ينتظر نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي بفارغ الصبر نتيجة المسحة الثانية الخاصة بفيروس كورونا والتي سيخضع لها النجم محمد صلاح، بعد إعلان إيجابية المسحة الأولى حسبما أفاد الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم اليوم الجمعة.

ويتواجد محمد صلاح في معسكر منتخب مصر في الوقت الحالي، استعدادًا لمواجهة منتخب توجو في إطار التصفيات المؤهلة لبطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، كاميرون 2021.

وأعلن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، في وقت سابق من اليوم الجمعة، إيجابية مسحة محمد صلاح بعد خضوعه لفحص كورونا (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وحذف اتحاد الكرة المصري بيانه الخاص بـ محمد صلاح، بعد مرور عدة دقائق من نشره، قبل إصدار بيان جديد يؤكد من خلاله وجود ثلاث حالات إيجابية في منتخبي مصر وتوجو قبل مباراة الغد (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وحسب صحيفة “ميرور” الإنجليزية، فإن ليفربول ينتظر بفارغ الصبر نتيجة فحص كورونا الثاني الذي سيخضع له النجم محمد صلاح، والتي ستحدد ما إذا كان سيضطر لقضاء فترة من العزل الذاتي لمدة 10 أيام أم لا.

وأوضحت أنه تم فحص صلاح بشكل روتيني بموجب البروتوكولات المُتبعة وذلك بعد توجهه إلى بلاده استعدادًا لخوض مباراتين في فترة التوقف الدولي.

وأشارت إلى إن البروتوكول ينص على ضرورة خضوع اللاعبين للفحص الثاني، حيث ثبت في وقت سابق إصابة اثنين من لاعبي ليفربول بالفيروس قبل أن يتبين لاحقًا أن النتيجة سلبية في الاختبار الثاني.

وسلطت “ميرور” الضوء على تعجل الاتحاد المصري في الإعلان عن خبر إصابة صلاح بالفيروس المستجد، قبل أن يضطر إلى حذفه في غضون ساعة حيث إنه من المفهوم أن نجم ليفربول لم يخضع للفحص الثاني قبل إصدار البيان الأول.

وسيحصل صلاح على نتائج المسحة الثانية قبل مواجهة منتخب توجو مساء غدًا السبت.

وإذا جاءت نتيجة المسحة الثانية إيجابية أيضًا، فسيتم إجبار محمد صلاح على الخضوع للحجر الصحي لمدة 10 أيام، مما يعني غيابه بالتأكيد عن مواجهة ليستر سيتي يوم الأحد المقبل في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإنجليزي.

لكن لا يوجد حتى الآن أي توضيح بشأن المكان الذي يجب أن يخضع فيه صلاح لأي حجر صحي، مما يثير مخاوف ليفربول من احتمال إبعاده عن الملاعب لفترة أطول.

تسمح إرشادات الحكومة البريطانية للاعبي كرة القدم باستخدام ممرات السفر (الممرات تسمح بحرية الحركة بين المدن أو البلدان منخفضة المخاطر) لتجنب الحجر الصحي، ولكن إذا أُجبر صلاح على البقاء في مصر لمدة 10 أيام قادمة، فمن غير الواضح ما إذا كانت هذه القواعد ستظل سارية أم لا بالنسبة له.

ووفقًا لـ “ميرور”، فإن ليفربول سيسعى للحصول على توضيح بشأن ذلك الأمر، حيث أن هناك احتمالين، الأول إنه سيعود على الفور إلى الأنفيلد مع إتباع احتياطات العزل، أو العودة إلى إنجلترا بعد قضاء 10 أيام في مصر واللعب أمام أتالانتا يوم 25 نوفمبر الجاري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وهناك احتمال ثالث ولكنه ضئيل والذي يتمثل في ضرورة إبقاء محمد صلاح في الحجر الصحي لمدة 14 يومًا عند عودته إلى المملكة المتحدة، مما يعني كابوسًا بالنسبة للريدز، حيث هذا سيؤدي إلى غيابه عن خمس مباريات ومن ثم ستكون ضاربة قاسية لـ يورجن كلوب، على الرغم من أن مثل هذا القرار يعتبر غير مرجح بدرجة كبيرة.

