Liverpool must unleash "special" £40k-p/w star with Quansah

Liverpool return to Premier League action this afternoon in an Anfield clash against struggling Burnley, having fallen to a limp defeat against Arsenal last time out.

Still, Jurgen Klopp's side are top of the table (though defending champions Manchester City are two points behind with a game in hand) and are firing on all cylinders, fighting for silverware across every possible front.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Losses are part of the game and now Liverpool must bounce back, with the forthcoming fixture the perfect chance to revive the winning feeling ahead of a crucial stretch of action.

Liverpool team news vs Burnley

Thiago Alcantara is back on the sidelines after making a cameo in the late stage at the Emirates Stadium, while Mohamed Salah is scheduled to return to first-team training next week, so misses out later.

luis-diaz-mohamed-salah-liverpool-opinion

There were concerns that Domink Szoboszlai would miss up to eight matches with a recurrence of a hamstring injury but the Hungary captain will hopefully return to fitness this month. He will definitely be unavailable against the Clarets though so will need an apt creative replacement.

Harvey Elliott will flourish

Ryan Gravenberch partnered Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones against Arsenal but flattered to deceive, taking just 26 touches and failing to make a key pass, branded a "passenger out of possession" by journalist Danny Corcoran.

In his stead, Harvey Elliott must be handed just his fourth starting berth of the season in the Premier League, still having posted a goal and two assists.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Tackling

Key passes

Aerial duels

Through balls

Long shots

Source: WhoScored

As per FBref, Elliott ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

Praised for his "special" qualities by Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old is one of the young glittering gems bedecking the Anfield pitch at present and he will be desperate to take his chance and prove to Klopp that he is deserving of a prominent role across the business end of the campaign.

He's certainly not the only one, however, with Jarell Quansah also in line to start against Vincent Kompany's side after Ibrahima Konate picked up two yellow cards last weekend.

Jarell Quansah.

Quansah has been described as a "phenomenal talent" by Trent Alexander-Arnold and has slotted into life under Klopp's wing seamlessly, ranking among the top 2% of centre-backs for goals, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for aerial duels won per 90.

For Klopp to entrust such starlets with big roles is just an illumination of the German's magic on Merseyside, but these are players more than capable of damaging Burnley and sending them back to Lancashire without even a paltry point.

Quansah will need to stand tall alongside Virgil van Dijk but the burden of creativity from the centre will fall largely on the £40k-per-week Elliott's shoulders, and he will need to combine the cogs to ensure that Liverpool's fluency proves too much for their antagonists later today.

Pattinson makes strong start with three wickets

Jackson Bird and Michael Neser also claimed a wicket apiece on a day cut to 33 overs by rain and bad light

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2019

James Pattinson was in the wickets for Australia A•Getty Images

Sussex 118 for 5 (Pattinson 3-38) v Australia AJames Pattinson made an early impression with the red ball for Australia A ahead of a likely Ashes call-up as he bagged three wickets on a truncated opening day against Sussex.Rain and bad light prevented play until mid-afternoon and only 33 overs were possible with Sussex initially making a strong start as they reached 69 without loss in the 14th over before Australia started finding regular breakthroughs.Pattinson, who has been playing for Nottinghamshire ahead of the Australia A tour and is in line for his first Test action in more than three years after a string of injuries, finished with 3 for 38 in an encouraging display for Test captain Tim Paine who was behind the stumps.ALSO READ: What’s up for grabs in Ashes selection battle?The opening wicket of the day went to Jackson Bird, another with a good chance of making the Ashes squad, when he had Phil Salt – who was called into the England T20 squad earlier this season – taken at mid-off for a brisk 37 off 44 balls.Then Pattinson got into his work by trapping Varun Chopra lbw and bowling Sussex captain Luke Wells before having Aneesh Kapil caught at third slip in the penultimate over of day.The other wicket, that of Laurie Evans, went to Michael Neser who was a late inclusion in the XI along with Joe Burns following the call-ups of Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade to the World Cup squad.Australia A play three four-day games during this leg of their tour with a match against England Lions followed by the inter-squad selection showdown with an Australia XI in Southampton, immediately after which the Test squad will be named.The Ashes starts at Edgbaston on August 1 and there may now need to be extra batting cover following the hamstring injury to Usman Khawaja which could take up a month to heal.

