Jurgen Klopp has decided to start Fabinho alongside Joel Matip in central defence against Bayern Munich with Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren both out. The Reds host their German opponents in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday evening, and Klopp is being forced to field a makeshift backline. Virgil van Dijk is suspended for the match having been booked in Liverpool’s final group stage match, while Klopp has accepted Dejan Lovren will not pass a fitness test ahead of the clash. With Joe Gomez, Van Dijk’s regular partner at centre-half, also sidelined as he continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered…

Manchester United and West Ham flop Ravel Morrison made his debut for new club Ostersund on Saturday. The 26-year-old signed a short-term deal with the Swedish minnows earlier this month, ending his miserable four-year spell at Lazio. He started on the bench but came on for the final 16 minutes in their goalless draw with Halmstads BK. Morrison came through United’s academy and former Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson thought he was better as a teenager than Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand were. But the midfielder never fulfilled his potential and a move to West Ham and a series of loans followed before joining Lazio in 2015. He made…

Manchester United are readying a £90million bid for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports. Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Liverpool in a £75million deal from Southampton last year. But The Sun claim United are set to smash that world-record with a £90million summer swoop for Koulibaly. Interim Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent scout Jim Lawlor to watch the 27-year-old in Napoli’s goalless draw with Fiorentina last weekend. United are in desperate need of a commanding centre-half having conceded 35 league goals so far this season with a rotating cast of Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly all…

Lee Sharpe has told talkSPORT Manchester United ‘can’t pick anyone better’ than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the job of manager. Former United star Sharpe believes the caretaker boss is the perfect man to lead the club forward, and has urged the club to hand him the permanent role. Solskjaer has revived the Red Devils and has kick started their top-four bid by guiding the side to ten wins and a draw from his first 11 games in charge. He faces the toughest test of his caretaker reign yet on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. But, with the French champions…

Liverpool have confirmed they are in talks with a number of kit manufacturers as their existing deal with New Balance is to expire soon. The club’s current arrangement with the American brand, which is worth around £45million a year, runs out at the end of the 2019/20 season. It was reported that Liverpool had entered negotiations about extending the agreement with New Balance, however, it looks like the Anfield club’s top brass are keeping their options open as they look to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich, who receive around £75m-a-year from Adidas. “We are in conversation with New Balance and we are in conversation with…

Wolves booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to Ivan Cavaleiro’s goal in a 1-0 win at Bristol City. Cavaleiro struck in the 28th minute following good work from Matt Doherty on the right wing. And Wolves could have doubled their advantage after Doherty hit the post and Leander Dendoncker and Joao Moutinho tested Robins goalkeeper Frank Fielding. The hosts had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Martin Atkinson after Jay Dasilva’s cross hit Doherty’s arm as they failed to break down a resilient Wolves side. The Championship club had their moments, but ultimately could have few complaints after they struggled to consistently impose themselves on the…

England fans on Twitter are convinced Declan Rice is a significant upgrade on Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier. The West Ham United midfielder confirmed his decision to represent the country of his birth in a statement on Wednesday after months of deliberation. After an incredible start to the season, the 20-year-old will now be available for Gareth Southgate’s squad to face the Czech Republic and Montenegro in March. Rice has been one of the most consistent performers for Manuel Pellegrini this season, despite a £100million influx of summer signings. Such is his undeniable potential, fans on Twitter believe Henderson and Dier may now be surplus to requirements. Despite both men…

Chelsea fans have turned on Maurizio Sarri following the embarrassing 6-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. A Sergio Aguero hat-trick, as well as goals from Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan, condemned Chelsea to their heaviest defeat in Premier League history as their misery on the road continued. After the convincing 2-0 defeat to Arsenal and 4-0 humiliation at Bournemouth, Chelsea have now conceded an astonishing 12 goals in their last three away trips and subsequently dropped out of the top four. Speaking after the game, Sarri issued an apology to the Chelsea fans, but couldn’t offer an explanation. “I am doing my best and I’m trying to get the…

Jose Mourinho was in attendance to watch Lille vs Montpellier after being invited as a guest of technical director Luis Campos. Campos worked as chief scout for Real Madrid when Mourinho was in charge and he is now an adviser to Lille’s scouting team. It remains to be seen where Mourinho will manage next, but for now he has taken on a punditry role with beIN Sports, and last month he claimed he still belongs at the top level. “I want to coach,” he said. “I am too young, I am in football for a long, long time, but I will be 56 in a couple of weeks and am…

Kris Boyd has hit out at Celtic supporters after the former Rangers forward was struck with a coin during Kilmarnock’s late defeat by the Scottish champions on Sunday. Television footage caught a coin bouncing off Boyd’s arm as he warmed up in front of the away fans at Rugby Park, while he was also verbally abused. Boyd also criticised the Celtic celebrations after Scott Brown netted the only goal in the final minute of the Premiership contest. A number of fans spilled out of the stand to join their captain, who received a second yellow card for his part, while photographs of damaged seats emerged after the game. Boyd wrote on…