..::Football IV::..

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Man Utd target Fabinho: This is my last season at Monaco


Monaco star Fabinho is expecting to leave the reigning Ligue 1 champions before the start of next season.The Brazil international was strongly linked with moves elsewhere before the current campaign started, with Manchester United among those reportedly interested.

But Monaco opted to retain the services of the versatile midfielder, with Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and Kylian Mbappe all allowed to leave.

Fabinho has not been quite as impressive this term as he was last season, though he is still sure to attract interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.And those clubs will now be on alert after Fabinho confirmed his expectation of an end-of-season exit, as opposed to leaving in January.

"I don't think so [regarding a January departure]," Fabinho said ahead of Friday's trip to Saint-Etienne. "I've had no contact [from other clubs] and I'm secure at Monaco."[But] ordinarily, it's my last season at Monaco. Nothing is signed.

"During the [close-season] transfer window, and even a month afterwards, it was a little difficult to live with the situation. But I don't think about it anymore, I've turned the page."

Atletico Madrid have been highlighted as a possible destination, though Fabinho is adamant that the Spanish club are yet to approach him or his agent.He said: "Yes, that's a possibility, though no one from Atletico has contacted me or my agent.

"I've got to demonstrate that I am still at the required level to play in teams like them [Atletico]. I know that I'm not the same Fabinho of last season, but it's hard to explain why."

 

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'It looks like the end for Wenger at Arsenal' - Keown


Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes Arsene Wenger's days with the Gunners are now very much numbered. Arsenal have fallen all the way to seventh in the Premier League table and have lacked inspiration of late, most recently being held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham on Wednesday as their run of matches without a victory stretched to three.

They have been particularly poor on the road, where they've picked up just nine points points from nine matches, the second-worst run at this stage of the season in the club's Premier League history.

That stuttering form has Keown, who spent 13 years at the club across two spells, feeling that the end may be just around the corner for the Wenger. despite his current contract not being up until the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

"Champions League now is not looking like it’s not going to happen for Arsene Wenger and questions are going to come again for the manager – is he going to be there next season or not? It looks like the end," he told BT Sport.

"If it doesn’t get much better for him then at the end of the season he has to hold his hands up and say: 'Maybe I’m not the man to take this club forward.’"While the club have found life hard for the last two seasons, having failed to qualify for the Champions League last term, the Gunners did manage to top their Europa League group and could advance to the semi-finals of the League Cup with a win over the same West Ham side later this month.

Wenger himself faced major questions throughout the last couple of years, with a campaign calling for his sacking taking just 30 minutes into the current season to trend on social media.

 

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'I'd be in Brazil if the title race was over!' – Mourinho


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insisted the Premier League title race is still alive despite his side trailing a record-breaking Manchester City.Pep Guardiola's side registered a top-flight record 15th league win in sequence on Wednesday, thrashing Swansea City 4-0 while United were flailing in their attempts to see off Bournemouth.

Romelu Lukaku's goal was enough to beat the Cherries 1-0, United responding to their derby defeat, and Mourinho afterwards admitted his players were showing signs of fatigue.

He nevertheless underlined his determination to close the gap on Guardiola's team ahead of tricky league games away at West Brom and Leicester City.When asked about the title race, he told BBC Sport: "We play match after match and the next we have to try to win. We have a difficult one at West Brom and we try match after match.

"It is only over in May. If it is over now I go on holiday to Brazil or Los Angeles."
When asked whether his side had suffered a hangover from their 2-1 defeat to City, Mourinho replied: "Fatigue, yes, but hangover - no.

"The game was a big one, and a defeat does not help in your recovery - victories help, defeats don't."They were difficult opponents and difficult conditions. If we had scored the second it would have been a calm night for us."

Lukaku scored his first Premier League goal in five matches after 25 minutes to give United the lead against Bournemouth and that proved to be the difference between the two sides.

"I am pleased with the three points, it was difficult match," Mourinho continued. "They had one more day's rest than us, they were fresher than us, and mentally fresher because a big match takes more from our players."We had chances, [Anthony] Martial missed a good chance, [Marcus] Rashford could have had an astonishing effort, and in the last 15 they pushed us."

United's Luke Shaw started at left-back after being named among the substitutes against City, and was replaced in the 83rd minute by Ashley Young.

When asked whether Shaw is his first choice in the position, Mourinho replied: "I'm not saying first or second choice, he's an option. His history is an incredible injury and more surgery at the end of last season.

