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Ronald Koeman insists the atmosphere within Barcelona's dressing room has always been positive despite their indifferent start to the campaign.

Barca are six points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid in La Liga having already lost four of their 12 top-flight matches under Koeman, who replaced Quique Setien in the close season.

Los Cules were beaten by rivals Real Madrid and Atletico, as well as suffering surprise defeats to Getafe and Cadiz.

But Barca put on a much-improved showing in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in midweek and Koeman says wins are bound to improve the mood among the squad.

"I have always seen a good atmosphere, despite the lost games. It is easier to have an atmosphere of joy when you win," Koeman said ahead of Saturday's contest with Valencia.

"With the game without the ball we were good. Sometimes it depends on the opponent, but if you play a lot of long balls you cannot press.

"The game was good to be able to put pressure on the opponent. We did well. We liked having that energy and that pressure. It depends on the opponent, but we always want to dominate and play at the top, sometimes it works out and sometimes not.

"Hopefully we continue in this dynamic. It is important to have a home game and win.

"Sometimes it's easier, if you play well and win, the atmosphere is different. It's normal, it happens in all teams.

"I see a united group, but it's always easier for the press to get comments, because they don't see what happens in the dressing room before and after games."

Koeman had a brief spell in charge of Valencia from October 2007 to April 2008, during which time Los Che won the Copa del Rey but struggled in the league.

Reflecting on his time at the club, Koeman said: "I will not have the best memory of my career there. I made decisions, maybe I was wrong.

"It was a short stay but at least we won something. It is a complicated place, with many changes of coaches and sometimes missing peace of mind to work there."

Barca have two games before a week without fixtures for the Christmas period, but they then face a run of five matches from December 29 to January 13.

The congested fixture list will worsen if Barca win their Supercopa de Espana semi-final against Sociedad at the end of that hectic five-game run, and Koeman vented his frustration at the scheduling - impacted this term by the delay caused to last season by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I still think the same thing. The calendar is crazy. If we win the Supercopa semi-final there is one more game, many late hours," he said.

"At least in Granada [on January 9] we play in the afternoon, but we are killing the players."

That is a claim Koeman is now repeatedly making, having made the same accusation last week, and coaches from various leagues across Europe have raised similar concerns.

"On trips, we get home very late, and two days later another trip and another game," Koeman said.

"We have to solve this issue in a very tight season."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is eager to pit his wits against a Leeds United team he feels will test Manchester United "to the limit" when the sides renew their rivalry on Sunday.

There is little love lost between the cross-Pennine rivals, who have not met in the top flight since a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in February 2004.

Since then, the teams have faced off in the FA Cup in 2010 – a famous 1-0 win for Leeds – and a 2011 EFL Cup tie that saw United triumph 3-0.

Red Devils boss Solskjaer is only all too aware of the importance of the fixture having featured in several contests himself as a player.

"I can't wait, it's been too long," Solskjaer said ahead of this weekend's fixture at Old Trafford. "Of course I know how much it means for our supporters, I know how much it means for our club. The other bit is it's a different kind of Leeds coming up with a coach that's really done a great job with them and will really test us to the limit."

Asked for his own memories of playing Leeds, Solskjaer replied: "Well there was fiery games, there was tackles flying in, players from both teams that were winners. 

"We had a few fights of course but Elland Road wasn't the quietest place when we got off the coach and walked into the stadium put it that way.

"I enjoyed scoring two goals in a win at Elland Road. I came on as a sub and it was a header at the back stick [in the home game that season] from a cross from Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) headed back to the other side.

"They were two good teams back in the day. I liked the build-up to the games and the quality they had tested us as a team as well. Loads of good memories."

Edinson Cavani has been unavailable for United's past three matches due to a groin complaint and could face a potential ban after being hit with a Football Association charge on Thursday in relation to a social-media post.

"Of course we have spoken to Edinson about it, he has apologised, we know it wasn't meant in a malicious way, it was explained, there are cultural and linguistic differences," Solskjaer added. "He's apologised, he hopes that mistake won't be costly. He's still working on his fitness, he's very meticulous on his rehab work. 

"It's not felt right, he couldn't play this game [against Sheffield United], let's see the last training session how he feels. It was a muscle injury that he felt in his groin."

Saturday marks two years since Solskjaer was first appointed as interim boss to replace the sacked Jose Mourinho, but the Norwegian had little interest in stopping to reflect on his time at the helm thus far.

