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Takumi Minamino has aired his relief at “finally” breaking his Premier League goal duck at the 18th attempt, with the Liverpool forward adamant that there is more to come from him.

The Japan international was snapped up by Jurgen Klopp during the January transfer window of 2020.

His energy and versatility in the final third brought him to the Reds’ attention, with a bargain £7.25 million ($10m) deal pushed through with Red Bull Salzburg.

Minamino was always going to find it tough to see regular game time on Merseyside, with his path blocked by star-studded performers when it comes to midfield and attacking berths.

He has taken in 29 appearances across all competitions, claiming a title winners’ medal along the way, but there is a sense that he is yet to produce his best in English football.

Opening his account in top-flight action should aid that cause, with Minamino unlocking the floodgates for Liverpool – after being handed a starting berth – in their 7-0 win over Crystal Palace.

On that effort, which came after 125 seconds, the 25-year-old told the Reds’ official website: “It was instinctive.

“When Sadio [Mane] passed the ball to me, I sensed that an opponent was coming to block me. But from there, I had no time to think, but just trusted my feeling and shot.

“A goal in the Premier League was what I really wanted to achieve. Rather than feeling happy about it, I think it took longer than I wished. But I am happy that I could contribute to the team’s victory.

“I wouldn’t say that I was disappointed with myself [for not scoring in the Premier League previously], but I always wanted to score as soon as possible. I also felt some pressure about it.

“I am happy that I finally scored, but I have only scored once, so I will work hard to score more.”

Minamino is convinced that he can take his game to even greater heights as he continues to find his feet at Liverpool.

Impressive victories, such as that secured over Palace, will help him in that quest, with the defending champions sitting top of the table at Christmas for a third successive year.

“I haven’t experienced such a big win since I became professional. So I am happy to contribute to such a special win,” Minamino added.

“Because we could win that match by 7-0, I think our attacking [play] worked very well, and I myself was feeling it. Personally, throughout the game, [not] everything I did was working. I know there is a space for improvement.

“I need to work hard to improve myself, and I know I can improve myself.”

Minamino will be looking for more minutes when Liverpool return to action on Sunday in a home date with struggling West Brom.

Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso has revealed his struggles with an auto-immune disease, while claiming that "when I eventually die, I want to go where I lived, on a football pitch.".

Gattuso wore an eye patch on the touchline during Napoli's 2-0 defeat to Lazio in Rome on Sunday, and also sported specialised glasses as his team drew 1-1 with Torino in their final game of 2020 on Wednesday.

The former Milan and Italy midfielder suffers from an auto-immune disease known as ocular myasthenia.

It is a condition that causes the muscles that control the eyes to weaken and the eyelids to droop, while it can also lead to severe fatigue and double vision.

Nevertheless, Gattuso has carried on, but the Napoli head coach concedes the condition has taken its toll its recent weeks.

"I admit I've not been myself for the last 12 days," Gattuso told a news conference, having skipped media duties for the club's previous outing.

"I want to make an appeal to all those, especially kids, who look in the mirror and see something that looks odd or not quite right: life is beautiful. Embrace it all.

"The lads suffered too seeing me like this, I know that, but I'm alive. I've had myasthenia for 10 years, this is the third time it has flared up this badly, but it'll pass and my eye will return to normal.

"It's not just that it looks bad, this condition makes you feel really exhausted, plus seeing double 24 hours a day really takes it out of you. Only a crazy person like me would keep going.

"However, this is my life and there are worse things. I know some out there already assume I've got a month left to live, but I can assure you, it's fine. When I eventually die, I want to go where I lived, on a football pitch."

Napoli enjoyed a strong start to the season, though have tailed off in recent games, winning just one of their last five outings in all competitions.

The draw with Torino leaves the Partenopei sitting fifth in the Serie A standings, nine points behind leaders Milan, though with a game in hand on the Rossoneri. 

Gattuso's men will return to action after the winter break when they take in a trip to Sardegna Arena to face Cagliari on January 3.

Asante Kotoko interim head coach Johnson Smith believes the club's qualification hopes for the Caf Champions League second round remains alive despite falling to Al Hilal of Sudan in a first round first leg fixture on Wednesday.

