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Emmanuel Amuneke has urged Nigeria national team coach Gernot Rohr to consider handing a call-up to Al Ahly forward Junior Ajayi.

The 24-year-old has been with the Egyptian Premier League since 2016 when he joined the side Tunisian club CS Sfaxien.

The attacker has been delivering consistent performances for the Red Devils and in the current campaign, he has bagged nine goals amid other dazzling displays.

The centre-forward recently helped the Cairo International Stadium outfit reach the final of the Caf Champions League.

Rohr recently released a 24-man squad that will play Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in November and omitted the forward.

Amuneke, who had previously starred in the Egypt Premier League during his playing years with Zamalek, believes Ajayi merited a place in the Super Eagles team.

"I believe that Ajayi deserves to be given an opportunity like every other player and then it is up to him to take the opportunity," Amunike told ESPN.

"He has been with Ahly for many years now and he has been doing very well and playing at a high level consistently. I think that looking at what he has done with the Ahly club, he deserves to be given the opportunity.

"It will now be up to him to make a statement that will convince the technical staff that he has something to add to the team."

Former Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie also backed Amuneke’s suggestion for Ajayi to be invited to the Super Eagles, highlighting some of his attributes.

"Ajayi deserves the Nigerian shirt. Compared to most of the strikers I have seen so far for Nigeria. He scores and can create chances for his fellow players,” Akpoborie said.

"He is fast and he is an all-round striker that scores goals from inside and outside the box. He will be a valuable asset for the Nigerian team."

Ajayi is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Nigeria national team but has featured in a friendly.

The centre-forward has scored 28 goals for Al Ahly in more than 90 appearances across all competitions.

Vipers SC new signing Manzoki Cesar Lobi has revealed why he signed for the former Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions.

The former AS Vita player was confirmed as a Venoms player on Friday after agreeing to pen a two-year contract to join the St. Marys Kitende-based side for an undisclosed fee.

The striker had attracted interest from Olympic Club Beja of Tunisia and an unnamed Moroccan club after his contract with AS Vita had ended, but the Venoms moved faster to sign him.

The Congolese striker has now revealed the club’s ambitions to win trophies is what attracted him to sign a deal with them.

“I am happy I have signed for a team which I already know has great objectives and ambitions, I know it is a team which needs good results in and out so I am coming here knowing that I have a lot to do,” Manzoki told the club’s TV.

“I will do my best to add a plus in my team, I want to score goals in the Ugandan league, I want to leave a good mark, and I am confident this will happen.

“I want to use this chance well. My dream is to become an important player for Vipers. I hope I can become a starter immediately and hope to win some trophies with my new team. I hope I can push my career further. My goals are that simple.”

The 24-year-old added; “I don’t regret this move because it took me time to make this decision to move here. I chose the best team out of the many clubs that were after me and I am proud of it.”

Lobi spent three years at AS Vita where he featured in 58 matches and went on to score 38 goals. His time at AS Vita’s big domestic rivals TP Mazembe saw him score 12 goals in 21 games from 2016 to 2017.

The centre-forward launched his career when he started playing for Dauphin Noir De Goma for five seasons in the top-flight. Lobi has international experience too as he has scored three goals for the national side.

As Vipers shift their focus to the Caf Champions League, Lobi’s services might come in handy given he has scored six goals in nine games of the competition. In the Confederation Cup, the striker has featured in 12 games.

Ryan Giggs believes it "could be 15, 20 years" before Manchester United win the Premier League title again.

Sir Alex Ferguson delivered a 20th league crown to Old Trafford in his final season at United in 2012-13, before passing the torch to fellow Scotsman David Moyes.

Unfortunately, the ex-Everton boss only lasted 10 months in the hot seat before being replaced by Giggs on an interim basis, and the Red Devils subsequently fell to their lowest ever Premier League finish.

Louis van Gaal was the next man charged with bringing back the glory days, but he was sacked after two seasons having failed to guide the club to a higher finish than fourth, with an FA Cup triumph seen as little more than a consolation prize.

United then turned to three-time Premier League winner Jose Mourinho, who won the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League in his first full year at the Theatre of Dreams.

