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OZIL BACKS RASHFORD’S CHILDREN FREE MEAL, GIVES FREE MEAL TO UK SCHOOL KIDS.

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil has shown his support for Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child food poverty by providing 1,400 free lunchtime meals for the rest of the week to schools in London.

Manchester United forward Rashford has campaigned for the UK government to provide food vouchers during school holidays to children who normally receive free meals during term time if their parents receive welfare support.

Ozil has joined up with Barnet Sunday Football League (BSFL), chef Stefan Peppert and German Chefs Catering in Knightsbridge to provide meals to 12 schools in Barnet and surrounding areas.

On Tuesday, the BSFL and schools posted pictures of the meals on Twitter, with Ozil’s logo featuring on the boxes.

“We are very grateful to Mesut Ozil and Stefan Peppert for getting involved with our initiative, and the volunteers on the project who have worked tirelessly throughout,” a BSFL representative revealed.

“We have raised over £3,000 so far, with 1,400 meals per day prepared and delivered to schools.”

The playmaker is out of favour with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and has been left out of the club’s Premier League and Europa League squads.

Ozil’s agent Dr. Erkut Sogut told reporters that Arteta is not telling the truth for claiming the player’s absence is a football decision and said the supporters deserve an honest explanation.

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KLOPP UNHAPPY ABOUT SCORES OF LIVERPOOL INJURIES

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp suffered another injury blow with Fabinho joining Virgil van Dijk on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Midtjylland.

Midfielder Fabinho has been filling in for Van Dijk in the centre of defence since the Dutchman suffered a serious knee injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

“It’s exactly the last thing we needed,” Klopp said, after Fabinho limped off in the first-half of the 2-0 win.

“I know he felt a hamstring, and that’s not good. He said he could have played on but no sprints, which doesn’t help. We will see, we will know more after a scan but clearly it isn’t good,” he added.

With centre-back Joel Matip also ruled out with injury Klopp brought on teenager Rhys Williams to partner Joe Gomez at the back.

“Rhys Williams he’s only 19-years old and I think he’s played more Champions League games than Premier League games — that’s rare,” Klopp added. “We’re doing really well but its a shock for a team because now we have to sort that injury.”

Klopp accepted that the Premier League champions were in a difficult period.

“It was a tough night. It’s a bit like in a marriage, there are good and bad times. It’s not a bad time but it’s a tricky time. 100% we have to stick together and fight harder and that’s what the boys did tonight,” he said.

The injury is likely to rule Fabinho out of Brazil’s November World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.

Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson believes Van Dijk will be out until next season.

Asked about his absence, Alisson told newsmen: “He’s important for the team, for all of us, for me too. Unfortunately, we ended up losing Virgil probably for the rest of the competition. We don’t know the set dates yet, anything can happen, but that’s likely, that’s what we have in hand.”

Alisson returned to play at the weekend after being sidelined with a shoulder injury for three weeks.

“To be back, to be one more part within the squad, within the team to be able to help, I’m feeling very happy,” he said. “I believe it also gives confidence to the team. Everyone we can have available now, from now on, it’s important to fight for our goals, which are big.

“It was only three weeks, to me it felt like three months. Being back, being able to help the team… For a player, being left out is the worst part of football, but it is part of the package, we are subject to injuries, nobody wants it, but we’re subject. But I tried to recover in the best way and in the quickest possible way to be back and help my teammates and getting back to the Champions League already.”

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JOTA MAKES HISTORY, FABINHO OUT INJURED AS REDS BEAT MIDTYLLAND.

Liverpool sealed a 2-0 win over FC Midtjylland on Tuesday night, though the game won’t exactly live long in the memory for all those who witnessed it. The Reds failed to spark into life for much of the game, with the Danish visitors having the best of the first-half chances in the UEFA Champions League match.

It was Liverpool who eventually took the lead, after some fine work on the right-hand side by Trent Alexander-Arnold provided Diogo Jota with a simple tap-in for the club’s 10,000th goal.

Liverpool lost Fabinho to a suspected hamstring injury, and Jurgen Klopp was forced to bring on a number of starters to try to hold onto the win. With seconds remaining, Mohamed Salah smashed home a penalty to secure a 2-0 victory one that takes Liverpool to the top of Group D on six points.

Rhys Williams looked assured in the back line after coming on, which seemingly provides Klopp with another centre-back option he can rely on. In addition, the contribution of the full-backs was, as always, exemplary. While Jota’s goal was simple enough, his impressive start to life on Merseyside will do a great deal to convert any remaining cynics.

Liverpool didn’t register a single shot in the first half an hour — a damning stat indeed for the likes of Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino. Both looked well off the pace, while the midfield pivot of Jordan Henderson and James Milner also seemed to lack urgency or intent. The home team did improve as the game wore on, but this very much felt like a Liverpool side that was playing within itself rather than playing to impress the boss.