The Porcupine Warriors ambitions suffered a home setback as Vinny Bongonga netted in the 70th minute to give visiting Hilal a 1-0 triumph at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Kumasi-based Kotoko moved to adopt Accra for their home matches this season due to ongoing renovation works at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

"We are psyching the boys after yesterday’s defeat. There are more games to come.The next game is the most important," Smith told West Gold Radio.

"We struggle in games at the Accra Sports Stadium.

"The Al Hilal side is matured and very disciplined. I believe we will get a positive result and qualify in Omdurman."

To qualify for the next round, Kotoko must beat Hilal away when the two clubs meet for the return leg in the first week of the New Year.

The Ghanaians won the last of their Champions League titles in 1983.

"Asante Kotoko are disappointing. They lack quality and no creativity," former Ghana goalkeeper Abukari Damba told GTV Sports Plus on Kotoko's performance on Wednesday. 

"I was surprised with the statistics at the end of the game but it is difficult to say but this Kotoko team has a long a way to go.

"They are disappointing and if they will continue like this, it will be a disaster.

"They can go away and win there also but its very difficult at the moment.

"They will have to play with more hunger and commitment in Omdurman.

"It's not an impossible task for Kotoko but they will have to work hard."

Kotoko, who beat Nouadhibou of Mauritania in the preliminary round of the Champions League, have set their sights on progressing to the second round and ultimately to the group stage which they last reached in 2006.

Last season, the Porcupine Warriors' quest ended early as they were bundled out of the competition in the first round by Tunisia club Etoile Sahel. 

Thomas Tuchel has been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain just hours after their comprehensive win over Strasbourg, Goal can confirm.

The 47-year-old's two-and-a-half-year reign at Parc des Princes is over, with the French champions taking the decision to make a change in the dugout following a mixed start to the 2020-21 campaign.

PSG picked up their 11th Ligue 1 win of the season by thrashing Strasbourg 4-0 in midweek, but still find themselves trailing Lyon and Lille by a point in the table.

And Tuchel has now paid the price for his team's inconsistency, with sporting director Leonardo and club president Nasser Al Khelaifi informing the German of his dismissal on Wednesday night.

Tuchel leaves a lasting legacy at PSG after delivering six domestic trophies and overseeing the club's run to a first-ever Champions League final.

The Parisian outfit picked up Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue honours last season before appearing in European football's showpiece event, only to lose 1-0 against Bayern Munich.

Tuchel was forced to defend himself after the Strasbourg game amid the fallout of an interview published by SPORT 1, during which he was quoted as saying he felt "more like a sports politician or sports minister than a coach" in his first season in France.

"I didn't say it's more about politics than sport, nor that I lost the fun of training. This is not true," he told Canal Plus. "It is possible they translated incorrectly.

"Watch the video interview. I just said that PSG are unique and that it's a big challenge for me. It's always been like that. I like this challenge and nothing has changed."

PSG will now look to appoint a new head coach before their next fixture against Saint-Etienne at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on January 6.

The squad will take in a well-earned rest over the winter break before preparations for that fixture begin, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino reportedly the favourite to pick up from where Tuchel left off in the second half of the season.

Despite their erratic domestic form, PSG still have multiple trophies to play for in the new year, including the Champions League, with a huge round-of-16 tie against Barcelona scheduled to take place in February.

Timo Werner’s position at Chelsea could come under threat once Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are fully fit and back up to speed, says Mark Schwarzer.

The Blues invested heavily in another proven frontman over the summer.

Value was expected to be found in a £47.5 million ($65m) deal for Werner, with the Germany international attracting interest from across Europe with his prolific exploits for RB Leipzig.

He has hit eight goals for Chelsea since moving to England, but a nine-game barren run is seeing questions asked of his value and end product.

Werner’s confidence has taken a hit during his struggles in the final third, with a number of opportunities that he would be expected to snap up suddenly passing him by.

Frank Lampard has plenty of alternative options available to him if he wants to shuffle his pack at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud competing for a central striking berth.

In wide areas, United States international Pulisic and Moroccan playmaker Ziyech have shown that they can be important parts of the fold, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is eager to see more game time.

Schwarzer believes Werner could be the one to drop out when Chelsea are at full strength, with the 24-year-old failing to stake a serious claim to retaining his role.

The former Blues goalkeeper told Stadium Astro: “If he’s contributing by doing a lot of work in the game, helping the team be successful, getting in the right areas, helping with assists, then I can understand why he stuck with him.

