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AC Milan's superb form in Serie A this season has seen the club write themselves into the history books following their 3-2 victory against Lazio on Wednesday, as Stefano Pioli's side continue to establish their serious Scudetto bona-fides.

The Rossoneri have been among the pacesetters in the Italian top flight, with serious daylight already between the top two of them and rivals Inter, and the rest of the chasing pack, including incumbent title holders Juventus.

The Bianconeri's midweek defeat to Fiorentina on Tuesday meant that, heading into their last match ahead of Christmas, Pioli's side remained the only unbeaten outfit across Europe's top five leagues.

With their win at San Siro, they added another notch to their cap for the 2020-21 campaign, becoming the first side for over 70 years to score two-plus goals in at least 15 consecutive games over a single calendar year across the same clutch of competitions.

Finishes from Ante Rebic, Hakan Calhanoglu and Theo Hernandez means that Milan have become only the second team to achieve the feat, following in the footsteps of Barcelona, who managed to go 18 games on the trot in 1948 with at least double successes in front of goal.

Fired by the scoring exploits of legendary attacker Cesar Rodriguez, the Blaugrana achieved title triumphs in La Liga in both 1947-48 and 1948-49, which may yet prove a promising omen for Pioli as he looks to break Juve's long-term stronghold on the Serie A crown.

Save a solitary 3-0 defeat to Lille in the Europa League group stages in November, the club are yet to lose a match across all competitions this term and remain among the favourites for both domestic and continental success.

It marks a remarkable run of form across multiple fronts, albeit one that was nearly scuppered in early October after Calhanoglu was required to find a 120th-minute finish in extra-time to force a penalty shootout against Rio Ave to secure European football.

With three more points now claimed, Milan will take Christmas and the new year off, returning to action on January 3 against Benevento following a festive rest period.

Mesut Ozil has admitted it is a difficult and frustrating time for him at Arsenal, but is hopeful that results improve for the club.

The former Germany international has tumbled completely out of favour at the Emirates, and his name does not feature on their Premier League squad list.

The midfielder’s most recent appearance for the club - which could turn out to be his last - came in the 1-0 win over West Ham on March 7.

There has been speculation that Ozil could be found a route out of the club in January, otherwise he will in all probability depart on a free transfer next summer.

While he has been sidelined, Ozil has been active on social media, and on Wednesday evening he conducted a question and answer session on Twitter.

He was asked if he was happy at Arsenal, to which he replied: “It’s a very difficult time for everyone around the club – not just for me. 

“The situation is frustrating for everyone. 

“Of course I would wish I could help the team especially right now, but as long as I don’t get the chance I just hope that we get better results very soon again.”

The “difficult time“ is in reference to the winless run on the domestic front that stretches back to November 1, and has seen Arsenal slip towards the relegation places.

The Gunners are sat in 15th in the table, a mere four points above the drop zone.

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said on Wednesday that Arsenal were relegation rivals.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has offered little hope of Ozil returning to the fold any time soon, but he does have that option in January when he can make changes to his Premier League squad.

Arteta is the third person to manage the Gunners following the departure of Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman brought Ozil to Arsenal from Real Madrid, and the 32-year-old has described Wenger as a father figure.

“He was really a fantastic manager – yeah,” Ozil wrote. “And also like a father figure for me and many other players.

“I think many people around Arsenal are really missing him.”

Casemiro and Karim Benzema struck as Real Madrid beat Granada 2-0 to claim their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions and keep pace with LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane's men have lifted the gloom that hung over the club during a torrid run of results in November and they ensured their fans a merry Christmas with a hard-fought win over a dangerous Granada side.

Madrid survived a number of early scares as Granada attempted to extend their three-game unbeaten LaLiga streak but improved dramatically after half-time, when Casemiro broke the deadlock with a fine header – the first time he has scored in three successive home games in Spain's top flight.

Karim Benzema added further gloss in stoppage time, ensuring Madrid moved level on points with rivals Atleti, but Diego Simeone's men have two games in hand.

