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Dimitar Berbatov has expressed his belief that Manchester United are dark horses for this season's Premier League title.

United have recovered from a slow start to the 2020-21 campaign to rise to seventh in the top-flight standings, eight points behind current leaders Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side can move second if they win their two games in hand, with a tough Pennines derby clash against Leeds United up next at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Despite their strong position in the table, the Red Devils have faced criticism for their erratic performances and an unconvincing 3-2 win at Sheffield United last week did little to silence their doubters.

The Manchester outfit have had to come from behind to win all six of their away games so far this term, while at home they have only picked up five points from a possible 18.

Berbatov believes United have a great opportunity to fly under the radar and snatch the Premier League trophy, but has admitted that they will first have to cut out the mistakes which have seen them hand the opposition head starts over the past few months.

"Everyone connected to the club is, of course, disappointed with being knocked out of the Champions League but that's in the past now and at the moment things are going well for United in the Premier League," the former Red Devils striker told Betfair.

"If they win their other game in hand then they will move even further up the table and in my opinion, they are in a great position to attack the top and go for the title. They are lurking in the shadows at the moment. People aren't really paying attention to them and aren't really considering them as a title challengers.

"All the focus is on Liverpool and Spurs, but maybe there will be a few surprises along the way and United will fight for that top spot because it's a tight race this year.

"They need to correct this habit of conceding a goal first because, when they come up against a really good team, it's going to be difficult to turn the game around.

"United are doing really well so far in the league and I think they can be happy with how they've done so far. The big plus is their game-in-hand against Burnley. No offence to the Clarets but United should be taking three points there, which would be massive."

Berbatov was not overly concerned with United's defensive failings against Sheffield United, given the fact they were able to pick the Blades apart at will at the other end of the pitch with Marcus Rashford leading the assault by scoring a brace.

"The goals they scored were great," he added. "Rashford's first was unbelievable, the pass, the touch and the finish were all perfect. I watched that goal over and over again. It was pure football fantasy, it was beautiful.

"It was a great touch because he didn't lose his stride, he didn't overhit it, everything was perfect. He got so much power into the shot because of the way he took the ball down and controlled it, it was great to see.

"His second showed how good United can be on the counter-attack, with their speed and how they combine. Overall, I think everyone can be pretty happy with the game."

Uganda coach Johnathan McKinstry has stated he did not include the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC players in his provisional Chan squad to give them time to prepare for their continental assignment.

The Kasasiro Boys will be up against AS Kigali in the second preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup in a couple of days. The tactician conceded it will affect his preparations but it will also be important for the team to do well in the competition.

"Overall, we feel confident in the group, obviously these 28 players do not include any of the KCCA FC players because we want [them] to focus on their upcoming Caf Confederation Cup game against AS Kigali," McKinstry clarified.

"Yes, we acknowledge that this limits our preparations a little bit. 

"As a national team coach, we would want to have all our players from day one of our training camps but equally we want our club teams to be successful in continental competitions, so for us, we are supporting KCCA as they try to push forward in their competition as we would support any Ugandan team in continental competition."  

The youthful Cranes tactician has confirmed the Garbage Collectors' players will join the national team at a later date. He has, however, challenged those who will report early to prove they have what it takes to deserve a place in the final squad.

"Ultimately, it is neither FUFA nor KCCA’s fault that the games have a run over clash, it is just a way the schedule is put together by Caf at the top end and it is a hard challenge we have to deal with and overcome," McKinstry added.

"But the players who will be joining us later from KCCA will be selected at the beginning of January. [The absence] of KCCA players ultimately gives other players a chance in this early phase of preparation to prove that they deserve a place in the final squad."

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) is yet to confirm where the players will train in sessions that are expected to begin on December 21.

Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Joel Mutakubwa (Kyetume), Nafian Alionzi (URA), Tom Ikara (Police),

Defenders: Eric Ssenjobe (Police), Aziz Kayondo (Vipers), Derrick Ndahiro (SC Villa), Paul Willa (Vipers), Ashraf Mandela (URA), Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers), Mustafa Mujjuzi (Kyetume), Patrick Mbowa (URA), Murushid Juuko (Express), Muhamood Hassan (Police),

Midfielders: Shafiq Kagimu (URA), Tonny Mawejje (Police), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers), Karim Watambala (Vipers), Saidi Kyeyune (URA), Hassan Ssenyonjo (Wakiso Giants),

Forwards: Ben Ocen (Police), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Vianne Ssekajjugo (Wakiso Giants), Joseph Ssemujju (BUL), Joakim Ojera (URA), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Stephen Mukwala (URA), Mohamed Shaban (Vipers), Ivan Bogere (Proline).

