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Captain describes Buttler as among England’s “greatest-ever white-ball players” and as talented as AB de Villiers

Matt Roller16-Feb-2020

Getty Images

Eoin Morgan has insisted that he would have continued to view Jos Buttler as a top-order batsman in T20 cricket even if he had failed for a third time in the series in the final T20I at Durban, describing him as one of England’s “greatest-ever white-ball cricketers” and comparing him to AB de Villiers.Buttler’s batting position has been a constant point for discussion throughout the series. Since Rajasthan Royals promoted him to the top of the order in May 2018, he has opened in 31 out of 32 T20 innings, including each of his last eight games for England.While few doubt the fact he is a destructive player opening the batting – he has averaged 44.58 with a strike rate of 154.66 in the role since being moved up in the IPL – there is a school of thought that suggests England’s wealth of top-order options but dearth of finishers means that he would be best used as a floating middle-order batsman.ALSO READ: Buttler’s opening gambit leaves England’s T20 top order unclearBut Morgan has insisted throughout this series that Buttler is used best as a top-order player, saying that he did not view his 29-ball 57 at Durban as vindication. “If he’d failed today, he still would have been considered in the top three,” he said.”He’s a very fine player. He’s got unbelievable ability to take any bowling line-up apart, and to have somebody in your side like that is great. I don’t think he played well today, but he got a score on the board, and set a really good platform for us to try and chase a score down along with Jonny [Bairstow].”[Jos is] one of our greatest-ever white-ball cricketers,” Morgan told Sky Sports. “I realise why people talk about him so much, but not in a negative way. I think he has as much talent as someone like AB de Villiers.”It took AB de Villiers a long time and a lot of games to actually get going in a South African shirt. We need to back guys that have that sort of talent, and Jos Buttler’s been around a long time now, and we know when he delivers, we win games of cricket.”Morgan admitted that the plan to use Buttler at the top of the order could change between now and the T20 World Cup, which starts in October, but maintained that the top three’s ability to break the back of a run chase and to lay a platform on which the middle order can build was crucial.”I think the priority at the moment is to get the top three [Buttler, Jason Roy and Bairstow] as many balls under their belt as they can,” he said. “They’re the most destructive players that we have. If that changes between now and the World Cup, and we feel the need to fill a gap somewhere, then we might change it, but for the moment it’s an extremely destructive batting line-up to play against.”The advantage that we have now is we have guys going away, playing Pakistan [Super] League, IPL, they’ll come back and play in the Blast, then play in the Hundred. So there’s a lot of T20 fixtures, [of a] high-quality standard, that we do look at – guys in pressure moments, how they deliver.”We encourage our guys, particularly our senior guys, or guys who are trying to get into our squad or final XI, when they go to tournament like that – they need to go and try and be MVP, leading run-scorer, take the most wickets, stand out, be the man. So when they come into international cricket, it’s not a surprise.”Eoin Morgan embraces Ben Stokes after sealing victory in the match and a 2-1 series triumph•Getty Images

Morgan accepted that England had “not played our best cricket” throughout the series, and suggested that they were “rusty” in the first T20I at East London, but said that he was always confident that his side could chase down an imposing target of 223 in the final game.”[It was] an absolutely belting wicket with really short boundaries – a real bowler’s graveyard, so to speak,” he said. “Our bowlers kept it within something chaseable, and at the halfway stage we talked about 2016, when we chased down 230 against South Africa in the second game of the World Cup. At times you can be the victims of your own mentality, so we said we’re not going to leave anything in the tank at the halfway stage, and we didn’t.”Despite a troublesome back leading to suggestions he might step down as England’s white-ball captain after the 50-over World Cup win last summer, Morgan has been in imperious form since that triumph. In his last eight T20I innings, he has hit 328 runs off 179 balls, averaging 54.66 with a strike rate of 183.24, and matched his own record for the fastest half-century by an England batsman at Centurion with a 21-ball effort.”Not bad,” was Morgan’s own assessment of his form. “I’ve not been working on a great deal of stuff,” he said, “mainly just keeping my head clear, and being precise about what I’m trying to do, trying to work with the guy at the other end the whole time [and trying to] marshal the troops a little bit.”As a captain, Morgan has continued to work closely with England’s white-ball analyst, Nathan Leamon – “trying to make little fine adjustments” – and explained that his regular use of Moeen Ali in the Powerplay was an attempt to target Quinton de Kock’s relative weakness against offspin.”There’s a gambling element as well, a bit of risk/reward. We’ve seen that throughout the series, trying to get Quinton and Temba [Bavuma] out. It’s not easy at all, but continuing to bowl Moeen while Temba’s taking it easy at one end and Quinny’s taking him on, the odds are in our favour whether he gets hit or not. My gambling does come into it a little bit.”