Antonio Puertas squandered a chance to give Granada the lead in the opening minute, firing high and wide following Raphael Varane's error

Karim Benzema hit the side netting at the other end, but Thibaut Courtois' fumble almost gifted Kennedy an easy finish, only for the winger to hesitate and hit tamely into the goalkeeper's arms.

A difficult first half for the champions was capped off in the 35th minute – Rodrygo Goes having to be taken off on a stretcher after pulling up through injury.

Madrid laid siege to the Granada goal early in the second half, Marco Asensio hitting the post before Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde drew good saves from Rui Silva.

Yet the breakthrough came 12 minutes into the half when Asensio delivered a floated cross which Casemiro powered into the bottom corner of Silva's net.

Lucas Vasquez curled a 25-yard shot narrowly over the crossbar before Madrid endured some late Granada pressure, but Benzema capped off the result in the last minute when he broke down the right, cut onto his left foot, and dragged a 20-yard shot into the far corner.

What does it mean? All-Madrid title tussle on the cards?

Madrid's tumultuous form earlier in the season looked set to hand Atletico a clear run at the title but Zidane has inspired a resurgence that could lead to an intense cross-city race for LaLiga, with Barcelona adrift in fifth place.

Kroos the key

Toni Kroos made three key passes as Madrid turned the screw on Granada, and the Germany international's vision helped Los Blancos unpick a well organised defence.

Kroos also registered two attempts, one of which forced Silva into a smart stop.

Soldado fails to fire

Granada coach Diego Martinez hooked striker Roberto Soldado 16 minutes from time, by which point the veteran campaigner had failed to muster a single shot on goal despite some sloppy defending from the hosts.

Key Opta Facts

- Madrid have won their last 11 LaLiga games against Granada, scoring 3.3 goals per game on average. It is their longest winning run against a single opponent, among the LaLiga 2020/21 teams.
- Los Blancos have now scored 6,201 times in LaLiga. Only Barcelona, with 6,203 to their name, have previously reached this figure.
- Kroos has played his 200th match for Madrid in LaLiga, with 190 of them as a starter. Uli Stielike was the only German to have played more matches for Los Blancos in this competition (215).
- Benzema has scored 13 goals in 15 matches against Granada in LaLiga, his favourite opponent in the competition (level with Athletic Bilbao).
- With his assist against Granada, Asensio has finished a run of 19 games without scoring or providing both in all competitions.

What's next?

Madrid travel to Elche in LaLiga on December 30, while Granada entertain Valencia at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side Nairobi City Stars want to see the evidence after racial allegations were made against their coach Sanjin Alagic following Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Vihiga United.

As initially reported by Goal, the Bosnian allegedly used a racist word after becoming frustrated during the match. The visitors threatened to boycott the game in protest but were convinced otherwise.

"The allegations are grave, to say the least, and as a club, we have launched immediate investigations on the same," the club communicated via their official portal.

"The entire top brass of the club – chair Jonathan Jackson, CEO Patrick Korir and team coordinator Samson Otieno watched the game at very close range and we are aware of the coach's lamentation at refereeing decisions which led him to confront the fourth official time and again.

"In fact, they were at all times close enough to see and hear the engagement of the coach. At one point the chair Jonathan walked up to him asking him to lessen his complaints to the referee which he did for the entirety of the second half.

"We also took note of the exchange of words between some of our players and those from Vihiga United at that very moment."

The 2019/20 National Super League champions have now promised to investigate the matter, vowing to take action if the tactician is found guilty.

"To get us to the bottom of the matter, we have asked for the footage of the recorded game and would urge anyone who was close by to share any videos and audios that can provide evidence on the same," the statement continued.

"Should there be any evidence we will take immediate action as our club policy does not condone any form or kind of racism as we believe in respect and dignity to all.

"By the same token, should no clear evidence be provided, as we expect, we will request a formal retraction and strong apology from those that have made these allegations and will pursue all means necessary to ensure that the names and reputations of all involved are not tarnished by the frivolity of a few.