“Don’t forget as well that Frank has had to balance some injuries – whether it is Pulisic, Ziyech in and out of the side.

“If we had a fully fit Pulisic and Ziyech, it may be a different situation for Timo Werner. He may find himself on the outside.

“I think it is only a matter of time. Add Hudson-Odoi to that mix, he has struggled with injuries. Timo Werner is the only one out of those four that has been fit all the time.”

Chelsea, with fitness issues still clouding their plans, will be back in Premier League action on Boxing Day when they take in a derby date with out-of-sorts London neighbours Arsenal.

Real Madrid playmaker Isco would “definitely help Arsenal”, says former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, while Arsene Wenger’s vast experience could be put to good use at Emirates Stadium if the decision is taken to part with Mikel Arteta.

Change on and off the field is being mooted in north London amid struggles to establish any kind of momentum in 2020-21.

Arsenal have made their worst start to a league season since 1974-75, while another route to major silverware has been shut off after slipping out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage.

January will present the Gunners with an opportunity to bolster their ranks, as another transfer window swings open, and Frimpong believes that Isco could be a useful addition as he struggles for regular game time in Spain – although the plugging of defensive leaks is considered to be a top priority.

The Arsenal academy graduate told PlayOJO: “We need a centre-back and a full-back and midfielders.

“It’s very important we get some players in because I feel in defence we are weak. When teams attack us, we look vulnerable.

“We’ve had this issue for many years and we haven’t sorted the situation out. Quality signings are the only thing that going to help the team at the moment.

“Isco is a proven player, he’s won the Champions League and played for Spain and could definitely help Arsenal, but the problem isn’t attacking players, its defensively we need help.”

Frimpong added on the need for Arsenal to raise collective standards and the struggles currently being endured: “It’s down to a lack of competition in the squad. The players are not good enough.

“When I was at Arsenal, there was what you could call mediocre squad players, even at clubs like Real Madrid you have this structure, but at the moment, when you at looking at the Arsenal team, who are the stars? There are no stars in the team. There is no player in the Arsenal squad where you think ‘I’m going to get off the sofa and go watch this guy play’ and that’s the problem.

“The players are just not good enough for a club like Arsenal. Until we bring in new players, the club is going to continue to struggle.

“The problem isn’t the manager, it’s that some of the players aren’t good enough for a club like Arsenal.”

While Frimpong wants to point fingers of blame in the direction of underperforming players at the Emirates, Arteta is facing some uncomfortable questions regarding his ongoing presence.

The chances of the Gunners turning to a familiar face, one that spent 22 years in their dugout before walking away in 2018, are unlikely, with the expectation being that a Spanish tactician will be given time to get things right.

Frimpong, though, said on the value of enticing Wenger back: “I hope it does work out with Mikel, but I would take Arsene back due to his experience.

“He has the capability of bringing very good players in because he has the respect and he would attract very good players.

“However, I don’t think Arsene has any intention of coming back to Arsenal as a manager. We just need to move forward we what we have and that is Mikel and I believe he is good enough for the job.”

Manchester United need to sign a new centre-half but are unlikely to do so in January, claims Dimitar Berbatov.

The Red Devils have invested heavily in that area over recent years, doing big-money deals for the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is, however, considered to still be lacking the left-sided option that would offer greater balance to United’s back line.

At the opposite end of the field, useful pieces of a trophy-chasing puzzle are being cobbled together.

The Red Devils have shown that they can be a match for anyone as an attacking force, with Edinson Cavani slotting in alongside Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.

Former United striker Berbatov has no concerns when it comes to firepower, but he would like to see Solskjaer freed to spend again on defensive reinforcements – rather than ignore pressing issues in the middle of what could be a productive 2020-21 campaign.

“Manchester United would probably prefer to go under the radar for a little bit longer in the Premier League title race,” Berbatov told Betfair.

“Nobody has paid much attention to how United have steadily climbed the table so that all of a sudden they're third, with a game in hand, and playing like title contenders.

“On Sunday, Leeds gave United lots of space at Old Trafford which the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were able to exploit.

“There are games when everything goes your way and this was one of them for United. They scored great goals, Scott McTominay was outstanding in midfield and clinical with his two chances. In that kind of form, United are capable of winning the league.

