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A furious Enzo Fernandez had to be restrained after being mocked by a Liverpool fan following Chelsea's loss to the Reds in the Carabao Cup final.

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Chelsea lose Carabao Cup finalLiverpool fan taunts FernandezArgentine has to be held backWHAT HAPPENED?

The Carabao Cup final saw Virgil van Dijk score the lone goal, as Liverpool won the trophy with a header in the 28th minute of extra time. As Fernandez made the lengthy walk up the Wembley stairs to collect his runners-up medal, one Liverpool supporter yelled: "Enzo, unlucky lad!" and laughed uncontrollably, hoping to elicit a response from the World Cup winner. The infuriated midfield player moved to face the fan who had made the remark, giving him a death stare, before a Chelsea team-mate escorted him away.

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In an intense first half at Wembley, Raheem Sterling had a goal disallowed for offside, and Chelsea were guilty of missing several good chances. The presence of Wataru Endo and his team-mates limited the effectiveness of Chelsea's record-signing Fernandez in the midfield. The loss also meant that boss Mauricio Pochettino's hunt for his first trophy in England continues with no end in sight.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDEZ?

Fernandez was caught up in his emotions during his almost-outburst at the fan, but he will surely look to try to will his team into gear come Wednesday when they take on Leeds United in the FA Cup – their only possible shot at silverware this season.

[ad_pod ]Newcastle have completed the signing of Miguel Almiron for a club-record fee, with the playmaker signing on a five-and-a-half year deal after leaving Major League Soccer champions Atlanta United, as revealed on the Magpies’ official website.

What’s the word, then?

Negotiations over a move for the Paraguayan international have been ongoing throughout January, but the Magpies finally got their man on deadline day with Almiron signing for a fee of around £20m, via the BBC, which has finally broke the previous club-record deal to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid for £16m, also as per the BBC, back in 2005.

Almiron starred for Atlanta last season, scoring 13 goals and recording 13 assists as he became an MLS champion, and has scored 21 goals in 62 league appearances throughout his career, all according to Transfermarkt.

The only people more shocked by Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Man City than City fans were the Magpies fans themsleves! Check out their brilliant reactions in the video above…

He becomes the Tynesiders’ second signing of the winter transfer window, following the arrival of Antonio Barecca on a six-month loan deal from Monaco, as per the club’s official Twitter account, although the club’s fans are far more excited by the arrival of the 13-cap Paraguayan international playmaker.

Where does he fit in Rafa Benitez’s 5-4-1 system?

Almiron is an exciting attacking midfielder who thrives in a No.10 role behind the striker. As seen on Whoscored, Benitez opted for a flat, four-man midfield in the 2-1 win over Manchester City, with Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff in central midfield and Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez on the flanks.

If the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss is to carry on with that system, he will need to drop one of his central midfield two in order to deploy Almiron in a more advanced role.

Benitez could possibly adapt his system slightly, which he probably should do for a record signing. The Spaniard could change to a 5-3-1-1 system, with Almiron playing just behind Salomon Rondon up top, which would be an exciting blend of physical power, craft and guile in Newcastle’s attack. Whatever the formation, the St James’ Park faithful should be salivating over this signing.

Everton boss Sean Dyche has revealed how he and his players reacted to being deducted 10 points by the Premier League.

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Everton handed strongest punishment in EPL historyDyche admits surprise at verdict Toffees looking to shock Man Utd on Sunday Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Toffees received the punishment after being found to have breached Profit and Sustainability Rules. The deduction leaves them in the relegation zone on four points heading into Sunday's meeting with Manchester United at Goodison Park.

AdvertisementWHAT SEAN DYCHE SAID ABOUT POINTS DEDUCTION

“Like everyone, well everyone in these parts, we’re shocked. With the wave of noise after that, it seems as though most people in football are shocked… the enormity of it, disproportionate is a word that’s been used by the club," Dyche said.

