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Liverpool are back in action in the League Cup tonight as they prepare to play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.

The Reds have had their focus turned to the Premier League and the Champions League in recent weeks and secured a 2-0 win over in-form Bournemouth in the top-flight in their last match.

Mohamed Salah’s double sealed all three points for the league leaders against the Cherries, to help them bounce back from their 3-2 defeat to PSV in Europe last week.

The Reds are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League, after that win over Bournemouth, but Arne Slot and his team will be eyeing multiple trophies in the second half of the season.

They still have the Premier League, the League Cup, the Champions League, and the FA Cup trophies to compete for in the next four months.

However, they will need to overcome a deficit against Tottenham Hotspur this evening at Anfield, after they lost the first leg of the semi-final

tie in North London.

What happened in the first leg between Liverpool and Spurs

The only goal of the game was scored by Swedish teenager Lucas Bergvall in the 86th minute of the match, to seal a 1-0 win for Ange Postecoglou’s side on the night.

Dominic Solanke made a great run in behind the Liverpool defence and displayed great strength to hold off Ibrahima Konate before laying a pass off to Bergvall, who swept the ball into the bottom corner under pressure from Virgil van Dijk.

1-0 to Tottenham was not an entirely fair reflection of how the game went, however, as both teams had plenty of chances to find the back of the net and failed to do so.

Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool

Tottenham

Liverpool

Possession

40%

60%

Shots

9

14

Shots on target

3

6

Big chances

4

3

Free-kicks

10

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, both sides had ‘big chances’ to score and only Spurs managed to take one of them, as Liverpool failed to score from 14 shots and three ‘big chances’.

These statistics show that it was an open game that was full of opportunities to test both goalkeepers and Slot may hope for a similar match, albeit with more chances for his side, tonight to make sure that his forwards have the ammunition they need to shine.

With this in mind, the Dutch head coach could ruthlessly ditch Alexis Mac Allister from the starting line-up for this clash with Spurs this evening, in order to bolster his attack.

Why Alexis Mac Allister could be dropped

The Argentina international started in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth last time out and struggled in the middle of the park with Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch alongside him.

Mac Allister played the opening 61 minutes of the match and failed to register a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created, which shows that he did not offer much at the top end of the pitch for the Reds.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion man also lost four of his five duels, being dribbled past once, and did not make a single tackle, interception, block, or clearance to help the team out of possession.

These statistics show that Mac Allister endured a frustrating afternoon against the Cherries, as he failed to offer much on or off the ball, and that may have been why Slot decided to remove him from the game with 30 minutes left to play.

Alexis Mac Allister (24/25)

Premier League

EFL Cup

Appearances

22

4

Starts

20

2

Goals

1

0

Assists

3

0

Key passes per game

1.4

1.0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the tempo-controlling midfield star has not offered a big threat in the final third throughout the season in the Premier League or the EFL Cup.

The Argentine whiz, who has averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, is not in the team to provide a constant stream of goals and assists, hence why he has only managed four goal contributions in 22 top-flight games.

Chalkboard

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However, Liverpool are halfway to being knocked out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage and need goals tonight, which is why he should be ruthlessly ditched in favour of Curtis Jones.

Why Curtis Jones should be unleashed

The 24-year-old star should be unleashed from the start alongside Szoboszlai and Gravenberch for this second-leg clash with Spurs because he has the quality on the ball to make things happen in the final third.

Liverpool need goals, given that they are 1-0 down on aggregate, and Jones could use his ability at the top end of the pitch to carry them to Wembley for the final.

Jones has registered an assist in both of his last two appearances for Liverpool, against Lille and Bournemouth, and that means that he heads into tonight’s game in fine form, whilst Mac Allister struggled last time out against the Cherries.

The Liverpool academy graduate replaced the Argentine maestro at the weekend and went on to assist Salah’s second goal of the game, which was just the latest in a growing pile of goal contributions for him this season.

Curtis Jones (24/25)

Premier League

Champions League

EFL Cup

Starts

10

4

3

Goals

3

0

0

Big chances created

0

3

1

Assists

3

2

1

Pass accuracy

95%

92%

95%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the England international has provided an impressive level of production in front of goal in limited starts across all competitions this season.

Jones, who has been described as “extraordinary” by Micah Richards, has been directly involved in nine goals in 17 appearances, including six in ten Premier League games.