"I do not like, or I hate talking about what I think about what I've done or where we're at," he said. 

"I don't enjoy that bit looking back, I always look forward. I know there's a lot of work to be done still to get to the standard I want and the level I want, that's what we're working on every day, but I've really enjoyed those two years."

United were 3-2 winners at Sheffield United on Thursday, leaving them sixth and five points adrift of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

Mesut Ozil's agent Dr. Erkut Sogut has insisted that the German midfielder has received offers from all over the world but maintains the 32-year-old will see out his contract with the Gunners.

The former Real Madrid playmaker hasn't played for the north Londoners since March 2020 and was left out of Mikel Arteta's squad for both the Premier League and Europa League.

The Spaniard has since suggested that Ozil could be brought back into the fold in February, when tweaks to his orignal 25-man selection can be made following the closing of the January transfer window.

Ozil will be able to hold talks with foreign clubs over a possible move in the New Year, with the midfielder's contract due to expire in the summer of 2021.

He has been strongly linked with a switch to Turkish giants Fenerbahce and, while Dr. Sogut confirmed preliminary discussions had been held, he insisted a January switch is unlikely.

Ozil's representative told Fanatik: "Mesut has another six months on his contract with Arsenal. Certainly he has missed football. He is currently working hard to wear the Arsenal shirt again, and he will continue to work.

"I would like to clearly state our situation regarding Fenerbahce. Yes, we had meetings with them. We had a one-on-one conversation with the club's top people. However, we can't have official transfer talks before January. We received transfer offers for Mesut from all over the world. Fenerbahce's interest is also known. 

"Nothing has changed for Mesut right now. Under these circumstances, it seems that Mesut will complete the season at Arsenal."

There have been called for Ozil to be reintegrated into the first-team squad at Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal having started the 2020-21 campaign in dismal fashion.

The Gunners are 15th in the Premier League table and have only scored 11 goals, while their 1-1 draw with Southampton last time out continued a miserable run of six league games without a win.

Ozil, meanwhile, has given frequent hints on social media that he remains committed to Arsenal's cause despite being frozen out at the club, with his latest post vowing not to give up "no matter how dark it looks".

Jose Mourinho has given his full backing to "great professional" Steven Bergwijn after the forward was subjected to abusive messages on social media in the wake of Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Liverpool.

Netherlands international Bergwijn missed a couple of promising opportunities in Wednesday's top-of-the-table showdown at Anfield as Spurs relinquished control of first place in the Premier League.

He had just 26 touches of the ball during his 76 minutes on the field - fewer than any other player to have started the match - and attempted 11 passes, which was one fewer than fellow winger Lucas Moura, who was brought on in the second half.

Bergwijn had to limit the amount of comments on his Instagram account because of a number of negative comments but the Dutchman has the support of Mourinho, who has urged everyone involved with the club to stick together.

"I don't know what I can do apart from the player knowing that in this club we are all together," he said at a pre-match news conference on Friday. "We lose, we win and we draw all together. He has us and we have him.

"He's one of my boys. Period. There's no point for me to individualise. He's a good professional and he gives everything he can for the team."

The midweek loss to Liverpool was Tottenham's first in the top flight since the opening weekend of the Premier League season and saw them slip three points off the pace.

Tottenham now switch focus to the visit of Leicester City, who are one point worse off in what is shaping up to be a tight title race with a number of outsiders in contention.

Mourinho has never lost in seven meetings with Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers in all competitions, winning five and drawing two.

That is Rodgers' longest run against any manager without winning but the 47-year-old is excited to reunite with Mourinho, whom he worked with at Chelsea at the start of his coaching career.

"It was a great step for me at that time, the opportunity for me to go to a big club," Rodgers said. "He was charismatic, had a great way with the players, and was very open in his communication. I was in a pole position for learning.

"He has set up Tottenham very well. They're very good on the counter-attack and are well organised. They have talents in [Harry] Kane and Son [Heung-min] that can cause you problems. They look like Jose's team now."

Kane's 128 Premier League goals since the start of 2015-16 is the most of any player, while Leicester's Jamie Vardy is next on the list with 108.

Vardy has 10 goals in 12 appearances this term and Mourinho is wary of the 33-year-old striker.

"He is so, so dangerous. A team when he plays, if it is with Claudio [Ranieri] or Brendan or with other coaches, never forgets the qualities that the specific player has," Mourinho said.