WHAT DYCHE SAID ABOUT HOW EVERTON WILL BE AFFECTED

Despite the bad news, Dyche insisted that his team's task has not shifted as a result. He added: "Obviously we’re going to feel a bit aggrieved by that. On the other hand it doesn’t change the focus. The focus since I got here has been sorting things out on the pitch. Getting the team to win, getting the team to feel different, the performances to be different and we were obviously on the right lines for that and delivering strong performances, I felt, and this has just given us a push backwards to then come forwards again. The job hasn’t changed for me. It’s just made it more difficult in the current circumstances until the appeal of course."

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Last week's bombshell points deduction news came as a shock, not only to the Toffees but rival clubs and supporters as well. The decision led to a Premier League shareholders meeting to discuss the verdict, while potential punishments for other sides may well have been on the agenda. Indeed, Manchester City have previously been charged for 115 alleged breaches of FFP regulations and, following the strict action taken against Everton, they may well be worried about what could be to follow for them.

The Atletico Madrid loanee scored one and set up another in Saturday's 5-0 win as Xavi's side ran riot in Catalunya

Joao Felix scored one, proved instrumental in another, and dictated play for most of his 64 minutes on the pitch as Barcelona battered Real Betis 5-0 on Saturday. The Portugal international, making his full debut, quelled any fears about his fit in this Barca side, providing the cutting edge his team needed in a thrashing.

Felix opened the scoring in fine fashion, latching onto Oriol Romeu's diagonal ball before evading the goalkeeper and finishing from a tight angle. His movement influenced the second, as the new signing dummied Andreas Christensen's pass, which fell into Robert Lewandowski's path — who buried his effort.

But Barca were never quite comfortable in the first half. The occasional wayward pass or miscalculated run left them vulnerable at the back, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen made an important stop to retain a 2-0 lead at the break.

The Blaugrana settled fully after the break, however. Ferran Torres, handed his first start of the season, grabbed the third, curling a free-kick into the bottom corner. Raphinha came off the bench to bag the fourth, finding the same spot with a lashed effort from outside the box. Joao Cancelo got in on the action shortly before full-time, shimmying around his marker before firing across the goalkeeper for his first Barca goal.

Betis offered admittedly little as the game wore on, but with Felix at the centre of it all, this Barcelona team showed how dangerous they can be.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from the Olympic Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

Produced an excellent save at 2-0 to keep things comfortable. Had little to do otherwise. Nice to get a clean sheet.

Joao Cancelo (7/10):

Some lovely passing and a few driving runs before scoring the fifth. He's still finding his way, but could be devastating once he settles in.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Won all of his one-on-one duels, and handled the in-form Willian Jose effectively.

Andreas Christensen (7/10):

Tidy, for the most part. Still at his best when alongside Araujo rather than Kounde.

Alejandro Balde (8/10):

Scampered forward as reliably as ever, making Bellerin's life as difficult as possible. Unlucky not to grab an assist after a few driving runs.

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Frenkie de Jong (8/10):

Completed more passes than anyone else on the pitch, and kept things ticking along nicely. An excellent run of form continues.

Oriol Romeu (7/10):

Assisted Felix's opener — showing some impressive passing range in the process. Barca were better after he went off, though, which could be ominous.

Joao Felix (9/10):

Took his goal well and 'set up' Lewandowski's with a delightful dummy. Generally silky with the ball. This might just be the perfect system for him.

Gavi (7/10)

Not necessarily the most elegant performance, but that really isn't his thing. Did all of the running for Felix, and offered some attacking quality here and there.

Getty ImagesAttack

Robert Lewandowski (8/10):

Scored for the third straight game, assisted twice and was involved in pretty much everything in the attacking third. He's finding form at the perfect time.

Ferran Torres (7/10):

Rewarded with a start after an impressive opening to the campaign. Was mostly anonymous until he buried a free-kick. He still might be better off the bench…

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Lamine Yamal (7/10):

An energetic showing. Something of a relief that Barca can win when he doesn't start.

Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):

Survived an injury scare midweek to enjoy a comfortable run out. Frustrated not to score late on.

Raphinha (7/10):

Scored a wonderful goal as soon as he came on.

