Connect with us

European Leagues

Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: Team news, head-to-head, more

Published

on

As the Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool clash kicks off at 4 p.m., the results might be a decider for the league leaders.

Meanwhile, both teams have a lot to contend with in terms of players’ readiness and availability.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo says Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly are nearing returns. Although it is not clear if any of them will be available on Saturday.

Ola Aina and Nuno Tavares remain sidelined.

Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai could return for Liverpool after resuming training on Thursday.

Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo are due to train on Friday and may also come back into contention.

Nine other players are ruled out, including Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Head-to-head

Liverpool have failed to win 13 consecutive top-flight away matches against Nottingham Forest (D7, L6) since a 2-0 win at the City Ground on 28 October 1984, when Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush scored.

There has not been an away victory in any of the previous 13 Premier League meetings, which have produced nine home wins and four draws.

The City Ground is the only venue where Liverpool have played more than one Premier League game and failed to record a single victory (D3, L3). The other stadiums where they are winless are Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road, where they lost in 2011, and Luton’s Kenilworth Road, where they drew earlier this season.

Nottingham Forest

Forest have won three of their nine league games under Nuno Espirito Santo (D1, L5), as many victories as in their 17 top-flight fixtures under Steve Cooper this season (D5, L9).

Three of their four home league wins this season have come against sides in currently in the top eight (Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Ham).

They have scored in each of their nine Premier League matches under Nuno but have failed to keep a clean sheet, conceding 18 goals in total.

The Portuguese has lost all six of his league fixtures against Liverpool as a manager.

Taiwo Awoniyi has been directly involved in 15 goals in his last 19 Premier League matches, scoring 12 and assisting three.

Awoniyi scored the only goal against his former club Liverpool when Forest beat the Reds 1-0 at home last season.

Divock Origi has failed to score in 13 consecutive Premier League appearances (including all 12 for Forest) since netting for Liverpool in their 2-0 win against Everton at Anfield on 24 April 2022.

Liverpool

The Reds are unbeaten in all 15 of their league games this season against teams currently in the bottom half, only dropping points in 1-1 draws at Chelsea and Luton Town.

A 19th Premier League victory of the season would equal their final tally in 2022-23.

They have won 22 points from losing positions this season, their joint highest figure in a single Premier League campaign.

Liverpool’s total of 63 goals is the highest in the top flight this season.

The Merseysiders are three goals shy of 1,000 in all competitions under Jurgen Klopp.

Luis Diaz has been directly involved in five goals in his last five league appearances (three goals and two assists) – one more than in his previous 25 games.

Author

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

European Leagues

Juventus fire Allegri after cup final antics

Published

on

Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup. The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome,

Juventus have sacked Massimiliano Allegri two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup.

The Turin side beat Atalanta 1-0 in Rome, but Allegri was sent off late on for ranting at match officials and waving away sporting director during the celebrations.

The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri.

And yesterday ,Juventus confirmed he was no longer their boss.

“The dismissal follows certain behaviors during and after the Italian Cup final which the club deemed incompatible with the values of

Juventus and with the behavior that those who represent it must adopt,” a statement read.

Juve’s 1-0 win over Atalanta, thanks to Dusan Vlahovic’s early goal, gave Allegri a record fifth Coppa Italia as a manager.

“If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations,” he said in the post-match news conference.

Even before his antics at the Stadio Olimpico, the 56-year-old had been expected to lose his job and be replaced by Bologna coach Thiago Motta.

But now he will not be there for the final two Serie A games against Bologna and Monza.

“The company wishes Massimiliano Allegri good luck in his future projects,” ended the statement..

Allegri was in charge of Juventus from 2014 until 2019, winning the title in each of his five seasons, as well as four Italian Cups and reaching the Champions League final twice.

He left by mutual consent at the end of the 2018-19 season – and did not work again for two years, until he was re-appointed as Juventus manager at the start of 2021-22.

However his second spell failed to live up to the first and Wednesday’s Italian Cup was their only silverware in that time.

They finished fourth and seventh in his two full seasons – and currently sit fourth.

Author

Continue Reading

European Leagues

Juventus nearly sacked Allegri after Italian Cup row

Published

on

Massimiliano Allegri was close to being sacked by Juventus after exploding with anger during his team’s midweek Italian Cup triumph

Massimiliano Allegri was close to being sacked by Juventus after exploding with anger during his team’s midweek Italian Cup triumph, according to widespread reports in local media.

Juventus won their 15th Italian Cup on Wednesday night but Allegri burst into a rage, first being sent off in the final minutes after ranting at match officials and then waving away sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli during the post-match celebrations.

And Juve are now set to fire Allegri, who was already widely rumoured to be replaced by Bologna coach Thiago Motta in the summer, with two matches of the season remaining.

Juventus sit fourth in Serie A after collecting just 15 points in their last 15 league matches. They are at Bologna on Monday night. The two are teams level on 67 points and both have already qualified for next season’s revamped Champions League.

Italian media reported that Juve are evaluating whether to dismiss Allegri with just cause for his behaviour on Wednesday night, when he is also alleged to have manhandled and threatened the chief editor of newspaper Tuttosport before the post-match press conference.

Such a move would potentially save the club from paying Allegri the remaining year of his contract, which is worth around seven million euros before bonuses.

The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into Allegri, who on Wednesday almost accidentally confirmed that this season would be his last at the Turin giants.

Allegri was on Thursday given an automatic two-match ban in the cup for his straight red card but could receive further punishment.

 

Author

Continue Reading

European Leagues

Man City move close to history – thanks to unlikely hero Romero

Published

on

Manchester City saw an unlikely hero emerge from their galaxy of superstars to make a potentially defining contribution in their pursuit of

Manchester City saw an unlikely hero emerge from their galaxy of superstars to make a potentially defining contribution in their pursuit of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola rightly acted with caution when he removed keeper Ederson, with City leading 1-0, after he suffered a nasty blow to the head in a heavy collision at the foot of his post with Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.

Ederson, who had a problem with his eye, did not look happy with the decision – taken upon advice from the club doctor – but his manager was perfectly justified, not just acting in the best interests of the Brazilian keeper but also because he has complete trust in his replacement Stefan Ortega.

And in a 21-minute cameo of the highest quality, Ortega – who has performed with distinction every time he has deputised for Ederson this season – may well have rubber-stamped City’s sixth title in seven seasons.

When the final whistle sounded and the club stood one win away from being champions again, Guardiola headed straight for Ortega and greeted the German with a kiss on the cheek for his crucial contribution. It was richly deserved.

Guardiola did not hold back with the praise as he said: “Ortega is a world-class goalkeeper. An exceptional, exceptional goalkeeper. Ederson did not have concussion, he had a problem with his eye. He could not see properly so the doctor said I should change.”

Spurs made a complete mockery of the cynics who suggested they may ease off because any sort of positive result could potentially give rivals Arsenal their first Premier League title in 20 years.

Ange Postecoglou’s fifth-placed side were fully committed in chasing a goal of their own as they went after a place in the Champions League and it was not for any lack of effort as they came so close to upsetting City’s traditional title charge. They were left disappointed in the end as defeat confirmed Aston Villa’s fourth-placed finish and they will now join European football’s top table.

Ortega’s impact was instant, denying Spurs substitute Dejan Kulusevski with a good save and then the same player shortly afterwards as City almost paid the price for a performance that was not one of their best.

The biggest moment came in the closing minutes, with City clinging on to a one-goal lead, when Son Heung-min collected the ball and raced clear with only Ortega to beat. It was the sort of opportunity the South Korean has taken with aplomb so many times in his Spurs career.

BBC

 

Author

Continue Reading

Trending