SPORTS

Jurgen Klopp Wishes Salah Early Exit From AFCON, Confirms Szoboszlai’s Injury

Published

4 months ago

January 6, 2024

Stephen

The manager of Liverpool football club, Jurgen Klopp wishes his talisman, Mohamed Salah early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

Mohamed Salah left Liverpool to link up with his national team, Egypt after featuring in the club’s 4-2 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League on January 1.

Salah will be absent when Liverpool take on Arsenal in the FA Cup at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 7. He will also miss the club’s EFL clash with Fulham on January.

Salah will miss five more games in all competitions if Egypt make it to the final of the competition which could be a great miss for Liverpool who are trying to win their second Premier League title in four years.

Aside from Mohamed Salah, Liverpool are forced to be without Wataru Endo who has also joined his country, Japan for the Asian Cup.

While commenting on the departure of Salah and Endo, Klopp said: “I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie. No, but I do.

“From a personal point of view, I would be overly happy if they go out of the group stage, but it’s probably not possible, so it’s fine and then they can go and win it as well.

“‘Good luck, see you, and come back healthy’ – that’s pretty much the words.”

Amidst that, Liverpool’s midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai will miss Sunday’s FA Cup third-round encounter against Arsenal due to a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old Hungarian international sustained the injury during Liverpool’s 4-2 triumph over Newcastle United on Monday.

“I can confirm it’s not a potential injury – it is an injury,” Jurgen Klopp said on Friday.

“Muscle, hamstring. But now we have to see.”

The German tactician added: “Dom is very positive and doesn’t have a lot of pain, but we have to wait a little bit.

“So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday, and then we will see. After that, hopefully, he might be back but we don’t know.”

SPORTS

EPL: Arsenal receive Partey injury boost

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

KOLLYLAD

EPL: Arsenal receive Partey injury boost

Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey is set to make a return from injury by the end of January.

Partey has made good progress in his rehabilitation work and will hand the Gunners a timely boost.

The Ghanaian has been plagued with different injuries throughout his time in England and picked up a groin problem at the beginning of the season.

He briefly returned to action in October, but picked up another long-term muscular injury.

Partey was then left out of Ghana’s final squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, The Mirror reports that the 30-year-old has shown progress in his rehabilitation work and could return to the first team ahead of their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on January 30.

SPORTS

EPL: Chelsea’s stance on sacking Pochettino revealed

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

KOLLYLAD

EPL: Chelsea’s stance on sacking Pochettino revealed

Chelsea’s stance on sacking their manager, Mauricio Pochettino has been revealed.

Pochettino is under significant pressure as head coach at Stamford Bridge due to the club’s not too impressive display this season.

The Argentine recently watched as Middlesbrough defeated the Blues 1-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie.

His team currently sit in the 10th position on the Premier League table after 20 games this season.

However, according to The Telegraph, Pochettino’s job is safe for now despite their latest defeat to Middlesbrough.

The report added that his position at the west London club is not in jeopardy while Chelsea have a ‘realistic chance’ of qualifying for Europe.

SPORTS

AFCON 2023: Harsh weather condition won’t be an excuse for Super Eagles – Peseiro

Published

4 months ago

January 11, 2024

KOLLYLAD

AFCON 2023: Harsh weather condition won’t be an excuse for Super Eagles – Peseiro

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has said his side can’t use the difficult weather condition in Abidjan as an excuse ahead of their opening game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The West Africans arrived Abidjan in buoyant mood on Wednesday morning despite losing 2-0 to Guinea in a friendly two days earlier.

The Eagles had a light training session after setting down at their base, the magnificent Pullman Hotel.

Peseiro stated that his team must focus on the task ahead and not allow any form of distraction.

“We cannot give excuses about the weather; we need to put in our focus, adapt well and do our best ahead of the first match, which is very important for us,” he told NFF TV.

The Super Eagles will open their campaign at the 2023 AFCON finals against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

They will also face hosts, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.