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O Santos se mantém vivo na Libertadores com a vitória diante do Boca Juniors na Vila Belmiro. Nesta terça-feira, o novo técnico da equipe, Fernando Diniz, fez sua estreia pelo clube e iniciou sua trajetória com um triunfo importantíssimo diante dos argentinos na partida que já marcou sua primeira expulsão pelo Peixe. Nas redes, torcedores do Santos enalteceram Diniz e colocaram o nome do treinador no topo dos assuntos mais comentados do Twitter.
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RelacionadasSantosSantos supera o cansaço e vence o Boca Juniors na estreia de Fernando DinizSantos11/05/2021SantosATUAÇÕES: Felipe Jonatan brilha com golaço em vitória do SantosSantos11/05/2021SantosFernando Diniz não poderá comandar o Santos contra o The StrongestSantos11/05/2021

O cartão vermelho para Diniz ocorreu em uma confusão gerada pelo árbitro da partida, o uruguaio Christian Ferreyra, que teve atuação marcada por erros graves na Vila Belmiro. Antes da expulsão, Diniz reclamou acintosamente após Ferreyra dar cartão amarelo para Lucas Braga em uma falta cometida por Kaio Jorge. Em seguida, o bate-boca entre o técnico santista eMiguel Ángel Russo, comandante do Boca, resultou na expulsão de ambos.

Apesar da adversidade, Diniz recebeu elogios nas redes.

Fernando Diniz no comando do Santos:

1 jogo
1 expulsão

O homem chegou. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8SHrt5siVz

— Planeta do Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info) May 11, 2021

como não admirar o Diniz, com ele comemorando gol do Santos assim??? pic.twitter.com/pllAVdGpOW

— Davi ˢᶠᶜ (@sfcBelga_) May 11, 2021

diniz de bucho cheio depois de JANTAR o Boca Juniors. pic.twitter.com/tzsPl8P8Kt

— gabrueuˢᶠᶜ⚡ (@GabrueuS) May 12, 2021

A diferença de ter um líder no banco e não um cara que DORME durante o jogo. Diniz gigante!

— Zoro Santista ⚪️⚫️ (@roronoasantista) May 12, 2021

Afghanistan captain urges frequent and longer tours of Bangladesh, more matches against the likes of England and Australia and more focus on Tests and ODIs

Mohammad Isam in Dhaka25-Sep-2019

AFP

Frequent and longer tours of Bangladesh, and more matches against stronger sides like England, New Zealand and Australia, are on Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan’s wishlist as his side seeks to improve in all three formats.Afghanistan ended their tour of Bangladesh by sharing the T20I tri-series trophy with the home side following a washed-out final in Dhaka. The next bilateral series between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is scheduled for March 2022, and comprises only three ODIs and two T20Is. In the current FTP, Afghanistan do not have a bilateral series against England, and will play two Tests and three ODIs against Australia over the next three years. Their only bilateral games against New Zealand will be in the form of an ODI series just before the 2023 50-over World Cup. Against Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, the bilateral contests are all limited-overs matches.”We should have longer series against Bangladesh, like have the main focus on 50 overs and Test matches,” Rashid said at a press conference. “Cricket boards should think about it. There should be a three-match Test series. There’s more room to learn and have different experiences. More 50 overs and Tests would be better for both nations.”Rashid said Afghanistan hardly got chances to play quality fast bowling against sides like Ireland and Scotland, and the lack of experience had hurt Afghanistan’s chances at the World Cup. He also urged the respective boards to schedule more Tests and ODIs against Bangladesh, rather than T20Is.”We have played only twice against Australia, New Zealand and England in the last five years [all in World Cups]. If we played more against them, we could have known their strengths and weaknesses. It should be looked into. The best example is Bangladesh. They played a lot against South Africa and ended up having the best result against them in the World Cup. If we want to be a good side, we should play more against the top sides. Not one match in four years. These teams have four fast bowlers who bowl 140-plus. We play against Scotland and Ireland, and they hardly have a 140-plus bowler.”Rashid wants Afghanistan to improve and be good enough to eventually play in the World Test Championship. “We are quite sad not to be part of the World Test Championship, but I think all we can do right now is play good Test cricket, to prove that decision wrong. But at the same time, you can’t put a side in the championship who have played only three Tests,” he said.Rashid enjoyed a good tour of Bangladesh, his first series since his appointment as Afghanistan captain in all three formats. He took 11 wickets in Afghanistan’s first away Test win in Chattogram, where he also scored a crucial half-century, and followed that up with six wickets in the T20I tri-series. With Afghanistan now scheduled to play a ‘home’ series against West Indies in November, Rashid said he would continue to bowl the same way in all three formats, remaining mindful of not putting himself under undue pressure by expecting wickets too often in the longest format.”I never brought any difference in my bowling in any format. I try to do what I am capable of,” he said. “I don’t want to bring any changes to my bowling. If I bring a bit of change, I think it will affect my bowling.”I always had one thing in mind in the Test match, that there will be a time when I won’t get a wicket for 25 overs. There will be a time when I get three wickets in one over. Rather than putting extra pressure on myself, I should be mentally ready for this sort of thing.”Rashid revealed that spin-bowling greats Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne had advised him not to bowl slower and not to bring any major changes to his bowling, as it is his pace that deceives batsmen.”I asked Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, superstars of Test cricket, what should my mindset be in a Test match. They both told me that I shouldn’t change myself, and be cool and calm in every situation,” he said. “[They said that I should] just focus on bowling in the right line and length, rather than bring down my speed. They said that the quicker you bowl, it deceives the batsmen.”

