Football

The Hammers have been unfortunate with injuries, with six influential players on the sidelines, including striker Andy Carroll, club's record signing Andre Ayew and Cresswell.

Fernandinho has been in impressive form since the arrival of Guardiola this season. He is expected to be rewarded by winning back his place in Brazil's starting line-up for their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.

The 31-year-old, the youngest marquee player of the ISL, was a part of the Liverpool side that won the Community Shield in 2006 and FA Cup in 2005-06.

The Spaniard is currently active in the ranks of New York City in the American League. Kiko played a total of 12 seasons in La Liga, wearing the shirts of Cadiz, Atletico Madrid and Extremadura, and getting crowned champion in 1995 with Atleti.

Liverpool are fuelled with confidence and fourth in the table, having beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and champions Leicester City in their opening six games of the campaign.

Allardyce's incendiary comments were published late on Monday and by early Tuesday morning, the former Sunderland and West Ham boss was driving down to London in an unsuccessful bid to save his job.

Free-scoring Liverpool's burgeoning Premier League title challenge was given further impetus with a merciless 5-1 thrashing of 10-man Hull City at Anfield on Saturday.

United dismantled Premier League champions Leicester in a ruthless 20-minute burst as Jose Mourinho's decision to drop Wayne Rooney was rewarded with a 4-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

While most of United's top players were benched or rested entirely for the English League game against Northampton, Rooney played the full 90 minutes less than three days before a big Premier League match against Leicester.

Of all the managerial dilemmas facing Manchester United's Jose Mourinho after three success defeats, the future of his captain Wayne Rooney is by far the most pressing.

Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Atletico de Kolkata's co-owner Sourav Ganguly on Thursday remained unfazed by speculation about the team's support base should traditional city giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan become part of ISL.

Opening up the scoring for Kerala Blasters was Michael Chopra in the 30th minute, while the winning goal came from the foot of local boy Prashant at the 50th minute.

Calling Sunil Chhetri the team's "talisman", national coach Stephen Constantine said the poacher can play for 4-5 years at the top level provided he kept himself fit.

Masterminded by Chhetri, a dominant India scripted a sensational 4-1 win over higher-ranked Puerto Rico in an international football friendly at the Andheri Sports Complex stadium on Saturday.

NorthEast United FC has roped in Uruguayan striker Emiliano Alfaro and Brazilian attacking midfielder Fabio Neves Florentino to complete their player roster ahead of the Hero Indian Super League.

Forward Nacer Chadli has joined West Bromwich Albion from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a four-year contract, both clubs announced on Monday.