Leach takes immunosuppressants to manage his Crohn’s disease which make him more vulnerable to infection

George Dobell07-Jan-2021Jack Leach has admitted he has feels “vulnerable” to Covid-19 and said there have been moments when he questioned whether his health issues would prevent him ever playing for England again.Leach has not played Test cricket since he was forced home from New Zealand due to illness at the end of 2019. On that trip he suffered a flare up of Crohn’s disease – a condition which leads to a diminished immune system – which eventually saw him hospitalised with a bout of sepsis that left him fearing for his life.Although he was subsequently recalled to the squad that went to South Africa, he again struggled with his health and was sent home early to concentrate on making a full recovery. He has now been informed by the UK government that he is medically vulnerable to Covid-19, a scenario he described as “scary”.Related

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Leach feared for his life after bout of sepsis on New Zealand tour

“I do [feel] a little bit [vulnerable],” Leach told on BBC Radio 5 Live. “The medication I’m on does weaken my immune system and I had some illness last winter. Looking back at the symptoms I had in South Africa, I do wonder if that was coronavirus. Obviously, from the little stuff I do know, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t get it again.”I did get texts at the start [of the pandemic] from the government telling me I’m in the vulnerable category, which was hard to deal with because I felt like I was healthy. I didn’t feel ill or anything. That was a little bit scary.”But I feel fit and healthy other than my Crohn’s. I have to, through my diet and supplements, keep my Crohn’s as well as it can be. It’s always going to be there. I was very ill in NZ with sepsis, which makes me feel like if I did get coronavirus, I’d be able to fight it off.”

“Speaking to the guys, there were mistakes made over there [in South Africa]. The bubble created was maybe not as secure as it should have been”

While Leach admitted that there are moments when such concerns play on his mind, he said he was grateful for the support put in place to prevent both mental and physical health issues and insisted that he is focusing on the more positive aspects of his imminent return to action in Sri Lanka. He also hinted that the protocols on that tour seem more robust than those in South Africa, where England’s white-ball squads toured in December for a T20I series and three ODIs which were ultimately postponed.”I’ve had some really good support from doctors and psychologists,” he said. “It’s something the ECB have taken really seriously. We have James Bickley [a chartered clinical psychologist] from Changing Minds with us. He’s helped a few of the guys in the past. On previous tours we might have had a sports psychologist for a few days, but it has been ramped up for this situation. I’m certainly very grateful for that.”When Moeen Ali had a positive test, with that comes uncertainty. It’s important we all get around each other, even if it’s just over FaceTime or WhatsApp. We’re getting a lot better at that. Men in general can be pretty poor at that, but I feel like we have a good, open group, who are prepared to say when we’re struggling. It’s been reinforced to us to get help if we’re struggling, or if we really need to go home that is an option to us. That eases the pressure on it. It feels like showing insecurity is OK and you can use your team-mates to help you through.Leach made only two first-class appearances in 2020•Getty Images”Speaking to the guys, there were mistakes made over there [in South Africa]. The bubble created was maybe not as secure as it should have been. From how strict it is here [in Sri Lanka], it has definitely been ramped up. We have a Covid officer. There are checks on social distancing and masks. Lessons were learned from that series. You want to create an environment where if someone does unfortunately get Covid, we can continue to play cricket.”With everything going on back at home, we feel very lucky to be out here, getting the opportunity to play cricket and do what we love. I try to focus on what an amazing opportunity it is to play for England and there have been times when I’ve wondered if that would happen again. [In] the last year or so there have been lows for me and you question if that opportunity will come again.”That opportunity should come shortly. Leach was England’s joint top wicket-taker (with Moeen Ali) when they won in Sri Lanka in late 2018, and is expected to play alongside Dom Bess in the first Test. He played only two first-class games in 2020 after spending most of the summer as a reserve in the Test bubble, but has suggested that he is an improved bowler after working hard in the nets.”There are great memories [in Sri Lanka] from last time,” he said. “I’m very excited about the possibility of playing, but there are also some great options out here, so I’m not presuming anything. I want to put myself in as good a shape as possible for the first Test. If picked, I’ll try to do the same again.”