The Portuguese went on guide the team to a second-place top-flight finish, but ended up suffering the same fate as Moyes and Van Gaal after a poor start to the 2018-19 campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeeded Mourinho in the hot seat, and has since set about restoring the identity which saw the Red Devils dominate English football under Ferguson.

The Norwegian is, however,  still on the lookout for the first major trophy of his reign , with Liverpool now back on their perch after winning a first league title in 30 years last season.

Giggs fears United might end up enduring a similarly long wait for a return to the top, having seen their arch-rivals struggle to find a winning formula until Jurgen Klopp's arrival at Anfield in 2015.

"Yes, 100 per cent," the treble winner told the Greatest Game Podcast when asked if he is concerned that the Red Devils' Premier League drought could potentially continue for decades.

"It could be 15, 20 years before you know it, especially if [Jurgen] Klopp and [Pep] Guardiola stick around.

"They have got the resources and the players so we have Liverpool to look at, where the last time when they won it in 1990. They thought 'we'll win it again soon.'

"Even Klopp, it took four-and-a-half years for him to win it - it takes a long time.

"You have to think about what Klopp did.

"He improved the team every season or won a trophy like the Champions League and then you saw the improvement so the pressure was off a little bit.

"Every manager and signing [for United] is seen as that 'he will win us the league' and it's not like that."

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has drawn comparisons between Harry Kane and Dennis Bergkamp, while insisting the Tottenham striker can break Thierry Henry's Premier League assists record.

Kane has enjoyed a hugely impressive start to the 2020-21 campaign under Jose Mourinho.

The England international has scored five goals in his first six Premier League outings, while also setting up eight goals, including seven for strike partner Son Heung-min.

His contribution has helped Spurs emerge as genuine title contenders, with Mourinho's men currently sitting two points off the summit in sixth as the top scorers in the division.

Kane has established himself among the deadliest strikers in Europe over the past five years, but he is now showing off a more creative side to his game which reminds Keown of one of his most talented former team-mates.

The former Arsenal man says the Tottenham star is producing the same kind of passes Bergkamp used to on a consistent basis, and has backed him to beat the record for the number of assists in a single season currently shared by Henry and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (20).

"What anyone who played with Dennis will say is that his service was outstanding. I'm now watching what Harry Kane is doing for Tottenham and, dare I say it, he is starting to remind me of my old team-mate," Keown wrote in his latest column for The Daily Mail.

"I'm not saying Kane is as technically gifted as Dennis – I don't think anybody is. But the quality of the balls I'm seeing from the Spurs striker, and the way he is finding Son Heung-min, it is Bergkampian.

"He [Kane] is starting high, dropping deep, and showing there is more to his game than merely scoring goals.

"With eight assists in six games, at this rate, Kane would obliterate the Premier League record of 20, shared by Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

"We've seen what Roberto Firmino does for Liverpool – how he drops into those pockets of space and has willing runners in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who start wide but come inside.

"Kane, likewise, has fast-paced forwards who he can pick out. That's been Son of late – most notably in that 5-2 win over Southampton when Kane took advantage of the hosts' high line to assist his team-mate four times."

Orlando Pirates are set to play host to their archrivals Kaizer Chiefs in the 2020 MTN8 semi-final first-leg match on Saturday. 

A place in the final of the first cup competition of the season is at stake as the two Soweto giants look to end their trophy droughts. 

Pirates, who won their last trophy in 2014, reached the MTN8 semi-finals after defeating Cape Town City 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

This will be coach Josef Zinnbauer's second Soweto Derby and he will be determined to secure his maiden win over Chiefs. 

However, Chiefs will not be pushovers as the Glamour Boys are desperate to end their five-year trophy drought having defeated Maritzburg United 2-1 in the last eight. 

Coach Gavin Hunt will be keen to mastermind a win over Pirates in what will be his first Soweto Derby encounter, with the two teams set to clash in the second-leg match on November 8.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

The game will be shown live on SuperSport TV and SABC. 

