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Gor Mahia have appointed Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo as their new assistant coach to replace Patrick Odhiambo who left for Kakamega Homeboyz.

The Kenyan champions settled on their legend to help new coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto who had been appointed to head the team in late January. The tactician will now be part of the K'Ogalo squad that will leave for Zambia on Friday night ahead of their second leg of the final preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup game against the National Pension Scheme Authority (Napsa) Stars.

"We have settled on Pamzo to assist Pinto as the assistant coach," Gor Mahia Secretary-General Samuel Ochola told Goal on Friday.

"Finer details regarding the terms and length of the contract will be discussed after the team returns from Zambia. However, I can confirm he will be part of the team to Zambia."

K'Ogalo environment will not be new for the 51-year-old who was in charge as the team eliminated the APR of Rwanda from the first preliminary round of the Caf Champions League. But he could not help them hit the group stages as the team fell 8-1 on aggregate to CR Belouizdad of Algeria.

He was rendered jobless at Posta Rangers on February 8 after the Mailmen management felt he is not the right man to guide the team owing to what was perceived as a poor start to the FKF Premier League.

"I am privileged to get the opportunity to be at K'Ogalo, my love for the team is evident," Pamzo told Goal afterwards.

"As always, I will give my best under the coach [Pinto] to ensure we help the team move forward."

In Zambia, K'Ogalo will be aiming at overturning the 1-0 loss suffered in the first leg at Nyayo Stadium to make it to the group stage of the annual competition. 

Gor Mahia have included new signing Fred Nkata in their travelling squad. Harun Shakava has, however, not been included despite his recent return to the club from Nkana FC. The defender, a multiple Premier League winner with Gor Mahia, signed for the club but has not played a single game since.

Gor Mahia travelling squad:

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch, Gad Mathews.

Defenders: Geoffrey Ochieng, Joachim Oluoch, Charles Momanyi, Philemon Otieno, Kevin Wesonga, Fred Nkata, Andrew Juma, Frank Odhiambo.

Midfielders: Kenneth Muguna, Ernest Wendo, Alpha Onyango, Sydney Ochieng, Nicholas Omondi.

Forwards: Nicholas Kipkirui, Jules Ulimwengu, Benson Omalla, John Macharia, Tito Okello.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants his Manchester United players to put their bodies on the line and put a good run of results together in order to close the gap to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League table following their win over Everton on February 17 but Solskjaer wants his players to keep on fighting until the end.

Next up for United is a home clash against Newcastle United and, after dropping more points in the league against West Brom last time out, the Norwegian knows they can’t afford to drop any more.

What's been said?

After being asked if he had conceded the title to City at this stage, Solskjaer told reporters: "I don’t think anyone would say they’re not going to go for it. We’re going to go for a win every single game we play, of course we are.

"But, whatever other teams do, City, Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Brom, whoever - we can’t control that.

"We just have to control ourselves, we are in the position we are, we’re second and of course your ambition then is to not end any lower than that. We’re going to have to get a good run together if we’re going to put pressure on City and that should start on Sunday."

What is Solskjaer's message to his players?

The United manager said: "Of course it’s relentless. Of course we demand we turn up every game and earn the right to win - you’ve got to run more than the opposition, you’ve got to want to win more than the opposition, you’ve got to suffer more, put your body on the line.

"Every game in the Premier League is high demand and that’s why the players are paid the money they are to perform every time they’re asked to. We ask for relentlessness and attitude every single game."

What's the latest team news?

Paul Pogba is still ruled out with a thigh injury and is expected to remain sidelined until the end of the month.

Edinson Cavani and Donny van de Beek, meanwhile, "have a chance" of featuring against Newcastle and will be assessed before Saturday's match at Old Trafford. Phil Jones remains out although Scott McTominay will be assessed after he was taken off during the win over Real Sociedad.

Further reading

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has laughed off reports suggesting Ezri Konsa has emerged as a transfer target for Liverpool and Tottenham.

The 23-year-old centre-half is said to be attracting admiring glances from across the Premier League after seeing his stock continue to soar in 2020-21.

Villa have no intention of parting with a prized asset that they snapped up from Brentford in 2019, with Smith reading little into the rumours that continue to rage in the West Midlands.

What has been said?

“I will joke with him about it,” Villa boss Smith has told reporters when quizzed on the speculation that Konsa is generating.

