themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Exactly what Boris Johnson said during his speech to the nation on Sunday

Boris Johnson has addressed the nation to reveal the next stage of the coronavirus strategy .
The Prime Minister has revealed some slight changes to the original lockdown rules that were announced in a similar fashion in March .
This is a transcript detailing exactly what Mr Johnson said during his address to the nation in his ministerial broadcast on Sunday night : '' It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly .
You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing .
Because you understand that as things stand , and as the experience of every other country has shown , it ’ s the only way to defeat the coronavirus - the most vicious threat this country has faced in my lifetime .
And though the death toll has been tragic , and the suffering immense .
And though we grieve for all those we have lost .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities .
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down .
And thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives .
And so I know - you know - that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to control the virus and save lives .
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life .
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants .
And there are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease , and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their children .
So I want to provide tonight - for you - the shape of a plan to address both fears .
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society .
A sense of the way ahead , and when and how and on what basis we will take the decisions to proceed .
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening .
I have consulted across the political spectrum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates .
And though it is right to be flexible in our response.I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland , England , Wales , Northern Ireland , there is a strong resolve to defeat this together .
And today a general consensus on what we could do .
Because although we have a plan , it is a conditional plan .
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfy the five tests .
We must protect our NHS.We must see sustained falls in the death rate .
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection .
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it , and yes , it is a global problem but we must fix it .
And last , we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease - the R - back up over one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago .
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one , we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre .
And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases .
And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures .
The higher the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be.There will be five alert levels .
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed .
Over the period of the lockdown we have been in Level Four , and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three .
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and following the rules .
And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do .
We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS , and though the numbers are coming down sharply now , there is plainly much more to be done .
And if we are to control this virus , then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims , and for tracing their contacts .
So that – all told - we are testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now , and we can .
When this began , we hadn ’ t seen this disease before , and we didn ’ t fully understand its effects .
With every day we are getting more and more data .
We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer , and we will pick it up where it strikes .
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as giving us a national picture .
And yet when I look at where we are tonight , we have the R below one , between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one .
And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given .
We have by no means fulfilled all of them .
And so no , this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week .
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week .
We said that you should work from home if you can , and only go to work if you must .
We now need to stress that anyone who can ’ t work from home , for instance those in construction or manufacturing , should be actively encouraged to go to work .
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work .
So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , and capacity will therefore be limited .
So work from home if you can , but you should go to work if you can ’ t work from home .
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure .
And when you do go to work , if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle .
But just as with workplaces , public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise .
You can sit in the sun in your local park , you can drive to other destinations , you can even play sports but only with members of your own household .
You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them .
And so every day , with ever increasing data , we will be monitoring the R and the number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making , and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out , then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further .
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools , in stages , beginning with reception , Year 1 and Year 6 .
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time with their teachers before the holidays .
And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport .
And step three - at the earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice ; if and only if the numbers support it , we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places , provided they are safe and enforce social distancing .
Throughout this period of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not by mere hope or economic necessity .
We are going to be driven by the science , the data and public health.And I must stress again that all of this is conditional , it all depends on a series of big Ifs .
It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice , to observe social distancing , and to keep that R down .
And to prevent re-infection from abroad , I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people coming into this country by air .
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here , that this measure will now be effective .
And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally , regionally , and nationally and if there are outbreaks , if there are problems , we will not hesitate to put on the brakes .
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives , restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need .
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work .
And when I look at what you have done already .
The patience and common sense you have shown .
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can.The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff , our care workers .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease .
Police , bus drivers , train drivers , pharmacists , supermarket workers , road hauliers , bin collectors , cleaners , security guards , postal workers , our teachers and a thousand more .
The scientists who are working round the clock to find a vaccine.When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country .
And that have helped to get us through this first phase.I know that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the next .
And if we can ’ t do it by those dates , and if the alert level won ’ t allow it , we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right .
We will come back from this devilish illness .
We will come back to health , and robust health .
And though the UK will be changed by this experience , I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before .
More resilient , more innovative , more economically dynamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing .
But for now we must stay alert , control the virus and save lives .
Thank you very much . ''

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Boris Johnson has addressed the nation to reveal the next stage of the coronavirus strategy.
The Prime Minister has revealed some slight changes to the original lockdown rules that were announced in a similar fashion in March.
This is a transcript detailing exactly what Mr Johnson said during his address to the nation in his ministerial broadcast on Sunday night:
"It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war.
And you have shown the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly.
You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing.
Because you understand that as things stand, and as the experience of every other country has shown, it’s the only way to defeat the coronavirus - the most vicious threat this country has faced in my lifetime.
And though the death toll has been tragic, and the suffering immense.
And though we grieve for all those we have lost.
It is a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities.
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down.
And thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.
And so I know - you know - that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
We must stay alert.
We must continue to control the virus and save lives.
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life.
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants.
And there are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease, and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing.
To their futures and the futures of their children. So I want to provide tonight - for you - the shape of a plan to address both fears. Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society.
A sense of the way ahead, and when and how and on what basis we will take the decisions to proceed.
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening.
I have consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK. And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates.
And though it is right to be flexible in our response.I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, there is a strong resolve to defeat this together.
And today a general consensus on what we could do.
And I stress could.
Because although we have a plan, it is a conditional plan.
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives, we cannot move forward unless we satisfy the five tests.
We must protect our NHS.We must see sustained falls in the death rate.
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection.
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it, and yes, it is a global problem but we must fix it.
And last, we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease - the R - back up over one, so that we have the kind of exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago.
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one, we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre.
And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases.
And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures.
The higher the level, the tougher and stricter we will have to be.There will be five alert levels.
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed.
Over the period of the lockdown we have been in Level Four, and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three.
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down.
By staying alert and following the rules. And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do.
We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS, and though the numbers are coming down sharply now, there is plainly much more to be done.
And if we are to control this virus, then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims, and for tracing their contacts.
So that – all told - we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day.
We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now, and we can.
When this began, we hadn’t seen this disease before, and we didn’t fully understand its effects.
With every day we are getting more and more data. We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer, and we will pick it up where it strikes.
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups – in your area – as well as giving us a national picture.
And yet when I look at where we are tonight, we have the R below one, between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one.
And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given.
We have by no means fulfilled all of them. And so no, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.
(Image: PA)
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures. And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.
We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.
We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.
And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.
And from this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.
You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.
And so every day, with ever increasing data, we will be monitoring the R and the number of new infections, and the progress we are making, and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out, then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further.
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays.
And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.
And step three - at the earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.
Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity.
We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health.And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big Ifs.
It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down.
And to prevent re-infection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here, that this measure will now be effective.
And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally, regionally, and nationally and if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need.
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work.
And when I look at what you have done already. The patience and common sense you have shown.
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can.The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff, our care workers.
The devotion and self-sacrifice of all those in every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease. Police, bus drivers, train drivers, pharmacists, supermarket workers, road hauliers, bin collectors, cleaners, security guards, postal workers, our teachers and a thousand more.
The scientists who are working round the clock to find a vaccine.When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country.
And that have helped to get us through this first phase.I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next.
And if we can’t do it by those dates, and if the alert level won’t allow it, we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right.
We will come back from this devilish illness.
We will come back to health, and robust health.
And though the UK will be changed by this experience, I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before.
More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic, but also more generous and more sharing.
But for now we must stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
Thank you very much."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--You will be allowed to sunbathe and take unlimited exercise from Wednesday - but lockdown isn't over