Manchester City have reportedly "sent scouts" to watch a record-breaking European player in action, with contact already made with the individual in question.

Man City eyeing big-name summer signings

Pep Guardiola has built arguably his strongest-ever squad at the Etihad currently, with so many elite options littered all over the pitch. He is a manager who constantly wants to freshen things up, however, ensuring that players don't rest on their laurels and get too comfortable. For that reason, it has been no surprise to see City being linked with a plethora of big names of late, as they look for another eye-catching summer in the transfer market.

For example, the reigning Premier League champions are believed to be willing to spend a whopping £127m on AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, potentially seeing him as a replacement for Jack Grealish, who has struggled to kick on this season. The Portuguese has nine goals and eight assists in all competitions in 2023/24 to date.

City are also reportedly the front-runners to snap up Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala, jumping to the head of the queue ahead of Liverpool. A move to England could appeal to the youngster, having turned down a new contract at his current club. Former Cityzens player Douglas Luiz could be a target, too, with Guardiola rating him highly and possibly wanting to seal a reunion with him in the summer.

Man City make contact with record-breaking gem

According to a new update from Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester City have "sent scouts" to watch Milan teenager Francesco Camarda. Contact has been made with him, with north London pair Arsenal and Tottenham also interested, and they all have the "financial ability to mock" any offer that comes his way from Milan.

Camarda is certainly an exciting option for City, considering his record-breaking feats in his young career to date, becoming the youngest player in Serie A history last year, appearing as a substitute at the age of just 15.

Admittedly, the Italian forward has only appeared twice this season, with his two cameos totalling just 12 minutes, but he is considered a player with a huge long-term future. Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has shown his support for him recently.

Francesco Camarda's international stats

Caps

Goals

Italy Under-17s

9

4

Italy Under-16s

7

3

Italy Under-15s

9

6

Long-term planning is essential at City, making sure the club continue to thrive long after Guardiola is gone, and Camarda could be a major part of the future at the Etihad, having thrived with three different youth teams at international level.

تحدث إبراهيم نور الدين المدير الفني للجنة الحكام ورئيس لجنة التطوير، عن كواليس استعداد الحكام، لبطولة كأس السوبر المصري، المقرر انطلاقها الأحد المقبل.

ويشارك في البطولة، الأهلي بطل الدوري وبيراميدز بطل كأس مصر، وسيراميكا كليوباترا المتوج بكأس الرابطة المصرية والزمالك الحاصل على الكارت الذهبي من اللجنة المنظمة.

وقال إبراهيم نور الدين في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “وصلنا أبو ظبي أمس، قبل السفر عملنا تجربة عملية للحكام لتنشيط زيادة المعدلات البدنية، وتضمنت التحرك والتمركز، وبعض التعديلات في القانون لزيادة التأكيد على الحكام”.

طالع أيضاً.. حسين لبيب يطير إلى الإمارات قبل مباراة الزمالك وبيراميدز في كأس السوبر المصري

وتابع: “الحكام في السوبر لا يمثلون أنفسهم فقط بل يُمثلون التحكيم المصري، لا أحد يستطيع أن يمنع الأخطاء، الأخطاء نتيجة سوء الحظ سنسامح فيها، لكن الأخطاء بسبب الإهمال أو تقصير سيكون لها حساب، وإن شاء الله لن تكون هناك أخطاء، كلنا علينا مسؤولية وإصرار على إظهار التحكيم المصري في أبهى صورته ونعيد الثقة ونبني عليها”.