Arsenal have shown they want a £50 million Premier League star "in recent days", coming amid their advancing talks over a deal for Riccardo Calafiori.

Arsenal look to finalise Calafiori signing after agreeing personal terms

The north Londoners agreed personal terms with Calafiori over a five-year contract last week, as backed by Fabrizio Romano, as Arsenal continue talks with Bologna over the final fee for him.

Related Arteta personally wants Arsenal to sign £30 million Jesus alternative

The Spaniard thinks he’s ideal.

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Sporting director Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta could soon welcome Calafiori as their second summer signing, after completing a £27 million deal for goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford.

The Italy international, who impressed at Euro 2024 and was a sore miss through suspension in their last 16 defeat to Switzerland, also helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League last season.

Despite conceding the fewest goals of any Premier League side season, Arsenal's potential agreement for the 22-year-old would reinforce Arteta's options at both centre-back and left-back – with the Serie A ace capable of playing both roles.

Fewest goals conceded in the Premier League last season

Arsenal

29

Man City

34

Liverpool

41

Everton

51

Man United/Crystal Palace

58

Reliable media outlets like The Guardian state that Arsenal are hoping to finalise a deal for Calafiori this week, but the Gunners may have to pay around £42 million, as Bologna hold firm on their asking price. The Italians owe 50 per cent of the final fee to FC Basel, who included a seismic sell-on clause in their deal to sell Calafiori to Bologna last summer.

Once or if Arsenal get Calafiori over the line, attention will turn to other areas of Arteta's team that need reinforcing ahead of 2024/2025. One position is centre-midfield, which may not be as strong by the beginning of next season without a new addition.

Thomas Partey is ready to leave Arsenal in pursuit of a fresh challenge, according to reports, while Mohamed Elneny left the Emirates after his contract expired on June 30.

They did agree to extend Jorginho's deal, keeping him at London Colney until next summer, but Arteta may need a star alternative to the 32-year-old and Declan Rice in the middle of the park.

Arsenal show Joao Gomes interest "in recent days"

According to South American journalist Valentin Furlan, Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes has emerged as a target for Edu.

The Brazilian, who starred under Gary O'Neil last season, is a wanted man across the Premier League. Arsenal have shown interest in signing Gomes from Wolves "in recent days", according to Furlan, but reports suggest he's valued at around £50 million.

Wolves, taking into account his good market value, are also not opposed to selling in the coming weeks, making this one to watch.

Pep Guardiola explained why he is unlikely to manage Barcelona again ahead of his contract expiring at Manchester City.

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Guardiola won't return to BarcaMan City deal expires in 2025Could sign another one-year dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Guardiola, who started his managerial career at Barcelona, went on to become the most successful coach in the history of the club. He left after spending just four years at Camp Nou and has since then claimed on multiple occasions that his fatigue and the internal politics drove him away from his beloved Barca.

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With the legendary manager's current City contract expiring in the summer of 2025, Guardiola has been linked with a possible return to the Catalan club but the 53-year-old has explained why is unlikely to return to the club in the future. It was reported last month that the City boss could consider penning one last contract that would extend his stay at Etihad until 2026.

WHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

Speaking to , Guardiola said: "From my point of view, Barca should not change its model. From the outside, everyone sees Barca as something different. This club gives off a charisma, and a special smell. What greater praise can you receive?

"It has always been like this, and it always will be. It has happened to all of us. Here the shots come from everywhere, and every day. But the ones that hurt the most are the ones that arise from within. There are many small wars within Barca every day. In the end, you come to the conclusion that the only thing that matters is convincing your players of your idea and what you think should be done. As for the rest, it is better not to enter to take care of your own health."

He added: "The danger of daily fatigue that comes with trying to manage the Barca environment. The scorn for what you do is constant and this ends up taking its toll on you."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

City, who currently have a one-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the table, will be next seen in action against Bournemouth in an away Premier League fixture on Saturday.

