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JURGEN KLOPP has backed Steven Gerrard to take over as manager of Liverpool – but only after the two have faced off in the Premier League.Gerrard brings his Aston Villa side to Anfield for the first time since he took over as Villa manager a month ago.
Klopp said: “Oh, yeah, Yes, I absolutely I think. The only problem is when is the right moment for that?
“That’s not only about Stevie, but we saw that with Frank Lampard, for example, at Chelsea — a similar story.
“Stevie is doing really well because he is very young. So it’s just when is the right moment to take the job.”
Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Brighton on Sunday is OFF as Spurs Covid crisis grows.
Eight Spurs stars and five staff members have tested positive, leaving boss Antonio Conte with only 11 fit players and a fixture headache.
Thursday night’s Europa Conference League tie at Rennes was postponed 24 hours before kick-off.
And on Thursday Tottenham said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, on Sunday, December 12 at 2pm, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon (Thursday).”
Elsewhere, Eddie Howe is eyeing up Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell as his first signing at Newcastle.
The son of former Everton forward Kevin Campbell, Tyrese has scored twice in nine games for the Potters this season.

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HERO’S WELCOME
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised club legend Steven Gerrard as “one of the best footballers ever” on his Anfield return.
Gerrard is back in action at the Kop for the first time ever since his departure from the Reds in 2015 as Aston Villa boss following a successful three-year stint in charge of Rangers.
Klopp insists the 41-year-old is one of the best players in the game’s history following his legendary 17-year tenure with the Merseysiders.
And the German head coach is pleased to face him as a manager, rather than a player – something he described as “the best news”.
Klopp told beIN Sports: “He’s one of the best footballers ever, we know that.
“But now we face him as a manager. Thanks god he’s not playing, that’s the best news, let me say it like this.”
A NEW HOPE 
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Chelsea star Cesar Azpilicueta, according to reports.
Atletico view the Spaniard as a replacement for Kieran Trippier, according to ESPN.
The England right-back is being targeted by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in a potential £25million deal.
And he has also been a long-term target of Manchester United, who could sell Diogo Dalot to make way for Trippier.
‘CASUALLY SPANKING GREALISH’ 
Football fans were left somewhat bemused after Pep Guardiola slapped Jack Grealish on the bum when taking him off against Wolves.
The £100million man was hooked for Kevin de Bruyne in the 74th minute following a rather indifferent display.
And Guardiola opted to give him a little slap on the backside as he made his way off the pitch and down to the dugout.
Although it was a subtle gesture, it did not escape the eyes of diligent football fans as they reacted to the moment on Twitter.
One utterly confused fan said: ” Why is he slapping Grealish’s bum bum like that?”
While another hilariously added: “Pep Guardiola casually spanking Grealish for not taking his chances as he goes off.”
And a third social media user simply said: “Guardiola smacked Jack Grealish a**.”
STERLING EFFORT 
Manchester City beat a 10-man Wolves this afternoon to stay top of the Prem table.
Wolves star Raul Jimenez was sent off after being booked twice in 31 seconds with a comical handball.
However, Wolves remained resilient until Raheem Sterling notched his 100th goal in the second half to clinch City the win.
His goal in the 66th minute came from calmly taken penalty. The only numerical difference in a game City dominated without getting the goals they deserved.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool take on Aston Villa who will be led by former Red Steven Gerrard today in the Premier League.
But unfortunately, Reds Champions League hero in midweek Divock Origi will miss the clash with a sore knee.
🔴 𝑻𝑬𝑨𝑴 𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺 🔴This is how we line up to face @AVFCOfficial this afternoon at Anfield! Divock Origi misses out with a sore knee.— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 11, 2021

