Neal Maupay welcomed Mohamed Salah to the "slap head club" after the Liverpool star shaved off his hair in a bold new look.
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Salah shaves off hair in new lookMaupay known for winding-up othersWelcomes him to 'slap head club'WHAT HAPPENED?
Egypt international Salah displayed a new haircut and beard trim on Friday and soon after the Liverpool ace revealed this on social media, Everton striker and Brentford loanee Maupay responded with a cheeky message.
AdvertisementWHAT NEAL MAUPAY SAID
He posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Welcome to the slap head club brother 🙏🏼."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Putting haircuts to one side, Salah has been linked with a Liverpool exit but the 31-year-old has also suggested he wants to stay at Anfield next season. His contract expires in 2025 and, unless he signs a new deal, the former Roma man could leave for free next summer – 12 months on from manager Jurgen Klopp departing the Merseyside outfit.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
While Maupay will head back to Everton after the expiration of his Brentford loan, Salah will prepare for Egypt's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burkina Faso on June 6 and Guinea-Bissau on June 10 respectively.
Worcestershire comfortable at Leicestershire, thanks to centuries
ECB Reporters Network11-Apr-2019
Daryl Mitchell of Worcestershire batting•Getty Images
Centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Hamish Rutherford put Worcestershire in a dominant position after the visitors against Leicestershire on the opening day of their County Championship match at the Fischer County ground.Leicestershire’s decision to put Worcestershire in was based on the overhead conditions, rather than the pale, hard, re-laid pitch, and it quickly looked to have backfired on them as Mitchell and Tom Fell put together a stand of 59 for the first wicket.The ball did swing, but the pitch played well, and it was something of a surprise when Will Davis beat Fell’s defence with a delivery that came back to hit the top of middle stump.Ben Mike then picked up the wicket of Brett D’Oliveira, Colin Ackermann taking a sharp low catch to his left after the batsman edged an out-swinger, and Leicestershire might have felt the balance of the morning’s play had swung their way after they were convinced Rutherford, on 15, had edged a catch behind off Tom Taylor.The appeal was turned down, however, and with the clouds having cleared, the New Zealand international, making his championship debut for Worcestershire, began to play with increasing assurance, reaching his half-century shortly before tea.Mitchell too looked in prime form, taking full toll of some loose bowling from the change Leicestershire seamers. The experienced opener accelerated as he approached his century, which came off 169 balls and included 16 fours.By tea his third-wicket partnership with Rutherford was worth 166, but that was the extent of it. On the third ball after tea, an off-spinner delivered around the wicket by Colin Ackermann found the edge of his bat before being caught by Paul Horton at first slip.Rikki Wessels, like Rutherford making his first-class debut for Worcestershire, hit 43 before being given out leg before on the back foot to Chris Wright, but Rutherford continued calmly on his way, reaching his century off 182 balls. He enjoyed some good fortune against the second new ball, and especially the bowling of Taylor, who moved the ball away from the left-hander off the pitch, but he remained unbeaten at the close.”That was a really good day for us,” Rutherford said. “It could quite easily have gone the other way because the ball was moving around in the first hour especially, but the openers put in a really great shift.”Then the partnership between myself and Daryl was pretty special, and has put us in a great position moving on. There’s still a little bit there for the bowlers, so the first half hour or so tomorrow morning will be important – we’ll look to re-establish ourselves and then really kick on.”
Tottenham Hotspur have placed the recent five-match slide in the Premier League firmly behind them by responding with two convincing victories in succession.
Despite a raft of injuries and suspensions, Ange Postecoglou's side will still be confident that they can defeat an in-form Everton team at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium this afternoon, with three points certain to move them ahead of Manchester City in fourth place, temporarily at least.
Should a positive result be achieved then it will be crucial that Dejan Kulusevski is performing at the standard that has captured the awe of the Spurs support across recent weeks.
Dejan Kulusevski's stats this season
Kulusevski ebbed and flowed from form last season but has made some remarkable progress this term, currently boasting five goals and two assists in the Premier League.
Not a bad return, but direct contributions do not tell the full story for Kulusevski, who is a non-stop running machine and an absolute menace for opposition defenders, averaging 2.3 key passes and 4.3 ball recoveries per game and completing 83% of his passes.
Sky Sports' Jamie Weir has been particularly impressed by his recent performances, saying: "Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart."
While James Maddison's ongoing injury absence has been a big setback for Postecoglou's Spurs revolution, Kulusevski is producing increasingly influential efforts, and he will be sure to have his say against Everton.
While the 23-year-old might be the creative engine, it could be Richarlison who plays the most important part this afternoon, with the Brazilian firing himself into form across recent weeks.
