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Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes believes the club still need signings in two key areas in order to catch up with runaway champions Liverpool. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's charges have been in fine form since the season restarted in June following three months out due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Three wins and a draw in the Premier League have seen the Reds consolidate their position inside the Champions League qualification spots, while they also progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup thanks to victory over Norwich City last week. 

Saturday saw one of United's finest performances of the season so far as Bournemouth were dispatched in a 5-2 thrashing at Old Trafford, with two-goal hero Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial all finding themselves on the score sheet. 

But they still face the possibility of finishing 30 points or more behind their arch-rivals from Merseyside, an issue that Scholes believes can only be resolved in the transfer market. 

"There is a big gap to close, there’s no doubt about that," Scholes explained to BBC Radio Five Live.

"The points difference is ridiculous and the quality of Man City obviously is there for everyone to see.

"I really don’t think they are a million miles away. I know we spoke about four or five players but I think it’s two or three now.

"I think you are looking at a centre-forward, a really classy goal scorer and possibly a centre-half to play next to [Harry] Maguire.

"I think [Victor] Lindelof has done alright but I just think Maguire with his lack of pace at times [can get caught].

"If he’s got a really dominant centre-half next to him like a Rio Ferdinand or Jaap Stam, who bullies centre-forwards, I think that would be a big help to the team."

United are back in action on Thursday, when they travel to Villa Park to face relegation-threatened Aston Villa. 

The Reds' weekend victory helped them pull three points clear of sixth-placed Wolves, who went down at home to Arsenal to lose ground in the race for the final Champions League berth.

Eden Hazard will sit out Real Madrid's La Liga match with Athletic Bilbao as he is not fully fit, head coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday. 

The Belgium international sustained a heavy knock in the 1-0 win over Espanyol and missed the victory against Getafe on Thursday. 

Madrid could stretch their lead over Barcelona at the top of LaLiga to seven points if they win at Athletic on Sunday before the Catalans face Villarreal, but Zidane is not prepared to take any unnecessary risks with Hazard that could jeopardise his chances of finishing the season. 

"Eden's having a hard time these days and we don't want to risk anything, and he's the first [to agree]," Zidane said. "Hopefully, it's a small thing and we can see him again before the end of the league [season]. 

"He's been away for three or four days and I hope he'll get over it quickly. It's day to day; we don't know anything more than it's a strong blow. There are those who know, the doctors and the medics... they are very competent people. It was a blow against Espanyol and it's a matter of days." 

Hazard's first season at Madrid since his €100 million move from Chelsea has been blighted by injuries, with the 29-year-old having only started 13 league games in 2019-20. 

"The Hazard thing is the sort of thing we don't want to happen, that's the worst thing for me," Zidane said. "It's not just me, there's a lot of people here to help the player. 

"For Eden, it's his first year and he wants to help the team. And when he can't do that, he's not happy. 

"I don't think he's afraid [of injuries]; what he wants is to be good enough to play. If he doesn't look 100 per cent, it's a problem for him and for everyone, because we love him to the max. 

"What I hope is that we'll soon get out of it." 

Los Blancos last won the title in 2016-17, during Zidane's previous spell in charge, and the head coach is taking nothing for granted despite their advantage at the summit.

"The players know that it is a complicated, difficult, long competition, and that those who did it before show that they want to go for everything," he added.

"There is no euphoria here because we have not won anything.

"There is work and commitment to do it well and try to win matches."

Timo Werner is a “great fit” for Chelsea, says Michael Ballack, with the German frontman considered to have made the right choice in avoiding competition with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Liverpool.

A move to Anfield was mooted for the prolific 24-year-old when the exit door swung open at RB Leipzig.

Werner had made no secret of his respect for the Reds, while his qualities were considered to be tailor-made for Jurgen Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ system.

It was, however, to be Chelsea who triggered a £54 million (€60m/$68m) release clause and offered the frontman a shot at life in the Premier League.

Former Blues star Ballack believes that decision will prove the best for all concerned, with Werner expected to make a greater impact in west London than he would have done on Merseyside.

“If Liverpool was really an option for him, he made the best decision for him, and only he can make that decision,” Ballack told i.

“You have to value certain things, like how much playing time you will get and how important a role in the squad you will have. Liverpool have won the Champions League and Premier League.

“How could Timo expect to come into that front three and start every week in place of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane?

