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Mauricio Pochettino believes Premier League managers should be invited to play a more active role in helping shape refereeing guidelines. Chelsea have been involved in a number of controversial fixtures this season, most notably the frenetic 4-1 win away at Tottenham earlier in November in which Spurs had two players sent off, five goals were disallowed and VAR made nine interventions across a match that lasted over 110 minutes. Pochettino has previously complained that the league’s request to meet with coaches in the week before the beginning of the season to discuss changes allowed little room for constructive input from managers and their clubs. The current campaign has seen a barrage of complaints directed at on-field and VAR officials, with referees coming under almost unprecedented scrutiny following a string of errors, particularly relating to the influence of the video referee on the decision-making process. “We all have full respect for the referees, we understand perfectly that their job is really tough,” said Pochettino, whose team face Newcastle at St James’s Park on Saturday. “But the problem is you get frustrated sometimes during the game because of the VAR. The referee is not responsible sometimes. You cannot complain to the VAR. That is a problem. “I’m going to try and control more my emotions. I think all the coaches respect the referees because they’re in a really difficult situation. “I think sometimes we are frustrated. I think coaches need to be more involved in the decisions, and to work together during the season. “It is not (ideal) to arrive the week before the start of the Premier League season and say, ‘OK, the new rules are this. What do you think?’. Nothing, because you have already made the decision. Like the rule that there can only be one coach (in the technical area). Why? “England was always different about the relationship with the referee. You can talk, you can (previously) have four people in the dugout. Which way do we want to evolve in the Premier League? “England is different. Not only because you drive on the right (of the car), but because of the relationship in football. It is the gentleman’s game.” Despite those frustrations, and the ongoing confusion surrounding the proper implementation of VAR and its interpretation of the game’s rules, Pochettino acknowledged that the emotional side of football is ultimately what props up the business side of the sport. “I think people look at football and understand that it is a big business,” he said. “The sport is very honest, with rules. But around that it is a business that we cannot stop. “If the sport doesn’t produce that emotion it is producing, it is difficult to talk about it in this way, to have the chance to have good salaries, to give also to society. “Football provides people with happiness and that is the most important thing. We are all part of this business.” Read More Pep Guardiola puts Jurgen Klopp on pedestal as ‘by far’ his biggest career rival Ange Postecoglou too busy with football matters to worry about agent-rules probe Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half brace inspires Al Nassr victory over Al Akhdoud Everton points penalty ‘draconian’ and ‘too harsh’ say Premier League protesters Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has called Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp the biggest managerial adversary of his career. The Reds visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime for the latest instalment of a classic rivalry that has so often gone a long way to deciding the destination of the Premier League title. City go into the game one point ahead of Klopp’s side, who look their most realistic title challengers, even if Guardiola says Arsenal and Tottenham are also in the race. Guardiola has had some battles over the years, notably with Jose Mourinho, but says Klopp has made him a better manager. Asked if the German was his biggest rival, he said: “Yes, by far. Because we have faced each other a thousand million times. “Absolutely, he made me better, he helped me reflect on a lot of things with the problems they have created for us, it’s part of when you are many years in this business, him and his teams, here and Dortmund have always been big rivals, good games for both, both teams have a positive approach to the games and always attractive. “I’m pretty sure he made me a better manager through his teams, and of course, the way we play for them is good with the transitions, they have a lot of space in behind, they are fantastic with the runs, they are a fantastic team, fantastic legs, a top side, no doubt.” After a poor season last year, where they missed out on Champions League qualification, Klopp’s side look back to their best and are clear challengers for the title. “Absolutely,” Guardiola said. “Arsenal will be too, I see them as so, so solid. Spurs even, the two defeats they had lately, the feeling when I see the way they are playing and with one game a week, I think they will be there. “Chelsea start to recover and have one game a week. I think the four or five contenders are there. I don’t know if Newcastle will join, maybe United will join us but many things can happen.” Read More Mauricio Pochettino wants managers ‘involved in decisions’ around referee reform Ange Postecoglou too busy with football matters to worry about agent-rules probe Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta revealed that many Premier League managers had been in contact with him after the Arsenal boss was charged by