Marcos Alonso (N/A):

Didn't have much time to make an impact.

Inigo Martinez (N/A):

Picked up a yellow card, did little else.

Xavi (9/10):

Made a few changes to account for tired legs. Raphinha, Yamal and Gundogan were all benched, while Felix and Cancelo were brought in. And it worked wonders. Barca were good in the first half, and unstoppable in the second. This could be a scary team…

Harry Kane could lose Thomas Muller at Bayern Munich as the veteran has been urged to leave, with Manchester United one potential destination.

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Muller advised to leave Bayern Struggling for minutes under Thomas TuchelTen Hag ready to bring him to Old TraffordWHAT HAPPENED?

The 2014 World Cup winner has slipped down the pecking order at Allianz Arena, particularly with the arrival of Kane. Moreover, competition from other players like Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has made it difficult for him to be a regular. This has prompted Lothar Matthaus, a World Cup-winning captain, to suggest Muller consider a move away from Germany which would see Kane lose one of his closest friends in the Bayern dressing room. Matthaus even touted the MLS as a potential destination for Muller where he could unite with former Uefa Champions League rival Lionel Messi.

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Writing for Sky Germany, Matthaus said: "At Bayern Munich, he will no longer get the minutes he got two years ago. If he has the confidence to play from the start like he did two years ago, then he has to change clubs. You have to say that openly. Muller’s situation looks like a gradual decline.

"As far as Muller’s future at Bayern is concerned, the question is what Thomas wants. Is he content with only being a part-time worker or even not playing at all? Muller is rooted in Munich, but perhaps he can imagine a new life experience, for example in North America?"

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According toTen Hag is an admirer of Muller and would want him at his disposal at Old Trafford in 2024. The Dutch manager wanted to get him in the previous winter but could not thrash out a deal for the striker. However, this time the winds are in his favour as Muller's contract is expiring at the end of the season.

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United are struggling for goals as Marcus Rashford has been just a shadow of his former self and Rasmus Hojlund is bizarrely yet to find the net in the Premier League after 651 minutes of action. The Red Devils had been linked with a move for Napoli's Victor Osimhen but their president Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that the striker is on the verge of extending that would see him stay in Naples beyond 2025. Hence Muller could be an option who could lift United, at least in the short term.

Dani Dyer has revealed what she thinks of the vulgar West Ham fan chant in which she figures prominently alongside partner Jarrod Bowen.

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Hammers fans serenade star wingerPartner has no issue with the chantFather does not interfere in private lifeWHAT HAPPENED?

Crude terrace songs are nothing new in football circles and former Love Island star Dyer knew what she was getting in to when linking up with England international winger Bowen in 2021. The London Stadium can often be heard rocking to the sound of “Bowen's on fire and he's sh*gging Dani Dyer” – with said chant sung to the tune of Nineties dance classic ‘Freed from Desire’ by Gala.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DANI DYER SAID

Dyer has told the podcast when asked for her take on being the unfortunate star of a crass chant: “Not that long ago I went to an away game, and I don’t usually like going to the away games because there’s the die-hard fans that are crazy. I really needed a drink, so I was like, I’d rather have died of dehydration to be honest, that was the better option. I came out and they were all looking at me and they all sung the song, I was literally in the midst of the crowds. It’s fine, it’s so fine, it really doesn’t bother me.”

THE GOSSIP

Dani and Jarrod are now proud parents to twin girls, while Bowen has been welcomed into the Dyer family by film star and EastEnders actor Danny. Asked if her Hammers-mad father would have allowed her to date a player from arch-rivals Millwall, Dani said: “No! I don’t know, he wouldn’t care. Listen, people always say ‘oh, I bet your dad loves that because you’re dating someone from West Ham’, but he could be a total ars*hole, do you know what I mean? And he’s not, so I think that was just a bonus. The West Ham thing was a bonus.”

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@danidyerxx & GettyWHAT NEXT?

