Leeds United can bounce back to winning ways as they return to Championship action at Elland Road tonight with a clash against Sunderland.

The Whites head into this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Coventry City at the CBS Arena on Saturday, which has left the side in third place in the division.

A win would have left the Yorkshire-based outfit top of the table, having played one more game than Leicester and the same number as Ipswich, but they now have to play catchup with their rivals in order to secure automatic promotion.

Goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright landed all three points for Mark Robins' men at the weekend, and Daniel Farke could now look to make some changes to his starting XI from that defeat to freshen his team up against the Black Cats.

After Saturday's loss, FFC urged the German head coach to drop Patrick Bamford, who has struggled in recent games, to the bench but the former Norwich boss must also ruthlessly ditch Glen Kamara from the lineup.

Patrick Bamford's struggles in front of goal

The former England international has hit a rough patch of form in recent weeks and has let the team down at times with his wasteful finishing.

Farke hailed the distance Bamford ran against Coventry to help the side in and out of possession with his pressing and his runs in the channels and in behind.

However, the 30-year-old striker needs to produce quality in the final third alongside that work rate to ensure that Leeds pick up vital points in their attempts to win automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Over the last four matches, the left-footed dud has not been directly involved in any goals – with zero goals and zero assists – and has missed three 'big chances'.

His teammates provided him with 1.34 xG worth of chances in front of goal over those four outings, yet he was still unable to find the back of the net.

The Leeds forward, who has produced one goal and zero assists in his last six league appearances for the club, must now be ditched from the starting XI, and FFC selected Mateo Joseph as his replacement in a predicted XI for the clash with Sunderland.

As well as Bamford, Farke must ruthlessly ditch Kamara from the team after his poor display against Coventry last weekend, which was a far cry from his average performance level in the Championship this season.

Glen Kamara's season in numbers

Signed from Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers on a permanent deal last summer, the experienced midfielder has been a metronomic figure in the middle of the park for the German boss so far this season.

He has provided reliability and quality in possession to keep things ticking in midfield for Leeds, whilst also having the strength and awareness to be a solid presence off the ball to keep the ball out at the other end.

As you can see in the chart below, Kamara ranks within the top 2% of Championship midfielders for pass success rate (92.4%), and the top 6% for progressive passes (7.02) per 90.

These statistics show that there are not many better than the Finnish star when it comes to retaining and progressing possession with passes, as he rarely gives the ball away and constantly looks to play forward to move his team up the pitch.

Kamara, who has averaged 1.1 key passes per game and racked up three assists, has also been strong off the ball with 2.0 combined tackles and interceptions per match and a duel success rate of 58% across 33 league outings.

This shows that the 28-year-old whiz has come out on top in the majority of his physical battles with opposition players throughout the Championship season so far.

Overall, the Whites midfielder has been a fantastic presence in and out of possession in the middle of the park over the course of the campaign, but his best qualities were not on display in the defeat to Coventry on Saturday.

Why Glen Kamara should be ditched from the XI

After the match, Farke revealed that Kamara has been "suffering" with an illness and that his energy levels were not where he wanted them to be during the first-half.

The German boss claimed that he wanted more energy and intensity from his players during the second-half, and that is why the Finland international was brought off the pitch at the break and replaced by Connor Roberts.

Sofascore rating

6.7

7.08

Pass accuracy

88%

93%

Key passes

0

1.1

Duels won

2

3.4

Tackles + interceptions

1

2.0

Long ball accuracy

0%

72%

As you can see in the table above, his display against Coventry was off the pace in comparison to his average performance level in and out of possession.

Kamara did not provide any creativity to help his team to open up the opposition defence, with zero key passes and zero long balls completed, and only won two duels off the ball to win possession back for the Whites.

As Farke explained, the Finnish star has been suffering with an illness of late and did not have the energy required to produce a quality performance at the CBS Arena.

With this in mind, and Leeds playing tonight and then again on Saturday in the early kick-off against Blackburn Rovers, the manager must drop him to the bench to avoid another fatigued showing.