Busoga United coach Abbey Bogere Kikomeko has admitted he is left with nothing to do as they line up against Vipers SC in a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) match on Sunday.

According to Kikomeko, the turnout of his players in training has reduced drastically owing to the team’s financial situation as the team prepared to face the Venoms, adding he will use the ones available for the fixture set for the Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru.

“I don’t know what to do,” Kikomeko said as quoted by Daily Monitor. “The players are not turning up for training for various reasons, others valid, it is difficult to plan for a game on the matchday and win.

“Senior players like my captain [George Kasonko] aren’t turning up. I have to plan for the game when I see the players who have turned up for the match,”

On his part, captain Kasonko blamed the team’s administration for the problems they are facing by stating: “The situation is hard, we are trying but things are really tough.”

Another player, who did not want to be quoted, told Daily Monitor: “I don’t have money to transport myself to training and games. The club management has disappeared, we understand that the president [Dinah Nyago] is busy in campaigns but the rest of the administrators are nowhere to be seen. 

“The coaches are the only ones present, they can’t give any answers to our off-field affairs because they’re also seeking the same answers, so, for the betterment of my family, I would rather use my little energy to put food on the table.”

Busoga have already played four matches, losing three and drawing one, and will come up against the champions, who have played two matches, winning one and drawing the other.

In a previous interview, Vipers coach Fred Kajoba warned his players not to underrate Busoga and further termed them as a stubborn side that can cause an upset to any side in the top-flight.

“They are a stubborn side and going by their recent results, you may look at them as underdogs but we know what they can be capable of and we don’t intend to leave anything to chance,” Kajoba told the club’s official website.

“We hope we can have improved performance and get the three points because it’s very important for us.”

Kikomeko joined Busoga United in January to replace fired Charles Ayieko.

Jose Mourinho has renewed his attack on Premier League managers for their touchline behaviour, while insisting he is "a great example of good behaviour".

Mourinho has fallen foul of the Football Association's wrath several times during his time in England, having previously had two spells at Chelsea and one at Manchester United before his current stint with Tottenham.

The Portuguese, who was famously handed a touchline ban in 2016 after kicking a water bottle during a 1-1 draw between United and West Ham, was involved in another heated incident after watching his Spurs side lose 2-1 at Liverpool on Wednesday.

An undertone of hostility was detected as Mourinho exchanged words with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle, with the former revealing the details of the conversation in his post-match interview.

"I told him [Klopp] the best team lost and he disagreed, but that's his opinion," he said. "If I behave the same way he does on the touchline, I do not stay there. That's animated? For some reason I am different."

The night before, Pep Guardiola escaped punishment after seemingly trying to grab the fourth official's electronic board before four minutes of stoppage time were shown at the end of Manchester City's 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.

Mourinho doesn't understand why his peers continue to get away with such behaviour, as he told Sky Sports ahead of Spurs' clash with Leicester City on Sunday.

"I was for many years a good example of bad behaviour on the touchline, and I was always punished for it," he said.

"In this moment, I honestly consider myself - and I believe the referees feel the same - a great example of good behaviour on the touchline, but I see others doing incredible things, some of them going in a direction I would never go, and nothing happens. This I can speak about, because I live it. I live day-by-day [on] the touchline."

Asked why the likes of Klopp and Guardiola seem to be immune from any retrospective action, Mourinho responded: "Probably because we don't say anything."

The Tottenham head coach went on to praise his Leicester counterpart Brendan Rodgers, whom he admires for carving out a successful career through nothing but hard work and dedication.

"Brendan had to go to lower divisions and smaller clubs before he reached Liverpool and Scotland [Celtic] and went to Leicester," said Mourinho. "Nothing was given to him on a silver plate. I always felt he was a young guy with talent and desire to learn.

"He's a fantastic coach. That's the only thing I can say, it's nothing to do with our relationship, and I'm really happy he's doing so well."

Vipers SC coach Fred Kajoba has warned his players to be wary of the threats posed by Busoga United as the two sides face off in a Ugandan Premier League (UPL) match on Sunday.

The Venoms will return to action at the Fufa technical centre in Njeru seeking to build on their first league win of the 2020-21 season against Kitara FC earlier in the week continue away from home.

However, Kajoba has cautioned his players the fixture will not be a walk in the park for them, describing Busoga, who are winless from four matches so far this campaign, as a very stubborn side capable of causing an upset in the top-flight.

