Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Raphael Varane will reportedly face a late fitness test ahead of the trip to Liverpool. The Red Devils visit Anfield this afternoon hoping to strengthen their position in the top four.
Raphael Varane faces a fitness test before the Liverpool clashCredit: Getty
However, United have not won on Liverpool’s turf in any of their last six Premier League visits.
Regardless of form, Erik ten Hag will likely feel the best chance to collect three points will be to have Varane available.
But according to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old has been complaining about leg pain in recent days.
The report suggests Varane will be tested after breakfast, following which a decision will be made on his participation.
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Should he fall short, one of Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof are expected to partner Lisandro Martinez.
Both were in action midweek as United produced a late comeback against West Ham in the FA Cup.
Martinez has partnered both Lindelof and Maguire at times this season, with Lindelof being his most recent partner in the 3-0 win over Leicester.
Varane’s issues come after retiring from France duty last month.
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In a statement, he complained about the overload of fixtures.
He said: “The very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.
“We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop.
“Right now, I feel like I’m suffocating and that [Varane] the player is gobbling up [Varane] the man.” More

A FORMER Premier League winger has revealed how he turned to a much more serious career after giving up the game.Stuart Ripley, 47, made over 500 appearances for English clubs across in his stellar, 16-year career but is now in a very different line of work.
Stuart Ripley made his name at Middlesbrough before winning the league with BlackburnCredit: Getty
Now though, he is a qualified solicitor and aspiring lecturerCredit: Richard Saker/The Guardian
Ex-Middlesbrough and Blackburn man Ripley, who even made two England appearances between 1993 and 1997, told The Guardian that he only had one thing on his mind after hanging up his boots.
He said: “The only thing I knew I wanted to do when I retired was to go to university.
“I got nine O-levels and then joined Middlesbrough at 16, so that option was taken away.
“I won the Premier League and represented my country, but when I retired at 34, I felt I’d missed out by not going to university.”
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Middlesbrough-born Ripley enrolled at the University of Central Lancashire after working for a time as a sports physio in Castleford, Yorkshire.
He explained that he had wanted to study foreign languages but couldn’t “just up and leave” for the required year abroad as his children were school age at the time.
Instead, he took a combined course in French, criminology and law, graduating with a First in 2007.
The switch led to his current role as a solicitor and prospective law lecturer.
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The former league winner recalled: “I went to some law lectures and thoroughly enjoyed them. At that stage, I never had any intention to become a solicitor.
“After my degree, I did the postgraduate certificate for a year and then got a training contract with Brabners, a firm in Manchester.
“Once I qualified, I ended up working in the sports law department. I probably learned more about the business of football in the first six months than I did playing. 
“You’re very cosseted from that world as a player, at least until your contract’s up and you need to start negotiating.”
Ripley left Brabners in 2013, but came away feeling that players need to be more informed about contracts, agents and social media.
He added that he is keen on the idea of “recognising the responsibility that comes with being a role model” and is keen to spread the message to young player.
On the struggles of building a fulfilling life after football, he said: “Football’s not real life, and if you do move away from it, you get a different perspective and a different grasp on things. 
“The rhythm of your life changes completely. When you’re playing, you’ve got two potentially very big highs within a week – you play on a Tuesday or Wednesday and then at the weekend.
“That’s a huge adrenaline rush. When you retire, that’s very difficult to replace. You’ve got to find another goal in life.” More

YOU’LL do well to recognise this former Premier League star.A promising player, the midfielder represented the England Under-21s three times in the 1990s.
This man played Premier League football and even turned out for England’s Under-21s in the 1990s – but can you tell who it is?Credit: Twitter
Kicking off his career at Middlesbrough, he made 155 appearances before turning out for five clubs in five years as something of a journeyman.
With a stubbled goatee and slightly greyer hair, it’s tough to spot the former pro within.
And his career choices since retiring certainly don’t help either.
Incredibly, the ex-top-flight footballer has held – or currently holds – 21 director roles in the world of business since hanging up his boots.
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Soon after quitting the sport he took over as director of his family’s now-dissolved glass-making business.
Since then, he’s gone into the world of grass, property, construction and windows, among others – as well as opening a £1.5m football academy helping to find the next great footballer in the North East.
On the pitch, he played for Osasuna, Manchester City, Bolton and Crystal Palace, including a loan spell at Birmingham.
He also featured for England’s Under-19s and Under-21s in the mid-90s.
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Still need a hint? He’s widely regarded as scoring one of the “best” own goals in football history.
The player in question? Jamie Pollock.
The defensive midfielder made 155 league appearances for Boro to start his career, scoring 19 goals.
His spell at the club also saw him turn out for the club in the augural Premier League season in 1992-93.
Pollock briefly joined Spanish side Osasuna in 1996 but was sold to Bolton after just two matches that same year.