"He is incredible. I just feel sorry for him in the sense of he arrived in the Premier League too late. He should arrive a few years before and his career would be even longer, with more goals and more history at the national team too.

"He's a fantastic player. If I was a defender I wouldn't be happy to play against him because he is very dangerous."

Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC) suffered their second defeat of the season after going down 2-1 to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA FC) at Lugogo Stadium in Kampala on Friday.

The Kasasiro Boys went into the match against the Taxmen seeking to bounce back to winning ways having lost to SC Villa 2-1 in their last league outing, but they could not as URA scored two first-half goals to pile the pressure on coach Mike Mutebi.

KCCA had taken a deserved lead in the 26th minute through Brian Aheebwa before URA drew level courtesy of Benjamin Nyakoojo in the 31st minute.

However, four minutes later, URA should have made it 2-1 but Ivan Sserubiri missed from the penalty spot after his taken strike hissed over the bar.

But they did not have to wait long as they took the lead in the 36th minute after Shafik Kagimu met a cross from Joackiam Ojera to beat keeper Charles Luwango and make it 2-1, with the scoreline remaining the same at the half-time-break.

Ahead of the match, Mutebi had warned his charges to expect a tough challenge from URA, insisting they are a very difficult side to break down.

And despite welcoming to the squad youngsters Bright Anukani, Sadat Anaku, and Steven Sserwadda, KCCA never looked threatening from the onset and it was URA who dictated the pace despite playing away from home.

Kagimu should have scored the opener for the Taxmen, who are coached by Sam Ssimbwa, but after receiving a pass from Steven Mukwala, he fumbled with the ball to allow keeper Luwango take it away.

Mukwala was then presented with a great chance to break the deadlock but he unleashed a feeble shot which was easy for keeper Luwango to handle.

However, KCCA broke the deadlock after Aheebwa finished off a one-two move between Kigozi and Ssenyonjo, but it was short-lived as URA levelled matters through Nyakoojo, who headed home from a free-kick.

Five minutes later, Kagimu scored what turned out to be the winner, after meeting a pass from Ojera to make it 2-1.

KCCA, who were the champions two seasons ago before Vipers SC wrestled the title from them, looked a jaded side in the second half as they could not string passes together, with the URA defence, marshalled by Brian Majwega, Ashraf Mandela, and Arafat Galiwango, doing a great job at the back.

Meanwhile, Wakiso Giants managed a 2-2 draw against Bright Stars.

AFC Leopards suffered their first defeat of the FKF Premier League when they went down 2-0 to Western Stima at Kasarani Stadium on Friday.

The Kisumu-based side kept Ingwe at bay for the entire 90 minutes and grabbed winning goals in the additional time courtesy of Joseph Mukisa and Villa Oruchum.

In the eighth minute, Austine Odhiambo was denied by the post as his strike hit the woodwork and went out with AFC Leopards threatening to register an opener.

The referee had to caution Austine Wahongo of Western Stima with a yellow card in the 16th minute after a rough challenge on Fabrice Mugheni. The rushed challenge on the Ingwe’s new signing came as the hosts launched attacks that the visitors clearly struggled to contain.

Western Stima failed to strike in the 27th minute when Robinson Kamura conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position as he fouled Laban Otieno. Baron Oketch took the free-kick but his effort went out thus denying the Powermen a likely opener.

From when the second half started to the time the first goal was scored, AFC Leopards threatened on numerous occasions but Western Stima were able to thwart the danger presented.

Elvis Rupia, who has been inspirational in the last three games, was substituted in the 89th minute as coach Anthony Kimani brought on Bienvenue Shaka in an attempt to secure a winning goal.

Western Stima, winless in the last three games, found the breakthrough in the fourth minute of added time when Mukisa’s free-kick found its way into the right corner beating an outstretched Benjamin Ochan who was making his second season start.

The visitors added a quick one a minute later when Oruchum scored to give his side not only the three points but ensure their rather good record against AFC Leopards is maintained.

The loss is a huge blow to Ingwe’s title charge after Tomas Trucha led them to a 2-1 win against Tusker in the opening game before other victories were registered against Bidco United (2-0) and Sofapaka (3-0).

In each of the three matches, Rupia has played key roles as he scored against all three rivals and is on top of the scorers’ charts with six goals before the conclusion of matchday four actions.

Western Stima, on the other hand, 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 in the last game.

