All posts by h716a5.icu

The New Zealand captain expects a diversity of conditions through the tournament, and says ‘there won’t be one way to play’

Sharda Ugra02-Jun-2019The World Cup is only four games into its first weekend (it will be five after Sunday) but 300 has been crossed only once, and in the other seven innings, the highest total so far has been 209. In his post-match conference in Cardiff, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s assessment was far from positive, saying “everyone is here to watch some entertainment, see a good match, a good, high-scoring match.”The World Cup 2019 venue curators may be going into frantic “course correction” in the hunt for a high-scoring close finish to give the event a spark, but the one team that is not surprised at how things have panned out is New Zealand.For captain Kane Williamson, the cards of the competition were laid out well before his team’s opening fixture, in the warm-up games. Before the match against Sri Lanka, Williamson had said, “We do know here, on some grounds that are smaller, have flat surfaces, that perhaps there will be some much higher scoring. We saw that in Bristol and also saw it at The Oval. It was quite a different situation. In some ways, we know that not every game is gonna be a 350 score, and we saw that in two warm-up games we played. One was; one wasn’t.”He underlined the four venues so far in an early English summer had established one fact: the totals and matches at the World Cup will not be the run-fests being expected and, therefore, “there won’t be one way to play.” Williamson said, “I think there has been a lot of talk about really high scores, but I think there will be a number of games where that isn’t the case and it will require adjustment… So there won’t be one way to play but, I guess, it’s just being smart with how we look to operate. For us as a team, that’s important.”By the end of Sunday, nine teams, barring India, will be a game into the competition, and setting out a pattern may be too early in the World Cup. Williamson, however, underscored that it is important for teams to be “aware”. He was asked whether New Zealand would, like South Africa did against England, open with a spinner – a move trademarked by New Zealand themselves in the 1992 World Cup.”You’ve got your five or six bowlers and they’re all options,” Williamson said in response. “I think it’s just important to address the surface, the opposition, and try and come up with the best plan… Naturally when you go through the tournament, you play one country and you might have two or three days, play another country on another surface, and you’re trying to, I guess, stay up-to-date with the different plans that you’re adjusting with the different opposition.”For his team, and it would apply to every other side in the competition regardless of skill levels or betting odds, adjusting to oppositions and conditions would be key as it could offer tactical solutions. “Whether it’s guys having to push a bit harder on a particular surface on a given day, then that may be what’s required,” Williamson said. “Equally, it may not be the case, and it’s about guys adjusting to perhaps what one-day cricket used to look a little bit more like where the scores are a little bit lower and much more scrappy-type mentality.”In the first half of the summer, ODI cricket does not seem to be so different from Test-match cricket in England, then?

Aston Villa face Chelsea this evening in the FA Cup, but Unai Emery will still have an eye on bolstering his squad before the transfer window slams shut next week.

The Midlands side have yet to make an addition to their senior side ahead of what could be a busy few months ahead, but they have shown interest in a few players.

Middlesbrough’s Morgan Rogers is one name that has been routinely linked and Villa have even had two bids rejected for the youngster this month.

Emery could forget about him, however, and pursue a move for another gem who has been shining in the Championship this season.

Aston Villa’s search for new signings

While Rogers appears to be high on Emery’s wish list, Norwich City starlet Jonathan Rowe is a player who is still being monitored by Villa, that’s according to Telegraph journalist John Percy.

He posted: “AVFC are maintaining a strong interest in Norwich forward Jon Rowe: 3 Villa scouts watched him in the match at Leeds on Weds night. Villa are still hopeful of signing Morgan Rogers but Rowe, 20, is also on their radar. 12 goals and 2 assists so far this season.”

With deadline day fast approaching, Emery does not have much time to strengthen his squad, and if he hopes to lead his side to some sort of glory this term, a couple of reinforcements could help this goal.

Latest Aston Villa injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Aston Villa news involving injuries.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 26, 2024

With Moussa Diaby beginning to settle into life in the Midlands, could Rowe become another version of the Frenchman but on the opposite flank?

