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Qalandars started briskly but could not keep up with the asking rate in a steep chase

Ashish Pant19-Feb-2023Imad Wasim’s all-round show, coupled with Akif Javed’s four-wicket burst, helped Karachi Kings get on the board as they beat Lahore Qalandars by 67 runs in Karachi.After three successive defeats, Kings posted 185 for 5, thanks to James Vince and Matthew Wade setting the platform by adding 70 in 7.1 overs, and Imad chipping in with a handy 35 not out. In the second half, Javed’s 4 for 28 helped them bowl Qalandars out for 118.After Kings were put in, Vince hit a four in the first over, off Shaheen Shah Afridi, but it was Wade who helped them race away in the powerplay. The left-hander started his boundary counter with a four off Zaman Khan past backward point before creaming Shaheen through extra cover. The duo smoked a six each off David Wiese in the fifth over. Wade ended the powerplay with two more fours as Kings reached 61 for 0 after six.The stand was broken when Wade was run out for a 24-ball 36. A few overs later, Liam Dawson castled Haider Ali for 19, Haris Rauf sent back Shoaib Malik, and Zaman bowled Vince with a toe-crushing yorker. That reduced Kings to 124 for 4 in the 13th over but Imad smoked an unbeaten 19-ball 35 with two fours and two sixes as Kings scored 55 in the last five overs.In reply, Mirza Baig, playing his second T20, gave Qalandars a quick start. He smashed Imad for a four in the first over and then whacked Javed for two sixes in the next as Qalandars reached 39 for 0 after four overs.But on a sluggish Karachi surface, the Kings bowlers adjusted well. Aamer Yamin struck to remove Fakhar Zaman with an in-dipper and Mohammad Amir had Shai Hope caught at backward point, thanks to a stunning catch by Irfan Khan.Qalandars could not recover from there. Baig and Ghulam added 41 runs for the third wicket but only at a run-a-ball. With the required rate soaring to 12.50 after 12 overs, Qalandars knew they had to go big, but the loose deliveries never arrived.Javed, who had conceded 26 in his first two overs struck twice in his third, sending back both Baig and Ghulam. Hussain Talat didn’t last long, and Yamin took care of Wiese. Amir hobbled off the field clutching his thigh, but Ben Cutting took two wickets off consecutive balls to signal the end. Javed then sealed it with two more wickets in the 18th over to cap off a perfect evening for the hosts.

MatériaMais Notícias

O torcedor do Palmeiras teve uma preocupação além do empate em 0 a 0 com o Fortaleza, no último domingo, pelo Brasileirão. Isso porque Rony, um dos principais jogadores do time na temporada, saiu de campo sentindo a coxa esquerda e pode ser desfalques nas próximas partidas, inclusive nesta quinta, diante do São Paulo.

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Nesta segunda, porém, o elenco ganhou folga da comissão técnica e se reapresentará somente na manhã desta terça. Portanto, ainda não há informações sobre a situação física do camisa 10 palmeirense.

Rony deverá passar por uma reavaliação e por exames para que se possa saber da gravidade do problema que ele sentiu no segundo tempo do duelo com o Fortaleza, quando estava perto de ser substituído e caiu no gramado com dores na coxa esquerda. Ele deixou o campo para dar lugar ao jovem Gabriel Silva.

Caso tenha uma lesão constatada, Rony será desfalque para o clássico desta quinta-feira, contra o São Paulo, pela partida de volta das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. A situação preocupa a comissão técnica, que já havia perdido Rafael Navarro, também por problemas musculares. Seriam duas baixas certas para o ataque.

Sem Gabriel Veron, que se recupera de corte no pé, Abel Ferreira teria como opções Breno Lopes e Wesley. Tudo isso, porém, o português começará a definir nesta terça, a partir das 11h, quando começa o treino do Alviverde, que terá mais uma atividade na quarta e outra provavelmente na manhã de quinta-feira, como é praxe do técnico.

Tottenham Hotspur’s season has been a bit of a disaster this year, but there are reasons to be hopeful for the future.

