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Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in a clash that is more hyped than the Carabao Cup final it precedes and both clubs will be hoping to claim three all-important points.

The Red Devils’ exceptional run of form might have hit a stumbling block in their 2-0 loss to PSG in the Champions League last week, but they got right back on track with a comfortable victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup 5th round.

Jurgen Klopp’s side meanwhile, will be looking to produce a far more clinical performance than the one they put in on Tuesday – the Reds’ lacklustre finishing meant Bayern Munich left Anfield with a truly undeserved clean sheet.

Regardless of the bitterness between the two long-time rivals, the clash is of enormous importance to both in the Premier League – United will be aiming to leave fifth placed Arsenal in the dust while Liverpool can go top of the standings.

This week’s expert fans, the TT’s United apologist Alex Rigby and Football League World assistant editor and Liverpool nut George Dagless, offer their predictions ahead of the Super Sunday battle…

If you’re Jurgen Klopp, who partners Virgil van Dijk in defence out of Fabinho and Joel Matip? 

George: “I’d not be surprised if Fabinho actually played there because he looks a decent centre-half but, by virtue of me thinking he’s going to be in midfield, Matip starts.

“Van Dijk is the leader and Matip benefits from that, I think together they are a decent enough partnership and I’ve no issues with them going in together – nor do I if the Brazilian ended up alongside our number 4.”

Alex: “It’s a tough one because Fabinho has been performing very, very well in defence. But I’d have to say Matip. The big man is decent enough to partner alongside the league’s best centre-back and make it work – despite it being a less than ideal situation. 

“Fabinho’s services will be needed in midfield as well. He performed excellently in the reverse fixture and there’s every chance he’ll be the man set up to nullify Paul Pogba.”

Indeed, former Monaco man Fabinho has impressed at the heart of defence in Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez’s stead despite being a holding midfielder by trade. Deputising for the suspended van Dijk against Bayern, the 25-year-old cut a composed figure and the timing of his tackling was exemplary.

While he may grow to be a better option at centre-half than Matip, the Reds will sorely miss Fabinho’s physical presence at the base of midfield if he does continue in defence against United. As Alex says, he will be instrumental if the Anfield outfit are to shut down the increasingly influential Pogba.

United’s victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup saw Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku deployed up front, with Juan Mata as the No.10. Is this the best trio?

Alex: “Yes and no. What United did at Chelsea was remarkable and every player had their part to play. However, there were glaring signs that Lukaku doesn’t really suit United’s new style of play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He’s no way near gifted enough technically, I think everyone can see that.

“The club now rely on rapid transitions from defence to attack, much like the old days under Sir Alex Ferguson, and if you’ve got Lukaku ballooning his touch into row-z it doesn’t really work. 

“Mata on the other hand looks far better in the central role compared to when he plays right-wing. Clearly, Solskjaer has realised far quicker than Jose Mourinho that Mata’s lack of pace really doesn’t suit the position.”

George: “I don’t think it is with the way Solskjaer likes to play.

“Mata is a fantastic footballer and does well against us invariably so he might feature but all fit United probably aren’t going to use him as much under the Norwegian.

“He wants pace and directness and for me their best three are Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Obviously, Martial and Lingard face late fitness calls but could be available and I’d say that’s their best attack.”

It has become apparent in Solskjaer’s short reign that strikers of Lukaku’s mould don’t exactly fit perfectly into the Norwegian’s system.

Instead, the sight of Rashford on the shoulder and running in behind to latch onto a Pogba pass and slot home has become a regular one – the England international’s mobility makes him far more suited to Solskjaer’s style than Lukaku but that hasn’t stopped the ‘Baby-faced Assassin’ from fitting the former Everton man into his side.

Is this Liverpool’s biggest test of the season so far considering the nervy performance against Bayern on Tuesday and United’s resurgence? 

George: “No. But it’s up there, as it is any season when it’s United.

“I’d say the game at the Etihad was bigger this season – which obviously didn’t go well – and the home game against Napoli given what was riding on it – and that did go well.

