champions from RB Salzburg in January, is at a loss to explain why they are so dominant on home turf, but claims there is something special about playing at Anfield.

"When we play at Anfield, I don't know the reason, but we always feel that we can win. I don't know why," he told the club's official website .

"The stadium always gives us power. It is very sad that we can't have [more] fans in the stadium. I hope they can come back to see our play as soon as possible."

Minamino has struggled for playing time in the Premier League this season, starting just two games and coming off the substitutes' bench on six occasions. 

He has netted just one goal in those appearances – opening the scoring in a  7-0 win over Palace last weekend with a goal he described as instinctive  – and has failed to create any chances for his team-mates.

Liverpool face West Brom on Sunday before taking on Newcastle United on Wednesday and Minamino is expecting boss Jurgen Klopp to give him an opportunity to impress. 

"I am looking forward to it very much," he added. "Because there are two games in a week, I will have more chances to play games and I am happy about it. 

"We suffer a lot of injuries now, so a player like me needs to work harder for the team. I would like to prepare myself well and achieve a result if I am given a chance."

Following the trip to Newcastle, Liverpool welcome in 2021 with a visit to St Mary’s to face Southampton.

Christian Pulisic is flattered by comparisons with Eden Hazard, but the Chelsea winger says his game is not modelled on any one player.

The United States international is working his way back to full fitness following a frustrating spell with injuries, and he impressed Paul Scholes during Chelsea’s loss at Wolves earlier in the month .

“He’s a good player, isn’t he?” Scholes told Amazon Prime . “The number of times they got the ball into him. [Ben] Chilwell as well has been a threat they’ve got a link down that side with Mason Mount. But this lad, Pulisic, he looks the closest thing to Eden Hazard.

"He’s got a little turn of pace, his centre of gravity is low, he can weave past people and he’s creative."

Hazard elevated his career to great heights during his time at Chelsea, and Pulisic is aware of the Real Madrid forward's achievements at Stamford Bridge.

“It’s a huge compliment,” Pulisic told Chelsea’s official website . “As I’ve said before, Hazard was a huge player for this club and I’ll never try and compare myself to him, but coming from a guy like Paul Scholes it’s a big compliment.

“There’s no one obvious player I model my game on. I like to take a lot of things from different players. I’ve learnt a lot from Hazard’s game, from watching him and watching his highlights, and there’s a lot of players like that. I’m trying to learn every day.”

While predominantly a left winger, Hazard can operate on the other flank as well as through the middle, and Pulisic is happy to adapt to whatever role is asked of him by Blues boss Frank Lampard.

“I’ve played on both wings a lot,” Pulisic said. “I can be very effective on the left wing but there are also a lot of good things I can do on the right.

“I’m learning to play both and I’m comfortable with both and anywhere in the attacking half. When I get the ball I like to think that I can still be dangerous.”

Pulisic says his aim for the remainder of the season is to stay free from injury and work his way back to top form.

“It’s not been easy,” Pulisic said. “I had a very tough couple of months coming back and forth from injuries, but I’m doing absolutely everything that I can to be on the pitch because that’s where I want to be playing. Right now I’m feeling great so I’m blessed and happy about that. I’m just hoping it continues.

“In the last couple of games, I’m starting to feel like myself again and my confidence is getting higher so I’m feeling good.

“My aims for the season are just to stay fit, be able to perform throughout the game and be available for my team in every single possible game that I can. If that can happen I think I can help my team and we can have a really good season.”

Namungo FC coach Hemedi Morocco has explained he had to start Burundi striker Bigirimana Blaise from the bench against El Hilal Obayed for tactical reasons.

The striker has been one of the most consistent performers for the 2019/20 FA Cup finalists and many expected him to start against the Sudanese outfit in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup, but that was not the case.

"It was simply a tactical move," Morocco told reporters on why he did not start the towering striker.

"When [Bigirimana] came in, he showed his potential, what he is capable of doing. I do not have any other reason for him to start from the bench."

In the game played in Tanzania on Wednesday, Namungo, who are making their debut in the competition, started the match on a high. 

It took the hosts just 15 minutes to get their first goal. Sixtus Sabilo scored after a good move from the teammates. 

The Tanzanian outfit pushed for the second goal and they managed to get it courtesy of in-form striker Stephen Sey. 