NO GO ANTHO
Sweden boss Janne Andersson has dug out Manchester United for refusing to let Anthony Elanga join up with the national team in January.
The 19-year-old had only featured in the Carabao Cup prior to last weekend as game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer proved hard to come by.
And he followed that up by making his Champions League debut in the 1-1 draw with Young Boys on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Sweden manager Andersson was hoping to include him in a 24-man squad to tour Portugal in January.
But Man Utd have now insisted they will not release Elanga for the trip, something Andersson is not best pleased about.
HEAD IN HANDS
Raul Jimenez was sent off after being booked twice in 31 seconds with a comical handball against Manchester City.
The striker was first booked almost six minutes into added time before the break.
Jimenez brought down City midfielder Rodfri to stop an attack just on the half-way line.
But following the resulting free-kick, the Mexican forward stuck his foot out and the ball ricocheted off his arm.
It amazingly resulted in a second booking and one of the most bizarre sending offs in Premier League history.
ON THE HEAD
Wolves duo Ruben Neves and Max Kilam suffered a nasty clash of heads after the pair collided when jumping for the same ball.
Kilman came off worse following the collision during the first half against Manchester City as he was left with blood pouring down his face.
There was a stop in play for five minutes as Kilman received treatment from Wolves medics.
Neves was also left in pain following the incident, but was only dazed after colliding with his team-mate.
Kilman was eventually bandaged up and was declared fit enough to continue.
HAPPY HOWE
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has expressed his delight with Miguel Almiron.
Howe handed Almiron his first Premier League start since taking over and was impressed with what he saw.
He told Chronicle Live: “This is what you want in my position. If you give someone an opportunity, you want them to take it and you want them to leave positive thoughts in your mind.
“I thought Miggy did that last week. His energy is very infectious and his attitude, you can see from how he plays, what he gives the team. I thought his work rate, from a defensive perspective, was very, very good.
“He also he had really good moments, going forward. He’s a very good runner in behind, physically he is excellent. His stats from the weekend were incredible really. So, he’s gonna be a really, really important for us. He’s someone that I really like.”
FEELING BLUE
Fresh from Champions League disappointment in the week, Chelsea face Leeds aiming to get back to winning ways in domestic affairs today.
Thomas Tuchel’s Blues suffered last-minute heartbreak to draw 3-3 with Zenit following a 3-2 defeat at West Ham to slip down to third in the Premier League in their last league outing.
Tuchel voiced his displeasure at the timing of the Leeds fixture following Wednesday’s trip to St Petersburg.
The Blues boss said: “The problem is the next match on Saturday because we will lose time to sleep, arrive back very early on Thursday, and then we face an intense team in Leeds who have prepared to face this match.”
‘I COULD CRY’
Watford star Emmanuel Dennis gave up supporting Arsenal because it was causing him too much heartache.
The striker, 24, revealed he occasionally cried after Arsenal lost games and explained being a fan was not good for his health.
Now he is focusing on himself and trying to help the Hornets escape relegation, and it seems that has helped his form too.
He told Sky Sports: “I used to be an Arsenal fan. I like Cesc Fabregas.
“But I’m no more an Arsenal fan. I was so much into Arsenal sometimes I could cry when they lose. That wasn’t good for me.
“So I was like, ‘nah, I’m going to stick to myself and don’t care much because it’s not good for my health’. It’s just me and myself right now.”
CITY LINE UP
Man City will take on Wolves in the Prem this afternoon and here’s how they will line up for the midday clash.
Your City starting XI to face Wolves 📋XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Jesus, Sterling, GrealishSUBS | Steffen, Walker, Stones, Ake, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden, Palmer#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/E6i7miB4AD— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 11, 2021