These statistics suggest that the Englishman would be far more likely to make a difference in the final third than Mac Allister against Spurs tonight, which is why Slot should bring him into the starting XI to carry the Reds to Wembley.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Feb 5, 2025

His ability to score and create goals from a midfield position could help Liverpool score the goals that they need to overcome Tottenham’s one-goal advantage.

The wicketkeeper revealed Matt Renshaw’s return to opening was with an eye on Australia’s future needs

AAP09-Oct-2022

Jimmy Peirson will captain Queensland when Usman Khawaja is on Test duty•Getty Images

Chicago’s Bulls had Michael Jordan lifting the standard and Jimmy Peirson says there’s two men doing the same for Queensland’s Bulls.The in-form wicketkeeper has also revealed the strategic shift designed to catapult team-mate Matt Renshaw back into a baggy green as he continues his own push for a Test debut.Peirson powered to a fifth first-class century in the last two years as the Bulls beat Tasmania by an innings and 172 runs on Saturday to open the Sheffield Shield season.His bright innings on the tricky, newly-laid Allan Border Field square followed an unbeaten 128 for Australia A in a successful chase of 367 in Sri Lanka in June. He scored 67 not out in the first innings of that game, only called into the squad as a late replacement.The state’s youngest-ever Sheffield Shield winning captain when Queensland won the competition in 2018, Peirson is enjoying the presence of Test pair Marnus Labuschagne and regular captain Usman Khawaja to begin their season.Related

Jimmy Peirson's unbeaten tour: 'I'm not even meant to be here'

Labuschagne starts his Shield season with classy century

Sandhu and Peirson star as Queensland thrash Tasmania by an innings

“It’s great having Marnie [Labuschagne] around; you see the problem-solving that goes on while he’s batting, [it] is something I’ve learned from,” he said.Peirson reserved high praise for Test opener Khawaja and Australia’s No.3 Labuschagne, who scored 72 and 127 respectively in Brisbane last week.”It just sets good standards, you see how they go about their business and see that’s the level you need to be at to play Test cricket,” he said. “As team-mates we want to be rising to that level. I know when [Michael] Jordan played basketball he spoke about bringing guys along with him, and those guys do that for us.”While Peirson has been piling on the runs Alex Carey has been making the Test spot his own.”There’s a lot of keepers doing the job at the moment in Australia; all you can do is worry about your own backyard,” Peirson said of the fight for higher honours. “Kez [Carey] has done a really good job, especially in the subcontinent. He’s earned his position, but there’s no doubt everyone wants that position.”Peirson isn’t the only Queensland player pushing his case with former Test opener Renshaw and fast bowler Mark Steketee, who had a hat-trick ball dropped in the slips on Saturday, making claims.Khawaja had pushed long-term opener Renshaw into the middle order when the veteran forced his way back into the Test fold. Now cemented at the top of Australia’s order, Khawaja slid himself back down to No. 4 for Queensland’s season opener so Renshaw could face the new ball.”Matty has earned his way back up into the opening role with national selectors hopefully looking at him as a future opener for Australia,” Peirson said of the surprise move. “We’re fortunate [to have top-order depth] and Uz is at the point in his career where he scores runs wherever he bats.”

Everton need a new centre-forward. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injured once again and has hardly been a pillar of strength this season, and Armando Broja’s loan spell is in danger of being severed after the Albanian sustained an ankle injury.

Beto, at least, has found his shooting boots, blasting two shots into the goal as David Moyes recorded his third straight victory in a 4-0 drubbing over Leicester City.

But Beto alone cannot uphold the focal striking role at Goodison Park. Everton are looking to bring someone in before tonight’s transfer deadline, but will The Friedkin Group manage to get the task done?

Everton's search for a striker

Last week, reports surfaced that Nottingham Forest number nine Taiwo Awoniyi is an option for Everton heading into the final stretch of the January transfer window.

We’re now hours away from the window’s closure and the Toffees have still not signed a striker, but time is indeed ticking and Awoniyi could be the man for the job, especially since he’s playing second fiddle in Nuno Espirito Santo’s system.

The 27-year-old has a wealth of Premier League experience and boasts the athletic qualities that Moyes typically covets at centre-forward. A loan deal would surely be put forth but Forest would ideally look to recoup £18m for their forward.