Neither of the two teams could get another goal, especially in the second half despite the many chances created.

"We approached the game cautiously knowing that our opponents are also a good team. That is why in the early minutes of the first half we played with tension," Morocco continued.

"I think we deserved to win because we created more scoring chances as compared to them. It was a fair game on our part."

The tactician has further revealed he will have to watch the game again and correct where his team might have gone wrong despite the win.

"We will have another look at the game, see where we did right and where we went wrong. 

"We want to ensure we do not want to give our opponents a chance for a comeback."  

A draw will also be enough for the Tanzanian Mainland League outfit to make it to the final preliminary round.  

The Tanzanian outfit qualified for the second round of the competition after Al Rabita were disqualified owing to the violation of regulations by the latter. 

The South Sudanese federation failed to secure the tickets for matchday officials as required, and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) had no option but to hand the visitors a walkover. 

In the first leg, Namungo had won 3-0 and stood a better chance of advancing. 

Brendan Rodgers has labelled Wilfred Ndidi as ‘irreplaceable’ thanks to his impressive outing in Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur on December 20.

The Nigeria international who recently returned from an adductor injury was a cog in the midfield of the Foxes as goals from Jamie Vardy and Toby Alderweireld silenced Jose Mourinho’s men before their home fans.

As Leicester prepare to take on Odion Ighalo’s Manchester United in Saturday’s Boxing Day fixture at the King Power Stadium, the Northern Irish manager has showered encomium on the former Genk man who has impressed over recent weeks.

"I’ve said before, he’s irreplaceable," Rodgers told the  club website.

"There are lots of good players that we have that can do that job, but we don’t have anyone that can do it to the level that he does.

"His reading of the game, his agility… all the numbers after the [Spurs] game show how good he is in covering space, but it’s also the confidence he gives to the other players.

"He was immense in the game, against a really good midfield. If you think of [Moussa] Sissoko and [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg that were in there, he was absolutely outstanding."

The Foxes are second in the English top-flight log – four points behind leaders Liverpool – and victory for the Red Devils on Filbert Way would prove very pivotal in their title challenge, nevertheless, Rodgers described his belief that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men could be challengers this term.

"There’s sometimes a narrative around Manchester United," he continued.

"At those big clubs, with huge expectations, if you lose a game, it’s a disaster.

"Of course, they’ll be disappointed with going out of the Champions League because the history of the club has been built on the great success they’ve had in Europe.

"We’re not even halfway, we’re 14 games in. They’ve only played 13 and they’re a club that’s expected to be up there. It’s such a long, long season still to go."

Ndidi, 24, has been a consistent performer for the English outfit since he teamed up with the club from Belgium in 2017.

In the 2020-21 campaign, he has only made eight appearances across all competitions for the Foxes, including six in the English top-flight due to his injury problems.

Mikel Arteta says Chelsea have the strongest squad in the Premier League.

Arsenal host Frank Lampard’s side on Boxing Day hoping to turn around their miserable start to the 2020-21 season.

Arteta’s side are 15th, just four points above the relegation zone. Last season’s FA Cup success is a distant memory and the Spaniard is aware of the challenge his side are facing against the Blues.

“Chelsea always have a great squad of great players,” Arteta said. “The team that we faced a few months ago [in the FA Cup final] was a top one.

“In this moment, you're probably talking about the strongest squad in the Premier League. They're doing a really good job, Frank is doing a really good job.

“He's got a team full of belief and confidence, and even though they had some defeats, they got back to winning and it's a team that is going to be fighting for the top spot in the league for sure.”

Arsenal have taken just one point from their last five league games and Arteta’s coaching is coming under more scrutiny with every disappointing result.

He thinks his side have deserved more than they have taken from some games, but he admits his team needs to improve ‘dramatically’.

“We are trying to respond every week, and for different reasons we are not picking up results.

“It happened last week against Burnley, a game we should be winning, it happened against Southampton, it happened against Everton... we have to turn things around.

“Whether it's bad luck or these things that are affecting our results, they have to change dramatically. Those margins make it very difficult to win football matches in the Premier League. We have the opportunity on a very special day here at home against Chelsea, so let's do it.”

