Looking for Soccer News?

Odisha FC held NorthEast United to a 2-2 draw in the Indian Super League 2020-21 clash at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday.

Both the teams played out an evenly-matched contest. The Highlanders looked to have an edge at various points in the game and head coach Gerard Nus believes that his team deserved to take all three points.

"I think we deserve the three points. We had a great performance with the ball. We created three chances. We deserved to score more compared to the other games and the thing is this game is so competitive and once you don't pay attention then the teams will punish, no matter who you're playing against.

"We are disappointed with the result. But I cannot say anything about the commitment and work rate of the players," Nus said after the game. 

"It's going to be hard. Sometimes you will have fewer chances but you score more goals. This is football. We played eight games but lost one. We will fight till the last game. Last minute. We started the season by beating Mumbai City," he added. 

Federico Gallego had a good game in the midfield as he registered 70 per cent pass accuracy. and 41 touches on the ball. He was, however, substituted in the 53rd minute of the play. Explaining his decision, Nus mentioned that, Gallego was injured and he did not want to risk him further. 

"He's a player and he can be substituted and in that case, he was injured and he was coming from an injury. And he was bringing a lot to the game. To be fair the plan was to play him even less. But we gave him (more time) because he was bringing a lot to the pitch. But you want to prevent another injury."

Nus said that the decision to not start Khassa Camara in the midfield was quite straightforward as he got a yellow card in the previous game and he can only field a limited number of foreign players in a match.

"You have to play eleven players. Camara got a yellow card as well but he is also a foreigner."

Meghalaya-based Alison Kharsyntiew was appointed as the assistant coach for NorthEast United earlier this month. He brings with him the experience of managing Shillong Lajong. Nus said that he has brought in positive energy to the side.

"He just started but we are happy to have him. He has big experience in Indian football. He is bringing positive energy already. So happy to have him."

Brendan Rodgers has declared striker Jamie Vardy fit for Leicester City's Boxing Day clash with Manchester United.

Vardy was substituted late on in Sunday's 2-0 win over Tottenham as Leicester climbed to second in the Premier League, a point above United having played a game more.

He netted from the penalty spot at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to make Premier League history, becoming the first player to score away to an opponent at three different grounds following previous goals at White Hart Lane and Wembley Stadium.

It took the 33-year-old's tally for the season to 11 goals in 13 outings, placing him behind only Mohamed Salah in the Premier League scoring charts - the Liverpool forward scoring 13 times in the same number of appearances.

Vardy has also now scored 43 goals since Rodgers' first game in charge of Leicester in March 2019, more than any other player in that time.

And Rodgers is expecting to have Vardy available for the visit of United as Leicester aim to improve on a return of five losses in six Boxing Day fixtures since their promotion in 2014.

"Vardy will be fine for the game, it's just a bit of soreness. It will be pretty much the same squad," the manager said at a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

"[Caglar] Soyuncu may be close. If not for Saturday, he could be ready for Monday [away to Crystal Palace]."

Leicester have lost more games (19) and conceded more goals (60) against United than they have versus any other side in the Premier League.

United enter the game on the back of a 10-match winning run away from home in the Premier League, one short of the record jointly-held by Chelsea and Manchester City.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under intense pressure following elimination from the Champions League earlier this month, but Rodgers has praised the work being done by his opposite number.

"I think Ole's doing a fantastic job," he said. "They'll be disappointed to go out of the Champions League because it's a competition they have history in.

"Ole has reshaped the club in terms of the values, and he's looking to develop young players. I think he's done a very good job. They've got big quality."

Odisha stretched their winless run to seven matches in the Indian Super League 2020-21 season with a 2-2 draw against NorthEast United at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday.

Despite dropping points, head coach Stuart Baxter said that he is pleased with his team's improved performance. 

Odisha created multiple chances in front of the goal in the first half but were wasteful. Baxter said that his team tried to score goals with the attacking intent and he was happy with their approach against the Highlanders. 

" We were trying to score goals. Players were certain. We should have got at least one penalty. And I think the attacking play was slightly better. I have to say there is an improvement in the attack," Baxter said after the game.

"I'm not satisfied. We have been close to picking up more than one point in more that one game we have played. We just do not have the upper hand. I'm not happy with the point but the improvement," he added.  