“Chelsea are building a young team, a new team, with a young coach. It is a great project to be part of, given how young Timo is.

“To be the main striker, at a huge club like Chelsea, is the best place for him. He can have a much bigger impact than he could at Liverpool.

“Although Liverpool and Man City’s squad is much stronger than everyone else’s right now, Chelsea are starting to create a really competitive team.

“It will take time, and Timo is just part of that journey. You need the depth, but in Timo and Hakim Ziyech Chelsea have the start of a squad able to challenge for titles again.”

Ballack added: “Timo and Chelsea is great fit. Chelsea do not have this kind of player at the moment.

“If he plays to what he is good at, he will be an amazing signing for Chelsea. It is a great place to play football.”

Said Benrahma maintained his excellent recent form on Saturday as he netted a hat-trick in Brentford’s 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the Championship.

The Algeria winger, who has been increasingly linked with a move to the Premier League, troubled the Latics throughout as Brentford boosted their promotion hopes.

The hat-trick was Benrahma’s third of the campaign and, putting that achievement into context, only Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero now has more than the North African.

According to Opta, the Argentina striker has scored three times in one match on four occasions this term, with no player matching either him or Benrahma’s haul of three goals.

The victory means that, across their time in English football’s top four divisions, Brentford have now also won five consecutive matches without conceding a goal for the first occasion in their history.

It’s a statistic that underpins their promotion hopes, with the victory over beleaguered Wigan taking them up to 72 points.

Currently, in third, Brentford are two behind West Bromwich Albion—who occupy the second automatic promotion berth—having played a game more than Slaven Bilic’s side.

However, they at least look good for a play-off spot this term, and currently sit 11 points ahead of Derby County, outside the play-offs in seventh.

Benrahma has been the outstanding individual in a magnificent campaign, having scored 14 goals and contributed eight assists so far this term.

Overall, in his 76 outings for the Bees over the last two campaigns, he’s scored 24 goals and contributed 22 assists—numbers which demonstrate his effectiveness in the final third.

His form has prompted interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester City among the clubs linked with the talented attacker.

According to The Sun, the Blues are in pole position to recruit the attacker this summer, with the tabloid noting earlier this month that Frank Lampard had already opened talks with Benrahma.

However, the report stated that Chelsea hadn’t yet submitted a formal bid for the wideman, and that it remains to be seen whether he would agree to leave Brentford.

While Benrahma might represent an ideal replacement for outgoing widemen Pedro and Willian, there is still the chance that he could seal promotion with the Londoners this term and opt to represent them in the top-tier next season.

The 24-year-old joined Brentford in 2018 from OGC Nice, having broken through with the Cote d’Azur heavyweights under Claude Puel during the 2013-14 season.

Bukayo Saka found the back of the net in the Premier League for the first time in his career in Arsenal’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The versatile player was handed his 22nd league appearance in the encounter and made the most of the opportunity, opening his goal account.

The 18-year-old Anglo-Nigerian fired home a sublime effort, leaving Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio with no chance.

Saka’s effort thus ended the solid defensive display from Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who have not conceded in 448 minutes, having last let in a goal against Tottenham Hotspur back in March.

The Super Eagles target, who recently penned a new deal with the Gunners has continued to enjoy a brilliant campaign with the Emirates outfit.

The defender won the Arsenal Player of the Month award for February and he is in contention to scoop the award for the second time in a row, having been suspended since the outbreak of coronavirus.

Saka has now made 34 appearances across all competitions in this campaign to help the Gunners continue in their quest to play in Europe next season.

The defender was promoted to Arsenal's first team in 2018 and made his Premier League debut against Fulham in January 2019.

Saka started as a winger before he was deployed to the full-back position by manager Mikel Arteta, where he has continued to impress.

The versatile player will hope to keep on with his fine performances when Arsenal take on Leicester City on Tuesday.

Arsenal gave their European hopes a major boost with a 2-0 win away to Wolves on Saturday.

A goal from Bukayo Saka, who this week signed a new long-term contract with the club, and a late strike from substitute Alexandre Lacazette extended the Gunners' winning run to four in all competitions.

It also lifts them into seventh in the table, three points behind Wolves and six adrift of fourth-place Manchester United, who earlier beat Bournemouth 5-2 at Old Trafford.