Sunbathing , unlimited exercise and driving longer distances will all be allowed from Wednesday , Boris Johnson has announced in a TV address on the next phase of the coronavirus response .
Anyone who can not work from home - such as those in construction or manufacturing - are also being ‘ actively encouraged to go to work ’ from tomorrow , but warned to avoid public transport .
Mr Johnson insisted these were simply ‘ the first careful steps ’ in relaxing the rules , however , warning : “ No , this is not the time simply to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister ’ s address had been keenly anticipated , particularly after he told MPs that restrictions would be eased tomorrow ‘ if possible ’ .
But there had been conflicting reports over how far the government was likely to go , with pressure building from those in favour of ending the lockdown in order to revive the economy , conflicting with concern among scientists that the slightest mistake could cause case numbers to soar again .
Today it was confirmed that the ‘ Stay at Home ’ message , which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would be replaced by ‘ Stay Alert ’ - although Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland refused to adopt the new approach and have stuck with the original slogan .
Mr Johnson also announced some initial relaxation of the lockdown measures in his address , albeit with any activity to be carried out under strict social distancing .
“ From this Wednesday we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise , ” he said .
“ You can sit in the sun in your local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destinations , you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.
” Meanwhile 'anyone who ca n't work from home , for instance those in construction and manufacturing , should be actively encouraged to go to work ' from Monday , he said .
“ And we want it to be safe for you to get to work .
So you should avoid public transport if at all possible , because we must and will maintain social distancing , and capacity will therefore be limited .
“ So work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you should go to work if you ca n't work from home.
” Despite the new approach - and slogan - Mr Johnson said the plan was ‘ conditional ’ .
The rate of viral transmission , known as the R number , would be closely monitored at local , regional and national level , he said , adding that ‘ if there are outbreaks , if there are problems , we will not hesitate to put on the brakes ’ .
“ 'It depends on all of us - the entire country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observe the social distancing and to keep that R down.
” In a message to those expecting a much greater relaxation of the rules , including many in his own party , he added : “ No , this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week .
“ Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.
” The Prime Minister thanked people again for their efforts during the pandemic .
But he said everyone still had to remain cautious and alert in order to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NHS .
“ It is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down , ” he said .
“ Thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.
” The Prime Minister added : “ It would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike .
“ We must stay alert .
We must continue to control the virus and save lives .
”

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Sunbathing, unlimited exercise and driving longer distances will all be allowed from Wednesday, Boris Johnson has announced in a TV address on the next phase of the coronavirus response.
Anyone who cannot work from home - such as those in construction or manufacturing - are also being ‘actively encouraged to go to work’ from tomorrow, but warned to avoid public transport.
Mr Johnson insisted these were simply ‘the first careful steps’ in relaxing the rules, however, warning: “No, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.”
The Prime Minister’s address had been keenly anticipated, particularly after he told MPs that restrictions would be eased tomorrow ‘if possible’.
But there had been conflicting reports over how far the government was likely to go, with pressure building from those in favour of ending the lockdown in order to revive the economy, conflicting with concern among scientists that the slightest mistake could cause case numbers to soar again.
Today it was confirmed that the ‘Stay at Home’ message, which has been the key government slogan of the lockdown, would be replaced by ‘Stay Alert’ - although Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland refused to adopt the new approach and have stuck with the original slogan.
(Image: MEN)
Mr Johnson also announced some initial relaxation of the lockdown measures in his address, albeit with any activity to be carried out under strict social distancing.
“From this Wednesday we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise,” he said.
“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”
Meanwhile 'anyone who can't work from home, for instance those in construction and manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work' from Monday, he said.
“And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible, because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can't work from home.”
Despite the new approach - and slogan - Mr Johnson said the plan was ‘conditional’.
The rate of viral transmission, known as the R number, would be closely monitored at local, regional and national level, he said, adding that ‘if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes’.
“'It depends on all of us - the entire country - to follow the advice, to observe the social distancing and to keep that R down.”
In a message to those expecting a much greater relaxation of the rules, including many in his own party, he added: “No, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.
“Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”
The Prime Minister thanked people again for their efforts during the pandemic.
But he said everyone still had to remain cautious and alert in order to avoid a second peak,which would overwhelm the NHS.
“It is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down,” he said.
“Thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.”
The Prime Minister added: “It would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
“We must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Man Utd match where Berbatov played 'like Maldini and Beckenbauer'

Dimitar Berbatov made a big claim about one unusual match he took part in for Manchester United against rivals Leeds United .
Sir Alex Ferguson 's side made the trip to Elland Road for the third round of the League Cup , and came away with a comfortable 3-0 win .
However , that does not tell the entire story .
Having already made three substitutions , former United defender Zeki Fryers pulled up injured and Berbatov was forced to pair up with Michael Carrick at the heart of defence .
The fixture also featured the United first-team debut for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Giggs at half time .
Berbatov was asked about the clash on an Instagram Q & A , and made a rather bold claim about his prowess at the back .
`` First of all it was not five minutes , it was like half an hour maybe ! ''
Berbatov joked .
`` Of course I remember it but not many people remember which game it was .
I was like [ Franco ] Baresi , [ Paolo ] Maldini and [ Franz ] Beckenbauer in one ! ''
Berbatov spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & A , stating that the midfielder was one of the most underrated players at Manchester United .
`` At Spurs , Ledley King was , for me , a great defender and Jermain Defoe scored a lot of goals , '' he replied when asked about the most underrated players .
`` At United , Antonio Valencia was a beast and Michael Carrick was great .
I would put myself in there as well ! ''

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Dimitar Berbatov made a big claim about one unusual match he took part in for Manchester United against rivals Leeds United.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side made the trip to Elland Road for the third round of the League Cup, and came away with a comfortable 3-0 win.
However, that does not tell the entire story. Having already made three substitutions, former United defender Zeki Fryers pulled up injured and Berbatov was forced to pair up with Michael Carrick at the heart of defence.
The fixture also featured the United first-team debut for Paul Pogba, who came on for Ryan Giggs at half time.
Berbatov was asked about the clash on an Instagram Q&A, and made a rather bold claim about his prowess at the back.
"First of all it was not five minutes, it was like half an hour maybe!" Berbatov joked.
"Of course I remember it but not many people remember which game it was. I was like [Franco] Baresi, [Paolo] Maldini and [Franz] Beckenbauer in one!"
Berbatov spoke highly of Carrick again on his Q&A, stating that the midfielder was one of the most underrated players at Manchester United.
"At Spurs, Ledley King was, for me, a great defender and Jermain Defoe scored a lot of goals," he replied when asked about the most underrated players.
"At United, Antonio Valencia was a beast and Michael Carrick was great. I would put myself in there as well!"