“They are a stubborn side and going by their recent results, you may look at them as underdogs but we know what they can be capable of and we don’t intend to leave anything to chance,” Kajoba told the club’s official website.

“We hope we can have improved performance and get the three points because it’s very important for us.”

Vipers, who were crowned the league champions for the last campaign after the Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) moved to end the season owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, will also be buoyed by the fact their rivals KCCA FC lost 2-1 to URA FC on Friday.

A win for Vipers will see them move to position six on the log, with seven points, and four behind the Taxmen.

Vipers have also received a huge boost heading into the match against Busoga, as skipper Halid Lwaliwa is back and will make the matchday squad.

The defender has not played since featuring in the 1-0 defeat to Al Hilal of Sudan in the Caf Champions League fixture at St Mary's Kitende last month.

Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa, and Abraham Ndugwa are all available for selection while Rashid Toha remains unavailable, as is Livingstone Mulondo, Jacob Okao, and Ahmed Amayo.

While Vipers have played two matches, drawing the opener before snatching a 2-1 win against Kitara, Busoga United have played four games, losing three and drawing the other, leaving them 14th on the 16-team log.

Kenya international Ayub Timbe has now hinted he will have a new club in the next 10 days.

The winger, who has remained clubless since he left Beijing Renhe in mid-October, has taken to his social media pages to hint that he will have a new team by the end of 10 days.

“Ten days…”, Timbe wrote on his Facebook page, a post that has left his fans guessing while others took their time to wish him well at the new club.

In a recent post, Timbe revealed he was planning to return to football soon but could not give a hint to which league or club he will be playing in.

“Can’t wait to get back at it [football action]. I know you are all waiting,” Timbe posted on his Facebook page.

Although the winger did not have a club, he was prominently used in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Comoros in November.

His performance when the Harambee Stars lost the away game saw him be the target of severe criticism, especially after squandering a clear chance that would have earned them a draw in Moroni.

The winger joined Beijing Renhe in February 2017 and managed to score eight goals in his first season to help the team win promotion to the Chinese Super League.

In the following season, he was loaned back to the second tier to play for Heilongjiang Lava Spring, though he scored seven goals in 14 games in the top-flight for Beijing Renhe, and on January 31, 2020 - transfer deadline day in England – he joined English Championship side Reading on loan until the end of the season.

However, his stay at the Berkshire-based club did not last more than six months after the club decided against pursuing a further deal.

Between 2014 and 2016, the winger was loaned by Genk to Lierse and he went ahead to make 42 appearances and scored eight goals for the Belgian side.

The performance saw Lierse make his move permanent and the player stayed with them for one year between 2016 and 2017.

From Belgium, the Harambee Star joined Renhe where he enjoyed a good outing in 2017 as he scored 17 goals in 48 matches.

In 2018, he was loaned for the second time in his career to Heilongjiang Lava Spring, a Division One side in China. He played six games and scored two goals for the lower tier side.

When Kenya will embark on the Afcon qualifiers in March 2021, many would be eager to see whether coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee will draft the winger into his team especially after the criticism that followed the performance against Comoros.

AFC Leopards coach Anthony Kimani has admitted a lack of concentration denied his team a point from their FKF Premier League match against Western Stima on Friday.

Ingwe went into the match against the Powermen on the back of winning their opening three matches and were headed to snatch a draw from the home fixture before the visitors scored two goals in added time to win 2-0 and end their unbeaten start to the season.

After managing to keep the marauding Ingwe at bay for the entire 90 minutes, the Kisumu-based side grabbed winning goals in the additional time courtesy of Joseph Mukisa and Villa Oruchum.

The former Harambee Stars captain has now explained the reason he thinks they suffered defeat, insisting his players lost concentration at a very vital moment of the game and it became difficult for them to bounce back.

“I think we had a good performance but not the result we expected, we started the game very well, created several chances but we were not able to utilise our chances and again we also lost concentration at a very vital moment of the game, we got punished and we were not able to pick ourselves from that particular point,” Kimani told AFC Leopards TV.

“We lacked the urgency that we wanted and we also were not able to be as mobile as we wanted to be, we were not able to run in the right spaces because they were playing very compact.

“We had also discussed about it and we knew which areas we were supposed to utilise but then again that final pass into those areas was not forthcoming and when it came to decision making, it was also a little bit slow so we gave them time to regroup and to get into a very good defensive position and that is why it was difficult to break them down.”

