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      Boss of Women’s Champions League title-holders Lyon pays tribute to Liverpool icon Gerard Houllier

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      JEAN-LUC VASSEUR joined football’s biggest names in paying respects to Gerrard Houllier who passed away in France at the age of 73. 
      The Anfield legend, who won a historic treble with the Reds in 2001, was a technical director of European women’s football giants Lyon. 

      Lyon boss Jean-Luc Vasseur (left) says Gerard Houllier helped to launch his football careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Gerrard Houllier was a technical director of the 2019-20 Women’s Champion’s League winnersCredit: Pacific Coast News

      In 2019, Houllier was present at Hungary’s Groupama Arena to watch the French title-holders claim their sixth Women’s Champions League trophy by defeating Barcelona.
      Manchester City heroine Lucy Bronze and Reading ace Jess Fishlock were among the WSL stars who were part of that triumphant side. 
      Vasseur, whose current Lyon team will take on Juventus in a second-leg Women’s Champions League clash, says Houllier played a pivotal role in his career as a player. 
      And the ex-Liverpool boss said he was fortunate to know Vasseur as “a man and a player’’ following the 51-year-old’s appointment as boss of the Ligue 1 Women’s football champs in 2019. 

      On Houllier’s passing Vasseur said: “I wish to pay tribute to Gérard Houllier. 
      “I send my condolences to his relatives. 
      “He launched me as a professional player. He was a sparkling person.”
      Jamie Carragher and Phil Thompson, Houllier’s coach between 1998 and 2004, are among the other big names who paid tribute to the popular former Prem boss. 

      Absolutely devastated by the news about Gerard Houllier, I was in touch with him only last month to arrange him coming to Liverpool. Loved that man to bits, he changed me as a person & as a player & got @LFC back winning trophies. RIP Boss. 💔
      — Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 14, 2020

      Houllier famously oversaw Liverpool to FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup glory in 2001.
      In October of that year, he underwent an emergency heart operation after becoming unwell during a Premier League match against Leeds United.
      Houllier was rushed to hospital for a surgery following the discovery of a heart condition.

      Gerard Houllier led Liverpool to a treble trophy win in 2001Credit: Mirrorpix

      He resumed place on the touchline five months later and led Liverpool to a runners-up spot in the 2002 season.
      And two years later Houllier Liverpool who went on to appoint Rafa Benitez as his replacement. 
      In November 2020 he became a technical director of Lyon Women and of NWSL side OL Reign.

      Gerard Houllier dead at 73: Tributes paid to Liverpool, PSG and France legend after shock death More

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      Former Charlton ace Madelene Wright admits ‘mistakes’ after being filmed ‘inhaling from balloon’

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      AN EX-CHARLTON Women’s ace who was apparently videoed inhaling from a balloon has posted a message on social media about her ‘mistakes’.
      Footage of Madelene Wright at a friend’s gathering appeared on Snapchat in November and was later revealed by the Daily Star. 

      Madelene Wright was released from Charlton after controversial footage emerged on Snapchat

      And in a different clip the former Women’s Championship player was captured on camera drinking from a champagne bottle behind the wheel of a Range Rover. 
      Following the incident, Charlton Athletic later confirmed Wright’s registration had been cancelled and she would no longer play for the club.
      The former Millwall full-back, 22, has since taken to social media to reflect on events.
      In an Instagram post, Madelene wrote: “Mistakes have the power to turn you into something better than you were before.”

      Wright, who was pictured holding a new pair of trainers aloft in the upbeat post, expressed her gratitude to Hashtag FC footballer Stef Paci for the footwear. 
      Following the episode, Charlton told SunSport: “The club would like to make clear that although the behaviour is not acceptable, the player’s welfare remains important to us.
      “She will still have access to the club’s support channels if needed.”

      The former Millwall full-back was reportedly filmed drinking from a champagne bottle at the wheel of her Range Rover

      The Charlton ace joined the Addicks in January 2020 after leaving Millwall

      And road safety charity Brake warned of the potential risks of attempting to drive under the influence of alcohol. 

      Brake told SunSport: “Driving and alcohol simply do not mix.
      “When you’re behind the wheel you’re in charge of a potentially lethal weapon which requires full concentration and zero impairment to do so safely.”  

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      Man City and Arsenal aces wear ‘Beattie’ on warm up shirts after shattering breast cancer diagnosis

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      PLAYERS from both Manchester City and Arsenal wore warm up shirts with ‘Beattie’ on the back ahead of their match today.
      The classy gesture is a show of support for Gunners defender Jen Beattie, who opened up about her shattering breast cancer diagnosis on Saturday.

