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      Watford supporters swear the most out of all Premier League football fans – where does your team rank?

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      WATFORD supporters are the Premier League’s biggest potty mouths, a study found.
      They get a red card for using foul language about their relegation-threatened team online.

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      A study has found Watford supporters are the Premier League’s biggest potty mouthsCredit: AFP or licensors
      Nearly 525,200 tweets using the hashtags of England’s 20 top-flight football clubs were analysed by researchers.
      They compiled a profanity league table — which the Hornets topped.
      Of the 2,331 tweets sent out by Watford fans regarding their club, 199 included at least one swear word — a rate of 8.5 per cent.
      The Hertfordshire side — whose players include Troy Deeney, Will Hughes and Ben Foster — are famously followed by Sir Elton John and heavyweight boxing champ Anthony Joshua.

      Fans of Crystal Palace came second in the table on 8.2 per cent. Out of 2,784 tweets by Eagles fans, 229 contained swear words.
      Tottenham Hotspur, who are managed by controversial Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho, were third on 7.1 per cent.

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      They had foul language in 169 out of 2,387 fans’ tweets.
      By contrast the least sweary supporters accolade went to Manchester United, on just 0.9 per cent. Just 23 out of 2,501 tweets contained profanities.

      The research for bookie Paddy Power was conducted over a two-week period ending on July 7.
      A spokesman said: “Now the Premier League is back, it’s been a good opportunity to take a seat on our socially-distanced sofas and become the ultimate armchair fan.
      “By doing that, it seems it’s been a sweary time for football fans.”

      Tottenham fans have been cursing despite their side being in the top half of the Premier League.
      The spokesman added: “Jose’s meddling has caused a feeling of resentment among the club’s followers.
      “It’s hardly a surprise that he is causing Spurs fans to dish out expletives — we can only imagine what their blood pressure scores must look like.”

      Frank Lampard gives verdict as Chelsea ease past Watford 3-0 in the Premier League
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      Burnley 1 Wolves 1: Chris Wood denies visitors with controversial last-gasp penalty in huge blow to Nuno’s Europe charge

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      CHRIS WOOD snatched the most dramatic of last-gasp levellers to save Burnley – and his own blushes.
      Yet it came in a storm of controversy, with Wolves convinced the Clarets strikers should have been pulled up for a high boot instead of Mike Dean pointing to the spot.

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      Chris Wood kept his cool to slot home a late leveller from the spotCredit: AFP or licensors
      Referee Dean ruled that Phll Bardsley’s 94th minute head back into the box struck a leaping Matt Doherty on the top of the arm – a decision confirmed by video official Kevin Friend.
      But Doherty and Co had just cause for claiming Wood’s boot was just inches from the defender’s face as he tried and failed to connect with an overhead kick.
      To be fair, at least we got a ruling within a minute – not that it came as any consolation to the visitors.
      Certainly not when Wood picked himself up, plonked the ball down…and smashed it into Rui Patricio’s top corner for the equaliser.

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      Raul Jimenez scored a superb volley to put Wolves in frontCredit: AP:Associated Press
      At least it put a smile on the Kiwi striker’s face, just seconds after he had been guilty of one of the worst misses you’ll see all season.
      Keeper Patricio had totally lost the ball and was way out of his ground when Matej Vydra nodded back across an empty goal.
      Wood, though, got his bearings all wrong as he launchd himself to connect, with only a flailing Conor Coady on the line to protect the net, and shanked his header wide.
      It says much for Burnley’s spirit, then, that they had the spirit and character to mount one final attack which proved so vital. It says even more for that of the player himself.

      Mark Halsey’s view

      I felt Burnley’s last minute penalty for handball by Wolves’ Matt Doherty was a harsh decision.

      The ball hit Doherty’s arm but Law 12 – handling the ball – states the act by a defender must be deliberate to award a spot kick
      Referee Mike Dean made a subjective call and you can’t criticise him for his decision but I would ask the question, was it deliberate?
      I don’t think so because Doherty was challenging for the ball as Chris Wood went for an overhead kick. Wolves could argue it should have been a free-kick for dangerous play.
      Doherty used his arm to protect his face but I felt it was not in an unnatural position. You don’t jump with your arms by your side.
      Once the penalty was awarded VAR would not overturn a decision like that because it was a subjective call.

