Month: January 2023

Inter have “no possibility” of renewing the contract of Milan Skriniar beyond its expiration date in June, according to the defender’s agent Roberto Sistici.

Skriniar was strongly linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain last year, but no move materialised and the centre-back began renegotiating a new deal with Inter.

However, his agent confirmed on Monday that Inter’s offer was ultimately rejected in December, and he has since made clear to the club they are in talks with other teams.

Skriniar, who was sent off in Monday’s 1-0 defeat by Empoli, is widely expected to eventually sign for PSG, though Sistici refused to name the clubs he is speaking to.

“The truth is that the decision to place Milan Skriniar on the transfer market in the summer was made by Inter, obviously not by the player,” Sistici told TeleNord.

“It was a choice by the club that led to a negotiation between Inter and PSG, of which we had obviously been informed. At a certain point, the negotiation broke down, and we had also been informed of this step, a decision that was not up to us and which the player accepted calmly, with professionalism and absolute respect for the contract.

“Last autumn, we responded to all the meeting requests made by the club. After a series of preliminary meetings, we presented our financial request and subsequently, at the beginning of November 2022, the club presented us with a proposal.

“About a month later, before Christmas, I communicated to Inter the decision not to accept their offer, a choice reiterated at the beginning of January, before the Supercoppa, when I also informed the managers [Giuseppe] Marotta and [Piero] Ausilio that we thought we were free to listen to offers from other clubs.

“Maybe it wasn’t mandatory communication, but for the player and myself it was the most correct way to proceed, knowing that seriousness and transparency are the best way to proceed for us. I repeat, we have never missed any appointment with Inter.”

He added: “We didn’t talk about PSG, just as we didn’t leak our and Inter’s positions, given that with Inter we had agreed to handle the matter with the right confidentiality, in the interest of serenity and the performance of the team and of the player.

“There are contacts with some clubs. Not Italian [clubs].”

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi responded after the shock loss by saying the club were “trying to resolve” the situation with Skriniar, without clarifying whether he meant by selling the player or making a new contract offer.

At a similar time, PSG coach Christophe Galtier was also asked about Skriniar following the Parisians’ 7-0 Coupe de France win over Pays de Cassel.

He did not offer much clarity either, though he acknowledged PSG were convinced last year they had done enough to sign him.

“I cannot say if he will arrive this winter [January], or this summer,” he told beIN SPORTS. “He is a player we’ve been tracking for a long time.

“In fact, we thought that we had already got him last summer.”

Harry Kane’s record-equalling first-half strike earned Tottenham in a 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The England captain’s 266th goal for Spurs moved him level with Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all-time joint highest scorer

Greaves’ tally had stood alone since 1970.

Tottenham had been slightly off the pace before Kane created space on the edge of the area and fired past Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal in first-half stoppage time.

Tottenham had gone into the game with an unenviable record of 21 goals conceded in their last 10 Premier League matches, but Monday’s win lifted them to within three points of Manchester United in fourth.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes ahead of the match to allow more fans to get to the stadium following severe disruption on multiple Tube lines.

Neither side were able to impose themselves in the early stages, but there were a few flying tackles and miss-placed passes from both sides.

Andreas Pereira’s free-kick in the 11th minute was the best of the opening exchanges, but his strike was straight at Hugo Lloris.

Harrison Reed almost gave Fulham the lead in the 19th minute after he flicked a cross from Pereira goalwards, but the ball ended up in the hands of the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Fulham dominated for large periods of the first half, with Spurs pegged back, but the hosts were unable to turn their possession and pressure into clear-cut chances.

In a rare threatening moment for Spurs Kane tried his luck from distance, but his strike sailed over the bar.

Leno was called into action minutes later, however, as he saved at his near post to deny Emerson Royal.

Late in the first half Fulham had another opportunity, but Joao Palhinha and Issa Diop went for the same ball in the box and the header flew over the bar.

Instead Kane put Spurs in front against the run of play with a landmark goal, capitalising on space between the lines.

Son Heung-min laid the ball off to his strike partner, who took a touch to create some space before curling a low strike past Leno from the edge of the box.

His record-equalling strike was met with tongue-in-cheek chants of ‘one-season wonder’ from the away fans.

Kane almost moved past Greaves’ mark in the 58th minute when he was picked out unmarked in the centre of the area around six yards out, but Leno made a strong save to palm the striker’s header over the bar.

