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As the years go by, more and more money flows into football, with the sport growing exponentially. One big reason for this is the rise of the Saudi Pro League, as PIF and other big figures continue to pour in money in the hope of attracting the biggest and best players.

Whilst the salaries in the Championship are no way near those over in the Gulf, there are certainly still some healthy pay cheques being received by some of the league's best players.

With three Premier League teams dropping down at the end of every season, some clubs still find themselves paying extortionate wages to some players. Football FanCast has broken down each Championship club's average annual salary per year, as per Capology.

24 Plymouth Argyle £194,552 per player

It comes as no surprise to see Plymouth at the bottom of the pile for average player salaries when you consider the fact that they've just come up from League One and were only in League Two a couple of seasons ago.

The average player at Plymouth has a weekly wage of £3,741.

23 Blackburn Rovers £274,533 per player

Blackburn Rovers are perhaps a bit of a surprise in second-last position given their history and established status as a Championship team, which is a testament to their recruitment over the years.

The average player at Blackburn Rovers has a weekly wage of £5,279.

22 Rotherham United £278,286 per player

As another club that has been floating around League One and the Championship over the past five years or so, you can understand Rotherham's low positioning in terms of average wages.

The average player at Rotherham United has a weekly wage of £5,352.

21 Sunderland £320,143 per player

Now, to see Sunderland this far down is a bit of a shock given their rich history and owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus having a rumoured net worth of around £2 billion.

The average player at Sunderland has a weekly wage of £6,157.

20 Huddersfield Town £327,310 per player

Huddersfield Town have been stuck in the Championship ever since being relegated from the Premier League back in 2019. They've had a good few years to balance the books in terms of wages, and this is somewhat reflected in their league results, as apart from their impressive 3rd-place finish a couple of seasons ago, they finished in 18th twice and 20th in the other seasons.

The average player at Huddersfield Town has a weekly wage of £6,294.

19 Preston North End £351,524 per player

Preston North End are another one of those sides who have been quite settled over the years in the Championship. They're now in their ninth Championship season since securing promotion from League One, and they're yet to finish higher than seventh position.

The average player at Preston has a weekly wage of £6,760.

18 Swansea City £392,357 per player

Swansea City suffered relegation to the Championship back in 2018 and have struggled to return ever since. They did have two positive campaigns where they finished in the play-offs, but over the past couple of years, they've been on a bit of a downward trajectory.

The average player at Swansea has a weekly wage of £7,545.

17 Coventry City £410,087 per player

Coventry City are a side who continue to defy expectations under Mark Robins, despite being on the lower side of the wage spectrum. He led them to a play-off final last season and has them well in contention for a play-off place once more this season, which is a testament to the hard work he's put in and the recruitment to bring the right players in under more of a budget.

The average player at Coventry City has a weekly wage of £7,886.

16 Bristol City £413,172 per player

Bristol City have been in the Championship since League One promotion in 2015.

Looking at the previous eight years, their average wage position pretty much matches how their seasons have gone, with just one finish in the top ten, as they typically range from 19th to 8th.

The average player at Bristol City has a weekly wage of £7,946.

15 Birmingham City £432,974 per player

Since the days of being a Premier League regular, Birmingham City have been on a bit of a decline as they continue to struggle to escape the Championship after their 2011 exit.

The Blues have failed to finish above 17th position since 2016, and this season hasn't exactly gone to plan thus far.

The average player at Birmingham City has a weekly wage of £8,326.

أكدت دينا الرفاعي، عضو مجلس إدارة الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، على استمرار دعمها لكرة القدم النسائية، مُشددة على رفضها فكرة الهجوم على السيدات التي تُمارس اللعبة في مصر.

وكان فريق الأهلي قد تمكن من الفوز على منافسه الزمالك بهدفين مقابل هدف، وذلك بالمباراة التي جمعت بينهما يوم الجمعة الماضي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى لبطولة الدوري المصري للسيدات.