Squads & Team News

Pirates have injury concerns with their star striker Frank Mhango having picked up a knock in the midweek draw against Stellenbosch FC and he is doubtful for the Soweto Derby. 

Zinnbauer's side could also be without striker Tshegofatso Mabasa and left-back Bongani Sam, who have been nursing injuries.

The German mentor will look to deadly forward Terrence Dzvukamanja, who scored the winning goal against Cape Town City in the quarter-finals. 

Meanwhile, Chiefs have been boosted by the availability of Eric Mathoho, Dumisani Zuma and Kgotso Moleko, who have recovered from their respective injuries.

However, Hunt has explained that the trio is only fit enough to make the bench, while striker Samir Nurkovic remains sidelined with an injury.

Lebogang Manyama is the dangerman for Amakhosi with the midfielder having netted the only goal of the match in the last Soweto Derby clash which Chiefs won 1-0 in a league game last February.

Match Preview

Pirates are undefeated in their last six competitive matches having recorded four successive wins and two draws.

The Buccaneers are also unbeaten in their previous six home games across all competitions - registering three draws and three victories.

While Chiefs have been inconsistent in their last four competitive matches having registered one draw, two wins and one defeat.

However, Amakhosi are undefeated in their last two away games across all competitions - recording one draw and one victory.

In head-to-head stats since 1970, Pirates and Chiefs have met in 69 cup matches.

Amakhosi have the upper hand having secured 30 wins compared to Bucs' 19 victories, while 17 games ended in a draw and three matches have been abandoned.

The last time the two teams met in a cup competition, Chiefs won 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final match in November 2019.

Mwadui FC have vowed to make it three defeats out of three for Simba SC when the two sides clash in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi are reeling from losing two consecutive matches - 1-0 against Tanzania Prisons and the same margin against Ruvu Shooting - a result that saw them drop from second spot on the 18-team league table to position four.

Mwadui, who beat Simba 1-0 in their first meeting last season, have now vowed to inflict more pain on the side when they clash at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

“We have played on several occasions and Simba and we don’t fear them, we are happy they are not doing well now and I want us to use that to bag maximum points against them,” Mwadui FC coach Khalid Adam is quoted by Sokaletu.

“It was unfortunate we lost our last league, and it really hurt our plans, I have now asked my players not to have pressure because they will be playing against Simba, they must forget about the past result and put their best foot forward against Simba because I know they are beatable.

“It will be a huge match for us because we also want to bounce back to winnings ways and one thing I know, it is very possible to beat them, we have seen them drop points in recent weeks, and we can also do it, we are ready.”

Mwadui suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat against JKT Tanzania, a result their coach believes can be erased with a resounding win against Simba.

Simba will miss the services of forward Bernard Morrison who was banned for three matches following violent conduct during their match against Ruvu Shooting on Monday.

Morrison was involved in a physical altercation with Juma Nyoso – who has also been banned and fined - after Simba had been awarded a penalty in the 71st minute.

The Ghanaian was irked by a Shabani Msala poor challenge on Luis Miquissone as he entered into Ruvu Shooting's area. As the players surrounded the referee before he awarded a penalty, Morrison appeared from the back and punched the Ruvu Shooting star and that escalated the tension even further.

Apart from the Mwadui, Morrison, who was also fined TSh500,000, will also miss the derby against Young Africans (Yanga SC) on November 7 and also the clash against Kagera Sugar.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has welcomed the return of betting firm SportPesa into the Kenyan market.

The betting firm was pumping into Kenyan football over Sh5 million but was among 27 betting firms that had their trading licenses revoked by the government due to the failure in meeting tax compliance policies in July 2019.

But on Friday, SportPesa confirmed their return to the Kenyan market under a new license, something that has left football stakeholders and gamblers praising the new move.

“We are happy to have SportPesa back and I hope they can now come to the grassroots and sponsor my team,” Shimanyula told Goal. “I will try to engage them because if they sponsor my team, they will be very happy.

“They should also try now and sponsor community clubs, like Homeboyz and Shabana, those are the clubs in need of finances now, I think it will be good if they support mostly community clubs, they need financial support now and I hope they will listen to my call.”