Although Chelsea can go back into the top four if they defeat Watford, the result at least keeps Arsenal's hopes of a Champions League return alive at the start of a difficult run of games that includes a north London derby and meetings with two of the top three.

Adama Traore twice tested Emiliano Martinez in the opening 10 minutes before Eddie Nketiah saw a shot turned onto the base of the right-hand post.

Arsenal found a breakthrough 43 minutes into a half of few chances, Saka steering a left-foot half-volley past Rui Patricio after Kieran Tierney's cross deflected into his path.

Wolves assumed control in the second half as Arsenal dropped deeper, and Traore lifted a golden chance over the crossbar after racing through on Martinez's goal.

The pressure continued but Arsenal's defence, so often criticised this season, restricted Wolves to zero shots on target in the second half, which will likely have thrilled boss Mikel Arteta.

Lacazette made the win safe with four minutes of normal time left, gathering Joe Willock's low cross and finishing across Patricio, and only a Ruben Neves clearance on the line denied Willock a third.

What does it mean? Gunners boost European hopes at start of daunting run

Given their next four games are against Leicester City, Tottenham and Liverpool in the league and Manchester City in the FA Cup, this could prove to be a huge three points for Arsenal.

For Wolves, this was a sizeable blow in their pursuit of an unlikely Champions League spot.

Saka is Arsenal's present and future

His new deal was announced to much relief from Arsenal fans this week, but Saka is already a key part of Arteta's plans.

This might have been just the 18-year-old's first Premier League goal, but he looks consistently like the Gunners' most threatening weapon.

Traore off target

Traore was his usual menacing self down the Wolves right, but this time the crosses to Raul Jimenez were too often wayward and he wasted their best chance for an equaliser.

Key Opta Stats: Lacazette ends drought

- Arsenal have won three consecutive league games without conceding for the first time since November 2017.
- Wolves suffered their first Premier League defeat in nine games, while this was their first league loss by more than a one-goal margin since September (5-2 v Chelsea).
- Lacazette's goal was his first away from home in the Premier League since February 2019 (v Huddersfield), ending a run of 16 away games without a goal for the Arsenal striker.
- Despite only coming on as a 76th-minute substitute, Willock created more chances than any other Arsenal player in this match (2), including providing the assist for Lacazette's goal.
- Martinez has kept a clean sheet in six of his eight Premier League starts for Arsenal (75%), the best ratio of any Arsenal keeper with at least five starts in the competition.

What's next?

Both teams now prepare for what could be key clashes in the battle for Europe. Arsenal have a meeting at home to Leicester next Tuesday, and Wolves head to eighth-place Sheffield United on Wednesday.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admits to experiencing “strange” emotions on the back of Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph.

The Reds’ dominance of a domestic scene in 2019-20 had them on course to land a much-coveted top-flight crown from a long way out.

It appeared at one stage that the coronavirus pandemic could scupper their plans to bring a 30-year wait for title glory to a close.

Jurgen Klopp’s side, however, returned to action and saw themselves over the line with seven games to spare – a new record.

A humbling 4-0 defeat was suffered to Manchester City in their first outing after seeing a coronation confirmed, with Oxlade-Chamberlain revealing that those at Anfield are unsure how to react to what they have achieved.

The England international told BBC Sport: “I know it feels good because I know it's meant to feel amazing.

“But at the minute it hasn't really sunk in because the games are still coming thick and fast. We're still in the same mindset of finishing as strong as possible and win all the games.

“Usually I guess when guys become champions, there's one, maybe two games to go – sometimes the last day of the season – and once it's done it's holiday and it's a whole time to reflect on the season. 

“For us, it's a bit of a strange one because we haven't really had a chance to really sit back and sort take in what we've done for this season. 

“But I mean it obviously feels amazing to know that we made it over the line and we've got that silverware for the club. We haven't really had time to stop and take it all in properly yet.”

Liverpool still have the chance to better City’s record haul of 100 points before the current campaign comes to a close, while being aware that they are now there to be shot at after returning to the loftiest of perches.

Oxlade-Chamberlain knows that high standards must be maintained by all of those at Anfield, now and in and future.

He added: “It's a test of, ‘Right, now we need to go again and we need to go to the next stage and how far can we push this?’

“We don't know but we need to do everything we can to try and stay where we are now and develop again because the league develops every single year and all teams strengthen. 

“It's hard to keep up those levels and that consistency every year. We now need to keep pushing and pushing ourselves. 

