Wenger eyes top four berth

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are gathering momentum at the right time after they enhanced their prospects of qualifying for the Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 win at West Ham.

First half goals from Santi Cazorla and Danny Welbeck at Upton Park on Sunday were enough to help Arsenal leapfrog West Ham in the Premier League table.

And, after a spluttering campaign, the Gunners are back on course to finish in the top four and seal a coveted place in Europe's elite club competition.

"The Champions League is vital for us," Wenger said. "We have done it 17 years so I'm entitled at least to believe we can do it.

"It's still all to do. When you look at the league, everyone fights very hard for it. Southampton, Tottenham, Man United, so many teams who can fight for these positions.

"I always had that belief, but it's far from done. We just want to win the next game and be consistent in our performances.

Another victory at fourth placed Southampton on New Year's Day would be a further step in the right direction for Wenger's side.

"If you look at our recent results we look to be more stable. We have a big game in front of us now at Southampton," Wenger added.

With the transfer window set to open on January 1, Wenger knows there will be speculation about moves in and out of the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners boss is focused on getting his injured players fit rather than any wheeling and dealing.

Out-of-favour Germany striker Lukas Podolski continues to be strongly linked with a January move to Inter Milan.

But Wenger has played down the prospect of him moving on and is more concerned at seeing the likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere return from spells on the sidelines.

"There's nothing concrete there with Lukas," Wenger added.

"At the moment nobody goes out. Ozil is coming back at the back of January, so of course there is a lot of competition up front."

West Ham were surprise challengers for a Champions League place before back-to-back defeats derailed their charge.

But boss Sam Allardyce is hoping for a response against West Bromwich Albion to mark the start of the new year as he looks to get his side back on track.

"The players have once again given their all. I cannot question their commitment all season," Allardyce said.

"We have to go again now and we have only lost two games.

"Of course we want to bounce back against West Brom now."

Allardyce was also frustrated that referee Neil Swarbrick and his assistant ruled out Alex Song's early strike due to Diafra Sakho standing offside in front of Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

"If we'd been allowed that goal we wouldn't have lost. We would have kicked on and Arsenal would have found life very difficult from then on," Allardyce said.

"I've not spoken to the ref because I don't see any point in confronting him when you know you're 100 percent right and he hasn't had the visuals. You can't get anything out of telling him how wrong he's been.

"Going on what we were told at the start of the season, they got it horribly wrong. He (Sakho) wasn't in the eye-line of the keeper. He didn't touch the ball.

"Yes he was offside, but we've seen so many of those allowed as goals. I've not seen one 'not given'.

"Can you tell me what is an offside? Now I'm totally and utterly confused and bewildered. There are far too many inconsistencies.

Pellegrini fumes as City blow lead

Manuel Pellegrini accused his Manchester City players of complacency after they allowed a two-goal lead to slip away in a costly 2-2 draw against lowly Burnley.

The defending champions wasted the opportunity to pull to within a point of Premier League leaders Chelsea, who were held by Southampton earlier on Sunday, after first half goals from David Silva and Fernandinho had put City well in control at Eastlands.

An early second half effort from Burnley's George Boyd was followed by a dramatic 82nd minute equaliser from Ashley Barnes which ended City's bid for a club record 10th consecutive victory.

"The way we're playing, we need to run a lot of metres," said Pellegrini.

"Maybe leading 2-0 we thought that the game was over but until the last whistle the game has never finished. We couldn't continue with the same pace.

"In football, two balls can decide the score. At the beginning of the second half, Burnley scored a clear offside goal; after that, with a rebound, they scored the second.

"We played very well in the first half but it's clear that we couldn't keep the same intensity as we had in the first half.

"In the second half, they scored the early goal and that was very important for them. They grew a lot and had a lot of trust in what they could do."

Pellegrini, who revealed he had left Yaya Toure out of his squad as a precaution after the Ivory Coast international reported a slight groin problem, remained defiant about City's title chances despite the setback.

"Of course, this was a chance to have two points more, but not a chance for anything else," he said.

"We have to play the complete second round (of fixtures). We have finished the first round with 43 points, which is a good amount of points.

"After leading 2-0, it's more disappointing to lose the two points but we have all the second round to see who is the best team."

Stevan Jovetic returned as a second half substitute, meaning City's run of games without a fit, recognised first team forward is over, but news about the fitness of club captain Vincent Kompany, laid off with a hamstring injury, is less positive.

"We will see tomorrow if he's fit for the next game," said Pellegrini whose side next face Sunderland on New Year's Day.

"It is very difficult to know for now. He still has some problems in his calf."

Pellegrini also blamed the fixture schedule, and the fact his players had to perform on a heavy, snow-bound pitch at West Brom on Boxing Day, for their poor second half showing.

