كشفت قرعة منافسات دور ربع النهائي (الـ8) لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2024-2025، التي أقيمت اليوم الخميس في الدوحة عاصمة قطر، عن طريق بيراميدز في البطولة.

ويمثل الأندية المصرية في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، ناديي الأهلي (حامل اللقب) وبيراميدز والذي يشارك بصفته وصيف النسخة الماضية من الدوري المصري الممتاز، الموسم الماضي.

طالع.. طريق الأهلي حتى نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025.. صدام ناري منتظر في نصف النهائي

يشارك بيراميدز للمرة الأولى في تاريخه في دور ربع النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا بعدما تأهل محتلًا المركز الثاني من المجموعة الرابعة.

وتواجد بيراميدز في المركز الثاني بمجموعته برصيد 13 نقطة، بعد الفوز بـ4 لقاءات والتعادل في مباراة وحيدة وتلقى هزيمة أخرى.

وأوقعت القرعة، بيرميدز أمام الجيش الملكي المغربي في مواجهة عربية قوية للفريق المصري. طريق بيراميدز حتى نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ربع النهائي: بيراميدز ضد الجيش الملكي المغربي.

نصف النهائي: وحال صعود بيراميدز سيلاقي الفائز من أورلاندو بايراتس ضد مولودية الجزائر.

النهائي: وحال تأهل بيراميدز سيواجه الفائز من مواجهتي (الفائز من الأهلي والهلال ضد الفائز ماميلودي صن داونز والترجي الرياضي)

It’s ironic, really, that the game that looked to have all but ended Erik ten Hag’s tenure as Manchester United manager may actually have been the one to save him.

Cast your mind back to that grim night in May, as a beleaguered United side simply wilted away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – the likes of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze running riot in that thumping 4-0 win for the hosts.

The writing was seemingly on the wall for the man in the visiting dugout, but to his credit, the Dutchman did not fold, instead regrouping in the final knockings of the season heading into the FA Cup final.

A change in tact – which saw Sofyan Amrabat move into a more defensive-minded midfield – brought about wins over both Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion, prior to the Red Devils seeing off Pep Guardiola’s men at Wembley, all while deploying this new, strikerless 4-2-4 formation.

It could be said that had it not been for that night in south London – and its subsequent impact on the setup for the cup final – then Ten Hag would no longer be at the helm.

The aim now is for the 54-year-old to illustrate that progress has been made as the two sides prepare to meet again this evening.

Man Utd team news

Fresh off back-to-back wins in all competitions – having notably hit League One side Barnsley for seven in midweek – the doom and gloom has somewhat shifted at Old Trafford, with a run now needing to be put together to mount a charge on the top four.

Not that anyone will be getting carried away – not with this team, at least – but there are certainly positive signs, not least the slow introduction of new man Manuel Ugarte, as well as the return of a handful of prior absentees.

The likes of Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia are now back in first-team training, while both Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund are in contention to feature later today, with the latter man having been absent since limping off against Arsenal during pre-season.

With Luke Shaw still working away in the background, Ten Hag’s squad is slowly but surely beginning to come together, with there likely to be no excuses once the former Ajax boss does have everyone fit and available.

For once, the experienced tactician does actually have options to choose from in the attacking ranks, in particular, with it yet to be seen whether Joshua Zirkzee will be given another chance to impress from the start in that centre-forward berth.

Joshua Zirkzee's start at Man Utd

In truth, things couldn’t have started much better for the Netherlands international, with the 6 foot 4 marksman prodding home in inventive fashion to seal a much-needed opening-day win over Fulham.

A goal on debut is no doubt the ideal way to calm the nerves, although it’s fair to say that the £36.5m arrival hasn’t quite been able to build on that first outing, having failed to score since then.

The former Bologna man was unfortunate to deny Alejandro Garnacho from scoring against Brighton, although he did then spurn two gilt-edged chances in the chastening defeat to Liverpool, having been teed up beautifully on both occasions by Marcus Rashford.