“Playing for this manager, that's exactly what he does every day. That's what we know and what we've come to expect. That's just normal now.”

Kelechi Iheanacho has now scored back to back Premier League goals for Leicester City on three occasions following his move from Manchester City in 2017.

The Nigeria international was on target for the Foxes in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Crystal Palace.

With the first-half 0-0 at the King Power Stadium, the 23-year-old put his team ahead after 49 minutes after heading the ball past Vicente Guaita.

Following Youri Tielemans’ run down the Eagles’ flanks, the Belgium international sent a teasing low ball across the face of goal which was fumbled by the goalkeeper.

The goal meant Iheanacho has scored in back-to-back Premier League games for Leicester, having netted in just one of his last 12 games in the competition according to Opta stats.

In his team’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday, the forward came from the bench to net the Foxes’ consolation – an effort that took him next to Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud as the substitute who has scored the most goals since his English elite division debut against Watford on August 30, 2015.

Iheanacho’s first back-to-back Premier League goals came in his maiden season with the former English champions. Having scored in the 3-1 demolition of Arsenal on May 9, 2018 - he followed it up with another brilliant effort in their 5-4 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

The 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner achieved that for the second time this season after netting in Brendan Rodgers men’s 4-1 obliteration of Aston Villa on December 12, 2019 – seven days after hitting the target in the 2-1 triumph over Everton.

This newly found form is a massive boost for Rodgers’ side who are chasing a place in next season’s Champions League. Currently, they occupy third spot in the log having garnered 58 points from 33 outings.  Also, that could convince his club to retain him amid speculation that he could be shipped out at the end of the season.

Leicester City travel to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal of Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, with the Super Eagles’ star hopes to improve on the five goals he has scored so far this term.

Zouhair Feddal scored his first goal in the 2019-20 La Liga season as Real Betis held Celta Vigo to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Betis found themselves trailing for the most part of the encounter after Nolito fired the hosts ahead with his opener in his 22nd minute.

The Green and Whites were close to conceding their third straight defeat in the Spanish top-flight until Feddal drew them level with his strike in the 79th minute.

The goal came as a relief for the 30-year-old who recently fought his way into Alexis Trujillo's team, starting in their last four league matches after struggling for playing time earlier in the season.

Feddal partnered Algeria's Aissa Mandi at the centre of Real Betis' defence and they were both on parade from start to finish.

During the game, Feddal and Mandi managed an interception each while the former completed three clearances, the latter registered two.

The Moroccan centre-back made the most passes for the Green and Whites (58) and Mandi recorded the highest pass accuracy (87.2 per cent).

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Joseph Aidoo who has played 29 league matches for Celta Vigo this term was not involved in the encounter as he watched on from the bench.

The point earned leaves Real Betis 13th in the La Liga table with 38 points from 34 games, three points adrift of 17th-placed Celta Vigo.

Feddal has made 15 appearances for Real Betis in this campaign – starting 14 of those games, however, his aggressiveness has earned him eight yellow cards and two red cards in this campaign.

He moved to the Estadio Benito Villamarin on a four-year contract from Alaves in 2017 and his current deal at the Estadio Benito Villamarin will expire at the end of next season.

Next up for Real Betis is a home fixture against Osasuna on Wednesday and the African duo will be aiming to help Alexis Trujillo's side avoid defeat as they chase their first win since their 1-0 triumph against Espanyol on June 25.

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck has revealed their main target is to finish the Mainland Premier League season on a high.

The Wekundu Wa Mzimbazi were crowned champions for the third season in a row despite securing a 0-0 draw against Tanzania Prisons, to reach 79 points, which second-placed Young Africans (Yanga SC) and Azam FC cannot reach with six matches to spare.

As they await the crowning moment after their match against Namungo FC on July 8, Simba are already in Mtwara to face Ndanda FC on Sunday.

Coach Vandenbroeck has now said their main target is to make sure they finish the season with style by winning all their remaining matches.

“We have already been crowned champions but that does mean we have finished the season, we still have six matches remaining and we want to make sure we win all the matches to finish the season on a high,” Vandenbroeck told the club’s official website.

“Our match against Ndanda will definitely be difficult because they will be playing at home, and the condition of the pitch is not that good, I have checked the pitch and I am not impressed with the condition it is in but we have to play there and we have no option.”

