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Quite how it has all come to this continues to be debated, but the fact of the matter is that Mohamed Salah could be nearing the end of his glorious spell at Liverpool.

It was just over six months ago that the Egyptian sat atop his throne, Premier League champion for the second time at Anfield and fresh from signing a bumper new deal to end months of speculation.

The main man under Jurgen Klopp, the ex-Chelsea winger appeared to go to an even higher level following Arne Slot’s arrival, ending 2024/25 with a ridiculous tally of 57 goals and assists in all competitions.

Like all good things, however, an end is now in sight, with the 33-year-old’s AFCON involvement, alongside the looming January window, sparking suggestions that he could have already turned out in Red for the final time.

It would not be a fitting way to bow out, yet rarely do even the brightest and best get the send-off nor the finale they deserve. Even the great Steven Gerrard had to fly the nest for MLS to see out his playing days.

Regardless of whether a departure does occur in January or over the summer, Salah appears to have made his long-term future untenable – now to find a suitable replacement…

Latest on Liverpool's search to replace Salah

Rumours are already swirling regarding Salah’s potential next move, with reports last week suggesting that Turkish giants Galatasaray are among the clubs to have made an offer to the ageing sensation.

The Reds are unlikely to receive anywhere close to the reported £200m bid that was lodged from Saudi Arabia two years ago, although there would surely be a hope to cash in for as much as possible, in order to reinvest those funds on a replacement.

There have been continued claims that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as one of the more high-profile options to help fill the void, while TEAMtalk are reporting that FSG could also look to the Bundesliga to find their next Anfield star.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, as per the report, the Merseysiders are accelerating their interest in RB Leipzig teenager, Yan Diomande, having begun negotiations with the 19-year-old’s representatives.

While no bid has yet been placed for the £88m-rated wideman, the piece does note that Liverpool are engaged in almost ‘daily contact’ with his agent, ahead of making what would likely be a summer move.

That’s not to say that a January move is completely ruled out for the in-demand starlet – who is fielding interest from across Europe – with it yet to be seen whether the reigning Premier League champions will firm up their interest with a winter offer.

How Diomande compares to Semenyo & Salah

As stated above, a leading target to replace Salah is, of course, the aforementioned Semenyo, with the Ghanaian available for £65m due to the presence of a release clause in his Cherries contract.

Whether he would represent an alternative or a possible teammate for the 25-year-old remains to be seen, although Diomande is an equally as exciting talent who could reinvigorate Slot’s forward line.

Semenyo has been one of the Premier League’s leading figures this season with nine goals and assists to date, although Diomande has dazzled during his breakthrough year in the Bundesliga, chipping in with eight goal involvements himself for Leipzig.

That includes a stunning hat-trick during the weekend win over Eintracht Frankfurt, a performance that only served to reinforce just why the promising Ivorian is being watched so closely.

Fleet of foot and with pace to burn, the comparisons to Semenyo are also there to see, with The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor noting that Diomande is “physically similar” to the Bournemouth star, “but with all the same skill and touch”.

Diomande vs Salah – 25/26 League stats
Stat (*per game)	Diomande	Salah
Games	13	13
Starts	9	12
Goals	6	4
Assists	2	2
Big chances missed	2	6
Big chances created	2	5
Key passes*	1.0	2.2
Pass accuracy*	82%	75%
Successful dribbles*	2.8	0.8
Stats via Sofascore

The respected Bundesliga insider, writing on X back in November, did hint that the teen is “not ready yet” for a Premier League move, although Liverpool would be wise to get ahead in the race for his signature, even if it means waiting to strike next summer.

That said, there’s no reason why he couldn’t come in and hit the ground running in January, if a deal were to be struck, with the youngster currently comparing favourably to his fellow wingers across Europe’s top five leagues.

As per FBref, he ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, highlighting just what an elite dribbler and ball-carrier he is.

Semenyo’s own quality in that regard was evident on the opening day, as he ran the length of Anfield unopposed, before coolly converting in that mad-cap 4-2 win for Slot’s side.

