The German coach spoke openly about the Red Devils’ tactics, but insisted he shouldn’t be worried about it.

Photo by Getty Images

After a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Manchester United‘s defensive style does not fit in with the fixture’s history.

The Red Devils, who played with a back five, only had 32 per cent possession during the match as they defended for long periods after Marcus Rashford gave them a first-half lead.

But Adam Lallana earned the away side a point with a strike five minutes from time to keep Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season alive.

When asked about their opponents’ tactics, Klopp pointedly said United consistently sat deep in defence whenever his team came to the Theatre of Dreams.

“[Man Utd’s style] doesn’t frustrate me,” he said post-match. “I’m not the person who should be concerned about this style.

“It’s just a fact that when we come here, they just defend. It’s OK, no criticism, it’s just a fact.

“When United plays Liverpool, usually you’d think both teams would play like this, would try. We are the one team everyone is on their toes when United play us.

“With the quality they have, the way they set up is really difficult.

“It’s no excuse. I thought we could do better today. But you cannot play each team like this.”

Four of the last five United-Liverpool games at Old Trafford have ended in draws, with the home side’s 2-1 win in March 2018 the only outlier.

Klopp suggested United’s defensive set-up on their own pitch was a product of Liverpool’s current strength, but admitted his team didn’t play well on the day.

“We don’t have to say it’s a compliment,” Klopp said. “It’s just that we are a good team and it’s normal that people think how they can stop us.

“Today we had a big say in that – we stopped ourselves!

“But of course United defended really well and then had the speed with James and Rashford. They chip the ball in behind and then the race is on! That’s not cool.

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Russia will play Kosovo in Women’s Euro 2021 qualifiers but the matches will take place at neutral venues

Thousands of Ajax fans are set to attend Leyton Orient’s Leasing.com Trophy game against Brighton U21s, after UEFA banned them from going to the Champions League fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Leyton Orient were promoted to Sky Bet League Two in the summer

More than 2,000 Ajax supporters are planning on visiting the 9,271-capacity Brisbane Road, home of Sky Bet League Two side Orient, promoted from the National League last season.

UEFA banned Ajax fans from the Champions League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on November 5 following crowd trouble in their fixture at Valencia.

The ban comes following a suspended sentence imposed after Ajax’s Champions League game against Benfica last season.

Ajax have requested additional information from UEFA and have the right to lodge an appeal against the sanctions, while many of their fans have been left in limbo having already booked flights and accommodation in London.

One Ajax fan took to Twitter, writing: “Dear @leytonorientfc, are you willing to host 2,000 Ajax fans?

“We are systematically and unlawfully screwed by @UEFA and @metpoliceuk. Lots of us booked transport and hotels already and will travel. You might risk a great atmosphere and memories forever. Kind regards.”

Leyton Orient said in a club statement: “We’re aware of the interest from AFC Ajax supporters in attending the Leasing.com Trophy match against Brighton and Hove Albion U21s on November 5 at the Breyer Group Stadium.

“We will be entering in communication with AFC Ajax in how best to facilitate this.”

Source – Sky Sport

The Liverpool boss was not happy with material that he saw as providing Sunday’s opponents with further motivation.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the media for giving Manchester United further motivation ahead of Sunday’s game at Old Trafford.

The Reds enter the rivalry match atop the Premier League table, having won all eight of their league games so far this season.

United, meanwhile, have fallen on hard times, sitting 12th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

With this as the backdrop, there has been an air of ridicule around traditional power United in the week leading up to the match. Klopp was particurally bothered by articles that picked a combined XI from the two teams and included no Man Utd players.

“In general, the mood that these things create? Yes, I would use it,” Klopp said of United being provided bulletin-board material by various media outlets.​

“So that is the situation that everyone creates: that we are so good and they have so many problems, they cannot play football anymore, we are flying, all this stuff.

“I saw all these things and it looks like they want to help Man Utd. All these articles look like they have been written by Man Utd supporters. A banana skin, a joke.

“I saw the combined team. Would I have found it insulting if it were us? Yes.”

Klopp did say that his side should be wary of a wounded United side, insisting that Sunday’s game could come at the perfect time for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, who will be expected to lose at home but could secure a season-defining result with an upset win.

“They are all on their toes, ready, they wait for us. They said it already, they said that we are the perfect opponent now,” Klopp said. ​

“I don’t think there are a lot of teams who would love to play us at the moment. ​

“It looks like Man Utd are the only ones who want us. We have to make sure that is a misunderstanding.​

“But it’s normal. I would do exactly the same if the situation was the other way round. This is the game that can change the world. That’s exactly how I would prepare it, so why shouldn’t Ole do that?”

