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Daniel Jinadu has set a three-pronged target at West Ham United, with his major priority a desire to feature in the Premier League.

Achieving ambitious goals remains a possibility for the teenage goalkeeper who starred for Nigeria during the 2019 U17 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

Alongside Keenan Appiah-Forson, Harrison Ashby, Sam Caiger, Dan Chesters, Will Greenidge and Joshua Okotcha, the 17-year-old signed his first professional contract with the English top-flight side last week – a result of his consistency and diligence for the club’s U18s during the 2019-2020 season.

Having had the chance of training with Joe Hart and Lukasz Fabianski, Jinadu expressed his drive to play in the Premier League, while hoping to play international football at the highest level.

“The targets I’m setting for myself are to one day play in the Premier League which is one of the highest levels of football, and also to get a lot games and hopefully, to play international football at the highest level,” Jinadu told Goal.

“My target also is to develop my skills as a goalkeeper and as well gain experience of playing men’s football - playing at a high and advanced level.”

The youngster is still on cloud nine over his professional contract with West Ham and he disclosed what this means to him and his family, who have always rallied round him during his formative years.

“Signing my professional contract with West Ham was a very important moment in my life because it is what I’ve been working for since I was really young when I started playing football,” he continued.

“It has been my dream to become a professional because I always love playing football and my family and everyone around me have sacrificed a lot for me to get to the position I am.

“I’m just grateful that all the hard work that my family has put in has yielded fruits and it’s really good.

“My family was so proud of me and really happy for me because they have been really supportive in my journey. Hearing that I signed for a big club like West Ham – they were over the moon with joy.”

James Milner limped off the pitch during the first half of Liverpool's Merseyside derby clash with Everton with Joel Matip forced out due to an injury later in the match.

The Reds were forced to make a change when the 34-year-old pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury just before half-time at Goodison Park.

Milner was making the 535th Premier League outing of his career on Saturday, which saw him draw level with Welsh legend Gary Speed in fifth in the top-flight's all-time list of appearances.

Joe Gomez was sent on as a like-for-like replacement for a fellow England international at left-back, as the Reds push for a win which would see them move to within three points of the Premier League title.

During the second half, it was Matip who was forced out of the match with an apparent leg injury, with the defender replaced by Dejan Lovren for Liverpool's fifth and final substitute of the day.

Liverpool haven't won the league in 30 years, but 27 wins from their first 29 fixtures put them in pole position before the coronavirus stopped play in March.

Jurgen Klopp's men will increase their lead over reigning champions Manchester City back to 25 points at the summit if they beat their local rivals, but they weren't at their brilliant best in the first half.

Neither side was able to carve out any clear goalscoring chances in a match staged behind closed doors due to the continued threat of coronavirus.

The last four Merseyside derby encounters to take place at Goodison have been goalless at the break, but Liverpool are at least on course to extend their unbeaten record against Everton to 22 matches.

With strict social distancing measures still in place, the Reds were forced to get changed for their latest clash in the car park at Goodison, with a large portacabin erected just outside the ground.

The tunnel inside Everton's famous stadium has been deemed too small to allow safe and hygienic entry for players, which means all teams visiting over the next few weeks will have to take the same route onto the pitch.

After their latest clash with the Toffees, Liverpool will start preparing for a meeting with Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.

Klopp's men will then benefit from an eight-day break before coming up against City at Etihad Stadium on July 2, which could potentially be a title decider.

Ghana defender Joseph Aidoo featured for the third game in succession as his Celta Vigo side recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Deportivo Alaves in La Liga on Sunday.

Despite helping Celta keep a clean sheet in midweek in the 0-0 stalemate against Real Valladolid, the defender started from the bench and was brought on in the 72nd minute.

Goals from Jeison Murillo, Iago Aspas, Nolito, Santi Mina and Rafinha's brace saw the Sky Blues take advantage of the spaces left by 10-men Alaves.

Martin Aguirregabiria received a straight red card for a high-foot challenge on Rafinha, leaving Babazorros depleted for most of the match.

Before Sunday's encounter, Oscar Garcia's men were hovering a point above the relegation zone, but the win took them up to 16th with 30 points, four adrift of 18th-placed Real Mallorca with eight games left in the current campaign.

Black Stars defender Aidoo replaced Jeison Murillo for his 26th appearance of the season, making him one of Garcia's most important men this campaign with 2031 minutes played.

Only Aspas, Nestor Araujo, Lucas Olaza and Ruben Blanco have played more minutes than him in his maiden season in the Spanish top tier since arriving in the summer form Racing Genk.

Ghana's new coach Charles 'CK' Akonnor had named Aidoo amongst his four centre-backs in his squad that was scheduled to play Sudan in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers prior to the Covid-19 hiatus.

Akonnor, a former captain of Ghana, replaced Kwasi Appiah and has been tasked with qualifying Ghana for the 2021 Afcon and 2022 World Cup.

Aidoo is expected to form a long-term partnership with Germany-based defender Kasim Adams Nuhu at the heart of the Black Stars' defence.

