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Boris Singh has steadily matured as a player since he led Manipur to the U14 national championship title in 2013. He has represented India in the AFC U16 Championship and subsequently at the world stage when the country hosted the U17 World Cup in 2017. 

However, from a very young age, he has learnt that failures will teach you more than success. He was rejected by the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Elite Academy when he first appeared for trials. But a more chastening incident took place in the AFC U16 Championship match against Iran in Margao. 

"It was the final group game and a do-or-die match. Their winger was about to skip past me and I stick my foot out. I was shown a second yellow and was given the marching orders. I was not aware that a ban is carried forward in FIFA competitions. 

"For that red card, I missed the opening match against USA in the World Cup. I was sitting in the stands and I could not hold back my tears. From that moment, I decided I am never going to be sent-off in my career," reminisced Singh to Goal. 

At a tender age of 13, he had to leave the comforts of home to follow his passion for football. It was not easy for a child who had never before left his hamlet in Manipur, to criss-cross the country and take part in several trials and age-group tournaments. He was then called up to Goa for a trial by the Indian FA.

"AIFF Elite Academy happened to me at the right time. There were two teams, Team A and Team B. I was in Team B at first. There was Sajid Sir (Sajid Dar) and Bibiano Sir (Bibiano Fernandes). After a few weeks, there was another trial and I got into the A-team. 

"In the academy, I learnt to be disciplined. It is very important for a player to lead a disciplined life to give his best on the pitch. Then comes the technical aspect. We focused on the basics like how to stick to a formation. Receiving the ball, passing, shooting and every basic thing. Those years helped me greatly."

Singh admits that reviving the Indian Arrows project was the best thing to happen for him as it allowed him to rub shoulders with senior footballers and quality overseas players. He also spoke highly of coach Luis Norton de Matos under whom he learnt a lot.

"The two seasons with the Indian Arrows was fantastic. That gave me confidence. At first, my heart used to beat so fast before a match, now I have learnt to remain calm before a match. Matos Sir helped me a lot. We have a strong mentality and even if we fell behind we did not give up.

"I run a lot. I learnt when to run and how much to run. It is of no use to run all throughout the field for no cause. He also told me to create an understanding with m winger so that I know when to overlap and when not to. He was a great coach."

However, his most cherished win came under the tutelage of Floyd Pinto in national colours when the India U20 team beat Argentina 2-1 in the COTIF tournament in Spain.

"Before the Argentina match, we were completely focused. In the team meeting, Floyd sir asked us not to fear them. We just needed to give our 100 per cent. And the goal by Deepak (Tangri) in the fourth minute gave us a lot of confidence. We had a red card in the second half but that also did not dampen our spirits," exclaimed Singh. 

But his transition from a developmental team to a professional team has not been smooth. With ATK he has not featured in the Indian Super League (ISL) as coach Antonio Habas prefers more experienced campaigners like Prabir Das and Michael Soosairaj in his position. 

"I know I did not get many chances in ATK. I understand there are better players in the team. Prabir da (Prabir Das), Pritam Da (Pritam Kotal) are great players. But I train with full focus and I give my 100 per cent to impress the coach. The seniors also help me and they motivate me a lot. I am waiting for my opportunity. I will not get many chances but I intend to make the most of that one chance," said Singh with resolve. 

Singh has always turned adversity into opportunity. He had not given up when he couldn't make it to the Elite Academy in the first attempt and neither he would today after a disappointing season. One chance, he says all that he needs to prove himself. 

Zinedine Zidane believes Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos should retire at the Santiago Bernabeu amid question marks over his future.

Ramos' contract expires at the end of the 2020-21 season, by which time he will be 35, and it remains to be seen whether the star defender will remain in the Spanish capital.

The Spain skipper showed he is far from finished with another inspiring performance in Madrid's 2-0 La Liga victory over Real Mallorca on Wednesday.

Ramos – who took his season tally to nine goals, becoming the first defender to score eight or more goals in a single LaLiga campaign since Ezequiel Garay in 2006-07 – scored a stunning 56th-minute free-kick to ensure Madrid returned to the top of the table midweek.

"Sergio belongs here as a player," Madrid head coach Zidane told reporters afterwards. "He's been here for years and he should retire here. It's what I think and I'll stand by it."

Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock for Madrid in the 19th minute at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium, where Ramos curled a set-piece past Manolo Reina 11 minutes into the second half.

A fourth consecutive victory since the coronavirus-enforced break saw Madrid move back to the summit due to their superior head-to-head record against bitter rivals Barcelona.

