Liverpool
Striker Daniel Sturridge has declared himself fit ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against former club Manchester City. The injury-prone England international missed the start of the season after returning from hip surgery and has made just three appearances this campaign. A knee injury in training followed by a build-up of fluid in the joint means he has yet to feature for Liverpool under new manager Jurgen Klopp. “I’m fit and ready to go and it’s going to be a great time for me,” Sturridge told his club’s website. “It’s been great under the new manager. I’ve been back training for the past couple of days and I was training when he first arrived. It’s an exciting time to be at the club and I’m enjoying working with him and the style of football.”
Manchester City
Midfielder Samir Nasri has ruled himself out of action for three months due to a hamstring injury but says he will return “better than ever”. Nasri strained his hamstring in City’s 5-1 over Bournemouth last month and has not played for the club since, though manager Manuel Pellegrini was hopeful he would recover in time for Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to Liverpool. “What doesn’t kill you make you stronger. I will be back better than ever see you in 3 months,” Nasri, 28, said on Twitter on Wednesday, while a picture on his Instagram account showed him on crutches.
Manchester United
David Beckham has urged Manchester United winger Memphis Depay to use the club’s famous No 7 shirt as an inspiration to kick-start his floundering United career. The Netherlands international has not started a league game since being substituted at half time during the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal on October 4. However, an injury to Anthony Martial means Memphis is likely to start when United travel to Watford on Saturday. “I don’t see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour,” Beckham was quoted as saying by the British media. “At the end of the day it is a special shirt to wear but I don’t think personally that it comes with any pressure. It always was an inspiration for me. It was never my shirt. It was George Best’s, Bryan Robson’s, Eric Cantona’s. The only reason I wanted to wear the No 7 shirt was because of these players.”
Arsenal
Being sent away from Arsenal on loan to various clubs across Europe has given Joel Campbell the exposure to first-team football he needed to become a better player, the Costa Rica international has said. Campbell struggled to make an impact at Arsenal after moving to the club in 2011 and had to go out on loan for the first couple of years, partly due to work permit issues. With Arsenal’s injury list continuing to grow this season, the 23-year-old forward has started back-to-back Premier League games for the first time. “I really enjoyed my loan spells at Lorient, [Real] Betis, Olympiakos and more recently at Villarreal,” Campbell said. “Those experiences really helped me in terms of my personality and as life experience.” Arsenal travel to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
England
The Premier League has announced the French national anthem will be played before all matches this weekend in remembrance for those affected by the terror attacks on Paris. There are 72 French players at top-flight clubs, the biggest number from a single nationality after England, and a choral version of La Marseillaise will be played after the coin toss, with players from both teams joining officials in the centre circle facing the main stand.
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: "Given how close we are as well as the long-standing relationship that exists between the Premier League and France, playing La Marseillaise as an act of solidarity and remembrance is the right thing to do."
Napoli
Title-chasers Napoli are counting the cost of last week’s round of international friendlies with fears forwards Dries Mertens and Manolo Gabbiadini will miss their next two league games. Napoli, who sit two points off leaders Fiorentina, travel to Verona on Sunday looking to maintain their title push before hosting fellow title chasers Inter Milan in a crucial game at the San Paolo next weekend. Coach Maurizio Sarri is expected to be without Belgian international Mertens and Italy striker Gabbiadini for both games after they hobbled off while representing their national sides. Mertens has been advised to take a week’s rest with a right-thigh injury. Gabbiadini is sidelined for at least one week after hobbling off Italy’s 2-2 friendly draw with Romania on Tuesday.
Turkey
Galatasaray manager Hamza Hamzaoglu has parted ways with the Turkish champions less than a year after taking charge following a mediocre start to the season. “Coach Hamza Hamzaoglu’s contract has been terminated through a mutual agreement,” read a statement on the club’s website. Hamzaoglu led the club to a league-and-cup double last year but Gala are five points behind league leaders Besitkas after 11 games and are third in Uefa Champions League Group C on four points from as many games. “We sincerely thank our coach for his work for the club until today and wish him success in his future career,” the statement said.
Borussia Dortmund
Marco Reus is set to make his return against Hamburg on Friday night. The playmaker has been sidelined by an adductor injury which forced him to miss the Revierderby against Schalke and Germany’s clash with France during the international break. However, Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he is now fit. In addition, Shinji Kagawa is expected to keep his place in the starting XI despite only just returning from international duty with Japan.
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