"He needs competitive matches, we gave him that and he had some cramps so we had to change him. The standing ovation for him I liked, it helps the player."

 

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Klopp admits system changes but says Liverpool had 'enough chances to win'


Jurgen Klopp admitted to changing his team's system "two or three times" as Liverpool once again dropped points at home in a scoreless draw against West Bromwich Albion but believes his side had enough opportunities to come away with the victory.

After resting Brazilian stars Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in a 1-1 draw with Everton on Sunday, the pair were restored to the line-up to team once more with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

However, the Reds began the game in more of a 4-4-2, and adjusted in game to their more preferred 4-3-3, which resulted in more chances, but was not enough to break through against the resolute Baggies.

With Liverpool sitting a massive 18 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, the German admitted changing the formation to get things right after a sluggish first half but insisted things could have been better.

"First half we were a little bit stiff, the passing and movement was not so good but even then we had two or three chances," said Klopp."The second half we changed the system two or three times. It was difficult but I think only one time Loris Karius had to make a save – an important one.

"We can do better and we have to do better but on a night like this when you are not at your best you need a bit of luck."That was not our best game but I think we had enough chances to win. We didn't use them and we have to accept the result."

The result could have been different had a goal from Dominic Solanke been allowed to stand, however. Solanke bundled home a cross minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute, but the ball had looped up onto the England striker's arm via his chest.

After a short delay the goal was disallowed but Klopp, who was furious with the decision to award Everton a late penalty in Sunday's Merseyside derby, was more philosophical when asked about Solanke's goal."It is twice deflected and I am still not sure," said Klopp. "It is for sure [off Solanke's] chest and then I am not sure if it is handball."We cannot take the decision back, so all good, it is like this."

While Klopp was unsure the officials got the decision regarding Solanke's disallowed goal right, Baggies boss Alan Pardew felt it was the correct call not to let the strike stand.

"I thought it was goal until I saw the linesman not move," he added."That's always a good sign. It is a good call by the linesman because it is handball."

 

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'Forza Milan!' - Donnarumma plays down Milan exit rumours


AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma moved to clarify suggestions he wanted his contract renewal annulled, playing down claims he was pressured.
After a drawn-out saga, Donnarumma, 18, signed a new deal with Milan in July, committing until 2021.

However, reports in Italy suggested Donnarumma's agent Mino Raiola had told the San Siro club the shot-stopper felt pressured into agreeing the extension and wants the contract to be cancelled – making him a free agent at the end of the season – with Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs reportedly interested.

Donnarumma was in tears prior to kick-off in Milan's 3-0 Coppa Italia victory over Verona as he was abused by fans.The goalkeeper dismissed reports he was pressured, with his focus on his performances."It was a bad evening, one I did not expect," Donnarumma wrote on Instagram.

"I have never said or written that I suffered moral violence when I signed the contract."Despite everything I look forward with my head focused on the next game. Forza Milan!"Milan are seventh in the Serie A, 11 points behind fourth-placed Roma.

 

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Mata expecting Man Utd title fight despite City's record run


Juan Mata is refusing to concede defeat in the Premier League title race, with it his opinion that Manchester United remain in the hunt.

A disappointing derby defeat to Manchester City has left the Red Devils 11 points adrift of their ‘noisy neighbours’ in the battle for English top-flight supremacy.As Jose Mourinho’s side endured a potentially costly setback, Pep Guardiola’s team maintained momentum in the midst of a record-breaking run of 15 successive victories.

Many have already crowned City as champions for 2017-18, but Mata believes that anything is still possible if United can remain focused and negotiate the hectic festive period unscathed.

The Spain international told reporters in the wake of a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth: “In any other different season, we probably would be top of the Premier League with this amount of points (38).“But we need to focus on ourselves. Obviously City are doing very well, that’s why they are first in the table.

“But we need to focus on us and how well we are doing. We also need to be learning from the games we didn’t win and then carry on through this difficult Christmas period.“Hopefully, come the end of the season, we’ll be fighting for the title.”Mata is not the only one remaining upbeat at Old Trafford, with Mourinho having declared that he would already be on holiday if he thought the race had been run.

Heads have not been allowed to drop inside the United camp, with there still plenty of positives to be taken from a season which has the club complementing a title bid with productive Carabao Cup and Champions League campaigns.“The most important thing is we are doing all right as a team,” added Mata.

