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Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour has the potential to become a "world-class" player, according to former Rangers boss Mark Warburton.

Gilmour was enjoying a breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge before the coronavirus pandemic stopped play in March, having been promoted into a first-team role by Blues boss Frank Lampard.

The 19-year-old has featured in seven games in all competitions, with his standout display coming in Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Scotland U21 international was named man of the match after running the show from the middle of the park, getting the better of Reds talisman Fabinho while linking up with Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount to great effect.

He repeated the trick in a 4-0 win over Everton on March 8, and impressed once again as Chelsea warmed up for the Premier League restart with a 7-1 friendly victory against QPR on Sunday.

Gilmour was on Rangers' books before he joined Chelsea in 2017, and Warburton recalls being wowed by his performances in the academy.

"David Weir and I went to his house to try and keep him for Rangers," the ex-Gers head coach told the Daily Mail. "We spent time with his mum and dad, but when the big boys come calling, it’s tough.

"His talent was unquestioned. I remember he played against what was a Dundee reserve side with a number of first-team players in it.

"I’m looking at Billy who was 15 and thinking there is a health-and-safety issue here because he was so slight. But he went out and absolutely ran the show.

"He had trained with us a couple of times in the first team and I am really pleased to see how he is doing now. What a talent. I think Scotland have a future world-class midfield player, I really do.

"I think he is going to keep on improving because he is in a great environment with Frank and Jody (Morris, assistant manager) and the players at Chelsea.

"I very much hope he can continue that progress because, if so, Scotland truly will have a world-class midfield player there."

Warburton went on to compare Gilmour to former Arsenal playmaker Jack Wilshere, who was tipped to reach the very highest level of the game after a bright start to his career at Emirates Stadium.

The 57-year-old added: "I remember one of my first academy games with Watford was against Arsenal. We had a good team and we got beaten 9-0.

"I think it was Under-12 level and I saw this kid just run the show. It was Jack Wilshere. Whichever side he was on would have won the game 9-0. He was so far ahead of his time and so talented.

"Billy Gilmour is right up there with him. Jack has been unlucky in terms of being hit by injuries, but Billy is in a great environment.

"If you love the game of football, his development is great to see. It really is."

James Milner believes Virgil van Dijk ranks alongside the best defenders ever to have played in the Premier League.

And the Liverpool vice-captain has revealed the moment his team-mate left him “wanting to stand and applaud” in the middle of a game.

Van Dijk’s impact at Anfield has been immense. Since joining the Reds in January 2018, the Dutchman has helped Jurgen Klopp’s side become European and world champions, and they will soon add the Premier League title to their collection too. 

He was the PFA Player of the Year last season, and finished a narrow second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or award. 

Speaking at a virtual media session hosted by Stadium Astro in Malaysia, Milner paid tribute to Van Dijk’s excellence, comparing the 28-year-old to some of the world-class centre-backs he played with earlier in his career.

He said: “He’s right up there. I’ve been very fortunate to have played with some amazing centre-halves. You look at Rio [Ferdinand], Jonathan Woodgate, Vinny Kompany, and Virg is right in there with all those guys.

“He reads the game so well, he’s quick, he’s strong, he’s good on the ball, he’s a good communicator and he’s deadly in the air. 

“And his positioning is so good. You can see that after the game when you look at how far players have run. He’s run miles less than everyone else, even the other centre-halves, and you think ‘how is that possible?’ but it’s because he reads the game so well. 

“He’s an incredible player for us, and a big part of what we do. The spine in the team is massive and he is obviously a rock in that defence.”

Milner has often played alongside Van Dijk on the left side of Liverpool’s defence, as well as in front of him when operating in midfield.

And he laughed as he recalled an incident during the Reds’ win over Southampton at the beginning of February, which he says sums up the former Celtic man’s class.

“Liverpool put the clip out recently,” he said. “The ball has come over his shoulder, he’s got a forward sprinting to close him down, hunting him down into the corner and he’s just knocked it over his shoulder, first-time, into my path.

“It was one of those moments in a game where I nearly stopped an applauded before I controlled the ball myself! It was ridiculous defending, but that’s the sort of thing he does.”

Milner added: “Hopefully he’ll keep improving as well. But the players he has around him – Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren – I don’t think their impact on him can be lost either.

“Virgil gets a lot of credit and rightly so, but look at the rest of the back four and the goalkeeper, look at the screening of the midfield, and look at the other centre-halves alongside him.

“The competition is massive in the team, but really Virg is there and it’s about who will partner him.”

Liverpool are set to return to Premier League action on Sunday, making the short trip to face Everton.

The Reds need just two more wins to secure a first league title since 1990 – and could indeed be crowned champions with victory at Goodison Park if Manchester City lose against Arsenal on Wednesday. 

Wherever they win it, they will do so without supporters, with all remaining games to be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Milner admits it will be a new experience, but says the impact of ‘ghost games’ will not affect Liverpool’s players. 

He said: “I think any time you play a derby, whether it’s a behind-closed-doors friendly match at the training ground or a Premier League game, with or without fans, both clubs are desperate to win. 

“We’re playing for the fans whether they’re there or not. We know how much it means to them. They’ve got to walk around the city and see each other regularly, so we need to give them those bragging rights. 

“It’s straight into the deep end with a derby first up, but maybe that’s a good thing. There’s no time to ease yourself in, it’ll be flat out from the first minute and that’s what we’ve been preparing for. Hopefully we can start well and get back on the run we were on before we finished.”

He added: “The fans are part of everything we do. The support they give us is amazing.

“But as long as the fans know that they are with us and that we are playing for them, that’s what matters. They’re still a massive part of what we do. We just need to do this small period without them. 

“They’ve had a long wait and we’ll be pushing as hard as we can to secure that league title.” 

Wakiso Giants have confirmed the arrival of Ibrahim ‘Owen’ Kasule ahead of the new Uganda Premier League (UPL) season.

The Purple Sharks have signed the attacking midfielder from the Kampala Junior Team on a three-year contract and with an option to extend it for a further year.

