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      Son Heung-min was clearly offside and it was right decision but was Tottenham star gaining an advantage?

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      IT’S easy to see how Tottenham fans would be frustrated that Son Heung-min’s early goal was ruled out.
      It is another decision where the attacking player is only a fraction offside – it is a very tight one.

      This is the wafer-thin margin by which Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was offside, another tough but correct decision under the current rules

      Son Heung-min had what could have been a crucial strike disallowed before Liverpool went on to win 3-1 Credit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement

      Son was correctly ruled offside according to the letter of the law because his heel is beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shirt-line.
      But Son was facing away from goal – so was he really seeking to gain an advantage?
      We understand Pierluigi Collina, Arsene Wenger and lawmakers Ifab are looking at changing the offside law so that if any part of your body is onside then you cannot be offside.

      Referee Martin Atkinson made the correct decision to rule out a Mo Salah goal in the second half.

      Roberto Firmino deliberately moved his arm towards the ball and the offence occurred in an attacking phase of play leading to a goal.
      The ball struck Eric Dier’s arm just before it hit Firmino, but that was not a deliberate act.
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho had no complaints over Son’s disallowed strike.
      But he was less happy with his side’s defending.

      Firmino and Alexander-Arnold struck immediately before and after the break to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
      And despite Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s instant reply, Sadio Mane sealed a 3-1 victory that put the champions fourth, two places above Tottenham.
      Mourinho told BT Sport: “It’s very hard to resist so many defensive individual mistakes – unless you score four goals against Liverpool.
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      “The team was confident, playing well, Son Heung-min goal’s was obviously offside, then when the game was stable and we were very much in it then comes the goal that is a replica of the first chance they had.”
      In contrast, Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp told the same broadcaster: “I am delighted – it was a great game.
      “Super intensity as we predicted. We scored the goals in the right moments, the right people scored the goals, so all good apart from their goal.”

      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he supported Tottenham as a boy because he liked the club’s adventurous name More

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      Son Heung-min was clearly offside and it was right call but was he gaining an advantage?

      by

      IT is easy to see how Tottenham fans would be frustrated that Son Heung-min’s early goal was ruled out.
      It is another decision where the attacking player is only a fraction offside – it is a very tight one.

      This is the wafer-thin margin by which Tottenham’s Son Heung-min was offside, another tough but correct decision under the current rules

      Son Heung-min had what could have been a crucial strike disallowed before Liverpool went on to win 3-1 Credit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement

      Son was correctly ruled offside according to the letter of the law because his heel is beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shirt-line.
      But Son was facing away from goal – so was he really seeking to gain an advantage?
      We understand Pierluigi Collina, Arsene Wenger and lawmakers Ifab are looking at changing the offside law so that if any part of your body is onside then you cannot be offside.

      Referee Martin Atkinson made the correct decision to rule out a Mo Salah goal in the second half.

      Roberto Firmino deliberately moved his arm towards the ball and the offence occurred in an attacking phase of play leading to a goal.
      The ball struck Eric Dier’s arm just before it hit Firmino, but that was not a deliberate act.
      Spurs boss Jose Mourinho had no complaints over Son’s disallowed strike.
      But he was less happy with his side’s defending.

      Firmino and Alexander-Arnold struck immediately before and after the break to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
      And despite Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s instant reply, Sadio Mane sealed a 3-1 victory that put the champions fourth, two places above Tottenham.
      Mourinho told BT Sport: “It’s very hard to resist so many defensive individual mistakes – unless you score four goals against Liverpool.

      “The team was confident, playing well, Son Heung-min goal’s was obviously offside, then when the game was stable and we were very much in it then comes the goal that is a replica of the first chance they had.”
      In contrast, Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp told the same broadcaster: “I am delighted – it was a great game.
      “Super intensity as we predicted. We scored the goals in the right moments, the right people scored the goals, so all good apart from their goal.”

      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he supported Tottenham as a boy because he liked the club’s adventurous name More

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      Prem clubs face Covid havoc if South American stars are forced to isolate for 10 days after March World Cup qualifiers

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      PREM clubs face being without their South American stars for a crunch 10-day period of the season.
      The Government “red list” of nations requiring returning travellers to spend 10 days of quarantine in an airport hotel includes all of the continent’s Fifa members.