فيديو | في الوقت القاتل.. النصر يفوز على الحزم ويتأهل إلى دور الـ16 من كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين

نجح فريق النصر في الفوز على نظيره الحزم بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي انتهت منذ قليل وجمعت بينهما ببطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين.

والتقى النصر مع الحزم، على أرضية ملعب الأخير في إطار مباريات دور الـ32 لبطولة كأس خادم الحرمين.

وسجل ساديو ماني هدف النصر الأول في الدقيقة 49، بعد كرة عرضية من سلطان الغنام قابلها ماني برأسية سكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي والجندل في كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين

وأحرز باسل السيالي هدف التعادل للحزم في الدقيقة 62، بعد تلقيه تمريرة عرضية داخل منطقة الجزاء صوبها مباشرة على المرمى.

وفي الدقيقة 90+2، سجل نواف بوشل هدف النصر الثاني، مستغلًا ارتباك دفاعي في صفوف الحزم ويضع الكرة داخل الشباك.

بهذا الفوز، تمكن النصر من خطف بطاقة تأهله إلى دور الـ 16 من مسابقة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين. أهداف مباراة النصر والحزم في كأس خادم الحرمين

جاري تحميل الفيديو.. 

   

West Brom battling Ipswich Town for January signing of new German forward

West Brom are eyeing a move for a player who has been described as "too good" for his current level, but another high-ranking Championship club are also keen on snapping him up.

West Brom transfer news

The Baggies' promising form continued on Saturday afternoon, following a 4-1 win at home to Blackburn Rovers, keeping them in fifth place and five points clear of the team outside the playoff positions.

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

Carlos Corberan's side look well-placed to mount a genuine promotion push and new signings in the January transfer window are unlikely to do any harm to their chances. Bristol City attacker Andreas Weimann is one player who has been linked with a move to West Brom, with the veteran someone with so much experience in both the Premier League and the Championship.

Turkish striker Umut Nayir is another individual who has been touted as an option for the Baggies, but looks set to move elsewhere, while Bournemouth marksman Kieffer Moore is another target. This all certainly points towards Corberan wanting to bolster his attacking options this month, and a new update suggests that a new player is a target in that position, too.

West Brom want Derry Scherhant

According to a fresh transfer claim from Football Insider, West Brom are interested in signing Hertha Berlin attacker Derry Scherhant, with Ipswich Town also in the mix, among others.

"Ipswich Town and West Brom are eyeing moves for Hertha Berlin forward Derry Scherhant this month, sources have told Football Insider. The Championship duo are keen to bolster their attacking options in this month’s transfer window and Scherhant, 21, is among their list of targets.

"Blackburn are long-term admirers of Scherhant having seen three loan offers for the Germany Under-20 international rejected in the summer."

Scherhant may be a relative unknown to those who are only accustomed to the English game, but he is someone who could be a really savvy signing before the end of the month.

The 21-year-old has been plying his trade in the 2.Bundesliga this season, and he has 40 goal contributions (29 goals and 11 assists) in 51 appearances for Hertha Berlin II, highlighting his prowess in the final third. In fact, journalist Leon Potuzhek has even called him "too good" for that league in the recent past.

West Brom have a strong squad currently, but a lack of attacking firepower is something that is arguably lacking, with no player getting to double figures in the Championship yet so far this season. Scherhant could come in and improve that area straight away, making Corberan's side even stronger in their efforts to return to the Premier League.

West Brom in transfer talks with player who is "everywhere on the pitch"

He is currently playing for a fellow Championship club.

By
Henry Jackson

Jan 13, 2024

Still a young player, the German has the potential to get better and better as the years pass, and he is someone who is capable of playing in both a central attacking position and also out wide, giving Corberan more options for the second half of the campaign.

Arsenal in contact over "incredible" defender with club now willing to sell

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has moved away from using a specialist right-back at the Emirates, instead preferring Ben White in the role. Before he joined the Gunners, White had only played 10 games on the right of a four, but he's now featured in that position 65 times in the past three seasons. Only three of his 25 appearances so far this term have come as a centre-back, which is his primary trade.

