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..::Football IV::..
- Thread starter Wolverine GTR
- Start date
Arsenal 2-1 Burnley: Late Alexis penalty sends 10-man Gunners up to second
Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League after downing Burnley 2-1 in a thrilling match on Sunday, despite being reduced to ten men.
The Gunners took the lead through Shkodran Mustafi's header in the second half, before Granit Xhaka received his marching orders for a two-footed lunge on Steven Defour.
And Arsenal's title hopes were on course to suffer a huge blow when Andre Gray scored a penalty after Francis Coquelin fouled Ashley Barnes inside the box.
However, Ben Mee soon gave away a penalty for a foul on Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez saved the day by beating Tom Heaton.
Arsenal, now five points behind leaders Chelsea - who face Hull City later on Sunday - have an FA Cup tie away to Southampton and league game against Watford to come before a crunch meeting with the Blues at Stamford Bridge on February 4.
Burnley, meanwhile, stay 13th, having gone unrewarded yet again for a determined showing, as home form continues to be the most likely method of securing top-flight status for last season's Championship winners.
The Clarets fans who made the journey to the capital could be forgiven for not recognising their team in the first half. Burnley had lost eight of their nine previous league matches on the road this season, but they were unexpectedly defiant during the opening 45 minutes in London.
A 0-0 draw at Manchester United in October was the only prior occasion Burnley had returned from an away game with anything to show for their efforts and perhaps another heavyweight engagement inspired Sean Dyche's men to raise their level. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton proved equal to the task when called upon to make saves from Mesut Ozil, Koscielny and Sanchez.
The Gunners continued to dominate and they were rewarded a minute before the hour mark, Mustafi beating Stephen Ward to the ball from Ozil's corner and heading into the far side-netting, beyond the reach of the stretching Heaton.
Given Burnley's struggles outside the home comforts of Turf Moor, that goal initially appeared potentially fatal to the visitors' chances, until Xhaka earned a straight red card for a lunging, studs-up challenge on Defour. The away team had toiled without reward as they attempted to trouble Cech, a cause not helped by the worrying sight of Marney being stretchered off with 15 minutes to go.
Gray would later benefit from Coquelin's rashness in the 93rd minute, but Mee then committed a reckless infraction of his own.
Wenger had to celebrate Sanchez's dramatic winner out of the limelight, having been sent off by referee Jon Moss during a thrilling, fractious climax, which ended with Dyche as the wronged party, the Burnley boss angrily confronting the fourth official as another away point slipped out of his team's grasp.
Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League after downing Burnley 2-1 in a thrilling match on Sunday, despite being reduced to ten men.
The Gunners took the lead through Shkodran Mustafi's header in the second half, before Granit Xhaka received his marching orders for a two-footed lunge on Steven Defour.
And Arsenal's title hopes were on course to suffer a huge blow when Andre Gray scored a penalty after Francis Coquelin fouled Ashley Barnes inside the box.
However, Ben Mee soon gave away a penalty for a foul on Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez saved the day by beating Tom Heaton.
Arsenal, now five points behind leaders Chelsea - who face Hull City later on Sunday - have an FA Cup tie away to Southampton and league game against Watford to come before a crunch meeting with the Blues at Stamford Bridge on February 4.
Burnley, meanwhile, stay 13th, having gone unrewarded yet again for a determined showing, as home form continues to be the most likely method of securing top-flight status for last season's Championship winners.
The Clarets fans who made the journey to the capital could be forgiven for not recognising their team in the first half. Burnley had lost eight of their nine previous league matches on the road this season, but they were unexpectedly defiant during the opening 45 minutes in London.
A 0-0 draw at Manchester United in October was the only prior occasion Burnley had returned from an away game with anything to show for their efforts and perhaps another heavyweight engagement inspired Sean Dyche's men to raise their level. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton proved equal to the task when called upon to make saves from Mesut Ozil, Koscielny and Sanchez.
The Gunners continued to dominate and they were rewarded a minute before the hour mark, Mustafi beating Stephen Ward to the ball from Ozil's corner and heading into the far side-netting, beyond the reach of the stretching Heaton.
Given Burnley's struggles outside the home comforts of Turf Moor, that goal initially appeared potentially fatal to the visitors' chances, until Xhaka earned a straight red card for a lunging, studs-up challenge on Defour. The away team had toiled without reward as they attempted to trouble Cech, a cause not helped by the worrying sight of Marney being stretchered off with 15 minutes to go.
Gray would later benefit from Coquelin's rashness in the 93rd minute, but Mee then committed a reckless infraction of his own.
Wenger had to celebrate Sanchez's dramatic winner out of the limelight, having been sent off by referee Jon Moss during a thrilling, fractious climax, which ended with Dyche as the wronged party, the Burnley boss angrily confronting the fourth official as another away point slipped out of his team's grasp.
Angry Wenger pushes fourth official after being sent down tunnel by ref Moss
Arsene Wenger saw his side Arsenal side snatch a late winner in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley, but not before losing his cool with the match officials.
In the second of seven minutes of time added on, the Gunners conceded a penalty as Francis Coquelin tripped Ashley Barnes inside the box.Wenger was less than impressed with the decision of referee Jon Moss and aired his displeasure on the sidelines.
Fourth official Anthony Taylor bore the brunt of his ire, and the Frenchman was sent to the stands for taking his remonstrations too far.
There was, however, little time left on the clock and Wenger decided he would see out the final moments from the tunnel area, rather than among the supporters.Taylor confronted the Arsenal manager once again, pointing in the direction he should be heading.
With tempers at boiling point, Wenger raised his hands to the official and pushed his arm away.He then nudged him in the back as stewards looked to step between the pair, with the action off the field briefly diverting attention away from that on it.
Wenger was to have the last laugh, as Laurent Koscielny was caught by Ben Mee in the dying seconds and Alexis Sanchez held his nerve to convert a pressure Panenka penalty.The Arsenal boss can, however, expect to face punishment from the Football Association for his actions.
Having been sent to the stands, he would already have been facing a touchline ban before tangling with Taylor.It remains to be seen how the authorities will act, but this is not the first time that Moss has been caught up in such an incident.
He was the man in the middle back in November 2016 when Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was removed from the touchline for kicking a water bottle in anger during a meeting with West Ham.