      And with Portugal also on the list of countries, the looming March World Cup qualifiers could see the title race turned on its head.
      Fifa has yet to make a decision over whether it will order clubs to release their players selected for the crunch qualifiers, which include Brazil meeting Argentina in Recife.
      But with pressure on world chiefs to ensure all nations are at full strength for the qualifiers, the knock-on effects for Prem clubs could be huge.
      If South American players are selected for duty they would not return until the evening of April 1 at the earliest.

      There are no provisions in law to exempt elite sports competitors from the same restrictions as holiday makers or other travellers arriving from the “red list” countries.
      That means the likes of Roberto Firmino, Allison Becker, Fabinho, Thiago Silva, Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United’s Alex Telles and Edinson Cavani would HAVE to be holed up in hotel rooms 24/7 for 10 whole days.
      And Portuguese players including United star Bruno Fernandes would also face the prospect of short-term incarceration after returning to their homeland, with the country playing three qualifiers to start their 2022 campaign.
      That would rule Liverpool’s Brazilian trio and potentially Diogo Jota out of their trip to Arsenal, scheduled for the weekend of April 3.

      Edinson Cavani is just one of the star names who could be forced to isolateCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Roberto Firmino could also miss some Premier League actionCredit: Reuters
      The following weekend, United face being denied the services of Fernandes, Cavani and Telles for their crunch game at Jose Mourinho’s Spurs, who would be unable to field Davinson Sanchez and Giovani Lo Celso.
      And all seven Prem sides in European competition would be without the quarantining players for the first leg of their respective Champions league and Europa League quarter-final ties.
      Government officials have confirmed there is no leeway for sports stars to avoid being confined to hotel barracks for the entire 10 days.
      It means that even when the players are released, they would have lost significant physical conditioning and might face an extended period out of action, risking injury if they were selected to play too early.
      Clubs are seeking guidance from Fifa over the issue, with world chiefs understood to still be considering their position.
      Last October, world chiefs announced that clubs would not have to release selected players for the rest of 2020 if they faced mandatory quarantine or self-isolation “of at least five days” in either their club’s country or the location of the match.

      Thiago Silva is another player who may have to self-isolateCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Liverpool boast the most-valuable squad in the Premier League

      Prem clubs will be looking for world chiefs to take the same stance in March, allowing them to order the South American and Portuguese players to stay in this country.
      But with no other European country currently having the same restrictions as the UK, there are fears that Fifa might take a different approach this time round.
      That would potentially throw Prem clubs into disarray as the season begins its final countdown, adding a further twist to an already crazy and unprecedented campaign.

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      Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he supported Tottenham as a boy because he liked the club’s ‘adventurous’ name

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      THOMAS TUCHEL has come clean about his embarrassing past and a boyhood support for Tottenham.
      The German grew up in the small Bavarian town of Krumbach and was fascinated by the club’s ‘adventurous’ name.

      New Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he supported ‘adventurous’ sounding Tottenham as a kid without even knowing they were in LondonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tuchel joked: “I was young and needed the money.”
      He went on: “When I was young, there was no daily match live on the television, no daily match live from the Bundesliga.
      “So what I could actually see was one or two minutes every four weeks and suddenly a club like Tottenham Hotspur came across on our sports broadcaster.

      “I heard the name Tottenham Hotspur, which sounded like a big adventure and gave me a big advantage playing with my friends because they had no idea where that club was.

      “That was one of my first experiences. I didn’t even know it’s a club from London.
      “But now I’m absolutely aware I work for their big rivals and you can be sure we will do everything we can to beat them next week.”
      Chelsea are away at Tottenham on February 4 in what will be only Tuchel’s third game in charge.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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      The former Borussia Dortmund boss said: “We played a Europa League game with Dortmund in Tottenham and everyone there was very friendly.”
      But he will need his Blues side to be less amenable against Spurs than they were in his first game, Wednesday’s 0-0 home draw with Wolves.
      And after dropping Mason Mount and Reece James for that clash, his team selections are already under a fierce spotlight.

      Mason Mount opens up over Chelsea sacking Frank Lampard and admits it’s tough More

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      Arteta still in dark over whether Arsenal clash with Benfica in Europa League will be moved due to Covid-19 restrictions

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      MIKEL ARTETA is still in the dark about Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Portugal following the UK’s ban on travel to Portugal.
      The club have been told they will not be given a sporting exemption for the scheduled second round tie which was due to be played in Lisbon on February 18.