White's limited attacking output – one goal and one assist in all competitions, shouldn't be a surprise given his positional background, but Arteta doesn't really have a compelling alternative with a markedly different profile. Takehiro Tomiyasu doesn't have a clearly established role, instead operating across the backline as and when needed, while the veteran Cedric has only played 65 minutes and two games this term.

One way for the Gunners to evolve, then, may to be recruit a more natural right-back who's in a position to challenge for starts. One such candidate, Galatasaray's Sacha Boey, claims that his club held "meetings" with the Premier League title-chasers over a possible transfer last summer, but their "interest" never escalated into an official offer. That, though, could soon change.

Arsenal in touch over Boey

According to Turkish outlet Sabah (via Sport Witness), Arsenal appear to be in fresh "hot contact" over Boey. Galatasaray are now "open to offers" for a player they value at €20m, the equivalent of about £17m, in what is a boost for those at the Emirates.

Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey.

Encouragingly for Arteta, Galatasaray already have a replacement lined up – they plan to recall Leo Dubois from his loan at Basaksehir if they lose Boey this month, which means one potential complication has already been overcome.

Boey has already shone in the Champions League

Having come through the youth ranks at French club Rennes, Boey left to join the Super Lig club in 2021. Given that he's played every single minute for which he's been available across all competitions – 29 games in total – it's fair to say that he's one of Okan Buruk's most important players.

When you look into the numbers around the 23-year-old, you see that he's an impressively well-rounded full-back. Last year, he won the fifth-most tackles of any player in the Turkish top flight (55) and this year, he's in the top 10 for interceptions (29). He can clearly hold his own one-on-one and he also reads the game well.

Arsenal line up move for £50m star with "Hleb like ability"

Arsenal are considering plenty of strikers as they bid to boost their forward line in the second half of the season.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 15, 2024

Journalist Zach Lowy has billed him as an "incredible revelation" this season and he's shone on the European platform with Galatasaray, who beat Manchester United to third place in their Champions League group. Among defenders, PSG's Achraf Hakimi (27) and Young Boys' Ulisses Garcia (25) recorded more shot-creating actions than Boey (22) in the group stages, and only Hakimi (15), Newcastle's Kieran Trippier (13), Feyenoord's Quilindschy Hartman (11) and Porto's Joao Mario (10) played more passes into the box than his nine.

Predictably, Arsenal aren't the only team interested, with Bayern Munich also shortlisting him and Boey himself open to the move. The Gunners, then, may need to move quickly, or risk losing out.

قائمة برشلونة أمام يونج بويز في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. ظهور دي يونج لأول مرة

أعلن الألماني هانز فليك المدير الفني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي برشلونة الإسباني، عن قائمة اللاعبين لمواجهة يونج بويز، مساء اليوم في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

برشلونة يستضيف يونج بويز مساء اليوم على ملعب لويس كومبانيس، ضمن الجولة الثانية من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

قائمة برشلونة شهدت ظهور الدولي الهولندي فرينكي دي يونج، لأول مرة هذا الموسم، بعد أن تعافى من الإصابة التي أبعدته عن الفريق منذ أبريل الماضي عندما أصيب في الكلاسيكو ضد ريال مدريد.

طالع أيضًا | دي يونج: تأثرت ذهنيًا بسبب الإصابة.. ولا أتقاضى 40 مليونًا من برشلونة

وشهدت القائمة تواجد العديد من اللاعبين الشباب، في ظل الغيابات التي يعاني منها النادي الكتالوني في مختلف المراكز. قائمة برشلونة أمام يونج بويز في دوري أبطال أوروبا

حراسة المرمى: إيناكي بينيا، أسترالاجا، آرون ياكوبوشفيلي.

خط الدفاع: باو كوبارسي، أليخاندرو بالدي، إينييجو مارتينيز، جوليس كوندي، جيرارد مارتين، سيرجيو دومينجيز،

وسط الملعب: بيدري جونزاليس، بابلو توري، مارك كاسادو، باو فيكتور، فرينكي دي يونج، هيكتور فورت، جويليرمو.

الهجوم: فيران توريس، روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، لامين يامال، أنسو فاتي، رافينها، إيساك كوينكا، توني فيرنانديز.