Fulham had largely struggled to impose themselves as they did in the first half, but Tom Cairney did manage to pick out Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 75th minute, only for the Serbia international’s header to loop just over the bar.

Lloris had to make a late save to tip a Manor Solomon curler from distance away for a corner as Fulham piled on the pressure in the final minutes, but they were unable to find the equaliser.

Christophe Galtier was seemingly unsurprised by Kylian Mbappe’s brutal five-goal display in Paris Saint-Germain’s Coupe de France demolition of Pays de Cassel on Monday.

PSG eased into the last 16 of the competition with an emphatic 7-0 victory at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with Mbappe involved in all but one of their goals.

The sixth-tier opposition – who were technically the home team – did not look overawed and played some attractive football during the early stages, but the floodgates opened once Mbappe put PSG ahead with 29 minutes played.

It was 4-0 by half-time, with Mbappe netting three and setting up Neymar – the France forward added another two after the break to become the first player in PSG history to score five times in one match.

Carlos Soler – the scorer of PSG’s other goal – also impressed, but it was Mbappe and Neymar whom Galtier focused on.

“Kylian Mbappe’s a goalscorer, he’s obsessed with goals and attacking,” the coach told beIN SPORTS.

“I’m not going to say he’s going to gain confidence [from scoring five goals], but he’s up to his standard.

“It was important for him and Neymar to play the full game. They combined a lot and looked for each other a lot. It was good for them.”

Such a contest represented the risk of a major shock for PSG, but there was never any real danger of a defeat as the Parisians produced a thoroughly professional display.

Mbappe believes that reflected the respect they have for lower-league opposition.

“We’re happy, we came to qualify and respect this team,” he said.

“Respect means playing at our level. We’re happy. It was a great opportunity for [Pays de Cassel], and for us because we also come from amateur football.

“We are very happy to come and play, and it is an important competition for Paris Saint-Germain.”

On the other side of things, Pays de Cassel coach Samuel Goethals spoke of his pride despite the heavy defeat, highlighting how playing in front of such a crowd was by no means a regular occurrence.

“It’s still a source of great pride,” he added. “The game was complicated, we did things within our means. I’m super proud of the group.

“We knew the balance of power was going to be very unbalanced, and it was unprecedented for each of us to play in front of 35,000 people, but I saw a yellow and black stadium, it was magnificent to experience.

“You have to be real, we are in Regional One, the sixth division, we are amateurs, and this was seen on the field. I would have preferred that we conceded one or two goals less, but [the match’s speed] was too fast.”

Harry Kane wants to repay Antonio Conte with victories after a pivotal team meeting with the Tottenham head coach before the striker’s record-equalling goal downed Fulham.

The England captain moved level with Jimmy Greaves’ all-time scoring record of 266 goals for Spurs after his pinpoint first-half finish proved the difference in a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.

While a deadly finish will go down in the record books for Kane, victory moved Conte’s side within three points of the Premier League’s top four, albeit having played a game more.

After a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 4-2 loss at Manchester City, Kane revealed Spurs players held discussions with Conte and those conversations paid off in London on Monday.

The Tottenham talisman told Sky Sports: “[Conte]’s been through a difficult time outside of football with his personal life. Being part of a team isn’t just the players, it’s the manager, the staff and being there for each other.

“We want to win every game for him. He puts so much passion into every training session. And we want to repay him with victories.

“We had a good meeting amongst ourselves with the manager in the week just to talk and get back. We are going to keep fighting, like the manager.

“He is a passionate manager and we just have to keep working hard for him.”

Spurs were largely up against it in the first half against Fulham, who missed the chance to leapfrog Tottenham into fifth, as Hugo Lloris denied Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Willian and Harrison Reed.

However, Kane’s killer instinct was enough to secure all three points and he hailed his side for returning to the basics that saw them qualify for the Champions League last season.

“We dug deep, it was a tough week but this is a good 1-0 win,” he added.

“It’s been difficult, whenever you give away a two-goal lead at half-time [against City] it’s always harder to take. We wanted to get back to basics, clean sheets are really important for us if we’re going to stay in the Champions League spots.

“We had to be compact, suffer together at times and we knew we’d get chances. We went back to what got us into the Champions League last year. It was a good sign.”

