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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to see work from his forwards on the training pitch to be more clinical with their finishing after their failure to take their chances cost them three points against Arsenal.

Edinson Cavani missed two big chances to give United the win at the Emirates, which would have sent them back to within a point of Manchester City at the top of the table. The Uruguayan's connection was slightly off both times and, as a result, Solskjaer’s side came back to Manchester with just a point.

The stalemate means they have failed to score from open play against Arsenal (twice), Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham this season, which is something Solskjaer knows he needs his forward line to work on.

“Of course you look at every game but you look at the games we played Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Liverpool. We defend well, we don’t really concede many chances. That’s one foundation to play from we need to take our chances and we know we have players to do that; we just haven’t done it,” Solskjaer explained.

“We just want to keep on working with them on the training ground. Today with the chances we had we feel that we should have won it but then you have to score to win definitely that’s something I want my forwards to sort out, they’ve scored so many goals throughout their careers.”

Cavani, who has barely put a foot wrong since he signed in the summer window, had the best chances one in the 58th minute from close range which somehow went wide.

Then in the 89th minute, he missed from six yards out with a last-gasp bicycle kick that was wide of the post. However, Solskjaer has absolutely no doubts over the 33-year-old forward’s ability.

“I just look at his movement and his cleverness in his movement and I know exactly how fine margins there are," Solskjaer said. "You’ve got to open up your ankle a little bit on the first one as the goal is gaping and the second one is just hit the ball a touch earlier so you can get your foot around it.

That's half a centimetre on your foot and you have to do it so quickly. The big thing is that he’s there on the end of all the chances, which is something I hope Mason (Greenwood), Anthony (Martial), Marcus (Rashford) look at him and learn from him.”

The United boss is now looking for a reaction from his team as they host Southampton at Old Trafford on Tuesday night before Everton visit next weekend.

“We don’t think about the title race or the title now. We’re in January," Solskjaer said. "We’re just focusing on getting back on the road.

"The disappointment on Wednesday was big, but today gives us more belief again because we feel we dominated and created enough big chances to win the game. You can never control that result though.

"The reaction and the approach to the game was good. I felt the first half was very good. Now we’re on the road again and we’ll go on Tuesday.”

Despite lifting their first-ever Premier League trophy last season, Liverpool have experienced an ueven campaign defending their title - their star forwards going through a scoreless rough patch and the myriad of injuries sustained not helping the situation.

The Reds have been missing key players such as Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota - so when are they expected to return? Goal takes a look.

Virgil van Dijk is expected to be ruled out for the majority of the season, if not the remainder of it, after picking up a serious ACL injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

The Netherlands centre-back underwent successful surgery in London, though Liverpool have not put a firm timeline on his return.

Klopp has been coy to comment on van Dijk's situation further, despite the defender being pictured working with coaches on his rehabilitation: 

"I have no problem talking about Virgil van Dijk. The progress is very good but there is still a long way to go," he said.

"I would like to say something else but these are the facts unfortunately."

Meanwhile, Joe Gomez is set to miss the rest of the season, with Klopp conceding that he would be surprised if the defender were to play again this campaign.

Klopp said: “Will he be available this season? When does the season end, May? It will be close at least I would say. I don’t expect ... well, I would be positive surprised if he would be back this season, to be honest.”

There is better knews for Diogo Jota, who is due to return in early February after picking up a knee injury in the 1-1 Champions League group stage fixture against Midtjylland in December.

He was given a time frame of roughly two months for his injury, which would mean that he should be back in the squad soon.

It is a timely return as well, given how Liverpool have been struggling to score as of late: "How much I miss him is not important. I am not allowed to miss him. He is not there and we deal with it," said Klopp.

Fabinho was forced to miss out on the Tottenham game in January due to a minor muscle issue, with Klopp refusing to go in-depth on his expected return date - though confirmed that he will miss out on the West Ham game.

There will be another longer wait for the return of Naby Keita, who has not played for the Reds since the impressive 7-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on December 19 – with his timeline unknown.

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool will be without Fabinho for Sunday's Premier League match against West Ham.

The midfielder has been a crucial player for the Reds this season, having filled in at centre-back amid the injury crisis they have faced this season.

Fabinho missed Thursday's 3-1 win against Tottenham with a muscle problem and the manager has ruled out the possibility of him returning to the team for the clash with David Moyes' side.

