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Frank Lampard believes that Thiago Silva is comparable to Premier League title winners Virgil van Dijk and Vincent Kompany, saying the Brazilian's arrival has set a new standard for the rest of Chelsea's central defenders.

The 36-year-old has been a major part of the Blues getting five clean sheets in a row and he has been involved in six of the seven shutouts that the club has achieved this season.

Ahead of a home league match with Sheffield United, Lampard compared his Brazil international to both the Liverpool star and the former Manchester City captain who played leadership roles in title wins in recent seasons.

"In terms of the career that he has had, of course, he absolutely walks into the bracket of top centre-backs like the ones mentioned," the Chelsea manager told reporters at Cobham Training Centre.

"To achieve in the modern day, you have individuals or pairings defensively that set those standards. We know the importance of defending well to try to win trophies and particularly the Premier League title but they need support around them, behind them and in front of them but when you look at the performances of Thiago in the early games, he can be a big deal for us but we need a lot more.

"When he became available [after leaving PSG in the summer] it was something that really excited me and something that the club moved very swiftly on.

"That was good work and it feels like that now with Thiago and the opening performances showed on the pitch."

Chelsea have begun to use a settled back line for the first time in Lampard's tenure as manager, with Edouard Mendy in goal and a back four of Reece James, Silva, Kurt Zouma and Ben Chilwell.

It comes a season after Chelsea conceded 54 league goals which was the worst total since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. Lampard admits that Silva's presence has lifted Zouma and that the Frenchman has improved as a result of having an experienced partner.

"I have been really impressed with Kurt and his form, what he has given us, also scoring goals from set-pieces and defending set-pieces as well, which is a big part of our game," he added.

"We knew it was something we could improve last year. In terms of the general game, I think with Thiago he can affect people around him because of his status in the game and how he plays it.

"When you talk about partnerships in a team, in central defensive areas, we can all think back and think of great centre-back partnerships.

"I think with Thiago he has the ability to not just rub off on Kurt but any player that he is paired within that position, because of his experience and quality. I think he has helped Kurt at this moment."

As a dominant partnership emerges, Chelsea's remaining central defenders are finding it hard to gain minutes. Antonio Rudiger has managed a handful of appearances but Andreas Christensen has lost his starting spot and Fikayo Tomori has made just two starts since February.

Tomori's reduced status saw him almost leave in the summer on loan with Rennes and Everton initially interested before West Ham made an unsuccessful deadline day attempt to loan him in the last hours of the transfer window. Lampard said that it was normal for a young player like Tomori to have ups and downs in his career.

"Fikayo is our contracted player," he added. "We know that West Ham were interested in taking him on loan late in the window. Fikayo took the decision not to go and that’s well within his rights. That had no bearing on my thoughts at all.

"For him, he’s still a developing player. When I say developing he’s had a great two years. He got himself in the England team, was one of the best defenders in the Championship and then played 20-plus games for Chelsea.

"It’s normal for a young player sometimes, in a squad as competitive as ours, where there are periods where you maybe aren’t playing every week. That’s the modern-day younger player in these sort of squads and that’s another test for you in terms of how you handle yourself and train and keep working and waiting for your time to come back in.

"I’ve got no problem with Fikayo. I rely on him. That’s clear from when I took him to Derby and how I handled him last year. It remains the same with him. He’s been a fantastic player for me, so I just see this as part of his development.

"He trains very well every day and when he gets his opportunity like he had when he came on against Liverpool earlier in the season and in the Carabao Cup, it’s important he takes them in the way he has done."

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has set guidelines ahead of the resumption of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Afcon qualifiers have been suspended since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year which has wreaked havoc across the world.

The last qualifiers were played in November 2019, as the games scheduled for March this year were postponed due to Covid-19.

With the gradual resumption of football activities across the world, the Afcon qualifiers are also set to continue next week, between November 9 through to November 17.

In an effort to have a hitch-free success during the campaign, the African football governing body has set out rules to guide the competition.

Five substitutions will be permitted by each team which will be made during three opportunities, a team that refuses to travel for a game due to Covid -19 issues would lose the match as well as a team that does not have the required number approved.

“Each match must be played if the team has at least eleven (11) players (including a goalkeeper) and four (4) substitutes,” read a statement from the club website.