The prospect of potentially adding both the ex-Bristol City man and Diomande into the fold in 2026 would be a truly exciting one, with two Semenyo-esque figures perhaps what is needed to provide an upgrade on the flanks.

Revealed: The Salah decision Richard Hughes has made at Liverpool today

Mo Salah has been omitted form the Liverpool squad this week.

3

By
FFC Staff

4 days ago

The final week of the MLB regular season promises to be a memorable one. While three teams have clinched divsion titles thus far and another five have clinched postseason berths, much has yet to be decided. The Guardians' incredible surge to the top of the American League Central—and the Tigers' collapse—has made a division race that was seemingly decided in August now up for grabs in September. The same can be said for the AL East race, where the Blue Jays' seemingly sturdy lead slipped through the club's fingers, and they are now tied with the Yankees atop the division with four games to play. Toronto owns the tiebreaker.

Plus, the races for the third wild-card spots in both leagues, in which as many as five teams are involved, figure to come down to the wire, potentially to the season's final day.

But much has also been decided already, and plenty of teams have already been eliminated from postseason contention. To keep you updated on the goings-on, here's a live list of the teams who officially won't be playing October baseball this year.

Every MLB Team Eliminated From the 2025 Playoffs So Far

Team

Date Eliminated

Colorado Rockies

August 24

Chicago White Sox

September 6

Washington Nationals

September 13

Minnesota Twins

September 13

Los Angeles Angels

September 14

Pittsburgh Pirates

September 15

Baltimore Orioles

September 16

Oakland Athletics

September 17

Tampa Bay Rays

September 19

Atlanta Braves

September 19

Kansas City Royals

September 23

Texas Rangers

September 23

San Francisco Giants

September 23

St. Louis Cardinals

September 24

Miami Marlins

September 25

Arizona Diamondbacks

September 26

Houston Astros

September 27

Who's clinched a playoff berth?

Team

Date Clinched

Milwaukee Brewers

September 13

Philadelphia Phillies

September 14

Chicago Cubs

September 17

Los Angeles Dodgers

September 19

Toronto Blue Jays

September 21

San Diego Padres

September 22

New York Yankees

September 23

Seattle Mariners

September 23

Boston Red Sox

September 26

Detroit Tigers

September 27

Cleveland Guardians

September 27

Who's still left in the race for MLB Playoffs? New York Mets

The Mets' second-half swoon has them in a race to the playoffs that will, after their victory over the Marlins on Saturday, come down to the season's final day. To avoid a tiebreaker that will result in their elimination, the Mets need to win and the club needs the Reds to lose.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have seemingly dug their heels in and refused to fall out of the postseason chase, as they've played middling baseball since the All-Star break but have been aided by the lackluster play of the Mets. Cincinnati, owns a tiebreaker over the Mets, so it just needs to tie with New York, at the worst, to make the postseason.

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman and third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, died Monday, per the Cubs. He was 65.

Sandberg was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2024, and though he was briefly cancer-free later that year, the disease came back. He threw out the first pitch before Chicago's home opener as recently as April.

Born in Spokane, Wash., Sandberg was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played 13 games with them in 1981. He was traded to the Cubs in Jan. 1982 in a move the Phillies would come to sorely regret.

After two solid seasons as a regular, Sandberg became a superstar in 1984. He slashed .314/.367/.520 with 19 home runs and 84 RBIs, leading the National League in bWAR, runs and triples. With his help, Chicago stopped its infamous postseason drought at 39 years, winning the East Division title.

It was the first of 10 All-Star years with the Cubs, who he also helped make the playoffs in 1989. He led the league in runs on two other occasions, and added a 40-home run season in 1990.

Well-liked throughout the game and long a strident evangelist of baseball's fundamentals, Sandberg managed Philadelphia from 2013 to '15. He went 119-159 in three seasons.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Grêmio visita o São Luiz nesta quarta-feira (28), pela Recopa Gaúcha. A bola rola a partir das 19h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio 19 de Outubro, em Ijuí, com transmissão do SporTV e do Premiere.