Away at Southampton last weekend, the silky striker was neat and tidy on the ball and linked the play effectively – having completed 100% of his dribbles and registered two key passes – although again missed two ‘big chances’, notably failing to convert with a side-footed effort in the second half.

Perhaps it would be harsh to remove him from the starting lineup when the Dutchman is showing signs of life, although Ten Hag certainly has other options at his disposal, with there no doubt wisdom in returning Amad Diallo to the fray instead.

What Man Utd's front three should be vs Palace

Yes, it was ‘only’ Barnsley, but the manner in which United dispatched their lower-league opponents was rather impressive, with the aforementioned Rashford looking delightfully menacing on Tuesday night.

Among the club’s top earners on a reported £300k-per-week, the Englishman – who scored just eight goals in total last season and missed out on Euro 2024 as a result – has been rightly criticised for his worrying drop off of late, yet if recent weeks are anything to go by, the 26-year-old may just be finding his groove again.

Again, the quality of the opposition should be considered, but Rashford terrorised the visiting backline in midweek, leading the line in fine fashion and helping himself to his second and third goals of the campaign – after also netting against the Saints.

The days of deploying the academy graduate through the middle seemed to be over, but with Zirkzee not exactly firing – and the returning Hojlund still set for a squad role – it could be time to give Rashford a run in the side as the leading number nine.

That would then allow Garnacho to remain on the left flank after the Argentine provided four goal contributions against the Tykes, while on the opposite side, the rising star that is Amad can return in place of Antony.

The Ivorian “wizard” – as described by journalist James Copley – has been a shining light so far this season, having notably netted in the defeat to Brighton, while also being hailed as ‘United’s best player’ away at St Mary’s last week, as per MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst.

90 minutes

1 assist

69 touches

90% pass accuracy

6 key passes

1 shot on target

4/7 ground duels won

1/1 aerial duels won

9x possession lost

4 tackles

The only league game that the 22-year-old hasn’t started this season was in fact the loss to Arne Slot’s side, although he certainly made an impression off the bench on the day, having provided two key passes in his 21-minute cameo, while also creating one ‘big chance’ and registering an impressive 91% pass accuracy.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Having largely played a bit-part role last season due to injury, the one-time Atalanta man – who has still only made 27 appearances for the club in three-and-a-half-years – no doubt warrants an extended run of games, with the right-wing berth now arguably his to lose moving forward.

With Garnacho and Rashford also both deserving of a start, the easy solution would be to trial this new-look front three and leave Zirkzee sitting alongside Hojlund on the bench, ready to make an impact when needed.

In reality, the likelihood is that the choice will come down to one of Garnacho or Amad on the right, yet it would certainly be a risk worth taking to have Rashford deployed through the middle, flanked by those two young prodigies.

In any case, Ten Hag’s men should be hopeful of avenging the shambles that was their previous trip to Selhurst – that’s if Jonny Evans and Casemiro aren’t starting at centre-back, at least…

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Having struggled to get his targets over the line in his first summer at the helm, Newcastle United sporting director Paul Mitchell is reportedly looking to land his first major coup by beating Real Madrid to an exciting young target.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies spent their summer chasing the signature of Marc Guehi, only to see their pursuit end in failure. Transfixed on the Crystal Palace captain, the club failed to consider alternatives and as such have been left short within Eddie Howe’s backline.

Sporting director Mitchell has since spoken about the club’s disastrous summer, telling The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards: “Eddie was very clear and it’s not up to me after seven weeks to say, ‘We’ll do this and that’, because I’m in a supporting role. Were there options? Of course there were, as that’s the responsibility of the department and Newcastle.

“That’s why we ended up where we did. It was that player or he felt he was comfortable with the quality we have. You can be on multiple deals at any one time, the focus doesn’t have to be that narrow.

“We probably were too narrow but, coming in mid-July, it’s not my strategy to control, it’s my strategy to support. But there was no player that he (Howe) wasn’t part of deciding and saying, ‘That’s the guy I want’.”

Related Newcastle star was worth £10m when Howe arrived, now his value's risen 200%

The talent has developed rapidly in a short space of time under Howe.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024

Clearly in need of a rethink when it comes to strategy, the sporting director could now make one move in search of doing exactly that. According to iNews, Mitchell is plotting his first proper Newcastle coup by signing Chelsea youngster Josh Acheampong from Chelsea ahead of European giants Real Madrid.