Farke could bring Connor Roberts back into the starting XI to lineup at right-back, and this would then free up 18-year-old starlet Archie Gray to be deployed in midfield next to Ilia Gruev, which would allow the boss to ditch Kamara.

Leeds should not want a repeat of his poor display last time out against Coventry, and that is why the £26k-per-week dynamo should be ditched for this clash with the Black Cats.

It would provide him with an opportunity to rest and fully recover from his illness, hopefully, to then be back and ready to start again against Blackburn, unless Gray does enough alongside Gruev to keep his place in midfield.

Everton are believed to be closely monitoring an "elite" player ahead of the summer transfer window, and he has the same agent as Dwight McNeil.

Everton transfer news

Everything surrounding the Blues feels so up in the air at the moment, with the Premier League status still far from secure, amid not only struggles on the pitch but the ongoing potential for further point deductions.

It is hard to overstate the importance of Everton remaining in the top flight beyond this season, in terms of their financial situation, with a move to a new stadium happening next year and 777 Partners' takeover in the balance too. Top-quality players need to be targeted in the summer transfer window, but that won't happen if the Merseysiders are playing Championship football.

The Blues do at least continue to be linked with some exciting young talent though, with Juventus "assist machine" Samuel Iling-Junior backed to seal a move to Goodison Park at the end of the season. The youngster could like the idea of a move back to England this summer, and is capable of excelling as both a left-back or in a more attack-minded role.

Celtic teenager Rocco Vata has emerged as more of a long-term option for Everton, with plenty of clubs interested in signing the 18-year-old midfielder, while there is also hope that Jack Harrison's loan move from Leeds United will become permanent in the near future.

Everton want "elite" defender this summer

According to Bild [via Sport Witness], Everton are keen on signing VfL Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix this summer, with the Blues closely monitoring him. He shares the same agent as McNeil, which could aid discussions with his representatives if the clubs agree a fee.

It is claimed in the report that the Blues have been targeting the "defensive chief" for months, as they look to strike a €20m (£17.1m) deal for his services.

Signing young players with bright futures has to be a target for Everton moving forward, rather than taking a punt on ageing figures who are past their best, and Lacroix falls into the first category, having attracted interest from city rivals Liverpool as a youngster.

The 23-year-old has shone for Wolfsburg over an extended period of time now, making 124 appearances for the Bundesliga side in total. This season, he has started 22 league games and appeared 23 times in the competition overall, enjoying an average of 4.1 clearances and 2.1 aerial duel wins per game in that time.

Journalist Tobias Kroger has heaped praise on his adaptability: "Maxence Lacroix! Came from Ligue 2 to Wolfsburg and after 3/4 of the season he’s an elite defender talent!"

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Given the price tag being talked about, Lacroix could be an absolute bargain at Everton this summer, and the Blues should be using the fact that he is out of contract at Wolfsburg in 2025 as a bargaining tool, with the German side not wanting to lose him for free next year.

Jess Duffin, the senior Australia cricketer, will become the first elite women’s player to be covered under Cricket Australia’s new policy on parental leave after announcing news of her pregnancy to the cricket board.The update also means that Duffin will not be in contention for a spot in the Australia team for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, starting February 2020.Although 30-year-old Duffin last represented Australia in 2015, she was named captain of the team of the season at the last WBBL after scoring 544 runs at an average of 68 for the Melbourne Renegades, making her a serious contender for a spot at the World Cup. Earlier this month, she had also turned down the opportunity to represent Australia A in their upcoming tour. “I found out when I was about four weeks (pregnant),” Duffin told . “I was pregnant through the whole Big Bash. When those conversations came up [in the media about Australia selection], I thought, ‘well everyone is going to laugh when they find out’. Cricket Australia were obviously stoked, and were like ‘we know now why you didn’t play the Australia A stuff’.”Under Cricket Australia’s new policy – developed in conjunction with the players’ association – Duffin will get a 12-month paid parental leave and have a confirmed contract for the next summer. Until she gives birth – in July 2020 – Duffin will also be able to take up non-playing roles within Cricket Australia’s system, and is eligible to return to playing whenever she is ready. Duffin is a double-sport athlete who also represents North Melbourne in the AFLW.