Simba are also chasing for the FA Cup after they reached the semi-finals and will face rivals Yanga on July 12.

In an earlier interview, coach Vandenbroeck told Goal he was eager to face Yanga and avenge the second round league defeat insisting it was the reason they had to beat Azam 2-0.

“We lost to Yanga in the second round fixture because my players lost concentration and we could not push ourselves to get an equaliser or even a winning goal,” Vandenbroeck told Goal.

“We wanted to play against them again before the season comes to a close so we can rectify the mistakes we committed against them and beat them, I know it will not be easy but I want to prepare my team to be ready.

“It is a match I am really looking forward to, it is a derby and you know the fans will come in large numbers, the derby is the game for the fans and we will do all we can to make amends and beat them to reach the final.”

The match against Yanga will be played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

From signing a new contract with Arsenal to scoring his first Premier League strike in the space of barely 72 hours: it certainly has been a "week to remember" for Bukayo Saka. 

The 18-year-old prodigy put pen to paper on a four-year extension to his Gunners deal, ending speculation over his future at the Emirates Stadium. 

And he marked that milestone in memorable fashion, opening the scoring for Arsenal on Saturday away to Wolves just before half-time on the way to a 2-0 victory at Molineux. 

While Saka had scored in both the Europa League and FA Cup this season, he was still waiting on his maiden league goal; and he admitted that he was delighted to have broken his duck just days after penning a new deal. 

"It is very big. We know how good Wolves are and how tough it was going to be. We fought for every ball and it is good to build some momentum," he explained to Sky Sports after the final whistle. 

"It has been a week I will remember for my whole life. You can see the manager is building and that I can tie down my future here.

"I anticipated the ball was going to come so I got there. I knew it was the far post where the gap was going to be so I tried to guide it there."

Alexandre Lacazette stepped up after the break to double Arsenal's lead, sealing a fourth straight victory in all competitions for Mikel Arteta's men after they suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Brighton following the end of the coronavirus lockdown. 

That recent upturn in form has seen Arsenal jump to seventh in the table and secure an FA Cup semi-final berth, and Saka had nothing but praise for the way his team-mates focused during the second half of Saturday's game in order to pick up three vital points. 

"It was a shift. Everyone fought for each other, together and that is why we got it over the line," he added.

"The subs helped us out so much and gave us a boost. It feels like we are more together.

"I am 18 and it has been a dream to play for this club. I have to take each game by game. Wherever the boss wants to put me, I want to play. It is a dream to be here."

Rio Ferdinand sees Mason Greenwood on the “right track” at Manchester United, with the club’s latest teenage sensation only two goals away from matching Wayne Rooney’s return from his first season at Old Trafford.

Back in 2004, the Red Devils moved to snap up one of the most exciting talents in world football.

Rooney, who opened his spell at Old Trafford with a hat-trick, would go on to find the target on 17 occasions in his debut campaign and a record-setting 253 times across 13 years in Manchester.

Greenwood is among those looking to follow in illustrious footsteps, with the 18-year-old having burst onto a senior stage in 2019-20.

The highly-rated academy graduate is starting to nail down a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, with a well-taken brace in a 5-2 victory over Bournemouth seeing him to 15 goals for the season.

Ferdinand is among those expecting big things from the youngster, telling BT Sport: "Greenwood, we've been speaking about this young kid, you don't want to put him on the spot too much but when he's doing things like that what he's done [against Bournemouth], you've got to give him the credit he deserves.

"He pulls the trigger so quick, they're the strikers I used to hate playing against, doesn't matter how quick you are, Jermain Defoe was another one who didn't need much time or space to pull the trigger, the confidence in his own ability from that range was phenomenal."

United legend Ferdinand added: "His first full season, 18 years old - 15 goals. Rooney in his first full season he got 17 goals.

"The kid’s on the right track.

"The game is there for him, he can do what he likes in the future. He’s got that much talent, if he keeps his head on his shoulders – which I think he will – he will be a player for many seasons to come."

Greenwood is not the only United forward to be catching the eye at present, with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford also on target against the Cherries.

The France international, who took the No.9 shirt from Romelu Lukaku last summer, has been reborn in a central striking post, with Ferdinand admitting that Martial – who netted the first senior hat-trick of his career in a recent 3-0 win over Sheffield United – looks like a “different human”.

