Jota fires Liverpool past Arsenal to boost Champions League top-four bid – Newstrends
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Jota fires Liverpool past Arsenal to boost Champions League top-four bid

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Talk about an instant impact. Talk about a big contribution in a big game. Talk about a top-class signing; talk about Diogo Jota.

The Portugal star is becoming the go-to man for Liverpool, and he delivered again at the Emirates on Saturday, scoring twice off the substitutes’ bench to hand the Reds a vital 3-0 win over a subdued, overmatched Arsenal.

That’s a dozen goals now in a Liverpool shirt for Jota, who has looked a million dollars since his summer switch from Wolves. As buys go, there have been few better in the Premier League this season.

It was 0-0 when he arrived into this game, replacing Andy Robertson just after the hour mark. Liverpool had dominated the ball and created all the better chances, but had lacked that killer touch in front of goal. They were tentative, unsure, hurried and imprecise in the final third. Until Jota came on, that was.

Within three minutes, the £45 million ($62m) man had timed his run into the penalty area perfectly to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delicious cross from the right. His back-post header was too powerful for Bernd Leno, and Jurgen Klopp’s men had the lead they craved.

They built on it soon enough, and in fine style too. Four minutes later, Fabinho sent a pass in behind Gabriel for Mo Salah, who wriggled free of the Brazilian defender before slipping the ball through Leno’s legs for 2-0.

That’s 26 goals in all competitions for the Egyptian, whose persistence and bloody-mindedness never fails to impress. This was his 150th Premier League game, and his 93rd goal.

Liverpool were the better side from the word go, albeit against an Arsenal team devoid of ambition and threat, and they would extend their advantage further through Jota before the night was out.

Again, he was in the right place at the right time, slamming home after Salah’s pass had run away from Sadio Mane in the penalty area, eight minutes from time.

The move, again, had been started by Alexander-Arnold, who turned in a statement performance having been overlooked by England for their recent World Cup qualifiers.

If there’s a better right-back in this league, then he’s keeping himself well hidden. “World class,” said Klopp. Spot on.

All in all, then, this was a perfect Saturday for Klopp and his team. Their rivals lost, with Chelsea stunned at home to West Brom at lunchtime and Leicester beaten by Manchester City in the early-evening kick-off, and they took full advantage.

With eight games to go, the gap to fourth is just two points. After a dark winter, spring brings with it new hope. Their confidence is repaired and their spirits restored.

That’s three straight wins – the first time they’ve managed that since November – and three clean sheets in a row too.

Defensively, they were rock solid again, even if Arsenal offered precious little across the 90 minutes.

Next up, Real Madrid. Can Liverpool confirm their revival by taking down a European heavyweight in the quarter-finals of the Champions League?

With Jota in this kind of mood, they have to fancy their chances.

Goal.com

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Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match 

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Super Eagles suffer 2-0 loss to Mali in friendly match 

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Tuesday night suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mali in a friendly match played in Marrakech, Morocco.

Mali, ranked 19th below the Super Eagles in the FIFA’s latest standings, opened scoring through Atalanta-based striker El Bilal Toure in the first half after Nigeria’s dreadful error resulting from a short goal kick.

Toure could barely believe his luck when defender Chidozie Awaziem tried to play a long square pass under pressure near the edge of the Nigeria box and succeeded only in crossing the ball straight to the Mali striker.

He controlled well on his chest before bundling a finish past goalkeeper Stanely Nwabali.

Nigeria lost Moses Simon to injury when the Nantes star collided with Mali keeper Mamadou Samassa and had to be substituted after appearing to suffer a painful knee injury.

Kamory Doumbia made it 2-0 for Mali with three minutes to normal regulation time.

Nigeria defeated Ghana 2-1 last Friday in a positive result for interim coach Finidi George, the former Ajax and Real Betis winger, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

The defeat has left the Super Eagles with a lot of concerns before they resume World Cup qualifying in June.

This was the 12th meeting between Nigeria and Mali. Nigeria have the head-to-head advantage, with six wins and three defeats in those games.

Mali’s most recent previous win over the Super Eagles was a 4-1 friendly victory way back in 1975.

Some key stars missed the friendly match due to injury. They are Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, Victor Boniface, Ola Aina, and Zaidu Sanusi.

Midfielder Frank Onyeka has also withdrawn from the squad.

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Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen

Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer €90 million for Napoli star striker, Victor Osimhen, according to Italian newspaper, II Mattino.

Osimhen has a release clause of around €120 million in his contract but Napoli President Aurelio de Laurentiis could accept a bid below that, according to the publication.

Napoli are prepared to part company with the Nigerian at the end of the season despite the forward signing a new contract last December.

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Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG have been persistently linked with a move for the forward.

Intermediaries are reportedly working with the striker’s agent, Roberto Calenda to sort out his future.

Osimhen, who joined Napoli from Ligue 1 club, Lille in 2022, has scored 72 goals in 125 appearances for the Partenopei.

Chelsea, Arsenal, PSG ready to pay €90m for Victor Osimhen

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Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

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Finidi George

Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

Former World Cup star Finidi George is determined to secure a second consecutive win as he leads the Super Eagles in their clash against Mali today. Appointed as the interim coach for the Nigerian team, George aims to maintain the winning momentum after their recent victory over Ghana.

The encounter between the two West African teams is scheduled at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, where the Super Eagles emerged triumphant in their previous match against arch-rivals Ghana with a 2-1 scoreline.

However, George faces challenges as key players such as defender Calvin Bassey and midfielder Frank Onyeka are sidelined due to injuries, adding to the absence of other notable names like Victor Osimhen, William Ekong, and Olaoluwa Aina.

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Despite these setbacks, George remains optimistic about the team’s prospects against Mali. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a winning mentality and expresses confidence in the players’ ability to replicate their performance against Ghana and secure another victory.

Notably, George himself has a history with the Eagles of Mali, having played against them during the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria emerged victorious.

In light of the absences and injuries, George may turn to players such as goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins, midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Nathan Tella, Sadiq Umar, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to play prominent roles in the upcoming fixture.

Despite the challenges, Finidi George remains determined to guide the Super Eagles to another triumph as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June.

Finidi George aims for second victory as Super Eagles face Mali today

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