Nottingham Forest are looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League after a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Fulham at the City Ground on Tuesday night.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White were all on the scoresheet as the Reds claimed their first win in the league since the 2-0 win over West Ham United back in February.

Nuno Espírito Santo's side travel to face Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur side looking to pull further clear of the relegation zone after picking up four points from their last two games, moving three points clear of Luton Town, who occupy the final drop zone position.

The Reds boss has some key decisions to make ahead of the trip to the capital, with the likes of Gio Reyna and Harry Toffolo pushing for starts after appearances off the bench in Tuesday's victory.

That being said, here's a look at our predicted Forest lineup to face Spurs on Sunday evening…

1 GK – Matz Sels

Goalkeeper Matz Sels has enjoyed a solid start to life in Nottingham, starting all the Reds' Premier League games since his arrival in the January transfer window.

He's started every Premier League game under Nuno, with the Belgian shot-stopper nominated for the Premier League's Save of the Month for his reaction stop against Liverpool a few weeks ago.

2 RB – Neco Williams

A player who has certainly benefitted from consistent game time under boss Nuno is Neco Williams.

The right-back, who has made the most tackles of any Forest player this season, has started the last ten Premier League games, with the Welshman cementing his position as a starter despite being rumoured to leave the City Ground just a couple of months ago.

The position is his to lose, with Williams having the pace to deal with the threat of Spurs winger Heung-min Son this weekend.

3 CB – Murillo

The Brazilian defender has proven to be a phenomenal signing since arriving from Corinthians during the summer, with the 21-year-old already being linked with a big-money move away from the Reds.

No Forest fan would argue that he is destined for huge things in his career, with the Reds needing to get the most out of him before he departs the club.

However, for the time being, he remains a crucial part of the Forest squad, with the youngster potentially having a huge part to play in the club's survival hopes.

4 CB – Andrew Omobamidele

The duo of Andrew Omobamidele and Murillo complement each other well, with the pair still growing into the roles given their age.

Omobamidele was harshly dropped after the narrow Brighton defeat, with the Irishman returning in Tuesday's win over Fulham and looking back to his best alongside the Brazilian.

Nuno must stick with the fledgling displays given their encouraging displays against a solid outfit, led by Portuguese boss Marco Silva.

5 LB – Ola Aina

The former Chelsea youngster has excelled in his latest opportunity in England's top flight after a previous spell at Fulham, with the 27-year-old looking to be an excellent bit of business by the Forest hierarchy.

He's slotted straight back into the starting lineup in recent weeks after suffering an injury whilst at AFCON with Nigeria during January.

The full-back looks set to retain his place ahead of the likes of Harry Toffolo, with the Nigerian looking like one of the signings of the season after arriving at the club on a free.

6 DM – Nicolas Dominguez

The Argentinian has enjoyed a brilliant start to life in Nottingham, scoring three times in 24 appearances for the club, with the midfielder impressing with his pressing and ball-winning ability.

However, he's failed to start the last couple of games under Nuno, with the "fantastic" midfielder, as dubbed by TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher, deserving of a recall.

The former Bologna man would be better suited against Spurs than current Reds midfielder Ryan Yates, with the 25-year-old able to win the ball under pressure, find pinpoint passes and create a quick transition into attack.

7 DM – Danilo

With Ibrahim Sangare failing to make a real impression since his arrival and Orel Mangala leaving to join Lyon, Danilo has often been the partner alongside Dominguez at the base of Forest's midfield.

However, he's failed to match the levels he achieved last season, but his display against Fulham in the week was by far his best of the campaign, with the youngster playing a perfectly weighted ball into Gibbs-White, who tucked the ball home with ease.

His performance against Silva's side is more than deserving of a second start in a row against Postecoglou's side on Sunday.