وأضاف: “كنا نشرح تعديلات القانون الجديد بشكل عملي للحكام، وبالتعاون مع وليد العطار المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم خاطبنا الأندية لكي نشرح لهم التعديلات لكي نحد من الاعتراضات، كنا مع سيراميكا كليوباترا اليوم، وغدًا سنلقي محاضرات على لاعبي الأهلي والزمالك وبيراميدز”.

وأكمل: “أبرز التعديلات على قانون التحكيم، الاتحاد الدولي قال إن ركلة الجزاء التي تحتسب بسبب لمسة يد متعمدة ومنع الكرة من دخول المرمى، يكون القرار الطرد، لكن لو الكرة متجهة للمرمى ولمست يد اللاعب ولا يوجد تعمد حتى لو كانت يد اللاعب في مكانها الطبيعي، القرار سينزل من بطاقة حمراء لـ بطاقة صفراء، ويتم احتساب ركلة جزاء، وسنشرح للاعبين هذا التعديل منعًا للاحتقان”.

واستكمل: “بالتبعية لو هناك ركلة جزاء احتسبت بسبب لمسة يد بالتصويب على المرمى واللاعب (عامل بلوك) سينزل القرار من بطاقة حمراء إلى بطاقة صفراء”.

وأتم: “هناك تعديل آخر في التبديلات، التبديلات 5، ولو هناك لاعب تعرض لإرتجاج يتم السماح بتغيير إضافي لتصبح 6 تغييرات للفريق، والفريق الآخر يكون من حقه أن يقوم بالتبديل السادس حتى يكون هناك مبدأ لتكافؤ الفرص، ولكن هذا التعديل لم يتم إدراجه في بطولة السوبر المصري”.

Aston Villa are reportedly sending officials to watch a "superb" player who they wanted to sign in the January transfer window, as they eye up a second attempt in the summer.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have had a season to treasure so far, exceeding expectations under Unai Emery, but it will still feel like a disappointment if they miss out on Champions League football. It would allow them to attract top players this summer, not to mention acting as a huge financial boost.

There are some interesting transfer rumours floating about, with the Midlands side linked with sealing a reunion for former striker Cameron Archer, who is now at Sheffield United. A "clever clause" that NSWE inserted into his contract with the Blades means that they would be able to re-sign him for "cut-price fee" if his current club are relegated from the Premier League this season.

Torino midfielder Raoul Bellanova, who can also play as a wing back, has been heavily linked after a failed approach from NSWE in January, providing competition for Matty Cash in the process. He has five assists in 25 Serie A appearances so far this season, whereas Cash only has one in 23 in the Premier League.

Young Porto midfielder Alan Varela is another individual who is reportedly being eyed up by Emery, as he looks to bolster his options in the middle of the park, no doubt with the assumption that his side will once again be playing European football of some kind next season.

NSWE sending Villa officials on Bellanova missions

According to a new update from Tuttosport [via Football Italia], Aston Villa owners NSWE have sent scouts to watch Bellanova in action for Torino a number of times this season, presumably plotting a second move in the summer.

The Villans are not alone in showing an interest, however, with Manchester United also seeing him as a good option to bring in at the end of the season.

Bellanova does feel like a genuine target for Villa, and he could be very strong addition to a squad that just needs a sprinkling of added brilliance in the summer. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as "superb" and he is still young enough to keep improving for years to come.

Appearances

25

25

22

26

20

15

Assists

5

4

4

3

1

1

Emery could also like the fact that the Italian is capable of thriving as a right winger and at full back, with such versatility giving him more squad options and depth. This season, he has played 15 times at wing back and futher up on nine occasions, outlining his adaptability.

Emery can bench 6/10 star by unleashing Aston Villa's "machine"

Aston Villa take on Luton Town tomorrow evening in the Premier League

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 1, 2024

The interest from United could scupper Villa's move, given how big a club they will always be, but Emery should use it as an added incentive to get into the Champions League ahead of the Red Devils, potentially giving them the edge.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has suggested that Tottenham would be making a real mistake by signing one forward who they're apparently in pole position for.