Paulistão: De virada, Bragantino derrota o São Bento e assume a liderança do Grupo C

MatériaMais Notícias

Foi no sufoco, mas o Bragantino bateu o São Bento por 2 a 1, em Sorocaba, na retomada do Campeonato Paulista, na noite deste sábado (10). Com gols de Helinho e Ytalo, o Massa Bruta chegou aos 11 pontos e lidera o grupo C. O time de Sorocaba, por sua vez, é o lanterna da chave B, com 2 pontos.

Calendário

Na próxima rodada, o São Bento mede forças com o Santo André, fora de casa. O Bragantino encara o São Paulo, no Morumbi, já nesta segunda-feira (12), pela sétima rodada.

Jogo animado

A etapa inicial teve muita disposição das duas equipes. Quem beliscou primeiro foi o São Bento. Ítalo saiu na cara de Cleiton, que defendeu a finalização e viu Diego Tavares cabecear forte para o fundo da rede. Não demorou muito e o Bragantino empatou. Em cobrança de pênalti, Helinho deixou tudo igual. O São Bento ainda chegou com perigo na bola parada, porém Daniel Costa acertou o travessão.

Muita correria e pouco futebol

Nos 45 minutos finais a qualidade do duelo caiu. Sem inspiração, os dois times não chegavam com qualidade e quase nada era criado. Nem mesmo as entradas de Claudinho e Artur ajudaram o Massa Bruta a melhorar dentro das quatro linhas.

Gol salvador

Nos minutos finais, Helinho achou Ytalo na grande área e o jogador do Bragantino, com frieza, tocou na saída do goleiro para definir o placar: 2 a 1.

RelacionadasFutebol LatinoChileno: Católica é superada e Audax Italiano assume a pontaFutebol Latino10/04/2021Futebol LatinoEquatoriano: Clássico termina empatado e Barcelona agradeceFutebol Latino10/04/2021Atlético MineiroRodrigo Caetano diz que Galo buscará o primeiro lugar do seu grupo na Libertadores da AméricaAtlético Mineiro10/04/2021

Boyd Rankin to become first Irish overseas player in county cricket

Boyd Rankin will become the first Irishman to play county cricket as an overseas player after signing for Derbyshire for the remainder of their Vitality Blast campaign.Irish players had previously counted as local players in county cricket, but after their ascent to Test status anyone playing international cricket and signing a new contract will count as an overseas player. Rankin, the 6ft 8in fast bowler who has played for both Ireland and England, will be available for Friday night’s game against Northamptonshire.Players were able to honour existing contracts until the end of this season – like Paul Stirling and Tim Murtagh, for example – but from next year will count towards overseas quotas. Counties are currently allowed to field one overseas player in the County Championship and the Royal London Cup, and two in the Blast.The change in regulations may have wide-reaching implications for Ireland. For example, Murtagh, who took five wickets in a brilliant new-ball spell against England last week, remains undecided as to whether he will choose to play for Ireland, or instead extend his contract as a local player.”It’s getting to the stage where we have to choose one or the other and I haven’t really made my mind up yet,” he told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.”There are still discussions to be had with both sides but unfortunately that loophole has been shut and we can’t continue playing in county cricket as local players. I’m going to have to make quite a tough decision at the end of the summer and decide which way I want to keep going.”Rankin will become the first England Test cap to play for Derbyshire since Rikki Clarke in 2008 when he makes his debut. He had previously played for the club in 2006 and 2007, before a spell with Warwickshire that saw him win England selection.Dave Houghton, Derbyshire’s head of cricket, said: “We have been looking for an additional fast bowler to strengthen our current squad for the T20.”Boyd has international experience and will fit in well with the bowlers that we already have. With the pace and bounce that he generates, he will bring a new dimension and give us that bit extra.”

Leeds chiefs now closing in on agreement to sign in-demand 20 year-old gem

As we approach the transfer deadline on 1 February, Leeds United have yet to make any additions to their squad. The Whites are chasing immediate promotion back to the top-flight and are currently set for the Championship play-offs, but they're only two points off the automatic promotion spots, albeit having played a game more.

One of the players they've targeted this month is Liverpool under-21 talent Mateusz Musialowski, and now there's been a significant development. Leeds carried out some initial checks and then got in touch with the Reds to express interest in a deal for the Pole, whose contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Daniel Farke wants "attacking reinforcements" before the window is out, but "several" other clubs were said to be in the frame for Musialowski too. It's Leeds, though, who appear to have stolen a decisive march.