8 LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi

In recent weeks, Callum Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed a brilliant spell in front of goal which has seen him score four times in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

His pace and direct dribbling could cause the Spurs defence endless trouble, with the former Chelsea winger starting to show glimpses his talent that saw Bayern Munich linked with a £70m move for the youngster.

9 CAM – Morgan Gibbs-White

The attacking midfielder has been a revelation under Nuno, with his all-round game seeming to have improved from the start of the season.

He produced his best performance of the campaign just a couple of days ago, scoring and grabbing an assist with the attacking midfielder looking like the player the Reds fans saw on a regular basis last season.

His great form isn't going unnoticed, with multiple top-flight sides eyeing him up in the summer. Like Murillo, Forest have to make the most of his ability, with the 24-year-old having the ability to single-handedly secure survival.

10 RW – Anthony Elanga

He's scored five and assisted seven so far for the Reds, with his pace and eye for goal developing each week, with Anthony Elanga starting to look like a potential bargain and a player Manchester United might regret selling.

The Swede missed a golden opportunity against Fulham in midweek, but he will be looking to bounce back against Spurs with the attacker hoping to add to his successful goal tally.

Liam Plunkett also ‘gutted’ after being overlooked for South Africa tour

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2019

Sam Billings missed out on England’s World Cup squad•Getty Images

Sam Billings will not put his name forward for any T20 franchise action this winter after missing out on England’s white-ball squads in South Africa, but says that his disappointment will provide an opportunity to “freshen up” ahead of the new English season with Kent.Billings has endured a chastening year on the fringes of England selection. He had been a frontrunner for a World Cup berth this summer, but was cruelly ruled out of contention after dislocating his shoulder during his first appearance of the season.Then, in the absence of a number of senior players including Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, Billings was named vice-captain for last month’s T20 series in New Zealand –  a huge vote of confidence – but was unable to make his presence felt with just 34 runs in five innings, albeit with three not-outs.Billings will now turn his attention back to Kent where, as captain, he returned to action in August and impressed in the closing rounds of the County Championship, scoring three hundreds in consecutive innings, including two in the match against Yorkshire at Headingley – form that might yet lead to a role with England Lions when they head to Australia in the New Year.Away from England duty, he chose not to put his name forward for next week’s IPL auction after being released by Chennai Super Kings back in November. He has previously featured in the Pakistan Super League for Islamabad United, and for Sydney Sixers in Australia’s Big Bash. “All the best to the lads heading to South Africa,” Billings wrote on Twitter. “Huge amount of depth esp in the white ball game atm. Of course disappointed not to be involved but wish the boys all the best. Will be working hard to get back in the mix (in all formats) in the near future!”On a personal level, I have chosen to pull out of any franchise cricket this winter as well to focus/freshen up for a big year with @KentCricket. Very fortunate to have played all over the last few years & a break from the game to refresh I feel is the best decision.”Another man on the sidelines this winter is Liam Plunkett, England’s unsung hero of the World Cup final – which, at the age of 34, may now prove to have been his final match in international cricket.Having been overlooked for a central contract in September, Plunkett possibly anticipated his omission from both squads, but nevertheless took to Twitter to register his disappointment.”Gutted not to be involved in the England odi squad,” he wrote.

يلتقي منتخب قطر، اليوم الخميس، نظيره أوزبكستان ضمن منافسات التصفيات الآسيوية المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم 2026 المقامة في أمريكا وكندا والمكسيك.

ويستضيف المنتخب القطري نظيره أوزبكستان، اليوم الخميس، على ملعب جاسم بن حمد ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من المرحلة الثالثة من تصفيات كأس العالم.

طالع.. فيديو | قطر تفوز على قرجيكستان بثلاثية في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

ويحتل منتخب قطر، المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 4 نقاط بعد الخسارة في مباراتين والتعادل في مباراة وفوز وحيد.

منتخب أوزبكستان في المركز الثاني من المجموعة برصيد 10 نقاط، حيث حقق الفوز في 3 مباريات وتعادل مباراة واحدة بالتساوي مع منتخب إيران صاحب الصدارة.