But opposite number Sean Dyche not only named the same starting line-up that lost to Liverpool on Boxing Day but also resisted the temptation to make a substitution during the 90 minutes at the Etihad.

"I find it incredible people are making that point," said Dyche. "When I was playing, we would put out the same team if we were playing well.

"I don't over-think it. If the team is ready to play, we play and today the players were ready to deliver.

"I keep reading about 'struggling Burnley,' But the expectation was we had no chance at all.

"If you look at the way the team is performing, we're not struggling, we're playing really well and I'm delighted with all the players.

"I'm intrigued to see where the journey is taking us and I've been very much enjoying the way the team has been playing.

Pardew no-show increases speculation

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew cast his future into doubt after failing to rule out a return to Crystal Palace.

The 53-year-old has been strongly linked with the vacant post at Selhurst Park following the sacking of Neil Warnock.

Pardew, a beaten FA Cup finalist with Palace as a player in 1990, has been installed as a clear favourite to succeed Warnock by many bookmakers.

The Newcastle manager turned down an opportunity to put an end to growing speculation, choosing not to conduct any press interviews after his side stemmed a four-game losing streak with a narrow 3-2 Premier League victory over Everton.

His assistant John Carver was prevented from answering questions about the future of Pardew, who recently celebrated four years in charge at St James' Park, and who is the second longest-serving manager in the Premier League after Arsenal's Arsene Wenger.

Pardew made more than 100 appearances for the Eagles during a four-year spell at Palace from 1987, and still retains property near their Surrey base. This is not the first time he has been linked with a return to his former club.

He has more than five years left on his current deal at St James' Park, having recently signed a contract extension to 2020.

However, he enjoys an uneasy relationship with Newcastle supporters, who mounted a campaign calling for his dismissal earlier this season before a six-game winning run helped to see him through one of his most turbulent spells in management.

His post-match no-show took the attention away from a much needed victory, as Everton manager Roberto Martinez insisted Papiss Cisse should have been sent off before cancelling out Arouna Kone's early goal for the visitors.

Seamus Coleman felt the full force of Cisse's elbow, a first-half incident that went unseen and unpunished by the officials. The Senegal forward is likely to face trial by video for the way he caught the Everton defender in the throat at a Newcastle set-piece.

"He's very fortunate he stayed on the pitch," insisted Martinez, in the wake of a fifth defeat in seven games for his mid-table side.

The Spaniard added: "It's unacceptable to see an action like that. It's a clear elbow to try to hurt someone.

"I don't want to see players sent off but that's unacceptable from Cisse. It shouldn't be allowed. He elbowed a fellow professional and that should have been a red card. There's no intention to hide it.

"He acts in a manner that's hard to justify, then he scores the equaliser and the game changes completely."

Carver pleaded ignorance of the incident. "All I saw was Seamus Coleman lying on the floor," he said. "I've not had chance to see the TV since but it's obviously been mentioned so we'll look at it."

Cisse swept home his ninth goal of the season and fifth in six games from close range after Mike Williamson pulled back a Cheick Tiote cross.

Ayoze Perez put Newcastle ahead after the break and Jack Colback doubled the advantage before Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas pulled one back late on.

"It's a concerning run," Martinez added. "We're not in a good moment and everything that could go against us went wrong. You don't want to create that negative momentum and we have to stop giving away soft goals.

Europe the place to be for Lucas

Paris Saint Germain's Brazilian international star Lucas Moura said on Sunday that Europe is the place to be for top talent and any return to the domestic fray would be a step backwards.

"It would be a step back for my career if I were to return to Brazil," said the 22-year-old winger, whom PSG signed from Sao Paulo for €45 million two seasons ago.

Moura, who made his name with Sao Paulo and broke into the Brazilian national side in 2011 but failed to make the cut for the World Cup, told Globo television the Brazilian game is slower and that playing in Europe had bolstered his all-round development.

Brazil coach Dunga called Lucas into his squads for recent friendlies against Austria and Turkey but injury forced his withdrawal.

But he told Globo he hoped to get another chance to pull on the national shirt for a March 26 friendly in Paris.

"That would be special -- I can say France is my second country," Lucas said.

Fellow international Paulinho could be in line to return to the Brazilian league, however, with media reports in Brazil saying Corinthians are looking to bring him home from Tottenham Hotspur after just a year in north London.

Several sterling showings during Brazil's Confederations Cup success last year earned Paulinho a €22 million move to White Hart Lane but after a strong start the 26-year-old has been a peripheral figure this season.

Last month, Paulinho admitted he was open to a move back to his old club owing to a lack of playing time with Spurs.

Duo bid farewell to Sfaxien fans

Club Sportif Sfaxien duo, Ferjani Sassi and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, have said goodbye to their club and fans as they brace up to join to French side, FC Metz.

