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Slot: Liverpool have “moved on” from the Salah controversy
Arne Slot feels that Liverpool have “gone away” from the Mohamed Salah controversy and hopes the players can take part in the Africa Cup of Nations after solving the problem.
Salah caused problems for the club and dangerous interview two days ago in which he, among other things, said that he was made a scapegoat for not doing well.
He was therefore withdrawn from the Champions League match at Internazionale but, after consultation with manager Slot, he came back as a substitute. Last week’s Premier League win against Brighton. The 33-year-old is now on international duty, possibly for another month, with Egypt.
Slot said: “As I said last week, actions speak louder than words and we progressed. He was in the team and he was the first to enter the position that I created. But now he is in Afcon, he is playing big games for him and for the whole country, so I think it is good for them, and for us because we will play important games, that his focus is on him and there is no time to distract me from Liverpool.
“We have moved forward after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton. Now he is there, so it is fair for his country, and for him and us, to talk about Tottenham and other games.”
Liverpool will give Dominik Szoboszlai a tough test on Saturday’s trip to Spurs after the Hungarian picked up a groin injury late in the Brighton game. PA Media
I don’t know what kind of conversation it is was between Newcastle United and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but Yoane Wissa did not join the Afcon due to a recent injury. I can’t imagine what’s happening at the Euros or the Copa América, where a qualified player can choose not to play (or be banned) from playing for his country and a major international tournament.
Eddie Howe is obviously delighted that his striker is fit and has scored his first goal Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final was won by Fulham. Here are the latest quotes from the Newcastle press conference:
“Yoane is probably more in line with the style of Alex (Isak) without being Alex himself. Yoane has his own strength, and his running at the back especially on Wednesday night, I thought it was very good. His movement of sliding sheets and stretching behind them, I thought it was out of the top drawer. It was a great lesson for any young player to see his movement in the game.
He is his own person and he will bring his own strength. It’s great to have him and I think having that player will benefit Nick as well, so he makes us stronger.
That’s not to say that Nick can’t be great here and the band can’t be successful with him there, but we just need to find ways to play better and hear music and collaborations that we’re proud of. “
Newcastle will welcome Chelsea at St James’ Park will be keen to erase the fond memories of last week’s derby defeat at Sunderland, but right-back Tino Livramento joins a long injury list with a knee problem that could keep him out of the new year.
“I don’t think it’s a serious injury,” Howe said. “The problem we have is that Tino injured his knee in a very similar place, so it always makes the recovery time longer, so I don’t think we will see him before 2026.”
The Guardian’s top 100 footballers: No 10-1 revealed
The winner has been revealed…
Players who have gone to Afconthis is a useful description of its size Premier League groups will be affected.
Others The names that are absent from Afcon are surprisingand showcase some of the continent’s most talented footballers. The main reason for this is that their country did not qualify (for example, Ghana), but there are also omissions in the teams that have made it (suddenly Simon Adingra of the Ivory Coast, who was chosen as the best young player at Afcon 2023, giving good support to the last winner) and there has also been an unexpected break from the tournament, William Adingra of Nigeria. voted the best player in the last Afcon).
Here is an incomplete list of players who are not in the tournament.
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)
André Onana (Trabzonspor/Cameroon)
Yoane Wissa (DRC/Newcastle United)
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana/Tottenham)
Antoine Semenyo (Ghana/Bournemouth)
Live (nigeria / Flahamgage,
Yankuba Minteh (Gambia/Brighton)
The Ziych Hackim (Morocco/Did AC)
Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast/Villarreal)
Mohammed Salisu (Ghana/Monaco)
Cheick Doucoure (Mali/Crystal Palace)
Amine Adli (Morocco/Bournemouth)
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)
Victor Boniface (Nigeria/Werder Bremen)
Afcon starts on Sundaywhich is very interesting. Morocco v Comoros is the first match and Osasu Obayiuwana has written this preview for you to see for yourself.