On why he pulled out new signing Fabrice Mugheni, Kimani said: “It was a tactical move, we knew that we had to get another striker if we were to get a goal and Hansel [Ochieng] has been doing very well in training and he deserves that opportunity but again I have said it was just one of those days when nothing seems to be going right for you and I believe the inclusion of [Hansel] was to help us move the ball forward.”

On what he intends to do to make sure the team bounces back to winning ways in their next league assignment, Kimani explained: “First of all is to ensure the boys don’t keep their heads down, it’s a disappointing performance but it is very important that we pick ourselves up as soon as possible, we still have some important matches coming up, this is just our fourth match of the season meaning there is a very long way to go.

“The first thing is to get the boys in the right frame of mind, to know that we still have another match where we can make amends and get a good result and also give a very good account of ourselves.”

On whether the defence was to blame for the two goals conceded against Western Stima, Kimani said: “Definitely it is something we have talked about, we knew we are going to get many opportunities to move forward but as you move forward, the danger that remains is how we defend if they counter-attack.

“The players were well briefed of what to expect but again like I said before we lost concentration at a very crucial moment of the game about a minute or two to go and it was very difficult for us to bounce back into the game.”

Before the defeat, AFC Leopards had won all their matches – 2-1 against Tusker, 2-0 against Bidco United, and 3-0 against Sofapaka – while Western Stima were winless before the Kasarani encounter given that they drew 0-0 with Bidco United, lost to Sofapaka 3-1 before they were humbled 5-2 at home by Tusker.

Bengaluru FC will seek to extend their unbeaten run in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season when they face ATK Mohun Bagan on Monday evening. The Blues bowed out of the competition last season in the play-offs with ATK progressing into the final and thereafter, winning their third league title.

Coach Carles Cuadrat believes that ATK Mohun Bagan are defensively solid and do not give a lot of space for the opposition to operate upon.

“I think it will be a very physical challenge. Their players are tough with big bodies and they play a high tempo game. You saw against Goa how they play as a compact team and try to take advantage of the open space. 

“We also, after five games in 21 days, are going to get some fresh legs. The team is playing well but I also think that we need to go in for some protection and play some players with less minutes, so that we can be tough from the first moment of the game,” said the Spaniard.

He opined that the game with ATK Mohun Bagan would be a tight affair with the two defences holding the key. He doesn’t expect a lot of goals but a game where little mistakes could make the difference in swinging the end result.

“It's always good (match) between two different clubs with very good squads and supporters. It's a kind of match that is very nice for Indian football. It's my fifth year in India and we have played them (Mohun Bagan) in the I-League, Federation Cup (and other tournaments).

“Normally, they are quite a tight opposition and if you saw last season, the penalty that they (ATK) got in the second leg of the play-offs was crucial. Before that also, it was 1-0 for them. So, it's going to be that kind of game with two compact teams and not a lot of things happening in attack because those kinds of games are normally controlled by the defenders and it will be little details that will decide the game.”

Ashique Kuruniyan suffered an injury in the last game against Odisha FC and could possibly miss out on the rest of the ISL season. Cuadrat admitted that he was concerned when Kuruniyan picked up an injury but mentioned that the player is being taken care of by the medical experts.

“There is a good mood in the dressing room. All of us were shocked when we saw the incident with Ashique and we were worried for him but he's in good hands. The club is controlling the situation,” said Cuadrat.

He once again pointed that ATK Mohun Bagan are defensively resolute and the challenge for his side will be to find openings and convert them.

“I think that every team in the league gives you a different challenge. All the teams have a specific behaviour. You have to prepare different games in a different way. We need to avoid their threats and create enough chances to score as they have conceded only a few goals. They have a serious defensive structure and we will try to beat them.”

In the absence of Ashique Kuruniyan, Cuadrat was asked if he would deploy Ajit Kumar, who is yet to feature for the club. The other options include deploying Rahul Bheke or Harmanjot Khabra as the two full-backs. It will be interesting to see if Cuadrat does decide to field Kumar in an important game against ATK Mohun Bagan or instead go for the experienced choice.

“Ashique was giving us a lot. If you see the statistics of the season, he has received 20 fouls because he was running from behind and been a threat for the other teams. So, it's a pity that we lost him because he was working very well for us but we will try to find a solution. 

“Until now Ajith (Kumar) has not been in the (matchday) squad because he had a little injury in the pre-season. Our way of playing with a high defensive line is also something that takes some time to understand. In defence, you are with a lot of compromise (responsibility) because one mistake can award the opposition team [with an opportunity].

“It was useful for him to play in the friendless against Goa and Kerala. He's understanding the situations and he's going to be on the list for the next game. We hope he can give something to the team in the next few weeks,” explained Cuadrat.