On making a return, SportPesa confirmed in the coming weeks they will explore a wide range of partnerships in the country.

“SportPesa is delighted to resume operations in Kenya,” read the signed statement obtained by Goal. “We are pleased to once again offer gaming services to our customers.

“Over the coming months, we are excited to explore a wide range of new partnerships in the country.”

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri also took to his social media pages to confirm the return of the betting firm by stating: “SportPesa is back! I’m happy to announce that the SportPesa brand is back under a new BCLB licence holder.

“As market leaders, SportPesa will focus on upholding the highest standards of service and responsible gaming. We look forward to working closely with BCLB and all other stakeholders.

“We are excited to explore a wide range of partnerships in Kenya over the coming weeks and months, which will prioritise the development of sports in communities across our great country.”

By the time SportPesa left the Kenyan market, they had pumped at least Sh500million into Kenyan football, as they were the title sponsors of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, and Nakuru All-Stars.

The firm also had a partnership with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) as they were sponsoring the Harambee Stars and also the FKF Shield Cup, whose winner represents the country in the Caf Champions League.

Their exit hit Kenyan football hard, as teams struggled to honour league matches, a move which saw Sony Sugar relegated to the lower league for missing three matches, while Chemelil Sugar and Nzoia Sugar had also missed two matches and were on the verge of being relegated before the league was prematurely ended owing to Covid-19.

The teams also could not sustain their foreign players with both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards the most affected, losing the players to other clubs and this also saw Ingwe coach Casa Mbungo return to his native country Rwanda.

The FKF has already secured a title sponsor – BetKing - for the 2020-21 FKF Premier League season set to kick off on November 20.

Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) has confirmed the Premier League will start on December 3.

This is the third time the schedule of the 2020/21 season has been amended given Fufa had initially planned for an October 17 kick-off.

As the government had not lifted the ban on contact sports, the federation rescheduled the programme again and said the league would start on November 20 before the latest development.

“The Fufa Club Licensing Committee will issue 2020/21 UPL club licenses by November 3, 2020, while the Fufa Competitions Directorate is to issue players’ licenses and bench permits by November 10 2020,” Fufa’s statement read in part.

 “The UPL secretariat shall release the fixtures by November 10, 2020, and the Uganda Premier League kick-off is set for December 3, 2020.”

Tough regulations have been put in place in order to guide participating teams in adhering to Covid-19 protocols.

“Licensed players and technical staff for the 2020/2021 season who will undertake sporting roles at training and matches will undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test,” it added.

“Only persons who test negative and get issued with a Fufa Covid-19 clearance certificate shall be eligible to participate in the team training and matches.

“All referees and match commissioners for the 2020/21 UPL Season will undergo a mandatory Covid-19 test. Only persons who test negative and get issued with a Fufa-Covid-19 Clearance Certificate shall be eligible to officiate the matches.

“The Fufa Covid-19 personnel and the official Fufa Covid19-testing centre will administer the bi-weekly testing of players and technical staff.”

The good news for the club is Fufa will take care of the initial testing costs lessening the burden of the clubs.

“Fufa shall undertake the cost of testing referees and match commissioners and will also pre-finance the cost of Covid-19 tests for club players and officials,” the statement concluded.

“Fufa will procure a government authorised authority as the official Fufa Covid-19–testing centre and only results from such a centre will be recognised by the football regulations.

“Fufa will procure in-house medical personnel on a full-time basis for a renewable period of six months to undertake Covid-19 responsibilities as required of Fufa.

“Corresponding deductions will be made against future club incomes as reimbursement for this medical exercise.”

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Daine Klate believes the team can have a “proven” coach like Josef Zinnbauer and “quality” in the squad but if the players are not motivated, they will lose Saturday’s Soweto Derby to Kaizer Chiefs.

Pirates and Chiefs clash in the MTN8 semi-finals at Orlando Stadium as both sides seek to end lengthy trophyless periods.

It is now six years since Pirates last claimed silverware when they won the 2014 Nedbank Cup and for Chiefs, the 2014/15 Premier Soccer League title was their last trophy bagged.