Jonathan Rowe is on fire in the Championship

Since Diaby’s record-breaking move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, he has managed to score five goals and register six assists in all competitions.

While it may not be an outstanding return in front of goal for the talented whiz, the 24-year-old ace is slowly adapting to English football, and could eventually add more consistency in the final third.

According to WhoScored, both Rowe and Diaby love to cut inside on a regular basis, and, considering the pair have a keen eye for goal, the Championship starlet could turn into another version of the former Leverkusen winger should he join Villa.

Indeed, this season alone, the 20-year-old wizard has managed to find the back of the net on 13 occasions along with chipping in with four assists, proving that he is a big threat in the opposition third.

This form has led to widespread praise and data analyst Ben Mattinson even claimed that he was “on fire this season” towards the end of 2023 and there is no doubt he could add something to Emery’s side.

The 5 foot 8 sensation even leads the way in terms of goals and assists (14) among the Norwich squad in the second tier, along with ranking first for successful dribbles per game (1.1) and second for shots per game (two), which clearly shows how impressive he has been for the club.

Villa may be keen on signing Rogers, yet Rowe is clearly still a player of interest to Emery and with just days to go before the window closes, the Spaniard may need to act swiftly if he wants to lure him to the Midlands.

If the Villans can strike a deal for the England U21 international's service then they could have Diaby 2.0 on their hands with another direct winger who can contribute with goals and assists.

Luke Young has named the “surreal” transfer that proved Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham ambition, with few believing a deal would be done.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Red Dragons have splashed the cashCo-owners piecing together ambitions projectEx-England star Foster joined in National LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?

Hollywood co-owners at SToK Racecourse have made several statements of intent since completing a stunning takeover in 2021. Phil Parkinson was acquired as manager to oversee back-to-back promotions, while the likes of Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and James McClean have all taken steps down the Football League ladder.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT YOUNG SAID

It was, however, the arrival of former Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster in March 2023 – when the Red Dragons were still a National League outfit – that raised the most eyebrows. Former Wrexham captain Young has told the of that shock signing: “Again, a crazy moment. You hear talk about him signing and you’re like: ‘Nah, not going to happen’. And then nothing gets announced that he has signed but you walk into the club and into the canteen to have breakfast and there he is, sat eating breakfast. Ahhh right, yeah, we’ve just signed Ben Foster. It was a surreal moment and again, it has shown the calibre of players the club can attract.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The presence of Reynolds and McElhenney has aided that cause, with Young adding on celebrity co-owners that are fully committed to the collective cause: “As soon as you meet them and speak to them, they’re like genuine people, they really are. You take your hat off to them, putting in the time and the effort they have done into this football club, not only from a footballing point of view, but also a community point of view as well. Everything they’ve done is for the best of the club and town. They’re doing that in abundance and I’m sure they’ll continue doing that in the future.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Reynolds and McElhenney are currently working with Parkinson on transfer targets for the summer window of 2024, with Wrexham preparing to take another step up in class as they return to the third tier of English football for the first time in 20 years.

England won their final two groups games batting first but head coach is confident in their record chasing down a target