It's getting closer, the red ribbon of the finish line is on the horizon, at the mountain's crest. Liverpool and its fanbase will be heading to this weekend's final Premier League match with a sharp sense of tenderness as Jurgen Klopp prepares to say goodbye.

As A-lister Tom Hanks observed from the Directors' Box at Villa Park, Liverpool and Aston Villa put on a fitting contest of box-office standard, with the thrilling 3-3 draw in the Premier League ensuring the hosts' quest for the Champions League enters the final day in a commanding position.

But for the Reds, who had already confirmed a third-place finish, this was the penultimate opportunity to show off the style and skill of Klopp's historic brand of football, and indeed the bouncing, barrelling nature of the German's tactics were on show.

However, so too were the defensive vulnerabilities that derailed Liverpool's bid for silverware across all four fronts – in many ways, the draw at Villa Park was emblematic of the Anfield side's struggles and ultimate failure this season.

Liverpool always seemed to be punching above their weight as they kept pace with Arsenal and Manchester City for so long in this gruelling title challenge, but a team in its early phase, as a unit, understandably faltered late on.

One man has been an elite, inspiring character throughout but now appears to have run out of gas. That man is Alexis Mac Allister, who might need to be dropped on Sunday after his performance against Unai Emery's team.

Alexis Mac Allister's performance vs Villa

Mac Allister is in with a good shout for Liverpool's Player of the Season after transferring from Brighton & Hove Albion for a £35m fee last summer, but he's playing a bit like a man who has been worn to the ground – he needs a break.

Against Villa, much of the 25-year-old's ball-playing ability and command in the centre of the park was on display but he toiled when anchorman Wataru Endo was substituted and he was required to hold it all together from deep.

Alexis Mac Allister: Stats vs Aston Villa

Stat

#

Minutes played

90'

Touches

82

Accurate passes

60/68 (88%)

Blocked shots

2

Key passes

1

Possession lost

12x

Dribble attempts

0/0

Duels won

3/10

Tackles

2

Dribbled past

4

Error leading to goal

1

Stats via Sofascore

His statistics from the evening do not make for good reading, with the £150k-per-week midfielder failing to create, attack on goal, progress the play and come out on top in the duel.

Moreover, to compound his woes, he was dribbled past four times and it was his wandering ball that kickstarted John Duran's equalising strike.

GOAL journalist Mark Doyle certainly wasn't impressed by the Argentina international's display, branding him with a lowly 3/10 match rating to emphasise his failed attempt in Klopp's engine room.

The reporter said: 'Came as a huge surprise to see him stay on the field, given the loose pass which led to Villa's equaliser was a sign of his obvious tiredness. The mistake that led to the hosts' second goal, thus, felt inevitable.'

Perhaps Mac Allister shouldn't have started with other players available. He's put in quite the shift this season.

Alexis Mac Allister's season in numbers

Mac Allister has completed 45 matches for Liverpool in all competitions this season – starting 39 times – scoring six goals, supplying seven assists and being hailed as a "superstar" by pundit Joe Cole, discussing his quality and versatility, often required to operate in an unnatural No. 6 position for the Reds.

In the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, he has contributed toward nine goals from 30 starting appearances, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 1.4 key passes, three tackles, six ball recoveries and 5.8 successful duels per game.

As per FBref, the Argentine ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and tackles, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 1% for interceptions per 90.

He's an all-encompassing midfielder with astounding technical control, but the real locus of his power in the engine room is derived from an inborn match intelligence that has seen him cement a place at the centre, figuratively and literally, of Liverpool's first team.