Sassi and Ben Youssef played their last match with the Black and White against Stade Tunisien on Sunday before moving to the French Ligue 1.

Both of them announced earlier that their club reached agreement with the French side and that they will join after the first round of the Tunisian league.

The fans of CS Sfaxien gave the two player warm receiption and offered a goodbye message for them.

Ben Youssef, 23, joined CS Sfaxien in 2011 while Sassi, 22, joined in 2010.

Euro stars join Bafana camp

Bafana Bafana were boosted by the arrival in camp of five overseas-based players.

Belgium-based Anele Ngcongca, Andile Jali, Ayanda Patosi and Darren Keet joined their compatriots in camp on Sunday night (28 December) with Tokelo Rantie, who plays his club football in England only arrived on Monday morning.

All five players have gone to Pretoria for medical assessments as required ahead of the tournament.

They will join their Bafana Bafana teammates at training Monday evening. The squad did not train in the morning after the session was called off to give the players a break.

Bafana Bafana are in camp as part of preparation for the CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 tournament which starts next month.

Coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba had called up 34 players to the mini-training camp which started last week Friday and will conclude on Tuesday when the squad is trimmed down to the final 23 players who will travel to Equatorial Guinea for the tournament.

Only two players will miss the training camp – Netherlands-based Thulani Serero, who is expected on Friday while England-based Dean Furman will be in South Africa on Sunday.

Bafana Bafana are in Group C along with Algeria, Senegal and Ghana in the tournament.

Rodgers backs Mignolet to rise

Brendan Rodgers has backed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet ahead of Liverpool's Barclays Premier League clash with Swansea City on Monday. Catch the action live on SS3 HD and live streaming on supersport.com from 9pm.

The Liverpool manager dropped Mignolet for an "indefinite" period before the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United a fortnight ago.

But the Belgium international made his return as an early substitute in the hard-fought 1-0 victory at Burnley on Boxing Day after his replacement Brad Jones sustained a thigh problem.

Jones' injury means Mignolet, who looked desperately short of confidence at Turf Moor, will regain his starting place for the visit of Rodgers' former club to Anfield.

And the Northern Irishma feels the ex-Sunderland stopper can build on his shut-out at Burnley.

"Simon is a resilient character and, like everyone, has taken a wee bit of flak. But to operate at this level you have to deal with that," Rodgers said on Saturday.

"He had a couple of edgy moments yesterday and he will recognise that, but he ended the game with a clean sheet and that will help with his confidence and that as the team."

Rodgers swapped Wales for Merseyside in 2012, and was full of praise for the job done by one of his former players Garry Monk - who took the reins at the Liberty Stadium permanently in May.

Swansea sit eighth in the Barclays Premier League - one place above Liverpool - after their 1-0 home win over Aston Villa on Friday, and Rodgers feels Monk has followed the club's recent tradition of playing attractive, free-flowing football superbly.

"It's a very difficult game. I know Swansea very well," he added.

"We had a very good performance against them in the cup [Liverpool beat Swansea 2-1 in the League Cup fourth round in October], at home.

"Garry Monk has done very well. We're in contact fairly regularly and I spoke to him the other day. It's a well-established way of working and way of playing.

"But we now have two games at home after a really good result for us yesterday. We'll arrive into this game and hopefully continue in that mantra and get another three points."

Jones joins a Liverpool injury list that includes long-term absentees Daniel Sturridge (thigh) and Jon Flanagan (knee), as well as Glen Johnson (groin).

It remains to be seen whether Joe Allen will be fit to face his former club after suffering a knock, while Dejan Lovren (groin) is also doubtful.

Monk, meanwhile, looks set to be without Jefferson Montero, who was forced off midway through the first half against Villa due to an apparent hamstring injury.

"We'll have to see about Jefferson. We won't know for the next 24 to 48 hours until we get the scan results," he said on Friday.

"Hopefully it's not too serious because Jeff has been fantastic for us. Coming into a new league, he's been really good. Hopefully he won't be out for too long."

Source: PremierLeague.com

Liverpool offer Borini, £8m for Onazi

Barclays Premier League club, Liverpool, have reportedly offered out-of-favour striker, Fabio Borini and £8 million for Nigeria international midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi.

According to reports in the English media over the weekend, Onazi is now a main target for Brendan Rodgers to solve his team's holding role in the midfield as they struggle in the Premier League this term.

The Reds are using Borini as a bait in the planned bid since the Italian striker has long been admired by the Rome club.

It is not the first time that Rodgers will be linked with a move for the Nigerian midfield enforcer. In the summer, Liverpool made an attempt to hook the Lazio man without success.