"There are still glimpse of hope that it's not that serious," he told reporters.

"We don't have the final result because the scan didn't happen yet, so we'll know more in three or four hours, hopefully. No chance for the weekend."

The German coach was asked if the Anfield side will try to bring in another central defender before the January transfer window closes.

"I don’t know but we will try. It would be funny when you all think: ‘Ahh, Liverpool is just fine with the situation, they don’t care and they don’t try’," he replied. 

"We try, but how you know, there’s nothing to say until something happens so we will see. The situation yesterday didn’t make it easier or whatever but it’s still just that we try to do the right things. If that’s possible we will do it, if not then not."

Liverpool are fourth in the table and two points above Sunday's opponents, who have won their last four matches in the league.

Klopp has been impressed by the east London team's form and is happy to see them shine under Moyes.

He said: "I am really pleased for David, to be honest. [He had] such a long and successful spell at Everton and then from that moment on maybe the timing was a little bit tricky with Manchester United and then with all the other clubs it was just like: ‘Is it the right moment?’ You have to go there and you have to fix it immediately.

"Now he got the time and he shows again his capability of building successful teams. So we will face them, that’s clear.

"The position in the table is obviously one thing but being third or fourth or whatever in late January is now not exactly what is the most important thing, there are other moments when it is much more important where you stand but of course we didn’t start fighting last night.

"We fought a lot in the other games as well but last night was a really important game for us with important aspects and that’s the plan - to bring this again on the pitch on Sunday."

Lens defeated Montpellier 2-1 in Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash with Gael Kakuta and Cheick Doucoure finding the net.

Having suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Nice their last time out, Franck Haise’s men picked all three points at stake against Michel Der Zakarian’s side - who are winless in their last seven French elite division outings.

With just seven minutes into the game, the Blood and Gold took the lead through Doucoure who got the better of Dimitry Bertaud. Profiting from a poorly cleared corner kick by Montpellier defenders, the Malian rifled an unstoppable shot past the stranded goalkeeper.

The hosts put up a good fight in their quest to level matters, but their energies met strong resistance from the visitors who put up a solid defensive showing.

In the second half, La Paillade came out sturdier but it was the visitors who got their second goal through a beauty from Kakuta in the 67th minute thanks to an assist from Doucoure.

Eleven minutes later, substitute Elye Wahi pulled one goal back for the hosts. The 18-year-old French youth international of Ivorian descent put his bicycle kick past goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca after Junior Sambia had launched a cross into Lens’ goal area.

Despite a late surge by Der Zakarian’s team, they were unable to avoid defeat as they extended their winless streak to eight.

Doucoure and compatriot Massadio Haidara were in action from start to finish for the visiting side, while Kakuta was replaced in the 72nd minute by Tony Mauricio. French forward of Congolese descent Arnaud Muinga was brought in for Simon Banza, whereas, Guinea's Issiaga Sylla, Ivorian midfielder Seko Fofana, Cape Verde's Steven Fortes and Cameroon's Ignatius Ganago played no part in the triumph.

For the hosts, South Africa's Keagan Dolly was handed his third start of the 2020-21 campaign, albeit, he came off for Arnaud Souquet in the 63rd minute but Algeria's Andy Delort, Congo's Beni Makouana and Cameroon's Ambroise Oyongo were unused substitutes.

Thanks to this win, Lens moved to sixth in Ligue 1 log having accrued 34 points from 22 outings, with Montpellier occupying 11th spot with 28 points from the same number of matches.

Ghana winger Tariqe Fosu scored his third goal in three days for Brentford while Ugandan striker Uche Ikpeazu and Zimbabwe forward Admiral Muskwe found the back of the net for Wycombe Wanderers who suffered a 7-2 defeat in their Championship encounter on Saturday.

The Ghanaian's double helped ensure three points for The Bees in the matchweek 27 fixture at Brentford Community Stadium.

The two goals were Fosu's second successive day of scoring for Brentford following his effort to ensure a 1-1 draw with Swansea City on Wednesday. This season, the 25-year-old has so far registered four goals in 18 Championship appearances involving six starts.

Ikpeazu's strike was his third of the season, having so far made 10 league appearances involving four starts.