“If a team cannot travel to the host country and/or venue of a match due to any travel or other restriction relating to COVID-19, the team in question will be considered to have lost the match 2-0.

“If a team does not have the minimum number of players required, at least eleven (11) players (including a goalkeeper) and four (4) substitutes), the team in question will be considered to have lost the match 2-0.

“The number of authorized substitutions is limited to five (5) players per team. Each team will have three opportunities to make these substitutions during the match.”

Caf also reveals that the qualifiers will be played without the fans but also gave an exception to the rule.

“According to Caf's Covid-19 protocol, all matches must be played behind closed doors, without spectators,” the statement continued.

“However, if the government of the host Association wants spectators to be present, then the Association in question will need to obtain Caf's approval.

“In the event of exceptional situations other than those mentioned above, the Organizing Committee will be consulted for a final decision.”

Jose Mourinho says he's not getting carried away with Tottenham's bright start to the 2020-21 season, insisting that winning a few games isn't going to put him "on the moon".

Tottenham have risen to fourth in the Premier League standings after their first seven fixtures of the new campaign, two points behind current leaders Southampton with a game in hand.

Spurs could move to the summit if they beat West Brom this weekend and reigning champions Liverpool and Leicester City each fail to win, with Mourinho now being tipped to bring the club's long wait for major silverware to an end.

The Portuguese won three Premier League titles over the course of two spells at Chelsea, and his winning mentality seems to be rubbing off on a squad which has been starved of success on the biggest stage.

The Lilywhites head into their clash with the Baggies on Sunday fresh from a 3-1 Europa League win over Ludogorets , and will be expected to pick up another comfortable three points against Slaven Bilic's struggling side.

Mourinho does not wish to look beyond Tottenham's latest Premier League fixture though, with the prospect of a potential title challenge not occupying his thoughts at this early stage of the season.

Asked if he feels Spurs are on the path towards top-flight glory, the 57-year-old told a press conference: "No no no. I have years of football experience and it is not a couple of victories that put me on the moon and it is not a couple of defeats that send me down to hell," he said.

"It’s all about balance, taking it match by match, looking for improvement and seeing what happens."

Mourinho went on to express dissatisfaction over the results which have gone against Tottenham, adding: "I expected a couple of more points in the Premier League.

"We lost points we shouldn’t have and also in the Europa League we have six points now when I expected to have nine."

The former Chelsea boss also addressed the position Bilic currently finds himself in at West Brom, with the Croatian considered to be on borrowed time at the Hawthorns after a winless start to their first campaign back in the top-flight.

"I don’t know if he is under pressure or not. If he is, it is difficult to understand because he has helped the club in such a difficult position after being relegated," said Mourinho.

"He brought them back to the Premier League and we started the season just a couple of months ago. It is also a strange league at the moment.

"You win a game you are up in the table, you lose one and you are back down again. So I really don’t understand why he is under pressure, if that is the case.

"But he is a big boy and he has a lot of experience which can help his club and I am sure he can cope with anything he has to deal with, but he is a good guy."

Southampton defeated Newcastle United 2-0 on Friday to move to the top of the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong struck in each half at St Mary's to seal a straightforward victory for Ralph Hasenhuttl's men.

The win - Southampton's fifth in eight matches this term - takes them above Liverpool on goal difference to the summit of the English top flight.

It is the first time the Saints have been top of the pile at the end of a day since September 1988.

"It's amazing what my team is doing," Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports . "Congratulations to everybody around the pitch and the team. It's amazing. 

"Everybody was on the highest level. It is a little scary what we are doing at the moment to be honest but not surprising when I see what we are working on.

"I just told the guys in the dressing room that we invested so much in this together. We made so many big steps forward. We are now a strong side. That is not a coincidence."

Theo Walcott, who arrived back at his childhood club this summer from Everton, played a big part in Southampton's win by grabbing an assist on Adams' goal. 

Hasenhuttl was happy with Walcott's performance, which came just days after star forward Danny Ings was ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.

"Theo gives us the runs and Che is brilliant in the box. It was important to show that also without Danny we have the quality to score," Hasenhuttl added.

"[Walcott's performance was] very good especially when he can turn in the red zone and go with the ball. His finish was not perfect but his workload that he invests for us is amazing."