"We need to have the ball," Zidane said. "The setup isn't the most important thing for me, it's more about what we do on the pitch with the ball. We can do better, but I'm satisfied with what I saw and what these players are doing is not at all easy. 

"That's four wins in a row, but the standout feature for us today was our defensive solidity all round. We can get better going forward and that's what we'll try to do.

"We were a bit tired by the end today but that's not just Real Madrid, the same goes for all the teams. It's a strange situation, we're back training after 60 days and with the heat and everything. But we have to keep going and all we can do is be more alert with the players, we want to keep moving forward strong.

"We're all more or less in the same boat. The important thing is that it's four wins for us, but that's a credit to the players. We're training well and we always want more.

"The players' attitude has been phenomenal, so too has that of the players who are not playing as much, and this is what makes the difference in the dressing room. We have seven finals left, the players have to recover well and continue with what we are doing, we haven't won anything."

Out-of-favour star Gareth Bale, meanwhile, made his first start for Madrid since February. Bale, despite working hard, largely failed to impress against relegation-threatened Mallorca.

"We're happy with what we're doing and Gareth is an important player, he's always shown that," Zidane said.

"The important thing is to play like we're playing. The players change, but the important thing is that the dynamic doesn't change.

"As always, there are players who are going to have more minutes, but that has been the case all along and it's not going to change."

Mohamed Salah said Liverpool's time to win the Premier League had come after their resounding 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane at Anfield saw Jurgen Klopp's men take another step towards a first league title in 30 years.

Liverpool could be crowned champions on Thursday if Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Salah is thrilled to have Liverpool just two points away from a first league crown since 1990.

"I feel great," he told Sky Sports. "Since I came here I said I want to win the Premier League with the team. The city didn't win it for a long time, so it was the right time.

"Maybe last year we had a chance to win it but Man City also performed really good and they deserved to win it. It's our time to win it and it's great."

Liverpool were dominant against Palace on their way to a 28th win in 31 league games this season.

Salah hailed the performance, with Liverpool now not in action again until July 2, when they visit City.

"We had a great performance today and all the players were unbelievable," the forward said.

"I'm happy about the result and looking forward to the next two games. I think all the players are motivated, everyone is motivated in his way – but everyone is motivated to win the league."

Klopp dedicated Liverpool's strong performance on Wednesday to the club's fans, who won't be in attendance when the Reds do wrap up the league title.

“We showed a lot, if not everything, which helped us into the position we are in," he said. 

“Before this part of the season, I said I wanted to see the best behind-closed-doors football ever. I don’t know if we had that, but for sure it was the best counter-pressing behind closed doors ever! 

“The attitude, the passion we showed was exceptional, and we played some outstanding football. Usually in my job I have to calm things down and say we can improve – and we can improve – but that’s not important tonight.

“We showed our supporters the respect they deserve – that we can play like they are here even when they are not. 

“Yes, they can push us to incredible things, and without them it is nothing. I never missed them more than I did tonight because imagine this game in front of 50,000 people, the emotions that would have been in the stadium. It would have been incredible!”

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said Sergio Ramos always leads by example following his spectacular free-kick against Real Mallorca.

Ramos curled a stunning set-piece past Manolo Reina as Madrid returned to the top of La Liga thanks to a comfortable 2-0 win over Mallorca on Wednesday.

After Vinicius Junior's 19th-minute opener, Madrid captain Ramos showcased his set-piece ability 11 minutes into the second half at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium.

Ramos took his season tally to nine goals, becoming the first defender to score eight or more goals in a single LaLiga campaign since Ezequiel Garay in 2006-07 and Zidane hailed the Spain skipper.

"He's been looking for a free-kick goal," Zidane said after the match in the Spanish capital. "He's worked on it a lot in training.

"He's our leader, our captain and he always leads the way."

Ramos appeared to respond to comments made by Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique following Madrid's victory midweek.

Madrid reclaimed top spot after La Liga's return this month due to Barca's 0-0 draw with Sevilla last Friday, after which Pique suggested it would be hard to stop Los Blancos winning the title because VAR and referee decisions too often go their way.

Ramos said people "shouldn't be imagining things" after Madrid moved back to the summit due to their superior head-to-head record.

Zidane, however, was reluctant to add to the controversy following Madrid's fourth consecutive win since the coronavirus-enforced postponement.

"I'm not going to get involved in these things," Zidane said. "Ramos has already spoken.

"I have my own views. We have to rest and think about the next game."

Madrid will travel to Espanyol on Sunday and Zidane added: "I'm sure it's going to be difficult until the last game."

Vinicius, meanwhile, savoured his first chance to play alongside Eden Hazard on Wednesday as he compared La Liga's final few games to the World Cup. 

