Mohamed Salah is yet to rejoin the Liverpool squad on their pre-season tour.
The Egyptian winger has had no time to rest this summer as his national team took part in the African Cup of Nations.
But unfortunately, one of the favourites to win the competition were humbled by South Africa and they were knocked out in the round-of-16 clash, a result that shook Egypt to the core.
Still, despite that heartbreaking defeat, Salah seems to be in good spirits and recovering for his big Liverpool return ahead of another huge season for the Reds.
He posted an
/BzxpgXHBnm1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snap of his “pre-pre-season” workout recently and his teammates were unsurprisingly quick to respond to it.
It seems that his teammates are eager for his return as Dejan Lovren replied saying “ple-ple-please return”.
Georginio Wijnaldum was also on the scene and he just posted a series of muscle emojis for his friend.
After playing in the World Cup last summer and now the AFCON in the 2019 summer break, Liverpool fans may be concerned that Salah could suffer from burnout.
Only time will tell if he can continue to light up Anfield and inspire the Reds to another title challenge.
تحدث ديفيد بيتوني مساعد زين الدين زيدان عن فوز فريقه ريال مدريد في مينديزوروزا أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس برباعية لهدف، لأن زيدان لم يتواجد بعد أن أثبتت إصابته بفيروس كورونا.
واكتفى ذراع زيزو الأيمن بالإشادة بالأداء الجيد للاعبي ريال مدريد، وأوضح حديثه مع زيدان، كما كشف سبب استبدال إيدين هازارد.
وقال بيتوني في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “كان فوزًا مستحقًا، استحوذنا على الكرة وقدمنا مباراة جيدة، كنا جادين جدًا في الدفاع لأنهم أقوياء في الانتقالات ويقاتلون على كل الكرات، سعداء جدًا بلعبة الفريق”.
وأضاف: “في المباريات الأخيرة كنا نستحق أكثر من ذلك بقليل، اليوم كان جهد اللاعبين هائلاً، لعبنا بشكل جيد للغاية وسيكون مفيدًا للتحضير للمباراة القادمة، ضد ليفانتي”
وتابع بيتوني: “أنا سعيد حقًا بجهود الفريق، بالأمس أعددنا المباراة جيدًا واللاعبون قدموا أداءً رائعًا، أن ألافيس يلعب الكرات الطويلة، لذلك كانت الفكرة الأولى هي تجنب هذه الكرات”.
وأكد: “في مدريد عندما نخسر مباراة، هناك انتقادات وضغوط للمباراة القادمة، تعودنا على ذلك، لدينا خبرة، نحن نعلم أنه في كل مرة نسقط سننهض”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. بنزيما: سعيد بهدف هازارد وأتمنى أن يكتب قصة جديدة مع ريال مدريد
وبشأن التبديلات وتواصله مع زيدان، أردف: “بالنسبة للتغييرات أردت أن أعرف ما يعتقده زيدان لأنه المدرب وأهم شخص”.
وعن استبدال هازارد، أوضح بيتوني: “هازارد بخير، استبدلته لأنني أردت أن أضع فينيسيوس في مكان أكثر عمودية، لقد مر إيدن بموسم ونصف صعب مع الإصابات، عليك أن تتحلى بالصبر، رغم أننا نعلم أن الصبر في مدريد معقد”.
وشدد: “نحن نثق به كثيرًا واليوم قدم مباراة جيدة، لعب 63 دقيقة بشكل جيد، سجل وصنع هدفًا، رأينا نسخة مميزة منه اليوم، هازارد لديه موهبة ونحن بحاجة إليه”.
وكشف بيتوني عن الحديث مع زيدان، متابعًا: “من الواضح أنه كان سعيدًا جدًا بسلوك الفريق ولعبه، أخبرني أن أهنئ اللاعبين كما كان سيفعل لو كان معنا؛ لا شيء مميز، نحن نعلم أن كل مباراة هي قصة مختلفة، سعيد بموقف الفريق، الآن للراحة والاستعداد لمباراة ليفانتي”.
وامتدح بيتوني لاعبه لوكا مودريتش: “إنه لاعب جيد للغاية، ويتعاون بشكل جيد للغاية، نحن لا ننظر إلى عمر مودريتش، نرى أنه يعتني بنفسه، وأنه يتدرب بشكل جيد ويؤدي بشكل جيد للغاية في أيام المباريات”.
وأتم بشأن فارق النقاط مع المتصدر أتلتيكو مدريد: “نفكر في مباراة تلو الأخرى، لا ننظر إلى الفرق الأخرى، إذا كان أتليتي في الصدارة، فذلك لأنه يتمتع بقدر أكبر من الاستمرارية ويستحق ذلك، سنقاتل في كل مباراة لخفض فارق النقاط، يبقي الكثير وعلينا أن نركز على أنفسنا وليس على الآخرين”.
