Manchester United have an opportunity to prove their Premier League title pedigree with victory in Sunday's match at Liverpool, according to full-back Luke Shaw.
Erik ten Hag's side trail Arsenal by 11 points ahead of the leaders' match against Bournemouth on Saturday, with the Red Devils also holding a game in hand.
United are still in the hunt for three more trophies this season, having already won the EFL Cup last week, but they realistically cannot afford to drop any points at Anfield.
Having been talked up as outside title challengers, Shaw wants United to lay down a further marker with a first league win away at Liverpool since 2016.
"They're always big, big games," Shaw told Premier League Productions. "I think if we want to be challenging for the title, we need to be going there and winning these games.
"But, of course, on the other hand, we know it's going to be an extremely tough game. It's always a tough game against Liverpool. They're an amazing side."
Victory over Newcastle United at Wembley last weekend ended United's six-year wait for silverware, with that their longest wait for a major trophy since 1983.
It has been an impressive first campaign in charge at Old Trafford for Ten Hag, and Shaw hopes it is the start of a trophy-laden period for the club.
"I think all of us can look at it as a fresh start," said Shaw, who has played in 31 of United's 41 games this term.
"It's been a tough few years here at United and I think it can be a new beginning.
"It's a new era, it's time to create our own history with a new manager, with new players, new team. It's a great start in the direction we want to go in."
United beat Liverpool 2-1 in August's reverse fixture and are seeking a Premier League double over their fierce rivals for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.
While United have lost just one of their 20 games since the World Cup break, Liverpool have won only six of their 15 matches over the same period.
Despite the contrasting form of the sides, and United's 10-point advantage on Liverpool, Reds defender Virgil van Dijk is not feeling apprehensive.
"It is a bit of a game on its own," he said. "It's probably getting all the hype that comes with it and we are the ones who are not in good form and they are absolutely in form.
"But we know what we are capable of and we have to be at our best: players, the fans and the whole build-up towards it.
"Everyone has to feel responsible for getting a good result. It's not easy, and sometimes you can get a little bit nervous, but we need everyone to be behind us no matter what."
Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino
Serie A side Genoa have confirmed the departure of their head coach Alberto Gilardino, with Patrick Vieira reportedly on his way in.
Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, leaves the club with them sitting just one point above the relegation size with 10 points from 12 matches this season.
A former striker who played for clubs including Genoa, Parma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, Gilardino took charge of Genoa in 2022 and helped them earn promotion to the top division before a 11th-place finish during the 2023-24 season.
"The club thanks Gilardino for the goals achieved together over the years and wishes him the best for his career," Genoa said in a statement.
The 42-year-old saw his side salvage a late 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como in their last match before the international break.
Genoa were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the second round following a defeat to Sampdoria on penalties in September.
Arsenal legend Vieira is set to replace him, according to multiple reports.
The former France midfielder has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg by mutual consent in July.
Jonathan David names Barcelona as dream club amid Lille uncertainty
Jonathan David admits it is his dream to play for Barcelona as he prepares to enter the final six months of his Lille contract.
The Canada international is into his fifth season with the Ligue 1 side but is due to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign.
Lille have attempted to persuade David with a new deal, though he looks set to depart Stade Pierre-Mauroy in 2025 – potentially as early as January if a club is prepared to pay a transfer fee.
However, while the 24-year-old is seemingly open to a move to Barcelona, he suggested he would prefer to wait until the end of the campaign before taking the next step in his career.
"Going to a club midseason is never easy," he told The Athletic. "It's not like the beginning of a season where you have a pre-season, you get to know your team-mates, you have time to gel.
"In January, things are very hectic. It's about right now. It's tougher."
"[Barcelona] was always the team I grew up supporting. When you grow up supporting a team, it's your dream to play for them.
"Some people might say, 'Oh, he's staying at Lille, this is a downgrade, he's not getting better'. But for me, there's always opportunities to get better."
David has scored 13 goals in 19 games for Lille in all competitions this season, including goals against heavyweight sides Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League.
Including penalties, eight of those goals have been scored via his stronger right boot, four with his left and one with his head – an area the forward accepts he can still improve.
"Aerially, I can get better," he said. "Getting that header on target and scoring.
"I can get in good positions and win headers but the finishing touch, I'm still missing. With my back to goal, I can also get better."
David is averaging a goal every 112 minutes across all competitions this season, which compares to one every 139 minutes last season and 131 in 2022-23.
However, he still has some way to go to match the 18 goals scored in 27 league games for former club Gent in 2019-20.
"Things are good right now because I'm scoring goals," David said.
"But is this the best I've played in my life? Probably not. For me, it was my second year in Belgium. That was the season of my life."
Croatia 1-1 Portugal: Gvardiol earns draw as hosts advance in Nations League
Croatia joined Portugal in the quarter-finals of the Nations League after the sides played out a 1-1 draw in Split on Monday.
Josko Gvardiol equalised in the 65th minute after Joao Felix had put Portugal – already assured of top spot – ahead in the first half at Stadion Poljud.
That goal ensured Croatia finished a point better off than Scotland in Group A1 after they earned a late 2-1 victory over Poland in Warsaw.
In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix stepped up by taking Vitinha's pass in his stride and calmly firing past Dominik Livakovic in the 33rd minute – the goal allowed to stand after a VAR check for offside.
Andrej Kramaric blasted an effort back off the crossbar and Gvardiol had a goal disallowed for offside either side of the interval as Croatia pressed for a leveller.
Gvardiol found the net again soon after, though, and this time it was allowed to stand as he got on the end of Kristijan Jakic's delivery at the back post.
Livakovic and Jose Sa produced fine saves to deny Nuno Mendes and Ante Budimir, who also hit the outside of the post, but neither side could find a winning goal.
Data Debrief: Gvardiol scores again against blunt visitors
Roberto Martinez opted to release Ronaldo, Silva, Pedro Neto and the suspended Fernandes back to their clubs before this game and Portugal lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
Joao Felix took his chance very well, scoring his one goal from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.58 across the 90 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find the net from any of their other 11 attempts.
Croatia's attackers were also frustrated by a mixture of the frame of the goal and Sa, but in-form defender Gvardiol was the hero as he netted for the fourth time this season already for club and country.
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