Silva Targets Return As PSG Mull Winter Moves

Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) coach Unai Emery is hopeful captain Thiago Silva will return from injury for Wednesday's final match of the year at home to Caen before the French league heads into its winter break.
The Brazil international has not featured since hobbling off during a 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League a fortnight ago, but has resumed full training and could replace the suspended Presnel Kimpembe in central defense.
"I believe and hope, like Thiago Silva and the doctor, that he will be okay to play," Emery said on Monday, as PSG look to remain unbeaten at the Parc de Princes under the Spaniard.
After Wednesday's fixture, the runaway Ligue 1 leaders will then have 18 days until their next match - against Rennes in the last 64 of the French Cup on January 7.
But with PSG looking to balance their books following the August arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, January could prove a busy month for the club in the transfer market.
Emery has already spoken with Lucas Moura and Hatem Ben Arfa about possible exits, while Argentine pair Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria continue to be regularly linked with moves away from Paris.
PSG have mooted recruiting a holding midfielder to replace the oft-injured Thiago Motta, but sporting director Antero Henrique has ruled out any further acquisitions for the time being.
"Right now, we have no need to dip into the winter transfer market. An opportunity may always arrive but at the moment the answer is no," Henrique told Le Parisien newspaper.
Caen are without a win in four matches ahead of the trip to PSG - their total of 11 goals scored is the second worst tally in France, although only PSG and Montpellier have a better defensive record this term.
Neymar excelled on his return, after missing games against Lille and Strasbourg, with two goals and two assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over Rennes, but PSG will also be without Marco Verratti and Dani Alves as both serve one match bans.
Second-place Monaco, who trail PSG by nine points, go in search of a fourth straight win against Rennes at the Stade Louis II, where coach Leonardo Jardim is enjoying rebuilding last year's title-winning side.
"I'm passionate about this project, it's sort of my project," said Jardim. "It's my fourth season here. I'm passionate but realistic. I believe we can succeed with this project.
"Other challenges were offered to me but I didn't leave because I'm driven by this project. I'm happy to work here. I'm going to continue, even if we don't know what the future holds.
"There are two years left on my contract and I'm making the most day after day of the club and Monaco."
Lyon are level on points with Monaco after Sunday's 2-0 victory over Marseille and will bid to keep pace with the defending champions when they travel to Toulouse.
Marseille will look to regroup at home to Troyes after a howler by Steve Mandanda contributed to Rudi Garcia's team's 12-match unbeaten run coming to an end.
Mario Balotelli has scored eight goals in his last eight games in all competitions to help Nice recover from a dreadful start, but the Italian will be absent against Lille due to suspension.

Martyn Wood
Agence France-Presse/Paris

Mane, Salah To Contest CAF Award

Prolific goal-scorers Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon were named on Monday among the three finalists for the African Player of the Year award.
Sadio Mane of Senegal completes a list announced in Ghana for the highest annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) individual honor.
Liverpool sharpshooter Salah is the leading English Premier League scorer this season with 14 goals, having moved from Roma in the off-season.
He also scored crucial goals as Egypt reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia, which will be the first appearance by the Pharaohs at the global showpiece in 28 years.
Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang lies second in the Bundesliga scorers charts with 13 goals, two leas than Polan and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski.
Mane, a team-mate of Salah at Liverpool, was the pivotal figure as Senegal reached the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
African Player of the Year title-holder Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Leicester City was not among the 30-man original shortlist for the award this year. CAF spokesman junior Binyam told AFP the emergency committee of the organization decided that the Africa-based Player of the Year and referee categories should be removed.
He gave no reasons for the decisions after 10 footballers and six referees had been shortlisted last month for the awards.

AFP/Johannesburg

Hegazi Gets Top Deal In West Brom

West Bromwich Albion have made defender Ahmed Hegazi's loan move from Egyptian side Al Ahly into a permanent deal, keeping him at the Hawthorns until 2022, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
The 26-year-old, who joined West Brom in July, has started in all 18 f their league games this season and has scored one goal - the winner in the season opener against Bournemourh.
"I am very happy with the Club and very happy to be part of this group of players," Egypt international Hegazi told the club's website (www.wba.co.uk).
"I know the results are not what we would want at the moment. But there is great spirit here and I am sure that we will turn the results in our favor before long."
West Brom are winless in 16 league games and second bottom with 14 points after two wins, eight draws and eight defeats. They travel to 17th-placed Stoke City on Saturday.