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✅FICHA TÉCNICA
São Luiz x Grêmio
Final – Recopa Gaúcha

Data e horário: quarta-feira, 28 de fevereiro de 2024, às 19h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio 19 de Outubro, em Ijuí (RS)
Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

SÃO LUIZ
Raul; João Vitor, Bruno Jesus, Thalheimer e Márcio Duarte; Lucas Hulk, Gabriel Davis, Dal Pian e Borasi; Sodré e Gabriel Pereira. Técnico: Alessandro Telles.

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GRÊMIO
Caíque; Fábio, Bruno Uvini, Gustavo Martins e Wesley; Ronald, Nathan, Galdino (Nathan Fernandes) e Rubens (Cristaldo); Besozzi (Pavon) e André Henrique. Técnico: Renato Portaluppi.

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalGrêmioOnde assistir

Head coach defends planned break between Brisbane and Adelaide Tests with series on line

Matt Roller07-Dec-2025

Brendon McCullum shakes hands with his players•AFP/Getty Images

Brendon McCullum claimed that his England team were “over-prepared” for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane and defended their planned trip to the resort town of Noosa before travelling to Adelaide.England trained five times – once at Allan Border Field, and four times at the Gabba – before the second Test, opting against pink-ball match practice against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. They were heavily beaten, losing by eight wickets after four energy-sapping days in the heat, and McCullum suggested that their decision to ramp up their training had backfired.”Leading into this Test match, I actually felt like we over-prepared, to be honest,” McCullum told Australian broadcaster Channel 7. “We had five intense training days. When you’re in the heat of the battle, as we all know, sometimes the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh and make sure your top two inches [of your head] is completely sound.Related

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McCullum in firing line as England batten down hatches

For England's batters, the heart seems unwilling and the mind unconvinced

Bazball is dead (even if England aren't quite yet)

England at breaking point as Ashes dreams dismantled

“I think the boys just need a few days off, and probably need to just change up a few of the training methods a little bit. I’m a horse-racing man, and you wouldn’t just keep doing the same thing with your horse, you’d send it around in figure-eights or over the little jumps, just to try and switch it on a bit. We’ll look at some alternative methods over the next few days.”England’s preparation has been heavily criticised throughout this tour, specifically their decisions to play a single warm-up match against the Lions squad at Lilac Hill, a club ground in Perth, and to turn down the opportunity to play the pink-ball PM’s XI fixture between Tests. Stuart Broad described their bowlers as “undercooked”, while Michael Vaughan said on Sunday: “No one can tell me that this England management has given this England team the best chance [to win the series].”The squad and support staff will travel to a coastal resort in Noosa – two hours’ drive up the Queensland coast – on Tuesday for a four-night “mid-series break” which McCullum said would provide them with an opportunity to reflect on the first two Tests: “[It] will be good to spend a bit casually and just let the dust settle on what’s been a pretty intense couple of weeks and start to plot and plan our way back into the series.”England will then train three times – rather than five – in Adelaide before the third Test starts on December 17. Ben Stokes, their captain, also defended the Noosa trip, arguing it would be “very, very important” for his players to stay fresh and insulate themselves from the pressures of the tour after an intense start to the series.”We’ve been here four weeks, and it’s been pretty full-on, on and off the field,” Stokes said. “As physical as this game is, a huge part of it is also the mental side of it. I know that. I’ve experienced that. I know what the game can do to you when things aren’t quite feeling right or going well.”Trust me when I say that it is so, so important that teams… [can] go away as a team and almost put the pressures of this aside for a couple of days, that doesn’t mean that everything just disappears, and we don’t speak about what’s going on. Those conversations are constantly happening.”This is a high-pressure environment. We chose to do this. We’re lucky enough to do this. It comes with the job, but it’s also very, very important that when you do get the opportunity that you are able to go away and refresh your mind because obviously in [Adelaide] we need to be not only physically good, but mentally very good as well.”McCullum and Stokes both highlighted England’s shortcomings with the new ball as a turning point in the game, with McCullum saying they had bowled “terribly” as Australia raced to 130 for 1 in the 21 overs before tea on the second day. “We were trying too hard was my assessment of it,” McCullum said.”We identified that we had a reasonable score with the bat in the first innings, and we knew that there was quite a pivotal moment in the game if we were able to strike. Sometimes, when you do try too hard, you miss your execution, you tighten up, and you’re not able to apply the pressure. We’re honest with ourselves: we bowled terribly in that period, and Australia were able to canter along at a very strong strike rate.”Stokes held himself and Brydon Carse accountable, saying: “It was myself and Brydon who let all that pressure off. We weren’t able to sustain what Jofra [Archer] and Gus [Atkinson] did… Me and Brydon know that we weren’t able to back up that first spell, and we weren’t able to deliver the consistency that Australia delivered this whole Test match.”McCullum also cited England’s fielding as a major issue, after they dropped five catches in the first innings: “It is hard enough taking 10 wickets against a good side like that, let alone needing to take 15. There was areas with the bat where we were deficient, there were areas with the ball where we were deficient, and there were areas in the field where we were deficient.”