“I think we are doing well in the Premier League, even though we are not in the position we’d like to be in.“We have a lot of points in this early stage of December and we’ve qualified first in the group in the Champions League, plus there are the two other cups.

“It’s been good and hopefully in the second half of the season, it’ll be even better.”United are set to face West Brom on Sunday before taking in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with Bristol City.Four more Premier League games will then carry them into an FA Cup third round clash with Derby.

 

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'Klopp is one of the best managers in the world' - Solanke determined to take Liverpool chance


Dominic Solanke considers Jurgen Klopp to be “one of the best managers in the world” and the perfect man to unlock his potential.The 20-year-old forward moved to Anfield over the summer after opting against a new contract at Chelsea.

Liverpool have landed themselves one of the most highly-rated talents in English football and the winner of the Golden Ball during a successful U20 World Cup campaign for the Young Lions over the summer.

Solanke is determined to make good on the promise he has shown so far and believes he is working under the best coach to get him performing at the peak of his powers.

He told Sky Sports on Klopp: "He's one of the best managers in the world and he's worked with some of the best players in the world as well. When he gives positive feedback, it's warming for me.

"I definitely need that. With me playing my first proper season in the Premier League I know there is a lot to learn."Solanke has been eased into the fold on Merseyside, with Liverpool wary of asking too much of him too soon.

He has seen just 250 minutes of Premier League football so far, with nine of his 11 appearances having come from the bench.Solanke was, however, trusted with a starting berth in a derby date with Everton and is confident that he can continue to impress if given the opportunity to do so.
"When you achieve something, you always want to do more," he said.

"When you're not achieving as much as you think you can, it is always something you want to [change] as soon as possible."I've just got to try and stay patient and then at the right time it will happen."

Solanke’s next chance could come against Bournemouth on Sunday, with Liverpool heading to the south coast on the back of successive draws on home soil which have dropped them out of the Premier League’s top four.

 

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Manchester United’s Eric Bailly could undergo surgery


Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Eric Bailly could require a surgery to his ankle injury.

The defender suffered the injury in October during Cote d'Ivoire's stalemate with Mali in a World Cup qualifying game.And according to the Portuguese tactician, the former Villarreal man who last featured for the Old Trafford outfit on November 5 may go under the knife.

"I think his injury is serious," Mourinho told club website after their victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday night."I don’t know [how long he will be out] but his is an injury that comes from the last time he went with the international team and then we are trying a conservative treatment.

“But, if the conservative treatment is not resulting, probably he will have a surgery procedure but let’s wait a little bit more."The 23-year-old has only featured ten times this season for the Europa League champions.

They trail Manchester City with 11 points and will be looking to close the gap on their rival when they clash with West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

 

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Get well soon Bailly!​

 

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Wenger feud fuelling Mourinho's efforts to take Ozil to Man Utd, says Keown


Jose Mourinho wants Mesut Ozil at Manchester United because a deal would offer “a poke in the eye” to old adversary Arsene Wenger, says Martin Keown.

The Portuguese has rarely seen eye-to-eye with his Arsenal counterpart throughout his various spells in the Premier League.A feud which first ignited during an initial stint at Chelsea carried over into a second spell at Stamford Bridge and now at Old Trafford.

But while the pair have regularly engaged in tactical battles on the touchline, and the occasional war of words, Mourinho is now seeking to hit his rival where it hurts in the transfer market with a mooted approach for a World Cup-winning playmaker.

Offering his take as to why United are reported to be keen on landing Ozil as his Arsenal contract runs down, former Gunners defender Keown told the Daily Mail: “I think Jose Mourinho would love for that move to happen, for two reasons.

“One, because of the quality of the player, and two because it would be a poke in the eye for Arsene Wenger“That rivalry between the two managers has not gone away.”Ozil, like team-mate Alexis Sanchez, is yet to agree an extension to a deal at Arsenal which is due to expire in the summer of 2018.

If no agreement can be reached, then the Germany international will continue to head towards the free agent pool.Alternatively, the Gunners may be tempted to sell in January if a suitable offer is tabled for an asset that is only going to decrease in monetary value.

United have been linked with an approach for some time, but La Liga giants Barcelona are also said to be keen – with Ozil having impressed once before in Spanish football during a productive spell with Real Madrid.

 

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Rose: Spurs can end Man City's unbeaten run again


Tottenham defender Danny Rose insists Spurs can end Manchester City's amazing unbeaten run, just as they did last season.

