African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
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African Players In Europe: Goal King Salah Turns Creator

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah shoots against Manchester City - AFP

Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah turned creator at the weekend, setting up Trent Alexander-Arnold to equalize and force a 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester City.

Defending champions City are second and Liverpool third behind leaders Arsenal in a tight title race with only two points separating the top three.

It was a profitable weekend for Nigerians with Ademola Lookman scoring in Italy, Umar Sadiq in Spain and Terem Moffi in France.

The Egypt forward provided the assist as Jurgen Klopp's side escaped with a 1-1 draw from their meeting with Manchester City. Liverpool kicked off at the Etihad Stadium in second place behind City and it was Pep Guardiola's men who drew first blood when Erling Haaland fired home for his 50th Premier League goal in the first half. But Salah helped Liverpool peg back the treble winners in the closing stages when his pass found Alexander-Arnold, who drilled a low shot into the far corner to ensure the two title heavyweights finished level, AFP report highlighted.

- UMAR SADIQ (Real Sociedad)

Sadiq netted his first goal of the season for Real Sociedad in their 2-1 win over Sevilla. The 26-year-old failed to find the net in his first 11 appearances for the club this season in La Liga, but ended his drought with a brilliant strike as he ripped an effort into the top corner from more than 25 yards.

- YOUSSEF EN-NESYRI (Sevilla)

The Moroccan forward continued his good form with a fourth goal in seven league games, but it was not enough to rescue his team a point at Real Sociedad. The striker converted a downward header from close range, showing his predatory instincts in the box.

- ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING (Bayern Munich)

Handed just a second league start this season, the Cameroon striker provided impetus and energy in Bayern's 1-0 win over Cologne. While Choupo-Moting has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of England captain Harry Kane, he created the game's only goal. With 20 minutes gone, Bayern counterattacked and Choupo-Moting's shot was cleared off the line into the path of Kane, who slotted home.

- TEREM MOFFI (Nice)

The Nigerian was perfectly positioned in the 54th minute to score off a swift counterattack and give second-placed Nice a 1-0 home win over lowly Toulouse. It was the fourth goal of the Ligue 1 campaign for the 24-year-old, who played in Lithuania and Belgium before moving to France three years ago.



United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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United Boss Ten Hag Concedes Liverpool Have Advantage of Mature Team

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - August 24, 2024 Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts REUTERS/Tony O Brien/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Liverpool are a more mature side than Manchester United, with the advantage of a cohesive team of established players, United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

"Liverpool are in a different phase of the life cycle," Ten Hag told reporters. "We are much more mixed and we have to build a new team."

United have not beaten Liverpool in the league since a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in August 2022 though Ten Hag's men did prevail 4-3 over former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp's side to win the FA Cup last season, according to Reuters.

Liverpool finished third in the league last season, five places and 22 points ahead of United, but Ten Hag said his side could take heart from their performance in the cup final.

"We can always win, last year we won (in the FA cup) in the second part of the season," the Dutchman said.

"(Liverpool) are a team who are clear in the relationship among their players. It's what (new manager Arne Slot) has inherited. It was built over the last few years."

Slot and Ten Hag have faced each other in the past during their time working in the Dutch top flight, with little to chose between them on paper.

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Both managers have two wins apiece against each other in the Eridivisie, with Sunday's match at Old Trafford their first head-to-head meeting since March 2022.

Liverpool have made a solid start to the season under Slot, who became their first manager since Graeme Souness in 1991 to win his two opening league games in charge with Sunday's 2-0 victory over Brentford.

United, on the other hand, dropped their first points of the campaign when they were beaten 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.

"One of the reasons I came here is I knew beforehand it would be the most difficult thing I could ever do in my life, to come in (to) a club with a lot of problems," added Ten Hag, who took charge of United in April 2022.

"I inherited a history of six years and no trophy. We're still in transition. We have young players, academy players, and now we have to construct a team for the future."