Cameron Green will play his first day-night first-class match at the SCG on Friday

Andrew McGlashan09-Dec-2020

Adam Gilchrist believes the Australia selectors should rubberstamp Joe Burns’ place in the Test line-up before the pink-ball warm-up game against India at the SCG to allow him to play with a freedom that may help break his run drought.It is a conversation that may well already have taken place and Burns has had plenty of backing in recent weeks from selectors and team-mates, but two more low scores at Drummoyne Oval for Australia A – caught behind trying to leave a ball and then dragging on a drive – left him with a tally of 61 runs in seven innings for the summer.The subsequent concussion suffered by Will Pucovski and the groin injury that has ruled out David Warner have added to the question marks over the opening positions for the day-night Test in Adelaide.The wording of national selector Trevor Hohns’ remarks on Wednesday – where he said Burns had enjoyed “excellent” preparation and that the second Australia A match would “round it out nicely” – did not suggest a player about to be jettisoned.ALSO READ: David Warner ruled out of first Test against India”It may be the sensible thing to do, say don’t worry, you are going to walk out there in Adelaide now gain some exposure against Bumrah and whoever the Indians serve up under light,” Gilchrist said at a Fox Cricket BBL launch event.”That would be a good sensible approach to clear any doubts out, that he has the backing, he’s not playing a trial game, he’s just having a practice game to sharpen up for Adelaide.”Nothing ever seems to be a perfect science. You can get nicked out and go into the Test a big negative of mind because you haven’t got the runs, but 10 balls into your Test innings you can that’s what it feels like and you are away.”The selectors have yet to add any batting reinforcements to the squad but it is expected that Marcus Harris, who will open with Burns for Australia A, will be added as cover for Pucovski. However, they may need to consider more than one extra batsman given that very last-minute additions are still not possible under the Covid-19 protocols for the tour.That could open the door for an experienced player such as Usman Khawaja although there was no indication that he was about to leave the Sydney Thunder BBL squad currently in Canberra.”If you went to Khawaja, I don’t think he’d see it as just one game, he’d say he’d make it hard to drop me now and eye a few more years in the Australian team,” Gilchrist said. “Marcus has had some Test experience, done a lot right in the Shield season. I don’t think we are bereft of strong options, just working out which is the correct one.”The second Australia A match will also be another chance for Cameron Green to impress in what will be his first experience of pink-ball cricket. It remains unlikely he will force his way into the Test side for Adelaide, but his unbeaten 125 and a brace of wickets at Drummoyne continued to mount his case. He will likely be facing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami as they prepare for the Test series.”I’ve never faced it [the pink ball] before, for whatever reason I keep dodging the day-night games in domestic cricket, so I’ll have a training session today and that will be the first time I’ll face it or bowl with it so that will be pretty interesting,” Green said. “There’s a lot of guys in the team who have played pink ball before so will try to bounce as many ideas off them as I can.”I’ve spoken to a few guys, they say if you are batting at night but you are already in it seems okay, just when you are new to the crease it’s very tough to get yourself in.”From the India attack he faced in the first game, he picked out the “world-class skill” of Umesh Yadav as the most challenging of the bowlers. “He was bowling down breeze on a wicket that had a bit in it so that was incredibly tough,” he said.Bowling-wise, Green said he was on track with where he and the coaching staff had hope he would be as he continues to be limited to a handful of four-over spells. He expects that level to be maintained for at least another couple of weeks before any increase is considered.

MatériaMais Notícias

O próximo sábado será especial para Marcelo Chamusca. Pela primeira vez desde a sua saída do Botafogo, o agora técnico do Náutico reencontra o seu ex-clube.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

Na coletiva de imprensa, o treinador exaltou a equipe carioca e citou a base deixada para que Enderson Moreira pudesse desempenhar um bom papel após o suceder.