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Kompany puts rivalries aside and names Liverpool star as PL's best

Vincent Kompany has named Virgil van Dijk as the best-ever Premier League centre-back , despite stiff competition and the intense rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool .
Kompany would have been a good shout for the accolade himself but instead opted for the Dutchman who has completely transformed Jurgen Klopp 's side since his arrival at Anfield .
City were well on their way to establishing themselves as the dominant force in the country after clocking up a record 100 points in their Premier League title victory of 2018 .
Yet in the January transfer window of that season Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender to finally acquire Van Dijk from Southampton .
His defensive prowess immediately made Liverpool much more difficult to beat and the Reds have since risen to challenge and , this season at least , overtake City as England 's top side .
The two clubs have competed in some fierce battles over the last few campaigns but Kompany has put that to one side to heap praise on Van Dijk .
`` I would bring it back to Virgil van Dijk , and it 's a weird one , '' the Belgian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centre-back to play in the Premier League is .
`` He has n't been on the scene for as long as these names we 've mentioned , John Terry , Rio Ferdinand , they 're guys who were there for a long , long time .
`` But the signs he showed in his last few years just make it so obvious that if he had have been at the top , top level before that he would 've already been further as well .
`` And from what I 've seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , and a defender is never about himself , it 's about his communication with other guys and you make your team more solid and the Liverpool before Van Dijk and after him , it 's a completely different set-up .
`` And I 'll give him that one because of that . ''

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Vincent Kompany has named Virgil van Dijk as the best-ever Premier League centre-back, despite stiff competition and the intense rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool.
Kompany would have been a good shout for the accolade himself but instead opted for the Dutchman who has completely transformed Jurgen Klopp's side since his arrival at Anfield.
City were well on their way to establishing themselves as the dominant force in the country after clocking up a record 100 points in their Premier League title victory of 2018.
Yet in the January transfer window of that season Liverpool splashed out a world-record fee for a defender to finally acquire Van Dijk from Southampton.
His defensive prowess immediately made Liverpool much more difficult to beat and the Reds have since risen to challenge and, this season at least, overtake City as England's top side.
The two clubs have competed in some fierce battles over the last few campaigns but Kompany has put that to one side to heap praise on Van Dijk.
"I would bring it back to Virgil van Dijk, and it's a weird one," the Belgian told Sporf when asked who the best centre-back to play in the Premier League is.
"He hasn't been on the scene for as long as these names we've mentioned, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, they're guys who were there for a long, long time.
"But the signs he showed in his last few years just make it so obvious that if he had have been at the top, top level before that he would've already been further as well.
"And from what I've seen in terms of having an impact on the team, and a defender is never about himself, it's about his communication with other guys and you make your team more solid and the Liverpool before Van Dijk and after him, it's a completely different set-up.
"And I'll give him that one because of that."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--LIVE updates: Boris Johnson outlines plans to ease coronavirus lockdown

It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war .
And you have shown the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly .
You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing .
Because you understand that as things stand , and as the experience of every other country has shown , it ’ s the only way to defeat the coronavirus - the most vicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifetime .
And though the death toll has been tragic , and the suffering immense .
And though we grieve for all those we have lost .
It is a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities .
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our NHS and saved many thousands of lives .
And so I know - you know - that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike .
We must continue to control the virus and save lives .
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life .
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants .
And there are millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible disease , and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing .
To their futures and the futures of their children .
So I want to provide tonight - for you - the shape of a plan to address both fears .
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society .
A sense of the way ahead , and when and how and on what basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening .
I have consulted across the political spectrum , across all four nations of the UK .
And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates .
And though it is right to be flexible in our response .
I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland , England , Wales , Northern Ireland , there is a strong resolve to defeat this together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we could do .
And I stress could .
Because although we have a plan , it is a conditional plan .
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives , we can not move forward unless we satisfy the five tests .
We must protect our NHS .
We must see sustained falls in the death rate .
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection .
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global problem but we must fix it .
And last , we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease - the R - back up over one , so that we have the kind of exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago .
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one , we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre .
And that Covid Alert Level will be determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases .
And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures .
The higher the level , the tougher and stricter we will have to be .
There will be five alert levels .
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed .
Over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Level Four , and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three .
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down .
By staying alert and following the rules .
And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do .
We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS , and though the numbers are coming down sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be done .
And if we are to control this virus , then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims , and for tracing their contacts .
So that – all told - we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day .
We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now , and we can .
When this began , we hadn ’ t seen this disease before , and we didn ’ t fully understand its effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more and more data .
We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer , and we will pick it up where it strikes .
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups – in your area – as well as giving us a national picture .
And yet when I look at where we are tonight , we have the R below one , between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one .
And though we have made progress in satisfying at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given .
We have by no means fulfilled all of them .
And so no , this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week .
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures .
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week .
We said that you should work from home if you can , and only go to work if you must .
We now need to stress that anyone who can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in construction or manufacturing , should be actively encouraged to go to work .
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work .
So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing , and capacity will therefore be limited .
So work from home if you can , but you should go to work if you can ’ t work from home .
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-secure .
And when you do go to work , if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle .
But just as with workplaces , public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards .
And from this Wednesday , we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise .
You can sit in the sun in your local park , you can drive to other destinations , you can even play sports but only with members of your own household .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them .
And so every day , with ever increasing data , we will be monitoring the R and the number of new infections , and the progress we are making , and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out , then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further .
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools , in stages , beginning with reception , Year 1 and Year 6 .
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays .
And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport .
And step three - at the earliest by July - and subject to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if and only if the numbers support it , we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places , provided they are safe and enforce social distancing .
Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity .
We are going to be driven by the science , the data and public health .
And I must stress again that all of this is conditional , it all depends on a series of big Ifs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire country – to follow the advice , to observe social distancing , and to keep that R down .
And to prevent re-infection from abroad , I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air .
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here , that this measure will now be effective .
And of course we will be monitoring our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and if there are outbreaks , if there are problems , we will not hesitate to put on the brakes .
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous .
We have a route , and we have a plan , and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives , restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need .
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done already .
The patience and common sense you have shown .
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can .
The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff , our care workers .
The devotion and self-sacrifice of all those in every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease .
Police , bus drivers , train drivers , pharmacists , supermarket workers , road hauliers , bin collectors , cleaners , security guards , postal workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The scientists who are working round the clock to find a vaccine .
When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country .
And that have helped to get us through this first phase .
I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next .
And if we can ’ t do it by those dates , and if the alert level won ’ t allow it , we will simply wait and go on until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come back from this devilish illness .
We will come back to health , and robust health .
And though the UK will be changed by this experience , I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before .
More resilient , more innovative , more economically dynamic , but also more generous and more sharing .
But for now we must stay alert , control the virus and save lives .
Thank you very much .