Arsene Wenger saw his side Arsenal side snatch a late winner in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley, but not before losing his cool with the match officials.
In the second of seven minutes of time added on, the Gunners conceded a penalty as Francis Coquelin tripped Ashley Barnes inside the box.Wenger was less than impressed with the decision of referee Jon Moss and aired his displeasure on the sidelines.
Fourth official Anthony Taylor bore the brunt of his ire, and the Frenchman was sent to the stands for taking his remonstrations too far.
There was, however, little time left on the clock and Wenger decided he would see out the final moments from the tunnel area, rather than among the supporters.Taylor confronted the Arsenal manager once again, pointing in the direction he should be heading.
With tempers at boiling point, Wenger raised his hands to the official and pushed his arm away.He then nudged him in the back as stewards looked to step between the pair, with the action off the field briefly diverting attention away from that on it.
Wenger was to have the last laugh, as Laurent Koscielny was caught by Ben Mee in the dying seconds and Alexis Sanchez held his nerve to convert a pressure Panenka penalty.The Arsenal boss can, however, expect to face punishment from the Football Association for his actions.
Having been sent to the stands, he would already have been facing a touchline ban before tangling with Taylor.It remains to be seen how the authorities will act, but this is not the first time that Moss has been caught up in such an incident.
He was the man in the middle back in November 2016 when Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was removed from the touchline for kicking a water bottle in anger during a meeting with West Ham.
Chelsea 2-0 Hull City: Costa back with a bang for Blues
Diego Costa returned to the Chelsea fold with a bang as his 15th Premier League goal of the season and a late header from Gary Cahill saw off a feisty Hull City 2-0.
Costa missed last weekend's 3-0 win at Leicester City with a back injury amid intense speculation of a falling-out with head coach Antonio Conte, but the Italian clearly held no grudge, with his star striker immediately back in the team to make his 100th Chelsea appearance.
And the Spain international proved pivotal, scoring in the seventh minute of first-half injury time - brought on by a nasty-looking head injury to Ryan Mason - prompting a typically fiery celebration in which he intimated that much of the talk doubting his future at Stamford Bridge was just that.
Cahill wrapped up the victory nine minutes from time to send Chelsea eight points clear at the top of the table, with Arsenal the only other team in the top six to pick up a win this weekend.
The Blues' 13-game winning run at the back end of 2016 had been kick-started at the KCOM Stadium in October, but they were not at their best this time around in the face of stern resistance from Marco Silva's men.
Harry Maguire was influential at both ends of the pitch, Thibaut Courtois was called into regular action and Hull were unlucky to not be awarded a second-half penalty.
Silva's start to life at the club has been positive but a pre-match claim that it was proving "impossible" to keep in-demand top scorer Robert Snodgrass - injured for this match - in East Yorkshire could spell trouble.This was another composed performance for Hull, although Costa immediately looked in the mood, drilling wide with just 10 seconds on the clock.
But the Blues could not keep their foot down early on, with Hull frustrating them until the game was punctuated by an eight-minute period of treatment for Mason after a clash of heads with Cahill.Hull came out of that break strongly, Maguire marauding out of the back three to force a corner, from which he headed unchallenged at Courtois.That scare sharpened the hosts.
Marcos Alonso's deflected shot had Eldin Jakupovic scrambling to keep the ball out of the top corner before Eden Hazard began to exert more influence over the game, hitting the byline to cause panic in the Tigers' backline which saw debutant Omar Elabdellaoui stumble into Pedro - referee Neil Swarbrick waved away the penalty appeals.Again Silva's side hunkered down to stem Chelsea's momentum and Maguire once more tested Courtois, this time with a thunderous 25-yard shot.
But the swollen amount of first-half stoppage time helped the Blues move ahead, Costa slamming home after Victor Moses had burst past Andy Robertson and immediately making his feelings on his situation known.
City were furious to see a clear foul on Abel Hernandez by Alonso in the area go unpunished five minutes into the second half before Courtois saved an effort from Mason's replacement David Meyler and Costa had three shots in quick succession repelled with space opening up.
Curtis Davies limped off to further stretch Silva's thinning resources and the visitors eventually ran out of steam, Cahill heading home unmarked to cap another Chelsea win that restores a healthy cushion at the top.
Diego Costa returned to the Chelsea fold with a bang as his 15th Premier League goal of the season and a late header from Gary Cahill saw off a feisty Hull City 2-0.
Costa missed last weekend's 3-0 win at Leicester City with a back injury amid intense speculation of a falling-out with head coach Antonio Conte, but the Italian clearly held no grudge, with his star striker immediately back in the team to make his 100th Chelsea appearance.
And the Spain international proved pivotal, scoring in the seventh minute of first-half injury time - brought on by a nasty-looking head injury to Ryan Mason - prompting a typically fiery celebration in which he intimated that much of the talk doubting his future at Stamford Bridge was just that.
Cahill wrapped up the victory nine minutes from time to send Chelsea eight points clear at the top of the table, with Arsenal the only other team in the top six to pick up a win this weekend.
The Blues' 13-game winning run at the back end of 2016 had been kick-started at the KCOM Stadium in October, but they were not at their best this time around in the face of stern resistance from Marco Silva's men.
Harry Maguire was influential at both ends of the pitch, Thibaut Courtois was called into regular action and Hull were unlucky to not be awarded a second-half penalty.
Silva's start to life at the club has been positive but a pre-match claim that it was proving "impossible" to keep in-demand top scorer Robert Snodgrass - injured for this match - in East Yorkshire could spell trouble.This was another composed performance for Hull, although Costa immediately looked in the mood, drilling wide with just 10 seconds on the clock.
But the Blues could not keep their foot down early on, with Hull frustrating them until the game was punctuated by an eight-minute period of treatment for Mason after a clash of heads with Cahill.Hull came out of that break strongly, Maguire marauding out of the back three to force a corner, from which he headed unchallenged at Courtois.That scare sharpened the hosts.
Marcos Alonso's deflected shot had Eldin Jakupovic scrambling to keep the ball out of the top corner before Eden Hazard began to exert more influence over the game, hitting the byline to cause panic in the Tigers' backline which saw debutant Omar Elabdellaoui stumble into Pedro - referee Neil Swarbrick waved away the penalty appeals.Again Silva's side hunkered down to stem Chelsea's momentum and Maguire once more tested Courtois, this time with a thunderous 25-yard shot.
