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Just in case you missed it, Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool really did happen. Jurgen Klopp’s ‘Mentality Monsters’ lacked the strength of character against Dean Smith’s side to fall to the German manager’s biggest defeat in any dugout before the international break.

Ask past and present footballers and their reaction to such humiliations are usually the same: to put such a heavy hammering behind them by either playing shortly after or facing off with a really good opposition in the next game.

For the Reds, the former didn’t go as intended as they’ve had to stew on the defeat for a fortnight, but Saturday lunch-time’s opponent in Everton represents the perfect opportunity to prove that what went down at Villa Park was a one-off.

In the last few years for the neutral, the Merseyside Derby has felt like a let-down in every sense of the word. You know, one of those games really hyped by pundits in England but always seems to end one way — Liverpool winning, or at least not losing.

Indeed, you’d have to go back 10 years for the last time Everton picked up a win over their fierce rivals — a 2-0 success courtesy of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta — emphasising the one-sidedness of this rivalry.

However, the mood is different this time. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have been the Premier League’s early high-flyers going into gameweek five and ought to smell blood following Liverpool’s sketchy run of performances that culminated in that dispiriting result two weeks ago.

It’s for this reason Klopp needs Sadio Mane — absent in that embarrassing loss vs Villa — and Mohamed Salah — who’s been one of the standout individual players so far this season. Despite the strength of the Reds, any team would miss the influence of Alisson, arguably the best goalkeeper in the league and Mane, who’s one of the top wide attackers in Europe.

Still, the pair’s absence in that 7-2 hammering doesn’t quite mitigate for the obliteration that ensued. Mane’s non-appearance due to testing positive for coronavirus was felt in that the effervescent Senegal attacker’s pressing from the front was missing while his deadly prowess in the attacking third couldn’t be called upon in the West Midlands.

While Liverpool are far from a one-man team, not having the West African forward for any battle will handicap any side. What wasn’t foreseen was the degree to which the Reds will be hamstrung against the Villans. Of course, the greater issue on the day was defensively, however, the champions’ inability to press effectively was also telling on the day.

Admittedly, having Mane in the side wouldn’t have suddenly solved all of Liverpool’s issues in pressurising the opponent in possession, still, the away side would have shown a more concerted effort to win back possession or prevent the Villa man on the ball from easily picking out a teammate had the former Southampton winger played.

Per Fbref, the 28-year-old applied pressure on the opponent with the ball more times than all but three of his teammates last season — including Jordan Henderson who was an unused substitute. Being shorn of two of their top pressing components evidently affected Liverpool off the ball.

As for Salah, the events from October 4 were an anomaly and most certainly unprecedented. For someone who rarely ends on the losing side when he scores, that encounter was the first time the ex-Chelsea man will lose in a Liverpool after scoring twice.

It was uncharted territory for the two-time Golden Boot winner who’d always come away with three points after hitting braces since the 2017/18 season on Merseyside.

The halting of that run threatens to undermine what has been a brilliant start to the 2020/21 campaign in front of goal where the wide forward has been outscored by only Heung-min Son and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (six).

Having lost his top scorer’s award to Jamie Vardy last season, Salah has seemed to be on a mission this year, scoring some well-taken efforts in the first and fourth gameweeks. While the preceding match’s strikes counted for nothing, the return of Mane on Saturday certainly injects fresh energy into the side following their Villa humiliation.

Against a rival who have lived in their shadow for the last decade, Liverpool will want to prove that they remain kings of Merseyside when both sides go head to head at Goodison Park, exactly 10 years since the Toffees’ last victory over their neighbours.

Everton will reckon it's their date with destiny but Klopp, welcoming back a virus-free Mane, and in-form Salah will look to engineer a reaction to what was an unprecedented defeat for a Premier League defending champion.

Sam Nyamweya has hinted he will seek further legal redress against the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections planned for October 17.

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) dismissed a petition against the polls that had been filed by Nyamweya, and the dissatisfied former FKF president has now made it clear he does not agree with the latest judgement.

“I have been fully briefed by our legal team with respect to SDT Petition No. 10 of 2020, where the tribunal dismissed our petition and gave the green light for the elections to proceed despite the custodian of the Sports Act 2013 in the Sports Registrar expressing herself categorically on the questions of law surrounding this election,” Nyamweya’s statement obtained by Goal read.

“From the outset, may I state in no uncertain terms that we do not agree with the decision of Mr John Ohaga and his panel for the reason that they opted to look the other way when confronted with fundamental legal questions and the paramount need for compliance with the rule of law?”

Nevertheless, Nyamweya lauded Sports Registrar Rose Wsaike’s stand on the election issue at the tribunal that twice stayed FKF’s plan to hold the exercise.

“I salute the registrar for how gallantly she has articulated her position in defence of her legal mandate as an officer of the state empowered by statute,” he continued.

“In rejecting the decision, we want to state categorically that the ruling falls short of any legal reasoning or jurisprudential philosophy but I based on rhetoric and sideshows.

“Accordingly, we wish to assure that our quest for electoral justice is undeterred and we; once we review the ruling, shall explore all possible legal and political avenues to ensure compliance to the rule of law.

“It is just the beginning of what will be a long, protracted fight for electoral justice so anybody celebrating is doing so prematurely and out of ignorance of the place of the rule of law in this country.”

The football administrator has also called for the prosecution of Nick Mwendwa over the alleged misuse of the KSh244 million that was given to Harambee Stars for the 2019 Afcon tournament.

