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      Huge Arsenal injury blow ahead of Liverpool FA Cup clash as star struck down with old issue and big doubt for game

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      GABRIEL JESUS is a major doubt for Arsenal’s FA Cup clash with Liverpool this afternoon due to a knee injury.According to the Daily Mail, the severity of the issue is unclear but there is hope that it will not be a long-term problem.
      Gabriel Jesus is a doubt for Arsenal’s match against LiverpoolCredit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta’s side face Liverpool in the FA Cup third round today.
      The Gunners approach the match following successive defeats to West Ham and Fulham respectively.
      Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira all remain absent due to injury, while Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been selected for international duty.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko is also a doubt due to a calf problem.
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      Arteta did not mention Jesus’ injury during his pre-match press conference on Friday, meaning the issue could have come to light during Saturday’s training session.
      The striker has a history of knee concerns, with some proving to be long-term problems.
      He was sidelined for three months last season after suffering a knee injury during the World Cup.
      Jesus also missed the start of this season due to a similar issue.
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      Should the Brazilian miss today’s game, Eddie Nketiah will likely start as Arsenal’s No9.
      Arteta admitted on Friday that he is hoping for another special FA Cup run.
      He said: “It’s a great competition, as I said before, especially for the club. We have won it more times than anyone so we expect a great game and a good run.” More

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      I’m a former West Ham coach who helped discover Declan Rice.. it was obvious he was destined for big things

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      WEST HAM will always be heavily indebted to Liam Manning because of his leading role in Declan Rice’s development.As Hammers’ Under-23 head coach, Manning helped to keep a teenage Rice on track when he struggled to make the grade after leaving school.
      Declan Rice showed promise as a youngster at West HamCredit: Rex
      Liam Manning will bring his Bristol City team to East LondonCredit: Getty
      He also rallied the future England star when Manuel Pellegrini suddenly axed Rice from West Ham’s first team.
      Bristol City boss Manning takes the Championship side to West Ham today, relieved Rice is longer pulling the midfield strings after his British record £105million summer move to Arsenal.
      But the 38-year-old is fully aware of the legacy Rice left at their former club.
      He said: “Dec was an Under-17 when I joined in 2015, going from schoolboy to a scholar.
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      “He was the only one in his group that hadn’t been given a pro contract.
      “His reaction summed him up — he kept his head down and grafted harder than ever. He was captain of the youth team and the best player every week.”
      Manning saw Rice flourish as a centre-back and central midfielder who forced his way into the first team.
      He made his Premier League debut at Burnley in May 2017, a few days after leading West Ham’s youngsters to victory over Newcastle in a Premier League 2 promotion play-off final at St James’ Park.
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      But he came crashing down to earth following a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on opening day of the 2018-19 season.
      Pellegrini subbed him at half-time, axed him from the first-team squad and told him to train with Manning.
      That is when Manning knew Rice was destined for great things.
      He recalled: “Dec was the first one out, brought the balls out and was the best player in training. He collected the equipment at the end and went to do a player appearance when he could have been annoyed at not being selected.
      “It summed up how much he loves football and was developing into a top professional.
      “What struck me was his reading of the game and how cleanly he did the simple things.
      “It wasn’t always about ‘Wow!’ moments but constantly making the right decisions and executing them to the highest level.”
      Even without Rice, Manning is aware of the threat City face at the London Stadium.
      Manning added: “The fact they will be formidable opponents is largely down to David Moyes, who I briefly crossed paths with in my days at West Ham.
      “You have to admire and respect what he’s achieved and the longevity of his career.”
      While Rice’s attention will be focused on Arsenal’s tie with Liverpool today, Manning insists he still epitomises everything that is good about West Ham’s ‘academy of football’.
      He added: “Dec is a player West Ham should be really proud of.
      “There was a very strong relationship between him and the fans, which is why Dec possibly stayed longer than other players might have.
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      “I don’t like talking too often about people I’ve worked with. Players make players and I think us coaches support, facilitate and nudge them.
      “Ultimately, the person that deserves all the credit for Dec’s career is him — not any coach he has worked with.” 
      Rice, 24, could be in action for Arsenal against Liverpool todayCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea handed huge injury blow as Pochettino confirms Nkunku has ‘problem in his hip’ after missing Preston FA Cup win

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      CHELSEA have been dealt another injury blow with Christopher Nkunku struggling with a hip problem.The French forward, 26, sat out of the 4-0 FA Cup win over Preston at Stamford Bridge.
      Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Christopher Nkunku has a hip injuryCredit: Reuters