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MADRID COMEBACK TO RALLY FOR 2-2 DRAW WITH MONCHEGLADBACH.

Real Madrid fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach to avoid making it two defeats out of two in Champions League Group B and keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds alive.

Madrid played well for the opening half hour, and Toni Kroos had a shot from distance well-saved by Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but it was the German side who went ahead, with Marcus Thuram scoring with their only shot of the first half.

The visitors looked to respond as Marco Asensio went close either side of half time. Thuram doubled Borussia’s lead with a close-range second, before Karim Benzema pulled a goal back from Casemiro’s header and the Brazilian grabbed a dramatic, added-time equaliser.

Just as they did against Shakhtar Donetsk last week, Madrid started fairly well here, pressing Borussia high up the pitch and disrupting the Germans’ ability to play out from deep. They struggled after that but showed great spirit to fight back in the second half, in difficult circumstances.

Eden Hazard’s return from injury, 81 days later, is good news, if he can finally stay fit. Asensio’s performance was a positive, too. The Spain international winger is getting regular game time now this was his third start in a row and coach Zinedine Zidane clearly recognises his huge, as yet unfulfilled, potential.

Real Madrid were dangerously close here to losing four Champions League games in a row for the first time in their history. Back-to-back knockout defeats to Manchester City had been followed by last week’s bizarre 3-2 loss to Shakhtar, and this would have been an embarrassing result too were it not for Casemiro’s heroics.

The team continues to ship goals far too easily, and Zidane needs to address the vulnerable-looking defence, and fast. Madrid seem far too fragile at present in the face of adversity. Conceding one goal threatens a collapse. They can’t keep making things so hard for themselves.

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ISCO CAUGHT ON CAMERA MOCKING ZIDANE AT CLASICO.

Cameras caught Real Madrid midfielder Isco complaining about his limited role in the team under coach Zinedine Zidane on Saturday.

Isco, who was an unused substitute in a 3-1 Clasico win over Barcelona at Camp Nou was picked up by Movistar TV cameras talking to Luka Modric and Marcelo as they sat in the stands before the match.

If Zidane has to take me off, he takes me off in the 50th or 60th minute, sometimes at half-time,” Isco said, which led to laughter from his teammates. “If he has to bring me on, he brings me on in the 80th minute.”

The Spain international has made just two starts in La Liga this season.

Against Real Valladolid he played 57 minutes before being taken off, and he was withdrawn after 45 minutes against Cadiz after failing to impress.

He has also made two substitute appearances, coming on at half-time against Real Betis and brought on in the 89th minute against Levante.

Zidane said he had “no doubts” about the 28-year-old after the Cadiz display, saying it was “a bad day, we want to change things, and Isco first of all.”

Speaking ahead of the team’s Champions League clash against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday, midfielder Toni Kroos told reporters that the players are firmly behind Zidane as their coach.

“We’ve never had doubts about Zidane. We win and lose together. It’s not like if we lose once, we aren’t with him. That would be easy. We aren’t like that. We saw the result on Saturday,” Kroos said.

Madrid’s Clasico win eased the pressure on the coach after the team had suffered two surprise defeats in a row to Cadiz and then Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Zidane had insisted he felt the support of the club — and president Florentino Perez — and denied senior players such as Isco had problems motivating themselves against so-called inferior opposition.

“I’ve won a lot of things with these players… I’ll be with them to the death,” he said last week.

“In those two games we lacked a lot of things, but not the attitude of my players. They are motivated to do things well.”

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EX-CITY PLAYER, JEREMY WISTEN DIES AT 17.

Manchester City have paid tribute to former academy player Jeremy Wisten following his death at the age of 17.

Wisten was born in Malawi but moved to England as a baby before joining City’s under-13 level in 2016.

A City statement read: “The Manchester City family are saddened to learn of the passing of former academy player Jeremy Wisten. We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.”

Aymeric Laporte was among members of City’s senior squad to pay tribute to Wisten, who was a promising defender. Laporte tweeted: “Horrible news…RIP young man.”

Cole Palmer and Tommy Doyle, who played alongside Wisten in City’s youth teams, also paid tributes.

“You Will Be Forever Missed,” Palmer wrote on Instagram. “Fly High My Brother Rest In Paradise!”

Manchester United academy player Reece Devine posted: “Thank you for all the memories brother. I can’t believe how you must have been feeling. I wish we could have helped.

“You were always making everybody around you laugh and smile. Rest easy. Love you always. Remember to always speak up.”

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CITY’S INJURY WOES WORSEN BY AGUERO’S RETURN TO THE SIDELINES.

Pep Guardiola fears this season could come down to the survival of the fittest after Sergio Aguero dealt Manchester City a fresh injury blow.