Leeds closing in on Musialowski after making breakthrough on Friday

According to Football Insider, Leeds are "edging closer" to a deal for Musialowski. While the 21-year-old is very much in-demand, officials from the West Yorkshire outfit made some big progress on Friday and are now advancing towards an agreement that should see them win the race.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

Farke's initial plan is for Musialowski, who can play across the frontline, to act as a back-up attacker, but he will of course hope to force his way into the starting line-up in the long-term. He's yet to make a competitive first-team appearance, but now he has the chance to launch his career.

Leeds must seal full-back deal after securing Musialowski

Assuming a deal for Musialowski is indeed agreed from here, then it could spark a lively end to the transfer window for Leeds. Farke's main priority should be to acquire another right-back, because while Archie Gray has played the second-most minutes of anybody in the squad, they currently risk being caught short after cancelling Djed Spence's loan early and allowing Luke Ayling to make a temporary move to Middlesbrough. The club have been looking at a number of possible options, including West Ham's Ben Johnson, Burnley's Connor Roberts and Tottenham's Ben Davies.

There was a possibility of some activity in the centre of defence too after Charlie Cresswell was axed from the squad amid concerns over his attitude. If he left, then Farke was expected to seek another centre-half to ensure that he had four options available in that position. However, speaking in his press conference ahead of Leeds' FA Cup tie against Plymouth on Saturday, he said that the "door is back open" for Cresswell to feature after fresh talks in recent days.

During those conversations, he told his manager that "he definitely wants to stay", and that clearly makes a move for a target like Liverpool's Nat Phillips less likely, although you can never rule anything out in the hectic final phase of a window.

Sheff Wednesday eyeing late move for £8.3k-p/w Musaba partner

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly looking to add a new winger to Danny Rohl's playing squad before the transfer window slams shut this evening.

Latest Sheffield Wednesday transfer news

According to The Star, the Owls are battling it out with their Championship rivals Birmingham City to sign a forward from one of the sides fighting for promotion.

The report claims that they are both vying to complete a deal to bring Ian Poveda in from Leeds United, who are in-and-around the automatic promotion race.

Leeds forward Ian Poveda.

Phil Hay, of The Athletic, has since added that the Whites are prepared to allow the former Manchester City winger to move on from Elland Road today, in what could be a permanent exit for him with his contract up at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old whiz could come in as an exciting partner for current Owls forward Anthony Musaba, who has shown glimpses of quality this season.

Anthony Musaba's Championship form

Signed from AS Monaco last summer, the Wednesday gem has stepped up in the fight to drag his side out of the relegation zone in the Championship.

The 23-year-old dynamo is currently the club's top goalscorer in the division with a return of four goals in 17 starts, with three of those strikes coming since the start of December.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl.

Musaba, who has also registered two assists and created two 'big chances', currently ranks within the top 19% of Championship attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons (1.98) per 90, which shows that he can take on opposition defenders to push his team up the pitch.

In Poveda, Rohl could unearth another potential match-winner and ball carrier on the opposite flank to cause problems for full-backs alongside Musaba.

Ian Poveda's attacking potential

The Leeds youngster is far from a proven talent but it is difficult for Wednesday to attract proven quality when they are inside the bottom three in the second tier.

They have to take risks in the hope that they pay off and that could be the case with Poveda, who has the potential to develop into an exciting operator for the club.

The £8.3k-per-week ace, whose movements were once hailed as "crazy" by boss Daniel Farke, spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Blackpool in the second tier and contributed with two goals and one assist in ten starts.

He did, however, rank within the top 7% of forwards for progressive carries (4.42) and successful take-ons (3.29) per 90 across his 24 league outings.

This suggests that, like Musaba, the Colombia international can provide value in being able to progress the team up the pitch and evade opposition presses on a regular basis.

Appearances

32

37

Goals

Nine

Six

Assists

Five

Eight

As you can see in the table above, Poveda did showcase his ability to make a consistent impact in the final third as a scorer and creator of goals at academy level during his time with Manchester City.

He is yet to translate that to first-team football but Rohl could hope that it all comes together for him at Wednesday to combine an end product with his impressive dribbling and carrying ability, which is why the Leeds youngster could turn out to be an exciting partner for Musaba out wide.