Aidoo has been capped five times for Ghana.

Frank Lampard hailed Christian Pulisic as a "top-class player" after Chelsea's win over Aston Villa, while insisting the winger was "hungry" to make an impact after so long away from the pitch.

Chelsea marked their return to competitive action following the coronavirus-enforced break in the season by securing a 2-1 away win against Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The result saw Lampard's side move five points clear of Manchester United and Wolves in the race for fourth while closing the gap on third place Leicester to just three.

The Blues were made to work for the victory, however, as the hosts took a surprise 43rd minute lead against the run of play.

Villa had been pegged back in their own half until Kortney Hause bundled the ball into the net following their first meaningful attack of the game.

Chelsea regrouped at the interval and came out for the second period with renewed purpose, but Lampard decide further inspiration was needed in the 55th minute, as he introduced Ross Barkley and Pulisic to the action.

Pulisic found the back of the net within five minutes of coming on, smashing a pinpoint Cesar Azpilicueta cross into the net at the back post to level the scores.

Olivier Giroud completed the Blues' comeback moments later, swivelling gracefully in the box before turning the ball home with the aid of a wicked deflection.

Lampard singled Pulisic out for praise post-match, while admitting that it was a difficult decision for him to omit the United States international from his starting line up.

The Chelsea boss told reporters: "He was hungry, I know that and I felt for him. He has trained well. The ability to arrive in the box is a big thing.

"It is a difference between being a very good player on the flank and a top-class player.

"With Christian and Ross [Barkley] they both have trained well, I have selection problems, good ones. I had them on my mind to come on early in the second half."

One man who did make Lampard's team sheet was Ruben Loftus Cheek, and Lampard was "delighted" to see the England international return to the pitch after 13 months on the sidelines.

"I am delighted for Ruben to be back in the fold," he said. "He got in the team on his own merit with working well. In training, he has looked good and strong.

"We need to give him time to adapt. I thought it was a game for his physicality. There is more to come."

Lampard added on Chelsea needing to add a cutting edge to their game in the final third: "I am really pleased with the performance. Villa had the opportunity to do it one time more.

"It was new for us. We moved the ball well, dominated but we need to be more clinical.

"I can give leeway on that because it has been a long time out."

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has justified his decision to start with Anthony Gordon in Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

The 19-year-old was a surprise name on the Toffees’ teamsheet for the encounter at Goodison Park, with the locally-born teenager have never previously started a Premier League match before, let alone one of such importance.

Experienced manager Ancelotti, however, believed he had seen enough from the youngster to justify his selection as his side ended an unscheduled three-month break due to coronavirus with a grudge fixture against Jurgen Klopp’s men.

"Anthony Gordon trained well, showed confidence and this is a good opportunity for him. He deserves to play,” Ancelotti told Sky Sports.

The attacking midfielder has featured previously for Everton in the Premier League, making his debut against West Ham away from home as a half-time substitute for Bernard in a 1-1 draw in London, while he also featured as a late replacement in the 4-0 loss to Chelsea immediately before the pandemic struck, putting the brakes on the season.

He has, however, been on the fringes of the Toffees’ first team for a long period, having made his debut off the bench in a Europa League encounter against Apollon Limassol in December 2017.

He was commonly found in Everton’s Premier League 2 squad this season, turning out with some success at that standard. He netted twice against Arsenal’s Under-23 side then followed that up with another double and an assist against Southampton’s youths, while he ended the season with six goals and two assists in nine outings at that level.

In addition, he has turned out for England at both Under-18 and Under-19 level.

Everton, who are presently 13th in the Premier League, were seeking to end a dire record against their Stanley Park rivals, having not overcome Liverpool in any competition since October 2010, when goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta guided them to a 2-0 victory over Roy Hodgson’s struggling side at Goodison Park.

Subsequently, they have played 21 times, suffering 11 defeats in that period while registering 10 draws. Their sorest defeats were a couple of 4-0 losses to their rivals.

Uganda international Joel Madondo has revealed he has been denied access to Wydad Casablanca's training ground.

Madondo has not had a smooth time with the Moroccan club since his new year move as, a few weeks ago, he explained how he had neither received his salaries nor allowances since March while staying in a rented apartment.

Things appear to have hit a new low when Madondo when he wanted to return to training for the league's resumption, but he was denied access to the facility.

“The club is already back in training because they are preparing for the resumption of the league and Caf Champions League but I went there the other day and I was denied access to the training ground,” Madondo is quoted as saying by Kawowo Sports.

“I went back to training and coach Diego Megias [conditioning coach] told me to talk to the head coach Juna Carlos Garrido who is currently in Spain. When I called him, he told me I should first settle my issues with the club.

“I decided to do personal training at home and I also go to road work. There is a small pitch next to the airport where Nigerians train, I joined them but they train just two days a week.”

In the earlier assertion, the former Busoga United forward said Casablanca had also taken away his passport, and the 22-year-old revealed he is ready to fly home as soon as possible after it was returned to him.