Arteta has said a win over Chelsea would be ‘the best medicine’ for Arsenal’s current ailments but there is no escaping the reality of the league table.

Following the Chelsea game, Arsenal play Brighton and West Brom, two of the teams just below them in the Premier League, before kicking off the defence of their FA Cup crown with a third-round tie against Newcastle.

Retired Tanzanian footballers Ally Mayay and Moses Mkandawile have explained how Simba SC can overcome Platinum FC in the Caf Champions League return leg.

The match will be held on January 6 as the Tanzanian champions have a daunting task of overturning a 1-0 margin when they return home, in the hope to progress into the group stage.

Mayay and Mkandawile have specifically explained how the Zimbabwean team will come up with a plan to contain Clatous Chama who has been a real threat in both domestic and international games for Wekundu wa Msimbazi .

The Zambian international, with six goals and six assists, scored the all-important goal that ensured Simba overcame Plateau United in the preliminary encounter in Jos, Nigeria.

“Platinum might come with a plan that will contain Chama as they did to Luis Miquissone in the initial game. In football, teams always observe how their rivals play in order to contain them and consequently score goals,” Mayay explained in an interview with Mwanaspoti .

“Platinum will also come and have their eyes on Chama but Simba should attack and defend as a unit if they are to post good results.”

Echoing Mayay’s sentiments, Mkandawile stated how hopeful he is on Chama but is afraid Platinum might focus on him entirely and deny Simba a real goal threat in Dar es Salaam.

However, the retired goalkeeper said Sven Vandenbroeck should come up with an alternative strategy to counter the Zimbabwean champions.

“If Chama is not going to score, then he is going to give an assist because previously he has had a lot of contribution for Simba,” Mkandawile told the same publication.

“But I am afraid Platinum will come with an approach that is designed to contain Chama completely. For that reason, the coach should come up with a plan that would make it easy to get goals from the wings.”

Despite having established goalscorers like Meddie Kagere and John Bocco as well as Chris Mugalu, Simba have struggled to score enough goals.

The forwards need to be on top form during the return leg which Simba must win and progress to the exclusive group stage.

Fabinho says winning the Premier League again this season would be even more special for Liverpool than their maiden title in 2019-20.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are four points clear at the top of the table ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures, having won their first title of the Premier League era last campaign.

It has been a difficult title to retain in recent years, with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side the only team to win back-to-back English top-flight titles in the last decade.

The Brazilian believes that joining that elite club would mean his side went down in history alongside the best of the best.

“Yes, this team will be remembered for how well we play, the quality of our football and for winning the title,” Fabinho told the Daily Mail.

“But to fight for the second one would put us further in to football history. It would put us up there with teams in the Premier League that have won back-to-back titles. Teams like Manchester City.

“It would put us on the higher level and put us with the best teams in the history of the league.

“Taking into account everything that has happened this year, the difficulties of no fans in the stadiums and the busy run of fixtures and injuries we have had, it all adds to making the second title more special than the first one if we could do it.

“It would show that we have this constant desire at the club to be winners.”

If Liverpool do go back-to-back, Fabinho will doubtless be hailed as one of the heroes of the campaign.

He helped steady the ship after the injury to Virgil van Dijk, and has earned comparisons to Liverpool’s Dutch rock with his assured performances.

“That's funny because some of my friends have joked about that,” he said. “Recently they sent me a montage they made. It was Virgil's hair and my face!

“When I came in, I felt good and comfortable and over time it's got easier. When Virgil got injured, I expected to come in as centre-back and even the other players were joking. They were saying: 'Fabinho the defender is back, he is here'.

“I was nervous at first but I think I have grown into it.

“Virgil is the one player you don't want or expect to be injured. Last season he played in all 38 league games. He is never tired, never injured and the one you can always rely on. He really is the leader and when you lose someone of those qualities it's a great shock.

“We were just shaking our heads at the time and didn't want to admit it was true. I remember hearing the news reports and hoping they were false.

“Immediately after his injury, he didn't say too much but after a few games he sent me a message congratulating me and saying I was playing well. That was great to hear.

“Now I just want to be able to watch his game and pick up things I should be doing, particularly the passes he makes. I would like to do that.

“He is the best in his position so it's important that I look to his game.”