“They should be aiming to bring the title back to Old Trafford, especially in an unpredictable season when there is so much movement near the top and it is so tight.

“The transfer window is about to open but, the way Manchester United attacked against Leeds and Sheffield United, I wouldn't say the Red Devils need to bring in anyone up front.

“I still think they need a centre-back but don't expect anyone to come in next month.”

United have kept only three Premier League clean sheets this season, with leaks at the back continuing to spring up, but they have moved to within five points of leaders Liverpool and still boast a game in hand on the defending champions.

Tijani Babangida has denied questioning William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo’s invitations to the Nigeria national team.

There is a report making the rounds that the 47-year-old met with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to ask the reason behind the continuous invitations of the defenders to the team.

Troost-Ekong has been a consistent member of the national team since he made his debut for the West African country in 2015.

The defender, who is currently the team’s vice-captain, has featured in 44 games for the side and helped the team finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

In an effort to continue his consistent performances for the Super Eagles, he teamed up with Championship side Watford and has been delivering fine defensive showings.

Omeruo, meanwhile, remains one of the longest-serving Super Eagles members, having made his debut in 2013 at the age of 19.

The versatile defender has featured in more than 50 games for the three-time African champions and starred for the side at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and at Afcon 2019.

Omeruo has been with Leganes since 2019 when joined the club after ending his seven-year stay with Premier League side Chelsea.

In the 2020-21 season, the 27-year-old has featured 10 times for the Cucumber Growers to help the club continue their push for a return to the Spanish top-flight.

Babangida, who is the President of Professional Footballers in Nigeria, has rated Troost-Ekong and Omeruo as the best for the three-time African champions.

“Well, it’s very unfortunate with what I saw this morning that a journalist wrote that I said Ekong, Omeruo and even Jamilu Collins should not be in the national team. I do not think we can boast of better players than these,” Babangida told AOI.

“So if a journalist wants to have a catchy headline to sell his papers, then he writes what I did not say because that isn’t what I said so he obviously wrote against what I said. I am very disappointed and that’s not my meaning to this.

“The said journalist has however to come out to apologize for what he wrote. If he has better players than the aforementioned guys, then he has to come out and introduce them to us.”

Babangida made 36 appearances for the Super Eagles during his playing years, scoring five goals before his retirement.

Gor Mahia assistant coach Patrick Odhiambo is confident with a proper game plan his charges will get a positive outcome against CR Belouizdad.

The East African outfit will be away to Algeria in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League. K'Ogalo have been facing internal wrangles but the former Sony Sugar coach is confident of a good outing.

"l know it is going to be a tough match [against Belouizdad]," Odhiambo said ahead of the Saturday, December 26 game.

"It is going to be a very tactical game but with a good game plan, we will get positive results."

His sentiments have been echoed by defender Joachim Oluoch. He has conceded the North Africa side are a good team but stated K'Ogalo are ready for the game.

"We have been training, and we are hopeful we will come back from Algeria with good results," the experienced defender stated.

"They, [Belouizdad, are a good side, but we are ready for them."  

Gor Mahia have confirmed they have secured a flight to Algeria to honour their Caf Champions League match against CR Belouizdad on Saturday.

The Kenyan champions were due to travel to Algeria on Sunday for the first leg meeting on Wednesday, but they requested the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to push the game back as they cited a lack of proper preparation owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Caf had refused to push the game on the first request, the African body later changed its mind and postponed the game to December 26, and also offered Gor Mahia optional flights they can use to reach the country.

Gor Mahia have now confirmed they have secured a Qatar Airways flight to Algeria on Thursday, December 25, and they will arrive in the North African country a day before the match that will be played at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 Stadium.

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.

Arsenal made a mistake in allowing Emi Martinez to leave, says Ian Wright, with a proven goalkeeper now worth “a lot more” than the £20 million ($27m) the Gunners brought in from his sale.

The Argentine goalkeeper worked his way into contention for regular game time towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign, with an unfortunate injury suffered by Bernd Leno leaving a door open.

Martinez made the most of his opportunity, catching the eye in Premier League outings and a triumphant FA Cup run.

Leno was, however, restored to the number one role at Emirates Stadium when back to full fitness, forcing his competition to look elsewhere.

Wright admires Martinez for putting his career first and pushing for a switch to Aston Villa, but admits he would have preferred to see the South American remain in north London.