“I got my passport back and I’m only waiting for the airport to open. All I want now is to return home and have some peace. I have been through a lot since I arrived here," added Madondo.

“For now, I don’t care how people will judge me. They always blame us without hearing our story but I don’t think anyone would want to go through what I have experienced.”

Meanwhile, Isaac Muleme has blamed SC Villa for "greed" for not allowing five of its players to join Vietnamese clubs in 2011.

Villa were invited for BTV Cup in Vietnam and according to the full-back, five players had offers thereafter for good performances but the Jogoos turned them down.

“If Villa had accepted those offers then our careers would be far different from how they have now turned out. Sometimes I think our clubs are too greedy,” Muleme told Daily Monitor.

The Viktoria Zizkov defender also explained the difference between the Czech Republic league compared to Uganda's competition.

“You need quick thinking, speed and power to survive here. They move the ball very fast from one end to the other and make our domestic league appear as if we are playing in slow motion,” the defender, on loan to Nitra FC, concluded.

Muleme has also played for KCCA FC and Egyptian side Al Assouity Sports Club before. 

Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic is excited about what lies ahead with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech joining the side.

The Blues secured a 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, with the USA international coming off the bench to convert a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta to draw the sides level shortly before Olivier Giroud’s winner.

Victory further secured Chelsea’s spot in the Premier League’s top four, and with Ziyech and Werner set to join the Stamford Bridge side on July 1, the end of the season promises to be an exciting one for the Blues, although neither will be permitted to play domestically.

“I think we already have a very strong team with strong players, but to add players like Timo Werner is incredible. We're focused on this season for now, but excited for what's to come too,” Pulisic told Sky Sports .

Meanwhile, the former Dortmund man was content with his contribution to his side’s cause.

“I'm really glad that I could come in and help the team,” he said. “Luckily today it was with a goal and helped us get a good result. [Manager Frank Lampard] said go in and help us win the game, nothing special really, just use my talents to see what I can do. 

“I don't think I hit it perfectly with my left, but i got enough on it to steer it on target.”

It was Chelsea’s first match in three months following the coronavirus pandemic and was played in an empty stadium as a consequence. Although the atmosphere was unusual, Pulisic explained that he did not think it hampered his side.

“Obviously it's very different playing with no fans, but I think the team brought good energy and we finished really strongly,” he said. “I've been out for a while, it felt really nice to be back out here after the injury, all the guys have been off but we've been trying to stay fit as best we can.”

Chelsea, who enjoy a five-point gap to Manchester United and Wolves in fifth and sixth respectively, face a challenging week ahead, with a home encounter against Manchester City to come on Thursday before a trip to tackle third-placed Leicester City next Sunday.

Salzburg played out a 2-2 draw with AC Wolfsberger in Sunday’s Austrian Bundesliga game, with Zambia’s Enock Mwepu finding the net.

The hosts came into the encounter on the back of three wins on the bounce and were in need of a victory to increase their title chances; nonetheless, they were held by Ferdinand Feldhofer’s tenacious side, who are eyeing a place in next season’s Europa League.

Japanese winger Masaya Okugawa put Salzburg ahead in the 19th minute after been played in by South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan.

Die Mozartstadter showed the desire to add more goals but their efforts met strong resistance by the visitors who put up a solid defensive display inside Wals-Siezenheim’s Red Bull Arena.

Mwepu doubled Jesse Marsch’s men's lead in the 71st minute after beating two Wolfsberger defenders before firing past goalkeeper Alexander Kofler.

When it looked like the visitors would be heading home with their heads bowed low, they launched a comeback with less than 10 minutes to the end of the game.

First, it was captain Andreas Ulmer who turned the ball into his own net in the 80th minute before substitute Michael Liendi ensured that the game ended with no winner following an assist from Cheikhou Dieng’s replacement Alexander Schmidt, with four minutes more to play.

Despite the draw, Salzburg occupy the summit of the Bundesliga log with 38 points from 28 games, while Feldhofer's Wolfsberger are fourth with 25 points from the same number of matches.

For goal-scorer Mwepu, Sunday’s game was his 22nd of the season. He played every minute of the game alongside compatriot Patson Daka, while German-Nigerian Karim Adeyemi came on for Hee-Chan after 74 minutes.

Ghana’s Majeed Ahimeru came on for Okugawa with 26 minutes left to play while Cameroon’s Jerome Onguene, and Mali duo of Sekou Koita and Mohamed Camara were not listed for action.

Wolfsberger face Isaac Donkor’s SK Sturm Graz in their next game on Wednesday as Mwepu and Daka’s team face a daunting task against second-placed Rapid Wien, which parade Nigeria’s Bright Edomwonyi and Gambia’s Maudo Jarjue, before hosting fifth-place Hartberg on Sunday.  

Steve Bruce expressed delight for Joelinton after the Newcastle United striker ended his Premier League goal drought in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

The Magpies resumed Premier League action following the coronavirus-enforced stoppage and took a significant step towards survival against the 10-man Blades.