Daniel Levy and Co may not have bought enough ready-made players for Ange Postecoglou over the summer, but they did sign a number of up-and-coming prospects.

The likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and their very own Mikey Moore look like they could develop into sensational players together at Spurs.

Fortunately, recent reports have now linked a slightly older but still developing talent for a move to the club this month, a tremendously exciting attacker who shares a lot of similarities with Dele Alli.

Tottenham target incredible phenom

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of multiple clubs ‘monitoring Rayan Cherki’s situation at Lyon.’

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta are all interested in the sensational French talent. Spurs are perhaps one of the most interested parties with GIVEMESPORT further reporting that they are ‘tempted’ to make an offer to get him out of France.

However, while the competition could be a challenge for Spurs to overcome, the price might not be as, according to the story, the Ligue 1 side are only after about €22m for the 21-year-old, which is about £18m and has been described as an “absolute bargain” by “many executives,” per Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.

It looks like it could be an incredibly complicated deal to get over the line given the amount of competition, but with how unbelievably talented Cherki is, it’s a deal Spurs must fight for, especially as there are some similarities between him and Dele.

How Cherki compares to Dele and why Spurs should sign him

Okay, so before we go into some of the reasons why Spurs should be doing all they can to sign Cherki this month, let’s examine some of the ways in which he’s similar to the player Dele was in his pomp.

The first and most significant is that, like the former England star was when he was a youngster, the Lyon ace has been winning rave reviews for his sublime skills for years now.

For example, just a couple of years ago, The Athletic’s Alex Barker described the Frenchman as “a future Ballon d’Or winner,” while talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him a “world-class talent.”

On top of that, Ted Knutson, the founder of Statsbomb, described the Lyon phenom as “a masterful dribbler and string-puller” just a couple of weeks ago, and while Dele wasn’t necessarily the exact same type of player, he too won a mountain of plaudits when he was coming through.

For example, even as his powers started to fade in 2019, then-Spurs boss José Mourinho answered that “he can do anything he wants” to a reporter’s question on his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or in the future.

Moreover, when he was scoring for fun and running games as a youngster, the Milton Keynes-born superstar was included among the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Neymar Jr and others in a BBC article about players who could become contenders for the prestigious award once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stopped winning it.

With all that said, another significant indicator the Lilywhites should be doing all they can to sign the Pusignan-born gem this month is his outrageous underlying numbers.

Expected Assisted Goals

0.44

Top 1%

Shot-Creating Actions

7.81

Top 1%

Progressive Passes

9.93

Top 1%

Successful Take-Ons

4.34

Top 1%

Assists

0.48

Top 2%

Passes Attempted

60.03

Top 4%

Touches in the Opp’s Box

7.08

Top 7%

Progressive Carries

5.11

Top 15%

Shots Total

3.08

Top 19%

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League, the 21-year-old sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for expected assisted goals, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons, the top 2% for actual assists, the top 4% for attempted passes, the top 7% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, if Spurs are looking to build a team of young talents who can grow together and challenge for major honours a few years from now, then we aren’t sure there are many better options on the market than Cherki.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do all they can to bring him to N17 as soon as possible, as they would have another Dele-level talent on their hands for a relatively small fee.

Perfect Son replacement: Spurs weigh up late move for "unstoppable" PL star

Spurs could replace Heung-min Son with a late move in the transfer window.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 29, 2025

Liverpool decimated Tottenham Hotspur to overturn their one-goal deficit and advance to the final of the Carabao Cup. Newcastle United await, and it promises fireworks.

Trailing after a north London defeat last month, Arne Slot knew that his side had to impress themselves on the shaky Spurs backline from the offing, and were duly rewarded for their pressure when Cody Gakpo broke the stubborn resistance after the half-hour mark.

Mohamed Salah added to his greedy haul with another goal and another assist, but Liverpool’s high-flying Dutchman is really shaping into some player.

Cody Gakpo's performance vs Spurs

Gakpo started the Slot era on the bench, entering the fray in the Premier League off the bench for the first six outings of the campaign.

He’s now bagged in seven successive Anfield appearances across all competitions and has been Liverpool’s main man in the Carabao Cup for the second successive season. The 25-year-old’s cool strike to open the scoring took his tally to 16 this season.