Antonio Conte called on Tottenham to use their victory over Fulham as a “starting point to give everything” in their bid for Champions League qualification.

Harry Kane matched Jimmy Greaves’ all-time scoring record for Spurs as Conte’s side responded to back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City with a 1-0 win at Fulham on Monday.

The manner of the losses to the two Premier League title challengers had caused concerns after a timid 2-0 defeat to the Gunners and 4-2 reverse at City in which Spurs surrendered a two-goal lead.

Head coach Conte says his side must take victory over Fulham, which moved Spurs within three points of the top four, as a benchmark for starting to correct underwhelming form after the World Cup break.

He told Sky Sports: “I got a good answer from my players. We needed a game of solidity like last season. They had the desire to fight and to be serious.

“We showed, when we play as a team, it’s very difficult to play against us. I have been happy with the performances, but we had two losses against Arsenal and City.

“Today has to be a starting point to give everything. We have 17 games left; we have to see what happens.

“We have to try to stay in the race for the Champions League, to try in the FA Cup and do the same in the Premier League. It was important to speak and explain the situation compared to last season.

“We are continuing to score, but conceding 21 goals in only 10 games wasn’t positive. For this reason, I had a good answer and response from my players.”

The omens may be good for Spurs, given they have exactly the same number of wins (11), draws (three), defeats (seven) and points (36) as they did after 21 Premier League games last term when they finished fourth.

Reports persist around the supposedly fractured relationship between Conte and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, but the Italian insisted he is “proud” to coach the club as he aims for another top-four finish.

“I am really proud to be Tottenham manager. I had the possibility of being the manager of an important club, it makes me proud and this has to be clear to everybody,” Conte added.

“For this reason, I want to fight until the end with my players. In the last period, we were sleeping maybe because we were losing some characteristics from last season.

“I spoke with my players, and I have good players but especially good men. They understand we have to fight until the end for important positions, we have to be ready to suffer.

“When I accepted to become Tottenham manager, I was happy, and I am happy. In every moment and every second of my day, my first thought is for my players and club to improve, to make our fans proud of the team.

“The Premier League is not simple, it is difficult and there are many clubs ready to spend a lot of money on their team.

“We are in the right direction, then we will see. The most important thing for me is to work with my players and to have a good relationship with the club.”

Kylian Mbappe became the first Paris Saint-Germain player to score five goals in a match as his side eased into the last 16 of the Coupe de France with a 7-0 win over sixth-tier Pays de Cassel on Monday.

The lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Pays de Cassel did not look overawed at Stade Bollaert-Delelis – the home of Lens – but PSG’s vastly superior quality unsurprisingly soon shone through.

An 11-minute first-half spell saw the Ligue 1 leaders roar into an unassailable 4-0 lead, with Mbappe scoring three and setting up Neymar.

Mbappe continued his brutal exhibition after half-time with a couple of close-range goals either side of Carlos Soler’s impudent finish.

Pays de Cassel gave a good account of themselves initially, putting together some intricate passing moves that brought huge cheers around their home away from home.

But PSG’s breakthrough eventually arrived in the 29th minute as Mbappe met Nuno Mendes’ cut-back and found the net via a significant deflection.

He then released Neymar to make it 2-0, the Brazilian dazzling the defence with his quick feet before firing left-footed through goalkeeper Romain Samson’s legs.

Samson could only watch as Mbappe brought up his hat-trick before half-time with a pair of sumptuous chips.

But the keeper was culpable 10 minutes into the second half, completely missing Neymar’s pass and allowing Mbappe a tap-in.

More great work by Neymar just after the hour left Soler to backheel over the line from a couple of yards out.

Soler was involved again 11 minutes from time as Mbappe completed the scoring with another poacher’s effort from the Spaniard’s cross.

What does it mean? PSG meet expectations

In truth, this match tells us very little about PSG’s quality – but if the Parisians are in need of a particular way to spin this victory, it is that they comfortably lived up to fans’ expectations.

A win for Pays de Cassel here was so unlikely that had they pulled it off, they would probably have had a genuine claim to producing the biggest shock in football – ever.

But even before Mbappe’s somewhat fortuitous opener, PSG never looked like falling short. They dealt with the occasion in a professional manner, and that is about all Christophe Galtier could hope for.