It is now almost two months since the people of this country began to put up with restrictions on their freedom – your freedom – of a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war.
And you have shown the good sense to support those rules overwhelmingly. You have put up with all the hardships of that programme of social distancing.
Because you understand that as things stand, and as the experience of every other country has shown, it’s the only way to defeat the coronavirus - the most vicious threat this country has faced in my lifetime.
And though the death toll has been tragic, and the suffering immense. And though we grieve for all those we have lost.
It is a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities.
And it is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down.
And thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.
And so I know - you know - that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
We must stay alert.
We must continue to control the virus and save lives.
And yet we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life.
We can see it all around us in the shuttered shops and abandoned businesses and darkened pubs and restaurants.
And there are millions of people who are both fearful of this terrible disease, and at the same time also fearful of what this long period of enforced inactivity will do to their livelihoods and their mental and physical wellbeing.
To their futures and the futures of their children. So I want to provide tonight - for you - the shape of a plan to address both fears. Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society. A sense of the way ahead, and when and how and on what basis we will take the decisions to proceed.
I will be setting out more details in Parliament tomorrow and taking questions from the public in the evening.
I have consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK.
And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates.
And though it is right to be flexible in our response. I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, there is a strong resolve to defeat this together.
And today a general consensus on what we could do. And I stress could. Because although we have a plan, it is a conditional plan.
And since our priority is to protect the public and save lives, we cannot move forward unless we satisfy the five tests.
We must protect our NHS. We must see sustained falls in the death rate.
We must see sustained and considerable falls in the rate of infection.
We must sort out our challenges in getting enough PPE to the people who need it, and yes, it is a global problem but we must fix it.
And last, we must make sure that any measures we take do not force the reproduction rate of the disease - the R - back up over one, so that we have the kind of exponential growth we were facing a few weeks ago.
And to chart our progress and to avoid going back to square one, we are establishing a new Covid Alert System run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre. And that Covid Alert Level will be determined primarily by R and the number of coronavirus cases.
And in turn that Covid Alert Level will tell us how tough we have to be in our social distancing measures – the lower the level the fewer the measures.
The higher the level, the tougher and stricter we will have to be.
There will be five alert levels.
Level One means the disease is no longer present in the UK and Level Five is the most critical – the kind of situation we could have had if the NHS had been overwhelmed.
Over the period of the lockdown we have been in Level Four, and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are now in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three.
And as we go everyone will have a role to play in keeping the R down. By staying alert and following the rules.
And to keep pushing the number of infections down there are two more things we must do. We must reverse rapidly the awful epidemics in care homes and in the NHS, and though the numbers are coming down sharply now, there is plainly much more to be done.
And if we are to control this virus, then we must have a world-beating system for testing potential victims, and for tracing their contacts.
So that – all told - we are testing literally hundreds of thousands of people every day. We have made fast progress on testing – but there is so much more to do now, and we can.
When this began, we hadn’t seen this disease before, and we didn’t fully understand its effects.
With every day we are getting more and more data.
We are shining the light of science on this invisible killer, and we will pick it up where it strikes.
Because our new system will be able in time to detect local flare-ups – in your area – as well as giving us a national picture.
And yet when I look at where we are tonight, we have the R below one, between 0.5 and 0.9 – but potentially only just below one.
And though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given. We have by no means fulfilled all of them.
And so no, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week.
We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.
We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.
And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.
And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.
And from this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.
You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.
And so every day, with ever increasing data, we will be monitoring the R and the number of new infections, and the progress we are making, and if we as a nation begin to fulfil the conditions I have set out, then in the next few weeks and months we may be able to go further.
In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays.
And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.
And step three - at the earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.
Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity. We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health.
And I must stress again that all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big Ifs. It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down.
And to prevent re-infection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.
And it is because of your efforts to get the R down and the number of infections down here, that this measure will now be effective. And of course we will be monitoring our progress locally, regionally, and nationally and if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.
We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and gradually restore the freedoms that we need.
But in the end this is a plan that everyone must make work. And when I look at what you have done already.
The patience and common sense you have shown.
The fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can.
The incredible bravery and hard work of our NHS staff, our care workers.
The devotion and self-sacrifice of all those in every walk of life who are helping us to beat this disease. Police, bus drivers, train drivers, pharmacists, supermarket workers, road hauliers, bin collectors, cleaners, security guards, postal workers, our teachers and a thousand more.
The scientists who are working round the clock to find a vaccine.
When I think of the millions of everyday acts of kindness and thoughtfulness that are being performed across this country.
And that have helped to get us through this first phase.
I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next. And if we can’t do it by those dates, and if the alert level won’t allow it, we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right. We will come back from this devilish illness.
We will come back to health, and robust health.
And though the UK will be changed by this experience, I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before.
More resilient, more innovative, more economically dynamic, but also more generous and more sharing. But for now we must stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
Thank you very much.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Man Utd and Man City boost after Lyon president's transfer admission

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had admitted that his club 's star players may want to leave this summer , which could be a boost for Manchester United and Manchester City .
While the Premier League is still working on plans to resume action amid the coronavirus crisis , the French Ligue 1 season has already been cancelled with final places in the table set in stone .
As a result Lyon have finished 7th in the table and have n't qualified for the Europa League , let alone the Champions League , which could be the catalyst for an exodus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to reinforce their attacking options in the summer and MEN Sport understands that striker Moussa Dembele has been under consideration , though there has been no contact between the two parties as of yet .
Fellow forward and Lyon captain Memphis Depay has also been sporadically linked with a return to Old Trafford over the last year and United did insist in a buy-back clause being inserted into his contract when he was sold .
City have also been repeatedly linked with one of Lyon 's best players , the dynamic midfielder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardiola admitted his admiration of after his great performance against the Blues in the Champions League last season .
If the Manchester clubs are interested in signing any of Les Gones ' players , then there might not be a better time than this summer after Aulas ' admission .
`` I don ’ t have any news for the moment .
Memphis told me that he is ready to talk when he comes back , '' he told Le Progres .
`` His agents say that he is more thinking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have European football .
`` I am going to do everything to keep the players .
`` But players who are programmed to play in Europe could want to go elsewhere because we don ’ t have European football.
” City themselves may not have European football next season , however , after being banned by UEFA for breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations and their appeal is yet to be heard .