George Dobell07-Jul-2019England coach Trevor Bayliss is confident his team can overcome Australia in the World Cup semi-finals whether they win the toss or not.England enjoyed a significant advantage in their two previous matches, against India and, in particular, New Zealand, in batting first on surfaces which became slower and more responsive to cutters and slower balls.But Bayliss believes England’s long-term record batting second suggests they can cope if they are asked to chase and feels the improved weather across the UK is starting to be reflected in the quality of surfaces. Over the tournament as a whole, the side batting first has won 27 and lost 14 games. Over the last 20 matches, however, that increases sharply to 16 wins and four defeats.ALSO READ: Wade, Mitchell Marsh called in as cover by Australia”Batting second doesn’t scare our guys,” Bayliss told the BBC. “It is why we lost the previous two matches [against Australia and Sri Lanka]: we batted second. But I think we have won [11] of the last 17 times we batted second and the wickets are a little better now than they were earlier in the tournament.”Bayliss’ point about the improved wickets would appear to have been vindicated in recent days. Not only did India chase down their target on Saturday with seven wickets and nearly seven overs in hand, but there was no sign of deterioration in the surface at Old Trafford, where Australia scored 315 against South Africa but still fell 10 runs short of their target.After a prolonged period of wet weather, the last couple of weeks have been much warmer and drier, providing groundsmen more time to prepare their pitches. It remains possible we could yet see some of the vast scores predicted ahead of the tournament in the final three matches.If England are to take advantage of such conditions, it is likely they will rely heavily on their prolific opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. The pair have recorded 10 century partnerships in 31 ODIs including in each of the last three in which they have featured.Bairstow has scored centuries in his last two innings and has the highest strike rate in the history of ODI cricket for an opening batsman with more than 1000 runs. Roy, meanwhile, has the second highest strike rate on that list and has passed 50 seven times in his last eight ODIs, with three centuries in his last 10. As a result, Bayliss admitted there is a strong chance Roy could join Bairstow in England’s Ashes line-up.”They’ve done extremely well,” Bayliss said. “The way Jason goes about his batting gives a lot of confidence to the rest of the batting line-up and makes their job a hell of a lot easier.”Could he feature in the Ashes? I think so. Whether it’s at the top of the order or at No 3. There’s no secret that we’ve been looking for a solid combination in the top order in Test cricket, especially since Alastair Cook retired last year.”Jason has had success at international cricket and that goes a long way to being able to handle the pressure. I’s a definite option and one we have spoken about around the selection table for the last 12 months or so. I’m quite sure that will be a big discussion point in the next few weeks.”

Derby County will have been relieved to finally come out the other side of a blip in form last match, scraping past a dogged Cheltenham Town side 2-1 courtesy of a late James Collins goal.

This was a crucial victory for Paul Warne's men to get on the board in their continued aspirations to break into the automatic promotion spots come the end of the campaign, the ambitious Rams now just three points off Portsmouth at the top of League One.

Regardless of getting back on track in the league this weekend with a win, Derby will still want to bolster up top especially with a worrying injury development coming out of Pride Park weakening Warne's men going forward.

Derby going after former League One promotion winner

With young Arsenal recruit Tyreece John-Jules potentially needing surgery after picking up an untimely hamstring injury versus Lincoln City recently – Warne even commenting that the injury blow has 'destroyed' the up-and-coming striker – the Rams are now arguably light on numbers in the striker positions.

Showing flickers of his immense quality with two strikes registered in a Derby strip, which has seen the 22-year-old striker score goals for fun at U23 level back in north London, this is a disorientating blow at Pride Park that will hopefully be swiftly put to one side by the third tier outfit swooping back in for long-term target Michael Smith.

With the stumbling block between Sheffield Wednesday and Derby seemingly centring on the nature of the deal – the Rams only wanting Smith to come in and be a short-term hero on loan – this is a move that could well be finally completed on deadline day or agonisingly falls through at the death.

If the first option comes to fruition, the current Owls man could add another promotion to the Championship onto his resume at Derby with the 32-year-old attacker a lethal finisher at the level.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 How Smith slots into the Derby team

Warne would have to slightly tweak with his formation if Smith was to finally arrive on the scene, with John-Jules operating more as a second striker compared to Smith's prowess as an out-and-out centre-forward.

Derby won't complain about having to make a slight change, however, with Smith and James Collins potentially forming a terrifying strike partnership to fire the Rams to promotion.

Scoring 75 times in League One across his esteemed career to date, Collins equally as potent with 69 strikes next to his name, the current Owls man could more than make up for the loss of the injury-stricken John-Jules by making goalscoring look effortless again on his return to the division.

Once described as a "game-changer" style figure by ex-Wednesday boss Darren Moore, a successful deal for Smith this window could really give the Rams an edge in the ongoing promotion fight at the top of League One.