Liverpool instead brought in Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen to plug the hole in their midfield, but now could make the move for Onazi in January.

Onazi has made eight league appearances for Lazio this season and has one assist.

QPR consider Yakubu option

The presence of Yakubu Aiyegbeni in the stands of the stands to watch QPR lose 1-2 to Arsenal on Boxing Day has sparked off transfer talks of a possible reunion with Harry Redknapp.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Nigerian striker is one of the names on the wishlist of transfer targets in the January window of the QPR manager.

One of such targets is England striker, Jermain Defoe, who is with FC Toronto in the MLS.

But Redknapp has a budget which is inadequate to bring in stellar names as he seeks to steer Rangers away from relegation in the second round of the Barclays Premier League.

Now the QPR boss has made identified the Al Rayyan striker as a target in the January transfer window since he has just six months of his contract left with the Qatari club, according to the English newspaper.

QPR's only in-form striker is Charlie Austin who has scored 12 goals in 17 league matches while the duo of Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora have managed two goals in between them.

Redknapp had worked with Yakubu while Portsmouth when he signed him from Israeli club, Maccabi Hafia on loan in January 2003.

The last appearance in the English top flight for the 32-year-old Nigerian forward was in 2012 with Blackburn Rovers when the club were relegated.

Yakubu has also played for English clubs like Leicester City, Everton and Middlesbrough in a time that spanned about a decade in the United Kingdom.

Bullets eye Sundowns friendly

Malawi TNM Super League champions Big Bullets have lined up a number of friendly games including against Mamelodi Sundowns.

However, the South African giants have not officially confirmed.

The Bullets have arranged the warm up matches ahead of their participation in the 2015 Caf Champions League preliminary round starting on the weekend of February 13 against Fomboni Club de Moheil of Comoros island.

The Blantyre club’s general secretary Harold Fote told The Nation newspaper that the game could be played in Malawi in January.

“We have arranged a number of friendly games in preparation for the Caf assignments. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns are coming early January. We want to make sure that by the time we will be playing Caf games we are fully prepared,” Fote is quoted as saying.

The Bullets are making a return to continental football after 10 years. There is no confirmation from Sundowns who are also reportedly set for an invitational tournament in Congo next month.

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Roy wants England to be competitive

Manager Roy Hodgson has offered an upbeat New Year message to England's success-starved fans, explaining how he hopes his team will be a "serious competitor" for the Euro 2016 title.

At the end of another year of anti-climax for England supporters following the swift World Cup exit, Hodgson was in good cheer as he enthused about his side's promising post-Brazil revival.

"I am looking forward to seeing the team qualify for France in 2016," Hodgson told the FA's website (www.thefa.com) on Monday as he reflected on his squad's 100 percent winning start to their Euro 2016 qualifying group.

"I want to continue to play my part in helping the players on the path that they are on, the path to becoming better in every aspect of their game and better at becoming a team which in 2016 will hopefully be as a serious competitor when we get to France."

After failing to clamber out of the group stages in Brazil, Hodgson's young side have shown signs of encouraging development, having won all six of their matches – friendlies and Euro Group G qualifiers – this season.

"I'm looking forward to the games we will play and hopefully keeping our winning run going," said Hodgson. "I'm also looking forward to seeing the team qualify for the finals in France.

"Most importantly I'm looking for a constant progression for us to be a better team at the end of 2015 than we are at the start of it.

"We're a good team now but we want to be even better. The experiences we gained during the course of this year will help us, coaching staff and players."

England's next game is against Lithuania in a Euro qualifier in March at Wembley but Hodgson has arranged for the players to meet up at the end of January to review their latest win over Scotland and to look ahead to 2015.

Newcastle boss Pardew set for Palace job

Alan Pardew is reportedly set to quit Newcastle and take over as the new manager of his former club Crystal Palace, according to reports on Monday.

Several British bookmakers suspended betting on the next Premier League manager to leave his post on Monday after reports strongly linked Pardew with a move to Selhurst Park, where he spent three years as a player.

Neither club has been willing to confirm suggestions that the Eagles, who are looking for a new boss after sacking Neil Warnock on Saturday, will pay a £2 million compensation fee to land Pardew, who still has five years left on his St James' Park contract.

Pardew made 128 appearances for Palace between 1988 and 1991 and scored the winning goal in his side's famous 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup semifinals at Villa Park in 1990.

Despite a mounting campaign for his dismissal from a large section of Newcastle supporters, Pardew retained the faith of Magpies owner Mike Ashley.

But although the Magpies are a bigger club than Palace, Pardew has been frustrated by Newcastle's transfer policy in recent seasons and continuous criticism from a large section of fans to get him out of the job.

Pardew is one of the lowest paid managers in the league and Palace will at least match his salary.