After John Egan was sent off in the 50th minute, Allan Saint-Maximin and Matt Ritchie put Newcastle in control.

Joelinton rounded off the win with his first league goal since his effort in a 1-0 win at Tottenham on August 25.

The Brazilian striker, a club-record signing in the close-season, had seen his previous 39 league shots fail to result in a goal.

Magpies manager Bruce was thrilled to see the former Hoffenheim man end his wait to find the net, revealing Joelinton had endured a tough time during the lockdown measures enforced by the British government to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

"We're all delighted for him," Bruce said afterwards. "He probably suffered more in the lockdown, he had no family over and he was stuck in an apartment somewhere.

"It's been difficult for him but I'm delighted for him because he's a really good pro and he can only get better."

Miguel Almiron supplied the assist for Joelinton, the South American pair and Saint-Maximin performing excellently as Newcastle's front three.

Newcastle are now 11 points clear of the bottom three with eight games remaining.

"After the restart the one thing you want to do is get off to a good start," added Bruce. 

"We've got our big players playing at the top of the pitch and as we've seen today they can be a threat."

Dynamo Moscow have announced the postponement of Sunday's Premier League match against Krasnodar after three players tested positive for coronavirus.

The three infected players were identified to be Cameroon striker Clinton Njie, Burkina Faso midfielder Charles Kabore and Sebastian Szymanski after Saturday's test and they have been placed in a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Dynamo Moscow were scheduled to resume their 2019-20 Russian top-flight campaign on Sunday after the league was suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After notifying the Russian Football Union and the league authorities, the White-Blues disclosed that Krasnodar have agreed to the postponement of the matchday 23 fixture to July 19.

Dynamo Moscow expressed their gratitude to their opponent with the assurance of their readiness for their next league fixture against CSKA Moscow on June 27.

"Based on the results of scheduled testing of players and team members for Сovid-19 the previous morning, the presence of coronavirus was detected in three football players - Clinton Njie , Charles Kabore and Sebastian Szymanski," the club statement read.

"They were sent to a two-week quarantine under the supervision of doctors in accordance with the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor.

"The rest of the team, the coaching staff and staff from yesterday are at the club’s training base in Novogorsk in closed mode.

"FC Dynamo Moscow immediately notified the test results and measures were taken by the RFU, RPL and Krasnodar football club.

"We promptly received an official response from the leadership of Krasnodar that we agreed to postpone the calendar match of the RPL 23 round from the scheduled date on June 21 to the reserve day.

"Understanding that such a decision could not be simple, both purely from a football point of view and in the light of the resonant events of recent days, we want to express on behalf of our entire club, our sincere gratitude to the President of FC Krasnodar Sergey Nikolaevich Galitsky for a goodwill gesture, for human and sporting nobility.

"On Saturday morning, in order to conduct additional sanitary and anti-epidemic measures, members of our team, with the exception of those who have previously confirmed the presence of the virus, underwent further in-depth testing. All results are negative.

"Today, the Bureau of the Executive Committee of the RFU, following an emergency meeting, approved the RPL proposal to postpone the date of the Krasnodar - Dynamo match to July 19.

"We thank the leadership of the Russian Football Union and the Russian Premier League for a constructive approach to solving this situation.

"Thus, the next game of our team will be held on June 27 at 19.00 against CSKA at VTB Arena-Central Stadium Dynamo named after L. Yashin. Additional information on how to conduct this match will be announced later."

Prior to the suspension of football in Russia, Njie who moved to Moscow from Marseille last summer, has scored just a goal in 15 league outings while Kabore has made 17 league appearances.

Dynamo Moscow are seventh on the league table with 30 points after 22 matches.

Olivier Giroud's hot streak against Aston Villa continued as Chelsea secured a win on their return to Premier League action.

The Blues picked up their first away victory of 2020 by beating Villa 2-1 in their own backyard on Saturday afternoon.

Frank Lampard's side moved to within three points of third-placed Leicester City as a result, while opening up a five-point lead over Champions League qualification rivals Manchester United.

Chelsea dominated the first half at Villa Park, but were made to pay for a lack of cutting edge when Kortney Hause bundled home the opener for the hosts in the 43rd minute.

Dean Smith's side weren't able to hold onto their lead for very long, however, as substitute Christian Pulisic stabbed into the roof of the net from close range right on the hour mark.

The Blues found themselves in front just two minutes later when Giroud showed off his predatory instincts to spin in the box and fire past Orjan Nyland in the Villa net - albeit with the help of a slight deflection.

That strike marked the World Cup winner's fourth goal of the season, and justified Lampard's decision to start him over top scorer Tammy Abraham.

Giroud has now found the back of the net in each of his last six outings against Villa, but his latest strike was his first for Chelsea against the West Midlands outfit.

The 33-year-old hadn't featured against Villa since scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal in a 4-0 win way back in May 2016.

Chelsea will now look ahead to a huge meeting with reigning champions Manchester City on Thursday, which comes just three days before another vital encounter away at Leicester.