For Muskwe, it was his debut goal for Wycombe since sealing a loan transfer from Leicester City in January, the game was his second for The Blues.

Ethan Pinnock broke the deadlock for Brentford in the ninth minute, firing in from eight yards after Mathias Jensen delivered a ball into the box.

Ikpeazu, also of Nigerian heritage, hit back for Wycombe five minutes later to make it 1-1, driving a shot into the corner of the net.

Four minutes to half-time, Fosu restored Brentford's two-goal lead with a rebound after goalkeeper Ryan Allsop parried Ivan Toney's volley.

Wycombe, however, would not go into the break without levelling the score as Muskwe nodded home from close range after Darius Charles headed a free-kick across goal.

After the interval, Fosu registered his second goal of the game as he fired a low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

Toney then registered a goal of his own in the 56th minute to make it 4-2 before Sergi Canos added another goal in the 81st minute.

Four minutes to full-time, Toney joined Fosu on the table of doubles with a strike to make it 6-2, before Joshua Da Silva grabbed the last goal of the match.

The win has left Brentford third on the league table while Wycombe sit bottom of the log.

Fosu will hope to continue his fine form to earn a call-up for Ghana's 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in March.

The former England youth attacker made his debut for the Black Stars last year after switching international allegiance from the country of his birth.

Youssef En-Nesyri was in action as Sevilla secured a 2-0 victory over Eibar in Saturday’s La Liga game at Ipurua Municipal Stadium.

The 23-year-old was handed his 13th league start and helped Julen Lopetegui’s men extend their winning run to five games.

The forward has been delivering spectacular performances for the Palanganas this season, having already registered 12 league goals for the club.

The Morocco international formed a three-man attack for Sevilla along with Lucas Ocampos and Suso and impressed, although he could not add to his goal haul in the encounter, he won a penalty for his side.

The game started on a high tempo as both sides aimed to outwit each other and in the 17th minute, En-Nesyri suffered a reckless challenge from Senegal’s Pape Diop, who was subsequently cautioned.

Ocampos opened the scoring in the 28th minute for the Palanganas, converting from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic brought down En-Nesyri in the box.

The 23-year-old then came close to double his side’s lead in the half-hour mark when he fired a long-range strike but the effort missed the target by a whisker.

Joan Jordan then sealed the victory in the 55th minute with a well-taken strike after receiving a timely assist from Aleix Vidal.

Despite Eibar's efforts to try and avoid defeat in the encounter, Sevilla did enough to secure all three points.

En-Nesyri featured for the duration of the game, had 43 touches on the ball, won nine aerial contests and had a 60 percent successful pass rate in the game.

The forward has now made 29 appearances across all competitions, scoring 16 goals amid other dazzling displays for the side.

The victory moved Sevilla to the third position on the La Liga table after gathering 39 points from 20 games.

En-Nesyri will be expected to continue his impressive performances when Sevilla take on Almeria in a Cup tie on February 2.

Simba SC have explained the reason behind the Simba Super Cup which will culminate at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The competition brought together hosts Simba, Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Al-Hilal of Sudan, and saw Simba beat the Sudanese side 4-1 in the opening battle on Wednesday.

The second match saw Al-Hilal recover to beat TP Mazembe 2-1 on Friday and the latter will now face Simba in the final match at the same venue on Sunday.

Simba chairman Mohammed Dewji has now revealed plans to host the tournament every year, saying their intention is to use it to build Simba as a brand across Africa.

“My brothers from Simba, I would like to inform you we in the leadership of Simba have committed ourselves and put strategies to ensure we will win the FA Cup, and get far in the Caf Champions League,” Dewji said in a signed statement obtained by Goal.

“We are also continuing with strategies to ensure our club is building brand and best features in Africa and around the world. Part of the strategy is this is the competition we hosted for Simba Super Cup, which has been successfully received and well across Africa.

“Our intention is to do this Simba Super Cup competition every year, we have already started preparing for this competition for the upcoming season where we will increase the number of large teams in Africa.

“Our intention is to run this competition itself into a business. The source of finance for this competition is:- sponsors, promotional payments, entries, and my personal contribution.”

Dewji also called on Simba fans to grace the final game against Mazembe on Sunday, saying they have a role to play in making the competition a success.

