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Put him there, two rottweilers, and put [Harry] Maguire in the middle and create a bit of solidity going to Villa Park.

“But I don't know if the manager’s really got it in his locker to want to play that way.”

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4th Oct 2024, 18:31By Joe Brophy

talkSPORT revealed in October 2023 that the substance found in Paul Pogba's system was DHEA, which boosts naturally produced testosterone.

That can be found in supplements, and it was down to the midfielder and his team to find the product to show how it got into his body.

CAS' final judgement that slashed his suspension to 18 months confirmed that the Frenchman did inadvertently take DHEA.

Ingesting the testosterone booster by any means is still punishment-worthy as it is on WADA's banned list, but the lack of intent behind it has seen Pogba's ban curtailed.

It reaffirms the views of French football journalist Julian Laurens, who told talkSPORT in February that he doesn’t believe Pogba intentionally doped.

He said: “I’ve known Paul for a very long time now and I know it’s a cliche but I can say with my hand on my heart that he’s not that kind of guy, he really isn’t.”

He continued: “His defence has always been the same, he’s got his friend in Miami who’s a doctor, he goes to Miami a lot and has a property there with his family.

“His doctor friend gave him some food supplements just to take, there was no hint of doping there, there was no hint of, ‘be careful that might be a product that’s banned’.

“He just said, ‘take that and while you’re preparing for the season it will help you’ and that’s it.

“According to Paul he took the supplement not knowing what it was and it turned out the supplement contained the testosterone DHEA.”

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4th Oct 2024, 17:38By Joe Brophy

Paul Pogba has had his four-year doping ban reduced to 18 months following an appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The former Manchester United star can start training with Juventus from January 2025, and play matches in March.

Pogba was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone in his system.

talkSPORT revealed at the time that the substance found in his system was DHEA, which boosts naturally produced testosterone.

He was randomly tested after Juve's first match of the 2023/24 season, a 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20, 2023.

Pogba was an unused substitute in that game but had two cameo outings against Bologna and Empoli before his ban was announced.

The 31-year-old faced not being able to play until March 2027 had his appeal to CAS had not been upheld.

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4th Oct 2024, 17:24By Joe Brophy

Arne Slot has joked he would have to be a 'stupid manager' to complain about 12:30pm kick-offs ahead of Liverpool's upcoming clash.

The Reds take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in Saturday's early fixture - live on talkSPORT - less than 72 hours after their Champions League win over Bologna.

Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp had a particular hatred for the 12:30pm slot.

However, speaking in his press conference on Friday, the Dutchman said: "I think the league [Eredivisie] I come from, they are more aware and try to help teams in Europe.

"But to be fair to English FA, our schedule is tight so it is difficult.

"It has a lot to do with TV stations, it feels like I do an interview every day.

I think they can pick a team for 12:30pm, so they choose Liverpool.

"People talk about 12:30pm, we talk about difficult away games.

"If 12:30pm was a difficult time to perform then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday!"

Slot may not know that tomorrow's contest will be the 28th Saturday lunchtime slot since the summer of 2019.

That is one more than matches which began at the traditional 3pm during the same period, with the trip to London their 20th away 12:30pm kick-off.

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4th Oct 2024, 16:51By Joe Brophy

Rasmus Hojlund has apologised for upsetting Manchester United fans with his social media post following the club's 3-3 draw with Porto.

The Norwegian scored on his first start this season on Thursday, with his goal putting the Red Devils two-up on the night.

However, Erik ten Hag's side were ultimately pegged back in their Europa League encounter and eventually just scraped a 3-3 draw.

Despite this, Hojlund faced the wrath of annoyed fans that he seemingly disregarded the poor result on Instagram post-match.

The striker uploaded a series of images of himself celebrating his goal, accompanied by the caption: "Luckily I had 6 weeks to practice my celebration.

10 position.

“So maybe it’s also something for us to look at, although we score a lot of goals, to bring our striker – if it’s Diogo or Darwin – even more in positions to score.”