      Mikel Arteta admits he is still in the dark of Arsenal’s Europa League trip to PortugalCredit: EPA

      Now they are in talks with UEFA and Benfica about playing the game at a neutral venue in a country which will not require players going into quarantine.
      But Arteta does not even know if the tie will be played over one or two legs.
      He admitted: “We want to play the games and compete in Europe so we have to find a solution, but I don’t know what that is going to be.
      “Whether it’s finding a different way with the quarantine rules or playing at a different ground, I don’t know which is best.

      “Things are being decided that are not in my hands at the moment.”
      The Government’s travel ban was introduced this week to prevent the spread of a new Covid strain which has been identified in Brazil and Portugal.
      In previous rounds of European competition, all British teams were given special dispensation to travel abroad.
      But the Benfica game is the first time that permission has been withdrawn, which would mean Arsenal’s players having to spend ten days in quarantine on their return from Lisbon.

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      Any alternative arrangements will need the approval of UEFA and Arsenal will have to pay for the hire of a neutral venue if they cannot stage the return leg at the Emirates.
      Arteta is also still awaiting an update on captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has missed Arsenal’s last two games after his mother was taken seriously ill at the weekend.
      Aubameyang is now back at the club following his five-day absence but is almost certain to miss tomorrow’s crucial home game against Manchester United due to his lack of training.
      Arteta said: “I spoke with Auba about his situation and things are looking better at the moment but we have to wait and see when he can return.
      “Auba is our captain and one of our most important players. We’re doing everything to have him back as quickly as possible.

      Aubameyang will miss the Gunners’ clash with Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
      “But we have to understand that he’s been through a difficult few days, that he had to support his family and now we will support him by giving him all the time he needs to get things sorted.
      “It was good to see the other players dedicating Monday’s win to him because that’s what we always expect to do for each other.
      “When someone is having difficulties we need to understand and protect him, to give him our love and be right behind him.
      “So I am really impressed with the resilience that we have shown as a team going through these difficult moments.
      “When things are not going well, that’s when you really see the character of the players and the values of the club.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirms Emile Smith Rowe was forced off against Southampton with ‘muscular discomfort’ More

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      Brendan Rodgers now a world-class coach at Leicester after recovering from Liverpool axe – he can inspire Frank Lampard

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      THEY used to display a giant banner on the Kop bearing a picture of Brendan Rodgers, arms aloft, and the message ‘We’re on our way to glory’.
      But then Steven Gerrard slipped and suddenly everything changed at Anfield.

      Brendan Rodgers has rebuilt his reputation at LeicesterCredit: AP:Associated Press

      The banner at Anfield when Rodgers was the Merseyside messiahCredit: Rex Features

      Within a matter of months Rodgers went from messiah to pariah on Merseyside.
      And seven years on from Gerrard’s stumble, many supporters still don’t have a good word to say about the man who led their team to the brink of heaven.
      It is almost impossible to figure out why they remain so unforgiving.
      Maybe it was the sunbed tan and the dayglo teeth which rankled with the salt-of-the-earth Scousers.

      Or perhaps the lack of self awareness highlighted by the fly on the wall documentary Being Liverpool.
      Yet the fact remains that Rodgers came closer than Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez , Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish to winning the club’s first Premier League title.
      And while his Liverpool transfer record was distinctly hit and miss, let’s not forget that Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Joe Gomez were all his signings.
      So maybe it is now time to reappraise Rodgers’ qualities in light of his career subsequent to his leaving of Liverpool.

      Because winning back-to-back Scottish trebles with Celtic was no mean feat despite the dearth of serious opposition at the time.
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      Rodgers’ rise can be the blueprint for Frank Lampard’s recoveryCredit: Rex Features
      And the transformation he has overseen in the past two years at Leicester is confirmation that he really is a world-class coach.
      In fact it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that the current Leicester team is even better than the one which won the League in 2016.
      Of that side, only Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel and Marc Albrighton remain as King Power stalwarts.
      The rest are eager young bucks flourishing as a result of Rodgers’ positive attitude, tactical acumen and eye for a bargain.
      The acquisitions of Wesley Fofana, Timothy Castagne, Dennis Praet, James Justin, Ayoze Perez and Cengiz Under have been more than offset by the sale of Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell.
      Meanwhile the precocious talents of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans have improved beyond all recognition under Rodgers’ guidance.
      Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Everton leaves Leicester third in the table, just two points behind leaders Manchester City and right in the thick of the title race.