The club have revealed the new signing on their official website by stating: “Wakiso Giants is delighted to confirm the signing of Ibrahim 'Owen' Kasule from Kampala Junior Team [KJT].

“Kasule signs on a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.”

The 22-year-old Kasule had previously turned out for Nansana United and Buddu Ssaza where he emerged as the Most Valuable Player in 2018.

He also won the MVP during the University Football League where he managed to captain Lawrence University in 2019, and also won the Best Midfielder of the season in the same competition.

On signing for Wakiso, Kasule said: “It’s a big step in my career and am looking forward to utilising the opportunity well.

“I have worked hard to get to this moment and I can promise the fans that I will give everything for the badge to help bring us more success to this club.

“I want to thank my previous clubs especially KJT for everything they have done for me. Not so many clubs would show trust to a player who hasn’t tasted top tier football yet but am ready and I can’t wait to start to repay that on the pitch.”

Wakiso will play in the top-flight for another season after they avoided relegation in the 2019-20 campaign when the league was ended owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Wakiso finished the league in position 10 with Federation of Uganda Football Association (Fufa) crowning Vipers SC, who were leading the league table, with former champions KCCA FC coming second.

Maroons FC, Uganda Cup champions Proline FC and Tooro United were all relegated, Myda FC and UPDF earned slots in the top-tier while Kiboga, Kataka, Kitara and Ndejje will face off in the play-offs to produce the third team that will grace the top-tier in the 2020/21 season.

Neco Williams is targeting his Premier League debut ahead of Liverpool's return to action, which he says would be "another massive achievement" in his fledgling career.

Williams had featured in five games for Liverpool's first team in all competitions before the 2019-20 campaign was put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak in March.

The 19-year-old took his senior bow during the Reds' memorable penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup back in October, and went on to line up in all four of the club's FA Cup fixtures - including their 2-0 defeat in the fifth round at the hands of Chelsea.

The Welsh right-back is still some way off challenging Trent-Alexander Arnold for a regular spot in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI, but he could see plenty of action in the final weeks of the season should Liverpool sew up the title early.

The Reds only need two wins from their final nine fixtures to win a first top-flight crown in 30-years, having already established a 25-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City at the top of the table.

Klopp will have the option to rotate his squad if maximum points are picked up against Everton and Crystal Palace, and Williams is ready to seize the "opportunity" with both hands if called upon.

“I’d say that from when you’re a little kid you dream of making a Premier League debut so for me to make it this season would be another massive achievement,” the Wales U19 international told the club's official website.

“If I just keep showing the boss what I’m capable of doing and keep showing my ability in training, then hopefully he’ll give me the opportunity.

“I think now it’s a massive opportunity for us young lads to maybe get an opportunity, but obviously the boss knows best and if he thinks it’s the right game for us to play then for sure he’ll play us. He’ll have no hesitation in that.”

Williams says the Liverpool squad has settled back into a "rhythm" in training, and that everyone is champing at the bit to finish the job after a three-month hiatus, starting with Sunday's Merseyside derby.

“The lads are looking fit and sharp now, it just feels amazing to get back into it,” he added.

“I think the main aim now is obviously to win the league and try to dominate every team that we play and try to get as many points as we can. 

“For sure, all the boys are very excited for the first game and hopefully we’ll get the win. Training-wise, the boys have all been looking very sharp, we’ve got the rhythm back and we’re all looking very fit again. 

“I think for all of us now this is the longest that we haven’t had any footy, so it just feels good to get back into it.”

Posta Rangers captain Joseph Mbugi has urged the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed to come to their aid during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Mailmen were excluded from the stimulus fund which was given to clubs despite being in a poor financial state. The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side have not been paid since February and the midfielder said times are tough for the players.

"I am requesting CS Amina to consider us, it is not too late," Mbugi told Goal on Tuesday.

"Some players are currently locked out of their homes, food is a struggle; getting even one meal is not easy. It was not right to omit us from the list of clubs to benefit from the Sports Fund kitty.

"How do you exclude a team that has not been paid for months? She was ill-advised, it is hurting."

The 33-year-old has now turned to fans and asked them to offer any support they can.

"Fans, not necessarily our fans but football loving fans and anyone who is touched, can give me a call and offer any help to players," Mbugi added.

"It is not necessarily financial support, it can be food or anything useful during these tough periods. We need help, it is not easy for us out here when everything is in a stand-still."

Earlier on Tuesday, Posta Rangers begged Amina to help their players, who have suffered because they have not received salaries for the last three months.

"We wish to inform you that Posta Rangers players and officials are also struggling financially and they are not stable as it was deemed," Posta Rangers said in a statement dated June 11, signed by club chairman John Tanui, sent to Amina, and obtained by Goal.

"The players and officials owe rent arrears for at least two to three months.

"In addition to facing imminent eviction, as their June rent is due, they and their families now face an increasingly desperate housing, food, and health crisis. We look forward to your positive consideration and appreciate your continued support for the growth and development of sports in Kenya."

During the first release, AFC Leopards pocketed the largest amount (Sh350,000) after submitting 35 names which included players and members of the technical bench. 

Kisumu based All-Stars received Sh340,000 for 34 names with Sofapaka and Zoo FC getting Sh300,000 each for 30 individuals. 

Women's footballers were not left behind. Gatundu-based Gaspo FC, who are taking part in the Kenyan Women Premier League (KWPL), also received their fair share. The technical bench and players numbering 28, received Sh280,000.

Gor Mahia have also received financial support though most of the players feel the Sh10, 000 is not enough to help them pay their accrued debt.

Galatasaray forward Henry Onyekuru has wished his teammates Fernando Muslera and Florin Andone quick recoveries after they suffered severe injuries at the weekend.

The players were forced off in the Yellow-Reds’ 2-0 defeat to Caykur Rizespor in Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig game at Caykur Didi Stadium.

The Turkish top-flight only recently returned, having been put on hold since March due to the coronavirus outbreak in Turkey and across the world.  