“He’s excelling in his position; he’s been one of our best players this season, very consistent and reliable.”

Why is Konsa in demand?

The former England U21 international, who has seen senior recognition with the Three Lions mooted heading towards this summer’s European Championship, has been a model of consistency for Villa.

He has taken in 21 appearances this season, helping to keep 10 clean sheets along the way.

Considerable value for money has been found in a £12 million ($17m) deal, with it suggested that Konsa’s price tag is now rocketing.

Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has told Football Insider: “He’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing. Keep clean sheets, it’s all about stats nowadays so keep the clean sheets coming.

“I’ve heard that he’s a good lad, he’s very confident in his ability. Great signing from Dean Smith. Every signing’s been perfect. He came from Brentford, didn’t cost a huge amount of money and now he’s probably worth five times that amount.”

Any other business at Villa?

Smith has revealed that Matty Cash, who is nursing a thigh injury, is set to be ruled out for the foreseeable future, in what is an untimely blow to the Villans’ plans.

“Cash will be out, he’s got a hamstring strain. I’m not sure the level of grading but it’ll certainly be a few weeks out, which is a blow for us,” Smith added ahead of a meeting with Leicester on Sunday.

“But it’s something we’ve been quite capable of dealing with so far. We haven’t had too many injuries but when we have, people have come in and done a job.

“[Cash] will certainly be a miss but we’ve got the likes of Elmo [Ahmed Elmohamady], who hasn’t played many games this season, fit and able to come in.”

Further reading

Arsenal academy graduate and Stoke City loanee Benik Afobe has urged Folarin Balogun to leave Mikel Arteta’s team for regular game time.

The Gunners have been in talks with the Nigerian descent over an extension with his current deal expected to expire at the end of the season.

Balogun is yet to make Arsenal matchday squad in the Premier League this season but he has featured in the Uefa Europa League where has a tally of two goals in four matches.

The highly-rated 19-year-old is reportedly attracting interest from top European clubs and Afobe, who followed a similar path, has advised him to consider his future and go for more experience elsewhere.

Afobe, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, graduated from Arsenal academy in 2010 and he was sent out on loan several times for six years.

The DR Congo striker finally left the Emirates Stadium in January 2016 without playing a competitive match for Arsene Wenger’s team.

“It all depends on your positioning and who’s ahead of you… Balogun, he’s good, I’ve seen him play,” Afobe told The Beautiful Game Podcast.

“I think it’s the right decision for him to leave. The captain [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang] is a number nine, the other number nine is top goalscorer this season, Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah is a couple of years older than him and has also done well.

“If you want to keep waiting for your chance, before you know it you’re 23, and teams, managers will start picking up players who are more experienced in the Championship, who have 100 appearances to their name, instead of the guy from Arsenal who has played for England Under-19s.

“And that’s kind of what’s happened to me as well.”

Arteta, meanwhile, is positive about Balogun’s future at the club despite stalling on a deal.

“I’m still very positive that Flo (Balogun) is going to stay with us and it’s what we’re trying to do as a club, and it’s what I’m trying to do as a manager,” he said.

“As far as I know from last week, the player wants to be here, so I’m positive. I think he’s made some big progress in a few months.”

Justin Kluivert says seeing his team-mate and close friend Abdelhak Nouri collapse on the pitch for Ajax in 2017 was the worst moment of his life.

In 2017, Nouri, aged just 20 at the time, suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack in a friendly match against Werder Bremen, and was put into a medically-induced coma.

Nouri left hospital and returned home in early 2020 but his footballing career was ended as he suffered permanent brain damage, requiring round-the-clock care from his family.

Kluivert spoke to Goal about the emotional impact of seeing his friend, a Netherlands youth international taking his first steps in Ajax’s first team, have his career so cruelly taken away.

‘In one second, everything is different’

“That was the worst moment of my life,” Kluivert says. “I was just in shock, I couldn't believe it.

“One second you're still standing with him on the pitch and making jokes and the next second everything is different. It happened so incredibly quickly.

“I wanted to be alone [afterwards]. I am a person who deals with such emotional events by myself. I thought a lot, kept reminding myself of the many wonderful moments we shared with him.

“I have learned all over again in a new way that you have to value life because it can change from one moment to the next.”

