BPL side Chattogram Challengers expect Chris Gayle to be available for them after he recovers from a hamstring injury. Gayle is likely to play in the BPL after January 4, after which Chattogram will have three league phase matches remaining.”Chris Gayle has a hamstring niggle,” Chattogram’s managing director KM Rifatuzzaman, said. “He will need a bit of time to be completely fit. He was always going to play in the BPL and even though we will not have him for the entire campaign, he will be available in the latter part.”Chattogram had picked Gayle at the BPL draft on November 17, but exactly a week later, at a press conference in South Africa, Gayle had claimed that he wasn’t aware of it.Three days later, with Chattogram unsure of Gayle’s arrival, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed that the board had followed the correct procedure and that Gayle had indeed signed on for the draft. And now that his team has confirmed his participation, Gayle is likely to turn up for Chattogram if he is fit in time.Gayle has played in every season of the BPL, appearing for five teams including Rangpur Riders for whom he played in the last two seasons. He has scored the most hundreds in the tournament’s history, including a devastating unbeaten 146 against Dhaka Dynamites in the 2017 final.Although Gayle has made no further comments on his BPL commitments since his Mzansi Super League exit, his agent in the Indian sub-continent (except IPL), Rudradeep Banerjee, has confirmed that he has agreed to travel to Bangladesh in January. Banerjee, who represents Second Innings Sports and Entertainment, said Gayle was aware of joining Chattogram in the BPL draft, but subsequent events had cast doubts over whether he would play in the tournament.”In the MSL he picked up a niggle for which his doctor has advised him rest of at least two weeks,” Banerjee told ESPNcricinfo.Gayle, according to Banerjee, had also made it clear to the franchise that he would be “taking a break” during the Christmas-New Year period to spend time with his family. “That kind of puts him out for December. He would be free for maybe a game or two, but then to fly in to Dhaka and back to West Indies doesn’t make sense.”Banerjee said “an arrangement” has been reached with Chattogram for Gayle to “come and play [BPL]” from January 4. “If he would have been fit he would have played the first leg, would have gone home on December 23 and come back again on January 4.”
Gary Lineker has banned the term “football’s coming home”, with England eager to avoid any “bad luck” charms ahead of the Euro 2024 final.
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Southgate's side into back-to-back Euros finalsItaly dashed dreams at Wembley three years agoSpain stand between England and a piece of historyWHAT HAPPENED?
The Three Lions stand “on the brink of history” this summer, with another shot at continental glory being secured. Said opportunity was passed up three years ago at Wembley Stadium, with Italy inflicting more penalty shootout heartache on Gareth Southgate’s side.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT LINEKER SAID
They now have the chance to secure a first title for the men’s team since 1966, while rewriting the record books as the first England side to win a trophy on foreign soil. With that in mind, Lineker has told when asked if football is indeed coming home: “I'm banning that statement. It's been bad luck for so long.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ex-England striker Lineker is, however, looking forward to what promises to be quite the spectacle in Berlin on Sunday. He added: “I think it's hugely significant for English football. They were in a final, they were in the last final of the Euros, of course, and that was at Wembley, and that ended up in huge disappointment. This is going to be tough, it's going to be difficult, but they're on the brink of history. No English team in football has ever won a major tournament abroad.”
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(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
Southgate’s side have not been at their best during a run to the Euros final, but Lineker believes that bodes well. He went on to say: “They have got that kind of never-say-die attitude, which is something that is hugely important. Even when they weren't playing great, they were grinding out results. And it's an old football cliché that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.”
Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Tom Brady have seen a bizarre request to move Birmingham vs Wrexham to the United States rejected by the EFL.
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Blues & Red Dragons ready to meet in third tierFamous faces in the boardroom at both clubsMeeting in America would have attracted interestWHAT HAPPENED?