Slot has got the best out of Gakpo, recognising his countryman’s flair and keen-edged ability when playing off the left flank, thus keeping him there and reaping the rewards.

Gakpo has faced his detractors since leaving PSV Eindhoven and moving to Merseyside in January 2023, with Jamie Carragher even taking to X (formerly Twitter) last season to comment that he “plays like the game is in slow motion.”

Gakpo is not the speediest runner and at times looked disjointed under Jurgen Klopp as his dynamism saw him shoehorned in various positions across the field, but it’s clear to see that now, with a recognised and thriving role, he’s become one of the finest forwards across the continent.

However, Gakpo’s not the only recent recruit to have proved the Sky Sports pundit wrong, with Dominik Szoboszlai impeccable as the midfield engine.

Dominik Szoboszlai has proved Carragher wrong

Szoboszlai is just completely indefatigable. He overwhelmed a struggling Tottenham side with his energy and exuberance behind Darwin Nunez, chipping in defensively and putting in the perfect all-encompassing effort.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

1

Touches

67

Shots (on target)

5 (2)

Accurate passes

36/40 (90%)

Key passes

5

Dribbles (completed)

3 (2)

Tackles + interceptions

4

Total duels (won)

15 (7)

It was only a matter of days ago that Carragher remarked that he’s “not Szoboszlai’s biggest fan,” acknowledging his athleticism but criticising his lack of potency in front of goal.

There’s some degree of truth to this argument. Since Szoboszlai joined from RB Leipzig in July 2023 for a £60m fee, he’s posted 12 goals and nine assists across 76 matches, a contribution rate of 0.28 per game.

But he’s an unsung hero of sorts, supercharging this unstoppable Liverpool force and giving rise to Salah and Gakpo’s terrific goalscoring ability.

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle awarded the Hungary skipper – who notably won seven duels on the night – with an 8/10 match rating and hailed him for his energy, leading the press.

Performance in Numbers

An integral part of the team, Szoboszlai is silencing his critics, Carragher among them.

Worth more than Salah: Liverpool must rue offloading their own Kvara for £0

Had things been different, Liverpool might not have needed to register an interest in PSG’s prized recruit.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 5, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Alex não deve permanecer no comando do time sub-20 do São Paulo na próxima temporada. O treinador afirmou que pretende assumir um elenco profissional em 2023. Com isso, o Tricolor já olha para o futuro da categoria.

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Em entrevista ao canal do Eduardo e Tironi, o diretor de futebol do São Paulo, Carlos Belmonte, falou sobre a possível saída de Alex e elogiou o trabalho do treinador nas categorias de base.

-O contrato com o Alex é de dois anos e estamos absolutamente satisfeitos, é espetacular. Ele será um grande treinador de equipes profissionais no futuro, além de ser uma pessoa extraordinária. E, se ao final deste dois anos estivéssemos sem treinador, a ideia era preparar alguém para o cargo. Caso, é o que a gente espera porque o trabalho vem sendo muito bem feito, é continuar com o Rogério no ano que vem, é a nossa expectativa. Por isso, o Alex nos avisou que vai procurar uma carreira solo.O Alex aprendeu com o São Paulo e também nos ajudou muito com a experiência que tem, ele fica conosco até o final da temporada, no começo da Copa do Mundo, mas nossa satisfação com ele na base é de 100% – disse o diretor.

Além disso, Belmonte citou o ídolo Kaká como um possível nome para o próximo ano no comando do sub-20. A ideia da diretoria é, caso a saída de Alex seja confirmada, procurar um nome identificado com o São Paulo para a função.

-Não temos nenhum nome definido, mas nós temos uma relação espetacular, por exemplo, com o Kaká, que tem feito cursos de treinador. Isso não quer dizer que ele será o nosso treinador na saída do Alex, mas queremos um nome assim, alguém que tenha ligação com esporte, que tenha o perfil que o Alex tem, que o Kaká tem, que jogadores desse nível tem. Então, o Kaká, se eventualmente se decidir à frente que quer iniciar a carreira de treinador, ele será um nome que, sem dúvida nenhuma, será cogitado – finalizou.