      Jen Beattie was diagnosed with breast cancer in October Credit: PA:Press Association

      Beattie’s Gunners teammates have been there for her throughout her shock diagnosisCredit: PA:Press Association

      Manchester City also aces wore ‘Beattie’ on the back of their warm up shirts in a show of supportCredit: PA:Press Association

      Arsenal Women wrote on their Twitter account: “Players from both teams will wear ‘BEATTIE 5’ on the back of their shirts during the warm-up today
      “We’re so proud of you, @JBeattie91 – and we’re proud to share your message. Early detection saves lives.”
      The Scotland international has also made the starting XI today against fellow title chasers City.
      Beattie learned of her shock breast cancer diagnosis in October and she had surgery to remove the lump.

      Thankfully the cancer hadn’t spread, meaning she didn’t have to go through rounds of debilitating chemotherapy.
      She played for the Gunners in a 3-0 win over Birmingham last time out – but she is set to start radiotherapy in the coming weeks.

      Players from both teams will wear ‘BEATTIE 5’ on the back of their shirts during the warm-up today ❤️We’re so proud of you, @JBeattie91 – and we’re proud to share your message 👇Early detection saves lives. pic.twitter.com/UlGSeiiB4u
      — Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) December 13, 2020

      And now she wants to raise awareness of young breast cancer sufferers in a bid to encourage women to get checked.
      The Arsenal superstar said: “I needed to normalise the conversation and say the words, tumour and cancer, and speak to people because it was so alien to me I never thought anything like this would happen.

      “I know people are maybe scared to go to the hospital and scared to get checked out because of Covid, but there are still ways to do it.”
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

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      Arsenal star Jen Beattie opens up on breast cancer battle and reveals she was terrified she would die

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      GUNNERS heroine Jen Beattie has bravely revealed how she has been living with breast cancer whilst playing in the top flight in an emotional BBC interview.
      And the WSL ace who was diagnosed in October says she “automatically thought the worst”  and asked her doctor: “Am I going to die?” 

      Scotland star Beattie has made four appearances for Arsenal this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Arsenal defender Beattie, 29, who has been capped 130 times for Scotland, bravely admitted that she wanted the normalise the conversation around the disease.
      Beattie told BBC Football Focus:  “I found a lump in my breast. I checked them quite regularly I would say.
      “But something just felt a little bit different and after various tests, I got diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of October. 
      “It kind of does seem like a massive blur.

      “It completely caught me totally off guard especially with the way this year (2020) has been.   
      “You automatically think the worst. I asked the question, ‘Am I going to die?’ that’s what I asked them.
      “I was grateful because they allowed my club doctor to be in appointments with me to ask all the right medical questions, because I didn’t have a clue.
      “I live a totally healthy lifestyle. I don’t drink, take drugs and I’m  a professional sports star and still that can happen.

      “It’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk about this. I needed to normalise the conversation.”

      Beattie, who rejoined Arsenal from Manchester City last season has been receiving radiation treatment for her condition. 
      So far this term the centre-back has made four appearances for Joe Montemurro’s title-chasing Gunners and played in two games for Scotland. 
      The Arsenal heroine tearfully revealed how her team-mates, who will take on Manchester City, have rallied around her.
      And stars from across the women’s game and have been posting messages of support on social media.

      Jen Beattie reveals her Arsenal team-mates have been rallying round to support herCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
      Beattie added: “The girls here were just unbelievable.
      “I feel like it’s moments like these or times like these where you realise why you play sport.
      “It really is like being part of a family away from family. 
      “I don’t know what I would have done without them. That’s the staff and the players. They’ve all been unbelievable.
      “The support I’ve had down here has got me through it, for sure.” More

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      Leicester boss Morgan keeping ‘feet firmly on the ground’ as Women’s Championship promotion battle heats up

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      JONATHAN MORGAN says his Leicester City side will not be getting ahead of themselves in their bid to seal a historic promotion to the WSL. 
      And the Foxes boss, whose team currently top the Women’s Championship, is “under no illusion” of the threat posed by their closest rivals.

      Jonathan Morgan is not taking Leicester’s good form in the Women”s Championship for grantedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Leicester, who reached the last eight of the Conti Cup, by knocking Birmingham out of the contest on penalties, are due to face Charlton in the second tier.
      And the in-form team, who have Emile Heskey as their ambassador, have won their last five games across all competitions since the start of November.
      However, the gap between Leicester and rivals Liverpool, Durham and Sheffield United is considerably tight.
      The fourth-placed Blades are just three points adrift of pole position in the table and former WSL powerhouse Liverpool are just a point behind the Foxes.

      Morgan told SunSport: “Right now we’re doing very well. But it’s only halfway through the season.
      “There are a lot of twists and turns still to come before the season finishes.
      “We are under no illusions that Durham and Sheffield are very, very experienced teams.  
      They have a good work ethic, a good mentality that suits this this league – hence why see them competing so well again this year 

       “Liverpool for us are the favourites coming down from WSL 1. 
      “To be honest, we still see them as the benchmark of the league and we just want to make sure that we can just try and stay ahead of them. 
      “We still think that with their squad they should have the favourites tag on them. 
      “But we will keep doing our thing, game-by-game as we understand it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” 
      Leicester have conceded four goals in their last five Championship games.