He made 52 appearances in two seasons before joining Man City.
And it was there Pollock scored the own goal that’s made every howler compilation for the last 25 years.
Jamie Pollock spent six years at Middlesbrough and played in the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93Credit: Getty
Jamie Pollock scored one of the most-infamous own goals ever while at Man CityCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Signed for City to help them stave off relegation, the Manchester club faced QPR in a drop-zone derby – the penultimate game of the season.
With the match evenly-poised, Pollock intercepted the ball flicked it over the attacker’s head and nodded it back to his goalkeeper.
Except, the header flew miles over the rushing keeper and into the net.
The defeat condemned City to the drop – and their first ever taste of third-tier football.
After the game, QPR fans dubbed him the “most influential man of the last 2,000 years.. including Jesus” as they maintained their second-tier status.
With 60 City games under his belt, Pollock moved on to Palace in 2000 and retired in 2002 following a brief loan spell at Birmingham.
After taking over the family glass business, Pollock did return to football.
He managed Spennymoor United between 2003 and 2005 until they folded, taking over at Spennymoor Town until 2007 – helping them win the Northern League Division 2 title.
Pollock also coached a Polton All-Stars team before taking over as Billington Synthonia boss in 2018-19 – having taken on the role of chairman in April 2018.
He stepped down at the end of the season to focus on his role as chairman, as well as oversee the newly-former academy.
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Pollock quit the role in 2021.
According to the gov.uk company information service, Pollock is now director of Pollock Properties, Top Corner Sports and W&D Development. More

WESLEY FOFANA netted the winner as Chelsea ended a six game winless run against Leeds.And an eventful afternoon for the defender also saw him accidentally wipe out a steward at the side of the Stamford Bridge pitch.

Wesley Fofana wiped out a steward during Chelsea vs Leeds
The defender accidentally slid into the steward
Fofana’s accidental collision left the steward on the deck
The incident came with ten minutes left of the match, which Chelsea won 1-0.
Fofana, 22, found himself in a footrace to the ball with Leeds ace Wilfried Gnonto.
It was the Chelsea man who got there first, and a slight nudge from Gnonto sent him tumbling to the turf.
Fofana then slid along the surface and accidentally took out a steward who was standing at the side of the pitch.
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The £70million summer signing hit the steward in the legs, causing them to lose their footing and crash to the ground.
Fofana had earlier headed the Blues in front from a Ben Chilwell corner.
And that was how it finished, as Graham Potter’s side held on to claim a valuable three points against relegation threatened Leeds.
Fofana’s goal was just the seventh time Chelsea have found the back of the net since November 6.
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But despite the win, the Blues are still tenth in the Premier League table.
Potter and Co are 11 points off Tottenham in fourth, with a crunch Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund coming up on Tuesday.
Chelsea go into the match at Stamford Bridge 1-0 down from the first leg.
Fofana headed in Chelsea’s winner from a Ben Chilwell cornerCredit: Getty
It was Fofana’s first Premier League goal for ChelseaCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA could knock down Stamford Bridge and build a shiny new stadium on the existing site, reports claim.Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali want the Blues to have one of the best arenas in Europe.
Chelsea’s owners have ambitious plans for the club’s stadiumCredit: Reuters
Stamford Bridge has been Chelsea’s home since 1905Credit: Alamy
Co-controlling owner Todd Boehly wants the Blues to have one of the best stadiums in EuropeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
And fresh talks over their stadium project are currently being held, according to the Telegraph.
Although the earliest possible move in date for any potential plan is 2030.
The most likely option is said to be knocking down Stamford Bridge in order to build a brand new stadium on the same site, capable of holding at least 55,000 fans.
Other options include either redeveloping Stamford Bridge or relocating entirely.
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The current ground holds around 40,000 fans, which is less than all of the other ‘Big Six’ clubs can fit into their grounds.
While building a new stadium on the current site is said to be the most realistic option, the Telegraph say a final decision hasn’t been made.
But the report claims Chelsea must budget around £1.5billion for their stadium project.
The Blues are currently in talks with the Chelsea Pitch Owners [CPO] and waiting to see if they have been successful with a £50million bid to buy land next to Stamford Bridge.
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Buying the site, currently owned by housing association Stoll, would provide enough space to build a new stadium on the existing site.
Chair of the CPO Chris Isitt said: “The CPO is having positive talks with the club about redevelopment.
“We understand this is a complicated project which needs careful consideration, but we share the common aim, which is to have the best stadium in London.”
Building a new stadium on the current site is said to be the most popular vote among supporters and the CPO.
Knocking down The Bridge and rebuilding on the same site would reportedly take at least five years to complete.
During that time, the Blues would be forced to find somewhere else to play their home matches.
Wembley and Craven Cottage, home of Fulham, are said to be possible options.
Alternatively, relocating entirely would allow Chelsea to build an enormous new state-of-the-art stadium.
But it is thought to be the least popular option among fans, with owners Boehly and Clearlake Capital making it clear that relocation would only happen with the CPO’s approval.
The second most popular option among fans and the CPO is redeveloping the existing site, as Liverpool are currently doing with Anfield.
But, unlike the Reds, redeveloping Stamford Bridge could reportedly involve closing off parts of the stadium while stands are being rebuilt.
That would cause disruption to supporters on matchdays.
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The Telegraph say it would also take longer and could even be more expensive than building a new stadium on the current site, so remains unlikely.
Stamford Bridge has been Chelsea’s home since 1905 and building a new stadium on the current site, as former owner Roman Abramovich previously planned to do, is said to be the most likely option. More