Let's not forget, were it not for Mac Allister's almighty run of form from February through to early April – when he unleashed a scorcher to secure victory against Sheffield United – Liverpool would have dipped much earlier.

He's carried the heavy weight of a prestigious football club on his shoulders for much of his maiden year on Merseyside. Perhaps he needs a break.

Why Alexis Mac Allister should be dropped

Mac Allister is Liverpool's finest central midfielder: no peer within the Anfield ranks can operate with the poise and power and tactical understanding as he.

But he's been used relentlessly this season and it's understandable that his energy levels would have dropped following such a ferocious effort at winning Liverpool the Premier League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, only to fall at late-stage hurdles in each competition.

He's tired, beset by the enervating weight of a protracted campaign with the added burden of performing for Klopp before he steps down from his legendary position as Liverpool manager.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are Liverpool's final opponents in the Premier League, the final adversaries of the Klopp point in Liverpool's long and proud history.

The fight is finished; Liverpool must play with freedom and pride and creativity, an encore to treat the fans and the Premier League to one final display of Klopp-infused brilliance on Merseyside. But Mac Allister should start from the bench, surely, after proving himself withered from a campaign of high-stake substance, where he has played a leading role.

Most Dribbled Past PL Players 23/24

#

Player

Club

Dribbled past

/90

1.

Mathias Jensen

Brentford

69

2.88

2.

Alexis Mac Allister

Liverpool

66

2.34

3.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool

58

2.5

4.

Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United

57

1.73

5.

Antonee Robinson

Fulham

56

1.58

Stats via Odd Alerts

The fact that he has been dribbled past so often this term is in some part down to his requirement to fill in as Klopp's defensive midfielder. Endo is a fine player but FSG's CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, may well be seeking a more high-calibre star to play this part over the coming years.

Last year, with Brighton, Mac Allister was only dribbled past once per match in the Premier League – given that he's ostensibly improved as a player since his transfer, it's safe to say that his flaw boils down to a positional deficit, more than a matter of commitment or athleticism.

Furthermore, it's exactly as if Liverpool do not have an abundance of talented midfielders who could play in his stead, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic all waiting in the wings on Monday night.

Liverpool are nailed-on for a third-place finish and if they avoid defeat against Wolves at Klopp's final hour they will secure an 80-point Premier League finish. Not bad, that.

Last term, lest we forget, the Merseysiders fell off a proverbial cliff, scraping themselves back from the death to record a fifth-place finish and salvage Europa League football, though just 67 points was a dreary tally for a squad of such glittering success.

Related Liverpool star who lost possession 16x had a howler vs Villa

Klopp’s penultimate game was blemished by his side’s latest defensive blunders.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 14, 2024

Regroup, recalibrate, go again. Klopp won't be there come August, taken his deserved leave to kick up his feet and soak up the balmy sunshine of (permanent?) retirement.

But he leaves a wonderful squad, bursting with quality, and Mac Allister will continue to serve as the centrepiece. But he's done all he can this term. He needs a rest.

