Ex-Red expects AFCON heartache to give Mo Salah ‘more hunger’ for silverware

Former Liverpool star Michael Thomas has discussed how Mo Salah will react to AFCON heartbreak after his Egypt side were defeated by a Senegal side featuring Reds teammate Sadio Mane in the final.

Thomas has claimed that the Egyptian King is the player he is today due to his ability to respond to setbacks.

“Salah is world class! He hasn’t become the player he is today because he sulks about what could have been,” Thomas told Caught Offside.

“He will be disappointed just as anyone else, but I expect him to come back with even more hunger to get his hands on some silverware.”

Jurgen Klopp’s side remain in contention for four different trophies this term, beginning with the Carabao Cup final on February 27 against Chelsea at Wembley.

Liverpool decided to strengthen their squad in the recent transfer window when they signed Colombia international Luis Diaz from Porto – many Reds fans are now claiming that Klopp has the strongest squad at his disposal since he arrived at Anfield back in 2015.

Key players, including Harvey Elliott, have returned from injury and can now showcase their talent as Liverpool look to end the season strongly.

“He (Diaz) is an extremely skilful and direct player,” Thomas said.

“He can score and create goals whilst having a great work ethic. It was a great piece of business from the club and I cannot wait to see him on the pitch. The fans are going to be in for a real show.

“What a head that young boy (Elliott) has on him. To go through such an injury at a young age and come back with the hunger and desire that he has is simply amazing. He has an abundance of traits to his game and we will soon see him back to his best with time and more minutes under his belt.”

Thomas also looked ahead to the summer transfer window and named Jude Bellingham as one player Klopp should be interested in bringing to Merseyside.

The 54-year-old also claimed that he’s surprised that the Reds don’t appear to be interested in West Ham’s Declan Rice but did admit that the England international may be ‘too similar to Fabinho’.

“Both are really talented players but with a different set of skills,” he said.

“If I had control of the kitty I would sway more to Bellingham as he really looks a generational talent and has that something different going into the final third.

“Rice is a very good player but I think maybe a bit too similar to Fabinho.”

See more: https://btsportlivestream-com.blogspot.com/2022/02/can-2022-thanks-to-mendy-his-goalkeeper.html

Liverpool 2-0 Leicester: Diogo Jota scores twice as Reds keep slim Premier League title hopes alive

Match report and free highlights as Liverpool cut the gap to Manchester City to nine points with a 2-0 win over Leicester; Diogo Jota scored twice for Jurgen Klopp's side; Mohamed Salah appeared as a substitute after his AFCON exertions

Liverpool kept their slim title hopes alive as Diogo Jota's double secured a commanding 2-0 win over Leicester at Anfield.

Jota turned home from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had parried Virgil van Dijk's header (34), then fired in from a Joel Matip pass (87) to seal the win and put Liverpool back within nine points of leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

The Reds were without Sadio Mane following his late return from the Africa Cup of Nations while Jurgen Klopp resisted the urge to start Mohamed Salah, who was named on the bench following Egypt's defeat to Senegal in Sunday's final.

But Jota stepped up again in their absence, taking his goal tally for the season to 17, while there was also an impressive Premier League debut from Luis Diaz, their January signing from Porto.

Salah did emerge from the bench in the second half, receiving a rapturous ovation from the Anfield crowd before striking the woodwork with a curling effort and twice seeing Schmeichel deny him on other occasions.

Salah did emerge from the bench in the second half, receiving a rapturous ovation from the Anfield crowd before striking the woodwork with a curling effort and twice seeing Schmeichel deny him on other occasions.

It was Jota's night, though, his second goal coming after Liverpool had missed a succession of chances and confirming a fifth consecutive home win in the Premier League which leaves Leicester, still reeling from their 4-1 loss to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday, in 12th place.

Brendan Rodgers' side defended resolutely for the opening half-hour and had bright moments in attack too, most notably when James Maddison's angled effort was superbly saved by Alisson after the Leicester man had exchanged passes with Ademola Lookman.

Player ratings

Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (8), Matip (8), Van Dijk (8), Robertson (8), Fabinho (7), Thiago (7), Jones (6), Diaz (8), Firmino (6), Jota (9).

Subs: Salah (7), Elliott (7), Minamino (6).

Leicester: Schmeichel (8), Justin (6), Amartey (7), Ndidi (6), Thomas (6), Dewsbury-Hall (6), Soumare (6), Lookman (6), Maddison (7), Albrighton (6), Daka (5).

Subs: Tielemans (6), Iheanacho (6), Barnes (6).

Man of the match: Diogo Jota

But once again a set-piece proved their undoing as Van Dijk powered Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner goalwards, with Jota slamming home the rebound after Schmeichel's initial save.