      For until that moment it looked certain that Raul Jimenez’ stunning volley was going to keep Wolves top four dream alive – along with their hopes of a decent summer break after all.
      It also earned the Mexican his own little slice of Molineux history, as the first man in Old Gold to hit 17 in a top-flight season since John Richards in 1975-76.
      But back Wolves’ marathon men, as last night was their 55th game of a campaign that began just nine days shy of a whole calendar year ago, with a Euro qualifier against Crusaders.
      Finish in the Champions League slots and they could actually get a bit of a break before the following one begins.
      Miss out, as now seems likely, and – with this term’s Europa League duties running into August – they could face a qualifier for the NEXT one just a week after their season ends.
      No wonder Santo speaks so proudly of what his players – in only their second year back in the top flight, remember – have done.
      They probably just about deserved to win this one as well, on a bitingly cold Turf Moor night. Or, as they call it in East Lancashire, mid-July.
      Jimenez had sent one header straight at Nick Pope, the giant keeper’s fingertips had stopped Diojo Jota from having a tap-in, while Adama Traore was the predictable fizzing danger.
      And while Daniel Podence looks young enough to travel half fare on the bus, he is certainly up to the task and sent another low strike scudding just wide.
      The closest call, though, came when Romain Saiss leapt in a packed six yard box for a Joao Moutinho corner, but his point blank effort came off the back of his head and went wide.
      If Burnley hadn’t been so well organised at the back would probably have found a way through.
      As it is they did have one fine moment of their own, and how fitting that it fell to Jay Rodriguez.
      The local boy striker chases lost causes as enthusiastically as a spaniel chasing a Frisbee, and nearly got his reward with a great breakaway move that was blocked by the flying Coady.
      And then Burnley themselves were fuming at NOT getting a penalty, when Saiss took a grab at Josh Brownhill before his strike that Ruben Neves deflected behind.

      Admittedly it would have been the harshest of calls, but that didn’t stop Clarets chief Sean Dyche from nearly blowing a gasket on the touchline.
      Not nearly as much as Santo was in danger of doing when he watched the replay of the one that WAS given.
      On such calls can a season fall…and with it any chance of a summer holiday. More

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      Man United star Marcus Rashford says four million extra meals will be provided to vulnerable UK homes

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      MARCUS Rashford says four million extra meals will be provided to vulnerable UK homes.
      The Man United and England star, 22, paid tribute to Fareshare UK, tweeting: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you! We couldn’t do it without you.”

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      Marcus Rashford helped provide four million meals to vulnerable UK householdsCredit: Refer to Caption
      Marcus worked alongside the food charity and successfully lobbied ministers to extend the free school meal voucher scheme into the summer holidays.
      The 22-year-old was determined to make vulnerable households get fed and put pressure on the Government to extend the meal voucher scheme into summer holidays.
      Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a u-turn in response to Rashford’s campaign.
      After increased pressure from Tory MPs and celebrities, the Government revealed it would fund the scheme after all, despite saying it would not carry on over the summer.

      Parents whose children are eligible for free school meals will be able to claim the extra help with meals for their kids.
      A one off six-week voucher will be dished out for families to use in supermarkets.

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      Rashford pressured the Government to extend the meal voucher scheme into the summer holidaysCredit: PA:Press Association

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      Boris Johnson announced a u-turn in response to Rashford’s campaignCredit: Getty – Pool
      Marcus tweeted after the news: “I don’t even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.”
      Boris Johnson told the Cabinet the news – which will cost £120million in extra funding.

      The PM’s spokesperson said the Government would run a Covid-19 food fund throughout the summer.
      He said: “The PM welcomed Marcus Rashford’s contribution to the debate around poverty and I said he would be responding as soon as possible.
      “Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the PM fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer.
      “To to reflect this, we will be providing a Covid summer food fund.

      “This will provide food vouchers covering the six week holiday period.
      “This was a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
      “The scheme will not continue beyond the summer and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals.”

