Manchester City have reportedly agreed a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt for Omar Marmoush with the Egyptian set to sign a five-year contract.
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Man City have agreed on a fee for MarmoushStriker will be offered a five-year dealCity have already signed Reis and Khusanov in JanuaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to City have finalized an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of the Egyptian forward in an attempt to strengthen their attacking options for the remainder of the season. Negotiations between the two clubs hit a snag when Frankfurt rejected an initial bid from City. The German club had valued Marmoush at €80 million (£67.1m/$82m), while City initially offered closer to €60m (£50.4m/$61.5m).
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Marmoush joined Eintracht Frankfurt from Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023 and has quickly established himself as a prolific scorer. In just 67 appearances for Frankfurt, he has netted 37 goals, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable forwards. This season, Marmoush has continued his impressive form, scoring 15 league goals, including one in Frankfurt’s recent 4-1 victory over Freiburg.
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Marmoush’s arrival will address City’s lack of center-forward options following Julian Alvarez’s summer move to Atletico Madrid. Erling Haaland has shouldered the burden of leading the line, starting all 27 of City’s games across the Premier League and Champions League this season.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
Marmoush isn’t the only player City have added to their ranks in the January window. The club has already committed over £60m ($73m) to secure young centre-backs Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov. These signings are part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the squad and prepare for a strong second half of the season. They will be back in action against Ipswich on Sunday in the Premier League.
Gloucestershire duo put on 58 as Bracey posts his seventh half-century of season
ECB Reporters' Network06-Sep-2021James Bracey collected his seventh Championship fifty of the season as Gloucestershire battled to save their clash with Essex.Bracey, who earned an England Test debut earlier in the summer, took his first-class run tally for the summer to 685 with a rear-guard performance.Fifteen wickets fell on the opening day at the Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford, but only nine fell on the second as the pitch flattened out.Five of those were Essex’s tail, as Paul Walter fell for a career-best 96 and the home side clocked up a 200-run first-innings lead – which thanks to Bracey’s 50 and Ben Charlesworth’s 49 had been knocked down to 69 by the close.Resuming on 150 for 5, having earlier bowled Gloucestershire out for 76, Adam Wheater was dismissed by the Price brothers – bowled Tom caught second slip Ollie – off the ninth ball of the day to end a 79-run stand with Walter.Walter and Simon Harmer then attacked the old ball – their fifty-partnership coming in just 56 balls – but were warier against the new one.That caution saw Walter stutter in the 90s and he eventually fell four short of what would have been a maiden first-class ton when he edged to third slip, a mode of dismissal Harmer replicated in the following over – their stand worth 71.Shane Snater swung hard to clear the long-on boundary but too hard soon after to loop to first slip, before a 32-run 10th wicket stand between Sam Cook and Jamie Porter took the hosts to a 200 run lead – before the latter skied to mid-off having already clubbed the first six of his career.Miles Hammond was dropped in the first over of Gloucestershire’s second innings when the ball bobbled out of Tom Westley’s hand at third slip.Snater made the breakthrough in the 13th over when a full delivery moved back slightly to pin Hammond leg before.But Charlesworth steadied the ship again with Bracey and passed the first-innings total inside 32 overs only one wicket down.The duo put on 58 with few genuine worries in 92 sun-kissed minutes, although Harmer was finding good turn and bounce. And that spin pinned Charlesworth lbw for 49.Bracey scored predominantly behind the bat as he reached his half-century in 118 balls, with seven fours. He fell four balls later though when Cook angled across him and found an edge to Harmer at second slip, with Tom Price turning Harmer to short leg.And with what turned out to be the final ball of the day Josh Rymell produced a superb throw to run Ollie Price out with a direct hit from deep square leg.