Two Hollywood superstars have been calling the shots in North Wales since 2021, while the NFL legend with seven Super Bowl rings to his name joined the board at St Andrew’s in 2023 when deciding to invest in the British form of football.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With Birmingham owned by Tom Wagner and the American-based Knighthead team, the reports on how the Blues were keen to take the high-profile fixture across the Atlantic. The prospect of playing Wrexham – stars of their own documentary series that has proved popular in the States – was floated.
DID YOU KNOW?
Said suggestion is said to have been swiftly knocked back by the English Football League. They are eager to build their brand in the U.S. after agreeing a new overseas TV deal that has boosted revenue in that department by 40 percent – with more North American personalities branching out into European sport.
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Birmingham believed that they could take advantage of that – as a meeting with Wrexham would pull in more punters than the 29,000 capacity at St Andrew’s – and history would have been made had they been able to put the first competitive English or Welsh fixture to be held outside of the United Kingdom in place.
Aston Villa's search for Champions League football was handed another boost this weekend, as they defeated Fulham 2-1 on the road.
Ollie Watkins was on hand to increase his goal tally to 13 for the season, as he netted a match-winning brace.
However, what will slightly concern Unai Emery is his team's lack of depth in midfield and at the back, with injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos, and Ezri Konsa all causing issues.
The Spaniard needs versatile players in his team that can cover multiple roles, and Villa did once have a player that the boss would have loved to have in his squad today.
Marc Albrighton's time at Villa
Marc Albrighton progressed through the ranks of the Villa academy to finally make his debut for the club in 2009 against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup.
The versatile star failed to nail down a spot in the Villa starting XI over his time at the club, and his Villans career will not be remembered at all by the younger generations in the fanbase.
The former number 12 started to feature more frequently in the 2013/14 Premier League campaign, where he played 19 with a record of four assists over the season.
However, in the summer of 2015, then manager Paul Lambert decided that Albrighton was surplus to requirements, with Villa ultimately releasing the midfielder. The England international ended his time at Villa Park with 102 matches played, nine goals, and 19 assists.
Albrighton's career after leaving Villa
Leicester City were the club to snap up Albrighton on a free transfer that summer, and in the following season, he instantly made a huge impact, particularly towards the end of the season, where he picked up two goals and assists apiece in the Foxes last six games to help avoid relegation.
However, the heights that Albrighton and Leicester went on to achieve is one of the most incredible stories in Premier League history. Despite finishing 14th the season before, Claudio Ranieri's side won the Premier League in the 2015/16 season by ten points. Jamie Vardy and Riyhad Mahrez were the stars of the show, but Albrighton was an unsung hero, playing every game.
Assists
7
3rd
Big chances created
11
2nd
Key passes (Per game)
1.7
2nd
Successful dribbles (Per game)
1.3
3rd
Tackles (Per game)
1.7
5th
The 34-year-old also became the club's first Champions League goalscorer ever in the following season, and he has been a "perfect" player over the years, according to former manager Claude Puel, who said:
"He is the perfect teammate and the perfect player to have at the Club. He loves the Club and he loves his teammates. His quality is very important to me – and his fighting spirit. He’s a fantastic player for Leicester City."
Aston Villa could’ve eased Kamara injury with “superstar” who left in 2022
Unai Emery will be disappointed that Villa let their former star leave.
ByTom Lever Feb 18, 2024
Albrighton is now a club legend at the Foxes, having played 311 games for the club and counting, with Champions League experience and a Premier League title on his record. The move to the Foxes was a blessing, but he would have definitely been an excellent servant for Villa over the last nine years.