The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) will have its final on a weekday (Thursday, February 5), and not over the weekend, for the first time, and feature two double-headers, both on Saturdays, after kicking off on January 9.The 28-day-long tournament will be played across two venues: Navi Mumbai, where India won the ODI World Cup in early November beating South Africa in the final, and Vadodara. The first 11 matches, including the two double-headers, will be played at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, and the remaining 11 matches, including the eliminator on February 3 and the final will be played at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium.The dates and venues were confirmed by the WPL’s chairman, Jayesh George, on Thursday, the day of the WPL auction. All games bar the earlier fixture on the double-header days will be evening affairs.The week of the final is a busy one for multi-team competitions, with the men’s Under-19 World Cup finishing the day after the WPL final, on February 6, and the men’s T20 World Cup starting the following day, on February 7.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Apart from having a weekday final, this is the first time the WPL will be played in the January-February window. The first three seasons were played in February-March just before the start of the IPL. This will also be the first time the WPL will not clash with major international fixtures.Mumbai Indians (MI) are the defending champions of the WPL and have won two titles in three editions so far, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the other past winners. Delhi Capitals (DC) have been runners-up in all three seasons. The other two teams, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz, have never made the title round.Ten days after the WPL ends, India will start an all-format tour of Australia, playing three T20Is, three ODIs and a Test from February 15 to March 9.

WPL 2026 schedule

Jan 9: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Jan 10: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants
Jan 10: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals
Jan 11: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants
Jan 12: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz
Jan 13: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants
Jan 14: UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals
Jan 15: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz
Jan 16: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants
Jan 17: UP Warriorz vs Mumbai Indians
Jan 17: Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Jan 19: Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Jan 20: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians
Jan 22: Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz
Jan 24: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals
Jan 26: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians
Jan 27: Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals
Jan 29: UP Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Jan 30: Gujarat Giants vs Mumbai Indians
Feb 1: Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz
Feb 3: Eliminator
Feb 5: Final

Liverpool are waiting for this nightmare to end, rediscovering the form of last season under Arne Slot’s wing that led to the Premier League title and a summer of sweeping changes.

The signings made this summer were completed after meticulous research, but, nonetheless, the Reds have been dismal this year, lacking identity and inspiration. Even in victory have Liverpool given their opponents plenty of optimism.

It’s worth noting that Liverpool were far better defensively than has so often been the case this term, but this has done little to calm the anxieties of supporters who have been forced to accept a bleak new norm.

Among the bitter pills swallowed has been the form of captain Virgil van Dijk, the centre-back very much at the core of Liverpool’s problems this season and lacking solutions so often provided across his illustrious career at the club.

Virgil van Dijk's drop-off this season

Liverpool’s monster has been made mortal by the tailspin of Slot’s system this season. Ibrahima Konate’s struggles have no doubt been exacerbated by the slow recession of Van Dijk’s indomitability.