He also confirmed that Harmanpreet Kaur’s thumb injury would keep her out of the second ODI
Annesha Ghosh23-Sep-2021Shiv Sunder Das, the India Women batting coach, believes scoring at least 60 runs in the powerplay could in some measure help address the team’s inability to post competitive totals in ODIs. He echoed captain Mithali Raj when emphasising the role of openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in achieving that goal, and backed Mandhana’s “ability to get runs for us”.Related
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“We have been working on that aspect of the game,” Das said of India’s innings-construction plans ahead of the second ODI. “We have blocked 10 overs each for each batter. We are looking at a good start to start with and, obviously, in the middle overs we are looking at an average of five runs [per over] and at the end we’re looking at six runs per over. Basically, that is our batting plan.”In the nets we have tried a few things. It’s about the individual – how they react to the game, especially at the start of the innings. We have Shafali Verma and Smriti, so basically we are looking at a good start. Obviously, [in the] last few games we didn’t have a good start, [but] I am very positive as the batting coach. They’ll put up a good start and once you put up a good start of about 60-70 runs in 10 overs, that momentum you can carry into the middle overs. You will see the difference tomorrow.”In their last 10 ODIs, India have only twice scored more than 50 in the first 10 overs, with a best score of 57 for 1 in the third ODI against South Africa in March. On three occasions, they’ve failed to reach the 40 mark within the first 10 overs.After India’s crushing nine-wicket defeat in the opening ODI on Tuesday, Raj had said she expected the experienced Mandhana to take the lead and contribute more runs at the top of the order. She called for the openers to put on at least 50 to alleviate the pressure on the middle order. Das, for his part, was hopeful Mandhana would be able to live up to her role in the forthcoming ODIs.”I had a one-to-one chat with her [Mandhana] and in the last two sessions we have worked hard in the nets,” Das said. “We have addressed a few issues and, as you know, she is a world-class player, and we are backing her ability to get runs for us. Definitely we will see the difference in tomorrow’s game.”Das also confirmed that India will be without their designated vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur for a second straight match given she is yet to recover from the thumb injury she sustained at training last week.Harmanpreet Kaur’s thumb injury will keep her out of the second ODI as well•Annesha Ghosh/ESPNcricinfoAppointed India’s batting coach on a tour-by-tour basis for the away series against England in June, Das was one of the few members on the coaching staff to be retained for the Australia assignment. A former Test opener, he previously worked with the India Women A team, including during the 2020 quadrangular series in Patna, and was roped in for the England series – which, like the ongoing tour, featured a standalone Test – primarily owing to his experience as a Test and first-class cricketer.Strike rotation, he said, remains a primary area of concern for the India line-up. He also stressed that a largely young and inexperienced line-up would need a little more time to get used to Australian conditions.”The first ten overs… we have addressed that issue,” Das said. “The running between the wickets is an area we are still working on. It’s a work in progress; you have to see there are a few young batters in our side and it’s a good side. You have to give them some time. Once they get used to these conditions, I think they will definitely fire.”We have been working on a few aspects of the rotation of strike. Basically we’re focused on their strengths. Now, because it’s in [the middle of] the series, we have identified a few areas. It’s a work in progress. Definitely in the future series, they’ll definitely come good.”If you see our team, we have a lot of youngsters. Yastika [Bhatia] got an opportunity; she batted well. It’s definitely a new challenge for them. All these wickets – they are good batting wickets, and I hope they’ll perform well tomorrow.”To counter Australia’s short-ball ploy, which reaped the hosts high dividends in the first ODI, Das said India had chalked up plans in their practice sessions, especially against the 18-year-old quick Darcie Brown, who took 4 for 33 on Tuesday. She had accounted for Verma and Deepti Sharma with short-pitched deliveries.”The last two days we had net sessions, particularly because she bowls back-of-the-hand short balls, so we have identified a few areas and all the top-order batters, we have had a plan and I have had a one-to-one chat with them,” Das said. “I think we’ll see the difference in tomorrow’s game.”
Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in the summer of 2023 and are still carrying some of the players who did not opt to fight for promotion back from the Championship.
Max Wober spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach before starting the current season on the bench, and is now out through injury.
Meanwhile, Jack Harrison and Rasmus Kristensen are both out on loan for the second season in succession, with Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
The 49ers, however, now look set to hit the jackpot by finally cashing in on Jesse Marsch flop Kristensen, amid interest from the Bundesliga outfit.
Latest transfer news on Rasmus Kristensen
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Frankfurt are interested in signing Kristensen on a permanent deal in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
The journalist does not reveal whether they would like to make it happen in January or when his loan officially expires at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Plettenberg adds that Frankfurt have already decided that they want to make his loan a permanent deal and that they are prepared to trigger their option to buy the Denmark international.