Liverpool may look into acquiring one of the strikers they have been linked with ahead of the January transfer window, says Jason McAteer, but reinforcements at centre-half are considered to remain the top priority.

The Reds are forever on the lookout for additions that will help lift them to even greater heights.

Big money will be spent when the right targets become available, with Jurgen Klopp able to call upon the full backing of his board when considerable investment is required.

It could be that the reigning Premier League champions look to further bolster their ranks in the new year, with another winter market about to open for business.

McAteer believes the Reds should be striving for continuous improvement, with fresh faces required in order to achieve that, and feels more firepower may be sought.

The former Liverpool star told FreeSuperTips : “With the January transfer window fast approaching, there have been a few strikers that have been linked with a move to Anfield. 

“Liverpool is the biggest club in Europe currently, they are up there with the likes of Bayern Munich and can hold their own with Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

“There is a lot of money to be made in this transfer window and agents will be looking at it and thinking about where they can put their players. Agents will be linking their players to these clubs and it might not necessarily be true at all. 

“If a player in the media is being looked at by Liverpool, then suddenly, it makes a certain person more appealing to other teams too. It is a lot of mind games that take place, the agents do it, the players themselves play up to the game too, but it doesn’t mean that the football club being mentioned wants to buy them.

“Clubs are always looking to strengthen your squad and improve in the key areas. Competition for places is healthy and you’ve got to make sure that you keep evolving as a football club. 

“Teams can’t afford to stand still and rest on the players that are currently doing well, and you’ve got to keep the players motivated by winning trophies.” 

While admitting that Klopp could explore options in the final third, McAteer believes defensive targets will be prioritised as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have all picked up injuries.

He added: “Although some of the academy players have come in and they’ve done well and look good for the future, a centre-back should be the focus for Liverpool in January. 

“Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are quite injury prone and Virgil Van Dijk is out for a significant period so that’s the position they need to look at. Liverpool has got very good defenders when they are all fit, but unfortunately, they can’t stay fit.

“The team has already strengthened in the forward areas, and in midfield, we brought in Thiago and already have Jordan Henderson, Fabinho. 

“Curtis Jones has really impressed me this season and is emerging as a top player, but there aren’t many areas where Liverpool needs to strengthen.

“The only position you feel that Liverpool are a bit light in is the centre-back position.”

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic working his way back from injury at the age of 39, AC Milan legend Demetrio Albertini hopes the Swedish striker’s “power” will not be impacted by fitness issues.

The enigmatic frontman has recovered from more serious complaints in the past, with knee ligament damage suffered while on the books at Manchester United.

He keeps himself in peak physical condition and has shown no sign of slowing down despite advancing towards his 40th birthday.

Milan have been benefitting from his presence for a second time since the experienced frontman returned to San Siro from a spell at MLS side the LA Galaxy in January.

Ibrahimovic has helped to turn the Rossoneri into title challengers this season, with 11 goals recorded through 10 appearances prior to being laid low in late November.

He has now returned to training ahead of a possible recall to Stefano Pioli’s plans, with Albertini looking forward to seeing a talismanic presence back in action.

“It’s not enough to have just him on the pitch, but he is vital, just as much as [Romelu] Lukaku at Inter,” Albertini, who spent 14 years of his senior career with Milan, told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I hope the injury won’t reduce Ibra’s power. For a player of his age, injuries can have an impact, better not to forget that.”

Ibrahimovic is not the only superstar at Milan, with Pioli blessed with so many options at present that the highly-rated Sandro Tonali is being restricted to a role on the bench.

Albertini considers that to be the right call, saying of a talented 20-year-old: “Yes, for what we’ve witnessed so far.

“I’m not going to change my mind about him. He must improve in terms of self-confidence and it is right to wait for him.

“When I was a footballer they said foreign players needed time to settle in, the same must apply for a 20-year-old guy.”

Milan will happily take inspiration from anywhere at present, with their lead at the top of the Serie A table having been cut to just one point with two games left to take in before a winter break.

Quizzed on who he expects to lead the way heading into 2021, Albertini said: “Inter have more experience, they are more structured, but Milan have something special. Just look at how they play. They often stay in their opponents’ half even if they don’t do a lot of ball possession.

“More than defending the Serie A leadership, Milan must defend their enthusiasm. If it happens, they can win.”

Paul Pogba remains “a fabulous player”, says Owen Hargreaves, with the former Manchester United midfielder of the opinion that a divisive star of the present can help the Red Devils to “destroy” opponents.