Walcott, who left Saints in 2006 to join Arsenal, said that he feels rejuvenated by his return to St Mary's. 

"I've got some great memories here but I want to make some new ones," Walcott added. 

"I feel like a kid again. I just want to express myself. The manager has faith in me and the team. I think it showed on the field."

The 2020-21 Serie A season is shaping up to be full of excitement as the likes of AC Milan, Inter and Lazio attempt to end Juventus' hegemony in Italian football.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to San Siro to lead a younger generation of Rossoneri stars, while Antonio Conte has assembled an impressive squad on the blue side of the city.

Upstarts Atalanta have emerged as serious contenders in recent years too, with traditional challengers Napoli and Roma also keen to mount a solid campaign.

However, Juve boast the star quality of Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, so they will be confident of seeing off the threats to their dominance.

So, how can you watch it all unfold - and for free? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Contents

How to watch Serie A live for free in the UK

Serie A matches can be watched live in the United Kingdom on the LiveScore app, which allows fans to stream a selection of games on their mobile phone or tablet device.

Once you have installed the app, visit the match page of the fixture you want to watch and if it features a little television icon (�º ) it can be streamed live.

While some games are exclusive to Premier Sports and FreeSports, a number of them are also available each week through the app.

The feature is only available to LiveScore app users in the UK and Ireland. Games cannot be streamed live through the LiveScore website, but the games which are available are clearly indicated.

What other games can be streamed live on LiveScore?

As well as Serie A, a selection of games from the Dutch Eredivisie and Portuguese Primeira Liga are available to stream live through the LiveScore app.

That means you are able to take in matches involving the likes of Ajax, PSV, Porto, Sporting and Benfica each week, which may be of interest to those whose focus is outside Europe's top five leagues.

Games from the Coupe de France and Chinese Super League are also available to watch through the app, while a selection of Champions League and Europa League qualifiers were too.

There is a truly global selection, with CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana also featuring in the offering.

How can I download the LiveScore app?

The LiveScore app is available for the iPad or iPhone on the App Store and it can be downloaded for Android devices via Google Play.

Former Asante Kotoko coach Abdul Malik Jabir has rued Asamoah Gyan's decision to join Legon Cities over the Porcupine Warriors.

Gyan joined Cities on a one-year deal last week, marking his return to the Ghana Premier League (GPL) for the first time since leaving for Italian Serie A side Udinese in 2003.

Before sealing his transfer to the Royals, the 34-year-old was heavily linked to Kotoko, whom he holds a personal desire to represent before bowing out of active football. 

Until last December, Legon were known as Wa All Stars. 

“Gyan’s comeback is good for the local league but I wish he had joined Kotoko because I have seen his heart is with Kotoko but maybe we didn’t have money to take him," Jabir told Luv FM.

"If he had come to Kotoko, he will have had things much easier than going to struggle in that small team.

"They [Legon] are now struggling to come up because it is a new team. It’s not their fault; they are a new side struggling to make it.

"So, it means he [Gyan] will struggle over there more than if he had come to Kotoko."

Gyan was without a club for nine months. His last stint - a short-term deal with Indian Super League side NorthEast United - ended in January. 

"I have said on countless occasions that I have Kotoko at heart. I have also said I will play for them before I retire from the game," the former Sunderland forward told Adom TV.

"As I’m without a club, there were speculations that the deal has been finalised but as a professional football player, we don’t deal like that.

“I have made it known that I will play for them but at least we have to go through processes because I’m still a professional footballer.

"I don’t want people to downgrade the Ghanaian league. At times people even get it wrong [by their assumption] that if a player travels abroad, then he then becomes a professional footballer. But they don’t know that the Ghana league is professional.

“Kotoko should do everything professional although I have said I will play for them. I can't just stand up and say I’m going to play for the club. I’m available so when they are ready, we have to sit down and go through whatever is involved in terms of signing a contract.”

In his previous and only GPL spell, Gyan netted 10 goals for Liberty Professionals in 2003.

Stellenbosch FC have confirmed the signing of Kaizer Chiefs target Phathutshedzo Nange.

The central midfielder has been a free agent since he parted ways with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) after the club purchased Bidvest Wits' PSL status.

Stellies made the announcement on their official Twitter account on Friday.