‘WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE’
Brentford fan Christine shared an emotional tribute to her late husband Peter after watching the Bees for the first time in Friday’s 2-1 win over Watford.
Christine called in to talkSPORT to share Peter’s story and her first experience inside a football ground.
Peter was a huge Brentford fan but passed away with Covid in 2020 so did not get to see his beloved club reach the top division.
Christine told fellow Bees fan Natalie Sawyer on talkSPORT: “My name’s Christine and I’m a Brentford fan.
“My husband Peter was a lifetime supporter of the Bees and he died in the first wave of Covid last year before seeing them go up to the Premier League.
“I decided I would try and become a fan and yesterday was my first football match ever.
“I went to see the Bees at the new stadium and I watched them beat Watford 2-1 and it was the most wonderful experience of my whole life.
“I honestly feel my darling Pete was there to help that last penalty go in.”
RON RETURN
Real Madrid are looking to bring Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Bernabeu, according to reports.
Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 games for Real during his nine-year spell at the club.
And according to FootballInsider, Real could look to bring the 36-year-old back to Madrid just three years after he left for Juventus.
The report states that Ralf Rangnick’s arrival at United has potentially opened the door to a winter return to Spain.
There is concerns over whether Ronaldo will suit Rangnick’s high-energy pressing game.
LUC WOULD HAVE IT
Thomas Tuchel is considering a move for Everton full-back Lucas Digne to bolster his injury ravaged team, according to reports.
Ben Chilwell is out until the New Year with a knee injury, leaving Marcos Alonso as his only option at left wing-back.
Alonso himself picked up a slight knock in the 3-2 defeat to West Ham, meaning Saul had to cover on the left-hand side in midweek against Zenit.
And reports suggest Tuchel is eyeing Digne as a possible January option.
Digne has grown frustrated at current club Everton, according to The Athletic, and has fallen out with manager Rafa Benitez.
The 28-year-old was dropped from Everton’s squad for the 2-1 win against Arsenal last Monday, despite being fit to play.
France international Digne is understood to disagree with Benitez’s often defensive tactics, with the pair coming to blows before the Arsenal game.
He was previously linked with Chelsea last year, and now rumours have resurfaced regarding a potential January bid from the Blues.
NEW MOVE 
Newcastle have made contact over a transfer move for Manchester United star Jesse Lingard, according to reports.
The Magpies are said to be “seriously interested” in signing the attacking midfielder.
That’s is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who reports the two parties are yet to reach an agreement.
Instead, Romano suggests the race to sign Lingard is still open with other Premier League clubs linked with a move.
West Ham took the 28-year-old on loan last January and were rumoured to be interested in securing a permanent deal last summer.
The Hammers failed to agree a deal with United and were put off by his £25million price tag.
But Lingard’s contract expires at the end of the season so the Red Devils will likely reduce their asking price.
ON THE TABLE 
Paul Pogba does have a contract offer from Manchester United on the table, according to his agent Mino Raiola.
It had previously been reported that Manchester United were resigned to letting him leave when his current deal runs out in the summer.
But the Frenchman’s outspoken agent Raiola has told Sport1 that Pogba has ‘many offers’ on the table, including a contract extension from Manchester United.
He reportedly rejected a mammoth new offer from the Red Devils in the summer.
One club that Raiola has ruled out for definite is German giants Bayern Munich.
LUK WHO’S BACK
Romelu Lukaku will play in the Serie A again at some point in his career, his agent Federico Pastorello has confirmed.
The Belgian sealed a sensational big-money transfer back to Chelsea in the summer after winning the Italian title with Inter Milan.
And it appears the forward would be interested in a return to Italy in the future, but for now ‘it’s time for Chelsea to enjoy Romelu’.
Agent Pastorello confirmed to Tuttosport: “One day we will see Lukaku back in Serie A, because he loves Italy. But now it’s time for Chelsea to enjoy Romelu.”
Lukaku has always spoke highly of the Serie A, saying it ‘improved’ him as a player.
BREAKING
Tottenham’s game against Rennes, which was postponed due to a Covid outbreak among the Spurs squad, will NOT be rescheduled.
It is a stunning development which leaves the integrity of the Europa Conference League under question.
Uefa claim they cannot find any amicable middle ground between the two clubs and they need to find another solution.
It has now been referred to Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body.
NEV ON MARTIAL
Gary Neville thinks Manchester United should cash in on £50million Anthony Martial, with Newcastle and a host of European clubs interested in the forward.
Neville said: “I think if they can get good money for him.
“I think that now the time has come. I think Manchester United have always been wary of getting burned, of him leaving for £25m and then going on to become a £100m player because he is a special talent.
“I just don’t think he’ll ever work at Old Trafford to the extent they’ve got Rashford, Greenwood, Ronaldo, Cavani, other players as well.
“I just think now is the time for him to leave and go and play regular football so I think it’s the right time.”
JURGEN BACKS STEVIE
Asked if he sees Stevie G coming back for good as a Kop boss in the future, Klopp, 54, declared: “Oh, yeah, Yes, I absolutely I think.
“The only problem is when is the right moment for that?
“That’s not only about Stevie, but we saw that with Frank Lampard, for example, at Chelsea — a similar story.
“Stevie is doing really well because he is very young. So it’s just when is the right moment to take the job.
“Not that he is not able to do it, but how long you want to do it?
“So, is this the last job you do, is it the second job you do, the third job you do, whatever.
“They are questions I cannot answer and I do not think I would be involved in him coming back here as a manager.”
CANARY COVID SCARE
Norwich have become the latest Premier League hit by a Covid scare.
Canaries boss Dean Smith revealed he faced a nervous wait on PCR test results after a couple of players felt ‘unwell’.
Relegation-threatened Norwich now face being under-strength when they face Manchester United on Saturday evening.
Tottenham and Leicester have suffered from outbreaks this week, with the former having matches against Rennes and Brighton postponed, Spurs beat Norwich 3-0 last weekend.
But Smith doesn’t think any potential positive tests within his squad have anything to do with their trip to North London.
He said: “We have got a couple of knocks and have got a couple of Covid-related issues that we are waiting on results for this morning.
“I can’t really let you in on any names, but there’s a couple of players whom we are worried about, so we have tested and we will wait for the PCR results back on them.”
G FORCE
Steven Gerrard has vowed to celebrate if Aston Villa score on his Liverpool return, writes GRAHAM HILL.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp has backed the Reds legend to one day follow him as manager at Anfield. But today the two go head-to-head in the Prem.
And Villa manager Gerrard admitted: “Let’s try and win the game and score goals. Then you’ll see a really authentic reaction.
“If I’m on the bus heading back down the M6 towards Birmingham and I’m not the most popular at Anfield, so be it.
“First and foremost we have to put ourselves in that position of trying to score goals.
“Then, I’ll be as normal, as human as I’ve always been.”
Gerrard, 41, makes his first return to Anfield as a manager today for his fifth game since taking over from sacked Dean Smith at Villa Park.
Credit: Getty
RAIOLA RILES PEP TOO
City boss Pep Guardiola will prioritise a new forward at the end of this season after missing out on Tottenham’s England captain Harry Kane last summer, writes MARTIN BLACKBURN.
United are also keen after being told Anthony Martial wants out of Old Trafford in the new year. Haaland — who has a £68million release clause — has scored 22 goals for club and country in just 16 appearances this season.
Both Bayern and Barca appear unlikely to be able to pay the transfer and the sizeable wages which Haaland, 21, would command.
So that leaves City and Real at the front of the queue when he is up for grabs in June, 2022.
Yet Guardiola would not be drawn on Raiola’s comments having made his feelings clear about the agent in the past.
He said: “Move on, next question. Don’t ask me about that because I’m not going to answer.”
U AIN’T BIG ENOUGH
Erling Haaland’s agent told Manchester United: You’re not big enough for my star.
Mino Raiola yesterday dropped a big hint the striker could quit Borussia Dortmund this summer.
But in a massive snub to United, Raiola claimed there were only four “big clubs” he could join — and Ralf Rangnick’s team was NOT on that list.
Raiola said: “There is a great chance Erling will leave this summer. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City these are the big clubs he can go to.”
And in another dig at the Red Devils, he added: “City have won the championship five times in recent years, significantly more than United.
“When we moved to Dortmund, we all knew that this step would come.”