“I think the Bayern result could have been far worse – if you can’t win at home in Europe don’t concede – and so I don’t think that places any more onus on us winning this one.

“It’s Manchester United against Liverpool, anyway, this is one you’ll always be up for.”

Alex: “Manchester United and Tottenham stand in the way of the one trophy Liverpool truly care about – the Premier League. It’s been nearly 30 years since they last won the title, far longer than their relatively recent Champions League success.

“It’ll be a test of bottle and skill on Sunday, and the biggest one yet, no doubt.”

Aside from a much-improved defence, the major improvement Klopp’s side has made is that they have learned how to win at all costs – see clashes against Brighton and Crystal Palace, where the Reds had to dig deep to grind out a result.

Unfortunately, that ruthlessness was lacking in their stalemate with the Bundesliga champions on Tuesday, with many players guilty of missing glorious chances to give the Reds the lead – Sadio Mane screwed wide his side’s best chance of the game as the ball fell to him in the box.

A loss to United this weekend could be disastrous for Liverpool psychologically, if not in terms of their title hopes. While it has to be said the Red Devils are a far improved team since the two sides last met, the Reds will surely accept nothing other than a win.

This game will be far more of an even contest than the 3-1 Liverpool win in December, where the Reds were dominant in midfield. Can United match or better them in the middle of the park this time?  

Alex: “Liverpool’s midfield isn’t better than Manchester United’s, especially when you have Pogba dropping in there to perform some wizardry. 

“Of course, they certainly had the edge on them back in December but how much of that was down to players giving up on the manager?“You’ve got to say that the way United are pressing now isn’t much different from Klopp’s style, and the players they have in their lineup should have the technical edge on the day. Ander Herrera relishes these types of games and he’s playing incredibly at the moment. Will be the difference on the day.”George: “They have a better chance but they’re still not as mobile.“Paul Pogba is obviously the big difference – Liverpool don’t have a midfielder like him in terms of the goals and assists he can bring from the middle of the park and so the Reds must keep him quiet.“Is he still disciplined in the biggest games, though? He was shown up against PSG and so he is far from infallible.“Herrera and Nemanja Matic look to be the sitting two and they are good at what they do but players can run off them – and the likes of Gini Wijnaldum breaking lines should hopefully cause them issues.”World Cup winner Pogba has chalked up eight goals and five assists since Solskjaer’s United revolution began and is finally looking like the player the Old Trafford outfit were expecting to get when they spent big to bring him back from Juventus.It hasn’t been a perfectly smooth ride for the Frenchman since Mourinho’s departure, though – the 25-year-old was sent off against PSG and, in losing his temper, could cost his side again if Liverpool don’t give him the time on the ball he craves.The Reds will likely swarm the number 6’s every touch and limit his influence on the game to the best of their ability. While the rest of the team have undergone huge transformations too, it seems that if you can stop Pogba you can more or less stop United.Mixed fortunes for English sides in the Champions League so how far off are they from dominating Europe’s top table? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…Finally, what are your score predictions? Alex: “3-2 United.” George: “My heart says we spark into life and outclass them, 2-0. Head says 1-1.”

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Crystal Palace host bitter rivals Brighton at Selhurst Park on Saturday in what promises to be a fantastic contest which both sides will fancy their chances of winning. The Eagles, though, can make their lives a lot easier by giving Jeffrey Schlupp one simple instruction that he should be able to execute pretty comfortably.

On the chalkboard

For the teams who cannot afford to throw millions at the transfer market in order to get the cream of the crop through the door and play sublime football, getting the ball out to the wings and then into the box is a surefire way to cause those aforementioned big spenders problems and thereby level the playing field.

Brighton know this and are keen to do so if their attack areas are anything to go by – WhoScored states that just 22% of the Seagulls’ attacks are down the middle, making them one of the most wing-reliant teams in the league.