Getting one over on such a club in the transfer market is quite the rarity, representing just how key an achievement it would be for Mitchell and Newcastle.

"Dominant" Acheampong is one for the future

Just 18 years old, Acheampong is one of many young players waiting to break through at Chelsea, but as that long list of names grows every summer, he may be better off turning towards Newcastle and a backline in desperate need of reinforcements. Whilst his best form will come in years to come, the Chelsea academy graduate may well be best-placed to take advantage of the Magpies’ defensive crisis after their summer failure.

The youngster is certainly rated highly too, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “dominant wide-channel” defender alongside fellow Chelsea gem Ishe Samuels-Smith.

As Mitchell looks to restore some credit with those at St James’ Park, beating Real Madrid to a player who seems destined for great things would be the perfect place to start in 2025. Acheampong would be his first real coup as Newcastle sporting director and perhaps the start of many.

MatériaMais Notícias

A semana de Luis Fabiano está agitada. Após uma rápida negociação, o agora ex-jogador, foi confirmado como novo coordenador de futebol da Ponte Preta.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

Em sua primeira experiência no cargo, o ídolo da Macaca explicou qual será a sua base para desenvolver o trabalho no Moisés Lucarelli.

‘A experiência vai ser os 23 anos que eu tive de carreira profissional. Trabalhei com bons profissionais e acho que isso fez com que o presidente me fizesse esse convite. É claro que vou me preparar. O aprendizado é diário, a gente aprende no dia a dia, mas eu pretendo sim buscar alguma preparação ou curso, que acho que isso é importante’, declarou.

Na coletiva de apresentação, Luis Fabiano também admitiu que recebeu algumas sondagens para voltar a jogar como atleta profissional.

‘Eu vinha trabalhando para voltar a jogar futebol. No último ano, eu tive algumas sondagens para trabalhar em meios de comunicação como comentarista e vinha decidindo qual rumo eu ia tomar’, declarou.

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Spin might not play as a big a role in the UAE in October-November as anticipated, says England captain

Matt Roller21-Jul-2021Eoin Morgan does not expect pitches to be conducive to spin in the T20 World Cup in October-November, and feels there are still spots up for grabs in the England set-up despite the fact that they will not play another T20I before naming a provisional squad for the tournament in mid-September.England have never bowled as many overs of spin in a T20I series outside of an ICC event as they did against Pakistan (28 in three games), and with the World Cup scheduled to be played in the UAE (some first-round matches will be hosted in Oman) immediately after the rescheduled IPL, there had been suggestions that playing on slow, spin-friendly pitches would serve them well for the tournament.Related

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Morgan, however, suggested that venues in the UAE were used to a heavy load of games, and that based on his previous experiences playing there, spinners should not be expected to be significantly more effective than seamers.”We know as a side and a squad how good we are when wickets are good to bat on,” Morgan said on Tuesday night, after England beat Pakistan in their third T20I to seal the series 2-1. “We know our weakest point is when it’s not so easy, and tonight, I don’t think it was. There was a bit of an extreme circumstance where the ball turned a lot and was quite slow off the wicket [so the win was] extremely positive.”Today, going in with a different-balanced side – not necessarily going in with two out-and-out spinners and making up overs with a couple of allrounders – if you add Ben Stokes into that to cover another allrounder’s position, or Sam Curran, that presents a strong 12 or 13 within itself if we do play on wickets that turn a lot, [but] I am not anticipating that to happen. Having played in the UAE recently at the time of year that the World Cup is going to take place, the ball actually didn’t turn a great deal.