Spurs linked with new forward this summer

By some distance, the position in which Spurs have been most heavily tipped to strengthen in the next transfer market is their attacking ranks.

Tottenham player out injured until mid-April after sustaining foot fracture

He won’t be available for the foreseeable.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 14, 2024

Indeed, Spurs want a new winger as their key signing of the summer, and they've been repeatedly linked with some big names like Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and Wolves winger Pedro Neto. However, another player they're thought to be interested in signing is Hull City sensation Jaden Philogene.

The 22-year-old has bagged eight goals and six assists in the Championship this season, leading to firm interest from north London. There's even been suggestions that Spurs are in pole position to sign Philogene this summer.

Robinson suggests Spurs could make mistake by signing Philogene

Reacting to the reports that Tottenham are favourites to sign the Tigers winger, Robinson has suggested that Philogene just isn't the signing Spurs should be making.

“I think he obviously didn’t get games at Aston Villa for a reason, he’s gone to the Championship and it’s difficult,” Robinson said. “I’ve not seen enough of the player regularly but he’s playing well at Hull in a team that are playing well and looking for the playoffs. But there’s a reason he didn’t break through at Villa.

“Often you see players who don’t succeed at the Premier League level, I’m not saying this is the case with him because I’ve not seen enough of him and I’ve not seen enough game time.

Hull City 4-1 Rotherham

8.94

Rotherham 1-2 Hull City

8.73

Hull City 1-0 Preston

8.61

Swansea 2-2 Hull City

8.49

Hull City 1-1 Plymouth Argyle

8.34

“But players find their level sometimes, so the scouting network have to be very good and very careful that he’s not a player who looks that good in the Championship but actually can’t do it in the Premier League because there’s a reason Villa will have let him go.

“At the same time, players do develop at a different rate, players develop later on, players get better and the more experience he gets in the Championship he may become a better player. From a Tottenham point of view, I don’t see him as the next level. If you’re looking at Tottenham’s front line the players they’ve got there now, you look at players like Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, James Maddison, Son Heung-min, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson – is he an improvement on any of those, would he get in the side ahead of any of those? You’d probably argue not.

“I think from a Tottenham point of view, if you’re wanting to push on and go to that next level, I mean a top-four challenge this season was unexpected but we’re in a top-four challenge and it’s a realistic possibility. And if you’re in the Champions League next year, you’re shopping at Harrods, you’re not shopping in the Championship.”

BCCI president also said he was waiting to have a word with MS Dhoni on his future

Nagraj Gollapudi23-Oct-20197:18

Will support Kohli in every way possible: Ganguly

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has assured the Indian team management led by captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri that his board will make “life easy” and not “difficult” for them but pointed out that performance would be the ultimate yardstick. Ganguly also said he was waiting to have a word with MS Dhoni on his future, pointing out “champions don’t finish quickly.”The 47-year old former India captain was speaking after his formal election as BCCI president, marking the end of the 33-month tenure of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Others elected today were Jay Shah (secretary), Arun Singh Dhumal (treasurer), Jayesh George (joint secretary) and Mahim Verma (vice-president).ALSO READ – Meet the new BCCI officialsGanguly was all praise for Kohli who he said had taken Indian cricket to a “different level” since he took over as captain in 2015. India are currently the No. 1 Test team and are perched comfortably atop the World Test Championship table. In ODIs, they are behind England and in T20Is they are ranked fourth.In light of that success, Kohli and Shastri became two of the most powerful people in Indian cricket. Ganguly is scheduled to meet them on Thursday at the BCCI office where the teams to play the home series against Bangladesh would be picked.

Champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s in his mind, what he thinks about his career. When you sit down and make note of what he has done, you still say wowGanguly on Dhoni

