Dyche news conference & Greenwood charges dropped

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Fabinho's loss of form was a hot topic on this week's The Red Kop podcast.

The Brazilian midfielder featured from the bench in the FA Cup defeat at Brighton but was fortunate not to be sent off for a poor tackle late in the game.

"He kind of epitomises the whole team," Matt Addison, editor Liverpool.com, told BBC Radio Merseyside's The Red Kop.

"You look at him and think 'where on earth has the usual Fabinho gone?'

"That was as bad as it's got in terms of 11 minutes on the pitch he managed to tick off every box of things you shouldn't do as a Liverpool midfielder.

"Even the back end of last season he wasn't great but you kind of get away with it as the rest of the team is brilliant. This season he doesn't look like the same player, it's like we've transported him somewhere and he's changed into someone who can't run, tackle, who doesn't know where to stand.

"It's so baffling I don't know how to explain how bad he was.

"There's a gulf between him and Bajcetic, who is 18 years of age.

"Within the last two years I'd have said Fabinho was the best in his position in the world. Now there's no argument for him to come back into the team next week."

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Injured Kylian Mbappe will miss the first leg of PSG's Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich.

Mbappe suffeed a thigh injury 21 minutes into PSG's 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Montpellier yesterday, and will be out for approximately three weeks.

He will therefore miss the 14 February first leg against Bayern, and the Coupe de France round of 16 meeting with Marseille - but could return for the second leg against the German champions.

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Sean Dyche on his first game against Arsenal: "I'm excited. Evertonians look after their club and we will need that. Before the ball rolls, we've been working hard on the training ground.

"We want the fans to play their part, to reconnect. I've got to earn my spurs; I'm willing to earn their respect."

Sean Dyche on Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fitness: "He's had his ups and downs with fitness, I'm aware. Getting him truly fit and his body ready will be key. I've spoken to him and I think he is closer than he thought.

"He's an important player, but there are lots of important players. He's a very good player."

On other returnees: "Ben Godfrey is closer, Michael Keane is getting fitter and has trained, James Garner is going to be a little bit longer."

Wycombe Wanderers midfielder David Wheeler has been appointed by the PFA as its first ever sustainability champion.

Wheeler will work with the footballers’ union to provide opportunities for players to share and discuss ideas around climate action and sustainability initiatives, focusing on personal actions they can take but also on practical steps they can lead on within their clubs and communities.

His appointment comes ahead of Green Football Weekend, which brings together 80 of the UK’s professional clubs, fans, families and communities to unleash the power of football on climate change.

More on the news that all charges, including attempted rape and assault, have been dropped against Manchester United's Mason Greenwood.

Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, Greater Manchester Police 's head of public protection, said:

"Given the significant media coverage of this case, it is only fair that we share the news that the 21-year-old man, who had been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation opened in January 2022, no longer faces criminal proceedings in relation to this.

"The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedings at this stage, and that this decision has not been taken lightly.

"Despite the media and public's interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any further detail.

"I would, however, like to use this opportunity to reiterate GMP's commitment to investigating allegations of violence against women and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them

"An ever increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.

"If you feel you are or might be a victim, please don't let this case put you off asking for help."

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Statement from the Crown Prosecution Service:

"We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review.

"In this case a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

"In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case. We have explained our decision to all parties.

"We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met."

Sean Dyche on not replacing Anthony Gordon: "The timing of that was before me. Trying to react to the situation is a different ball game. The money doesn't come in one go. Then it is about looking at the players who would fit against what we have.

"Of course there are lists. Most teams know the runners and riders in football; the odd bit of gold, you might find, but generally we know the players. You are hedging your bets that they can affect the group."

Sean Dyche on why Everton didn't sign anyone this month: "Once I was appointed, all I've seen is hard work. The owner, the chairman, Kev [Thelwell, director of football], myself, on the phone constantly. I was there, I can assure you.

"All parties need to say yes, you've got to have the finances to get into that situation. But the players have to be better than what we've got here; we've got some very talented players here. They may have lost their way, we can all debate why things aren't going well. I've never signed players for the sake of it."

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Sean Dyche: "The challenge is to get out of this situation. It is what it is. The league doesn't lie, we are there for a reason. The alignment, from the owner to the board, to myself, the players and fans. We've got to make sure that is there. It starts with my players and my staff; we've got to make sure we are aligned."

Dyche on his Everton squad: "They are open minded. They've been honest about the challenge and where we can go. There is a desire to put things right.

"There is an desire to put things right and that is obvious. There is an adaptation period for what we want to do."

New Everton boss Sean Dyche is speaking to the media for the first time since replacing Frank Lampard: "It's been a really good welcome from staff, players alike. I know a bit about the feel of this club from visiting, but everyone has been very open to us being here."

Sean Dyche's first press conference as Everton manager has begun...

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Attempted rape and assault charges against Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, Greater Manchester Police have said.

He was arrested in January last year amid allegations surrounding images and videos that emerged online.

• More on this story here

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Tomorrow's London derby will be Fulham boss Marco Silva's 400th game in professional management.

"I am a much better manager now than I was," Silva said. "It is a demand I set myself and my staff. I want to always be better."

Silva previously managed Hull, Watford and Everton in the Premier League, as well as Estoril, Sporting CP and Olympiakos.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers also spoke at his press conference about coming close to signing Jack Harrison from Leeds.

"It was surprising he was available in the first place," he said.

"So when the deal gets to where it did, of course it’s [disappointing]. But we’re really happy with the players we did bring in."

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Fulham manager Marco Silva says he is pleased with their deadline day acquisitions of midfielder Sasa Lukic from Torino and defender Cedric Soares on loan from Arsenal.

He told his press conference today: "There were two positions we wanted to strengthen in our squad. Right-back and midfield. It was a busy last day for us.

"We wanted a different profile in Lukic. A quality player that will come to add something different for us and raise the level of our team."

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Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking about late January signings Tete and Harry Souttar at his press conference today.

On Brazilian winger Tete, signed on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, Rodgers said: "We're absolutely delighted. He’s a very talented young player. He’s technically very good but like most Brazilians he’s committed and loves his football.

"His touch is immaculate and he’s got an eye for goal. The club have done really well to get him here. I’m really looking forward to seeing him in the shirt."

Leicester have also signed Australian centre back Souttar from Stoke City in a £15 million deal.

"We’d seen Harry as a younger player and saw him coming through the trauma of an injury," said Rodgers.

"I also spoke to people I respected about him. He’s coming in to show his qualities in the Premier League.

"He brings that stature that we’ve been after but we saw at the World Cup that he can play with the ball too. He has had a hip issue that we need to assess, but he’s trained today. He’s 24 years old, on the way up. I think he fits us here at Leicester."

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