Debate regarding a France international’s future at Old Trafford continues to rage, with plenty suggesting that they would be willing to offload the World Cup winner.

Mino Raiola has claimed that a second spell in England for one of his most high-profile clients is “over”, with a transfer set to be sought before a lucrative contract comes to an end in 2022.

Pogba, though, has stated his “1000 per cent” commitment to the United cause and has offered no indication that he will be pushing for the exits any time soon.

He has come back into favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and started to produce the level of performance that is expected from a player of his global profile and ability.

With that in mind, and with the Red Devils boasting a number of other creative and attacking talents at their disposal, Hargreaves believes Pogba can become a talismanic presence in Manchester.

He told Premier League Productions after seeing the 27-year-old star in a 3-2 victory over Sheffield United: “Paul Pogba - whether you love him or you don't - he's a fabulous player. You've got to get him on the pitch.

“I don't care that Bruno [Fernandes] is in there, he's a fabulous player, but play them all together. Look at these guys, what they can do. Look what they can create. This is what you pay for from Pogba.

“Paul and Bruno are on the same page, they barely have to look at each other, this is how good they are. Paul is the deeper one. Bruno likes to be a bit higher up the pitch. The front three are creating the space.

“When you see it all together, you think 'Jesus - these guys could destroy you.'

“Paul knows where Bruno is. Bruno knows where Mason [Greenwod] is and then Marcus can get in there. How good is that? Get the boys on the pitch and let them figure it out - they don't have to make eye contact and they can create like that.

“Over the course of 90 minutes, with Bruno, United are going to beat teams. Over the course of 38-game season, if those boys are trusted to play with that front three, forget top four - United might challenge for the league again.”

Hargreaves believes a little adventure will allow United to force their way into contention for the Premier League title, with there no need to become bogged down in plugging holes at the back.

The ex-England international added: “You think about the Manchester United way, it's to outscore pretty much everyone. From last season, Manchester United want to get to the level of Manchester City and Liverpool. In terms of goals conceded, they are already there.

“They are almost a championship-calibre team. The difference is the goals scored between United and City, and Liverpool.

“Defensively is not really the issue. Offensively, you need to trust the boys. If they play more together, those goal numbers will be at least 85.”

Rhys Williams put in a “world-class performance” on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, says Trent Alexander-Arnold, with one Anfield academy graduate getting a “shout out” from another having contained Tottenham’s fearsome attacking unit.

Jose Mourinho took Spurs to Merseyside in midweek with his side sat at the top of the Premier League table.

They were knocked from that lofty perch by the defending champions, with a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Roberto Firmino seeing Liverpool to a hard-fought 2-1 victory on home soil.

The Reds survived the odd scare in that contest, but were in charge for much of the evening and saw talented teenager Williams provide able cover for the injured Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

The 19-year-old centre-half was making his top-flight bow for Liverpool against fellow title hopefuls, but he showed no sign of being overawed by the occasion and has earned widespread praise for his mature display.

Fellow home-grown star Alexander-Arnold has led that cheerleading, with the England international telling the Reds’ official website on how hard it is to keep Spurs out: “Especially [Heung-min] Son and [Harry] Kane, with the partnership they have shown they have got this season, it was always important for us to really try to shackle them.

“Shout out to Rhys Williams on his Premier League debut – it has to happen because he has put in a world-class performance there, barely put a foot wrong against probably the best attacking duo in the league so far.

“Shout out to him, it was a fantastic debut and one him and his friends and family can be really proud of.”

Williams and Alexander-Arnold were not the only academy stars to shine for Liverpool against Tottenham, with Curtis Jones catching the eye again in a creative midfield role.

The teenager continues to see his stock soar, with Klopp displaying unwavering faith in emerging talent.

Alexander-Arnold, who has benefited from that philosophy himself, added on Jones: “For the last maybe year or so, the way he has developed as a player and as a person has been amazing to watch and see.

“I think what’s important for him now is to keep his feet on the floor and not get too excited with all the things that’ll be going on around him. It’ll be hectic but for him it’s about focusing on what he needs to do and keeping up the form he’s in.

“I think when we have a fully-fit squad, the manager will have a headache with him, I’m sure.”

Carlo Ancelotti is confident he can steer Everton to the Champions League after a promising first year in charge at Goodison Park – and is not ruling out a title challenge during his tenure. 