Prior to the Blues win at Villa, former Stamford Bridge favourite Joe Cole expressed his belief that Lampard will lead his old club to a top-four finish after an "unbelievable" first year at the helm.

Cole told 90min: "The future's looking bright, you know, credit to the club for appointing Frank at the start of the season. It was a bold decision and credit to Frank, I think he's been unbelievable, his staff as well."

Ndanda FC head coach Abdul Mingange has lauded the resilience shown by his players in the Tanzania Mainland League match at home against Biashara United.

After a goalless draw in regulation time, the referee added four extra minutes and it was these added minutes when Abdul Mangalo was adjudged to have fouled Kassim Mdoe in the danger zone.

Abdul Hamisi kept his cool to score what turned out to be the winning goal which assured his team maximum points.

"[Biashara] are a good team and they were defensively organized which gave us a hard time penetrating them," Mingange told journalists after the match.

"Yes we won the game, but it was not easy considering it was our first game since the suspension which happened, owing to Covid-19.

"However, the spirited fight from the players paid dividends and the substitutions we made had a positive impact."

Despite the loss, Biashara United coach Francis Baraza was impressed with the show put up by his players.

"Fitness level of my players was at 70%, according to my opinion, which is fair but the boys pushed it to almost 80% which was impressive," the Kenyan tactician told reporters.

"Despite the loss, we have played good football. 

"We will now turn our attention to our game against KMC on [Wednesday, June] 24. We also have six home games which we want to bag maximum points."  

The Mtwara-based side lost by the same margin when they met in the reverse fixture played in December 2019.

It was the fourth top-tier meeting between the teams, and both sides have won two and lost as many.

The win took Ndanda to the 14th position with 34 points from the 30 matches played. They have registered eight wins, 10 draws and 12 losses.

Mara-based Biashara are four places higher with 40 points from as many matches. They have managed 10 losses, as many draws and as many wins as well.

In other matches played this weekend, fourth-placed Namungo needed a Hashim Manyanya strike on the stroke of half-time to defeat Kagera Sugar.

JKT Tanzania defeated Singida United 2-0 with KMC claiming a 2-1 win over Ruvu Shooting, while Mbeya City fell by a solitary goal to their visitors Alliance. 

Simba mauled Mwadui 3-0 while Azam FC and Yanga SC battled to a goalless draw. 

Liverpool edged closer to their first league title in 30 years but were frustrated by an obdurate Everton in a 0-0 derby draw at Goodison Park. 

The Toffees are now winless in 19 Premier League matches against their local rivals, although that statistic did not appear to weigh upon Carlo Ancelotti's approach as his side offered scant attacking threat. 

They still came closest to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes from time, though, as Tom Davies hit the post after Alisson had kept out Dominic Calvert-Lewin's clever flick.

Jurgen Klopp left Mohamed Salah unused on the bench and his team need five more points to become champions, although that equation will change if Manchester City fail to beat Burnley on Monday. 

An early error from Fabinho let Richarlison loose to flash a shot across the face of Alisson's goal.  

Takumi Minamino dispossessed Andre Gomes in the 34th minute, allowing Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane to tee up Roberto Firmino, with the Brazil forward pulling wastefully wide.  

Everton centre-back Michael Keane, booked for an earlier foul on Mane, produced a vital block to thwart Minamino before half-time, by which point Liverpool had lost James Milner to a hamstring injury and sent on Joe Gomez. 

Firmino's clever chested lay-off saw Naby Keita volley wide in the 51st minute, with Everton attacks having more or less disappeared from view. 

It made Richarlison's shank into the Gwladys Street End with Virgil van Dijk breathing down his neck all the more frustrating. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold had a 63rd-minute free-kick deflected over before Joel Matip joined Milner on the injury list. 

In the context of a dour contest, Everton launched a stirring late rally, Davies agonisingly close to snatching glory and Alisson frustrating his compatriot Richarlison once more after Calvert-Lewin sent a diving header wide. 

What does it mean? Liverpool made to wait 

Not that they will mind at all, but Liverpool could still end next week without being crowned Premier League champions.

When they are, their success should be remembered in the context of what came before the coronavirus pandemic. This soulless encounter was very much at odds with the finest moments Klopp has crafted on Merseyside. 

No shame for Seamus 

It might only be one win in 15 attempts now, but Seamus Coleman is still an Everton player who knows what it feels like to beat Liverpool. The experienced captain led by example at right-back, with two inch-perfect challenges on Gomez and Mane early in the second half crucial when it came to preserving parity. 

Minamino still bedding in 

Klopp said the extended training period before the Premier League restart had been useful for January recruit Minamino. A surprise inclusion ahead of Salah, who is still short of match fitness, the former Salzburg forward showed some nice touches and enjoyed a couple of half chances, but the opportunity to make a statement passed him by. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Minamino for the start of the second half .