Cole Alexander saved Odisha from the jaws of defeat with a brilliant goal in the 67th minute. Baxter was happy the performance from the midfielder and said that Alexander is a great acquisition for Indian football.

"Cole's performance in general was great. He is an infectious player at times, the boys love him. He is a one-man pressing unit. And he can get from box to box very quickly. So it was no surprise for me. He is a great acquisition for Indian football," Alexander said. 

Baxter has had a poor season as a coach thus far this season. He is among the most experienced coaches in the league but confessed that managing Odisha is one of the toughest projects he has taken.

"Nelson Mandela told me when I was in South Africa - he said that everything seems impossible till you do it. I think you look at projects before thinking you can rank it. But it is very difficult given the pandemic, the lack of preparation, given the very young squad. The players and their attitude keeps me enthusiastic"

Peter Olayinka has expressed his delight after signing a three-year contract extension with Czech First League side Slavia Prague.

The 25-year-old teamed up with the Red and Whites in the summer of 2018 from Belgian First Divison A club Gent for a fee of €3.2million.

The forward has been delivering fine performances since his arrival at Sinobo Stadium, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in 85 appearances across all competitions.

Olayinka has helped Slavia Prague win two league titles, one Cup trophy, one Czechoslovak Supercup diadem and played a key role in the 2019-20 season as the club qualified for the Champions League.

In the 2020-21 season, the winger bagged six goals in 17 appearances, including two strikes in the Europa League.

Olayinka is impressed with the faith reposed in him by the club and pleased to continue his stay with the Czech Republic champions.

“I am happy that I could extend my contract in Slavia and that I can continue playing for the club,” Olayinka told the club website.

“It is very important to see that the club trusts me and that they want me to stay. It is pushing me forward.

“My first year here was quite difficult, but now I am enjoying myself and everything is going good. This season and the last one were both fantastic.”

Olayinka started his career with Albanian side Bylis Ballsh in 2012 and spent two years with the side before joining Skenderbeu.

His eye-catching performances for Skenderbeu earned him a move to Belgian club Gent, where he shone during his two-year stay.

The forward will hope to continue his impressive showings for Slavia Prague and help them win their third consecutive league title.

The attacker will be expected to feature when his side take on Viktoria Plzen in their next league game on Wednesday.

Olayinka has one cap for the Nigerian national team, featuring against Brazil in a friendly in September 2019.

Simba SC have confirmed their two key players will not be ready to face FC Platinum in the Caf Champions League on Wednesday.

The Tanzanian champions will meet the Platinum Miners from Zimbabwe for the first time in history at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

However, coach Sven Vandenbroeck has confirmed the news that both keeper Aishi Manula and captain John Bocco have failed late fitness tests and will thus not be available for selection.

“We have a few hours before the game, but it comes with bad news because we've tried everything to get Aishi [Manula] and John [Bocco] ready for the game but it’s going to be hard to be ready,” Vandenbroeck told the club’s social media pages.

“[Bocco] is still in bed he's not feeling okay, [Manula] was hurt during our last league game against KMC FC and will take a week or more to be okay. So far there is 50 percent possibility of being in the game.”

Simba travelled to Zimbabwe with a contingent of 24 players and Vandenbroeck is confident he will get replacements for the players during the first leg of their second preliminary round fixture.

“at this point, I will have to use the available players, it is the reason we have a squad of 24 players here, and I know those who will come in, will step up well and do the job that we want,” Vandenbroeck continued.

In the absence of Manula, the Belgian coach will start Ben Kakolanya between the posts while Rwanda striker Meddie Kagere will step in for Bocco.

Kagere, who scored the only goal against KMC from the penalty spot before the team left for Harare, has often been used as a substitute and he will have the chance to show what he can offer against Platinum with a starting berth.

In a previous interview, Simba CEO Barbara Gonzalez explained they stand a good chance of beating FC Platinum because of their match fitness.

Gonzalez feels Simba have the edge because they have been active on the football scene for a longer period than their opponents, who suspended their leagues owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that affected many countries globally.

She also pointed out another advantage to Simba is their rivals will be playing at a new ground, despite being the home team, saying this will help the Wekundu wa Msimbazi as they will not have their home supporters.

“This is an advantage for us,” Gonzalez said as quoted by Daily News. “They are not residing in Harare, their home city’s weather is as hot as Dar es Salaam.

