Mamadou Sakho Linked With Move to Real Betis Upon Expiry of Crystal Palace Contract

Real Betis will attempt to lure Mamadou Sakho away from Selhurst Park when his contract with Crystal Palace expires at the end of the season, according to a report in Spain.

Betis, managed by former Manchester City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, have got off to a slow start in La Liga, and currently sit 15th in the table after shipping a league high 23 goals in their opening 11 games.

Palace, meanwhile, have been up and down in the Premier League, and have been without Sakho for the most part as he continues to struggle with injuries that have dogged him for the past 18 months.

Manuel Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini will be looking for a quick fix to his defensive issues | Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

The Frenchman joined the Eagles from Liverpool for £26m four years ago, penning a four-year deal upon his arrival. But with his contract up in the summer, Betis (via Estadio Deportivo) are understood to be interested in securing his services as they target players who are out of contract.

Pellegrini has already admitted that financial constraints brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has tied his hands when it comes to buying players, leaving Sakho a more than appealing option. Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi and Napoli’s Nikola Maksimovic are also noted as potential targets, though they don’t possess the same positional flexibility that the 30-year-old offers..

One downside to moving for Sakho is his poor injury record of late. He’s spent a number of weeks and months on Palace’s treatment table, forcing Roy Hodgson to deploy Cheikhou Kouyaté out of position to fill the void. The Senegalese international has impressed in his new role, however, and has retained his place in the team even though Sakho is now fit and available again.

Roy Hodgson
Despite Sakho’s return from injury, Roy Hodgson has opted to keep Kouyate at centre-half | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Previously, Hodgson had hailed Sakho’s return from injury in September’s Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth as ‘incredible’, but since then he has barely featured.

Palace could offer Sakho extended terms, but given that’s he on a hefty wage and moving him on for a substantial transfer fee is unlikely in the future, the club may opt to cut their losses and allow him to move on if Betis’ interest comes to fruition.

Let’

Inconsistency Will Continue to Hinder Man Utd Without a Long-Term Striker Solution

There’s always a million and one talking points to take away from a Manchester United game these days, good and bad, but they were mostly of the latter persuasion following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

We could start anywhere, really. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s inability to effectively use and recognise when he needs to make substitutions proved costly yet again, but there’s only so much he can do from the dugout.

Another inconsistent performance from the 11 United players on the pitch was disappointing but not surprising, and something fans are getting all too used to seeing. One game, they look capable of beating anyone put in front of them and brimming with confidence. The next, they look a complete shadow and entirely bereft of confidence – and footballing knowhow.

Presnel Kimpembe, Fred, Neymar
United completely lost their composure against Les Parisiens | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Sure, we can point the finger at Harry Maguire who clearly isn’t an £85m defender nor United captain material. We can also point the finger at Fred for losing his cool, too, but how he stayed on the pitch for the second half was bewildering and should’ve been rectified by Solskjaer.

The real problem, though, lies in attack.

Criticise the over-reliance on counter attacking football, but it works when the attackers are good enough. The issue is that the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford simply aren’t. A 3-1 final result flattered PSG, with United missing far too many clear-cut chances once again.

There’s an everlasting air of romance about how Martial is once again donning the number nine for United and can now grow into the role of leading the line, but how much longer is he going to get to prove himself? It’s a rhetoric that’s been played out for seasons now, but the Frenchman only shows his ability in patches and turns 25 in December, meaning this ‘potential’ excuse is long gone.

Martial has only managed to hit 20+ goals in one season with the Red Devils, which came last campaign. His debut season of 18 in all competitions was his second best, but are we really clinging onto a feat from five years ago? Sure, he might grab assists too, but 20 goals must the benchmark if you want to lead the line at a club as big as United.

He’s not alone, though, and blame must also fall on the shoulders of Marcus Rashford. It’s always hard for fans to criticise the hometown lad – especially considering Rashford’s incredible efforts off the pitch in recent times – but truthfully, it’s glaringly obvious that he also isn’t the answer to the Red Devils’ number nine problems.

The 23-year-old’s stats read similarly to Martial’s; neither of them have managed to hit 20+ goals in more than one season, with 2019/20 being the anomaly for both. The fact that United have continually relied on the pair, aimlessly swapping the nine role between them, hasn’t helped, but time is up.