And the 53-year-old stoked the speculation over his future by failing to attend the post-match press conference following his side's 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday.

Pardew is scheduled to host his regular pre-match press conference ahead of the visit of Burnley at Newcastle's training ground on Tuesday.

But Palace chairman Steve Parish, said to be in talks with Ashley on Monday, wants to act swiftly following the departure of Warnock to allow his new boss time to spend in the January transfer window.

The south Londoners are in the relegation zone after Sunday's 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers QPR, with Keith Millen in charge of Palace in a caretaker capacity for the third time.

Cisse charged with violent conduct

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been charged with violent conduct, the FA said in a statement on Monday referring to an incident in the Premier League match against Everton.

The charge, which could lead to a three-match ban, came after a video review panel re-examined footage during which Cisse elbowed defender Seamus Coleman at St James' Park on Sunday.

The incident was unseen by the match officials.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez called the failure to punish Cisse "unacceptable", saying the Senegalese attempted to "hurt" Coleman.

Cisse equalised a minute later for Newcastle who went on to win 3-2.

"Those are not actions we want to see on a football pitch and the referee should have seen it," Martinez said.

Lloris curbs Man United's title surge

Manchester United's efforts to force their way into the Premier League title race faltered as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

An outstanding display by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris together with wasteful United finishing meant Louis van van Gaal's side were denied an eighth victory in nine games.

Had United claimed three points, they would have increased the pressure on top two Chelsea and Manchester City.

Instead they were left to reflect on a missed opportunity, but Spurs, who finished the game strongly, also had cause for regret after failing to enhance their own challenge for a top-four finish.

Van Gaal's decision to name an unchanged side for the first time since he took charge at Old Trafford was a clear indication of the manager's growing satisfaction with his team's efforts after some good recent results.

Results, however, have told only part of the story, with United having failed to convince on occasion.

Their defensive struggles, which have allowed goalkeeper David de Gea to shine, gave Tottenham grounds for pre-match optimism, particularly with Harry Kane in such good form.

The 21-year-old striker had scored in his four previous appearances and quickly demonstrated he was capable of unsettling United's back three of Phil Jones, Paddy McNair and Jonny Evans.

An excellent threaded pass from the recalled Andros Townsend almost allowed Kane to get in behind the visitors' back-line, but McNair was alert enough to smother the danger.

That, though, proved to be a rare example of the home side's attacking threat as United assumed control to the extent that Tottenham would have been out of the game before halftime had it not been for Lloris.

With Antonio Valancia and Ashley Young finding space on the flanks and Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney buzzing around in midfield, United repeatedly opened up a route to Lloris's goal, but neither Rademal Falcao nor Robin van Persie could find a finishing touch.

Mata came closest to breaking the deadlock with a 22nd-minute free-kick that struck the post and when the ball bounced towards the goal-line, Vlad Chiriches hacked it away from the feet of Falcao and Van Persie.

Falcao saw an angled shot parried by Lloris, moments before the Spurs goalkeeper snuffed out an opportunity for Van Persie after the striker had deftly brought down Michael Carrick's chipped pass.

Then, in the final minute of the half, the France international produced an acrobatic, full-stretch save to tip Young's curling cross-shot around the post.

The goalkeeper's heroics had kept Spurs in it and his teammates responded after the restart by adopting a more ambitious approach.

Townsend had been Spurs' most dangerous attacking player and the England international became even more prominent as the game wore on, testing De Gea with a swerving 20-yard shot that the Spaniard did well to hold.

The winger's pace was troubling United and he appeared to have caught out Young in the 70th minute when he got behind the wing-back only to be hauled back.

Young had been booked 15 minutes earlier for a foul on Nacer Chadli, but although Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino and his players were convinced he should have received a second caution, referee Jon Moss waved play on.

Moments earlier, Mata had fired over from Rafael da Silva's cut-back, but that proved to be United's last clear chance as the momentum of the game tipped in Spurs' favour, with Christian Eriksen and Federico Fazio threatening.

Van Gaal withdrew the unconvincing Evans in favour of Chris Smalling, while Luke Shaw replaced McNair, but although the visitors hung on, it was amid a growing sense of panic.

Ismaily duo sidelined for six months

Egyptian side El Ismaily will be without their captain Hosni Abd Rabo and their starlet Mahmoud Metwali for six months due to injury.

Abd Rabo and Metwali picked up injuries in their 1-0 against Al Nasr on Saturday in the Egyptian League.

"Our duo of Hosny Abd Rabo and Mahmoud Metwali will be sidelined for six months after X-rays revealed that both of them tore their Anterior Cruciate Ligament yesterday (on Saturday) against Al Nasr and both of them will undergo surgery on Monday," El Ismaily announced.