“They are, therefore, acclimatising with the cold weather here in Harare like the same we do here.”

On Simba’s preparations since arriving in Harare for the match, Gonzalez said: “The entire squad comprising of 24 players and technical bench members plus other leaders of the club are all well looking forward to the game.

“We had a good reception made by our Tanzanian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Emmanuel Mbenna, Zimbabwean Football Federation, and Platinum officials.

“What we request at this juncture from our members and fans wherever they are, including all Tanzanians is to pray for their team, to win so that we can have an advantage while heading to the reverse game at home.

Last season, Simba failed to make it past the preliminary stage after losing on the away goal rule to UD Songo of Mozambique.

The two sides had battled to a 0-0 draw in Mozambique, and in the return leg played in Dar es Salaam, it ultimately ended 1-1, meaning Songo advanced on the away goal rule.

Napoli have won their appeal to replay a match against Juventus after the original tie was deemed a forfeit due to coronavirus concerns.

A match between the two was scheduled for October 4 in Turin, but that match was quickly thrust into doubt after Napoli was barred from travelling due to coronavirus rules.

The scheduled clash between Napoli and Juve was set to kick off just days after the former had faced off with Genoa, who then developed over a dozen cases of Covid-19.

Originally, Napoli's visit to Juventus was ruled to have been abandoned, with Juventus arriving at the stadium only to be handed a 3-0 victory.

Additionally, Napoli were punished further as the club was docked one point for not travelling for the match.

Serie A  and the Italian federation (FIGC) ruled that Napoli had not stuck to the league's Covid-19 protocols, meaning that their inability to appear for the match was their own doing.

The FIGC upheld Serie A's decision upon Napoli's original appeal, determining that it was fair to penalize Napoli on the grounds that not enough squad members had tested positive to postpone the match under the terms of the league's Covid protocol.

In their ruling, Serie A said that "force majeure", the legal term for an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond any party's control, did not exist in this case.

Napoli's appeal had also been denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who determined that Napoli "deserve the sanction because it was not at all impossible for them to take part in the match, having instead pushed the situation in that direction in a voluntary and pre-ordained manner."

In the weeks since, Napoli appealed the ruling, stating that they were legally unable to travel as they were ordered by the local health authority due to two positive coronavirus cases within the team, Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas.

On Tuesday, Napoli won that appeal with CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) determining that the match will be replayed and Napoli's previously deducted point will be restored.

As a result of the ruling, Napoli will move up one place in Serie A due to the restored point, as they will overtake fourth-place Roma on goal difference.

They are now also only three points behind Juventus, who sit third in Serie A, as well as seven points behind league-leaders AC Milan.

Napoli, who will take on Granada to begin the Europa League knockout rounds in February, are set to face Torino on Wednesday in their last game of 2020.

Juventus, meanwhile, will play host to Fiorentina in their final game before the week-and-a-half-long winter break in Serie A.

Gor Mahia have confirmed their first-leg, second preliminary round match in the Caf Champions League against CR Belouizdad will now be played on Saturday, December 26.

The Kenyan champions had written to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) requesting for the game to be pushed forward owing to a failure to get a means of travelling to Algeria since their airspace was locked.

"The Caf Champions League preliminary fixture, CR Belouizdad vs Gor Mahia, that was to be played [on Wednesday] December 23 in Algeria has been pushed to December 26," Gor Mahia tweeted.

"Match to kick off at 10.45 pm Kenyan time, the venue remains the same."

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa went on to confirm the new development.

"It is true, Caf have written to us confirming the game has been pushed forward," Mwendwa told Goal on Tuesday.

"The flights are available on Wednesday, December 23 and Friday, December 25. Caf have provided Gor Mahia with options regarding the flights that will be convenient for them."

The Federation head went on to explain what is now needed from the Kenyan outfit.

"It is now up to Gor Mahia to organize themselves for another Covid-19 test and ensure they have made travel arrangements," Mwendwa added.

"The consequences of missing that game will be dire to the FKF and the club as well.

"FKF will not be responsible for their new Covid-19 test because the initial one has already expired. Everything is entirely on the club." 

K'Ogalo will now have to convince the striking players to recollect themselves for the game.

In an initial interview, chairman Ambrose Rachier had stated willing players will be considered for the trip.

"Currently we do not have money and we are doing our best to pay the players," Rachier told Goal.