Luckily for Palace, they have Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back and it will always take something special to get the better of the number 29; the same cannot be said for Patrick van Aanholt on the opposite flank.

Schlupp for it

While van Aanholt’s attacking prowess makes him a threat going forward, he can be caught out in defence sometimes and no doubt their opposition at the weekend will look to take advantage.

Schlupp’s big role to play, then, is to offer his former competition at left-back ample protection when Brighton look to hit them down the wing. The Ghanaian has been reaping the rewards of his new position in central midfield although he may be forced to return to his wide berth once again if Palace want to focus on Brighton’s attacking qualities instead.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Roy Hodgson may want the 26-year-old in the side for his recently-acquired eye for goal but his defensive work will be essential on Saturday – it is equally important for Palace to not lose this game as to win it and they can avoid the former by helping each other out at the back as best as possible.

كشف مصدر خاص بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، النقاب عن خطوات مسؤولي اللجنة الخماسية لدعوة مؤمن زكريا لاعب النادي الأهلي، للمشاركة في الإعلان عن القميص الجديد للمنتخب الوطني.

وكان اتحاد الكرة قد أعلن أنه سيتم الكشف عن القميص الجديد لمنتخب مصر في أكتوبر الجاري، وذلك بعد الاتفاق مع الشركة المختصة بإنتاج أطقم المنتخبات الوطنية.

طالع | خاص.. كاف يوافق على مبادرة هاني أبو ريدة بشأن مؤمن زكريا

وقال مصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات”: “اتحاد الكرة وجه دعوة إلى مؤمن زكريا من أجل المشاركة في الاعلان عن القميص الجديد لـ منتخب مصر”.

وأضاف: “مؤمن زكريا أعطى موافقة مبدئية لاتحاد الكرة، وسيكون هناك تنسيق بينهما حول الميعاد المناسب”.

يُذكر أن اتحاد الكرة سيكشف عن القميص الجديد لمنتخب مصر في مؤتمر صحفي، لم يحدد موعده حتى الآن.

واختتم: “اتحاد الكرة يُخطط لجلسة تصوير لبعض من نجوم منتخب مصر بقميص المنتخب الجديد”.

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Harry Maguire has rapidly emerged as one of the most popular and highly rated central defenders in English football.

Sheffield United fans will cite back to prophetic claims they made in the early stages of his career at Bramall Lane to prove they saw his stardom coming, even if he is something of a late bloomer. Operating at the heart of a central defensive trio, the Leicester City enforcer played with composure and maturity in his first major international tournament last summer, earning esteemed praise and reported interest from Manchester United as a result.

His popularity transcends beyond football though: the man affectionately nicknamed ‘slab head’ became a national hero when he was pictured chatting casually to a bashful-looking woman after scoring in England’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden. The woman’s adoring expression and nervous body language combined with Maguire’s ultra relaxed stance suggested this was her first encounter with a newly-crowned king to whom she was betrothed. It later became apparent that the elusive woman in question, namely Fern Hawkins, was in fact his girlfriend, and that only seemed to add comedic value to the post.

The euphoria and mania of the World Cup has not corrupted Maguire’s development thereafter. His glowing reputation both personally and professionally remains in tact and his performances at Leicester this season will almost certainly earn him a start against the Czech Republic – particularly given the fact Gareth Southgate’s list of injured absentees could almost form a title-challenging all-star Premier League XI.

John Stones and Joe Gomez are both sidelined with injury and the shortage of first-choice options in central defence will add an extra weight of responsibility onto those strapping broad shoulders which wouldn’t look out of place on a rugby pitch. He will be the most senior central defender by default – in terms of England experience – and he will need to use his defensive nous to nullify the Czech’s most dangerous threat: Patrik Schick.

The travelling side have a prestigious footballing history which evokes nostalgic memories of pulsating attacking players, from Jan Koller, who embodied a bull in a china shop approach to bustling centre-forward play, to Pavel Nedved, who dazzled and orchestrated with an elegance akin to his majestic blond locks.