City have won 15 of their opening 16 league games, only dropping points in a draw with Everton, and hold an 11-point lead over second-placed Manchester United.Spurs, runners-up last term, are 18 points back in fourth, but Rose is confident that he and his team-mates have what it takes to beat Guardiola's men.

Pochettino's men have not lost in any of their previous three league games at the Etihad Stadium, and beat City 2-0 at White Hart Lane in 2016-17, bringing to an end six-game winning run.

"We'll go there and relish it," Rose said, per the Daily Mail, after Spurs beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 at Wembley. "At the minute, they do look very frightening - scoring goals, they've kept a clean sheet last night. But we've done alright there in the past couple of seasons and that should give us some confidence at the weekend.

"We were the first ones to beat City last season, we disrupted Chelsea's unbeaten run. It's a challenge we all look forward to. "It's a challenge the manager looks forward to. In these games, he knows he's going to get 100% from everyone. There's going to be a lot of eyes watching us this weekend.

"We haven't done so well away from home against the top teams this season so we hope to go there with some confidence and keep pushing on after three wins that we've had over the last week."Spurs have lost to Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea thus far this term, but humbled Liverpool 4-1 at home, and also defeated Real Madrid 3-1 in the Champions League.

City, meanwhile, thumped Swansea City 4-0 on Wednesday as they prepare for their encounter with Spurs.

 

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Mourinho: No room on Man Utd bench for disappearing Mkhitaryan


Jose Mourinho's attempts to balance his Manchester United matchday squad have left Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the odd man out.

United returned to winning ways as Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Wednesday, three days on from their 2-1 derby defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Armenia international Mkhitaryan was left on the sidelines for those two matches, having also sat out games versus Newcastle United, Basel, Watford, Arsenal and CSKA Moscow over the past month.

Mkhitaryan was a fixture in the first team earlier this season but Mourinho accused the former Borussia Dortmund star of "disappearing" during games at the start of his spell out in the cold.

"I can only have six [outfield] players on the bench and I try to have some balance on the bench," Mourinho said in a more measured assessment after the Bournemouth match."I had two defenders and [Daley] Blind who can play in different areas. I had Ashley Young to cover me all the wings and the wing-back position.

"I had [Ander] Herrera as a midfield player, Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] as a striker and Marcus [Rashford] as a second striker and winger."I played [Anthony] Martial, [Juan] Mata and [Jesse] Lingard in the team. To have Mkhi means that I don't have one of them and, in this moment, I believe the other ones they deserve [the chance to play]."

United travel to West Brom on Saturday, where an Ibrahimovic brace secured a 2-0 win last season.

 

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Silva is an animal - Guardiola


David Silva might be one of the most easy-on-the-eye playmakers the Premier League has seen but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has labelled the Spain international an "animal".Silva has been typically influential for the runaway leaders this season with eight assists and five goals in the top flight.

Four of those strikes have come in City's past three games, with vital contributions in the 2-1 wins over West Ham and Manchester United followed by a brace in Wednesday's 4-0 thumping of lowly Swansea City.

The 31-year-old, who recently signed a one-year contract extension at the Etihad Stadium, has not always found goals so easy to come by, and Guardiola has urged a man he champions as a fierce competitor to sharpen up on this side of his game.

"He has everything, especially the huge competitor he is," the Catalan told BBC Sport. "Everybody talks about his skills, no doubt about that. One blind guy is able to see it.

"But you cannot imagine how [much of] a competitor he is. He looks like a stylish guy but, wow, he is an animal in terms of winning games.

"Always we spoke about that: 'You have to score goals, David. You have the ability to do that. You have to score goals to win games. You can do that.'"In the last period, with the West Ham goal and Old Trafford and here, it is so important."

City established an all-time English league record with a 15th consecutive win at the Liberty Stadium and Guardiola recognises his team scoring from all areas as a key factor in their success.

"He [Silva] is enjoying scoring goals and that is so important. We cannot just depend on [strikers] Gabriel [Jesus] and Sergio [Aguero]," he told a news conference.

"Our wingers score a lot of goals, our attacking midfielders, everybody must go there to try to score goals."Last season we scored few from set-pieces and this season we are scoring a lot. We can score on the counter-attacks. We have many options to score goals and that is so important for us."

City host Tottenham on Saturday, with their lead over Manchester United at the top of the table standing at 11 points.

 

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I never had confidence in Bosz, says Dortmund chief


Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted he was never convinced that Peter Bosz was the right coach for Borussia Dortmund, even during their bright start to the season.