 Muslera could only play for 24 minutes in the encounter before he was replaced by Okan Kocuk after he suffered a double leg fracture following a collision with a Rizespor player in his area.

The Uruguayan goalkeeper is set to have surgery after Galatasaray confirmed he damaged his tibia and fibula.

Andone, meanwhile, only lasted for 24 minutes after replacing Ahmet Calik before he was stretchered off when he damaged his knee ligament.

Onyekuru returned to the Turk Telekom Stadi in January for a second spell on loan with the Turkish side from French outfit Monaco.

The forward made his eighth league appearance for the Yellow-Reds this campaign in the encounter as a second-half substitute, replacing Adem Buyuk in the 77th minute.

The Nigeria international has taken to social media to send a message of encouragement to his injured teammates.  

“I am praying for a fast recovery for two of our soldiers Muslera and And one,” Onyekuru posted on Instagram.

“Horrible injuries to you both but I know you will be back stronger and better than ever my brothers.”

Onyekuru enjoyed success in his first loan stint with Galatasaray from Everton, scoring 14 goals in 31 league games to help them clinch the Super Lig title.

The winger left Goodison Park permanently last summer to join Monaco due to his failure to secure a work permit in England.

He will hope to play a prominent role and help third-placed Galatasaray return to winning ways when they face Gaziantep on Sunday.

The Premier League is back! After over three months without a ball being kicked due to the coronavirus pandemic, England's top flight returns with a bumper 12 fixtures due to take place for Gameweek 30.

With unlimited transfers available for Fantasy Premier League managers, there's the opportunity to completely revamp your squad ahead of the final matches of the 2019-20 campaign.

From team selection advice to possible captain picks and the latest FPL stats - Goal gives you all the tools you need to turn those arrows green and climb your league tables ahead of the big restart.

Contents

Team selection advice

After what will be 100 days without Premier League football, England's top flight, and FPL, is back with a bang on Wednesday. A bumper Gameweek 30 offers up 12 matches and the added bonus of unlimited transfers as managers get the opportunity to hit the restart button on their squads. 

That sees double fixtures for Arsenal, Manchester City, Sheffield United and Aston Villa, and a quick look at the list of players that have been transferred in most ahead of the next round of games shows managers are approaching their changes with that mindset.

Indeed, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) looks a sound investment, not only for the next two fixtures (with City facing Arsenal and Burnley at home) but also the remainder of the season, with it being unclear exactly when the Champions League will resume to prompt heavy squad rotation.

Sergio Aguero (£11.8m) is another City player that's proving a popular choice although be mindful of Pep Guardiola's penchant for changes, with the potential for Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m) to start at least one of the matches of his side's double gameweek.

As for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) , who remains in the running for the Premier League Golden Boot, is the most obvious selection while Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) is a cheap midfield option who could well have a big role to play for Mikel Arteta in the run-in.

Despite their incredible 2019-20 campaign that sees them in with a chance of finishing in the European spots, Sheffield United defenders remain well-priced for FPL bosses to take advantage of.

The likes of John Lundstram (£4.9m), John Egan (£4.6m), Jack O'Connell (£4.7m) and Chris Basham (£4.6m) are all available for less than £5m as the Blades look to preserve the second-best defensive record in the Premier League.

You would, of course, be foolish to let go any of your Liverpool players, with the Reds closing in on the title and Jurgen Klopp unlikely to deviate too much from the starting XI that has performed so consistently well over the course of the season.

Elsewhere, with Marcus Rashford (£8.8m) having been afforded the chance to shake off his injury problems during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, the Manchester United striker should be a solid investment heading into the final gameweeks of the season.

Paul Pogba (£8.3m) is another who may have dipped under many FPL managers' radars, given his lengthy absence over the course of the 2019-20 season, but he's another who is now available to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and should be desperate to sign off the campaign in style.

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Who is the best captain pick for Gameweek 30?

The carrot of a double gameweek for the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal is too tempting to ignore and De Bruyne (£10.6m) would be the column's recommendation for the most sensible pick.

The Belgian is an assist machine who stands a good chance of featuring in both matches (against Arsenal and Burnley respectively) and he will undoubtedly be raring to go after such an extended period without match action.

Jack Grealish (£6.4m) , the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 30, would appear to be another excellent choice, with Aston Villa facing Sheffield United and Chelsea at Villa Park, and the 24-year-old almost certain to start both games.

Arsenal captain  Aubameyang (£11.1m) is also likely to start his side's next two matches although his chances of a big point-scoring fixture in the first game are reduced as the Gunners face a tricky test against Manchester City away.

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What was the highest-scoring team from Gameweek 29?

Total points scored: 130

Line-up: McCarthy (12); Lundstram (12), Lindelof (9), Dann (8); Pedro (12), Barkley (12), Barnes (19), Willian (13), Mane (13); Vardy (11), Sharp (9).

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Listen to Goal's Fantasy Football show!

Goal Fantasy Football podcast hosts Sam Brown, Miles Chambers and David Milner discuss Gameweek 30 picks as football gets back underway in England.

Listen below and be sure to subscribe!

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Rasheedat Ajibade was on target for Avaldsness as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Ngozi Ebere's Arna-Bjornar in an all-Toppserien friendly on Monday.

As life gradually returns to normal across countries in Europe, teams in Norway are not only back in training but also resumed friendly matches ahead of the new season which commences on July 4.

Ajibade's Avaldsnes finished fifth while Ebere's Arna ended their campaign in ninth last season and both Nigerians will be keen to help their Norwegian sides improved on their outings this term.

The visitors made a fine start to the duel at Arna Idrettspark as Olaug Tvedten beat an offside trap after receiving a pass from the defence and finished to open the scoring after just eight minutes.

Ajibade, who bagged five goals in 17 starts on her debut season with the Vikings, dribbling past a defender and goalkeeper to net the second of the match for the visitors in the 38th minute.

After the restart, the hosts rallied early for a comeback and Meryll Abrahamsen struck from the penalty spot to ensure Remi Natvik's side pulled one back inside the opening minute of the second half.