Email from Dave Estherby.
“I have to disagree with Neville, Carragher et al that everything should be done “in house”; doing the press before and after the game is something I think most managers wouldn’t do if it wasn’t a contract. He has already aired these complaints privately, if it has fallen on deaf ears I think he has every right to speak his mind publicly. Don’t the fans have a right to know what is going on?”
Of course, Maresca has the right to air the laundry in public, but it doesn’t end well for managers when they do this, especially in clubs like. Chelsea. If Maresca survives, it will be interesting to see if Chelsea bring their manager back in January. There are rumors that Maresca wants other elite players, perhaps because Roméo Lavia will not be fit for more than five minutes. What happened to ‘making’?!
Remember that Top 10 of our 100 best footballers in the world 2025 will be revealed in the next few minutes.
Here is a list of 100-11.
Very interesting line from Maresca’s press conference was: “It is important to understand why this issue (Manchester City) existed.”
Since we are still in the dark about what Maresca said last week, this is a clear message to a Chelsea responsibilities. What kind of hidden threat. The Italian is playing a dangerous game, even if he spends 90% of the press conference saying everything good as the manager of Chelsea: ignoring reports, playing down speculation, focusing on the next game, etc.
More Maresca for you:
I have a lot to achieve here (at Chelsea). We got the third installment in 18 months the other day. Last year was good for trophies, we finished fourth in the Champions League, now we want to improve this year.
They also provide some hurtful news, for all you FPL freaks.
Liam Delap and Dario Essugo are probably available at Aston Villa and Roméo (Lavia) is still out, Levi (Colwill) is still out.
Maresca: Manchester City links ‘100% fiction’
The Chelsea press conference has begun.
Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea coach, is asked about the news that links him to the Manchester City job.
It doesn’t concern me. It is 100% fiction. In this situation, there is no time for such things. I have a contract (at Chelsea) until 2029. I am proud to be here. I don’t pay attention to it. A week ago, it was the same with Juventus so I don’t pay attention.
It is important to understand why these issues (Manchester City) existed. I focus on Newcastle games. It’s going to be a tough game.
Maresca is asked if he spoke to the club officials about Everton reviews. A reminder that the Chelsea manager said last week that “the last 48 hours have been the most difficult since I joined the club because many people did not support me and the team.”
About the Everton press conference? No. About other things? Yes.
Ashton Gate to play in the Women’s League Cup final
Tom Garry
Ashton Gate, home to Bristol City, will host the Women’s League Cup final on Sunday March 15, 2026, it has been announced.
It was the first time the venue had hosted the final, although Ashton Gate hosted the Women’s FA Cup final in 2012.
The match kicks off at 2:15pm (regular GMT), broadcast live on BBC One and Sky Sports. Arsenal only, Chelsea and Manchester City have held the trophy ever since the trophy was launched in 2011.
The quarter-finals take place on Sunday, with Liverpool hosting hosts Chelsea. Crystal Palace, the only team left in the top flight, are at home against Arsenal.
Last season’s finalists, Manchester City, are far away managerless West Hamwhile in the rest of the WSL matches, Manchester United host Tottenham. All four quarter finals will start at 1pm.
Introduction
Hello World! We are now well into the festive season. The game comes faster and faster, and staying on top of form and fitness is very important. Thanks to their efforts at the Club World Cup, Chelsea it’s worse than most when it comes to injuries.
The result is important, however, the heat is on Enzo Maresca after all his comments last week.
Failure to explain them just added to the assessment of the Italian, who is due to give his press conference a week ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Newcastle tomorrow. There are various reports flying around that Maresca is in conflict with the Chelsea board over his signature and is also being linked with a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City should the Spaniard leave. Remember, Maresca was one of Guardiola’s 2022-2023 assistants.
So we’ll have the latest from there, plus everything else Premier League news and analysis is happening this weekend.
Send me an email michael.butler@theguardian.com and any ideas. Let’s do this.