The secret to Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele's longevity at the Soweto giants has been revealed by his agent, Jazzman Mahlakgane. 

The 33-year-old defender is the longest-serving player in the current Bucs squad having the joined the Soweto giants in 2006 from Mpumalanga-based side Walter Stars. 

Since then Jele has remained a loyal servant to the Houghton-based side and he has enjoyed a lot of success with the team over the years.

However, the former Bafana Bafana international is yet to lift a major trophy since he was appointed club captain in August 2017.

Thulani Hlatshwayo was the one, who lifted the MTN8 trophy after Pirates edged out Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in the final earlier this month with Jele missing due to illness.

Mahlakgane says Jele always puts the team first hence his longevity at the four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions. 

"One of Jele's secrets to staying with Pirates for more than a decade is always putting the team first," Mahlakgane told Isolezwe.

"Yes, he would have been happy to lift the MTN8 [trophy], but there was nothing he could do, he was not there on the day of the game. The coach [Josef Zinnbauer] revealed [that] he was ill.

"We don't know how this season will end, maybe there is another trophy that Pirates will win and Jele will get a chance." 

The arrival of Hlatshwayo at Pirates prior to the start of the current season has seen Jele struggle for game time.

Zinnbauer has opted for Hlatshwayo and Ntsikelelo Nyauza as his preferred centre backs thus far this term.

As a result, Jele has played four competitive matches including two substitute appearances in the MTN8 against Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City. 

The lanky player, who is one of the decorated Pirates players in the PSL era, signed a new one-year deal with the club at the beginning of the current season.

Jele has won eight major trophies with the Buccaneers namely; two PSL titles, three MTN8 trophies, two Nedbank Cups and the Telkom Knockout.

He was a key member of the Pirates team which made history by winning three major trophies in a single season back to back between 2010 and 2012.

Bruno Fernandes says he wants to win every trophy on offer with Manchester United and says he's not happy that he hasn't lifted a title in his first year.

United go into Saturday’s crucial game against Leicester City five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

They are already out of the Champions League but have a Carabao Cup semi-final to look forward to, as well as the FA Cup and Europa League.

Fernandes has had a hugely impressive first year at Old Trafford and, speaking to BT Sport , he reflected on a rollercoaster 2020.

“I’ve enjoyed it a lot,” Fernandes said. “I enjoy [being at] one of the biggest clubs in the world. It was a dream come true to come to the Premier League, to come to a club I have always dreamed of playing for.

“Of course, it was better for me when I could play and enjoy my games with the fans. When I arrived, at the time it was the FA Cup and the Europa League, and we had the chance to get into the top four in the league.

“Unfortunately, we went out in two semi-finals but we achieved third place in the league. The only thing I’ve missed in this year is the trophies. I don’t have trophies for the club and I’m not happy about that. I hope 2021 can be better in that way.”

Fernandes says he was desperate to repay the faith which Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showed in him from the first day he arrived in Manchester.

“Straight away when I arrived, the confidence that the coach showed in me was impressive for me. Straight away, after two days I was playing against Wolves after I had trained for one day with the team.

“You need to understand in that moment, he is trusting you so you have to do something. It’s like Michael Jordan in his series ‘The Last Dance’, you know? It was the first and last chance to show that I wanted to be part of this team.

“Everyone has their own way to lead the team. I think everyone has leadership inside them, but in different ways. Maybe my way of showing leadership is a little more expressive and people see more from me than other players but I think at the end of the day, you have to have 25 leaders in the team if you want to win something.

“I think everything can be realistic if we believe. You make your own reality. I think the most important thing is that you have a target and you have to hit it. My target is winning trophies. It doesn’t matter which kind of trophy it is, I want to win all of them.”

Leon Balogun has been passed fit to start Rangers’ clash with Hibernian in Saturday’s Scottish Premiership fixture.

The Nigeria international last featured for Steven Gerrard’s men in the Gers’ 3-2 defeat to St Mirren in a League Cup encounter at the SMISA Stadium.

There, he was substituted for Romanian’s Ianis Hagi with six minutes left to play after a clash of heads with striker John Obika before Jim Goodwin’s men snatched a late winner through Conor McCarthy’s last-gasp winner as Rangers’ 26-game unbeaten run came to an end.