“My special call to you is that, for the upcoming competition to be better, I request you to come to the field, we fill the field in these matches,” Dewji continued.

“When we come in large numbers we will have succeeded in four things: - we have contributed to our club in income, we have given this competition of dignity and respect, we have attracted other big teams to come and participate, and we have encouraged our players and encourage them.

“So, I request you to come to the stadium in large numbers in our match with TP Mazembe on Sunday, plus we can watch the match on TV but income will come to Simba, and we will be able to do bigger things if we come to football.

“Show us love and patriotism for our club by coming to the match. This will also encourage us, leaders, to continue to design and implement great and great things.”

In the Champions League, Simba have been drawn to play defending champions Al-Ahly of Egypt, AS Vita from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh in Group A.

Lee Grant admits to feeling like a “zombie” at times as third-choice goalkeeper at Manchester United, with the 38-year-old mulling over a summer move as he works his “balls off” to prove that he can prolong a lengthy playing career.

The veteran shot-stopper has been at Old Trafford since 2018, but has taken in just two competitive appearances after finding himself stuck behind the likes of David de Gea, Sergio Romero and Dean Henderson.

Having previously been a regular for Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and Derby, Grant is weighing up whether or not to have one more shot at being first-choice somewhere before the day comes to hang up his gloves.

He has told The Sun: “It doesn’t matter how long into your career you are, you still find that frustration on a Saturday when you’re not playing.

“I know I’m at Manchester United, you’ve got some of the best goalkeepers in the world in front of you but you still have that personal pride and professionalism. You want to play. In one respect being a No. 3 here is ideal.

“Then in another respect, if you speak to my wife, she’ll say: ‘I need to get him playing because he comes home and from one minute to the next, I don't know what I'm dealing with’.

“I’m walking in like a zombie moaning that I’m still good enough to play and I’m training my balls off, working at a hard level. I then want that reward at the end, which is the weekend's game. And that's the bit you miss.

“Sometimes she’ll say: ‘Just go and play then if it’s doing your head in that much’. And then I’ll go: ‘Well, what’s the big picture again?’.”

He added: “I’m looking at what next year looks like for me. An ideal scenario would be that United are loving what they are getting from me and let’s look at another year. But I’ve got to look at it from my own perspective.

“Do I want to spend whatever time is left of my career, doing what I’m doing? Or do I want to go and have one last hurrah somewhere, a little swan song?”

Grant will remain a back-up option for as long as he is on United’s books, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already facing the headache of how to keep De Gea and Henderson happy.

“I think the manager’s handled that situation wonderfully well because, actually, at the start of the season there were big question marks on how that was going to work and the dynamics within the group. He’s managed to keep two very good goalkeepers happy,” Grant said.

“There are lots of ifs, buts and maybes to happen between now and the end of the season with other goalkeepers and their situations. Currently you’ve got David, Deano and myself as the three senior keepers. And then we’ve got a young lad, Nathan Bishop, who is a wonderful young talent.

“There’s lots of water to go under the bridge with Sergio Romero and his situation, the young keepers and whether they will be going out on loan for experience — which would then maybe mean that there are still opportunities here for me, so I don’t know.

“Part of the reason I came here was that I get a chance and the opportunity to be around top players, World Cup winners, Champions League winners, Premier League winners, and be in that elite environment.

“I want to coach and I want to manage, you see. So being at Manchester United gives me a wonderful platform to go on and do that stuff.”

Gor Mahia captain Kenneth Muguna says his good form is not enough to help the team get maximum points against Bandari in their FKF Premier League game to be played at Mbaraki Stadium on Sunday.

Despite being inconsistent in the league, the skipper has been in form, and on Wednesday, he scored in the 3-0 win over Zoo FC as well as initiating another move which ended with the ball in the net in favour of his charges.

The 24-year-old is, however, adamant that he cannot give his best without the help of his teammates.

"My form is not enough to help the team get maximum points against Bandari. It is all about teamwork, we have to help each other. If I happen to be struggling, my teammates can make me shine," Muguna told Goal.

"I might as well be on top of my game but end up losing because it is not about individual effort but teamwork."

Since his appointment as the Dockers' coach, Rwandan Andre Casa Mbungo has not tasted defeat. He has helped his charges get four points from their two games against Kakamega Homeboyz and Mathare United.

