EPL: Manchester United's Pogba sidelined for long-term with injury

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is facing a long spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.

Pogba suffered the injury in United's 3-0 Champions League win over Basel this month.

"He's injured, he cannot play tomorrow and it's not an injury that I can have the hope like I have with (Antonio) Valencia or (Phil) Jones," Mourinho told a news conference ahead of the home Premier League game against CrystalPalace on Saturday.

"I have the hope to see them in training and to have a positive answer."

Mourinho did not put a time scale on Pogba's return but said he was thinking about the 24-year-old France international in the same way as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, who are expected to miss the rest of the year due to injuries.

"So long-term injuries I don't speak about them," Mourinho said. "Ibra and Pogba and Rojo, these players I don't think about them."

Morata relishing lead striker role under Conte

Alvaro Morata moved to Chelsea because of the belief shown in him by manager Antonio Conte and the Spaniard is now relishing the opportunity to lead the attack as a first-choice striker.

Morata left Real Madrid in the close season to reunite with Italian Conte, who had coached him at Juventus, and has made a strong start to his career in English football.

The Spaniard has scored six Premier League goals in as many games and also opened his Chelsea account in the Champions League against Real's city rivals Atletico on Wednesday.

"I came to Chelsea because one club and one coach believed in me. Now I have all of these things and I'm very happy," Morata told British media.

"Was it a big move for me to become the first-choice striker? It's the most important thing," added Morata, who struggled to make an impact at Real.

Morata said the decision to swap La Liga for the Premier League meant he was taking on a "difficult challenge" but was happy Chelsea were fighting for the league title.

"It's the most competitive league in the world. Yes, it's physical. And it's the league with the most teams who can win the title," the 24-year-old said.

"There are strong teams, but we're very happy because we're fighting for the Premier League too."

Third-placed Chelsea host early pace setters ManchesterCity in the league on Saturday. They have lost only one of their last seven top flight meetings with Pep Guardiola's side.

"It's another big match, another big Premier League match. It's very important for us before the international break to take the three points."

Reds must stop leaking silly goals to contend:  Robertson

Liverpool need to stop conceding "silly goals" if they are to match their attacking prowess and play a major role in the Premier League title race this season, full back Andy Robertson has said.

Robertson, who signed from HullCity, was the only defender Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp added to the squad during the close season but the Scot has yet to earn a regular spot in the starting side.

The 23-year-old has played twice in the league, the win over CrystalPalace and the draw with Burnley, but has watched Liverpool concede 11 goals, one less than they have scored.

"The threat we've got going forward, the counter-attacks are frightening at times. If we can just shore up at the back and not concede silly goals and not switch off then we'll be a big force," Robertson told the club's website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

"I do believe as a group we can get better defensively and I can be part of that," he added.

"As a group, we have to work together to get better defensively because, if the midfielders can help us and the strikers can help us, then as a team we'll improve."

Fifth-placed Liverpool are at Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday. There has not been a goalless draw in 44 previous league meetings between the sides.