Arsenal have lacked reliable cover in his absence, with Runar Alex Runarsson making a costly mistake during a rare outing against Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Martinez, meanwhile, has been thriving at Villa, keeping seven clean sheets to lead the Golden Glove race and see his transfer value soar.

On the Wrighty’s House Podcast, an Arsenal icon said of the Gunners’ inability to keep a useful option on their books in what is shaping up to be a testing campaign: “The thing with Emi is, I always look at players like that, he’s 26, 27, and he’s just said ‘I’m leaving’, it’s about me, and I admire that.

“I think that, even though towards the end I went to Burnley and I went to Scotland because it was a great experience to go to Scotland at that stage of my career, but during the meat and bones of my career, I don’t think I would have had that in me to say I’m leaving.

“You have to admire that, now look at him, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

“In the end, the money we got for him, you had to take, but he’s worth a lot more than that now.”

Martinez has claimed that Arsenal went back on their word before he headed for the exits, with assurances offered to him that he would be a favoured option between the sticks even with Leno fit.

His decision to walk away has been justified, with those he left behind at the Emirates hitting a serious slump this season to see uncomfortable questions asked of leading figures on and off the field.

Real Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo must "earn" minutes at Villarreal, says Unai Emery, who has insisted that the winger "won't get 10 games in a row if he doesn’t perform".

Kubo joined Madrid on a five-year contract last year after being snapped up from FC Tokyo.

The Blancos decided an immediate loan move was the best option for the 19-year-old's continued development, with Mallorca bringing him onto their books for the duration of the 2019-20 campaign.

Kubo scored five goals and laid on four assists in 35 La Liga outings for Mallorca, but couldn't prevent them from being relegated to the Segunda Division.

The Japan international impressed during his time at Son Moix, and returned to Madrid in July with a view to forcing his way into Zinedine Zidane's plans.

However, with the Spanish champions still unable to guarantee the teenager regular football at Santiago Bernabeu, they ended up accepting another loan offer, this time from Villarreal, in the summer transfer window.

Kubo's first few months at El Madrigal haven't gone as smoothly as he or Madrid might have hoped, with coach Emery reducing the youngster to a bit-part role on the bench.

He has only started four La Liga games for Villarreal to date, and it has been suggested that his parent club may look to cut his loan deal short in the new year.

Emery has come out to defend his treatment of Kubo this week, claiming the Madrid attacker still needs to prove he is capable of delivering the goods week in, week out.

"We are not here to give a player 10 games in a row if he doesn’t perform," Emery told reporters.

"He is given a match and he must earn more. It is valid for the young players and for everyone. There is a requirement here and that is to win."

Kubo was an unused substitute during Villarreal's 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Club on Tuesday night, which marked their final fixture before the winter break in Spain.

That result ensured that Emery's side finished the year in the top four, two points ahead of fifth-placed Barcelona having played a game more.

Madrid, meanwhile, are sitting in second place in the Liga standings behind Atletico Madrid, with a 2-0 win against Granada on Wednesday extending their recent winning run to five matches.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his Manchester United squad are not listening to early talk of a Premier League title challenge as they work on continuing to improve.

United travel to Leicester on Boxing Day with the Red Devils one point behind Brendan Rodgers’ side, who have played a game more, and a win would take them up to second to temporarily close the gap on leaders Liverpool to just two points.

Their recent run of good form, where they have gone unbeaten in their last seven league games, has sparked discussion of an unlikely title charge.

United have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013 and Solskjaer’s third-place finish last season was the second-highest league position, after Jose Mourinho’s 2017-18 squad claimed second, since then.

But, Solskjaer is not getting carried away.

“There is noise around Man Utd anyway so for us it’s about improving as a team, taking one game at a time and we have to, that’s the name of the game,” Solskjaer said.

“That is the only way that you are going to challenge for anything at the end of the season anyway so it’s not something that we talk about.

"The only thing that we talk about and focus on is improving day by day and learning how to deal with certain situations and maybe now at the moment we are getting praise and that’s another thing to learn to deal with.”

The United manager did have a warning for their rivals, though, in that he is expecting their forward line to get even better.

Injuries, suspension and illness mean Solskjaer has not been able to play his favoured front three of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial together too often but, with the three back and thriving, he is expecting bigger and better things.