"That is the worst news for us in 2014, both of them are the key players in the team and we wish them quick recovery and hope they get well soon."

This is the third time Abd Rabo is suffering an injury as he was out on the sidelines in 2010 with El Ismaily and in 2013 with Al Nasr of Saudi Arabia.

© supersport.com

Pacheco remains Zamalek coach

Egyptian side Zamalek have announced that their head coach Jaime Pacheco will not leave his position.

The Portuguese coach has assured his players that he will leave the team after problems with the club chairman, Mortada Mansour.

Mansour opened fire on Pacheco in front of the club players inside the team's dressing room after their 2-0 defeat against ENPPI on Thursday.

Zamalek lost their place at the top of the league to ENPPI following Thursday's loss.

After the outburst from the club president, Pacheco decided to leave the team and he refused to attend training before the intervention of members of the Zamalek board in a meeting with him calmed frayed nerves, sources told supersport.com.

The team officials announced that the head coach will not leave the team.

Zamalek are preparing to play another match in the domestic league against Damnhor on Monday.

The White Knight are in second place on the Egyptian league table with 31 points.

Al Ahly to bolster squad

Al Ahly director Wael Gomaa has assured that they will sign two foreign players in January to boost the team in their campaign for the Egypt Premier League and Caf Champions League.

The Cairo-based club have two foreign players -- Saladin Said of Ethiopia and Moussa Yedan of Burkina Faso.

But Al Ahly may have to axe one of them if they bring in two new foreigners.

"We are in advanced talk with two African players. One of the them is a striker and the other is a midfielder. Add to that we will sign an Egyptian defender," Gomaa said.

"The team need new blood especially as the season is too long and tough. I can promise our fans that we will sign very good deals."

Sources revealed that there are a long list of players on Al Ahly's radar, including Ivorian player Zoumana Kone, who plays for Moroccan side Hassania Union Sport Agadir, and Esperance striker Yannick N'Djeng.

Van Gaal chooses odd time to stick

Louis van Gaal is a fierce critic of English football's congested holiday fixture schedule so it came as a big surprise when he named an unchanged Manchester United team to play Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.

Less than 48 hours after beating Newcastle United 3-1, Van Gaal sent out the same 11 players at Spurs, the first time the Old Trafford team have been unchanged in 85 league matches going back to November, 2012.

The decision seemed to be justified as United started strongly and peppered the Tottenham goal but they failed to beat keeper Hugo Lloris and were hanging on in the second half for a 0-0 draw that left them third in the table.

"It's the culture of England but I don't think the human body can recover in 48 hours so good," the Dutchman told reporters.

"The players couldn't recover in two days. It was an ugly match."

He did make changes in the second half, hauling off defenders Jonny Evans and Paddy McNair, but his vaunted four-pronged strike force of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata played the full game.

Young forward James Wilson was left kicking his heels on the bench as United ran out of steam and paid the price for a profligate first half in which Lloris excelled.

"We had the best performance of Manchester United this season in the first half," Van Gaal said. "We could have scored four or five goals but we didn't reward ourselves.

"In the second half it was more a struggle than football I think."

Van Gaal had had to deal with a plethora of injuries in his first five months at United, particularly in defence.

He started with Evans, McNair and Phil Jones in a three-man rearguard against Spurs, supported by wing backs Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.

Brazilian Rafael replaced Valencia at halftime and Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw came on in the closing stages as Van Gaal continues to work out his best defensive system.

Spurs enjoyed a late spell of possession and created chances to nick victory, leaving the Dutchman frustrated despite a run of seven wins and two draws in the last nine games.

"We lost two points," he said. "I would have been satisfied with our position if we had won today because we would have had 38 points from 19 matches halfway through the season.

Egypt FA shortlist six for Pharoahs job

The Egypt Football Association has shortlisted six candidates for the Pharaohs head coach job, supersport.com has been informed.

The EFA had announced earlier this month that the senior team's head coach will not be Egyptian.

The Egyptian football body axed its former coach, Shawky Gharib, after he failed to lead the Pharaohs to the Africa Cup of Nations that will take place in Equatorial Guinea in January.

The FA chairman, Gamal Allam, has revealed that the committee of the Egyptian experts made the shortlist of six before it will pick the best out of them.

Supersport.com has been informed that the committee has narrowed down the shortlist to six candidates, which include Senegal head coach Alain Giresse.

The same sources revealed that the EFA will wait till the end of the Afcon to start negotiations with whoever is named coach of the Pharaohs.

Lemina refuses Gabon's Afcon call-up

Marseille midfielder Mario Lemina has rejected his country of birth Gabon's call after being named on Sunday in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

"I'm not going to the CAN," Lemina announced on his Twitter page.