"The matter is serious and we will treat it with the seriousness that it deserves."

43-year-old Alagic was appointed City Stars coach last year and oversaw their promotion back to the top flight after a four-year absence.

The Sarajevo-born coach, who holds a Uefa Pro License, held the reins for Bosnia's U21 team until 2019, having also worked at club sides in his homeland, as well as in Slovakian football, and in the Middle East.

Simba wa Nairobi are now fifth in the FKF Premier League on eight points after five matches, having scored five and conceded two goals. 

Vihiga United are 12th, and await their second victory of the season, having lost three of their five matches to date.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has hit out at Dele Alli, accusing the midfielder of creating “problems for his own team” in his side's 3-1 win over Stoke in the Carabao Cup.

Alli was handed a rare start at Stoke on Wednesday and looked dangerous on occasions in attack, seeing a goal-bound strike saved by Andy Lonergan in the first half.

However, he was at fault for Stoke’s goal when a flick gifted possession to the home side – and it was an action that angered his coach.

"For me a player who plays in that position is a player that has to link and create and not create problems for his own team,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference. “They got us on the counterattack, so yes I was angry.

“First half we were solid. They didn't touch the ball, have a shot, have a corner. Instead of killing the game we kill ourselves. After that was a moment we needed stability and attitude.”

Stoke’s goal through Jordan Thompson, which cancelled out a header from Gareth Bale, came on 53 minutes - with Alli withdrawn on 66 minutes. Spurs would go on to win through goals from Ben Davies and Harry Kane.

With Alli struggling for minutes, the game at Stoke was a shop window to impress - and it could be some time before Mourinho pins his faith in the 24-year-old again.

Mourtinho has an excellent record in the Carabao Cup, as he has won it on four previous occasions - three times with Chelsea and once with Manchester United - and he says his side will fight for the trophy.

“Two very difficult matches,” he said. “The teams who are there will be difficult. We are in the semi-finals and we will be there to fight.”

Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Harry Winks turned in a man-of-the-match display and was happy to get some playing time under his belt.

“I was really pleased,” Winks told Sky Sports . “It has been tough minutes wise, so to come into a game of this intensity is always difficult when you haven't had as many minutes as you want.

“The boys were brilliant, we pulled ourselves through it. It is a tough place to come, a big pitch and personally I am happy to have got man of the match.”

Jose Mourinho said that Gareth Bale's half-time substitution in Tottenham's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Stoke City was not a tactical choice, revealing that the Welshman removed himself amid fears of a potential injury.

The talismanic forward, who returned to the club to much fanfare on loan from Real Madrid earlier this year, opened the scoring in Spurs' 3-1 win over the Potters on a wintery Wednesday evening.

The 31-year-old turned Harry Winks' cross in at the right post just after the 20-minute mark, but was forced to watch his side fend off a second-half comeback from the bench after he was replaced at the interval.

With Bale having imposed himself upon the game in arguably one of his better performances since he rejoined the Lilywhites, his absence in place of Son Heung-min was initially felt at the bet365 Stadium, before Ben Davies and Harry Kane ensured progression through to the semi-finals.

Speaking in his post-match press conference however, Mourinho stated that the former Southampton man's limited appearance was not pre-planned, adding that the player elected to pull himself from returning after feeling a potential problem.

"It was his decision," the Portuguese said. "[It was] something he felt. He told me immediately when walking to the dressing room [at half-time]."

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mourinho added: "I cannot say what, I cannot say the dimension of it. Now it is time for the medical department and I will try to know."

Bale was making only his second domestic start of the season, having returned to north London during a rehabilitation period for an existing knee problem.

While he has featured in every one of his side's Europa League encounters to date, he has been afforded limited chances elsewhere owing to a combination of his recovery process and a bout of illness.

Regardless, Spurs will hope that he will be set for only a short lay-off as he gradually continues to work his way back to full fitness.