“He’s a guy that can take time and can go through the gears whereas actually, the majority of our team and the majority of our batting XI can’t. So when the scores are a little bit lower, he doesn’t have to push himself as much as he normally does or has done in an England shirt to date”Eoin Morgan on Dawid Malan

“The IPL was played there after I can’t remember what tournament when we were there last time around [in 2020] and the wicket was still fine, good, held together really well. The curators there did a great job. I don’t think they will [spin]. They might, but I don’t think they will. If you go IPL and then you have the very start of the World Cup in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai as opposed to having it in Oman as well, that might play a part but I think they can host a lot of cricket. They’ve been used to it for a while.”Morgan also left the door open for players to make a late push for inclusion in the squad through performances in the Hundred, having previously suggested that Tymal Mills, the left-arm quick, could bowl himself into contention. He also suggested that the make-up of England’s squad would depend on the venues they are due to play at, which are yet to be confirmed.”It’s going to be role-dependent,” Morgan said. “Hopefully our fixtures and venues are announced before we have to announce the squad and then we can map out the roles that we might need in various different strongest XIs and then we can work back from there. If we end up playing all our games at Abu Dhabi, or all our games at Sharjah, it creates different challenges. If they’re spread out, we’d need a more versatile squad.1:01

How long was Liam Livingstone’s monster six?

“We want as many options as possible. We are continually monitoring different guys. There are certain players we look at that that could have avenues in: guys that do things differently, left-armers, guys that bowl at pace or have a huge impact on the game, predominantly hit boundaries with the bat. There is still opportunities for guys to do that in the Hundred, and have an outside chance.”England face several tough choices heading into the World Cup, not least since Liam Livingstone was named player of the series after furthering his case for inclusion in the starting XI. Dawid Malan, who is averaging 26.80 with a strike rate of 114.52 in T20Is this year following his 31 off 33 balls on Tuesday night, looks vulnerable as a result of Livingstone’s success, but Morgan said he still saw Malan playing “a big role” for England.”Just because he’s had a quiet series doesn’t mean he’s not a good player,” Morgan said. “He’s done exceptional things for us over a long period of time. I think today’s game, the way he played actually suited his game more than most. He’s a guy that can take time and can go through the gears whereas actually, the majority of our team and the majority of our batting XI can’t. So when the scores are a little bit lower, he doesn’t have to push himself as much as he normally does or has done in an England shirt to date.”Liam is a guy we have wanted to find more out about. He’s certainly grown in stature, probably in the last year or so with his involvement in and around the group. When guys haven’t had opportunities for a number of years, having been involved for a short period of time, we look at how they come back in: have they improved certain things? I think Liam has improved a huge amount, and would say that himself. Other guys like Saqib Mahmood have done the exact same.”

And so, there it is, the end of the transfer window, with Manchester United closing the curtain on this summer with the belated addition of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Manuel Ugarte.

The Uruguayan destroyer – who only joined the Ligue 1 outfit last summer – has signed on the dotted line to provide competition and cover for the ageing Casemiro in the holding role, with the powers that be, perhaps wisely, putting paid to any notion of a return for FA Cup final hero, Sofyan Amrabat.

There will always be a sense among supporters that more is needed – hey, a few may have even talked themselves into wanting Raheem Sterling (naming no names) – but on the face of it, it has been a relatively smooth summer for the Red Devils, with the spine of the side having been significantly strengthened.

For once, the Old Trafford side resisted the temptation to splash out on the big names, instead turning to young and hungry talents, as well as those with something of a point to prove – namely ex-Bayern Munich and Juventus man, Matthijs de Ligt.

That approach has been rather refreshing to witness, as too has been the ruthless nature of the outgoings, with Scott McTominay and Jadon Sancho arguably the two most high-profile exits of the window.

Man Utd's deadline day exits

The summer began with the likes of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial departing at the end of their contracts and subsequently ended with two further noteworthy departures, in the form of Sancho and McTominay.

For the former, a move away appeared inevitable following his public dispute with Erik ten Hag last season, with any notion of reconciliation having been squashed by the Englishman's absence from the matchday squad for the first two Premier League games of the campaign.

Now the latest attacking talent attempting to be a success at Chelsea, the 24-year-old departs with few fond memories of life at Old Trafford, having registered just 18 goals and assists in 83 games in all competitions – a grim return for a £73m signing.