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TOTTENHAM’S Premier League clash at Brighton on Sunday is OFF as Spurs Covid crisis grows.Eight Spurs stars and five staff members have tested positive, leaving boss Antonio Conte with only 11 fit players and a fixture headache.
Thursday night’s Europa Conference League tie at Rennes was postponed 24 hours before kick-off.
And on Thursday Tottenham said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, on Sunday, December 12 at 2pm, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon (Thursday).”
Elsewhere, Eddie Howe is eyeing up Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell as his first signing at Newcastle.
The son of former Everton forward Kevin Campbell, Tyrese has scored twice in nine games for the Potters this season.

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PSG SALE
Paris Saint-Germain could be set to sale a whopping seven players in the January transfer window.
According to L’Equipe, PSG are keen to offload Mauro Icardi, Rafinha, Eric Dina Ebimbe, Colin Dagba, Layvin Kurzawa, Abdou Diallo and Sergio Rico.
Kurzawa has been previously linked with Arsenal and reports suggest Crystal Palace are keeping tabs.
Icardi has also been targeted by Premier League clubs in the past
GINI OUT
Arsenal have been linked with former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum, who is “not completely happy” at Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Sky Sports, Wijnaldum would be interested in a loan move back to the Premier League after struggling for minutes at PSG.
And Arsenal need midfield reinforcements, especially as Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny head to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
Wijnaldum said two months ago: “I can’t say I’m completely happy because the situation is not what I wanted.
“But that’s football and I’ll have to learn to deal with that. I’m a fighter.
“I have to stay positive and work hard to turn it around.
“I was really looking forward to the new step and then this happens. It is very difficult”
GERRARD ON SALAH
Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is set for an emotional return to Anfield on Saturday to face his beloved Liverpool.
Gerrard spent 17 years with the Reds and won nine major titles, including the 2005 Champions League.
The Villa boss has been watching the MEerseysiders and has immense praise for Mohamed Salah.
Gerrard said: “Mohamed Salah is 100 per cent the best player in the world now”
AZPI UPDATE
Chelsea are concerned that captain Cesar Azpilicueta could leave as a free agent this summer.
That is according to ESPN, who report that players and staff fear Azpilicueta won’t sign a new deal with the Blues.
The full-back’s contract expires this summer and the club is trying to convince him to stay.
However, the Spain international is being “watched” by Barcelona in the meantime
GETTY IMAGES
PERFECT TEN
Manchester City and Manchester United look set for a bidding war over Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
That is according to the Telegraph, who claim Ten Hag’s has attracted the attention of City after manager Pep Guardiola announced last summer that he intends to leave the club in 2023 when his contract expires.
Guardiola claimed he wants to take a break from club football and try his luck in the international scene at the end of next season.
But rivals United are also keeping tabs on the former Utrecht manager shortly after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Rangnick has replaced Solskjaer as interim boss and will then take on a role as a consultant for the next two years.
Some claim this temporary arrangement was made in order to try and lure Ten Hag in May.
ELNENY REMINDER
Arsenal ace Mohamed Eleny is being targeted by Newcastle ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to the Mirror, who report Magpies boss Eddie Howe is targeting Elneny in his bid to save the mega rich club from the drop.
The midfielder’s contract runs out in June, but the Toon want to land him six months earlier for a low fee.
The Egypt international is one of five players Howe is understood to have included on his wishlist
MAR-CHING ORDER
Anthony Martial’s agent has confirmed his client wishes to depart from Manchester United in January.
Martial is not pleased with the amount of minutes he has had this season and wishes to consider other clubs’ offers.
The forward’s representative Philippe Lamboley told Sky Sports News: “Anthony wishes to leave the club in January.
“He just needs to play. He doesn’t want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon”
HAALAND CLAUSE
Erling Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola confirmed no decision will be made regarding his client’s future in the winter and remained coy about his reported £64million bargain release clause.
Haaland has been previously linked with a move to Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Raiola told SPORT 1″We will tell BVB [Borussia Dortmund] what our idea is and BVB will tell us their ideas. But no decision will be made in the winter.
“He is someone who wants to develop, who is looking for new challenges. And of course it’s also a question of the alternative. You only change if you have a better alternative.”
“Whatever is in a contract is in a contract. That remains between me and the player.
“There are only two parties who are allowed to say something to the outside world – the club and the player. I never talk about details. We and Dortmund know exactly what has to happen. We have structured it very clearly.
“Contract or not, we always have very open communication with [Hans-Joachim] Watzke, [Michael] Zorc and now [Sebastian] Kehl. We deal with each other honestly. That is much more important than anything written on paper.
“Paper is only there if something goes wrong, then you need that. But not otherwise”
GETTY IMAGES
“BIG CHANCE”
Erling Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola has revealed there is a “big chance” his client will leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Raiola admitted that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester City and even cash-strapped Barcelona are the clubs Haaland could join.
Manchester United have also been previously linked with the star striker but his representative hinted that he favours City because they won the title “much more” times than the Red Devils.
Chelsea have also been monitoring the Norway international, just like Juventus.
The super agent told SPORT1: “Maybe this summer, maybe the summer after. But there is a big chance that Erling will leave this summer. We will see.