Vale lembrar que Kaká chegou a completar o curso de treinador na CBF e temdiploma da Licença A, que dá direito a trabalhar no Brasil.

Nottingham Forest are now in talks over selling a “fantastic” £20m player to a Premier League rival this month, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Forest set for busy January transfer window

The Tricky Trees are searching for a new striker this month, although any new arrival is likely to have to play second fiddle to Chris Wood, given the New Zealand international’s incredible form in front of goal this season. Wood now has 13 league goals to his name this season, playing a pivotal role in his side’s unexpected push for the Champions League places.

Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez is one of the players of interest to Forest, with rumours over a potential £35m move gaining traction over the past few weeks.

Spatak Moscow’s Manfred Ugalde is another striker that Nuno Santo’s side are well aware of, having been impressed by his record in front of goal in the Russian Premier League this season.

Nottingham Forest receive Marinakis approval to sign "intelligent" £84m ace

He’s a man in demand…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 15, 2025

With rumours swirling about a new striker making their way to The City Ground, there has been some talk about Taiwo Awoniyi leaving this month, but Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas and Rob Dorsett have since stated a deal will not happen if a replacement is not found.

However, a more recent update from Florian Plettenberg appears to indicate that Awoniyi could well be on his way out soon, as West Ham United are now making a serious attempt to sign the striker.

Talks are now underway to discuss the intricacies of a deal, with Forest trying to hold out for a fee of £20m, although that figure would need to come down for the Hammers to agree terms.

Given that the Tricky Trees are unwilling to sanction a move unless a replacement is found, their willingness to advance a deal to sell the Nigerian could indicate they are confident they have identified a suitable target.

Tough decision for Forest

It would be a shame to let the 27-year-old leave, as he has played a key part in reestablishing Nottingham Forest as a Premier League club since arriving ahead of the 2022-23 season.

The former Union Berlin man bagged 10 goals in his debut Premier League campaign, and although his second season was hampered by injury issues, he still managed to pick up nine goal contributions in 20 outings.

Given the level of Wood’s performances this season, it was always going to be a very tough ask for the Nigeria international to force his way into contention, so he may feel a move is needed for the good of his career.

If Forest have identified a suitable replacement, and they are able to sell the forward for around £20m, it could be a good deal for all parties, including West Ham, who find themselves limited on forward options with Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio currently sidelined.

Awoniyi has been “fantastic” at times for Forest, so it will be sad if he moves on this winter, but it could well be the correct decision.

Fair to say, it’s been an eventful week at Everton.

On Thursday, mere hours before their FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough United, it was announced that Sean Dyche had been sacked, leaving Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman in caretaker charge, overseeing an unspectacular 2-0 victory.

Remarkably, this is the first time any Premier League club have sacked their manager on the day of a game, prior to kick off, for 30 years.

Then, on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that David Moyes had returned, 13 years after leaving Merseyside for Manchester United, having overseen a whopping 518 matches during his first spell in charge.

With the Toffees currently 16th in the Premier League table, a mere one point clear of the relegation zone, reinforcements are needed, but could the first arrival of the second Moyes-era be imminent?

Everton want to bolster their forward line

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Everton are ‘in talks’ with Olympique Lyonnais over the signing of Ernest Nuamah.

Meanwhile, reports from France on social media claim the deal is only ‘one step away’ with an ‘agreement almost reached between the different parties.’

Numah joined Lyon from Danish Superligaen side Nordsjælland for a reported €30m in 2023, suggesting the Blues are unlikely to get him on the cheap.

However, as noted by Colin Millar, Matt Slater and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, les Gones have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 “following an audit of their finances”, informed they must “satisfactorily improve their financial situation before the end of this season”.

As a result, Nuamah appears set to be sacrificed, although no Everton supporter should consider this a done deal until he has officially put pen to paper.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That’s because, in the summer, Nuamah was reportedly on the verge of joining Fulham, only to “vanish” part-way through his medical, after breaking down in tears, declaring his love for OL and refusing to move to West London, with American owner John Texter subsequently forced to send an apology letter to the Cottagers.