For Semi Ajayi, the past five days have witnessed an absolute whirlwind of activity.

On Tuesday, the towering defender scored his first ever Premier League goal, swivelling on the edge of the box and squeezing a finish beyond Ederson, to earn West Bromwich Albion a highly improbable draw against Manchester City at the Etihad. Barely 24 hours later, Ajayi had a new manager holding the whistle between pursed lips and cracking the whip in training.

Alright, alright...so, 'his' goal was ultimately given as an own-goal, his finish adjudged to have been skewing just wide before City defender Ruben Dias deflected it past his own goalkeeper.

So, there had already been rumblings of a possible sacking for Slaven Bilic, meaning the installation of Sam Allardyce on Wednesday would not have come as a great surprise.

Those caveats hardly detract from a potentially pivotal week, though.

To events at the Etihad first. Often, when Pep Guardiola’s men are held (especially by weaker opposition), their own output and application can be called into question. The story of Tuesday night was different, however: City were maxing out their creative bandwidth, fashioning openings and firing off shot after shot to no avail. In their way was a dogged rearguard action, marshalled by Ajayi who threw himself in the way of everything and repelled multiple deliveries into the box.

What little that did creep through found Sam Johnstone in inspired form.

It was a performances that emphatically answered the doubts around his aptitude at the highest level in the Premier League.

The Baggies have the worst defensive record in the division, and along the way Ajayi has had his fair share of iffy showings; from being given the runaround by Harvey Barnes on opening day, to getting turned with embarrassing ease by Richarlison, to getting caught out of position by Patrick Van Aanholt, to almost scoring past his own goalkeeper in defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

This most recent showing against City also seemed to suggest that his failings may have had more to do with a team-wide dysfunction.

A greater emphasis on solidity resulted in arguably his finest outing of the season so far, and also bodes well for an Allardyce future.

The former England boss is, against his more vehement protestations, very much a relegation specialist, parachuting into perilous terrain and leading teams out of the brush by any means necessary. That often entails an emphasis on defensive shape and discipline, as well as maximising set-pieces. Minimum risk, just about enough reward to evade the drop.

Ajayi has now demonstrated his suitability within the sort of low-block that will come to define the Baggies’ escape bid, but at the other end, he could prove just as influential.

Last season, the Nigeria international scored five goals in the Championship for West Bromwich as they earned automatic promotion.

For the most part, these came about via set-pieces, Ajayi towering over opposing defences at the far post to devastating effect.

It is a facet of his game that has not translated to the Premier League so far, despite the fact the Throstles have scored three goals from set-pieces this term – more than seven other teams.

Under Allardyce, that may be set to change; this is, after all, the same manager who kept Sunderland up in 2015/16 by scoring more set-piece goals than any other side in the league, and made Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United fearsome prospects from dead balls.

Under the former England boss, the likes of Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye and Abdoulaye Meite have posed significant threats in opposing penalty areas, and Ajayi seems primed to join that club.

The 27-year-old will no doubt rue the departure of Bilic, as it was the Croatian manager who took a punt on him, signing him from relegated Rotherham United at the end of the 2018/19 Championship season. It is under Bilic that the former Arsenal youth prospect began to truly resemble a top performer, and the timing of his exit will have come as a surprise.

However, Ajayi will have little time to dwell on it: on Sunday, the Baggies welcome high-flying Aston Villa, precisely the sort of team Allardyce will relish frustrating. Another positive result would signal the dawn of new possibilities.

Genk defeated K.V Kortrijk 2-0 in Saturday’s Belgian First Division A encounter with Theo Bongonda finding the net.

The 25-year-old’s effort guaranteed victory for John van den Brom’s men after Gerardo Arteaga had given them an early lead at the Luminus Arena.

Still hurt following their 1-0 defeat to Anderlecht on December 11, Genk started the game on a flying note – scoring just 45 seconds after kick-off through Arteaga.

The Mexican defender fired past goalkeeper Marko Ilic after receiving a backheel pass from Paul Onuachu.

That effort was a sign of better things to come for the hosts, albeit, they were unable to get more goals.

In the 25th minute, Onuachu came close to scoring after heading a rebound from Daniel Munoz’s initial effort against the crossbar.

The Nigeria international, who was eyeing his 15th goal of the season, came close again just before the hour mark, forcing a save from Ilic thanks to a cross from Bongonda.

Few chances came the way of Kortrijk, nevertheless, they were unable to get past the solid backline of the Smurfs while goalkeeper Danny Vukovic also put up a commendable showing.