It is said to be worth up to €12m (£10m) and this means that the Leeds owners could be set to hit the jackpot by cashing in on the 27-year-old dud for such a fee, given his performances for the club in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke already has Jayden Bogle, Sam Byram, and Isaac Schmidt in his squad to compete for a place at right-back, which means that any sale of the Frankfurt loanee would not disrupt his team at all, whilst bringing more money into the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Rasmus Kristensen's form for Leeds
Marsch swooped to sign the defender from his former team RB Salzburg in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of ÂŁ10m, which means that the Whites could be about to break even on him.
That is an impressive achievement by the 49ers when you consider how much Kristensen struggled in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated from the division.
Leeds United's Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen
The defender reportedly earned around ÂŁ39k-per-week that term and, speaking to Danish channel TV Midtvest, via the Yorkshire Evening Post, admitted that he is sometimes “embarrassed” and “ashamed” of his wages and the money in football generally, adding that does not do anything “important”.
A noble sentiment but some may have questioned his wages even within the context of football, after his disappointing performances in the top-flight for the Whites.
Appearances
26
Starts
21
Pass accuracy
69%
Key passes per game
0.3
Dribbled past
34 times
Duel success rate
54%
As you can see in the table above, Kristensen was an unreliable passer, completing just 69% of his attempted passes, and was dribbled past a whopping 34 times in 21 starts.
Attackers found it far too easy to get the better of him in English football, suggesting that he was not suited to the pace and physicality of the country, and that is why the 49ers are now set to hit the jackpot by landing ÂŁ10m from Frankfurt for him, as his performances for Leeds suggest that his value should have dropped.
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Christian Pulisic scores from the penalty spot, and Yunus Musah provides a 95th-minute assist in a dramatic win for Milan
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Christian Pulisic played 90 minutes, despite injury concernsYunus Musah impressed in key momentsMilan needed two stoppage time goals to down struggling ParmaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Two USMNT stars played big roles as Milan left it late to beat relegation-threatened Parma Sunday. Christian Pulisic scored his 12th goal of the season, and turned in an impressive attacking performance despite being limited to just 15 minutes midweek.
Yunus Musah, too, played a role. His early error gave Parma a goal, but he rebounded in style, completing the most dribbles in the match and delivering a sublime 95th-minute assist to snatch an uncomfortable 3-2 win.
Pulisic's participation was uncertain before the game. The USMNT attacking midfielder has struggled with various knocks in recent weeks, and new Milan manager Sergio Conceicao didn't guarantee that the American would be able to play 90 minutes. But Pulisic provided all the same, scoring from the spot. He has never missed a penalty for club and country, taking 10 and finding the net on all 10 occasions.
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The win could prove to be crucial in the scope of Milan's season. It took them up to sixth place, three points behind Juventus with a game in hand. Sunday's victory completed an agreeable week, coming off the back of a win over Girona in the Champions League that put them firmly in the picture for automatic qualification for the round of 16.
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Conceicao's solid start to his Milan tenure has continued. The Portuguese manager has won five of his first seven games in charge, the only loss coming to Juventus. Pulisic has been instrumental when fit, and now has 12 goal involvements in 15 starts.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?
It is yet another busy week for Pulisic and Milan. Dinamo Zagreb are up next in the Champions League. A draw there should be enough to secure an automatic spot in the last 16 of the competition. After that, they face Inter in a crucial Serie A clash.