“He can and will take the next step. Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City – these are the big clubs he can go to. City have won the championship five times in the last few years, much more than United.
“We all knew when we moved to Dortmund that this step would come”
ARSENAL-SOUTHAMPTON PREVIEW
Arsenal host Southampton in a Premier League clash at the Emirates on Saturday.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta received an injury boost against Everton on Monday when he welcomed Granit Xhaka back.
But Arteta received a fresh blow when Gabriel Martinelli limped off with a hamstring issue.
Martinelli joins Sead Kolasinac (ankle) on the sidelines, while second-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno remains a doubt.
But the Spanish head coach is hopeful of welcoming Emile Smith Rowe back to the team after he missed the game at Goodison Park.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, on the other hand, will be without suspended duo Oriol Romeu and Mohamed Salisu.
But Ibrahima Diallo and Jack Stephens are ready to deputise for the Saints pair.
Stuart Armstrong and Jan Bednarek continue to nurse a calf injury, while goalkeepers Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy are both out of contention.
That means new signing Willy Caballero could make his debut at the age of 40
STERLING BLOW
Arsenal have been dealt with a transfer blow amid their reported interest in Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.
According to El Nacional, Barcelona boss Xavi is willing to make Sterling an ‘undisputed starter’ at Camp Nou, something City manager Pep Guardiola is not offering at the Etihad.
But the cash-strapped Barca don’t have the £60million the Citizens want for the winger.
A January loan move has been touted, although the club can only afford half of his £300k-a-week salary.
The Blaugrana did offer a swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele in the summer, but Guardiola only has eyes for Pedri
CAN LIV WITH THAT 
Leeds ace Kalvin Phillips is ready to snub Manchester United for Liverpool in the summer, reports SunSport’s Jon Boon.
United are desperate to boost their midfield, especially with Paul Pogba’s contract coming up in the summer, and Phillips is a top target.
The Reds are also interested in the England international, who was outstanding at Euro 2020.
However, the 26-year-old’s loyalty towards his current employers has made him wary of a move to the Yorkshire side’s rivals.
SunSport has learned Phillips is unwilling to upset Leeds supporters and harm his status at the club by making a switch to Old Trafford.
He believes they would, instead, be much more accepting of a move to Anfield if he looks to progress his career
GETTY IMAGES
EUR OUT
Rennes are demanding the cancellation of their Europa Conference League match with Tottenham after confirmation of the game’s postponement.
Spurs and the Rennais were scheduled to meet last night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for their final group stage match but the hosts have been stricken by a coronavirus outbreak with a reported 17 cases — eight players and nine members of staff.
According to the Daily Mail, Rennes have told Uefa they will not be accepting the new date and are furious with Tottenham, as they had already travelled to London.
According to Ouest France, the Prem outfit has proposed that the match could be moved to next Wednesday
NEW RESTRICTIONS
Premier league clubs are involved in another ruck with top-flight chiefs over who refunds fans who miss matches because of the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the introduction of the Government’s Plan B against the Omicron variant in Downing Street.
That will see “vaccine passports” introduced for entry to all sporting events with crowds of more than 10,000, starting from Wednesday.
Initially, fans will have to show they are double vaccinated or proof of a negative test within 24 hours of a game to be allowed in.
It is not clear if that means every supporter being checked or a continuation of spot tests, with the Government weighing up whether it should delegate decisions to local Safety Advisory Groups to make a final call.
But a number of Premier League clubs fear that fans may want rebates on their match or season tickets if they feel the restrictions are too onerous.
And the teams are urging Prem chiefs to stump up the money rather than seeing their funds take another Covid hit.
GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS
Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Brighton on Sunday is off as their Covid crisis mounts.
Eight Spurs players and five staff members have tested positive, leaving boss Antonio Conte with only 11 fit stars.
Thursday night’s Europa Conference League tie at Rennes was also postponed 24 hours before kick-off.
The French side are now demanding the game be cancelled entirely, and are furious with Tottenham as they had already travelled to London.
The Ligue 1 side claim the North Londoners refused to reveal the number of players affected by Covid-19 when competition rules dictate a game must be played if the team has at least 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
And there are some serious questions being raised about when the match can actually take place, given Uefa’s rule stating all group fixtures must be completed by December 31.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will reportedly place a number of players on the transfer list ahead of the January window.
According to Gerard Romero, Frenkie de Jong, Sergino Dest and Marc Andre Ter-Stegen are set to be replaced next year as Xavi looks to overhaul the squad.
The decision comes after Barcelona crashed out their Champions League group.
And Premier League clubs are set to be on red alert for any bargains available this winter.
Finally, Newcastle have been told to look elsewhere for a director of football after Arsenal legend Marc Overmars signed a contract extension at Ajax.
The Dutch icon has put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at the Johan Cruyff Arena until June 2026.
Overmars said: “I still feel very excited by my work and get a lot of satisfaction out of it.
“I have a feeling that my work at Ajax is not done yet, so I would like to continue here.”
TIMO TIME
Timo Werner revealed he has never struggled so much to get back on track after a knock.
He said: “After my injury, it was difficult to come back after one month. I never had something like that before.
“It was important to come back in shape and the two goals helped me get back to a level to what I had before the injury.
“But in the end, you play as a team and when you don’t win you are disappointed.”