Why Everton want Taiwo Awoniyi

The 33-year-old Chris Wood decided to turn into prime Alan Shearer this season and thus Awoniyi’s playing time at the City Ground has been limited.

Still. He’s an excellent marksman and would bring the physicality and clinical edge that Moyes’ system requires. Having proven his prolific ability in the Premier League, the Nigerian “monster of an athlete” – as he has been described by journalist David Hundeyin – would be the perfect player to jockey with the likes of Beto.

As per FBref, he even ranks among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles (1.22) per 90, emphasising a deep-seated tenacity and drive to aid his team across the different phases of a match.

Moyes, to be sure, will relish such a complete and ranged skill set, with such qualities apt to see him take the mantle as Everton’s star striker, surpassing Calvert-Lewin and Beto.

See below Awoniyi’s Premier League metrics since joining Forest from German side Union Berlin for £17.5m in the summer of 2022, enjoying comparative success in front of goal.

Taiwo Awoniyi in the Premier League for NFFC

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

19 (2)

1

0

23/24

20 (12)

6

3

22/23

27 (17)

10

1

Stats via Sofascore

Beto, conversely, has struggled, with his recent two-goal haul against the Foxes raising the previous tally of four from 44 Premier League appearances.

It’s worth noting that Awoniyi has also missed just 16 big chances for the Tricky Trees across his three campaigns, scoring 17 total goals. This is the marker of a high-class goalscorer, converting more than often than squandering his chances.

Transfer Focus

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Last season, Beto only managed to bag three Premier League goals despite missing eight big chances. The Guinea-Bissau international has taken the first steps toward enjoying a purple patch but his Everton history suggests he’s not consistent enough to lead the line over the business months, and Awoniyi could neatly solve the problem.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Feb 2, 2025

دخل نادي مانشستر سيتي في سباق التعاقد مع أحد أهداف فريق ليفربول السابق، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

وانسحب مانشستر سيتي في وقت سابق من عملية التعاقد مع فلوريان فيرتز لاعب باير ليفركوزن الألماني، نظرًا لتكلفة الصفقة المرتفعة، مع اقتراب اللاعب من الانضمام إلى صفوف ليفربول.

ويسعى المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، إلى إجراء تعزيزات جديدة في الميركاتو الصيفي المقبل، بهدف استعادة المنافسة على لقبي دوري أبطال أوروبا والدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في الموسم الجديد.

اقرأ ايضاً.. ريو فيرديناند يختار أفضل 7 لاعبين في الدوري الإنجليزي.. موقف محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش

وأشارت صحيفة “تيليجراف” الإنجليزية إلى أن مانشستر سيتي قد انضم إلى سباق التوقيع مع لاعب ليون، ريان شرقي، في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

وكان شرقي أحد أبرز اهتمامات ليفربول وذلك قبل أن يحرز الريدز خطوات متقدمة حول التعاقد مع الدولي الألماني فلوريان فيرتز.

وتابعت الصحيفة أن ريان شرقي قد أبدى رغبته في الرحيل عن ليون بنهاية الموسم الجاري، والانتقال إلى الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويمتلك الفرنسي ذات الأصول الجزائرية شرطاً جزائياً في عقده مع ليون، بقيمة تتراوح بين 20 إلى 25 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

ويرى بيب جوارديولا أن ريان شرقي، قادر على اللاعب في مركز صانع الألعاب لتعويض رحيل أسطورة الفريق، كيفين دي بروين.

وخاض شرقي هذا العام 44 مباراة مع فريقه ليون في جميع المسابقات، حيث أحرز 12 هدفاً وصنع 20 هدفاً طوال الموسم.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em partida válida pela nona rodada do Brasileirão, Avaí e São Paulo se enfrentam no sábado (4), às 19h, no estádio da Ressacada, em Florianópolis, pela 9ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

O Tricolor ocupa o 5º lugar no Campeonato Brasileiro, com 13 pontos em oitos jogos disputados. Na última rodada, o São Paulo empatou com o Ceará por 2 a 2, em duelo disputado no Morumbi.

Rogério Ceni não poderá contar com Arboleda, na seleção equatoriana, além de Rafinha e Igor Gomes, suspensos.Sara, Colorado, Nikão e Talles Costa continuam no departamento médico. Em compensação, Alisson volta após cumprir suspensão.