A star previously in the third tier under current Derby manager Warne when the pair were both at Rotherham United, the 32-year-old bagging 33 goals along the way to two promotions with the Millers, this match made in heaven could prove to be fruitful again as Derby prepare to do everything in their power to try and break out of League One.

Sunderland are in Championship action at the Stadium of Light once again as they prepare to welcome Plymouth Argyle to Wearside this afternoon.

The Black Cats have only won one of their last five matches in all competitions and will be hoping to return to winning ways against Ian Foster's side today.

Michael Beale must now work hard to get his team firing again over the coming weeks and months in order to push back up to the top six to secure play-off football.

Sunderland are currently eighth in the Championship table and one point behind Hull in sixth, although the Tigers have one game in hand over them.

The Black Cats were held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough last time out and Beale must now make at least one change to the starting XI from that match, with Nazariy Rusyn coming in for Mason Burstow at the top end of the pitch.

He could form an exciting link-up with Jack Clarke in the final third and the Chelsea loanee should be ditched to the bench, as his performances have left a lot to be desired so far this season.

Mason Burstow's struggles this season

The 20-year-old marksman has struggled throughout the campaign and has not proven himself to be a reliable option up front for Beale, or Tony Mowbray before him.

Burstow arrived from the Premier League side as a player with potential, having scored ten goals in 25 Premier League 2 matches last term, but he is yet to realise that on the pitch for the Black Cats.

Minutes played

67

Shots

Zero

Touches

18

Key passes

One

Duels won

Zero

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the young talent struggled badly against Middlesbrough last weekend as he led the line for Sunderland on Teeside.

The English striker lost all six of his duels throughout the game and failed to register a single effort on goal, which sums up his season so far.

Burstow has made 15 appearances and started ten matches in the Championship so far this season and contributed with one goal, from 1.33 xG, and one assist, from 0.37 xA.

Across those 15 games, the Chelsea loanee has lost a staggering 73% of his duels. This suggests that he is a huge liability out of possession as opposition players have found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests on a regular basis.

The Sunderland number 11 currently ranks within the bottom 12% of Championship forwards this season for non-penalty goals (0.12) per 90, and the bottom 30% for Expected Assisted Goals (0.06) per 90.

These statistics show that the summer signing is below average as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his teammates among his positional peers.

His lack of consistent end product in front of goal also suggests that Burstow is not providing much in possession for the Black Cats to make up for his lightweight nature off the ball.

Why Sunderland must unleash Nazariy Rusyn

Beale must now ditch the Premier League loanee in order to unleash Rusyn through the middle of the pitch, after his impressive cameo last weekend.

The former Dynamo Kiev forward came on with 23 minutes left to play at the Riverside and secured a point for his team with a well-taken goal in the second half.

Jack Clarke switched the play over to the £9k-per-week dynamo and the substitute lashed a superb half-volley past Tom Glover to make it 1-1 on the day.

He also won two of his three (66%) ground duels off the bench, which meant that the Ukrainian whiz won more duels and registered more shots in 23 minutes than Burstow did in 67.

Appearances

14

Starts

Six

Goals

Two

xG

1.71

Assists

One

Duel success rate

51%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Rusyn has been directly involved in more goals (three) than the Chelsea youngster (two) despite having started four fewer matches in the Championship.

The electric 25-year-old speedster, who has three goals in three U21 matches for the club, currently ranks within the top 24% of forwards in the division for non-penalty goals (0.46) per 90, and the top 35% for Expected Assisted Goals (0.13) per 90 this season.

These statistics suggest that Rusyn, who has also held his own in physical contests with a duel success rate of 51%, could offer far more than Burstow in the final third.

Jack Clarke's brilliance this season

Beale must unleash the striker alongside Sunderland star Jack Clarke, who has proven he has the quality to be a difference-maker on a consistent basis.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster has been an outstanding performer for the Black Cats in the Championship this season, and is the perfect winger for a striker to play alongside as he can offer a constant threat as both a scorer and a creator.