Klate who won the 2010 and 2011 MTN8 with Pirates appear to be exonerating Zinnbauer from ensuring victory on Saturday, saying that it would be up to the players’ “willingness” to get past Chiefs.

“At Pirates, we used to have a good run and we ended up losing the derby. And vice versa. So, it’s always been a little bit of the opposite,” said Klate as per IOL.

“But my experience tells me that it doesn’t look like it’s the team that will win the derby that actually wins it. On paper, I believe that they have the qualities. They have the squad. I think the coach has proven himself as well. In the second round of last season Pirates came good. They just need belief from the players as well.

“The coach can come with the best tactics ever. But if the players are not motivated and they do not apply themselves properly and are not willing to do the hard yards, then it won’t work. You can bring the best coach to any club but at the end it’s up to the players.

“We lost coach Ruud Krol after winning the first treble in 2011, and we went on to another treble with [Julio] Leal who was nowhere near Ruud Krol’s standards. But it was because of willingness. The onus is on the players.”

Pirates’ build-up to Saturday’s match has been affected by fitness concerns on their chief forward Frank Mhango who has a groin injury.

Donny van de Beek has addressed a lack of regular minutes at Manchester United, admitting that "players always want to play games".

Van de Beek completed a £35 million ($45m) switch to Old Trafford from Ajax on September 2, having enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence under Erik ten Hag at Johan Cruyff ArenA.

Real Madrid were also reportedly eager to bring in the 23-year-old, but United ultimately convinced him to continue his development in Manchester.

However, Van de Beek has found himself on the fringes of the action at the start of his career with the Red Devils, and is still waiting for his first Premier League start.

Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba have enjoyed prominent roles ahead of the Dutchman in recent weeks, but he was included in Solskjaer's first XI for a Champions League clash with RB Leipzig in midweek.

The ex-Ajax star played 68 minutes of the 5-0 victory, and is now hoping to build up some momentum as the fixture list begins to pile up for United, with a huge showdown against Arsenal up next on Sunday.

“Players always want to play games. Training is also nice, but the games... this is why you're playing football,” Van de Beek told the club's official website.

“I think a lot of games [means] we can improve always and I am sure that we will win more if we stay focused.

“Arsenal have showed that they have really good players and we need to be focused. We won [against RB Leipzig] and everybody's happy and it's good for the confidence and everything, but now we must go on to that game [on Sunday].

“A lot of big games are coming up now. A lot of games. We need to stay focused and then I'm sure that we'll make more nice wins.”

Van de Beek went on to talk up the talents of Marcus Rashford, who scored a stunning 18-minute hat-trick against Leipzig after coming on as a second-half substitute at Old Trafford. 

“He's an amazing player. I see already from day one [and] the moment that I arrived here his quality - and he's also a really good guy,” he said.

“He’s always working hard and [is] really talented. I like him also a person and I'm really happy for him. He's already a big player and will show a lot more of his quality. I'm sure about that.”

After United's latest home fixture against Arsenal, their focus will switch to another European encounter away at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday night.

Former Simba SC winger Ulimboka Mwakingwe has claimed he will be surprised should the club sack head coach Sven Vandenbroeck.

Simba have lost their previous two matches against Tanzania Prisons and Ruvu Shooting and consequently, goalkeeping coach Muharami Mohamed and team manager Patrick Rweyemamu were fired.

Mwakingwe has maintained Vandenbroeck alone cannot be blamed for the poor results given soccer is a game played as a unit.

“Football is not played in the dark and everyone is seeing how Simba are currently playing,” Mwakingwe told Mwanaspoti.

“I do not have a problem with the playstyle because it is the same that brought good results initially so, nobody should be blamed because even big European clubs lose matches.

“The technical bench has to sit down and come up with ways to ensure that good results are achieved in both the continental and local matches.

“I will be surprised if Simba are going to sack the coach because I know football is not dependent on one person for success to be seen.

“The coach’s job is to train and he cannot get onto the pitch during games and demonstrate how goals are scored. It is upon the players to ensure they do their best especially when they see things are going against them.”