‘É sempre uma grande oportunidade se confrontar com um clube da história e da grandeza do Botafogo. Trabalhei lá, conheço bem o momento e a realidade do clube. Na realidade, a base dos jogadores que compõem o elenco principal do time trabalhou comigo. É uma equipe forte, com um vestiário de caráter grande, jogadores comprometidos. É uma honra ter a oportunidade de jogar contra um clube da grandeza do Botafogo’, afirmou.

Classificação

Além do reencontro, a partida marca um duelo direto para o Timbu. Já que o time está na 7ª colocação, com 35 pontos e o Botafogo aparece na 3ª colocação, com 41 pontos.

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Transfer news is starting to heat up at Tottenham now with the recent signing of Archie Gray, as they look to bolster their side ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

One link that keeps cropping up is the Rennes winger Desire Doue, as Spurs are still looking to add that firepower in attack which they lost in the sale of Harry Kane.

Despite scoring four more goals last season than the season prior, Tottenham are still looking for their solution to that deadly Kane and Son Heung-min duo.

Ange Postecoglou will be keen to add one or two attackers to their ranks ahead of the next campaign, as they look to bridge the gap between their fifth place finish this season, and a top four finish next season.

Tottenham targeting new striker

According to reports from football.london, Jonathan David has been linked with a move to Tottenham, with interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze seeming to have cooled.

Journalist Alasdair Gold stated: "Spurs have been looking at a number of attackers, with Jonathan David among them."

However, if Spurs are looking to make this signing before their pre-season begins on Saturday, this would make David an issue as he is currently competing in the Copa America with his national team Canada.

David made 47 appearances for Lille last season, scoring 26 goals, and providing nine assists. Lille finished 4th in Ligue 1, bettering their 5th place finish in the 2022/23 season.

How David and Doue could be the new Kane and Son

Now finding a replacement for a 30-goal-per-season striker like Kane is a tough ask, and in all honesty, the likelihood of finding a 30+ goal striker instantly is close to impossible.

However, the right approach is to look for a striker with great box movement, good instincts and an eye for a goal, all of which David has. The Canadian scores at a clip of 0.58 goals per 90, taking 2.6 shots per 90, and has a conversion rate of 0.22 goals/shot per 90.

Compare this to Kane, who, as we said, is going to be finding the net at a more impressive rate, scoring 1.02 goals per 90, and ranking as a top 1% goalscorer in Europe via Fbref. He also takes 4.01 shots per 90, and has a conversion rate of 0.21 goals/shot per 90 (actually ranking below David).

Now, of course, Kane's sheer volume of shots has an impact on his goals/shot ratio, being 0.01 worse off, but David having that similar top-end conversion rate is a good sign for a strike when trying to add goals to the side.

A big part of Kane's success with Tottenham was his brilliant dynamic with Son, and this leads us to Doue and how he could partner David. The 19-year-old winger would provide the creative spark for David, affording him to increase that shot volume and use that top-tier conversion rate to achieve more goals.

Doue completes 6.71 progressive passes per 90, ranking in the top 6% of wingers in Europe for this metric, and also completes 3.42 successful take-ons per 90, ranking in the top 6% for this metric too. By adding a player like Doue to compliment David, you are adding a clinical finisher, and giving him the creative partner to increase the chances you are giving him and the others on the team.

Could "one of the best strikers in the world", according to Tony Marinaro, be on his way to Tottenham in an attempt to fill the boots of club legend Kane, and if he is, would Doue be the perfect partner for him?

Spurs have big interest in special star who could be their answer to Yamal

Tottenham looking to add a tricky and direct winger to their ranks

By
Connor Holden

Jul 4, 2024

Bodies are aching and tensions are frayed, but Justin Langer believes it makes for a great finale to the series