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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had admitted that his club's star players may want to leave this summer, which could be a boost for Manchester United and Manchester City.
While the Premier League is still working on plans to resume action amid the coronavirus crisis, the French Ligue 1 season has already been cancelled with final places in the table set in stone.
As a result Lyon have finished 7th in the table and haven't qualified for the Europa League, let alone the Champions League, which could be the catalyst for an exodus of their best players.
United are looking to reinforce their attacking options in the summer and MEN Sport understands that striker Moussa Dembele has been under consideration, though there has been no contact between the two parties as of yet.
Fellow forward and Lyon captain Memphis Depay has also been sporadically linked with a return to Old Trafford over the last year and United did insist in a buy-back clause being inserted into his contract when he was sold.
City have also been repeatedly linked with one of Lyon's best players, the dynamic midfielder Houssem Aouar, a player who Pep Guardiola admitted his admiration of after his great performance against the Blues in the Champions League last season.
If the Manchester clubs are interested in signing any of Les Gones' players, then there might not be a better time than this summer after Aulas' admission.
"I don’t have any news for the moment. Memphis told me that he is ready to talk when he comes back," he told Le Progres.
"His agents say that he is more thinking about the possibility to depart if we don’t have European football.
"I am going to do everything to keep the players.
"But players who are programmed to play in Europe could want to go elsewhere because we don’t have European football.”
City themselves may not have European football next season, however, after being banned by UEFA for breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations and their appeal is yet to be heard.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Plane seen carving strange flight path over Stockport, Wythenshawe and Chorlton

A plane has been seen flying a series of bizarre routes over South Manchester this weekend .
The skies have been unrecognisable in recent weeks due to a huge decrease in flights during the coronavirus pandemic .
And while the sound of the odd cargo jet is still fairly common , despite being so close to an international airport , air traffic has been minimal .
But one small jet has caught the eyes of people in Stockport , Wythenshawe and Chorlton as it spent hours circling over head on Saturday and Sunday afternoon .
The plane , a Partenavia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looping over the north west for the last four days .
It landed at Hawarden Aerodrome near Chester after flying from Belgium , on May 6 .
The plane has since been flying laps over Cheshire East and south Manchester , clearly taking advantage of the lack of air traffic .
On Sunday , flying at a altitude of 1,600ft , it repeatedly flew over Stockport and surrounding suburbs for around two and a half hours before returning to Hawarden .
It is not clear why the aircraft was taking such a strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by - with flight data stating it is a privately owned plane .
However similar flights in other parts of the country have been confirmed as carrying out aerial surveys or training , making the most of the empty skies .
A spokesperson from Hawarden Aerodrome confirmed the aircraft had departed from the airfield , but could not confirm the nature of the flight .
The National Air Traffic Control Service ( NATS ) has been contacted for comment .

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A plane has been seen flying a series of bizarre routes over South Manchester this weekend.
The skies have been unrecognisable in recent weeks due to a huge decrease in flights during the coronavirus pandemic.
And while the sound of the odd cargo jet is still fairly common, despite being so close to an international airport, air traffic has been minimal.
But one small jet has caught the eyes of people in Stockport, Wythenshawe and Chorlton as it spent hours circling over head on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
(Image: Flightradar24)
The plane, a Partenavia P.68B Victor light aircraft has been repeatedly looping over the north west for the last four days.
It landed at Hawarden Aerodrome near Chester after flying from Belgium, on May 6.
The plane has since been flying laps over Cheshire East and south Manchester, clearly taking advantage of the lack of air traffic.
On Sunday, flying at a altitude of 1,600ft, it repeatedly flew over Stockport and surrounding suburbs for around two and a half hours before returning to Hawarden.
(Image: Flightradar24)
It is not clear why the aircraft was taking such a strange flight path or who it is owned by - with flight data stating it is a privately owned plane.
However similar flights in other parts of the country have been confirmed as carrying out aerial surveys or training, making the most of the empty skies.
A spokesperson from Hawarden Aerodrome confirmed the aircraft had departed from the airfield, but could not confirm the nature of the flight.
The National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) has been contacted for comment.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Gary Neville on where Aaron Wan-Bissaka is ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold

Gary Neville has compared Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold , and says that there is one area where United 's defender excels at the moment .
Wan-Bissaka joined United from Crystal Palace last summer , and is likely to be in direct competition with the Liverpool star for a place in the England team for the next few years .
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a stellar first season at Old Trafford , and was called up to the England national team back in August , though he was forced to withdraw due to a back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge part in Liverpool 's run to the Champions League win in 2019 , and has been in similarly good form this year during their push for the Premier League title .
Neville admitted that the Liverpool defender is currently the better option for England at the moment , but says there is one area where Wan-Bissaka is ahead of his international teammate .
`` At this moment in time , Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the better defender , '' Neville said on an Instagram live video .
`` But Trent going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it since Cafu .
`` So Trent is ahead at this point but Wan-Bissaka has settled really well and will be important in these next few years . ''

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Gary Neville has compared Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, and says that there is one area where United's defender excels at the moment.
Wan-Bissaka joined United from Crystal Palace last summer, and is likely to be in direct competition with the Liverpool star for a place in the England team for the next few years.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a stellar first season at Old Trafford, and was called up to the England national team back in August, though he was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, played a huge part in Liverpool's run to the Champions League win in 2019, and has been in similarly good form this year during their push for the Premier League title.
Neville admitted that the Liverpool defender is currently the better option for England at the moment, but says there is one area where Wan-Bissaka is ahead of his international teammate.
"At this moment in time, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the better defender," Neville said on an Instagram live video.
"But Trent going forward... I've not seen someone like it since Cafu.
"So Trent is ahead at this point but Wan-Bissaka has settled really well and will be important in these next few years."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Sister's heartache after woman, 31, dies in her sleep

A family has been left devastated after a 31-year-old woman died in her sleep just hours after a VE Day street party in Tameside .
Naomi Derrig , who had type 1 diabetes , had been complaining of migraines in the days leading up to her death .
But she spent Friday with her family and was 'glowing ' during the VE Days street party in Denton , her heartbroken sister said .
She went to bed after chatting to her boyfriend on the phone , but a few hours later was found unresponsive in bed by mum Lynda Derrig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her son Jordan rang an ambulance , and paramedics spent 20 minutes trying to revive her .
`` But they could n't do any more , they could n't take her to hospital .
Her body just could n't take it anymore .
We do n't know at which point she died '' , her heartbroken sister Nikita Derrig said .
She passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning .
It 's fresh heartache for the family - Naomi 's brother Billy took his own life ten years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to bury two children .
They are still not over Billy .
( Naomi ) is with Billy now though , is n't she ?
Nobody had a bad word to say about either of them .
They were both so lovely , and so loved . ''
Naomi had four siblings -Jordan , Nikita , Gavin and Billy , and was a loving auntie .
She was daughter to Lynda and Michael Derrig and step-daughter to Julie .
She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would often collapse .
She had worked at B & M Bargains but she had to quit in the months leading up to her death due to her health problems .
Naomi had also suffered a bleed on the brain and had complained of an infection in her foot which she thought might have returned before she died .
She was always 'up and down ' and in and out of hospital , always 'putting up a fight ' , her sister said .
The family do n't know the cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday , Nikita said .
`` She had not been well , she had collapsed a lot this week '' , her sister Nikita said .
`` But the day before she died she was glowing .
She looked so beautiful .
Everyone was commenting on how beautiful she looked .
`` She did all her make up and she said ' I 'm having a great day ' .
She looked like an angel .
People were playing music in the street and she was playing with her nephews .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mum cook it all .
I 'm so glad I had that day with her . ''
Paying tribute to her sister , Nikita said : `` She was so bubbly .
She was amazing .
She did nothing to deserve this .
She was 31 .
She loved music and loved her family . ''
A fundraising page has been set up to help the family pay for Naomi 's funeral .