"Everything that's being said at the moment is only rumours, I'm sorry but there's been no agreement between Gabon and me," added Lemina who was born in Gabon but who has represented France at youth level.

Lemina was part of the French side that became Under-20 world champions.

"For the moment my wish is to play for the France team," he told French radio station RMC last month.

"But at the same time I haven't said no to Gabon. It depends on a lot of things...on my family, but for the time being I'm giving everything to France."

Gabon squad:

Goalkeepers: Didier Ovono (Ostende/BEL), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz/FRA), Stéphane Bitseki (CF Mounana)

Defenders: Lloyd Palun (Nice/FRA), Yrondu Musavu King (Caen/FRA), Benjamin Zé Ondo (ES Sétif/ALG), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff/ENG), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre/FRA), Aaron Appindangoye (CF Mounana), Johan Obiang (Chateauroux/FRA), Junior Randal Oto'o Zue (Sporting Braga/POR)

Midfielders: André Biyogo Poko (Bordeaux/FRA), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (CS Sfaxien/TUN), Samson Mbingui (MC Alger/ALG), Mario Lemina (Marseille/FRA), Lévy Madinda (Celta Vigo/ESP), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov/RUS), Alexander N'Doumbou (Marseille/FRA)

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Malick Evouna (WAC Casablanca/MAR), Frédéric Bulot (Charlton Athletic/ENG), Romaric Rogombé (AC Leopards/RDC), Johan Lengoualama (Difaa/MAR)

Chelsea run aground at Saints

Chelsea's five-match winning streak came to an end in a 1-1 draw at Southampton on Sunday, although the point was enough to keep them at the Premier League summit.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring for the hosts, who impressed in the first half but did little but defend for the second period as Chelsea, who levelled through Eden Hazard just before halftime, launched attack after attack.

Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was sent off in the closing stages, but the hosts held on.

The final whistle was greeted joyously by the home fans, who have seen Southampton prosper under new head coach Ronald Koeman, who previously worked alongside Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at Barcelona.

Chelsea made three changes to the side that beat West Ham United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, with Filipe Luis, John Mikel Obi and Andre Schurrle coming in for Cesar Azpilicueta, Willian and Oscar.

Jose Fonte returned from suspension for Southampton, 3-1 winners at Crystal Palace that day, but Ryan Bertrand was ineligible to face his former club and fellow full-back Nathaniel Clyne was unavailable due to injury.

The hosts were fortunate early on when goalkeeper Fraser Forster failed to collect a corner, but John Terry, scorer of the opening goal in Chelsea's two previous matches, could not direct his header on target.

Forster was second to the ball again when Schurrle burst into the box on the left, but the German could only poke wide from a tight angle.

Southampton almost took the lead when Schneiderlin and then Mane connected with a corner, only for Terry to prevent Fonte from tapping in at the back post.

But Chelsea's defence was caught out by the next Saints attack as Mane, put through by Dusan Tadic, kept calm and flicked his shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as if it were a training exercise.

Chelsea's response was a run from Cesc Fabregas, but Schurrle, right in front of goal, could not get on the end of the former Arsenal captain's deflected cross.

Chelsea levelled in first-half stoppage time when Hazard out-paced Maya Yoshida on the left and cut inside to beat another defender before curling past Forster to convert his side's first shot of the afternoon.

Mourinho made a change at the break, with Willian replacing the ineffective Schurrle.

The newcomer saw two shots blocked in quick succession before referee Anthony Taylor had a decision to make when Fabregas went down in the box under Matthew Targett's challenge.

The official ruled it had been a dive and booked the Spaniard, much to Fabregas's consternation.

Hazard fired across goal and narrowly wide after chesting down a pass as Chelsea began to take control of the game.

Stout defending blocked Diego Costa's shot and he was joined up front by Didier Drogba for the final 15 minutes, with defensive midfielder Mikel the man to make way.

Southampton had hardly threatened all half, such was Chelsea's domination of possession, but the home side continued to defend bravely and in numbers.

They were fortunate, too, with Costa losing his footing in the box after a mis-placed pass from substitute James Ward-Prowse put him in on goal.

The home team had to see out the final two minutes a man down when Schneiderlin, previously booked for a foul on Hazard, hacked Fabregas down and received another yellow card.

This they managed despite Drogba twice threatening to finish off balls into the six-yard box, while Forster had to react sharply after a clearance struck one of his teammates and rebounded towards him.

Villa hold Sunderland in scoreless draw

Ten-man Aston Villa held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Sunday as the two teams inched away from the Premier League relegation zone.

Villa extended their unbeaten run against the Black Cats to seven games but suffered from the absence of joint top scorer Gabby Agbonlahor, who was serving a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards.