Daniel Brettig13-Jan-2021Nathan Lyon’s departure from 99 previous Test matches says an awful lot about the state Australia find themselves in entering the decisive final encounter of the Border-Gavaskar series.”Out of 99 Test matches, it’s the first time I’ve ever done an ice bath after a game – everyone’s doing what they can do,” Lyon said. “There’s professional athletes throughout the team, especially the fast bowlers. They’re doing everything they can to make sure they’re 100% ready to go come Friday.”Make no mistake, this is an extremely sore, tired and – very obviously judging by the words of the captain Tim Paine – increasingly agitated Australia team playing the fourth Test match only three clear days after the third.In the coach Justin Langer and assistant Andrew McDonald there are a couple of seasoned figures old enough to recall three previous instances where the national side was thwarted despite a dominant position in the first of back-to-back Tests: at Cardiff and Brisbane in the 2009 and 2010 Ashes series and Adelaide against South Africa in 2012.Related

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On each occasion Australia bowled more than 100 overs towards the end of a Test match, finished the match with a draw, and then went on to be soundly beaten in the next match: Lord’s in 2009, Adelaide in 2010 and Perth two years later. In each case, the physical and mental drain was too much, as English and South African opponents who had glimpsed defeat bounced back, rejuvenated, to win. Langer, having said his piece about Paine, Steven Smith and all the rest of it, agreed victory would be a feat of stamina above all.”What I love is that Test cricket is on the map. I say it every year. When people start talking about the demise of Test cricket I look at it and go people are talking about cricket because of Test cricket,” he said. “It’s a great contest, the two best teams in world cricket at the moment going at it. It’s been an arm wrestle since the first Test match.”Test cricket, people do get under each other’s skin, don’t they? That’s what great Test cricket is all about. I’ve thought from the start this series will be the survival of the fittest, mentally and physically, and we’re seeing that. It comes down to the last Test match in Brisbane. It’s mouth-watering for Test cricket that the two best teams are going at it, one of us has to win to retain or take back the Border Gavaskar Trophy. It’s Test cricket at its best. I’m loving every minute of the contest, as are our players.”Australia’s issues start at the top of the order. Should a shoulder problem inconvenience Will Pucovski enough to rule him out on match morning, the shot-making of Marcus Harris will be given a first outing in Tests since the 2019 Ashes. David Warner, it seems, will be played regardless of whether he is still restricted in his running, as was so patently clear in Sydney.Go again: Australia’s quicks only have a short turnaround but Justin Langer expects them to play•Getty Images”Will, he’s a young guy, he’s just played his first Test. Mentally, he’s going to be exhausted anyway – it’s tiring business,” Langer said. “With shoulders, as long as he can bat okay and can catch, it’s not as big a deal in Test cricket for us. We’ll probably know by tonight if he’s right to go. It’ll either be a quick turnaround and he’s back up and into it or it’ll be a few weeks.”As for Davey, he’s an old pro. He’s earned the right. Before the Test match we asked him if he was right to go. We made a collective decision he was absolutely adamant he was right to go. We saw how he went through it. I said before the last Test match he’d have to deal with a little bit of pain.”The muscle part of the injury has cleared 100%. He had another scan two nights ago. His tendon will be sore…but it’s 100 percent his decision to play. I’m confident, 100% confident he’s right to go for the Test match.”Langer is doubtful that any one of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc will withdraw from the fray, invoking how Rick McCosker walked out to bat with a broken jaw in the Centenary Test in 1977, Steve Waugh with a badly torn hamstring at the Oval in 2001, and Allan Border with any number of ailments through 153 consecutive Tests between 1979 and 1994 – a record only recently bettered by Alastair Cook’s advantage of playing the last of his ODIs four years before Test match retirement.”We’ll see how they pull up in the next few days. They’re brilliant athletes. They’re very, very determined to win this series,” Langer said. “Unless they’ve got any injuries then we might look at it. I’d be very surprised if they don’t want to play this Test”It is tough, Test cricket. But call me sentimental. I think of guys like Rick McCosker, Steve Waugh, Allan Border – they set a pretty high standard of what we expect from Australian cricketers. I suspect they’ll be ready to go for this Test match.”India, of course, have had it even tougher than the hosts across this series, and will now be missing Ravindra Jadeja and perhaps Jasprit Bumrah as well. Attrition was always likely to be a factor in a bout where most players warmed up by playing in the IPL rather than longer form cricket; in Brisbane, the combatants will discover exactly how much.