“I really don’t know what had transpired with the CoA [the previous regime] and Virat and Ravi,” Ganguly said in his first media briefing as BCCI president in Mumbai. “But the new body has taken over, the new office bearers have taken over, it will be a proper discussion and everything would be mutually discussed. But be rest assured that we are here to make their life easier, not make their life difficult. And everything will be on the basis of performance. Performance is the most important thing and that’s what will decide the future of Indian cricket.”Ganguly made it clear that Kohli was the “most important” person in Indian cricket at the moment. “We will be there to support him. We will there to listen to him because I have been a captain myself and I understand from that position and we will deal with it. It is a mutual respect which will be there, so discussions will be there and we will do what is best for the game.”MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly share a light moment•AFPOn Tuesday, after India’s 3-0 Test series win over South Africa, Kohli felt Test cricket should be hosted by a maximum of five key venues, a system which is followed in England and Australia. Kohli said it helped bring in better crowds and add to the Test-match culture in those countries and it might be something for the BCCI to look into.The issue had come up in light of poor crowds in two of the three Tests (Pune and Ranchi) and there had already been a precedent – Dhoni had made a similar suggestion in 2010. Ganguly was open to a discussion around it, saying “in terms of the Test venues, we have a lot of space, lot of venues. So we will have to sit with him [Kohli] and see what he wants and take it forward.”With a selection meeting scheduled for Thursday, the question on Dhoni’s future came up once again. The 38-year old hasn’t played for India since the end of the World Cup in July and it doesn’t seem likely that he will be back to play the series against Bangladesh. “It is unlikely Dhoni would be picked for the Bangladesh series which comprises three T20Is and two Tests considering he has not played any cricket after the World Cup.”When asked if he had reached out to Dhoni, Ganguly said, “I have not spoken to him yet. Hopefully we will meet soon and have a word with one of the greats in Indian cricket.”Ganguly was not shy about recalling instances from his own career – which began in 1992 and ended in 2008 -when asked about how long Dhoni could continue playing for India.”It depends on him,” Ganguly said. “I’ve always said that even when I was left out [in 2005] and when the entire world said he’ll never make it I believed in myself and came back [in 2007] and played for four years [domestic cricket included]. You know champions don’t finish very quickly. I don’t know what’s on his mind, what he thinks about his career. So we will deal with that. He is one of the greats of the game. India is very proud to have MS Dhoni. When you sit down and make note of what he has done, you still say “wow”.”Ganguly also brushed aside the question of whether India needed to look at the split captaincy. “It is the job of the selectors (to decide that),” he said before adding, “India is winning, so the question is not necessary at the moment. India is the best team in the world right now so that question is not necessary right now.”

Trent Boult will try to be aggressive and take wickets in his first T20I appearance in more than 18 months, as he comes back into the New Zealand side for the fourth game of the series against England in Napier.Boult has not played a T20I since the final of the tri-series against Australia and England in January 2018, having been rested and rotated to manage his workload, but replaces Lockie Ferguson for the final two games of the ongoing series.”There’s a series on the line here at the moment,” Boult said, “and obviously I’m eager to come in and put my best step forward. It’s a format that I haven’t been involved in much at the international level over a period, but I’m looking forward to coming in and trying to do my thing.”

Watch cricket on ESPN+

New Zealand v England is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the T20I series.

While Boult hasn’t pulled on the grey strip for some time, he has been an IPL regular for Delhi Capitals over the last two years. He took 18 wickets in the 2018 season, finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the side [Delhi Daredevils at the time], and played five games this year, though struggled to nail down a spot.”It’s the same mindset that I always take into most formats: trying to be aggressive, trying to take wickets, and trying to do my role for the side,” Boult said of his T20 gameplan, “and that is being aggressive with the ball – I’ll try and do that over the next couple of nights.”She’s always a beautiful wicket here [at Napier]. I hope I don’t get to bat on it, but I’m presuming it’s going to be a pretty good surface. It’s not the first time I’ve played here obviously, and we’re familiar with the grounds around the country.”It’s 2-1 in the series, and hopefully we can put a good performance forward and seal off a nice victory in the series.”Boult has been tuning up for the upcoming Test series by playing for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield, and took eight wickets across the two games he has played for them in the last two weeks.The second of those games was a defeat in Mount Maunganui, which will host its first Test from November 21 as the England series gets underway, and Boult said he was looking forward to playing international cricket at the ground.”It was nice to get some red-ball stuff done at the Mount looking towards the Tests in a couple of weeks’ time,” he said. “It’s just beautiful this time of year. [I’m] looking forward to that Test match there, the inaugural one, and it looks like it’s going to be a good wicket. There’s a lot of hum and a lot of vibe going on in the Bay of Plenty for some Test cricket there.”Another man who could join Boult in the squad for that Test is Ferguson, who is set to play for Auckland in the round of Plunket Shield games starting on Friday. Ferguson is yet to make his Test debut, but could force his way into the reckoning with a strong performance in what will be his first first-class game since March.