He is 34 years old, 35 at the end of the season. It is only natural that the Netherlands skipper should begin to wind down. However, it presents Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes with quite the conundrum as Konate edges toward the expiry of his £70k-per-week contract.

Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for about £27m this summer, but the 18-year-old Italian tore his ACL on his debut against Southampton and is not expected back until the start of next season.

The Italian would have offered a much-needed dimension over the past few months, allowing Slot to enforce more rotation, with Konate having started each of his side’s Premier League fixtures this season despite his rut. Van Dijk is now foundering beside him.

Change is needed, and with the winter transfer window approaching, it’s clear that Liverpool need a centre-back.

Liverpool targeting centre-back this January

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are set to table a bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this winter, having reopened direct communications this week with the player’s agents after fumbling a deal to sign him in August.

Guehi is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of the season, and while Liverpool had a clean shot at the 25-year-old at the start of the season, notably even agreeing personal terms with the player, rival interest is now sure to be thick, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid considered suitors.

Sources suggest FSG are willing to offer around £25m for Guehi’s signature in January, paying something of a premium for one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

What Guehi would bring to Liverpool

Guehi could well be plying his craft for Liverpool right now, but it wasn’t to be as sporting director Richard Hughes gambled and left it late, Palace barring the door at the eleventh hour after failing to find a replacement.

It’s a real shame. Guehi is a seasoned Premier League star who just keeps on evolving. He has been hailed as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, but he is so much more.

As per data-driven site FBref, Guehi ranks among the top 7% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for through balls, the top 6% for assists and shot-creating actions, and the top 15% for tackles won per 90.

If Liverpool succeed in completing a deal for the two-footed centre-half this winter, it could carry the weight of that one-time signing of Van Dijk, who joined from Southampton midway through the 2017/18 season for a £75m fee.

Van Dijk needs no introduction. He is one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, a titan of the game.

He dovetailed into Jurgen Klopp’s exciting team and reinforced it with steel. He was the mortar which filled in the cracks and created a superteam.

Big boots to fill, but Guehi has been extensively profiled and could emulate the Netherlands man by arriving at the season’s midpoint, providing that dearly desired relief.

After such incredible success in recent years, it is staggering that Liverpool have plummeted so far beneath their expected level. This borders on a crisis, and one signing won’t stop the rot for good, but Guehi has the combative, confident defensive style to help put the Reds back on track, with his quality in the build-up something that Konate simply doesn’t possess.

It’s Van Dijk-esque, and given that Guehi would be arriving in January after previous attempts to sign him, this could have the much-needed echoes of that euphoric deal.

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 2 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Arne Slot has a huge call to make about one player after his showing for Liverpool last night.

2 ByEthan Lamb Dec 4, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras estreia no Brasileirão 2024 neste domingo (14), quando encara o Vitória, no Barradão, dando início a caminhada rumo ao tricampeonato nacional.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalBreno Lopes toma decisão sobre trocar Palmeiras pelo SantosFutebol Nacional13/04/2024PalmeirasElenco, reforços e perspectivas: como o Palmeiras chega para o Brasileirão 2024Palmeiras13/04/2024SantosSantos avança pela contratação de Breno Lopes, atacante do PalmeirasSantos12/04/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

Tricampeão paulista após 90 anos, na semana passada, o Verdão busca agora o tricampeonato brasileiro, algo que jamais aconteceu em quase 110 anos de história do clube.

O Verdão só teve duas chances de faturar o Brasileirão por três anos consecutivos em sua história, e foram nas temporadas de 1974 e 1995.

Ao Canal 11 de Portugal, Abel Ferreira falou sobre a estreia no Brasileirão e afirmou ao veículo de seu país que vai fazer de tudo para defender o bicampeonato:

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➡️ Matador! Com R$50 no Lance! Betting, você leva R$151 se Flaco López balançar as redes do Vitória a qualquer momento

— Não somos os favoritos. Aqui há seis. Internacional, Flamengo, Botafogo, Palmeiras, Atlético-MG e há sempre um ou outro que aparece, como foi no ano passado com o Red Bull Bragantino, mas vamos defender o que é nosso com unhas e dentes, isso eu posso garantir – disse Abel.