"We will leave for Algeria with willing players, we are not going to force anyone to travel with us. This is a match we want to win and we have to work with players willing to play for us."

The Kenyan champions qualified for the next phase of the competition after they managed to secure a 4-3 aggregate win against APR of Rwanda in a two-legged affair.

The Rwandan champions came into the return leg with a 2-1 advantage from their first leg meeting in Kigali, but could not withstand the pressure as Gor Mahia scored two quick goals in added time to win 3-1 and advance.

On the other hand, CR Belouizdad of Algeria reached the next round after a 4-0 aggregate win against Al Nasr of Libya.

The Algerian champions won the first leg away in Tripoli 2-0 and returned home to complete the job with another 2-0 win and will now face K’Ogalo.

Jamshedpur are on a six-game unbeaten run in the 2020 Indian Super League (ISL) and head coach Owen Coyle would keep that momentum going when they face FC Goa on Wednesday.

The Men of Steel registered a 1-0 win over NorthEast United last weekend to climb onto the top half of the table with 10 points from seven games.

"The boys have been doing well as they do in every game. They are a wonderful group. [They are] very professional, disciplined and motivated and we obviously want to continue to maintain the unbeaten run and equally want to win the match (against FC Goa) and get three points," said Coyle.

When he was asked about the possibility of Jackichand Singh playing behind striker after the winger's positive involvement that included an assist from that position against NorthEast, the coach replied, "We don't want to give away our team but we certainly have players to step in. We have been hampered by injuries.

"Jacki has played as a number 10 before. So we do have attacking options and we just have to utilise them during the game. We have to be at our best against a good side because Goa certainly are but it's a game we are certainly looking forward to."

Apart from the growing injury list that has the inclusion of William Lalnunfela besides David Grande, Nick Fitzgerald, Narender Gahlot and Joyner Lourenco, Jamshedpur will be buoyed by the return of Aitor Monroy from suspension.

"It's always nice when you have a quality player like Aitor coming back into your team. [He is a] wonderfully gifted player, a very good professional, sets a great example to the younger players. So when you have those players available to you, that always helps the team.

"That being said, the boys that played the other night (in the 1-0 win over NorthEast United) did very well. That only tells you that, in terms of picking the team, it's always difficult but that's what we want. It's a problem that a coach wants because everybody is in form and the lads are certainly doing well," Coyle stated.

In contrast to Jamshedpur's recent form that includes a draw against Mumbai City, Goa has suffered back-to-back defeats against ATK Mohun Bagan and Chennaiyin.

"We have to be at our very best from the first minute to the last against FC Goa. They have some wonderfully talented individual players. They can cause you problems. We have to make sure that we solve those problems and look to give them problems of their own. We know that, if we continue in the form we are on, we are a real challenge for winning another three points," the former Chennaiyin coach concluded.

Napoli are expecting Victor Osimhen to return to action in January 2021 as he continues his rehabilitation process, according to the club’s sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.

Osimhen dislocated his shoulder last month while in action for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Sierra Leone, which consequently made him miss their last nine matches across all competitions.

Since his big money from Ligue 1 club Lille to Napoli in August, the Nigeria international has made eight appearances for Gennaro Gattuso's side and he has two goals to his name in Serie A.

Napoli have suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two league outings and they will still be without their summer-signing for the final match of the year, against Torino on Wednesday.

The Italian league will go on its winter break after Wednesday’s fixtures until January 3 and Osimhen might return to Gattuso’s team before their trip to Cagliari next Sunday.

When asked about the condition of the Nigerian forward, Giuntoli told Sky Italia via SOS Fanta; “Osimhen is still not well, we are waiting for him at the beginning of 2021.

“At what point of the month is he back? We are waiting for him at the beginning of January, I don't know when he will come back, we will see in what conditions it will be and we will evaluate.”

In Osimhen's absence, Napoli have won just four of their nine matches in all competitions, and they are ranked fifth on the Serie A table with 23 points from 13 matches.

Earlier this month, the former Wolfsburg and Sporting Charleroi striker dismissed reports that Nigerian doctors worsened his injury before he left the West African country for treatment at his club base in Naples.

FC Goa will look to return to winning ways in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) when they take on Jamshedpur on Wednesday.

The Gaurs stumbled against Chennaiyin in their last outing in what was their second successive and overall third defeat of the season.