Liverpool controlled the game from then on, with Diaz's speed and directness causing Leicester problems on their right flank, and the pressure on the visitors increased after Salah's introduction for Roberto Firmino on the hour mark.

The Egyptian suffered Africa Cup of Nations heartbreak with Sunday's penalty shootout defeat to Senegal but played like a man with a point to prove on his return to Anfield.

He was bravely denied by Schmeichel after turning away from two Leicester players in the box, and the Dane then pulled off an even better save when he raced through on goal after latching onto an errant pass by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Diaz spurned chances too, slashing wide from a Jota pass, then shooting too close to Schmeichel after Salah played him in on goal with a delightful through-ball on the edge of the Leicester box.

But Jota's clinical second, when he shot on the turn from Matip's pass, his effort too powerful for Schmeichel, finally broke the visitors' resistance and gave Liverpool the two-goal cushion their dominant performance deserved.

Klopp hails 'outstanding' Jota

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool hero Diogo Jota afterwards, telling BT Sport: "With the first goal, when you are in a goalscoring moment, then you are there.

"That's exactly what's happening for Diogo at the moment. I'm really happy for him and it's really helpful for us.

Asked if he expected the Portugal international to become a goal poacher, Klopp added: "We had a sense that it could happen. Diogo was not a bargain, it was not as if we got him for free.

"But the first thing that was obvious about him was his potential that was there, the work-rate that he puts in - that was the most important thing.

"If you have that, then there is always space for improvement. He's still a really young lad so you have to make the next steps in the team with us where we create much more chances than, with all due respect, Wolves did.

"You need a bit of fantasy for that and imagination, but we really thought he would be an outstanding player. He was already when he came here but he has improved."

Rodgers: Leicester restored pride

Despite the result, Brendan Rodgers felt Leicester's battling performance restored some pride after their embarrassing FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest.

"One-hundred per cent," he said. "I think tonight was not just about the result, it was about restoring pride.

"We saw the supporters at the end applauding the players off. They gave absolutely everything in the game." They showed some real moments of quality and we took a top team right until the end.

"It was much more like us. Tactically, we were good in the game and organized. We got into some good areas.

"My only disappointment was that we lacked that little bit of care and precision in the final third, otherwise we could have made more chances."

Anfield a fortress for Liverpool

Liverpool are the only remaining Premier League side yet to lose on home soil this season and have now won 11 of their last 15 Premier League games at Anfield, scoring at least twice in 12 of those games (34 in total).

Leicester have conceded more goals from corners (10) than any other Premier League side this season, while their tally of 18 conceded from all set-piece situations equals their number from the entire 2020-21 league campaign.

Liverpool striker Diogo Jota has netted 17 goals in all competitions this season, making 2021-22 his outright best goalscoring season as a Premier League player. Only teammate Mohamed Salah (23) has scored more goals amongst all Premier League players in all competitions this season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (23y 126d) tonight appeared in his 150th Premier League game for Liverpool, the youngest to do so for the club since Michael Owen back in 2002 (22y 134d). The defender has 43 assists to his name in the competition, a tally bettered by just six players after their 150th appearance.

What's next?

Liverpool visit Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday at 2pm while Leicester host West Ham at 4.30pm on Sunday, live on BTSport Live Stream.

See more: https://btsportlivestream-com.blogspot.com/2022/02/arsenal-outlast-wolves-at-molineux.html

CAN 2022: Thanks to Mendy, his goalkeeper, Senegal crowned for the first time at the end of the suspense

Senegal won the CAN by beating Egypt on penalties (0-0, 4-2) in the final this Sunday in Yaoundé (Cameroon). Edouard Mendy, the Chelsea goalkeeper was decisive during the session.

A victorious penalty shootout concluded by Sadio Mané and an anomaly finally repaired. After the two lost finals (2002, 2019), Senegal finally won the first CAN in its history by beating Egypt in the final. In Dakar, Saint-Louis, and in all the streets of the cities of the country, the horns resounded until the end of the night.

Marked by the drama of Olembé (eight deaths before the Cameroon-Comoros match, January 24), the controversies, and the many hiccups in its organization, this CAN 2022 will have kept all its promises on the ground. More closed, this final nevertheless delivered a fine winner, with a united collective and offensive qualities if he had not always been brilliant in the game.

"Gabaski" stops a penalty from Mané

In Cairo, there may soon be a statue built representing Mohamed Abou Bagal known as "Gabaski". At 33, he went in a few days from the status of 2nd goalkeeper to that of a national hero. The "big dam", as it is now nicknamed in Egypt, had already proved decisive during the penalty shootouts against Côte d'Ivoire in the round of 16 (1 save) and Cameroon in the half (2 saves ). And it's still the Zamalek goalkeeper, only the 7th selection, who is already rocking this final by stopping Sadio Mané's penalty in the 6th minute.