But the swollen amount of first-half stoppage time helped the Blues move ahead, Costa slamming home after Victor Moses had burst past Andy Robertson and immediately making his feelings on his situation known.
City were furious to see a clear foul on Abel Hernandez by Alonso in the area go unpunished five minutes into the second half before Courtois saved an effort from Mason's replacement David Meyler and Costa had three shots in quick succession repelled with space opening up.
Curtis Davies limped off to further stretch Silva's thinning resources and the visitors eventually ran out of steam, Cahill heading home unmarked to cap another Chelsea win that restores a healthy cushion at the top.
Eibar 0-4 Barcelona: Messi on target in comfortable win
Barcelona responded convincingly following the early loss of Sergio Busquets to ankle ligament damage to secure a 4-0 win at Eibar in La Liga on Sunday.
Busquets was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Gonzalo Escalante and left the field on a stretcher after 10 minutes, but Luis Enrique's men overcame a rough opening to lead through Denis Suarez – who was able to celebrate his first goal for the club having replaced the Spain international.The second, third and fourth goals arrived after half-time from more familiar sources.
Lionel Messi continued his imperious recent form with his 28th of the season five minutes after the break and Luis Suarez capitalised on a dreadful error from Florian Lejeune to make it 19 for the campaign.Neymar has not been as prolific as his illustrious attacking colleagues this term but scored for the first time in LaLiga since October when Eibar were picked apart on the break in stoppage time.
Barca remain third in La Liga but are back to within two points of rivals Real Madrid at the summit and one behind Sevilla in second.
Luis Enrique headed into the match without captain Andres Iniesta and lost another midfield talisman when Escalante clattered into Busquets' ankle.
Barca immediately appeared more vulnerable in his absence and when Jeremy Mathieu ceded possession, Eibar midfielder Adrian forced a sharp save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
But Barca began to hit their stride, with Messi usually the chief protagonist. He hurdled a lunging tackle from Lejeune to win a free-kick and force Yoel to push his bouncing strike to safety.At the end of a wonderful 31st-minute move, Messi had a shot blocked but Denis Suarez was on hand to drill superbly into the bottom-left corner from 20 yards.
Neymar and Arda Turan saw close-range efforts blocked by Yoel, with Messi the provider on both occasions and, after Luis Suarez collected Jordi Alba's brilliant pass down the left to strike the inside of the far post, Eibar were grateful to hear referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez blow up following one of three stipulated added minutes for half-time.
Messi predictably took centre stage five minutes into the second period as he drove forward from midfield and found Luis Suarez on the right.
Yoel darted out towards the Uruguay's curling ball to the far post but Messi was unruffled and slotted a half-volley nonchalantly home.Adrian thought he had the hosts back in the match shortly afterwards when he headed in from Pedro Leon's cross, but a marginal offside call went against him.
An over-hit back pass from Denis Suarez caused complications for Ter Stegen, who pushed Ander Capa's spinning effort away from his bottom-right corner, although Lejeune would undo Eibar's good work in the 68th minute.
The centre-back hesitated on the ball and crumpled to the floor under pressure from Luis Suarez, who tore clear to finish clinically.Neymar was denied a glorious fourth having danced around Yoel, only to be greeted with an erroneous offside flag.
Eibar retained their attacking intent, with Ter Stegen needing a strong arm to keep out a Leon piledriver, but that ambition gave Neymar the chance to add a fourth and cap an impressive display.
Barcelona responded convincingly following the early loss of Sergio Busquets to ankle ligament damage to secure a 4-0 win at Eibar in La Liga on Sunday.
Busquets was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Gonzalo Escalante and left the field on a stretcher after 10 minutes, but Luis Enrique's men overcame a rough opening to lead through Denis Suarez – who was able to celebrate his first goal for the club having replaced the Spain international.The second, third and fourth goals arrived after half-time from more familiar sources.
Lionel Messi continued his imperious recent form with his 28th of the season five minutes after the break and Luis Suarez capitalised on a dreadful error from Florian Lejeune to make it 19 for the campaign.Neymar has not been as prolific as his illustrious attacking colleagues this term but scored for the first time in LaLiga since October when Eibar were picked apart on the break in stoppage time.
Barca remain third in La Liga but are back to within two points of rivals Real Madrid at the summit and one behind Sevilla in second.
Luis Enrique headed into the match without captain Andres Iniesta and lost another midfield talisman when Escalante clattered into Busquets' ankle.
Barca immediately appeared more vulnerable in his absence and when Jeremy Mathieu ceded possession, Eibar midfielder Adrian forced a sharp save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
But Barca began to hit their stride, with Messi usually the chief protagonist. He hurdled a lunging tackle from Lejeune to win a free-kick and force Yoel to push his bouncing strike to safety.At the end of a wonderful 31st-minute move, Messi had a shot blocked but Denis Suarez was on hand to drill superbly into the bottom-left corner from 20 yards.
Neymar and Arda Turan saw close-range efforts blocked by Yoel, with Messi the provider on both occasions and, after Luis Suarez collected Jordi Alba's brilliant pass down the left to strike the inside of the far post, Eibar were grateful to hear referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez blow up following one of three stipulated added minutes for half-time.
Messi predictably took centre stage five minutes into the second period as he drove forward from midfield and found Luis Suarez on the right.
Yoel darted out towards the Uruguay's curling ball to the far post but Messi was unruffled and slotted a half-volley nonchalantly home.Adrian thought he had the hosts back in the match shortly afterwards when he headed in from Pedro Leon's cross, but a marginal offside call went against him.
An over-hit back pass from Denis Suarez caused complications for Ter Stegen, who pushed Ander Capa's spinning effort away from his bottom-right corner, although Lejeune would undo Eibar's good work in the 68th minute.
The centre-back hesitated on the ball and crumpled to the floor under pressure from Luis Suarez, who tore clear to finish clinically.Neymar was denied a glorious fourth having danced around Yoel, only to be greeted with an erroneous offside flag.
Eibar retained their attacking intent, with Ter Stegen needing a strong arm to keep out a Leon piledriver, but that ambition gave Neymar the chance to add a fourth and cap an impressive display.