“He (Martial) has made important contributions lately, he has assists, scored goals, he is getting fitter, he showed it against Leeds, and he knows that I am on to him about this, and his running stats from that game set a new standard for him, which I want to see more of,” Solskjaer explained.

“He’s always going to have the quality and maybe his confidence has been bruised a little bit by what happened earlier on in the season with the red card [against Tottenham] and he has had some criticism but Anthony is going to get better and better and, when we get Mason, Marcus and Anthony firing on all cylinders, we will be more of a threat for teams.”

Solskjaer will be hoping his forward line, whoever he selects, is firing at the King Power on Saturday as he expects a tough test from Leicester, despite United’s win there on the final day of last season which secured Champions League qualification.

“It’s game by game now, we have to think that way," said Solskjaer. "We have had some very good games against Leicester, very tight games, they are a very good side with a very good coach and I have enjoyed watching them under Brendan, so it was a big test for us to go to their stadium in the summer and we passed that one with flying colours.

“We played a controlled game and I know it will not be the same now because it’s a different time of the season but they have got some threats that you have to look for and we will just have to sit down and think about it and who is fit and not fit.”

Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Chippa United has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian coach Luc Eymael. 

This comes after complaints from the South African Football Association (Safa) and the Eastern Cape government given the 61-year-old tactician’s alleged previous racist remark during his time with Tanzanian giants Young Africans.

The Chilli Boys released the following statement on Thursday afternoon as they moved swiftly to withdraw the decision:

"The Club would like to formally announce that it has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian, Luc Eymael. When processes are complete, a new coaching announcement will be made in due course," a club statement read. 

"After having announced Mr. Eymael's appointment until the end of the season on Wednesday, 23 December 2020 - the Club has considered public outrage. There was also the reputational damage caused to our brand, and that of our stakeholders, partners as well as our sponsors."

"We would like to clarify that the initial decision to make this appointment was based on Mr. Eymael's coaching track record, where we felt he was the best person to take the Club towards our desired top half finish in this PSL season."

"Outside of the written reports, there was no formal instruction — to us or to any other team- to not employ Mr. Eymael. However, as the Pride of Eastern Cape, we represent the legacies of world-renowned anti­discrimination heroes that come from our Province."

"The Chilli Boys play an influential role in our surrounding communities through football and through our philanthropic work. We have people that look up to us and on the responsible decisions that we take.

"Our withdrawal of this appointment is an acknowledgement of our stance on such matters, with the Club also having fully informed Mr. Eymael and his representatives on our position." 

Eymael was appointed by Chippa following the departure of coach Lehlohonolo Seema, who was recently dismissed by the club chairman Siviwe Mpengesi with the team struggling in the PSL this season.

The Eastern Cape-based side is currently placed 14th on the league standings having failed to win their last five matches.

Chippa's next game is against a high-flying SuperSport United side in Pretoria on January 6.

Chennaiyin FC coach Csaba László doesn’t believe that his side are the favourites going into the tie against East Bengal on Saturday evening.

The Red and Golds are searching for their first win while Chennaiyin FC are looking to establish themselves in the top half of the Indian Super League (ISL) table with a few consecutive victories.

They registered a 2-1 win over FC Goa in their last game, a match which they should have won by a bigger margin given the number of goal scoring opportunities they created.

“There is always pressure. If you get two victories in a row you get very close to the top four. And two defeats will see you go down very quickly. Even yesterday (FC Goa versus Jamshedpur), it was a very up and down game. Everyone is looking to win games and (it’s) not very tactical. It will be a tough game for us. They are a new team but they have adapted well. We have to concentrate very well and remain focussed,” said László.

They will miss the services of right-back Reagan Singh due to accumulation of four yellow cards. Edwin Vanspaul and Aimol Reamsochung are the two options Lazslo has to replace the suspended Singh.

“In football this is normal. I have a different solution to this problem. We will be able to replace him. He has surprised me very much with his performances. He has done a very good job. But we can definitely replace him,” said the former Uganda national team coach.

Chennaiyin FC have used Deepak Tangri in every game this season and the defensive midfielder has put in a consistent shift in each of the six matches. Rahim Ali too has been impressive from the bench and the former Indian Arrows forward scored the winner in the last match.

“At the beginning of the season, he was new for me. Ali and Deepak are two talented players. I had a target to give them more minutes and get them more involved. Deepak is interesting as he is a central defensive player but he can play as a number six.