Hopes of the visitors claiming the victory were dashed when Thea Bjelde scored to ensure the teams shared the spoils.

Despite the draw, Ajibade and Ebere were in action for their respective teams and they continue the build-up to the new season.

For Ajibade's Avaldsnes, they will welcome top-flight rivals Klepp in another friendly on Saturday, June 20 before hosting Sandviken a week later for their final practise match before the league kicks off.

Arna are scheduled to open their new Toppserien campaign at Roa on July 4, while Avaldsnes will play host to Lyn on the same day.

Manchester United have a "good chance of challenging Liverpool and Manchester City" if Paul Pogba is "playing well", according to Phil Neville.

Pogba returned to full training with United last month after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, which has restricted him to just eight appearances for the club this season.

The World Cup winner worked his way back to full fitness during the coronavirus-enforced break in the campaign, and now looks set to help the Red Devils fight for Champions League qualification.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were unbeaten in 11 matches prior to the three-month hiatus, with January signing Bruno Fernandes credited for being the catalyst for an improved run of results which saw the team close the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Chelsea to just three points.

Pogba, a reported summer transfer target for Real Madrid, has been tipped to strike up a formidable midfield partnership with Fernandes when United pick up from where they left off against Tottenham on Friday.

Neville hopes the Portuguese's presence can also help to ease some of the pressure on Pogba's shoulders, freeing him up to lead the Red Devils into a new era of success in the process.

The ex-United midfielder told Premier League Productions: "I think they can play together. I think Pogba has got the ability to play a little bit deeper or a little bit higher, and he can go box-to-box.

"I think they've got the players now where Pogba can fit in. It's easy for people to say 'get rid of Pogba', but actually, have they built a team around him yet that enables him to perform?

"The criticism he gets... United lose and it's Pogba's fault, United win but Pogba doesn't play well and it's Pogba's fault.

"Maybe now with Fernandes, it takes a bit of that pressure away, and you might see [an improvement].

"Pogba playing well will give Man Utd a better chance of winning the Premier League. When I see United playing well with Pogba in the team I think he's world class.

"He's won the World Cup, he knows how to win. With Pogba in the team playing well, it gives United a good chance of challenging Liverpool and Man City."

Marcus Rashford has vowed to continue his fight for free school meals, stating combating child poverty is "something much bigger than football".

United Kingdom prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday rejected a plea from England international Rashford for children who qualified for the food voucher scheme during the coronavirus lockdown to carry on receiving them after the academic year ends.

The Manchester United forward responded by tweeting: "We aren't beaten yet, stand strong for the 200,000 children who haven't had a meal to eat today and keep retweeting #maketheUturn."

In an article for The Times, Rashford called on the government to "do the right thing" and "give our vulnerable families just one less thing to worry about".

Rashford wrote: "People often ask me how it felt to score the deciding penalty against PSG to knock them out of the Champions League last season, my answer is always the same: did we go on to win the tournament?

"I have been overwhelmed by the support I've received over the last 24 hours, from MPs and members of the public, but the feeling I have is exactly the same as when we got knocked out of the Champions League against Barcelona in the next round: what did we achieve if we didn't get the result we needed? If we didn't lift the Champions League?

"Today I focus on a trophy that stands for something much bigger than football.

"A U-turn on the decision to stop the free food voucher scheme continuing over the summer holidays could help us reach the next round but we still have a very long way to go as a country to eventually lift the trophy.

"In this case, the trophy is combating child poverty.

"I don't claim to have the education of an MP in parliament, but I do have a social education. I am clued up on the difference a U-turn decision would make on the 1.3 million vulnerable children across the UK who are registered for free school meals because 10 years ago I was one of them."

In a Twitter thread on Tuesday, he added: "When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about the parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown.

"When you turn on your kettle to make a cup of tea or coffee think of those parents who have had to default on electricity bill payments just to make ends meet having lost their jobs during the pandemic.

"And when you head to the fridge to grab the milk, stop and recognise that parents of at least 200,000 children across the country this morning are waking up to empty shelving.

"Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning 'why?' 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking 'why?' 'Why does our future not matter?'"

Labour leader Keir Starmer backed Rashford's call for the government to make a U-turn on free school meals, with the subject to be debated as part of an opposition day in parliament.

Shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told the BBC: "Any government that is willing to let the poorest children in the country go hungry needs to take a long hard look at its priorities.

"Shamefully, children go hungry every year, but this summer will be especially difficult for many families as job losses and reduced incomes hit household budgets.

"There will be many Conservative MPs today watching this and having read Marcus' letter who will be agonising about whether they support the government or not in this because they will want what's best for children.

"So, I'm asking all politicians, whatever party they're in, this is not about party politics, this is about making sure children don't go hungry over the summer holidays."

Timo Werner has indicated that he is unwilling to return to RB Leipzig in August in order to complete his side's Champions League run after Chelsea agreed to meet his buyout clause of £54 million ($68m) ahead of a move to Stamford Bridge next season.

The 24-year-old is due to complete the Bundesliga season in just 11 days' time, but he is not willing to come back and play in Europe despite Leipzig having reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time after their last-16 win over Tottenham.

UEFA wants to complete both the Champions League and Europa League in August once league seasons have been finished across the continent.

But with the German top flight set to be completed on June 27, that leaves over a month between games for those clubs still in European competition.

Goal can confirm that Werner wants to move to west London as soon as possible after the Bundesliga is finished so as to acclimatise to life in England ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

It is hoped that the announcement of the transfer will come by the end of the week as the two clubs attempt to overcome challenges in completing the deal presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both teams have been completing the necessary paperwork while working out a payment plan, though Werner still needs to undergo a medical for the deal to go through officially.

Chelsea will then turn their attentions to Leicester City's Ben Chilwell after Werner's signing is wrapped up having already secured Ajax's Hakim Ziyech in a £37m ($43m) deal for next season.

Leicester, however, are reluctant to sell the England left-back and will command a huge fee for the 23-year-old who is admired by Frank Lampard.