Kieran Richardson was also suspended for Paul Lambert's side while Joe Cole, Ashley Westwood, Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker were all out injured.

The home side edged possession and attempts on goal during a scoreless first half but Villa's task was complicated three minutes after the restart when Fabian Delph was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge.

Villa also made it nine matches on the trot in which they have conceded one goal or less while Sunderland extended their unbeaten streak on the road to five games.

Aston Villa climb to 21 points and five above Crystal Palace in the final relegation spot while Gus Poyet's men are now on 20 points.

Sunderland poured forward with their numerical advantage and rained down 15 shots on target with Jordi Gomez blasting a shot off the post from just outside the box in the dying moments.

Palace show fight in QPR stalemate

Managerless Crystal Palace responded to the sacking of boss Neil Warnock with a gritty display in a 0-0 draw against fellow strugglers QPR on Sunday.

Palace chairman Steve Parish ended Warnock's five-month reign on Saturday after the south London club slumped into the Premier League relegation zone, but caretaker manager Keith Millen convinced his players to ignore the turmoil and they delivered an improved performance at Loftus Road.

The Eagles, linked with moves for former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood and ex-Porto chief Vitor Pereira, remain in the bottom three on goal difference, while QPR are two points above the drop zone.

Millen, in his third spell as caretaker, made one change to the Palace team beaten by Southampton on Boxing Day, with Wilfried Zaha replacing Fraizer Campbell up front as the Eagles looked to register a first win in seven matches.

Both teams looked short of confidence and composure in a scrappy opening and QPR striker Charlie Austin should have done better than shoot straight at Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

Yannick Bolasie produced Palace's first real moment of quality when he unleashed a powerful strike which Robert Green was at full stretch to keep out.

The visitors went even closer in the 21st minute when Joe Ledley picked out Jason Puncheon and the Palace winger curled in a first-time effort that beat Green but rebounded to safety off the post.

After failing to build any momentum in a drab first half, QPR went close to breaking the deadlock soon after the interval when Leroy Fer's volley flew just wide.

Fer forced Speroni to show his athleticism to get a hand to a powerful strike from the Dutch midfielder as QPR finally found some rhythm.

Austin had a goalbound header blocked from a corner soon after and Puncheon's shot was tipped over by Green at the other end.

Millen responded to his side's struggles by sending on Campbell for Zaha midway through the half.

But Harry Redknapp's side went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 75th minute when Steven Caulker nodded goalwards from Joey Barton's corner, only for James McArthur to alertly head clear from under the crossbar.

And QPR spurned one last chance when Junior Hoilett failed to hit the target with a clear sight of goal.

Beckham MLS group quietly optimistic

David Beckham's group seeking a stadium deal to finalize a Miami football team is optimistic after quiet progress, the English star's top negotiator said on Sunday in a Miami Herald story.

The newspaper reported that the Miami Beckham United group trying to bring a Major League Soccer squad to South Florida remains confident despite a year of denials by area officials in bids to locate a tract of land for a new stadium.

"We have made very meaningful strides in the last couple of months," John Alschuler, Beckham's real estate adviser and lead negotiator, told the Miami Herald in an e-mail.

"While nothing in this complex equation can be taken for granted, I am optimistic that there will be several positive announcements in the first quarter of the next year."

The retired English football star took advantage of a clause in the MLS contract he signed when joining the Los Angeles Galaxy to purchase an MLS team at a bargain rate and identified Miami as the market where he wants the team to play, but has been thwarted in getting permission to build on his desired downtown stadium sites.

The group has been quiet since a June rejection of a waterfront bid even as local leaders try to lure interest from Beckham in their locations.

MLS officials and Beckham have been unified in saying the team is contingent upon a new stadium deal, Miami's hopes having yet to be finalized even as New York and Orlando prepare to welcome new MLS clubs next year, while Atlanta and a new Los Angeles club to replace defunct Chivas USA are set for 2017 starts.

Other cities have made expansion pitches to MLS and some in Miami fear they will miss out if they cannot reach a deal soon.

Juan Zapata, a Dade County commissioner, told the Herald he wants Beckham's group to consider playing at Florida International University's stadium while a deal is completed, saying that an active team will be harder to refuse even though MLS wants the stadium before awarding a team.

"I think it's obvious that MLS isn't going to get what they want," Zapata told the Herald.

"Until we figure out a stadium plan, I think we've got to get a team on the field."

MLS has not publically embraced a stadium site near the Miami Marlins' new Major League Baseball stadium, although the Herald reported that politicians privately call it the best hope Beckham's group has for discounted land upon which it could build a stadium.

"That's the only place we have that they might be able to use," Miami city manager Daniel Alfonso told the newspaper, adding that they have not heard from Beckham's group since a bayside site was rejected by the city six months ago.