It’s far too early to tell where Mason Greenwood will operate best, but even if it is to be as a central striker, he’s too young to carry the burden. Edinson Cavani has come in and proven this further by providing the cutting edge of an out-and-out number nine that both Martial and Rashford still lack, but at 33, it’s paper over the cracks.

Edinson Cavani
Cavani is a short-term option, and United must begin to plan for the future | Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

This isn’t to say that the pair don’t have a role at United, because they absolutely do. Both Martial and Rashford have proven to be creative and have an impressive range to their game, be it finishing off a counter attack, starting one, or beating a man and scoring a peach from distance. They need a number nine to bounce off, though, and it’s time for United to address this in the long-term by finding that man.

United missing out on Jadon Sancho last summer is a sign that they were after the wrong Borussia Dortmund attacker. The priority has to be a striker, and while Sancho would no doubt have made an impact, spending that cash to take Erling Haaland off their hands would’ve made much more sense.

Time is up for Martial and Rashford at this point. It’s time to rip off the plaster and accept that they simply cannot cut the mustard as a number nine. Failure to realise this will only continue to pile on problems as time progresses, no matter what manager and what style of play comes into the club in the future.

Let’

Every Player to Have Scored Four Champions League Goals in a Single Game

To score three goals in a game is the stuff of dreams. To score three in the Champions League, arguably the most prestigious club competition in the world, is pretty ridiculous. Only a select group of players can boast such a feat yet even fewer have gone one better.

In a sport as low-scoring as football – even in the relatively goal-laden post-pandemic pocket – for a team to score four goals is noteworthy in and of itself, but for a single player to rack up that gluttonous figure is sensational.

Here are the smattering of players to have enjoyed the most prolific of games on the biggest club stage.

Having already won two European Cups at the turn of the decade with Milan, Marco van Basten was hardly new to the continental elite.

However, in what was technically his first Champions League appearance since the competition’s rebranding in 1992, the mythical Dutch striker netted all four against IFK Gothenberg, sealing his hat-trick with a bicycle kick.

Van Basten remains the only player to score four on their Champions League debut.

Pippo Inzaghi’s often-forgotten younger brother Simone may not have been as prolific as his sibling. However, before working wonders as head coach of Lazio, Simone enjoyed a superb scoring start to life among the elite with the Eagles, capped by a haul against Marseille; a feat his brother never replicated.

Surprisingly, only one player in the history of the competition has scored more goals in their opening 12 Champions League than Simone Inzaghi with ten.

Turning 29 isn’t a particularly noteworthy birthday in the life of most humans, a date which primarily serves as a reminder that it’s only 12 months until the big three-oh.

However, Dado Prso made sure to remember his as he rattled in a quartet of strikes for Monaco in a helter-skelter 8-3 group stage clash with Deportivo La Coruna in 2004.

For a player so obsessed with scoring goals, few footballers will have appreciated the satisfaction of ripping four in a single game as much as Ruud van Nistelrooy, who grabbed Manchester United’s (and his) fourth against Sparta Prague in 2004 on the stroke of full time.

In a match where Andriy Shevchenko was solely responsible for Milan’s goals in a 4-0 win away to Fenerbahce, four different players provided the final pass for the ruthless Ukrainian frontman that night.

As this is Lionel Messi, he has not only scored four goals on just one occasion – memorably tearing Arsenal apart in 2010. But the great man is one of just two players to ever score five in a single Champions League game, as he did against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 as part of a mesmeric 7-1 win.

Going into first half stoppage time Dinamo Zagreb were a man down but leading Lyon 1-0 at home. Bafetimbi Gomis found the net for the visitors on the cusp of the interval and proceeded to score another two by the 52nd minute to ensure he completed the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history.

Consequently, Gomis had time to score a fourth and Lyon went on to win 7-1.

Bayern Munich managed to overturn the 1-0 deficit from their first leg against Basel, and then some, in 2012, as the Bavarian behemoths ripped seven past the then Swiss champions; Mario Gomez hogging four for himself.

Robert Lewandowski’s quartet in the 2019/20 group stage against Crvena Zvezda may be the fastest ever four goal haul in the competition, netted in 16 minutes.

However, the Pole’s first poker was vastly more significant, as it came on the day Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund taught Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid a lesson in high-energy pressing with a 4-1 win in Germany on their way to the 2013 final.