Some 12 minutes from full-time, Bongonda guaranteed all three points for the hosts when he curled a beautiful freekick over the Guys’ wall that was unstoppable for Ilic.

With that strike, the former Belgium youth international has now scored 11 goals from his last 13 fixtures, which propelled Genk to the second position on the log after garnering 34 points from 17 games – two points below leaders Club Brugge who host Gent on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Bongonda alongside Onuachu and Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Eboue Kouassi were in action from start to finish, whereas, Cyriel Dessers was an unused substitute.

For the visitors, Comoros' Faiz Selemani, Ghanaian striker Eric Ocansey and Belgian striker of Congolese origin Ilombe Mboyo were involved for the duration with Senegalese star Pape Habib Gueye making way for Michiel Jonckheere in the 61st minute.

Mali's Sambou Sissoko was an unused substitute while Gambia's Muhammed Badamosi was not listed for the encounter.

Genk host Waasland-Beveren on December 27 while Kortrijk will be hoping to return to winning ways when they welcome Gent to the Guldensporenstadion a day earlier.

Rafael Crivellaro, without doubt, has been one of the most creative midfielders in the Indian Super League (ISL) ever since he joined Chennaiyin FC last season. And the Brazilian once again proved how important he is to the team after scoring and assisting in Chennaiyin's 2- win over FC Goa on Saturday night. 

The Marina Machans came into the match without registering a win in their last four matches and were desperate for three points against FC Goa who were also coming into this game on the back of a loss. 

Crivellaro, who had sat out Chennaiyin's goalless draw against NorthEast United, brought a lot of creativity and guile to their midfield. If in the earlier few matches, Crivellaro seemed a bit out of sync with Jakub Sylvestr and Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev, that was not the case on Saturday. 

Even last season, it took Crivellaro about five or six matches before he gelled with his attacking teammates like Nerijus Valskis and Andre Schembri. 

He seemed to have found that wavelength on which his fellow forwards operated again and was finding them with his passes easily against Goa. Anirudh Thapa's energy in midfield also meant that Laszlo's tactics to stop Goa from playing out with constant pressing were very effective.

With the constant pressing upfront, the Gaurs could not pursue their natural gameplay. In many ways, this match should have been a lopsided one with Chennaiyin winning by a fair few goals, only for Chhangte and even Crivellaro to waste golden chances.

Against FC Goa, what was striking is that Csaba Lazslo’s team, looked very much or resembled the Chennaiyin FC of Owen Coyle from the second half of the last season.

They put pressure on the opposition defenders and midfielders, try to win ball high up the pitch and initiate quick attacks. They also look to close down the goalkeeper, who is looking to play from the back. It was apparent that Chennaiyin were targeting Mohammed Nawaz given his short stature and hence, the first goal from Rafael Crivellaro where he sent his corner-kick straight into the back of the net. In fact, he nearly got it right once again in the first half.

Of all the players who have left FC Goa from last season, the player they haven’t replaced and still are struggling in his absence is Ahmed Jahouh. The Moroccan would build-up play from the back and also double up as a destroyer with his tactical fouls. Ferrando has tasked Bedia with the same responsibility however, the Spaniard is more effective further up the field than when being asked to sit back and spray the ball around.

That absence of a fulcrum in midfield meant that while Goa tried to play out from the back, they would be unable to cope with Chennaiyin's pressing and pace, giving up the ball plenty of times in dangerous spaces. 

Chennaiyin's second goal was borne out of such a mistake with Crivellaro capitalising and finding Rahim Ali to tap in. 

It is not to say Goa were poor overall. Jorge Ortiz and Igor Angulo were brilliant going forward, especially Ortiz who seems to be a quality player on the ball. It was his determination and guile that saw FC Goa equalise in the first half. But apart from Ortiz and Angulo, the rest of the Goa side looked laboured. 

Maybe it was the fatigue, but the fact remains that Laszlo's Chennaiyin FC outsmarted FC Goa easily. It could be said that they did so against Mumbai City as well, only for individual errors to dig their own pits. 

After a win that they desperately needed, Chennaiyin FC will look to kick on and stitch a winning run together. For FC Goa, it's back to the drawing board after back-to-back defeats. 

Great players shine on the grandest stage. In the previous Indian Super League (ISL) season, ATK had a mountain to climb during the return leg of the semifinal against Bengaluru FC as they had to score three goals in less than 90 minutes to save their season.