Bowen – who netted the winning goal for West Ham in the 2023 Europa Conference League final – has continued to star for the Hammers this season. He has found the target on 11 occasions, while providing five assists, and will be hoping to form part of England’s plans at Euro 2024 this summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo spared no expense on Valentine’s Day, as he gifted partner Georgina Rodriguez a huge bouquet of roses and luxury jewellery.

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Portuguese working on lucrative contractHas had plenty to celebrate off the field off lateLooking to enjoy more success on itGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner can afford to shower his partner with gifts as he continues to work on the most lucrative contract in world football at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr. He made sure to make Georgina feel special on February 14.

AdvertisementTHE GOSSIP

The pair have had plenty of cause for celebration over recent weeks, with Georgina turning 30 on January 27. Ronaldo then took in a birthday of his own on February 5, with the evergreen frontman still going strong at 39 years of age.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo and Georgina like to treat each other whenever the opportunity presents itself, and CR7 was happy to pass on an impressive bunch of flowers and special gifts from luxury jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels as lovers around the world made their feelings clear on Valentine’s Day.

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Ronaldo has endured a frustrating time in his professional life of late, sitting out a meeting with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami through injury before then suffering a Riyadh Cup defeat to Al-Hilal. He was, however, back in match-winning mode for Al-Nassr in their latest outing, with the all-time great earning them a first leg lead in an AFC Champions League clash with Al Feiha.

The World Cup winners didn't need their superstar as they made it three wins from three in qualifying with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.

Lionel Messi did end up making an appearance, featuring off the bench as a substitute. As it turns out, though, Argentina didn't really need him to take care of Paraguay in Thursday's World Cup qualifying clash at the Estadio Monumental.

Argentina got their goal early from an unlikely source as another familiar face led the way in the 1-0 win. Defender Nicolas Otamendi fired home a fantastic volley just three minutes in, and Argentina never looked back.

Thanks to fantastic performances from the midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul and Enzo Fernandez, Paraguay never really got a sniff of the game. By the time Messi came into the match early in the second half, replacing the impressive Julian Alvarez, it felt like the game was only going one way.

Messi hit the post twice, despite looking far from his best, but it wouldn't come back to bite Argentina, who made it three wins from three in CONMEBOL's qualifiers as they march on in their World Cup defense.

GOAL rates Argentina's players from the Estadio Monumental.

ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Emiliano Martinez (6/10):

Had just one save and didn't have to do too much else as Paraguay were contained by those in front of him.

Nahuel Molina (7/10):

Similar to Tagliafico, but just a bit less involved. Still, a very good day out for the Atletico Madrid man.

Nicolas Otamendi (8/10):

A striker's finish! The defender smashed a fantastic volley for his fifth international goal and then turned around and locked down Paraguay for all 90 minutes. A massive performance.

Cristian Romero (7/10):

Didn't do as much on either end as his centerback partner, but was still as solid as can be.

Nicolas Tagliafico (8/10):

Won't get the attention, but put in a quietly solid defensive shift at left-back while being near-flawless with the ball at his feet.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):

A few fantastic tackles and did what he always does to keep things ticking with the ball. Absolutely dazzled on one Messi-esque sequence at the edge of the Paraguay box.

Enzo Fernandez (7/10):

Did a little bit of everything for Argentina, proving once again why he fits so perfectly in this team.

Rodrigo De Paul (8/10):

Provided the assist from the corner on Otamendi's goal and nearly scored himself by hitting the post later on in the first half. Totally ran the game from the midfield, ensuring Argentina didn't have much trouble with whatever Paraguay threw at them.

GettyAttack

Julian Alvarez (7/10):

Was unlucky to be taken off somewhat early for Messi, as the Manchester City star was the best player in Argentina's attack. Played a big role creatively, even if he didn't get a goal or an assist on the day.

Lautaro Martinez (5/10):

He continues to score for Inter, but it's now been over a year since he scored for Argentina. With Alvarez shining, is his place in danger? This performance won't help as he mustered just one total shot.

Nicolas Gonzalez (6/10):

Had a chance just before the half, but couldn't convert. Pretty wasteful, overall, as Paraguay were happier to let him have the ball than the other two in attack.

