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Steven Gerrard has listed five Premier League stars who "deserve" to win PFA Player of the Year, while also picking his preferred candidate for the award.

The Rangers boss has watched from afar as his old club Liverpool have dominated the English top flight in 2019-20, picking up 27 wins from their opening 29 fixtures before the coronavirus outbreak halted their progress in March.

Jurgen Klopp's men will be crowned champions if they secure six points from their final nine fixtures, with a Merseyside derby clash against Everton on Sunday marking their first game back following a three-month hiatus.

Jordan Henderson will hold the famous trophy aloft once Liverpool get over the line, and it has been suggested that the club captain will be acknowledged for his contribution to their cause by the PFA come the end of the campaign.

Gerrard would "like to see" his former team-mate named Player of the Year, but he also believes three other Reds would be worthy of the accolade, along with Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne.

The former Liverpool captain says Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander Arnold have been just as consistent as Henderson, but the 29-year-old's "leadership skills" could see him get the final nod.

“If he got it I don’t think anyone could argue or grumble,” Gerrard told The Athletic. “He would deserve it as much as anyone else who is in the running for it.

“I try to be non-biased when I talk about things like this. Kevin De Bruyne has been superb this season. The same goes for Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan and Sadio Mane.

"Any of them would deserve it. Would I like to see Jordan win it? Yes, I would.

“I’d also like to see him win the Football Writers’ award. In this day and age, with what we’re going through and what we’ve seen of late, he’s someone who commits himself to the game and is a real ambassador and role model on and off the pitch.

"It’s the way he goes about his work, the quality he has shown consistently and his leadership skills.

“With these individual awards, I just think sometimes they have to be about more than what just happens on the pitch.

"I think Jordan is certainly deserving to be in the running for both. If he got both I’d be very pleased for him.”

Timo Werner remains in RB Leipzig's plans for the Champions League, despite Goal understanding he informed the club he wants to move to Chelsea before the competition restarts.

Leipzig eliminated Tottenham and booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Europe's premier club competition is expected to continue in August once the major domestic seasons have been completed.

According to a report from German newspaper Bild on Monday, Werner has told Leipzig he wants to join Chelsea, who are reportedly set to activate a £54 million ($68m) release clause in his contract, following the conclusion of the Bundesliga season this month.

However, Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann told a news conference he still considers the Germany striker available for Champions League selection.

"He is currently, as usual, in my plans to play the Champions League. He is our player and has not signed for anyone else," said Nagelsmann. "His importance to RB Leipzig is extraordinary. He has an incredibly good goalscoring rate, which you always hope for from a striker."

The transfer window in England will open at the conclusion of the Premier League season in July, meaning Werner could move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the resumption of the Champions League.

UEFA is yet to clarify rules regarding transfers of such nature, with it unclear whether Werner would be able to represent Chelsea in the competition.

Nagelsmann only plans to deal with that situation when a deal is on the table, saying: "Then both parties will sit down and see what happens next. There are no regulations at the moment."

Leipzig face relegation-threatened Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga on Wednesday and a win could guarantee their place in next season's Champions League.

However, they will be without attacker Yussuf Poulsen for the rest of the campaign with a ligament injury, while the possibility of Dayot Upamecano returning to the line-up will depend on his performance in training.

"Yussi will not be used this season," said Nagelsmann. "If [Upamecano] goes full throttle, he will play. If he doesn't go full throttle, he won't play."

Pep Guardiola has defended Kyle Walker after criticism of the Manchester City defender's behaviour in the lockdown period.

The England international was reported by The Sun to have committed three breaches of coronavirus stay-at-home rules in 24 hours last month. That came after he apologised in April for hosting a party with a friend and two women at his home in Cheshire.

City said at the time of the first allegations they were "disappointed" by the claims and would conduct an internal investigation.

Walker, 30, later said he felt "harassed" by the media attention on his private life, claiming his behaviour was being "scrutinised without any context".

It was claimed that in May he visited his parents and sister before lockdown rules were eased, and also took a bicycle ride with a friend.

City manager Guardiola said in a news conference on Tuesday: "I judge my players with what happens on the pitch.

"I think Kyle made a brave statement. What I want is the best for him and especially his family. His wife and kids, parents - that is what we want. As a human being that always goes first [rather] than the football player, and I think Kyle expressed his thoughts in his statement."

City face Arsenal on Wednesday night in one of two Premier League games, the first top flight action in England following the enforced break in the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guardiola, however, has warned his City team will be undercooked for the return of the Premier League because they were given "not enough" time to prepare.

"If you ask me how the team is, I don't know," Guardiola said. "Tomorrow we will see the level. From there, we are going to see and suggest what we can do better.

"All Premier League teams have three weeks. Of course we know it is not enough but it is what it is.

"We are ready to play one game, but three days after another, four days after another, we are not ready. That's why you have to rotate. But we have to start, we have to finish the season, because the damage economically can be reduced."

Manchester United players have been consulted over music to be played at Old Trafford during the behind closed doors games in the hope it will give them a boost.