Subsequently, he missed two games against Motherwell and St. Johnstone.

And having taken part in team’s Christmas Jumper training where he greatly impressed, he has been included in the roster alongside compatriot Joe Aribo for the visitors who are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions in the 2020-21 campaign.

The 32-year-old has been a key player for the Ibrox Stadium lords since his arrival from Wigan Athletic on 24 July 2020 on a one-year contract, with an option in the club's favour to extend for a further year.

He has helped them maintain an unbeaten run of 17 games in the Scottish top-flight this season with 10 matches under his belt – with just two of them as a substitute.

Jack Ross’ Hibs will be without goalkeeper Ofir Marciano (injury) and Christian Doidge (suspension) but that seems not to be a concern to manager Gerrard.

“I worry about the opposition when the team sheet comes through,” he told the club website.

“I focus on me and my players and I’ll worry myself about Hibs’ team before the game.

“We don’t look back as you can’t change anything. All that game tells us is we are going to be in for another tough test.

“They have good players, they are in a good place and good form, so it is set up to be a fantastic game.

“We felt hard done by in-terms of not winning that game with the chances we had and what we created on the day.”

Victory for Rangers will see them maintain their lead at the summit of Scotland’s elite division log.

Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool’s Premier League title miss in 2014 still fuels him as he leads Rangers on their Scottish Premiership title charge.

The Reds had a first Premier League trophy within their grasp as Gerrard’s time as captain came towards an end in 2014, only to end up losing out by two points to Manchester City.

Gerrard’s famous slip in a devastating 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea became a source of mockery for rival fans across the country but his former side have silenced their detractors in recent years and are now looking to win back-to-back titles.

Liverpool have scratched their title itch but Gerrard’s remains. Rangers are 16 points clear at the top of the table as they look to prevent Celtic winning 10 in a row, though Neil Lennon’s faltering side do have three games in hand.

“Yes, it’s definitely a motivation,” Gerrard told The Athletic of Liverpool’s near miss. “Having that happen and how it happened towards the end of my Liverpool career was a real, brutal low for me.

“As a group and a team and a club, it was a big disappointment because we came so close. The fact they’ve won the title since then and are current champions - which is fantastic for me to see - has certainly helped the healing, but from a personal point of view, having a big high as a coach and manager would certainly contribute to that healing as well.”

Rangers have been through plenty themselves in recent years. When Liverpool went close in 2013-14, the Ibrox side were winning promotion back from the third tier of Scottish football.

Now, after years in the wilderness, a first Scottish title in 10 years is theirs to lose.

“The next trophy will be a big deal,” Gerrard added. “There have been a lot of stepping stones and progression. The statistics make for good reading if you go year-by-year, but the reality is that we’ve got to deliver silverware.

“This club is built on success. It’s a very traditional, historic club and there’s a big spotlight and responsibility to deliver trophies. Progress is not enough. Statistics are not enough. You’ve got to deliver, it’s as simple as that.

“The main aim in my first year was to try to get a bit of pride and respect back. They were suffering some heavy defeats. Players were hurt, fans were hurt.

“We got the fans smiling again, feeling a bit of belief. We showed improvements in the first year. In the second year, we showed we can compete and in the third year the challenge is, ‘Can we go the full distance rather than six months and fall away? Can we be there and challenge come the end of the season?’”

It has been 15 years since Safee Sali last put on the Kuala Lumpur (KL) FC jersey but he will have to opportunity to do so again in the 2021 season after he inked a 1-year deal with the promoted outfit for the coming season.

The well-traveled striker will bring bags of experience to the KL side team already teeming with bundles of experience in the shape of Indra Putra Mahayudin and Shukor Adan, coming full circle in what has been an incredible footballing journey for him thus far.

He was unveiled together with Hadin Azman on Thursday and the former Malaysian international is adamant that he's still capable of contributing at the highest level despite him turning 37 in the coming year.

"I’m honoured to be able to return to the team that gave me my first professional career 15 years back. To be back here in this stadium brings back a lot of memories. I hope that in the coming season, we can revive the aura of Kuala Lumpur," said Safee during the unveiling. 