USWNT legend Carli Lloyd admits that international football is “incredibly cut-throat”, with 123-goal Alex Morgan left out of Paris Olympics plans.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Veteran forward won't travel to France
• New generation of talent emerging
• Difficult decision for coach to make

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite boasting over 220 caps for her country, and two World Cup triumphs, Morgan has been omitted from Emma Hayes’ squad for a gold medal bid in France. Morgan is now enjoying a mid-season break, as NWSL action also shuts down, with the 35-year-old having to make peace with disappointing news on the professional front.

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• WHAT LLOYD SAID

  Lloyd, who made 316 appearances for the USWNT and scored 134 goals, has told of Morgan’s surprising snub: “I can imagine it’s hard. She has been a big staple to the team for so many years. I would imagine that it’s not the news that you want to hear. It’s going to be one of those things where some people are not going to like the news they hear, so it’s tough. It never gets any easier. I think what people don’t realise is it is cut-throat, incredibly cut-throat. But also, it’s somewhat easy to get there, but to stay there and to be a consistent player for many, many years is one of the hardest things to do.”

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Change was always going to be on the cards after the United States flopped at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with Morgan now paying the price for that as a new generation of talent emerges. Lloyd added: “That’s why you always have to constantly be evolving your game. You always have to be proving yourself out on the field and production matters. The way that you play and for her sake, as a goal scorer, you got to score goals.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The USWNT, who battled past Mexico in their latest outing, have one more friendly date to take in – against Costa Rica – before opening their bid for a first Olympic gold since 2012 when facing Zambia in Nice on July 25.

Manchester United recovered from their Derby Day defeat to Manchester City two weeks ago with a narrow victory over Everton last weekend.

Although the 2-0 score line may not suggest it, Erik ten Hag’s team were rather lucky to collect all three points, with the Toffees having 23 shots and tallying up 1.61 xG.

This weekend, the Red Devils welcome another Merseyside club in the form of Liverpool in what is set to be a classic FA Cup clash.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which players simply have to come into the starting lineup if United are to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side on Sunday.

Rasmus Hojlund has to return

Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund struggled to adapt to the Premier League initially after his £72m move from Italian side Atalanta, scoring zero goals in his first 14 league matches for the Red Devils.

However, the 21-year-old has been unstoppable since bagging his first league goal against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, neting in all of his last six Premier League matches, and winning the February Premier League Player of the Month award.

Hojlund’s influence on the team is irreplaceable, which has been on display in recent weeks due to the Dane’s injury, an eventuality that has seen him miss the last three matches.

Against the physicality and dominance of Virgil Van Dijk, Hojlund’s ability to be deadly in behind and to feet will make life much harder for the Liverpool centre-backs, unlike Marcus Rashford, who struggles with his back-to-goal.

Man Utd could rue selling "world-class" ace who's outscoring Højlund

The international star has been on fire this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 11, 2024

However, there is one player whose inclusion in the team could just prove to be even more important than the return of Hojlund.

Why Aaron Wan-Bissaka must start vs Liverpool

Just like United’s number 11, Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to full training this week after missing 11 straight games due to injury, which is a huge boost to Ten Hag's team.

The 26-year-old’s most recent game for the Red Devils was the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in January, where he actually played in an unfamiliar left-back role.

Due to the injury of Luke Shaw, centre-back Victor Lindelof has been deployed at left back in recent weeks, which has clearly been a position to target by opponents, and the Swede must be replaced by the "unbelievable" Wan-Bissaka, as per football creator Liam Canning, with the challenge of stopping Mohammed Salah up next.

Diogo Dalot would likely switch to left-back if the former Crystal Palace star returns, with the Portuguese star capable of playing in either full-back role to a similar standard, and the last time the duo started as a full-back pairing was against Spurs two months ago.

Clearances

4

5

Interceptions

1

5

Tackles

6

2

Duels won

9

5

Dribbled past

0

1

Successful dribbles

2/2

2/3

As you can see, the two right-backs were solid defensively against Ange Postecoglou’s team while also showing confidence on the ball, as highlighted by their dribbling stats.

They were dribbled past once between them over the full game, while proving that they are great at winning the ball back via tackles, which will be vital against Salah and Luis Diaz at the weekend.

Overall, it’s quite clear that Wan-Bissaka and Hojlund make United a much better team when they’re playing, and they would certainly give Ten Hag more of a chance to beat their arch-rivals.