Hull City confirm Mason has undergone surgery after suffering skull fracture
Hull City have confirmed that Ryan Mason has undergone surgery after suffering a fractured skull in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.The midfielder clashed heads with Gary Cahill and was treated for almost 10 minutes on the pitch before being stretchered off.
He was rushed to hospital from Stamford Bridge and will remain under medial supervision for a few days at least.
"The club can confirm that Ryan Mason sustained a skull fracture in our fixture at Chelsea this afternoon," read an official statement."He was taken to St Mary’s Hospital where he has undergone surgery. "Ryan is in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days.
"Everyone at the club would like to express their sincere thanks for the excellent and swift care given to Ryan by both the Accident and Emergency department and Neurosurgery Unit at St Mary’s Hospital.
"A further update will be issued tomorrow."Figures from around the football community have been quick to send their best wishes to Mason, with his former club Tottenham among the first.
Ex-team-mates from his time at White Hart Lane have also offered their support, with Harry Kane and Gareth Bale wishing the 25-year-old a speedy recovery.
Hull colleague David Meyler also took to Twitter to wish a close friend well.
Busquets injury less severe than feared - Luis Enrique
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique expressed his relief after learning that Sergio Busquets' injury during the 4-0 victory over Eibar is not as serious as he had first thought.Busquets was replaced after just 10 minutes of the game when he sustained ankle ligament damage following a challenge from Gonzalo Escalante.
Goals from his replacement Denis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar ensured Barca claimed an emphatic victory at Ipurua.
And Luis Enrique admitted he has a wealth of options at his disposal with the Catalan giants due to take on Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg on Thursday.He said: "Busquets injury is not as serious as we thought and we claimed a very good result."Sergi Roberto, [Ivan Rakitic] and [Javier Mascherano] can play there [in Busquets' position]. I will not complain that I have all the cards.
"I like Rakitic in the pivot position. He was especially good and I have also liked Arda [Turan]. They all contribute things to the benefit of the team."We have been able to give minutes to players who have not had so many minutes and give rest to others."
The victory over Eibar saw Messi score his 28th goal of the season while Luis Suarez netted his 19th, but Luis Enrique said the scoreline did not reflect the difficulty of the test provided by their hosts.
He said: "I have seen many positive things, although at the beginning of the match we have been under pressure from Eibar. Then we managed to take that pressure off and create danger."Every time we have come to Ipurua we had to make a great game, even if the result says it seemed easy."
Barcelona are two points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, although the capital side have a game in hand, but Luis Enrique gave an optimistic assessment of his side's title chances in the second half of the season.He said: "The balance is good, always improvable, but we are ready to fight for every title.
"The goal is to improve and we have not yet hit a good stretch."
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique expressed his relief after learning that Sergio Busquets' injury during the 4-0 victory over Eibar is not as serious as he had first thought.Busquets was replaced after just 10 minutes of the game when he sustained ankle ligament damage following a challenge from Gonzalo Escalante.
Goals from his replacement Denis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar ensured Barca claimed an emphatic victory at Ipurua.
And Luis Enrique admitted he has a wealth of options at his disposal with the Catalan giants due to take on Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg on Thursday.He said: "Busquets injury is not as serious as we thought and we claimed a very good result."Sergi Roberto, [Ivan Rakitic] and [Javier Mascherano] can play there [in Busquets' position]. I will not complain that I have all the cards.
"I like Rakitic in the pivot position. He was especially good and I have also liked Arda [Turan]. They all contribute things to the benefit of the team."We have been able to give minutes to players who have not had so many minutes and give rest to others."
The victory over Eibar saw Messi score his 28th goal of the season while Luis Suarez netted his 19th, but Luis Enrique said the scoreline did not reflect the difficulty of the test provided by their hosts.
He said: "I have seen many positive things, although at the beginning of the match we have been under pressure from Eibar. Then we managed to take that pressure off and create danger."Every time we have come to Ipurua we had to make a great game, even if the result says it seemed easy."
Barcelona are two points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, although the capital side have a game in hand, but Luis Enrique gave an optimistic assessment of his side's title chances in the second half of the season.He said: "The balance is good, always improvable, but we are ready to fight for every title.
"The goal is to improve and we have not yet hit a good stretch."
Gerrard urges Liverpool to sign Van Dijk
Steven Gerrard feels Liverpool should move for Virgil van Dijk, having been heavily linked with the Southampton defender.The Netherlands international has seen his reputation enhanced considerably since completing a move to St Mary’s from Celtic in the summer of 2015.
His potential had been noted by several sides prior to that move, but the Saints were the ones to take the plunge.That faith has been rewarded, but Van Dijk’s performances have drawn admiring glances from afar.Liverpool are among those said to be closely monitoring the 25-year-old, with Jurgen Klopp yet to fully address defensive frailties at Anfield.
Gerrard, who will take on a role as a coach at Liverpool’s Academy in February, told BT Sport: "Who I think we need, I would go and try and bid for Van Dijk from Southampton.“But we’ve had enough of their players so that will probably go down like a lead balloon."
Southampton have also seen Jose Fonte leave for West Ham during the January transfer window, further depleting their ranks.
They would have been hoping to use Van Dijk in an EFL Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool on Wednesday, but a knock picked up against Leicester City is threatening to keep the Dutchman out of a crucial second leg at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard feels Liverpool should move for Virgil van Dijk, having been heavily linked with the Southampton defender.The Netherlands international has seen his reputation enhanced considerably since completing a move to St Mary’s from Celtic in the summer of 2015.
His potential had been noted by several sides prior to that move, but the Saints were the ones to take the plunge.That faith has been rewarded, but Van Dijk’s performances have drawn admiring glances from afar.Liverpool are among those said to be closely monitoring the 25-year-old, with Jurgen Klopp yet to fully address defensive frailties at Anfield.
Gerrard, who will take on a role as a coach at Liverpool’s Academy in February, told BT Sport: "Who I think we need, I would go and try and bid for Van Dijk from Southampton.“But we’ve had enough of their players so that will probably go down like a lead balloon."
Southampton have also seen Jose Fonte leave for West Ham during the January transfer window, further depleting their ranks.
They would have been hoping to use Van Dijk in an EFL Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool on Wednesday, but a knock picked up against Leicester City is threatening to keep the Dutchman out of a crucial second leg at Anfield.