"I am very happy with today's match. We have worked a lot at home to get to our best version," the forward said via the club's website.

"As for me, I think I'm the same as before the break, but it's true that I worked a lot at home to be physically well.

"This is like a World Cup with few games and we have to be focused from the beginning. I always try to improve in all aspects. The coaching staff always helps me a lot to improve and I want to continue evolving at Real Madrid."

Vinicius Junior lauded Eden Hazard and said it was easy to play alongside the attacker in Real Madrid's 2-0 La Liga win over Real Mallorca.

A fine finish from Vinicius and Sergio Ramos' brilliant second-half free-kick saw Madrid climb back above rivals Barcelona and to the top of the La Liga table.

Vinicius was happy with his performance and also talked up his combination with Hazard, with the pair starting together in Madrid.

"I am very happy with today's match. We have worked a lot at home to get to our best version," the forward said, via the club's website.

"As for me, I think I'm the same as before the break, but it's true that I worked a lot at home to be physically well.

"This is like a World Cup with few games and we have to be focused from the beginning. I always try to improve in all aspects. The coaching staff always helps me a lot to improve and I want to continue evolving at Real Madrid.

"Hazard is easy to play [with] because he is a great player and today was the first time that [Zinedine] Zidane has brought us together. It went very well."

Madrid extended their winning streak to four since returning from the coronavirus-enforced break, staying on track to win the La Liga title.

Vinicius said it was important for the whole squad to be ready when called upon by head coach Zidane.

"We are all ready to enter the field when Zidane decides and we will do our best. We have the best players on the field," he said.

"We are going to do our best to win the remaining seven finals. We have won four and we are going for the league."

Madrid continue their campaign with a trip to Espanyol on Sunday with their last La Liga loss now dating back to October 2019 when they were defeated 1-0 by Mallorca. 

Since returning to action following the break of play caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Zidane's side have won all four of their matches by a combined scoreline of 10-1 to strengthen their push for domestic success. 

Mohamed Salah has voiced Liverpool’s enthusiasm to emerge as Premier League champions as the Reds boosted their title chances against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.

Injury hassles ruled the Egyptian out of their 0-0 draw at Everton, however, he was handed a starter’s role against the Eagles - scoring one and assisting one in Jurgen Klopp’s team 4-0 win.

Consequently, Liverpool could end their 30-year wait to win the diadem on Thursday should Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Pep Guardiola’s men held their nerve on the final day of last term to reach a tally of 98 points, one more than the Anfield Stadium giant’s haul of 97 - which was the highest total ever amassed by a second-placed side in the competition's history.

In the wake of this result, the former AS Roma and Chelsea star is delighted about the current situation while disclosing his mission at Liverpool.

"I feel great. Since I came here I said I want to win the Premier League with the team. The city didn't win it for a long time, so it was the right time,” Salah told Sky Sports as reported by Liverpool’s website.

"Maybe last year we had a chance to win it but Man City also performed really good and they won it. It's our time to win it and it's great."

Following his goal against Roy Hodgson’s team, the 28-year-old recorded his 15th Premier League at Anfield this season, with no other player scoring more than ten home goals in the tournament so far.

Moreover, he has now scored seven times in each of his last six fixtures on Liverpool’s home ground.

"Two points to go to win the league, it's great,” he continued.

“We had a great performance today and all the players were unbelievable.

"I'm happy about the result and looking forward to the next two games. 

"I think all the players are motivated, everyone is motivated in his way – but everyone is motivated to win the league."

Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium for their next fixture versus Manchester City on July 2.

Jurgen Klopp joked Pep Guardiola should play poker after the Manchester City boss hinted he may rest some key players for Thursday's trip to Chelsea.

The reigning Premier League champions travel to Stamford Bridge before playing Newcastle United less than 72 hours later in an FA Cup quarter-final at the weekend.

City must win against Frank Lampard's side to keep the title race alive, mathematically at least, after Liverpool moved closer to being crowned with a resounding 4-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.

Asked about Guardiola's comments on leaving out some of his leading names against Chelsea, Klopp told Sky Sports: "What? He said that? Pep...he should play poker probably."

Klopp had exalted Guardiola's squad before the game against the Eagles and was again effusive in his praise after the victory, admitting his Reds cannot expect to play in a similar manner.

"Manchester City - I couldn't respect them more," the Liverpool boss added.

"The football they play, I really like it a lot. We are different, we have to be different. We cannot be like Manchester City. 

"We probably celebrate different things when they happen. There are different ways of football and I like them both."