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A family has been left devastated after a 31-year-old woman died in her sleep just hours after a VE Day street party in Tameside.
Naomi Derrig, who had type 1 diabetes, had been complaining of migraines in the days leading up to her death.
But she spent Friday with her family and was 'glowing' during the VE Days street party in Denton, her heartbroken sister said.
She went to bed after chatting to her boyfriend on the phone, but a few hours later was found unresponsive in bed by mum Lynda Derrig.
Lynda thought she 'had gone'. Her son Jordan rang an ambulance, and paramedics spent 20 minutes trying to revive her.
"But they couldn't do any more, they couldn't take her to hospital. Her body just couldn't take it anymore. We don't know at which point she died", her heartbroken sister Nikita Derrig said.
She passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It's fresh heartache for the family - Naomi's brother Billy took his own life ten years ago.
"My mum and dad shouldn't have to bury two children. They are still not over Billy. (Naomi) is with Billy now though, isn't she? Nobody had a bad word to say about either of them. They were both so lovely, and so loved."
Naomi had four siblings -Jordan, Nikita, Gavin and Billy, and was a loving auntie.
She was daughter to Lynda and Michael Derrig and step-daughter to Julie.
She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 18.
Naomi had low blood pressure, meaning she would often collapse.
She had worked at B&M Bargains but she had to quit in the months leading up to her death due to her health problems.
(Image: supplied)
Naomi had also suffered a bleed on the brain and had complained of an infection in her foot which she thought might have returned before she died.
She was always 'up and down' and in and out of hospital, always 'putting up a fight', her sister said.
The family don't know the cause of death.
The post-mortem will be held on Tuesday, Nikita said.
"She had not been well, she had collapsed a lot this week", her sister Nikita said.
"But the day before she died she was glowing. She looked so beautiful. Everyone was commenting on how beautiful she looked.
"She did all her make up and she said 'I'm having a great day'. She looked like an angel. People were playing music in the street and she was playing with her nephews. We made homemade burgers, she helped my mum cook it all. I'm so glad I had that day with her."
Paying tribute to her sister, Nikita said: "She was so bubbly. She was amazing. She did nothing to deserve this. She was 31. She loved music and loved her family."
A fundraising page has been set up to help the family pay for Naomi's funeral.
To donate, click here.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--Ryan Giggs explains difference between him and Paul Scholes at Man Utd

Ryan Giggs has revealed that Paul Scholes was still pushing to play every week for Manchester United in the twilight of his career .
Both Giggs and Scholes elongated their United careers under Sir Alex Ferguson , with the Welshman breaking the club 's appearance record and playing on past his 40th birthday .
Scholes , on the other hand , retired in May 2011 - before coming back out of retirement in January 2012 .
And Giggs has now told beIN SPORTS ’ s The Champions Club that it was Scholes ' desire to play as much as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Giggs admitted he became happy with a bit-part role , which meant he could continue as a player into his 24th season at Old Trafford.. “ I adapted to it quite well , I got my head around it .
Scholesy was a little bit different , '' said Giggs .
`` Scholesy wanted to play every week .
That ’ s when he retired and came back because he missed it .
`` I could sort-of go two weeks without playing and then come into the team and have an impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He found it hard .
He wanted to play every game even if his body wasn ’ t telling him that .
`` Scholesy was a little bit more difficult for Sir Alex to handle , whereas with me it was easier . ''
The two Class of 92 academy graduates are now both revered as United legends , though Giggs ended up with two more Premier League winners ' medals than Scholes - 13 to 11 .
Both time spent on the United coaching staff before leaving the club and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of the Wales national team .

Ryan Giggs has revealed that Paul Scholes was still pushing to play every week for Manchester United in the twilight of his career.
Both Giggs and Scholes elongated their United careers under Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Welshman breaking the club's appearance record and playing on past his 40th birthday. Scholes, on the other hand, retired in May 2011 - before coming back out of retirement in January 2012.
And Giggs has now told beIN SPORTS’s The Champions Club that it was Scholes' desire to play as much as he could that proved to be the difference. Giggs admitted he became happy with a bit-part role, which meant he could continue as a player into his 24th season at Old Trafford..
“I adapted to it quite well, I got my head around it. Scholesy was a little bit different," said Giggs.
"Scholesy wanted to play every week. That’s when he retired and came back because he missed it.
"I could sort-of go two weeks without playing and then come into the team and have an impact. Scholesy couldn’t do that. He found it hard. He wanted to play every game even if his body wasn’t telling him that.
"Scholesy was a little bit more difficult for Sir Alex to handle, whereas with me it was easier."
The two Class of 92 academy graduates are now both revered as United legends, though Giggs ended up with two more Premier League winners' medals than Scholes - 13 to 11. Both time spent on the United coaching staff before leaving the club and now co-own Salford City, with Giggs also in charge of the Wales national team.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-10--'Stay At Home is still right for Greater Manchester' - fears Downing Street is ignoring places outsi

'Stay At Home is still right for Greater Manchester' - fears Downing Street is ignoring places outside London