Captain and all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney remains committed to Manchester United despite a lack of game-time and continued interest from China.
Rooney surpassed Bobby Charlton as United's top scorer with his 250th goal in their 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke City on Saturday.
The 31-year-old came off the bench in that match and his future is far from certain, with the England skipper no longer an automatic starter under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Mourinho said that he would not stand in Rooney's way should he take up an offer in the lucrative Chinese Super League but the country's record marksman is happy in Manchester.
"I'm committed," Rooney told Sky Sports after receiving the Football Writers' Association's Tribute Award on Sunday for his services to English football. "I have been at the club for a long time.
"Football is a strange game. Anything can happen and things change very quickly but I am happy at Manchester United."Of course, as I have said before, I want to play more games."I am in a happy place, a good moment personally, so I think I have a year, with an option [of a] year to go. We will see what happens and what happens after that."
Rooney, who was subject to a bid from Beijing Guoan before the start of the season, has made 16 Premier League appearances this season, with half of those as a starter. He has scored two goals in the league and five in all competitions.
OFFICIAL: Borussia Dortmund sign 'next Zlatan' Isak
Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of AIK striker Alexander Isak, widely dubbed as 'the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic', on a "long-term deal".
The teenager is regarded as one of the most promising in Europe, having made his debut at AIK as a 16-year-old and quickly establishing himself in Rikard Norling's starting line-up.
Real Madrid were heavily linked with Isak, who reportedly shares an agent with Luka Modric, with a €10 million transfer being close to completion before Dortmund made their move.
"Alexander Isak is a hugely-talented striker, who many top clubs in Europe wanted to sign," sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement."We are delighted that he has chosen Borussia Dortmund. Both BVB and the player himself are convinced that this transfer has great potential."
The club added: "Due to the fact that Isak is still a minor, the completion of the transfer still requires special approval by world football’s governing body FIFA, which all parties expect to receive very soon."
Isak, who turns 18 in September and has reportedly signed a contract until 2022, had 13 goals in 29 games for AIK this season and recently became Sweden's youngest ever goalscorer.
Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of AIK striker Alexander Isak, widely dubbed as 'the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic', on a "long-term deal".
The teenager is regarded as one of the most promising in Europe, having made his debut at AIK as a 16-year-old and quickly establishing himself in Rikard Norling's starting line-up.
Real Madrid were heavily linked with Isak, who reportedly shares an agent with Luka Modric, with a €10 million transfer being close to completion before Dortmund made their move.
"Alexander Isak is a hugely-talented striker, who many top clubs in Europe wanted to sign," sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement."We are delighted that he has chosen Borussia Dortmund. Both BVB and the player himself are convinced that this transfer has great potential."
The club added: "Due to the fact that Isak is still a minor, the completion of the transfer still requires special approval by world football’s governing body FIFA, which all parties expect to receive very soon."
Isak, who turns 18 in September and has reportedly signed a contract until 2022, had 13 goals in 29 games for AIK this season and recently became Sweden's youngest ever goalscorer.
'I should have shut up and I apologise' - Wenger sorry for ref rant
Arsene Wenger has acknowledged his furious reaction to Burnley being awarded a penalty was wrong after the Arsenal manager was sent off on Sunday.
The Gunners boss was removed from the touchline during an extraordinary period of injury time at Emirates Stadium, where the 10-man hosts conceded an equaliser to Andre Gray, only for Alexis Sanchez to snatch a 2-1 victory with a spot-kick of his own in the 98th minute.
Wenger took issue in the strongest terms when referee Jon Moss penalised Francis Coquelin for a foul on Ashley Barnes.
Initially enraged at the prospect of dropping two vital points, the Frenchman ended the day with a smile on his face after a high boot from Ben Mee made contact with Laurent Koscielny, affording Sanchez the opportunity to restore the Gunners' lead.
"My view is that honestly I did not see that it was a penalty," Wenger was quoted as saying by the BBC when asked about Burnley's spot-kick.
"I will have to watch it on the video. Francis told me that he ran into him. Myself, I should have shut up and I apologise for not having done that. It was nothing malicious. I should have kept my control, even if it was in a hectic time."I didn't see any penalty from outside but I should have shut up and I apologise, even if I was frustrated.
"We finally got the win but of course it was very difficult for us. We couldn't get the second goal, we played with 10 men and they played well as well. In the end we got the three points we wanted.
"Burnley are well organised, they make the game simple but efficient. We won there in the last second and we won again in the last second today," he added, referring to Koscielny's last-gasp winner at Turf Moor in October.
"Every week and every game is an unbelievable fight for everybody.
"We kept going, we are a relentless team. Burnley made it very uncomfortable for us." Burnley manager Sean Dyche, meanwhile, took issue with the assistant referee, who failed to spot that Koscielny was seemingly in an offside position prior to Mee's foul.
"It's a tough day for us in the end," he was quoted as saying by the BBC."To lose a game in that fashion, with an offside not given is tough, particularly when you come to tough places like this.
"We never take anything for granted. We know how tough this division is but you need officials to make the right decisions and that is the shame today. They have to be brave have officials at places like this, I understand that, but you've got to think it has to be given."
Arsene Wenger has acknowledged his furious reaction to Burnley being awarded a penalty was wrong after the Arsenal manager was sent off on Sunday.
The Gunners boss was removed from the touchline during an extraordinary period of injury time at Emirates Stadium, where the 10-man hosts conceded an equaliser to Andre Gray, only for Alexis Sanchez to snatch a 2-1 victory with a spot-kick of his own in the 98th minute.
Wenger took issue in the strongest terms when referee Jon Moss penalised Francis Coquelin for a foul on Ashley Barnes.
Initially enraged at the prospect of dropping two vital points, the Frenchman ended the day with a smile on his face after a high boot from Ben Mee made contact with Laurent Koscielny, affording Sanchez the opportunity to restore the Gunners' lead.
"My view is that honestly I did not see that it was a penalty," Wenger was quoted as saying by the BBC when asked about Burnley's spot-kick.
"I will have to watch it on the video. Francis told me that he ran into him. Myself, I should have shut up and I apologise for not having done that. It was nothing malicious. I should have kept my control, even if it was in a hectic time."I didn't see any penalty from outside but I should have shut up and I apologise, even if I was frustrated.