After a 0-0 draw away at neighbours Everton on Sunday, Liverpool rediscovered their scoring touch to brush aside Palace and move to the brink of glory, albeit the ongoing coronavirus pandemic meant no fans were inside Anfield to enjoy the occasion.

"Imagine if the stadium was full today and all the people could have experienced that live – it would have been amazing," Klopp said.

"I don't think the game would have been better, to be honest. My boys played like everybody was in the stadium. The atmosphere on the pitch was incredible. 

"It was for sure the best counter-pressing game I've ever seen behind closed doors. It was exceptional. 

"The attitude shown by the boys was amazing, I liked it a lot - and the football we played as well."

Mohamed Salah’s notable Premier League scoring form for Liverpool continued in Wednesday’s 4-0 thumping of Crystal Palace.

The Egypt international got a goal as Jurgen Klopp’s men smashed the Eagles for four at the Anfield Stadium.

With the Reds taking a 23rd-minute lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold's wonderful free-kick, Salah doubled his team’s lead a minute before the half-time break.

In the process, the 28-year-old recorded his 15th English topflight goal at Anfield this season, with no other player scoring more than ten home goals in the tournament so far.

Also, the former AS Roma man has now scored seven times in each of his last six fixtures on Liverpool’s home ground.

Salah was handed a starter’s role against Palace after missing his team’s 0-0 draw against Everton on Sunday due to fitness concern. He accentuated his importance to the squad by ensuring that the Reds moved closer to emerging as league champions.

He also turned provider for Sadio Mane’s goal with his throughball allowing the Senegalese run on goal before navigating a low shot past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

For his contribution against Roy Hodgson’s side, the two-time African Player of the Year recorded 82 touches, five shots, 67 passing and a passing accuracy of 77.6 %.

Mane who scored his 15th league goal of the season from 28 matches was replaced with six minutes to play by Guinea international Naby Keita.

Cote d’Ivoire international Wilfred Zaha was a first half substitute for Max Meyer after an early injury forced him off the field of play. Ghana star and the Eagles’ leading scorer Jordan Ayew could not add to his goal tally so far as he was marked out by the hosts’ backline anchored by Virgil van Dijk. Nevertheless, he was replaced by Cameroon prospect Brandon Pierrick after 84 minutes.

Luka Milivojevic came in for Cheikhou Kouyate with 24 minutes left to play, while Jeffrey Schlupp was not listed for the showdown.

Liverpool have time to recover before they travel to the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City on July 2. Hodgson’s Palace are in action prior to then, however, welcoming Burnley to Selhurst Park on Monday.

Lucien Agoume has expressed his feeling after playing a part in Inter Milan’s 3-3 draw against Sassuolo in Wednesday’s Serie A fixture.

The Yaounde-born midfielder replaced Christian Eriksen in the 62nd minute for his second appearance in Antonio Conte's team this term since his summer-signing from French club Sochaux.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Biraghi and Borja Valero were not enough to give the Nerazzurri maximum points at the San Siro Stadium.

During the 28 minutes he spent on the pitch, Agoume completed 10 passes with a 100 per cent accuracy, and he also managed three tackles - the third-highest by an Inter player after defenders Milan Skriniar and Andrea Ranocchia.

In his reaction, the 18-year-old rued Inter Milan's missed chances as the dropped points leave them unmoved from the third spot in the Serie A table with four points behind second-place Lazio and eight points behind leaders Juventus.

"I am happy to have entered today even if the result is a pity. We had many opportunities, we had to win,” Agoume told the club website.

He made his league debut against Fiorentina last December, and he has disclosed how he is working to make himself a better player in Italy.

"I always try to work to be available to the coach when he needs me and I hope to continue like this,” he added.

“I try to learn from everyone, in my role there they are many strong players, I want to learn the best to improve more and more.

“Everyone told me to be calm, to play as I can do without haste. I tried to do it when I entered.”

Although born in Cameroon, Agoume also has a French nationality and he has represented the European country across their U16, U17 and U18 youth teams.

He led France U17 team as captain to the 2019 World Cup in Brazil where they won bronze.

The 18-year-old is currently France U18 captain and he is still eligible to play for Cameroon at the senior level.

Sergio Ramos says people "shouldn't be imagining things" when it comes to Real Madrid benefitting from decisions in an apparent riposte towards Gerard Pique and Barcelona.

Zinedine Zidane's side moved back to the top of La Liga by virtue of their superior head-to-head record on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Real Mallorca, thanks to goals from Ramos and Vinicius Junior.