The Italian coach was appointed on December 21 in 2019, at which stage the club were stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League table. 

Everton ended up finishing 12th at the end of a campaign that included a lengthy pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there have been further signs of progress in the 2020-21 campaign so far. 

Four successive wins had them flying high in the early stages and while there was a dip in form, recent victories over Chelsea and Leicester City have the Toffees in the top-four mix. 

For Ancelotti – who signed a four-and-a-half year deal – qualifying for European football's premier club competition has always been the target, and they could achieve that goal ahead of schedule. 

"We can be more competitive, I hope, this season but also next season. We need to have at least two years' time to improve and increase our level," Ancelotti told the Liverpool Echo ahead of Saturday's home match with Arsenal. 

"The target for next season will be to reach the top four in the Premier League, and when you are in the top four and you are able to fight for the top four, it means, at least, you can fight for the title."

The additions of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan and James Rodriguez in the transfer window helped o strengthen the squad, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin's continued development - he has 11 goals in the league so far - is a further positive for Everton fans.

Ancelotti is determined to make sure Everton are playing in Europe next season, meaning he would be happy to compete in the Europa League or potentially the Europa Conference League, a new competition which UEFA plans to launch in 2021.

"This is the target," said the former Chelsea boss, who won a domestic double during his two-year stint at Stamford Bridge. "To be in Europe next season. If it is Champions League, that would be a dream for us but I think we can compete for a position in Europe, in general."

On this current season, he added: "It is true that we started really well, unbelievable, and then we lost some games but, in general, we are more stable as a team.

"We had some injuries, we lost a little bit of confidence, but we are quite stable in this moment. We can play good matches with more stability, compared to when I arrived."

Ancelotti's appointment was confirmed prior to a 0-0 draw with Arsenal last year - and the two teams meet again prior to Christmas in 2020.

Declan Rice would be “a great addition” for Manchester United, says Alan Smith, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged to rival Chelsea in any transfer scramble for the West Ham midfielder.

A big-money move to Stamford Bridge continues to be mooted for an England international who once formed part of the academy system in west London.

No agreement has been reached, though, and the door remains open for others to steal in.

It has been suggested that United could join the chase for Rice’s signature, with the Red Devils weighing up their options when it comes to a holding role at Old Trafford.

Smith feels a talented 21-year-old would fit the bill, with the former United star telling American Gambler: “I like Declan Rice as a player and I think he would be a great addition - and is a British-based player, which obviously helps.

“I think he's one that is a bit more old school than a lot of defensive midfield players are now.”

Pressed on whether he would invest heavily on Rice over long-standing attacking target Jadon Sancho, Smith added: “It all depends on how good Scott McTominay is going to be, as you don't want to get someone like-for-like that is already coming through the system.

“He's obviously someone that Ole holds in high regard, he sees him in training every day, and you wouldn't want to block the pathway of a young lad coming through the United system.

“If he [Rice] is someone that can go in there and virtually guarantee you a league title then obviously you'd say yes, but have you've got someone in there that you'd be swapping like-for-like?

“Young players bring inconsistency. Young players get all the plaudits, but it's the experienced players that keep everything going.”

Smith believes similar questions need to be weighed up when it comes to making additions in the final third of the field, with there no need to spend big on Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho if Solskjaer feels he is already well-stocked in that department.

“If you sign Jadon Sancho, are you stopping the pathway for Mason Greenwood coming through?” Smith added.

“I think that Ole has one eye on increasing the standards to those that they need to reach, but also he saw Sir Alex's philosophy of bringing younger players through the system.

“That's something that all the clubs will have to start thinking about, there will be an emphasis on bringing young British-based players through the system.

“A lot of the lads in United's squad are British-based, and if you look at the younger lads you have [Dean] Henderson, [Harry] Maguire, [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, [Luke] Shaw, Greenwood, [Marcus] Rashford, [Brandon] Williams, so quite a British-based influence.

“They might not be the players that are going to guarantee a title, but you have the basis of a British-based squad, which is what you'll need when the new rules come in.”

Arsenal should be resisting any urge to send William Saliba out on a loan deal that “makes no sense”, says Kevin Campbell, with Mikel Arteta told to give the youngster Shkodran Mustafi’s minutes.

A highly-rated 19-year-old defender finally arrived at Emirates Stadium over the summer.

A £27 million ($37m) agreement had been reached with Saint-Etienne 12 months earlier, with the Gunners moving quickly to buy into the potential of a hot prospect.