Unbeaten eighth-wicket stand between Lakmal and Dickwella keeps Sri Lanka in sight of parity after 12-wicket day
The Report by Shashank Kishore15-Aug-2019Stumps Ajaz Patel hasn’t had the bowling opportunities he’d like when back home, but when he’s been called upon overseas since his debut late last year, he’s generally been a machine that delivers sharp-spinning deliveries mixed with dollops of drift and subtle changes in lengths.On surfaces like in Galle that offer bite, he can be more than a handful, as Sri Lanka found out on Thursday. His second Test five-for triggered a slide, Sri Lanka slipping from a comfortable 143 for 2 to 227 for 7 at stumps. They still trail New Zealand by 22, leaving the Test wide open after a pulsating 12-wicket day.The usually flamboyant Niroshan Dickwella battled against his own instincts at times to occupy the crease and finish the day with an out-of-character 39 off 74 balls. Suranga Lakmal, who swung the game away from New Zealand early in the morning with a magnificent spell of 4 for 15 in 5.2 overs, held fort for 79 minutes to make 28 not out. They combined to add 66 in 24.1 overs to frustrate New Zealand’s spinners, who at one stage looked like they would give their batsman a bigger cushion to work with.Kusal Mendis’ dismissal with the tea interval four minutes away started the slide. He is solid when he wants to be, but often has a tendency of playing a shot or two too many at inopportune moments. He didn’t score a single boundary after drinks in the second session and significantly slowed down after a bullet train-like start. This approach earned him a well-deserved half-century, but looking to blast Ajaz’s teaser through cover, he nicked to the slips and New Zealand, who at that point were probably starting to wonder if they would be staring at a deficit, were back in the game.Then the other Kusal – Perera – got in and three quiet deliveries later, attempted to cut a short ball from Trent Boult, except this one got big on him and cramped him for room as the ball lobbed to point. He was gone for 1. Suddenly, a game where neither side appeared to have conceded the advantage to the other swung in New Zealand’s favour; Sri Lanka committing the same mistakes New Zealand did – losing wickets in clumps – on the opening day against spin.Then came the wicket of half-centurion Angelo Mathews, who was done in by a fine cocktail of drift, dip and turn from Ajaz. Reaching out to drive one that wasn’t quite there, only to see Ross Taylor lap it up at slip.Suranga Lakmal was among the wickets on the second morning•Getty ImagesThese moments of madness came on the back of a solid middle session for Sri Lanka where Mathews and Mendis stonewalled New Zealand’s spin threat. In a 20-minute passage on either side of drinks, Sri Lanka found scoring tough, managing just eight runs in ten overs. Mathews met the ball with a full forward stride, but there was a sense that he may have been going into his shell. Then came two long hops off Tim Southee, which he hit for boundaries to break the shackles. The first of the two was a short ball thumped through point and the second a neat little tuck off his hips to the fine-leg boundary. Now, all revved up, he turned ultra-aggressive when he lofted Mitchell Santner over long-off, and cleared the ropes despite not hitting it well. But, by then, the stranglehold New Zealand seemed to have built around the Sri Lankans after reducing them to 66 for 2 had eased.Towards the end of the session, Kane Williamson, perhaps realising the importance of this stand, brought back Boult for a crack after a first spell of five overs that went for just seven. This didn’t make much of a difference as he struggled to move the ball or cause much ruffle, forcing Williamson to alternate between Will Somerville and Ajaz, and the move worked as they scythed through the lower order to leave Sri Lanka gasping, until they were saved by the Dickwella-Lakmal stand.In the morning, New Zealand unravelled rather dramatically in the face of an excellent Lakmal spell after resuming on 203 for 5. Lakmal claimed the prize wicket of Taylor for 86 with his first ball of the morning, and then went on to deliver a spell that yielded 4 for 15, as New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 46 runs. Attempting a cut to a short-of-a-length Lakmal ball close to his body, Taylor gave a straightforward edge to the wicketkeeper. Santner didn’t last the first half hour either, shouldering arms to a Lakmal indipper that would have gone on to clip the stumps had it not struck pad.With both recognised batsmen out early in the day, it was up to New Zealand’s tail to provide some sort of resistance, but only Boult succeeded for any reasonable length of time, hitting a six and a four on his way to 18 off 22 balls. He eventually holed out trying to hit Lakmal for another six down the ground, before No. 11 Ajaz was out lbw first ball, attempting a leg-side flick. New Zealand’s innings wrapped up soon after drinks.Sri Lanka had 13 overs to bat out before lunch, and in that time lost opener Lahiru Thirimanne. After the interval, they lost Dimuth Karunaratne, who played back to a quicker delivery from Ajaz to be lbw. The stage was set for the middle order to step up, and though Mendis and Mathews did their job, the stumble came on cue, leaving the Test in the balance.