Reuters/London  

Postecoglou To Manage Yokohama

Former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou, who quit last month after guiding the Socceroos to the World Cup, will manage Yokohama F-Marinos in Japan next season, the club announced on Tuesday.
Greek-born Postecoglou will replace French coach Erick Mombaerts, who said in early November he would be leaving the J-League club at the end of the season to return to Europe.
"I am excited to be moving to Japan and returning to club football," said the 52-year-old Postecoglou in a statement, adding he was particularly looking forward to working with the club's younger players.
Yokohama F-Marinos are part-owned by the City Football Group (CFG), who also own English Premier League club Manchester City, Major League Soccer's New York City, Melbourne City in Australia and Uruguayan clun Atletico Torque.
Club president Koichiro Furukawa said Postecoglou would encourage "an attractive and entertaining style of football which will suit our approach."
Yokohama F-Marinos came fifth in the J-League last season, trailing champions Kawasaki by 13 points.
Australia have said they do not expect to appoint a coach for next year's World Cup until February, amid a "high level of interest" in the job since Postecoglou stepped down.
Former United States boss and Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann is reportedly keen on the job.
Australia have been drawn in a tough Group C at the World Cup, along with higher-ranked teams France, Denmark and Peru.

AFP/Tokyo

Juventus Goes Second, AC Milan's Troubles Continue

Juventus moved second in Serie A after a trademark Miralem Pjanic free-kick led the reigning champions to a comfortable 3-0 win at Bologna on Sunday, while AC Milan were plunged further imto crisis by a heavy loss at lowly Verona.
Massimilliano Allegri's Juve are on 41 points, just a point behind leaders Napoli after leapfrogging Inter Milan, who suffered a shock first defeat of the season to Udinese on Saturday.
Bosnian Pjanic opening the scoring with a stunning 27th-minute free-kick and turned provider nine minutes later, clipping over a beautiful pass to Mario Mandzukic that the Croat smartly chested down and stroked past Bologna keeper Antonio Mirante.
Blaise Matuidi make sure of the points in the 64th minute with his first Serie A goal, the France international crashing a clearance back past Mirante on the half-volley.
"I feel good, I'm improving, the team got the three points we needed and I am happy," midfielder Pjanic said.
"We have to be ready for the next match against Roma (in Turin on Saturday). They are a very strong side and will be challenging for the Scudetto."
Juve have kept four straight clean sheets in the league since losing at Sampdoria last month and never looked in trouble at Bologna, despite troubled talent Paulo Dybala being left out.
Argentine Dybala was benched again by Allegri amid rumors of personal problems that have affected his form and he had something to prove when he was brought on with 15 minutes left.
He forced a smart save from Mirante but looked a shadow of the player that helped fire Juve to the Champions League final last season.
The crisis enveloping Juve's fellow Italian giants Milan deepened after their 3-0 defeat at Verona, who handed Milan their eighth defeat of the season thanks to a powerful header from Antonio Caracciolo and two smart finishes from Moise Kean and Daniel Bessa.
Milan's expensively-assembled squad has failed to get going in Serie A, and they are languishing in seventh place on just 24 points, 18 points behind Napoli and 14 adrift of the fourth and final Champions League place.
"There are no excuses, we embarrassed ourselves," said Gattuso after the defeat.
"In the first 25 minutes we created loads of chances but they made us pay with their first opportunity.
"Up until their first goal we played well, creating plenty, but we collapsed at the first obstacle put in our way, as has happened often this season."
Fourth spot is held by Roma, who are just four points behind Napoli with a game in hand on the top three after a dramatic 1-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday, decided in the 94th minute by Federico Fazio.
Lazio are fifth, but are now nine points off top spot, albeit also with a game in hand, after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Atalanta on Sunday.
Without the suspended Ciro Immobile, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic scored twice to draw Lazio level before half-time after falling two goals down early on.
Josip Ilicic completed a double of his own from the penalty spot to put the hosts back in front, and although former Liverpool midfielder Luis Alberto equalized again, Lazio failed to find a winner.
Crotone moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win over Chievo gained thanks to Ante Budimir's 33rd-minute tap-in.
Sassuolo snatched a last gasp 1-0 win at Sampdoria through Alessandro Matri, who made up for Matteo Politano's 82nd-minute penalty miss for the away side.

