Mohammed Salah signs new contract extension to shun off interested
Darwin Nunez is surprisingly 3 something much better than Mohamed Salah this season for Liverpool
It’s been a little tricky few months for Darwin Nunez recently. At the moment, there is no denying the Uruguayan is struggling in front of goal.
One moment after another, he’s been really unfortunate in terms of not quite being able to produce the kind of numbers that his underlying numbers would suggest he should be producing.
However, even on the surface, it’s certainly not all doom and gloom for the Liverpool number nine. He’s made 16 goal contributions at the half-way stage for Liverpool already and has averaged a goal or assist every 96 minutes in all competitions.
That’s not a bad return at all, and if we look underneath the surface, his underlying numbers suggest his output could soon turn out to be even better.
Liverpool v West Ham United – Carabao Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Nunez offering more threat than Salah
Taking a look at FBref, Nunez has only averaged 0.47 goals per 90 for Liverpool this season. However, when you look at his expected goals, that number should be a lot higher.
According to FBref, Nunez’s non-penalty expected goals is 0.72 per 90 minutes 0.25 times more than his actual output. That’s a significant difference and it is by far the best output in the Liverpool squad this season – even higher than Mohamed Salah – who only averages 0.50 non-penalty expected goals.
But what does this all mean?
It means Nunez is getting into the right places and the right areas to score goals – even more often than Salah. The only thing he is lacking is the finishing. However, that can be worked on, and he’s already shown over the course of his career that he can be a prolific goal-scorer.
It would be a lot more concerning if he wasn’t getting in the right areas and accumulating as much expected goals. But the fact that he is, suggests it is only a matter of time until he starts to really explode in a Liverpool shirt.
Arsenal and Liverpool will renew their rivalry in the English FA Cup third-round showdown this weekend at the Emirates Stadium in London.
The Gunners will be going into the high-profile clash after their disappointing 2-1 loss to Fulham in their last Premier League game, and they will be looking for a victory over the Reds to end their three-game winless streak and to also book a spot in the next phase of the FA Cup.
Meanwhile Liverpool, on the other hand, will be going into the clash after their convincing 4-2 win over Newcastle United in their last Premier League game, and they will be looking for another win over the Gunners to advance to the next phase of the English FA Cup.
Date And Kickoff Time For The English FA Cup Showdown:
Arsenal will be looking for a victory to progress to the next phase of the English FA Cup when they lock horns with Liverpool in an all-Premier League side affair on Sunday, January 7, at the Emirates Stadium. The game will commence at exactly 5:30 PM( West African Time).
From Opera News
Content created and supplied by News Hub Creator . Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. Opera News does not consent to nor does it condone the posting of any content that violates the rights (including the copyrights) of any third party, nor content that may malign, inter alia, any religion, ethnic group, organization, gender, company, or individual. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address feedback-newshub@operanewshub.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform.Read more>>
Mbappe reinstated as PSG first team player
Kylian Mbappe’s future is back in the spotlight after the Liverpool transfer target entered the final six months of his lucrative contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe has already agreed to forgo a loyalty bonus worth £69 million in order to secure a more amicable exit from Paris Saint-Germain this summer as Liverpool prepare to make their move.
Twenty-five-year-old Mbappe has just entered the final six months of his lucrative PSG contract, which was only signed in 2022 after Parc des Princes chiefs managed to fend off strong interest from Real Madrid.
At the beginning of this campaign, however, the Ligue 1 champions were left furious with Mbappe and axed him from their pre-season tour of Asia after the French superstar wrote to the club informing them that he wouldn’t be agreeing to sign off on a one-year extension, as PSG had previously expected him to do.
Despite the dispute, Mbappe was still rewarded with an 80 million euro loyalty bonus after he remained with the club beyond the closure of the summer transfer window and was reintegrated into new manager Luis Enrique’s squad. Mbappe, though, waived the first installment of that bonus and would be willing to forgo it completely should he leave Paris this summer.
Amid the complex financial developments reported by Caught Offside, the France captain can now sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club, and Liverpool hope to take advantage of his uncertain future.
Spanish giants Real Madrid were long considered to be the most interested party, but multiple reports over the winter have suggested that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are now the frontrunners after holding previous discussions over a transfer.
“I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum,” Mbappe told the Telegraph in 2022. “I don’t know why; you will have to ask her! It’s a good club, and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco, I met them. It’s a big club.”
He hasn’t ruled out staying in the French capital, though, with the former Monaco starlet declaring after PSG beat Toulouse 2-0 in the French Super Cup on Wednesday: “I’m very, very, very motivated for this year. It’s very important.
The Reds have secured their place at the top of the Premier League table after a string of brilliant displays during the festive season.
Liverpool
© Ace Football
Liverpool are not “polished” enough as a team to win the Premier League title this season, according to Gary Neville.
