Transfer news LIVE: Kieran Trippier targeted by Bayern Munich, Man United appoint new CEO plus Arsenal latest

They returned to training on Wednesday – a week after their last game – and head to Bournemouth looking to extend their advantage at the top to five points.

While they will still be missing talisman Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations, and are waiting for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai to return from injury, Klopp believes everyone benefited from a break from the intensity of the Premier League.

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson deflected to the club’s decision-makers when asked if his side’s crushing 5-0 defeat at Arsenal could raise questions about his job security.

Substitute Gabriel Martinelli buried the Eagles with two goals inside two minutes of second-half stoppage time, adding to Gabriel and Leandro Trossard’s earlier efforts and a Dean Henderson own goal that all-but guaranteed the hosts victory before half-time.

As Palace defender Chris Richards nodded over a chance to claw back a late consolation, away supporters raised a banner reading “wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions taking us backwards” while another protested “no shared vision, no structured plan”.

Aston Villa have put in a significantly improved offer for Middlesbrough’s Morgan Rogers, after a bid earlier this week was rejected.

Unai Emery sees the forward as a priority for this window, although it has so far been a protracted process between the clubs.

Middlesbrough are understood to want around £10m for the 21-year-old, although a figure has not actually been given to Villa as the preference is to keep a highly-rated player only signed in the summer.

The recommendation comes from INEOS, and has been backed by the board, who have been looking to fill the role since Richard Arnold left last year.

Although there had been expectation that Jean-Claude Blanc would step in as CEO, his preference is to stay with the wider sporting group owned by Ratcliffe. That led United to Berrada, and it is understood he has been earmarked for months.

The striker, banned from football since May for breaching betting rules, was back on the scoresheet for the first time in 267 days.

Named captain for the day, Toney struck with an audacious free-kick to cancel out Danilo’s opener for Forest and thrust himself back into the spotlight for the right reasons.

Jordan Henderson has returned to Europe after joining Ajax from Saudi club Al-Ettifaq.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who will wear the No 6 shirt at Ajax, has departed the Saudi Pro League after just six months.

Arsenal Woman head coach Jonas Eidevall has dismissed reports linking midfielder Lia Walti with a move to Real Madrid.

He said: “Yes [she is staying]. I don’t have any other idea in my head and I don’t think she does either. [The rumours come] from people that want attention.

“I think that is the problem with rumours, when there is not a direct, reliable source, you can’t really do much with them. The Lia Walti potentially leaving rumour definitely falls into the category of being with no truth whatsoever and she is a player we are very happy with.

“I think she is very happy at the club as well. I understand that it is hard for supporters when you read things like that to understand if there is truth in it, this one definitely does not.”

There is a clamour for Kalvin Phillips’ services as a host of clubs try to sign the Manchester City midfielder this month.

Phillips has widely been identified as the best central player available on the market right now, and Newcastle are thought to be at the front of the queue among Premier League clubs interested, who include Wolves and Fulham.

But Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring the situation and have registered their interest with City, according to the Telegraph.

His future will be decided next week, and it could all come down to who can afford to pay the highest proportion of his sizeable wages until the end of the season.

As Premier League executives started to agitate for changes to financial control rules, it led to a pointed quip from one official. When it comes to any kind of regulation, those in football are utterly incapable of looking beyond how it affects them alone.

They almost never think of the wider game. It has led to some distorted positions, as the last few days have made clear.

Eddie Howe bemoaned how Newcastle United do not have “friends in the market” willing to do loans to ease pressures on the team from Profit and Sustainability restrictions, at the same time as his bosses were loudly letting it be known that other clubs shared concerns on that regulation.

There were even mutterings after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester City about how the rules facilitated a situation where the champions could just bring Kevin De Bruyne, and that they were restricting a similar state-owned project in building the same sort of force.

“That’s the difference,” was one grumble.