Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has thrown his full support behind Mike Penders, confirming the young goalkeeper will retain his place for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool. The decision comes despite a difficult afternoon for the Belgian in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo has delivered a powerful and honest account of his battle with depression, revealing he reached a "breaking point" that forced him to step away from the game. The Uruguayan international, currently on loan at Anfield from Barcelona, admitted that the pressures of professional football and personal issues became overwhelming during his time in Spain.
Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are closely monitoring Lennart Karl's testing spell at Bayern Munich after club chief Uli Hoeness publicly rebuked the teenager. The 18-year-old attacker has struggled for regular minutes this season alongside growing concerns inside the Allianz Arena over his conduct off the pitch.
Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool are leading the chase to sign highly-rated Benfica right-back Daniel Banjaqui after his rapid rise through the Portuguese club's academy ranks. The 18-year-old defender could be available for an initial fee of around £30 million as elite sides across Europe monitor his progress.
Sprint Jeloey