"I’ve already had the experience of playing with Indra and Shukor, both of whom have done everything in football. I feel that we have the right combination of seniors and juniors to give others a big challenge

"I accepted it even though it was only one year, that is not an issue. For any team to take on a player of my age, they will have their worries. So it’s up to me to prove that even though I’m only here for a year, I want to prove my worth and help the team as much as possible."

Yet with age catching up with him and the lack of playing time at prevous club Petaling Jaya City FC being another indicator, Safee revealed that he's not even close to contemplating on retirement at this point in time.

Pointing to the longevity of new club mate, Shukor and current AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Safee is counting on a continued fit bill of health to allow him to emulate those two players to continue to play on when many others would have called it a day.

"As long as I haven’t said that I will retire, I want to continue to give my all to the team that I’m playing with. And when it’s with a team that I have played before, it makes me very excited that I feel like I’m only 17 despite me being 37 in the coming season.

"We have examples in our own league. Shukor will turn 42 next year and he’s still playing in the top division, so why not others. And overseas in a striker’s position, we see Zlatan Ibrahmovic being there and still scoring goals. So I want to give a signal to the young players these days that we can be here for a long time."

The last time Safee tasted success domestically was when he was still a Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) player and while KL are not seen as a potential challenger to the reigning Super League champions, Safee firmly believes that the top management's target has been set a tad too low.

KL finished last in the 2019 season to drop down to the Premier League but gained promotion immediately despite finishing third in 2020 because of Terengganu FC II's inability to be promoted. Which would not make the management's target of staying in the top flight too low a bar for the team to achieve.

However having see the mixture that the squad possess, Safee is confident that if the team can play to their potential, there's a big opportunity for the club to even finish in amongst the top half of the division.

"I feel that KL now has the capability to provide a challenge to the big teams. We have Hadin, Zamir (Selamat), Paulo (Josue) who all play important roles. For KL to be in the top five is not impossible because we have the experience. Of course the management have their targets but I don’t think that is enough because we see the quality of the players in the team have the capability to bring KL to higher than that," he added.

Gor Mahia forward Benson Omalla has assured Kenyans they are going to give their best on Saturday to get a positive result against CR Belouizdad.

K'Ogalo are away to North Africa to play the hosts in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League game hoping to get a favourable outcome. The youngster has further stated the team is motivated and will be aiming at upsetting their hosts.

"Definitely it is going to be a tough game not only for us but for them as well," Omalla told Goal on Saturday from Algeria.

"For us players, the morale is high and as players, we are going to give it all to get a positive outcome. It is important for us to ensure we get a good result to stand a better chance of making it to the next stage."

The Rising Star has had good outings for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League giants but has not yet opened his account. However, he hopes his first goal can come away in Algeria.

"The first thing for me is to ensure the team has performed well," the former Western Stima player continued.

"What matters is for the team to get a positive outcome. I believe it will happen today and we will come home with good results. Hopefully, I am going to score my first goal for this big club Gor Mahia."

The last time Gor Mahia played against an Algerian opponent was in 2019 when they were drawn to face USM Alger in the same competition.

USM Alger came to Nairobi and beat K’Ogalo 4-1 and returned home in Algiers to win the return leg 2-0 and advance to the next round with a 6-1 aggregate scoreline.

The two teams also met in the Confederation Cup in the 2018 season with the first leg staged in Kenya ending in a 0-0 draw before USM Alger won the return leg 2-1 at home to advance 2-1 on aggregate.

In 2019, Gor Mahia was also drawn to face Algerian side Hussein Dey in the Confederation Cup, and they won the first leg staged in Nairobi 2-0 but lost away 1-0 to claim a 2-1 aggregate win.

"It has been tough for us away against the North African teams, but I am optimistic we will break the jinx," Omalla concluded.

Vipers SC head coach Fred Kajoba has fired back at Uganda head coach Johnathan McKinstry after his dismissal from the team’s camp on Friday.

The Federation of Ugandan Football Associations (Fufa) confirmed the goalkeeper’s coach was sent home due to his failure to observe the coronavirus regulations at the camp. Kajoba has claimed his dismissal came after he attended a church service during Christmas.

“I requested the coach and I was allowed to go to church and celebrate Christmas day mass,” Kajoba said as was quoted by Football256.

“It’s interesting how McKinstry would find trouble in me going to church when some other people including himself have on a regular basis been going out of the camp.”