KAL THE DOCTOR
Kalvin Phillips is being lined-up for surgery on the shoulder injury which almost wrecked his Euro 2020 dream.
The England star, who is wanted by both Manchester United and Liverpool, is out until February with a serious hamstring problem.
And Leeds are looking for ways to fit in a separate operation during his two-month spell on the sidelines.
Phillips suffered a nasty dislocation against West Brom in the final game of last season which he initially feared would rule him out of last summer’s European Championship.
The 28-year-old postponed surgery to play a major role in England’s march to the final and Leeds now are considering whether to use this lay-off for their key midfielder to go under the knife.
EXCLUSIVE BY DAN CUTTS
Man Utd have been handed a boost with Raphael Varane set to return to full training on Friday.
The 28-year-old defender has been struggling since late October after picking up a groin injury while away with France.
He has been recovering in the gym before returning to the training pitch within the last ten days.
And SunSport understands Varane has now been given the all-clear to join in with full contact first-team action.
The ex-Real Madrid man could even be back on the bench when United travel to Norwich on Saturday night.
But it is more likely he will return against Brentford next Tuesday, with more fitness under his belt.
ROSE ABOVE
Danny Rose has been told he is not fit enough by Watford boss Claudio Ranieri.
The Hornets boss declared: “I am very confident with him but he has to improve more.
“I remember Danny when he played at Tottenham and the England national team and I need this Danny.
“I think it is more fitness than a confidence issue. When he came he was down on fitness and now he has improved a lot but he needs to improve more.
“It is difficult though to say how long that will take.”
DON IN THE DUMPS
Donny van de Beek blames himself for Young Boys’ shock 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
He said: “For me, lost the ball in the middle, maybe I should kick the ball away.
“I didn’t do that. I take responsibility for that. And after that I think it was a little bit difficult. 
“I think we didn’t get enough pressure on them, with the ball as well we lost too many balls and it’s really difficult to command the game.
“I think first 30 minutes was okay.
“We [scored] a good goal from Mason, after that we have a few chances to make it 2-0 or 3-0.
‘We didn’t do that. I think if we’d done that it would have been much easier.”
SLICE OF THE ACTION
Antonio Conte popped out for pizza as Spurs were hit by a Covid crisis.
The Italian manager enjoyed a taste of home as he enjoyed a few slices in London.
Tottenham’s Europa League game against Rennes on Thursday was axed due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
And now their weekend Premier League clash with Brighton has also been postponed as the fixtures begin to pile up.

DRAW UP PLANS
Liverpool and Man City are both in the bag for Monday’s Champions League draw.
Let’s take a look at their potential opponents…

LEICEST WE FORGET
Hundreds of Leicester fans were 20 minutes late for their Europa League clash with Napoli after police led their coaches the WRONG WAY.
Away supporters complained on social media about delays to shuttle buses to the Maradona Stadium.
And up to 600 of them are understood to have been made late to the game after their coaches took a wrong turn.
Fan Sam_Lambert7 wrote on Twitter: “2 hours on a bus to the ground and still over an hour away. Only bonus is it’ll mean I miss us going 2-0 down after 10.”

PARTY’S OVER
Newcastle have been told to look elsewhere for a director of football after Arsenal legend Marc Overmars signed a contract extension at Ajax.
The Dutch icon has put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at the Johan Cruyff Arena until June 2026.
Overmars said: “I still feel very excited by my work and get a lot of satisfaction out of it.
“I have a feeling that my work at Ajax is not done yet, so I would like to continue here.”
NAPOLI 3 LEICESTER 2
Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes have been dumped out of the Europa League after defeat in Italy.
Leicester battle back from two goals down to level the game but couldn’t stop Napoli from eventually winning.
And after Legia Warsaw were beaten 1-0 by Spartak Moscow, the Foxes have dropped into the Conference League.
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TOTTENHAM’S Premier League clash at Brighton on Sunday is OFF as Spurs Covid crisis grows.Eight Spurs stars and five staff members have tested positive, leaving boss Antonio Conte with only 11 fit players and a fixture headache.
Thursday night’s Europa Conference League tie at Rennes was postponed 24 hours before kick-off.
And on Thursday Tottenham said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, on Sunday, December 12 at 2pm, has been postponed following a Premier League Board meeting this afternoon (Thursday).”
Elsewhere, Eddie Howe is eyeing up Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell as his first signing at Newcastle.
The son of former Everton forward Kevin Campbell, Tyrese has scored twice in nine games for the Potters this season.

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Get all the latest football news, updates and transfer gossip below…
TIMO TIME
Timo Werner revealed he has never struggled so much to get back on track after a knock.
He said: “After my injury, it was difficult to come back after one month. I never had something like that before.
“It was important to come back in shape and the two goals helped me get back to a level to what I had before the injury.
“But in the end, you play as a team and when you don’t win you are disappointed.”