وتلعب منافسات الدور الثالث من تصفيات قارة آسيا بمشاركة 18 فريقًا، تم تقسيمها إلى ثلاث مجموعات، بواقع 6 فرق في كل مجموعة.

ويتأهل صاحبا الصدارة والوصافة من كل مجموعة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم مباشرة، فيما يصعد أصحاب المركزين الثالث والرابع للمرحلة الرابعة من المنافسات.

ويتم تقسيم الفرق المتأهلة للمرحلة الرابعة إلى مجموعتين، يصعد منهما المتصدر فقط إلى مونديال 2026، فيما تقام مباراة أخيرة بين وصيف مجموعتي الدور الرابع، يتأهل الفائز منها إلى الملحق العالمي، ليكتمل نصاب قارة آسيا في المونديال. موعد مباراة قطر وأوزبكستان اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم

وتنطلق المباراة بين قطر وأوزبكستان في تمام السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسابعة والربع بتوقيت مكة المكرمة وقطر. القناة الناقلة مباراة قطر وأوزبكستان في تصفيات كأس العالم

وتنقل المباراة على شبكة قنوات بي إن سبورتس، حيث حددت قناة beIN Sports HD 1 لإذاعة اللقاء. معلق مباراة قطر وأوزبكستان في تصفيات كأس العالم

ويعلق عامر الخوذيري على المباراة بين قطر وأوزبكستان.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.

It may have taken a few rocky years and some sizable investments, but Arsenal are once again one of the best teams in Europe.

Mikel Arteta's side are top of the Premier League and have a real chance of winning the Champions League this year – should they finally get on over Bayern Munich, that is.

The Gunners have a team full of superstars, although it's one of the summer signings who could claim to be the most important, Declan Rice.

Declan Rice's valuation in 2024

Rice completed his long-awaited move to north London from West Ham United last July after what must've felt like a lifetime of back-and-forth negotiations for all involved.

There was a lot of pressure on the Englishman's shoulders to be the player to take the Gunners from last year's nearly men to this year's champions, and so far, it'd be fair to say he's hit those expectations if not exceeded them.

Declan Rice's Arsenal record
Appearances	39
Goals	6
Assists	7
Goal Involvements per Match	0.33
All Stats via Transfermarkt

He's made 39 appearances for the side so far this season – and started 100% of league games – in which he has scored six goals and provided seven assists, becoming a key contributor in both defence and attack.

His brilliant form in red and white led to him captaining England for the first time on Tuesday night, and unsurprisingly, his valuation has steadily grown since his transfer.

According to Football Transfers' Expected Value Model, the 6 foot 1 titan was worth just €71m – £61m – in August 2023 but is now worth around €92m, which is about £79m, and while that's lower than the fee the Gunners paid for him in the summer, most fans were well aware that there was always going to be a premium upon his head should he leave the London Stadium.

However, his valuation is still significantly lower than the price that a former club great was sold for in the past, when converted to today's money.

Cesc Fàbregas' valuation in 2024

The player in question is former Spain international Cesc Fàbregas. While calling him a great of the club could be controversial given his move to Chelsea, there is no denying that when he wore the famous red and white of Arsenal, he was magnificent.

The Arenys de Mar-born phenom joined the Gunners from Barcelona as a child and became the youngest first-team player in the club's history when he made his debut in a League Cup clash in October 2003 at just 16 years and 177 days.

Over the next eight years, the "astonishing talent," as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, made 303 appearances under Arsène Wenger, in which he scored 57 goals and provided 95 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.99 games, which, given his age, was remarkable.

Cesc Fàbregas' Arsenal career
Appearances	303
Goals	57
Assists	95
Goal Involvements per Match	0.50
All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, while he was dearly loved by the club and its fans, the call to return to Barcelona was too strong.

In the summer of 2011, he finally rejoined the Catalan side for a fee that, thanks to the clever people at Totally Money, can be converted into today's money.

So, how much does it come to? Well, the £30m Arsenal received for the Spaniard in August 2011 would be a whopping £81m today, or around £2m more than Rice's current valuation.

