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Final of 2022 Asian Champions League Set to Move to 2023

Ulsan Hyundai's players pose with a trophy after the AFC Champions League final match against Persepolis in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP)
Ulsan Hyundai's players pose with a trophy after the AFC Champions League final match against Persepolis in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP)
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Final of 2022 Asian Champions League Set to Move to 2023

Ulsan Hyundai's players pose with a trophy after the AFC Champions League final match against Persepolis in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP)
Ulsan Hyundai's players pose with a trophy after the AFC Champions League final match against Persepolis in Al Wakrah, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP)

The 2022 Asian Champions League is set to be decided in 2023 with a big split in match schedules for the east and west regions, the Asian Football Confederation said Thursday.

Two reasons were cited for the new plan that would see the 2022 final played in February 2023 - travel challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and unusual scheduling of the World Cup in Qatar during November and December.

The proposed new Asian Champions League program aims to help national teams prepare with no games in the marquee club competition played during September and October.

"The Asian teams who are likely to qualify for the (World Cup) are expected to put in place extensive preparation plans for the competition," the AFC said, "and a need was felt to facilitate such tune-ups in the face of the uncertain situation and unforeseen risks."

Asia is looking for better results at its home World Cup after none of its five teams advanced from the group stage at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

The AFC has now proposed a Champions League program that would see the east region - including teams from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea - play through the semifinal and produce a finalist by August.

The west region - including teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran - are now set to play the group stage in April and resume in the knockout rounds at the last-16 stage in February next year.

All games are set to be played at centralized venues to limit international travel during the pandemic.

"Travel procedures around Asia have become more challenging with new travel restrictions and protocols being introduced by several countries in efforts to prevent the spread of the omicron variant," the AFC said.

The two-leg, home-and-away final is proposed for Feb. 19 and 26 next year. Single-leg elimination games in central venues are proposed for the earlier knockout rounds.

The AFC said the new program must be ratified by its executive committee, and the group-stage draw is scheduled on Monday.

The new schedule means a FIFA Club World Cup for the 2022 continental champions would be played even deeper into the following year.

The upcoming edition for the continental champions of 2021, including Chelsea and Palmeiras, is scheduled Feb. 3-12 in the United Arab Emirates.

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Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
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Salah Sets up Goal on Return to Liverpool Action

Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (AFP)
Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 13, 2025. (AFP)

Mohamed Salah set up a goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win against Brighton on Saturday as he returned to action after an explosive outburst cast doubt over his future at the Premier League champions.

The Egypt forward, the subject of intense scrutiny in the build-up to the game at Anfield, came off the substitutes' bench to huge cheers in the 26th minute, replacing injured defender Joe Gomez.

The home team, whose title defense has collapsed after a shocking run of results, were leading 1-0 at the time, with France forward Hugo Ekitike on the scoresheet after just 46 seconds.

Brighton squandered a number of opportunities to level and Ekitike scored his second with half an hour to go, heading home Salah's corner.

The Egyptian superstar now has 277 goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League -- 188 goals and 89 assists -- a new record by a player for a single club in the competition, overtaking Wayne Rooney's mark for Manchester United.

"Mohamed is a great, great professional," Ekitike told the BBC. "I look to him as an example. You can see how much he is involved in goals and assists.

"He is a legend here. To share the pitch is a blessing. That's the kind of player who makes us like to watch football."

Saturday marked a dramatic change of mood for Salah, who last week accused Liverpool of throwing him "under the bus" after he was left on the bench for the 3-3 draw at Leeds -- the third match in a row that he had been named among the replacements.

The 33-year-old winger also said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot in his extraordinary outburst and was omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, which Liverpool won 1-0.

Slot said at his pre-match press conference that he would hold talks with Salah and there was feverish speculation in the build-up to Saturday's match about what role the Egyptian would play.

Liverpool made a lightning start, taking the lead in the first minute when Joe Gomez set up Ekitike, who thumped the ball past Bart Verbruggen.

Brighton's Diego Gomez squandered a good chance and Brajan Gruda went close as the home crowd chanted Salah's name.

Liverpool doubled their lead in the 60th minute when Ekitike headed home Salah's corner.

The Egyptian himself went close in stoppage time after he was set up by Federico Chiesa but he blazed over.

He was embraced by teammates at the final whistle and was applauded by fans.

The win -- Liverpool's first at Anfield since November 4 -- lifts Slot's men to sixth in the table, easing the pressure on the beleaguered coach.