Fair to say, the Toffees will be hoping to avoid similar complications.

How Ernest Nuamah compares to Dwight McNeil

Ghanian commentator George Addo Jnr on Twitter describes his compatriot as “some talent”, with journalist Owuraku Ampofo adding that he is “a fantastic dribbler”.

Wesley Mak of Opta’s The Analyst labels him as “a multi-functional forward” capable of playing anywhere across the front three, comparing him to West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, another Ghanian attacker who began his career at the world-renowned Right to Dream Academy.

Well, considering Everton are the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers this season, ranked rock-bottom for xG, the Blues need all the attacking reinforcement they can get, but how does Nuamah compare to their joint-top scorer Dwight McNeil?

Appearances

56

56

Minutes

3,205

4,732

Goal

8

7

Expected goals

6

4.3

Assists

4

10

Expected assists

5.1

12.2

Shots on target %

39.7%

27.4%

Shot-creating actions

109

190

Crosses

122

365

Attempted take-ons

160

103

Progressive carries

146

111

The table outlines that these two wingers are stylistically very different.

McNeil is much more a creator, hence why he’s accumulated significantly more assists and expected assists while, last season, only eight players across Europe’s “top five” leagues put in more crosses than his 229; Dyche-ball at its finest.

Meanwhile, Nuamah is much more of a dribbler, registering more take-ons and progressive carries, with the Ghanian significantly more of a goal threat, bagging 15 goals during his final campaign at Nordsjælland, on target against such illustrious opponents as Paris Saint-Germain and Eintracht Frankfurt since making to move to Lyon.

Well, considering Everton have scored nil during eight of their last ten Premier League outings, failing to find the net in a whopping 39% of the league games Dyche took charge of, Nuamah will certainly be a welcome addition for all Evertonians.

Could be an awful Lookman repeat: £100k-p/w Everton star in talks to leave

Everton could be set to sell one of their highest earners this month

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 13, 2025

Southampton are willing to spend big to sign a “fantastic” player in the January transfer window, according to a report.

Change needed fast at St. Mary's

The Saints were already finding themselves cut somewhat adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, and Ipswich Town’s surprise 2-0 victory against Chelsea has done them no favours. At the half-way stage of the season, Ivan Juric’s side find themselves 10 points from safety, which is not insurmountable, but change is needed quickly if they are going to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

One of Southampton’s main problems this season has been scoring goals, finding the back of the net just 12 times in the Premier League, the fewest of any side.

As such, Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson has been identified as a target, with the Seagulls potentially willing to let the Irishman leave on loan this winter.

The Saints are in dire need of a goalscorer if they are to avoid the drop, but it appears as though they are also keen to strengthen in other areas.

Southampton’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (h)

January 4th

Manchester United (a)

January 16th

Nottingham Forest (a)

January 19th

Newcastle United (h)

January 25th

Ipswich Town (a)

February 1st

According to reports from Spain, Southampton are one of the teams most interested in signing Sergi Altimira this January, but the Real Betis midfielder will not come cheap.

Betis are aware of the interest in the 23-year-old, and they have made it clear that any potential suitor will have to pay his release clause, which is set at €40m (£33m).

Interestingly, the Saints would be willing to pay that amount to get a deal over the line, and talks could intensify when the transfer window opens on Wednesday.

Altimira impressing for Real Betis

Lauded as “fantastic” by members of the Spanish media earlier this season, Altimira has emerged as a key player for Betis this season, making a total of 25 appearances in all competitions.

The Spaniard put in a particularly impressive performance against HJK Helsinki in the Conference League earlier this month, winning seven of the eight ground duels he contested and making four tackles.

Having made an average of 1.64 blocks per 90 over the past year, the Betis ace ranks in the 85th percentile compared to his positional peers, showcasing his defensive ability.

Related Southampton now advancing to sign "pacey" new £8m defender for Ivan Juric

The Saints could land their first signing under their new manager.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Dec 28, 2024

That said, there are doubts over whether the midfielder is the type of signing Southampton need this winter, given his price tag and their current struggles in front of goal.