Kluivert, now on loan at RB Leipzig, was one of a number of former Ajax players to adopt Nouri’s old shirt number 34 when he left for Roma in 2018.

“When I got to Roma, I wanted to use this gesture to express my love and support for my friend Appie.

“It was planned that I would wear the number 34 in my first season and then switch to the number 11. But [Aleksandar] Kolarov was still wearing the 11. Then I decided on my year of birth and took 99. That also worked out well.”

‘De Ligt is extraordinary, De Jong phenomenal’

Kluivert also spoke about two more of his former Ajax team-mates, Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.

The Eredivisie giants have had plenty of talented players come through in recent years but, asked to name his most talented team-mates, those two stood above the rest.

“Two guys come to mind here. One of them is Matthijs de Ligt, with whom I played together in my youth for years. He is one of the most extraordinary players in the world and one of the best defenders in his age group. The other team-mate is Frenkie de Jong.

“Matthijs' attitude was incredible. He went to the gym every day and even had fun doing it. He always had his goal in mind and worked like crazy to achieve that goal. I take my hat off to him.

“With Frenkie, I just loved his innate talent. When he had the ball at his feet, the fans could only be amazed. He has phenomenal technique.”

Further reading

Ever since the introduction of squad numbers for players, certain numbers have come to be associated with certain positions and types of players.

The No. 10, for example, is usually a skilled playmaker, a creative pivot point for a team such as Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi. The No. 9 has come to mean an out-and-out centre-forward and the No. 1 is, of course, usually reserved for the goalkeeper.

The increased commercialisation of the sport has even seen individual players build brands around their squad numbers, with Cristiano Ronaldo's 'CR7' empire perhaps the best example of that phenomenon.

Wearing a number within the traditional '1 to 11' is usually a sign of your status and generally speaking, the higher the number, the further you are from the first team.

There are, of course exceptions to that vague unwritten rule and one of the most notable examples in the Premier League nowadays is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The full-back has worn No. 66 for Liverpool ever since breaking into the first team in 2016-17 and, despite becoming the first-choice right-back, he has kept the number. 

Why does Trent Alexander-Arnold wear No. 66 for Liverpool?

There is no apparent personal meaning attached to the No. 66 for Alexander Arnold and the reason he continues to wear it is because he has never been too bothered about getting it changed.

According to Liverpool's kit management coordinator, Lee Radcliffe, the England international is too "laidback" to concern himself with getting a lower squad number.

"When we get any young lads that come down from the academy, we always deliberately try to give them a high-ish number," Radcliffe explained to Liverpool's official website in 2020.

"We don't like to give them a low number in case they sort of think they've made it straight away, if you know what I mean. 

"You pick it out because it's a free number and it's around that sort of number you think, 'We'll give that out because he's only just come down'. 

"When you see him now lifting trophies and celebrating with 66 on the back, it's a weird feeling and I can't really describe it. It's weird to see such a high number and for someone to be happy with it! 

"Someone like Trent has just been happy to be around the first team and obviously doesn't realise how good he is. He doesn't really ask for anything, to be honest.

"I think he's that laidback that he's obviously been given the number and thought, 'Yeah, that'll do me. I'll keep that', and not realised how iconic it's become over the years."

The unusual number has proven quite popular among Liverpool fans when purchasing replica jerseys, thanks, of course, to Alexander-Arnold's success as a local lad coming through the ranks.

And Radcliffe believes that it has become "iconic", with the full-back playing a crucial role in Liverpool's recent Champions League and Premier League triumphs.

"I think it's a number quite close to a lot of fans' hearts now, as well as staff, because it's a local lad that's come through," he explained.

"The amount of kids you see walking around in a '66', it's weird that it's actually stuck. It was one of them that you give out and expect a year later that it'll get passed on to someone else."

Does Trent Alexander-Arnold wear No. 66 for England?

No. Alexander-Arnold wears the No. 2 when playing for England. The No. 2 is traditionally worn by the right-back in any given team.

While high squad numbers are more of a phenomenon at clubs, where squads may have over 30 or 40 players (including reserve and youth team players), they don't generally exist in international football.

For most international tournaments, the requirement for teams is to have a squad of 23 players, numbered from one to 23.

Will Trent Alexander-Arnold keep the No. 66 jersey?