      Leicester City keeper Kirstie Levell is targeting a Golden Gloves win in the Championship
      All the encounters – including a home clash with Liverpool – have resulted in victories for Morgan and his players.
      However, Kirstie Levell, who pulled off an impressive first-half penalty save during the Foxes’ league cup win against Birmingham, aims to rack up more shutouts. 
      The Leicester stopper, 23 who played for England Under-23s, and is also eligible to play for Scotland, is targeting a Golden Gloves win this term. 
      Levell told SunSport: “From the very beginning of the season, I said, I want to win the Golden Gloves. 

      Leicester will play Charlton who lost seven of their first eight games in the second tier this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “At the end of the season, I want to be the goalkeeper in this league who has the most clean sheets
      “At the moment, I don’t think I’m winning that but, at the end of the day, if we’re winning, and and we are keeping clean sheets that is  a major bonus, 
      “But if we’re just getting the win and not keeping clean sheets, then I have got to hold my hands up and say, we are getting in the win and that is all that really matters.”

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      USA ace Alex Morgan gives it ‘welly’ when it comes to learning local lingo from Tottenham team-mates

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      ALEX MORGAN has jokingly admitted to having her mind blown by certain British terms used by her Tottenham team-mates.
      And the USA striker revealed how quibbles over words like ‘welly’ and ‘niggle’ had prompted banter with club colleagues off the pitch.  

      Alex Morgan has been getting to grips with certain British terms used by some of her team-matesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Morgan, 31, had life-long Spurs fan Ben Haines in hysterics when she admitted her bafflement with certain terminology. 
      The World Cup-winning striker was chatting to Haines on the N17 show ahead of her side’s upcoming WSL clash with Aston Villa. 
      And when asked her thoughts on local jargon Morgan said: “I thought that we spoke the same language and it would be super-simple, but there are so many differences.
      “You have so many different words like wellies. When I was talking with our publicist at Tottenham (about a knee injury) she was like, ‘just tell them you have a couple of niggles’ 

      “And I was like, ‘what does that mean?’ I didn’t know what to say. 
      “We were actually talking about it at training and I asked ‘what do you call a big truck that is driving on the highway?’
      “And they’re like, ‘a lorry’ and I’m like, ‘no it’s an 18-wheeler.” 

      “Also you guys call a backyard a garden, but I’m like, ‘what do you call it when you actually grow things because that is what we (Americans) call a garden.”

      Morgan, who made headlines after sealing a stunning one-year move to Tottenham from Orlando Pride, hopes Spurs will grab their second win of the season at The Hive. 
      The USA ace has only returned to competitive football this term after giving birth to her daughter Charlie in May this year. 
      And her current club had struggled to pick up wins earlier this term following a tough run of games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton. 

      Alex Morgan has been reflecting on life at Tottenham on the club’s N17 showCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Alex Morgan and her team-mates will be after maximum points when they take on Aston VillaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The USA international nabbed her first club goal from the spot as Tottenham claimed their first win of the season under the watchful gaze of new gaffer Rehanne Skinner. 
      The victory over Brighton saw the side temporarily move into ninth before being leapfrogged by Aston Villa who defeated Bristol City midweek. 

      “I think the place we are in the table isn’t fitting for the talent we have in the team
      Alex Morgan

      The last time Tottenham clashed with the Villans was back in May 2019 when they sealed their promotion to the top flight via a 1-1 draw. 
      And Morgan sees her team’s upcoming encounter with Villa as a “huge” opportunity to collect another precious win. 
      The USA striker added: “I think the place we are in the table isn’t fitting for the talent we have in the team.
      “Obviously this is a huge game for us coming up.

      Alex Morgan, on target against Brighton, hopes to net more goals for Tottenham this termCredit: Rex Features
      ” I wasn’t there for the history of the two clubs and the promotion of Spurs by drawing against Villa in the Championship. 
      “This is the first time we are meeting since (that game).
      “I’m pretty excited and I think the girls are ready.”

      Tottenham signing Alex Morgan shows off her skills on the training pitch More

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      Goteburg 1 Man City 2: Gareth Taylor hails City’s ‘resilience’ as Georgia Stanway nets 50th club goal

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      GARETH TAYLOR praised Manchester City’s grit as they battled to a 2-1 win after being caught cold by Göteborg. 
      But the City boss reckons his side – who had 18 shots on target – could have had a bigger lead ahead of their second leg clash with the Swedish champs. 