Já o Avaíocupa o 13º lugar, com 10 pontos em oito jogos. O Leão perdeu por 2 a 1 para o Atlético-MG, no Mineirão, na 8ª rodada. Eduardo Barroca terá os desfalques deBressan, lesionado e Douglas, que recebeu o cartão vermelho e está suspenso.

AVAÍ X SÃO PAULO
Local: Estádio da Ressacada, Florianópolis (SC)
Data e hora: 04 de junho de 2022, às 19h
Árbitro: Anderson Daronco (RS)
Assistentes: Rafael da Silva Alves (RS) e Michael Stanislau (SC)
VAR: Wagner Reway (PB)
Onde assistir: Premiere (todo o Brasil), no tempo real do L! e em áudio na parceria LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

AVAÍ
Vladimir, Kevin, Rodrigo Freitas, Arthur Chaves, Bruno Cortez, Raniele, Eduardo, Bruno Silva, Morato, Bissoli e Muriqui (Pottker). Técnico: Eduardo Barroca
Desfalques: Bressan (lesionado)
Suspensos: Douglas (Vermelho Direto)
Pendurados: Raniele, Arthur Chaves, William Pottker, Jean Cleber e Cortez
Voltam de suspensão: Bruno Silva (3º Amarelo)

SÃO PAULO
​Jandrei; Igor Vinicius, Diego Costa, Léo e Welington; Pablo Maia, Rodrigo Nestor, André Anderson (Patrick) e Alisson; Luciano e Calleri. Técnico: Rogério Ceni
Desfalques: Arboleda (seleção equatoriana), Gabriel Sara, Andrés Colorado, Nikão e Talles Costa (lesionados)
Suspensos: Igor Gomes (Vermelho após o 2º Amarelo) e Rafinha (3º Amarelo)
Pendurados: André Anderson e Luciano
Voltam de suspensão: Alisson (3º Amarelo)

Middle-order batter brings Division One experience to Mickey Arthur project

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2022

Matthew Lamb has left Warwickshire after an 18-year association with the club•Getty Images

Warwickshire batter Matthew Lamb has agreed to join Derbyshire on a two-year deal.Lamb, 26, came through at Edgbaston having joined the club at Under-9s, making his first team debut in 2016. He was a member of the side that won the 2021 County Championship, playing 13 games and contributing 565 runs.A versatile middle-order batter who can also bowl medium pace, Lamb averages 31.23 in first-class cricket and 42.24 in List A.Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, said they had targeted Lamb to strengthen the squad after finishing fifth in Division Two in his first season in charge.”Matt had a strong season in Division One and that’s the calibre of player we want to bring to our club,” Arthur said. “Signing a player with a good amount of top level experience is an example of our intent. Our batting has been strong this year, but Matt’s arrival increases that competition for places and re-enforces our batting depth in all formats.”Lamb finished the season out of the Championship side at Edgbaston, but was second in the club’s averages, scoring 487 run at 48.70 with two hundreds in eight appearances.”I leave Edgbaston with a heavy heart, but I’m incredibly excited for the next chapter of my career,” Lamb said. “I will be forever grateful and thankful to everybody at the Bears who helped and coached me from an eight-year-old cricket lover to a County Champion.”I have made friends for life at the club and will always look forward to returning with Derbyshire.”Mickey Arthur’s project at Derbyshire really excites me, there’s a talented group of players and the level of ambition is high, that’s something I want to be a part of. I’ve been pleased with my performances over the last couple of years, but I want to push myself across all formats, this is the opportunity to do that and I’m looking forward to getting going this winter.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo derrotou o América-MG por 1 a 0 na tarde deste domingo, no Morumbi, pela 11ª rodada do Brasileirão. O único gol do jogo foi marcado por Patrick, no 1º tempo. Confira no vídeo acima os melhores momentos da partida.

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علق ثروت سويلم عضو مجلس إدارة رابطة الأندية، على اعتراض وتصعيد نادي بيراميدز شكوى إلى المحكمة الرياضية، مؤكدًا أن الأهلي هو بطل الدوري المصري.

وحقق الأهلي لقب الدوري رقم 45 في تاريخه، بعدما حقق الفوز في 17 مباراة، وهو أكثر الأندية تحقيقًا للفوز ومعه بيراميدز بنفس الرصيد.