Neymar outshone but still sparkles

Mbappe, obviously, takes the headlines, but Neymar was also virtually unplayable. He ended the game with a couple of assists from four key passes, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Ekitike fails to impose himself

You would be forgiven for not realising Hugo Ekitike was on the pitch. The young forward touched the ball just 21 times in 67 minutes – the fewest of PSG’s starters, and even fewer than three of their substitutes.

What’s next?

PSG return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday by hosting Reims.

Inter were brought crashing back down to earth after their Supercoppa Italiana win as they were deservedly defeated 1-0 by Empoli at San Siro on Monday.

Simone Inzaghi’s side looked to be set for a big second half to the season after dismantling champions and rivals Milan in Saudi Arabia last week.

But the Nerazzurri’s return to action in Serie A saw them completely out of sorts and beaten by teenager Tommaso Baldanzi’s goal following a first-half red card for Milan Skriniar.

Defeats such as these may not now cost Inter in the race for Champions League qualification due to Juventus’ points deduction, but any remote title hopes appear to have been quickly quashed.

Skriniar’s dismissal epitomised an erratic first half from Inter, who could have trailed early on as Andre Onana saved unconvincingly from Nicolo Cambiaghi before Henrikh Mkhitaryan escaped punishment from the subsequent corner when his high boot caught Francesco Caputo’s head.

Caputo continued in a bandage while Inter threatened only through Federico Dimarco, who had a volley well saved and also squared for Lautaro Martinez to stab awkwardly wide.

Skriniar, already booked, then became the second Inter man to kick Caputo in the head, and this time the foul was spotted by referee Antonio Rapuano, leading to his dismissal.

Inter showed precious little improvement after half-time and trailed when Onana, whose shaky showing had included another unorthodox stop, was beaten by a Baldanzi shot that was straight at him.

Stefan de Vrij headed against the post from inside the six-yard box but Inter proved as unimaginative in attack as they had been hapless at the back in a frustrating finale.

What does it mean? Inter deservedly dealt rare defeat

Empoli had only once previously won away at Inter in Serie A, with that sole victory coming back in 2006. It might be tough to recall too many more disappointing Nerazzurri displays than this one in the intervening years, though.

Inter could not say they had not been warned when Baldanzi scored with Empoli’s eighth shot on target, but Inzaghi’s men – already without Skriniar – then completely lost their cool, costing them any opportunity to get back into the match.

An irate Nicolo Barella was substituted as he also threatened to earn a second yellow card, meaning one of the players most capable of breaking down Empoli watched from the bench as his team-mates struggled through to full-time.

Oh no, Onana

Onana has won the starting jersey at Inter, but he still has not convinced. According to expected goals on target (xGOT) data, he has conceded 1.4 more goals than expected this season. 

This was another example of Onana letting Inter down in that regard. Although he faced eight shots on target, his most in a Serie A match, those attempts had a combined value of 0.5 xGOT. He should not really have conceded from any of them – and especially not the one that did creep in.

Instant impact

Baldanzi was introduced as a substitute just 114 seconds before he benefited from that Onana error to score his fourth goal of the season. It was the third-fastest goal by a sub in Serie A this term.

In netting, the 19-year-old became the third-youngest player in Europe’s top five leagues to score four this season – behind Borussia Dortmund pair Youssoufa Moukoko and Jude Bellingham.

Key Opta facts

– Tommaso Baldanzi is one of two players, along with Nicola Pozzi, to have scored at least four goals with Empoli in Serie A before turning 20.

– Prior to Milan Skriniar, the last Inter player to receive a first-half red card in Serie A was Matias Vecino in April 2018 v Juventus.

– Empoli have won two games in a row without conceding a goal for the first time since December 2015.

– Since his Serie A debut (April 2016), only Kalidou Koulibaly, Gabriel Paletta and Juraj Kucka (all with five) have received more red cards than Milan Skriniar in the top-flight (four).

– Empoli have gone unbeaten in the first four matches of a calendar year in Serie A for the first time.

What’s next?

Without Skriniar, Inter will have the opportunity to get back on track this weekend when they visit winless basement side Cremonese.

Harry Kane has become Tottenham’s joint-top scorer of all time — matching Jimmy Greaves’ tally of 266 strikes.

He reached the milestone on the stroke of half-time against Fulham by curling a magnificent strike from the edge of the box past an onlooking Bernd Leno and into the bottom corner.