      Georgia Stanway equalised for Manchester City against Göteborg on her 130th appearance for the club

      Taylor said: “We’re not going to dress it up. We should have had an improved result than what we finished with. 
      “But after the kind of start that we had, I thought the girls showed really good resilience, we controlled the game and gave them limited opportunities. 
      “But potentially we should have been going back with a bigger cushion,
      “And that is what we said to the girls afterwards. 

      “We told them don’t underestimate this opposition especially on their own pitch as they are very dangerous.” 
      Göteborg had been off for a month coming in this game, with their season ending in November.
      But any expectations of the hosts being rusty were blown away in the second minute with skipper Vilde Boe Risa latching on to a rebound to give them an early lead.

      Manchester City go into their second leg with Göteborg with an away goal advantageCredit: Rex Features
      However, City, who appeared stunned in the opening ten minutes, took control midway through the first half. 

      And the visitors grabbed a deserved a 39th-minute equaliser with Georgia Stanway rifling in her 50th goal in a City vest, much to her boss’s delight. 
      Taylor said: “The girls rib Georgia a bit for the amount of shots she has and her return. 
      “It was a great goal and a great finish. We’ve really challenged her.
      “That’s what we were looking for tonight, that kind of finish. Her energy was good.”
      The second period began in the same vein as much of the first with Stanway,  Chloe Kelly and Janine Beckie causing problems down the flanks. 
      And Taylor’s side got the lead and win they deserved with Sam Mewis heading in her third goal of the season on her Champion’s League debut.

      USA star Sam Mewis netted her first Champions League goal on her tournament debutCredit: PA:Press Association

      Arsenal are up next for Taylor’s side ahead of their tantalising second leg clash with the Swedish title-holders. 
      Sam Mewis said: “Göteborg are a great team, but we know we could have put more goals away. 
      “We want to take care of business and go through to the next round.”

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      Benfica 0 Chelsea 5: Fran Kirby hits double to become Blues’ all-time top scorer in Champions League romp

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      RAMPANT Chelsea demolished Benfica in a FIVE goal romp – with Fran Kirby hitting twice to become the club’s all-time record scorer.
      The Blues strike sensation has now found the net 70 times for the West Londoners, despite being dogged with injuries and illness for the past year.

      Fran Kirby hit a brace against Benfica to become Chelsea’s all-time record scorerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      It was a perfect day in the office for the Blues after they made it a 5-0 rout against Benfica the first-leg of the round of 32Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      She stormed past Chelsea legend Eni Aluko’s tally of 68, even after being told she may never play football again due to a rare heart condition.
      Millie Bright, Pernille Harder and Beth England also made the score-sheet with Guro Reiten adding three assists in a perfect first leg of the round of 32.
      Boss Emma Hayes roared: “Everyday I think is a precious day and taking things one day at a time I think is helping Fran.
      “She’ll do whatever’s needed to get a result,

      “And I think that’s one of the reasons why so much goes in for her, because of the contributions she’s making to the whole, it’s not a surprise to me.
      “Fran knows what I think about her. That’s what I will say.
      “And she knows that with the performances she keeps putting in that the rewards will come for her whatever they are.
      “I think we have a tendency to build players up so much and then put them under excruciating pressure, and then kick them when they’re on the way down.

      “The important thing to say about Fran is that we’re at a nice level place and that’s where we’re going to remain.”

      Ji So-Yun set up Beth England for the West Londoners’ fifth goal Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Guro Reiten added THREE assists against the Portuguese sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The visitors burst out the traps with Harder breaking free on the left flank to find space amid Benfica’s leaky backline and tee up England.
      England flicked back to Kirby who kept a cool head to tap in just 80 SECONDS in.
      Hayes’ side continued to open fire in front of Carolina Vilao’s goal, with England stinging the Portuguese stopper’s feet with a rasping effort.
      And it was only a matter of time before they doubled their lead.
      The second breakthrough arrived when Guro Reiten stood up the most inviting of deliveries on the half-hour mark.
      She sent her free-kick dipping and curling with Millie Bright and England tussling to get on the end of it – but it was Bright who came out on top to make the crucial touch.
      Just three minutes later Kirby added to the first-half demolition thanks to assist queen Reiten.
      The Norwegian star sent a peach of a pass onto the Chelsea striker’s path for her to rifle home.
      Harder completed the West Londoners’ demolition after rising highest from Reiten’s inch-perfect corner to head home on the stroke of half-time.
      England tucked into the goal fest after the break after slotting home from Ji So-Yun’s cute through ball.
      The host’s misery was complete when Christy Ucheibe was sent packing after picking up a second yellow for clattering into Erin Cuthbert.
      Harder could have made it six before her shot was snaffled up by Vilao.
      Ann-Katrin Berger made a genuinely world class stop to deny Cloe Lacasse a late consolation in the dying moments.
      But it is worth remembering that Benfica are debutants on the European stage having only formed a women’s side for two-years.
      ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge

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