"We finally got the win but of course it was very difficult for us. We couldn't get the second goal, we played with 10 men and they played well as well. In the end we got the three points we wanted.
"Burnley are well organised, they make the game simple but efficient. We won there in the last second and we won again in the last second today," he added, referring to Koscielny's last-gasp winner at Turf Moor in October.
"Every week and every game is an unbelievable fight for everybody.
"We kept going, we are a relentless team. Burnley made it very uncomfortable for us." Burnley manager Sean Dyche, meanwhile, took issue with the assistant referee, who failed to spot that Koscielny was seemingly in an offside position prior to Mee's foul.
"It's a tough day for us in the end," he was quoted as saying by the BBC."To lose a game in that fashion, with an offside not given is tough, particularly when you come to tough places like this.
"We never take anything for granted. We know how tough this division is but you need officials to make the right decisions and that is the shame today. They have to be brave have officials at places like this, I understand that, but you've got to think it has to be given."
Barcelona lose Busquets to sprained ankle
Sergio Busquets will be out of action for an indefinite period after Barcelona confirmed he sprained his right ankle in Sunday's 4-0 win over Eibar.
The 28-year-old was stretchered off in the eighth minute following a challenge from Gonzalo Escalante, and test results confirmed the midfielder has sprained an external lateral ligament.
The timing of his return will depend on the recovery, however reports in Spain suggest he is likely to be sidelined for at least two weeks, ruling him out of the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg with Real Sociedad on Thursday.
He could also miss the next two LaLiga fixtures against Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao, but Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be hoping the Spaniard is fully fit for the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with PSG on February 14.
In the meantime though, Luis Enrique is optimistic he has the resources available to cope with the Spaniard's absence, in what is a busy period for the club."Busquets' injury is not as serious as we thought and we claimed a very good result," he said.
"Sergi Roberto, [Ivan Rakitic] and [Javier Mascherano] can play there [in Busquets' position]. I will not complain that I have all the cards."I like Rakitic in the pivot position. He was especially good and I have also liked Arda [Turan]. They all contribute things to the benefit of the team."
Sergio Busquets will be out of action for an indefinite period after Barcelona confirmed he sprained his right ankle in Sunday's 4-0 win over Eibar.
The 28-year-old was stretchered off in the eighth minute following a challenge from Gonzalo Escalante, and test results confirmed the midfielder has sprained an external lateral ligament.
The timing of his return will depend on the recovery, however reports in Spain suggest he is likely to be sidelined for at least two weeks, ruling him out of the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg with Real Sociedad on Thursday.
He could also miss the next two LaLiga fixtures against Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao, but Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be hoping the Spaniard is fully fit for the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with PSG on February 14.
In the meantime though, Luis Enrique is optimistic he has the resources available to cope with the Spaniard's absence, in what is a busy period for the club."Busquets' injury is not as serious as we thought and we claimed a very good result," he said.
"Sergi Roberto, [Ivan Rakitic] and [Javier Mascherano] can play there [in Busquets' position]. I will not complain that I have all the cards."I like Rakitic in the pivot position. He was especially good and I have also liked Arda [Turan]. They all contribute things to the benefit of the team."
PSG interested in Man Utd target Guedes, confirms Emery
Manchester United target Goncalo Guedes is a target for Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Unai Emery has confirmed.
Reports have claimed PSG are in pole position to sign Benfica winger Guedes, who has also been linked with United and Monaco.Emery confirmed that Guedes - who has scored seven goals in 27 appearances this season - is a player of interest, praising the Portugal international's quality.
"All good players are of interest to PSG and Guedes is one," Emery said ahead of PSG's Coupe de la Ligue semi-final away to Bordeaux."We are working on him and one we have the opportunity to sign."He is a good player, capable of playing wide or in the middle. He is a player of the future who is going to grow a lot."
PSG face a big week with the clash with Bordeaux swiftly followed by the visit of Monaco in Ligue 1, but Emery insisted his side are not thinking about facing the league leaders.
"The most important thing is Tuesday - this is the last step towards the final," he said."PSG has won this competition six times and Bordeaux also like the Coupe de la Ligue, winning it three times. They will give all their strength.
"We have won it for the last three years and we must work to win all the titles. Our responsibility is to think only of Bordeaux and the players have been made very aware of this."
Manchester United target Goncalo Guedes is a target for Paris Saint-Germain, head coach Unai Emery has confirmed.
Reports have claimed PSG are in pole position to sign Benfica winger Guedes, who has also been linked with United and Monaco.Emery confirmed that Guedes - who has scored seven goals in 27 appearances this season - is a player of interest, praising the Portugal international's quality.
"All good players are of interest to PSG and Guedes is one," Emery said ahead of PSG's Coupe de la Ligue semi-final away to Bordeaux."We are working on him and one we have the opportunity to sign."He is a good player, capable of playing wide or in the middle. He is a player of the future who is going to grow a lot."
PSG face a big week with the clash with Bordeaux swiftly followed by the visit of Monaco in Ligue 1, but Emery insisted his side are not thinking about facing the league leaders.
"The most important thing is Tuesday - this is the last step towards the final," he said."PSG has won this competition six times and Bordeaux also like the Coupe de la Ligue, winning it three times. They will give all their strength.
"We have won it for the last three years and we must work to win all the titles. Our responsibility is to think only of Bordeaux and the players have been made very aware of this."
Transfers can't fix Liverpool defence, says Klopp
Jurgen Klopp says that he will not look to the transfer market to solve Liverpool's defensive fragilities, despite their stunning 3-2 defeat by Swansea City.
The Reds have won only one of their last six games in all competitions - an FA Cup third-round replay against fourth-tier Plymouth Argyle - hampering their chase of Chelsea in the Premier League and leaving them with a 1-0 deficit to Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Defensive lapses were to blame for Swansea's first and third goals at Anfield on Saturday, while Joel Matip has been a sore loss to the Reds as the farcical situation over his international retirement was allowed to drag on by FIFA.
James Milner has had to fill in at left-back this season, while Klopp has given both Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet time as first-choice goalkeeper as he struggles to find the right formula at the back to complement the Premier League's most potent attack.