      Could Marcus Rashford be honoured with a knighthood after school meals campaign?
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      Pep Guardiola adamant he won’t discuss new deal as Man City fret over boss’ long-term future

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      PEP GUARDIOLA says talks over his Manchester City future can wait.
      But the Spanish boss admits club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is not happy with him over their title defence.

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      Pep Guardiola is ready for the challenge of getting Manchester City back to the topCredit: Reuters
      Guardiola has just one year left on his current deal and there arehopes he might extend his stay now their Champions League ban has been lifted.
      But the former Bayern Munich manager admits he will have to do better next season after his team meekly surrendered their Premier League crown to Liverpool.
      He said: “Now is not the time — we have one incredible month ahead of us, then one year is a long time. We have time to think about that.
      “Internally, when I don’t like something, I say to my chairman. My chairman is not happy with me if we finish 21 or 23 points behind Liverpool.

      “He’s not happy with me, but we discuss internally to try and do better next season.”

      I love this club. I love it because I know the people here and I’m working for a long time
      Pep GuardiolaMan City boss

      Guardiola, 49, has already spent four years at City and was in bullish mood as he defended the club over allegations of financial wrong-doing.
      A huge weight has lifted off the shoulders of Al Mubarak and everyone at City now the Court of Arbitration has cleared them — but Guardiola says he would have seen out his contract anyway.
      He added: “I love this club. I love it because I know the people here and I’m working for a long time.

      We have our history. I don’t know if it’s better or worse, it doesn’t matter, it’s our history.
      “Nothing has changed my opinion, maybe I will be able to stay here longer?
      “I said I would stay and it didn’t matter if we were in the Champions League. Some people suggested we should play in League Two, I’d have stayed.”
      Guardiola claims whenever he goes, he will be leaving behind a first-class opportunity for his successor.

      He said: “This club is incredibly solid with Pep and without Pep. So don’t be troubled.
      “This club had success before my arrival with Roberto Mancini and with Manuel Pellegrini. They won a lot of titles and they played really good football.
      “So without me, when I leave — I don’t know when that will be — the new manager will have an incredible thing because the structure of the club means it wants to grow and to be solid.”

      How Man City could line-up next season with Pep splashing cash including Koulibaly and Havertz but Stones out More

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      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta begs owners to back him in transfer window to reverse alarming slide

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      MIKEL ARTETA has challenged Arsenal’s owners to match his big-time ambitions as the club faces a fourth year without Champions League football.
      The demanding Spaniard fears a summer transfer freeze will make it almost impossible for him to compete at the top end of the table.

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      Mikel Arteta wants cash to spend on his Arsenal squad this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson battle during a training sessionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And he made it clear he is not prepared to accept a situation which will leave Arsenal in danger of dropping even further behind the Premier League’s title contenders.
      The Gunners boss warned: “Every year we are out of the Champions League makes it harder than ever to get back into that competition.
      “If you are not in the Champions League and you say ‘I don’t invest in the team because I don’t have the financial ability to do it’ then the gap becomes bigger to the other clubs that do invest.

      “So at some stage you have to decide whether you take a risk and go for it to close that gap or whether you stay where you are.
      “At the end of the season we need to sit down and agree on the ambitions of the club, what direction we want to take and put a plan together to achieve those targets.
      “The demands will be huge and that’s never going to change because they’re linked to the history and success of this club.
      “But as long as I am sitting in this manager’s chair, I will not stop thinking of Arsenal as a Champions League club.”

      Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Spurs means Arsenal will end the season with their lowest points total since 1995.
      And it leaves them facing the prospect of not even qualifying for the Europa League after dropping to ninth in the table ahead of tonight’s home game against champs Liverpool.