Key Opta facts

- Seven of the last eight Merseyside derbies played at Goodison Park in the Premier League have ended level. 
- Liverpool have now gone 22 games without defeat against Everton in all competitions since a 2-0 loss at Goodison Park in October 2010 (W11 D11). 
- Everton are the only Premier League side to remain unbeaten on home soil in 2020 across all competitions (P5 W2 D3 L0). 
- Jurgen Klopp has managed more games against Everton in all competitions without defeat than against any other opponent in his managerial career (P11 W7 D4). 
- The average age of Everton's starting XI was 24 years and 356 days – their youngest starting line-up for a league match against Liverpool since February 1986 (24 years and 250 days), when they won 2-0 at Anfield. 

What's next 

A stunning title triumph may still be completed when Liverpool host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, with Everton on the road at bottom club Norwich City. 

Liverpool will face an unusual challenge during Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton as they will be forced to change in the Goodison Park car park.

A temporary structure amounting to a large portacabin has been installed outside the Premier League ground and this will act as the visiting changing room for the foreseeable future due to restrictions in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The Premier League has taken a three-month recess because of the pandemic, which has seen the UK particularly acutely hit by the bug. Around 300,000 people have been infected in the country, with close to 43,000 losing their lives.

After play was halted in the middle of March, Liverpool, who are only six points short of sealing their first title of the Premier League era, are set to restart their campaign against their Stanley Park rivals, with strict protocols in place to allow sport to go ahead.

The tunnel in Goodison Park has been deemed too small to allow both teams to enter the field of play in a safe and hygienic manner, and with that in mind, Liverpool – and Everton’s subsequent opponents at home – will be forced to come in from outside the stadium.

Leicester, Southampton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth are all slated to visit the Toffees before the season is over.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side currently reside 13th in the standings but retain an outside chance of playing European football next season if they can finish the present campaign, which will conclude at the end of July, in strong form.

The blue half of Liverpool has not celebrated success in the derby fixture since 2010, when they celebrated a 2-0 victory over their Anfield rivals at home in the Premier League, with Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta netting on that occasion.

Since then, the Reds have dominated the encounter, which has taken place on 21 subsequent occasions. They have picked up 11 wins and drawn 10 times in that period, notably scoring a couple of 4-0 victories over their opponents.

Another victory would push Jurgen Klopp’s side to within three points of the title, which could be sealed on Monday should Manchester City lose to Burnley.

Chelsea came from behind at Aston Villa to move five points clear in fourth as two goals in as many second-half minutes earned them a 2-1 win.

Kortney Hause scored his first Premier League goal two minutes before the interval to give struggling Villa a half-time advantage.

However, substitute Christian Pulisic levelled for Frank Lampard's side before Olivier Giroud made it eight goals in his previous six top-flight games against Villa when grabbing the winner.

It was Chelsea's first away win in the Premier League in 2020, the victory providing Lampard with cause for celebration on his 100th match as a manager.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek made his first appearance in 13 months following his Achilles injury and there was evidence of some rust when he miscued an early header.

Chelsea dominated the opening exchanges and only a fine one-handed stop from Orjan Nyland denied the lively Mason Mount from distance.

Nyland was fortunate the ball did not roll back over his line when he spilled what should have been a routine save from Mateo Kovacic before snaffling at the second attempt, with Kepa Arrizabalaga more convincing at the other end in denying Anwar El Ghazi.

Loftus-Cheek almost got on the end of a cross following a twisting, turning run from Mount but, against the run of play, it was Villa who claimed the half-time advantage.

Hause's first effort from Douglas Luiz's delivery was stopped by Kepa yet the Villa defender picked himself up and stuck away the rebound.

There was a sense it might be one of those days for Chelsea when Giroud arrived just too late to divert Cesar Azpilicueta's cross home at the near post. 

However, the Spaniard's next delivery found its way through to an unmarked Pulisic and the substitute steered his finish under the crossbar on the hour mark just five minutes after coming on.

And, two minutes after equalising, the Blues went ahead through Giroud as the Frenchman collected Azpilicueta's pass, swivelled and fired an effort that deflected in off Conor Hourihane.

Hause headed a Hourihane free-kick over the top but there was no stirring comeback attempt from Villa, who remain in the bottom three.

What does it mean? Chelsea in control of top-four race

The Blues had seen top-four rivals Manchester United, Sheffield United, Tottenham and Arsenal all drop points before they returned to action, and they now have a five-point cushion over United and Wolves with eight to play.

Villa missed out on the chance to move out of the bottom three and their performance provided little evidence they have the quality to stay up.

Azpilicueta dishes out the assists

Both Chelsea goals were served up by their captain, who moved onto five Premier League assists for the season.

The full-back's best ever total in a top-flight campaign in England is the six assists he had in 2017-18.

Rusty Ruben

It was perhaps no surprise that Loftus-Cheek looked off the pace given his lack of action recently, and it was his removal for Pulisic that helped turned the game on its head.

Loftus-Cheek had just 25 touches in his 55 minutes and struggled to get into the game.