After Thomas Tuchel's departure in the summer, the Bundesliga side lured Bosz to the Westfalenstadion, having seen the Dutchman guide Ajax to second place in the Europa League and Eredivisie in one season.

Bosz quickly took Dortmund to the top of the table, winning six and drawing one of his first seven Bundesliga games in charge, but a run of 13 games in all competitions in which they won just one - 5-0 over third-tier side Magdeburg - saw them fall far behind their rivals domestically and crash out of the Champions League.

The 54-year-old was fired after Saturday's defeat to Werder Bremen and the club have been vindicated after seeing the team bounce back immediately with a 2-0 win over Mainz on Tuesday in new coach Peter Stoger's first game.And Watzke admits he always had a suspicion that Bosz was not the right man for the job and hopes to move on.

"While we were winning, I never had a secure feeling," the German club's CEO said. "It was always fragile."Now I have the impression that everyone has realised that this could not continue. You have to work constructively and together, and we will now.

"Hiring Jurgen Klopp was the right decision at that time, Thomas Tuchel was purely athletic and the right decision. If we were wrong with Bosz, okay. You can criticise us for that. But such a s**tstorm?"Watzke also feels the struggles under Bosz had a big impact on the players, meaning they could not afford to keep him in charge.

"Maybe that's why they didn't give it their all until the end," Watzke said. "I like the players, but that's when I realized. Now I have the impression that everyone understood that things could not go on like this."

Dortmund had been linked with hiring Stoger before Bosz's arrival, but his commitment to Koln made him a difficult target. Once Koln sacked him, however, they were ready to make their move.

"He was not done with Koln yet, that's why there was the solution with Bosz.
"He was at the airport on the way to his mother [when Bosz was sacked]. I told him he'd better unpack his suitcase."

 

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Man City weigh up Van Dijk & Martinez moves


Manchester City are ready to reignite their interest in Southampton's Virgil van Dijk, Goal has learned.

The Premier League leaders are also considering a move for Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez, and are hopeful of signing one of the two during the winter transfer window.

City made Van Dijk their top centre-back target during the summer, but were dealt a blow when he elected to join Liverpool, only for that move to collapse and the Dutchman to stay at St Mary's.

Goal understands that Liverpool will also try to sign the 26-year-old during the January transfer window, and it can now be revealed that City are seriously considering a rival offer.

City targeted several other central defenders after missing out on Van Dijk, including Leonardo Bonucci, Jonny Evans and Martinez, but were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to reinforce the position.

And following injuries to Vincent Kompany and John Stones, Pep Guardiola has convinced sporting director Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano that defensive reinforcements are required if the Blues are to continue fighting on all fronts for the rest of the season.The Blues have subsequently made a new centre-back their top priority, and are now weighing up the merits of both Van Dijk and Martinez.

Sources have told Goal that Van Dijk is the preferred option, as Guardiola and his employers consider him capable of slotting seemlessly into the City back line and handling high pressure matches both domestically and in Europe.There are lingering concerns regarding how he would react if he does not play regularly once Kompany, Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are all fit.

That is not thought to be an issue for Martinez, 26, who City staff believe would be more accepting of a squad role. The Spain international would also be a cheaper option than Van Dijk, given his €32 million release clause.

But there are understood to be reservations over his ability to immediately adapt to his new surroundings and handle the biggest matches during the run in.City are expected to make enquiries regarding both men in the coming weeks.

The Blues remain interested in Alexis Sanchez, their overall top summer target, but any January move is once again dependent on whether Arsenal will do business with their rivals.

The Chilean is out of contract in the summer and while City are confident he still wants to move to the Etihad Stadium, they are concerned that foreign clubs can make legal approaches from January 1.

Although City had agreed personal terms with Alexis early last summer, they were still spooked by Paris Saint-Germain's rumoured interest in July.

 

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Pique claims he understood Neymar leaving Barcelona


Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said he understood why Neymar decided to join Paris Saint-Germain, even though the move "hurt" the La Liga giants.

Neymar, 25, made a surprise Barca exit in August, joining PSG in a world-record €222million move.While the Brazil star has already impressed in France, Barca have been in form without him, unbeaten and leading LaLiga.

Pique said he could see why Neymar would make the decision to join PSG, even if it was a blow to Barca."You try to do the best for your club and you also create relationships and friendships – with Neymar my relationship is really strong," the Spain international told Telegraph Sport.