وقالت دينا الرفاعي في تصريحات عبر إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “عندما نتحدث عن أول مباراة كرة نسائية بين الأهلي والزمالك، هذا يجعلنا نشعر بالفخر، كان هناك اهتمام كبير بهذه المباراة، وأن تكون للبنات حرية في اختيار اللعبة التي يريدون ممارستها”.

وتابعت: “عندنا مراحل سنية للكرة النسائية، لدينا مسابقات دوري تحت 15 سنة ودوري تحت 17 سنة، والحمد لله نطور كل يوم عن يوم، وعندنا قطاع كبير جدًا لخدمة منتخب مصر في النهاية”.

طالع أيضًا | “القاضية” أم ناصر منسي.. عمار حمدي يختار الهدف الأغلى تاريخيًا

وأضافت: “أتواجد في اتحاد الكرة منذ 3 سنوات وكنت أعمل على زيادة الزخم الإعلامي بالكرة النسائية، لأننا كنا نفتقد ذلك، وحدث هذا الزخم بالفعل بعد مشاركة الأهلي والزمالك، وهذا سيخدم قوة الدوري، وبالنسبة لي انطلاقة الدوري بين الغريمين حدث لا يمكن أن نغفل حقه”.

وأردفت: “البنات سواء محجبات أو غير محجبات كانوا بمنتهى الأدب والاحترام، التنمر الذي يحدث للبنت وهي تمارس كرة القدم مرفوض، البنت من حقها أن تمارس اللعبة التي تريدها، من حقك أن تنتقد الأداء الفني، لكن غير ذلك لا، من حق أي بنت تمارس الرياضة التي تريدها، لكن البعض كان ينتقدهم نقدًا لاذعًا ويقول لهم (أخركم المطبخ)”.

وشددت: “سأظل أدعم البنات في ممارسة النشاط الرياضي حتى لو كنت خارج اتحاد الكرة، لا بد أن تكون البنت مدعومة من أهلها وأصدقائها، الناس المرضى النفسين الذين يقوموا بتركيب صور للبنات، هل البنات خرجت عن التقاليد المصرية؟ هذا لم يحدث”.

واختتمت: “نحن نتحدث عن قطبي الكرة المصرية، ليس مهم من فاز المهم البداية القوية للدوري بمشاركة الأهلي والزمالك، والأهلي سيواجه وادي دجلة في المباراة القادمة والأخير فريق عريق، عندنا إيجابيات كثيرة لكن هناك ناس يركزون على أمور أخرى بعيدًا عن الرياضة”.

FC Cincinnati star Luca Orellano was in David Beckham mode during his latest MLS appearance, with the Argentine scoring a stunning goal from halfway.

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South American hit stunning strikeCaught goalkeeper off his lineKeeps Cincy just behind Inter MiamiWHAT HAPPENED?

The 24-year-old has stolen the limelight with legendary countryman Lionel Messi currently away on Copa America duty. The Inter Miami icon is not the only man from Argentina capable of producing moments of magic in the United States.

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Orellano is currently on loan at FC Cincinnati from Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama, and has been making quite the impact with an impressive haul of goals. He operates as a left winger and is proving to be a useful creative influence.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Orellano hit the back of the net in spectacular fashion when lining up against the Philadelphia Union. There appeared to be little on when he picked up possession just inside his own half with an hour on the clock, but the South American spotted Oliver Semmle off his line and proceeded to float a long-range effort over the German goalkeeper’s head.

At the end of last month, when it became clear that Wolves striker Fabio Silva was available on loan, Scottish Premiership contenders Celtic and Rangers battled it out for the signing. While it's the Hoops who are top of the table of the moment, the Gers prevailed in this particular scrap, securing the services of Silva on loan until the end of the season.

However, attention at Parkhead now seems to have turned to another young striker, this time 21-year-old Leeds ace Joe Gelhardt. Gelhardt joined Leeds from Wigan in 2020, and spent the second half of last season on loan in the Championship with Sunderland.

He's only made six second-tier appearances for the relegated Whites this season, with just two coming from the start. Partly due to injury, he's been limited to a solitary league outing for Daniel Farke's side since mid-September.