Test and white-ball formats too far apart to land any psychological blows, says captain
Andrew Miller29-Oct-2021England versus Australia is always a high-stakes contest irrespective of the format, but Eoin Morgan believes that the result of Saturday’s T20 World Cup clash in Dubai will have no bearing “whatsoever” in the build-up to December’s Ashes opener in Brisbane.England go into the third match of the Super 12s on a high after thumping victories over West Indies and Bangladesh in their opening two games, but anticipate a stiffer test against Australia, who are also unbeaten in Group 1 following a forceful run-chase against Sri Lanka on Thursday.”It’s probably going to be one of our most difficult games,” Morgan said. “Australia are a very strong side. Coming into the tournament, they would probably be considered joint-second favourites, along with us. They’re a side that we know pretty well – we’ve played against them a lot over a number of years, so looking forward to a really good game.”The two teams played out an absorbing pair of white-ball series in England last summer – England claimed the T20 leg 2-1, but lost by the same margin in the ODIs for their first home series defeat since 2015. Australia also won convincingly at the same stage of the 2019 World Cup, before being overwhelmed by eight wickets in a pulsating semi-final at Edgbaston.”You learn a hell of a lot about how they play their cricket, how disciplined they can be,” Morgan said. “When they get on top they can be a difficult to side to play, when you try and wrestle momentum back.”The challenge for us and them is that we’re not playing at home so it’s about trying to adapt our style of play. Early momentum in any game can go a long way to winning. But like we’ve witnessed over the last couple of years, if we don’t manage to gain that momentum, I think we have guys that can either wrestle it back or counter-punch.”Related
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One key operator who has yet to feature in the tournament is Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler, who has been resting an ankle niggle during the opening week. Morgan said that both he and Tom Curran were “progressing really well” and that a call on Wood’s availability would be made on the morning of the match.But, Morgan insisted, despite Wood also being earmarked for a frontline role in the Ashes, there would be little point in trying to read too much into his display across four overs in the UAE, compared to the challenge that awaits in Australia in the coming weeks.”I’ve played Test matches and have played 50-over and T20 for a long period of time,” Morgan said. “There was a time and place where 50-over cricket was closely aligned with Test match cricket and the way that it was played.”Particularly top of the order and how your quicks bowled, but I think white-ball cricket has moved so far away from red-ball cricket that there’s just day and night between a psychological blow in one format in comparison to the other.”In the wake of the controversy surrounding Quinton de Kock and his refusal to take a knee ahead of South Africa’s match against West Indies, Morgan acknowledged that England and Australia may need to co-ordinate their own anti-racism gestures, particularly given that their failure to show solidarity during their 2020 series attracted criticism, not least from the former West Indies great Michael Holding, who decried their lack of action as “lame”.England’s cricketers have taken to wearing T-shirts denouncing all forms of discrimination prior to their home internationals, but because this approach is not permitted at ICC tournaments, Morgan said that the team would need to discuss the appropriate action.”If we’re not allowed to take our stance against all discriminations, we need to try to find something else that makes a difference,” Morgan said. “There’s a chance [we will take a knee]. The collective message [is] more powerful [when] everybody agrees to what we’re buying into. That’s the best way to raise awareness, educate and come across with a more powerful message.”We’ll talk at length today but we are quite restricted in what we can do at ICC events. If we come to something that can be supported by Australia, we will speak to them and see what their thoughts are as well.”
For the first time in Liverpool’s 132-year history, distinguished and draped in honours, 11 matches from 12 have been won to start a campaign, with the club’s six successive away victories since August equally setting a significant record.
RB Leipzig, unbeaten in the Bundesliga, were put to the sword in Germany despite threatening throughout their Champions League clash, allowing Liverpool to claim their third continental win on the trot.
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson
To think that Merseysiders had failed to bring in a new midfielder this summer, as had been the plan as Arne Slot settled into the chair, also neglecting ostensible fragilities at the back, and have still emerged as the most in-form team across Europe’s top five leagues is quite a thing.
The winter period looms large. There are many top teams both domestically and abroad who will seek to stifle Slot’s success, but the Dutchman’s Reds will continue to fight for silverware to the last.
27/10/24
Arsenal (A)
Premier League
30/10/24
Brighton (A)
Carabao Cup
02/11/24
Brighton (H)
Premier League
05/11/24
Leverkusen (H)
Champions League
09/11/24
Aston Villa (H)
Premier League
Darwin Nunez stepped up big time to score and put in a big performance against Leipzig, but Liverpool owe much to the continued rebirth of Ryan Gravenberch, with Mohamed Salah’s ceaseless output proving vital, yet again.
Salah & Gravenberch continue to thrive
Let’s get to Salah in a moment. We have Gravenberch to discuss first. Against Leipzig, yet again, the rekindled midfielder showcased his quality in the middle of the park, battling hard in a fierce war of attrition
Ryan Gravenberch in Champions League action
It wasn’t his finest performance, but the 22-year-old’s energy and press resistance were both on full colourful show against the German side. So alert to potential threats, the Netherlands international made a crucial intervention early into the second half and looks like he’s shaping into one of Europe’s finest number sixes, playing a role that no one envisaged last year.
Liverpool’s promising start to the season has since developed into something more special, and with every passing fixture, Gravenberch continues to prove his worth in Slot’s system. It’s like he’s been tailor-made for it.