Squad to arrive in Manchester on Tuesday ahead of bio-secure Test series

Nagraj Gollapudi08-Jun-2020

West Indies won the Wisden Trophy in 2019•Getty Images

The West Indies squad lead by Jason Holder is all set to embark on a historic Test tour of England, after all the players and support staff cleared the mandatory testing for Covid-19.The squad will leave Antigua on Monday evening local time on a charter flight and touch down in Manchester on Tuesday morning. The players will then enter a bio-secure environment at Emirates Old Trafford and train for the next three weeks, before heading to Southampton on July 3 for the first Test which begins on July 8.Last week West Indies announced a 25-man squad, including 11 reserves, for the three-Test series which will the first time cricket has been played in a bio-secure environment.The tour had been awaiting final approval from the UK government, as well as the national governments in the Caribbean, all of which was granted over the weekend.A further condition had stipulated that any player/support staff member testing positive for Covid-19 would not be permitted to take the flight.”All the players’ and staff test results are confirmed as negative,” Johnny Grave, the Cricket West Indies chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo.Once the CWI had secured confirmation from the selected players about their willingness to tour, the tests were carried out and processed at a laboratory in Miami.The 25 players will be accompanied by an 11-strong contingent of support staff including assistant coach Roddy Estwick, plus Rayon Griffiths and Floyd Reifer, who is filling in as assistant coach (batting). The medical team comprises Dr. Praimanand Singh (team doctor), Donald LaGuerre (mental coach), along with two physios and two massage therapists.Phil Simmons, the head coach who is based in London, will join the squad in Manchester on Tuesday.As per the travel directive of the UK government, West Indies’ squad will need to self-isolate for two weeks, but they will be allowed to train during this period as they are staying at the on-site hotel at Old Trafford.ALSO READ: ‘More determined, more focused’ – Blackwood ready for England tourAccording to Grave, West Indies will start training from Wednesday and will play one three-day and one four-day matches, each of which will be an intra-squad event.The logistics of West Indies’ departure involve two charter flights, fetching players from different countries within the Caribbean and bringing them to Antigua. As per the protocol finalised between the CWI and ECB, the squad along with Simmons will be tested again at Old Trafford.”As soon as they get to Old Trafford they will go to a holding room in the stadium where they will be able to have breakfast and at the same time go in batches to get tested again. And then we should get those test results by Thursday,” Grave said.Grave, who has been at the forefront of the negotiations with the ECB, said the tour would only be considered to be underway once the squad’s test results in England come back as negative.”We will be training from Thursday once we get the UK test results back,” he said. “We’ve got to prepare as we’ve got to defend the Wisden Trophy. We are not going there to fulfil the ECB’s broadcast requirements, we are going there to win.”

أعلنت رابطة الأندية المحترفة المصرية، عن أفضل لاعب (رجل المباراة) في لقاء الأهلي والبنك الأهلي، الذي أقيم بين الفريقين اليوم الأحد.

والتقى الأهلي مع البنك الأهلي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، ذلك على ملعب استاد السلام.

وانتهت المواجهة، بالتعادل السلبي بين الفريقين، ليواصل الأهلي صدارته لجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 8 نقاط.

حيث حقق الأهلي بعد مرور 4 جولات، انتصارين أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا وزد وتعادلين مع الاتحاد السكندري والبنك الأهلي.

طالع | عماد متعب: لاعب الأهلي الأفضل أمام البنك الأهلي.. ويعلق على إصابة أحمد ياسر ريان

وعلى الجانب الآخر، يتواجد فريق البنك الأهلي، في المركز السادس عشر، في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد نقطتين، تعادل في مواجهتين وخسر في مباراتين.

وكشفت رابطة الأندية عبر صفحتها الرسمية على “فيس بوك”، عن حصول مصطفى شوبير حارس مرمى الأهلي، على لقب أفضل لاعب في المباراة.

ونشرت: “”مصطفى شوبير يحافظ على شباك الأهلي، أداء رائع من رجل مباراة الأهلي والبنك الأهلي”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Destaque do Remo, o meia Felipe Gedoz, ex-Athletico, Goiás, Vitória e Club Brugge, da Bélgica, pediu intensidade máxima da equipe na sequência da temporada. Segundo o jogador, a meta de todos é fazer uma série de vitórias para crescer em 2021.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalGoleiro João Carlos quer o Cuiabá com sequência positiva na Série AFutebol Nacional13/07/2021CorinthiansPreparador físico do Corinthians explica planos para semana livreCorinthians13/07/2021CoritibaWillian Farias quer ritmo forte do Coritiba para as próximas rodadas do Brasileirão Série BCoritiba13/07/2021

– O grupo está trabalhando para fazer uma boa sequência nestas próximas semanas para ganhar confiança visando os próximos jogos. Vamos continuar nos dedicando ao máximo para evoluirmos em 2021.

Gedoz ainda falou sobre o desejo de ver a equipe brigando entre os primeiros colocados da segundona.

– A gente tem esperança de fazer um grande segundo semestre para brigarmos na parte de cima da tabela. O grupo sabe que tem potencial para isso.