But that generation has passed and left the Eastern European nation with a squad of underwhelming individuals. Schick, however, offers a flicker of flair and promise to suggest that the next batch of talent could grind their sobering regression to a halt.

A centre-forward by trade, Schick joined AS Roma from Fiorentina in the summer of 2017 after scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 32 Serie A appearances during the 2016/17 season. The switch from a solid mid-table outfit to a budding title-contender and regular Champions League participant has not been the seamless transition to success which he may have hoped for, but he has thrived on the international stage of late.

The 6 ft 2 target man has started 12 times in Serie A this season, scoring three goals in the process, but he boasts a far more prolific return for his national side. Three goals arrived in four UEFA Nations League appearances in 2018, while his all-round hold up play and twinkle-toed dribbling ability offered a level of star quality which is unrivalled in Jaroslav Silhavy’s squad.

If anyone is likely to provide the inspiration for a shock Czech Republic victory at Wembley, it’s Schick. Maguire’s fundamental task will be to win the physical and mental battle with the outstanding individual opponent, using every inch of his mass to bully the gangly forward both on and off the ball, reducing him to nothing more than a flashy Bambi on ice.

The Czechs are dark horses and Schick is the jockey with the power to guide them to a stunning victory over England; equally, Maguire is sufficiently-equipped to ensure that the danger man is suppressed.

Not even the most optimistic of Sheffield United supporters w0uld have believed at the start of the season that their side would be within touching distance of automatic promotion with just eight games to play.

Yet, after their dramatic victory at Elland Road on Saturday against Leeds United, the Blades have put themselves in a fabulous position in the Championship table.

Currently second and one point ahead of the Whites, Chris Wilder’s side are now in control of their fate and know that a continuation of their recent form will all but guarantee Premier League football next season.

However, in order to achieve this goal, the former Oxford United boss will have to sacrifice the experiment of playing central defender Chris Basham in the heart of midfield.

Although the 30-year-old was responsible for the winner at the weekend, his inclusion in an unfamiliar role affected the usual attacking prowess which has propelled United into the promotion hunt this season.

With the Blades facing Bristol City, Birmingham City and Preston North End over the course of the next month, Wilder will know that he needs more creativity in his midfield to ensure that the club’s momentum continues and therefore either Kieran Dowell or Mark Duffy should return to the starting eleven in place of Basham.

Also, it is extremely unlikely that United will surrender as much of the ball in any of their remaining fixtures compared to their approach against Leeds and so there will be more of an emphasis of controlling the tempo rather than setting up to counter-attack.

A return to defence for Basham could suit United as he fits the unique mold of a centre-back who can provide an attacking threat However, with both Martin Cranie and Jack O’Connell producing brilliant displays at the weekend, it may prove to be difficult for him to force himself back into his favoured position.

What do you think Blades fans? Is Basham good enough to keep his position in central midfield? Or should he return to his usual role in defence to accommodate Duffy or Dowell? Let us know below.

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Everton will be looking to put a huge dent in Liverpool’s title hopes as well as looking to build on their midweek win against Cardiff City when they host the Reds at Goodison Park on Sunday, but potential club-record signing Richarlison should be a surprise omission from the starting XI.

On the chalkboard

There is no doubt that the Brazil international made a decent start to his Toffees career and his tally of 10 goals in 26 Premier League appearances to date is impressive, although they have certainly dried up in recent times.

The 21-year-old only has one goal and no assists in his previous nine top-flight outings, and he has begun to find himself back out on his preferred position on the wing following an up-and-down experiment using him as a centre-forward.

The South American ace produced another below-par display in the victory against the Bluebirds before being replaced by Bernard, and he came under criticism from Everton fans on Twitter for his display.

Time to leave him out

It would be a big call for Silva to omit him for such a big game, but as things stand the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Bernard look to be more likely to really hurt what is such a strong Liverpool defence at the weekend.

Richarlison isn’t even doing the business in his preferred position on the flank with his finishing and delivery not up to scratch, and his manager needs to be strong and not simply put him on the team-sheet again because of his price tag.