The Catalan club will have to work wonders with a small budget to ensure they are able to compete with Europe's best next season
Things aren't going great at Barcelona. They may have won La Liga 12 months ago, but they regressed significantly under Xavi in 2023-24. The manager and club legend, after five months of back-and-forth, has now left the club for good, with Hansi Flick now having taken the reins as his replacement.
Off the field, things are just as chaotic. The Blaugrana are struggling immensely financially, and with La Liga's strict spending rules kicking in, they are unlikely to have much wriggle room to make things happen in the transfer market.
To be sure, there will be some funds available, but the summer refresh that this squad requires – and that Xavi seemingly demanded – might not be possible. There are some players who could be sold to raise funds, but it's unlikely they would want to part with any big names. Expect one or two impact signings, then, but little else to get excited about in Catalunya this summer.
GOAL takes a look at how Barcelona might spend their summer as the Flick era begins…
Getty ImagesProblem positions
Where to start? Barca could do with depth and quality all over the pitch. The most pressing need, though, is perhaps defensive midfield. They made a mess of trying to replace the outgoing Sergio Busquets last summer, and after utilising Andreas Christensen as little more than an agreeable fill-in, will need to find a permanent solution.
There is perhaps need for support on the left wing, with Raphinha potentially being sold and Joao Felix unlikely to turn a mediocre loan spell into a permanent move. Extra help in central defence could also be necessary.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRumour mill
Such are the Catalan club's financial constraints that the rumour mill has churned admittedly slowly for the Spanish giants, but they do look set to complete a move for Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez, though it has been claimed that will not impede Barca from pursuing a higher-quality No.6.
Supposed top target Martin Zubimendi seems set to stay at Real Sociedad, but there are still some names out there. Joshua Kimmich, reportedly unhappy at Bayern Munich, has been mentioned to potentially reunite with his former boss Flick, while Everton's Amadou Onana and Nice's Khephren Thuram have also come up in transfer talk.
Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, was spoken about as a potential target of Xavi's, but it remains to be seen whether that interest in the Manchester City midfielder carries over now Flick is assembling his squad.
Getty Ideal signing
Zubimendi was the dream for Barca, and has been for some time, but now that he's seemingly off the table, Barca's options are limited.
Kimmich would be the perfect player to step in, at least as a short-term investment. Bayern have younger options in his position, and would likely be happy to cash in on a player who has one year left on his current contract – especially with an extension seemingly unlikely.
He has also enjoyed success under Flick, and would bring experience to an otherwise young Barca midfield as the Spanish side look to re-establish themselves among Europe's elite.
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Getty ImagesHeading for the exits
Barca need to clear house this summer, and likely won't be able to spend if they don't sell some of their assets.
We already know that Felix and Joao Cancelo will return to their parent clubs following mediocre loan spells, while Marcos Alonso will depart on a free transfer, with Atletico Madrid seemingly at the front of the queue for the ex-Chelsea defender.
In terms of raising funds, Raphinha seems to be a favourite to be sold. The Blaugrana are set at right-wing following the emergence of Lamine Yamal, and could make a tidy profit off the Brazilian. Frenkie de Jong has also cropped up in transfer talks, with Arsenal supposedly sniffing around again, while Ronald Araujo is also said to be subject to interest, but he has made it clear that he has no intention of seeking an exit.
Celtic are stepping up their January transfer activity and have been met with a proposal that could result in a young star departing the club this month, according to a report.