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Discussion over Ryan Kent’s future has been a key topic for Rangers fans to stew over in recent weeks and his brilliant display against Celtic on Sunday has brought his future under the microscope.

What’s the word?

The loanee from Liverpool has been a devastating outlet for the Gers this season in fleeting bursts. Consistency has eluded him but there have been enough displays of genuine quality to suggest that he’s a player Steven Gerrard should look to sign this summer.

And that’s an argument which has been peddled by BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer, Tom English, who has hinted that the Gers should aim to sign him on another loan deal this summer, per BBC.

‘There will be changes this summer, but on that performance, you wouldn’t be changing much about that Rangers team.

‘If they can get Ryan Kent on another season-long loan from Liverpool, what a difference that can make.’

Unlikely to happen

Everybody associated with Rangers would be delighted if Kent signed on another season-long loan but it seems unlikely that the Reds would be willing to accept a deal on those terms.

After all, Kent has been uninspiring on previous loan spells away from Anfield and they will be acutely aware that this is the perfect time to sell.

His stock is high at the end of a promising season at Ibrox, and suitors are likely to be willing to sign him on a permanent basis with his recent development in mind.

There is an obvious risk attached to sending him on loan for another season: a major injury or loss of form will see his market value tumble downwards once more, leaving Liverpool in a situation where they would struggle to attract an enticing fee for his signature.

At this stage Rangers will almost certainly need to stump up a figure to bring the 22-year-old to the club and the prospect of another loan deal seems unlikely to say the least, despite English’s verdict on the matter.

There cannot be too many players in Middlesbrough’s illustrious history who can rival the impact that Stewart Downing has made during his 12-year association with the club.

The former England international burst onto the footballing scene as a teenager with the Smoggies and went on to help his side win their first ever major trophy in 2004 as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the League Cup before eventually leaving the Riverside Stadium five years later to join Aston Villa.

After spells at Liverpool and West Ham United, Downing moved back to North Yorkshire in 2015 and has since made over 150 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club.

However, despite being worshipped by the club’s supporters for his contributions over the years, it may be time for Tony Pulis to bring in a replacement for the 34-year-old in the summer as he has been relatively ineffective this season.

With Boro being linked with a swoop for Celtic winger Scott Sinclair, (according to The Sun), it could be worth bringing in him, especially when you consider that he will be available for a cut-price fee in the summer despite the reigning Scottish champions opting to trigger a one year extension to his current deal on Thursday (via the Scottish Sun).

Since moving to the Hoops in 2016, the 30-year-old has arguably enjoyed the best spell of his career to date and has been extremely impressive this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions whilst also providing six assists for his team-mates.

Having been part of a Celtic side who have dominated football in Scotland in recent years, the £3.6m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) may be seeking a new challenge.

Therefore, regardless of what division they find themselves in next season, Boro should do all they can to convince him to move south of the border as he could provide the attacking threat that they have been missing this year.

What do you think Smoggies fans? Should Pulis try to secure the services of Sinclair in the summer? Or should he steer clear of the 30-year-old? Let us know below.

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Leicester fans are no strangers to a winger with a lack of end product. Just look at the performances Rachid Ghezzal and Demarai Gray have dropped this season.

So when their supporters heard that Jordon Ibe could join the club, something that was initially reported in The Sun, they weren’t best pleased.

Debating the Bournemouth man in a thread on Twitter, they launched a damning attack on the 23-year-old.

One supporter suggested that the player was overrated, claiming signing an inconsistent winger wouldn’t help them.

Other members of the King Power faithful made reference to Youri Tielemans, suggesting they should be moving for footballers of his calibre, rather than Ibe. With that in mind, a further fan urged the club to sort themselves out.

Ibe has been incredibly disappointing since making the move from Liverpool to the south coast in 2016. Arriving for a fee of £15m he hasn’t been worth it all.

This season he only managed one goal in the Premier League, starting nine times and appearing as a substitute on a further ten occasions, per WhoScored.

Here’s the best of the debate.

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Dapo Mebude made his first-team debut for Rangers in their 2-1 loss at Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

It was not exactly the best way for Steven Gerrard’s side to end 2018-19 campaign, but there were positives to be taken from the loss.

One of those was certainly a debut for Mebude.