      Anxious fans will point to last season’s late collapse, when their team won just four of their final 17 League games to drop out of Champions League contention right at the death.
      But Rodgers and his players will definitely have learned their lessons from that disappointment and won’t make the same mistakes.
      Only one of their next nine Premier League opponents are currently in the top eight and they also have favourable draws in the FA Cup and Europa League.
      The door is wide open for Leicester to make a big statement and Rodgers certainly won’t be found wanting on that front.
      Two years ago fans of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ would have stormed the gates if their team tried to appoint him as manager.
      Now, with the obvious exception of Liverpool, virtually every club would welcome him with open arms.
      So if Frank Lampard is seeking inspiration as he plots a managerial reinvention, he needs look no further than Northern Ireland’s finest.
      KING JAMES
      WHEN Everton signed James Rodriguez from Real Madrid in September it was widely claimed that they had paid £20million for the Colombian playmaker.
      But now it has emerged that the Spanish champions actually allowed him to leave without receiving a penny.

      James Rodriguez has been great for Everton since joining from Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      It seems that the original reports were a deliberate smokescreen to hide Madrid’s embarrassment at giving away such a talent.
      And no wonder they are feeling red faced after watching the way James has been playing for Carlo Ancelotti’s team this season.
      I’m sure there have been better free transfer signings in Premier League history. I just can’t think of any off the top of my head.

      Tuchel yells out the nickname of Chelsea captain Azpilicueta wrong before Pulisic steps in to correct new boss More

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      Tottenham 1 Liverpool 3: Champions get back to winning ways as Jurgen Klopp outguns Jose Mourinho

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      SO the champions are back in the game.
      And this time there was no serious debate that the best team had won.

      Roberto Firmino was on target as Liverpool returned to winning ways against SpursCredit: Reuters

      Trent Alexander-Arnold also scored in a 3-1 win in North LondonCredit: AFP

      After eight excruciating hours without a Premier League goal, the dam burst and Liverpool found the net four times in 20 minutes – three goals from Roberto Fimino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane as well as a Mo Salah effort harshly ruled out by VAR.
      When Liverpool knocked Spurs off the top of the table six weeks ago, Jose Mourinho claimed his team had been hard done-by.
      Not here, though. Here, Spurs were left in tatters – Harry Kane limping off at half-time and a re-shaped defence left bullet-ridden by Jurgen Klopp’s rampant side.
      This was a night which summed up the glorious chaos of this Premier League season – injuries, errors, VAR controversies, touchline fury, it was perfect in its imperfections.

      Klopp is now without his first four picks at central defence – stand-in Fabinho injured in training, Joel Matip forced off the break, to join long-term absentees Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the missing list.
      And still Spurs couldn’t lay a glove on Liverpool.
      If Kane is out for any length of time, then Tottenham will be struggling to secure Champions League football, having been in the thick of the title race just a month ago.
      Liverpool moved back into that coveted top four, still four points behind Manchester City, having played a game more – but with Pep Guardiola’s men due at Anfield on Sunday week.

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      Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored a rocket for the hosts as they trailed 2-0Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sadio Mane scored Liverpool’s third to seal the resultCredit: Reuters

      They are not willing to cede their crown, just yet, however bad those defensive injuries.
      As soon as they flicked a switch with Firmino’s opener in first-half injury-time, the Reds were instantly re-animated.
      The last time these two met, Firmino headed a late winner, Mourinho claimed the ‘best team lost’, complained about Klopp’s touchline antics and we imagined a title race laced with old-fashioned mindgames.
      Yet here they were, facing off as fifth-against-sixth, with Liverpool’s plunge in form particularly alarming.
      Jordan Henderson and Matip returned to form Klopp’s 11th different centre-back partnership of the season – then Nat Phillips replaced Matip to make it 12.

      Son Heung-Min put Spurs 1-0 up after a few minutes but the goal was disallowed for offsideCredit: Reuters

      Harry Kane suffered an ankle injury in the first half and was subbed at the breakCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement
      Yet it was at the opposite end of the pitch where Liverpool had been suffering – without a league goal in 2021.
      They ought to have ended that drought inside two minutes, Salah releasing Mane who dragged wide a shot which he would have gladly buried in happier times.
      Spurs went straight up the other end and found the net, the old Kane and Son partnership clicking.
      Kane’s pass found the gap between Henderson and Matip, Son strode through and drilled home left-footed, beating Allison at his near post.
      But VAR decided that Son was offside by a hair’s breadth, when Alexander-Arnold had appeared to be playing him narrowly onside.