Despite the fact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has appeared in the Champions League in the colours of some of the continent’s biggest clubs (a record seven different sides) the imposing Swede has never got his hands on the big-eared trophy and only once scored more than twice in a game (but to compensate, he did belt in four against Anderlecht in 2013).

In the autumn of 2014, Luiz Adriano was in the midst of a purple patch scarcely seen in Champions League history. The Brazilian striker hit five for Shakhtar Donetsk away to BATE Borisov at the end of October before netting just the three when the two sides met again in their next European outing.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s inclusion in any goalscoring-based list is of little surprise. However, the fact that the Champions League’s all-time top scorer has only netted four in a game once in the competition, is not entirely expected.

Ahead of Bayern Munich’s trip to Tottenham in October 2019, Serge Gnabry’s father was straightforward with his advice: “I had told him that he should play well today.”

Four goals and 7-2 win later, it’s fair to say Gnabry junior adhered to his instructions.

Josip Ilicic lived up to his affectionate nickname of ‘Nonna’ – Grandma, earned for his regular moaning about fatigue – when he wearily signalled to be substituted after scoring his third goal against Valencia.

However, Gian Piero Gaspirini ignored his forward’s complaints and ten minutes later Ilicic was celebrating his fourth of the night.

At the ripe old age of 34 years and 63 days, Olivier Giroud not only became the oldest player to net four in a Champions League game, but the oldest in the competition’s history to hit as many as three.

C’est magnifique.

Let’

Trent Alexander-Arnold Discusses Significance of Fans’ Return to Stadiums

The nine-month wait for fans to return to Premier League stadiums will soon be over, and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed just how excited he is to see supporters back at Anfield.

While every team was hit hard by the absence of fans, Liverpool had it rougher than most. They ended their 30-year wait for a league title during lockdown and had to lift the trophy in an empty stadium.

Jordan Henderson
Liverpool did their best to make the event special | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

To celebrate the imminent return of fans, Red Bull gave Premier League legend Ian Wright the chance to sit down with Alexander-Arnold to discuss what it will mean to the Liverpool right-back, both as a player and a supporter, to see fans back in the stadiums.

“It’s difficult because you don’t realise how much fans influence game plans, like with momentum and the sounds you can hear… I miss the fans so much,” he confessed to Wright. “It feels empty without them.

“Even though you know they’re watching at home and they’re all over the world tuning in, it’s not the same without them. Football’s not the same. Obviously times are hard and stuff like that but it’s the world we live in right now. I miss the route into the stadium, all the fans there, tens of thousands waiting to greet us every single game. No matter what there’s at least ten thousand fans just waiting to watch the bus come into the stadium, it’s crazy.”

Alexander-Arnold has spoken of his pride towards being a ‘normal lad from Liverpool’, and like every Liverpudlian his age, there was only one man he idolised growing up – Steven Gerrard.

“He was everything to me,” Alexander-Arnold said. “When I was growing up I just wanted to be him, no other way about it. I wanted to live how he lived, I wanted to play how he played, I wanted to kick a ball how he did. I’d walk down the road and I see an empty bottle and I’d run up and strike it, and shout ‘Gerrard!’. To be fair I think a lot of kids in the city were doing the same thing!

“There was a Champions League game and he was suspended. At that time I played for Liverpool and they gave us complimentary tickets – I think it was me, my brother and my mum who went.

“Before the game we all went to the players’ lounge and then he walks in and I don’t think I’ve ever felt that feeling. You know when you don’t think someone’s human? You’ve built them up so much you don’t even feel like they’re a real person…you just crumble! We got a picture and stuff like that. He was amazing with us and it’s a day that I’ll never ever forget.”

Alexander-Arnold has fond memories of watching his beloved Liverpool playing at Anfield, but he admitted that getting out in front of the crowd himself is a different feeling entirely.

“I’m telling you there’s something in the stadium, like spiritual,” he added. “It’s just something in the atmosphere, you can feel the history, you can feel [the force], yeah.

“The Barca game was obviously amazing but that City game [Champions League in 2018], I’ve never felt like that. The only negative about those nights is you can’t speak to your centre back as you can’t even hear them. You’re screaming at the top of your lungs, and they can’t hear you! You’re trying to tell them “Your shoulder, watch your shoulder” but they can’t hear you. That’s the only negative but it’s a positive really.”

