According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho was forced to take his place on the substitutes’ bench in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, but Irons fans are still divided on the 27-year-old’s future.
The Daily Mail says that the Senegal international was expecting to start having been named in the XI in the previous rounds, but a discussion with manager David Moyes about bonuses and why he hadn’t been starting in the Premier League meant that he was relegated to the bench against the Gunners.
However, the centre-forward, who has scored four goals this term, then said he didn’t want to play but was eventually persuaded to stay and take his place in the 18, and he came on as a 65th minute substitute in the loss.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on Sakho via social media, and they are largely divided about what the future should hold for the striker.
While one said it’s “time to get rid” of him in January, another said “just double his wages and he can be a top striker”.
Arsenal vs Liverpool rarely disappoints in terms of goals and with the Premier League’s fifth and fourth-placed sides respectively currently separated by just one point in the table, Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping there will be a few more when the two teams meet on Friday night.
Indeed, the 7.45pm kickoff could be incredibly telling in this season’s race for Champions League qualification, but which manager faces the bigger injury problems, how will the referee influence the match and can history hint at the likeliest result? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool…
Head-to-Head
History tells us this fixture nearly always delivers a healthy supply of goals. Throughout their 51 Premier League meetings, a whopping 141 have been scored – and perhaps more significantly, there have been just five scoreless draws between both teams during that time.
However, despite winning three more Premier League titles than Liverpool, it’s the Reds who tend to come out on top in this fixture. They’ve claimed four more wins than the Gunners and are yet to lose a top flight game against the north Londoners with Jurgen Klopp at the helm.
Tellingly, Arsenal’s win rate at home against Liverpool is just 36% – only 8% greater than Friday’s visitors at the same venue.
Referee influence – Martin Atkinson
While Martin Atkinson certainly isn’t the strictest referee in terms of penalties and bookings, one statistic particularly stand out ahead of Friday’s game – the rate of fouls he’s awarded per match this season, ranking seventh out of the Premier League’s 18 referees.
The numbers suggests that affects Arsenal far more than Liverpool; the Gunners are currently joint-fifth in the Premier League for fouls this season, ranking a whopping ten places higher than Jurgen Klopp’s side, and considering how deadly Philippe Coutinho is from free kicks, that could well prove to be a deciding factor at the Emirates Stadium.
Additionally – in another concerning stat for Gunners followers when coupled with Arsenal’s modest win rate at home against Liverpool – 50% of the matches Atkinson has officiated this season have ended in away wins.
Team News
Arsenal have set up in a 3-4-3 system on the most-part this season but the absence of midfielder Aaron Ramsey has seen Arsene Wenger switch back to his more tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 setup in recent weeks.
The big boost for Arsenal is the expected return of defensive lynchpin Shkodran Mustafi, which could pave the way for Nacho Monreal to return to his natural position of left-back – something that would suit a flat back-four more than using the Spaniard as a wing-back in the same way as Sead Kolasinac.
Alex Iwobi and Alexis Sanchez are expected to keep their places out wide, but don’t be too surprised to see one of them switched for Danny Welbeck after scoring against West Ham in midweek. Granit Xhaka, meanwhile, will play a crucial role at the base of midfield.
At this point of the season, Liverpool’s game plan is pretty clear. The only real question is which personnel are placed in Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 setup.
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There’s been a huge focus on the fab four and although Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah haven’t actually played together as frequently as many would assume this season, we’re tipping all of them to start against Arsenal on Friday night.
That sees Mane return to the starting XI after being left out against Bournemouth last weekend, in search of his fifth top flight goal of the campaign.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks nailed on to start against his former club, but Joel Matip’s absence is still being felt at the heart of defence with Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan representing Klopp’s next-best options.
According to reports in the Daily Record, Manchester United have placed Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney, who has provided 27 assists in 111 games for the Bhoys, on the shortlist of players they are looking at to strengthen in that position.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Daily Record says that the Red Devils’ scouting department has recommended the 20-year-old and Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon as long-term solutions to the left-back problem that has been an issue since Jose Mourinho took charge in 2016.