A £33m outlay would be Southampton’s most expensive signing of all time, and Juric may be better off investing that money into other areas of the squad, such as at striker.

Ferguson should be the Saints’ priority signing this winter, even if only on loan, given that he has already proven he is capable of scoring goals in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest are among the teams in a race to sign an 18-year-old gem who has left scouts impressed, according to a recent report. The Reds continued their fantastic 2024/25 Premier League season on Saturday, as they beat Midlands rivals Aston Villa to move into the top four on 28 points.

Nottingham Forest now plotting to sign £10m defender on loan in January

He’s open to a new move.

ByCharlie Smith Dec 15, 2024 Nottingham Forest transfer news

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been the surprise package of the season, and with the chance of securing European football for next season in their sights, January could be the ideal time to strengthen in one or two key positions.

It emerged last week that Forest have made an enquiry to sign striker Igor Jesus from Botafogo in January. The Premier League side are keen to understand what it would take to sign Jesus in the New Year. It is claimed that the Brazilian side will not accept offers below €20 million, and it is likely that a bid of around €40 million could get them Jesus in January, which is roughly £33 million.

As well as looking at Jesus, Forest are also in the race to sign Ben Godfrey from Atalanta. The Reds are interested in signing the versatile defender on a loan basis in the New Year but face competition from other Premier League teams. Godfrey joined the Italian side in the summer but has played just four games in that time and already appears on his way out the exit door. Everton sold the English international for £10 million, so it could potentially cost around that figure should Forest be interested in a permanent deal instead when January arrives.

Forest in transfer race to sign teenage forward

According to a report from Spain, Nottingham Forest are in a race to sign striker Felipe Rodríguez-Gentile from Preston North End. The 18-year-old attacker came through the academy at Deepdale after joining in 2021 and has been impressing many with his performances.

Rodriguez-Gentile, who is from Argentina and is part of their under-17s group, is yet to make his senior debut for the Championship team, but he has a growing list of clubs eyeing a possible move in the future.

It is reported that Forest are interested in signing Rodriguez-Gentile, given the excitement around his ability. The Reds have been keeping a close eye on the attacker, but do face stiff competition, as Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town are also doing the same thing.

Apps

6

Goals

9

Assists

1

All three clubs are aware of the potential that the 18-year-old has, and scouts have been keeping a close eye on him from the City Ground, as he is seen as someone who could strengthen their squad in the years to come. Not only his ability, but also his maturity for his age and versatility have left coaches and scouts impressed.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk provided an update on his future as he urged his team-mates to give their all to win the Premier League.

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Van Dijk urged colleagues to give their best to win titleProvided update on his futureReds lost twice last weekFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds suffered back-to-back defeats last week against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final as they saw their dream of winning a treble shattered over a period of just five days. The Merseyside club, however, continue to remain clear favourites to win the Premier League title, as they enjoy a 12-point lead at the top of the table. Following the double disappointment, club captain Van Dijk has implored his team-mates to ensure the season ends with a trophy lift.

AdvertisementWHAT VIRGIL VAN DIJK SAID

Speaking to reporters after the Wembley defeat, Van Dijk said: "We have to turn this around. It’s how football works: in five days you lose twice and the world is sinking. Two weeks before everything was sunshine and rainbows everywhere. The Champions League we couldn’t get it done, this we lost and the FA Cup we got knocked out. We have nine games to go and I don’t think there’s any motivation needed to try to get the job done.

"You play for the biggest prize that you work so hard for from the start of the season. No one expected us to be challenging for the Premier League. It’s the most difficult prize to get. There’s a lot at stake. There are so many positive and good things to look forward to. We have to work our ass off for it. Now everyone goes to their respective countries, play there, hopefully, stay fit, and then we get ready for Everton at home (on April 2) which is going to be tough."

(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Dutchman also provided an update on his future at Anfield as he said: "Before the end of the season there's going to be news. As long as I'm fully committed and have my full focus on the task ahead, and I love the club, that's the main thing. That's who I am."

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Arne Slot's side will be back in action after the international break on April 2 as they face arch-rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.