Tonight Boris Johnson is to announce the next phase of his coronavirus response in a televised address , proposals that have already partly been trailed over the weekend .
Crucially they include a move away from the ‘ Stay at Home ’ message that has dominated the lockdown , switching to a new slogan of ‘ Stay Alert ’ .
When the news emerged , however , the devolved administrations in Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland were quick to make clear they did n't agree .
They would still be telling their populations to stay at home .
Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the BBC this morning that she would not be ‘ diverting from the message at this time ’ , with the rate of transmission there still high .
Scotland ’ s Nicola Sturgeon tweeted to say she had not been informed of the new slogan before reading about it in the Sunday press , but that at such a ‘ critical ’ moment in the pandemic ‘ # stayhomesavelives remains my message to Scotland at this point ’ .
Wales has taken the same stance , its health minister Vaughan Gething tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations ’ discussion on the move and reiterating that ‘ the Welsh government message has not changed ’ .
But for parts of England with worries about the shift in tone , the situation is not so straightforward .
That includes Greater Manchester , where mayor Andy Burnham this week voiced immediate fears about suggestions of a lockdown relaxation .
While it is not clear what the local ‘ R ’ figure - the rate of viral transmission - is here , the number of cases in care homes were still rising on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases are not falling as fast as local leaders would necessarily like .
Mr Burnham said this week that according to the region ’ s chief resilience officer , ‘ we ’ re not sure we ’ ve plateaued yet ’ .
The North West is currently reporting more cases than any other region .
Government needs to move at the pace of the slowest region , the mayor warned , also arguing that regions outside London should be represented on the government ’ s emergency Cobra committee .
As news of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the M.E.N .
that while he didn ’ t want to see different approaches in different parts of England , ‘ Stay at Home ’ did remain right for Greater Manchester .
‘ Ideally ’ he wouldn ’ t want to contradict the Prime Minister ’ s approach , he said , but added the change in position put him in a ‘ difficult position ’ .
“ I wouldn ’ t want to have a divergent message from the rest of England , ” he said .
“ I wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it puts us in a difficult position today , where the pressure to weaken the message has come from other parts of England , yet we are going to have to take on a message that ’ s not right for us .
I think ‘ stay at home ’ is still right for us.
” It remains too soon to say Greater Manchester is comfortably past the peak , he said , adding : “ It ’ s about being in that clear downward trend .
We are just going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s absolutely firmly established for us .
“ This is why being on Cobra would help them and me.
” Trafford council 's leader Andrew Western also voiced concern on Twitter , declaring that the new 'Stay Alert ' slogan is 'not clear , open to interpretation , ca n't be policed ' and 'dangerous ' .
Greater Manchester has taken a politically pragmatic approach during the pandemic so far , with the mayor ’ s office seeking to strike a conciliatory tone .
But in recent weeks concerns have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of genuine input from local level , be that on the locations of testing stations or collaboration on PPE or research .
Despite some interactions with ministers , one senior figure says it feels as though that is intended to ‘ manage ’ the situation , rather than take on board the substance of concerns .
A local government figure in another part of the north highlights public transport as a particular concern .
How , they pose , can transport authorities plan for getting people back to work when they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to operate on a practical or financial level ?
“ Local government is getting zero out of government on future lockdown plans , ” they said this weekend .
“ Mayors the same .
Trying to plan public transport when you ’ ve got no idea how many people will be travelling when or where , while keeping them two metres apart , is pretty difficult .
“ If we ’ re not careful , we ’ re going to have government scrapping the ‘ stay at home ’ message and transport authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would be great if you could stay at home ’ , with the public in the middle trying to make sense of it all.
” The M.E.N .
understands documents to be released to local government tonight or tomorrow morning are likely to provide further details of how ministers expect local transport networks to operate , with social distancing the prescribed approach , rather than asking people to wear masks in order to increase the number of passengers in a carriage .
That means a drop in passenger volume of up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 80pc on the Metrolink , with transport chiefs here scratching their heads about how it will function financially .
“ It can ’ t , ” says one official , bluntly .
“ Government cash - and they ’ ve said there ’ s no chance of any more - and reserves will cover it for a couple of months.
” It is an issue that has been raised both in public and in private by Greater Manchester , as well as by mayors direct with Boris Johnson last week .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being careful to stress the need for cooperation with government , the Greater Manchester mayor has become increasingly insistent that local areas must have more input , including some kind of representation on government 's emergency Cobra meetings - where the only local leader to attend so far has been London 's Sadiq Khan .
A Downing Street source told the M.E.N .
earlier this month that it didn ’ t comment on who is invited to Cobra , but said those in attendance changed at each meeting , adding that Boris Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his first meetings after coming back to work .
However Mr Burnham said that even if just one English leader from outside the capital - perhaps Andy Street , the Conservative mayor for the West Midlands - was allowed around the virtual table to air the concerns on behalf of others , that would be a start .
“ It ’ s a mystery , ” he said of the regional absence from the meetings .
“ It ’ s a structure that ’ s giving more weight to one part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s right London are on it , but given ‘ levelling up ’ it can ’ t be right that there ’ s a void where everyone else should be.
” In the meantime , the UK government ’ s new slogan this evening is set to be ‘ Stay Alert ’ rather than ‘ Stay at Home ’ - but while Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland will stick to their guns , the right message for Greater Manchester remains in contention .

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Tonight Boris Johnson is to announce the next phase of his coronavirus response in a televised address, proposals that have already partly been trailed over the weekend.
Crucially they include a move away from the ‘Stay at Home’ message that has dominated the lockdown, switching to a new slogan of ‘Stay Alert’.
When the news emerged, however, the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were quick to make clear they didn't agree. They would still be telling their populations to stay at home.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster told the BBC this morning that she would not be ‘diverting from the message at this time’, with the rate of transmission there still high.
Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon tweeted to say she had not been informed of the new slogan before reading about it in the Sunday press, but that at such a ‘critical’ moment in the pandemic ‘#stayhomesavelives remains my message to Scotland at this point’.
Wales has taken the same stance, its health minister Vaughan Gething tweeting that there had been no ‘four nations’ discussion on the move and reiterating that ‘the Welsh government message has not changed’.
But for parts of England with worries about the shift in tone, the situation is not so straightforward.
That includes Greater Manchester, where mayor Andy Burnham this week voiced immediate fears about suggestions of a lockdown relaxation.
While it is not clear what the local ‘R’ figure - the rate of viral transmission - is here, the number of cases in care homes were still rising on Wednesday of this week.
Even hospital cases are not falling as fast as local leaders would necessarily like. Mr Burnham said this week that according to the region’s chief resilience officer, ‘we’re not sure we’ve plateaued yet’. The North West is currently reporting more cases than any other region.
Government needs to move at the pace of the slowest region, the mayor warned, also arguing that regions outside London should be represented on the government’s emergency Cobra committee.
As news of the new UK message emerged this weekend, he told the M.E.N. that while he didn’t want to see different approaches in different parts of England, ‘Stay at Home’ did remain right for Greater Manchester.
‘Ideally’ he wouldn’t want to contradict the Prime Minister’s approach, he said, but added the change in position put him in a ‘difficult position’.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I wouldn’t want to have a divergent message from the rest of England,” he said.
“I wouldn’t seek to do that, but it puts us in a difficult position today, where the pressure to weaken the message has come from other parts of England, yet we are going to have to take on a message that’s not right for us. I think ‘stay at home’ is still right for us.”
It remains too soon to say Greater Manchester is comfortably past the peak, he said, adding: “It’s about being in that clear downward trend. We are just going into it, but I don’t think it’s absolutely firmly established for us.
“This is why being on Cobra would help them and me.”
Trafford council's leader Andrew Western also voiced concern on Twitter, declaring that the new 'Stay Alert' slogan is 'not clear, open to interpretation, can't be policed' and 'dangerous'.
Greater Manchester has taken a politically pragmatic approach during the pandemic so far, with the mayor’s office seeking to strike a conciliatory tone.
But in recent weeks concerns have been growing here and elsewhere about the lack of genuine input from local level, be that on the locations of testing stations or collaboration on PPE or research.
(Image: PA)
Despite some interactions with ministers, one senior figure says it feels as though that is intended to ‘manage’ the situation, rather than take on board the substance of concerns.
A local government figure in another part of the north highlights public transport as a particular concern.
How, they pose, can transport authorities plan for getting people back to work when they don’t know how their networks are to operate on a practical or financial level?
“Local government is getting zero out of government on future lockdown plans,” they said this weekend.
“Mayors the same. Trying to plan public transport when you’ve got no idea how many people will be travelling when or where, while keeping them two metres apart, is pretty difficult.
“If we’re not careful, we’re going to have government scrapping the ‘stay at home’ message and transport authorities and mayors saying ‘erm, actually, it would be great if you could stay at home’, with the public in the middle trying to make sense of it all.”
The M.E.N. understands documents to be released to local government tonight or tomorrow morning are likely to provide further details of how ministers expect local transport networks to operate, with social distancing the prescribed approach, rather than asking people to wear masks in order to increase the number of passengers in a carriage.
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
That means a drop in passenger volume of up to 90pc in some areas, and around 80pc on the Metrolink, with transport chiefs here scratching their heads about how it will function financially.
“It can’t,” says one official, bluntly. “Government cash - and they’ve said there’s no chance of any more - and reserves will cover it for a couple of months.”
It is an issue that has been raised both in public and in private by Greater Manchester, as well as by mayors direct with Boris Johnson last week.
This and other issues means that despite still being careful to stress the need for cooperation with government, the Greater Manchester mayor has become increasingly insistent that local areas must have more input, including some kind of representation on government's emergency Cobra meetings - where the only local leader to attend so far has been London's Sadiq Khan.
A Downing Street source told the M.E.N. earlier this month that it didn’t comment on who is invited to Cobra, but said those in attendance changed at each meeting, adding that Boris Johnson had sought out regional mayors for one of his first meetings after coming back to work.
However Mr Burnham said that even if just one English leader from outside the capital - perhaps Andy Street, the Conservative mayor for the West Midlands - was allowed around the virtual table to air the concerns on behalf of others, that would be a start.
“It’s a mystery,” he said of the regional absence from the meetings.
“It’s a structure that’s giving more weight to one part of the country than others. It’s right London are on it, but given ‘levelling up’ it can’t be right that there’s a void where everyone else should be.”
In the meantime, the UK government’s new slogan this evening is set to be ‘Stay Alert’ rather than ‘Stay at Home’ - but while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will stick to their guns, the right message for Greater Manchester remains in contention.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-11--Farmhouse destroyed as '20 firefighters' tackle huge blaze