Celtic's January business…
Patience is the key word for Celtic in this window and at the time of writing, they are yet to formally announce any arrivals; however, Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn is on the verge of joining the club after completing a medical, according to local Austrian media.
The 24-year-old will arrive for a fee of €3.5 million plus bonuses and Hoops supporters will be excited to see him in action once his deal is concluded, given that he featured for the likes of Bayern Munich, Ajax and RB Leipzig at youth level before permanently moving to Rapid in 2022.
Beyond that, Football Scotland journalist Mark Hendry claimed last week that a left-back and an addition in the forward areas are set to be next on the cards at Parkhead, as he stated on social media platform X:
Estoril defender Tiago Araujo could be the man to offer Greg Taylor some genuine competition for his place on the left-hand side of Brendan Rodgers' backline and reports have suggested that the Hoops are preparing an offer to sign the 22-year-old.
Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk and Brondby's Mathias Kvistgaarden have been linked incessantly to the Scottish Premiership champions over the last few weeks, though there is no concrete indication whether they will end up at Celtic by the end of the month.
Now, new information has emerged claiming that the Hoops could now have a chance to offload one player with interest in his services from elsewhere.
Celtic receive Rocco Vata approach…
According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Celtic have received an approach from Serie B side Como for Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Rocco Vata, who is also being pursued by Bologna. He explained the permutations of his situation below, stating:
Vata is out of contract this summer and would be available to leave for a small compensation fee, which could reach around €400,000, as cited by The National.
Labelled "exciting" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 18-year-old has made just four senior appearances in his time at Parkhead despite starring in their B Team set-up.
Rocco Vata statistics in 2023/24 for Celtic B – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
21
Goals
13
Assists
0
Despite clearly being a talented player, Vata's future at Celtic now looks to be increasingly in doubt and he could well seek a new challenge in Italy if negotiations prove to be fruitful, making this one to watch.
As much as Eddie Howe deserves a lot of credit for Newcastle United's Champions League qualification last season, the Magpies have struggled to replicate that form in the current campaign. Instead, with their squad depth exposed for all to see, Newcastle have struggled to get results and look more and more likely to miss out on a top four place in the Premier League.
Still only at the halfway mark, however, the January transfer window could yet revive Newcastle's season and solve one of Howe's biggest problems in the process. If those at St James' Park back the former Bournemouth boss, he will face the pressured task of turning things around before the end of the campaign.
Newcastle transfer news
Newcastle's disappointing summer recruitment quickly came back to haunt them this season, with Sandro Tonali swiftly handed a lengthy ban for betting breaches, Harvey Barnes injured, Lewis Hall out-of-favour and Tino Livramento seemingly the only signing who stands a chance of leaving his mark before May.
The fact that Newcastle didn't sign another central defender has particularly been a problem for Howe, who has been forced to turn to Dan Burn to fill in amid injuries to Sven Botman and Fabian Schar. With the winter window now open though, PIF could solve that problem.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
According to Football Transfers, PIF and Newcastle are eyeing a move to sign centre-back Ben Godfrey from Everton, who have reportedly set an asking price of just £9m. The Magpies are fans of Godfrey's versatility, which hands him the ability to play across the entirety of a backline to potentially solve more than one problem at St James' Park.
If Newcastle are to pursue a deal, however, then they may have to fend off interest from AS Roma in a battle that could see them boosted by the fact that Jacob Murphy's agent is the same as Godfrey's.
"Monster" Godfrey has stalled at Everton
Whilst Everton have rediscovered their best form at times this season, Godfrey has gradually fallen more and more down the pecking order. As things stand, Godfrey's game time has been limited to just one appearance, which came in a start in a recent victory against relegation rivals Burnley.
Following the rise of Jarrad Branthwaite too, things are unlikely to get better for the former Norwich City man, meaning that he may have no choice but to seek game time elsewhere. And that's where Newcastle could come in.
