SHORT CORNER
Liverpool as champions the stuff of nightmares for Rooney
Reuters
Former Manchester United and Everton forward Wayne Rooney has said he cannot bear the thought that old foes Liverpool might win the Premier League title this season.
Rooney, who began his career with Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton before moving to Manchester United, said he would rather defending champions Manchester City won the league instead.
Liverpool are top of the table with two points more than second-placed City, who have a game in hand.
"It's a great reason to be out the country when those two are going head-to-head for the title," Rooney, who now plays for Major League Soccer side DC United, told talkSPORT.
"I hope Man City get over the line before Liverpool. I couldn't bear to see them win it, it would be a nightmare for any Evertonian."
World Cup 2022 only target for new UAE coach Van Marwijk
Reuters
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk says getting the United Arab Emirates to the World Cup finals for only the second time in 2022 will be the sole focus of his time in charge of the team.
The 66-year-old former Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Australia coach was unveiled as the successor to Italian Alberto Zaccheroni on Thursday.
"I'm only here for one thing and that's to qualify for the World Cup," he told reporters in Abu Dhabi after signing a three-year deal with the option of another two years.
"It takes a long time and the first thing we have to deal with is the first qualification round and that's why I'm here."
Chiesa out of Italy's Euro 2020 qualifiers
AFP
Federico Chiesa has been ruled out of Italy's opening Euro 2020 qualifiers against Finland and Liechtenstein because of injury, the Italian football federation (FIGC) said on Thursday.
The 21-year-old left the Italian team's national training centre at Coverciano, outside Florence, to return to his club Fiorentina for treatment on a recurring muscle problem in his left leg.
Chiesa has scored 12 goals for Fiorentina in Serie A and the Coppa Italia this season, and is regarded as one of the rising stars of the side Roberto Mancini is building in the wake of Italy's World Cup failure.
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