Celtic and Rangers fight for Gelhardt

Now, a report from The Daily Mail's Simon Jones reveals that Celtic and Rangers are showing "interest" in Gelhardt, potentially setting up a repeat of their Silva duel. It's unclear in the story whether the two clubs are eyeing a loan deal or a permanent move, but it should be noted either way that Gelhardt is under contract at Elland Road until the summer of 2027.

Leeds have previously told Gelhardt that he'll be staying put, with Farke unwilling to sanction even a temporary exit, but it remains to be seen whether that stance changes. Logic dictates that a young player struggling for minutes would benefit from regular first-team action elsewhere.

Gelhardt can strike fear into SPL defences

Former Leeds player Noel Whelan says Gelhardt possesses "something special" and "scares defenders", and he's been showing that since his days in the youth ranks. The Englishman bagged in 18 goals in 27 appearances at Premier League 2 level before graduating to senior football.

While he inevitably hasn't been quite as explosive in the men's game just yet, his numbers are still respectable. Last season, for instance, he provided six direct goal contributions in 18 league appearances for Sunderland, an average of one every 202 minutes, even though he was playing through injury, according to director Kristjaan Speakman.

In 2021/22, his last full season playing in the Premier League, he scored twice and set-up four more at an even better rate of a goal or assist every 122 minutes. This suggests he's a player who can come up with big moments over the course of the season even when he's occupying a reserve role.

At first, he'd be best suited to serving as an understudy for Kyogo Furuhashi, who's Brendan Rodgers' joint-top scorer right now with 10 goals, but maybe if he impressed in a loan spell, Celtic could think about trying to sign permanently and extract the full potential of a player who's previously been called up to England's under-21 side.

Still, they mustn't get ahead of themselves. The first job is to convince Leeds to make him available, and the second is to persuade him to pick green and white over blue.

Sussex allrounder staying in the moment after impressing in the Caribbean with consistent displays

Valkerie Baynes at Hove03-Apr-2019

Chris Jordan ripped through West Indies’ middle order•Getty Images

Chris Jordan knew his stunning display for England in the Caribbean was coming and he plans to draw on what got him there to give himself the best chance of winning a World Cup spot while performing with Sussex.Player of the Series in the T20 sweep against West Indies, Jordan is keen to show more of what he can do beyond that brief but emphatic reminder, starting with Friday’s County Championship opener against Leicestershire.”I feel in pretty good order actually and the West Indies T20s were a nice little reward because I felt like a performance like that had been building for a while, especially at that level,” Jordan said.”I started quite early and, if I’m honest, I didn’t perform over a consistent period of time as I would have liked.”I’ve been working so hard on my game, not only with the ball but with the bat. I’ve got so much to show with the bat and, given the opportunity, I’d like to show what I can do and put in those performances with the bat as well. Physically, technically, mentally I couldn’t feel in a much better place.”Jordan did not have the chance to showcase his batting in the Caribbean, his services were not required in any of the three matches.But he clearly demonstrated the benefits of a different approach to his bowling, adapting to match conditions and being unafraid to enter “Test-match mode for a two-over period in a T20 game” if required, for example.This and a newly developed slower ball gave him the variety and control which flummoxed some of West Indies’ best batsmen and delivered figures of 2 for 16 off three overs, 4 for 6 off two and 0 for 14 off two.”It improved my mentality, especially when put under pressure,” Jordan said. “In white-ball cricket, I sort of stripped it down and I assessed that at various times, you do require different skills and it’s about assessing conditions on the day and deciding what skills you need on the day.”It’s just various things I’ve added to my arsenal to make me a bit calmer in the middle.”It is nearly four years since Jordan played the last of his eight Tests and he has not played an ODI since September 2016. But, now 30, he has a plan to convert his recent T20I form elsewhere.”It’s remembering that feel, remembering what I did to get to that performance and just being consistent with my preparation,” Jordan said.”The biggest thing for me is having fun as much as I can, that’s when I play my best cricket, that’s when I express myself the best.”So sometimes that might be a goal for me at various points, just go out there and have fun because I’m not going to lose my skill overnight, my skills are in good order, so it’s a matter of putting myself in the best position to show those skills on the pitch.”If he can show those skills consistently, Jordan hopes a World Cup call will come.”I wouldn’t like to think that it’s far away,” he said. “But equally, I’m staying in the moment.”Up to a month ago, I wasn’t even thinking about the World Cup squad and, naturally, as people do put in a couple of performances … there’s been a few murmurs about it, but I’m not really listening to that noise too much. I’m just trying to keep putting performances in for Sussex first and foremost and let those end results take care of themselves.”Fellow Barbados-born allrounder and Sussex team-mate Jofra Archer is another about whom World Cup murmurs are reaching a crescendo now that he is qualified, at the age of 24, to play for England.Chris Jordan leaps during training•Getty Images