On his part, retired Tanzania international Adolph Rishard has stated Wekundu wa Msimbazi must put their house in order before the Caf Champions League matches.

“Simba have a huge job coming and they need to be in perfect form ahead of the Champions League matches. What I am seeing now is that they depend too much on some players in order to get results,” Rishard told the same website.

“The competitions ahead are tough and they should not lie to themselves that they have got a huge squad.

“If they prepare well they are going to get good results even if they are going to come across Arabian clubs. But if the preparations are going to be poor then they will struggle regardless of who the opponent will be. “

The two losses mean Simba are fourth behind Azam FC and Yanga SC after playing seven matches.

Lack of concrete financial muscle, that is the reasoning that Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have given for deeming both Felda United and UKM FC to have failed to comply one of the criteria in their privatisation from FA to FC.

Even though a conditional approval was given to both teams on Oct 5, this latest decision came after a new deliberation was made in light of both teams having massive changes in terms of backers and sponsors following the structural changes within these two clubs.

Both teams were given until Oct 19 to explain and share the information of their new investors as neither Federal Land Development Authority nor Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia wanted to proceed with another year of backing their respective competing football teams.

Under the new FC registration, Felda United and UKM FC are owned by FUFC The Fighters Sdn Bhd and Varsity Boys Sdn Bhd.

While both were able to attract new investors, the information provided to FAM was not secure enough for the governing body not to deem them as financial risk if they are allowed to compete in the new season.

FAM went on to explained that this is because the numbers provided by the two teams does not show complete financial capability to sustain an entire season.

As the salary arrears issue keep rearing its ugly head in recent seasons, FAM's stricter and more stringent move can be seen as positive preventive measure.

UKM FC finished in 9th place in the 2020 Premier League season, three spots away from the last spot in the division and as such were supposed to remain in the second tier next season.

Felda United were supposed to join UKM in the Premier League, having finished second last in the 2020 Super League.

Now with this decision, the next agenda will fall into the hands of Malaysian Football League (MFL) - who now have to decide what to do with the two vacant spots in the Premier League, having already previously stated that no M3 teams will be promoted following the cancellation of their 2020 season.

Young Africans SC (Yanga SC) will miss the services of Carlos Carlinhos when they play Biashara Mara United on Saturday in their Tanzania Mainland League match.

The midfielder has been part of the reason why the 27-time champions have been performing well in the top-tier. But Timu ya Wananchi will now have to find an alternative when they visit the Francis Baraza-led charges.

"Two players will miss Saturday's game away to Biashara," Yanga team doctor Shecky Mngazija revealed ahead of this weekend's game.

"Mapinduzi Balama is still nursing his injuries meaning he will definitely be out of the game. Carlinhos is also down with malaria, so he is not available to play as well.

"I cannot give a timeline for [Carlinhos] return since it will depend on how his body responds to the medication."

"On our way to Musoma, our players got a rare chance to visit the home of the first President of the Republic of Tanzania, the late Julius Nyerere at Butiama," Wananchi revealed.

Biashara United are third and three points below Yanga and Saturday's match is expected to be an explosive one given the stakes it carries.

When they registered a 2-1 win over KMC FC in the previous encounter, coach Cedric Kaze partnered Waziri Junior – who had not enjoyed a start under Zlatko Krmpotic – with Michael Sarpong. He thereafter insisted every player will get his time.

Ahead of their Saturday assignment, the team paid a courtesy call to the family of the former Tanzania President Julius Nyerere.

Yanga were on their way to Musoma where they will be hosted by Biashara for the eighth game of the league season, and had to make a stop-over and visit the late President’s family in their rural home.

The visit also saw the club’s chairman and GSM’s Hersi Said give Nyerere’s wife, Mama Maria a club jersey.

On Friday, Azam FC dropped points again when they were held to a 1-1 by JKT Tanzania.

Debutants Gwambina FC fell 3-0 at home to Kinondoni-based KMC who moved to fourth on the log with 14 points.

Azam are now on 22 points after nine matches and Yanga might overtake them with a win on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho has played down talk of Tottenham winning the title, insisting the Premier League table "doesn't mean much" until February or March.