"Our focus is on the present, to think about the next game against Jamshedpur tomorrow (Wednesday)," said Goa coach Juan Ferrando. "Of course, I'm so sad about the last two results (1-0 and 2-1 defeat to ATK Mohun Bagan and Chennaiyin respectively) but it's not possible to change the past."

"Our way (to motivate players) is easy - working - working to prepare on some details not only in defence but in attack because, if you remember, the last two to three chances for Chennaiyin were because of our mistakes in positional attack," the Spaniard said. 

Ferrando, who has discussed the impact of fixture congestion on his squad more than once this season, reiterated, "It's not an excuse but when you have four to five days, you can talk with the team and prepare the training [sessions] but the last two weeks we had time only for recovery and to build a strong mentality for the next game.

"We need to forget the last game to play the next game. We were not ready to play against Chennaiyin. Now we had three days and will be ready. It's very important to focus because if we don't have 100 per cent focus, Goa is an easy team (to beat)."

Ferrando expects Jamshedpur's challenge to be similar to that posed by Chennaiyin.

"I expect more or less the same game (from Jamshedpur). The problem was, after losing to ATK [Mohun Bagan] in the last five minutes, we were not able to put all the focus on the match against Chennaiyin because we had only two days (to prepare)," he continued.

"We can talk about [Nerijus] Valskis and their back four because I think they are a strong team in attack and defence. In our mentality, thinking in our way is very good for tomorrow. 

"I watched all their (Jamshedpur's) games when I was in my room. I have thought of some details but for me, it's better to work on the pitch and explain the same to the players but there is not enough time. For me, in the end, it's about getting three points and for the team to believe in our mentality and of course, game by game, we will surely be better because we have a very good squad."

Arsenal have "great quality" and a "class manager", according to Frank Lampard, who has warned his Chelsea players not to underestimate the "dangerous" Gunners.

Chelsea picked up their seventh win of the season to move up to fifth in the Premier League standings on Monday night, beating London rivals West Ham 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues bounced back from successive defeats against Everton and Wolves to close the gap on first-placed Liverpool to six points, capping a generally strong start to the 2020-21 campaign.

In stark contrast, Arsenal have slipped to 15th in the top-flight after losing eight of their first 14 fixtures, with their winless run extended to seven matches after a 2-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park at the weekend.

Mikel Arteta's side are in real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle if results don't start to improve, and they will head into a meeting with Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Saturday as heavy underdogs.

Although Lampard was pleased to see his team improve on their impressive recent record in London derbies with a comfortable victory over West Ham, he will be taking nothing for granted when another cross-city rivalry is renewed on Boxing Day.

The Chelsea boss insists Arsenal are a far more formidable outfit than their current league position suggests, and he has no doubt that Arteta will have his players fired up for a game they can ill-afford to lose.

“We've been in decent form [in London derbies] but I don't think we should be taking Arsenal at face value,” Lampard said after the Blues' clash with West Ham.

"With Arsenal, I see a team of great quality, a class manager who are in a tough moment.

"That's a really dangerous combination to go against, so we have to prepare right."

The 42-year-old head coach added: “The league is so tough and we are seeing results every week that might surprise some. It’s hard for most teams to sustain results that might be expected in different seasons and there’s a combination of reasons for that.

"It can be tough [playing your rivals]. They're all very challenging games, we saw that on Monday, with West Ham and obviously [Michail] Antonio not being around changed the element of it slightly.”

Jamie Carragher sees similarities between Mohamed Salah’s situation at Liverpool and one Cristiano Ronaldo once faced at Manchester United, but the Reds legend claims Real Madrid are no longer a “step up” for the world’s best players.

Back in 2009, the Red Devils saw the lure of Santiago Bernabeu prove too much for a Portuguese superstar.

A record-breaking transfer was put in place, with Ronaldo going on to cement his standing as an all-time great across nine memorable years with the Blancos.

It could be that another Premier League icon treads a similar path in the near future, with Salah leaving the door open for La Liga giants to make approaches for his services.

Carragher, though, sees no reason for a prolific presence at Anfield to be considering a switch to Spain, with Real and Barcelona losing their appeal and power in the global game.

The Liverpool legend told Sky Sports of the speculation that has resurfaced around Salah: “I don't think it's really a debate as much now as it was a few years ago.