Responding to a fan's question on Twitter in 2020, Alexander-Arnold indicated that he wasn't sure if he would keep the No. 66 jersey, so his number could well change in the future.

He appeared to be somewhat attached to the number in the early days of his breakthrough at Anfield, signing social posts with '#66', but that is no longer a common feature in his online activity.

While the No. 2 jersey became available on Nathaniel Clyne's departure from Liverpool in 2020, it is possible, like Radcliffe says, that Alexander-Arnold will remain attached to 66 given how iconic it has become.

Footballers can be a superstitious bunch and maybe he'll have arrived at the conclusion that the number is a lucky charm of sorts, and that changing it may lead to a downturn in fortunes.

Indeed, it is not unheard of for players to associate certain numbers with their performances.

Former Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia, for example, decided to change from No. 7 - a number which weighs heavily at Old Trafford due to historical wearers - to No. 25 because he had "good fortune" in that shirt.

“‪There is no negative reason as to why I changed ‪it,” Valencia told United Review in 2013.

“I don’t want people to think that I wasn’t ‪doing my job for the team because of any added ‪pressure of wearing the number seven shirt, it was more ‪to do with the fact that 25 was the number I had ‪when I first came to the club and I played well ‪wearing that number.

“So I thought ‘why don’t ‪I go back to 25?’ because I had good times and ‪good fortune in that shirt.”

Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is looking forward to an intense Merseyside derby against Liverpool despite fans’ absence at Anfield on Saturday.

As part of regulations to contain the spread of coronavirus in England, fans have been restricted from entering football stadiums since last year but the Nigeria star disclosed how the Merseyside rivalry is in the city of Liverpool.

Iwobi said the atmosphere at Anfield is similar to having fans present and it can help Carlo Ancelotti’s side who are looking to end their three-game winless run in the Premier League.

Iwobi told BBC Sport Africa: “With the way Anfield is set up, it is almost like the fans are on the pitch so it may be a little bit of advantage for us but like I said, it is the Merseyside derby and both teams are going to be up for the game.

“I have not been able to go into town because of the coronavirus but I have seen red and blue cars I know what is what. Like when I go towards the stadium for games, I see red flags on houses, cars.”

Earlier this campaign, Iwobi was drafted to the right-back position due to injury crisis in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

The 24-year-old produced some fine displays in the defensive position and he attributed his early development in Arsenal academy for his quick adaption to the switch.

“Obviously growing up in the Arsenal system, I played in numerous positions so for me to play as right-back," he continued.

"I was not really lost as people would have thought, it was not really difficult for me to adjust. With Carlo Ancelotti, I've improved a bit more… if I beat a man I’m able to create chances for my teammates. That's what he wants me to do a bit more.”

Iwobi has featured in 20 Premier League matches this term and he has two assists and a goal for the Toffees who sit seventh in the league table.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims Daniel James’ “X-factor” has always been in his thoughts, despite the Manchester United winger sparking exit talk during the January transfer window.

The Wales international winger is in his second season at Old Trafford, with his potential having been snapped up from Swansea during the summer of 2019.

He does face fierce competition for places with the Red Devils, as he battles to fill a wide attacking berth, and questions have been asked of his long-term future.

What has been said?

United boss Solskjaer has sought to quash any talk of James falling out of favour. After seeing the 23-year-old find the target in a 4-0 Europa League win over Real Sociedad, he told the club’s official website: “Dan has always been in my mind. Always in contention.

“You can see his X-factor, his work-rate, his pace and his running in behind teams.

“I think he’s scored in his last couple of appearances now and he’s working every single day on improving his game so I’m delighted for him and he knows how much we value him.”

James’ record at United

The jet-heeled winger made 46 appearances for United during his debut campaign, scoring four goals.

He has already matched that return in end of product for 2020-21, but has been restricted to just 12 outings.

Only 357 Premier League minutes have been taken in, with James competing with the likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford for spots on the flanks under Solskjaer.

He has been making the most of recent opportunities, netting in back-to-back games against Southampton and Sociedad, and has found the net in five of his last eight appearances for club and country.

When does James’ contract run to?

United tied a promising talent to a five-year deal upon his arrival, with those terms due to run until 2024 – with the potential there for a further 12-month extension to be taken up.

He has seen it suggested that time could be spent away from Old Trafford as that agreement runs on, with Leeds still being linked with a player they came close to signing in January 2019.