“Finally, it is a call to the government through the Ministry of Sports to intervene and save Kenya's sovereignty from the cartel led by Mwendwa and ilk which is bent on undermining the rule of law for their selfish gains,” Nyamweya concluded.

“We renew our call for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations [DCI], the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission [EACC] to move with speed and prosecute Mr Mwendwa and his accomplices over the millions of money pilfered during his term in office.

“We have evidence to suggest he should be charged for embezzlement of public resources from the government and Fifa.”

Mwendwa is favourite to retain the presidency on Saturday.

West Ham have signed Said Benrahma from Brentford in a loan deal that will be made permanent next summer for a reported £25 million ($32m).

The Premier League side were initially aiming to sign the Algerian on a permanent basis but issues in the second part of the winger's medical forced a change in the deal.

The Hammers are said to be paying £5m ($6m) up front to take the 25-year-old for the rest of the season before he joins on full-time.

Benrahma will not be eligible to make his debut against Tottenham on Sunday due to his paperwork not being filed in time.

“I’m very, very happy to be a part of this team. West Ham is a historic club, which has been in the Premier League for a very long time," Benrahma told the club's website.

"It included and still includes good players. It’s a massive club in England.

“I spoke to the manager, so I know exactly what he expects from me. I’ll try to meet his expectations on the pitch because he’s put faith in me and hopefully I can give it back on the pitch.

“I like this prospect [of playing in the Premier League]! I play football to enjoy myself first and foremost, but it’s always enjoyable to know you’re joining the most-watched league in the world, so I’m definitely looking forward to showing what I can do.”

Benrahma scored 27 times in 83 Championship appearances for Brentford and West Ham manager David Moyes is confident the new signing will strengthen his side's attack.

"He is a player who has had a lot of recognition for his performances with Brentford in the Championship," he said. "There has been a lot of interest shown in him so we are very pleased that he has decided to join us.

“We have been looking to bring in players who are hungry and determined to progress and get better. Saïd is an exciting talent with a lot of ability and the right qualities, who will complement the other attacking players we have at the club. 

“We need to give Saïd some time to settle in, but the step up to the Premier League is one I am confident he will be able to make. We are really pleased to have him here and looking forward to getting the best out of him.”

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter is not unaware of the damage Eberechi Eze, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha can cause his side.

The Seagulls will take on Roy Hodgson’s men at Selhurst Park in Sunday’s Premier League game as they aim to halt their three-game losing run.

Palace have secured two wins in the 2020-21 campaign, including their shock victory over Manchester United in September.

The Eagles recently secured the signature of Anglo-Nigerian, Eze, from Queen Parks Rangers in their quest to strengthen the team.

The 21-year-old, who bagged 14 league goals for QPR last season, has shown glimpses of his abilities since his arrival at Selhurst Park.

Ghana international Ayew has also been in fine form for the Eagles along with Ivory Coast forward Zaha, who has registered three goals in four Premier League games in this campaign.

Potter has lauded the potential of the African stars and urged his side to be battle-ready for Palace when they meet on Sunday.

"I think they have started quite well," Potter told reporters. "They had a really impressive result away at Manchester United. I thought they were a little bit unfortunate at Everton.

"You can see their qualities. They have made a signing, [Eberechi] Eze from QPR. I think he gives them another dimension.

"They have still got their organisation that Roy brings but they have still got their attacking threats with the likes of [Wilfried] Zaha, Jordan [Ayew]; [Andros] Townsend has started well.

"They are a strong, experienced Premier League team. We only picked up a point in the two games we played against them last season so we know the quality they have.

"Clearly Crystal Palace have been able to score and be effective with their chances and if you are not clear with your attacking and defending they have got the quality of players to cause your problems so we have to make sure we understand that."

Kenya defender Michael Kibwage has thanked former team KCB for putting his interest first and facilitating a move to Sofapaka FC.

The 22-year-old sealed a move to the 2009 champions on Thursday, October 16, signing a two-year deal. However, there are no hard feelings between the player and the Bankers despite them parting ways.

"KCB have always been so good to me and to date, I thank them for supporting me and ensuring my move to Sofapaka FC is successful," Kibwage told Goal on Friday.

"Honestly, [at] KCB is the best place to be as they consider the interest of the players first before theirs."

Goal authoritatively revealed KCB were not ready to increase the player's salary despite his good performance for the two seasons he was with the team. However, the youngster has explained he understood the situation at the club.

"I cannot blame [KCB] for not increasing my salary, it happened because of the Covid-19 situation, it affected most clubs," Kibwage revealed.

"But that does not take anything away from the team; they have moulded and made me a better player."

Kibwage has since revealed his target for Batoto ba Mungu in the 2020/21 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

"Our collective objective is to help Sofapaka challenge for the league title in the forthcoming season. It is an objective I have always wanted to achieve and I am hopeful it will happen with my new team," he said.

"My individual target is to give my best and win the defender of the year award by the end of the season.

"Of course I cannot handle it alone, it will be with the help of my teammates that I can achieve that."

After signing for the Nairobi-based side, the former AFC Leopards player admitted the fact that he will have to give his best to break into the team's first XI.

"I am excited to be here, Sofapaka is a big club with ambitions to achieve and I am glad to be part of the project. Commanding an automatic starting place will not be a walk but I am ready to give my best for the club."  