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Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 27, 2024

Ultimately, while the club would surely have preferred to keep Fabregas at the club forever, the fee they received for him certainly looks generous by today's standards.

Jurgen Klopp's reign at Liverpool has seen both peaks and valleys, but there is an ominous sense that the lionised manager's final few weeks on Merseyside will be categorised by misery and rueful resignation.

Failing to defeat Manchester United in commanding positions across recent trips to Old Trafford in the FA Cup and Premier League has unravelled Liverpool's thrilling campaign like a loose kite in the wind, with the buffeting struggles of the past few weeks resulting in successive Anfield losses against Atalanta (in the Europa League) and Crystal Palace (in the top-flight).

The Carabao Cup was won in February in what seemed like a galvanising tone-setter for the months to come, with the Reds fighting with such fervour amid persistent injury blows to fire on all cylinders. After overcoming such obstacles, Liverpool have inexplicably collapsed.

At Craven Cottage on Sunday, against Fulham, Klopp simply has to spark his team back into life, with Manchester City starting the weekend two points clear of their two contenders, with Arsenal also falling to an unexpected defeat last weekend.

Liverpool have an unusually near-clean bill of health, though Conor Bradley continues to recover from an ankle injury that will keep him out for a few more weeks.

Klopp has to rebound from the midweek Europa League exit against Atalanta, where the Merseysiders sparked spark and initiative, and might make three changes to the starting XI.

1 GK – Alisson

Alisson's return from injury has come at the perfect time for Liverpool, even if he has not quite had the happiest of returns over the past few games.

The Brazilian is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and is marginally behind Alphonse Areola in the most reliable shot-stopper in the division, having saved 75.3% of the shots faced this season (Areola has saved 75.8%).

2 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool might have won at Atalanta on Thursday but the damage was done and it was a bleak performance, lacking the electricity and snap that was needed. Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to the starting line-up was a bright spark though.

The inventive right-back is always looking to make things happen and will provide his profligate forwards with everything they need to rediscover their shooting boots, hailed as a creative "genius" by reporter Neil Jones.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate has done a superb job this season after Joel Matip's season was cut short by injury back in December, but the France international has been guilty of some poor performances recently.

He will need to have his wits about him against in-form shooter Rodrigo Muniz.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has cut a disconsolate figure over the past few matches but he called for the fans to rally around the squad on Thursday night and, if Liverpool are to turn things around, he will be at the heart of the success.

5 LB – Andy Robertson

Possibly Liverpool's best performer throughout this recent poor patch, Andy Robertson will be crucial against Fulham, pumping energy and creativity into the team.

It's been a bit of a stop-start campaign for the Scotland skipper, but he's returning to his best recently and could be the catalyst on Sunday.

6 DM – Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo signed for Liverpool from German side Stuttgart in a surprise £16m deal last summer, after missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, and while he's largely been fantastic, the Japanese's recent showings have left much to be desired.

Still, he must anchor the midfield against the Cottagers, doing the groundwork for a few other midfielders to supply the forwards ahead of him.

7 CM – Harvey Elliott

Dominik Szoboszlai has fallen by the wayside, and while he can pick himself back up, he must be ditched for Harvey Elliott in this one, with the dynamic midfielder more than deserving of a spot in his favoured position.

The 21-year-old is truly a first-class prospect and has started to prove why he can play a lasting role in this Liverpool team, having been described as a "special talent" by The Athletic's James Pearce.

8 CM – Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister has been a monster of a signing for Liverpool and will need to harness the full scope of his world-class ability if he is to lead the club back toward the light.

Matches played

27

Matches started

26

Goals

4

Assists

5

Pass completion

88%

Touches per game

76.3

Shots per game

1.3

Key passes per game

1.4

Tackles per game

3.0

Ball recoveries per game

6.4

Duels won per game

6.0

He's clinched seven goal contributions from his past eight outings in the Premier League and he might just be the difference-maker once again at Fulham.

9 RW – Mohamed Salah

What has happened to Mohamed Salah? The Egyptian talisman has been out of sorts for a while now and has toiled through recent fixtures.

