LiveScore Daily: Today’s football news in bite-sized chunks

LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Key role

Mikel Arteta insists Emile Smith Rowe will have a key role to play as Arsenal push for Premier League glory. 

Smith Rowe, 22, has not featured for the table-topping Gunners since September after undergoing surgery on an ongoing groin issue.

He is not in contention to face West Ham on Boxing Day but Arteta is confident the midfielder will return to action soon.

The Arsenal boss said: "Emile is close. He had a setback but he's there and he's in a good place. 

"We've done a lot of things with Emile. Sometimes he has been close [to the group], sometimes he has been in different places to see a different environment. 

"His attitude has been great and this is part of any career, any development, to have periods where you are out and have long-term injuries. 

"He needs to react to that. But he has our support and he is a huge talent that we need for the second part of the season at his best because his contribution will be key to the team."

New recruits?

Jurgen Klopp refuses to rule out Liverpool dipping into the transfer market next month. 

Forwards Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have long-term injuries while midfield is an area the Reds have been looking to strengthen for some time.

Speaking ahead his side's trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day, Klopp said: "January, in our situation, it's a window where we always say from a sport side we are always prepared. That's how it is. 

"We always work with what we've got and that hasn't changed. We are looking and if something happens, we will see."

Midfielder James Milner (hamstring) and forward Roberto Firmino (muscle) are set to miss a couple of matches.

Talk of the Toon

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe cannot wait to have record signing Alexander Isak back in action.  

The £60million Sweden striker has made just three appearances — scoring in two of them — since his summer switch from Real Sociedad. 

A thigh injury picked up on international duty in September, which he subsequently aggravated, has sidelined him during Newcastle's surge into the top four. 

But while he is unlikely to feature during Toon's festive programme, Howe is hopeful Isak will not have to wait much longer before returning to action. 

He said: "He's doing well and we're pleased with him but he probably won't make the next couple of Premier League games. We're hoping he can play a big part in a busy January. 

"We're listening to the medical team to try to get this next part right because this is the most important bit. 

"He's nearly there. We just have to make sure that when he steps on to the pitch he is fully ready. 

"I don't want a half-ready player. He has to be ready to execute what we need."

Great loss

Sir Geoff Hurst led the tributes to George Cohen after his 1966 World Cup-winning England team-mate died aged 83.

Cohen played every match of the finals on home soil, having stepped into Sir Alf Ramsey’s team following an injury to regular right-back Jimmy Armfield.

His death means there are now only two survivors from the starting XI for the 4-2 final victory over West Germany — Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton, who has dementia.

Hurst, whose hat-trick proved decisive at Wembley, tweeted: "Very sad to hear my friend and England team-mate George Cohen has died.

"Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. 

"He will be sadly missed and my heartfelt thoughts are with George's wife Daphne and his family."

England will pay full tribute to Cohen, who won 37 caps, at the Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on March 26 next year.

Cautious approach

Frank Lampard is wary of risking Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin when Wolves visit Goodison Park on Boxing Day.

With games coming thick and fast, the Toffees boss will tread carefully with his injury-hit star. 

While he has received a positive update on 25-year-old Calvert-Lewin's knee problem, Lampard is unwilling to roll the dice with four games in the space of 12 days. 

He said: "With Dominic, it’s going to be tight for Wolves. He's going to be training over the next couple of days, trying to push him a bit for match fitness. 

"The injury feels good, which is the best news. But the last thing we want to do is go too soon with him. 

"The match fitness, that's the question mark, we've got a lot of games coming up."

Hammer time

David Moyes is banking on West Ham returning from the World Cup break with a cutting edge to kickstart their Premier League campaign. 

Before domestic football paused for the tournament in Qatar, the Hammers suffered successive league defeats and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Blackburn. 

But despite presiding over West Ham's worst start to a top-flight season since 1976, Moyes remains confident his squad can turn things around. 

Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Arsenal, the Scot said: "There is a lot of things we did [over the break]. 

"We have looked to see where we can improve and what we should be doing better. Obviously there is lots of room for improvement. 

"So we have tried to work towards it. The players have shown a brilliant attitude since coming back but it is not like we have always not played well. 

"We need to be a little more clinical, certainly when we are trying to score, and be that bit more ruthless defensively when we need to be as well."