Uncapped Hampshire fast bowler in XI for opening game of series at Headingley

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2025Sonny Baker, the Hampshire fast bowler, will make his international debut in the first match of England’s ODI series with South Africa at Headingley on Tuesday.Baker, 22, has only played 11 List A games but caught the eye during the Hundred, where he took nine wickets in seven appearances for Manchester Originals. Capable of pushing the speed gun up to 90mph/145kph, he impressed with the Lions over the winter and was handed an England development contract earlier this year.He will be joined in England’s pace attack by Jofra Archer, playing his first ODI since the Champions Trophy, and Brydon Carse. Harry Brook captains the XI in his second series since taking charge, while Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett will continue to bed in their opening partnership.Related

Overton's shock decision sounds alarm bells for England schedule

Barely a pause as Hundred gives way to England-South Africa ODIs

Sonny Baker awarded England Men's development contract

Sonny Baker wins first England call-up, Jacob Bethell to captain in Ireland

Baker, Tongue and Buttler seal victory for Originals

Brook said that England were “excited to see where he goes” after Baker’s performances in the Hundred, noting in particular his duels with Kane Williamson, David Warner, Steven Smith and Jonny Bairstow while playing for Originals.”He’s been awesome in the Hundred,” Brook said. “We’ve seen him bowl at some of the best batters in the world and he had them on toast, so it’s been really good to see. He bowls at high pace and he can swing it both ways with exceptional death skills as well. To have him in the team and for him to be opening up tomorrow is awesome. I think there’s quite a lot of people excited to see where he goes.”There have been a few moments. The spells he bowled to Williamson and Warner and then Smith and Bairstow, all four are world-class batters in the shorter format and he was all over them. He bowled with high pace and high skill. He was awesome to watch this year and everyone was talking about him.”On the day that Jamie Overton shelved first-class cricket, Brook agreed that Baker could potentially force himself into the equation for the Ashes: “I don’t select the red-ball side, but yeah, he’s obviously done really well this summer and we’ll see how he goes tomorrow. He’s bowling at high pace with a lot of skill, and it looks like he has quite a lot about him as well.”England XI for 1st ODI: 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Sonny Baker

ظهر كودي جاكبو، لاعب فريق ليفربول، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم للحديث عن مباراة آيندهوفن المرتقبة في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء يوم الأربعاء.

ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وآيندهوفن في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، موسم 2025/26.

وقال جاكبو في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية: “اللعب ضد آيندهوفن؟ حسنًا، من الواضح أنه أمر مميز للغاية، لقد كنت هناك لفترة طويلة، لدي ذكريات كثيرة، إنه لأمر مميز، لقد تعلمت الكثير هنا كلاعب، ونضجت كشخص خارج الملعب أيضًا”.

وعن السبب وراء اختفاء المرونة في ليفربول مؤخرًا، قال: “لا أعرف أين ذهبت، لكن علينا أن نحاول استعادة ذلك، نعلم أننا في وضع صعب، علينا أن نتكاتف، وهذا ما نحاول فعله داخل الملعب وخارجه، ذهنيًا وأدائيًا”.

وأضاف: “لم تكن هذه أفضل فتراتنا وعلينا أن نكافح من أجل تجاوز ذلك، نعلم أننا قادرون على ذلك، فقد قدمنا ​​أداءً جيدًا مثل ذلك الذي قدمناه ضد ريال مدريد، لكن علينا مواصلة القتال، الأهم هو أن نبقى متحدين مهما حدث”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سلوت: لم أتوقع التواجد بهذا الموقف.. نتائج ليفربول لا تليق به وتلقيت صفقة قوية

وواصل: “نطالب بعضنا البعض بالمزيد، إذ يجب أن نؤدي بشكل أفضل وهذا ما يستحقه النادي والجماهير، نحن صادقون مع بعضنا البعض، ونقول إن بعض الأمور يجب أن تتحسن للعودة إلى ذلك المستوى”.