Richarlison could dismantle Everton
It's fair to say that Richarlison hasn't been great since signing for Tottenham from Everton for £60m in 2022, only scoring one goal across the duration of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
But he clearly welcomed Postecoglou's summer appointment and demonstrated discernible improvements, with a return of five goals and three assists from 15 appearances across all competitions this season.
As per FBref, the 26-year-old ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for tackles, the top 7% for interceptions and the top 1% for blocks per 90, highlighting his creative threat and the defensive contribution that has prompted Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold to dub him a "nuisance" for rival players.
Returning from groin surgery at the end of November, Richarlison has been shifted back to a centre-forward role and has responded with a couple of excellent displays, scoring three times from two matches.
This rekindled Midas touch in front of goal will be important against a resilient Everton backline, and the menacing Richarlison will only be too happy to score at his former club's expense.
With Kulusevski and Heung-min Son pulling the strings behind him, the 5 foot 10 Richarlison could produce another sublime goalscoring display to continue a budding resurgence that could pay dividends for the Lilywhites down the line.
Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow after learning that another one of their players could be facing a spell on the sidelines alongside Rodrigo Bentancur, according to a fresh report that has emerged.
Spurs injury news
The Lilywhites have James Maddison, Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Richarlison, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic out of action with their own problems as it stands, but they were recently joined in the treatment room by another squad member.
During Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa, Bentancur was forced off the pitch on 32 minutes after being on the receiving end of a dangerous challenge from Matty Cash, so there will be concerns surrounding his fitness, having only just returned from a long-term knee injury.
Latest Tottenham injury news, expected return dates, suspensions
FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Spurs news involving injuries as they prepare to take on Chelsea.
ByMark Marston May 4, 2024
So far this season, Pape Matar Sarr has started 11 out of the 13 games in the top-flight showing how much of an integral feature he’s become under Ange Postecoglou (WhoScored – Sarr statistics), but the central midfielder might also have to wait a while before he makes his next appearance.
The Senegal international didn’t train with the first team on Friday due to sustaining a hamstring injury over the past fortnight, meaning that he didn’t feature in Sunday's encounter in the capital, and an update has now emerged regarding the 21-year-old’s situation at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Pape Matar Sarr injury update
Taking to X, Paul O Keefe confirmed that Saar has picked up an injury, but at this stage, the extent of his problem is unknown, just like the exact amount of time he’ll be facing on the sidelines for Spurs.
“Don’t know how bad it is yet. He came back from international duty complaining he felt a problem.”
Tottenham Hotspur midfielderPape Matar Sarr.
Despite being a central midfielder, Sarr has been strong in the offensive aspect of his game this season having provided two assists and scored one goal in 12 appearances in the Premier League (Transfermarkt – Sarr statistics), and the fact that he could be facing a spell on the sidelines will be a blow for Spurs.
The Thiaroye native has also been extremely calm and composed in possession, where he’s recording a 90% pass success rate at this moment in time, highlighting his ability to dictate and control the game from his natural position when on the ball.
Postecoglou’s £10k-per-week earner (Tottenham salaries), even has the versatility to operate in defensive, central and attacking midfield, making him a wonderful option to have in the building because he is able to easily adapt to the manager‘s demands should he need cover for any other injuries.
According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sarr has shown what “delicious” chances he can create for his fellow teammates in the final third, so there’s no doubt that everyone associated with the club will be hoping that he won't be away from the action for too long and that he can stage his comeback to the pitch sooner rather than later.
واستطاع الأهلي خلال موسم شاق التتويج ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وكأس مصر وكأس السوبر بجانب المشاركة ببطولة دوري السوبر الإفريقي وكأس العالم للأندية، وخسارة السوبر الإفريقي.
كما وجه محمود الخطيب رئيس الأهلي تعليمات لإدارة النادي، بتوفير أوتوبيسات مجانية لنقل جماهير الأهلي إلى الإسكندرية غدًا الخميس.
ويحتل الأهلي صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 78 نقطة، من 30 مباراة، محققًا 25 فوز و3 تعادلات وخسارتين.
بينما يتواجد سموحة في المركز السادس برصيد 48 نقطة من 31 مباراة حيث فاز في 13 مواجهة وتعادل 9 مرات وتلقى 9 هزائم.