Outcast England batsman should be allowed to prove he’s changed, says team-mate

Andrew Miller22-May-2020Chris Woakes believes that Alex Hales would be welcomed back into the England set-up this summer, assuming he has learnt his lessons following the drugs ban that caused his axing from last summer’s World Cup squad.Speaking in anticipation of next week’s squad announcements, for which England are likely to choose up to 45 players to accommodate both red- and white-ball needs, Woakes acknowledged that Hales remains a “world-class player” despite not having been selected for England since March 2019, and admitted that a part of him felt sorry for his former team-mate, after missing out on what ought to have been the highlight of his career last summer.”I don’t 100% know what will happen but I’d be happy to see Alex back in England colours,” said Woakes. “I would imagine the majority would have the kind of views I have given. People deserve a second chance, as long as they’ve gone away and worked on a few things. I don’t know why anyone would see that any differently.”The ultimate decision remains in the hands of the England white-ball captain, Eoin Morgan, who took a hard line on Hales in the immediate aftermath of his drugs ban, describing his actions as a “complete disregard” for the team’s values.And though Morgan conceded earlier this month that “the door is still open” for Hales to return to the white-ball set-up, he also put no timeframe on how long he would need to “regain that trust”.Nevertheless, Woakes’ endorsement is significant seeing as he was one of the group of senior players – alongside Morgan, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali – who initiated the removal of Hales from England’s World Cup plans last May.”I don’t know 100 percent if it’s the right decision, it’s not my call,” Woakes said. “[But] I’m a believer that people serve their time so to speak – he’s gone through a tough time, being left out of the World Cup, and going on to see that team lift the trophy must have been difficult for him.”Though Hales has yet to make a public apology for his actions, which overshadowed England’s final preparations for their most important campaign in a generation, he recently told the Daily Mail that he had matured as a character since his fall from grace, and hoped that the England management would find it in themselves to “forgive and forget”.ALSO READ: Is it now or never for Alex Hales’ England recall?Hales has certainly demonstrated a renewed focus with his on-field performances. In 22 innings for Sydney Thunder and Karachi Kings since December, he has amassed 815 runs at 42.89, including eight fifties, and believes he has been in the “form of his life”. With back-to-back T20 World Cups looming – albeit October’s event in Australia may be facing postponement – the statistical case for his England recall is self-evident.Alex Hales gets low to slog-sweep•Getty Images

And Woakes, who has played with and against Hales throughout their rise through age-group cricket, including two Under-19 Tests against New Zealand in 2008, said that he would be willing to take Hales’ commitment to self-improvement at face value.”I think if people have gone away for a time and worked on their weaknesses, they should be allowed a second chance,” Woakes said. “Alex is a world-class player. I have played a lot of cricket with him from a young age actually. In a way I felt sorry for him but I understand the decision from the management, captain and rest of the team.”We have a culture and an environment in the England squad that we all try and pull in the right direction. If Alex is willing to do that then I imagine everyone would be happy to see him back playing for England.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O turbilhão envolvendo Rogério Caboclo ganhou novas proporções. Nesta quinta-feira (8), a Comissão dos Direitos da Mulher aprovou requerimento para que ele seja convidado a comparecer na Câmara dos Deputados com o intuito de depor as acusações de assédio sexual e moral que levaram ao seu afastamento da presidência da CBF a partir de junho.

O pedido, deautoria dos deputados Tereza Nelma (PSDB-AL), Isnaldo Bulhões Jr. (MDB-AL) e Celina Leão (PP-DF), foi incluído em pauta nesta quinta-feira e rapidamente aprovado. Ainda não há data prevista para que Caboclo seja ouvido em Brasília.

Acusado de assédio sexual e moral, Rogério Caboclo foi afastado da CBF por 90 dias, somando as decisões de 6 de junho e de 3 de julho. Caboclo reagiu com inconformismo e que tudo “é mais um episódio do inédito golpe orquestrado e comandado pelo ex-presidente Marco Polo Del Nero, banido do futebol, por meio de aliados na confederação”. Recentemente, o mandatário afastado apresentou os documentos que, segundo ele, comprovam sua inocência.

أعلن نادي بايرن ميونخ الألماني، تشخيص إصابة الدولي الإنجليزي هاري كين، مهاجم وهداف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، بعد خروجه من الكلاسيكر ضد بوروسيا دورتموند.

وغادر هاري كين مواجهة فريقه بايرن ميونخ أمام بوروسيا دورتموند، أمس السبت في الشوط الأول، والتي انتهت بالتعادل 1-1 بين الفريقين.