“Ali didn't really understand what I was asking from him in the beginning. But after the injury, he is a changed player and he is understanding my needs. He is trying very much to show how good he is. We have to lead them the right way,” explained the former Dundee United coach.

Esmaël Gonçalves, known as Isma, picked up a hamstring injury against Mumbai City FC and the Chennaiyin FC coach was asked whether the former Pakhtakor Tashkent forward would be fit to start.

“I don't think so. He can play for 10-to-15 minutes. Maybe (start) for the next game (against ATK Mohun Bagan). But for this game, it will be better to rest him,” he replied.

He also spoke on the importance of rotating the squad in order to keep the players fresh as games come in thick and fast this season in the ISL.

“Rotation is good but we had some injuries. Rafa (Rafael Crivellaro) was tired (in one of the games) and we replaced him. I will see who is 100 per cent and then take a call. The yellow card issue is also there. When Isma gets back, we will have more options. But generally, rotation is good and we have been doing so,” signed off the experienced coach.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt feels that his side “played very well again” and could have "comfortably" romped to victory had they not been let down by some poor finishing which saw them being held to a 0-0 draw by Primeiro de Agosto in Wednesday’s Caf Champions League first round, first leg clash.

It has been a similar story for Chiefs week in, week out as Hunt regularly bemoans his side’s lack of potency upfront.

At FNB Stadium on Wednesday, Amakhosi were up against the 2018 Champions League semi-finalists who have also established their name on the continent in recent seasons.

“I thought we played very well again, probably we should have won. If anybody watched the game, we should have won comfortably,” Hunt told Chiefs’ media.

“I am very disappointed but we certainly played very well over the 90 minutes. [Agosto are] are resilient, strong, good experience, they are a good team. But I thought we were really the better team. We have to score the chances we get.

“It was good play from us, good movement and we created some very good chances today.”

Chiefs now switch focus to the second leg away in Luanda on January 6 in what will be their first match of 2021.

A scoring draw would be enough for Amakhosi to reach the Champions League group stage and the coach believes they are poised for an away victory.

“They [Agosto] will be a totally different team there but we saw our team creating some chances. We will have a good chance to win there,” said Hunt.

Progressing the group stage would likely boost Chiefs’ confidence as they are curently struggling on the domestic front.

Since the beginning of the season, the Soweto giants have played 14 matches across all competitions and they were facing an Agosto side that had last been involved in competitive action in March.

Hunt and his men are now taking a brief festive season break but will return to training before the end of the year in preparation for the trip to Luanda.

“We are off for a couple of days and then we will be back in training again before the end of the year. So that’s pretty much the plan going forward,” Hunt said as he also revealed midfielder Philani Zulu picked up hamstring injury on Wednesday.

“Zulu’s hamstring was a problem but it’s part and parcel of the game,” said Hunt.

Nemanja Matic is feeling “very confident” ahead of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup derby date with arch-rivals City, with the Serbian midfielder of the opinion that the Red Devils are stronger than they were 12 months ago.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side reached three semi-finals in 2019-20, only to fall at that hurdle on each occasion.

Positive progress is being made in knockout competition once again, with another place in the last four of the League Cup secured this season.

Everton were sent packing at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday, with a late rally from United seeing them to a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.

The draw has paired them with City once again, who edged them out 3-2 on aggregate over two legs in January 2020, and Matic is feeling optimistic regarding the Red Devils’ chances of exacting revenge.

He told MUTV after helping to down Everton: “This time I hope we will use our chance; we will do our best.

“I think that we are now in a better condition, a better moment. We play better football than last year, in my opinion. I'm very confident.”

United have rediscovered a spark in 2020-21, as they look to force their way into the Premier League title picture, with a midweek victory on Merseyside seeing them preserve a faultless away record in domestic competition.

Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial got the goals against Everton, with Matic saying of another morale-boosting success: “I'm very happy with our performance.

“I think that everyone who supports Manchester United is happy, because to come here to Goodison Park, it's not easy to control 90 minutes, and I think we did it.

“It was everything about us. We didn't allow them to create a lot of chances. So I think that we absolutely deserve to be in the semi-finals, and with some fantastic football also. We scored two goals, we created a lot of chances. I'm happy with everything that we saw in our team.”