Tottenham next face a trip to Wolves on December 27, before they host relegation-embroiled Fulham three days later. They begin 2021 at home to Leeds on January 2.

Milan Skriniar bailed out goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and maintained Inter's winning run in a 2-1 victory at Hellas Verona to keep the pressure on title rivals Milan.

The Nerazzurri were made to work for their seventh straight Serie A success - a result that took them two points above their city neighbours, at least until the Rossoneri hosted Lazio later on Wednesday.

Skriniar's 69th-minute header proved decisive after Handanovic had gifted an equaliser to Ivan Ilic, cancelling out Lautaro Martinez's second-half opener.

The defender's first Serie A goal since February 2018 brought to a close a promising first section of the season for Antonio Conte's side, able to take in the Milan match and enjoy Christmas regardless, firmly back in the Scudetto hunt.

A stale first half did not produce a chance of note until the 26th minute when Federico Dimarco got in on the left but found Handanovic to be his equal from a tight angle.

Giangiacomo Magnani enjoyed his physical battle with Romelu Lukaku, but a slack pass set Inter away and the striker squared for Martinez to stab goalwards and draw a sharp save from Marco Silvestri.

Verona could not keep the Argentina international at bay again six minutes after half-time as he ran across Matteo Lovato to meet Achraf Hakimi's cross and aim a volley beyond the goalkeeper and in off the post.

An inexplicable error let the home side back into the match, however, as Handanovic dropped a simple Marco Faraoni centre and Ilic was alert enough to beat Skriniar to the loose ball inside the six-yard box.

If Handanovic looked to his centre-back to share the blame, Skriniar responded in impressive fashion with a towering header that left Silvestri rooted and restored an Inter lead they this time would not relinquish.

A thunderous strike from Ben Davies and Harry Kane's 16th goal of the season sealed Tottenham's place in the EFL Cup semi-final as Stoke City were consigned to a 3-1 home defeat.

Spurs dominated the first half and Gareth Bale put them ahead with a glancing header on a miserable Wednesday evening.

Bale was withdrawn at the break, leading to concerns he may have sustained another injury, and Jordan Thompson equalised with Stoke's first shot of the tie eight minutes into the second half.

Spurs were not to be denied a place in the last four, though, as Davies thumped in from distance before Kane sealed a first win in four games as Tottenham moved to within two victories of lifting their first trophy since 2008.

Tottenham were well on top from the start and Andy Lonergan beat away Kane's venomous strike from a tight angle, though the visitors had their lead when Bale cleverly nodded in an inviting Harry Winks cross in the 22nd minute.

Lonergan spread himself well to deny Dele Alli, who was thwarted again by a fingertip save from the Stoke goalkeeper when his measured shot was heading for the bottom corner.

Son Heung-min replaced Bale at the break and Stoke were level from out of the blue after 53 minutes, Thompson tucking Jacob Brown's cross home with his left foot.

Fit-again Erik Lamela came on alongside Moussa Sissoko, replacing Alli and Lucas Moura, as Jose Mourinho tried to inject some impetus, though it was Davies who provided the quality Spurs had been lacking in the second half, collecting a loose ball and driving in off the post from long range. 

Son should have had Spurs' third but the flag was incorrectly raised, with no VAR in this competition, but Kane rifled home clinically to give Tottenham breathing space, with Steven Fletcher missing the chance to set up a tense final when he headed wide.

Thomas Tuchel has admitted it can be difficult to keep superstars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe happy at Paris-Saint Germain.

Tuchel arrived at PSG in May 2018, a year after departing Borussia Dortmund, and has worked with Mbappe and Neymar for the past two and a half years.

The pair have played a key part in the club's recent success but Tuchel admitted it can be difficult to keep players of their ilk happy.

"Sometimes it's very easy, sometimes it's a big challenge," he said. "At a club like PSG there are many influences. That's why it can be very challenging to keep all the guys happy.

"Honestly, in the first six months here it felt like I was more of a sports politician or sports minister than a coach."

