African Players in Europe: Goals for Salah, Beto in Merseyside Derby

 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP)
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African Players in Europe: Goals for Salah, Beto in Merseyside Derby

 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP)

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool and Guinea-Bissau striker Beto for Everton in the Merseyside derby which the Reds won 2-1 at the weekend.

Salah, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season, claimed his seventh Premier League goal this season. Beto has netted nine times in all competitions.

Victory strengthened Liverpool's push for a Champions League place. They occupy the fifth and final qualifying spot, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea with five matches to play.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

Salah opened the scoring for last season's champions, slotting home in the first half following a superbly weighted pass from Cody Gakpo. He equaled Steven Gerrard's nine goals to become the joint top-scorer in the league fixture between the Merseyside teams.

BETO (Everton)

Everton equalized 10 minutes into the second half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall crossed and Beto poked the ball into the net ahead of onrushing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was stretchered off.

GERMANY

NICOLAS JACKSON (Bayern Munich)

Starting in place of Harry Kane, Jackson scored Bayern's second as they came from a goal down to beat Stuttgart 4-2 and clinch the Bundesliga title. With the sides locked at 1-1, Jackson latched onto a Luis Diaz assist and his powerful shot put Bayern in front. The Senegal striker, on a season-long loan from Chelsea, has six goals and two assists in the league.

YAN DIOMANDE (RB Leipzig)

Leipzig winger Diomande's stock continued to rise after scoring another stunning solo goal in a 3-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt. The Ivory Coast forward dribbled laterally past five defenders before slamming a superb strike across the goal and into the net. Only 19, Diomande has 12 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga this season.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy's 14th league goal of the season was not enough as Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at Hoffenheim. With three minutes remaining, Guirassy hit a low shot from outside the box to equalize only for Hoffenheim to secure the points with a late penalty.

FRANCE

BAMBA DIENG (Lorient)

The Senegalese striker continued his superb run of form by scoring the second goal for Lorient in their 2-0 defeat of his former side Marseille. Dieng has scored 14 goals in all competitions for Lorient this season, including 11 in 2026. He recently returned to the Senegal squad and will hope his form ensures he goes to the World Cup finals.

MOSTAFA MOHAMED (Nantes)

The Egyptian is hoping to go to the World Cup with his country, but before that he must try to save Nantes from what looks like certain relegation. He put his team ahead with a fourth goal of the season but Nantes could only draw 1-1 at home to Brest, a result which leaves them five points adrift of the relegation play-off spot and nine points from outright safety with five games remaining. Next up is a midweek trip to leaders Paris Saint-Germain.



Riyadh Municipality Launches Six Community Sports Tournaments

The competitions include neighborhood and volunteer football leagues - SPA
The competitions include neighborhood and volunteer football leagues - SPA
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Riyadh Municipality Launches Six Community Sports Tournaments

The competitions include neighborhood and volunteer football leagues - SPA
The competitions include neighborhood and volunteer football leagues - SPA

The Riyadh Region Municipality launched six community sports tournaments across 11 locations in central Riyadh, running throughout September to promote physical activity and foster local engagement across all age groups.

The competitions include neighborhood and volunteer football leagues, along with tournaments in basketball, volleyball, baloot, and dominoes, SPA reported.

Complementing the sports fixtures, more than 15 recreational, educational, and health awareness events are being held in collaboration with 40 public, private, and non-profit entities.

The initiative is part of the municipality's ongoing efforts to activate public spaces, elevate quality of life, and position community centers as vibrant lifestyle hubs.


Liverpool Signs Teen Forward Djylian N’Guessan from French Side Saint-Etienne

Liverpool and Nottingham Forest players observe a minute applause for Kevin Keegan the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest players observe a minute applause for Kevin Keegan the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Liverpool Signs Teen Forward Djylian N’Guessan from French Side Saint-Etienne

Liverpool and Nottingham Forest players observe a minute applause for Kevin Keegan the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool and Nottingham Forest players observe a minute applause for Kevin Keegan the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool has signed teenage forward Djylian N’Guessan from French side Saint-Etienne, the Premier League club said on Friday.

The 18-year-old is set to join Liverpool on a permanent deal in January, the club said.

Financial details were not given. Liverpool added that N’Guessan will play the rest of the season on loan at Brest in France’s Ligue 1, The Associated Press reported.

After going through Saint-Etienne’s academy, the forward made a senior debut in January 2025 and has played 13 matches, scoring one goal.

He played seven game for France at last year’s under-20 World Cup.

It's not clear what role he could have in the Liverpool squad.

During the summer transfer window, the club's signings have included Spain winger Victor Muñoz from Osasuna and a deal finalized on Monday worth 123 million pounds ($166 million) for Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.


Arsenal Brace for Chelsea Test as Spurs Seek Spark

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have not conceded a Premier League goal this season. Darren Staples / AFP/File
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have not conceded a Premier League goal this season. Darren Staples / AFP/File
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Arsenal Brace for Chelsea Test as Spurs Seek Spark

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have not conceded a Premier League goal this season. Darren Staples / AFP/File
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have not conceded a Premier League goal this season. Darren Staples / AFP/File

Something has to give when Arsenal host Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend, with both teams putting their 100 percent records on the line, while Tottenham are desperate to stop the rot.

Defending champions Arsenal and Xabi Alonso's Chelsea are among four sides to have won their first two league games this season, along with Manchester City and newly-promoted Hull.

Spurs are bottom of the table as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest while new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is still seeking his first win.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the action:

Arsenal steel v Chelsea flair

Arsenal have started their Premier League title defense as they finished last season -- looking impenetrable.

Last week's 1-0 win at Aston Villa, following their opening 3-0 victory over Coventry, was a sixth clean sheet in seven league matches.

Another bonus for manager Mikel Arteta is the form of England winger Bukayo Saka, who has scored twice already following an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign.

Chelsea have launched the Xabi Alonso era with three wins in all competitions, looking dangerous in attack but vulnerable at the back.

The club's new attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers have scored five of the team's seven league goals in victories against Fulham and Brighton.

But former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Alonso will be keen to tighten up his team's defense, which has conceded five goals in those games.

Recent history is against Chelsea, who are winless in nine Premier League games against Arsenal ahead of Sunday's clash at the Emirates.

Spurs' struggles

Roberto De Zerbi is certain Tottenham will avoid another embarrassing relegation battle despite a calamitous start to the season.

The north London club, who have finished a lowly 17th in successive campaigns, lost their opener against Brentford 3-0 before a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle.

The club spent more than £350 million ($473 million) in the summer transfer window in an attempted reset, with a clutch of high-profile arrivals including Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Savio.

But there is scant evidence that things are improving as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday -- a team that beat them twice last season.

De Zerbi, who arrived in late March, remains upbeat despite his team's woes.

"After two defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same story, the same as the last two seasons," he said.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I think I can't change my opinion after two defeats. I have a big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Liverpool's Iraola eyes fresh start

New Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is still seeking lift-off after frustrating draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

France forward Bradley Barcola is in line to make his debut at newly-promoted Ipswich on Friday after his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain this week for a fee of up to £124 million.

The winger is the latest addition to an expensively assembled Liverpool attack that also includes Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and the currently injured Hugo Ekitike.

But four goals conceded in two matches suggest problems in other areas.

"It does not look like a balanced squad," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "Liverpool are short in the full-back areas and probably a midfield player as well."

Iraola welcomed the end of the summer transfer window earlier this week.

"Once the market is closed, we know who we are," he said on Thursday. "I think we have a lot of talent in this group of players.

"Now we have to perform, we have to do our job and we have to start from tomorrow."