“I think even when Manchester United were top dogs and Cristiano Ronaldo went to Real Madrid it still felt like a step up in some ways because Real Madrid were Real Madrid. But I really do feel the two Spanish giants have fallen so far.

“Salah has two-and-a-half years to go. I'm not really looking at it as too much of a problem.

“Real Madrid spent a lot of money on [Eden] Hazard when he was at that age. Salah is getting to that age now. 

“I just think that when you're wanting to spend that kind of money you want them to be 25, 26 to get that real value for them.

“If he did go - I don't see it - then it would be massive money for Liverpool, but I just think the time now has sort of gone.”

Salah is now 28 years of age and remains tied to a contract at Liverpool through to the summer of 2023.

The Reds would demand another sizeable fee from any deal done with Real Madrid or Barcelona – having previously offloaded the likes of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho to Spain – but the success they have enjoyed under Jurgen Klopp should help to prevent heads from being turned.

Posta Rangers head coach Sammy Omollo believes his team will be in a better position to get their first win in their Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League game against Bandari.

The Mailmen have not yet registered any win in the 2020/21 campaign despite having a good pre-season. They started their campaign with a 4-0 loss to KCB before playing to a 1-1 draw with Kakamega Homeboyz.

They then settled for a goalless draw with Wazito FC and their recent game was away to Nzoia Sugar where they once again settled for a 1-1 draw. They are playing against an unpredictable Dockers and the tactician has shed light on what to expect.

"It has always been tough when playing against Bandari and I am not expecting anything less on Wednesday," Omollo told Goal on Tuesday.

"We have not been playing badly and in the last game we would have won but Nzoia Sugar scored late in the game. It was the same case with Kakamega Homeboyz who scored in the dying minutes.

"Our problem has been on retaining our lead; it is what we have been working on ana against bandari, I am hopeful we will get a positive outcome. Our first win of the season."

The 50-year-old has also stated why he is not focusing much on the 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Bankers.

"They were better than us, and actually they have gone to win all their games this season," Omollo added.

"KCB have a good record against us, but the positives I took is that my charges played well and we have shown in our last three matches.

"Despite not winning, we have been doing well on the pitch. I am optimistic we will get it right this time around because we have rectified most of our mistakes."

The Dockers come into the match also desperate for maximum points after an inconsistent start to the season. They started with a 1-0 win over Sofapaka before drawing 0-0 away to Tusker FC.

They then fell 2-0 away to Nairobi City Stars before again falling at home to KCB 2-1.

Alisson says Liverpool will continue to look after number one after returning to top spot in the Premier League table, with the defending champions paying no attention to what others are doing.

That sharp focus has allowed the Reds to become a dominant force at home and abroad in recent years.

Champions League, Club World Cup and domestic title honours have been secured after embracing a relentless approach to trophy chasing.

That mindset is not about to change any time soon, with Jurgen Klopp demanding that standards are not allowed to slip at Anfield.

Alisson is among those looking to avoid any outside interference, with Liverpool taking things one game at a time after ensuring that they are Christmas No.1 for a third successive year.

The Brazilian goalkeeper told the club’s official website after collecting a crushing 7-0 win over Crystal Palace last time out: “It’s good, you put pressure on the opponents, the other teams who are there fighting for first place.

“But we are only thinking about ourselves, thinking about what we can do on the pitch. So, when you get three points with a great performance you will be happy.

“We have one week to rest now, to prepare the next game and the next challenge, and to enjoy a little bit Christmas with the family.

“I wish a merry Christmas for all the supporters, may God bless you. Enjoy it with the family safely, in a safe way. Merry Christmas – this is our gift for you!”

Liverpool have endured their fair share of injury struggles this season, but looked back to their fearsome best against Palace.

Alisson claims that contest was not as easy as the Reds made it look, with a confident outfit hitting all of the right notes on a productive afternoon in south London.

He added: “If you just see the scoresheet you see it was an easy game for Liverpool, but it wasn’t. We had to work really hard here.

“It’s always tough to play against Crystal Palace away because of the way they play. They like to put the balls in behind and we like to press them and sometimes they came out of this pressure of ours.

“But on those moments we did really well, buying some time, dropping a little bit, the defensive line dropped a little bit to buy some time for the other players to come back and help to defend. That’s why, I believe, we got the clean sheet.