“Can’t they too bring in the coronavirus? I’m fine with the dismissal and in fact happy that I was dismissed from the camp because I had gone to church but not any other place!”

The coach added his expulsion from the pre-Chan squad will not affect his devotion to the church.

“Nothing or no one will ever separate me from my God and Mother Mary. I am what I am today because of the God that I have always worshipped and believed in,” he added.

“My present and future lay in him. I am yet to get someone to make me understand the wrong in worshipping more so on Christmas day.”

When the federation confirmed Kajoba’s dismissal they did not specifically state why they had to make the decision.

“Fufa released one of the Uganda Cranes technical staff, Fred Kajoba after not being able to observe the camp regulations at the team’s hotel in Kisasi which require all members of the contingent to follow the strict Covid-19 Standard Operations Procedures,” Fufa said on Friday.

“Kajoba will therefore not travel with the Uganda Cranes contingent on Monday 28th December 2020 when they fly out of the country for a pre-Chan tournament in Cameroon in preparation for the Chan finals that start mid-January 2021.  

“A replacement for the goalkeeping coach will be named by the Fufa executive in due course.”

The Cranes will be leaving for a pre-Chan tournament that involves Cameroon, Niger and Zambia from January 1 to 7. The Cecafa champions are in Chan Group B that also has Morocco, Togo and neighbours Rwanda.

Jurgen Klopp says he could not understand why any player would want to leave Liverpool – but he can’t force anyone to stay if they do want to depart the club.

Mohamed Salah has been at the centre of transfer speculation with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain all linked.

Indeed, the 28-year-old left the door open to a future move to Spain, while also expressing his disappointment at not being made Liverpool captain for the Champions League dead-rubber with Midtjylland.

Goal can confirm that the Reds are certain to offer Salah a new contract at some point, with his current deal running until 2023, and the Egypt forward has said he is fully focused on his goal of breaking records at Anfield.

Speculation is sure to persist with the January transfer window just around the corner but Klopp - who also addressed Salah's captaincy concerns -  believes the former Roma star has everything he needs on Merseyside.

“We could all look for something else if we wanted to, but for me the only reason to leave Liverpool at the moment is the weather!” Klopp smiled.

“What other reason could there be? This is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We pay the money, maybe not the most in the world but we pay good, we have a sensational stadium with outstanding supporters all over the world. Our colours are red which is the nicest colour anyway, so where are the reasons?

“You cannot force people to stay. We never did, by the way. It’s all about timing, the right moment. We make changes and bring players in, and if a player wanted to go then we wouldn’t stand in the way. It’s just I don’t understand why they would want to.”

Liverpool have looked in ominous form in the Premier League of late, and appear favourites to lift back-to-back titles despite a number of injuries to key players.

Klopp’s side have Boxing Day off, with their next fixture coming at home to West Brom on December 27.

Salah was rested for Liverpool’s last game against Crystal Palace, but came off the bench to score twice and register an assist in their 7-0 win.

Following the West Brom game, Liverpool travel to Newcastle and Southampton before an FA Cup trip to Aston Villa. A key period follows at the end of January, with games against Manchester United and Tottenham either side of a home fixture against Burnley.

We at Goal.com have teamed up with the gaming series FIFA 21 to identify the top 11 players and coach existing in the game today.

Join us in the poll sponsored by FIFA 21 and vote for your favorite manger (off the five below) but before that here is a quick snippet on them:

Zinedine Zidane: The Frenchman guided Real Madrid to their first La Liga title for three years in July. Zizou is the "captain of the ship" los blancos always needed.

Pep Guardiola: Guardiola had arguably his most underwhelming season at Man City in 2019/20. They won just one trophy: The Carabao Cup. Guardiola remains one of the best managers in the business and he will be looking to end Man City's wait for continental success in 2021.

Jurgen Klopp: Klopp granted a spot among the best managers in the world after ending Liverpool's 30-year wait for an English league title.

Hansi Flick: In November 2019, Flick took over a Bayern Munich side in turmoil. He won almost everything he could and guided his side to five trophies

Antonio Conte: With Inter, he has started a revolution, helping The Black and Blues back in the title race. Together they have made it to the top two in the UEFA Europa League and Serie A.