Indeed, the London-born forward is just 17 years of age and he will never forget the day that he turned out for the Scottish giants for the first time.

It was not just a little taste of first-team action, either, with Mebude given a good 30 minutes of football at Rugby Park.

It remains to be seen what type of future the teenager has at Ibrox and indeed in football in general.

However, the Gers fans were delighted to see him in action at the weekend, with a number taking to social media to lavish praise on the attacker.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Steven Gerrard’s ability to keep Scott Arfield will define their bid for next season’s Scottish Premiership. The 30-year-old is vital to the club’s plans and his departure would signify a deeper-lying issue.

Football Insider have claimed the Gers’ manager shares the view of the board on Arfield, and that’s the stance he’s not for sale, as he is key to Gerrard’s plans. That’s no real surprise, but it’s whether his head is turned by Premier League clubs that will be the question Rangers fans will want to have answered.

The Canadian has been a bargain since he arrived on a free transfer and signed a four-year deal in summer. He’s scored 10 and assisted seven in 25 appearances for the Gers this season and has been used right across the midfield and as a supporting striker. He’s been a jack of all trades!

That contract made him the highest paid player in Scottish football according to Football Insider, but money might not be enough to keep him at Rangers. According to the Mail Online earlier this month, Southampton are readying a £3m summer bid, and he could be tempted away.

If Gerrard loses him, it means one of his most senior players will be gone, and he still needs those considering the youth he’s trying to bed in too. But, in the bigger picture, it proves that Rangers just don’t have the pulling power to bridge the gap to Celtic, and that’s key.

Keeping Arfield puts them in a great position to fight for the title, both mentally and physically. Losing him creates the sense that every time Rangers start to build something, it’ll be pulled apart by other clubs.

Rangers fans, who would you replace Scott Arfield with if he leaves in summer? Join the discussion by commenting below.

With safety secure, Newcastle fans can really sit back and enjoy their summer, knowing they will be watching Premier League football again next season. 

Oh wait, no they can’t!

For relaxation to commence, Rafa Benitez needs to sign a new contract with the club, or the same old fears will come flooding right back for those fans. It must be gutting to be a member of the Toon Army under the reign of Mike Ashley, truly miserable.

All the foundations have been laid by Benitez but he needs to be the man to orchestrate the changes at St James’ Park, if he is given a big budget. Everyone knows that. Apart from the Ashley regime, it seems.

Nothing major needs to happen in terms of chopping and changing players but an influx of quality would do no harm. To that end, on a free transfer, the addition of Hull City’s Markus Henriksen (who was linked by the Sun with a move to Tyneside in January) would be one that interests all and it could be very shrewd business for the Magpies.

Henriksen, (who is valued at £3.6 million on Transfermarkt) has without a doubt been one of the shining stars for Nigel Adkins and Hull this season and he would prove to be a steal for a team like Newcastle. His quality is obvious and there is no question that he is good enough to play higher up in the Premier League.

With 37 Championship matches to his name this season, Henriksen has added 3 goals and an assist during those as well.

Newcastle were rightly interested in the Norwegian international during the January transfer window but now he is completely free, the deal makes so much sense and they should look to beat the competition to secure his signature. Surely it makes too much sense not to.

Surely.

Midfield quality is something Rafa Benitez has been vocal about getting so his answer – sign Markus Henriksen.

Newcastle fans, do you agree? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

تعرض اثنان من لاعبي فريق ليفربول للإصابة أمام أنظار المدرب الألماني يورجن كلوب، وفقًا لما أفادت به تقارير صحفية اليوم.

وحسب شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية، فإن كلوب حضر اليوم مباراة بين فريقي ليفربول وساوثهامبتون، تحت سن 23 عامًا والتي انتهت بالتعادل السلبي.

وأوضحت أن كلوب تواجد في المباراة لمدة 45 دقيقة، حيث حرص على متابعتها خاصة أنها اقيمت في مركز التدريبات الجديد أكسا.

وأشارت إلى أن تلك المباراة شهدت تعرض اثنين من لاعبي ليفربول للإصابة، وهما بول جلاتزيل وجو هاردي وكلاهما عادا من إصابات طويلة الأمد.