A thrilling victory over Newcastle sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table on Monday. The Reds are now preparing to start a decisive period without Mohamed Salah, who leaves to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Liverpool will have to make do without the prolific Mohamed Salah for up to a month and in his absence Jurgen Klopp has several players who can fill in with Dominik Szoboszlai among them
Mohamed Salah said goodbye to Liverpool for a month by scoring a brace in their win over Newcastle.
The Egyptian scored two of their four as they blew away the Magpies at Anfield to open up a lead at the top of the Premier League. Salah, as he’s been throughout his time on Merseyside, is the Reds’ leading marksman and his goals will be missed whilst he’s at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Whilst Salah is absent, Liverpool will look to stay at the summit, see off Arsenal in the FA Cup and put themselves into the Carabao Cup final. His contributions in the final third leave a major hole that will need to be filled temporarily.
Jurgen Klopp has continued to recycle his attacking options with Salah his only regular. Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota have all been utilised, but the Egyptian’s absence could open the door for a player to show their versatility.
“It will be very interesting to see who he puts in that position,” Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “An option could be Harvey Elliott. I think he is more of a midfield player, he lacks pace to play in the front three but he could do it. But also Szoboszlai. Liverpool have got a lot of midfield options now with Alexis Mac Allister back, Szoboszlai has played in that position for his former club.”
We take a look at both options as well as a fringe player who could get the chance to impress with the games coming thick and fast. Ben Doak would’ve fancied his chances of more minutes but injury has put pay to that.
Harvey Elliott
For years the youngster has been tipped for the top and he’s shown that in patches. The teenager has featured in 16 of Liverpool’s 20 league outings, coming up with two assists and a goal. Klopp has long shown faith in Elliott, who has regularly been used in midfield.
Harvey Elliott is highly thought of at Anfield
Harvey Elliott is highly thought of at Anfield
Earlier in his Liverpool days the former Fulham man was used out wide and showed how influential he can be during a previous loan spell at Blackburn Rovers. His creativity is well documented, but he lacks the pace of some of his team-mates and he may require the team to play differently if he is to thrive.
Dominik Szoboszlai
The Hungarian has been hugely influential since his summer move from RB Leipzig and could be asked to play from a wide role over the next month. Like Elliott he doesn’t have the pace of some of Liverpool’s other attackers, but his impact on games has already been highlighted.
Dominik Szoboszlai has had an instant impact since his summer move
Dominik Szoboszlai has had an instant impact since his summer move
Szoboszlai’s eye for goal has seen him score four times but he did limp off in the win over Newcastle, leaving Klopp sweating on his fitness, although he hoped it was only a minor issue. Szoboszlai has played in a wide role at Leipzig and may be fancied to step up ahead of Elliott.
Fabio Carvalho
Extremely left-field but Klopp has been more than willing to put faith in individuals throughout his tenure. Carvalho was a huge hit with Fulham in the Championship, which convinced Liverpool to pursue him 18 months ago. His first season came and went and he’s recently been recalled from a loan spell in Germany, which didn’t go as planned.
Fabio Carvalho has just returned from an unsuccessful loan spell
Fabio Carvalho has just returned from an unsuccessful loan spell
His potential remains obvious though and, with Carvalho clearly in need of minutes, Salah’s absence could be the chance to give them to him, especially with games coming thick and fast across several tournaments. In his most productive season he scored ten times and provided eight assists. He’s certainly a player the Reds should persevere with.
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Watch the Premier League, Champions League and more
TNT Sports gives you access to games across the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A and many more. You can also watch the biggest clashes in boxing, UFC, WWE and the get exclusive action from MLB all for one payment every month. You can watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.’ brilliant form has surprised Neville, but the former Manchester United star believes that Jurgen Klopp’s rebuilt squad is not ready to claim the EPL trophy.
“They’re not polished yet. They’re not at the peak of their careers where you start to make precise decisions,” Liverpool said of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz on his podcast.
“There’s an electricity to them but also a frustration that in the final third the last part can go a little bit wrong. You wonder what that’s going to be like without Salah but they owe it to him to get through the next month still in the title, still at the top of the league and still ahead so they can give Salah a chance to come back and have a real go at the title.
“I didn’t think Liverpool would be in a title race and I still don’t think they’ll do it.”
Liverpool will take on Arsenal in an FA Cup clash before hosting Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals next Wednesday.
Latest entertainment gist
Liverpool’s stellar season faces a challenge as Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo head off for international duty, leaving Jurgen Klopp with strategic reshuffling for upcoming crucial matches.
The Reds, currently leading the Premier League standings by three points over Aston Villa, have thrived on Salah’s exceptional form, contributing 14 goals and 8 assists in 20 Premier League appearances.
However, Salah’s absence looms as Egypt gears up for AFCON clashes against Mozambique, Ghana, and Cape Verde, while Endo represents Japan, leaving Liverpool without key players for the FA Cup clash against Arsenal and subsequent fixtures.
Should Egypt advance to the final, Salah’s return to Liverpool might be delayed until at least February 17, aligning with Endo’s potential absence if Japan follows suit in the Asian Cup.
Expressing his whimsical support to his departing players, Klopp quipped,
Leave a Reply