Few tears will have been shed over the winger's Stamford Bridge switch, but even the most stoney-faced supporter may have suffered a twitch of the eye at McTominay's departure, with the lifelong United man set for an exciting new challenge in Italy.

Yes, the 27-year-old had his limitations – previously dubbed "not good enough" by club legend Roy Keane – but boy was he effective, notably finishing last season with career-best figures of ten goals in all competitions.

There would certainly have been wisdom in keeping him around, but having had a year left on his contract, a £25m offer from Napoli proved too good to turn down, with United also set to rake in roughly a similar figure (£20-£25m) for Sancho's initial loan switch to west London.

Two calculated and shrewd sales – not words that have often been associated with the club in recent times – the new regime put sentiment aside to pull off those late deals, with focus now turning to those remaining at the club who will be attempting to kick on this season.

Among those who will again be crucial to Ten Hag's plans is the ever-improving presence of Diogo Dalot.

Diogo Dalot's market value in 2024

When discussing the best transfers at United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, the obvious port of call is Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker having been the shining light in a largely turbulent time for the club, after chalking up 79 goals and 67 assists in 236 games in all competitions to date.

And yet, whisper it quietly, but should Fernandes' compatriot also now come into that conversation, with the versatile full-back having arguably been the club's standout figure last term – even claiming the Players' Player of the Year award.

It took time for the former Porto man to get going in English football, having been sent on loan to AC Milan under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020, yet under new management, the defender now looks like an "elite-level" talent, as described by Statman Dave.

There still remain shaky moments, including his reckless foul against Chelsea in the 4-3 collapse last season, but on the whole the 25-year-old is looking more and more like an astute capture, having cost just £19m back in 2018.

36 games (35 starts)

2 goals

3 assists

5 'big chances' created

1.1 key passes*

84% pass accuracy*

3.3 tackles & interceptions*

5.4 balls recovered*

2.7 clearances*

0.6x dribbled past*

0.9 successful dribbles*

57% total duels won

11.2x possession lost

Dubbed the "best full-back in Europe" in his age group by Jose Mourinho at the time of his arrival, the £85k-per-week star is now a nailed-on pick in the starting lineup, with his importance notably bolstered by his ability to slot in at left-back.

That importance is reflected in his rising value, with Transfermarkt calculating that he is now worth around €35m (£29m), placing him ahead of both Sancho and McTominay, in relation to their touted transfer fees.

Perhaps, that figure should be even higher, although unless the club are looking to sell any time soon – which seems unlikely – an asking price or price tag matters not.

What that rise in value does indicate, however, is that Dalot can be considered one of the rare success stories of United's recruitment in recent times, with the right-back an example of just how patience and persistence can pay off.

So often forced to play second fiddle to Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the early years – having made just 36 appearances under Solskjaer – the 22-cap international has taken his chance, and then some, under Ten Hag's watch.

Long may it continue.

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ByRoss Kilvington Aug 31, 2024

Century stand between Wyatt and Nat Sciver sets up comfortable chase of 154

Valkerie Baynes14-Jul-2021

Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver put together a threatening partnership•Getty Images