If Senegal had control of the game and proved to be dominating, Egypt, with experience, often manages to break the rhythm. Suspended and in the stands, Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese coach of the Pharaohs, often on the phone with his staff, sees Mohamed Salah forcing Édouard Mendy to a big stop (43rd).

But it is Gabaski who continues his show by showing himself imperial at the feet of Mané (53rd) then Diedhiou (56th). With three consecutive extensions in the legs (Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco, Cameroon) and one less day of recovery after playing Thursday, Egypt nevertheless manages to contain the Senegalese offensives well while being very dangerous on a header from Marwan (75th). From the start of extra time - therefore the fourth for Egypt - the incredible Gabaski (8 saves in total) was again decisive three times against the Marseillais Bamba Dieng (91st, 100th, 115th).

But during the penalty shootout, he let Édouard Mendy put on the hero's costume. The European champion with Chelsea voted the best goalkeeper in the world in 2021, stops Lascheen's attempt after seeing Abdelmonem's hit the post. Before celebrating on the podium with his teammates this crowning African champion, he was called first to receive the trophy for best goalkeeper of this competition. His captain Sadio Mané, whom we saw consoling Mohamed Salah, his teammate at Liverpool, for a long time, was elected best player of CAN 2022.

Two sacred PSG players

Aliou Cissé is therefore no longer cursed. The Teranga Lions coach, a former PSG player, was on the pitch in 2002 and then on the bench to lead his players in 2019, during the lost finals. “It came down to little against a great Egyptian team that showed what it was capable of,” said Cissé. This title escaped us and we are proud to win it against this sacred team seven times, it is not nothing. I'm very emotive. We win for the Senegalese people who have been demanding this for more than 60 years. But we too will have our star now. We will enjoy these moments. »

Abdou Diallo, who transformed his shot on goal, and Idrissa Gueye succeed Serge Aurier (Côte d'Ivoire in 2015) and Selim Benachour (Tunisia in 2004), the first two players in the history of PSG to win the CAN. Remaining in the stands during this final, Moustapha Name is the first player from Paris FC (Ligue 2) to be crowned African champion.

"We knew it was going to be difficult," said captain Kalidou Koulibaly. In Dakar we all talked to each other, we had a dream, it was to win the CAN. Nobody was waiting for us there, nobody was waiting for us in the final. Today, we did it, we always believed in it despite all the criticism that there was on our team. No one saw us there. Today we won. We can only be happy, our people deserve it, and I thank them for always believing in us, I really thank them. »

Senegal and Egypt will play a “revenge” on March 24 and 29 in the World Cup qualifying play-offs with one of the five Africa zone tickets for Qatar at stake.

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Morocco 2-1 Malawi: Achraf Hakimi settles last-16 tie with stunning free-kick

Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick sent Morocco into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as they came from behind to beat Malawi 2-1.

Gabadinho Mhango had put the underdogs in front early on with an unbelievable strike from 40-yards, but Morocco responded well and they got the equalizer they deserved just before the breakthrough Youssef En-Nesyri.

With 20 minutes remaining, Hakimi completed the comeback in style with his second free-kick goal of the tournament, booking Morocco’s place in the last eight where they will face either Ivory Coast or Egypt.

This was Malawi’s first-ever appearance in the AFCON knockout stages, but their nerves would have been settled by a moment of pure brilliance from Mhango after seven minutes.

He picked up the ball more than 40 yards out, looked up, and saw Yassine Bounou off his line, and then let fly with an effort that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and into the top corner as Malawi took the lead in outrageous fashion.

Imran Louza had an effort comfortably saved for Morocco before Malawi broke quickly and Manga dragged a shot wide when he really should have made it 2-0 after 25 minutes.

It was one-way traffic for the rest of the half, as Morocco piled forward in search of an equalizer.

Romain Saiss saw his effort cannon off the bar from a few yards out after a brilliant cross, before Thomu made a stunning save to tip Achraf Hakimi’s shot onto the post. Sofiane Boufal then joined the party and missed a big chance himself, blazing over when he only had the goalkeeper to beat.

But the goal eventually came in first-half added-time. A deep ball into the box found En-Nesyri free, and his header was too powerful for Thomu to keep out as the sides went into the break level.

Boufal sent an effort well over the bar shortly into the second half, but Malawi continued to offer a threat on the break as the match remained completely in the balance.

Denis Chembezi blocked a low cross from Hakimi with his trailing arm in the box and went down holding his stomach in an apparent attempt to fool the officials, but much to his relief VAR decided not to award a penalty.

Hakimi scored a free-kick against Gabon in Morocco’s final group-stage match, and he once again stepped up to send a stunning effort from 25 yards flying into the top corner.

Malawi was unable to find a late equalizer as they ran out of steam, and Morocco sealed a place in the quarter-finals for just the third time since 1998.

