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Last week, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp claimed that Xherdan Shaqiri was not too far away from returning to training following a calf issue.

However, it has now been revealed that the Switzerland international will be unavailable until after the November international break as he battles the injury.

Shaqiri has only played 11 minutes of Premier League football this season.

The 28-year-old was available for the club’s first six matches of the 2019/20 campaign but was an unused substitute in four of those encounters.

Liverpool’s first game after the next international break will be away to  Crystal Palace on November 23, but it remains to be seen whether the attacker will be involved against the Eagles.

As expected, a number of the Merseyside club’s fans have been on social media offering their views on the latest update surrounding the former Stoke City man.

And a selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

أكد عادل الشوربجي رئيس لجنة التظلمات في الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، أن اللجنة لها حصانة في قراراتها باعتبارها من اختيار الجمعية العمومية وليس اتحاد الكرة.

وقال الشوربجي خلال تصريحات لقناة “صدى البلد”: “قرارات اللجنة لها حصانه، المتظلم من حقه الاستئناف على القرار خلال 10 أيام من صدور القرار”.

طالع | رسميًا | لجنة الاستئناف ترفض مشاركة أي لاعب موقوف حتى الفصل في التظلم

وأضاف: “اللجنة تجتمع بعد قرار التظلم لبحثه دون النظر لاسم النادي أو اللاعب، وإنما للمخالفة المرتبكة والعقاب المناسب لها، ومن ثم تؤكد اللجنة العقوبة الصادرة من لجنة الانضباط أو تخفيفها إذا استحق ذلك”.

وتابع: “اللاعب الذي صدر بحقه قرارًا بإيقافه تطبق عليه العقوبة لحين الفصل في التظلم الذي تقدم به، الذي يكون بعد 10 أيام من صدور القرار”.

طالع | الخطيب يرفض حضور اجتماع اتحاد الكرة ويتحفظ على عقوبة إمام عاشور

وأكمل: “بينما الغرامات المادية من الممكن أن يوقف تنفيذها دون أي أزمة، لاعبو الزمالك للشباب سيتم إيقافهم لحين الفصل في الاستئناف الذي تقدم به ناديهم”.

وأتم: “طعن الأهلي والزمالك لا يوقف تنفيذ العقوبات التي أصدرتها لجنة الانضباط بحق اللاعبين، بينما الطعن الذي تقدم به الناديين بناءً على أسباب كل منهما في طعنه، وبالتالي يتم اتخاذ القرار في هذا الصدد سواء بتخفيف العقوبة أو تغليظها”.

وكانت لجنة الانضباط بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم قد أصدرت قراراتها بالعقوبات الواجبة في واقعة الفيديو المنتشر لعدد من لاعبي الزمالك ضمن فريق مواليد 1999، وهم يسبون عددًا من رموز وجماهير الأهلي.

وجه مشجعو نادي يوفنتوس رسالة قوية لجميع لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم قبل مباراة تورينو اليوم، السبت، في الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من بطولة الدوري الإيطالي.

ويحل يوفنتوس ضيفًا على تورينو في الملعب الأولمبي لخوض ديربي المدينة في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. يوفنتوس يطالب لاعبيه بالموافقة على تأخير رواتبهم

وقررت جماهير أولتراس يوفنتوس توجيه رسالة على جدران ملعب “أليانز”، وكتبت: “أنتم تهتمون فقط بوسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وشركاتكم الراعية والملايين”.

وتابعت: “ركزوا على الديربي! نريد أن نشاهد بعض مهاراتكم في تلك المباراة”.

الجدير بالذكر أن قائمة يوفنتوس لمباراة الديربي قد شهدت غياب 6 لاعبين مهمين وهم جيانلويجي بوفون (إيقاف)، استبعاد الثلاثي ويستون ماكيني، آرثر ميلو وباولو ديبالا (قرار تأديبي) والثنائي ميريح ديميرال وليوناردو بونوتشي (إصابة).

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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, John Hartson has suggested that Arsenal need to play with five at the back to get the best out of David Luiz.

The former PSG defender’s transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea was one of the more surprising deals of the summer window due to the two clubs’ close rivalry. 

However, he has had a tough start to life at the Emirates Stadium. Unai Emery’s side have struggled defensively with him in the side, conceding eight goals in four games.

In an attempt to give the 32-year-old the protection he needs, Hartson has suggested that Emery should change formation and bolster the backline.

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He said, “He’s got to play in a five because he has a bit of protection. I don’t think he’s an out-and-out defender. I think he switches off and his concentration levels over 90 minutes are just not there.”

The 44-year-old has also been quick to praise the technical ability of the central defender, and believes the Gunners need to unlock his quality.

“I think he’s a fantastic footballer. Technically he is fantastic for a centre half. He can hit free kicks, he can come out with the ball, he can pass it diagonally 60/70 yards.