Sofascore rating

7.80

1st

Goals

13

1st

Assists

Four

1st

Big chances created

11

1st

Key passes per game

2.5

1st

Dribbles completed per game

3.7

1st

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Clarke has been the main man for Beale and Mowbray with his sensational performances at the top end of the pitch, with a constant stream of goals, assists, chances created, and dribbles completed to drive his team up the table.

The English magician may be frustrated that his 11 'big chances' created and 7.49 xA has only been rewarded with four assists, as those statistics suggest that his teammates have let him down in front of goal in the Championship.

This is why Beale must unleash Rusyn from the start as the exciting marksman has outperformed his xG in the division, whilst Burstow has underperformed slightly, and could be the dream forward to make the most of Clarke's creativity, which is exactly what he did with his goal against Middlesbrough from the winger's assist.

Therefore, the head coach should ditch Burstow and unleash Rusyn and Clarke together in the final third against Plymouth at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.

Lionel Messi has been lauded for avoiding the same MLS “excuses” as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, with the Inter Miami superstar still “driven”.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

All-time great headed to Florida in 2023Remains as committed as everEngland internationals accused of slackingGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi made his way to the United States in 2023 when reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Any questions of his passion waning on the back of a World Cup win with Argentina were quickly answered when inspiring a Leagues Cup triumph in Florida.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi has continued to star in 2024, breaking more records while reaching double figures for goals and assists, with the iconic Argentine showing no sign of slowing down ahead of turning 37. His desire to compete and be the best continues to shine brightly, with the odd rest in Florida being forced upon him.

GettyWHAT RONGEN SAID

He did not sit out a recent 13-hour round trip to Vancouver through choice, as he was omitted from Inter Miami’s travelling party, and former MLS boss Thomas Rongen is delighted to see Messi steering clear of the complaints that other prominent figures have made. He has told : “Anywhere he goes, he’s driven, he has a mental strength after playing at the highest level for many, many years. It should be exhausting, I remember Gerd Muller was pretty much done when he hit 35. But stuff like the travel he’s dealt with quite well, it’s always surprised players coming to America, and sometimes it’s an excuse, like Gerrard and Lampard used, ‘oh this country is so big, it’s why I’m not performing well,’ but he never has excuses.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT?

Former England internationals Gerrard and Lampard spent time in the States with the LA Galaxy and New York City FC respectively. Messi has captured the imagination in MLS like few before him, with there already talk of him chasing down MVP honours when returning to Miami from Copa America duty with his country.

Bancroft appears likely to partner Warner, with Wade looking set to bat No.6, while Hazlewood, Starc and Siddle are in a tussle for the last fast bowling spot

