Tottenham fans react as Kane eyes early return from ankle injury

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to a report from The Telegraph, which claims Harry Kane is well ahead of schedule in his return from an ankle injury.

When Kane and Dele Alli went down within a week of each other with ankle and hamstring injuries respectively, Spurs fans must have feared their season was over.

Mauricio Pochettino probably had the same thought even though he’d never admit it, and yet his side seem to be nearing the other end of this injury crisis in an even better position than they entered it.

Now, The Telegraph claims that Kane will be fit for the second leg of the Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund in three weeks, and could even feature against Burnley in the next league fixture.

The report also expects Alli to feature in the clash against Dortmund, and loads of fans have been reacting to the injury news.

Gritty performances have kept the Lilywhites in the title race despite the absence of their star duo, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Charlie Nicholas slates Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny ahead of BATE Borisov

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Arsenal are set to travel to Belarus on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League knockout fixture against BATE Borisov, and Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has had some tough words to say about the Gunners’ centre-backs.

What’s the word?

An unenviable midweek trip awaits the Gunners but Unai Emery’s success in the European competition suggests he knows how to deal with the physical strain these types of tests provide.

On paper it should be a routine victory for Arsenal and that’s exactly what Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has tipped them to achieve.

Ahead of the match, Nicholas predicted a 3-1 victory for the travelling side, but he did take the opportunity to criticise the north London outfit’s defence, singling out Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi for individual criticism, as per Sky Sports.

“Unai Emery has suffered more than anybody else. He knows his defence is a car crash, but there is not a lot he can do.

“Laurent Koscielny cannot do it, Shkodran Mustafi doesn’t get what he is being taught, as well as the full-backs.”

Defensive frailties need addressing

Emery’s defensive problems should not have a huge bearing on their chances of recording victory over BATE Borisov, but they certainly need addressing if the Spaniard is serious about Arsenal’s long-term ambitions.

Mustafi has consistently proven to be one of the most underwhelming Arsenal signings in recent memory, while Koscielny is simply past his brilliant best at 33years of age.

It’s verging on hyperbolic to describe Arsenal’s defence as a ‘car crash’, but there are certainly fundamental issues which need to be addressed in order to help the Gunners re-establish themselves as a genuine title-challenger.

تشكيل نادي مصر أمام الأهلي.. طارق عبد الله يدفع بثنائي هجومي

أعلن طارق عبد الله المدير الفني لنادي مصر تشكيل فريقه أمام الاهلي في المباراة التي ستقام اليوم ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلعب الأهلي ضد نادي مصر في إطار منافسات الجولة 29 بالدوري على أرضية استاد الكلية الحربية. تشكيل نادي مصر أمام الأهلي

حراسة المرمى: عصام ثروت.

خط الدفاع: مصطفى كالوشا، أحمد أوكا، محمود شبانة وعلاء عطا.

خط الوسط: محمد جمال، هشام عبد الحميد، أحمد يوسف وإسلام صلاح.

خط الهجوم: مصطفى سلطان، كليف.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي ونادي مصر في الدوري المصري

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل الأهلي الرسمي أمام نادي مصر.. فايلر يجري تغييرات بالجملة

ويحل نادي مصر في المركز قبل الأخير برصيد 20 نقطة، بينما يتصدر الأهلي الذي حسم اللقب ترتيب الدوري برصيد 73 نقطة.

Tottenham’s Dele Alli boost has come at the perfect time for Mauricio Pochettino

Tottenham have done well over the last few months, but there’s no denying that they’ve been forced to deal with some difficult circumstances. Specifically, Mauricio Pochettino has been handed more than a few frustrating injury blows throughout the campaign, with a number of key men missing game time.

Harry Kane, of course, is only just coming off a long-term injury layoff, and he was sorely missed. And in what is a huge boost for Tottenham, Dele Alli looks likely to be the next player to return to action – with Tottenham confirming that he’s now returned to training.

Of course, this is fantastic for the club, as Dele Alli is a crucial player, but more specifically, his return is coming at the perfect time.

With Tottenham progressing into the last 16 of the Champions League, the Englishman is returning during the most important part of the club’s season. From here on out, every single European tie is more important than ever. Most of the teams that are still in the competition are fantastic, and they will punish Spurs if they let their foot off the gas for a moment, so it’s key that the club have their best players. Likewise, Tottenham still have a battle on their hands to finish in the top-four, and so Dele should help improve their chances of reaching that goal.

More specifically, however, Dele’s qualities have been missed. The Lilywhites have struggled for creativity in recent weeks, and nobody can offer quite as much as their English maestro. They looked pretty tame against Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League, and given the importance that will be placed on every league game for Spurs from here on out, having Dele return will potentially stop them coming up short going forward.

It’s never a good time to lose a player, but Dele Alli’s timely return could be the boost that Spurs need heading into the crucial final stage of the season.