Madrid reclaimed top spot after La Liga's return this month due to Barcelona's 0-0 draw with Sevilla last Friday, after which Pique suggested it would be hard to stop Los Blancos winning the title because VAR and referee decisions too often go their way.

Ramos, though, thinks such arguments are only being made now that Madrid have the edge in the title race.

"There's a lot of noise in the media because we’re leaders again," he told Movistar. "They didn't talk so much before. They talk about VAR, but I don't think anyone has an advantage over the season.

"We don't pay attention to this noise. I don't think they [the referees] take any predetermined decisions. It seems like we should be thanking the refs for being leaders! People shouldn't be imagining things.

"We've been working hard and since the lockdown, we've been united, and we deserve to be where we are."

Ramos became the top-scoring defender in La Liga history against Real Sociedad last week and his goal on Wednesday, his 69th in the top flight, made him the first defender to reach eight in a single season since Ezequiel Garay 13 years ago.

However, the Madrid captain remains far more concerned with team performances and admitted they felt tired as the Mallorca match went on.

"I've always said this is a team game at the end of the day," he said. "The personal side makes you feel proud and motivates you but it's secondary. The most important thing is the consistency of the team. It's a job well done and three more points. 

"The team was tired, we felt that. Obviously, we don't have long to recover between games, and we have to continue improving. We all know what our objective is but there are plenty of things we can improve.

"Our play stagnated a little at times, but I think we can generally improve in all aspects. We could have put the game to bed earlier and taken more chances, played with the ball in their half. That's what we want to do: we want to dominate more."

Mallorca youngster Luka Romero became the youngest player ever to feature in La Liga when he came on against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old replaced Idrissu Baba in the 83rd minute of the 2-0 defeat to Zinedine Zidane's side to set a new record in the Spanish league.

The previous record had been set over 80 years ago when former defender Sanson made his debut for Celta in December 1939.

The attacking midfielder had been included in the Mallorca matchday squad for clashes against Villarreal and Leganes in recent weeks, but was finally given his first taste of senior football with a brief appearance against the capital club.

Romero, who is said to have caught the attention of Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid, was born in Mexico but represents the Argentina Under 17s. 

At the age of seven he had a trial at Barcelona and impressed the Camp Nou outfit's scouts enough to convince them to try to sign him, but his parents refused to move to Catalunya and he ended up joining the Mallorca youth set up five years ago.

The teenager is the son of Argentine defensive midfielder Diego Romero, who currently plays for Son Verí in the regional leagues in Spain. 

Romero's brief appearance could do little to turn his team's fortunes around, as Los Blancos had already taken a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Vinicius Junior and Sergio Ramos.

The victory took the Santiago Bernabeu side back to the top of the Spanish top flight with seven games left to play. They are level on points with Barcelona but have a better head-to-head record over their fierce rivals.

Mallorca, meanwhile, are still in the relegation zone. Vicente Moreno's team are third from bottom and three points behind 17th placed Eibar, who have a game in hand as they face Valencia on Thursday.

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool showed their supporters “the respect they deserve” in beating Crystal Palace 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Anfield’s first behind-closed-doors saw the Reds move to within touching distance of a first league title in 30 years, after a performance of discipline, hunger, intensity and quality from the runaway Premier League leaders. 

Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane gave the Reds their joint-biggest home league win of the campaign.

Liverpool will be crowned champions on Thursday night should Manchester City, 23 points adrift in second place, fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but Klopp was happy just to savour the excellence of his team’s display against a shell-shocked Palace.

He said: “We showed a lot, if not everything, which helped us into the position we are in.

“Before this part of the season, I said I wanted to see the best behind-closed-doors football ever. I don’t know if we had that, but for sure it was the best counter-pressing behind closed doors ever! 

“The attitude, the passion we showed was exceptional, and we played some outstanding football. Usually in my job I have to calm things down and say we can improve – and we can improve – but that’s not important tonight.

“We showed our supporters the respect they deserve – that we can play like they are here even when they are not. 

“Yes, they can push us to incredible things, and without them it is nothing. I never missed them more than I did tonight because imagine this game in front of 50,000 people, the emotions that would have been in the stadium. It would have been incredible!”

Klopp confirmed he would watch City’s game at home tomorrow night, but insists that he is still focused completely on his side’s remaining games – including their trip to the Etihad next week.

“I will not watch it to prepare a celebration, but because we play against City a week later!” he said. 

“And we play Chelsea as well, so this game is important to watch for plenty of reasons. 

“Whatever happens tomorrow, we cannot influence. But I’m pretty sure that when we play City, it is a must-watch for each football fan on this planet. Whatever is decided or not, it will be two really good teams facing each other. It will be pretty interesting, to be honest!”