Tuchel is "sad and angry" that his achievements as Paris Saint-Germain boss are often played down.

The German coach has won six trophies during his two full seasons at the Parc des Princes, including the Ligue 1 title in back-to-back campaigns.

PSG completed a clean sweep of domestic honours last season and reached their first Champions League final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich in a tight contest.

Tuchel has regularly had his job called into question, though, particularly this campaign following an underwhelming start to their latest Ligue 1 title defence.

But Tuchel has defended his record in the French capital and suggested too much is being asked of him.

"We were one game from winning the Champions League," he told SPORT1. "We never had the feeling we had convinced people and that they recognised our achievement. It sometimes makes you a little sad and angry.

"There are definitely extreme expectations here. You get the feeling the appreciation for what we do, particularly in the league, is not there as it is at, say, Bayern Munich.

"They always say, 'They have [Angel] Di Maria, [Kylian] Mbappe, Neymar. Of course they win against Bordeaux - that's not an achievement.'

"And with that there is no appreciation for our discipline, sustained play, the intensity of our play.

"It's a shame for the players because very serious team performances can be completely wiped out."

Tuchel's position as PSG head coach appears to be safe again after recovering to advance through a tricky Champions League group and into the knockout stages.

The French champions finished ahead of RB Leipzig, Manchester United and Istanbul Basaksehir to set up a last-16 tie with fellow heavyweights Barcelona.

"We know how difficult it was to win that group," Tuchel said. "You sometimes have to celebrate that with the team in order not to get bitter.

"We do our best every day with the best possible energy. Resistance makes you stronger during your career because you have to learn to deal with these things. If everything is always good, you won't get any better.

"You cannot make yourself dependent on what others think. You have to remain yourself, then you learn to go again."

Following spells with German and French giants Dortmund and PSG, Tuchel hinted he will consider coaching a smaller club in the future.

"I don't know whether it has to be higher, higher, higher," he said. "I just like football. In a club like this, it's not always just about the football.

"Sometimes I make a substitution and it's a topic for two weeks. I think to myself, 'I just want to coach.'

"I know why I became a coach. I can find what I'm after anywhere there is half a space for me to train and a DVD player for me to make videos.

"But when you hear the Champions League anthem, you see things in training that simply inspire you because there's so much quality, then you become addicted.

"At heart I love the game and can find that satisfaction in many ways as a coach."

Bloemfontein Celtic will have a mountain to climb for themselves to entertain any hopes of progressing to the Caf Confederation Cup group stages following a first-round, first leg 2-0 defeat to Rivers United at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Wednesday.

Late goals from Godwin Aguda and Fortune Omoniwari left Celtic facing a tall order when they visit Rivers United for the January 6 return leg.

It was Siwelele’s second straight home defeat in this competition after losing 2-0 to DR Congolese side Maniema Union in the preliminary round. Then they snuck into this stage of the tournament via a penalty shootout.

On Wednesday, despite Celtic coach John Maduka not on the bench, he opted to rest key players just like he did in the preliminary round home and away fixtures against Maniema Union.

Captain Ndumiso Mabena did not even make the bench together with Siphelele Luthuli, Menzi Masuku and forward Victor Letsoalo.

Sipho Chaine started in goal ahead of veteran goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane while Congolese forward Harris Tchilimbou was handed the captain’s armband.

While Celtic had played three matches since eliminating their Nigerian opponents, they have been inactive since eliminating Futuro Kings from Equatorial Guinea in the preliminary stage.

After a goalless first half, Celtic responded with a double change by introducing attackers Sera Motebang and Reagan van der Ross for Menzi Ndwandwe and Ishmael Njoti respectively, in the 69th minute.

Rivers then struck a minute later when Aguda thrust them ahead before Omoniwari scored with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

Further changes were made by Celtic five minutes from time when midfielders Shadrack Kobedi and Sello Matjila came on for Given Mashikinya and Tumelo Mangweni but they did not make a difference to the scoreline.