Minutes played
90′
Touches
76
Accurate passes
60/63 (95%)
Long balls
2/2
Tackles
3
Interceptions
3
Clearances
1
Blocked shots
2
Total duels (won)
7 (5)
Peter Gulacsi was fantastic for the hosts, making seven saves and repeatedly denying the hungry Reds. The one-time Liverpool reserve goalkeeper denied Salah and saved three shots from Nunez, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Slot machine from ploughing forward.
It bears testament to Salah’s almighty skillset that he had a bit of an off day, failing to win a duel or complete a dribble, while still playing a crucial part in the match-winning moment, setting up his Uruguayan teammate.
That’s seven goals and seven assists apiece for the 32-year-old this season, whose ÂŁ350k-per-week contract is entering its final stretch, heightening Liverpool’s fears of a departure by the end of the campaign.
It’s an eventuality that feels inconceivable. Unacceptable. Salah is still Liverpool’s main man in the final third, so influential and indomitable in his prolific ability. Alongside Gravenberch, the Egyptian has been one of the players of the season for sure.
He hasn’t quite been the cream of the club’s crop, however. Slot will have nestled into sleep in Saxony last night, where the squad remained until the morning, but awoken with a fresh solemnness that derives from the driven coach’s knowledge that the mountain yet scaled is vast and vertiginous.
Liverpool have it all still to do. Attack might win you games, as the axiom has it, but it is your defence that wins you titles. Virgil van Dijk has hardly been away from the pantheon of modern centre-backs over the final years of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, but he’s back with a vengeance this season and is spearheading the revolution at Anfield.
Virgil van Djik has been Slot's hero in 24/25
12 matches, 11 victories, seven clean sheets. Liverpool conceded mere minutes into their Champions League campaign following fine work from AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, but they rallied to win that one 3-1 and have since claimed slender but significant victories over Bologna and Leipzig.
Van Dijk has been imperious. Liverpool’s vanguard might be earning praise for its potency in the final third, but let’s take a minute to hail the backline, leaps and bounds above its level under Klopp, where the gegenpressing nature of the style perhaps negated defenders from making the most of their acumen.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Penny for the thoughts of rivals who had written Liverpool off, consigned them to the wastebasket following the end of an era. One tenure might have taken its final breath but the body of the outfit has been given new life, and it is thriving.
In Germany, the Liverpool and Netherlands captain was the cement of his side’s football, keeping it together against a talented Leipzig frontline, swatting the danger away like a fly, barking at those around him, organising, marshalling, leading.
Duly rewarded with an 8/10 match rating by This Is Anfield, Van Dijk, 33, didn’t catch the eye as his robust partner did, and in fairness, hat tipped to Ibrahima Konate for yet another remarkable display.
Oh how he counterbalances Van Dijk’s style, melding together to form one utterly ridiculous defensive wall that has foiled all but Nottingham Forest this season. The one blot on the copybook. The lonely blemish that Slot cannot shake from his mind, revealing a layer of this man’s determined mind.
Virgil van Dijk in action for Liverpool
But Konate’s flashy athleticism and spatial awareness, as eye-catching as it was, were not mimicked by Van Dijk because the skipper’s intelligence and anticipation are almost prescient.
Both of his duels were won at the Red Bull Arena, and it was indeed Van Dijk who claimed more touches of the ball (81) than any other player on the pitch, having recorded a standout 95% pass accuracy.
Partner such facts with his expertly-saved header, and domination in possession, and it’s really not hard to piece together the focal point of Liverpool’s success this season.
Van Dijk is simply the best, and he proved once again on Wednesday evening that he is the driving force behind Liverpool’s pursuit of glory this year.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
He’s been Slot’s main man. Van Dijk is playing with unparalleled verve and the wiseness of one who has been around the block many times, but still craving another taste of the pinnacle.
Winning one of football’s biggest prizes would surely consolidate his name, but just take a look at his performances. He’s the best in the world.
As bad as Trent: Slot must drop 6/10 Liverpool star who lost the ball 13x
Liverpool made it three wins from as many games in the Champions League in Germany last night.
Crystal Palace sealed a deadline day loan move for Chelsea outcast Ben Chilwell and will pay half of his wages.
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Chilwell joins Crystal PalacePalace will foot half of his wagesHas not played since SeptemberFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Chilwell has been cast out of the Chelsea squad by Enzo Maresca since the Italian signed with the Blues last summer. The left-back was told by the west London side that he was not a part of his plans for the season but failed to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge and has only played once this season – a 45-minute-stint in the Carabao Cup third-round clash against fourth-tier side Barrow.