وقال ثروت سويلم في تصريحات عبر قناة “دي إم سي”: “لا يوجد كلام، الأهلي بطل الدوري واستلم الدرع وانتهى الحديث في هذا الأمر، التصعيد بالنسبة لبيراميدز ليس له أي أهمية وأصبح الأمر مضيعة للوقت”.

طالع أيضاً.. تشكيل الزمالك المتوقع أمام فاركو في الدوري المصري

وتابع: “أتمنى أن يحصل بيراميدز على دوري أبطال إفريقيا كونه ناديًا مصريًا”.

وأوضح: “تصعيد بيراميدز للمحكمة الرياضية؟ هذا حقهم، وايًا كان قرار المحكمة، رابطة الأندية ستنفذ”.

وأتم: “لعبت لمدة عام ونصف لناشئي الأهلي، أحب النادي ومنظومته، وأتمنى من كل الأندية أن تسير على نفس النهج، حبي للأهلي لن يؤثر على القرارت بالنسبة لباقي الأندية”.

His numbers since his international comeback are eye-watering: “it’s been a long journey but it’s not finished yet, hopefully”

Andrew McGlashan27-Oct-20223:46

What makes Rossouw so good against spin?

It has been a remarkable return to international cricket for Rilee Rossouw. After six years away, during which he took up a Kolpak deal in county cricket that did not go down well with CSA, he has now compiled back-to-back T20I centuries, alongside an unbeaten 96, in just seven innings.His numbers for the year are eye-watering: 340 runs at 68 with a strike rate of 184.78. In a way, those figures are made more extraordinary given he made two ducks against India. He has been given the pivotal No. 3 slot and has made it his own.Related

Rossouw ton, Nortje four-for help South Africa demolish Bangladesh

All five of his T20 hundreds have come since 2019. In that time, he has averaged 38.55 with a strike-rate of 156.88; up to the start of 2019, the corresponding figures were 26.16 and 131.07. He is a player transformed in this format.He had come within one blow of a century in the second innings of his comeback, against England. But, against India in Indore, shortly before this tournament, he crunched a 48-ball hundred. Now, less than a month later, he has done it again and there was plenty of emotion on show at the SCG, a ground that had been good to him before. He has batted three times here for South Africa and passed fifty on each occasion.”I’m a very passionate man and getting across the line meant a lot to me, meant a lot to my family back home,” he said. “It’s been a good rollercoaster ride just to play for South Africa again, it’s been amazing. You know sometimes things go your way and this year has been like an unbelievable rollercoaster ride for me. So happy, so proud to be sitting here. Never thought about it in a million years.”It did not take him long to get going, any joy Bangladesh felt about removing Temba Bavuma in the first over quickly evaporating [that issue is not going away for South Africa]. On his eighth ball, Rossouw deposited Hasan Mahmud straight down the ground for six; in the next over there were two more, swept this time, off Mehidy Hasan Miraz.”If I get a boundary early in my innings I kind of feel like, okay, I could be on here today, and then I just grow from that confidence,” Rossouw said.A brief stoppage for rain did not really disrupt the flow, although there was some brief consolidation after the powerplay with Rossouw not finding the boundary in consecutive overs. Things got particularly ugly for Bangladesh in the 11th over, when Shakib Al Hasan, who had held himself back, was probably left wishing he hadn’t brought himself on when he was twice put into the stands over the leg side – the second off a huge no-ball full toss. To make matters worse, Bangladesh were penalised five runs when the wicketkeeper, Nurul Hasan, took a step back on the free hit, thus changing the field, which is not allowed.”I thought he played it well, played his cards [as he] could,” Rossouw said of Shakib’s decision to not bowl early on. “If I was in his shoes, I also probably wouldn’t want to bowl to myself or Quinton de Kock. He was hoping he could maybe get a breakthrough from one of the other bowlers… the longer it took for him to come into the game, the more attacking we were going to be.””So every moment you’ve got to cherish playing for your country”•ICC via Getty

