Gary Neville has admitted he is stunned by Manchester United's decision to retain Michael Carrick as manager following a disastrous run of form. Despite intense pressure after a heavy home defeat, the club legend will remain in the dugout for this weekend's pivotal Premier League meeting with Chelsea.
Chelsea have been hit with a significant setback ahead of their midweek Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool, with Xabi Alonso confirming that Joao Pedro is set for a spell on the sidelines. The Brazilian forward was a surprise omission from the squad that faced Tottenham at the weekend and is now expected to miss several weeks of action.
Paris Saint-Germain are increasingly confident of securing a January loan deal for Chelsea's Brazilian forward Estevao Willian. The French club are searching for attacking reinforcements following a wave of injuries, with Luis Enrique reportedly driving the push for the highly-rated teenager.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has called on his teammates to maintain their relentless momentum as the club enters a defining period of the season. Following a convincing victory over Brighton, the Dutchman believes the squad is finding another gear just in time for high-stakes encounters at Anfield.
Manchester City are reportedly preparing a renewed push to sign Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto during the January transfer window. The French defender could reunite with former Blues boss Enzo Maresca at the Etihad following a shift in his squad role under Xabi Alonso.
Martin Keown has questioned Xabi Alonso's surprising tactical decisions following Chelsea's disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham. The former Arsenal defender could not understand why the manager opted for a false nine setup rather than deploying an experienced striker from the bench.
IK Franke