KAL THE DOCTOR
Kalvin Phillips is being lined-up for surgery on the shoulder injury which almost wrecked his Euro 2020 dream.
The England star, who is wanted by both Manchester United and Liverpool, is out until February with a serious hamstring problem.
And Leeds are looking for ways to fit in a separate operation during his two-month spell on the sidelines.
Phillips suffered a nasty dislocation against West Brom in the final game of last season which he initially feared would rule him out of last summer’s European Championship.
The 28-year-old postponed surgery to play a major role in England’s march to the final and Leeds now are considering whether to use this lay-off for their key midfielder to go under the knife.
EXCLUSIVE BY DAN CUTTS
Man Utd have been handed a boost with Raphael Varane set to return to full training on Friday.
The 28-year-old defender has been struggling since late October after picking up a groin injury while away with France.
He has been recovering in the gym before returning to the training pitch within the last ten days.
And SunSport understands Varane has now been given the all-clear to join in with full contact first-team action.
The ex-Real Madrid man could even be back on the bench when United travel to Norwich on Saturday night.
But it is more likely he will return against Brentford next Tuesday, with more fitness under his belt.
ROSE ABOVE
Danny Rose has been told he is not fit enough by Watford boss Claudio Ranieri.
The Hornets boss declared: “I am very confident with him but he has to improve more.
“I remember Danny when he played at Tottenham and the England national team and I need this Danny.
“I think it is more fitness than a confidence issue. When he came he was down on fitness and now he has improved a lot but he needs to improve more.
“It is difficult though to say how long that will take.”
DON IN THE DUMPS
Donny van de Beek blames himself for Young Boys’ shock 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
He said: “For me, lost the ball in the middle, maybe I should kick the ball away.
“I didn’t do that. I take responsibility for that. And after that I think it was a little bit difficult. 
“I think we didn’t get enough pressure on them, with the ball as well we lost too many balls and it’s really difficult to command the game.
“I think first 30 minutes was okay.
“We [scored] a good goal from Mason, after that we have a few chances to make it 2-0 or 3-0.
‘We didn’t do that. I think if we’d done that it would have been much easier.”
SLICE OF THE ACTION
Antonio Conte popped out for pizza as Spurs were hit by a Covid crisis.
The Italian manager enjoyed a taste of home as he enjoyed a few slices in London.
Tottenham’s Europa League game against Rennes on Thursday was axed due to a coronavirus outbreak at the club.
And now their weekend Premier League clash with Brighton has also been postponed as the fixtures begin to pile up.

DRAW UP PLANS
Liverpool and Man City are both in the bag for Monday’s Champions League draw.
Let’s take a look at their potential opponents…

LEICEST WE FORGET
Hundreds of Leicester fans were 20 minutes late for their Europa League clash with Napoli after police led their coaches the WRONG WAY.
Away supporters complained on social media about delays to shuttle buses to the Maradona Stadium.
And up to 600 of them are understood to have been made late to the game after their coaches took a wrong turn.
Fan Sam_Lambert7 wrote on Twitter: “2 hours on a bus to the ground and still over an hour away. Only bonus is it’ll mean I miss us going 2-0 down after 10.”

PARTY’S OVER
Newcastle have been told to look elsewhere for a director of football after Arsenal legend Marc Overmars signed a contract extension at Ajax.
The Dutch icon has put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at the Johan Cruyff Arena until June 2026.
Overmars said: “I still feel very excited by my work and get a lot of satisfaction out of it.
“I have a feeling that my work at Ajax is not done yet, so I would like to continue here.”
NAPOLI 3 LEICESTER 2
Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes have been dumped out of the Europa League after defeat in Italy.
Leicester battle back from two goals down to level the game but couldn’t stop Napoli from eventually winning.
And after Legia Warsaw were beaten 1-0 by Spartak Moscow, the Foxes have dropped into the Conference League.
BRIGHT IDEA
Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Brighton on Sunday is off as their Covid crisis mounts.
Eight Spurs players and five staff members have tested positive, leaving boss Antonio Conte with only 11 fit players.
Thursday night’s Europa Conference League tie at Rennes was also postponed 24 hours before kick-off.
FEELING BLUE
Here’s the teams Chelsea could face in the next stage of the Champions League…

XAVING A CLEAR OUT
Barcelona will reportedly place a number of players on the transfer list ahead of the January window.
According to Gerard Romero, Frenkie de Jong, Sergino Dest and Marc Andre Ter-Stegen are set to be replaced next year as Xavi looks to overhaul the squad.
The decision comes after Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2000.
And Premier League clubs are set to be on red alert for any bargains available this winter.
WHEN IT RENNES IT POURS
Rennes are demanding the cancellation of their Europa Conference League match with Tottenham after confirmation of the game’s postponement.
According to the Daily Mail, Rennes have told Uefa they will not be accepting the new date and are furious with Tottenham, as they had already travelled to London.
The Ligue 1 side claim the North Londoners refused to reveal the number of players affected by Covid-19 when competition rules dictate a game must be played if the team has at least 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
And there are some serious questions being raised about when the match can actually take place, given Uefa’s rule stating all group fixtures must be completed by December 31.
LEICESTER TEAM NEWS
Napoli: (4-2-3-1) Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Mario Rui; Demme, Zielinski; Ounas, Lozano, Elmas; Petagna
Leicester: (4-3-3) Schmeichel; Castagne, Soyuncu, Evans, Bertrand; Ndidi, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall; Maddison, Barnes; Vardy
NEW LOOK
Arsenal are being linked with numerous players ahead of the January transfer window.
Should Mikel Arteta land his top targets, the Gunners could look very different in 2022.
Here’s how Arsenal may line up if they have a successful transfer market…

GOAT LORDS
It is the question that divides football fans across the globe.
Who is better: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
We compare the duo here…

RAM RAID
Everton are lining up a January swoop for ex-Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey.
CalcioMercato claims the Juventus midfielder is no longer wanted by Max Allegri.
And he will be allowed to quit Turin this winter for a Premier League return.
Rafa Benitez is keen on bringing Ramsey to Goodison Park as he looks to get Everton’s season back on track.
And the Welshman could jump at the chance to play for the Toffees.
SPURRED OFF
Tottenham are facing a Christmas fixture nightmare after tonight’s game against Rennes was called off.
Spurs, who have been hit by a Covid outbreak, have been ordered to play the French side BEFORE December 31.
Antonio Conte’s side have already seen their Premier League game against Burnley postponed due to a snow storm.
But just how are Tottenham going to fit all those fixtures in?