Solskjaer appears to have space for James in his immediate plans, but it remains to be seen whether that stance will shift once another window swings open in the summer.

Further reading

Randy Waldrum has lauded the fantastic displays of the American-born duo of Toni Payne and Patricia George in Nigeria's 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow in their Turkish Women's Cup opener.

Payne and George completed their nationality switches to represent Nigeria in April 2019 but could not honour their earlier invitations by erstwhile coach Thomas Dennerby due to administrative problems.

After a long wait, they eventually fulfilled their dreams under coach Waldrum against CSKA at the Emir Sports Complex on Thursday.

They both put in assured performances as Waldrum’s side collected a clean sheet from a 1-0 win and launched their campaign on a winning note in the American tactician's first game in charge.

Sevilla star Payne featured from the start to finish on her first appearance for the African champions and the 64-year-old manager was full of praise for the 25-year-old forward.

"I was really pleased with them [Payne and George]," Waldrum told the media.

"I thought she [Payne] was really great today and I thought she's been playing up front for her club team.

"And I knew her in the US as a midfielder player and we put her in the midfield today and she really did a good job. She was dangerous and creative."

On the part of George, the SC Sand defender came on as a 76th-minute replacement for midfielder Halimatu Ayinde and Waldrum feels she was outstanding in her few moments on the pitch.

"We put her [George] in an unfamiliar position in the midfielder as well," he continued.

"She normally played upfront or outside back. Considering that, I thought she stepped on and did really well in those last few minutes." 

As Nigeria continue their campaign at the tournament against Uzbekistan on Saturday, Payne and George will be eager to see more minutes on the pitch and inspire their new side to success.

Lithuanian A Lyga champions Zalgiris have completed the signing of former Lazio and Trabzonspor midfielder Ogenyi Onazi on a free transfer.

Onazi has been a free agent since January 5 when he left Danish Super Liga club SonderjyskE by mutual agreement after he was restricted to just two league matches in six months.

Prior to the completion of the deal, the Nigeria star has been working his socks off with a personal training programme which he often shared on social media.

His arrival in Lithuania is expected to boost Zalgiris, who won their eighth top-flight title last November.

Onazi could make his debut in Lithuania when the Green-Whites battle cup winners Panevezys for the Super Cup on February 27.

Back in 2018, the Super Eagles midfielder's career took a blow when he ruptured his Achilles tendon while in action for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

The injury ruled him out of action for more than a year and his contract was terminated by the Black Sea Storm. The setback also made him miss the 2019 Afcon in Egypt where Nigeria finished third.

The 28-year-old immediately teamed up with Denizlispor on a short-term contract until the end of the 2019-20 season before he moved to Denmark.

Before he moved to Trabzonspor in 2016, Onazi spent four years at Lazio where he won the Coppa Italia in the 2012-13 campaign.

At international level, the Jos-born midfielder played for the Nigeria U17 and U20 teams before he made his Super Eagles debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Liberia in 2012.

He was a member of Stephen Keshi's team that won the 2013 Afcon in South Africa and he was also taken to two Fifa World Cup tournaments - in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.

Posta Rangers players were left surprised by the 'uncalled-for and surprising' change in the technical bench.

The Football Kenya Federation Premier League side parted ways with coach Sammy Omollo on February 4 with Stanley Okumbi taking his place.

The Mailmen chairman John Tanui went on to state the tactician was fired after failing to meet set objectives after the first 10 league matches.

"We did not see [the firing] coming and it caught us by surprise," a senior player at the club told Goal on Friday.

"I remember we were called to a meeting and told a new coach is coming and that 'Pamzo' will not be with us. It was something we did not expect and you could see the surprise on the faces of the players.

"As players, we felt it was an uncalled-for for decision to release the coach, who was close to making the team perform. We were not playing badly, the problem was on scoring and the coach had identified that. Then before fixing the problem, he was fired."

The former Harambee Stars coach came on board with Collins ‘Korea’ Omondi coming in as his assistant coach.

"We have no problem with whoever has been appointed; players have no say on who to be hired," our source continued.

"We will just do our job effectively and follow what we are being instructed. Whether the tactics given will work out or not, is up to the coach because he is answerable."

On Thursday, Okumbi was in charge of his first league game against Tusker at the Kasarani Annex and fell 4-1.

