Monday cannon fodder: bittersweet title backing

Mauricio Pochettino says Dele Alli's hamstring injury does 'not look great' | Football | The Guardian
"We need to assess but, of course, it does not look great’

José Mourinho bemoans lack of backing compared to Klopp and Guardiola | Football | The Guardian
The former Manchester United manager José Mourinho has claimed Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp were afforded more luxuries than him in the Premier League.

Rashford at Ronaldo level after 150 Manchester United games, says Solskjær | Football | The Guardian
Ole Gunnar Solskjær believes Marcus Rashford is on the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were when they had played 150 games for Manchester United

Barcelona 3-1 Leganes: Lionel Messi off the bench to inspire victory - BBC Sport
Lionel Messi comes off the bench to inspire La Liga leaders Barcelona to victory over Leganes for their seventh successive win.

Heart of Midlothian 1-0 Livingston: Sean Clare's first goal for hosts settles cup tie - BBC Sport
Sean Clare's first goal for Hearts is enough to net them a place in the Scottish Cup fifth round at the expense of Livingston.

Liverpool's last title win: How Kenny Dalglish led a grief-stricken club to glory in 1989/90 | FourFourTwo
With the Reds seeking their first championship in 29 years, Seb Stafford-Bloor contextualises their remarkable post-Hillsborough success.

US forward Jozy Altidore says exit from Toronto FC would be 'bittersweet'
Jozy Altidore has hinted that his time with Toronto FC is nearing its conclusion, adding that the end, when that happens, will be "bittersweet."

When Saturday Comes - Challenging racism on the sports desk requires a complete culture shift
When it comes to recruitment, it's not just racism where sports journalism has a problem.

Borussia Dortmund has reportedly decided to stop “handing over” players to Bayern Munich - Bavarian Football Works
Bayern Munich has been accused of poaching players from its Bundesliga rivals too many times in the past.

Short Pants and Long Sleeves: China’s Soccer Team Plays Under Tattoo Ban - The New York Times
It’s hot at the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi, but some of China’s players are wearing long sleeves because of a rule barring visible tattoos in matches.

Unfair treatment: the overlooked underbelly of football
The world of football is glamorous but also rife with problems.

How a deluge of money nearly broke the Premier League | News | The Guardian
It’s the world’s most lucrative football league. But a civil war over all that money came close to toppling it.