“For £8m it’s a bargain for Arsenal – you’ve got to take him if he’s available. I think he’s better in the middle of a back three, so he’s got he got a little bit of protection either side of him. 

“And then you’ve also got the wing backs that can also tuck in.”

It is an interesting thought process from the 52-time Wales international, and history suggests that it would be the best thing both for the centre-back and the team.

In 2016/17, Antonio Conte used three centre-backs and two wing-backs for much of the campaign, and the rewards were glaring. The Blues won the Premier League, picking up 93 points along the way and conceding just 33 goals. Luiz impressed throughout and was even named in the PFA Team of the Season.

His performances during that campaign displayed what he is capable of at his best. To see a return to that form, perhaps Emery needs to follow Conte’s template.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has shared his views on Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s contract situation at St Mary’s.

The Denmark international has two years remaining on his current terms but told BBC Radio Solent at a recent event that he didn’t want to focus on signing a new deal straight away, per the Daily Echo.

The 24-year-old has emerged as a key player for the Saints since signing from Bayern Munich back in 2016, and Hasenhuttl has encouraged him to put pen to paper.

What did he say?

The Austrian said: “We are always in contact with his agent and Pierre knows about his important role for this club.

“Like Nathan, it is a good signal if Pierre decides to stay with us longer. We would be happy, that is for sure, and he is a very important player for our team.”

Must sign him up

If Southampton are forced to cash in on Højbjerg at the risk of losing him for nothing, then the Saints could be left with a real problem in terms of leadership within the squad.

Maya Yoshida, a man with 186 appearances for the Saints under his belt, is one of the more experienced pros in the dressing room and can help guide the younger players in the side – Southampton have the third-youngest squad in the league – but the Japan international is out of contract next year.

Aside from him, only Ryan Bertrand could be considered an experienced head, at the age of 30, but he has completed the 90 minutes just once this season in the Premier League.

Experienced 28-year-old Cedric Soares has also made just one league start this term, so his leadership ability isn’t often available on the pitch following the emergence of Yan Valery.

As a result, if the Saints are forced to sell Højbjerg – their very own captain – then Hasenhuttl’s XI could be left with a real leadership void. Jannick Vestergaard perhaps has the sheer presence to grow into a future leader of the team, but that’s by no means guaranteed.

It may seem obvious to suggest Saints could be lost without their captain, but selling Højbjerg would leave the side really short of one crucial characteristic.

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Arsenal got their season off to a good start on Sunday as they beat Newcastle 1-0 at St. James’ Park.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game for the Gunners who, despite not putting in a stellar performance, were able to get the job done and come away with all three points.

Unai Emery started with three academy products in his lineup, one of which was Joe Willock. The 19-year-old has so far made 18 appearances for the Emirates outfit, scoring three goals.

Against the Toon, he played as part of a three behind Aubameyang in attack, and was replaced in the 64th minute by on-loan Real Madrid player Dani Ceballos.

And during just his second ever start in the Premier League, the club’s fans were not overly impressed with his performance. They seemingly expect a lot more from him going forward and took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the teenager.

You can see some of the best comments on the social media platform below.

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Manchester City and Puma officially launched the club’s new 2019/20 third kit earlier this week at an exclusive launch event that took place in Shanghai.

The big reveal was used to mark the start of the team’s summer pre-season tour in Asia that is just around the corner.

Pep Guardiola has already picked his travelling squad and the players will soon be starting their preparations for the upcoming pre-season matches.

During the coming the Citizens will play West Ham in the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre as a part of the Premier League Asia Trophy before moving on to Shanghai, where they will play the final or third-place play-off against an opponent that is yet to be decided.

And naturally, their stars have already been “parading” the new kit on social media. Social media fanatic Benjamin Mendy has unsurprisingly been one of the first players to post about it.

Mendy took to Instagram to showcase the new beauty with an interesting caption that stated: “If you want to look good like me, get it”.

The post has certainly got the attention from other stars and fans alike but the comments are quite mixed to say the least.

While there are people who certainly like the new design, plenty of others don’t really think much of it.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to reports from Football Insider, Leeds United have finalised a move for 16-year-old Stuart McKinstry.

The article states that the youngster was regarded as one of the best young prospects in Scotland, and it seems that the Whites are pulling off this type of deal quite often nowadays.

What’s the story?

Football Insider initially reported back in April that this move was set to happen, and now he has joined up with the Yorkshire club.

The report also says that the Whites beat Premier League side Southampton to his signature.

This is a massive coup for Leeds. It’s a well-known fact that St Mary’s is a lucrative destination for any young footballer looking to progress their careers as they have produced some incredible talent in recent years such as Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Theo Walcott.

A viable option

Throughout this transfer window, a number of young players seem to have opted to consider Leeds as an option rather than more historically lucrative destinations.

Liam McCarron signed for the Whites this week after being looked at by Wolves. Leeds are also said to have bid for Cody Drameh, and following that development he is still yet to make his move to Germany despite apparently undergoing a medical last month with Frankfurt.