Everton's Ben Godfrey
Howe has currently got just three recognised centre-backs to call on in the form of Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman. An injury to more than one of those three has already left Newcastle struggling for options this season to make another central defender a must this month.
Godfrey's ability to fill in at full-back could also hand the Magpies a major boost and give Kieran Trippier the chance to gain a much-needed rest. Described as a "monster" by The Mirror's James Whaling, Godfrey could quickly revive both his and Newcastle's season with a swift departure from Everton in the coming weeks. As Newcastle look to qualify for Europe too, he could more than play a part.
Quais as principais características de bom zagueiro? Velocidade? Força física? impulsão? Posicionamento? Tudo isso, claro, faz parte da formação de um grande defensor. No entanto, tem sido cada vez mais comum a cobrança para que jogadores de defesa aprimorem suas virtudes com a bola nos pés. Principalmente em equipes que gostam de ter a posse de bola e jogar no campo adversário, como é o caso do Flamengo. E essa é exatamente uma das características de Bruno Viana, primeiro reforço do time para 2021.
Revelado pelo Cruzeiro, onde se profissionalizou em 2016, Bruno chega à Gávea após três temporadas e meia no Braga, de Portugal – passou antes também pelo Olympiacos, da Grécia. Nesse período, disputou 156 partidas e marcou 8 gols vestindo a camisa da equipe portuguesa.
Por conta de uma briga com o técnico Carlos Carvalhal, o atleta passou seus últimos dias em Portugal no time B do Braga. No entanto, antes do problema com o treinador, Viana foi titular em 13 das 15 rodadas do Campeonato Português, sendo inclusive o zagueiro de melhor aproveitamento nas bolas longas, segundo dados do Sofascore. Foram 75 lançamentos corretos, com uma taxa de acerto de 61,98%.
Hoje, no Rubro-Negro, Natan é o jogador da posição com a melhor marca, 65,8%, seguido por Rodrigo Caio, com 62,8%. Ambos aparecem no top 5 do fundamento no Brasileirão entre os zagueiros. Thiago Heleno, do Athletico Paranaense, é quem lidera o ranking, com 68,9%.
No passe mais curto, outro número de destaque. Bruno Viana acertou 89,1% dos 845 toques que tentou. ApenasMbemba, do Porto, tem tido um aproveitamento superior, concluindo 89,8% de suas tentativas. Veja mais números de Bruno Viana::
BRUNO VIANA NO PORTUGUÊS 20/21 – Dados Sofascore
13 jogos 2 gols 75 bolas longas (61,9% de acerto) 845 passes (89,1% de acerto) 37 cortes 15 desarmes 14 interceptações
RelacionadasFlamengoPablo Maldini encaminha saída do Flamengo para atuar na EuropaFlamengo12/02/2021InternacionalPara segurar a liderança do Brasileirão, Inter precisará de feito inéditoInternacional12/02/2021FlamengoFlamengo anuncia contratação do zagueiro Bruno Viana, primeiro reforço para 2021Flamengo12/02/2021
One year ago, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar served as a welcome break for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as he assessed the quandary that his campaign had morphed into.
What had went wrong? Why had Liverpool fallen off a proverbial cliff? To say that the Anfield side were a shadow of their former selves would insinuate a squad cut of the same shape, but Liverpool had been mangled and contorted and were unrecognisable from the team that mere months before had come within a whisker of an unprecedented Quadruple.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds failed to quite return to form despite a late-season purple patch that painted brilliant colour back into Klopp's system, and the summer transfer work in refitting the engine room with shiny new signings has worked wonders: the Reds top the Premier League table after 16 matches.
But last year's issues closed the door on Champions League qualification, and while the return to the Europa League after seven years was poignant, Liverpool are righting their wrongs and have topped Group E with a match to spare.
Now, Klopp has the luxury to issue heavy rotation ahead of his team's final group fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, with a crucial few weeks of festive football ahead on the domestic scene.
