African Players in Europe: Klopp Salutes Calm Match-winner Salah

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Salah - File Photo DPA
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Salah - File Photo DPA
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African Players in Europe: Klopp Salutes Calm Match-winner Salah

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Salah - File Photo DPA
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Salah - File Photo DPA

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed the composure of Mohamed Salah after his goal delivered a 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton at the weekend, and first place with nine matches remaining.

"Being that calm in the decisive moment with the biggest chance we had from the best football we played, then that makes a real goalscorer so we are happy with everything," said Klopp.

Liverpool lead Arsenal by two points and defending champions Manchester City by three, but face three away matches in eight days during a challenging run-in.

- MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

Egypt's captain sent the Reds to the top with his second-half winner against Brighton. Klopp's side trailed to Danny Welbeck's second-minute goal at Anfield, but Salah's deflected header set up Luis Diaz for a volleyed equaliser before the interval, AFPreported. After missing several chances, Salah sealed three priceless points for Liverpool when he calmly slotted home from Alexis Mac Allister's pass in the 65th minute. Salah's third goal in his last three games was his 22nd in all competitions this term.

- MOHAMMED KUDUS (West Ham)

The Ghana midfielder scored for the east London club in a dramatic 4-3 defeat at Newcastle. Kudus fired home from Jarrod Bowen's pass in the first half to put West Ham 2-1 ahead. But the Hammers eventually blew a two-goal lead as Newcastle's Harvey Barnes struck twice in the closing stages. Kudus was also less than impressed when one of the ball-boys at St James' Park refused to give up his stool to allow him to do his 'take-a-seat' celebration after scoring.

- SERHOU GUIRASSY (Stuttgart)

Guirassy scored the opener in Stuttgart's pulsating 3-3 Bundesliga draw with visiting Heidenheim, tapping in a cross from Angelo Stiller after 41 minutes. The goal was Guirassy's 23rd in 21 league games this season. The Guinea international has now scored in his past four matches. His tally is eight less than Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, but Guirassy has played six games fewer.

- SEBASTIEN HALLER (Borussia Dortmund)

Haller returned from an ankle injury in Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 win at Bayern Munich. He came off the bench late, his first match for Dortmund since December and his first game since he scored the winner in Ivory Coast's 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February. Nine minutes after coming on, the 29-year-old forward found Julian Ryerson in the box, and the Norwegian scored Dortmund's second goal to seal their first league win in Munich since 2014.

- MOSTAFA MOHAMED (Nantes)

The Egypt striker's late penalty gave struggling Nantes a 2-1 Ligue 1 win at Nice in their first game under new coach Antoine Kombouare. The goal was an eighth of the season for his club for Mohamed, who had an impressive Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year as Egypt went out in the last 16. The result lifted Nantes out of the bottom three in Ligue 1. Nigeria's Terem Moffi netted a penalty for Nice in the same game.

- JOSEPH OKUMU (Reims)

The 26-year-old Kenyan international central defender scored his first goal since moving to France from Belgian side Gent last year to put Reims ahead at Lyon. However, it was not enough to earn his side all three points as Ghana's Ernest Nuamah equalised at the other end to secure a 1-1 draw for Lyon.



Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained defiant on Tuesday over criticism of his team's set-piece tactics, dismissing accusations of time-wasting while expressing frustration that his side doesn't score even more from corners.

The Premier League leaders have netted 16 goals from corners this season to tie the league record with nine games remaining, but the feat has also sparked debate about the tactical evolution of set-pieces.

It has also drawn criticism from Wednesday's opponents Brighton & Hove Albion, whose ‌coach Fabian Huerzeler ‌took aim at Arsenal's corner routine, claiming ‌the ⁠London side sometimes "spend ⁠over one minute" to take a corner.

But Arteta had little sympathy for such complaints, telling reporters: "I'm upset that we don't score more (from corners) - and we concede as well. We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game."

The Spanish coach shrugged off criticism as "part of the job" given ⁠football's tactical transformation, arguing that teams increasingly neutralize ‌open-play opportunities.

"Before, when you used to ‌do a game plan and you would invert a full back or ‌bring an extra player into midfield or a false nine, ‌four vs three inside, two vs one inside, everyone behind the ball," Arteta said.

"Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play - whether it is a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation - they ‌know exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man-to-man.

"So it is not going ⁠to be ⁠a different game unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that."

However, Huerzeler called for clearer regulations around time management, arguing supporters deserve value for money.

"Every supporter who pays a lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch our games should see the same net game time because they pay a lot of money," the German coach said.

"We have a net game time of 50 minutes (with the ball in play) instead of sometimes 65 minutes, so the game is changing so much."

Arsenal hold a five-point lead at the Premier League summit, having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City.


Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Michael Carrick said Tuesday that Manchester United are "hungry for more" after their spectacular recovery under his leadership as they target a return to Champions League football.

United climbed to third in the Premier League with Sunday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, a sixth victory in seven games since Carrick was appointed, in mid-January, as manager until the end of the season.

The Red Devils, who have the best form of any side in the league since Carrick's arrival, travel to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

They are six points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, with the top five almost certain to qualify for the Champions League thanks to the strong showing of English sides in Europe this season.

But Carrick said it was important to stay "in the moment" as United seek to maintain their momentum.

"We certainly won't get carried away," he said. "I think you've got to feed off the confidence and understand that runs of wins are hard to come by.

"But we're hungry for more, for sure, and we need to try and make it as long as it can last and stay consistent."

The former United midfielder said it was important not to look too far ahead as the three-time European champions seek to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 season.

"I think we're in a good position and we've kind of earned it," he said. "The boys have earned it and we've got to try and make the most of it from now on.

He added: "Talent-wise, ability-wise, I think the boys have shown what they can do.

"And then there's that balance of good habits, good behaviors, and actually looking after each other in the certain times you've got to really dig in and show that good spirit and team spirit, so I can't speak highly enough of the players."


Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after tearing ligaments in his right knee during the 1-0 LaLiga defeat by Getafe, the club said ‌on Tuesday.

The ‌25-year-old Brazil international ‌had ⁠been returning from ⁠over a month out with a muscle injury when he came off the bench in the 54th minute of Monday's ⁠game.

In the 66th ‌minute, while ‌being challenged on the left ‌wing, Rodrygo's leg got ‌caught as he tried to accelerate. He immediately showed signs of pain, briefly falling to ‌the turf before continuing and completing the match.

"Following ⁠tests ⁠carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg," Real Madrid said in a statement.