Frank Lampard has insisted he has no concerns over Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, with the Chelsea manager confident that the summer signings will prove to be great additions for the Blues.

Werner and Havertz arrived at Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, but both have had difficult transitions to life in the Premier League.

Werner began well and went on a run of five goals in four games through October and November, but he is now on a run of nine matches without finding the target in all competitions.

The Germany international came close to breaking the drought against West Ham on Monday, as he saw a thunderbolt of a shot crash against the bar, and Lampard feels some extra work in training will soon pay off.

"We always do extra finishing in training and I feel it's very important to do specific work for strikers," Lampard told Sky Sports. “I never felt you could score freely at the weekend if you didn't work on it throughout the week, so that's a big part of what we do.

"Timo has had a period where it hasn't gone for him and strikers get judged on goals. He's getting into positions very regularly and I feel that once he gets a goal or two, we'll see many more from him. We're working hard in training as we always do."

Havertz has shown flashes of quality, but his season was disrupted by a positive coronavirus test and Lampard says the Germany international was hit hard by Covid-19.

"He was just starting to play really well when he caught Covid and had quite heavy symptoms with it,” Lampard said of Havertz. “It has taken him some time to recover, but he's getting back to a better place now. He's a highly talented player, a great young lad with a great attitude.

"I certainly have huge confidence that he's going to be a really big player for the club. It's important that we remain patient in the short term, but Kai is a huge talent."

Havertz and Werner will hope to be involved when Chelsea take on Arsenal at the Emirates on Boxing Day.

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter disclosed they are planning to bring Percy Tau to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old is in his third loan spell in Belgium, and he is yet to play a competitive match for the Seagulls since he left Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018, initially because of work permit issues.

Tau had sent a 'message' to Potter from 13 Belgian First Division A appearances for Anderlecht this season so far.

He previously had stints at Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge before joining Vincent Kompany's team on a season-long loan in the summer. Now, Brighton are exploiting ways to cut the loan deal short and boost their attacking options with the South Africa international next month.

"It's fair to say it's something we're looking to do, but there are a few things to go through first," Potter was quoted by Sky Sports.

"He brings some attributes that are interesting, he has had good experience in Belgium.

"He brings something a little bit different to what we have got and he wants to take the next step in his career - we want to help him do that.”

While they work on Tau's return, Brighton & Hove Albion have been dealt an injury blow with Ghanaian descent Tariq Lamptey ruled out of Sunday's Premier League trip to West Ham United.

The 20-year-old has played 11 league matches for the Seagulls this term and Potter has downplayed the severity of the hamstring injury.

"It's not serious, it's just a slight problem with his hamstring. The nature of how he plays, you have to be careful, you don't want him to be away for a number of weeks,” he said.

"So I am expecting him to be back pretty soon. He's healing and recovering well.

"There's not another Tariq with the qualities and attributes that he has and that's the challenge for us to find the solution collectively.

"We haven't got a like-for-like replacement, so you have to adjust as a team and adjust for another person coming into the team."

Frank Lampard has insisted he has no concerns about Chelsea’s record against sides in the top half of the table.

Prior to beating West Ham on Monday, the Blues had not got the better of a side which started the day in the top half of the table.

Furthermore, the Blues have struggled for goals against teams in the top half - drawing blanks against Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Everton.

Lampard, though, feels it is nonsense to suggest his side have issues when playing against teams in the upper echelon of the division.

"I read about that stat a lot pre-West Ham and I think this year has shown that the balance of the Premier League has changed,” Lampard told Sky Sports. “Anybody can beat anybody, whether you're at the top or at the bottom.

"Leeds were in the bottom half when we played them, and that was a really tough match. They've given some big teams some really tough matches. 

“I think it's a bit of a red herring as a stat to look at games against the top half compared to the bottom half of the table."

The Blues head into their meeting with Arsenal, a team Lampard says are filled with class, on Boxing Day sat fifth in the table - six points behind leaders Liverpool.

Lampard feels his side are making progress, but says more needs to be done if they are to be seen as title challengers.