طالع أيضًا.. تقارير: برشلونة يتخذ أولى خطواته لضم عمر مرموش.. ومنافسة أوروبية كبرى

النادي الألماني أعلن في بيان رسمي إصابة هاري كين بإصابة عضلية، في عضلة الفخذ الخلفية، أمام بوروسيا دورتموند، مما يعني أنه سيغيب عن الملاعب الفترة القادمة.

ماكسيمليان كوخ، الصحفي المقرّب من نادي بايرن ميونخ، أكد أن إصابة هاري كين ستبعده بشكل مؤكد عن مباراتي باير ليفركوزن في كأس ألمانيا، وهايدنهايم في الدوري الألماني، على أمل أن يعود ضد شاختار.

بينما صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية، فقد أكدت بأن المهاجم الإنجليزي، سيغيب أسبوعين على الأقل، ولن يعود قبل نهاية العام، وفي أفضل الأحوال إذا سارت عملية التعافي على ما يرام، سيكون حاضرًا في مواجهة ريد بول لايبزيج الأخيرة في 2024.

يُذكر أن، هاري كين هداف الدوري الألماني، برصيد 14 هدفًا، بفارق 3 أهداف عن النجم المصري عمر مرموش والذي لديه مواجهة مساء اليوم ضد هايدنهايم.

West Bromwich Albion will know that the gameplan for their second leg away at Southampton on Friday night will have to be different, with a focus more on being gung-ho than just defensively solid.

The 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Championship playoffs arguably plays into the hands of the Saints at St. Mary's, who will look to use their home advantage to secure progress through to a nervy final at Wembley.

Carlos Corberan will just pray misfiring attackers such as Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante from the first clash can find their shooting boots again on the South Coast, with Thomas-Asante having a torrid afternoon in particular at the Hawthorns by failing to register a single on-target effort.

The Spaniard will be less worried about his defenders in such a huge contest, knowing that he can rely on the likes of Conor Townsend at the back to come good after delivering consistent top displays during the regular campaign.

Conor Townsend's time at West Brom

The decision to take a punt on Townsend back in 2018 from Scunthorpe United continues to look like a shrewd buy from a Baggies perspective, with the 31-year-old a key first-team figure over many seasons now.

Notching up a staggering 212 appearances for the West Midlands outfit to date, his importance to the West Brom cause hasn't waned at all this campaign.

Picking up four assists down the left-hand side from 42 games, with his last assist coming on the final day to help his side secure a playoff spot, Townsend has also been crucial in ensuring the Baggies' reputation for having a staunch and stern defence has remained in-tact all season long.

Once described as being "industrious" by football journalist Chris Lepkowski on the Liquidator Podcast, Townsend has lived up to that billing with 3.8 duels won on average per game this season helping West Brom pick up a respectable 11 clean sheets whenever he's featured.

Corberan could well even hope Townsend can deliver a moment of magic like the above goal versus Norwich City against Russell Martin's men, but knows he will put in a commendable shift at the back either way.

It's seen Townsend's value go up and up ever since his arrival to the Hawthorns five years ago, with his valuation now higher than that of Diangana's according to Football Transfers.

Townsend's transfer value in 2024

As of this year, the esteemed Baggies servant's value has rose to a very high £3m even as Townsend begins to wind down his career a bit at the age of 31.

Diangana's worth has crashed all the way down to a meagre £1.8m in contrast, a startling drop-off when you consider the Congolese attacker once cost Corberan's side a reported bumper fee of £12m back in 2020.

West Brom's most valuable assets – 23/24

1. Jed Wallace

£3.5m

2. Okay Yokuslu

£3.1m

3. Darnell Furlong

£3.09m

4. Conor Townsend

£3m

5. Brandon Thomas-Asante

£2.9m

Sourced by Football Transfers

Away from Diangana ripping West Brom off, Townsend continues to look like a smart acquisition with his current value putting him in the top five most valuable assets at the club with his full-back partner down the right flank in Darnell Furlong also boasting an increased worth.

Diangana will just aim to get back to his dazzling best for the Baggies in the second leg to come, writing his name into the history books potentially as the star that got West Brom to Wembley.