And while some have questioned the wisdom of upsetting an established England line-up by introducing a somewhat untried prospect, Jordan sees nothing but positives in selecting Archer.”Anyone of Jofra’s calibre, anyone of his quality, you should be talking about him because his talent alone speaks for itself,” Jordan said. “He can bat, he can bowl, he can field and he can do all of them to a very, very high level.”The talk about him playing in the World Cup is not surprising. In the IPL now he’s still continuing those performances and he’s done it for a few years now. It’s not just been one performance here and there, it’s been consistent high quality performances over a period of time now.”I don’t think he’s thinking about it too much either, I think he’s just getting on with what’s in front of him at the minute as well and if he does get the call he’ll be a massive, massive asset to England.”It’s one more 90-mile-an-hour bowler you’ll have in the team, a good death bowler, a good death hitter, I can’t see him doing anything but adding quality, adding value to the team.”Sussex fans may fear losing one or both to England duty, but coach Jason Gillespie believes “you have to have a positive attitude”.”We’re kind of at the mercy of the England selectors at the moment and that’s fine,” Gillespie said. “My overriding emotion is that I’d love to see these guys represent their country, play for England.”Of course we’d like them to play as many games for Sussex as possible, but if they don’t it means they’re representing England, so that for me is a positive as well and it just means that another Sussex cricketer will be afforded the opportunity to play for our county.”

Football can deliver fans some brilliant highs and crushing lows, but for Arsenal fans, the last couple of weeks have been nothing but the latter.

Mikel Arteta's men followed up on their impressive draw away at Anfield by losing to West Ham United and Fulham, and then at home, they lost to Liverpool, leaving them fourth in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup.

The Gunners have seemingly forgotten how to score since Christmas, although their defence has still looked impressively resilient, and it could be about to get a whole lot better following the latest player touted for a move to N5, Fikayo Tomori.

Arsenal transfer news – Fikayo Tomori

According to a report from Football Transfers last week, Arteta wants to upgrade his backline in 2024 and has 'earmarked' AC Milan's English centre-back Tomori as just the player to do that with.

The report revealed that the interest, while in the early stage, is genuine, but with Bundesliga behemoths Bayern Munich also said to be keen on the former Chelsea star, the Gunners will have to act quickly.

However, the north Londoners have one advantage over their German competition: Tomori's love of Arsenal great Thierry Henry.

The 26-year-old may have shot to fame playing for Chelsea, but last year, he spoke openly about his love for the Frenchman: "Thierry Henry was my idol when I was playing for my Sunday league team. I always used to have gloves on and pull my socks over my knees.

"If he scored a goal on Saturday, I would make sure to repeat the celebration if I scored on Sunday."

It might be a tough deal to get over the line, but securing the services of a "rock-solid" defender, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would be worth it. Plus, think of the partnership he could form with William Saliba.

Fikayo Tomori could be the perfect partner for William Saliba

While Arsenal have struggled to score for much of this season, they have generally been a great attacking side over the last couple of years, but the area of the team that has been the most impressive since the start of the 2022/23 campaign has been the defence.