Around 20 firefighters rushed to tackle a huge blaze at a Bolton farmhouse which has been left destroyed .
The house at Padiham Farm , in Engine Lane in Over Hulton , has been left a shell by the fire , which started on Saturday evening .
Firefighters from Farnworth and Atherton rushed to the scene at around 5pm and found flames on the roof and the first floor were already raging .
Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters struggled to get access to the remote farmhouse - which has been empty since December .
They managed to extinguish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not yet determined the cause , according to Atherton fire station crew manager Steve Green .
Mr Green told the Manchester Evening News : `` Access was very tight but we managed to get up there .
`` It was the roof and the first floor that were well alight when we got there .
`` We were at the scene for around three hours altogether .
`` It was four pumps , so there were around 15 to 20 firefighters .
`` There was a fire investigator but the investigation did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The farmhouse is located in Cutacre Country Park , just off the A6 , Salford Road .
The park 's ecologist , Bill Mottram fears that vandals caused the blaze following a spate of attacks on the property .
Mr Mottram said : `` The house was occupied until around December .
`` Three or four weeks ago the house was broken into and it was absolutely trashed .
`` They stole all the copper , they actually dug the floor up , they stole the wood burning stove .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secured the house again and put fences all around it and the electricity had been disconnected - in effect , it was closed off . ''
He went to the house with contractors after the fire to check the building and was 'gutted ' by what he saw .
`` When I went to see the house on Sunday after the fire I did n't go in because it would have been dangerous - a section of the roof had been completely burned out and slates were falling off , '' said Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be decided whether to leave it standing .
`` It is absolutely gutting to see it damaged - it 's a lot of time and effort I have invested in getting this country park to the place it is today .
`` Parts of this land were inaccessible five years ago and now people have a green space to exercise and walk - it does so much good for people 's mental health .
`` It is incredibly disappointing when these things happen but we have to carry on doing what we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who vandalise - and that is the only word I have got for them - stop us . ''
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment .
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device .
You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here .
And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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Around 20 firefighters rushed to tackle a huge blaze at a Bolton farmhouse which has been left destroyed.
The house at Padiham Farm, in Engine Lane in Over Hulton, has been left a shell by the fire, which started on Saturday evening.
Firefighters from Farnworth and Atherton rushed to the scene at around 5pm and found flames on the roof and the first floor were already raging.
Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters struggled to get access to the remote farmhouse - which has been empty since December.
They managed to extinguish the blaze after around three hours but have not yet determined the cause, according to Atherton fire station crew manager Steve Green.
Mr Green told the Manchester Evening News : "Access was very tight but we managed to get up there.
"It was the roof and the first floor that were well alight when we got there.
"We were at the scene for around three hours altogether.
"It was four pumps, so there were around 15 to 20 firefighters.
"There was a fire investigator but the investigation didn't seem to turn up much."
The farmhouse is located in Cutacre Country Park, just off the A6, Salford Road.
The park's ecologist, Bill Mottram fears that vandals caused the blaze following a spate of attacks on the property.
Mr Mottram said: "The house was occupied until around December.
"Three or four weeks ago the house was broken into and it was absolutely trashed.
"They stole all the copper, they actually dug the floor up, they stole the wood burning stove. It was in a terrible state.
"We secured the house again and put fences all around it and the electricity had been disconnected - in effect, it was closed off."
He went to the house with contractors after the fire to check the building and was 'gutted' by what he saw.
"When I went to see the house on Sunday after the fire I didn't go in because it would have been dangerous - a section of the roof had been completely burned out and slates were falling off," said Mr Mottram.
"It will have to be decided whether to leave it standing.
"It is absolutely gutting to see it damaged - it's a lot of time and effort I have invested in getting this country park to the place it is today.
"Parts of this land were inaccessible five years ago and now people have a green space to exercise and walk - it does so much good for people's mental health.
"It is incredibly disappointing when these things happen but we have to carry on doing what we are doing. We cannot let idiots who vandalise - and that is the only word I have got for them - stop us."
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.
Covaid-19 - helping those who need it most in Greater Manchester The coronavirus outbreak has left many people across Greater Manchester struggling for access to food, basics and other support. Many of them are self-isolating, often in fragile health and alone. Public services have been working hard to find and help them, but we know they are over-stretched and working round the clock. So the Manchester Evening News and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity have launched Covaid-19 - a fundraiser aimed at supporting those who most need help, from elderly people with no support network to homeless families living in hotels. The money will be distributed via the mayor of Greater Manchester's charity. You can donate by visiting our JustGiving page here.
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .