MANCHESTER City should be delighted over the major distraction that keen rivals Liverpool face over the fate of their two top assets, the Senegalese Sadio Mané and Egypt’s Mohammed Salah. Liverpool’s challenge for the EPL might be affected by the duo.
For the second time in as many months, Liverpool has their EPL efforts dissipated between tackling Man City and appealing for a great working relationship between Mané and Salah, two of the best players out of Africa at the moment. Their matters are coming at a very critical point in the EPL.
Senegal won the 2021 AFCON at the expense of Egypt only in February in Yaoundé, Cameroun. Mané and Salah went after each other and Mané triumphed.
Pictures of Mané consoling his teammate went viral. After the initial scare from Nigeria, Salah’s made it to the final. They were considered favourites in what looked like Salah’s best opportunity to win his first AFCON title.
Salah awaited the bigger prize the ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when the fixture again was against Senegal.
Revenge was Egypt’s. Their 1-0 victory in the first leg in Cairo signaled their intentions. Egyptians were rated too smart to lose to Senegal with that advantage.
The outcome had all the drama of February’s AFCON final with minor differences. A fourth-minute strike from Boulaye Dia evaporated the edge Egypt earned in Cairo. Mané’s scored the fifth of the penalty kicks to send the African champions Senegal to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the expense of Egypt.
At the AFCON final, Mané’s fifth penalty won Senegal’s first Africa Cup of Nations title. There were no goals in the Cup of Nations final that went to extra time in Yaounde. Senegal won the penalty shout 4-2.
Salah ballooned his penalty kick over the bar in the critical Qatar tie. He was one of three Egyptians to have missed on a night that Egypt alleged laser lights were beamed into the eyes of their players during the penalty shootouts.
They have fired a protest against FIFA.
Back to the EPL where one point separates leaders Man City and Liverpool, Salah and Mané are huge Liverpool factors in where the title goes. The race is between the two top teams. Chelsea are 11 points from the leaders, and 10 behind Liverpool. Any blunders for the two throw the title open, but other contenders are too far behind.
Saleh and Mané each contributed a goal to last October’s 5-0 bashing of Watford. Firmino had a hat trick in that game. Will Mané and Salah help Liverpool to the three points? They can over 18th-ranked Watford that last beat Liverpool in 2020 in all competitions.
City should be happy playing Burnley in the reverse fixtures. Their 2-0 victory in October would be put to test. Burnley are falling out of the table and would like to make point in this game by taking a point.
Will Chelsea make hay against 15-placed Brentford? The resounding answer should be why not? A win keeps Chelsea’s hopes of a top two finishing possible.
Manchester United’s indiscernible displays call to question their ability to return to the top four. United have become a major surprise in inconsistencies. Their pairing with Leicester, another team lacking ambition, could still further dim their shine.
It would be interesting to see how Patrick Viera takes Crystal Palace in their test against Arsenal who are determined to consolidate their fourth place on the table.
Enjoy the games
Saturday 2 April
Brighton v Norwich
Burnley v Man City
Chelsea v Brentford
Leeds v Southampton
Liverpool v Watford
Man Utd v Leicester
Wolves v Aston Villa
Sunday, 3 April
Spurs v Newcastle
West Ham v Everton
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Discussion about this post