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After Liverpool’s crushing 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final last season, it would’ve taken a brave man to say where the Reds would go from there.

The travelling supporters had to witness Mohamed Salah go off early through injury, and also had to watch on in agony as Loris Karius single-handedly gifted Los Blancos two goals, and leave the pitch in tears after full-time.

Would Jurgen Klopp’s men have used the hurt of that game to kick on and put things right, or would they let it eat away at them and effect their chances of success for the next campaign? It was certainly a big call to make.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

However, Glenn Hoddle, who was commentating on the showpiece event, hit the nail on the head.

What did he say?

As the Liverpool players received their runner-up medals, Hoddle said: “I think they should be proud of how they’ve played this season. It’s a long, long campaign to get through to the final of the Champions League, and it could’ve been easy that they slipped out of the top four.

“It’s a great sign that this squad has managed to get to the final here, stayed in the top four for next year, and they can build on that. Klopp’s got to bring in two, three, maybe four new players, and I think they can challenge City if they get a keeper sorted out, another centre-back, another one in midfield. They’ve got the nucleus of a really good team here.”

How did his prediction turn out?

As we now know, Liverpool did challenge City for the Premier League title, losing out by just a single point after an excellent campaign in which they lost just one game.

They did so, as Hoddle suggested, by bringing in a new goalkeeper to replace Loris Karius with the £67m arrival of Alisson Becker, and also got ‘another one in midfield’ by splashing out £43.7m on Fabinho.

Klopp didn’t sign a new centre-back, but the emergence of Joe Gomez in the role alongside Virgil van Dijk was a huge part of their early season success and eventual foundation for a title charge, and also making another Champions League final.

Maybe Michael Edwards and Klopp should liaison with Hoddle in regards to future plans for the club…

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Former Celtic star Frank McAvennie has told The Scottish Sun that he believes James Forrest has no reason to want to leave the club this summer, and believes he wouldn’t be suited to English football.

What’s the word, then?

The 27-year-old has enjoyed another impressive campaign for the Glasgow giants, and was this week named as the Scottish PFA Player of the Year after scoring 17 goals and providing a further 20 assists in 55 appearances in all competitions.

His standout performances may well see him linked to some clubs south of the border during the summer transfer window, but McAvennie has told the Scottish Sun that the winger would be wrong to make a move to England if the opportunity arose.

The 59-year-old former Bhoy said: “I don’t know if he’s big enough to go down to England.

“If you go somewhere new you have all the upheaval that goes with a move. Does he want that? I’m not too sure.

“He’s going to get a game for Celtic for years to come. So why would you want to move?”

Has he got a point?

He certainly has in some ways.

Forrest is already a Parkhead hero, can win plenty of trophies and can continue to play Champions League football.

In that respect it would be a risky move to go to a Premier League club, similarly to when Stuart Armstrong left the Scottish capital for Southampton last summer.

The midfielder has found regular first-team starts hard to come by and has found himself embroiled in a relegation battle with the south coast club.

Controversial. Uncompromising. Leader. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith talks the future of Celtic’s evergreen captain Scott Brown in the video below…

Forrest could easily find himself in the same situation if he joined a mid-table or lower English top flight team, and he should stick to what he knows.

His comments on the 27-year-old not being good enough because of his size are slightly more confusing though, given how well Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser has fared this term.

أكد أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة أن الرياضة المصرية تخطو بخطوات ثابتة نحو العالمية من خلال الإنجازات التي تحققها على كافة المستويات العربية والقارية والدولية، بفضل دعم ورعاية القيادة السياسية للمنظومة الرياضية، والروح التي يتحلى بها لاعبو مصر أثناء مشاركتهم في مختلف المحافل، وتحقيقهم الفوز بالعزيمة والإصرار والاجتهاد والأداء الراقي”.

جاء ذلك تعليقاً على فوز اللاعبة ميار شريف ببطولة تشارلستون الأمريكية، بعد الفوز على منافستها كاتارزينا كاوا في نهائي البطولة.