Rossouw’s play against spin is among the best in the world: since 2021, only he, Alex Hales and Marcus Stoinis have averaged 35-plus and struck at 150 when facing spin. The amount of league and franchise cricket he has played around the world during his international absence played a key part, developing skills, notably a full range of sweeps, that can often not come naturally to batters brought up in South African conditions.”I think it’s somewhere I’ve definitely improved because I’ve played a lot of cricket in the subcontinent,” he said. “So I feel more comfortable now than what I used to maybe when I was in my 20s. You’ve got to expose yourself to that type of environment. And I’ve been fortunate enough in the last six or seven years of my career to be in that position, and it’s just made me a better player.”Rossouw sped into the 90s with three boundaries in four balls against Taskin Ahmed; the first of them highlighting terrific placement through point, the second brute power down the ground. He was within range of beating his 48-ball effort just a few weeks ago. In the end, the final five runs took a little bit longer – part of a wider slowdown in South Africa’s innings – but a dab into the off side got the run he most wanted. There was time for an eighth six before he found a fielder.”When you give up your right to play for your country, you expect, ‘okay, that’s just going be my last chance’,” he said. “So every moment you’ve got to cherish playing for your country. It’s been a long journey but it’s not finished yet, hopefully.”Rossouw missed out on what could have been a number of his best years at international level, but he’s doing all he can to make up for lost time.

Aston Villa head into tonight’s Premier League fixture with Liverpool desperate to get back to winning ways in front of their adoring Villa Park faithful.

Last time out, Unai Emery’s men picked up a flat point versus relegation-threatened Ipswich Town on their own patch, with the result made to look even more bleak by the fact the Tractor Boys managed to pick up that point despite only having ten men for all of the second 45 minutes.

Even with Liverpool currently showing some chinks in their armour with a Merseyside Derby draw and a slim win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Villa will know they’ll need to be at their best to exploit the Reds’ rustiness, especially if Mohamed Salah is at his frightening peak.

Salah's unbelievable form this season

Indeed, even with the Egyptian ace hitting 32 years of age and worrying about his long-term Anfield future, the tricky attacker is having the campaign of his life.

Staggeringly, Salah boasts a whopping 28 goals and 19 assists in all competitions this season so far, with a large portion of those goal contributions – 37 to be exact – coming in the bread and butter of the top flight.

Salah’s G/A record – last five games in all competitions

Game

Result

Goals scored

Assists

Wolves (H)

2-1 W

1

0

Everton (A)

2-2 D

1

1

Tottenham (H)

4-0 W

1

1

Bournemouth (A)

2-0 W

2

0

Ipswich (H)

4-1 W

1

0

Stats by Sofascore

Scoring and assisting in some capacity across his high-flying side’s last five matches too, Villa will know they will have to keep the enigmatic Salah quiet all night long to try and pick up a result and sour Arne Slot’s mood even more.

Emery might well even have his own Salah up his sleeve for this Wednesday night affair, with the star in question equally comfortable playing on the right wing but when putting his golden left foot to good use.

Aston Villa could unleash their answer to Salah

Villa certainly were the talk of the town after an explosive end to the hectic transfer window saw them welcome in Axel Disasi, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio all on loan deals.

Whilst Disasi is likely to start again in the centre-back areas, there is a shout that Asensio could be handed a start down the right wing to spring a surprise on Slot and Co, who might well be anticipating Rashford jumping into the XI after he clattered the crossbar against Ipswich.

Instead, the “unbelievable” Spaniard – as he has been labelled in the past by football talent scout Antonio Mango – might be given the nod to try and cause havoc to a Liverpool defence that gave up 16 shots to Wolves, with a fierce strike like this one in the ex-Real Madrid man’s wheelhouse.

After all, when donning the famous Los Blancos strip, Asensio would help himself to a stunning 61 goals and 32 assists from 286 games, further reinforcing the notion of the 29-year-old being a star for the big occasion and why he should start against the table-toppers late on.

His debut in claret and blue also saw a confident Asensio take to the pressures of the English game well, with many a trick and flick well executed, alongside walking away from the FA Cup win versus Spurs with a 100% pass accuracy in-tact.

A real threat off the right flank, like Salah, the comparison between the pair – as well as Rashford – has only recently been made by Emery himself:

Asensio could also link up well with the main Villa marksman Ollie Watkins who managed to push his side to a draw against the Tractor Boys with an equalising strike, alongside the fact the former Brentford sharpshooter has five career goals versus the Reds.

Emery will want to see a reaction from his underwhelming troops and there wouldn’t be a better way to respond than beating the league leaders in front of a packed Villa Park, courtesy of some Asensio magic.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Feb 17, 2025