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro e lateral-esquerdo Danilo Avelar tem se tornado uma dor de cabeça para o Corinthians, desde quando fez um comentário racista durante um jogo online, no fim de junho. Na época, o Timão emitiu uma nota dizendo que rescindiria com o atleta, mas não pôde fazer isso por ele está se recuperando de uma lesão.

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Outro problema é a condição para esse desligamento, já que, caso a diretoria corintiana confirme a rescisão, quando Avelar se recuperar definitivamente de uma ruptura do ligamento do joelho, sofrida em outubro do ano passado, , terá que pagar um valor próximo a R$ 7 milhões de multa.

>> Baixe o novo app de resultados do L!
>> Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos

Na última sexta-feira (24), se encerrou o prazo de inscrições para o Campeonato Brasileiro, única competição em que o Corinthians está envolvido até o fim desta temporada, e Danilo Avelar não estava presente.

-Ele (Avelar) não foi reintegrado porque não estava pronto para ir a campo, acabou a recuperação, acabou de sair do DM, alguns dias treinam e outro não, acabando o ano e a partir de janeiro vemos o que vai ser – disse o diretor de futebol do Timão, Roberto de Andrade, em entrevista coletiva virtual realizada nesta quinta-feira (31).

Contratado pelo Corinthians em 2018, emprestado pelo Torino, da Itália, foi adquirido pelo Time do Povo na temporada passada. Fez 101 jogos e marcou 12 gols com a camisa alvinegra.

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been named director of cricket of the Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2021. According to a statement from the franchise on Sunday, the 43-year-old “will be responsible for overseeing the entire cricketing ecosystem of the Royals franchise, including coaching structure, auction plans and team strategy, talent discovery and development, as well as the development of the Royals Academy in Nagpur.”Sangakkara has had a storied cricket career, debuting for Sri Lanka in July 2000 and going on to became one of their best ever batsmen. He remains their highest run-getter in Test cricket with a tally of 12,400 and was also among their most successful captains. In T20I cricket, he was Player of the Match in Sri Lanka’s title-sealing win in the 2014 World T20. After the last of his international cricket in 2015, he has stayed in touch with the game as a commentator and as head of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).Sangakkara has had IPL experience as well, having played the tournament for six years – for the Kings XI Punjab, the Deccan Chargers and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, whom he captained – as well as going around the T20-leagues block with stints in Australia’s Big Bash, the Caribbean Premier League, the Pakistan Super League, the Bangladesh Premier League and England’s T20 Blast.”To oversee the cricket strategy of a franchise in the leading cricket competition in the world, as well as building the development programmes and cricketing infrastructure that will provide the future foundation of the IPL team’s on-field success, is an opportunity that really motivated me,” Sangakkara said. “I have really enjoyed speaking to the leadership group over the recent weeks and can’t wait to get going.”

Cody Gakpo has revealed Arne Slot's message to the team as Liverpool go in search of a first Premier League title since 2020.

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• Gakpo revealed Slot's message
• Liverpool not complacent in title race
• Reds have five-point lead at the top

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Reds are currently leading the Premier League title race by five points after Manchester City dropped three points against Brighton, while Slot's side clinched a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. The Merseysiders have made a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign having won 15 out of the 17 matches they have played thus far across all competitions.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Liverpool are not showing complacency as they still consider it to be too early to think about the league title. Speaking prior to the clash against the Villans, Dutch forward Gakpo revealed what their head coach has conveyed to them and if he is already aiming for the main prize.

• WHAT CODY GAKPO SAID

  Speaking to , Gakpo said, "No, it’s still very early. Ultimately we are just doing well. The coach looks at every match as if we have not played another match yet. He demands 100% from us in every match. We do not look at the rankings, but at things that we have to do better. It is also his strength how he conveys that. We just have to win matches, because we know how difficult it can be."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Liverpool will aim to continue their fine run of form after the international break as they next take on Southampton away from home on November 24.