"Stellenbosch FC are excited to have secured the services of ex- Bidvest Wits midfielder, Phathutshedzo Nange," a club statement read.

"The player was released by TTM and secured as a free agent for the 2020/21 season."

Nange attracted interest from Chiefs after leaving Tshakhuma and he trained with the Naturena-based giants under his former coach at Wits, Gavin Hunt.

The Soweto giants were awaiting an outcome from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following their transfer ban appeal hearing.

However, the court dismissed Chiefs’ appeal against a two-window transfer ban which they got after the club was found guilty of signing Andriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana illegally in 2018.

Upon learning that their appeal was unsuccessful, Chiefs released Nange and along with his former Wits teammates Brandon Peterson and Sifiso Hlanti, who were also training with the team.

Bafana Bafana international Hlanti has since secured a move to PSL returnees Swallows FC, having been linked with Orlando Pirates in the past.

While goalkeeper Peterson is still a free agent and he was linked with Pirates, before the Soweto giants signed Ghana international Richard Ofori from Maritzburg United. 

Nange has become Stellenbosch's fifth signing in the current transfer window as they look to retain their status in the elite league. 

Junior Leandro Mendieta (Atletico Rafaela, Argentina), Sage Stephens (Cape Town City), Zitha Macheke and Solly Khunyedi (both Wits) have all joined the Western Cape-based side.

Nange could make his debut for Stellies when they take on Chippa United in a PSL match at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on November 21.

In August, Bayern Munich pipped Paris Saint-Germain to capture a sixth Champions League crown, affirming their primacy in European football.

It was a triumph built on the nous of the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, the mastery and grace of Thiago Alcantara, Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba, and the youth and vivacity of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies.

Rather gloomily for the opposition, they have begun the new season in the same bent and with the same glint in their eye.

Despite a blip against Hoffenheim that saw them humbled in Bundesliga, Hansi Flick’s side is now predictably top of the pile once more, and are just as relentless in the Champions League Group Stage so far. They will, once again, take some stopping; there are precious few sides in Europe with the tools to fend off Bayern, and it is difficult to envisage anyone seriously standing between them and a dynasty.

Except, perhaps, age.

Both Lewandowski and Muller are well into their 30s, and so is defensive stalwart Jerome Boateng. While it would be foolhardy to bet against them, they surely cannot go on for much longer. When the Lazarus pit into which they immerse themselves dries up, where will Bayern be in terms of strength?

Well, that’s where a player of Jamal Musiala’s profile and talents comes in.

Only 17, the attacker, who can play all across the front line, has burst onto the scene this term after eight goals in 22 appearances at youth level for the club. Along with Joshua Zirkzee, who introduced himself last season, it appears Musiala is very much part of the club’s long-term succession plan.

The lithe, wiry attacker was plucked from Chelsea’s youth system at age 16, having already displayed an aptitude for playing at higher age groups. That trend has held since his return to Germany, the country of his birth, and now he finds himself very much on the cusp of the first-team.

Flick has been considered in his introduction of the player, but the effort to do so has, nevertheless, been deliberate.

So far this term, he has played 81 minutes over five matches, the most being a 25-minute cameo in a nerve-shredding 4-3 win over Hertha Berlin on matchday three. His two senior goals so far have come in drubbings: a low, drilled shot in the 8-0 over Schalke on the opening day, making him the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in Bundesliga, and a cool far-post finish 5-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago.

There is a paradox for young players in an environment like Bayern: it can be easier to score goals within a side that creates so much, but it can also be easier to stick out like a sore thumb.

Perhaps that is the biggest credit to Musiala – he does not. More than his considerable talent, it is his unflappability under pressure, a quality attested to by the youth coaches at the club, and his desire in pressing and harrying that have worked in his favour.

Flick’s insatiability and drive for perfection would not allow any less.

In that sense, his involvement can be seen as a reward from an approving manager, but the impact has been all his own work.

Born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, Musiala is in the peculiar situation of being eligible for three different nations. He has, in fact, represented both Germany and England, where he moved at age eight on account of his mother’s academic pursuits, at various youth levels, and appears to have an open mind with regard to his international future. Reports suggest, however, that Nigeria lags behind in this stake, despite the fact he apparently picked up football from his father.