واسترسل: “تجاهل الضجيج من الخارج؟ قد يكون الأمر صعبًا، إذا كنت لا ترغب في قراءة أي شيء أو استيعاب أي شيء، فمن شبه المستحيل القيام بذلك في الوقت الحاضر مع وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي والإنترنت، ولكن إذا كنا معًا في غرفة الملابس، يمكننا اكتساب الثقة من بعضنا البعض، يمكننا أن نتحسن إذا فعلنا ذلك”.

وأفاد: “في آيندهوفن واجهنا الكثير من المشاكل (عندما كان لاعبًا هناك) وواجهنا صعوبات، فهم من أكبر الأندية في هولندا، لذلك كان الأمر صعبًا، الأمر لا يختلف هنا، لكن على مستوى مختلف، وهذا يجلب معه الكثير من المزايا”.

وفيما يخص الثقة، قال: “إذا فزت بالعديد من المباريات وسارت الأمور كما تريد، ستشعر دائمًا بتحسن أكبر من خسارتك، نحن نعلم مدى جودتنا وقد أظهرنا ذلك أحيانًا هذا الموسم، وبالتأكيد الموسم الماضي، علينا فقط أن نتحسن”.

وأكد: “يتحمل المدرب مسؤولية ذلك، لكن اللاعبين يتحملون مسؤولية كبيرة تجاه أنفسهم وتجاه المدرب والجماهير، نحن نعرف ما يمكننا فعله، أنا أتحمل المسؤولية بالتأكيد”.

واستأنف: “ليس الأمر جيدًا، كانت هناك مباريات تعادلنا فيها، ثم خسرنا في الدقائق الأخيرة، كريستال بالاس وتشيلسي ومانشستر يونايتد، أظهرنا قدرتنا على العودة، لكننا لم نحافظ على ذلك، علينا ألا نتأخر ثم نسجل المزيد من الأهداف، لا أريد حقًا أن أقول إن هذا يؤثر فيك، ولكن عندما يحدث ذلك مرتين، فنعم، لهذا السبب نتدرب لتغيير ذلك”.

وعن اللاعبين الجدد، قال: “في كل مرة ينضم لاعب جديد، يتطلب الأمر بعض التأقلم مع المحيطين به، إنها عملية مستمرة وتسير على ما يرام، لكن عدم فوزنا بالمباريات لا يساعد، نحن نتحسن، لكن عدم فوزنا قد يصبح موضوعًا للنقاش.

وعما يدور في غرفة الملابس، قال: “شعرنا ببعض الإحراج بعد مباراة السبت، فقد خسرنا 3-0 على أرضنا أمام جماهيرنا، نعلم أنهم هنا لمساعدتنا في كل موقف صعب، ولكن علينا أن نرد لهم الجميل أيضًا، في الأيام التي تلت ذلك، لا أريد أن أقول إننا كنا غاضبين لكننا حاولنا التحدث معًا وأن نكون صادقين مع بعضنا حول ما يجب علينا فعله لتحسين أدائنا على أرض الملعب”.

وأصر: “نعلم أيضًا أنه يجب علينا التكاتف لتقديم أداء جيد وتحقيق الانتصارات، الجميع يدرك أهمية تحمل المسؤولية داخل الملعب وخارجه، كان هذا مجرد حديث مع زميل في الفريقولم يكن اجتماعًا فعليًا، لكننا ندرك أهمية تحمل المسؤولية، هذا ما تحدثنا عنه، نحن صادقون، وإلا فلا جدوى من الحديث”.

وما إذا كان يتحدث مع لاعبي آيندهوفن حتى الآن، قال: “أتحدث مع شخص ما من وقت لآخر، جميع اللاعبين الذين كانوا حاضرين معي، لا أتحدث عن المباراة، لا أتحدث عن هذا، بل أتحدث عن سير الأمور وحالهم”.