NEW TOON
Rob Lee urged Newcastle to sign English trio Jesse Lingard, James Tarkowski and Kieran Trippier in January.
The former Toon midfielder warned that mega rich Newcastle will be relegated unless they splash the cash when the transfer window opens.
Lee said: “If they keep this team, as much as they’ve improved under Eddie Howe, they’ll go down without a doubt. They need people to help them.
“I’d like to see them sign Jesse Lingard – he did brilliantly at West Ham.
“James Tarkowski at Burnley, it’s well known that he can leave for a certain amount of money.
“Kieran Trippier [at Atletico Madrid], he’d like to come back from Spain and Newcastle would be a great opportunity for him.
“So they need to sign those sorts of players that have played in the Premier League and will hit the ground running.”
NEW RESTRICTIONS 
Prem clubs are involved in another ruck with League chiefs over who refunds fans who miss games because of the latest Covid restrictions.
PM Boris Johnson confirmed the introduction of the Government’s Plan B against the Omicron variant in Downing Street.
That will see “vaccine passports” introduced for entry to all sporting events with crowds of more than 10,000 from Wednesday.
Initially, fans will have to show they are double vaccinated or proof of a negative test within 24 hours of a game to be allowed entry.
It is not clear if that means every fan being checked or a continuation of spot tests, with the Government weighing up whether it should delegate decisions to local Safety Advisory Groups to make a final call.
But a number of Prem clubs fear that fans may want rebates on their match or season tickets if they feel the restrictions are too onerous.
That might become even more pressing if, as the PM hinted on Wednesday, the Government does move to a policy of mandatory vaccinations.
And the clubs are urging Prem chiefs to stump up the money rather than seeing their funds take another Covid hit.
EL OF A PLAYER
Arsenal star Mohamed Eleny is a January transfer target for mega-rich Newcastle, according to reports.
The Egyptian midfielder has been a bit-part player under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta since he took charge.
He has been resigned to the substitutes bench this season, and has barely featured in the Premier League.
And the Mirror report that Toon chief Eddie Howe is targeting the 29-year-old in a deal next month.
His contract runs out next June, but the Magpies want to land him six months earlier for a small fee.
Elneny is one of five players Howe is understood to have put on his wishlist ahead of the new transfer window.
ONE OF THE BEST
Manchester United legend Andy Cole doesn’t think he gets the credit for his career despite being one of the ‘best striker’s of his generation.’
Cole scored 187 goals in 414 Premier League games for United and he feels he should be mentioned among the greats.
Speaking to the Original Penguin X Campaign Against Living Miserably Under The Surface podcast, Cole said: “No, I’m very vocal about it, but I don’t get the credit I deserve for my footballing career.
“When it comes to being a goal scorer, I was one of the best of my generation, it’s that simple.
“I know that. I’m not going to have anyone try and fudge that and tell me anything else.”
LET HIM GO
Furious Barcelona fans called for Clement Lenglet’s contract to be ripped up as he was seen laughing with Robert Lewandowski after the Catalans crashed out the Champions League.
Barca were walloped 3-0 in Germany on Wednesday and ended up finishing third in Group E – their earliest Champions League exit for 21 years.
‘P***** off’ Barca boss Xavi blasted his players after the defeat and urged them to ‘start from scratch’ in the Europa League.
But the result did not appear to affect Lenglet as much – as he was seen sharing a joke with Bayern goal machine Lewandowski after the final whistle.
The incident did not go down well with Barca fans already fuming at the European humiliation.
One tweeted: “Smiling after being knocked out in group stage? Rip his contract up tomorrow, let him walk for free. F**k outta here.”
Another added: “He’s lucky I am not the Barcelona president because he’d not get on the plane back with the team, and tomorrow, I’d terminate his contract.”
TIME TO MOVE JONG
Barcelona starlet Frenkie De Jong is being encouraged to quit the club, with Dutch legends arguing the Nou Camp is not the right fit for him.
The 24-year-old signed for Barcelona in 2019 but has failed to live up to the high expectations that fans put on him.
He has only scored one goal so far this season for Xavi’s side who currently sit 7th in the LaLiga table.
Former Dutch international footballers Ron Vlaar and Dirk Kuyt have both criticised the former Ajax man and have suggested that he would be best suited elsewhere.
De Jong has been linked recently with a move to Manchester United as new interim manager Ralph Rangnick plans to sign a number of players in January.
United reportedly want the 24-year-old for a cut-price of £47million, but Barcelona do not want to sell him for less than £60m as his contract does not run out until 2026.
He is said to be the ideal replacement for Paul Pogba, whose contract expires next summer.
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