Teenage striker Henry Meja bagged a brace while Jackson Macharia and Luke Namanda struck once each. Ezekiel Okare scored the only goal for his team.

Prior to the game against the Brewers, the Mailmen had not conceded four goals in a match this season. The worst they suffered was a 3-0 loss to KCB FC in their campaign's opener. 

After Thursday's loss, the team is placed in the 14th position with 10 points. They have managed to get just one win, drawn seven, and lost four out of the 12 games played.

They have also scored eight goals in the process and conceded 15.

Manchester City say they have not made any offer to Lionel Messi, with the Barcelona forward’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The Argentine superstar is free to speak to non-Spanish clubs and has been linked with several leading European sides, with City and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain seen as the leading candidates.

It has been reported that the Premier League leaders made a revised offer for Messi but a club spokesperson has told Goal that the speculation is not true and that there have been no talks.

Messi to Man City: What’s the latest?

City have long been linked with a move for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, partly because of the opportunity to work with his former mentor Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League side are one of the few clubs that could afford his salary and there have been reports that a deal could also see him play for other sides in the City Football Group - including New York City FC.

Indeed, the suggestion that Messi could leave at the end of this season grew louder following Barca’s 4-1 home defeat to PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday, with their inconsisent campaign having again failed to pick up momentum.

But a club source has told Goal that City have made no offers for the forward, either in the summer or since then, and that there are currently no talks open.

When will Messi make a decision?

Messi, who turns 34 in June, will wait until the end of the season to decide his future and whether to extend his contract at Barca, where he has spent his entire professional career.

Goal has learned that Messi is tired of the constant media speculation and that he will make an announcement at the end of the season in terms of where he will be playing for the 2021-22 campaign and beyond.

Despite being in a position to be able to talk with other clubs, it is understood that the Argentine has decided against doing so.

Could Messi stay at Barca?

Messi has been the centre of speculation ever since last summer, when he attempted to leave Barca in order to seek a new challenge in his career.

He ultimately ended up staying at Camp Nou, however, with Messi exclusively revealing to Goal that he would stay at the club and honour his contract.

The rumours regarding Messi's future have not stopped since then, with a presidential election looming at the Catalan club, which will be held on March 7.

Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font are the three candidates for the post, although Goal has learned that Messi hasn't contacted any of them and intends to continue assuming a neutral stance.

Indeed, the election will not have an impact on whether or not he chooses to stay despite the various presidential candidates having discussed Messi's future as they jostle for position ahead of the elections.

Further reading:

Kepa Arrizabalaga claims to have “never thought about leaving Chelsea” and had “no problem” with Frank Lampard despite being dropped by the former Blues boss.

The most expensive goalkeeper in world football, with a £71 million ($99m) price tag hanging over his head, has endured a testing time of late.

Costly errors led to Edouard Mendy being drafted in as the new No.1 at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2020, with serious questions being asked of how long Kepa would stick around as understudy.

What has been said?

The 26-year-old goalkeeper has told Tiempo de Juego: “I have never thought about leaving Chelsea.

“In my very good [first] season we won the Europa League, qualified for the Champions League, and I was playing for the national team. The second year we changed coaches.

“With Lampard there had been no problem. I haven’t given my best version [and] it is true that I have not played how I wanted to play.”

How many games has Kepa played this season?

The Spain international started the 2020-21 campaign between the sticks for Chelsea.

He was, however, quickly replaced by Mendy and fell out of Premier League favour by mid-October.

After struggling in a 3-3 draw against Southampton, Kepa had to wait four months for his next top-flight appearance.

He was handed a starting berth by Thomas Tuchel for a 2-0 victory over Newcastle, having also lined up in an FA Cup win at Barnsley immediately prior to that.

Kepa is now up to nine outings for the season and hopes there will be more to come.

He has added on his battle for game time: “I have no problem with it [but] I want to turn it around. Start playing a bit. I want to be here, feel better and look to the future.

“I’m not getting carried away [with the back-to-back starts] but they felt good after inactivity. I hope soon I can play more.

“What I want is to feel important at Chelsea, get back in goal and enjoy myself.

“In my own mind, I believe I can do it. I’m not afraid. I want to feel more important and work for it. What will happen, we’ll see.”