Source – Goal.com

The Blaugrana superstar says the Brazilian international’s controversial departure has left a bad taste in the mouth of some at Camp Nou.

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Lionel Messi says there are people at Barcelona and among the club’s membership whose opposition would make it difficult to bring Neymar back to Spain.

The Brazilian forward quit Catalunya in controversial circumstances in 2017, moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee. This summer he was rumoured to be attempting to engineer a move out of Paris, with a return to Barcelona supposedly on the cards.

No move transpired and Messi, who formed a potent trident known as MSN with Neymar and Luis Suarez at Camp Nou, believes the manner of his former team-mate’s exit will make any future deal tricky, and understandably so.

“It is difficult to bring him back,” the Argentina international told Metro 95.1 in Buenos Aires.

“Firstly, because it was difficult to see him leave, secondly because of how he left.

“There are people from the club and the members who do not want him to return.

“If it is for sports, Ney is one of the best in the world, but I understand all the other factors.”

Messi has recently said he will never play for another club except Barcelona, where he has spent the entirety of his professional club career.

It has been rumoured that the talismanic forward will sign a lifetime contract, as Andres Iniesta once did, but he played down that speculation, though admitted it had been discussed.

“It had been talked about a while ago,” the 32-year-old added, “as was done with Iniesta and the others.

“I don’t want a contract to tie me up, because I don’t know how I’m going to feel. I don’t want to be [under contract] if I’m not well.

“I’m going to compete as long as I feel good physically, but obviously I would stay a lifetime.”

Messi’s time in La Liga has been partially defined by his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.

When the Portuguese was at Real Madrid he and Messi competed for titles and individual honours.

Now Ronaldo has moved to Italy with Juventus and Messi admitted that his presence had made things a little more interesting.

“Yes, it was good when he was in the Spanish league,” he said.

“It made the Clasicos more special and gave them more value.”

Source – Goal.com

A record-breaking 1.12 billion viewers watched the 2019 Women’s World Cup, a Fifa report says.

Megan Rapinoe (pictured with Fifa President Gianni Infantino) won the women’s player award at the Best Fifa Football Awards

Bulgarian police said on Wednesday they had detained six people in connection with the racist abuse faced by England’s black players during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia with more arrests likely.

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England thrashed Bulgaria 6-0 on Monday to hand the hosts their heaviest ever home defeat but the match was marred by a section of home supporters taunting the visiting players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants.

“Six people were detained so far and we’re searching for three more as we have collected evidence about their involvement in the incidents” senior commissioner Georgi Hadzhiev, director of the Sofia police department, said.

Hadzhiev added that the operation was still underway and they were trying to identify more suspects.

The match on Monday at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the Croatian referee under a three-step protocol devised by European soccer governing body UEFA.

UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on a number of charges including racist behaviour and the throwing of object and the nation’s football chief Borislav Mikhailov has already resigned in the wake of the game.

The game was twice halted and looked to be on the verge of abandonment, but England midfielder Jordan Henderson says it only spurred England on further.

England looked as though they might not complete the 90 minutesGetty Images

“It shouldn’t be happening and something needs to be done about it but I thought the lads were outstanding and if I was angry I’m sure they were angry as well.

“We let the football do the talking.

“The message in the dressing room at half-time was we wanted to go out in the second half and make them suffer and make their team suffer on the pitch and I think we did that.”

Source – Eurosport.com

The Brazilian has warned that the in-form Foxes midfielder might struggle at Old Trafford but he has welcomed interest in the Serie A duo.

Photo by Getty/Goal

Former Manchester United midfielder Kleberson has talked up the idea of the Red Devils signing Serie A duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Mario Mandzukic but he isn’t convinced James Maddison would be the right fit.

Maddison has enjoyed a superb start to the 2019-20 campaign, contributing two goals and two assists in seven outings for Leicester City, who have risen to fourth in the Premier League table.

The 22-year-old’s performances have earned him back-to-back call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, but he was forced to withdraw from the latest round of Euro 2020 qualifiers through illness.

United are thought to be keen on luring the midfielder to Old Trafford next summer, having already added one prized Leicester asset to their ranks in the form of Harry Maguire back in August.

Maddison has been tipped to accept a move to Manchester, but former Red Devil Kleberson has raised concerns over his mentality.

“I don’t think it would be great for Maddison to join United,” the World Cup winner told US-bookies .

“They [Leicester] have had a good start to the season but when you do a big jump from a smaller club to United, it is mentally tough for these players.

“They have to be able to learn to adapt to play at a big club. It will be interesting to see if they can, but I don’t know if he will be a good enough signing for United.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have lacked a creative spark in midfield this term, recording just two wins from their opening eight matches.