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Chilwell has been looking for an exit this winter and has been linked with a number of clubs. However, Crystal Palace have now struck a deal with Chelsea and signed the England international on a six-month loan until the end of the current season.
WHAT CHILWELL SAID
He told the club's media: "I'm very excited to be here. Crystal Palace are a club that's going in a great direction. You look at the last few months, with the results and how the team's playing, and it was a no-brainer to make the decision to come here."
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DID YOU KNOW?
As per The Telegraph, Crystal Palace have agreed to foot half of Chilwell's massive wages during the period of the loan. The England international earns close to ÂŁ200,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge and his wages had been a major factor in all of his failed moves since the start of the summer as clubs did not want to foot that massive a wage.
Heading into the game off the back of an impressive point against Atalanta in the Champions League, Celtic could once again be forced to cope without a key player against Motherwell.
Celtic injury news
After they lost main man Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer transfer window, some may have worried about Celtic and their chances of retaining the Scottish Premiership once again. So far, however, they’ve barely skipped a beat and sit top of the league once again, though only ahead of surprise challengers Aberdeen on goal difference.
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Meanwhile, the Bhoys have been responsible for a couple of surprising results, themselves. One of many test subjects in the new Champions League format, Celtic have so far smashed Slovan Bratislava, been humiliated in 7-1 fashion by Borussia Dortmund and earned a solid and impressive 0-0 draw against last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta.
What made that point all the more impressive is the fact that the Scottish champions were forced to earn it without one of their star defenders in a scenario they may face again this weekend. As alluded to by Rodgers and relayed by Daily Record, Cameron Carter-Vickers is now a doubt to face Motherwell after missing out on Celtic’s trip to Atalanta despite initial hopes he may play in Italy.
The American was pictured in training prior to that Champions League clash but missed out nonetheless. Rodgers has since remained fairly coy when asked about the defender’s fitness, telling reporters via Daily Record: “Cam, we’ll just see when we get back.”
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
After missing the last six games in all competitions, Carter-Vickers won’t be rushed back which may leave him with no choice but to be a frustrated spectator once again this weekend.
Return of "brilliant" Carter-Vickers will be crucial
As Celtic have re-established their dominance in the Scottish Premiership in recent years, Carter-Vickers has been at the centre of both Ange Postecoglou’s side and now Rodgers’ champions. The American captained the Bhoys in their final five league games last season in a crucial run towards the title which included a dramatic 3-3 draw against Old Firm rivals Rangers, and now has the chance to step back into the side when he is back to full fitness.
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender has earned plenty of praise during his time at Celtic Park, including from former manager Postecoglou, who said via The National after Carter-Vickers earned a World Cup call-up for the USA: “He has just been brilliant for us since the day he arrived. He has embraced everything within the club and his performances speak for themselves.
“He has now taken on leadership as well. “It’s a credit to him, he is the one that has put in the hard work and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Whilst they’re still waiting for his return, Celtic’s patience should prove worthwhile once Carter-Vickers is back firing on all cylinders after missing a total of six games so far.
Malik Tillman, who is in the midst of a career year at Dutch champions PSV, will be out for the coming months
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Malik Tillman sustained serious ankle injury in cup match against ExcelsiorUnderwent surgery and will be out for 'a few months'Certain to miss PSV's Champions League knockout playoff fixture with JuventusFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
U.S. international and PSV star Malik Tillman will be out for an extended spell after requiring surgery on an ankle issue sustained in the Dutch Cup in mid January. The USMNT midfielder, who leads the Champions League with 21 chances created, saw a specialist in Qatar in late January before opting to undergo the procedure.
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The midfielder is in the midst of arguably his best season as a pro. He has contributed 11 goals and four assists in 26 games in all competitions for the reigning Eredivisie champions. Although he would not commit to a return date, Tillman acknowledged that he was planning to return this season.
WHAT TILLMAN SAID
Tillman described the injury in an interview: "I immediately knew it was wrong. I thought I had to continue. I thought I could finish the match, but the following days it got worse and worse."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TILLMAN?
Neither the club nor Tillman have offered a specific timeline as to when he might return. But his participation in the USMNT's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal on March 20 would seem to be unlikely.