He becomes the seventh signing after Michael Bodo, Kevin Omondi, Isaac Mitima, Michael Karamor, Paul Kiongera, and Roy Okal.

Liverpool will visit Goodison Park on Saturday with an aim of securing a win in order to get their campaign back on track after a 7-2 humiliation by Aston Villa.

Everton vs Liverpool Latest Odds

Everton are winless in 19 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D11 L8) and tipping them to record a victory has been priced at (3.75) with BetKing.

On the other hand, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 22 meetings with Everton in all competitions and getting another win has been priced at (1.90).

Seven of the last eight Premier League meetings between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park have finished level and another draw to be registered has been valued at (4.00)

Everton vs Liverpool Team News

Liverpool will be boosted by the return of Sadio Mane and Thiago Alcantara after self-isolating because of positive coronavirus tests, while Joel Matip is back in training.

However, the main absentee for the league champions is Allison Becker who is sidelined by a shoulder injury which has kept him out of the last two ties. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out altogether as he is still recovering from a knee injury.

For Everton, Andre Gomes, Allan and Seamus Coleman are all expected to be back after missing the win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Yerry Mina will, however, wait to see if he can feature after he picked up a thigh injury during the international break with Colombia.

Mason Holgate, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jonjoe Kenny are expected to miss the match, adding to the defensive woes for Carlo Ancelotti.

Everton vs Liverpool Preview

The last three Premier League meetings between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park have finished 0-0 – no specific fixture in English top-flight history has ever finished goalless in four consecutive matches before.

This is the first top-flight Merseyside derby with Everton starting the day top of the table since September 1989, when Liverpool won 3-1 at Goodison Park thanks to goals from Ian Rush (2) and John Barnes.

Everton vs Liverpool Tips and Predictions

Everton have scored 11 goals in their last three league matches while Liverpool have conceded 11 goals in their four Premier League games this season. Therefore, punters can take an offer of under 2.5 goals priced at (2.55) with BetKing.

Under 2.5 goals at (2.55) with BetKing.

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.

Thomas Partey boasts the potential at Arsenal that will allow him to get “close to being as good as Patrick Vieira”, says Ray Parlour.

With the Gunners crying out for another combative presence in the middle of the park, Mikel Arteta hopes a solution to that problem has been found.

On deadline day of the summer transfer window, those at Emirates Stadium agreed to trigger the £45 million ($58m) release clause in Partey’s contract at Atletico Madrid.

Parlour is among those expecting big things from the 27-year-old midfielder, saying it is possible that he could become the natural heir to an Arsenal icon of the past.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Partey. They haven’t got the energy in that midfield and Partey will bring that,” former Gunners star Parlour told talkSPORT. “I’ve seen him play quite a few times for Atletico and he’s very effective.

“I’m really looking forward to see how he copes in the Premier League as well. Hopefully he’s going to play a major part if there is any success moving forward for Arsenal, trying to get in that top four.

“I think Arteta highlighted him early and said he’s the sort of player we need in that midfield area, because they are a bit lightweight at times in central midfield. I know it’s very difficult to get a replacement of Patrick Vieira, but they’ve not really got someone like him and I think Partey could be close to being as good as Patrick.”

Parlour is not the first to suggest that Partey can become a key figure for the Gunners, with Kevin Campbell another to have talked up his obvious qualities.

“Thomas Partey was the signing of the transfer window,” ex-Gunners frontman Campbell told GentingBet. “For Arsenal to get him for £45m is tremendous business – Arsenal almost went in with balaclavas on and stole him!

“Atletico Madrid dropped the ball by only having a £45m release clause, he is a player that is a lot better than £45m in this current market, but that was the release cause and Arsenal met it and they have their man.

“It is a key position for the club, he is moving into his prime and he will spend those years at the football club, so he is someone that the club can build around in midfield.”

Chelsea ace Timo Werner has said that Ralph Hasenhuttl helped develop him into the world-class forward he is today and is looking forward to a reunion with the Southampton boss.

Both forward and coach arrived at RB Leipzig in the summer of 2016, and while Werner remained for four years, Hasenhuttl departed after just a couple of seasons.

The 53-year-old, however, had a defining influence on Werner’s career, having talked the young forward into switching to Leipzig from Stuttgart.

“I talked a lot to Hasenhuttl before moving to Leipzig,” he told Chelsea’s official website . “He’s a very nice guy, very jokey, and from the first time we spoke to each other it was a good relationship.

“Leipzig was the next step for me, a different team with different possibilities. It was important for me when I left my hometown to be with a manager with a good idea of football and a good personality.

“He taught me a lot about pressing, and switching from defence to offence very fast when we win the ball back. That was really interesting and helped me a lot in my game. It gave me space for my movements and my strengths.”

He was also impressed with the man-management of the coach.

“Hasenhuttl was always a manager who stood behind his players,” he said. “He was not a guy who looked after himself. He was always there for me when I needed help, or when he was asked about me in front of the media, he always stood by me and gave me support.

“That was really good for me to have a manager like this, and the sporting director Ralf Rangnick. Both gave me the feeling I was not alone in this situation. It allowed me to concentrate on my game and not worry about other things.”

For Werner, playing with that Leipzig side was a special time in his career due to the atmosphere around the team.

“The first season, everything clicked,” he reflected upon a campaign in which Leipzig finished second to Bayern Munich in the club’s first top-flight season. 

“When we went out, every team member and I never had a feeling we could lose a game. We would go on to the pitch, and it didn’t matter if it was 2-0 to the others, we believed we could win at the end. It was the mentality we had and it was unbelievable.”