      You have to decide whether you take a risk and go for it to close that gap
      Mikel Arteta

      That would see the club struggling with an £80million black hole which would severely hamper Arteta’s plans to overhaul his under-performing side.
      Yet he has no doubts Europe’s top players are still keen to move to the Emirates.
      He said: “When I speak to people in the market, a lot of players want to play for Arsenal.
      “Why? Because we have an incredible history, an incredible structure, we’re in a beautiful city and have a style of play that attracts players.”
      Arteta believes Liverpool are the perfect template for Arsenal to copy after watching the way Jurgen Klopp transformed the club during his five years in charge.
      Arteta added: “What they have done is phenomenal. It took them some time to rebuild the squad with a new culture, philosophy and game model but they were really smart in the way they recruited.
      “The moment Liverpool addressed the spine of their team, things changed dramatically.
      “You get one of the best defenders in the world with the best goalkeeper and one of the best holding midfielders and it’s a quick fix.
      “The same thing happened straight away at Manchester City when they signed Aymeric Laporte.”

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      Rob Holding is all smiles during trainingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Arsenal will hope to get Mesut Ozil off the wage billCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Aubameyang is in talks to sign a new contract at ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Arteta is likely to rest some players tonight with one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against City.
      He complained: “This is our ninth game in a month and we only had the recovery advantage in one, against Spurs.
      “The other teams have had 24, 36 and even 48 hours more time to rest.”

      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta backs rival Jose Mourinho to turn Tottenham around More

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      Football needs to remove barriers for BAME community and let talent rise to top

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      JUDGE a man by the content of his character, not by the colour of his skin.
      Following the awful murder of George Floyd in America, the Black Lives Matter movement increased the volume, putting racial equality firmly front and centre.

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      Chris Powell is one of few BAME coaches to be given a chance in English footballCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Sport isn’t above this discussion and neither should it be.
      Kick It Out and Diversity For Fans, two well-established football groups in pursuit of racial equality (who could well use more profile and better financing), could have been the ‘go to’ route for players in this country to show support.
      Instead, football gave in to players, incorporating BLM on the field of play.
      And the pitch should be a place of neutrality.

      Players now have too much power. The structure, regulations and messaging of the sport should be enforced by the authorities.
      It is one thing handing over all the financial benefits of football to the players, it is another entirely to cede control to them.
      Allowing one message opens the door to all, and given the BLM organisation itself has far more sinister motives than racial equality, we’ve seen distancing from the Premier League and Sky.
      Racial equality isn’t a bonus or privilege, it is a fundamental right — as is equal opportunity.

      It’s important to establish why racial inequality exists and then focus on the solution. But it needs facts over feelings.”

      Yet equal opportunity doesn’t necessarily mean equal outcome. Talent gives that.
      In football, statistically, there’s an under-representation from the BAME community in dugouts, boardrooms and coaching roles.
      The claim is that systemic racism and unconscious bias are to blame.
      Yet, surely, statistics are the beginning of a conversation, rather than the conclusion.
      It’s important to establish why racial inequality exists and then focus on the solution. But it needs facts over feelings.
      Twenty-five professional clubs in England have employed black managers, albeit often the same ones like, Chris Powell, Paul Ince and Keith Curle.

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      Premier League players have taken a knee before every game as a show of solidarity against racial injusticeCredit: PA:Press Association
      This suggests the game isn’t institutionally racist but perhaps that the supply channel of candidates from the community isn’t big enough.
      So, why is that?
      Perceived stigma perhaps plays a part.
      The belief that ‘if you are black, it’s not worth applying’ must not be advanced, nor should the fact others have failed be a deterrent.
      During my ownership of Crystal Palace, a club steeped in multi-ethnicity, I never received an application for the manager’s vacancy from the BAME community — and I had eight managers in ten years.
      I’ve often asked and really never been given answers on the percentage of qualified coaches from the BAME community to measure the disparity.

      Football must evolve, with best practice, and look for best in class.
      Perhaps a successful model to look to is the PFA, with Brendan Batson, Clarke Carlisle, current deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes and Jason Lee all holding senior positions.
      Football owes it to itself to dispel all myths, remove all perceived and real barriers and allow talent to go where it wants — at all levels.
      A failure to do that is in nobody’s best interest.

      Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson speaks about ‘cowardly and despicable’ racial abuse levelled at Wilfried Zaha before Aston Villa match More

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      Man Utd legend Paul Scholes’ wife Claire leaves their marital home of 21 years and ‘stops wearing wedding ring’

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      PAUL SCHOLES’ marriage is in crisis after 27 years together.
      The Man Utd hero’s wife Claire has left the marital home which they shared for 21 years.