Spurs will look towards a big summer as they look to build on getting to the Champions League final.
Despite losing out to Liverpool, there is a big sense around the club that they than more than overachieved with their Champions League showing, and manager Mauricio Pochettino will no doubt be keen take some steps in the transfer market to ensure the club continues to progress.
With the new stadium finally open, Pochettino will be hoping to see some backing from Daniel Levy, and this weekend has seen the club linked with a move for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, who continues to impress for the Cherries under Eddie Howe.
While a £40m fee might seem a hefty chunk of change on paper, Ake has been brilliant under Eddie Howe, developing into the one of the finest young defenders in the English game after never quite getting his chance with Chelsea previously.
Ake fits the mould of a player Spurs would buy, given his age and the way he plays out from the back.
His relaxed style should not be seen as lazy though and he is strong in the tackle, as well as being dominant in the air, and with a chance of playing at what is seemed a higher level with Spurs, it looks like a match made in heaven.
Spurs are looking to move forward with young players who want to develop and prove a point under Pochettino, and Ake fits the bill perfectly given his performance in the 2018/19 season.
38 Premier League appearances where he averaged just under two tackles per game while recording over six clearances per game mark him out as an impressive defensive stalwart, and it is these sort of impressive stats which will impress the onlooking Spurs management team.
West Ham United are attempting to shift five flops from the wage bill as they look to fund their summer business, per ClaretandHugh.
The Hammers have signed Pablo Fornals from Villarreal for a £24m fee.
But they are also attempting to move players out of the club, with Pedro Obiang, Jordan Hugill, Martin Samuelsen, Reece Oxford and Sam Byram all up for sale.
A deal that would have taken Oxford to Bundesliga club Augsburg has fallen through, however, while Hugill and Samuelsen have received little interest.
Championship club Nottingham Forest reportedly want Byram, while Obiang has been routinely linked with Roma, though it is not stated if any bids have been tabled for the duo.
With West Ham’s summer business still up in the air – Football FanCast understands that they would like to sign a striker and potentially a defender too – it seems imperative that some of the deadwood is shifted so that the received transfer fees can be reinvested into the squad.
But have the Irons picked the right players to move on?
FFC’s writers give their verdicts below!
Billy Meyers
“West Ham could be making a huge mistake by sanctioning these deals. Apart from Obiang, the other four are still fairly young and could still have something to offer at the London Stadium – Oxford and Samuelson are especially risky departures to agree to. The pair have shown great promise at times and should be given more of a chance.”
Charles Jones
“It’s hard to disagree with these players leaving the London Stadium if Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t feel that they have a future at the club. That list has a lot of unfulfilled potential in it and it is a shame that these players couldn’t produce the goods for the Hammers, but it’d be a pointless endeavour to keep them on the wage bill if they’re not wanted.”
James Beavis
“They are completely right. If they want to move forward and progress, West Ham can’t afford any passengers and these players clearly fit under that category. While some of them may be relatively young in football terms, they haven’t done enough to show that they have a big part to play at the London Stadium in the future. Pellegrini has made his mind up, and it would be difficult to argue with his decision.”
Leeds kept their first clean sheet in almost a month at Pride Park on Saturday, and that is in no small part down to the change of personnel at the back.
Gaetano Berardi stepped in for the injured Pontus Jansson and played brilliantly. The Swiss defender’s performance at the weekend should be enough to keep the Swede out of the team on Wednesday regardless of his fitness.
Berardi’s performance
Despite not being Marcelo Bielsa’s first choice centre-back Berardi was arguably the best player in the Whites’ backline at Pride Park.
The 30-year-old made six tackles and two clearances, while also having a pass completion rate of 85.4 %, more than any other player who played the full 90 minutes for the Whites.
Berardi didn’t let the occasion get to him, he allowed himself to play his natural game and was instrumental to the Yorkshire club keeping a clean sheet which sees them heading into the second-leg with a goal advantage.
Jansson’s tendencies
Although the 28-year-old is a great defender individually when he is supposed to be working in an organised unit, he can try to do too much which leaves spaces for the opposition to exploit.
Whereas Berardi complemented his defensive partner Liam Cooper, Jansson can sometimes be a burden as he tries too hard to be a hero.
There isn’t a greater chance for a player to be that than in the playoffs, but when it is a defender going out of line to make headlines, it can be dangerous.
During these crucial games Leeds need cool, calm and collected heads at the back, and whereas Jansson and his maverick style of defending can be counter-productive, Berardi provides stability.
Denis Odoi last season fell into the same trap that the Leeds man may fall into. The defender scored the header that sent Fulham to Wembley, but in an attempt to be the hero once again he overextended himself and was sent off in the final.