The 29-year-old hotshot’s latest landmark follows the England captain becoming the joint-top scorer for the Three Lions, equalling Rooney’s total of 53 goals, at the World Cup in Qatar. 

In the Premier League, only Wayne Rooney (208) and Alan Shearer (260) have netted more times than Kane.

As the records continue to tumble, we take a look back at the greatest club goals for Tottenham’s No10.

Chelsea (January 2015)

This goal showcased many of Kane’s qualities, while also making a major signal of intent for Mauricio Pochettino’s burgeoning side. 

At home against the Premier League leaders Chelsea, who would go on to win the title that season, Tottenham beat their rivals 5-3 on New Year’s Day in 2015. 

Kane scored twice in that win and his first goal was rather special. Picking up the ball with his back to goal on the left flank, he started a weaving run infield which saw him have the skill and strength to evade three challenges. 

When he arrived in a central area from which he could shoot, the deadly finisher drilled the ball in the direction from which he had just came and it flew into the bottom corner of Thibaut Courtois’ net. 

Crystal Palace (March 2021)

Kane has a superb record in London derbies and he was the architect of a 4-1 defeat of Crystal Palace in March 2021, as he set up two goals for Gareth Bale, before scoring a brace himself. 

The first of his two goals was one of his greatest for Spurs. Scored in an empty Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the coronavirus crisis, it had the look of a training ground effort, as much for the audacity of the strike, as the bleak surroundings. 

From the right corner of the penalty area, Matt Doherty pulled the ball back to the nearby Kane, who was lurking outside the box. 

The former Millwall and Leicester loanee hit it first time with the inside of his right foot, to send it curling into the top-left corner. The greatest compliment that you can give this goal from a Spurs perspective, is that it brought back memories of Glenn Hoddle. 

Wolves (December 2018)

Another goal that Kane scored from a similar area was one against Wolves, in which he employed a totally different skillset. 

Tottenham eventually lost this game 3-1, at a time when they were playing their home matches at Wembley Stadium, after Kane’s spectacular goal had given them a first-half lead. 

A swift ball from Heung-Min Son found the prolific marksman in a pocket of space between the Wolves’ midfield and defence. He ran with the ball to the right of the penalty box and then slowed to allow Willy Boly to catch up with him. 

Kane then deftly turned inside, to leave Boly floundering and create space for a shot from outside the area. He struck the ball with his left foot, sending a powerful effort into the opposite top corner. 

Juventus (July 2019)

Of all the great goals that Kane has scored for Spurs, one of the very best does not actually count in the official statistics. 

He struck a tremendous effort in a pre-season friendly back in July 2019, when the North Londoners met Juventus in the International Champions Cup in Singapore. 

With the score tied at 2-2 in the 92nd minute of the game, Pochettino’s outfit won back possession in the centre-circle and the ball rolled forward to Kane, who was just inside the opposition half. 

Without even looking up, the marksman hit a first-time lob that flew over the former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and into the net. He did not need to see to know where the Polish stopper would be positioned and where the goal was. 

Arsenal (March 2016)

Kane has often been criticised for not delivering on the big occasion for Spurs, but the stakes could not have been much higher in this North London derby at White Hart Lane. 

In March 2016, Tottenham were second in the table and trying to chase down the Premier League leaders Leicester. A win against an Arsenal team in third would have sent them top. 

With the score at 1-1 in the 62nd minute, Dele Alli back-heeled a ball drifting towards the corner flag, which found Kane by the left touchline. He moved inwards and from the edge of the box, at a very tight angle, bent the ball towards the far post. 

It hit that post and went in. Not for the last time, the Spurs defence would let their star striker down that afternoon, but when it comes to his greatest goals for the club, this is the perfect mix of quality of finish, opposition and occasion.

Everton are “the worst run club” in England and “demonised” their supporters after alleging safety concerns for board members at Goodison Park, according to Jamie Carragher.

The Toffees’ board of directors did not attend the January 14 home loss to Southampton upon the advice of security professionals, citing a “real and credible threat to their safety and security”.

Everton released a statement before kick-off to explain the situation was caused by “malicious and unacceptable threatening correspondence received by the club”.