Key Opta Facts:

- Aston Villa have now lost five Premier League games after scoring first this season, two more than any other side in the competition.

- Pulisic has been directly involved in seven goals in his last eight away Premier League games (five goals, two assists).
- Giroud has scored in each of his last seven games against Aston Villa in all competitions, netting nine goals in the process (eight for Arsenal, one for Chelsea).

- Azpilicueta provided two assists in a single Premier League game for only the second time in his 263-game English top-flight career – also doing so versus Stoke in September 2017.

- Lampard took charge of his 100th match in his managerial career, winning 46 of those 100 games in all competitions with current side Chelsea (22), and Derby County (24).

What's next?

Newcastle United and Wolves, who both won their first games back, are Villa's next two opponents. Chelsea have a couple of difficult fixtures next week, with a home clash against Manchester City preceding a trip to third-placed Leicester City.

RB Leipzig showed that they have no hard feelings towards future Chelsea attacker Timo Werner by presenting him with a specially-commissioned mosaic before the club’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

The fixture was the last time that Werner will feature in a home match for the East German side before he completes a £47.5 million ($59m) switch to the Premier League club in the summer.

It is a move that has generated some controversy, however, with the Germany international forward having been made unavailable for the remainder of the club’s Champions League campaign in August.

Given his importance to the side – he has scored 32 goals and created 13 more in 43 outings for the club this season – it represents a significant blow and resulted in his agent coming out to defend him.

“What annoys me is that Timo is now being put in a corner and portrayed as a bad sportsman who lets his team-mates down,” Werner’s representative, Karlheinz Forster, told Sport1. “I have to contradict that very clearly and I can only agree with what [RB Leipzig managing director] Oliver Mintzlaff said yesterday before the game!

“It would have been anything but a good start for Timo at his new club if he had to return to Leipzig for the preparation and the Champions League after the break.

“It was the joint vote of all parties involved - and not just Timo's decision - that he should move to Chelsea on July 1, and not wait until mid or late August.”

The player, meanwhile, is looking forward to the move and is grateful to Leipzig for providing a stepping stone after he joined them from Stuttgart in 2016.

"I am delighted to be signing for Chelsea, it is a very proud moment for me to be joining this great club," Werner said. "I, of course, want to thank RB Leipzig, the club and the fans, for four fantastic years. You will forever be in my heart.

"I look forward to next season with my new teammates, my new manager and of course the Chelsea fans. Together we have a very successful future ahead of us."

Lobi Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote has called on Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players to seize their Super Eagles opportunities when they come.

The national team has been dominated by foreign-based players since the arrival of Gernot Rohr, as the Franco-German tactician claimed the best of Nigerian players play abroad.  

Heartland goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only consistent home-based player in the national team under the 66-year-old.   

Rohr, who recently signed a new two-year contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has been mandated to watch more domestic league games in order to discover talents for the national team.

Ogunbote, who has previously coached Sunshine Stars, Enyimba and Enugu Rangers, has praised the directives and urged the NPFL stars to be ready to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.

“Every player, either home-based or playing abroad has a right to represent the nation as long as he is a Nigerian,” Ogunbote told the Guardian.

“The news that NPFL players will be watched during league games is interesting and very good. Before now, the coaching crew of the Super Eagles never had confidence in the domestic league players.

“It is a question of time and we will see to whether the players are of good quality or not. I know the Eagles’ coaching crew would be convinced because we have very good players in the domestic league.

“The truth is that before now, the domestic players used to have a lot of publicity at home playing for the national team. But when they are not being considered again, of course, the next thing is to go for trials in Europe on their own.

“At least with the new development, the local league players once again have the opportunity to not only sell themselves to the Eagles’ coaching crew but also play their way to clubs in Europe. Therefore, my advice to them is to take this opportunity.

“They need to grab this opportunity as long as it is on a level playing field with the foreign-based players and make good use of it.

“The NPFL players need to know fully well that for them to be part of top-flight leagues in Europe, they need to do more by displacing their counterparts from Europe for Eagles shirts and make it their own permanently. But this can only come through hard work.”

Rohr led the Super Eagles to finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and will be expected to strengthen his squad with more home-based players during the Afcon qualifiers.

Nigeria currently top Group L with six points after victories against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho. They will take on Sierra Leon in their next qualifying game.

Stefano Pioli has ordered his Milan team to cut out the wasteful finishing that has blighted their season as he plots a route into Europe amid intense speculation over his position at San Siro.

The Champions League is surely out of reach for the seven-time European champions, with fourth-placed Atalanta 12 points better off in Serie A having played a game less.

The Rossoneri last appeared in that top-table competition in 2013-14, and have toiled ever since, but seventh place could be enough for a Europa League spot.

And that should be well within range for the Rossoneri, with or without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is still working his way back from a calf injury.

Milan sit ninth heading into Monday's trip to Lecce, and there is no mistaking where their main problem lies, with a paltry 28 goals from 26 league games so far.