the Football Association for comments after the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat at Newcastle earlier this month. Arteta branded the officials’ decision not to overturn Anthony Gordon’s goal “an absolute disgrace” and waits to see the extent of his punishment. And Arteta highlighted that he and his manager colleagues were “all in this together” when it came to making improvements regarding officiating in the Premier League. “I have been in contact with many of them, I know most of them for many years and we are all in this together,” Arteta said. “We compete with each other but we understand our roles and understand our responsibility and we want to fulfil that to our best. “So everything we do has to be properly thought with good process in place and make sure we contribute to make it better. “We do meetings (with the officials) but sometimes individually. A lot of things happen.” I have been in contact with many of them, I know most of them for many years and we are all in this together Mikel Arteta Arsenal faced criticism after a public statement supporting Arteta’s comments was released earlier this month. But the Gunners manager defended his views, putting his reaction down to emotions after it was suggested his comments would set the wrong example as to how to treat referees. “I have given hundreds of opinions but you want to isolate one moment when I talked about something I believed and used it in a different way, I don’t think that’s fair”, Arteta said to a reporter. “We live the game with emotion. I react when a player scores a goal. I react when a player gives the ball away. We are constantly reacting – this is the game. “We live a game which is passionate and you play to win and so this has to happen and we have to react. “Let’s sit down here like a theatre and be on mute and see if this league and game will be interesting, it won’t. And that’s what makes it special.” Aaron Ramsdale will start in goal for Arsenal’s Saturday evening clash with Brentford as David Raya is not eligible to play against his parent club. Ramsdale’s father recently said the goalkeeper does not smile since summer signing Raya replaced him as the Arsenal number one. And Arteta responded by highlighting the attitude he demands of players who have fallen out of favour. He said: “Aaron is one of many players who is playing less than he wants. There are many unfortunately in a dressing room of 24 players. “The behaviour we demand is to challenge and to make each other better. “This is the purpose and to overcome the ability and to play and show with facts that you have to play more and show how wrong I am (for not picking him).” Read More Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half brace inspires Al Nassr victory over Al Akhdoud Everton points penalty ‘draconian’ and ‘too harsh’ say Premier League protesters Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year Neil Robertson not worried by slide down rankings ahead of UK Championship Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can benefit from Alexis Mac Allister’s deeper role Kevin Sinfield says time is of the essence as he prepares to run for MND again

Ange Postecoglou insists he has too much on his plate to worry about an investigation by the Football Association into a potential breach of agent rules during a 2008 transfer which involves Tottenham. The Times reported this week that an unlicensed agent may have been used during the negotiations of Jermain Defoe’s transfer from Spurs to Portsmouth in the winter transfer window of 2008. The FA has confirmed to the PA news agency that they are looking at the case, which did go to an arbitration hearing at the time of Defoe’s move to Fratton Park in the 2007-08 campaign. PA has contacted Tottenham for comment. No action was taken against any party involved in the transfer, but with Spurs dealing with a growing injury list ahead of Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa in the Premier League, any potential punishment is far from Postecoglou’s mind. “In 2008? I think I was maybe coaching Brisbane Roar mate, so fair to say I wasn’t around then,” he said. “And really, if you think that’s coming across my desk? People are keeping a fair bit away from me at the moment because of what’s really important and that is we’ve got a big game on Sunday. “With the issues we’ve got around the team, that’s where my focus is. “It’s not across my desk, mate. For me to give you an answer would mean me sitting down with whoever is doing the investigation, whoever has all the information here, you know how many hours? “I don’t know if you’ve spent any hours doing that but I don’t have that time in my day to be assessing those kinds of issues. “With those kinds of things, any of those issues, there are those responsible, maybe I’m the spokesman, but I’m the spokesman for the football club in terms of the football. “I would hate it absolutely if you got a lawyer out here and he started talking about what sort of formation we should play at the weekend. With the issues we’ve got around the team, that’s where my focus is Ange Postecoglou on the current investigation “I’ll keep my mouth shut with those things, not for any other reason, but I respect the space that other people are in and that I’m in. “If you’ve got real questions about that, there are probably better people to ask than me.” Meanwhile, an FA spokesperson told PA: “We are looking at the case, and as part of that we will be reviewing the arbitration panel award.” Read More Pep Guardiola puts Jurgen Klopp on pedestal as ‘by far’ his biggest career rival Mauricio Pochettino wants managers ‘involved in decisions’ around referee reform Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half brace inspires Al Nassr victory over Al Akhdoud Everton points penalty ‘draconian’ and ‘too harsh’ say Premier League protesters Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables fell on his face running out of the tunnel.