The Toffees’ struggles culminated in Monday’s sacking of manager Frank Lampard, but Carragher – an Everton fan growing up – focused his ire on the club’s handling of the supporters’ discontent.

“There was a protest that everyone knew about, it wasn’t going to be during the game it was going to be at the end of the game,” former Liverpool captain Carragher told Sky Sports. 

“Everton’s board put out a statement saying there had been threats, and I’m not denying that – and if it is true then that’s bang out of order.

“But I think someone should have been at the game, the statement they put out as a football club was bang out of order. To me, they demonised the whole fanbase, and I’m not saying they are telling lies in terms of threats, but that is the name of the game.”

When concerns over physical threats and violence were put to him, Carragher responded: “There may have been but there was nothing reported to the police, you need to say that too.

“They threw the whole fanbase under the bus, you don’t do that, especially in the city we are from. In Liverpool, you back your own whether it’s your family or your football club. That’s what you do.

“[The supporters] were there to criticise them and get them out of the club, but those supporters kept them up last year, don’t forget that.

“Supporters are protesting that they want them out of the club, [the board] felt they couldn’t go to that game. On the back of putting that statement out, how do they go back to the game or to Goodison. Lampard is gone but their banners aren’t going anywhere until those people have left the club. 

“Until there is serious change there, they’re not going to get the fans back on side and it was them who kept them up.”

Everton sit 19th in the Premier League on 15 points following a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers West Ham on Saturday, their eighth loss in their last nine matches in all competitions.

The Toffees’ next manager will be their seventh permanent appointment since Farhad Moshiri – who was in attendance at London Stadium – invested in the club in 2016.

Carragher believes dismissing Lampard was the right decision, though his concerns remain over Moshiri’s relationship with board members Bill Kenwright and Denise Barrett-Baxendale.

“It was right to change the manager, but no one knows a football club better than their own supporters,” he added. “Their own supporters haven’t got banners for Lampard, they’ve got banners for Moshiri and the board.

“I said this about six months ago, Everton are the worst run club in the country. I’m not saying that as an ex-Liverpool player, I’m saying that as an ex-Everton fan.

“When I made that comment, Everton actually got in touch with me and I thought fair enough, you’re saying things in the media and sometimes things come back to you. But I didn’t think I was wrong when I said it then and I don’t think I’m wrong now.

“Moshiri doesn’t know what he’s doing but he’s got a lot of money – and he’s put a lot of money in. Why does every Everton manager fail? You’ve got to look at the top, and that’s Moshiri. It’s a mess.

“There’s a massive divide between Moshiri, Kenwright and Denise Baxendale – what is the role of Kenwright? It’s not financial and the owner is not listening to him. If they are there for expertise, they’re not listening to them, why have them there?”

Everton have sacked manager Frank Lampard after Saturday’s defeat at West Ham added to a dismal run of nine defeats in 12 Premier League games. 

Lampard, 44, exits Goodison Park less than a year into the role with the Toffees sat joint-bottom of the Premier League table, with only goal difference keeping them above Southampton.

In a bizarre twist, the news was being reported by national newspaper journalists from mid-afternoon on Monday but there was no sign of a statement from the club itself until late into the evening, prompting anger from Evertonians across social media. 

The 2-0 away defeat at struggling West Ham proved to be the final straw for the Everton board, who themselves have been the focus of supporters’ fury at the sorry state of the Merseyside club.

Ex-England and Chelsea midfielder Lampard hoped his side had turned a corner with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at champions Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, but will now vacate the Goodison hotseat.

The three-time Premier League winner left Derby in July 2019 to take the managerial role at Chelsea, where he was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in January 2021.

Everton, meanwhile, will now begin their search for an eighth permanent manager in seven years.

A club statement read: “Everton Football Club can confirm that Frank Lampard has left his post as Senior Men’s First Team Manager today. 

“Everyone at Everton would like to thank Frank and his coaching staff for their service during what has been a challenging 12 months. 

“Frank and his team’s commitment and dedication have been exemplary throughout their time at the Club, but recent results and the current league position meant this difficult decision had to be taken. 

“We wish Frank and all his backroom team well for their future in the game. 

“The Club has started the process to secure a new manager and will provide updates on the appointment in due course. Paul Tait and Leighton Baines will take training until a new manager is appointed.”

Next up for the Toffees is a daunting encounter with league leaders Arsenal on February 4.