Clearly then, a tug-of-war is in the offing, and it is easy enough to see why. Musiala has been compared to England midfielder Dele Alli, but his frame evokes another movement-expert: Thomas Muller.

One can imagine the raumdeuter has quite a way to go yet before calling it quits, but in Musiala Bayern are effectively hot-housing a replacement from within. If he turns out to be anywhere near as good, he would undoubtedly be an asset for many years to come, both for club and country.

Chelsea are real title contenders this season, according to Frank Sinclair, who says the Blues will only get stronger under Frank Lampard.

Lampard was backed to the tune of over £200 million ($263m) heading into his second season in charge at Stamford Bridge, having overseen an impressive 2019-20 campaign which ended in a fourth-place Premier League finish.

Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy were all drafted in over the summer to help bolster Chelsea's chances of becoming an elite force once again, with Liverpool and Manchester City setting high standards at the top of the table in recent years.

Lampard's new-look squad is already beginning to gel together nicely, and the Blues are only four points adrift of the Premier League summit after seven fixtures, with a home meeting against struggling Sheffield United up next on Saturday.

Chelsea will head into that clash fresh from a 3-0 Champions League win over Rennes in midweek which saw them move top of Group E and extend their run of consecutive clean sheets across all competitions to five.

Sinclair is confident his old club are heading in the right direction, and sees an opportunity for them to recapture the Premier League crown with reigning champions Liverpool currently being forced to cope without long-term injury absentee Virgil van Dijk.

"Initially when Frank Lampard brought in a few new faces I was really excited, but then you have the realisation that it's going to take time for things to work out - especially in an attacking sense," the ex-Blues defender told Ladbrokes.

"You need to give them time to settle into the team.

"It's pretty evident in recent results that they have done that and I can only see Chelsea kicking on and getting stronger throughout the season and I think they can be real contenders for the title because for me, there's no outstanding side.

"Obviously Liverpool are the main team you've got to try and overtake to win the title but with them losing Virgil van Dijk I think it opens things up for a few sides to be involved in the title race.

"I think Chelsea will be in and around it; they'll only get stronger throughout the season and for me they've got arguably the best attacking lines in the country - along with Liverpool.

"The more they get used to playing under Frank, the better they'll get."

Ruvimbo Mucherera will lead Gintra Universitetas as they take on Cameroonian Ajara Nchout's Valerenga in a Uefa Women's Champions League second-round playoff tie, following Friday's draw.

US-born Zimbabwean Mucherera marked her Champions League debut with a goal in Gintra Universitetas’ 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava, in the first round of the qualifying round on Wednesday.

On her part, Nchout bagged a brace for Norwegian runners-up following a 7-0 thrashing of Faroe Island's KI on the same day.

Elsewhere, Nigeria's Christy Ucheibe and Cape Verde's Jolina Amani will aim to inspire debutants Sl Benfica to the next round when they will battle Belgian giants Anderlecht in the second round.

Benfica defeated Greek side POAK 3-1 to advance and they will need to maintain the form to zoom past Filip de Winne's side.

Also, Ghana's Elizabeth Addo will hope to power Apollon Limassol past Polish champions Gornik Łeczna following a first-round 3-0 triumph over Welsh champions Swansea City.

And South Africa's Janine Van Wyk will seek to help Glasgow City replicate their incredible run last season when they meet Icelandic side Valur, following a 6-5 triumph Peamount United on penalties.

While Albanian champions Vllaznia will be up against Belarusian giants Minsk, who boasts of Cote d'Ivoire's Nadege Cisse, Cameroon's Alvine Njolle and Henrietta Akaba on their books.

The Champions League second-round playoff matches will be played on November 18 and 19 and the eventual winners will book their place in the Round of 32.

Swansea City boss Steve Cooper has commended Andre Ayew's influence on the club in their chase for Premier League promotion.

Continuing from where he left off last season, the 30-year-old has netted in each of his last two appearances to spur the Jack Army to the third position on the Championship table after 10 rounds of matches.

He has registered five goals in 10 league appearances for Swansea so far this term.

"I've said on numerous occasions that Andre is a top player in the league, he’s hungry, motivated and very much a team player," Cooper told pressmen on Friday ahead of Saturday's Championship away encounter against Norwich City.

