Ex-Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot overjoyed with Addicks promotion

[ad_pod ]Rob Elliot was at Wembley to see his beloved Charlton Athletic seal their return to the Championship thanks to a dramatic 2-1 win over Sunderland.

Elliot expressed his delight for fellow goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who managed to overcome his unexpected error at the start of the game to help see the Addicks through to a crucial win for the club.

The match had started so badly for Charlton when a Naby Sarr back-pass rolled past Phillips’ foot and into the net.

The keeper should have dealt with the pass but he lost his concentration and was punished for it.

Many 23-year-old’s would have crumbled under the pressure – especially with jeers ringing around Wembley every time he received the ball – but he showed immense character to carry on and he made a vital save to deny Grant Leadbitter a killer second goal.

That the victory was at the expense of Newcastle’s fierce local-rivals certainly added to the Newcastle stopper’s delight.

Spurs fans love Pochettino’s call for reinforcements

[ad_pod ]Mauricio Pochettino has appeared to call for Tottenham Hotspur to invest in their playing squad, per El Partidazo de Cope.Spurs have finished in the top four of the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, having beaten the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax, where they will play Liverpool on June 1.That is despite the club failing to sign a player in the last two transfer windows and Pochettino has now appeared to send a message to chairman Daniel Levy that new additions are needed.He said: “I will not make decisions about my future (until) after the final, it is important to know what the club’s future plan is.“If we want to return to the Champions League final next year and fight withÂManchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title, we need reinforcements.”

His quotes come amid fevered speculation over Pochettino’s future; he has been heavily linked with the Juventus job in recent days after it was announced that Massimiliano Allegri would be leaving the post.

But fans are confident that he is merely keen to strengthen his squad and that an exit remains unlikely this summer.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

ميدو: الدوري المصري ينقصه 3 أمور ليصبح بطولة عالمية

أكد أحمد حسام ميدو لاعب الزمالك ومنتخب مصر الأسبق، أن الدوري المحلي ينقصه بعض الأشياء ليصبح في مصاف البطولات الكبرى.

وقال ميدو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “أون تايم سبورتس”: “ينقصنا أن تكون هناك عدالة بين كل الأندية”.

وأضاف: “وينقصنا أن يتعلم حكامنا من التحكيم الأجنبي، وكيف يتعاملون مع المديرين الفنيين بهدوء”.

طالع | ميدو يشيد بلاعب الزمالك ويفسر سبب تراجع أداء القطبين قبل ديربي القرن

وتابع: “وينقصنا أيضًا أن يكون لدينا نقل تلفزيوني أفضل، الجميع لابد أن يبذل مجهودًا في موضعه، ولو هذا حدث سنتطور”.

وأردف: “لابد أن يكون لدينا إصرار ولا نسخر من الدوري المصري، هناك دول كثيرة تتمنى أن يكون عندها دوري مثلنا”.

Spurs hand Liverpool a major psychological boost ahead of Champions League final

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Tottenham Hotspur have handed Liverpool an unexpected pre-match advantage after Mauricio Pochettino’s quotes surrounding the build-up to the Champions League final.

The Spurs manager has guided the club out of a group also featuring both Barcelona and Inter Milan, while beating Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax in the knockout stages.

Pochettino’s men, who he has referred to as “superheroes”, head into the game as slight underdogs against a Reds team that finished second in the Premier League, losing just one game.

And he has insisted that he wants to flout the usual UEFA rules by including every single member of his 23-man squad in the pre-match photograph.

Per the Daily Mail, he said: “What I want is all the players before the start of the game — 22 or 23 — in the picture on the pitch. That is the team that won or lost.”

He added: “People care a lot about that. The players care more than we believe. When I was a player I always fought with the organisation and the club. And the same now I’m a manager. I’m going to propose it.”

Fans have lapped this up; Pochettino often emphasises the collective instead of the individual and that is a key part of his managerial mentality but one has to question the wisdom of being so emotional ahead of such an enormous game.

Liverpool, naturally, will have 11 players in the pre-match picture. They have been here before and they have done it; no fewer than five times.

Spurs, by comparison, have never been to a Champions League final and, frankly, it shows.

Imagine the scene; Liverpool take their photograph and look over at Spurs, with all 23 players, including academy graduates Alfie Whiteman, Oliver Skipp and George Marsh, smiling for the cameras. It smacks of naivety and being overawed by the occasion. Such a saccharine sight will surely boost the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, who have been here before – just twelve months ago, in fact.

One can understand the mentality of Pochettino and the idea behind his statement but, at the same time, it plays into the opposition’s hands and creates the idea of Tottenham being in the final purely to make up the numbers.