Danni Wyatt’s unbeaten 89 led England to an eight-wicket victory over India in the third and final T20I to seal victory for the hosts in their multi-format series.Wyatt reached her score off just 56 deliveries and shared a 112-run partnership with Player of the Series Nat Sciver, who struck an excellent 42 in support, as England overhauled the target of 154 with eight balls to spare at Chelmsford. India reached 153 for 6 on the back of Smriti Mandhana’s classy 70 off 51 balls, but with only two other batters breaking out of single-figures, their total was found short.When Sciver fell in the 17th over, bowled by Sneh Rana, it fell to Wyatt and Heather Knight to guide England home and, after a couple of nervous moments when Knight narrowly evaded the fielder at cover in the 18th, they needed 13 off the last 12 balls. A pressure-easing six by Wyatt over deep square leg off Deepti Sharma was followed immediately by a four swept behind square and, fittingly, Wyatt struck the winning run, a single to midwicket.India’s defeat denied them the chance to draw the series after the sides took two points each from the drawn Test before England claimed both the ODI and T20I legs 2-1 to win 10-6 overall.Wyatt finds sparkOverlooked for the ODI leg of the series, despite having scored three half-centuries in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, Wyatt brought up her eighth T20I fifty – and first in 19 innings since December 2019 – with a four through point off Shikha Pandey. The stroke, her eighth boundary of 12 for the innings, also brought up the team hundred and she helped herself to another from the next ball. After scores of 31 and 3 in the previous two T20Is against India, Wyatt was under some pressure to produce an innings of note.Having seen opening partner Tammy Beaumont fall lbw to Sharma for just 11, Wyatt played an intelligent innings of deft placement, excellent timing and authority. In the fifth over, she struck Rana for three fours, clearing the covers either side of a neat glance through third man, to help England to 42 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay. Consecutive fours swept off Poonam Yadav followed and, at the halfway point of the innings, England needed 72 runs. That the powerful and in-form Sciver played the supporting role in their union highlighted Wyatt’s fine touch.Brunt’s breakthrough(s)Having been hauled for five consecutive fours by Shafali Verma in the previous match at Hove on Sunday, which India won in an eight-run thriller, there was a sense of unfinished business for experienced England seamer Katherine Brunt. Just four balls into this match, Brunt ended Verma’s knock, an inside-edge on to her own stumps bringing a second-ball duck. Brunt showed that the wicket meant something too, placing a finger to her lips in a “shushing” motion in her follow-through as Verma trudged off – though she later said it wasn’t aimed at her opponent.After her initial three-over spell, Brunt was re-introduced to the attack in the 17th as England looked to prise out a dangerous-looking Mandhana. Brunt obliged with her second ball back, which Mandhana picked up on the full and sent to Sciver, who took a good low catch at deep midwicket.Mandhana shinesMandhana’s innings was pivotal in raising a competitive total, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s 36 from 26 balls and Richa Ghosh’s excellent cameo of 20 off 13 the only other scores in double-figures for India’s innings.Having seen Verma and Harleen Deol fall cheaply – India were 28 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay – and just as the run rate was looking a little low, Mandhana launched Freya Davies over the long-off boundary for six. Kaur hit back-to-back fours off Sarah Glenn, swept past deep midwicket and drilled through the covers, before she fell lbw to Sciver. Mandhana then brough up her fifty with four off Davies through deep square leg and found the long-leg boundary for four more off a low full toss from Davies two balls later.Rana would have been comfortably run out at the non-striker’s end when she and Mandhana ran a second off Davies, the bowler fumbling Wyatt’s throw in. Mandhana then slog-swept Sophie Ecclestone for six before Ecclestone bowled Rana. Mandhana had one more boundary in her, advancing to Brunt and chipping over mid-off, before she fell.Oh my GhoshGhosh, India’s other prodigiously talented 17-year-old alongside Verma, responded to Mandhana’s dismissal by hitting Brunt’s next two balls for four through mid-on, the first beating a slightly hesitant Ecclestone and met with a scream of “Oh my god!” from Brunt. Ghosh then hit Ecclestone for consecutive fours over short fine leg and backward point before Ecclestone finally beat her with an arm ball that clipped the top of leg stump.

