VILLA LOSE SUPER MAC FOR THREE MONTHS
Recent Liverpool teams have been weighed down by a glorious history...
ASTON VILLA’S relegation fight has been hampered by an injury to star midfielder John McGinn – who could be out for up to three months.
The 25-year-old Scotland player fractured his ankle early in the 3-1 home defeat against Southampton on Saturday.
McGinn was taken to hospital for scans immediately after the shattering defeat to their rivals for the drop.
And he is now facing a race against time to get fit for Villa’s crucial end of season run-in – which could be bad news for Scotland manager Steve Clarke as well.
McGinn looks unlikely to be back in time for his country’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel at Hampden Park on March 26.
And he tweeted: “Thanks everyone for all the messages and support. “Gutted, but will be back before you know it.”
The former Hibernian man has been a star performer for his country and has just been voted Scotland’s Player of the Year after seven goals this campaign.
Villa boss Dean Smith feared the worst (above) when McGinn slid under Cedric Soares and thumped the turf in agony.
He left the pitch after treatment, but clearly could not put any weight on his left leg as he hobbled away.
Smith said: “John got ahead of their centre-half and he brings him down.
“We should get a free-kick, but we don’t.
“John gets frustrated and starts chasing the ball and unfortunately gets injured right in front of us in the dugout.”
It is a bitter blow for a Villa side reeling from a run of four successive Premier League defeats and seven losses in their last nine games.
HISTORY has finally become an inspiration rather than burden for the Jurgen Klopp generation.
For too long, previous Liverpool teams have been weighed down by comparisons to the club’s glorious past. But this team, who can finally call themselves world champions, are breaking the mould with every trophy they collect.
Liverpool have conquered Europe six times and yet this is their first Club World Cup triumph.
The Reds finish 2019 with a third piece of silverware, having lifted the Champions League and then the European Super Cup in the last 12 months. And now they are determined to win their first title since 1990.
Previous attempts have fallen by the wayside because of the expectation placed on their shoulders by the great Liverpool teams of the late 1970s and 80s.
But Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has given an insight into the dressing-room philosophy, and explained why they are not intimidated by the club’s glorious history.
The Brazilian No.1 said: “We are making things special. The boss keeps us together and we try to make the difference not just on the pitch but off the pitch with the supporters.
“Every time we say ‘We are Liverpool, this means more,’ maybe it makes no sense for those who are not Liverpool supporters but we really try to make this special for everybody.
“Not just for us players, but the supporters also who are all around the world following us. We need to give the best on the pitch. They have already the history but we are making history again. Football is like this.
“You always have another opportunity. On Thursday we have another big match against Leicester and this football.
“We will try to make history again because we have a big goal and that is the Premier League, and of is the beauty of course we have to try to defend the Champions League title.
“When you win it is special. Winning for Liverpool is even more special. We try to do our best, we are thinking about always the next game we have in front of us.
“We have many games to play, we are just halfway through the season so we have a long way to go.” Brazilian star Roberto Firmino grabbed the extratime goal that sunk Brazilian side Flamengo in Doha.
Klopp (celebrating with the trophy, left) underlined