Chelsea have won seven points from their opening four Premier League matches of the season, with their sole defeat coming against Liverpool.

Frank Lampard has confirmed that Edouard Mendy will miss Chelsea's clash with Southampton on Saturday, but Hakim Ziyech is ready to make his debut for the club.

Goalkeeper Mendy suffered a thigh injury while away with Senegal in the match against Ziyech's Morocco, which was the winger's first competitive game since injuring his knee in a pre-season friendly with Brighton.

Ziyech has still yet to make his debut since his £37 million (€40m/$47m) move from Ajax, but Lampard confirmed that he would be on the bench at the weekend.

There was mixed news elsewhere as the demands of international football mean that Thiago Silva will miss out, but Ben Chilwell is fine after withdrawing from the England squad.

"Mendy won't be fit for the match tomorrow, we hope the injury's not too long," Lampard at his pre-match press conference.

"Thiago Silva after his trip and back, he's not unfit but he's not ready to play the game because of the travelling and the game that he played. So he won't be in the squad.

"Ben Chilwell is in the squad, so he's got over some of the feeling he had that took him out of the England squad around the injury. He's had it for a while now. Christian Pulisic is in the squad and fit to play, Hakim Ziyech in the squad, he's not fit to start but fit to participate for some minutes we hope."

Pulisic has yet to start a game this season but appeared from the bench in Chelsea's emphatic 4-0 win over Crystal Palace just before the international break.

With Mendy out, Lampard refused to be drawn on whether Kep Arrizabalaga or Willy Caballero would replace him.

Still, he is excited to see Ziyech make his debut for the club having signed him back in February after the Blues activated his release clause from the Eredivisie champions.

"We brought Hakim here and it feels like a long time ago now, but he also hasn't played since the Dutch league finished due to the lockdown," Lampard said. "It's a long time and he's worked so hard, he's been fantastic in terms of his professionalism to get fit, and he looks really good in training.

"I've got a really open relationship with him to know where he's at, and how I feel about it. So it's just game minutes that we need now.

"Of course, I'm excited to get him in and around it, to bring what we brought him to the club for which is the opportunity to create chances for us, to be the talented player that he is and we saw at Ajax and I look forward to seeing him play."

Ziyech now comes in to compete with a forward line that boasts a huge number of options including Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. That might lead to players being left out on a regular basis but Lampard thinks it is the depth level needed for his side to compete on all fronts this season.

He said: "Any team that wants to compete towards the top of the league and in the Champions League needs more than one player per position. It needs to be competitive across the front area. We had it last year.

"We lost Willian, we lost Pedro, we lost Batshuayi. We've brought players in for the same level of competition in terms of numbers and I feel like the quality levels of the players we brought in, of course, you want to improve.

"It's up to the players of course in terms of their performance and at the same time, it gives me a nice problem in terms of selecting players we can hopefully use through the season and options to come off the bench. I'm happy with what some people might call a problem in that area."

When pushed about the status of Toni Rudiger, who almost left Chelsea in the transfer window, Lampard said the door remains open for him to earn minutes on the pitch and save his career at the club.

"Every player can play their way into the starting XI, the squad, that’s in every players’ hands and how I try to work here," he said. "Toni is the same as every other player on that one."

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Elections set for Saturday, October 17 will go on as scheduled.

Stakeholders, led by former Federation president Sam Nyamweya, former Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Secretary-General Nicholas Musonye among others, had filed a petition to stop the elections stating there were no guarantees the exercise would be credible.

Sports Registrar Rose Wasike followed up with a letter to FKF Secretary-General who is doubling up as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno advising the Federation to put their house in order before proceeding with the exercise. The Registrar had argued the register used was faulty and it was not verified.

However, Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) chairman John Ohaga dismissed the case stating the reasons presented were not weighty.

He argued that one of the petitioners, Omondi Aduda, had even presented his papers to the Electoral Board and is among those who will be in the ballot box for the elections set for this weekend.

As a result, incumbent Nick Mwendwa will be hoping to retain his seat by the end of the day on Saturday.

"Let us do this team Blue!" Mwendwa tweeted after the Tribunal cleared the runway for the exercise to continue as scheduled. 

"It is a new day, a new beginning, [on Saturday we close]."

Former AFC Leopards chairman Dan Mule, who is also a presidential candidate, welcomed the ruling saying it was long overdue.

"I am happy we can now get the elections done and we focus on developing the game," Mule told Goal on Friday.

"This is an opportunity for the delegates to give me a chance to help continue building football in the country. Football should be played on the pitch and not in courts.

"I am very optimistic about winning the elections on Saturday; it is another chapter in the Kenyan football," Mule concluded.

Others who will be in the ballot box include former deputy CEO Herbert Mwachiro, journalist Boniface Osano and Aduda who is the immediate former Gor Mahia CEO.

The SDT had twice cancelled the elections owing to failure by the Federation to align itself with set guidelines. 

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has told Antoine Griezmann that he will continue to be played on the right side of the pitch and it is up to the World Cup winner to prove that he justifies his selection.

During the international break, France boss Didier Deschamps revealed that Griezmann was unhappy with the role he was being asked to play at Camp Nou, which sees him deployed in a wider area than he favours.

Griezmann then spoke after playing a pivotal role in France's 2-1 win over Croatia, praising Deschamps for knowing "exactly where to put" him.

