FAB TO SETTLE BECK IN
SADIO MANE has insisted Fabinho and Alisson Becker will be able to slot straight into Liverpool’s Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid tomorrow.
The Brazil pair flew straight from international duty to Spain rather than England last week to complete their 10 days in isolation.
They missed Liverpool’s win at Watford but will be available for the showdown with Atletico as they navigate their way round football’s red list rules.
Ready
It is far from ideal for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp but
Mane (above) believes midfield kingpin Fabinho and Brazil goalkeeper Fabinho will be ready in what could be the hardest game in the Group.
Mane said: “It’s always easier if you have these kind of players and for us it’s not a problem because we know how good they are. Having them back in the team is an extra thing for us.
“They have been here for years, so it is not a problem for them because they are two of the best players in the world so it will be easy for us and to get them back in will help us a lot.”
SUBSTITUTES
Gordon for Iwobi (79)
NOT USED: Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Mina, Gbamin, Davies, Tyrer, Dobbin,
SUBSTITUTES
Dawson for Soucek (79), Lanzini for Benrahma (87), Yarmolenko for Bowen (90). Not Used: Areola, Baptiste, Diop, Masuaku, Ashby
EVERTON
DECLAN RICE
ALEX IWOBI
WEST HAM
IT was David Moyes’ Everton who Rafa Benitez once accused of having a ‘smalltime’ mentality.
So the West Ham boss may have enjoyed handing the now Toffees’ boss his first taste of defeat at Goodison Park as a Blues manager.
Angelo Ogbonna’s second- half header was the difference between the sides as the Hammers won backto-back league games at this ground for the first time since 1930.
But there was little between them. There isn’t likely to be much between these sides for most of the season, either.
They will be both pushing for European places, if not threatening the big guns for the Champions League spots.
Expect
And this was what you would expect from sides managed by Benitez and Moyes. Tight and tactical would be two words to describe it.
Moyes, who was in charge of Everton when then Liverpool boss called them ‘small time’ after a 2007 Merseyside derby draw, secured just his fourth win in 18 games against a side managed by the Spaniard.
It was an important one as well. Not because it put the Hammers above Everton and into sixth after eight games but because it was one which laid down a marker against a side who will be their rivals for Europe.
He will have also enjoyed getting the edge in a tight game against a tactician like Benitez, too. That was thanks to Ogbonna’s goal but also the midfield ability of Declan Rice who, at 22, continues to prove how valuable he is to this West Ham team.
Everton had chances but they were squandered and in tight games that is going to hurt.
Alex Iwobi’s first-half swing and miss from a good cross from Demarai Gray was a particularly good opportunity wasted. Abdoulaye Doucoure then headed wide but it was a more difficult chance.
Spent
This was where Moyes first became a Premier League manager and where he spent 11 years in charge. So he knows better than anyone how the crowd can influence games.
But they were pretty much silenced by the action in front ofthemasWestHamcontrolled t he game without really penetrating the Toffees back line.
When they did, the offside flag rightly ruled out an effort from Tomas Soucek.
Everton pressed at the start of the second half and this time Iwobi connected with the ball but only saw his shot