Big things were expected of Saliba in north London, with plenty suggesting that he would slot seamlessly into the fold.

He is, however, still waiting on a competitive debut as Arteta continues to favour other options.

A lack of game time has sparked inevitable talk of a move being made elsewhere, with it suggested that the youngster could be allowed to link up with a Championship team in January.

Campbell remains baffled by said rumours, especially as the Gunners continue to struggle in their efforts to plug leaks at the back.

For him, Saliba should be eased into the fold over the remainder of the season, with there little value to be found in freezing him out and favouring German centre-half Mustafi – with the World Cup winner running his contract down towards free agency in 2021.

Former Arsenal striker Campbell told Football Insider: “Apparently Saliba has made great strides in training.

“Mustafi is going to leave at the end of the season, that is a done deal from both sides, and Saliba needs minutes, so why not give him the minutes that Mustafi is getting?

“To me it makes no sense. I like to think Arteta would use Saliba in the Europa League and FA Cup games we have coming up rather than sending him out on loan.”

Mustafi has taken in seven appearances for the Gunners this season, with five of those coming in continental competition.

Arsenal have booked their place in the last-32 of the Europa League, where they will face Benfica, and are also into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Opportunities will present themselves to give Saliba the game time he needs and craves in his ongoing development.

Arteta has, however, taken to overlooking a number of players this season, with Mesut Ozil being the most prominent, and it remains to be seen what the new year holds for a player with considerable potential.

If you are new to football, you could be forgiven for seeking out a glossary of terms (like ours here) in order to help you understand what the hell people are talking about half the time.

For example, a team can sometimes be described as being "still on for the treble" or as having "won the treble" and if you aren't familiar, you might justifiably scratch your head wondering what it means.

In other cases, rows over semantics can break out among those who are aware of the meaning about what exactly a treble is - this is particularly prevalent among rival fan groups contesting the legitimacy of claims.

So what constitutes a treble in football and which teams have won the treble? Goal brings you all you need to know.

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What is a treble in football?

At its most basic, a treble in football occurs when a team wins three trophies. However, in order to be considered a genuine treble, they must be the 'right' trophies.

A domestic treble is usually made up of the league, main national cup and the secondary national cup.

A one-off tie such as a super cup style competition, such as the Community Shield, does not usually count when considering the treble.

So in England, for example, the domestic treble is the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup (League Cup).

There is no such treble in Spain or Germany, but the Supercopa de Espana and DFL Supercup could arguably replace the League Cup in the equation, even though they are the equivalent to the Community Shield.

The continental treble is very similar, but as the name suggests, it naturally includes a continental title, such as the Champions League. A second-tier continental tournament like the Europa League is permissable when applying the tag, but it comes with an asterisk for many fans.

Generally speaking, a team is said to have won a continental treble if they win their league, their main national cup competition and the main continental competition.

Which teams have won the treble?

Teams who have won the treble form an exclusive group, which is not surprising given how difficult it is to secure three trophies in one season.

We've focused on European teams in the tables below, but there are of course more examples of treble-winning teams across the world.

European teams with a continental treble

Only seven teams have won the continental treble (incorporating only the European Cup or Champions League) in Europe.

They are: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Inter, Manchester United and PSV.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich have achieved the feat twice. Barca's first treble came under Pep Guardiola in 2008-09 and their second was achieved in 2014-15, when Luis Enrique was manager.

Jupp Heynckes helped deliver Bayern's first treble in 2012-13 and their second came under Hans-Dieter Flick in 2019-20 after he took over from Niko Kovac mid-way through the season.

Celtic won the treble in 1966-67 when they won the European Cup, while Ajax won it a few years later in 1971-72.

Manchester United memorably won the treble - the first and only English team to do so - in 1998-99 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

European teams with a domestic treble

Scotland's Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic are the European teams with the most trebles in history and they are followed by Northern Ireland's Linfield.

Paris Saint-Germain's recent dominance of French football has seen them collect four domestic trebles - all of them coming in the latter half of the 2010s.

Remarkably, England's first-ever true domestic treble in men's football was only achieved in 2018-19 by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

The only Spanish club to have claimed a domestic treble is Athletic Club, though there is an asterisk next to their name given that one of the trophies was the Biscay Championship - a regional cup.