However, while the Daily Record says that the Portuguese boss has been impressed with the progress that Tierney has made during his short career, he would prefer to bring in a more experienced player like Danny Rose or Alex Sandro if the club’s budget will allow it.
The report adds that Tierney would certainly be a cheaper alternative, especially with Premier League giants also looking for a central midfielder and winger either this month or in the summer.
How has Tierney done this season?
He has, once again, been hugely impressive.
Despite the fact that we are only just into 2018, the 20-year-old has made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys, scoring three goals and providing a further seven assists.
He is a key first-team player under Brendan Rodgers now that he can play as a left-back, left wing-back, left midfielder and even as a centre-back will have impressed many people.
Those 36 outings have included six in the Champions League, where he more than held his own against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Would he be a good signing for United?
He certainly would be.
Even though he is only 20 years of age he has already made 111 appearances for Celtic, and he has experience of playing in the Champions League to prove that he has the ability and maturity to play at the highest level.
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As well as being a good defender, Tierney has also shown that he can be hugely effective going forward too, which means that he would be suited to the left wing-back role that Mourinho has often favoured at times this season.
The fact that he was chosen to captain the Scottish Premiership leaders against Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup earlier in the campaign only goes further to prove just how highly-rated he is.
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has admitted that Anthony Martial could miss Monday’s Premier League clash with Stoke City at Old Trafford.
Martial has been in impressive form for United this season – scoring nine times and registering eight assists in all competitions for the Premier League club.
The 22-year-old, who is valued at £58.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, had been in line to start for the Red Devils when they welcome struggling Stoke on Monday night.
However, Mourinho has conceded that the France international ‘is not ready’, and could therefore miss out on a spot in his selection.
Mourinho told reporters:
“Martial is not ready, but I hope he can play.”
Martial’s absence, which is reportedly due to a slight problem picked up on the club’s training camp in Dubai, could allow Marcus Rashford to join Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata in support of leading scorer Romelu Lukaku in the final third of the field.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Michael Carrick are among those still unavailable, but Antonio Valencia should return for Mourinho’s side at Old Trafford following a hamstring problem.
Southampton will hope their 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Sunday proves to be something of a turning point. The Lilywhites struggled to hit top gear in the absence of their chief playmaker Christian Eriksen, but that shouldn’t take away from what was an incredibly positive performance from a side who haven’t won in the Premier League since November.
There was clear confidence in the structure of the team defensively and optimism going forward. In fact, by the final whistle, after Michael Obafemi missed the chance to mark his debut with a goal as a low cross whistled past his toes, it was arguably the home side – rather than the top-four chasing visitors – who created the better chances.
So, Southampton supporters, who was your side’s best performer at St. Mary’s yesterday? Let us know by taking part in the poll below and giving every player involved an individual rating out of ten…
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Mohamed Salah has addressed rumours linking him with a move to Real Madrid by telling Marca that he is happy at Liverpool.
What’s the word?
There were question marks over Salah when he joined the Reds from Roma last summer, mainly because of his failed two-year spell at Chelsea.
The Egypt international was unable to thrive under Jose Mourinho, but in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team, he fits in perfectly.
Salah has scored 28 goals and created seven assists in all competitions so far this season.
In his last 10 matches, the former Roma star has found the back of the net nine times.
As expected, Salah’s form has led to rumours about his future, with Real Madrid being touted as a possible destination.
During an interview with Marca, though, the 25-year-old reiterated his commitment to Liverpool.
“At the moment I am here. I want to concentrate on my team and finish the season very well. Why do you think they say these things? I don’t have much to say about that. If I have to say something, I’ll say I’m happy at Liverpool.”
Is this the end of the rumours, then?
That is very doubtful! Even though Salah is currently devoted to the Reds, there is nothing to say that he will not get his head swayed come the end of the season.
Losing the attacker just months after Philippe Coutinho moved to Barcelona would be the worst possible scenario for the Merseyside outfit.