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning 40-yard lob as part of a quick-fire second-half double to help Al Nassr beat Al-Okhdood 3-0 in the Saudi Pro League. The Portugal star chested down a loose ball and expertly lofted home from distance in the 80th minute after opposition goalkeeper Paulo Vitor raced out to clear the initial danger. Ronaldo’s eye-catching finish was his 15th goal of the season and came just three minutes after he had doubled his side’s lead. The 38-year-old’s first of the evening was a powerful finish from a tight angle following a fine touch to kill a dropping ball. Victory for second-placed Al Nassr was their 11th from 14 games this term to move them a point behind leaders Al-Hilal. Midfielder Sami Al Naji opened the scoring at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh by slotting the ball home in the 13th minute before former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo took centre stage. Read More Everton points penalty ‘draconian’ and ‘too harsh’ say Premier League protesters Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year Neil Robertson not worried by slide down rankings ahead of UK Championship

Everton fans have staged a protest outside the Premier League’s headquarters in London in response to the club’s 10-point punishment for breaching financial regulations. The Toffees were handed the sanction by an independent commission last week after they exceeded losses permitted under the league’s profitability and sustainability rules by £19.5million in the three seasons ending in 2021-22. Manager Sean Dyche expressed shock at the “disproportionate” penalty on Friday, a sentiment shared by the fans who gathered outside the Premier League’s offices in Paddington, west London. Paul, 36, who lives in East Dulwich but is originally from St Helens, is a season-ticket holder who will be at Sunday’s game against Manchester United. He told the PA news agency that the points deduction “felt draconian”, adding: “It just feels like the rules were deliberately vague to give flexibility for this kind of situation. “I think Everton have been deliberately targeted because of the threat of an independent regulator, and that feels wrong.” Alan Newton, 46, who lives in London but is originally from Maghull, held a season ticket for 10 years. He told PA: “Nobody’s saying that we’re not guilty as a club of anything, but the points that have been taken off is far too harsh a penalty. “Do I think that some of the other bigger clubs are going to get penalties like this or it’s going to play out the same? Probably not. “I think the likelihood is we’ll get a reduced penalty, it’ll set a precedent for other clubs and we’ll see what happens next.” The points deduction has left Everton 19th in the table and above bottom side Burnley only on goal difference. However, Amy Panayi, 28, who lives in Gravesend but is originally from Liverpool, does not believe the club will be relegated. “If we just get consistency with your teams like Manchester City and Chelsea, I will take a 10-point deduction,” she told PA. “I will say I don’t think we will go down, because there’s too much fight (and) heart there.” Read More Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year Neil Robertson not worried by slide down rankings ahead of UK Championship Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool can benefit from Alexis Mac Allister’s deeper role Kevin Sinfield says time is of the essence as he prepares to run for MND again LTA urges British tennis fans to show ‘respect’ after Novak Djokovic row at Davis Cup Erik ten Hag prepared for Everton to be ‘mad’ and urges Man Utd to match them

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side can reap additional benefit from having Alexis Mac Allister as a makeshift holding midfielder. The Reds boss was dismissive of the suggestion the Argentina international, who usually plays further forward, faces the biggest test of his adaptation into a new role at Manchester City on Saturday. Mac Allister, who joined for £35million from Brighton, has coped well so far filling a hole in a newly-formed midfield with fellow summer signing Wataru Endo, a genuine number six, only entrusted with two Premier League starts, but the prospect of facing Pep Guardiola’s side on their own turf is an entirely different prospect. The 24-year-old’s poorest performances in the role have come away from home – at Wolves, where he was replaced at half-time after returning from international duty in South America, Newcastle and his former club – but that is not a concern for Klopp at this moment in time. When asked whether this will Mac Allister’s biggest test, Klopp replied “No. “I understand that from the outside world it is always about how is a player in this position. but in the end it is all about how the whole team is set up. “Is Macca a natural-born six? No. Did football develop in the last years in directions we couldn’t imagine before? Yes. Does that mean that a player like Macca can play the six. Definitely. “It depends on how the whole team defends. Easy as that. If we do that properly then we have an incredible player in a central position who can find passes, a forward-thinking player. “Do