But the manager feels that a forward line shorn of the Africa Cup of Nations-bound Sadio Mane and the injured Philippe Coutinho as well as a poor team approach to defending is to blame.
"We missed Sadio... we missed Phil for a time... we missed Joel Matip," Klopp told reporters ahead of Wednesday's second leg against the Saints.
"As much as I like Sadio, it's not that we had problems because we missed Sadio.We made other mistakes, not because we're not scoring enough goals. We scored enough goals to win the games."You always speak about defence, or players. I speak about the whole defence of the team. If it was to buy one player and fix it, I'd be silly not to do it but it's not that simple.
"I knew about the problems we had after Christmas and that was disappointing. I saw before the game [against Swansea] that we are back on the right track and we could see the freshness coming back in training.
"But then we have this game and it's not so nice. But that's part of life too.
"We had a long meeting after the game so I'm ready for the rest of the season. We've come through a very intense period."
Jurgen Klopp says that he will not look to the transfer market to solve Liverpool's defensive fragilities, despite their stunning 3-2 defeat by Swansea City.
The Reds have won only one of their last six games in all competitions - an FA Cup third-round replay against fourth-tier Plymouth Argyle - hampering their chase of Chelsea in the Premier League and leaving them with a 1-0 deficit to Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Defensive lapses were to blame for Swansea's first and third goals at Anfield on Saturday, while Joel Matip has been a sore loss to the Reds as the farcical situation over his international retirement was allowed to drag on by FIFA.
James Milner has had to fill in at left-back this season, while Klopp has given both Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet time as first-choice goalkeeper as he struggles to find the right formula at the back to complement the Premier League's most potent attack.
But the manager feels that a forward line shorn of the Africa Cup of Nations-bound Sadio Mane and the injured Philippe Coutinho as well as a poor team approach to defending is to blame.
"We missed Sadio... we missed Phil for a time... we missed Joel Matip," Klopp told reporters ahead of Wednesday's second leg against the Saints.
"As much as I like Sadio, it's not that we had problems because we missed Sadio.We made other mistakes, not because we're not scoring enough goals. We scored enough goals to win the games."You always speak about defence, or players. I speak about the whole defence of the team. If it was to buy one player and fix it, I'd be silly not to do it but it's not that simple.
"I knew about the problems we had after Christmas and that was disappointing. I saw before the game [against Swansea] that we are back on the right track and we could see the freshness coming back in training.
"But then we have this game and it's not so nice. But that's part of life too.
"We had a long meeting after the game so I'm ready for the rest of the season. We've come through a very intense period."
‘I’ve not done enough to leave’ - Real Madrid target Mbappe discusses his future
Monaco youngster Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he wants to stay with the Ligue 1 leaders in the short term.
The 18-year-old attacker - who has been touted as one of the brightest prospects of his generation and linked with the likes of Real Madrid, where Zinedine Zidane gave him a guided tour - has been introduced slowly to first-team action but is content to ease into his career.
“I have not done enough to leave yet,” he told RMC. “Certainly, I have the record of being Monaco’s youngest player and youngest scorer. But I would only be half remembered.
“Great players always want to leave a great mark. That’s what I want to do in Monaco.“But after that, anything in football is possible. For now, I really want to impose myself here and do something good here.”Mbappe continued: “I want to be a great player.
“I have a clear idea of what I want to do. I’ve had a plan for my career since I was young. My family and my club have prepared me for all this. I know where I’m going and I won’t let anything disturb me.”
In 13 Ligue 1 appearances this season, including six starts, the forward has scored three goals and provided a further five assists, meaning that he has been involved in a strike every 65 minutes for Leonardo Jardim’s side.
The form of Radamel Falcao and Valere Germain has restricted his playing opportunities to date, with the forwards having combined for 19 goals for the side who are Europe’s most prolific with 64 in only 21 matches.
Monaco youngster Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he wants to stay with the Ligue 1 leaders in the short term.
The 18-year-old attacker - who has been touted as one of the brightest prospects of his generation and linked with the likes of Real Madrid, where Zinedine Zidane gave him a guided tour - has been introduced slowly to first-team action but is content to ease into his career.
“I have not done enough to leave yet,” he told RMC. “Certainly, I have the record of being Monaco’s youngest player and youngest scorer. But I would only be half remembered.
“Great players always want to leave a great mark. That’s what I want to do in Monaco.“But after that, anything in football is possible. For now, I really want to impose myself here and do something good here.”Mbappe continued: “I want to be a great player.
“I have a clear idea of what I want to do. I’ve had a plan for my career since I was young. My family and my club have prepared me for all this. I know where I’m going and I won’t let anything disturb me.”
In 13 Ligue 1 appearances this season, including six starts, the forward has scored three goals and provided a further five assists, meaning that he has been involved in a strike every 65 minutes for Leonardo Jardim’s side.
The form of Radamel Falcao and Valere Germain has restricted his playing opportunities to date, with the forwards having combined for 19 goals for the side who are Europe’s most prolific with 64 in only 21 matches.
Madrid confirm Modric and Marcelo injury blows, but offer no timescale on recovery
Luka Modric and Marcelo have sustained respective abductor and hamstring injuries, Real Madrid confirmed on Monday.
The pair were substituted during Saturday's 2-1 La Liga success at home to Malaga, as the European champions bounced back from successive defeats to Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
But the win came at a cost, with head coach Zinedine Zidane expressing his frustration at seeing the pair added to an injury list that already includes Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Danilo and Fabio Coentrao.He said: "I am a bit upset with the injuries. My mind is a bit blown. We have a big game Wednesday and injuries are screwing it up.
"A lot of the season is still left and like I always say, we will be needing every player."A club statement confirmed Modric had suffered an injury to his right abductor, while Marcelo has a grade II tear in his left hamstring.
Madrid gave no indication of a possible recovery for timescale for either player, although they seem certain to miss the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg at Celta on Wednesday, when Zidane's side will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Luka Modric and Marcelo have sustained respective abductor and hamstring injuries, Real Madrid confirmed on Monday.
The pair were substituted during Saturday's 2-1 La Liga success at home to Malaga, as the European champions bounced back from successive defeats to Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
But the win came at a cost, with head coach Zinedine Zidane expressing his frustration at seeing the pair added to an injury list that already includes Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Danilo and Fabio Coentrao.He said: "I am a bit upset with the injuries. My mind is a bit blown. We have a big game Wednesday and injuries are screwing it up.