Chelsea may also move for another attacking player this summer with Willian and Pedro's futures uncertain. There is a June 23 deadline for the duo to sign extended terms in order to complete the 2019-20 season, but it is increasingly likely that in one way or another they will depart on free transfers this summer.

Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz heads up the list of players Chelsea are interested in, which also includes the likes of Brentford's Said Benrahma and Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze.

The Blues may also seek further defensive reinforcements, with Bournemouth's Nathan Ake still of interest. Alternative left-back options include Porto's Alex Telles and Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico.

Education City Stadium is the third World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament venue to be completed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).

Here, SC Secretary General, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, discusses the stadium, the power of Qatar 2022 and ongoing preparations for the first World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world.

Q: How proud are you to have completed the third tournament venue for the World Cup Qatar 2022?

We are very proud to have completed our latest stadium. Our plans remain on track – despite the pandemic. Education City Stadium is our third tournament venue, after Khalifa International and Al Janoub, and we expect to unveil two more stadiums by the end of the year.

In many ways, I believe Qatar 2022 has become even more important due to recent events. Sport – and particularly football – has the potential to bring people together in a post-COVID-19 world. And as the next World Cup hosts, the completion of another stadium helps to lift spirits and give us all something to look forward to.

As for the stadium itself, it is an incredibly striking venue. Fans and players will love it. It’s a true football arena. The seats are very close to the pitch, so the atmosphere will be incredible. I can’t wait for the stadium to host a match with 40,000 fans present.

Q: Once the battle against COVID-19 is over, how important will major sporting events such as the World Cup be in bringing people together?

As it stands, our World Cup looks set to be one of the biggest global gatherings in the post-COVID-19 era. That will no doubt bring challenges – but at the same time it is an incredible opportunity to unite the world through our common passion for football.

This World Cup is already special – the first in the Middle East and Arab world, and the second in Asia. Now, there is an extra layer of expectation and an opportunity to provide billions of people with an unforgettable, feel-good moment.

We know that sport is unique in its power to unite and truly transcends borders. It’s one of the reasons we wanted to bring the World Cup to Qatar. We want to showcase our love for football while giving people the chance to experience a new culture. It is something we hope can contribute to dismantling stereotypes and misconceptions about our country and region. 

Q: What is unique about Education City Stadium?

It’s a beautiful stadium, first and foremost, and one we call the ‘Diamond in the Desert’. The façade features diamond-like patterns which change colour according to the sun’s position – hence the nickname.

I think it’s a stadium that football fans will love. It dominates its location, which is right next to Education City Golf Club. It really stands out on the horizon and, like I said earlier, I think the atmosphere, when it’s full to capacity, will be something really special. It will be a cauldron of noise and passion during the World Cup.

The stadium’s location is also significant. It’s situated in Education City – which is home to schools and universities, along with a host of research and development organisations, among other entities. Education City is the home of Qatar Foundation, which is playing a huge role in helping our country deliver its National Vision – namely to develop a knowledge economy and shift our reliance away from hydrocarbons. This stadium is the next step in the story of Education City as it will provide facilities for this vast community both in the lead-up to the World Cup and beyond.

Q: Qatar Foundation (QF) is a key stakeholder in the World Cup project – what more can you tell us about the collaboration between the SC and QF?

I would like to pay tribute to the work of QF since its establishment and development under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Over the years, her vision and the development of QF and its impact within our society and on a global level has been pivotal in putting Qatar on the international map in the educational sphere. Education City itself is a shining light in our country’s development. It offers our citizens and residents access to some of the best universities in the world. It also houses a vast range of research and development projects and organisations. Education City already has a proud legacy and under the leadership of Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, is one of the most important driving forces behind developing the knowledge economy that will benefit our country for decades to come.

Those who followed the journey of our bid to host the FIFA World Cup will remember the final presentation, in which Her Highness Sheikha Moza delivered a speech to the voters asking when the right time was for the World Cup to come to the Middle East. Her Highness told them that the time was now. Her Highness’s speech was an iconic moment for our bid.  It’s fitting that almost ten years later we are launching the stadium located within QF – an entity that has blossomed into a global centre for education under the leadership of Her Highness.

QF is a valued stakeholder and will play a key role in helping us to deliver the World Cup and – importantly – support us in ensuring this tournament leaves a lasting legacy for years to come. QF will take ownership of Education City Stadium after the tournament for the benefit of its entire community – which numbers many thousands of people.

We have obviously worked very closely together throughout this project – and will continue to do so both in the lead-up to the tournament and beyond. We are very proud that a World Cup stadium will sit in the heart of Education City.

Q: What can you tell us about the sustainable features of the stadium and what will happen to it after the World Cup?

This is the only Qatar 2022 stadium so far to receive a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System, a FIFA-approved compliance scheme which is administered by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development.

A number of features helped it to receive this rating, including the fact that 85% of materials were regionally sourced and 29% were from recycled content. In addition, 35.5% of the building elements can be disassembled and reused – including the seats in the modular upper tier, which will be removed and donated to a country which needs sporting infrastructure after the tournament. We are very proud of this innovation – which will be replicated across several Qatar 2022 venues. It will ensure no stadium becomes a ‘white elephant’ after the tournament and ensure the legacy of our tournament is felt far and wide.

After the tournament, Education City Stadium will be a sporting facility for the QF community, including the students and faculty from the various universities based there. In addition to providing sporting facilities, some parts of the stadium will be turned into lecture halls and event spaces for QF schools and universities.

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected construction at the other sites?

Despite COVID-19, we remain ahead of schedule when it comes to delivering all the infrastructure required for the World Cup. We have actually completed 85% of construction across our portfolio and are well on course to delivering everything well in advance of the tournament.

Naturally, we have had to adapt in recent months. Strict social distancing measures have been implemented at all our sites, including construction sites and our head office in Doha.  We took measures to assess our sites and ensure that any individuals at a higher risk of contracting the virus were demobilised – with pay – until COVID-19 specific health and safety measures were in place. A large number of employees have been working from home since the middle of March. The health and wellbeing of our workers remains our number one priority.