رسميا.. كاف يعلن حكم مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا 

أعلن الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” رسميًا تعيين الحكم الدولي الجزائري مصطفى غربال لإدارة ‏مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويعاون غربال المغربي رضوان جيد حكمًا لتقنية الـ”‏VAR‏”، وحكمًا رابعًا الزامبي ‏جاني سيكازوي.‏

ليكيب: نهائي الأهلي والزمالك “الناري” سيفقد جزءًا من المتعة

وعقد اليوم الاجتماع الفني الخاص بالمباراة باستاد القاهرة بحضور سيد عبد الحفيظ مدير ‏الكرة، ‏وسمير عدلي المدير الإداري، والدكتورعمرو محب المترجم، ووائل محمد ومحمد ‏أسامة ‏الإداريين.‏

وأسفر الاجتماع عن ارتداء الأهلي القميص الأحمر والشورت الأسود والجورب ‏الأحمر، فيما ‏يرتدي الحارس الزي “الموف”، ويرتدي الزمالك الزي الأبيض كاملًا، ويرتدي الحارس الزي الأخضر.‏

أقرأ ايضًا.. حكم مباراة الأهلي والزمالك.. مصطفى غربال “وش السعد” على القطبين في إفريقيا

وخلال الاجتماع تم التأكيد على موعد وصول الفريقين إلى استاد القاهرة قبل ساعة ونصف ‏الساعة ‏من انطلاق المباراة.

Gallery: The best moments from Daniel Sturridge’s Liverpool career as exit confirmed

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It’s official.

Daniel Sturridge will be leaving Liverpool after a six-and-a-half year stay at Anfield, where he has arguably enjoyed the prime years of his career.

After showing flashes of his potential with Chelsea, the England international’s career really took off at Anfield, where he managed to score an impressive 68 goals in 160 appearances, finding the back of the net every 2.4 games on average.

His partnership with Luis Suarez in the 2013/14 season, where Sturridge managed to hit 22 goals in 29 league games as the Reds came within touching distance of the title, was arguably his best campaign as a professional footballer.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

Sadly, injury problems stopped the 29-year-old recording an even more prolific strike rate, although his time as a Liverpool player did end romantically with a Champions League trophy – his second after winning it with Chelsea.

There have been a fair few, but let’s take a look at a handful of Sturridge’s best moments in a Liverpool shirt…

[snack_break title=”Scoring just eight minutes into his debut against Mansfield in the FA Cup”]

Sturridge found the back of the net just minutes into his first ever appearance for Liverpool, netting a well-taken effort against Mansfield in the FA Cup. Not a bad way to start things off.

[snack_break title=”Notching an exquisite double against Everton in the Merseyside derby (Ignore the other bloke)”]

The Englishman was at the top of his game when Everton travelled to Anfield in 2013/14, where Sturridge scored two excellent goals – he could’ve had a hat-trick if he hadn’t missed a late penalty!

[snack_break title=”Scoring a world-class chip vs West Brom to announce himself as a truly top-tier Premier League player”]

This was the strike that truly proved Sturridge was one of the league’s finest forwards and a player brimming with confidence. A shot didn’t even look on, but Liverpool’s No.15 found the top right corner with an audacious chip which worked perfectly.

[snack_break title=”Netting in the Europa League final with a delightful outside-of-the-boot curler”]

Sadly, this goal isn’t remembered as much as it should be after Liverpool lost 3-1. Despite the scoreline, Sturridge’s amazing curler with the outside of his boot was one of the finest goals you’ll see in a cup final.

[snack_break title=”Finally winning a trophy with Liverpool in his last ever game for the club”]

Sturridge’s excellent goalscoring form throughout his time at Liverpool was finally rewarded with silverware at the last possible opportunity. It was the second Champions League title he has won after picking up a medal for Chelsea’s win in 2012.

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فان دي بيك يكشف إصابته بعد مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وساوثهامبتون

كشف لاعب فريق مانشستر يونايتد دوني فان دي بيك إصابته بعد مباراة اليوم أمام ساوثهامبتون، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان في الجولة العاشرة من البريميرليج، حيث فاز الشياطين الحمر بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين.

وشارك فان دي بيك في المباراة كأساسي مع كتيبة أولي جونار سولشاير، وخاض اللقاء بأكمله.

وعقب المباراة، نشر فان دي بيك عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع “تويتر” صورة لقدمه حيث يبدو الكاحل متورمًا بشكل واضح.

وكتب اللاعب الهولندي: “مرحبًا بكم في الدوري الإنجليزي”.

وكان فان دي بيك قد تعرض لتحدي قوي من لاعب خط وسط ساوثهامبتون جيمس وارد براوز، في الشوط الأول.

Liverpool Transfer Roundup: bid for Pepe, €90m needed for Real star, German interest in Whelan

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Every new day seems to throw up plenty of fresh transfer rumours, and it is no different in regards to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Today’s Reds transfer roundup includes an offer for a Ligue 1 ace, an update on a Spanish target and a potential outgoing to the Bundesliga.

Bid made for Pepe

According to Le10Sport, Liverpool have made an offer for Lille’s Nicolas Pepe. Klopp is a big fan of the Ivorian, who bagged 22 goals and 11 assists in the French top flight last season. The amount of the bid is as of yet unknown.