See more: https://btsportlivestream-com.blogspot.com/2022/01/senegal-reach-afcon-quarterfinals-as.html

Senegal reach AFCON quarterfinals as Sadio Mane scores before the head injury

Senegal's Sadio Mane scored, but then went off with a head injury as they beat nine-man Cape Verde Islands 2-0 in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam on Tuesday.

Mane fired home from a set-piece after 62 minutes but had been hurt earlier in a nasty clash of heads with Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who was sent off for the incident.

Liverpool forward Mane then left the field shortly afterward complaining of a headache and could be a doubt for the quarterfinal in Limbe on Sunday.

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Substitute Bamba Dieng scored the second goal deep in stoppage time against a gallant Cape Verde side, who also had Patrick Andrade sent off after 20 minutes.

"It was a difficult game because Cape Verde was very organized," said Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly. "It was even more difficult after the first red card as they really ran around a bit but we can be happy we did the job."

Senegal's next opponents are either Mali or Equatorial Guinea, who play on Wednesday.

Mane had struck the woodwork in the opening minutes but it proved a false dawn as Senegal labored through the first half, as they had done in the group phase where they finished top of the standings despite scoring once.

But their task was made easier when Andrade was dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Pape Gueye that continued a spate of similar punishments for dangerous tackles in the tournament.

It left Cape Verde down to 10 men for the final 70 minutes but they were reduced to nine when Vozinha was sent off.

He came out to challenge for a long ball against Mane with the two clashing heads. Vozinha was badly concussed and stumbled around the field for several minutes before being persuaded to go off by his teammates.

In the interim, the referee was asked to look at the incident by the VAR and determined that Vozinha was reckless in his challenge on Mane, who was left with a swollen cheekbone. It seemed a harsh decision for the islanders, who quickly conceded.

A corner was half-cleared to an unmarked Mane, who hit the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

But he then looked uncomfortable almost immediately afterward and sat down before walking off to be substituted.

Replacement Dieng got his first international goal on the counter-attack in stoppage time as Cape Verde threw caution to the wind in their bid to try and force an unlikely equalizer.

See more: https://btsportlivestream-com.blogspot.com/2022/01/cameroon-into-afcon-quarters-despite.html 

Cameroon into AFCON quarters despite Comoros heroics, Gambia win

Hosts Cameroon set up an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final against the Gambia but only after laboring to a 2-1 win over a Comoros side who were forced to start an outfield player in goal and played most of Monday's game with 10 men.

Left-back Chaker Alhadhur started between the posts for Comoros in Yaounde after two of their three goalkeepers were ruled out due to COVID-19 while the other was missing due to injury.

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They then had captain Nadjim Abdou sent off after just seven minutes, and Karl Toko-Ekambi put Cameroon in front before skipper Vincent Aboubakar netted his sixth goal of the tournament.

Despite that, it was a heroic performance from the Comoros, who kept the last-16 tie alive until the end thanks to Youssouf M'Changama's stunning late free-kick.

"I don't think I am the only hero. I did what I could. I think I gave hope to the team and they all tried to help me," Alhadhur, usually a back-up left-back for French Ligue 2 side Ajaccio, told oadcaster Canal Plus.

He had to use tape to mark out his number three on the back of his goalkeeper's jersey.

Of being chosen to go in goal he added: "It was something that at first we spoke a bit about and laughed about, but then it became serious.

"I was chosen but I didn't believe it until I put on the gloves and the top. Then I realized it was serious. There were lots of emotions going through my head but then I just got on with it."

Like Comoros, a Gambia side ranked 150th in the world are appearing at their first-ever AFCON but they upset the odds to beat Guinea 1-0 in the western city of Bafoussam earlier on Monday thanks to a terrific second-half strike by Bologna's Musa Barrow.

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The Gambia then held on with 10 men at the end after Yusupha Njie was sent off, as Guinea hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in stoppage time.

The Guineans, deprived of suspended Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, had Iahima Conte sent off at the death as they bow out.

Gambia's achievement was all the more remarkable as coach Tom Saintfiet revealed the squad was affected by food poisoning during the night.

"We didn't have a good feeling about today because many of us had food poisoning, including me. I didn't sleep and was up at the toilet all the time, vomiting and with diarrhea," he told Canal Plus.

The last-16 action continues on Tuesday as Senegal plays Cape Verde in Bafoussam before Morocco takes on Malawi in Yaounde.

Meanwhile, eight people were killed in a crash outside a Cameroon stadium in the capital Yaounde before an Africa Cup of Nations football match on Monday night, according to a preliminary health ministry report.

"Eight deaths were recorded, two women in their thirties, four men in their thirties, one child, one body taken away by the family," the report said. State news had reported earlier that "half a dozen people died and dozens were injured."

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