That said, he's one of the deadliest forwards in Europe, having scored 24 goals and supplied 13 assists in all competitions this season.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

With electric pace and deft dribbling, Luis Diaz will be an important presence down the left channel, causing Fulham a host of problems and driving the play into promising positions to ensure Liverpool hit prolific form once again.

The winger botched his kick and then Jonny Evans blazed over to hand the first trophy of the season to their neighbours

Jadon Sancho must hate playing at Wembley, especially when it comes to taking penalties there, and his kick proved crucial as Manchester City snatched the Community Shield from United's grasp.

The winger was a late substitute and botched his kick when United were leading in the shootout, with Ederson thwarting him. Jonny Evans then ballooned his effort over the bar, allowing Manuel Akanji to seal City's victory.

The Blues dominated the early stages but United played the better football and, after Bruno Fernandes' wonderful goal was ruled offside, struck first in the 82nd minute thanks to a magnificent run and finish by Alejandro Garnacho.

City had been toothless in attack but scored with their first effort on target, a header from Bernardo Silva after a clever cross from the effervescent Oscar Bobb. To penalties it went, where Sancho was left cursing his luck again from the spot.

GOAL rates Man Utd's players from Wembley Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Andre Onana (6/10):

  Very comfortable in possession. Barely had to make a save. Thwarted Bernardo but was powerless to stop the other penalties.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10):

  Threatened to be exposed by Jeremy Doku's trickery but steadied himself and defended intelligently.

  Harry Maguire (5/10):

  Did a decent job looking after Haaland but did not look fully fit.

  Jonny Evans (5/10):

  Looked shaky at times, especially when giving the ball away before McAtee hit the post. Made some good blocks and clearances but then hit a terrible penalty.

  Lisandro Martinez (5/10):

  Filled in at left-back, displaying his usual control in possession and combative nature. However, he lost Oscar Bobb at the crucial moment for the equaliser.

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  Midfield

  Kobbie Mainoo (6/10):

  Knitted the play together well although naturally looked a bit rusty given his short break. Understandably taken off early.

  Casemiro (8/10):

  A pleasant surprise after a concerning pre-season. His passing was spot-on and didn't look so vulnerable in this system.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  A typically all-action performance. Played some defence-splitting passes and netted with a wonderful strike but was offside.

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  Attack

  Amad Diallo (7/10):

  Exciting and daring. Responsible for two of the best moves of the match but couldn't find the final pass for the first.

  Mason Mount (4/10):

  Struggled to make an impact, over-cooking passes and not getting in the right attacking positions.

  Marcus Rashford (5/10):

  Still searching for his former spark and was frustratingly wasteful in front of goal. Curled wide after good build-up play and should have buried his one-v-one against Ederson, hitting the post instead.

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  Subs & Manager

  Facundo Pellistri (6/10):

  Worked hard in defence and made a crucial tackle on Kevin De Bruyne in injury time.

  Toby Collyer (6/10):

  Coped well in his first appearance at Wembley, looking calm and composed on the ball.

  Alejandro Garnacho (9/10):

  Simply stunning. Put one on a plate for Rashford only for the forward to hit the post, then jinked inside and expertly tucked home the opener. Scored his spot-kick in the shootout too.

  Scott McTominay (5/10):

  Not very effective.

  Jadon Sancho (N/A):

  Replaced Rashford in the 83rd minute and then was denied by Ederson from the spot after an unwise run-up.

  Erik ten Hag (7/10):

  Will be frustrated not to win but got his tactics right again against City and this 4-2-2-2 shape could be a good blueprint in the crunch matches.

Celtic turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this afternoon as they prepare to take on Aberdeen at Hampden Park in the SFA Cup.

The Hoops travel across Glasgow to take on the Dons in the semi-finals of the competition, as they look to book a place in the final next month – where they would face either Rangers or Hearts.

Brendan Rodgers' side come into this match off the back of a 3-0 win over St Mirren in the Premiership on Saturday, which extended their lead at the top of the division to four points – cut to three after their rivals picked up a point against Dundee on Wednesday night.

Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Adam Idah all got on the scoresheet during the second half against St Mirren, in what turned out to be a comfortable victory for the Bhoys after a goalless first half.

The Northern Irish head coach could now make some changes for this cup clash, to provide other players with an opportunity to impress, and should finally unleash Luis Palma from the start ahead of Hyun-jun Yang, with Daizen Maeda out injured.

When Daizen Maeda is expected to return

Earlier this month, Rodgers revealed that the Japan international has suffered an injury in the tendon of his hamstring, which ruled him out of the clash with St Mirren.

The Hoops boss added that the right-footed winger will be re-assessed over the coming weeks to see whether or not he will be available to play again before the end of the season.

This suggests that there is no guarantee that Maeda will be fit enough to feature during the run-in, and Celtic supporters may have to wait until the 2024/25 campaign to see him in action again, unless he can recover over the next few weeks.

Appearances

25

Goals

5

Big chances missed

12

Assists

2

Key passes per game

0.5

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old forward has been wasteful with his opportunities in front of goal in the Premiership this season, and has rarely created chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

However, Rodgers claimed – in September 2023 – that having Maeda on the pitch is like having "two players" due to the "unbelievable" work rate he puts in out wide, which shows that there is far more to his game than just goals and assists.

Celtic will need to find a solution to his absence on the left flank and Yang put in a solid performance against St Mirren, but Palma should also be presented with an opportunity to shine.

Hyun-yun Yang's season in numbers

The South Korean whiz, who was signed from Gangwon FC last summer, has not had the easiest of first seasons in Glasgow as he has battled to adjust to football in Scotland.

Yang is yet to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI and inconsistent numbers in the final third have followed, with four direct goal contributions in 24 appearances and ten starts in the league.

In fact, the 21-year-old attacker has zero goals, zero assists, and one red card in his last four league outings for the Scottish giants, after two assists in the previous two matches – perfectly illustrating his inconsistent season.

Of course, Celtic should not have expected a player to come to Europe for the first time at the age of 21 and hit the ground running with consistently brilliant performances, which is why Yang needs time and should be viewed as a great prospect for the future.

There were promising signs from his display as a starter against St Mirren, with three key passes and one 'big chance' created, but he also lost nine of his 15 duels and only completed three of his seven attempted dribbles.

He ended the match without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts, and this upcoming clash with Aberdeen provides Rodgers with a chance to replace him with Palma, who has the potential to offer more at the top end of the pitch.

Why Luis Palma should start for Celtic

Signed from Greek side Aris on a permanent deal last summer, the talented star has proven himself to be capable of scoring and assisting goals on a regular basis from a wide position.

Earlier this season, former Celtic man Peter Grant lauded Palma as a "real threat" and claimed that the winger "causes havoc" with his ability to send dangerous balls into the box to create chances for his teammates.

The Honduras international, who created one 'big chance' in just 19 minutes against St Mirren, hit the ground running at the start of the campaign, and his numbers back that up.

Appearances

24

Starts

17

Goals

6

Big chances created

13

Assists

9

Key passes per game

2.7

As you can see in the table above, the 5 foot 10 magician has been directly involved in 15 goals in 17 league starts for the Scottish giants this season.

Only Matt O'Riley (11) has assisted more goals in the division for Celtic, and no player has created as many 'big chances' as Palma's 13 so far.

This speaks to how influential the 24-year-old wizard has been at times for the Hoops, as there are few players as good as him when it comes to creating chances and assisting goals within Rodgers' squad.

His last start came against Kilmarnock in February and the forward has scored one goal and created one 'big chance' in three substitute appearances since then.

He has provided quality off the bench and the manager must now finally unleash him from the start today in the hope that his quality at the top end of the pitch, as a scorer and a creator of goals, can fire the Hoops to the final of the SFA Cup.

It will be an interesting battle to nail down the left wing spot in the absence of Maeda, and the opportunities will be there for Palma and Yang to both state their case for a regular place in the starting XI between now and the end of the season.