you want a player there who is just knocking players down and when we are in possession he thinks ‘not my job, give me a break’? “I like him there a lot to be honest and we as a team can benefit a lot from it if we make sure we have a really compact formation and that’s what we especially need tomorrow.” The top-of-the-table clash is being billed as the biggest game of the season as Klopp’s side have emerged from a summer midfield rebuild to become City’s main challengers, sitting just a point behind the leaders despite their fifth-place finish in May. But the Liverpool manager insists it should not be used to gauge comparisons with the Premier League champions. “It is not a test how close can we get to City, it is just a super-exciting football game,” he added. “But for us it is not about being excited, we have to prepare it properly and we know we have to be at our best to get a chance. We have that then it is about us to take it. “A lot of things can happen: can we play bad, lose? Possible. Can we play bad and win? I would say it is unlikely, it’s pretty much not possible against City. We can play very good and don’t win, it’s possible. We play very good and win. “This team doesn’t have to pass a test now, the direction we are going – up – is really the right one, that is obvious. “Toulouse (a 4-3 Europa League defeat) we were not good there. I made a lot of changes so it goes on my responsibility, but still no good. Against Luton (a 1-1 draw), we were not good and if we had won the game, we were not good that night. “But in a lot of games this season we were good and deserved what we we got.” Read More Kevin Sinfield says time is of the essence as he prepares to run for MND again LTA urges British tennis fans to show ‘respect’ after Novak Djokovic row at Davis Cup Erik ten Hag prepared for Everton to be ‘mad’ and urges Man Utd to match them Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City – Jan Molby PA selective guide to sport on TV for w/c November 27 Nathan Heaney eyeing middleweight world title fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will not be fit to be involved in Chelsea’s visit to Newcastle on Saturday. There had been hopes that the £52million summer signing from RB Leipzig would have sufficiently recovered from the knee injury he sustained on the pre-season tout of the United States to play a part at St James’ Park. But, despite being fit enough to have taken part in training with the first team, the 26-year-old has not worked tactically with the squad and will not travel. Chelsea struggled without the France international in Pochettino’s first Premier League games in charge, with the goalscoring problems that he had been acquired to help solve carrying over from a tumultuous campaign last season during which the team scored fewer league goals than they had in almost a century. Those issues have become less urgent in recent weeks, with four goals scored on three separate occasions against Burnley, Tottenham and Manchester City. By contrast, the team had not previously scored four times in a game since April 2022. “(Nkunku) was doing things with the group last week,” said Pochettino. “But he’s not fully recovered to be part of the squad. “He’s a fantastic player, top scorer in the Bundesliga last season. He can play different positions, his quality is amazing. It’s really bad luck to lose him from the beginning of the season. “We’re going to find the best way for him to fit in the team. He’s going to find massive competition. His team-mates are ahead of him, they’ve had four months of competition. He needs to build his form and be at his best level. “We need to understand he’s coming back from injury, he will need time. We will be patient with him. “It’s not a competition (the Premier League) that he’s normally used to. He came from Europe, he needs to recover from injury but also to know the league. It’ll take time to perform at his best.” Pochettino confirmed that Romeo Lavia, signed in the last week of the transfer window from Southampton for £53m, is also nearing fitness but is slightly behind the progress made by Nkunku. Wesley Fofana has trained on grass at Cobham as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury, though is unlikely to be available before the new year. Chelsea had come into form prior to the international break with five wins from eight in all competitions, a run which saw them score 19 times having previously netted only seven in their first seven under Pochettino. The manager is hopeful that the pause will not have disrupted his side’s rhythm ahead of their visit to face Eddie Howe’s side. “The break came at a bad time,” he said. “It came in a moment we were building a way to play, results were on our side. But I believe we can keep momentum even after two weeks with no competition.” I believe we can keep momentum even after two weeks with no competition Mauricio Pochettino Pochettino added that the squad has held group discussions about why performances and results have been better this season against the stronger teams – draws with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and victory over Spurs – while there have been home losses to Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. “It’s part of the process,” he said. “We’re a young team, we started to work four months ago. We need to be more mature, more patient. We cannot get frustrated so soon when things don’t work. “Expectation creates nervousness when you play a team with less quality than you. You take rushed decisions, get frustrated. You want to do the job of your team-mate.”

