ENTERTAINIC

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Chelsea's first game following the November international break is a big one. They face reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the Eithad Stadium a week on Saturday and can move four points clear of Pep Guardiola's side with victory in the day's late kick-off. Speaking of the Spaniard, he has somewhat of a selection dilemma on his hands ahead of the game. One player who will miss the game is Bernardo Silva. The Portugal international is to serve a one-game suspension in relation to social media message about teammate Benjamin Mendy. Silva was charged by the Football Association last month after he compared Mendy to the character on a packet of Conguitos - a sweet brand available in Spain and Portugal. A statement via the FA's official website reads : "Bernardo Silva has been suspended for one first team competitive fixture, fined £50,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a breach of FA Rule...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE As unlikely as it would have felt in the immediate aftermath of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s histrionics and that penalty shoot-out defeat at Wembley, this has been a restorative week for  Chelsea . A second successive derby victory in the period since, albeit one ground out against spirited opposition, has moved Maurizio Sarri’s side back to within two points of the top four, and only five off third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and all with a game still in hand to fuel hope. More significantly, perhaps, there are signs of acceptance again amid what had been a mutinous support. Just 10 days after being booed on to the turf by his team’s own fans, Jorginho, a player who personifies Maurizio Sarri’s regime, was serenaded appreciatively by those in the Putney End after his most impressive, progressive display in weeks, albeit against a  Fulham  side who opted against employing a man-marker to snap at his every touch of the ball. Sarri, too, will have curried fa...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Mesut Özil returned to the Arsenal side as they secured safe passage into the last 16 of the Europa League – but head coach  Unai Emery  insists he is not certain of a regular place in his team. The Gunners went into the second leg against Bate Borisov needing to complete a comeback following a surprise 1-0 defeat in Belarus last week. They responded well and won 3-0 courtesy of a  Zakhar Volkov  own goal and headers from defensive duo Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Emery opted to recall Özil having left him at home for the first leg – with the highest-paid player in the club’s history relegated to a peripheral role in recent weeks and making just his second start since St Stephen’s Day. Despite a run of indifferent form, Emery has told Özil he needs to shake off his minor injuries and illness to be more consistent. The former Germany international put in a good showing against Bate and played the whole 90...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to impose themselves on opponents to prevail in the Champions League. Quadruple-chasing City’s European campaign resumes as they face German side Schalke in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Veltins Arena on Wednesday. Guardiola said: “We have many dreams in our head. It’s important to score goals – the minimum one goal – but you can’t go through if you are not yourself if you don’t do your best performance. “If you want to dream, go through to the last stages, every single second you have to be incredible – impose your game, to be ourselves. That is what I want to feel.” Schalke have struggled to live up to expectations after their runners-up finish in the Bundesliga last season and are currently toiling in 14th. Former Bayern Munich boss Guardiola said: “I think the quality is there. I know Schalke are always fighting. From my period here, the expectations are high. “They could not alw...

ENTERTAINIC SOURCE Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that defender Dejan Lovren is unlikely to play against Manchester United at the weekend, after missing Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Liverpool  were without Lovren and the suspended Virgil Van Dijk for the visit of Bayern, meaning midfielder Fabinho had to drop back into defence alongside fourth-choice centre-back Joel Matip. Klopp  confirmed Lovren is a major doubt for the trip to Old Trafford to face  United  on Sunday, adding to the long-term absence of Joe Gomez. Before Liverpool's game against Bayern, Klopp said Lovren was never really in contention to feature against the Germans. He said: “There was not a real doubt, to be honest. "It was not mind games but Dejan had no chance for the game today actually, I don’t think he even has a chance for the next game. He will take his time. “It was clear Fabinho and Joel have ...