The Belgian’s blushes were spared as the London club won that day, but Bielsa can’t afford to run the risk of starting Jansson if he is going to be unpredictable at the back.
What a fantastic job Steven Gerrard has done so far at Ibrox. His first season failed to yield any trophies, but that was not what it was going to be about in his first season in senior management. Instead, laying the foundations was key, and now he looks to be making headway in the transfer market ahead of yet another campaign.
For the Ibrox faithful to grow, Gerrard knows what needs to be done. Bringing in young players to build for the future is key, and with Joe Worrall set to return to Nottingham Forest after his season-long loan and Gareth McAuley leaving Ibrox at the end of his contract, bringing a new central defender will be high on Gerrard’s priority list. That’s where this Football Insider report of a move for George Edmundson comes in.
The young Oldham defender has shown to be one of the brightest young defenders in the entire EFL this season. At the age of 21-years-old and standing at six foot three inches tall, the colossus has shown a touch of class every time he’s taken to the pitch in the English fourth division. Now, though, he could be set to trade in Leyton Orient and Salford City away for a run in Europe with a move to Ibrox.
There isn’t a lot that Oldham will be able to do about losing the youngster either. The impressive defender is contracted at the club until summer 2020 and with little chance of a new deal being struck considering the interest in Edmundson, it seems unlikely that the Boundary Park star will be hanging around past this summer. Whether he leaves for Rangers or not is still up in the air though.
Rangers are being rivalled for Edmundson’s signature by League One club Peterborough United but with the Scottish giants the clear favourites to land his signature you’d have to put your money on Gerrard being able to convince the defender to move to Ibrox. At the age of just 21, the Oldham man could be a Gers’ icon for years to come, and this would be mightily impressive swoop for Gerrard to pull off.
Just as Isaac Hayden’s career looked as though it was clicking into place in October 2014, it was ironically two clicks of his ankle that prematurely ended his season.
Hayden was on the verge of making his Premier League debut. Arsene Wenger had confirmed he’d be starting in a league game against Hull but step forward Mathieu Flamini.
The Frenchman raced into a strong tackle and that was that for Hayden. Telling The Guardian in 2017, he said: “I remember coming out with the ball, I passed it and then Mathieu Flamini has come in. He’s come in and caught me on the inside of my ankle, above the bone, and the ankle has just turned. It has clicked. I actually heard two clicks.”
Initially, it didn’t look too serious, but after returning in December after playing for Arsenal’s U23s his ankle had flared up again. It was an injury that was to keep him out for another five months.
Had it not been for Flamini, then Hayden might well still be playing for Arsenal. Instead, he’s now at Newcastle and thriving under Rafa Benitez. It looked for a considerable period of time that the midfielder wouldn’t make it in the Premier League, though.
A loan spell with Hull wasn’t outstanding but the Magpies took a chance, one that has certainly proved worth taking.
Hayden’s composure on the ball and strength in the tackle makes him a valuable asset and in the capable of hands of Benitez, rather than Wenger, he’s come on leaps and bounds.
The 24-year-old left Arsenal at 21, his former boss declaring that he would have wasted his career had he stayed at the club.
Indeed. that may have been the case but the midfielder won’t care now. He’s standing out at St. James’ Park and has been one of their best players during their upturn in form.
Benitez seems to love individuals like Hayden. At Liverpool, he had Xabi Alonso, another player who had wonderful vision and defensive capabilities. It’s a bit of a stretch to compare him to the Spaniard, but there are comparisons to be made in the role he’s playing in at Newcastle.
Last season, the Newcastle manager preferred Mo Diame in midfield. However, with his demise, Hayden has stepped forward.
He’s been the Magpies’ best midfielder of late, but the fact he doesn’t score or claim assists on a regular basis means the midfielder goes unfairly under the radar.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United – Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain – February 11, 2019 Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez with Isaac Hayden as he is substituted REUTERS/Eddie Keogh EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Pleas
His development has been an intriguing one but he’s finally now starting to realise his potential. Hayden has made 19 starts in the Premier League this term and his best performances have arguably come in the last two matches. Against Southampton, he claimed an assist, whilst he put in a particularly solid display versus Brighton.
In a midfield that sometimes lacks true star quality, the former Hull loanee has been the man to provide them with solidity. Hayden averages three tackles per game, the most out of any Newcastle player, and is only second best to Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune for interceptions made per match.
Against a Liverpool side who are doing their utmost to win the title, this could prove key at the weekend.
The Reds haven’t beaten Newcastle on the road since 2013. This is a perfect time, therefore, for Hayden to put in a performance worthy of maintaining their phenomenal recent record.
Down the years, much of the talk on Tyneside has been about Jonjo Shelvey in central areas. But they’ve now got someone who can easily surpass the impact he’s had.