      Armando Broja, Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling and Enzo Fernandez all struck in the second half to see off the Championship opponents.
      Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round for the 25th time in 26 seasons as they eye a ninth crown this season.
      But when manager Mauricio Pochettino was asked about Nkunku’s surprise absence, he confirmed that Nkunku is struggling with another knock.
      Poch said: “He wasn’t involved because he suffered after training a problem in his hip.
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      “We need to see if he can be ready for the next few games.”
      Chelsea face Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday before a West London derby with Fulham next Saturday.
      They then face Boro at home on January 23, will play their FA Cup fourth-round tie the following weekend and then travel to take on Liverpool on January 31.
      And now the manager will be sweating to have the attacker back available.
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      Pochettino is also without a further 11 first-team stars at the moment including long-term absentees Wesley Fofana and Reece James – plus striker Nicolas Jackson who is at Afcon.
      Nkunku has endured a hugely frustrating debut season at Chelsea.
      Having joined from RB Leipzig for £52million in the summer, he suffered an agonising knee injury in pre-season that required surgery and sidelined him until December.
      That postponed his debut until the Carabao Cup victory against Newcastle, where he came off the bench for the final 21 minutes.
      He then appeared in three Premier League games over the festive period, scoring on his first outing in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Christmas Eve.
      But now he is back on the treatment table in another bitter setback to his Blues career.
      Nkunku was brought in to add extra firepower to Chelsea’s attack and a reliable goal threat, having smashed in 58 goals in his last two campaigns at Leipzig.
      The ten-cap France international, though, was a big miss in the first half of the season with Jackson and Cole Palmer the top scorers on eight goals each.
      The forward has only just recovered from a knee injuryCredit: Getty
      He scored on his Premier League debut against WolvesCredit: Reuters More

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      Roberto Firmino’s dream return to Premier League hits buffers due to monstrous wages ex-Liverpool striker expects

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      ROBERTO FIRMINO’S personal terms are making it hard for him to come back to the Prem.The ex-Liverpool forward, 32, could cut short his stay at Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli but his camp are after a stunning package.
      Roberto Firmino’s wage demands are preventing him from returning to the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      Former Brazil ace Firmino has had interest although no English clubs are willing to pay the £300,000-a-week it would take to get him.
      He signed a three-year deal with Al-Ahli in the summer but could now quit just six months into his contract.
      Firmino has managed just three goals and three assists in 19 appearances so far this season.
      The forward has also not started a league match since October, coinciding with his side’s eight-match unbeaten run.
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      His spell out of the starting line-up has seen Firmino lose the captain’s armband, having started the campaign as skipper.
      A number of Premier League clubs have since been linked with a move for the former Red.
      Fulham were reportedly “offered the chance” to sign Firmino this week to bolster their attacking options.
      Meanwhile, Sheffield United were interested before sacking Paul Heckingbottom in December.
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      It is unknown if new boss Chris Wilder remains keen to bring the ex-Brazil international in following his return to Bramall Lane.
      Firmino scored 111 goals and provided 79 assists in 362 appearances across his eight-year spell at Anfield.
      Of those goals, 82 came in the Premier League, making him the highest scoring Brazilian in the league’s history.
      Firmino’s 82 Premier League goals for Liverpool are more than any other BrazilianCredit: AFP More

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      Leicester outcast Danny Ward thrown Premier League transfer lifeline in boost to Wales goalkeeper’s Euro 2024 chances

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      SHEFFIELD UNITED want to throw keeper Danny Ward a Premier League lifeline — and boost his Euro 2024 chances.The Blades have asked Leicester about their out-of-favour Wales No 1 and boss Chris Wilder is keen on a loan for the rest of the season — with a possible buy in summer.
      Ward is keen on the move to boost his chances of winning Wales’ no1 shirtCredit: Alamy
      Ward, 30, would leap at the chance to get back into the top flight and also get him ready for the Euro finals if the Welsh make it through the play-offs in March.
      The former Liverpool keeper cost £12.5million in 2018 yet is only third choice and Foxes would sell him, ideally.
      But a loan may suit them and pledging a full-time transfer would get the deal done.
      Ward joining on a temporary deal would also mean one of the Blades’ domestic loan players must go.
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      Prem clubs can only have two domestic loan players at any one time and they currently have Leicester left-back Luke Thomas and attacker James McAtee from Manchester City.
      Thomas is the most likely to be let go.
      Blades also looked at experienced Kasper Schmeichel, who is now with Anderlecht in Belgium, but the 37-year-old Dane may be too dear.
      If United cannot do a deal for Ward, Cardiff would step in with a rival loan offer.
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      Elsewhere, Derby  are watching Blades midfielder Ollie Arblaster, 19, who is back from a loan at Port Vale.
      Arblaster may be out for a month with a gashed knee suffered in the Carabao Cup against Middlesbrough last month.
      So the Rams will have to leave it late to check on his recovery. More

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      Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou snaps ‘don’t question my integrity’ and brutally responds to Eric Dier transfer question

