Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s famous person now
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after opening the scoring for Liverpool in opposition to Marseille
Mohamed Salah was again in Liverpool’s beginning line-up in opposition to Marseille for the primary time since his explosive interview in December. It appears he nonetheless has a job to play this season. However this workforce has a unique most important man now in Dominik Szoboszlai.
The midfielder had endured a troublesome week, gifting Barnsley a objective within the FA Cup earlier than lacking from the spot in opposition to Burnley. However when Liverpool received a free-kick inside taking pictures vary on the finish of the primary half on the Stade Velodrome, he made it clear to Salah who could be stepping as much as take it.
“I love his confidence,” Steven Gerrard, a person who is aware of a factor or two about taking duty for Liverpool, mentioned on TNT Sports activities. “Most players with Mo Salah in their ear would move aside and respect that, but I love the way he says, ‘no chance’.”
What adopted, in fact, was a intelligent strike directed underneath the wall and into the web to offer Liverpool the essential opening objective. It was Szoboszlai’s fourth in seven Champions League appearances this season and he has an extra three assists.
Following his sensational strike in opposition to Arsenal earlier this season, he’s the primary Liverpool participant because the departed Trent Alexander-Arnold, in 2022/23, to attain multiple free-kick in a single season. His newest got here in one other starring show. Salah is again however Szoboszlai is that this workforce’s talisman now.
Nick Wright
Caicedo exhibits his all-round excellence once more
Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo celebrates scoring in opposition to Pafos
The high-quality and wide-ranging expertise of Moises Caicedo aren’t any secret however his efficiency to encourage Chelsea to a slender however essential win over cussed Pafos exemplified his many attributes.
He ultimately made the distinction along with his header from a flicked-on nook with 12 minutes to play. That was his fourth shot on course of the sport, with the guests’ goalkeeper twice sharp to cease Caicedo drives earlier than the break. It is probably the most photographs on course he is had in a recreation for Chelsea.
He was additionally joint-top for possibilities created, with Enzo Fernandez, whereas solely centre-backs Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana had extra touches. Solely Fofana received possession extra occasions. Caicedo is a participant who can do all of it.
The midfielder has performed each minute he has been accessible for underneath Rosenior up to now. He missed the Arsenal tie by way of suspension – and that was the one recreation the brand new head coach hasn’t received.
Whereas the defence will get rejigged and attackers are rotated, Caicedo is a continuing – and important – for this Chelsea workforce.
Peter Smith
Guimaraes damage sours ‘electrical’ night time at Newcastle
It was a particular night at St James’ Park as an electrical ambiance spurred Newcastle on to safe an important win to spice up their probabilities of automated qualification within the Champions League.
Nevertheless, the damage to Bruno Guimaraes will go away a bitter style within the mouth of Eddie Howe – and you could possibly sense it in his press convention.
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes went off injured in the course of the 3-0 win in opposition to PSV
After confirming the ankle downside for his captain and revealing swelling had already appeared, Howe admitted it was a “worry” for the membership.
That is likely to be understating it. Newcastle’s subsequent 4 video games include Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis. The primary recreation is the one one they are going to play at residence, dwell on Sky Sports activities, this Sunday.
Guimaraes has stepped up for his aspect frequently all through the present marketing campaign and the considered heading into these fixtures with out their captain and star participant is a worrying one.
Sunday twenty fifth January 1:00pm
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“We hope it is not serious,” Howe added. “We will do everything we can to get him fit as quickly as possible.”
Lewis Miley changed him on the night and went on to put on the armband, however asking him to fill the void Guimaraes’ potential absence leaves is an inconceivable activity.
Patrick Rowe