Newcastle, of course, also possess the incredibly talented Sean Longstaff in midfield. His burst onto the scene in 2018 was terrific and alongside Hayden, the club look well set for the future.
As Tottenham Hotspur Legends took on Inter Forever in the second test event at the new Spurs Stadium, two things became abundantly clear.
Firstly, there is clearly an allure to retirement. A few players had let themselves go, with the likes of Rafael van der Vaart and Teemu Tainio virtually unrecognisable from the days when they pulled on the Spurs shirt every week.
But secondly, Robbie Keane is an exceptional footballer. The Irishman is Spurs’ 11th-highest goalscorer and it showed.
He played 40 minutes, before being replaced to a deserved standing ovation from the vociferous crowd.
This is a player who retired in 2018 but he appeared to have another 10 years on the clock on Sunday.
In an action-packed first-half, Keane scored a truly sublime goal, chipping Julio Cesar without even looking. Rafael van der Vaart sent a superb ball over the top of the Inter defence and, being Keane, he refused to merely chest the ball down, instead looping the ball over the Brazilian with the sort of nonchalance normally reserved for his replacement, Dimitar Berbatov.
He wheeled away and actually received more of a cheer from the fans for his celebration than the goal itself, as he cartwheeled and forward rolled his way back into the hearts of the Spurs faithful.
He wasn’t done, however, and before the half was out he managed that rarest of beasts: a bicycle kick assist.
After his first cross was blocked, Keane took to the air and sent the ball across the six-yard box for Alan Nielsen to finish and make it 3-2 to Spurs.
When replaced by the moody Bulgarian, Keane received a simply astonishing reception.
He made his name at Spurs across two spells and by the looks of it he could easily enjoy a third.
Spurs’ current back up to the world-class Harry Kane is Fernando Llorente, and he’s only four years younger than Keane.
He plays like he’s older, however, and shows none of the pace, flair or finishing ability that the Irishman showcased on Saturday.
It may well have been a legends match, and he may well have been faced with a simply ancient defence, but this was a timely reminder of the skills offered by the superb centre-forward – one whose tenacity and energy off the ball would suit Mauricio Pochettino’s side perfectly.
The current Tottenham boss could well have turned him into a world-beater.
It’s been a pretty miserable month for Rangers fans, and some are taking their resentment out on the women’s team after they were beaten 4-0 by Hibernian this weekend.
Rangers have not won a match this month, as the Gers have been forced to stand idly by and watch as Celtic walk towards their eighth consecutive title with relative ease.
Steven Gerrard’s side have completely lost the ability to break down packed defences, although some fans may argue they haven’t really had that ability at any point this season.
Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…
Back to back 1-1 draws with Aberdeen and Hibs were followed by a shock exit in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox, before a 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock all but handed the title to Celtic.
Now, the club’s misery has been compounded by a humiliating defeat for the women’s team, who were thrashed 4-0 by Hibs on Sunday.
Fans have been reacting rather hilariously to the club’s update announcing the result, releasing their frustrations about the Gers’ general state in response to the club’s tweet.
You can find some of the best reactions down below…
ضرب فيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19، لاعبا جديدا من صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول خلال تواجده مع منتخب بلده في التجمع الدولي الحالي، بعد كل من تياجو ألكانتارا وساديو ماني.
وكشفت شبكة “Foot224” الغينية عن إصابة لاعب وسط ليفربول وغينيا، نابي كيتا، خلال تواجده مع منتخب بلده بجانب 4 لاعبين آخرين.
وتابعت الشبكة أن كيتا قد تم عزله حتى يتم التأكد من سلامته، كما هو متبع في البروتوكول الصحي العالمي الخاص بفيروس كورونا.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول إيكو توجه صدمة لـ كلوب بشأن مدة غياب أليسون المتوقعة
وكشفت الشبكة عن أسماء اللاعبين المصابين بالفيروس وهو، فرانسوا كامانو، إبراهيما كونيه، إبراهيما كامارا وفلورنتين بوجبا.
وخضع جميع أفراد المنتخب الغيني لاختبار فيروس كورونا يومي الأربعاء والجمعة، وتم استلام النتائج في الساعات القليلة الماضية، لتظهر هذه الحالات الخمسة ويتم عزلهم في الحجر الصحي حتى يتعافوا بنسبة 100%.
وللتأكد من إصابة هؤلاء اللاعبين بالفيروس، خضعوا مرة أخرى لاختبار جديد وظهرت النتائج إيجابية للخماسي المذكور.
الجدير بالذكر أن غينيا كانت تواجه وديًا أمس، السبت، كاب فيردي ونجحت في الفوز بنتيجة 1-2 خارج الديار.