For now, though, Liverpool can reflect on a job well done. Even Roy Hodgson, the Palace manager, admitted his side could not cope with the Reds’ energy, desire and relentless pressing.

“You should not underestimate how much this team wants it,” Klopp said. “This team really wants it. 

“They want to fulfil the wishes of the people at home, really. We all have a common dream but we have to work for it.  We have to work our way for it.

“We can’t play like other teams but we can play pretty good stuff. That is what the boys did. 

“The game was exceptional. From talking about football, it was exceptional from so many points of view.

“This game will last in my mind for a while. This is where we want to be. This is what we have to show against each and everybody. This is us.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold says he is honoured to be compared to David Beckham, but he says he has a long way to go to match the former Manchester United star as "the best free-kick taker in Premier League history".

The Liverpool fullback scored a stunning free kick to open the scoring in the Reds' 4-0 battering of Crystal Palace, a victory that moved the champions-elect within two points of sealing the title.

Alexander-Arnold has developed a reputation as a dead-ball specialist, with former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher describing Wednesday's stunner as "Beckham-esque".

When told of the comparison, Alexander-Arnold laughed and admitted that he believes he's not there yet.

"The comparisons with the best free-kick taker in Premier League history are very nice but there is a lot of work to do," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports.

He added: "I have been practising a lot and I had a few against Everton which I was disappointed not to score with, but it's always good to get the ball rolling for the boys."

As Alexander-Arnold started the scoring, it was also only the beginning of one of Liverpool's best performances of the season.

Fabinho, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah found the back of the net as well, with the former firing a long-range missile to compete with Alexander-Arnold for the goal of the day.

The victory comes on the heels of a performance that was poor by Liverpool standards, as the Reds settled for a 0-0 draw against Everton last time out.

"The lads have done really well," Alexander-Arnold said. "It was a difficult game and we were disappointed to only get the draw at Everton, but for the first game back at Anfield, it couldn't have gone any better."

With the win, Liverpool can seal the title as early as Thursday as Manchester City take on Chelsea.

If the Blues are able to seal a win or a draw against Pep Guardiola's side, Liverpool will officially be declared champions. If not, though, the Reds can win the title in their next match which comes, coincidentally, against Manchester City.

"It is quite close [the title] but we know a lot can happen in the Premier League. We have worked hard for this and this is what we have always dreamed of," Alexander-Arnold added.

"We are in a good position so hopefully we can get over the line soon. We have to focus on ourselves, we are not hoping Man City drop points, we know it's our hands. We still have to go to City next week and get a result."

Real Madrid returned to the top of LaLiga thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Real Mallorca at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium on Wednesday.

Barca's 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao 24 hours earlier had put the pressure back on Zinedine Zidane's men, but Vinicius' goal after 19 minutes steadied any nerves within the home side.

Mallorca, who sit third from bottom of the table, gave a spirited account of themselves but rarely looked likely to claim a share of the spoils despite Madrid having made four changes from the 2-1 win at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Zidane elected to start Vinicius, Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale in support of Karim Benzema but it was captain Sergio Ramos who made the win safe with an exceptional free-kick early in the second half.

Vinicius might have been a surprise starter but he justified Zidane's call 19 minutes in, steering a finish high past Manolo Reina after a clever reverse pass from Luka Modric.

The Brazilian hit the bar with a lob from a Karim Benzema throughball four minutes later, but it was Mallorca who threatened more as the half went on, even though Thibaut Courtois' goal was largely well protected.

Madrid took control with a second goal 10 minutes into the second half, Ramos curling a fine free-kick into the top-left corner from just outside the penalty area.

Mallorca did not lose heart at least and threatened through Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo, who saw a shot hit the side-netting after one impressive run through the box.

The visitors remain three points from safety and at serious risk of relegation, but they did at least make a moment of LaLiga history when Luka Romero came off the bench to become the youngest player ever to play in the competition at the age of 15 years and 219 days.

What does it mean? Zidane's side taking shape for double charge

Madrid are back on top of the table above Barcelona on their head-to-head record and appear to be in good shape after the lockdown.

Zidane changed the system and personnel but was still rewarded with a strong performance. That sort of adaptability bodes well for their title challenge, and the return of the Champions League in August.

Vinicius on a mission

Having gone through a difficult spell this season, Vinicius looks determined to become a mainstay in Zidane's plans.

He scored one good goal, almost got a second and pressed across the front in the second half to keep the Mallorca defence worried.

No lucky break for Bale

Bale got out of Vincius' way to let his team-mate open the scoring and it was his most useful contribution of the game.