Q: How has COVID-19 affected the Supreme Committee generally? Has it been possible for legacy programmes to remain active over recent months?

I’m proud of the way all our staff have adapted in recent months. It’s been a testing time for everyone but through excellent collaboration and communication we have found a way to carry on preparing for this huge tournament.

Our legacy programmes are just one example of business continuity. Generation Amazing – our football for development programme – has been broadcasting live sessions on social media, helping to connect its vast community and inspiring them with health and fitness drills to do at home. Meanwhile, the Josoor Institute moved quickly to deliver all its professional diploma programmes online – meaning their delegates kept learning despite being stuck at home.

We’ve also worked closely with our ambassadors, including the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Cafu, Samuel Eto’o and Tim Cahill, to share key messages about social distancing and details on how to stay active, both mentally and physically, during this testing time.

We have spent significant time engaging with counterparts from within the sporting world on their challenges as they try to plan for similar-sized events, or work to restart their leagues. We’re doing everything we can to gather as much information as possible and exchange knowledge on new protocols concerning health and safety as football and sport restarts, in order to be as ready as possible for hosting the world in 2022.

We have faced challenges since the day we won the right to host the World Cup – no doubt about that – but we’ve always managed to rise to the occasion. Innovation is embedded in everything we do – whether it’s in relation to cooling technology, modular stadiums or developing the perfect grade of grass for our stadiums and training sites. Innovation and hard work have led us through the previous months and we will forge ahead with that same ethos and commitment as our journey towards 2022 and beyond continues. 

The Tanzania government has praised fans for adhering to safety measures when the Mainland Premier League resumed on Saturday.

The Tanzanian top-flight returned after it took a break in mid-March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with Young Africans (Yanga SC) setting the ball rolling with a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC while third-place-chasing Namungo FC settled for a 2-2 draw against Coastal Union.

On Sunday, it was the chance of champions Simba SC to return to action and they dropped points after a 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting while second-placed Azam FC won 2-0 against Mbao FC at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

While the government had warned stadia managers against breaking the rules ahead of the league restart, they have now expressed satisfaction with what they saw, as all involved implemented the public guidelines as issued by the Ministry of Health.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbas, said he was impressed with how things unfolded during the first week.

"First of all, we should thank President John Pombe Magufuli for letting sports activities resume since many countries are yet to resume sports activities and Tanzania has done well so far,” Abbas is quoted by Daily News.

“The second thing we should cherish is his authorisation to allow supporters to watch live the games at stadiums while taking into consideration all precaution measures to avoid further spread of Covi-19.

“The bottom line here is I together with many people out there are totally delighted to see that sports is back and we just need to continue taking into consideration the major measures to curb Covid-19.

“People should ensure that they wash their hands before going into the stadium using running water, they should use sanitisers if possible, wear masks, have temperature test and create a one-meter distance with each other once inside the venue.”

Speaking on the same subject, Director of Sports in the Ministry for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Yusuph Singo, picked out a few mistakes which fans should rectify ahead of the next matches.

“Whenever a goal has been scored, some people are breaking the laws as they celebrate in groups but I am sure that they will get used to it,” Singo explained.

“Most of the guidelines like wearing masks and washing hands are being respected without problems but as government, our task is to continue creating awareness to people on what they should do to avoid the spread of Covid-19.”

Yanga SC head coach Luc Eymael believes Bernard Morrison must apologise to the team after skipping the Tanzania Mainland League restart.

The Ghanaian was not part of the team that won by a solitary goal against Mwadui in Shinyanga and will also miss Tuesday's match away to JKT Tanzania in Dodoma.

The Belgian has now revealed what he is expecting from the player after a phone conversation that lasted almost an hour.

"It was a mistake from [Morrison] to skip our league restart and he has admitted," Eymael told Mwanaspoti.

"There are no two ways about it, he has to apologise to the entire team, technical bench and the fans as well.

"It is a fact when I arrived many things were not in place and it was up to me as the head coach to put the house in order, for the team to work together in harmony.

"Morrison was one of the problems and he was not part of the team in Shinyanga; I did not get enough time to understand where the main problem was and had to leave without him."

The 60-year-old tactician has also warned the player against feeling special in the team, stating matches are not won individually.

"Even if you had two Cristiano Ronaldo, two Lionel Messi and two Sergio Ramos, there is no way they can win against a team comprising of 11 players, they will lose," Eymael added.

"Morrison is arguably the best player at Yanga, however, he needs other players to shine. It is all about cooperation with other players as well; Yanga is a team, not a one-man show." 

On Tuesday, Yanga will be playing against JKT Tanzania hoping to bag maximum points, and their communication officer Hassan Bumbuli admitted it will be a tough match, but they are going for nothing less than a win.

"We respect [JKT Tanzania] they are a good team, and to be honest we respect all our opponents," Bumbuli told journalists.

"All teams are tough to beat especially at this time when they are chasing their objectives. However, we all know Yanga is a big, established and historic team and will do absolutely everything to win especially on the pitch.

"Like our game [on Saturday] against Mwadui, it was tough but we won; we scored two goals, we were denied one but still managed to get maximum points by the 1-0 win.

"We are one team determined to get maximum points regardless of the opponent we are playing against. For instance Prisons, they were unbeaten by the time we played them in the first round, but we defeated them.

"So regardless of how good JKT are, we just want to go there, beat them and return to Dar es Salaam with maximum points."

Cristiano Ronaldo "had the p*ss taken out of him" by Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus, according to Domenico Tedesco, who says the Portuguese superstar wasn't immune to his old coach's jokes on the training ground.

Allegri coached Ronaldo during his final year at Juve, after the Italian champions lured the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to Turin from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018.

The Portuguese striker's haul of 21 goals in 31 Serie A appearances helped the Bianconeri win an eighth successive Scudetto, ensuring that Allegri's reign ended on a high.

The 52-year-old led Juve to 11 major trophies in total, and two Champions League finals, establishing himself as one of the finest coaches in European football in the process.

Allegri was also a popular figure in the Allianz Stadium dressing room, as Tedesco saw when he visited the Italian tactician last season.