He added after seeing the 24-year-old curl home a spectacular strike to help down Bournemouth: "I was screaming in the studio. He cuts in, takes a look and says ‘top bin, here you come’. It’s an unbelievable strike.

"He looks like a different human, a different person. He looks like he’s enjoying his football, he’s smiling again and feels confident.

"There’s a passion inside of him now. This guy is a different character under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."

Henry Onyekuru has bid goodbye to Galatasaray following the expiry of his loan from Ligue 1 club Monaco.

The Nigerian forward returned to Turkey for his second loan stint with the Lions in January after struggling to cement regular playing time in his debut campaign in France.

Following his return to Fatih Terim's team, Onyekuru boosted Galatasaray's charge to defend the Super Lig crown with a contribution of an assist and a goal which sealed their 3-1 victory against archrivals Fenerbahce back in February.

He made 12 appearances across all competitions and his last outing was against league leaders Istanbul Basaksehir last Sunday where he featured for 90 minutes.

Before moving from Istanbul to Monaco to join Robert Moreno's side for their pre-season training, Onyekuru visited Galatasaray's training facilities to say his farewell to the coaching crew and his teammates on Saturday.

“Rental agreement ending. Henry Onyekuru said goodbye to our technical team and teammates. Have a nice trip,” the club tweeted.

Reports suggested Galatasaray made a move to extend the loan of the Super Eagles forward with five matches remaining after the coronavirus pandemic forced the extension of the 2019-20 Super Lig season until July 25 but both clubs were unable to reach an agreement.

The 23-year-old won the Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup with the Lions last season, and he expressed gratitude for the reception he got throughout his second stay in Istanbul.

“I can’t thank Galatasaray enough for the love during my second spell at the club. You are forever in my heart, until we meet again... Cimbom,” Onyekuru tweeted.

Galatasaray are fourth in the league table and they face second-placed Trabzonspor on Sunday in an encounter that could boost their chances of defending their league title.

Despite Onyekuru's absence, Ivory Coast's Jean-Michael Seri, Nigeria's Jesse Sekidika, DR Congo's Christian Luyindama, Morocco's Younes Belhanda, Gabon's Mario Lemina and Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli are options available for Terim to summon for the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo vowed to start scoring free-kicks on a regular basis again after breaking a losing streak that had endured for almost two years. 

The former Real Madrid star might have built up a reputation for his prowess at dead-ball situations, but Juventus fans had been left waiting to see those talents up close. 

In 42 attempts Ronaldo had never managed to score a free-kick for the Italian side, a run of misfortune that has had little effect on his otherwise excellent numbers - Saturday saw him reach 25 Serie A goals for the season - but gnawed away at the notorious perfectionist as each effort went awry. 

This weekend finally saw the striker hit the target, beating Salvatore Sirigu in the Torino net to put Juve 3-1 up in the Turin derby. 

And after the game, which eventually finished 4-1 in the hosts' favour, Ronaldo admitted that his goal came as a huge relief. 

“I really needed that free-kick goal so I could get some confidence back,” he explained to Sky Sport Italia.

“We knew it would be a difficult game, but we worked hard, won and are now putting pressure on Lazio. We achieved the objective today.

“It doesn’t matter who scores goals, as long as the team wins. We’re all in good shape and will try to win against Milan too, which is another difficult match.”

Another man glad to see Ronaldo rediscover his scoring ability from set-pieces is coach Maurizio Sarri, who confessed that he was shocked to find out how much that run had vexed his charge.

"I honestly didn't think it was [a problem] but at the end of the match, he came to me and said 'finally'," Sarri told reporters, while additionally heaping praise on Ronaldo's strike partner Paulo Dybala.

"I never had any doubts about Dybala," he added. "It's true he didn't score much in the championship last year, but if you take the season two years ago, he scored a lot. He's just had an unlucky season.

"I've always told him what I think about how he should train and how he should play. And he tells me what he thinks."

Mikel Arteta hailed Alexandre Lacazette after the Arsenal striker finally ended his long barren run away from home in the Premier League with a late strike against Wolves on Saturday.

The Gunners frontman came off the bench at Molineux to score a crucial second for the visitors and seal a 2-0 win which keeps Arteta’s side in the hunt for a Champions League place.

It was Lacazette’s first goal away from home in the league for 16 months, a run which dates back to his strike in a 2-1 win at Huddersfield in February 2019.