Daniel Brettig at Edgbaston30-Jul-2019Australia’s coach Justin Langer has declared James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja certain starters for the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston, while also consigning Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle to a three-way duel for the final pace bowling spot on a dry-looking pitch and with an unpromising weather forecast.The tourists pushed their main training session forward to Monday with its sunny skies, ahead of an expected stream of showers over the rest of the week, including once the Test begins on Thursday. Khawaja proved his recovery from a hamstring strain through a series of running drills, and spent quality time in the nets against Pattinson, who Langer effectively cleared for a first Test match since 2016 and a first Ashes match since he suffered a side strain midway through the 2013 Lord’s Test.”Usman Khawaja will definitely be in, he’s fit, ready to go, he’s playing well,” Langer said. “He’s a seasoned pro for us, he averages 40-odd in Test cricket, his hammy’s good, he’s running well, he’s passed all the fitness tests so he’s ready to go. He’ll bat No. 3.”ALSO READ: Head softens approach for Ashes questNumerous selection debates remain to be had, although Cameron Bancroft looks highly likely to return alongside David Warner at the top of the batting order, followed by Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head and Matthew Wade. Mitchell Marsh is a contender also, particularly if the pitch continues to get a chance to dry further – something of an open question given that it may well spend much of the next two days under the covers.”Like in all these selections, there’s literally a case for 17 blokes to play,” Langer said. “The opening partnership’s going to be really tough, between Cameron and Marcus Harris, really hard. They’ve both got a really strong case, and then the fast bowling spots. There’s probably three to be fair, Starcy, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood, for one spot.”It was very similar to the World Cup semi-final as well, we got here, it was the same, the grass, but it wasn’t green grass. But we still saw some life in it in that we came unstuck in the semi-final. The wicket doesn’t surprise me, that’s more what I was expecting here.James Pattinson steams in during Australia’s net session•Getty Images”Because the grass is so brown, there’s no green grass on it, and it’s rock hard and quite dry underneath, I don’t think [wet weather] will make much difference. I’m not a horticulturalist, but I don’t see how that’s going to get green. It might just be a bit of sweating and stuff, but I don’t think it’ll make a difference because of the colour of the grass. Probably the groundsman would give you a better answer than me.”Pattinson’s return not only to the squad but to a position where his selection was all but confirmed three days before the first ball is clearly a source of great enjoyment for the Australian team’s planners, having guided him through numerous injuries and then radical back surgery in New Zealand in late 2017. He forms a key part of an attack that will be shuffled according to the character of the pitches and weather the tourists encounter, much as they did during the World Cup.”Just a very, very good bowler,” Langer said of Pattinson. “I’m sure Painey will work out ways of using him, it’s just nice to see him back, it’s a great story isn’t it, coming back from where he was as a young bowler, the back surgeries, to more than likely being selected for this Test match, it’s a great story.”They won’t be rotated as such, like in the World Cup we’ll pick the best three or four for every game we play. Lord’s is very different to here, Old Trafford’s going to be different. We won’t rotate them per se, but we’ll just pick the best three, probably not four, but three for every game. It won’t be for different opposition, certainly different conditions.”As for Bancroft, whose work at short leg was lauded by Steve Waugh, the tenacious qualities he had shown in battling back to a place in the squad, and more than likely the team, are of the sort that Langer wants to see in every member of the squad.”Whichever ones we pick, that’s what you want from everyone, so it’s not just him,” he said. “I think Matthew Wade’s fought his way back into selection because of that tenacity to keep getting better and he’s knocked so hard on the door. You see it, if Steve Smith averages 60 it shows a bit of tenacity, David Warner’s the same. You want it from all of the players, not just him.”

Inter Miami have shown they can “do it without” Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but the “best players in the history of their position” are a big miss.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Superstar forwards on international dutyWill miss several weeks of MLS actionHerons battling bravely in their absenceGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Herons knew heading into the 2024 MLS campaign that they would be losing two talismanic figures to the Copa America midway through their domestic season. Messi was never going to turn down the chance to defend a continental crown with Argentina, while Suarez has been drafted back into the Uruguay squad.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementWHAT GRESSEL SAID

Inter Miami battled their way to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union without the two all-time greats at their disposal – and after being reduced to nine men – and USMNT star Julian Gressel sees that as a positive. He has said: “This is our time to keep the train rolling; we want to be top of the Supporters Shield standings at the end of the season and every game is a big part of that. (I'm) just trying to emphasize that and trying to make it clear to the guys that it's our time and we can do it without those guys as well.”

USA Today ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Leo Afonso was the Herons’ hero in Philly, as he netted a 94th-minute winner, and he has said of adjusting to life without Messi and Suarez in Tata Martino’s side: “It’s difficult when you’re missing the best players in the history in their position, but we have to keep working and we have to try our best.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

Messi and Suarez could be missing for several weeks yet, with Copa America yet to get underway, but Inter Miami remain at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference for now. They will be back in action on Wednesday when playing host to the Columbus Crew.

Liverpool might sit at the summit of the Premier League but Jurgen Klopp will have reminded his players in no uncertain terms that Manchester City and Arsenal lurk ominously behind.