وتقدمت ميار الشريف من المركز الـ164 إلى المركز 132 عالميًا. شاهد لحظة فوز ميار بالبطولة من هنا

وثمن وزير الشباب والرياضة على أداء اللاعبة ميار شريف، ومداومتها على العروض المتميزة، والنتائج المبهرة التي تحققها في مختلف المشاركات الدولية، والتي كانت أخرها تأهلها للعب بالدور الرئيسي ببطولة رولان جاروس، وتقديم مباراة ماراثونية أمام اللاعبة أمام المصنفة الرابعة كارولينا بلشكوفا، فضلاً عن تأهلها لأوليمبياد طوكيو العام المقبل، مقدماً التهنئة للاعبة على الفوز ببطولة تشارلستون الأمريكية.

وأكد الدكتور أشرف صبحي أن مصر في رياضة التنس الأرضي في طريقها لتحقيق الإنجازات على المستوى الدولي، وعدم الاكتفاء بالعروض المشرفة فقط، وذلك بفضل اللاعبين المصريين الواعدين ومنهم ميار شريف ومحمد صفوت.

وتقوم وزارة الشباب والرياضة بالتنسيق مع اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية وجميع الاتحادات الرياضية؛ بتوفير كافة المتطلبات والدعم المطلوب من أجل تنفيذ جميع خطط الاتحادات المتعلقة بتطوير المنظومة الرياضية، وتجهيز وإعداد لاعبي المنتخبات الوطنية لمختلف البطولات في سياق استمرار الإنجازات التي تشهدها الرياضة المصرية خلال الآونة الراهنة.

Southampton seem to just have enough points that will allow them to remain in the Premier League next season. Phew. 

Although fragilities in their side are still very noticeable, the Saints have at times, been resurgent under Ralph Hasenhuttl, which leads many fans to have high hopes for next season. Changes to certain players on the pitch have been particularly noticeable and with a full summer to implement his style and bring in players of his own choosing, Southampton could be right back up there at least challenging for a top ten spot.

With a full squad, Southampton know themselves that they should be doing more than battling against relegation.

Now that Mario Lemina has returned, he is without a doubt a player who can change Southampton’s fortunes, getting to 40 points and then beyond next season. Believe it or not, he’s that good.

Lemina, (who is valued at £13.5 million on Transfermarkt) came back from injury in Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle, where he scored the away sides goal. Although Hasenhuttl has since developed a midfield trio of Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Lemina’s return to the side could almost be as influential as a new signing.

The former Juventus midfielder has undeniable quality but his issue has always been delivering that consistently. If he can sort himself out on a consistent basis, the £18.1m Southampton reportedly paid for him would look like a real steal. Yes, his quality hasn’t been obvious for a while now but the Gabonese is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with when he’s playing well.

It’s safe to say that if he found his way into the thoughts and considerations of new boss Hasenhuttl, then Southampton no longer have to worry about recruiting more central-midfielders this summer.

Do you agree that Mario Lemina is good enough to go straight back into the starting line-up? If not, why not? Let us know!

After 10 months of despair at the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield Town’s dismal season finally came to an end on Sunday following their 1-1 draw at Southampton.

In a campaign which saw the club lose 28 of their 38 games and record a measly total of 16 points in the Premier League, it is clear that the Terriers need a huge overhaul in the summer in order to rebuild their squad ahead of their return to the second tier.

Whereas the likes of Jonas Lossl, Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre are expected to be amongst the many players to make their departure from West Yorkshire over the coming months, the exit that will hurt Huddersfield fans the most could be that of Aaron Mooy.

Although he did not reach the heights of his previous two seasons at the club during the 2018/19 campaign, the Australian was still one of their stand-out performers and would undoubtedly thrive in the Championship next year if he stays.

However, with The Sun on Sunday (as quoted by HITC) reporting that Southampton are interested in bringing Mooy to the St Mary’s Stadium, it may be tough for Huddersfield to keep the £12.6m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) at the club.