The club must do all that they can to make sure that a transfer does not happen, but nothing is guaranteed.
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Over the years, it has been clear that the pull of Real Madrid and Barcelona can be too strong to deny, particularly for non-British players.
Time will tell with regards to Salah’s future, but right now, Liverpool fans should just enjoy what he is producing on the pitch.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez has said that he is “very good” at his current club, and would not leave London even if Real Madrid were to come calling.
Sanchez, 21, joined Tottenham from Ajax last summer, and the centre-back has made 30 appearances in all competitions during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Colombian international, who is valued at £31.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has been widely praised for his performances this season, despite a couple of nervy performances at the heart of the Tottenham defence.
Real Madrid are seen by many South American players as the dream club to represent, but Sanchez has insisted that he would turn down a move to Los Blancos in order to stay with Spurs.
Sanchez told Deportes RCN:
“Let it be the best for me, I do not think about the money or where it is. Right now here in Tottenham I am very good. I am playing every three to four days. I am being important in the team.
“As big as Madrid is, no matter how big a team, that has won what they have won, if the conditions are not favorable for me, unfortunately I can not accept.”
Real Madrid are expected to come calling for Harry Kane at the end of the season, with a number of reports suggesting that Los Blancos want the England international to replace Karim Benzema, who has only scored three league goals thus far this season.
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Dele Alli has also previously been linked with a move to the Bernabeu as Tottenham battle to keep their talented squad together.
Former Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna has revealed why a proposed summer move to West Ham United broke down.
The Frenchman spent three years of his career playing at the Etihad Stadium, but he was no longer deemed important enough to keep at the end of last season.
The club opted to release the 35-year-old when his contract expired in June last year.
Sagna, who spent seven years at Arsenal before joining City in 2014, was linked to numerous clubs in the summer window, including West Ham.
No deals were forthcoming, though, and the right-back had to wait until the end of the January window to find a new club.
He put pen to paper on a deal with Italian side Benevento, and now he has spoken about his failed switch to West Ham.
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While speaking to L’Equipe, the Frenchman admitted that he still remains in the dark about why a transfer was never agreed.
Football.London translates Sagna’s comments as saying:
“I had been in contact with West Ham and Crystal Palace since March 2017. In my mind, I wanted to go home, to London, good for the family side. Overnight, they cut off the contacts, without explanation.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise is the latest pundit to give an opinion on the situation surrounding Arsenal.
The North London outfit have come under intense criticism over the last few weeks due to a handful of unsavoury results.
Arsene Wenger’s men were comfortably beaten in the Carabao Cup final by Manchester City, who eased to a 3-0 victory at Wembley.
A few days later, the Gunners took on Pep Guardiola’s side again, but this time in a Premier League clash at the Emirates.
The team lost by the same scoreline and they dropped further in the race for top four at the weekend due to a 2-1 loss to Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
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If the season ended today, then Wenger’s team would miss out on the Champions League for the second campaign in a row as they are 13 points off the target, which would pile even more pressure on the manager’s shoulders.
Wise thinks that the problems extend beyond the coaching staff, and while speaking on Sky Sports, the former midfielder questioned the mentality of the players.
“Look at their team and the position that they’re in, I think defensively they struggle, I think they haven’t got too many leaders and I don’t think they have men at the moment that can get a grip of the group and bring it all together.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers have a massive weekend coming up in the English Championship.
Win away to third placed Aston Villa on Saturday and they’ll moved 13 points clear of Steve Bruce’s side with just 10 games remaining, virtually assuring automatic promotion to the English Premier League, barring complete collapse.
Importantly for Nuno Espirito Santo and his side, they overcame a three-match winless streak on Wednesday night, winning 3-0 away to Leeds United.
At the heart of that performance was defender Willy Boly, who again produced a stellar display from their defensive line, even getting on the scoresheet for only the third time this season.
The Frenchman has been a huge success story on loan from Porto and fans are now hoping they can sign him permanently in the summer, some even saying that he is one of the best defenders they’ve ever seen at the club.
They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his recent form…