He added, with United breaking the deadlock in the 88th minute: “Was it frustrating we hadn't scored before half-time? Yes, especially after the first 10-15 minutes.

“We had a lot of chances. We hit the post, some the keeper saved, but that's football. Sometimes you score, sometimes not, but the most important thing was that we kept that level of football for 90 minutes. We controlled the game and, at the end, the most important thing is [that we are in the] semi-finals.

“Everyone did a great job. I'm happy with everyone who played. Let's keep this momentum and this level of football.”

The Red Devils will be back in action on Boxing Day when they take in a trip to fellow title hopefuls Leicester.

Posta Rangers head coach Sammy Omollo has promised to work on his team's finishing to stand a better chance of getting a win in forthcoming league assignments.

The Mailmen have not won any of their five games played in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League. They have lost once and drawn the remaining four, the latest one being a 1-1 draw against Bandari FC at Utalii Grounds on Wednesday.

"It has never been easy when Posta Rangers and Bandari meet, and it became even tougher when they scored against us because we had to double our efforts to get an equalizer," Omollo told Goal.

"I was impressed with my players' reaction after we conceded. They fought and ensured we scored.

"But it is a game that could have gone either way. Bandari had their chances especially from set-pieces, we also had our chances from set-pieces but none took them.

"It is something I will have to work on with my players, especially finishing on those set-pieces. But a point is not a bad result for us."

The tactician is hopeful his team is on the right track and will soon start getting wins consistently. 

"We have been playing tough games with good teams and I have to be content with the one point we get," Omollo added.

"It is also a challenge for us to up our game to stand a better chance of getting a win in our forthcoming game. A win will come, and once we get one, others will follow."

On Wednesday at Utalii Grounds, as the first half tempo was being set into motion Bandari forward Yema Mwana managed to knock down the postmen’s defense and bag a goal.

After the break, Posta Rangers got back in the game after Jackson Dwang put in an equalizer, to close the scores at 1-1.  

The Mailmen are now placed in the 11th position with four points. They have managed to score three goals and conceded six.

On their part, Bandari have collected five points from as many matches and they are placed fifth on the table. They have won one game, drawn two and lost as many games.

The Dockers have scored three goals and conceded five.

John Barnes is not convinced that Mohamed Salah will be pushing for a move away from Liverpool, or that Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe would want a switch to Anfield if an attacking role did open up.

Speculation regarding possible comings and goings on Merseyside has been sparked again following a surprise admission from an Egyptian star.

Salah is tied to a contract with the reigning Premier League champions through to 2023, but he has left the door open for La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid to table bids for him at some stage.

Some have suggested that the 28-year-old is ready to take on a new challenge, which would leave Liverpool in need of another superstar forward to join their attacking ranks.

Dortmund striker Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain frontman Mbappe are said to be on the Reds’ recruitment radar, but Barnes is reluctant to be drawn into a debate based on rumours.

The Liverpool legend told BonusCodeBets: “Who said that either Kylian Mbappé or Haaland would want to come to Liverpool?

“This is the thing, just because one player goes, it doesn’t mean that one of these other superstars, in this case, Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, are likely to sign as his replacement.

“These players will have to want to come to Liverpool to make it happen, and we haven’t seen anything concrete to say whether this is the case for these players.

“If Real Madrid also went in for Mbappe the same time that Liverpool did, who knows who he would choose?

“It’s a case of if Salah goes, who and when they could get someone. But to speculate who Liverpool can get when someone might be leaving doesn’t make sense at all.”

Barnes believes that Salah can be kept at Liverpool for the foreseeable future, with the former England international suggesting that too much has been made of supposed flirting with Spanish heavyweights.

He added: “Mohamed Salah is not necessarily paving the way for a move somewhere else with these comments.

“We know he’s happy at Liverpool, he’s playing well, and we are the European and League champions, which is also something to consider.

"People are always going to speculate and say, ‘would he be open to a move?’. Players will say yes, that doesn’t mean he isn’t happy at Liverpool.

“A move away might be something he is considering for further on in his career, but I wouldn’t read too much into his comments at all.

“Players will never say no to anything, if he said ‘I don’t want to go and play for Juventus or Real Madrid’ the fans of those clubs then see that as a negative thing, it could come back to bite him negatively if he was to sign for one of these teams in the future.