And Arteta was delighted for his forward, who he believes got his reward for the way he prepared himself for his late cameo.

“He really needed that,” said Arteta. “When I asked him to come on, within three seconds he was ready to jump on the pitch.

“And when you do that, things like this happen.

“He had a great movement of the ball, a great touch and a great finish. We have to give him more opportunities to be able to do that, but I am so happy for him because he deserves that with the way he trains and plays every day.”

Arsenal’s win at Wolves - which was their first away from home against a team above them in the Premier League for five years - was their fourth in a row in all competitions.

They now sit seventh in the Premier League, six points behind Manchester United in fourth, with games against Leicester and Tottenham to come in the next week.

It means they have kept their slim hopes of securing Champions League qualification next season alive, but Arteta is well aware of the challenge that faces his side with just five league games remaining.

“Every game we have no margin for error,” said Arsenal’s head coach. “We are trying to win every game if we can.

“Let’s enjoy tonight a little bit. Tomorrow we start thinking about Leicester and try to go again.

“Weeks ago it [Champions League qualification] looked impossible. We know the fixtures that we have in the next few weeks. We try to improve as a team every time to give us a better chance.

“The better we play, the better we compete. At this level of intensity if we play like this against any team we will make it hard for them - and then we will see.”

Bukayo Saka has equalled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's Arsenal record with his strike in their 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The full-back opened the scoring for the Gunners with a brilliant finish in the 43rd minute before Alexandre Lacazette sealed the win. 

The effort is his first in the Premier League since he made his debut in the English top-flight in January 2019 after he was promoted to the first team.

The forward, thus, becomes the second youngest English player to score a Premier League goal for the Gunners after Oxlade-Chamberlain, who now plays with Liverpool

Saka has been a consistent performer for the Emirates Stadium outfit this season and has been delivering impressive showings which have endeared him to the Gunners fans.

The versatile player has made 34 appearances across all competitions, including 22 in the Premier League.

His performances have helped Mikel Arteta’s men to their current seventh position on the league table after 12 wins, 13 draws and eight losses.

Saka was named the club’s player of the month for February owing to his eye-catching displays and he is in contention for his second, having been nominated for the June edition.

The English-born defender has featured for England youth teams but he is still eligible to play for Nigeria, where his parents hail from.

The 18-year-old will hope to continue his consistent performances and help the Gunners clinch a place in Europe at the end of the season.

Saka, who has started 16 Premier League games in this campaign, will hope to feature when Arsenal take on Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City in their next league game on Tuesday.

Ex-Ghana right-back Samuel Inkoom has explained to Goal what makes Asamoah Gyan such a lethal striker, and likened the Black Stars great to George Weah.

The duo played together for Ghana’s national side, memorably reaching the World Cup quarter-final together in 2010, where the West Africans were ultimately eliminated by Uruguay.

While Gyan’s missed penalty at the death of that contest was ultimately the defining image of the frontman at South Africa 2010, it was also the tournament in which he further demonstrated his goalscoring qualities to the wider audience.

“I don’t know how to describe him,” Inkoom told Goal. “Gyan is one of the strikers who has great timing, he smells – he’s always smelling, like George Weah, he can smell where the ball will come, and he’s very good at finishing.

“As a striker he has everything; he has the skill, he can pass, he can dribble, he has good technique, he’s very good in the air,” the full-back continued. “He has everything.”

At the 2010 World Cup, Gyan netted a late winner against Serbia in the Black Stars’ opener, as Milovan Rajevac’s side kicked off their campaign with a victory.

He then struck the only goal of the game as the Stars held Australia 1-1 in their second group game, and then finished delightfully to down the United States in extra time of the Round of 16.

“For me, he’s phenomenal,” Inkoom continued. “He’s the African player who has the most goals at the World Cup – six – so Gyan always wants to prove a point and to die for his country.

“Gyan is very talented striker, very gifted.”

Before the 2010 World Cup, Gyan had netted the first of his six goals at the tournament in the 2006 edition in Germany, when he bagged the opener for the Black Stars in their 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

Eight years after that, in 2014, he scored against both Germany and Portugal in the group stage, as Ghana drew with the former and were defeated 2-1 by the latter.

Ultimately, the Stars failed to escape from the group stage in Brazil, although as yet, no African team has eclipsed their run to the quarter-final in 2010.