Koeman, though, has doubled down on his choice and has told the former Atletico Madrid star that he must find his best level.

"Everyone has the right to say whatever he wants,” Koeman said. “I spoke to Antoine yesterday because I wanted to, not because of what he said.

"I told him I want the best for the team and I know he can play on the right side and other positions. It's up to each player to find his own best performance.

"He is already doing all he can do: he works hard, has an excellent discipline and now he must be luckier with his final touch. Against Sevilla there were a couple of times in which he could have done better.

“Regarding his positioning, I remember when I was Netherlands coach, we played against France and he was playing on the right side. It's the coach who makes the orders.”

Koeman added that he has not taken the situation personally.

“I don't have any problems with Antoine, I only look for the best for the team and the club,” he said. “My job is to bring out the best performance of each player but I can only pick 11. 

“I won’t ask a player to play a role far from what he is used to, and I’m not doing it with Griezmann because he can play on the right. I understand that maybe there are positions he prefers, but we can't play with two players in the role of the 10.”

Meanwhile, the Dutchman says that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is unlikely to be fit to play in El Clasico, which is slated for October 24.

“He has been working on the pitch since Monday and he is going well but I don't think he will be ready for the Clasico,” he said. “I think it’s going to be too early for him. We shouldn’t rush him back because we’re happy with Neto.

“I hope Marc can be with us soon, but it probably won’t be next week.”

Before then, Barcelona travel to Getafe on Saturday before hosting Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Diego Simeone wishes Thomas Partey success at Arsenal despite the frustrating manner in which he left Atletico Madrid on deadline day.

The Gunners signed the Ghana international after activating his £45million (€50m/$58m) release clause during the final hours of the transfer window.

Atletico, who then brought in Arsenal's Lucas Torreira on loan, were reportedly upset with the way the fee for Thomas was deposited at close to midnight Spanish time and that the player was prepared to quit the club in such prompt fashion after eight years.

Simeone has seen stars including Rodri, Lucas Hernandez and Antoine Griezmann depart in recent years after their buy-out clauses were met and he insists he holds no grudges against the players themselves, even if the manner of the exits is something the club can do little to prevent.

"I keep thinking Lucas' exit was very important," Simeone told reporters on Friday. "He was a boy from the academy, with a lot of strength and a future, as we see with his national team, but we can't give many opinions against situations involving these clauses.

"Everything that happens to the boys who gave me a lot of things at the club makes me happy. Thomas is a boy I remember from when he played in the B team with Saul [Niguez].

"We started to bring him up, it took a lot out of him, he went to Almeria and it was difficult for him to find stability in the club. He's an incredible player and we wish him the best."

Simeone hopes to see Torreira make a significant impact, saying:  "I'm not going to talk about what we win or lose with Thomas because he's not here. What Lucas will be able to bring to the team is vitality, dynamism in the middle. He comes from a time when he was not playing and he does so with great excitement."

Atleti started the La Liga season with a 6-1 victory over Granada but have followed that result with back-to-back goalless draws with Huesca and Villarreal.

Simeone has hinted he could start Luis Suarez, Diego Costa and Joao Felix together in a bid to get his side's attack firing again and says Portuguese forward Felix must endeavour to bring his international form to club level.

"Of course they can play together. Many of the players we have can play together. We'll see at what moment, what situation and in what state each one is," Simeone said. "He [Felix] is a very important player for us. I saw the games he played with the national team and I liked his work.

"He has talent and he can appear at any moment, but what I saw with Portugal, where he showed commitment, intention, enthusiasm for what the team needed - that speaks highly of him and it's what we also need from him."

Football is full of mysteries and stories of intrigue, some of them midly strange, others just downright ludicrous.

One such glorious mystery is that of Mikel Arteta and his seemingly immaculate dark hair, which never seems to change even as the Spaniard gets older.

In a world of ostentatiousness, the haircut, in its consistent simplicity, has drawn admiration from Arsenal supporters and rival fans alike, spawning confused threads on Reddit as well as Facebook fan pages.

Arteta is all too aware of his hair's celebrity status and in 2014, he revealed that "one in every three tweets" he received on Twitter is about that very topic.

However, in typical fashion, the elusive Basque Country native refused to elaborate on what his hair-care secret was.

"It will cost me a lot of money if I answer that," he told RWD Football at the time.

"There’s nothing special about it," the former midfielder added, coyly. "It’s just my hair, it doesn't move much and I am lucky."

However, Arteta recently let slip what it is that he does with his hair to achieve his now iconic zero-fuss look, unusually letting his guard down during a coronavirus lockdown video Q&A with the Arsenal website.

The Gunners boss was asked, for the nth time: "What's your secret for thick, black hair? Do you use any special products?"

An amused and exasperated Arteta replied: “I keep getting this question all the time! Nature gave me this hair!

"Some people love it, some don’t. I’m ok with it - at least I have hair! I just use a normal gel to keep it fixed. I don’t look after it so much.”

After all that, after years of disbelief and intrigue, Arteta's big hair secret was "normal gel". Not only basic product, but minimal care too. 

An incredulous Arteta hair devotee might wonder does he at least dye it, but the evidence suggests that colour manipulation is not something that happens either.

In fact, in early 2020, the Daily Star actually reported of Arsenal fans' 'devastation' after grey hairs were spotted on the back of Arteta's head, leading to fears that the stresses of the job were taking their toll.

So it appears that Arteta is human after all and, if he doesn't suddenly reach for the shoe polish, we can expect his luscious black locks to eventually transform into silver.