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4th Oct 2024, 14:31By Jack Cunningham

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has suggested that he would be a 'stupid manager' if he complained about early kick-offs.

The Reds face Crystal Palace tomorrow, live on talkSPORT, at 12:30pm - a kick-off time which became a huge talking point for Jurgen Klopp.

The former Reds boss truly despised when his teams played at that time, especially after competing in the Champions League in the previous week.

And when asked about Liverpool playing at that time tomorrow, Slot made a jokey comment about him being stupid because the Reds always train at that time.

He said: "If 12:30pm was a difficult time to perform then I am a stupid manager because I train every day at midday!"

Of course, it's a joke, but it could be a very subtle and tounge-in-cheek dig at his predecessor.

We'll let you decide.

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4th Oct 2024, 14:01By Jack Cunningham

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed that Kobbie Mainoo is doubtful ahead of the Red Devils' game against Aston Villa at the weekend.

The England international came off during Man United's 3-0 thrashing by Tottenham with an unspecified issue and played no part in the 3-3 draw against Porto.

And ahead of the huge match on Sunday, Ten Hag isn't sure if he'll have Mainoo available.

When asked about the midfielder, the Dutchman said: "There was Harry Maguire, there was Alejandro Garnacho and there was Kobbie Mainoo.

"There will be a decision to make this afternoon yes or no.

"He is close and Tomiyasu is too."

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4th Oct 2024, 13:19By Jack Cunningham

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne still isn't fit for Manchester City.

The creative midfielder came off during City's 0-0 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League.

It was revealed he has a groin problem, and he's been absent since.

Guardiola had suggested he would be ready for the match against Fulham a few weeks ago, but that isn't the case.

De Bruyne also won't play for Belgium during the international break.

When asked about De Bruyne potentially playing for Belgium, Guardiola said: "He's not ready.

"How can he go and play with the national team if he hasn't played for us?

"I have never understood that.

"For this game, he's injured, so he's not available."

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4th Oct 2024, 12:53By Jack Cunningham

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola refused to directly comment on his future at the club's pre-match press conference ahead of their game against Fulham.

The Spaniard's contract currently expires at the end of the season, and he's yet to sign a new one.

After winning the Premier League multiple times, the Champions League and several other trophies, the City fans understandably want him to remain at the Etihad, and they plan to unveil a banner dedicated to their boss at the game tomorrow.

However, while he's flattered by the banner, he refused to directly comment on if he was staying.

When asked about the tribute, he said: "They have to bring me the bill to pay for it.

Thank you so much, I fell in love the first day I came here."

However, his response to questions on his future was more cold.

"What is going to happen is going to happen."

"But I am not going to talk about this subject."

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4th Oct 2024, 12:19By Jack Cunningham

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has praised Dominic Solanke after he received his first England call-up since 2017.

The striker completed a £65 million move from Bournemouth to Spurs over the summer after a stellar campaign on the south coast, in which he scored 19 Premier League goals.

And after a start disrupted by a niggling injury, the forward has three goals for Tottenham.

So, after a great 18 months, Solanke is back in the England squad and his manager refused to take any credit.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Tottenham facing Brighton, he said: "He's had to work awfully hard in his career.

"It's important to all young players that the trajectory doesn't always go in a linear fashion.

"He was at big clubs, didn't get started but didn't deter him, went to Bournemouth and did well.

"It's all down to him.

"First of all, we have to wait and see if he can even train."

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4th Oct 2024, 10:32By Jack Cunningham

talkSPORT's Alex Crook thinks that Erik ten Hag's time as Manchester United manager is nearly up and is likely to end at the weekend when they face Aston Villa.

The Red Devils scraped a 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League last night, needing Harry Maguire to score a last-gasp equaliser.

One of the stranger decisions made by Ten Hag was to take Marcus Rashford off at half time despite the England international scoring and causing havoc down the left wing.

After the match, Ten Hag revealed that Rashford wasn't injured, and it was simply 'rotation'.

This decision baffled Crook.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "The Rashford substitution at half-time was utterly bizarre.
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