"Andre is great, he has been since I walked through the door. He’s a good lad and a good professional. Andre's been an excellent player for us. He's become a real talisman.

"Off the pitch, he's a real positive influence on everybody, particularly the young boys. He's so determined to do well. He knows he carries a bit of individual responsibility in scoring the goals and leading the way, as he often does.

"He looks very motivated at the moment, he's very fit and hungry to succeed, and the more of that we see from him the better it is and everybody benefits from it. So we really hope he can continue to deliver for us, and there's no signs that that won't happen.

"We are seeing him in good form but he will be the first to tell you that it is still early stages of the season and there's so much to go."

In the 2019-20 term, Ayew registered 15 goals in 44 appearances to help Swansea reach the Championship playoffs where they lost to Brentford in the semi-final.

His exploits earned him two gongs at the Jack Army's end of season awards where he picked up the top scorer and player of the season accolades.

Ayew's recent good form has also been felt on the international stage as he grabbed a brace in Ghana's 5-1 friendly triumph over Asian champions and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar last month.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is back on Instagram – but only because his sponsors told him to do it.

He deactivated the platform several years ago but has returned to it and has proven to be a hit on the platform, which have given a background glimpse to life at Spurs.

One particularly popular post arrived after the Europa League loss at Royal Antwerp last week, which he captioned: “Bad performances deserve bad results. Hope everyone in this bus is as upset as I am.”

He told Sky Sports, however, the reason for coming back to the platform was not simply as a motivational tool for his team.

“No, it was not the objective,” he insisted. “I'm still not an Instagram man in my nature.

“I have to be honest, I was asked by my sponsors to do it. They felt that when I closed my account a few years ago we had a few million followers and they weren't happy.

“So now I'm doing bit by bit, quite funny. It is no problem.”

Mourinho has said that he will not be keeping tabs on whether his players follow him.

“Do my players look at it and read it? I have no idea. Also the diversity of the posts I think is just good fun and if people want to follow then no problem,” he said.

While many players are active users of social media, perhaps most infamously Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, it is rarer for managers to take to the platforms.

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is an active user of Twitter but is conspicuous by his presence on the site.

Mourinho, meanwhile, will have his thoughts on Tottenham’s Sunday clash against West Brom, which comes hot on the heels of a 3-1 away trip against Ludogorets in Europe.

Spurs presently lie third in the Premier League after seven matches, having suffered only one defeat to date domestically this season.

With 18 goals to their credit, no team has been more prolific, with striker Harry Kane on six and Son Heung-Min joint top marksman in the division on eight.

James Rodriguez has said Everton and Carlo Ancelotti "trusted me when nobody did" and that he is "forever grateful" for a second chance after a frustrating end to his spell at Real Madrid.

Everton pulled off one of the transfer coups of the summer when they lured James away from Santiago Bernabeu for £22 million ($29m) at the start of September.

The Colombian international had spent the previous six years of his career in Madrid, scoring 37 goals in 125 appearances in all competitions and getting his hands on two La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns.

Unfortunately, he fell way down the pecking order after returning from a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich in the summer of 2019, and only featured in 14 games last season under Zinedine Zidane.

Bringing in James was initially seen as something of a gamble for Ancelotti, who signed the midfielder from Monaco in 2014 while he was in charge of the Blancos, but his calculated risk has already started to pay off in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign.

The 29-year-old has contributed three goals and three assists to Everton's Premier League cause in his first six outings, helping them rise to fourth in the table.

James is delighted to be working with Ancelotti again at Goodison Park, and has promised to continue giving his all for the Italian after making a bright start to his career with the Toffees.

“Both [Everton and Ancelotti] trusted me when nobody did,” he told BT Sport. "I’ll forever be grateful to the club and to Carlo. That’s why I try to show my best in every game, that’s why I try to play at my highest level. This is what I want to do for the club.

“He’s a very easy-going person, knows how to treat players and how to get the most out of us. That’s why he worked along with all those great clubs, and now, with this new project, we expect him to do his best to achieve extraordinary things.”

Asked if Everton can qualify for the Champions League this term, James responded: “I think we’ve got what we need to be there next year.

“For qualifying, we need willingness to play, we have to be hungry to succeed in every game. I believe all players need to have that same feeling. We need to follow the same path.

“Carlo Ancelotti is a king in terms of European football.”