The 21-year-old could then potentially make a big impact from the substitutes’ bench, as the hosts look to pick up what would be a famous positive result given the circumstances.

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Another four weeks of Premier League football have been and gone, meaning that clubs are taking votes for their player of the month for February – including Bournemouth, who took just one point from their four games.

With Joshua King, Artur Boruc, Dan Gosling and Nathan Ake to choose from, 35% of the Vitality Stadium faithful opted for the latter, with goalkeeper Boruc his closest competitor for an award which the Dutch international will surely want to just sweep under the carpet.

The Cherries lost three games last month, conceding 11 goals on the way and so it does seem bizarre that the 24-year-old has scooped the gong – he may not have been culpable for their woeful defensive record in recent weeks but surely no-one playing in a back line that leaks that many is worthy of being commended for their efforts.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

The former Chelsea man has been a regular fixture in Eddie Howe’s starting XI this season and would surely be thrilled to receive such recognition from the fans for his performances in any other month than February, in which the Cherries’ chances of finishing in the top half have become far slimmer.

For all their hard work in defence, Bournemouth couldn’t hold off Manchester City on Saturday, meaning that their dismal run continued – they face Huddersfield this weekend in what will be the perfect opportunity to right their wrongs, although they will still need to drastically improve from their blunt showing against the champions.

That includes Ake, who has simply been the best of a bad bunch.

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West Ham United fans have reacted with a mix of shock and amusement to a Sky Sports News report claiming that Real Madrid are interested in signing Felipe Anderson.

The Spanish giants are said to have identified Anderson as a possible fallback option if they cannot sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea this summer.

Indeed, the report claims that a £60million bid for Hazard has already been rejected, leading to the prospect of a move for Anderson. That deal, the report claims, could total an incredible £65m.

This is despite the fact that Anderson has not scored a goal for the Hammers since December and has been in a major downturn in form.

The thought that Madrid will pay £65m for a player who hasn’t scored in 11 games is mind-blowing, and supporters have had a rather mixed reaction to the reported news. Some believe the Hammers should demand a king’s ransom, while others do not think that there is any realistic possibility of the deal happening.

Take a look at the Twitter reactions down below…

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Celtic fans have taken to Twitter to declare their happiness at seeing Neil Lennon return to the club, after the Scot guided his new charges into the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Hibernian.

Lennon left the club back in 2014 after resigning from his post, and went on to manage Bolton and Hibernian before returning to the Bhoys following the departure of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester – coincidentally, Lennon’s first game back was against Hibernian.

The 47-year-old is only in charge on an interim basis following Rodgers’ shock exit, but the fans have already taken him back with open arms following a tough period for them after losing their manager.

Lennon guided the Hoops to three league titles and two Scottish Cup successes during his first stint in charge, and remains on course for a treble having successfully navigated his side’s progress into the semi-finals thanks to goals from Scott Brown and James Forrest.

Let’s see what the Celtic fans are saying on Twitter…

يستعد منير الحدادي، لاعب إشبيلية الإسباني، لتمثيل منتخب المغرب خلال مباراتي السنغال والكونغو الوديتين، 9 و 13 أكتوبر الجاري، على الترتيب.

منير الحدادي المغربي الأصل شارك من قبل مع منتخب إسبانيا، بعد تألقه في برشلونة، والآن سيمثل منتخب أسود أطلس، فـ كيف سيحدث ذلك؟.

طالع أيضًا.. الزمالك يُعلن سفر أشرف بن شرقي للالتحاق بمنتخب المغرب 

في 2012، شارك الإيفواري الأصل ويلفريد زاها لاعب كريستال بالاس مع منتخب إنجلترا، بعد أن مثل منتخب الشباب، لكنه في النهاية اختار اللعب لـ كوت ديفوار، ومثل الأفيال في أمم إفريقيا الأخيرة الصيف الماضي 2019 في مصر.

