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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Liverpool Back to Top

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Salah Takes Liverpool Back to Top

Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 2, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Mohamed Salah took Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League with the winning goal as the Reds came from behind to defeat Brighton 2-1 at the weekend.

It was the ninth goal of the season in all competitions for the 32-year-old Egypt captain and two-time African Player of the Year.

The goal came amid continuing speculation over the future of Salah, with his contract due to expire at the end of this season.

Here, AFP Sport highlights some African headline-makers in the major European leagues.

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The forward struck in the 72nd minute with a superb curling finish from the edge of the area. Liverpool are two points clear of second placed Manchester City after winning eight of their first 10 league games.

JORDAN AYEW (Leicester)

The Ghana forward was the Foxes' last-gasp hero again as he rescued a 1-1 draw at Ipswich. Steve Cooper's side were in danger of losing to winless Ipswich until Ayew came off the bench to strike from close-range deep in stoppage time. Ayew's third goal this season was his first since netting a stoppage-time winner in Leicester's 3-2 victory at Southampton in October.

ANTOINE SEMENYO (Bournemouth)

Ghana winger Semenyo helped the Cherries claim a shock 2-1 win against champions Manchester City. The 24-year-old netted in the ninth minute with a composed finish from Milos Kerkez's cut-back. It was the hosts first win against City at the 22nd attempt.

SPAIN

MUNIR EL HADDADI (Leganes)

Morocco international El Haddadi scored a brilliant goal against Girona in his team's 4-3 defeat. The 29-year-old Spain-born former Barcelona forward cut in from the right and launched a shot into the top corner from distance after 77 minutes having come off the bench just moments earlier. It was his second goal in two matches after netting for Leganes against Ciudad de Lucena in the Copa del Rey.

ITALY

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)

The London-born Nigerian international grabbed two goals as Atalanta stunned Serie A leaders Napoli 3-0 in the sunshine at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium. Lookman's second goal, a curled shot after shaking off two Napoli defenders, was particularly memorable.

GERMANY

OMAR MARMOUSH (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Marmoush was on fire again in Eintracht Frankfurt's 7-2 demolition of Bundesliga tailenders Bochum, with the Egyptian named man of the match after scoring one goal and creating two. The 25-year-old Egyptian international curled home a free kick on 18 minutes. He has scored 10 goals this season, one less than Bayern Munich and England star Harry Kane.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy scored the winner as Borussia inflicted a first Bundesliga defeat of the season on RB Leipzig with a 2-1 home win. Probably the only Dortmund player who can hold his head high after recent poor form, Guirassy was a constant threat up front. With the match locked at 1-1 and half an hour remaining, the Guinea international headed in Maximilian Beier's looping cross.

FRANCE

ABDOULAYE TOURE (Le Havre)

Toure played a captain's role by scoring the only goal as Le Havre defeated Montpellier 1-0 in a battle of Ligue 1's bottom two clubs. The France-born Guinea international, who was key in the club's promotion to the top flight for this season, struck from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute after Mali international full-back Falaye Sacko was penalized for handball.

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Sports

Venus Williams Gets Australian Open Wildcard Aged 45

Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open aged 45. Lachlan Cunningham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open aged 45. Lachlan Cunningham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Venus Williams Gets Australian Open Wildcard Aged 45

Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open aged 45. Lachlan Cunningham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open aged 45. Lachlan Cunningham / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45 on Friday, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam.

The American, who has played only a limited number of singles matches in recent years, will compete in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021.

"I'm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer," said Williams.

"I've had so many incredible memories there and I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career."

Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion and also won two US Opens, said AFP.

She was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017.

She will become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open since Japan's Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015.

Williams, a four-time Australian Open doubles champion, is set to begin her preparations for the January 18-Feb 1 tournament at the Auckland Classic next week, having returned to the circuit at the US Open last year after a 16-month break.

She will then head to the Hobart International immediately before Melbourne.

Two-time Grand Slam champion and fellow American Coco Gauff said it was "incredible" to see Williams still turning up for tournaments.

"She's a legend of the sport, so it will be cool to see her back in action," she said.

"It's incredible the longevity of her career. She's one of the people I looked up to, so looking forward to seeing her back on court."

Sports

What to Look Out for in the Premier League Transfer Window

Liverpool's Alexander Isak is sidelined by a broken leg. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
Liverpool's Alexander Isak is sidelined by a broken leg. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
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What to Look Out for in the Premier League Transfer Window

Liverpool's Alexander Isak is sidelined by a broken leg. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
Liverpool's Alexander Isak is sidelined by a broken leg. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

The transfer window for Premier League clubs is open with sides ready to splash out to win the title, secure a place in next season's Champions League or just survive in the lucrative English top flight.

AFP Sport looks at five of the clubs likely to be busiest before the window closes on February 2:

Liverpool to splash out again

The Reds spent more than any Premier League side ever has in one window just a few months ago, splurging nearly £450 million ($606 million) on six new additions.

However, there has been little return on that investment and injuries look set to force the English champions back into the market.

Alexander Isak's British record £125 million move from Newcastle headlined Liverpool's summer spending spree, but the Swede is set for at least two months on the sidelines with a broken leg.