James went on to praise one of his new partners in the final third of the pitch, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has stormed to the top of the early Golden Boot standings with eight goals in seven matches.

“He’s a player always willing to score, he’s hungry to score goals,” the Colombian said of the Everton striker.

“That’s a great thing, because all strikers are always looking for opportunities to score. I think he’s the same. He’s also a very young player, but still, he seems to be so ambitious. 

“He’s hungry to score. I hope this year he’ll score 30-40 goals.

“This would definitely help the team achieve great things and get points. He’s an amazing player. We’re also aware of him and of his talent.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not to blame for Manchester United's poor run of form according to Graeme Souness, who says that United's players have underperformed.

United have slipped to 15th in the Premier League standings at the start of the new season, and already find themselves nine points behind reigning champions Liverpool, albeit having played one game less.

Solskjaer saw his side open the current campaign with a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace, which marked the beginning of a worrying sequence of results at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have also been beaten at home by Tottenham and Arsenal, while Chelsea came away from Manchester with a 0-0 draw, meaning six of United's seven points amassed to date have come on the road.

The Norwegian head coach was hoping for an instant response to last weekend's 1-0 loss to the Gunners in a midweek Champions League clash with Istanbul Basaksehir, but his team ended up being on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline after another uninspired display.

Rumours of ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino being drafted in to steady the ship have been widespread in the wake of that result. But Souness believes the players should be held accountable for their poor performances.

The Liverpool legend feels a toxic atmosphere in the dressing room is the main reason behind the Red Devils' struggles, and that Solskjaer has been unfairly made a scapegoat after giving his all to the club's cause.

"I have been a manager, I've been sacked, I've been a manager under pressure, and it's not an easy time for Ole," Souness told Sky Sports. "He's only ever been one game away from everything being wrong at the football club, and that's the price on the ticket when you're at Manchester United.

"I read in a newspaper that the players wouldn't be against a change: the players have got Manchester United into this situation, not Ole! The players have underperformed. But the way football is these days, all the focus is on changing the manager.

"You ask your players to constantly look in the mirror and ask: can I do more? I wonder if any Manchester United players are doing that right now. Or is it the easy route, the exit hatch: 'Get rid of the manager and everything will be fine'.

"That dressing room needs to have a close look at itself, collectively and individually, as to why they're in this situation.

"There are some very good players in that dressing room: stand up and be counted now. For yourself first and foremost, then your families, then for your manager and football clubs.

"That's why I stopped being a manager a long time ago, you can't demand it from them anymore. Instead, you're asking them. I think at the end of every sentence you end up having to say 'Please' today. 'Please can you run a bit harder… please can you be more aggressive… please can you give everything'.

"They were givens, and that should be a given! You're at a big football club at United, you never play easy games, every game you play is a cup final for the opposition. From the outside looking in, a lot of them are in their armchairs, looking to blame other people."

United will be back in Premier League action on Saturday, with a must-win clash against Everton at Goodison Park on the cards before the international break comes into effect.

Kaizer Chiefs academy starlet James McFarlane has tragically passed on according to his managing agency, Siyavuma Sports Group (SSG).

The promising midfielder is said to have been involved in a motor vehicle accident.

SSG released the following statement regarding the death of the South Africa youth international. 

"It’s with a very heavy heart that we advise that James McFarlane, Kaizer Chiefs U19 and SA national U17 team player has passed away in a tragic accident," a statement read. 

"We have lost one of our family. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and to those of his companions who also tragically lost their lives.

"We will miss you, James. May your soul Rest In Peace. Base Soccer #SSG "Leaders of African Football."

The 18-year-old was the captain of the Chiefs under-17 side before being promoted to the club's under-19 team.

His exploits caught the eye of then-South Africa under-17 head coach Molefi Ntseki in 2017 and he was included in the national team.

McFarlane was part of the South Africa team which participated in the 2017 Cosafa Under-17 Championship in Mauritius.

The diminutive player scored against Mozambique in the opening Group B match and South Africa managed to advance to the knockout phase.

However, Ntseki's side was stunned by the tournament hosts in the semi-finals and they also lost to Malawi in the third-place play-off match.

McFarlane was then included in South Africa's preliminary squad ahead of the 2018 Cosafa Under-17 Championship which was also hosted by Mauritius.