Further reading

Wilfried Zaha says he will no longer take the knee before matches as he feels the practice is “degrading” and isn’t leading to real action on racism.

Premier League players chose to take the knee before matches over the summer in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, but many feel the meaning behind the gesture has been diluted.

In December, a survey from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) said that “players overwhelmingly support continuing this act of solidarity” but, with racist abuse of players making headlines on a near-daily basis, Zaha no longer sees the point.

Why is Zaha not taking the knee?

Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football summit, the 28-year-old explained: “I've said before that I feel like taking the knee is degrading and stuff because growing up my parents just let me know that I should be proud to be black no matter what and I feel like we should just stand tall.

"Because I feel like taking the knee now, it's becoming... we do it before games and even sometimes people forget that we have to do it before games.

"Trying to get the meaning behind it, it's becoming something that we just do now and that's not enough for me. I'm not going to take the knee, I'm not going to wear Black Lives Matter on the back of my shirt because it feels like it's a target.

"We're isolating ourselves, we're trying to say that we're equal but we're isolating ourselves with these things that aren't even working anyway, so that's my stand on it.

“I feel like we should stand tall and now I don't really tend to speak on racism and stuff like that because I'm not here just to tick boxes.

"Unless action is going to happen, don't speak to me about it."

Will players keep taking the knee?

For the time being, most Premier League players will continue with the knee, but criticism is beginning to mount.

In the Championship, promotion-chasing Brentford announced last week that they would no longer be kneeling before games.

A club statement said: “Like many of our fellow players at other clubs, no longer believe that this is having an impact. We believe we can use our time and energies to promote racial equality in other ways.”

Further reading

Ange N'Guessan and Raissa Feudjio have completed two-year contract extensions with Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Tenerife.

Cote d'Ivoire's N'Guessan joined from Barcelona in 2017, while Cameroon star Feudjio arrived from Finnish top-flight outfit Aland United in January 2019. 

N'Guessan scored eight goals along with several assists in 72 games for the Spanish side, while Feudjio had made 23 appearances since January 2019, including five outings this season.

The latest news means the African duo has penned new two-year contracts with for the Blue and Whites, indicating their futures at the club are not yet over as the team eyes a good finish this term.

“When the club offered me to renew I did not think about it, I accepted without hesitation because I like this project, which does not stop growing and I like living on the island," N'Guessan told the club website. 

"The people are very friendly and support us a lot, I hope we can celebrate more successes."

On the part of Feudjio, the midfielder confirmed: "I am very happy to be part of this great team. 

"Since I arrived in 2018 I have felt very supported, I thank all the employees, directors and colleagues for their help in adapting to the Island.

"I am happy here and I wish to succeed with the warriors." 

Before moving to Tenerife, the 25-year-old played for Turkey's Trabzon Idmanocagi, Finland's Merilappi United and Aland United.

At the international stage, she represented Cameroon at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, four Africa Women's Cups of Nations and the Canada 2015 and France 2019 Women's World Cups.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd said he does not expect Bongani Zungu to wear the club’s jersey again after he breached Scotland’s coronavirus lockdown protocols.

On Wednesday, Steven Gerrard disclosed that the Bafana Bafana midfielder alongside four other players, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude and academy goalkeeper Brian Kinnear attended a house party in Glasgow.

Gerrard, in his reaction, expressed his disappointment in the players who have now been dropped from the team and they are expected to face consequences which include paying fines.

The news also made Boyd – who scored over a century of goals for Rangers – furious and he stated that the identified players have not shown to be good examples to the younger ones.

He also added that the incident has capped Zungu’s unimpressive displays at the club after the Amiens loanee was handed his maiden Premiership start a fortnight ago.

"They've let themselves down, they've let their families down and they've let the club down,” Boyd told Sky Sports via Daily Record.

"Yes you can say that four of the five are young boys but it's no excuse, especially in this day and age. They are role models to the younger boys in the academy.

“The people in the academy will be saying to the youngsters: 'Look at what Nathan Patterson and look at what Dapo and Brian Kinnear have done to get to the level they've got to, in terms of being involved with the first team'. So they are role models to the younger ones in the academy and they've let themselves down.

"It was only a few months ago that it happened to a couple of their team-mates and they don't realise. I go back to the age thing. You can't use age as an excuse. Everybody knows what's going on in the world right now so they've made the mistake and they know that.