“Then after, with the ball we did really, really well – great.”

Manchester United’s class of 2020-21 are recreating the firepower once provided by Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, claims John O’Shea.

The Red Devils have always prided themselves on the attacking talent they have at their disposal at any given time.

Some iconic forwards have passed through Old Trafford, including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and the club’s all-time leading goalscorer Rooney.

Following in such footsteps is never going to be easy, but the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial are thriving in the present.

They are ably supported by Edinson Cavani, Daniel James, Bruno Fernandes and Co., with O’Shea impressed by the options Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has on his books.

The former United defender told talkSPORT: “It’s coming back, slowly.

“You see the amount of goals they score, it’s a sign they want to get that attacking flowing football going again, the counter-attacking style with that speed.

“You think of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez… it’s very exciting to watch and it’s positive.”

United hit six in their latest Premier League outing, as they swept aside old adversaries Leeds, and O’Shea believes positive steps are being taken in the right direction by a club that lost its way somewhat on the back of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

He added: “For me, there is progress under Ole. There’s continual progress. It might be a bit slower than people want, but it’s progress.

“They score goals, yeah they could defend better at times, but if they win that game in hand look where they’ll be in the Premier League.

“You’re expected to win everything at Manchester United; that’s the pressure that’s on you as the manager.

“And yes, the Champions League is disappointing, but PSG and RB Leipzig are no mugs.

“The challenge in the league is to get closer to the champions, that’s Liverpool and they are setting an amazing standard – you see what they did to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (a devastating 7-0 victory on Saturday) and it’s a tough standard to get to.

“But there is progress and I think Manchester United are closing that gap.”

With that in mind, and with many talking the Red Devils up as title contenders in 2020-21, O’Shea hopes Solskjaer will be given the time he needs to get things right – with the Norwegian having faced plenty of questions regarding his suitability to a demanding coaching post.

“It shouldn’t be the case that after every game there’s an examination on Ole and the coaching team,” said O’Shea.

“After every game we hear people say, ‘oh he should stay now’, or, ‘oh he shouldn’t stay now’. You’re never going to progress as a club if that’s the case.

“Let things settle down again. Be calm, be patient. The team won’t get carried away just because they scored the goals they did yesterday.

“They know they’ve got a tough run of games coming up; they have Everton in the Carabao Cup, who have turned the corner, and then Leicester away, and they’ve just had a fantastic win away at Tottenham.

“So it’s small steps, but there’s lots to look forward to and it’s very exciting for the club.”

Jose Mourinho is “testing” Dele Alli at Tottenham, says Alan Hutton, with the England international continuing to spark talk of interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Such speculation was commonplace a few years ago, with a goalscoring midfielder performing at the peak of his powers.

That is no longer the case, with Alli suffering a humbling tumble down pecking orders for club and country.

Gareth Southgate has taken to overlooking the 24-year-old in Three Lions squads, with it difficult to justify his inclusion given the struggles being endured domestically.

Alli did land a regular role for Spurs following Mourinho’s arrival in north London back in November 2019.

He has, however, slipped out of favour in the current campaign and has taken in just 75 minutes of Premier League football this season.

That lack of action, with Alli omitted completely from Mourinho’s plans in a 2-0 defeat to Leicester last time out, has seen exit talk resurface at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Leading sides across Europe are said to remain keen on a proven performer who still has plenty of potential to unlock, and it could be that a move is sought during the January window.

Hutton admits that something needs to be done, with Alli being pushed to breaking point by Mourinho.

The former Spurs defender told Football Insider: “Mourinho is testing him. He is certainly testing his mentality and his mental strength.

“When he has been given an opportunity he has played well. He has taken his chances and that is all he can do.

“It is an extremely difficult position for Dele Alli because he is being left of the squad completely.

“Does he have a future under Mourinho? If this is Jose testing him, he is doing very well.”

Alli stepped off the bench for Spurs during their meetings with Crystal Palace and Liverpool, but was left out of the matchday squad for a home date with Leicester.

He has figured on a more regular basis in the Europa League this season, with six of his 10 appearances coming in that competition, but he would have been hoping for much more.

That has a man with 64 Spurs goals to his name mulling over his options heading into the new year, with it suggested that he may be given the chance to rediscover a spark while taking in a loan spell elsewhere.