Aguero, City’s record goalscorer, could be out for another month after suffering a muscular injury in Saturday’s game at West Ham.

The Argentinian was playing just his third match since recovering from the knee operation he had in June.

City had been trying to ease him back into action but he encountered a problem in the first half of the 1-1 draw at the London Stadium and was withdrawn at the interval.

With Gabriel Jesus also sidelined, the 32-year-old’s latest setback leaves City without a frontline striker for Tuesday’s Champions League Group C clash at Marseille.

To compound matters, Fernandinho, Benjamin Mendy and Nathan Ake also miss out at the Stade Velodrome while Aymeric Laporte and Kevin De Bruyne have only just returned to fitness in a difficult start to the season.

Manager Guardiola recognises, however, City are not the only club to struggle due to the nature of this season’s pandemic-affected calendar.

Guardiola said: “We are not an exception compared to the other teams in Europe. We’re on the same schedule. Now it is recovery, preparation, recovery and preparation, recovery and preparation.

“We don’t have time to practise much. Everyone got the statistics in the Premier League, we have 47 per cent more muscular injuries than the same period last season. It’s not just about City, it’s about everyone.

“If the people can reflect on this and the guys to protect the players it will be good for the future, if we don’t it will increase. Now we have to protect the players as best as possible. The strongest ones will survive, the others will fall down.”

With hindsight, Guardiola admits it may have been wise to bring in another striker over the summer but the club spent the bulk of their transfer budget on defensive pair Ruben Dias and Ake.

Guardiola said: “We considered it, we thought about it another type of striker but we could not.

“If you decide to buy a striker, it has to be a striker in the league of Gabriel and Sergio, but we cannot afford it. That is the reality.”

“It depends on the injury,” Guardiola said. “When it is minimum it will be 10-15 days. If it is longer it will be three weeks to a month. I don’t know.”

While City’s form in the Premier League has been mixed, they began in the Champions League with a 3-1 win over Porto. Victory over a Marseille side beaten in their opener by Olympiacos could see them establish an early position of strength in the group.

The French side are managed by Andre Villas-Boas, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss.

Guardiola said: “He is an experienced manager, he knows perfectly the Premier League.

“He’s a young manager who’s had success and he is doing a good job here in Marseille.”

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BRIGHTON 1-1 WESTBROM: LATE GRANT STRIKE EARNS WESTBROM DRAW.

Karlan Grant earned his side their first away point of the season with his maiden goal for the club as West Bromwich Albion battled out a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Graham Potter’s side looked more threatening early on. Neal Maupay converted Adam Lallana’s cross only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, before Leandro Trossard’s shot was saved.

Five minutes before half-time Tariq Lamptey caused problems in the West Brom area and Branislav Ivanovic’s attempted clearance struck Jake Livermore before rebounding into the net.

The Baggies pushed for an equaliser after the break, Matheus Pereira shooting wide and then striking a post, and on 83 minutes Grant lashed in a fine finish to level.

Brighton stay 16th with five points, two ahead of West Brom, who lie a place further back.

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BURNLEY 0-1 SPURS: HARRY KANE’S EIGHT ASSIST AND SON’S EIGHT GOAL OF THE SEASON SEAL VICTORY FOR MOU’S SIDE.

Son Heung-min’s late header sent Tottenham Hotspur up to fifth place in the Premier League after a 1-0 away success at Burnley.

The match sparked into life late in the second half after Harry Kane cleared a header from Burnley’s James Tarkowski off the line.

Son passed up one clear chance before Harry Kane flicked on a corner to the South Korean, who dived headlong to break the deadlock on 76 minutes.

Earlier in a close contest Ashley Barnes’ 20th-minute effort was ruled out for offside and in the second half Josh Brownhill shot just wide for the hosts before Tarkowski headed over.

Kane intervened to keep out a second Tarkowski header before Son struck the winner for a league-leading eighth goal of the season.

Spurs move up to fifth place with 11 points, two off the lead, while Burnley lie 18th.

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SOTON 2-0 EVERTON: SAINTS HANDS TOFFEES FIRST LEAGUE DEFEAT.

James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams scored first-half goals as Southampton ended Premier League leaders Everton’s unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win.

Danny Ings set up both goals. The first came in the 27th minute when he played a one-two with Ward-Prowse, who drove into the far-left corner from inside the area.

Eight minutes later, Ings crossed from the left to the far post, where Adams fired low into the net.

Gylfi Sigurdsson had thumped the bar from 20 yards before Southampton took the lead but the Toffees were second best.

Their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Lucas Digne was shown a straight red card for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters in the 72nd minute.

Everton stay top on goal difference from Liverpool while the win moves Southampton from 13th to fifth.