The partnership of Saliba and Gabriel, flanked by Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko, has been a marvel and the old song '1-0 to the Arsenal' has had its fair share of outings thanks to them.

That said, things can always be better, and if possible, why not improve upon something already working well, which, with the links to Tomori, seems to be Arteta's thinking.

Adding the Calgary-born monster would mean that one of the Gunners' established centre-backs would have to take a step back in the team, and for as impressive as he has been, that would be Gabriel.

The Brazilian is a fantastic player, but the 6 foot 1 Milan man has been more impressive, and his underlying numbers bear this out.

When comparing the two defenders, the only metric in which the Arsenal man comes out on top is progressive passes per 90, and even then, the difference is not massive.

Fikayo Tomori vs Gabriel

Stats per 90

Tomori

Gabriel

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.15

0.11

Progressive Carries

0.84

0.55

Progressive Passes

3.38

3.99

Passing Accuracy

91.0%

86.6%

Tackles Won

1.23

0.61

Interceptions

1.23

1.04

Clearances

3.25

2.45

Ball Recoveries

5.00

4.29

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

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On the other hand, the "outstanding" Tomori, as described by former Chelsea player Joe Cole, wins more than twice as many tackles per 90, completes more progressive carries, and generally outclasses his new potential teammate in most defensive metrics.

Ultimately, Gabriel would be justified in feeling a bit hard done by if Arsenal signed the Milan star, but with the prospect of a Premier League title on the horizon, they must make this signing.

Leeds United romped to a third successive Championship victory after claiming a 2-0 win away to Blackburn Rovers earlier today, with goals from the lively duo of Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville sealing the points for the Whites at Ewood Park.

While a gulf still exists between the West Yorkshire giants and the two sides above them, it is fair to say that manager Daniel Farke couldn't be doing much more with his players at present, as the ongoing unbeaten run would attest to.

The former Norwich City boss has no doubt been aided by the exploits of the likes of James and Summerville, however, with the latter man, in particular, proving one of the shining lights again this afternoon.

Crysencio Summerville's game by numbers vs Blackburn

With the likes of Luis Sinisterra, Rodrigo and Jack Harrison moving on over the summer, the onus has been on the young Dutchman to provide the attacking threat from the flanks this season – and boy has he delivered.

While James – who opened the scoring against Blackburn with a fine, cross-goal strike – has also been in fine fettle with seven goals of his own this term, Summerville has been the undoubted standout on the opposite side, now boasting nine goals and six assists from 17 league appearances.

In this instance, the 22-year-old found space for himself in behind the Rovers' defence before producing a delightful, delicate chip over the onrushing Leopold Wahlstedt to seal the points for the in-form visitors.

Aside from yet again getting on the scoresheet, the Rotterdam native also registered two key passes and made five tackles for his side, indicating just what he offers to Farke and co both on and off the ball.

It wasn't just Summerville – who led the way with a 7.8 match rating, as per Sofascore – that sparkled against Jon Dahl Tomasson's side, with Georginio Rutter also proving a real "problem" for the hosts, in the words of journalist Graham Smyth.

Georginio Rutter's statistics vs Blackburn

On the face of it, it did appear to be something of an off day for the Frenchman at Ewood Park, having hardly offered much of a physical focal point in attack after losing 19 of his 27 total duels, while also losing possession on 20 occasions.

That being said, that latter metric was partly due to his desire to make things happen for his side in the final third, having also made one key pass and produced the assist for James' early opener.

While not at his silky best as he bundled his way through in the build-up to that assist, Rutter deserves credit for his persistence, getting just reward after notching what is now his eighth assist of the season.

Also involved in some intricate build-up play that led to Summerville's second-half clincher, the former Hoffenheim man no doubt warranted his 7/10 match rating, as per LeedsLive, with journalist Beren Cross writing of his performance:

'Popped up as and when Leeds needed him to. Did not have the prolonged control we sometimes see from him leading the line. An eighth assist of the season'.

Also earning four fouls for his side, Rutter undoubtedly was a real nuisance and 'problem' for the home side on what was another statement day for Farke and his promotion hopefuls.