"Steven Gerrard has come out and said that he feels totally let down by them, and rightly so. When you consider that Bassey and Patterson have been in and around the first team for a number of months now, were on the verge of potentially being part of a title party, they're four games away from winning the league - that's not going to happen.

"Whether that is Steven Gerrard or Rangers speaking to the clubs they go on loan to, to see if they have bucked up their ideas as such. Zungu - I'd be very surprised if you see him in a Rangers jersey again."

"He's been a major disappointment since he's come to the football club and this just tops it all off."

Clinical Liverpool? It feels like an age since Jurgen Klopp’s team produced finishing of the highest quality, but they found their scoring boots on Tuesday night in the 2-0 win over RB Leipzig.

It seemed fitting that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane got the goals, too, something that’s largely been a rare occurrence for the Reds this term.

Excluding that FA Cup game against a weakened Aston Villa side in January, the last time the pair scored while playing together came in that 5-0 thrashing of Atalanta in Bergamo in early November.

Strangely, it’s happened just once all season in the Premier League, when the defending league champions played out a 2-2 draw at Everton in October. They face the same side on Saturday looking to reprise performances from that game at Goodison Park nearly four months ago, and Tuesday’s goals sets things up nicely.

Many observers reckoned the Reds looked improved against the German outfit, oddly failing to take into account Klopp’s side haven’t been as poor as their lack of results since thrashing Crystal Palace 7-0 in December have suggested.

Admittedly, defeats by Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City at Anfield hurt due to the excellent showings of the visitors, dropped points at home to West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United and Burnley rankled somewhat as the Merseyside giants arguably did enough to get more than 1-1, 0-0 and a 1-0 loss respectively in the three games.

Their bad luck on the road was magnified by that 3-1 loss at the hands of Leicester City last time out in the PL, a defeat that came despite controlling proceedings at the King Power Stadium for large periods until Brendan Rodgers’ tactical tweak prompted a late collapse.

Similarly, the Reds looked the more cohesive unit against Leipzig on Tuesday and got the victory their encouraging performance merited on the balance of play.

Of course, they had the woodwork to thank in the fifth minute when Dani Olmo’s header hit the frame of the goal and Alisson Becker’s fine stop a minute into the second half to deny Christopher Nkunku, while their goals came about after egregious errors in the Bundesliga side’s backline.

Be that as it may, after the recent ill-fated games, perhaps Liverpool were due the rub of the green.

Indeed, Salah and Mane coming up trumps against a side that came into the round of 16 first-leg encounter on the back of four straight top flight wins with only one goal conceded in that run was a big deal but they must now build on that win in the coming weeks.

False dawns can no longer be stomached, especially as participation in Europe’s top club competition next season now seems under threat.

Mane needs to find the net consistently and avoid the short-lived joy that’s followed since he thrived in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in January, although an ill-timed injury after that win at Spurs hasn’t helped.

His Egyptian teammate has netted five times in as many games, though, and the mere fact 80 percent of the North African’s recent strikes have been open-play goals offer even more promise.

However, the forwards’ difficulty in front of goal on their turf has mirrored the team’s general malaise on Merseyside of late in which neither has netted an in-play strike at Anfield since the Senegal striker’s opener vs The Albion on December 27.

Salah netted from 12 yards when Manchester City ran riot 4-1 but the ongoing lean spell excluding spot-kicks dates to December 16 when Klopp’s team defeated Jose Mourinho’s team 2-1.

Liverpool welcome city rivals Everton this weekend, searching for their first win on their stomping ground in two months. The recent challenges are beyond perplexing owing to their run of 25 wins and a draw before playing out that 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion a couple of months ago.

Even more worrying is the run of three defeats on the spin, the first of which halted an impressive 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield. They’ve lost the air of invincibility at their sacred home but facing the Jekyll and Hyde Toffees adds to the emotion and desire to return to winning ways.

Their fortress may have been reduced to rubble going by the last three results but losing to Everton, a side they haven’t suffered defeat against in 20 games will represent a huge blow and lessen the gratification felt on Tuesday night.

Mane insinuated that Champions League success gave the beleaguered defending league champions the template to rack up much-needed wins after a difficult period since the backend of 2020.

Now, he and Salah have to walk the talk and rise to the occasion against the blue half of Merseyside.