Thoughts?

West Ham fans react to Lukasz Fabianski’s performance v Liverpool

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West Ham bounced back from their apathetic showing against Wolves as they held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium, despite the absence of Marko Arnautovic.

Hammers fans may have bemoaned their star striker’s failing of a late fitness test but were boosted by goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski passing his, meaning he continued in net.

The Poland international was reliable between the sticks and gave a hashed-together defence – Manuel Pellegrini made two changes to the back four that was battered by Wolves last time out, while the previously sketchy Angelo Ogbonna deputised again for the injured Fabian Balbuena – some much-needed assurance.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

West Ham brought the custodian to the London Stadium in the summer for just £7m after his Swansea side suffered relegation and he has hardly allowed back-up ‘keeper Adrian a look-in – the Spaniard has yet to make a start in the Premier League.

Fabianski has arguably been the Irons’ most consistent performer this season and his display against Liverpool was no exception – the 33-year-old was rarely forced to make any outstanding saves but, with the likes of Mohamed Salah buzzing around his box, it was vital that he held onto the ball or parried into a safe area, both of which he did effortlessly time after time again.

Here’s how West Ham fans reacted to the shot-stopper’s showing…

Everton keen to bring Che Adams to Goodison Park

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According to TEAMtalk, Everton have scouted Birmingham City forward Che Adams in recent weeks with the view to a move at the end of the season.

What’s the story, then?

It is not too difficult to understand why teams are looking at Adams.

Indeed, the 22-year-old is enjoying an excellent campaign for the Blues, finding the back of the net on 19 occasions in 32 Championship appearances.

Manchester United and Arsenal have both previously been linked with the forward, but it seems more likely that Adams will end up at a top-flight team outside of the top six.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are very much in the race for the striker, who will seemingly have a big decision to make at the end of the season.

The fact that Adams has a contract with Birmingham until 2022 places the Championship outfit in a good position when it comes to negotiation, though.

What would Adams bring to Everton?

Well, goals is the obvious thing. This is quite comfortably Adams’ best season in terms of finding the back of the net, having struck seven and nine respectively in his two previous campaigns at St Andrew’s.

Everton are in desperate need of a new attacker having watched Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggle for goals this season.

Richarlison, despite criticism, has been a good addition, though, and the lively Adams could complement the Brazilian in the final third of the field.

The Goodison Park faithful want a forward who can score goals, but also one who is willing to work the channels and make it difficult for the opposition.

It remains to be seen whether Adams can perform in the Premier League, but his goal record is so impressive this season that he has to be taken seriously.

The Chalkboard: Form of Leeds duo Roofe and Bamford could be bad news for Klich

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Leeds United duo Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford both put in impressive displays in their side’s 2-1 win against Swansea City at Elland Road on Wednesday night, and teammate Mateusz Klich may well be the one to suffer if they maintain their form.

On the chalkboard

Well, manager Marcelo Bielsa has often preferred Roofe in the lone striker role this season – especially with Bamford absent for the majority of the campaign because of injury – but they have both started the Yorkshire outfit’s previous two Championship clashes.

The former Middlesbrough man was given the centre-forward role for the second successive fixture as they hosted the Swans, with Roofe starting in an advanced central midfield role behind him.

It is a similar one to the one that Klich has had for much of the season, with his most frequent partner Adam Forshaw arguably more defensively-minded.

The chosen duo certainly made an impact on Wednesday, having nine shots at goal between them according to WhoScored.

Is Klich in danger of losing his place?

He might well be, especially since he hasn’t been in the best form in recent months.

With Kalvin Phillips having the defensive midfield role wrapped up it will leave the likes of him, Roofe and Forshaw – when he returns from injury – fighting for the two spots ahead of him.

While it may have been deemed fine to deploy the Poland international and Leeds’ top goalscorer there for the visit of Graham Potter’s men, Bielsa may choose for a slightly more conservative line-up in the future – especially away from home given he has attacking players like Pablo Hernandez, Jack Harrison and Jack Clarke on the wings.

Should Roofe remain in midfield then the experienced manager may well favour Forshaw alongside him when he needs to be more defensive – something that could easily happen in what could be a nervous run-in for the Yorkshire club.

Reaching the international break unscathed will give Manchester City the edge in title race

Manchester City’s 0-1 win away at Bournemouth was dominant but perhaps didn’t tell the whole story of just how much they need the international break to keep their quadruple dreams alive.

More injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones added to the growing injury list of Benjamin Mendy, Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho, Fabian Delph and Gabriel Jesus. Aside from that, the performances in the Carabao Cup Final against Chelsea and then against West Ham last week were well below par.

It seems only a matter of time before something gives.

City have played 25 games in 93 days averaging a game just over every three days, and no matter how strong people claim their squad to be, no team can cope with that for a season and play to their highest ability. Guardiola surely knows City are on the ropes yet are still capable of winning every single trophy on offer to an English side, but fatigue and injuries will play a massive part.