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      Paul Scholes and his wife Claire are in a marriage crisisCredit: Xposure

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      Claire is seen out at the shops without her wedding ringCredit: nb press ltd
      She is now staying 20 minutes away and no longer wears her wedding ring.
      A source said the pair, both 45, are “devastated”. They added: “You have to feel for them as they both value family above everything else.
      “They’ve been together forever and nobody saw this coming.”
      Scholes met Claire in his local pub when they were 18 and they married six years later. They raised their three children at the home in Saddleworth, Gtr Manchester, they bought after the 1998 World Cup.

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      Close-up of Claire’s hand with her wedding band missingCredit: nb press ltd

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      Manchester United legend Paul Scholes in actionCredit: Reuters
      It is not far from the council estate where Scholes was brought up.
      He cited missing Claire too much as the reason he retired from Three Lions duty in 2004, aged just 29.
      Claire walked out on the Old Trafford pitch after his testimonial in 2011 and was by his side at The Class of 92 film premiere in December 2013.
      Scholes, believed to have a £27million fortune, often shared pictures of him and Claire, but the last one on his Instagram page was in February.

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      Paul Scholes’ wife is understood to have left the marital homeCredit: nb press ltd

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      Paul and his wife, Claire, on a night out in 2013Credit: Insight News and Features

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      Claire is now staying 20 minutes away from the home she shared with PaulCredit: nb press ltd

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      Paul and Claire, both 45, are reportedly ‘devastated’Credit: WENN
      A source said: “People have wondered for a while if things were OK.  Everyone is gutted their fears have been confirmed.”
      Scholes is the latest United great from The Class of 92 to suffer marriage problems.
      Both Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have also split from their wives.

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      Claire, pictured, and Paul had been together for 27 yearsCredit: nb press ltd

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      Paul and Claire happy on their wedding dayCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      But David and Victoria Beckham are together after 20-plus years.
      A source said: “It’s sad to think that of that group, only the Neville brothers and David are still in strong relationships. But after so long together, these things can happen. You really feel for them.”
      Paul and Claire were approached for comment.

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      Scholes is the latest from The Class of 92 to suffer marriage heartacheCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Man Utd legend Paul Scholes has still got it as Class of ’92 stars including Gary Neville take up loo roll challenge
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      Man Utd fan relieved after betting £55,000 inheritance on Liverpool winning Premier League title

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      A GAMBLER breathed a massive sigh of relief after betting his £55,000 inheritance on Liverpool winning the Premier League.
      Manchester United fan Tony Ward, 55, had been waiting nervously on his mega-flutter since March’s lockdown.

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      Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
      But the dad of three collected £91,000, including his stake, when Jürgen Klopp’s side were confirmed as champions last month.
      Tony inherited £55,000 when his mum Rose died in 2017 aged 82 — and put the lot on Liverpool back in October, at odds of 4/6.
      He said: “Liverpool were always looking like they could win the title. I picked them after a long, long debate.”
      He then watched Liverpool streak ahead of Manchester City, with the title a mere formality — until the coronavirus lockdown came.

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      Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
      Tony, who calls himself an “armchair” Man United supporter, then had an agonising wait before the season eventually restarted in mid-June,
      He said: “I would have got my stake back, I think, if the season had been cancelled. But that would have been unfair.
      “Liverpool were that far clear. They only needed six points.”
      The Kop idols, managed by Klopp, quickly got those, clinching their first top-flight title in 30 years and earning Tony his payout from Ladbrokes.

      He is now planning a foreign getaway while keeping the rest in the bank.

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      Credit: Getty – Contributor

      He added: “I fancy a big holiday. The rest is for a rainy day.”
      Tony, of Bradford, West Yorks, said of his mum: “She wouldn’t have minded what I did with the money — not at all. She liked a flutter!
      “She liked the horses. But I’d give it all back to have my mum still around.”

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      Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

      Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hails Pep Guardiola as the ‘best manager of our era’
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