It was more a disinterested performance than a poor one, but certainly was not one to make his coach think he merits a regular place in the first XI.

What's next?

Madrid head to Espanyol on Sunday, with Mallorca facing Athletic Bilbao at San Mames a day earlier.

Matteo Guendouzi must learn to conform to Arsenal's values after his latest brush with controversy, Mikel Arteta has warned.

The midfielder was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons again on Saturday following an unsavoury incident with Neal Maupay, whose late goal earned Brighton victory over the Gunners.

Guendouzi appeared to grab Maupay, who had earlier clashed with Bernd Leno, by the throat and push him to the ground following the final whistle at the Amex Stadium, while it has also been reported that the former Lorient player was taunting the opposition.

It is not the first time the 21-year-old has left his manager unimpressed, with Arteta dropping him for a game against Newcastle United in February because of his attitude in training.

While Arteta wants to deal with Guendouzi privately, he did remind the Frenchman of the need to maintain certain standards.

"More personal issues or behaviours, I like to deal with them on a personal level, in the dressing room, and don't make them public," Arteta said.

"Obviously I don't like it, but I don't like either to put words in the newspaper, or use somebody to put words in the newspaper for you to talk about what has been happening on the pitch, because if 22 players do that every three days that will be a circus.

"It's not about learning, it's about experiencing certain things and some behaviours that you expect as a manager, as a club, to represent each other, and ways to show frustration or happiness.

"We have so many different cultures in our team, they've been educated in different ways and I have to understand and accept that as well.

"But we need to know that we have a route, we have certain ways, we have some values and you have to be within that."

Despite his evident concerns over Guendouzi's conduct, Arteta suggested that you sometimes have to take the rough with the smooth.

"You can't cut edges off players, you have to be clear what you expect and publicly as well, what they have to represent," he said.

"But that drive, that aggression that sometimes a player has to show is part of why they are football players and why they are competing at this level."

The Football Association confirmed Guendouzi would face no punishment for his clash with Maupay.

Monaco have opted not to give Leicester City loanee Islam Slimani a permanent contract despite his impressive performances in the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season.

Slimani helped Monaco finish ninth in the Ligue 1 table with a tally of nine goals and seven assists in 18 appearances before the French top-flight was abruptly concluded due to the coronavirus pandemic in May.

He joined Robert Moreno's side on a season-long loan from Leicester City last August, for his third loan stint away from the Premier League club.

The 2019-20 Ligue 1 campaign turned out to be Slimani's best goalscoring season since he joined the Foxes from Sporting CP in 2016.

The Algerian striker has not been able to cement a regular spot at the King Power Stadium, playing 46 games with 13 goals to his name and his current deal is set to expire in June 2021.

“AS Monaco also wishes to salute three players who participated in the previous season in the form of a loan, including Tiemoue Bakayoko,” the club statement read.

“On loan from Chelsea, the former Monaco midfielder (2014-2017) played 23 games last year.

“Already present in the second half of the previous season, Portuguese midfielder Adrien Silva has played a total of 40 games with Monaco.

“Finally, the Algerian international from Leicester City Islam Slimani, played 19 games, for a total of nine goals and seven assists.”

Malian descent player Moussa Sylla and Senegalese goalkeeper Seydou Sy were also among the players released by the Red and Whites on Wednesday.

The duo developed through the ranks at Monaco but Sylla played just nine minutes of football in 2019-20 while Sy did not feature for the first-team at all.

“Also at the end of the lease, the Senegalese international goalkeeper Seydou Sy, 24, arrived in 2014 after having played in Italy, with AC Milan U19s,” the statement continued.

“A highly-appreciated teammate, Seydou Sy had started with the reserve team and was notably part of the 2016-17 French Champion group.

“For his part, striker Moussa Sylla, a product of Monaco training, has 34 appearances in Red and White colours (4 goals, 1 assist), including six in the Champions League (1 goal).

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to see Manchester United be more clinical despite Anthony Martial's hat-trick sealing a commanding 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

Martial's first treble in senior football - also the first by any United player in the Premier League since Robin van Persie more than seven years ago - was just reward for a fine showing from the hosts, as the Blades laboured in the Manchester heat.

It could have been a more commanding margin of victory, with Marcus Rashford culpable for a pair of glaring first-half misses, and it was this area of his side's performance that drew Solskjaer's attention as much as Martial's brilliance.

"The build-up into the last pass or finish was good, but we need to do better with all the spaces we created," he told Sky Sports.

"I do expect them to take those moments. It didn't cost us today. We know we played well but we can do so much better.

"There's been games where we have dominated and not taken our chances, so we need to take our chances – that's what I'm saying.