The former Schalke boss, who is now in charge of Russian side Spartak Moscow, says Allegri's "dry sense of humour" was clear to see, and not even Ronaldo was safe from his sharp tongue.

Tedesco told Goal and SPOX: "Allegri is a very charismatic coach. I really liked the way he deals with the team.

"He ran a lot in training, played a lot of football and has a good, dry sense of humour.

"If Cristiano Ronaldo didn't get the ball to shoot, he also had the p*iss taken out of him. It was very interesting to see."

Tedesco went on to discuss the progress Leon Goretzka has made at Bayern Munich since leaving Schalke two years ago.

He insists he has not been surprised by the 25-year-old's impact at Bayern, having witnessed the midfielder's "special" talents up close at the Veltins-Arena.

"I am extremely proud of Leon. But I am by no means surprised by his development," said Tedesco. 

"Anyone who has conversations with Leon quickly realises what makes the boy so special. First of all, he's a great person. He is intelligent, highly professional, he thinks outside the box and he is extremely sensitive from a social point of view.

"As a coach, you will notice this immediately when you see how he deals with his team-mates. And he wants to win every game - that's his mentality, which he transfers to everyone else.

"Leon is the prototype of a modern central midfielder. Every club can wish for such a player because he simply brings everything a player needs in this position.

"He is strong, technically great in tight spaces, he can play the final pass and he is also dangerous in the box. He is also always there for headers."

Bayer Leverkusen are aware of the huge interest in Kai Havertz and are unsure what will happen regarding the Germany international’s future.

Havertz has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Bundesliga club and has been linked with a big-money move when the transfer window reopens.

Premier League trio Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest in the recently-turned 21-year-old, while Real Madrid have also been mentioned as suitors.

Reports have suggested that Leverkusen’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich are leading the race for the playmaker as the champions-elect prepare to finetune their squad in the summer.

Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Voller recently stated the club had not given up hope of retaining Havertz, despite the lengthy list of admirers.

The club’s CEO Fernando Carro has now offered his update on Havertz and is hoping that a solution can be reached to keep everyone happy.

“I can see that many clubs are interested in him,” Carro told Kolner Stadt Anzeiger.

“Kai has been with us for 10 years. I see the wish of the player to take his next step sometime in the near future, which you have to respect, just as you have to respect the fact that he has a contract with us until 2022.

“You have to try to find a solution where the player's goal can be reconciled with ours. At the moment nobody can say for sure what will happen.”

The links to Bayern drew a positive response from Thomas Muller, although the forward did receive a rebuke from his own club’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

Muller said of Havertz: "In my last call-ups for the national team, I always enjoyed training and playing with him. He is a very good player, if not the best player of his age group in Europe at the moment.

"His skills are exceptional. Of course, we always want the best players at Bayern."

Former Bayern captain Lothar Matthaus expressed his view that his old club can afford to sign Havertz, despite reports suggesting the player will command a fee in excess of €80 million (£72m/$91m).

Matthaus told Sky Deutschland: “Havertz, who is sure to be hunted by the vast majority of clubs, should in my eyes have the character and quality to assert himself at Real, Barcelona, ​​Juventus or the top English clubs.

“Havertz has made a very good impression on me and that, paired with insane talent, means he has what it takes to show his class abroad. But of course Bayern will also be a factor.

“It could also be an option to agree on the season after next, with Bayern allowing him to stay in Leverkusen for another year – especially if they qualify for the Champions League. 

“Then Thomas Muller will be a year-and-a-half older and the prospects for Kai are even better than they are already. He will certainly cost at least €80 million, and only because of the current crisis. Otherwise we would be talking about a three-figure amount.”

Ashraf ‘Fadiga’ Mugume has explained the reason he signed for Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA FC).

The 13-time league champions, who are reeling from losing out on the 2019-20 Ugandan Premier League (UPL) title to rivals Vipers SC, confirmed the double signing of midfielder Mugume and striker Charles Lwanga at Lugogo Stadium on Sunday.

Both players were free agents with Lwanga having run down his contract and parted ways with SC Villa while Mugume was at Police FC.

Mugume, who penned a four-year contract which will see him stay at the club until July 2024, has explained he wants to win trophies in Uganda hence the decision to sign for the former champions.

“I can’t wait to get started, repay the club for the faith they have had in me, fight for the badge and earn my spot on the first team,” Mugume is quoted by the club’s official website.

“I want to win trophies with the club, I want to make the fans happy and my family proud.

“I am happy and feel overwhelmed to join KCCA. I have had a chance to train with the club since January 2020 and I immediately felt at home since the first day here.

“I have a couple of players that are my friends here and also grew up with a number of them so the chemistry is good.”

Mugume, who started his career at Red Star FC while studying at Old Kampala Primary Senior between 2012 and 2014, says he already likes the environment at Lugogo and he is ready to get a fresh start.

“I want to put all the past behind me and have a fresh start here at KCCA FC,” Mugume continued.

“I feel this is the right environment for me to develop and grow into the right player I want to be. I have been involved in a number of practice games with the club and I felt the style of play was the right for me to blossom. They love to use the ball and I am comfortable in that kind of style.

“The club has very good technically gifted players and competition here is real. Many players are on the National team and this speaks volumes for the kind of quality here.”

After leaving school in 2014, Mugune joined the Vipers Junior Team while at St Mary’s SSS, Kitende in 2015, where he won the Fufa Juniors League in 2015 and was later promoted to the senior team in 2016 and played his first match against Mbarara City.

KCCA are also understood to be in the final stages of finalising the signing of Pius Obuya from Maroons. Obuya is thought to be an apt replacement for Allan Okello, who left in January for Paradou AC.

Mainz striker Taiwo Awoniyi has thanked the club’s medical team for their efforts to ensure he regained consciousness.

The Nigerian forward was stretchered off in the 23rd minute in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Augsburg in Sunday’s Bundesliga game at Opel Arena.

Awoniyi hit the head of Felix Uduokhai and then landed awkwardly before he was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe concussion.