To watch ‘Can’t Wait to See You’ in full head to: redbull.co.uk/cantwait.

Let’

Burnley vs Everton Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Burnley welcome Everton to Turf Moor in the early kick off on Saturday afternoon, where a win would be enough to lift them out of the relegation zone while other fixtures play out.

It’s been a disastrous start to the season for Sean Dyche’s side, who have managed just one win from their opening nine games, drawing twice and losing six. Burnley have proven a typically resilient side who are tough to beat in previous seasons, but are still yet to find their groove and look set to flirt with the relegation zone more than ever this year.

Sean Dyche
It’s been a challenging season for Burnley to date | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Everton’s sizzling hot form has cooled off following an incredible start to the season that saw them win four of their five opening league games. They’ve won just one in their last three, but will see a trip to Burnley as an opportunity to get over what feels like a bump in the road.

Both sides need the win but for entirely different reasons; Burnley can use a big three points against Everton as a catalyst to finally kickstart their season, while failure to win for the Toffees could send them down a slippery slope and undo an incredible start.

Here’s 90min‘s preview of the game.

When is Kick Off? Saturday 5 December
What Time is Kick Off? 12:30 (GMT)
Where is it Played? Turf Moor
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport 1 (UK)
Referee? Anthony Taylor

The hosts have endured an injury hit start to the season which has no doubt played a part in their slow start. Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was drafted in against Manchester City last week, but the Clarets are hopeful that Nick Pope will be available once again after sitting out with concussion.

Phil Bardsley, Josh Brownhill, Robbie Brady and Dale Stephens were all also absent at the Etihad, although the former two are nearing a return to the side.

FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-BURNLEY
Peacock-Farrell was thrown in at the deep end for his debut against Manchester City last weekend | MICHAEL REGAN/Getty Images

Experienced midfielder Jack Cork is also out for Burnley, but winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson is making progress and could feature.

For the visitors, long-term absentee Lucas Digne remains out and will be a huge miss in breaking down a low block side. Seamus Coleman also remains a doubt, while Jean-Philippe Gbamin is expected to return later this month.

Otherwise, Everton have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Benson, McNeil; Rodriguez, Barnes.

Everton: Pickford; Godfrey, Keane, Mina; Delph, Doucoure, Allan, Iwobi; Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison.

Burnley managed a win against Crystal Palace at the end of November, but all momentum from that three points was quashed with their dreaded annual visit to the Etihad Stadium.

They lost 5-0 last weekend to add another to their growing list of massive defeats away to City, and have little inspiration to draw from with a depleted squad and their last win before the Palace game being all the way back in September.

Everton were completely outplayed themselves by Leeds last weekend, however. While the 1-0 scoreline doesn’t make for terrible reading, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were completely off the pace and never looked capable of breaking down the newly promoted side.

Ezgjan Alioski, Tom Davies - Soccer Player - Born 1998
Tom Davies struggled with the right wing back role given to him against Leeds | Visionhaus/Getty Images

There’s a hangover from the positive start to the season that seems to be weighing down the Toffees, who also slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United last month and could’ve easily dropped points against Fulham, despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s brace.

Here’s how each side has fared in their last five games.

Burnley

Manchester City 5-0 Burnley (28/11)
Burnley 1-0 Crystal Palace (23/11)
Brighton 0-0 Burnley (06/11)
Burnley 0-3 Chelsea (31/10)
Burnley 0-1 Tottenham (26/10)

Everton

Everton 0-1 Leeds (28/11)
Fulham 2-3 Everton (22/11)
Everton 1-3 Manchester United (7/11)
Newcastle 2-1 Everton (1/11)
Southampton 2-0 Everton (25/10)

It’s difficult to call a winner considering the magic that surrounds the early kick off in Saturday’s Premier League fixture schedule, but the visitors have to be the favourites.

Burnley will feel that this is Everton on the ropes and their best chance of snatching three points, but the Toffees will also be mindful that playing Burnley right now is the perfect way to get over a slump in form and kick on once again.

Riyad Mahrez
Burnley must completely forget last week’s result and focus on picking apart a shaky Everton side | Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Ultimately, Ancelotti has the bigger and better squad and will be able to manage the game more effectively, holding out for a tough three points.

Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Everton

Let’