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      TOTTENHAM manager Ange Postecoglou was in no mood to be questioned about Eric Dier’s absence from the Spurs squad yesterday.The defender wasn’t named on the Spurs bench for their 1-0 FA Cup third round victory over Burnley amid rumours that he has agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich.
      Postecoglou did not respond kindly to being asked about Eric DierCredit: Reuters
      But Postecoglou insisted that Dier’s absence was because of injury and not due to a transfer and gave short shrift to any reporter that suggested otherwise.
      The Aussie was asked if Eric Dier was injured in a post-match press conference and replied: “Yeah he’s injured.”
      When asked about the nature of the injury he said: “He just pulled up sore in training yesterday.”
      Postecoglou was then asked if there was any truth in Dier’s link with joining Bayern Munich to which he replied: “Separate issue mate but don’t question my integrity. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured.
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      “Didn’t train yesterday. Ask him. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured. Got nothing to do with anything else.”
      The reporter then dared to ask again whether there was any truth in the links with Bayern to which he said: “I got no idea. I’ve got no interest.
      “But when you ask me whether he’s injured… He’s injured, like I did not make that up. If he wasn’t injured I’d say he’s not selected, it’s easy for me to say.
      “Now in terms of anything else that’s happening? Not on my radar, not that I’ve heard of and if there is something I’m sure I’ll hear of it.”
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      Dier has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Bayern, with Spurs standing to receive around £4million for the defender.
      It is now up to Bayern to decide whether they will pursue Dier or other defenders.
      Ange was then asked if he can afford to let Dier go given Ben Davies picked up an injury in the game against Burnley.
      He simply replied: “Yes.”
      Spurs are still negotiating with Genoa over the signing of centre-back Radu Dragusin, who would replace Dier in the squad.
      And they are in advanced talks to sign Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, with the former Chelsea striker expected to finalise a deal to join the club tomorrow. More

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      Ivan Toney bags stunning hat-trick in Brentford clash just days before Premier League return as fans say ‘king is back’

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      IVAN TONEY bagged a hat-trick for Brentford B as they ran out 5-1 winners in a training ground friendly over Southampton Under-23s earlier today.The striker, 27, is nearing a return from his eight-month betting ban.
      Ivan Toney was in action for Brentford BCredit: Brentford FC
      The England international is nearing a return to first team actionCredit: Brentford FC
      The striker took on Southampton’s Under-23sCredit: Brentford FC
      Toney marked his return by bagging a hat-trickCredit: Brentford FC
      Toney’s ban is set to end on January 16, meaning that he will be eligible for the Bees’ next Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on January 20.
      The forward has been back in training since September and has now taken part in an 11-aside match.
      He took just four minutes to mark his return with a goal, converting Kyreece Lisbie’s near-post cross.
      Saints levelled shortly after, but Toney restored the Bees’ lead by heading home Ethan Brierley’s free-kick.
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      The England international completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes when he turned home another Brierley cross.
      Toney then showed off his creative prowess, teeing up Iwan Morgan as the Bees made it 4-1.
      Last season’s Brentford top scorer was withdrawn 15 minutes from time, being replaced by Ashley Hay, who also got on the scoresheet to make it five.
      Romeo Beckham was also used from the bench, nearly grabbing an assist late on.
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      SunSport revealed last month that Brentford are “desperate” to hold on to talisman Toney.
      And Bees boss Thomas Frank recently warned Arsenal off £100million-rated Toney.
      He said: “As far as I know Ivan is a Brentford player. I want to keep him and I’m looking forward to him playing with us.”
      Quizzed on whether he is desperate to keep hold of his star striker, Frank added: “I really would like to. I’m a head coach.
      “Desperate is a big word. I want to have my best players with me at all times. From my perspective, I don’t want to sell him.
      “That’s because I think he’s fantastic. I’m enjoying him every day.
      “Having him back will be like signing an unbelievably good Premier League striker. He’s looking forward to finally contributing to the team.
      “I see the same determination and willpower from him to want to train well and be ready to play.
      Read more on The Sun
      “Maybe a tiny bit more in terms of a comeback and wanting to be at his best.”
      Toney is contracted to Brentford until the end of next season and has also attracted interest from Tottenham and Chelsea.
      Thomas Frank is eager to keep star striker ToneyCredit: PA More

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      Jordan Henderson ‘wants shock Premier League return’ just six months after Saudi transfer… and it’ll cost him millions

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      JORDAN HENDERSON wants to return to the Premier League just six months after his move to Saudi Arabia.However, an early exit from Al-Ettifaq would cost the former Liverpool captain millions.
      Jordan Henderson wants a shock return to the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
      The Daily Mail report Henderson, 33, is eager to complete a shock switch back to England.
      SunSport revealed in October that some players wanted to come home after regretting their transfers.
      Ex-Reds skipper Henderson is now believed to be amongst those players after struggling to settle since his £12million move.
      A return from Saudi Arabia would come at a cost for Henderson, though, as he faces losing millions of pounds in tax and lost wages.
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      His reported £700,000-per-week wages are only tax free if he honours the first two years of his contract, the report adds.
      Saudi Arabia’s 20 per cent income tax rate would therefore leave Henderson with a tax bill of around £7million if he returned home.
      A comeback would boost his chances of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024, though.
      He has been included in all three squads since his move, but was booed during the October friendly against Australia.
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      Henderson has yet to score in 19 appearances for Al-Ettifaq this season, instead providing five assists.
      The Saudi Pro League side are currently on a woeful run of form, winning just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions.
      Manager Steven Gerrard is under mounting pressure as a result, with his side currently eighth in the table.
      Meanwhile, his assistant Ian Foster resigned this week to take the vacant Plymouth job.
      Henderson joined Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the summerCredit: Reuters More