- Salah departure -

Salah, who signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool in April, will now depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The length of his absence depends on how far Egypt go in the competition in Morocco, with the final on January 18.

The forward had invited his family to the Brighton game as speculation swirled over his future.

"I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go to the Africa Cup," he told reporters last week. "I don't know what is going to happen when I am there."

Salah, third in Liverpool's all-time scoring charts with 250 goals, has won two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown during his spell on Merseyside.

He scored 29 Premier League goals last season as Liverpool romped to a 20th English league title, but has managed just four league goals this season.

Sports

Algeria Keeper Zidane Likely to Start at Cup of Nations

Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 2, 2022 Rayo Vallecano's Algeria international Luca Zidane, who now plays for Granada, in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 2, 2022 Rayo Vallecano's Algeria international Luca Zidane, who now plays for Granada, in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa. (Reuters)
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Algeria Keeper Zidane Likely to Start at Cup of Nations

Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 2, 2022 Rayo Vallecano's Algeria international Luca Zidane, who now plays for Granada, in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 2, 2022 Rayo Vallecano's Algeria international Luca Zidane, who now plays for Granada, in action with Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa. (Reuters)

Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup-winner Zinedine, looks likely to start at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations after the injured Alexis Guendouz was left out of the squad announced on Saturday.

Guendouz hurt his knee on Monday in the Algerian league and did not make the 28-man selection for the tournament in neighboring Morocco, leaving Zidane next in line.

The 27-year-old second son of Zinedine Zidane, who plays for Spanish second-tier side Granada, made his debut for Algeria in a World Cup qualifier in October after switching international allegiance, having played for France at junior level.

Zidane’s grandparents hail from the Kabylie region of Algeria and he is expected to be ahead of Oussama Benbot and former first-choice keeper Anthony Mandrea in the pecking order for the finals in Morocco, where Algeria will compete in Group E against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan.

Mandrea won a surprise recall after being dropped when coach Vladimir Petkovic said he did not want to pick a keeper playing in the third tier of French football. Mandrea’s club Caen were relegated from Ligue 2 at the end of last season.

Algeria's squad includes striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who netted the winner in the 2019 Cup of Nations final against Senegal in Cairo.

The notable absentee is Olympique de Marseille attacker Amine Gouiri, who required shoulder surgery after the World Cup qualifier against Uganda in October and is not expected to play again until February. Injury ruled him out of the last Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast two years ago.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Luca Zidane (Granada), Anthony Mandrea (Caen)

Defenders: Ryan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Youcef Atal (Al Sadd), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghani (Hellas Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Berne), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Ismael Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente), Adem Zorgane (Union Saint-Gilloise)

Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Werder Bremen), Monsef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb), Redouane Berkane (Al Wakrah), Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Shamal), Anis Hadj-Moussa (Feyenoord), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)

Sports

Griezmann Scores Again off the Bench to Give Atletico Madrid 2-1 Win Over Valencia

Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Valencia - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 13, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal with Alexander Sorloth. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Valencia - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 13, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal with Alexander Sorloth. (Reuters)
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Griezmann Scores Again off the Bench to Give Atletico Madrid 2-1 Win Over Valencia

Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Valencia - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 13, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal with Alexander Sorloth. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Valencia - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - December 13, 2025 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal with Alexander Sorloth. (Reuters)

Antoine Griezmann scored the winner after coming off the bench to help Atletico Madrid beat Valencia 2-1 Saturday and stay in touch with the La Liga front-runners.

Griezmann replaced Julián Álvarez with half an hour to go with Atletico leading after Koke Resurrección scored from a rebound in the 17th minute.

Lucas Beltrán pulled the visitors level in the 63rd with a shot from outside the area as the Argentine striker skirted past a defender and lashed a long strike just inside the post.

Griezmann restored the lead in the 74th at the Metropolitano Stadium when he used an exquisite control, hooking down a long ball with the tip of his boot, before he fired in the winner.

The 34-year-old Griezmann has taken a more limited role with Atletico this season, but he is still proving to be decisive. The former France star scored two goals as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Levante last month and also netted after coming on in the second half against Sevilla and Real Madrid.

His winner against Valencia increased his record haul for Atletico to 204 career goals.

Fourth-placed Atletico was six points behind Barcelona before the leader hosted Osasuna later.

The loss for Valencia will increase the pressure on coach Carlos Corberán with the team in 17th place just on the edge of the relegation zone.