زاها  شارك في 2012 بمباراة ودية مع إنجلترا أمام السويد، وهو بعمر الـ20 عامًا و4 أيام، يوم 14 نوفمبر من ذلك العام، تحت قيادة المدرب روي هودجسون.

وشارك الإيفواري الأصل مع منتخب إنجلترا تحت 19 عام، ثم وكذلك منتخب تحت 21، في مباريات ودية ورسمية.

وتمكن زاها من المشاركة مع كوت ديفوار، رغم أن الاتحاد الدولي “فيفا” كان لا يسمح بتمثيل لاعب لأكثر من منتخب، وذلك لأنه لم يشارك مع إنجلترا في أي مباراة رسمية، وكانت مشاركاته ودية، ليظهر مع الأفيال في أول مباراة بمواجهة السويد أيضًا 8 يناير 2017. موقف منير الحدادي

منير لعب مع منتخب إسبانيا تحت 21 عامًا، 13 مباراة وسجل 8 أهداف، ومنتخب تحت 19، 4 مباريات وسجل 3، ولكن كل هذا لم يمنعه من اللعب لوطنه الأم، المغرب.

منير الحدادي شارك في مباراة رسمية مع إسبانيا، أمام مقدونيا، في تصفيات يورو 2016، بتاريخ 8 سبتمبر 2014، وبهذه المشاركة لم يكن من الممكن تمثيله لمنتخب آخر، حسب قوانين الاتحاد الدولي.

ولكن منذ ذلك الحين، لم يتم استدعاء منير الحدادي لأي من معسكرات المنتخب الإسباني، 6 سنوات يغيب اللاعب، ولأن مشاركته في 13 دقيقة مع إسبانيا، كانت بـ مباراة رسمية، لم يكن أمامه الفرصة لتمثيل المغرب. ماذا حدث؟

صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية في سبتمبر الماضي، أفادت أن منير الحدادي بالاتفاق مع الاتحاد المغربي الذي طلب ضمه، وبدعم كبير من الاتحاد الإفريقي، تقدم بمقترح للاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، وتم الموافقة عليه، من أجل مشاركة الحدادي، وجميع اللاعبين الذين يعانون من نفس الوضع.

وبعد أن كان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، يمنع أن يلعب أي لاعب لأكثر من منتخب خلال مسيرته، تم تغيير القانون، ووافق “FIFA” يوم 18 سبتمبر الماضي، على تعديل للتشريع الخاص بقواعد وقوانين أهلية اللاعبين لتمثيل أكثر من منتخب.

وحدد الاتحاد الدولي 4 شروط يجب أن يستوفيها اللاعب، قبل الحصول على الضوء الأخضر في تمثيل منتخبين

1-يجب أن يشارك في أكثر من 3 مباريات مع المنتخب الأول

2-أن تكون آخر مباراة له مع المنتخب الأول، كانت قبل بلوغه عامه الـ21.

3- أن تمر 3 سنوات على آخر مباراة لعبها مع المنتخب الأول.

4-ألا يكون لعب مباريات في بطولة قارية، أو نهائيات كأس العالم مع المنتخب الأول.

وتشير اللائحة، إلى أن اللاعب الذي يحق له-بسبب تعدد جنسياته- لا يجوز له الدفاع عن أكثر من منتخب، إلا عندما يحصل على جنسية كل منهما، أو أن يكون لديه أصل أو لعب بالدوري المحلي لأحدى الاتحادات التي يريد تمثيل منتخب بلادها.

يتبقى فقط، حصول المنتخب المغربي على بطاقة اللاعب للمشاركة بشكل قانوني، حيث أن الاتحاد المغربي، لم يتقدم بطلب للتعاقد مع الحدادي مرة أخرى، منذ الملف الذي تم تقديم في 2018، وحسب ما أشارت التقارير المغربية، أن الاتحاد الدولي من المفترض أن يرسل فاكسًا خلال يومين، يسمح بمشاركة منير مع أسود أطلس.