Elliot Hooper enjoyed a dream debut as Kent routed Middlesex for their lowest ever Vitality Blast score of 80 at Lord’s.The 25-year-old left-armer, one of seven debutants for the visitors because of a Covid-19 outbreak, took 3 for 24 in the 77-run victory – the hosts failing to reach their previous worst tally of 92 made against Surrey at Lord’s eight years ago.Fellow new boys Matthew Quinn, Safyaan Sharif and Marcus O’Riordan were also among the wickets, all this after Harry Finch top scored with 47 and Heino Kuhn made 42 in Kent’s total of 157 for 8, Blake Cullen taking 4 for 33.Another of the Kent new boys George Munsey swept the second ball of the match from Mujeeb Ur Rahman for six but departed later in the first over.Kuhn was then dropped at point by Joe Cracknell from Tom Helm’s first ball and he and skipper Zak Crawley set about the host’s attack.Crawley hit three sixes as 50 came up in the sixth over, but attempting a fourth he was brilliantly caught by Max Holden at deep square – the first of Cullen’s four victims.Kuhn and Finch continued the onslaught, helped by a succession of misfields, adding 65 in 43 balls, meaning the visitors were sitting pretty at 118 for 2 early in the 13th over.However, Kuhn holing out in the deep off the excellent Nathan Sowter sparked a turning point as runs dried up and wickets tumbled.Finch tried to hold things together making hitting six fours, in his 35-ball stay but just 40 runs came from the last eight oversChasing 158 for a rare win, the hosts simply fell to pieces. Sam Robson was yorked by Quinn and when the dangerous Joe Cracknell pulled Harry Podmore straight into the hands of deep square they were 16 for 2. It 20 for 3 when New Zealand international Daryl Mitchell was trapped lbw by Sharif, who returned 2 for 10.Hooper trapped Middlesex debutant Varun Chopra in front before Podmore returned to have John Simpson caught at short mid-on.Holden was caught on the fence to give O’Riordan his first Blast wicket and the procession continued as Hooper scattered Sowter’s stumps.Helm, Hooper’s other victim, and Mujeeb were the only Middlesex players other than Chopra to reach double figures as the hosts were bowled out with 21 balls to spare.

When Antoine Semenyo put Bournemouth 1-0 up at Anfield in the first few minutes – for the second season running – Liverpool supporters might have felt a sinking dread that last weekend’s dour defeat was not just a blip.

But it was rightly ruled out, and after a shaky start, the Redmen were rampant. Luis Diaz scored twice and Darwin Nunez opened his account under Arne Slot with a sumptuous finish, with Liverpool finishing matchweek five in second place with four victories and one loss, behind Manchester City by a single point.

He wasn’t in amongst the goals for the third game running, but Mohamed Salah continues to prove his glittering worth as Liverpool’s prized forward of the modern era.

Mohamed Salah's performance in numbers under Slot

Salah might have blanked across the past several matches but he’s still scored three goals and claimed four assists across five Premier League fixtures – indeed, it was his swivelled forward pass to Nunez that led to the 25-year-old’s wonderful goal.

Liverpool have had truck with that pesky low block over the past however many years, and though the managerial wheel has been spun, such residual issues linger.

But Bournemouth played an aggressive and expansive game and were put to the sword by a magnificent attacking display from their hosts on Saturday. They didn’t play badly, really, but Caoimhin Kelleher was imperious between the sticks, the backline stood strong and the midfield made things tick.

Salah was more combative and energetic than usual. As per Sofascore, he complemented his assist by winning eight duels and completing five dribbles. He also made six key passes and hit the target four times. He should have scored but impressed nonetheless.

However, the way things after going, Diaz is starting to emerge as Slot’s best player. The Dutchman has inherited a team of high station on the European scene, but Liverpool’s left winger wasn’t exactly brilliant last term and is now going from strength to strength.

Why Luis Diaz is becoming Liverpool's best forward

Chance. Diaz collects on the left, Andy Robertson has threaded it through. Skip. Shift. He’s central, into space. The Colombian fires on goal. It’s a fierce strike, a seat raiser. But Kepa Arrizabalaga is his equal, turns it over the bar.

Chance. It’s now over 22 minutes into the contest. It’s Robertson again, placing it to Diaz’s feet. Why not? He’s crackling with energy. This time, fleet feet send the Cherries into a spin. He’s weaving his way into the danger area. Philippe Coutinho vs Manchester United, is that you? But no, Kepa stands strong again. It’s an acute angle. Thwarted.

Goal. Moments later. Now it’s showtime. Ibrahima Konate takes a leaf from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s book and carves Bournemouth open with a ranged pass from deep. Who meets it? Diaz. Spatial awareness and close control of the highest distinction. Expert touch. Balletic swivel. Kepa’s in no man’s land. Diaz is free to score. It’s 1-0 Liverpool.