"I'm happy but we always want more as managers," Lampard said. “I'm pretty happy but we want more. 

“We want to be challenging for titles, but we have to accept sometimes that it's step by step. We've made some steps, but I feel we have the potential to make a lot more.

"It's about making continual improvement and that is important for focus.

"It's hard [to set a target]. It's clear I ask them every year to kick on - in my job, that's what you have to do all the time, no matter what your situation. Coming fourth for us was a positive last year considering the circumstances around it but every year looks different and every squad improves around us.”

Eric Bailly has acknowledged Manchester United's improvement across all competitions and he thinks they have a chance to beat Everton in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final fixture.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, currently on an impressive seven-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, travel to Merseyside with the aim of advancing to the last-four stage.

Aside from their disappointing Champions League exit in the group stage, the Ivory Coast international thinks they have an advantage over Carlo Ancelotti's side who sit behind them in the league table with a lesser goal difference despite being level on points.

“It’s very important to see the team improve,” Bailly told the club website. “We have some young players who are learning from Ole and the staff and it’s very important that the team is improving and, game-by-game, we have the chances to get important points.

“I’m very happy when I watch the games, the team is ready and that is important for the future.

“You always need to be positive. As I said, the team has improved game-by-game and that is very important for the future.

“We are in a good position in the league, we have the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League as well, so we have a lot of trophies to fight for.”

Bailly has only played four games in all competitions this season and he recently recovered from a knock which he kept him out of action for over two months.

Wednesday’s outing at Goodison Park could be a chance for the 26-year-old to return to Solskjaer’s starting XI having featured in United’s previous League Cup games against Luton Town and Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this season.

“I’ve been going step by step and have been training well and I feel good. I’m very happy to be back with the team,” the former Villarreal defender added.

“In football, this [injuries] can happen sometimes. It’s time to forget now. I’m fit, I’m so happy with how the team is doing and I’m training well. I feel strong and I am ready for my chance to help my team-mates.

“For me, when you come back from injury and you’re in the squad, you know the manager has confidence in you.

“Now I keep training well to get my body ready to start. I know I am ready to start, but I will wait to take my chance and enjoy being back out on the pitch.”

Christian Eriksen's difficult spell at Inter could be brought to an early conclusion in the new year after club CEO Giuseppe Marotta confirmed the playmaker will be transfer listed in January.

The Denmark international arrived at San Siro just under 12 months ago on a four-and-a-half year deal from Tottenham. 

But fast-forward through a year blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 28-year-old has found himself cut adrift in manager Antonio Conte's plans, with just 275 minutes in Serie A this season.

Dissatisfaction at his marginalisation had led to widespread speculation that Eriksen would seek new pastures in 2021, regardless of whether Inter wished to retain him or not.

But now Marotta has made clear that the club's relationship with Eriksen is ready to come to an end, revealing that the ex-Ajax man will be able to depart if terms are met.

"Eriksen is on the transferable list," he told Sky Sport Italy. "He has struggled to settle into the squad, he is not functional to the squad. That’s just an objective fact.

“That is not any insult towards his professionalism, there is no punishment, it’s just a situation that has developed and it’s only fair to give him the chance to go where he can play more regularly.”

Marotta's comments effectively confirm his own expectations from November that Eriksen would look to force a move away from the Nerazzurri, and reaffirm earlier statements indicating that the player was free to leave in the new year.

Team-mate Romelu Lukaku previously hinted at the Dane's struggles as being linked to a language barrier, urging him to learn Italian to help smooth his transition.

Eriksen has been previously linked with a Premier League return, with both former club Tottenham and bitter rivals Arsenal among those reportedly linked with his services.

Since he arrived at Inter, he has made almost 40 appearances across all competitions, though he has started on only six occasions this term.

Under Conte, Inter - alongside local rivals AC Milan - have subsequently emerged as early pacesetters in Serie A, with the pair appearing to be locked in a battle to dethrone Juventus' long-term grasp on the Scudetto.