وذكرت أن جلاتزيل تعرض لركلة في الكاحل الأيمن، وخرج بين الشوطين، وشوهد بعد المباراة وهو يسير على عكازين وكان يرتدي دعامة للساق.

أما هاردي فقد تعرض للإصابة بعد مشاركته كبديل مباشرة، حيث تدخل عليه أحد لاعبي الخصم بشكل قوي وحصل على بطاقة حمراء نتيجة لذلك.

وحصل هاردي على العلاج في أرض الملعب، قبل أن يتم استبداله وخروجه على النقالة، حيث توجه إلى المستشفى لإجراء فحوصات على ساقه بعد الإصابة.

ويعاني الفريق الأول لـ ليفربول من كثرة الإصابات في الوقت الحالي، حيث هناك فيرجيل فان دايك وجو جوميز وتياجو ألكانتارا وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وجوردان هندرسون، إلى جانب محمد صلاح الذي يعاني من فيروس كورونا.

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Brendan Rodgers hasn’t done a lot wrong since walking through the doors at the King Power, and until Vincent Kompany came out of nowhere with one of the most remarkable goals in Premier League history, he’d got things spot on against Manchester City.

As they have been under Rodgers, Leicester were resolute and threatening. For large periods they even looked better than City.

The confidence they’d picked up from a win over Arsenal was clear to see and an unchanged line-up made sense. It caused the Gunners numerous problems and they were arguably unfortunate not to have taken a result away from the Etihad.

However, there was one change Rodgers could have made that may have bettered their chances of taking all three points.

On the chalkboard

The decision to play James Maddison out on the left flank against Arsenal two weekend’s ago worked to devastating effect. The former Norwich man has usually operated behind the striker but he was superb in a wider role, causing Ainsley Maitland-Niles all sorts of problems.

He was dragged all over the place by the canny nature of the 22-year-old and where the Foxes exposed one weakness there, they could have done the same against City last Monday night.

With Oleksandr Zinchenko playing at left-back, a position he is still yet to fully convince in, Leicester could have exploited City in a similar way to Arsenal.

Mark Albrighton doesn’t possess the same flair and guile that Maddison does, and as a result, Zinchenko had a relatively quiet evening against the Foxes’ right midfielder.

Against a defender as good as Kyle Walker, he was never going to have the same sort of game he did in their 3-0 win over Unai Emery’s side.

Therefore, perhaps if Rodgers had swapped the pair over, Leicester’s chances of winning on Monday would have increased. An overload of Maddison and Ricardo Pereira, who had a terrific game himself, would have surely been overwhelming for the Ukrainian.

Instead, the Foxes were left to face another season without European football as their defeat meant they could no longer catch Wolves in seventh.

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According to a report in The Scottish Sun, Neil Lennon is keen to re-sign striker Gary Hooper for Celtic if he gets the job permanently this summer, and the link is exactly what he shouldn’t be handed the role.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Scottish Sun report that the 31-year-old, who is available on a free having been released by English Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, is on the former Hibernian boss’ transfer wish-list.

The Scottish Sun report that the centre-forward would be keen on a return to Parkhead, where he scored a remarkable 82 goals in 138 games during his previous spell with the Glasgow giants.

Of course, Lennon is still to find out whether he will be Brendan Rodgers’ long-term replacement, having steered the club to the Scottish Premiership title following the Northern Irishman’s mid-season decision to depart for Leicester City.

Exactly why he shouldn’t get the job

The fact that Lennon reportedly wants to bring Hooper back to the club is one of the reasons why the Bhoys should be looking elsewhere for their new manager.

Controversial. Uncompromising. Leader. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith talks the future of Celtic’s evergreen captain Scott Brown in the video below…

With Steven Gerrard and Rangers set to be stronger next season, and with the club needing to make big improvements in the Champions League, Lennon and Hooper are not the men to help them do that.

The latter has been plagued by injury issues during the latter part of his spell with the Owls, making just five appearances in all competitions this term.

Celtic need to look to the future instead of the past and add a younger and more exciting striker to their frontline for the 2019/20 campaign if they want to progress – re-signing Hooper would ultimately be a backwards step.

It’s time for Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell to show some ambition, and if they do then the 31-year-old won’t be lining up in a Hoops shirt for the second time in his career.