Asensio available for right price

AS are reporting that Real Madrid would not be against selling Marco Asensio if they receive the right bid this summer – €90m (£80.2m) to €100m (£89.1m) would apparently be enough for the 23-year-old. Liverpool are known to be interested in the player and even bid for him last year.

Bundesliga sides after Whelan

Defender Corey Whelan could be off to the Bundesliga this summer, according to Football Insider. The player will leave Anfield when his contract expires, and two clubs from Germany’s top tier are keeping an eye on the player. The specific sides are yet to be named.

بوتراجينيو بعد الانتصار على إشبيلية: فوز يعطينا دفعة قبل نهائي مونشنجلادباخ!

شدد الإسباني إيميليو بوتراجينيو مدير العلاقات المؤسسية بنادي ريال مدريد، على أهمية تحقيق الفوز على إشبيلية في الليجا، قبل مباراة بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ الحاسمة في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ريال مدريد فاز خارج قواعده بهدف نظيف على حساب إشبيلية، على ملعب “رامون سانشيز بيزخوان”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإسباني (طالع تقرير المباراة).

وقال بوتراجينيو في تصريحات عبر صحيفة “ديفنسا سنترال” الإسبانية: “كان من المهم للغاية الفوز هنا، إشبيلية دائمًا مكان صعب، إنهم فريق رائع، الفوز هُنا مُهم جدًا، هذا الفوز يعطينا دفعة”.

وأضاف: “لقد دفعنا اليوم بشكل جيد، وأهدرنا أكثر من فرصة، وكنا حازمين وأظهرنا صلابة دفاعية عندما ضغط إشبيلية، سجّلنا في الشوط الثاني هدفًا، ولعبنا بشكل جيد للغاية “.

وواصل: “نحن لدينا لاعبون جيدون للغاية، الفريق يلعب كرة القدم بشكل جيد لكن ظروف المباريات تقودك إلى نتيجة أو أخرى، لدينا لاعبون من فئة هائلة، يلعب خط الوسط لدينا كرة القدم بشكل جيد للغاية، لقد استفدنا من التقدم ومن ثم عرفنا كيفية الحفاظ عليه”.

وأكمل: “لقد كنا ملتزمين وأظهرنا شخصيتنا، نحن ريال مدريد، نخرج دائمًا للفوز، لدينا لاعبون اعتادوا على تحمل الضغط وبعقلية الفوز من أجل حصد النقاط الثلاث، لقد تغلبنا على الصعوبات التي فرضها علينا المُنافس اليوم”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “نحن سعداء بما حققناه على إشبيلية، الآن لدينا نهائي يوم الأربعاء في فالديبيباس، وسنفكر فيما سيحدث”.

يُذكر أنّ ريال مدريد ما زال يملك فرصة من أجل التأهل لثمن نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، رغم الهزيمة مُجددًا من شاختار دونستيك الأوكراني (طالع التفاصيل).

Two clear reasons Arsenal should not be targeting Alberto Moreno

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Just three days after winning the Champions League, Liverpool officially confirmed they’ll be parting ways with both Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno. And shortly after that, reports from Italy emerged linking the latter to Unai Emery’s Arsenal.

Now without a club, north London might indeed be suitable destination for the left-back from his perspective. From Arsenal’s point of view, though, if the claims from LazioNews24 are to be trusted on the matter, it would really make for bad business. With that in mind, here are two main reasons why Moreno is simply not the right choice for the Gunners, and should certainly not be on their radar…

Not an upgrade

It’s not really a secret that Arsenal have had their respective fair share of defensive woes over the last season, and even stretching further back. In the 2018/19 campaign, they conceded 51 goals, which is 29 more than Liverpool. So the Gunners do need reinforcements for the backline. Moreno himself, however, did not contribute much to the aforementioned stability of the Reds. The 26-year-old was rarely ever picked by Jurgen Klopp, managing only two meagre appearances last season and having no real impact whatsoever.

Just the fact that he was constantly sidelined and Andrew Robertson firmly took hold of the left-back position means that he simply did not have the quality for the Reds’ starting XI. Klopp needed a well-rounded outlet, and while Robertson could provide that, Moreno clearly lacked something. His three goals and 11 assists in a total of 141 games for the Merseyside club can attest to that. Emery’s options in the ageing Nacho Monreal and sometimes underwhelming Sead Kolašinac are not really ideal, but Moreno is hardly an upgrade either.

Arsenal shouldn’t be collecting other clubs’ outcasts

This one is more of a pride thing than anything else but Arsenal should really not revert to collecting players who were thrown away by their former clubs in the first place. A team with such rich history, a huge legacy and a name to uphold should be making strides for players who are more representative of their own image. Sure, it’s normal that they have certain dips in form every now and then but transfers like the reported Moreno one are only making them look even more desperate.

And yes, you could argue that desperate times call for desperate measures but not if it arguably makes the club’s situation even worse than it originally was. Emery should, for that reason, look into the market and try to find better targets who look ready to make the step up, not ones who are essentially looking to move down the rungs of the Premier League.

They are certainly out there, you just have to dig deep to find them.

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