Townsend will just be content staying put at the Hawthorns whether promotion comes about or not, knowing that he's still performing to the peak of his powers so late into his playing days.

Related Corberan must consider selling West Brom ace who's worth more than Johnston

Carlos Corberan will think long and hard about offloading this West Bromwich Albion man.

Posts ByKelan Sarson May 13, 2024

The day is upon us. It's Arsenal against Manchester City for a potentially thrilling title finale. Will there be a Sergio Aguero moment again? Will the Citizens fall 2-0 down as they did against Aston Villa a few years ago, only to mount a remarkable comeback?

Pep Guardiola will no doubt hope for a rather more straightforward day but Mikel Arteta will pray some late drama can take his team across the line.

Whatever happens, supporters inside the Emirates Stadium can be incredibly proud of the club's achievements this season. They may end the campaign without a trophy but to take this City team to the final day is remarkable.

Once all is said and done, they could end the 2023/24 term with 89 points and still lose out. What more can you do at that stage?

Arsenal have had their wobbles this term but to look back at certain games and wonder what if will only cause you to have a meltdown. It's better just to reflect on the good times.

Premier League: As it stands

Team

Played

W

D

L

GD

PTS

1. Man City

37

27

7

3

60

88

2. Arsenal

37

27

5

5

61

86

So, what does need to happen for the Gunners to win the crown?

How Arsenal can win the league

Well, they will need a miracle today, there's no two ways about it. Though, stranger things have happened, right?

First and foremost, Arsenal need to beat Everton today. They come into the final day of the season two points behind City and with a superior goal difference. So, all Arteta's men can do is grab the three points and hope.

If City draw or lose to West Ham at the Etihad and Arsenal win, the Londoners will take home the trophy. If City win, there is nothing that can be done to stop them.

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou May 20, 2024 The starting lineup to help Arsenal win the title

So, it'll probably largely be business as usual for Arsenal. David Raya will start in goal, just days after being handed the Golden Glove award while a familiar front line of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard will likely be given the nod to help unlock a stern Everton defence.

In midfield, there could be a change if Arteta prefers the extra security of Jorginho over Thomas Partey but it's a certainty that Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard lineup alongside each other.

Ben White, Gabriel and William Saliba are shoo-ins to begin in defence but there may well be a shift around at left-back on a day where Arsenal will need all the possession they can get.

One of the few positions on the pitch that Arteta has found troubling this term is at left full-back. Jurrien Timber started there on the opening day before his devastating ACL injury before Oleksandr Zinchenko quickly took on the role.

However, he hasn't always been preferred this term. Jakub Kiwior had an impressive run in the team at the beginning of 2024, notably supplying three assists and scoring once across five league matches in February and early March.

Though, of late it's been Takehiro Tomiyasu who has been preferred on the left-hand side of defence, starting the last four league games. Arteta has trusted him when Arsenal needed a settled team during the run-in so it's likely the Japanese defender will play from the off again.

However, if the Spaniard wants an expert in the inverted role to feature today then Zinchenko is his man. The Ukrainian is a wonderful player on his day but the fact of the matter is that, as one Arsenal podcaster branded him, he can be a defensive "liability".

Also criticised for an "appalling" display by writer Oli Price Bates in the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, perhaps it might not be such a wise idea to play Zinchenko in a game of this magnitude.

Well, it's likely Everton won't have much of the ball so this may be the perfect game. After all, the former Man City man is a far better passer of the ball than his positional peers.

Zinchenko vs Arsenal's left-backs

Stat (per 90)

Zinchenko

Tomiyasu

Kiwior

Pass success %

87.7%

81.8%

83.7%

Key passes

1.49

0.42

0.57

Final 3rd passes

7.93

4.49

4.10

Progressive passes

11.7

5.42

5.24

Shot-creating actions

3.36

1.27

1.24

Stats via FBref.

So, when it comes to the key passing statistics, the £150k-per-week earner is far and away the best man. Arsenal need to keep the ball, they need to create opportunities to score and they need to win.

All being well, Sean Dyche's side shouldn't see too much of the ball in their final third which is where the club's no.35 struggles. Therefore, starting him today does have an element of sense to it.

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