Lallana’s timely return for Liverpool
Who would have imagined that these two clubs would be facing the possibility of going down to the lower division and having to try hold on to their Premier League status on the final day of the season? Both Matsatsantsa and Bakgaga were early pace setters this season – the Tshwane based outfit claiming the first silverware on offer in the MTN8 and reaching the final of the CAF Confederation Cup a month later, while their Limpopo counterparts were log leaders after seven league matches. An incredible capitulation, coupled with changes in the coaching department (Eric Tinkler was replaced by Kaitano Tembo at Supersport and Mcdonald Makhubedu took over from Kgoloko Thobejane before he, too, moved aside for Doctor Khumalo) has led to this final day drama at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Baroka only need a point to avoid the play-offs, but Supersport may have to fight for all three points to prevent needing a favour from Chiefs, who face Ajax in Cape Town. LIVERPOOL: Adam Lallana is ready to return from injury for Liverpool tomorrow and could land the chance to also prove his fitness for England’s World Cup squad which is named next week.
Injuries have restricted the midfielder to just 13 appearances for his club this season and he lasted just five minutes into his latest comeback against Crystal Palace on March 31.
But Lallana, who turned 30 on Thursday, looks set for a place on the bench in Liverpool’s final Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion when Juergen Klopp’s side need a point to confirm a top-four finish.
“He is as fit as possible,” said Klopp at his pre-match press conference yesterday.
“Adam has trained for a week. Yesterday (Thursday), he trained normal. He looks okay. The perfect thing would be to give him minutes and we would see if we can.”
Lallana’s return could not be better timed with the Champions League final against Real Madrid little more than two weeks away and Gareth Southgate naming his squad for the World Cup in Russia on May 16.
Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea last week has ensured that, just like last year, the Merseysiders’ fight for Champions League qualification has gone down to the final game.
“We are part of it. I am not frustrated about it,” said Klopp, who 12 months ago oversaw the 3-0 final-day defeat of Middlesbrough to ensure they finished fourth.
This season Liverpool’s task has been made easier by Chelsea’s midweek draw with Huddersfield, a result that leaves the Blues two points behind Klopp’s side with a vastly inferior goal difference.
But the German warned that Brighton, who have only pride to play for after securing their Premier League status, could yet prove dangerous opponents.
Liverpool have won just one of their past five games in all competitions and talisman Mo Salah is without a goal in three games. But Klopp said they have benefited from a week off and reported no new injuries.
“A week was exactly what we needed, we had a few players with some problems and had time to recover. We still have two days and that should help us,” he said yesterday.
“People told me good luck for [the Champions League final] at the LFC awards last night.
“But right now it’s onto the next challenge. We need to deliver on Sunday again. It’s not a farewell thing.” – Reuters This is yet another sad fall from grace – for both teams, actually. But it is City who are paying the price for a lackluster campaign after they failed to build on last season’s top eight finish and a satisfactory start under beleaguered coach Bernard Molekwa. Chippa will arrive at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium far from prepared to roll over as a spot in the top eight is still up for grabs.
They need a win to consolidate their place in the MTN8 tournament next season, but face a City outfit quite desperate for maximum points to avoid being sucked into the play-offs and possibly being relegated. Molekwa is also on borrowed time as coach at City with reports that replacements have already been lined up by chairman Johnny Mogaladi should the club retain their status in the elite division. MANCHESTER: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said the opportunity to chase down a host of records has kept the newly-crowned Premier League champions focused in the final few weeks of the campaign.
City broke the Premier League points record by taking their season’s tally to 97 with a 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday and victory over Southampton tomorrow will see them finish the campaign with a century.
They have also equalled the English top-flight record of 31 wins in a season and racked up a record 105 goals so far in 37 matches.
“In the last few weeks these numbers have helped us keep focus,” Guardiola said. “There are so many (special moments) – the 18 games won in a row is the reason we have won the league. That was the key point of the season.”
Guardiola has ruled out making wholesale changes to the squad in the transfer window but said he would like to add Perhaps this is the pick of the lot – the Urban Warriors, still fighting in the boardroom over the eligibility of striker Tendai Ndoro, have to beat a Chiefs team dying to finish third on the table as some sort of consolation for another woeful campaign. Third place would mean the Glamour Boys take part in the Confederation Cup next season.
Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral has talked up their chances and believes they have the antidote to tame Amakhosi. And they can be hopeful, especially given the other three teams in the same boat also have must-win games this afternoon.
Beat Chiefs and Ajax are most likely home and dry even though the losing the Ndoro case opens the door for the harshest of punishments, which could mean being docked points and ultimately relegated.
Ertugral will want them to at least cover themselves by winning at the Cape Town Stadium. “one or two more players.” “Maybe some are not happy, they want to play more and can ask to leave, but not too many,” he added.
“We made a high investment last year because it was an old team – 10, 11 players more than 31-yearsold. Now we are going to change some details with Yaya (Toure) leaving, but not too many.”
The Spaniard confirmed he wants forwards Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling to stay at the club.
“Last season, I said maybe 1 000 times that Sergio will stay until he decides his time is over,” Guardiola said.
The club are keen to hand Sterling a new longterm contract after his most successful season in the league in which has found the net 23 times in all competitions.
“The club, chairman and myself want him to stay a long time, renew his contract – but we are going on holiday in a few days,” said Guardiola.
“We all want him to stay as long as possible.” – Reuters