However, this time McFarlane was not named in the final squad for the regional tournament and Ntseki's side finished second and qualified for the 2019 Caf Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tanzania.

Goal sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of McFarlane as well as his club, Chiefs and former teammates.   

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel says the club have their hands tied over injured stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe being called up to their respective national teams.

Tite and Didier Deschamps have summoned the players for Brazil and France respectively, despite the fact that neither was able to take part in Wednesday’s Champions League loss against RB Leipzig and is highly unlikely to play in Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash with third-placed Rennes.

While Tuchel hinted at his frustration at the state of affairs, he said that he has confidence that both will be treated sensibly on their deployment.

“It's the right of the national team to call up players. We cannot do anything,” he lamented to the press.

“If the boys are injured and can't play, I always prefer that they don't play.

“It's a super important phase, a good time to recover for players, but we have confidence that they will be treated well, that they have good care and good preparation. It's the truth. We have confidence in these people who are responsible for the national teams.

“If the players are called up, there's nothing we can do.”

PSG have had chronic injury issues for the duration of the season, having also missed regular starters Marco Verratti and Juan Bernat for the loss in Germany.

Ahead of what is on paper an awkward match against Rennes, they will also be without Presnel Kimpembe in the heart of their defence and inspirational goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

“Presnel Kimpembe took a serious blow to the fifth metatarsal,” the coach confirmed. “Keylor Navas has minor muscle problems and will be out. This is also likely for Pablo Sarabia, who also has muscle pain.”

The midweek loss leaves PSG in serious danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout phase for the first time since QSI took over the club in 2011.

Tuchel finds himself a coach under pressure, and while he has seen his side string together seven wins domestically, an adverse result against the side that finished third in Ligue 1 last season could cost him his job.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Cedric Kaze has revealed the tactics he will use to finish off Simba SC and claim the bragging rights in the Mainland Premier League.

The two Tanzania giants will face off on Saturday in the first Kariakoo derby of the season, with Yanga currently enjoying a good start to the campaign, as they are yet to lose a match in nine attempts.

In fact, Kaze, who signed a three-year deal to join the Jangwani giants after the exit of Serbian Zlatko Krmpotic, has overseen four matches out of the nine, managing to win three before they battled to a 0-0 draw against promoted side Gwambina FC in their last outing.

Kaze has now revealed his happiness at taking charge of his first derby on Tanzanian soil but said he has asked his players to make sure they score in the first 20 minutes to help unsettle their rivals.

"My target is to make sure we get a win in the derby and we want to do it as earlier as possible, we want to use the first 20 minutes to score and it will help give us to ride towards our target,” Kaze is quoted by Sokaletu.

"We have done enough preparations going into the derby and I want to assure our fans we are ready to win the game, you know a derby is not an easy match, we must be at our best, my players have promised me they will deliver.

“I have set up my plans on how to finish them, I know they are the champions, but it doesn’t matter when it comes to derbies, we need to use skills to win the match, we need to use our brains so that we can overpower them.

“But what I know, fans who will attend or follow the derby from anywhere around Africa, they will be entertained, it will be a good derby and they should be ready to be entertained.”

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) have confirmed the names of the officials who will be in charge of the derby at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday.

The officials will be led by Elly Sasii, Mohamed Mkono, Abdallah Mwinyimkuu, Abubakar Mturo, Ramadhan Kayoko, Philipo Alando and Paschal Chiganga.

On Wednesday, TPLB CEO Almas Kasongo confirmed the derby will have two extra referees to make sure that all the teams and both sets of fans are satisfied with the outcome at the end of the whistle.

“We have added two extra referees for the derby, so we will have six referees in total to officiate the match on Saturday,” Kasongo told Goal on Wednesday.

“The two extra referees will be at the end of both sides of the goal-posts like it happens in Europe, and they will assist the centre referee and also the two assistants, plus the match commissioner making it six officials for the match.

“We have also made sure that security will be provided during and after the derby so we want to urge as many fans as possible to come for the match, it is the first derby of the season and we hope to see a good match.”

Last season, the two giants met three times, with the first round ending in a 2-2 draw before Yanga turned on the screw to win the second round fixture 1-0, but they again faced off in the semi-finals of the FA Cup where Simba won 4-1.