Tottenham are sixth in the table – two points behind leaders Everton – ahead of hosting Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

Spurs have lost just one of their opening six league games and have netted more goals (16) than anyone else, leading to suggestions they could challenge for the title.

But Tottenham head coach Mourinho said it was too early to make judgments based on the standings.

"I believe the table now doesn't mean much. I believe that by February, March, you look to the table and understand the reality of the competition," he told a pre-match press conference.

"A part of that special season with a special Leicester [in 2015-16], a part of that you get into February or March and the reality of the teams are expressed on the table, in this moment not yet.

"We had magnificent results away in the Premier League but at home we lost too many points and with these points we would be there but it is not a target.

"The target is to win against Brighton knowing that anything can happen in the Premier League."

Spurs dropped points in additional time in home draws against Newcastle United and West Ham, with the latter coming back from 3-0 down in the final ten minutes.

Winless in three home league games this season, Tottenham last had a run of four matches without a home league win in December 2013, but Mourinho said he had no concerns.

"I am not so worried about the home record," said Mourinho, whose side are coming off a shock 1-0 Europa League loss to Royal Antwerp.

"I am worried about playing well and getting points and against Everton, the frustration was we probably deserved, I think, a point but we didn't play well and in other games the feeling was different.

"We played very well against Newcastle, we played very well against West Ham so let's try and play very well against Brighton and when you play very well you normally win, so let's try."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to end the club's 14-year run of failing to win a Premier League game at Old Trafford when they face Manchester United on Sunday. 

The Gunners' last league win at the venue now dates back to September 2006 with the Red Devils since going 13 games undefeated in the clash when played on their soil.

After losing 1-0 to Leicester City last weekend, Arteta saw his side claim a 3-0 win against Dundalk in the Europa League on Thursday as they continued their perfect start in that competition. 

Arsenal have however now lost consecutive games in the Premier League and Arteta has welcomed the chance to get back to winning ways by ending their Old Trafford hoodoo. 

"I think it's been 14 years since Arsenal have won a Premier League game at United and, after the defeat like we had against Leicester last week, I think it's the perfect scenario to go there and try to do that," Arteta said on Friday.

"I'm not concerned about performances because you can see the trend and how we are evolving. It's just those margins, how we manage the margins within the games and those game moments when we try to get wins and not lose those games.

"It was against Liverpool [in a 3-1 defeat], we had two or three chances to do what they did, the same with Manchester City and the one against Leicester which was a different game because they approached the game in a really different way.

"But again, we will go to Old Trafford with the same mindset to go there and try to win the football match and improve, every three or four days. We are in a process and hopefully we will be a more solid and ruthless team week in and week out."

In Arsenal's favour ahead of Sunday's clash is the fact Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have failed to win any of their three home games in the league this season. The Gunners have also won two of their last three Premier League games against the Red Devils with their most recent match ending in a 2-0 victory at the Emirates. 

Arteta will be hoping star attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can rediscover his scoring touch against United with the forward failing to strike in his past five league outings - his longest such drought since November 2014 while playing for Borussia Dortmund. 

Barcelona had a busy summer with Ronald Koeman coming in to take the head coach job and Lionel Messi deciding not to leave Camp Nou despite submitting a request to move on.

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Messi staying at Barcelona has been huge for the club and Spanish football in general, especially after the league's other biggest stars left for foreign leagues (Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus) in recent years.

Barcelona is a much better team with Messi and its goal this year is to win back the Spanish domestic title after Real Madrid lifted La Liga in 2019-20.

An early-season defeat in El Clasico to its bitter rivals has not helped its title hopes, but Koeman is still confident that Barcelona can end up victorious over Los Blancos in the battle for the trophy.

How to watch Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona on US TV

It has been a busy week for Barcelona, who put the disappointment of that 3-1 Clasico defeat to one side in midweek to focus on the Champions League.

Against a Ronaldo-less Juventus, Barcelona was able to pick up all three points in Champions League Group G with Ousmane Dembele scoring a beautiful goal before Messi sealed the win with a late penalty.