Despite splashing out around £300 million on forwards in the summer window, Arne Slot's attacking options are currently threadbare with Mohamed Salah also absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah's future remains uncertain following his public outburst at being dropped by Slot and should the Egyptian depart, Liverpool will be in the market for a replacement.

Can Villa bolster title challenge?

Villa's dreams of maintaining a challenge against the might of Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race will depend on what they can do over the next month to strengthen Unai Emery's squad.

Hampered by financial sustainability rules, Villa were unable to spend freely in the summer.

Yet Emery performed miracles to inspire an 11-game winning run in all competitions prior to Tuesday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Despite limited headroom, the Villa hierarchy managed to significantly improve the side in the January window 12 months ago when the loan signings of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio nearly fired them into the Champions League.

Semenyo set for City

Pep Guardiola's men look to have won the first major transfer battle of the month in securing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

The Ghana forward has also attracted interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham after scoring nine times in the Premier League this season.

Semenyo has a reported £65 million buyout clause in his contract, but that must be activated before January 10.

City are not hanging about as they aim to add extra firepower to what is already the highest scoring side in the Premier League.

However, goals from wide positions have been a problem for Guardiola.

Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Oscar Bobb and Omar Marmoush have just one Premier League goal between them so far this season.

Mainoo on the move?

Manchester United's January business is likely to be determined by the future of Kobbie Mainoo.

The England international, who shone in the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2024 final, is yet to start a Premier League game this season.

Ruben Amorim does not appear to see Mainoo as compatible with captain Bruno Fernandes and both have been injured in recent weeks to severely limit United's midfield options.

Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are also away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Amorim is cautious of recruiting for the short-term.

"If we are not sure, if everyone is not aligned, it's better not to bring anyone and to work with the players that we have," said the Portuguese coach. "We cannot do the same mistakes that we did in the past."

A sale of Mainoo, who was a product of the United academy, would significantly help United's wiggle room under financial sustainability rules to add another midfielder.

West Ham's rescue mission

West Ham are starring down the barrel of dropping out of the Premier League for the first time in 14 years.

The Hammers are four points adrift of safety but are also chasing other sides on the up in Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

A striker appears the top order of business for Nuno Espirito Santo with Niclas Fuellkrug already having departed to join AC Milan on loan.

Sports

Man City Charge Stalls at Sunderland, Liverpool Held by Leeds

Manchester City were held by Sunderland to fall four points behind Arsenal. ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
Manchester City were held by Sunderland to fall four points behind Arsenal. ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
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Man City Charge Stalls at Sunderland, Liverpool Held by Leeds

Manchester City were held by Sunderland to fall four points behind Arsenal. ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP
Manchester City were held by Sunderland to fall four points behind Arsenal. ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP

Manchester City trail Arsenal by four points at the top of the Premier League after failing to end Sunderland's unbeaten home record in a 0-0 draw on Thursday, while Liverpool were also held by Leeds.

In a goal-shy start to 2026, three of the four New Year's Day fixtures ended without a goal as Tottenham also played out a 0-0 draw on Thomas Frank's return to Brentford.

City had won eight consecutive games to end 2025 and cut the gap on the Gunners to just two points, AFP said.

But they were unable to respond to Arsenal's impressive 4-1 demolition of third-place Aston Villa on Tuesday despite creating a host of chances against a depleted Sunderland.

The Black Cats were without six players at the Africa Cup of Nations plus influential center-back Dan Ballard due to injury.

Bernardo Silva had a City goal ruled out for offside just six minutes in.

Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs was in inspired form to deny Erling Haaland and Josko Gvardiol, while Savinho blasted a glorious chance over.

But City could not find the breakthrough as Sunderland preserved their record of not losing in 10 games at the Stadium of Light since returning to the top flight.

"It's a mystery," said City boss Pep Guardiola on his side's inability to score. "We created a lot, especially in the second half.

"We take the point, it's a long way (to go)."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot bemoaned his side's lack of "individual special moments" as the English champions struggled to break down a resilient Leeds in a goal-less draw at Anfield.

The Reds were toothless in attack without the absent Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak and were only saved from defeat late on by a tight offside call.

Despite scoring in the last six games, Dominic Calvert-Lewin started on the bench as Daniel Farke had one eye on the visit of Manchester United to Elland Road on Saturday.

Calvert-Lewin thought he had extended his scoring streak when he prodded in 10 minutes from time but had strayed just beyond the last defender.

A draw extends Leeds' unbeaten run to six games and takes them seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Fourth-placed Liverpool edge three points ahead of Chelsea, who parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca on Thursday, and Manchester United in the battle for a place in next season's Champions League.

'Boring' Tottenham

Frank was given a hero's reception back at the club he returned to the top flight for the first time in 74 years and established as a Premier League force.

The Dane has not found it tougher to make an impact at Tottenham and they produced another display devoid of attacking inspiration.

The visiting Spurs fans chanted "boring, boring Tottenham" in the closing stages, while Frank was booed after the full-time whistle.

"Definitely, we don't create enough," admitted Frank. We need to continually work on that."

A stalemate leaves both sides still separated by just one point with Brentford in ninth and Spurs 12th.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said his depleted side are in "survival mode" after a 1-1 draw against Fulham extended their winless run to six games.

Jean-Philippe Mateta's first goal in eight games opened the scoring for Palace, but Fulham captain Tom Cairney's fine strike rescued a point for the visitors.