FOOTBALL

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has credited manager Ernesto Valverde behind the club and Lionel Messi's scintillating form in the 2017/18 season so far.

Virgil van Dijk signed a 6-year deal in May 2016. Any approach from Barcelona, Liverpool or Manchester City will see them spend big in signing the Southampton defender.

Mkhitaryan's future has been the subject of intense speculation as a result of his failure to nail down a place in Jose Mourinho's plans at Old Trafford.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has questioned his old side's defensive mentality after they blew a comfortable 2-0 lead over Arsenal to eventually end the game in a 3-3 draw.

West Ham boss Moyes is keen to add quality to the centre of his midfield, with Bournemouth's Harry Arter and Schneiderlin under consideration.

Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue has spoken of his riches-to-rags story where he went from earning millions to kipping on the floor of a friend.

Eight matches in England's top division take place on Boxing Day with sides at the top and bottom in action.

Former Liverpool star John Barnes believes Jurgen Klopp's side's poor conversion rate up front should not be ignored.

Manchester United are keen to wrap up a £25m move for the vaunted young left-back, who is attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

Mignolet was culpable for Granit Xhaka's strike as the Reds blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Arsenal on Friday (22 December).

Daley Blind can operate as a defensive midfielder, central defender and a left full-back. Louis van Gaal believes he can fit in well at Barcelona.

Giroud will be out for almost two months after tearing his hamstring.against West Ham in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are fourth in the table with 35 points after 19 games, trailing league leaders Manchester City by 20 points. The Reds are also out of the Carabao Cup.

Matteo Darmian was left out of the squad and Victor Lindelof started in the right-back position in the absence of injured Antonio Valencia.

Allardyce did not want to play Jagielka for 90 minutes against Chelsea and will not consider him for the trip to the Hawthorns.

Tottenham star Dele Alli has been told not to ignore interest from the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid, otherwise he "will regret it for life".

The Gunners launched a £90m bid to try and sign 22-year-old Lemar on the final day of the summer transfer window.

Leon Bailey moved to Bayer Leverkusen from Genk in January 2017. He has scored eight goals in 16 appearances this season.

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that there is no date for his return as yet in what looks like a hamstring injury.

Harry Maguire nets in the fifth minute of added-on time as Leicester draw 2-2 with Manchester United.

Spurs leap above Arsenal after Harry Kane scores his fifth treble of 2017 as Burnley are beaten at Turf Moor.

Manchester City reached 101 goals for 2017 after beating Bournemouth while West Ham lose to relegation-threatened Newcastle.

Virgil van Dijk was linked with a move to Liverpool and the Dutchman was keen on leaving Southampton in the summer. The move did not take shape and he continued at St Mary's.

Ernesto Valverde's side strengthen their grip on the title with 3-0 win at the Bernabeu against 10-man Real.

Manchester United have identified two areas - wide position and midfield - to strengthen in the January transfer window. Jose Mourinho is looking to bring in a "magician" forward.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is attracting interest from host of European clubs like PSG, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus.

Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind struggled in Manchester United's Carabao Cup defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday. The duo have not travelled with the squad to face Foxes.

Jamie Carragher believes that while Arsenal and Liverpool's 3-3 draw was a great advert for the Premier League, their defensive problems will lead to a lack of silverware.

N'zonzi had asked for a move out of Sevilla with Everton and Arsenal interested in his services in January.