"A lot of the season is still left and like I always say, we will be needing every player."A club statement confirmed Modric had suffered an injury to his right abductor, while Marcelo has a grade II tear in his left hamstring.
Madrid gave no indication of a possible recovery for timescale for either player, although they seem certain to miss the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg at Celta on Wednesday, when Zidane's side will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Deulofeu completes AC Milan loan signing
Gerard Deulofeu will spend the rest of the season on loan to AC Milan after Everton confirmed the temporary deal has been completed.
The former Barcelona winger had looked set to move to San Siro last week, only for the Toffees to contradict Milan who prematurely announced the signing. But Everton revealed the transfer on Monday via Twitter, meaning Deulofeu will line up for the Rossoneri for the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign.
"Gerard Deulofeu has joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season," the Merseysiders signalled on their official website.
"The 22-year-old winger arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2013 on a season-long loan before returning on a permanent deal in July 2015.
"He has scored eight goals in 75 appearances across his two spells and now moves to the San Siro looking to gain more game time after making 13 outings for the Toffees in the first half of 2016/17."Deulofeu joins Milan with the Italian giants currently seventh in the table after 20 games of the Serie A season.
A 2-1 home defeat to Napoli at the weekend leaves Vincenzo Montella's men no less than seven points adrift of third place, albeit having played a game fewer than the southern Italian side who occupy the final Champions League berth.
Gerard Deulofeu will spend the rest of the season on loan to AC Milan after Everton confirmed the temporary deal has been completed.
The former Barcelona winger had looked set to move to San Siro last week, only for the Toffees to contradict Milan who prematurely announced the signing. But Everton revealed the transfer on Monday via Twitter, meaning Deulofeu will line up for the Rossoneri for the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign.
"Gerard Deulofeu has joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season," the Merseysiders signalled on their official website.
"The 22-year-old winger arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2013 on a season-long loan before returning on a permanent deal in July 2015.
"He has scored eight goals in 75 appearances across his two spells and now moves to the San Siro looking to gain more game time after making 13 outings for the Toffees in the first half of 2016/17."Deulofeu joins Milan with the Italian giants currently seventh in the table after 20 games of the Serie A season.
A 2-1 home defeat to Napoli at the weekend leaves Vincenzo Montella's men no less than seven points adrift of third place, albeit having played a game fewer than the southern Italian side who occupy the final Champions League berth.
Having drawn level with Sir Bobby Charlton at the top of Manchester United’s all-time goalscoring chart, Wayne Rooney ended up having to wait just two weeks before pulling clear on his own.
A landmark moment in an already glittering career arrived at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, as the Red Devils skipper swept home a dramatic late free-kick.
His effort earned Jose Mourinho’s men a point on the day, but of greater note was the fact that he now has 250 goals in United colours.No player in the history of one of world football’s most illustrious clubs can match that return, with Rooney adding that domestic title to the international record he already holds with England.
His status as an iconic figure of the modern era is now safely secured, with tributes having flooded in from across the globe for a man who has remained a consistent performer at the highest level.
Unsurprisingly, Old Trafford has been at the centre of those celebrations, with the Manchester skyline lit up to honour the achievements of the Red Devils’ most potent frontman.
Charlton said of Rooney breaking his record: “He is a true great for club and country, and it is fitting that he is now the highest goalscorer for both United and England.”
Mourinho added: “Before him the record belonged to a legend of English football. Now Wayne becomes a legend of Manchester United."Nike have also got in on the act, creating a custom pair of boots for one of their biggest clients – the Hypervenom WR250.
While able to rest a little easier now that he has successfully chased down a target which had been hanging over him for some time, United still need Rooney to deliver over the coming weeks and months.They remain outside of the Premier League’s top four at present, with four points separating them from the Champions League spots.
Mourinho’s men also have the second leg of an EFL Cup semi-final clash with Hull City approaching on Thursday, a FA Cup fourth round tie with Wigan on Sunday and a last-32 showdown with Saint Etienne to come in the Europa League in February.
Coutinho set to become top earner at Liverpool with new deal
Liverpool are confident Philippe Coutinho will commit his long-term future to the club as he is close to agreeing a new deal that will put him in the top bracket of earners at Anfield.
Discussions over fresh terms, which will not include a release clause, have begun as the Reds look to tie down their standout star amid interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old, who has been named Liverpool’s Player of the Season two years running, will have his importance to their ambitions reflected in the proposal.
Coutinho has elevated his game further under Jurgen Klopp and prior to picking up ankle ligament damage in November that kept him out of action for 46 days, was lighting up the Premier League.He has contributed to 13 goals already in the campaign and will be crucial as the club look to combat a tough start to the year.
The Brazil international has often referenced his happiness on Merseyside as well as his belief in the direction the Reds are taking under the German.
And Klopp stated in November that he expects Coutinho, who was last rewarded with a new deal in February 2015, to continue being an influential figure for the side."My opinion is that he feels really well here,” the manager said.
“We all hope and think that his future is here at Liverpool. "It is creating the perspective that no-one wants to leave. That is all it is about.
"The players like to be here and it is our job to make sure it stays like this.”
Liverpool are confident Philippe Coutinho will commit his long-term future to the club as he is close to agreeing a new deal that will put him in the top bracket of earners at Anfield.
Discussions over fresh terms, which will not include a release clause, have begun as the Reds look to tie down their standout star amid interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The 24-year-old, who has been named Liverpool’s Player of the Season two years running, will have his importance to their ambitions reflected in the proposal.
Coutinho has elevated his game further under Jurgen Klopp and prior to picking up ankle ligament damage in November that kept him out of action for 46 days, was lighting up the Premier League.He has contributed to 13 goals already in the campaign and will be crucial as the club look to combat a tough start to the year.
The Brazil international has often referenced his happiness on Merseyside as well as his belief in the direction the Reds are taking under the German.
And Klopp stated in November that he expects Coutinho, who was last rewarded with a new deal in February 2015, to continue being an influential figure for the side."My opinion is that he feels really well here,” the manager said.
“We all hope and think that his future is here at Liverpool. "It is creating the perspective that no-one wants to leave. That is all it is about.
"The players like to be here and it is our job to make sure it stays like this.”