United have also found goals hard to come by since the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, which has left Marcus Rashford leading the line in the absence of the injured Anthony Martial.

As reported by Goal, Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic is on the verge of joining the club in a £9 million (€10m/$11m) deal, a transfer that would be welcomed by Kleberson.

“When you sign big players like Mandzukic, you can see the impact they bring into the club, not just on the pitch but also off the pitch,” the Brazilian added. “They bring experience for the young players which helps to improve them as they grow into their careers.”

Kleberson also suggested that Maguire is still lacking a top-quality partner in the heart of the United defence, and, with Goal reporting that Napoli star Koulibaly is a summer target, the former midfielder thinks he’d be a useful addition.

“Koulibaly looks athletic and physical which will bring more energy in the defence,” he said. “Maguire is a big name in England, but it would be good for United to look outside of the Premier League to find players who could play for them.”

Ahead of United’s huge showdown against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, Kleberson dismissed the notion that Paul Pogba’s absence limits the home side’s chances of victory.

He concluded: “It is a big loss for the team to have such a talented player missing, but it is Manchester United vs Liverpool, you never know what will happen! It is more of an emotional game over a technical game.”

Source – Goal.com

The prospect of moving the game to Madrid has been dismissed, but fans of the two giants will have to wait almost two more months for the showpiece.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed the postponement of the Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid due to concerns over political instability in Catalunya, with both teams now having until Monday to agree on a date.

Tensions in the region have been inflamed by a controversial court decision jailing several leading members of the Catalan independence movement for their role in organising a referendum on the subject in 2017.

As of Thursday, the streets of Barcelona and surrounding areas had been hit by four consecutive days of violent clashes between protesters and security forces.

And a massive rally is planned for the city of Barcelona on October 26 – the same day that the Blaugrana were scheduled to host their arch-rivals at Camp Nou.

Several options were considered by the RFEF amid fears conditions would be unsuitable for the showpiece game, including the possibility of changing the venue to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu home.

It has since emerged that the order of home and away matches cannot be altered after they are drawn, however, as per the league’s rules.

As such, the clubs now have until Monday at 10:00am local time to agree on a new date, otherwise a date will be chosen for them. A statement reads:

“Following an extraordinary meeting yesterday by the RFEF Competition Committee, an analysis of the Liga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid scheduled for October 26 has resulted in the following:

“The rules prevent the alteration of the order of matches between the teams already in the calendar.

“The Committee will allow the affected clubs to reach an agreement on a new date for El Clasico. Barcelona and Real Madrid are requested to select a date and time in the coming hours, with Monday, October 21 at 10:00am (CET) as a limit.

“In the case that an agreement cannot be reached, the Competition Committee will be the body responsible for determining the date of the match.”

Following RFEF’s communique, Barca released a statement of their own.

“In the light of the postponement of the game against Real Madrid, decreed by the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Competition Committee, FC Barcelona states:

“On Thursday the Club informed the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Competition Committee of its decision to say no to playing the game at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, as proposed by the Spanish Football League (LFP).

“The Club’s desire was to play the Clásico at Camp Nou on the 26th, the date and time previously agreed and the Committee was informed of this in writing.

“The Club has the utmost confidence in the civic and pacific attitude of its members and fans who always express themselves in exemplary fashion at Camp Nou.

“Nevertheless, having received the decision of the RFEF Competition Committee to postpone the game citing “exceptional circumstances” and given that it falls to the clubs to agree a new date for the game before Monday, the Club will propose 18 December.

“The Club regrets the inconvenience that this postponement may cause to members, supporters’ club members and fans and it has now begun the necessary steps to refund money from Monday 21 October for tickets already purchased.”

Barcelona resume their domestic campaign on Saturday following the international break by playing away to Eibar, while Madrid travel to Mallorca the same day in search of a victory that would keep them at the top of the Spanish top flight.

Source – Goal.com

Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez faces “two or three months out” after injuring his ankle on international duty, Chile boss Reinaldo Rueda says.

Alexis Sanchez started to impress for Inter Milan before the international break, scoring on his full debut against Sampdoria – although he was later sent off in the game

Sanchez – on loan at the Italian club from Manchester United – was hurt in Chile’s 0-0 friendly draw with Colombia in Alicante on Saturday.

The Chilean Football Federation said the 30-year-old had dislocated tendons in his left ankle.

Sanchez has returned to Milan for further assessment.

Sanchez, who joined Antonio Conte’s Inter on a season-long loan deal in August, scored on his first start for the Serie A title hopefuls against Sampdoria on 28 September and he also impressed in their Champions League defeat at his former club Barcelona.

Source – BBC News