Everton boss Sean Dyche has expressed shock at the “disproportionate” 10-point penalty imposed on the club but insisted he and his players are ready to take on the latest challenge put in front of them. Dyche was trying to enjoy a short break during the international window when he got word of the unprecedented sanction handed down by an independent commission for breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules – a penalty that Everton will appeal against. Speaking publicly for the first time on the matter, Dyche said: “I think like everyone, certainly in these parts, I was shocked and seemingly from the wave of noise after that, most people in football are shocked by the enormity of it. “Disproportionate is a word used by the club. Obviously we feel a bit aggrieved by that, but on the other hand it doesn’t change the focus. The focus since I got there is sorting things out on the pitch, getting the team to win. “I think we were on the right lines, delivering strong performances. This has just given us a push backwards to come forwards again. The job hasn’t changed. It’s just made it more difficult under the current circumstances until the appeal… “I don’t know every inch of the past, I don’t know why the commission have come out with what they have but I certainly believe in what the club put forward. It feels disproportionate, it feels unjust and plenty of voices out there feel the same. “What is done is done for now, appeal pending, and we have to get on with it.” Everton fans have hit out at the penalty, and have raised more than £40,000 to fund protests against the Premier League. A demonstration was due to take in London on Friday outside the league offices, while a plane carrying a banner will fly over Manchester City’s match against Liverpool on Saturday. On Sunday, when Everton’s game against United will be televised, home fans will be asked to hold up red cards which call the Premier League “corrupt”. Everton had been showing encouraging signs before the penalty, winning six out of nine in all competitions to climb up the table, but have now dropped to second bottom – level on four points with basement boys Burnley ahead of Sunday’s match against Manchester United. “I spoke to the group and said, ‘Look, the league table is one thing but I don’t change my story very often and I believe the final league table is the truth of the season, and I’m not going to change now’,” Dyche added. “For sure, it changes the viewpoint but it doesn’t change what we’re doing. In fact it enhances what we’re doing. We need to go harder, stronger. This is what it is. It’s been about refocus as much as anything.” The penalty has raised all manner of questions at Everton, with suggestions that rival clubs may now pursue compensation claims potentially impacting the proposed takeover by 777 Partners. On the pitch, there was a sense of optimism that after two seasons fighting relegation things were looking up but – for now at least – they are back in the bottom three. Dyche said that did not concern him in the immediate term, but there was clear frustration from the boss that off-pitch dramas are once again dominating the agenda at Goodison Park. “You have to take away the noise,” he said. “I’ve had to do it endlessly since I’ve been here, keep pushing away the noise around this football club. “Bizarrely, we were talking about it before – the last press conference before (Crystal) Palace was one of the first ones that was just about football. And lo and behold while I was away we get a 10-point deficit. So what do you do? You just keep taking it on.” Read More Kevin Sinfield says time is of the essence as he prepares to run for MND again LTA urges British tennis fans to show ‘respect’ after Novak Djokovic row at Davis Cup Erik ten Hag prepared for Everton to be ‘mad’ and urges Man Utd to match them Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City – Jan Molby PA selective guide to sport on TV for w/c November 27 Nathan Heaney eyeing middleweight world title fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly

Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah as a “completely different animal” to the player he signed in 2017 and said the Egyptian is determined to improve again. Salah will bring up 200 goals for Liverpool – a feat only four players have ever achieved – if he scores twice when they face league leaders Manchester City on Saturday. And the Liverpool manager feels Salah is showing the work ethic to get better, while praising him for the way he has helped his fellow forward Darwin Nunez settle into life at Anfield and form a “pretty special partnership”. “He can improve but that is all about consistency and little moments in games,” Klopp said. “He expects that. Why would he come and be first in the building every morning and the last out if he doesn’t want to improve? It is about gaining that experience over the years that he knows much more about the game. “So, where is the position? He is a completely different player to the one who arrived here and he was good at that time, that’s why we signed him. Now his experience in dealing with different situation... he is a completely different animal. “He is really good with his teammates, all the offensive players look up to him and he is really supportive to them. That is a really good connection. In the beginning, Mo had to be more for himself and find his feet and himself and the way to impress me and maybe prove some people wrong. That’s completed settled now. Having still this desire to score makes him the player he is and that is pretty special. I’ve said it a million times - long may it continue.” Nunez joined Liverpool for £64m – which could rise to a club record £85m – in the 2022 and has struck up a fine understanding with Salah. All nine of the Uruguayan’s assists have come for the Egyptian and Klopp believes it is a sign of their intelligence that they are combining so well. He explained: “You cannot become a Liverpool player if you are not really football-smart. What would you do if you spring 900mph down the line and you look and think, who else has the same speed and [will] be in the right position? And it’s probably Mo. “The other players are quick as well, but that’s why Darwin and Mo is clicking and they look for each other. It’s not that they cut out the other boys, it’s just a different way of playing. “When we played with Bobby [Firmino] more centrally, I am not sure what the numbers are between Sadio [Mane] and Mo, but they were pretty good as well. They were the first two arriving in the box and if you want to pass the ball it is to probably to one of them. “How Mo supports the boys, Darwin came here big expectations and Mo probably understood the situation probably the best and saw his potential and wanted to help him. Without having the longest conversations because of some language issues, that was for sure the start of a pretty special partnership.” Read More Alexis Mac Allister’s performance could be key against Man City – Jan Molby Jamie Carragher explains Trent Alexander-Arnold role can leave Liverpool vulnerable How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City