Erik ten Hag responded to fans' booing as he explained why he replaced Kobbie Mainoo against Burnley.

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• Ten Hag responds to fan criticism
• Booed for replacing Mainoo and Hojlund
• United held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Dutch manager faced backlash at Old Trafford on Saturday as fans booed his decision to substitute Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund with Scott McTominay and Amad Diallo respectively in the 65th minute. The Red Devils failed to hold on to their lead as Zeki Amdouni's 87th-minute strike from the penalty spot secured relegation-threatened Burnley a crucial away point.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After the match, Ten Hag defended his decision to replace the fan-favourite players as he claimed the young guns needed some rest. The Premier League giants have won just once in their last five league games and are now virtually out of the top-four race.

• WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the game, the United boss said, "What the crowd doesn't understand is it's a 19-year-old boy [Mainoo] in his first Premier League season. It was a third game in a week and we have to manage the game load. We don't want him to be injured. Last year, he had two bad injuries. You can see he gets tired. I want to protect him.

  "Of course, by bringing Scott on, the game was really open, really intense with one-on-ones all over the pitch. Kobbie got tired and Scott had fresh legs and is very good, making movements and attacks down the middle."

  "I have to manage the team and I have to, of course, be winning games. That's first of all and see what the game needs. By that time, we needed some freshness, first of all. But also tactical wise, brining a player up who can keep the ball and who is creative in Amad.

  "So they were subbed and it was the right decision. You see, after, we took some benefit from it, by bringing in the fresh legs and Scott in the position where it's so open. He's very good in such situations and he can make penetrations from there. That also happened. We put ourselves in a winning position. We had three games and Burnley have had days off and it's totally logical to bring players off who are very young, who are in the first year in the Premier League and then don't even talk about the injury risk.

  "Rasmus Hojlund had more injuries already in the course of this season. Kobbie also had some injuries. So I don't want them to get injured. I protected them as well. So there are more reasons to make the subs but I understand that the fans, they want to see the skills those players are bringing and contribute to the team. I understand that but I have to do my job and that is the right decision."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Ten Hag's men will be next seen in action on May 7 as they travel to London to face Crystal Palace in a Premier League clash.

Liverpool might have dropped points last time out in the Premier League, but Jurgen Klopp can take much confidence from emerging from Manchester with a dogged draw against the formidable champions.

Perched near the summit, the Reds have restored their strength and style as one of the English top-flight's foremost outfits, and despite failing to qualify for the Champions League last term, look well on the way to achieving that this year.

With Fulham making the trip to Merseyside to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, Klopp will look to field a strong line-up to ensure that his side avoids any hiccups and maintains their pursuit of the league title at the end of the campaign – with table-topping Arsenal only two points ahead before the matchweek began.

Klopp will still be without Spanish midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic, as well as left-back Andy Robertson, while Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota are now absent after picking up issues against Manchester City.

With this in mind, Football FanCast predicts that the hosts will make as many as seven alterations from the side that defeated LASK 4-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night…

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Alisson is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks and Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise between the sticks in his place, with the 25-year-old Irishman making six appearances this season but yet to play a minute in the Premier League.

2 RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Appointed vice-captain in the summer following James Milner and Jordan Henderson's summer sales, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been revitalised following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.

As per FBref, the England international ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90.

After picking up an assist off the bench in midweek, he will be hungry to leave his mark once again against Marco Silva's side.

3 CB – Joel Matip

Joel Matip is out of contract at the end of the season but he remains a crucial member of Klopp's ambitious squad, having started eight matches already in the Premier League this term.

The 32-year-old Cameroonian is imposing and deceptively skilful, and his partnership with Virgil van Dijk in front of Kelleher's goal will give Fulham a tough time bypassing.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Some questioned Van Dijk after he – admittedly – flattered to deceive as Liverpool toiled last term. But the towering Dutchman is now back at his apex and has been simply sublime this season – a rock at the back and a galvanising leader.