It should be noted that, while the Barcelona academy product has mostly kept the same short, neat haircut throughout his life, he did have an experimental period in his early 20s.

Having had a short look at Paris Saint-Germain, Arteta actually began to fashion longer hair when he played for Rangers in the early 2000s, but he reverted to type when he joined Everton in 2005.

Since then, Arteta's flawless follicles have been one of the few constants in modern football.

Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott will spend the season on loan with Blackburn Rovers with the teenage star looking for first-team football experience with the Championship side.

Elliott joined Liverpool from Fulham in July 2019 and made a total of eight appearances for the Reds in all competitions throughout last season's Premier League title-winning campaign.

He was set to play a similar role this season, with the club fully expecting to hold on to Elliott this season.

However, after Liverpool's Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of Arsenal and with Xherdan Shaqiri remaining at Anfield past the transfer deadline, Liverpool are now willing to let Elliott go to Blackburn to secure first-team appearances.

He will move to a team that currently sits sixth in the Championship, having earned seven points from the first four league games of their season.

Manager Tony Mowbray was a key factor in getting the deal done, with the Blackburn boss previously working with former Liverpool youngster and current Rangers star Ryan Kent as well as Leicester City midfielder James Maddison during his spell at Coventry.

Liverpool will also be able to keep a close eye on Elliott's development with Blackburn being a local club.

Elliott is one of several Liverpool youngsters set to join lower-division clubs on loan, with Ben Woodburn and Liam Millar also candidates for moves.

Woodburn has agreed to join Blackpool until January, having scored one goal in 16 appearances for Oxford last season.

Millar, meanwhile, is wanted by Sunderland, Charlton and Millwall after the Canadian forward spent parts of the last two seasons with Kilmarnock in Scotland.

Winger Harry Wilson, meanwhile, has already left on loan to join Cardiff while Herbie Kane is set to join Barnsley in a permanent deal worth £1.25m ($1.5m).

One player that will not be leaving is Nat Phillips, though, with the defender being kept at the club to provide cover at centre-back.

Liverpool currently sit fifth in the Premier League after losing 7-2 to Aston Villa just before the international break. The Reds will return on Saturday as they take on rivals Everton at Goodison Park.

Gareth Bale will "probably" make his first appearance since returning to Tottenham when they face West Ham on Sunday, according to Jose Mourinho.

Bale rejoined Spurs on a season-long loan in September, having left in 2013 for Real Madrid in a then world-record transfer.

A knee injury has so far kept Bale out of action and, though he gave a positive update on the forward's condition, manager Mourinho would not definitively say if the Wales international will feature in the London derby.

"Of course he wants to play. He wanted to play since the day he arrived but wasn't possible," Mourinho told a media conference. "I'm not going to tell you if he's going to play or not. What I will tell you is that he's working very well. He's working the way he probably hasn't been able to do for some time.

"The planning of the recent sessions had a big focus on him. His condition is good. Does he play Sunday or Thursday, we haven't made a decision yet.

"Every player is a very important player but the Gareth situation is very special because of his history. We care about him as much as he does for Tottenham.

"It's a physical thing. He didn't have any pre-season and even in the period after the lockdown, he didn't participate in much with Real Madrid, then he plays a couple of matches with Wales, had an injury there.

"It's not just about coming and needing a week of work to be at a level. It's more global than that and we don't want him to be rushed, we want him to be comfortable, we want him to make the decision of 'yes, I'm ready to go'. It's more about that.

"He's working so well, just evolution in every data, in every aspect of his condition. He's there. Probably he plays Sunday, if he doesn't he will on Thursday [in the Europa League v LASK]. He's there. He's very, very close."

A key feature of Tottenham's start to the new Premier League season, which included a 6-1 win at Manchester United prior to the international break, has been the form of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

Kane and Son have combined in six goal involvements, the highest tally in the league for any duo, in four games. That makes the prospect of adding Bale to the forward line an enticing one, though not one Mourinho appeared willing to commit to as his first choice.

"We have a squad where every player has to fight a lot for a place in the team," Mourinho added. "I believe you can see Son and Bale playing together, and also both together on the bench and also both enjoying a hot tea in the box. We have so many good options so I refuse to say that anyone is a first choice."

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has backed striker Tammy Abraham and left-back Ben Chilwell after both broke coronavirus rules to attend a party.

Along with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, the pair were among a group of more than six people who gathered to celebrate the Chelsea forward’s 23rd birthday prior to England’s international fixture with Wales, which both subsequently missed.

Of the trio, only Sancho featured in the Nations League victory against Belgium or the 1-0 defeat to Denmark.

Lampard has attempted to shield the pair from criticism, accepting that they made “mistakes” amid escalating fears that the Covid-19 crisis is again starting to spiral out of control in the UK.

“We've lived in this bubble for quite a long time now, and we have to make sure we stay on point with that at the training ground,” the manager told the media.

“The players also have a responsibility, as do the public, to follow the rules that we are being told, albeit there isn't always massive clarity in them, but that's not an excuse for the lads. 

“They've made mistakes, I've reminded them of their responsibilities. From the conversation I've had with them, they were innocent mistakes, but they understood their mistakes. We move on and I hope and I expect that it won't happen again.”

England boss Gareth Southgate, although willing to recall all three to the bubble after they tested negative for coronavirus, did not have such a soft touch with his message.