Marcelo Bielsa’s tendency to give young talent such as Jamie Shackleton and Jack Clarke a chance, as well as Carlos Corberan’s incredible work with the U23 squad, has seen Elland Road become a viable option for any young player looking for a new club.

This trend of signing youth talents from under the noses of top clubs could see the Whites reap the rewards for years to come.

With 20 minutes left of Manchester City’s penultimate game of the season against Leicester City, Liverpool were as close as they have ever been to the Premier League title. The Citizens were being held at 0-0, and a draw would have left the Reds one point clear going into the last game of the campaign. After 29 years, the end of the drought was in sight.

And then up stepped Vincent Kompany, Mr. Manchester City himself. From 25 yards out, the Belgian let rip on his right foot. As the ball flew into the top corner, Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel had no chance. It was a breathtaking goal from the most unexpected of sources.

In terms of the title race, it was one of the most important goals of the whole campaign. Against the Foxes, the tension in and around the Etihad Stadium was clear for all to see. Everyone knew exactly what was on the line. With both sides playing beatable opposition in their respective final matches of the season, City could not afford to slip up. Fortunately for them, they didn’t.

With the abundance of top quality talent at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, it was a shock that such a strike came from a centre-back. The former Barcelona manager said after the game that he was pleading with his captain not to shoot – according to the Panini Tabloid, he warned from the touchline “No shoot Vinne, no shoot!” – it’s a good job for him that Kompany chose to trust his gut.

Manchester City are one of the best teams on the planet, and a lot of that is down to the Spaniard. His intricate system has taken him to the top in his homeland, Germany and now the Premier League. But sometimes, no matter how fitting the formation and how polished the philosophy, a piece of individual brilliance is needed to make the difference.

Kompany is not even a regular shooter. That staggering strike was one of just five efforts at goal he attempted during the whole term in the league, and only one of two from outside the area. From one side, you could argue that this is because he knows his limitations. He can leave the goalscoring to likes of Sergio Aguero or Raheem Sterling, who netted 57 times between them last season. From the perspective of a football romantic, however, maybe he was just saving the sublime for the perfect moment.

Whether that is the case or not, it was a fitting end to his marvellous career in Manchester. Since his arrival in 2008, the former Hamburg man has been a key part of the City revolution. It is hard to imagine the club being as successful as they have been without Kompany at the heart of their defence and being a leader in the dressing room. He was, after all, named captain at the start of the 2011/12 season, which would end with City’s first ever Premier League title.

As he now returns to Anderlecht to take up a player-manager role, he can take solace in knowing that his strike against Leicester was not only one of the defining moments of a wonderful season, but also the perfect send-off.

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Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate to improve on a desperately poor season that left in sixth place and without a trophy in sight. 

It’s got to better, hasn’t it? Surely things can’t get much worse than the end of season dip which saw United taste victory twice in their remaining 12 fixtures.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the club’s next movements in the transfer market having already seen Wales youngster Daniel James step through the door, with further rumours linking the likes of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan Bissaka to Old Trafford. Indeed, we’ve been looking at what fans can expect now the fixture is out and our latest piece takes us to the Theatre of Dreams.

Taking a brief moment to look past anticipated market magic and toward where it really matters, the pitch, United fans should be licking their lips at the prospects of the following two fixtures…

Norwich vs Manchester United: Saturday 26 August 2020

On paper, this should be an easy enough game, with United claiming seven wins in the previous ten meetings.

Fresh from their fixture against Liverpool, United will either be hoping to build on a prestigious victory or bounce back from a bitter defeat.

Whatever the motivation, the game against Norwich City is a must win for the Red Devils. Partly because fans and critics alike will expect the beast that is Manchester United Football Club to gobble up the frankly inferior Norwich City, but mostly due to the fact their journey to Carrow Road is the first of what some might considered five “easy” fixtures against Bournemouth, Brighton, Sheffield United and Aston Villa (though we’re firmly of the belief that anything can happen in the top flight).

Not to mention the small fact that after that run, Solskjaer’s men face Spurs, Manchester City, Watford, Newcastle and Burnley.

Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Saturday 18 April 2020

When the club’s official site conducted a poll asking supporters which of the three promoted stadiums supporters favoured the most – out of Bramall Lane, Carrow Road and Villa Park – the resounding response was for the home of Aston Villa, with 86% of the vote.

And for good reason. Not only is it a match-up against two of the five English sides who have claimed the top European prize, but it’s also a fixture between two of the most prominent clubs in English football. Goliaths who, for all intents and purposes, have hit hard times of late.

Not to mention the fact that United’s ‘home from home’ has been kind to the club over the years. Very kind, indeed. And not since 1999 have the Red Devils lost on that beautifully mown turf (winning 11 and drawing four).

A welcome return.

Manchester United fans, do you agree with our selections? Let us know in the comments below…