Agence France-Presse
Milan

United Downs Albion, Red Rocks Bournemouth

Manchester United kept their faint Premier League titles hopes alive with a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion, while Liverpool moved back into the top four with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on Sunday.
With Manchester City romping away with the title race, United had to win at the Hawthorns to have any chance of reeling in their local rivals.
Romelu Lukaku put Jose Mourinho's side in front with a 27th-minute header and Jesse Lingard netted with the aid of a deflection to double the visitors' lead in the 35th minute.
But what looked destined to be a comfortable win became tense when Gareth Barry proded home for Albion in the 77th minute.
United ended the game defending for their lives before claiming the win that left them 11 points behind City.
"I think we deserved the win. We were the best team. We controlled the game for a long time," Mourinho said.
"The intensity in the first half maybe we didn't have in the second half.
"West Brom are really powerful in the air. But after their goal we controlled it again."
At Dean Court, Liverpool demonstrated their goal power with a clinical display that took them above Arsenal and Burnley into fourth place.
Red boss Jurgen Klopp said: "I am really pleased about everything.
I like how we defended different situations and our tactical discipline was good.
"It was a fantastic first goal and the third was world class.
"We could have scored more, but we didn't really give a lot away so it was well deserved."
Ending a two-match winless run in the league, Klopp's side took the lead in the 20th minute.
Philippe Coutinho took possession 30 yards from goal and weaved his way past several Bournemouth defenders before planting a precise strike past Asmir Begovic.
Liverpool's second goal came six minutes later when Bournemouth failed to clear a corner and Roberto Firmino hooked the ball into the six-yard box, where defender Dejan Lovren stooped to head in.
Mohamed Salah bagged number three for the Reds in the 44th minute.
The Egypt winger ran on to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's pass, held off Charlie Daniels, cut inside Nathan Ake and slotted pass Begovic for his 20th goal in a superb first season with Liverpool.
Firmino wrapped up Liverpool's commanding peformance in the 66th minute, heading in Coutinho's cross despite Bournemouth's appeals for offside.

Steven Griffiths
Agence France-Presse/London

Dazzling Man City Disappearing Into The Distance

Manchester City soared above the fog swirling round the Etihad Stadium to demolish Totenham Hotspur 4-1 and leaves the rest of the Premier League peering into the distance in search of Pep Guardiola's record-breaking team on Saturday.
Totenham, which began the day fourth, was supposed to provide a proper test but, just like City's previous 15 opponents, was outclassed as goals by Ilkay Gundogan before halftime and Kevin de Buyne and two from Raheem Sterling after it put City 14 points clear.
City's 16th successive win took them to 52 points, one game short of the halfway point of the season.
Manchester United, which plays at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, has 38 as does champion Chelsea that beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Marcos Alonso's free kick.
Arsenal sent Newcastle United into the drop zone with a 1-0 win that lifted the Gunners to fourth with 33 points while Burnley is fifth, a further point back, after a 0-0 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion for whom Glenn Murray missed a penalty.
Tottenham tumbled down to seventh behind Liverpool, which is at Bournemouth on Sunday, on goal difference.
There were two big movers at the bottom with Crystal Palace winning 3-0 at Leicester City and West Ham United doing the same at Stoke City to move out of the relegation zone into 14th and 15th places respectively. Stoke is 17th.
Even without the absent David Silva, City were too clinical for Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side and could even afford a second-half penalty miss from Gabriel Jesus.
"It was solid, good, against one team demanding to be intense without the ball," Guardiola said. "Since August we are so happy and I admire the most the way we play without the ball - thank you to the club to provide me with these amazing players."
City's attacking soccer is a thing to behold but there was nothing fancy about its 14th minute opener as Gundogan was left unmarked to head in from a corner - a goal Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino described as an early Christmas present.
To its credit Tottenham took the game to City in the second half but were cut open in the 70th minute as De Bruyne finished off a rapid counter-attack.
Sterling's double in the final 10 minutes took his tally for the season to 15 in all competitions before Christian Eriksen scored a late consolation for the visitors.
"Today yes, they showed better quality than us. The better team wom," Pochettino said.
Chelsea has won eight of its last 10 games, but like Arsenal that beat Newcastle with a Mezut Ozil goal, is realistically playing for a top-four position unless City suffers a new year collapse of dramatic proportions.
"In the last 10 games we won eight games," Chelsea boss Antonie Conte saif. "Some people are forgetting this run because there is a team that is winning every game."
At the bottom Christian Benteke went from zero to hero as he scored his first goal of the season, and Crystal Palace's first on the road, as they trounced Leicester with Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako also on target.
Belgian striker Benteke made amends after disobeying team orders to take, and miss, a crucial penalty last week in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
"The day after (the penalty miss) he came in and held his hand up, he spoke to the players and myself and made the point that he would make it up to team, and that is what he has done," Palace manager Roy Hodgson said.
Marko Arnautovic scored against his old club Stoke as West Ham made it seven points from three games without conceding.
Huddersfield Town ended a long scoring drought on the road as they thumped stumbling Watford 4-1.

Martyn Herman
Reuters/London