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Lionel Messi (6/10):

Didn't look fit, but still hit both an Olimpico and a free-kick off the post because he is who he is. Probably didn't need to be risked in this game, though.

Leandro Paredes (N/A):

Came on late to provide fresh legs in place of Fernandez, who was also sitting on a yellow card.

Lionel Scaloni (8/10):

Got the team selection spot on as Argentina navigated a Messi-less line-up. Another game, another win on the road to the World Cup. Questions to be asked of his usage of Messi remain, however.

Riyad Mahrez has explained why he left Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League while still having “unfinished business” in the Champions League.

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Won the Treble with City last seasonGuardiola wanted him to stayNew challenge sought in Middle EastWHAT HAPPENED?

The Algerian winger formed part of the mass exodus that saw leading lights in European football head for the Middle East in the summer of 2023. Mahrez linked up with Al-Ahli in a £30 million ($37m) transfer, with that move completed on the back of savouring Treble glory with City.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT LEAVING CITY

Pep Guardiola wanted Mahrez to remain at the Etihad Stadium, despite leaving him on the bench for a Champions League final win over Inter, and the 32-year-old forward has told of why he bid farewell to England: “I had two years left on my contract with Manchester City, I could have stayed. It was really me who decided to leave. I felt that this opportunity would not come again. Maybe it was time to leave because I had spent five years at City and won everything. Txiki Begiristain (technical director) really wanted me to stay, and even Pep Guardiola. They made it clear to me. I weighed the pros and cons. And finally, I decided to leave. I don't regret it, I'm happy to be here."

WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT THE SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Mahrez added on the quality of the Saudi Pro League: "The level of the Saudi league is not bad. It's going to get better and better. It’s a championship that I’m learning. Here, they have put the resources into recruiting the best players. There's definitely quality, I think it's just the beginning. Can we compare it to Europe? I don't think so yet. But at this rate, in the near future, they can be among the five, six or seven best Championships in the world."

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WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT UCL FINAL SNUB

Mahrez has signed a contract worth £43m ($53m) per year in Saudi Arabia and is fully committed to his new cause despite having some regrets at how his time in Europe finished – as he failed to take to the field before claiming a Champions League winners’ medal. He added: “To be honest, I still have a taste of unfinished business. In the Champions League, I did not play the semi-final or the final. In previous seasons, I always started in the Champions League while always being impactful for my team. This last year, I couldn't say it went badly, but I have a bit of this feeling of unfinished business. I was offered four years in Saudi Arabia, in a Muslim country where I can definitely protect (and provide for) my family. There was also a new challenge, and a new project. So, I decided to leave, it wasn't a big deal.”

Edison Azcona has revealed that, in a bid to protect Lionel Messi from injury, Inter Miami “don’t let him play” in some training matches.

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Argentine inspired Leagues Cup triumphMissed important games through injuryHandled with care by those in FloridaWHAT HAPPENED?

The MLS outfit are delighted to have the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner on board, and saw him inspire them to a historic Leagues Cup triumph within weeks of his arrival in the United States. He has, however, also suffered a knock that prevented him from figuring in the U.S. Open Cup final and a late push for a playoff berth.

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Inter Miami are aware of the need to handle Messi with care, with Azcona telling of how the all-time great is treated behind the scenes: “Everyone understands that we are not going to try to hurt him. One tries to defend, but they are a little more careful. We don't let him play in the games we play among ourselves, we defend him, but with caution. Nobody gets into it very hard.”

WHAT THEY SAID

It is not just in training that Inter Miami stars are changing their ways for Messi, with Dominican Republic international Azcona revealing that a number of players are learning a new language. He added: “I have not heard Leo speak English… Sometimes, he has said 'good morning' when he comes in, but those who speak English and do not know Spanish are learning to speak Spanish.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Messi has hit 11 goals for Inter Miami through 14 appearances and will not be heading out on loan in January – amid talk of a return to Barcelona – as he seeks to ensure that he is in peak condition for the start of the 2024 MLS campaign.