"Even though it really hurt the club when he left, as a friend I could understand his decision and why he wanted to go to Paris. I tried to be fair to him no matter what."As a Barcelona fan it hurts and I understand that maybe some Barcelona fans are disappointed about how he left."

Pique believes part of Neymar's reason for leaving was his desire to claim the Ballon d'Or, the prize won by either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for the past 10 years. "It is very difficult to find a player who stays at the same club for the whole of their career," he said.

"They need more motivation, they want to fight for new things. I know Neymar wanted the Ballon d'Or so I think it is fair he left for Paris where he will be the main star."If he does a good job in the Champions League and in France he has options to win the Ballon d'Or."

 

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Klopp: We're all fighting for second place in the Premier League


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his team is playing to finish second in the Premier League, saying Manchester City had the title sealed.

Pep Guardiola's City have surged 11 points clear atop the table, winning 16 of their 17 games while scoring 52 goals.Klopp feels there is no longer a title fight – not even for second-placed United – with City so far clear at the top.

"This season nobody is really fighting any more for the title. I don't think United are," the German told UK newspapers ahead of his team's trip to Bournemouth on Sunday."We will all try to come as close as possible but if City doesn't have any drop then they will probably win it so does that mean all the others have to stop?"To be the best of the rest could be a fantastic target. So it is to try to have the best position in the table which for us for the last – I don't know how many years – is probably third or second."

Back-to-back draws have seen Liverpool fall to fifth in the Premier League, four points behind third-placed Chelsea and seven adrift of United – who are second.Klopp believes his team can be similar to his 2012-13 Borussia Dortmund outfit, who finished 25 points adrift of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga but almost won the Champions League final between the teams at Wembley, losing 2-1.

"We cannot chase City, like we couldn't chase Bayern in these times but we could have beaten them in the Champions league final – that's 100 per cent," he said."We were not worse, it was an open game and nobody saw in this game a team 25 points ahead.

"We didn't play a bad season, we got to the Champions League final and had some of our best moments in our life in that campaign."

 

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'Every player has a price' – Mourinho hints at Man Utd sales in January


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is willing to let unhappy players leave for the right price in January.Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw are among the players linked with moves after struggling for game time this season.

Mourinho said offers would be considered for those who wanted to leave Old Trafford, but added the fee needed to be right."I think, for the right price. That's my approach as a manager, in cases where the club advises me," he said."Every player has a price.

"If a player is not happy, if a player brings with him the request with the number that we consider a good number for us, like it happened with Memphis [Depay] and Morgan [Schneiderlin], I would never say no."Mourinho may seek reinforcements of his own, with defender Eric Bailly to miss up to three months due to ankle surgery.

But the Portuguese tactician said he was unwilling to buy just for the sake of it in January."I don't like the January market just to buy," Mourinho said."But if you can buy one you would buy in June or July a few months before, then great."United, who are second in the Premier League, visit West Brom on Sunday.

 

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Mkhitaryan & Luke Shaw sell karaida mandaMkhitaryan ta chances wadiya dunnoth nahane.Aparde sell kaloth nam & Luke Shaw th injury eken passe godak hodata play karanawa.meh 2nnawama sell karanne nathiwa thiyagatthoth thamai godak hoda​

 

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Guardiola: Man City will not go unbeaten in Premier League


Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his team's stunning start to the Premier League campaign is an exception to the norm and cannot be sustained.

Guardiola's side set a new English league record of 15 consecutive victories in Wednesday's 4-0 win at Swansea City, a result that left them 11 points clear of second-place Manchester United.

It was the latest in a string of achievements already racked up by Guardiola's side, with a visit from Tottenham on Saturday their next obstacle to remaining unbeaten in the league.

But the City boss is adamant they will not be able to match Arsenal's famous 'Invincibles' of 2003-04."That is not going to happen," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference."That belongs to Arsene Wenger and his amazing Arsenal in 2004. We are going to lose games."Today is completely different with the intensity and a lot of games. Now, [our run] is an exception. It is not normal what we have done.

"We are so happy and we are going to fight to maintain it as long as possible. But people, teams lose games and that is going to happen."Meanwhile, Guardiola revealed captain Vincent Kompany was unlikely to be fit to face Spurs at Etihad Stadium.

The defender is closing in on a return after missing the Huddersfield clash, but is likely to be handled with caution."He is much better. It is a little, little problem," Guardiola said."I do not know if tomorrow he will be fit but hopefully in the next days, in the next fixtures, he will be ready."