Pioli, who succeeded Marco Giampaolo in October, accepts his job will be under threat if Milan fail to deliver over their final 12 matches of the season, which is resuming after the coronavirus suspension.

Rumours abound about the possibility of Ralf Rangnick or Julian Nagelsmann taking the Milan hot seat next season.

"Today we are not in Europe, but even if we were, everything can change in 40 days," Pioli told a pre-match news conference. "It would be a shame to finish the season in this position, we have to recover quickly.

"We don't have an easy schedule but we have shown that we can compete with those ahead of us. We have shown that we have quality and sacrifice, tomorrow is a very important match.

"We are not the fourth-worst attack in the league because we haven't created chances, but because we have one of the lowest conversion rates. We have to improve on this.

"There will be chances to make the difference, to score another goal will be even more important. We have to improve this data."

Ibrahimovic will sit out the Lecce game but the 38-year-old Sweden great, brought in at the turn of the year on a six-month deal, should be fit to contribute over the closing stretch.

Pioli said Ibrahimovic was "better" and would be examined next week, adding: "He is working with great dedication and commitment."

The Milan head coach confirmed defender Mateo Musacchio, who needs ankle surgery, is unlikely to play again this term.

Lecce are in a relegation battle so have plenty of incentive to add to Milan's problems.

Yet, if Pioli is to get a second season, he knows Milan cannot afford to sleepwalk their way to the end of this campaign.

"The future of all the coaches depends on these 40 days," he said. "Everyone can be talked about. We live on results.

"We have a great target to chase, our position in the table does not reflect our qualities and we have the chance to prove it."

SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo has described Jeremy Brockie as “an exceptional player” and says the forward can come back to the club.

The 32-year-old New Zealand international will be a free agent from July 1 after Mamelodi Sundowns opted against extending his contract following two and half seasons as their player, including a season loan stint at Maritzburg United.

Maritzburg have also decided against permanently signing him and have since released him despite the possibility of the current season being completed.

With Brockie having previously spent three terms at SuperSport when Tembo was then club assistant coach, the Zimbabwean has close appreciation of the attacker and wants him back at the club.

“Although I’m still focusing on finishing the season before I can think of beefing up the squad, I’m happy to say that Brockie is more than welcome to rejoin us,” said Tembo as per Sun Sport.

“Any player who can add value to the team is more than welcome and Brockie is no different. He’s an exceptional player.”

In recent seasons, Brockie has failed to recreate the form of his SuperSport days that attracted Sundowns to sign him midway through the 2017/18 campaign.

When Downs came calling for his signature, he was playing under former Matsatsantsa coach Eric Tinkler who later on brought him to Maritzburg United.

Turning to his own future, Tembo is unmoved by reports linking Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt to the SuperSport job.

After the announcement that Hunt will not be relocating to Limpopo following the sale of the Bidvest Wits franchise, the veteran coach has been rumoured to be on his way back to SuperSport with whom he won three Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles between 2008 and 2010.

“I’ve never been worried about my future here. The focus has always been on getting the job done and exposing young players to the first team,” Tembo said.

“We’re looking forward to returning to training and finishing the season. Players can’t wait to report for camp.”

Finishing third on the PSL standings and qualifying for the Caf Confederation Cup if the season resumes would probably cement Tembo’s job for next season.

Matsatsantsa are currently placed third but face stiff competition for a top-three finish from Orlando Pirates, Maritzburg United and Bidvest Wits.

Roy Keane has taken aim at Republic of Ireland assistant manager Keith Andrews, stating that the former WBA and Blackburn midfielder is a “bullsh*tter”.

Keane departed his role with the national team in November 2018, having enjoyed some success as the right-hand man to Martin O’Neill in the dugout, notably helping them to Euro 2016, where they qualified for the knockout phases.

The Boys in Green face an uphill task to qualify for the postponed European Championships, which will take place next summer, with a trip to Slovakia in the play-offs before a final away against Bosnia and Herzegovina or Northern Ireland, and Keane has taken aim at a certain member of their coaching staff.

“If I can make one point about new Irish staff. I’ve heard a lot of bullsh*tters over the last 10 years and Keith Andrews is up there with the best of them,” he told the Irish Independent . 

Keane, who hit the headlines earlier this week for his scathing assessment of David de Gea’s goalkeeping in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham , struggled in management and he claims it was because he was “too nice”.

“Sometimes I was too hard. Sometimes I was too soft,” he commented. “If I was critical, looking back on my own career and how I dealt with people, even in management – and people mightn’t believe this – but I reckon that sometimes I was too nice to people.

“People stabbed me right in my chest, it wasn’t in my back. Because I was too nice to them.”

On the park, though, Keane was known as a hard man who took no prisoners during his time with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Celtic, and he has no problems with that. 

“That was who I was. Even pre-season, any game I ever took it easy in, I guarantee you I was the worst player on the park. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it. It just wasn’t in my make-up ... I had to be full pelt,” he said.

“If I lightened up too much in football, I would never have got to England. And if I did, I wouldn’t have lasted two minutes.”