Club chiefs have been in consultation with the players, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, fan groups and the Premier League over the best ways to try and create as much of an atmosphere in Old Trafford as possible for the Premier League restart - despite no fans being allowed inside. 

Wraps will be placed around the lower tiers and some of the second tiers of Old Trafford with pictures of thousands of fans that the club have been collecting over the past week.

Fans were asked to send in their pictures to the club to be part of the mosaic which will be on the wraps along with messages of thanks to the NHS, Premier League branding and club messages. Pictures of fans celebrating will also be shown on the electronic boards which are around the side of the pitch at Old Trafford.

Clubs have been given permission to use creativity so each will have different aesthetics inside their stadium.

Tottenham, who United play on Friday, are set to have images of fans celebrating on their huge screens. That is something which is not an option at Old Trafford as they only have small scoreboards with no screens.

Cardboard cut outs of fans, which have been used in other countries, is something that has been dismissed. 

Fans watching at home will have the option to listen to crowd noise on their television and while that will not be pumped into the stadium, music will be played at different points of the game, for example when a goal is scored.

It is understood a final decision has yet to be made on what audio will be used at what points the players have been consulted over what they would like.

Plans are expected to carry on evolving up until United’s first home game of the restart, against Sheffield United next Wednesday, but plans are well underway to ensure fans are represented inside the stadium.

The club hope that while they are not looking to replace fans inside the stadium their pictures being part of the wrap gives them the opportunity to feel apart of the restart while supporting the team from home.

The mosaic will be made up of pictures of season ticket holders, members and those who have never been able to attend a game at Old Trafford before.

Former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena says he “always put his body on the line” for his country and cannot be held accountable for the opening goal in the 3-0 defeat by Uruguay at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

It was the hosts South Africa’s second match of the tournament and the 24th-minute goal by Diego Forlan paved the way for the former Manchester United forward’s brace and another goal by defender Alvaro Pereira.

As Forlan unleashed his shot from outside the box, Mokoena stood in the way of the attempt but swerved his body to avoid the ball hitting him, before it flew past goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

“I did not duck that ball,” Mokoena said as per New Frame.

“You have followed my career long enough to know that I always put my body on the line whenever I had the national team jersey on. I have never been afraid to throw myself into where it hurts for the sake of protecting the team.

“That Forlan goal was just something special. He simply got the technique of kicking that ball right and that is why it beat both myself and Itu [Khune].

“I was trying to close him down but he took the shot. He was very far from the goals and I didn’t think he would shoot. It has always been my way that I must never allow an opponent to shoot. And I was sure Forlan would not dribble past me as I got in to close him but he took the shot as I was going in on him.”

It was a match which also saw Khune being red-carded after being adjudged to have fouled Luis Suarez inside the penalty box, earning Uruguay a penalty which was converted by Forlan to complete his double.

But it was the first goal which remains a topical issue and then Bafana assistant coach Pitso Mosimane feels Forlan could have been prevented from taking his shot had he been closed in earlier.

“It was a game of moments, hey. I think we could have closed Forlan a little earlier,” said Mosimane.

“We were too late to get to him and that allowed him to take the shot. But what most people did not realise is that the ball deflected off Mbazo’s [Mokoena] back, hence it went slightly higher. Otherwise, Itu could have saved it.”

The defeat jeopardised Bafana’s chances of reaching the next round after they had drawn 1-1 with Mexico in the opening game of the tournament.

A 2-1 victory over France in their final group game was not enough for South Africa as they went on to become the first World Cup hosts to be eliminated in the group stages.

Uchenna Kanu penned an emotional farewell message to Sevilla on Tuesday morning after completing her move from the Spanish outfit to Swedish side Linkopings on Monday.

Kanu joined Sevilla from the United States in January, featuring in six matches in all competitions and inspired Cristian Toro's side to the Women's Cup semi-final before the coronavirus outbreak.

The premature end of the 2019-20 season in Spain due to the Covid-19 pandemic brought an end to her five-month spell with the Spanish Primera Iberdrola outfit.

The 22-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Swedish Damallsvenskan club before the window shut last Saturday and she has described her time at Sevilla as a 'short but great experience'.

"I just wanted to say a big thank you to Sevilla for everything," she wrote on her official Twitter page. 

Kanu had represented Nigeria at the age-grade competitions, finished as the top scorer with 10 goals as the West Africans won their maiden Wafu Women's Cup last year in Cote d'Ivoire.

The Nigeria international made her debut at the senior Women's World Cup in France, where she featured in four matches as Nigeria reached the Round of 16 for the first time since 1999.

Before her move to Spain, the winger shot into prominence during her scholarship studies in the USA, where she emerged as the all-time top-scorer with 157 goals and 366 points.

Her excellent showing last year with the country and college saw her nominated for the African Women's Footballer of the Year 2019 award.

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.”

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."

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."

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.”

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. 

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.

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."

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."

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.

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

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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.

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.

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.”

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.