As per Sofascore, the Red skipper has completed 92% of his passes this term, making 4.5 ball recoveries and 5.1 clearances per game and winning an incredible 80% of his duels, showcasing his importance to the squad.

5 LB – Kostas Tsimikas

Robertson's injury sent shivers of consternation throughout the voiceful Liverpool support, with Kostas Tsimikas branded “abysmal" by one LFC podcaster for a poor performance earlier in the season.

But the Greek international has grown into his starting berth over the past few weeks and bagged two assists against Brentford in the Premier League before the international break.

He will be expected to stand strong on home soil, offering creativity while preventing Fulham from causing an upset.

6 DM – Alexis Mac Allister

Signing from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in July, Alexis Mac Allister arrived with a weight of expectation after a stellar campaign on the south coast – sandwiching triumph at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina in the middle.

With Klopp deciding not to sign a starring defensive midfielder in the summer, Mac Allister has been fielded from deep throughout the lion's share of his time on Merseyside, and while he would prefer to play higher up the pitch, he has done a stellar job.

7 CM – Dominik Szoboszlai

Dominik Szoboszlai has been phenomenal for Klopp's side in the engine room, starting all 13 fixtures and dazzling with his all-encompassing displays, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 7.1 ball recoveries and 2.2 key passes and 1.1 tackles per outing.

He will hold the key to unlocking Fulham's defence, orchestrating the attacking efforts from the centre, drifting forward and presenting a threat with his ferocious striking skills.

8 CM – Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones' "flying start" to the season – as was said by The Athletic's James Pearce – took a detrimental blow after the Englishman was shown a red card against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September.

With injuries meaning he only returned to the Premier League last week against Manchester City, Jones will be fervently hoping for a starting spot tomorrow in the place of Ryan Gravenberch, who started against LASK and has impressed since joining in August.

Ranking among the top 1% of midfielders for pass completion, the 22-year-old could instil the composure to dictate the flow.

9 RW – Mohamed Salah

Bagging a penalty against LASK on Thursday after a lively display, Mohamed Salah has now scored 199 goals for Liverpool, and you wouldn't bet against his getting on the scoresheet tomorrow.

The £350k-per-week goal machine is one of the Premier League's greatest-ever forwards, and he has been described as "one of the best" by pundit and former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz will be expected to retain his starting spot on the left wing after scoring and being substituted before the hour mark against LASK, with Klopp seemingly keeping one eye on the Colombian's fitness ahead of another start on Sunday.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Aerial duels

Finishing

Crossing

Passing

*Sourced via WhoScored

Jota may be out injured but Diaz has proved to be a tremendous attacking outlet for his side, with his mercurial efforts and tenacity down the left channel perhaps proving to be the difference-maker tomorrow.

MatériaMais Notícias

A vaquinha criada pelos torcedores do Botafogo para ajudar Maurão, motorista do clube, contou com uma ajuda “de luxo”. Emprestado pelo Alvinegro ao Seattle Sounders, dos Estados Unidos, o meia João Paulo contribuiu com uma quantia para ajudar o funcionário do clube a juntar dinheiro e pagar por uma cirurgia bariátrica.

Mesmo dos Estados Unidos, o meio-campista fez questão de ajudar o Maurão, que conheceu durante a passagem no Botafogo, entre 2017 e o começo de 2020. A vaquinha ainda está aberta e pode ser acessada clicando aqui.

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Confira a classificação atualizada do Brasileirão

Em menos de dois dias, foram reunidos pouco mais de R$ 16 mil. Maurão, com problema de obesidade, precisa fazer uma cirurgia no joelho. Justamente pelo peso elevado, contudo, o motorista necessita de uma bariátrica antes de realizar a primeira operação. Ao todo, o custo envolvendo os dois procedimentos passa por R$ 85 mil.

Ex-jogadores, atuais atletas e a torcida se solidarizaram nas redes sociais com a situação de Maurão, que trabalha no Botafogo há mais de 20 anos. João Paulo, mesmo nos Estados Unidos, fez questão de ajudar.