“At the beginning of the week we had a good meeting with the and spoke about the responsibility of being an England player and how the spotlight is different,” he said last week.

“I have also talked about the connection of the fans and we have 10 with us who were in Russia, they have done good work with their clubs, communities but some of the young ones have not done that and they need to prove themselves.

“They need to remember it is an honour to play for England. We have all made errors, I had nights out as player but we are living in unique times with Covid.”

Chelsea face Southampton on Sunday as they return to Premier League action.

Zinedine Zidane does not believe he will have a problem motivating Luka Jovic despite Borja Mayoral claiming the Real Madrid boss wanted to get rid of him.

Mayoral left the La Liga champions to join Roma on loan this month after returning to Santiago Bernabeu following two seasons with Levante.

The forward this week said Zidane wanted him to remain in Madrid and offload Serbia striker Jovic instead.

Jovic responded to those comments by telling El Chiringuito TV that "maybe" Mayoral was right and adding: "You have to ask the club."

Zidane on Friday brushed away suggestions Jovic may be surplus to requirements and said he can play a part for Madrid this season.

"The conversations I have with my footballers are behind closed doors," the Madrid head coach said during a media conference on the eve of the La Liga clash with Cadiz.

"They are private and what goes on in the dressing room, stays in the dressing room. I'm not going to talk about what's going on beyond this club, on this group of footballers and that's my sole interest.

"The conversations with my footballers are private and will stay that way."

Asked if it might be tough to motivate Jovic, Zidane replied: "Jovic is a Real Madrid player. I want Jovic here.

"Lots of people can have their opinion, they are entitled to their opinion, we have to live with that. But Jovic is a Real Madrid player."

Jovic endured a difficult debut campaign at Madrid last season, scoring just two goals in 27 total appearances.

Zidane added that he plans to rotate his squad with a hectic schedule to come.

He added: "We have spoken about this many times. To win things in a very long season we need to make rotations, and we have very good players who allow us to make changes.

"People need to remember what this team has lived through, the players never rest. We have a run of seven games and then they all go off with their national teams again.

"But I'm not complaining, I'm only explaining that it is necessary to rotate and I think we can still win while doing that."

Manchester United triggered a clause to extend Paul Pogba’s contract a week before the midfielder talked up a move to Real Madrid.

The France international’s deal was set to end in June 2021 and Goal can confirm that the club utilised their option to extend it for a further year a few weeks ago, meaning he is under contract until the summer of 2022.

Pogba said last summer that "it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else'" and has repeatedly talked up the possibility of moving to Real Madrid.

Last week while on international duty, he said: “Many things have been said. Of course, every footballer would love to play for Real Madrid and would dream about that. It’s a dream of mine, so why not one day?

“But I’m at Manchester United and I love my club. I play for Manchester United I want to perform well for them and do everything to get them back to where they deserve to be.”

Solskjaer responded to Pogba’s comments in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning where he seemed to allude to the fact the club had triggered the option on Pogba’s deal.

“Paul's our player, he's going to be here for another two years,” Solskjaer said. “I’m sure Paul is focused on doing his best for us and we want to see the best of Paul and I'm sure in the next couple of years we'll get the best out of him.”

Pogba returned to United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of £89million but has struggled to find consistent form since his return while missing a large portion of last season with a couple of different injuries.

The World Cup winner has flirted with the possibility of moving to Real Madrid a number of times and United would have been willing to sell the midfielder to the La Liga giants in the 2019 summer transfer but they never made an offer anywhere near the fee United would have been after.

It is common practice for the club to extend the contracts of players and all deals come with that one-year option.

Former Everton and Manchester United striker Louis Saha has been impressed with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and thinks he could soon be playing for a club in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old has scored nine goals in his first six games in all competitions this season, and is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League.

He also made his England debut over the past week, picking up his first three caps, and next up for the striker is a game against Everton's local rivals Liverpool on Saturday.

Calvert-Lewin has been linked with United in recent weeks and, given his current form, Saha is not surprised by the speculation.

"There's a lot of players who get linked with Man United," Saha told Goal. "This club wants the best players, all the top scorers, so, of course, he is going to be linked. What I know from the club's perspective of Man United, they want to sign guarantees.

"The more goals you get, the closer you are to those types of clubs. For Dominic, the national team is a step to prove he can do this at international level. I do think that he has got the potential and I think the next move could be there but it isn't something I would like to see from an Everton point of view.

"But, I think that one day he will look to play in the Champions League for a big club."

Calvert-Lewin has been Carlo Ancelotti's main striker since the Italian's appointment as manager towards the end of last year, but has taken his form to a new level this season.

Saha has long been tracking the development of Calvert-Lewin and feels the forward has now simply found his identity.

"He is a player who has a big tank and a lot of energy," Saha continued. "With that, he can improve a lot. He is working hard, he has a clear vision of where he needs to be and what people expect of him. The runs he does either for himself or his team-mates are more precise.

"I saw it with [Marcus] Rashford. When he started, he was instinctive. Running and doing what he wants. Now, he thinks more about how he can make things more difficult, that was the case with Calvert-Lewin. When I watched him, I felt he would overthink things, try too hard.

"Now, he knows who he is and he knows what to do. He has become more clinical in front of goal because he doesn't overthink. He knows exactly what he is doing, relying on his training and knows he can score again and again. It is a confidence thing."