"It is going to be a tough game for sure because we are all aware how tough Bandari are," the former Western Stima player stated.

"We are going to give our best and as usual, go for maximum points. It is the gift we can give our fans and our supporters. But it will not come easily, we have to toil and take our chances." 

The champions will be welcoming back winger Nicholas Kipkirui who was suspended.

"It is a boost for us because he will give us options in the attacking department. He is an experienced player who has been with us for some time and we are happy to have him back," Muguna concluded.

After seven games, Gor Mahia are seventh with 12 points that have come from three wins.

They have lost three games - against Tusker, Karioangi Sharks and Vihiga United - and must be very careful not to suffer defeat against the Coastal side in order not to complicate their title defence campaign further.

Yanga SC have stressed the importance of signing striker Fiston Abdoul Razak on deadline day of the mini-transfer window.

The former Sofapaka striker arrived at the Jangwani giants on January 15 but he had to wait until Friday when he landed in Dar es Salaam to put pen to paper on a short-term deal of six months.

Yanga official Antonio Nugaz has now revealed the reason behind signing the much-travelled striker, who has also played for JS Kabylie, LLB Academic, Rayon Sports, CSMD Diables Noirs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bloemfontein Celtic, C.D. Primeiro de Agosto, and Al-Zawra'a SC.

“’[Razak] has simply come to entertain fans, he has come to help us win the league title, it is our time to enjoy and win titles and he has arrived to help us achieve that,” Nugaz said as quoted by Sokalabongo.

“Our main target this season is to win the league title and also the domestic Cup, we want to seal the season with a double and that is why Razak is here, he will make our fans happy, he has already promised me the number of goals he will score but I will not reveal that.”

On signing for the team, Razak promised the club's fans he will help the team to win the Mainland Premier League this season.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all the fans for coming to welcome me at the airport, I am happy to be here and it is now my turn to repay you with good displays,” Razak told reporters at Julius Nyerere International Airport after touching down in Tanzania on Friday.

“The only promise I can make to the fans is that I will use all my strength to help the club achieve their targets, and also give the fans entertainment by scoring as many goals as possible.

“We want to perform well, I want to assure the fans I will do well, I want us to ask God to lead us, and all I know this year, we will do well and I know we will also carry the league title.”

Yanga, who are currently topping the 18-team league table with 44 points from 18 matches, also signed defender Dickson Job from Mtibwa Sugar.

Kampala Capital City Authority have posted an improved financial report for the year 2019/2020.

According to a financial statement obtained by Goal, KCCA's performance saw a smaller net loss compared to what the club posted previously. In the previous year, the Kasasiro Boys posted losses amounting to Ush527 million as compared to the current figure of Ush42 million, a difference of Ush485 million.

“It gives me more pleasure to report to you yet another year of great improvement in the financial performance of KCCA FC. Our financial performance improved for the year 2019/2020 compared to 2018/2019,” a statement signed by the chairman, Martin Ssekaja said.

“The club reported a net loss of Ush42 million for 2019/20 compared to Ush527 for 2018/19 and we are grateful to all the stakeholders who made it possible. Special mention goes to Fufa for offloading the cost of air travel for clubs that represented the country in the Caf competitions.

“In addition, we made a substantial improvement on our path to making the club self-sustaining as the revenue from football activities increased in 2019/2020 to 76% of total revenue compared to 67% for the financial year of 2019/2019.

“This was achieved by improving players’ sales revenue, merchandise, and better collection of stadium hire revenues.”

The 13-time Premier winners expect the effects of the coronavirus pandemic to have an impact on their financial health this season but have stated they are committed to improving the club’s sustainability.

“The football industry, just like any other sectors were greatly affected by Covid-19 and the impact of this pandemic is expected to continue into the new season,” the statement added.

“However, we are looking at various avenues through which the club can generate more revenue to keep KCCA the leading team in Cecafa.

“Great improvement has also been made in the current ratio of the club. Whereas the club is not yet where we want, the liquidity of the club in the financial year 2019/2020 shows a great improvement.

“We commit to operating a good financial model that keeps the standard of the club as a continental brand while we pursue self-sustainability.”

The improved financial report comes days after the local giants revealed Sarjan Construction Company had been handed the contract to improve their home stadium at Lugogo, a process that will run for at least two years.