Liverpool team news vs USG
Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all remained on Merseyside as Klopp decided to rest multiple players for the trip to USG, with Alexis Mac Allister also sidelined as he recovers from a knee stamp.
The German manager has already confirmed that he will make multiple changes to the starting line-up in the dead-rubber contest, with forthcoming Premier League matches against Manchester United and Arsenal sandwiching a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against West Ham United in midweek.
Spanish midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain long-term absentees, while Joel Matip is out for the season after rupturing his ACL and Andy Robertson continues his rehabilitation following shoulder surgery in October; Diogo Jota is nearing a return but will not be risked at the Stade Joseph Marian.
Why Elliott and Quansah must start vs USG
Harvey Elliott scored the winner as toiling Liverpool found a way to win against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, firing home in the 90th minute to send the travelling support into a red sea of rapture.
The creative midfielder, aged 20, is a special talent and has been a valuable member of Klopp's side over the past few years, but recently remarked that he wishes to shrug off the moniker of 'Super Sub', and instead start to wedge his way into the starting line-up with regularity.
Elliott has made 20 appearances this season and played every minute of Liverpool's Europa League campaign, but has only started once in the Premier League and was hooked at half-time on that outing (against Brighton & Hove Albion).
Despite this, he has scored once and supplied two assists in the English top-flight and received praise for "visionary" distribution by TNT Sports' commentator Ian Darke, ranking among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
He's vital and offers something that perhaps none of his Liverpool confreres can quite replicate: a breezy and progressive presence blended with constant creativity.
Player
Club
Luis Alberto
Lazio
Lovro Majer
Wolfsburg
Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
Nicolo Barella
Inter Milan
*Sourced via FBref
He has to start, much like his defensive peer Jarell Quansah, also aged 20, who has excelled in breaking into the senior set-up this term after spending the latter half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with League One side Bristol Rovers.
Described as "absolutely phenomenal" by Alexander-Arnold, Quansah has chalked up 11 displays for Liverpool and has impressed with his composed and commanding performances in the central defence.
While Matip's season is now over, Ibrahima Konate remains the No. 1 option to partner captain Van Dijk in front of Alisson's goal, but the 6 foot 5 titan has demonstrated his worth over his displays thus far, having started twice in the Premier League and secured three points on both occasions – away to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Palace.
Jarell Quansah.
He also ranks among the top 16% of positional peers for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for pass completion, the top 135 for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting the modern set of skills that make him a perfect fit to succeed a player such as Matip in Klopp's team.
Both players earn regular spots in the matchday squad and will be eager to take advantage of the upcoming tie to further stake their claim to increased responsibility.
Not the only players who should receive a starting berth in Belgium, left-back Luke Chambers has the perfect opportunity to really make himself known to Klopp after making his debut several months ago.
Why Luke Chambers must start
Chambers is only 19 years old but has taken advantage of Robertson's ongoing injury to earn his first start for Liverpool earlier in the campaign, playing 67 minutes as his side dismantled Toulouse 5-1 in the Europa League.
With Kostas Tsimikas the main man at left-back in Robertson's absence, it might be wise to give the Greek ace a break and entrust Chambers with a second role from the outset, having enjoyed a breakthrough loan stint with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Liverpool defender Luke Chambers.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes noted his "outstanding" displays in Scotland last season and praised his maturity, having averaged one key pass per game while winning 62% of his ground duels – showcasing his versatility.
Also described as a "diamond" by McInnes, Chambers can also play as a centre-half and could use his defensive experience to produce a sturdy display to really underline his potential to Klopp, who will still feel that he needs convincing before integrating the player into regular senior action.
But with such an important week up ahead, Liverpool must not take any more risks than necessary in the Europa League, and there is absolutely no reason why Chambers should not be offered the opportunity to follow in Elliott and Quansah's footsteps and use the dead rubber situation to rise to the fore.