"We created enough to win by more and in other games we've created enough to win them but not taken them.

"We need to take the chances and on the last pass be aggressive and progressive enough with our passing."

Aaron Wan-Bissaka assuaged doubts over the attacking side of his game with a superb assist for Martial's second in the 44th minute – a pivotal moment in the contest given Sheffield United had resumed brightly from the first-half drinks break.

"He's a former winger, he had another couple of great crosses as well. We need to be on the end of those," Solskjaer said.

"Aaron is developing all the time. He's not played full-back many years and he'll only get better."

Paul Pogba turned in a polished performance on his first start since September, operating alongside Bruno Fernandes and Nemanja Matic in a United midfield three that appeared ideally balanced.

"Paul was quality out there. He settled us, good decision making, good passing, hard to take the ball off him," Solskjaer added.

"I'm very pleased that we can get more minutes into him and let's see what we do in the weeks coming."

United are keeping the pressure on fourth-placed Chelsea and now sit two points behind them ahead of the Blues' home match against Manchester City on Thursday.

Wednesday's victory extended the Red Devils' unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 matches.

Frank Lampard says that he supports Raheem Sterling's fight for equality in football, but doesn't necessarily agree with the fact that his own rise in management was used in an individual comparison.

Sterling recently discussed the lack of minority coaches at the top level of football in the wake of ongoing protests for racial equality as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

As part of that discussion, Sterling pointed to four former England stars, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, while discussing their coaching journeys.

Gerrard and Lampard are currently managers at historic clubs in Rangers and Chelsea, respectively.

Campbell, on the other hand, has worked with both Macclesfield and Southend, while Cole is currently in charge of Chelsea's Under-15s.

In Sterling's eyes, Lampard and Gerrard's rapid rise to big management positions should be compared with the difficulties faced by their former England team-mates, who have had to take significantly more modest paths.

But Lampard says its important to not look at individual cases such as his own, although he admitted that there is still much work to be done when it comes to diversifying those in charge of top-level clubs.

"I think there is certainly an argument," Lampard said. "I think we're moving forwards and I think we can move forward more quickly, where [black] players are getting equal opportunities if they move into management.

"Not just players, but also young coaches who come into the game. The FA do a lot of good work, I've just finished my pro licence, it was very diverse, it was very open. That needs to be encouraged, if there's anything we can do to ensure everyone gets an equal opportunity in the paths towards management, then it needs to be done.

"The numbers suggest that needs to be done. But with Raheem, the individual comparison, when you don't have the detail of each person's pathway, I felt it wasn't quite right.

"Again, I'll level that out slightly, because I want to say that Raheem Sterling as a player, and as a person and what he's stood up for over the last two years, I think has been fantastic."

Sterling's Manchester City will face Lampard's Chelsea on Thursday as players will continue to wear shirts with "Black Lives Matter" patches on the sleeve.

The trip to Stamford Bridge comes just 18 months after Sterling was racially abused at the stadium, with the winger becoming a prominent voice in the battle against racism ever since. 

Frank Lampard is comfortable playing N’Golo Kante in an advanced midfield role because he believes the Frenchman has the attributes to play anywhere on the field.

Kante joined the Blues as a defensive midfielder in 2016 and was regarded as one of the best in the world in the role until Maurizio Sarri took over as coach in 2018.

The Italian coach began to use the ex-Leicester star further upfield to accommodate Jorginho, who slotted into the holding midfield role after his arrival from Napoli.

Kante excelled in his new role, however, scoring four goals and setting up another four in the Premier League last season, and Lampard has continued to play him there since he was appointed Chelsea boss last summer.

The 29-year-old has netted three goals in 19 top-flight appearances this term and Lampard says he has shown he is more than comfortable in several positions.

"I think we all know N'Golo's attributes, and he hasn't really played as the deep-lying midfielder, he's generally played as one of two, or in recent times one of the more slightly offensive players ahead of one deep-lying midfield player,” Lampard said.

"I think he has the attributes to do all roles, that's one of the beauties of the way he plays and, of course, what he gives by winning the ball back, being so quick in the tackle, so quick into the press, covering lots of ground – and also how good he is on the ball, I think people can underestimate how good N'Golo is on the ball, how quickly he can move with it and pass the ball.

"So I've got no problem in playing him in different positions, it's something we've worked on with him a little bit, and it gives me good options to have different types of attributes in that deeper position at times."

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League after 30 matches, four points behind third-placed Leicester and five ahead of Manchester United.

The London side’s next match is at home to second-placed Manchester City, three days before they visit Leicester in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.