Off the pitch, Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned from his position as Barcelona president, something which will surely please Messi, who highlighted Bartomeu's handling of Luis Suarez's exit as one of the reasons he had grown disenchanted with the club in recent years.

On the pitch, Barcelona will be missing Philippe Coutinho this weekend thanks to an injury he picked up in El Clasico.

Coutinho is the latest key player to join Barcelona's injury list, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and defender Samuel Umtiti also in the treatment room.

Ter Stegen has yet to play this season, with Neto deputising in goal for Barca. The Brazilian kept two clean sheets in the first two games of the season, but has conceded five goals over the last three matchdays.

Teenager Pedri has started the last three games in all competitions, but the Champions League win over Juventus was the first time he has completed a full 90-minute game for Barcelona.

Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona can be streamed in the US through Fanatiz  with a 7-day free trial and kicks off at 1pm PT and 4pm ET.

Barcelona on US TV in La Liga

All of Barcelona's La Liga games can be watched live on Fanatiz.

Barcelona in La Liga table

Barcelona is one of four teams to have seven points, but has two games in hand over most of the teams above and below in the table

Koeman's side has only played five games so far, having started the campaign later than other teams due to participation in the Champions League mini-tournament in Lisbon.

Last weekend's Clasico defeat leaves Barcelona seven points off the top of the table and six points behind rivals Real Madrid.

Barcelona will look to pick up maximum points over the next two matchdays before heading into the international break.

The international break could see more players pick up injuries, but should also allow additional time for the likes of Coutinho to rest ahead of a huge game with Atletico Madrid on Novermber 21.

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Real Madrid is the most successful club in Spain, having won a record 34 Liga titles, and is looking to add a 35th championship this season.

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Zinedine Zidane's team saw Cristiano Ronaldo leave for Juventus in 2018, but has still found ways to win without the Portuguese superstar, lifting the Spanish title in 2019-20 ahead of fierce rivals Barcelona.

After winning the first Clasico of the season in October, Real Madrid is hoping is in the hunt for yet another league trophy.

How to watch Real Madrid vs Huesca on US TV

Real Madrid vs Huesca can be streamed in the US through Fanatiz with a 7-day free trial and kicks off at 8am PT and 11am ET.

Real Madrid recorded a convincing 3-1 win in El Clasico last weekend, but came crashing down to earth in midweek against German side Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League.

Late goals from Karim Benzema and Casemiro were needed to take a point on the road against the Bundesliga side, stopping Real from starting their European campaign with back-to-back defeats.

Zidane's men will look to pick up where they left off in Spain on Saturday when it hosts Huesca, a team yet to win a league game in 2020-21.

Defenders Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola remain sidelined through injury, but Mariano Diaz and Nacho could be back in contention.

Thibaut Courtois returned to individual training but remains a doubt for the game with Huesca, while Martin Odegaard is also expected to miss out.

Eden Hazard came off the bench to help in the comeback against Borussia Monchengladbach and is in line to take a spot in the starting XI.

Pedro Lopez will not pay for Huesca due to injury, while Mikel Rico is unlikely to be back in time after being diagnosed as positive for coronavirus.

Shinki Okazaki is also a doubt for the visitors, meaning Sandro Ramirez could keep his place in the team.

Real Madrid on US TV in La Liga

All of Real Madrid's La Liga games can be watched live on Fanatiz.

Real Madrid in La Liga table

At this early stage of the season, only three points separate the top six teams in La Liga. Real Sociedad has taken an early lead at the summit, but leads by just one point over both Real Madrid and Granada.

Both teams have a game in hand over Real Sociedad, with Madrid especially confident of being able to make that extra game count in the race for the Spanish title.

The Clasico win over Barcelona puts the team in a great position over the teams most likely to end up as long-term title rivals, with Barcelona now down in 12th after playing five games.

Los Blancos plays against Huesca this weekend before taking on Valencia away on November 8 ahead of the international break.

Many of Real Madrid's players will travel around the globe during November's international break, meaning Zidane will be eagerly checking match reports and updates to ensure none of his key players picks up an injury while playing for their countries.

Watch La Liga live on Fanatiz.