Yet if the Terriers do convince the Saints or another side to pay the £15m that they want for Mooy, it could allow them to considerably improve their squad in the summer and therefore it may be worth cutting ties with the former Manchester City ace.

Having played a defining role in the Terriers’ rise to prominence in 2017, the 28-year-old will undoubtedly be remembered fondly by the club’s supporters yet by leaving for a hefty fee, he could help guarantee their future in the second tier.

What do you think Huddersfield fans? Should Siewert cash-in on Mooy in the summer? Or would the club benefit more from keeping the Australian at the John Smith’s Stadium? Let us know below.

قدم جواد الزيات رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي الرجاء المغربي، استقالته من منصبه، بعد عقد اجتماع طارئ اليوم الأحد، بمقر النادي.

وكان الرجاء المغربي قد خرج من دور نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد الخسارة من الزمالك بنتيجة 4-1 بمجموع المباراتين.

ووفقا لموقع “البطولة” المغربي، فإن جواد الزيات، رئيس الرجاء، أبلغ أعضاء المكتب المديري للنادي، باستقالته من رئاسة “النسور الخضر”، في اجتماعٍ عُقد بشكل طارئ، مساء اليوم الأحد.

وأشار الموقع إلى أن بعض الأعضاء دعوا الزيات إلى التراجع والعدول عن قراره، غير أن الأخير بدا مُصرًا على الرحيل عن أسوار “القلعة الخضراء”.

ونجح فريق الرجاء تحت رئاسة جواد الزيات، في التتويج بكأس الكونفدرالية وبطولة الدوري المغربي ثم كأس السوبر الإفريقي.

Has there ever been a better time to be a Sheffield United supporter?

After achieving promotion to the Premier League last month from the Championship, the Blades are now just months away from welcoming the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to Bramall Lane.

Yet before his side play their first top-flight game in 12 years in August, Chris Wilder will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen his squad this summer. With United in need of bringing in a goalkeeper when the transfer window, it is clear that their number one target simply has to be Dean Henderson.

Having excelled on loan at the club during a campaign in which he conceded just 41 goals and kept a remarkable total of 21 clean sheets in the second tier, the £2.25m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) would arguably be the Blades’ signing of the year if they can convince him to make a permanent switch from Manchester United.

However, with the Star reporting that the Red Devils are reluctant to sanction a deal, the Blades may have to seek the possibility of securing another loan move.

An outstandingly talented player, Henderson has all the ingredients needed to thrive in the Premier League yet with both David De Gea and Sergio Romero ahead of him in the pecking order at Old Trafford, he may have to leave the club in order to fulfil his potential.

By rejoining the Blades, the England under-21 international would undoubtedly benefit from learning from the likes of Wilder and his assistant Alan Knill who have an excellent track record of getting the very best out of their players.

What do you think United fans? Would you welcome back Henderson in the summer? How impressed were you with the keeper’s performances last season? Let us know below.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are probably still yet to get over the fact that their side are in the Champions League semi-final, with Ajax now standing in their way. 

Mauricio Pochettino really has worked wonders this season and the north London club’s new stadium certainly seems to be helping, so perhaps Champions League glory could be on the cards.

What’s the News?

Spurs recently received a big boost on the injury front, as according to PhysioRoom.com (via football.london), Hugo Lloris is expected to be fit for the Brighton clash on Tuesday.

“He has suffered a small muscle problem,” Pochettino told reporters.

Paulo Gazzaniga started in-between the sticks at the Etihad yesterday and it’s safe to say that he looked less than comfortable, especially when it came to playing the ball out from the back.

The Verdict:Hugo Lloris hasn’t been at his best this season but he’s still a very important part of Spurs’ setup under Mauricio Pochettino, so his return would come as a big boost for the club and supporters. He will provide a wealth of experience in the closing stages of this season and he has the ability to win games for the north London club.Of course, Spurs fans would love to see Harry Kane return to action immediately with lots still to play for in the current campaign, but it looks as if they’ll have to settle for Lloris right now.Tottenham Hotspur fans, how big of a boost will Lloris’ return be on Tuesday? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.