On Monday, Mainz manager Achim Beierlorzer revealed the striker has regained consciousness and can now remember the incident.

The former Nigeria U23 striker has thanked God, his club and Mainz University Medical Center for saving his life.

"The last thing I can remember from this scene is how I hit the ball with my head, and then I passed out,” Awoniyi told the club website.

“It was difficult for me on the field to regain consciousness and really awake and it also took a little while before I could remember everything. But I feel much better now.

“I would like to praise our medical department at Mainz 05 and Mainz University Medical Center. They looked after me very well.

“And I thank the dear God who protected me in this situation and made everything possible for me anyway.”

Awoniyi joined Mainz last summer from Premier League club Liverpool and has featured in 11 Bundesliga games for the Opel Arena outfit since his arrival.

The 05ers are three places above the relegation zone and the 22-year-old, who revealed he will not play a part when his side takes on Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, is confident they can avoid the drop from the top-flight at the end of the season.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to help my team on the pitch in Dortmund, but I will support them as much as I can. Together we will give everything for the fans and avoid relegation, I'm sure of that,” he added.

Awoniyi has been with Liverpool since 2015, after his impressive showing for the Golden Eaglets at the 2013 U17 World Cup, where he scored four goals in the competition to help Nigeria win the title.

The forward has, however, spent most of his time on loan playing in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

It is yet to be seen when he will be allowed to take the field again.

Posta Rangers have reached out to the government to have them included in the stimulus package which is helping to assist sportsmen and women in the country financially.

The government introduced the stimulus package one month ago, to help support the players owing to the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

AFC Leopards and Sofapaka were among the first teams in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to receive a stimulus stipend.

The Ministry of Sports, through Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed, announced Sh20 million had been released from the Sports Fund to help players amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

While players from all teams in the top-flight are shortlisted to get financial help for the next three months, Tusker, Bandari, Wazito FC, KCB, Posta Rangers, and Ulinzi Stars, were excluded since they allegedly have financial backing.

Posta Rangers have now come out crying and begging Amina to help their players, who have suffered because they have not received salaries for the last three months.

“We wish to inform you Posta Rangers players and officials are also struggle financially and they are not stable as it was deemed,” Posta Rangers said in a statement dated June 11, signed by club chairman John Tanui, sent to Amina, and obtained by Goal.

“The players and officials owe rent arrears for at least two to three months.

“In addition to facing imminent eviction, as their June rent is due, they and their families now face an increasingly desperate housing, food, and health crisis. We look forward to your positive consideration and appreciate your continued support for the growth and development of sports in Kenya.”

During the first release, AFC Leopards pocketed the largest amount (Sh350,000) after submitting 35 names which included players and members of the technical bench. 

Kisumu based All-Stars received Sh340,000 for 34 names with Sofapaka and Zoo FC getting Sh300,000 each for 30 individuals. 

Women's footballers were not left behind. Gatundu-based Gaspo FC, who are taking part in the Kenyan Women Premier League (KWPL), also received their fair share. The technical bench and players numbering 28, received Sh280,000.

Gor Mahia have also received financial support though most of the players feel the Sh10, 000 is not enough to help them pay accrued debts.

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool should already be "starting work on a statue" of Jurgen Klopp ahead of their title coronation.

Liverpool will be confirmed as the new Premier League champions if they pick up six points from their final nine fixtures of the 2019-20 season.

Klopp's men had established an unassailable 25-point lead over holder Manchester City before the coronavirus stopped play in March, having won all but two of their first 29 games.

Project restart will begin when City take on Arsenal on Wednesday, and if they lose, it will open the door for Liverpool to ascend to the top-flight throne by beating Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby.

Club legend Gerrard, who took up his first head coaching role with Rangers in 2018, says Klopp has set the standard for all managers to aspire to, and he has been delighted to see Liverpool reach new heights under his stewardship.

“Let’s cut to the chase, sitting here, doing this interview right now, I think Jurgen Klopp is the best manager in the world,” the ex-Reds midfielder told The Athletic.

“I know there are a lot of successful managers about. Pep Guardiola is exceptional. Carlo Ancelotti is exceptional too and I think Everton are really lucky to have him with his CV. I could name many more.

“Having had the experience of being a manager for the past two years, you realise how difficult and challenging the job is. I have nothing but respect for Jurgen.

“The way the man handles himself, the way he’s been with myself, the way he goes about his business, the way he comes across. I think he’s got a heart and I think he’s got a head. He just works for Liverpool. He has come and taken the club to the next level.”

Once Klopp delivers Liverpool's 19th league title, he will go down in history alongside the club's legendary former managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, both of whom sit outside of Anfield in statue form.

Gerrard says the German boss will deserve the same tribute once Liverpool's transformation from also-rans into European and English champions is complete.

He said: “Knowing Jurgen, he won’t want to be put in that bracket. I know what he’s like, he’s humble and respectful. When you look at the scale of the job he’s done, for sure he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those iconic managers.

“What you need to take into consideration is that when Jurgen took over Liverpool they weren’t close to being the best team in the country, they weren’t even in the top four.

“To come to Liverpool when he did, get to the amount of finals that he has, deliver the sixth European Cup and then deliver the first league title after 30 years…

“For me, someone like Jurgen should be rewarded now. It seems like in football we often wait until people get older before their achievements are fully recognised.

“But I know the owners of Liverpool won’t let that happen. When Jurgen delivers the league they should already be starting work on a statue of him.”

Gerrard added on the "relief" he will feel when Liverpool finally hold the trophy aloft: "You don’t want to count your chickens until it’s certain but I think we all know that it’s inevitable.

“For me, there will be a lot of relief. Being a fan for a lot of those years and being a player and coming ever so close, you know that this is the one that people have craved.

“This is the bread and butter of the club. I grew up watching all the successful Liverpool teams winning leagues. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do it myself.

“I’m a fan now and I always will be until the day I go into a grave. When they get it done and they lift that trophy, it will be 100 per cent happiness for me. I can’t wait for it. I’ll be the proudest man on the planet.”