Goal. He’s done it again, two minutes later. 30 minutes not yet on the clock. Bournemouth commit, they need to restore parity. But Anfield can be a vicious beast and the visitors are swallowed up. Alexander-Arnold drives forward and alarms are blaring. Diaz is hungry, he wants more. He’s in space. It’s a fine delivery – of course – and it’s a sharp finish to match. Merseyside erupts in a fountain of red rapture.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

5 (5)

Goals

8

5

Assists

5

1

Touches*

43.8

42.4

Shots (on target)

2.5 (0.9)

2.6 (1.6)

Pass completion

85%

90%

Key passes*

1.8

1.6

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.6

Dribbles (completed)*

1.8

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

1.6

Total Duels won*

4.6

4.6

Nunez would score the pick of the bunch several minutes later with a much-needed goal, ending faint South Coast hopes of a comeback. The relief on the Uruguayan’s face was palpable, and it was his Colombian friend who skipped over to celebrate with him, leaping onto his back.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle was effusive of Diaz’s display in his post-match praise, handing the 27-year-old a 9/10 score and writing: ‘Had already caused Bournemouth serious problems before great composure to finish for first and then slotting second. Outstanding.’

If he manages to keep a hold of this newfound potency, Diaz might just find himself emerging as Slot’s most important player. He’s probably the first name on the team sheet in the Premier League right now, and saying that he’s undroppable following the game that Cody Gakpo had against AC Milan is quite something, but there it is in any case.

Erling Haaland notwithstanding, Diaz is the Premier League’s top scorer this season. Speaking strictly about the human race, he kind of does boast the most goals, for the Norwegian is surely a factory-built machine.

1.

Erling Haaland

5 (5)

10

2.

Luis Diaz

5 (5)

5

3.

Jhon Duran

5 (0)

4

3.

Nicolas Jackson

5 (5)

4

3.

Bryan Mbeumo

5 (5)

4

Diaz needs to find four goals from 33 Premier League games to surpass his personal best in England’s top flight. Last term, his eight-goal return from 37 matches left something wanting, especially as he only posted 13 strikes over 53 matches in all competitions.

His 90% pass success rate against Bournemouth further bespeaks a technical capacity that aligns with Slot’s ball-retaining, control-centric system.

Of course, this is a player who’s been known to ebb and flow from form at Liverpool, undulating like a wave. Let’s be real, though, he’s clearly enjoying his football at the moment and is being aided by a unit of creative masters – Liverpool’s 18 big chances created this season are behind only Aston Villa’s 19 after five fixtures.

If Slot wishes to continue to impress in the Premier League, Diaz must not move from his left-flanking position. He’s causing so much chaos at the moment and could be the standout star this year.

Liverpool flop who left for £5m is now outperforming Jota & emulating Messi

Liverpool never got the best out of this dud.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 23, 2024

Liverpool are reportedly yet to be contacted by AC Milan over Darwin Nunez for a transfer to the Serie A giants.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Nunez struggling to fire in attackHas been linked with a move to MilanHowever, negotiations are yet to beginFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 25-year-old forward has struggled to find consistent form this season, raising questions about his future at Anfield. In 23 appearances across all competitions, the forward has managed to score only four times. Since joining Liverpool in 2022 for a fee potentially rising to £85 million, Nunez’s performances have often been inconsistent, despite flashes of brilliance.

AdvertisementGOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Speculation earlier this week suggested that AC Milan were preparing a move for Nunez. Reports from Italy indicated the proposed deal would involve a six-month loan with a £41.5 million obligation to purchase in the summer. However, reports that the club has received no official contact from the Rossoneri regarding the striker.

DID YOU KNOW?

Manager Arne Slot has frequently opted to deploy Luis Díaz or Diogo Jota in the central striker role, relegating Nunez to the periphery of Liverpool's attacking lineup. However, Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to sanction any departures without securing a suitable replacement. With a congested schedule looming in the second half of the season, retaining squad depth will be crucial for the Reds.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Reds currently lead both the Premier League and their Champions League group, having already secured a place in the knockout stage of Europe’s elite competition. They next host Manchester United at Anfield in the Premier League. Meanwhile, in domestic cup competitions, Liverpool are set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semi-final's first leg next week. They are also preparing for an FA Cup third-round tie against League Two side Accrington Stanley later this month.