      Firmino snuck in at the post to put Liverpool ahead moments before the breakCredit: Reuters

      Alexander-Arnold doubled Liverpool’s lead with a fine strike minutes into the second 45Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Liverpool felt they could have had a penalty when Eric Dier tugged Firmino’s shirt.
      But Kane fell awkwardly under a flailing challenge from Thiago, the England captain needing treatment but carrying on for the time being.
      Liverpool were moving it at pace, Spurs defending liking an angry beehive.
      But when Dier played a long diagonal pass out of defence, Son looked clear again, only for Matip to recover brilliantly.
      Again, Son sprinted clear, shooting straight at Allison, Klopp dishing out a ferocious reprimand to his struggling defence.

      Hojbjerg let fly from outside the box moments later to give Spurs some hopeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Mo Salah put the finishing touches on a good move but it was ruled out for a Firmino handball in the build upCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      At the other end, Salah teed up Mane again, a lofted pass from the Egyptian, a volley on the stretch from the Senegalese.
      Thiago was booked for a horrible lunge at Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having escaped a caution for his foul on Kane.
      Kane then fell awkwardly after contesting a high ball with Henderson, having further treatment on his ankle, then being withdrawn at the interval.
      Mane got on the end of a Thiago pass and had a thumping shot pushed away by Hugo Lloris.
      And Liverpool’s long-threatened opener arrived in the final seconds of the first half, Henderson releasing Mane, who chested down and crossed low for Firmino to beat Dier and Lloris to the punch and poke home.
      Mourinho opted for a complete re-boot at half-time, Erik Lamela replacing the injured Kane, with Son moving to centre-forward, and Harry Winks on for Serge Aurier as Spurs moved to a back four.

      Mane took advantage of Joe Rodon’s defensive error to make it 3-1Credit: Reuters

      Thiago Alcantara was forced to bandage his bleeding head in the second halfCredit: Reuters
      But the move backfired as Liverpool tore into their hosts, Salah lofted a shot over before Mane drilled in a shot which Lloris could only push out to Alexander-Arnold who fired home first-time.
      Mourinho started machine-gunning expletives but then Spurs went from effing to blinding – Hojbjerg hammering home to reduce the deficit.
      Salah thought he had made it 3-1 lashing past Lloris, only for his effort to be disallowed for a Firmino handball as he wrestled with Dier on the halfway line, Martin Atkinson checking his monitor after a word from VAR Jon Moss.
      Lloris had outdone Mourinho in swear-box contributions before that let-off.
      But it wasn’t long before they were cursing again, Alexander-Arnold whipping in a centre, Rodon misjudging horribly, allowing Mane to shoot past Lloris at the far post.
      It was Liverpool’s seventh straight win over Spurs, Klopp’s fourth in a row against Mourinho.
      Liverpool are back in business and Spurs are all over the shop.

      Jurgen Klopp looked delighted with his team’s attacking prowessCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Jose Mourinho’s five-man defence failed to keep the Reds at bayCredit: EPA

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      Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk fined for speeding in his £100k supercar

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      LIVERPOOL footie star Virgil van Dijk has been fined for speeding in his £100,000 supercar.
      The Dutchman, 29, regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, was caught on the M6 in his black Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

      Virgil van Dijk has been fined for speeding last September Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Average speed cameras clocked him exceeding the 50mph limit in Tabley, Cheshire.
      Van Dijk, who won the Premier League title with Liverpool last season, was fined £220 by Warrington magistrates on Friday, at a hearing he did not have to attend.
      He was ordered to pay £124 in costs and charges over the incident last September.
      Van Dijk, who lives in a £4million mansion at Hale Barns in Cheshire, joined from Southampton in 2018 for a Liverpool record of £75million.

      Van Dijk was caught on the M6 in his Mercedes-Benz G-ClassCredit: PA:Press Association

      The 6ft 4in centre-back is recovering after injuring his knee last October.
      He had a knee ligament op following a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside Derby.
      Van Dijk has played for his home nation of The Netherlands 38 times and came second in the Ballon D’or award for 2019.

      Virgil van Dijk rides exercise bike in Liverpool boost as he steps up recovery from horror knee injury
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