Calvert-Lewin's stellar start to the season comes on the back of an impressive summer of recruitment which saw the club sign James Rodriguez, Allan, Ben Godfrey and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

James' £20 million ($26m) arrival was seen as a coup for Everton after coming from Real Madrid to rebuild his career. Having left a big club for Everton himself, Saha believes it is a move that makes sense for a player who wants to enjoy football again and he thinks the door to silverware remains open for the Colombian.

"When you go from Real Madrid from anywhere at a certain age, the next club is going to be a step down," he added. "Real Madrid, without a doubt, is one of the biggest clubs in the world. Maybe only two or three can compete with them.

"As a player, you know that step, then as an individual what you want is to play, enjoy, score goals if you can, maybe win trophies. It isn't about showing anyone that they made a mistake; he just wanted to enjoy his football again.

"Everton is a great platform for that. I felt it when I went from Manchester United to Everton. They have the same desire to do well, they are a big club and they may have had fewer opportunities to win trophies but the infrastructure is here.

"There's no doubt James Rodriguez is a really big player, he has been competing with big players for many years. He has great experiences, many trophies and he can say 'who cares about people's opinions, I am a top player'."

Everton have the unusual privilege of looking down on Liverpool in the Premier League table after the champions' shocking 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa ahead of the international break.

"I am impressed but not surprised by Everton," Saha concluded. "They are starting to show signs of consistency and a definite plan. I like to say plan because it seems to be way more organised in the way they go forward and defend.

"They just need to reduce the number of errors. They are well balanced as a team and they can upset a lot of teams. They have always been ambitious; they had some doubts in the last two seasons.

"They have great players, young players and I am a really big fan of Richarlison, for example. It is a big club with good fans so to be an Everton player is an amazing feeling.

"I still think Liverpool are up there again to win the title again because they have shown massive consistency. They have had a big setback but it is about how you react. I am sure a club with a manager like Jurgen Klopp, as you have seen on the bench, will be absolutely fuming about that 7-2 defeat.

"They have conceded goals they shouldn't have but all this should be taken as a lesson. People need to be careful of Liverpool because a reaction will come. People's jaws dropped to the floor after the last game. It will be a very close game on Saturday."

The BT Sport Monthly Pass lets you watch BT Sport for a simple monthly fee of £25 with no contract. Customers can watch all BT Sport Premier League fixtures for the next 30 days including Everton vs Liverpool from 11.30am on Saturday 17th October. For more info visit  bt.com/monthlypass

The Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers is one of the most historic, and most heated, rivalries in world football.

With more than 100 Scottish league titles between them, the Glasgow giants are among the world’s most successful clubs and their rivalry reflects historic divides of identity, politics and religion in Scotland.

In recent years, the rivalry has taken on a new dimension. Many Celtic fans now claim there is no Old Firm match any more, and their games with Rangers are simply the ‘Glasgow derby’.

The practice even extends to the clubs’ official channels. For example, while Rangers’ Twitter account and most media outlets refer to their matches as Old Firm clashes, Celtic’s official Twitter handle has only ever used the phrase ‘Old Firm’ once, when relaying a direct quote from coach Neil Lennon in 2014. When the two teams meet, Celtic’s channels refer to the game as the Glasgow Derby.

Goal explains exactly why this is the case.

The explanation can be seen when some Celtic fans antagonise their rivals by referring to Rangers and their fans as ‘zombies’. Hoops fans are adamant that the club which plays at Ibrox now is not the same Rangers which was first formed in 1872 – and which they claim died in 2012.

In 2010-11, Rangers won their 54th Scottish title and drew with Manchester United and Valencia in the Champions League group stage, but the club was in dire financial straits.

Rangers regularly posted financial losses during the 2000s and by 2009, it was reported the club owed as much as £30 million ($49m) to the Lloyds Banking Group.

To compound Rangers’ troubles, they also entered a legal dispute with Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which hampered owner David Murray’s efforts to sell the club.

Murray eventually sold his 85.3 per cent controlling stake in Rangers to Craig Whyte in May 2011 for just £1.

In February 2012, Rangers went into administration and were docked 10 points after failing to pay around £9m ($14m) in VAT and PAYE tax. In May, it was estimated the club’s debts may have totalled more than £134m ($211m).

In June 2012, The Rangers Football Club plc was liquidated. The business and assets were sold to a company called Sevco Scotland Ltd, which was later renamed The Rangers Football Club Ltd. This is the root of the issue, with different interpretations of whether Rangers at this point were a new club, or the same club owned by a new company.

The new ownership was unable to secure the transfer of Rangers’ place in the Scottish Premier League and the club eventually began the 2012-13 season in the Third Division, the fourth tier of Scottish football. Manager Ally McCoist remained but most first-team players did not transfer their contracts to the new owners and became free agents.

Rangers rose through the divisions and returned to the Scottish Premiership for the 2016-17 season. Rangers were beaten 5-1 at Celtic Park and 2-1 at Ibrox by their rivals that season but eventually finished third, 39 points behind champions Celtic.

In 2015, some Celtic fans highlighted the issue when they paid for an advert in a newspaper asserting that the Rangers playing at Ibrox were a new club, and that the Old Firm derby would no longer be contested as a result.

Complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over claims from Rangers to being ‘Scotland’s most successful club’. In a boost for Rangers fans, the complaints were dismissed after consultation with UEFA and the European Club Association.

UEFA said its rules permitted the “sporting continuity” of a club’s on-field history. Rangers lost their membership to the European Club Association after their liquidation but, after reapplying, were granted associate membership on the basis they had been founding members of the Association.