Other clubs who have won a domestic treble include Benfica and Bayern Munich

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows he is working under a “magnifying glass” at Manchester United and that he has to “compete for trophies” in order to keep his job, says Rene Meulensteen.

The Norwegian spent enough time at Old Trafford in his playing days to become fully versed in the demands that are placed on anybody associated with the Red Devils.

He helped to deliver an impressive haul of major honours while operating as a prolific frontman, but is yet to add to his medal collection in a coaching capacity.

The hope is that, after reaching three semi-finals last season, the 2020-21 campaign will see United get back on the trophy trail.

Positive progress is being made in Premier League and Carabao Cup quests, while the consolation prize of a spot in the last-32 of the Europa League has been accepted after slipping out of the Champions League.

Meulensteen believes that Solskjaer can be the man to deliver on expectation at United, despite the regular rounds of questions he has faced across a two-year tenure, but admits that patience in Manchester will only stretch so far.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right-hand man told Stadium Astro: “If you are manager of Manchester United then you are under the magnifying glass.

“United is the biggest challenge. You not only need to win games, you also need to play a certain style of football, a certain brand. You need an attacking style and to win games and get results.

“It is important for him this season to stay within touching distance of the top of the Premier League, especially after getting knocked out of the Champions League. He needs to have another run in the Europa League.

“Last year they got to three semi-finals and didn’t get to the final in one of them. For now, Ole can only do one thing and focus on the games in hand. He has stressed that he is it in for the long term, the club have backed that, but he needs to compete for trophies.”

Meulensteen say Solskjaer is bringing together the right “pieces” at Old Trafford, with value found in the transfer market that has allowed the Red Devils to become competitive once more.

The Dutchman added: “He has had a chance to bring certain players in, and the most important player he has brought in is Bruno Fernandes.

“The evidence is there for how much he is the catalyst of getting United to play in the United way. He is very skilful, he has got great vision, he’s intelligent, he has got a lot of creativity in his play, he’s not afraid to take risks. There are a lot of things there.

“There have been other players come in like Donny van de Beek, who I think we still haven’t seen the best of, Alex Telles at left-back, so bit by bit they are starting to put the pieces together.

“Up front they have got bags of pace and goalscoring opportunities so it’s not a surprise that they are up there in the league.

“But it’s still early doors and he still wants to be there at the end of March, early April. If they are there then, or even top of the league, then they are truly title contenders again.

“That would be a fantastic job and mean really good progress. At the moment they are sitting nicely with a game in hand.”

The Red Devils saw off struggling Sheffield United 3-2 in their last outing, with another comeback victory on the road lifting them up to sixth in the table, five points off leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

Diogo Jota says his recovery from an unfortunate knee injury is “going well”, but no date is being set for a return.

The Portugal international made an immediate impact at Liverpool on the back of a big-money summer switch from Wolves.

Jurgen Klopp invested £45 million ($61m) in the 24-year-old, and has already seen a nine-goal return after 17 appearances.

Calls were mounting for Jota to be handed a prominent role in the Reds’ plans, with Roberto Firmino seeing his position come under threat amid a struggle for end product. The in-form frontman has, however, been added to the lengthy injury list on Merseyside.

Jota suffered an untimely setback after figuring in a 1-1 draw with his former employers at Wolves, with Klopp conceding that he may not be seen for some time.

The Reds boss said: “Yeah, it’s worse than we first thought and better than we then thought. All the potential surgeons had a look on it, no surgery needed, but he will be out for a while.

“We don’t know exactly but one-and-a-half, two months. We don’t know exactly. It’s pretty similar with Kostas Tsimikas, by the way. Unbelievable.

“It was first after the game. We saw the situation when he got it; him himself, nobody would have thought something happened there.

“We got him off the pitch and he said ‘I feel a little bit’ and next day, scans and then a surgeon has to look at it. That’s how we do it, different information. In the end, it’s strange but we were happy that we heard the final diagnosis.”

It remains to be seen when Jota will be welcomed back into fold, with the rest of 2020 being written off, but he claims to be making positive progress in his rehabilitation.

He told Liverpool’s official website: “Now I am supporting from the outside it is not easy - it’s even harder when you need to suffer as a fan and you can do literally nothing to help the team on the field.

“I’m doing my best to be back as soon as possible. Things are going well but knee injuries are always complicated so we cannot rush things, but I am doing well and I will be back on the field as soon as possible, like I say.”

Liverpool, without Jota and several other senior stars, will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Crystal Palace.