Sri Lanka’s big hitter admits he’s falling short of his potential at the top of the order
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Pallekele17-Oct-2018With the top order contributing runs for the first time in four matches, it’s the middle order that failed Sri Lanka in the shortened third ODI against England. So said Niroshan Dickwella, the batsman who had given Sri Lanka their fast start, hitting 36 off 25 balls to set the team on course to a score of 58 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay.Just after the 12-over mark, however, Sri Lanka’s innings started to wobble. They lost Sadeera Samarawickrama to an Adil Rashid full toss, the batsman top-edging what should have been a straightforward sweep to the short fine leg fielder. Next ball, Thisara Perera attempted to launch the first delivery he faced into the next galaxy, and managed only to top-edge it into the deep. When Dhananjaya de Silva fell at the start of the 16th over, Sri Lanka had lost three wickets for 18 runs.Eventually, due in part to a laboured 34 off 42 balls from Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka mustered only 150 for 9 from their 21 overs – a total that always seemed light on a night when the bowlers struggled to grip the ball.”We got a good start but we were 20-25 runs short,” Dickwella said. “After being 92 for 2, it was 92 for 4 suddenly. That was the main turning point. If Thisara could have batted five overs at that time, we would have ended up with a score closer to 190. You can’t win a 21-over match with only 150 on the board. The ball was also wet because of the rain. If we had made 175, it could have been a winning score.”Sri Lanka’s batting has been consistently modest since the start of 2017, in which they’ve now lost 32 games out of the 42 they have played. They had lost four top-order wickets inside the Powerplay in the second ODI, essentially surrendering the game in that period. Now, in this match, batsmen further down the order have failed to make an impact, with Thisara and de Silva producing three runs off 11 balls between them.”In the last couple of matches we didn’t get a big partnership from the top order,” Dickwella said. “This time we got that, but the middle order failed. That’s been happening for a while. When the top order scores, the middle order fails and vice versa. To get the optimal score, we need to click together.”Though on this occasion, Dickwella was perhaps justified in attacking relentlessly as the match had turned into a virtual T20, he has been guilty of being wasteful with his wicket after he has made a promising start. He had reached double figures in five of his seven previous innings, but had only once made a half-century. It’s a shortcoming he admits to.”I can’t be satisfied with my performance. A lot of times I get 30 or 40, but only about one in five games do I go on to get 70 or 80. Today was a shortened game so it’s different. Once I got 30 I tried to keep going at the same tempo, because we had wickets in hand. But overall when you look at my one-day cricket, even though I’ve got starts, I haven’t capitalised and turned them into big innings.”
Any early doubts about Philippe Clement's ability to turn what was a sinking ship around at Rangers have instantly been put to rest following the former AS Monaco man's first run of results. The new boss got off to the perfect start when the Gers ruthlessly dispatched Hibernian to win 4-0 in the Scottish Premiership, before remaining unbeaten in their next three games.
Among those results was their most recent 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United, as five different goalscorers contributed to the victory in stunning fashion. With every week, appointing Clement looks more and more like a wise decision. And now, Rangers look set to hand their new manager a major transfer boost in January, according to reports.
Rangers transfer news
The downfall of Michael Beale's tenure really began back in the summer transfer window when the likes of Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers arrived, only to struggle in front of goal. Rangers will hope that Clement can finally get the best out of the summer arrivals, but the manager may well have a plan of his own in the market.
The January transfer window represents a chance for the Belgian to make his mark on his new side, welcoming players to suit his system. According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Rangers are planning on adding at least two new signings in January, and maybe even a third to really show their backing of Clement. Reinforcements could be difficult to come by, however, with reports suggesting that the Gers are short on funds and would have to rely on loan deals or loan-to-buy transfers in the winter window.
If Clement can identify targets that suit his system and know him, as well as those within the Rangers budget, then he may well turn his solid start into an impressive run at Ibrox in the second half of the campaign.
Where do Rangers need to strengthen?
Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers.
Given the fact that Kemar Roofe has scored just one goal all season, it's fair to say that Rangers could do with an attacking reinforcement in the January transfer window. The likes of Abdallah Sima have helped with recent form, but Clement's side still lack a reliable focal point in their attacking line, something that the winter window must help to solve.
It has been their performance in front of goal and lack of conviction in important moments that have left Rangers five points adrift of table-toppers and Old Firm rivals Celtic. The Gers have scored 24 goals in the Scottish Premiership and conceded just six in 11 games in what is the best defensive record in the division. If they can start firing on all cylinders offensively, then watch out.
When speaking about potential January arrivals, via BBC Sport, Clement said: "I want players who are not afraid to fail, to make mistakes. There is not one team in the world who does not make mistakes – but they are perfect after that. I want to create the best technical, tactical, physical and mental team of the league in the next couple of months. If you do that, results will follow."
Everton are flourishing with David Moyes back in the dugout. It’s almost as if he never left.
The Scottish tactician has won four of his last five Premier League matches, drawing against Liverpool, since returning, having narrowly fallen to Aston Villa in his (second) managerial debut for the Toffees.
Whether Everton are enjoying a big bounce or have hit sustainable form remains to be seen, but you’d certainly say that Moyes’ return has unlocked something long dormant in this squad, and with the right summer planning, perhaps the club’s future lies higher up the table.
There are some exciting names dappled across the Blues first team, with one or two gifted enough to become all-timers within Moyes’ storied Everton career.
Moyes' greatest Everton players
If Moyes could pick his favourite former players across an 11-year term in the Goodison Park dugout, he’d have an outfit capable of challenging the Premier League’s current elite.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are in the mix, the defenders chalking up 805 appearances between them. While both Englishmen stretched beyond Moyes’ tenure, they broke out under his wing and were shaped into the Merseyside icons they became through his guidance.
Wayne Rooney didn’t stay at his boyhood club for long but is one of English football’s all-time superstars and was bestowed a professional breakthrough by Moyes, who called him “one of England’s finest, if not their finest player.”
Wayne Rooney playing for Everton
Everton’s latter-day frontline has left plenty to be desired, but already, through the likes of Beto, the 61-year-old boss is proving that he can revive the thrill factor, the goals.
Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Louis Saha, Kevin Campbell, Ayegbeni Yakubu. Just some of the goal-assist heroes throughout Everton’s halcyon days. Great players all.
However, Moyes always loved Steven Pienaar, cherished him. The South African artist may be reincarnated in this 2025 iteration. You probably know who.
Moyes' new Steven Pienaar
Pienaar: fleet-footed and flamboyant. The quick feet and sure-willed dribbling made the winger a difficult customer for any defence, and he played an instrumental role for Moyes across two spells, joining on loan before signing permanently on both occasions.
Though half of his second stint fell after Moyes was anointed as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford, Pienaar’s drop-off was startling, injuries swallowing him up and leaving him scraping for for the fringes of action.
Former Everton star Steven Pienaar
In Iliman Ndiaye, Everton’s manager may just have his new version of the distinguishable Premier League icon. Ndiaye plays off the left flank and is known for his devastating and direct ability.
As per FBref, the Senegalese star ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers currently in the Premier League for successful take-ons per 90, also averaging 2.4 dribbles and winning a whopping 6.1 duels per match.
Unlike Pienaar, Ndiaye is more of a direct threat, scoring in three successive games for Moyes’ Everton before being forced off early against Liverpool, now sidelined for several weeks.
But the fact remains that he is a top talent, endowed with athletic vigour and skilful motions. He has been hailed for his “magic” by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson, and rightly so.
Aged 24, Ndiaye’s got plenty left to give Everton, with his prolific potential perhaps even enough to see him rise above Pienaar and become one of the Toffees’ most potent attacking forces under Moyes’ tutelage, should he stick around that long.
David Moyes at Everton – Most Goal Involvements
Rank
Player
G
A
G/A
1.
Tim Cahill
68
28
96
2.
Leon Osman
51
26
77
3.
Mikel Arteta
35
35
70
4.
Steven Pienaar
25
40
65
5.
Leighton Baines
22
37
59
Stats via Transfermarkt
No player in the history of Moyes’ managerial career has supplied more assists for his team than Pienaar, narrowly above West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen (39).
But he balanced his output, more than just goals, more than just assists. The same is true for Ndiaye, a player who you pay to see, who raises the roof and raises supporters, raises belief.
Moyes is a talented manager and clearly knows his stuff, but he’s certainly thanking his stars that he has entered a beleaguered Everton side and found one of English football’s biggest gems.
As you can see above, analyst Ben Mattinson observes that Everton’s star forward carries the unpredictable and giddying brand that emulates that of Moyes’ former servant, hailing his “Steven Pienaar 2.0 vibes.”
In times to come, fans may well look back (if they are not already) and hail Sean Dyche and Farhad Moshiri for parting with something positive, signing Marseille’s mercurial talent for just £15m.
Across 28 matches so far, the wideman has bagged eight goals (six in the Premier League) across 28 appearances, yet to provide an assist for a profligate frontline but hardly coming across as possessive on the field, conducting himself with the command and swagger of a talisman.
Everton star Iliman Ndiaye
As Mattinson suggests, Ndiaye has enough natural quality to play for near any team across the division, serving at least as a dynamic and dangerous squad player.
His instant goalscoring success with Moyes holding the strings bodes well for his future. He’d already been a leading light through a dark Dyche-led start, and now holds the keys to the next level in Everton’s development.
Oh, Ndiaye has Pienaar vibes, sure, but maybe he could become something even greater in this juxtaposing new-old Moyes team.
Value's soared: Everton hit jackpot with star who's worth more than Ndiaye
Everton have struck gold with the defender who is now worth more than Iliman Ndiaye.