The former, Pep Guardiola's defending champions, have a game in hand and would go top with victory, so it's very much all in the balance and the forthcoming fixture against Brentford is an absolute must-win for the Reds.

Naturally, Liverpool have never won away to the Bees in the Premier League but will view Saturday's affair with a third-time-lucky mentality, with Mohamed Salah in contention once again after returning to full-team training this week.

Unfortunately, influential duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai remain injured and will not return until after next weekend's Carabao Cup final clash against Chelsea.

The Reds host Luton Town in midweek but Klopp is likely to field a strong line-up at the Gtech Community Stadium, with four changes to the side that defeated Burnley one week ago.

1 GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Last weekend, Caoimhin Kelleher deputised between the sticks for the third time in the Premier League this season and maintained his 100% record, and while Alisson has overcome illness, he has now been ruled out with a hamstring injury and the Irishman will start between the sticks once again.

Kelleher is a competent back-up but Alisson is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and Klopp will be anxiously hoping for a swift recovery.

2 RB – Conor Bradley

Alexander-Arnold is back on the sidelines after aggravating his knee injury but have no fear Liverpool fans: Conor Bradley is back in line for a starting berth.

Bradley's incredible emergence was paused as he took compassionate leave but the 20-year-old is back on Merseyside and will be eager to add to his one goal and five assists last month.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate missed out last week after picking up two yellow cards during the insipid defeat against Arsenal in London at the start of the month, though the Frenchman will be confident of a much happier return to the capital tomorrow.

He's been brilliant this term and has stepped up with some first-class displays after Joel Matip's season-ending ACL injury back in December, recently described as an “absolute beast” by one analyst.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Barring any unforeseen late drama, Virgil van Dijk should make his 250th Liverpool appearance on Saturday, having captained Liverpool toward a title chase this season.

The Dutchman fell by the wayside last term but has been in imperious form this year and will be crucial in nullifying Toney's dominance in the final third.

5 LB – Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson has been so reliable for Liverpool over the years but has spent the lion's share of the current campaign on the periphery, requiring shoulder surgery after international duty back in October and being kept out of the side by the in-form Joe Gomez after recovering fitness last month.

The Scotland captain was in stunning form against Burnley last weekend though and made five key passes, so he is likely to start despite Gomez recovering from flu this week.

6 DM – Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo was awarded Liverpool's Player of the Month for December but saw his club progress halted by international duty with Japan throughout January.

The 30-year-old started last week, winning nine duels and making four tackles, so should feature from the outset once again.

7 CM – Harvey Elliott

Hailed as a "superstar" by pundit Joe Cole, Alexis Mac Allister has been near undroppable this season but Endo's industriousness at the base of the engine room might be a tool worth using at the Gtech, and with Harvey Elliott's impact off the bench last week, he's surely deserving of a start.

The 20-year-old is delightfully creative and has the skill and vision to unlock the Bees defence. He has to start just his fourth Premier League match of the season.

8 CM – Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones is possibly Liverpool's most underrated player and will be so important in stuffing Thomas Frank's side's threat and establishing control in the centre of the park.

As per FBref, the dynamic midfielder ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 13% for assists, the top 4% for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive carries, the top 12% for successful take-ons and the top 20% for tackles per 90.

9 RW – Diogo Jota

Recently crowned Premier League Player of the Month, there is no question that Diogo Jota is a man bang in form, and if fitness levels prevail the Portuguese ace will be a defining figure over the coming months.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Finishing

Ball retention

Passing

Long shots

Defensive contribution

Source: WhoScored

Salah is fit again but might just have to settle for the bench on his first time back in action, although Jota's "clinical" – as he has been called by reporter Neil Jones – nature will leave few supporters concerned.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

There's no shirking away from the fact that Luis Diaz could have done better throughout large portions of the campaign, but the Colombian winger has been much-improved across recent outings and boasts four goals and three assists since the new year.

His electricity and dynamism will be crucial to wrongfooting the Brentford backline and handing his side another crucial victory in the Premier League title race.