The 50,000-strong crowd was clamouring for one of the big guns to produce the goods. And cometh the hour, cometh the man! 30 minutes on the clock and their Fijian talisman Roy Krishna got the better of his marker and nudged in a low cross from Prabir Das into the back of the net to inspire an enthralling comeback that culminated in a 3-1 win. 

In the previous season, he scored a whopping 15 goals and provided six assists. In this edition of ISL, in spite of a short pre-season, no friendlies to prepare, Krishna has hit the ground running right from the first game against Kerala Blasters and has got five goals in just six matches. 

Krishna shoots and he scores!

The striker has been clinical in front of goal and averages a goal after 1.8 shots on target. In all the six matches Krishna has played, he has not had more than two shots on target in each of the games. In fact, in three of these matches, he had only one shot on target, each of them resulting in a goal and none of them was from the spot. This shows how prolific he has been this season. 

Krishna - The protagonist at ATK Mohun Bagan

There is little doubt that Krishna is the most valuable player of ATK Mohun Bagan. He is an impact player and his contribution to the team's performance with his goals has been enormous. At the end of matchday six, he has scored five of the seven goals for his side which amounts to 71.4 per cent. Only Igor Angulo and Nerijus Valskis have a better involvement rate for FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC respectively with six goals apiece out of seven.

The ISL winner likes to play on the shoulders of his markers. He is a daunting presence inside the box which makes him a difficult player deal with. He holds the ball for his team when required and has the second most number of touches (26) inside the box, only behind Angulo (30 after six games).

But he is also comfortable playing with his back towards the goal which allows him to remain involved in the play. His touch map shows that he has the license to oscillate in the vicinity of the penalty box and even drop deep which further makes it difficult for the centre-backs to mark him. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he is still the only player to have scored from outside the box.

A total of 301 shots have been attempted by all teams at the end of MD6 from outside the box and Krishna happens to be the only player to have found the net. In short, he has been a workhorse for Habas. 

On Monday evening, the Mariners will reignite an old rivalry with Bengaluru FC after a hiatus of more than two years. The Blues had failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three outings and Krishna with his scoring boots on must be smacking his lips to get on the pitch. 

The stats used in this article are from Opta. 

Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford has everything necessary to become a legend at Old Trafford, according to his boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

Rashford is on track to record his best-ever season in senior football, having scored 12 goals in 22 games in all competitions in 2020-21, compared to 22 in 44 last term. 

Two of those came on Thursday to inspire United to a 3-2 comeback victory over Sheffield United, the club's fifth win in their last six Premier League outings. 

The 23-year-old England international has also received widespread plaudits for his off-field work with food poverty, and Solskjaer believes that his talent and humanity together are what will make him a club legend.

"As a human being, we have seen the true Marcus Rashford ever since he was a kid and his youth days," the United boss explained to reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Leeds United.

"You always get influenced and your character is shaped through your family, the environment you work in and where you grow up. And you see Marcus really cares about people who have had a difficult time or aren’t as privileged as many are, or as he is now.

"He knows what they are going through. What he has done is exceptional, I have to say. Sometimes you think will this affect his football because he is such a young lad. I think he has taken on this responsibility in a fantastic way and balanced it really well with the football.

"He has a great team around him, his brother and people around him, so it’s not Marcus doing everything himself. He wants it to be organised by other people as well so he can balance the two most important things in his life.

"Marcus is talented enough and grounded enough and driven enough to be a legend at this club.

"I have to say his statistics already show his contribution. In and around the dressing room as well, he is a Man United boy through and through.

"I am absolutely delighted with his contribution and he knows what Man United is all about. He has the DNA.

"Of course, I try to look after him, try to protect him. You never know in a footballer’s career if you are lucky or unlucky with injuries. He had a back injury last year and it is mine and the staff’s job to make sure we protect him. Because with his talent, he is always going to be a target for the opposition.

"Then again the opposition players and supporters, of course they respect him. I think everyone really respects him for what he’s done. Some clubs, the response we have had from them and Marcus has had from them has been unbelievable."

Marcus Rashford is convinced Manchester United are within touching distance of being title contenders.

The Red Devils last tasted Premier League title glory in 2013 - Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season at the helm - and they have not come close to challenging since.

Although they are already out of the Champions League, the Red Devils have been showing promising signs under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

They are eight points adrift of pace-setters Liverpool, but have two games in hand in what is shaping up to be a tight battle.

Rashford feels the team that goes on a sustained winning run in the second half of the season will emerge victorious, and the England striker believes United are well capable of doing that - a view shared by Wes Brown.

“I believe that the team that we have now is capable of winning big trophies,” Rashford told the United Podcast.