Before the international break in two weeks, City have a home game against Watford in the Premier League, a crucial Champions League round of 16 second-leg at home to Schalke then a trip to Swansea in the FA Cup. If they can win all of those games, it could mean more than just progression in the cups and keeping the pressure on Liverpool.

The break gives Laporte and Fernandinho time to recover ahead of the final run-in as well as a week for the whole squad to take a collective breath after a tumultuous period of football. Going into that break having won every game in the last two weeks proves City can indeed cope with an injury crisis, and it can give them the mentality that says ‘if we got through that, we can get through this’.

Liverpool have a lighter fixture schedule and so injuries have been kinder to them, so it’s an uphill battle for Guardiola’s men to win as many trophies as possible, but how many do you think they’ll win?

فيديو | بـ تسديدة ماكرة.. أحمد سيد زيزو يُسجل هدف تعادل الزمالك أمام الجونة

سجل أحمد سيد زيزو، جناح الزمالك، هدف الأبيض الأول في شباك الجونة، في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما الآن، على ستاد القاهرة، ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

يلتقي الزمالك نظيره الجونة، في الجولة 30 من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، على استاد القاهرة.

اقرأ ايضًا.. فيديو | بواليا يسجل هدف الجونة الأول أمام الزمالك

أحرز أحمد سيد زيزو، هدف التعادل للزمالك في الدقيقة 39 من زمن المباراة، من ضربة حرة مباشرة على حدود منطقة الجزاء من الناحية اليمنى، حيث وجه تسديدة ماكرة على يسار حارس مرمى الجونة، الذي لم يحرك ساكنًا بعدما كان متوقع إرسال عرضية داخل منطقة الـ18.

وكان والتر بواليا، قد سجل هدف الجونة الأول في الدقيقة 14 من زمن الشوط الأول. هدف الزمالك الأول أمام الجونة

ويحتل الزمالك المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 58 نقطة، بعدما خاض 29 مباراة حقق خلالها الفوز في 17 لقاء وتعادل في 7 مواجهات وهُزم في 5 مباريات، فيما سجل لاعبوه 40 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 22 هدفًا، إلا أن الأبيض اعتبر مهزومًا اعتباريًا بنتيجة 2/0، في مباراته أمام الأهلي في قمة الدور الأول من المسابقة المحلية، ليتقرر خصم 3 نقاط إضافيه من رصيده مع نهاية الموسم الجاري.

فيما يحتل الجونة المركز الثالث عشر بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 31 نقطة، بعدما خاض 29 مباراة حقق خلالها الفوز في 8 مواجهات وتعادل في 7 لقاءات وهُزم في 14 مباراة، فيما سجل لاعبوه 24 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 37 هدفًا.

Liverpool: The two biggest games remaining in their title challenge

The Premier League has reached the closing stages. With less than 10 games less to play it really is squeaky bum time for Liverpool. Obviously, not many Kopites reading this would have rejected the chance to be in this position if offered it at the start of the season, though the manner in which they surrendered a lead on Manchester City means the pressure really is on. 

Not to be too cliché, but Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool squad have eight cup finals left to play. Win them all and their destiny isn’t even in their own hands but that’s all they can do. One of the best ever league campaigns in the club’s illustrious history surely deserves a prize, right? This is Liverpool we’re talking about.

With that in mind, here, we are going to take a look at a couple that may stop them from winning the ultimate prize. Or give them the boost to do exactly that.

Chelsea (Home, 14th April) 

Chelsea has always been a fixture in red on Liverpool’s calendar, and with the points up for grabs being the difference for a top 4 finish for Chelsea, or a Premier League title for Liverpool, it will truly be a game to turn heads.

We’ve been here before. Someone slipped but that doesn’t really tell the whole story, does it? Brendan Rodgers playing into Jose Mourinho’s tactical trap back in 2014 didn’t help of course, so winning this fixture would be a huge psychological boost.

Even in more recent matters, Liverpool will want to right the wrong that happened to them in the cup, when Eden Hazard silenced Anfield with a wonderful solo goal.

The Blues haven’t lost a game at Anfield since 2012. They’ve got to at some point.

Newcastle (Away, 4th May) 

Newcastle vs Liverpool has always been an exciting fixture for both sets of fans, being the fixture with the most goals scored in it over the course of Premier League history.

Liverpool have struggled to get solid results in recent seasons at St. James’ Park, having last found a victory in 2013,  and with the new found form of the Magpies, the Reds will have to be wary of a slip up similar to Manchester City’s earlier in the season, which will only boost the Toon Army’s spirit.

With the fixture being the penultimate game in the season and against a certain Rafa Benitez, the Reds could find themselves under immense pressure.

As we have seen earlier this season already, they could crumble to an uninspiring performance.

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