“We are not quite there but I feel like we are close. We just need to make that final push to be a team that can win trophies and fight for everything.

“The league's wide open. Four games ago, everybody was saying 'United are finished.' But then we won three games on the spin.”

Rashford feels there is always noise surrounding United, due to their status as “the biggest club in the world.”

The forward has called on the players to block things out and take the title battle by the scruff of the neck.

“We have to find a way to block everything out and just concentrate on what matters, which is taking it one game at a time and picking up points,” Rashford said.

“We have to go back to spells where it's worked, where we've won 10 or 11 games, and just do it again. Because I believe this year, the team that does that is the team that's going to go on and win the league.

"We have to show that we're ready to step up and be that team that's going to be fighting for the title.

“We're so close to being the team that we all want to be. But it doesn't matter if you're that close or a million miles away, if you're not there, you're not there. We need to show that we are there and the only way to do that is to do it on the pitch."

The Red Devils face a big six days, as they host Leeds United on Sunday before trips to Everton and Leicester City either side of Christmas Day.

Sadio Mane paid tribute to Liverpool fan Lee Swan during the Reds’ 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace as he copied yet another celebration.

The Reds opened up daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in the Premier League with a performance full-back Andy Robertson described as close to perfection.

Mane was a key performer at Selhurst Park, netting the second goal on 35 minutes. He was substituted with over half an hour remaining, and looked visibly upset with manager Jurgen Klopp’s decision to replace him, but as he left the field he fulfilled a promise to Swan.

On a video call last month with Food Bank volunteer Swan, Mane asked if the Liverpool fan had a celebration for him to copy

On the call, Mane said: "You know me, I like to copy celebrations. If you have any celebrations, show me now." Swan was then seen showing Mane a celebration in which he kissed his finger before pointing to the sky.

Mane arranged for Swan, a volunteer at the Florence Institute - a community centre in the city - to take a tour of Anfield.

During the tour, Swan went on to the pitch at a floodlit Anfield and scored a goal, after which he performed his celebration.

“I'm proud to be part of Dear Liverpool FC and to be part of making a difference during these challenging times,” Mane told the club’s official website. “And it is an honour to help recognise the work that Lee, Timo (community centre leader) and the Florrie have been doing.

"Giving Lee the tour was a highlight of lockdown. He is a real character and it was a pleasure to help him realise his dream of scoring at Anfield."

And when Mane left the field at Selhurst Park on Saturday, the Senegal international kissed his finger and pointed to the sky.

Mane and Liverpool will now look to kick on over the festive period.

They hold a five-point lead over Everton, with Tottenham a further point adrift, and take momentum into their games with West Brom and Newcastle before the year is out.

The Reds welcome in 2021 with a trip to Southampton, before a brief break from league action in order to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo became only the fourth player score at least 33 Serie A goals in a calendar year by bagging a brace in Juventus' 4-0 win over Parma.

The 35-year-old scored in each half as Juve cruised to a victory that moved them level on points with Inter and one adrift of leaders Milan, both of whom play their game in hand on Sunday.

Ronaldo equalled former Juventus forward Omar Sivori's goal haul from 1961 - the joint-third most in a single year behind Gunnar Nordahl (36 in 1950) and Felice Borel (41 in 1933).

He could move further up the list as Juventus have one more league match to play in 2020 - a home meeting with Fiorentina on Tuesday.

Speaking after the match, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo praised his star striker while also expressing his happiness with the entire team effort. 

“This evening was the Juventus I wanted to see. We needed to win this game, our strikers Cristiano and Alvaro [Morata] both needed to get back to scoring ways. We needed to work as a collective and Aaron Ramsey also had a really good game," he told reporters.

“We’re slowly getting to what we all want, not just me, but also the players. I like in particular the high press when the opponents have the ball, we can win it back quickly and that allows us to control the game. That spirit is getting into the lads and we’re improving game by game.

“We are now aware that we’re on the right path, that we’ll have this attitude in every game whether we are against Parma or Barcelona. We must press high, be aggressive and win back the ball so we can control the match.”

Ronaldo's 33 goals have come from 174 attempts - at least 67 more than any other player - giving him a shot conversion rate of 27.73, which compares to 28.26 for Ciro Immobile, who is the next highest scorer this year in Serie A with 26 for Lazio.

The Portugal international has scored 27 with his stronger right foot, four with his left and two via his head.

Robert Lewandowski, named The Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year on Thursday, has 32 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munich since January 1, while Barcelona star Lionel Messi has just 18 in La Liga in the same timeframe.