Salah eyes Ronaldo record as Liverpool look to extend lead, Rashford first start

However, Arne Slot's men have been dealt a couple of injury blows, while Mohamed Salah has now received a contract offer from Saudi Arabia.

Keep up to date with all of the latest Premier League odds at talkSPORT BET

6 minutes agoBy Robert Calcutt

Injury blow

West Ham fear Lucas Paqueta will be out for at least a month due to an ankle injury suffered in training, talkSPORT understands.

The Brazilian midfielder underwent a scan today.

Paqueta played the entirety of West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday.

However, he looks set to be sidelined during a crucial run of fixtures for Graham Potter's side, who are 16th in the Premier League,

Paqueta is due to miss their trip to Arsenal on Saturday as well as clashes against Leicester City, Newcastle United and Everton.

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17 minutes agoBy Robert Calcutt

History beckons

Mohamed Salah could eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo in Liverpool's clash against Aston Villa.

Salah sits on an incredible 23 goals and 14 assists in the Premier League this season across 25 appearances.

His combined goal contribution total of 37 is the same as Ronaldo's best ever tally in the league.

The Portuguese legend achieved it in the 2007/08 campaign with Manchester United.

However, Salah will go one better than him with a goal or assist against Villa and do so with three months of the season to go.

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Today, 17:15By Jack Johnson

A tough trip

Arne Slot knows that this evening's away meeting with Aston Villa is going to be a very tough one.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Liverpool boss said: "I think Villa away, when you get the fixture list, you all know that Villa away is one of the tougher ones you can face.

"But last season was also a very interesting game with it ending 3-3, if I remember correctly. So, [a] very good manager, always has a very good game plan.

"They brought in quite a lot of good players in the winter break as well and they already had a very good team.

"They qualified for [the] top eight in the Champions League, so it tells you that it's a strong team we are going to face.

"But that's what I started with, Wolves at home was also tough for us, so every game in this period of time for every team in the league is difficult."

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Today, 16:19By Jack Johnson

Heading to Nottingham

It has now been confirmed that England will be playing one of their World Cup 2026 qualifiers at the City Ground.

The home of Nottingham Forest will be used as the venue for the Three Lions' clash with Senegal.

It will be the first time that the national team have played at the stadium in 84 years.

In 1941, England's senior men's team faced Wales in a wartime friendly and that was the last time the City Ground played host.

In fact, when it comes to competitive Three Lions senior men's games, this will be the first at the ground since March 1909.

Thomas Tuchel's side are going to be in Nottingham on Tuesday, June 10 for their clash against the African outfit.

Manager Tuchel said: "While I know Wembley is our home, I also understand the importance of taking the team around the country when we are able to and the opportunity to experience playing at a famous old English stadium such as the City Ground is one we can all look forward to."

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Today, 16:00By Jack Johnson

In case you missed it...

Mohamed Salah will be in action this evening when Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.

But it was revealed yesterday by former Tottenham and Wigan striker Mido that Salah has received a massive contract proposal from Saudi Arabia.

The Liverpool star's contract at Anfield expires in the summer, with no sign of a new deal on the horizon.

That means in just over three months, he will be a free agent, and a move to the Middle East is on the cards.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Mido said: "I know that he's got a huge offer from the Saudi league, but I really think that Salah wants to stay at Liverpool.

"Every time I hear him talking, and the way he's playing of course, I think he wants to make history at Liverpool.

"He has already made history at Liverpool. I think he's one of the best players that ever wore the shirt and I really feel he should stay at Liverpool.

"The fans of course love him. He's a fan's favorite so I don't have any news. But if he stays at Liverpool I will be very happy for him of course."

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Today, 15:14By Joe Brophy

Hammer the point

Tony Cottee has shared his views on talkSPORT on what he believes to be the main problem at West Ham this season.

"The problem is, I think there's a wider mess, I mean there's a lot of issues with the fans and the board, they're not happy with the board," he said.

"But that's ongoing unless someone unbelievably produces a billion quid or whatever it is to buy the club out, that won't happen in the next few years.

"They've got to get on with that, all Graham [Potter] can do is concentrate on the playing side."

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Today, 14:37By Joe Brophy

Fit for a King

Ruud van Nistelrooy has promoted Andy King to his first-team coaching staff amid the club's fight for Premier League survival.

The Foxes 2016 title winner only returned to the club two months ago to take up his first role in coaching as an U18s assistant.

However, he will link up with Van Nistelrooy and the senior City squad as one of the six people working alongside the Dutchman.

King will now be coaching several players he played alongside during his 15-year career at the King Power Stadium, including Jamie Vardy.

Van Nistelrooy said: "In December, in one of my press conferences, I spoke about him having Leicester DNA. I have got to know him and now I have asked him to be part of the first-team coaching staff.

"He liked it, we all did, the players do. I'm very happy he's helping us out. He has a real knowledge of the club and football.

"What impressed me most is his eye for the team and for details of the game. That's where we connected. He's very bright in his ideas in how to bring Leicester forward. He's a great addition.

"He's out there every day on the training pitch. It can be full group sessions or individual sessions. He's also linking with the academy players, like Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans, making sure they're not caught in the middle. He's also giving his opinions."

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Today, 14:22By Joe Brophy

Untangled Webb

Howard Webb admitted it was ultimately wrong for Myles Lewis-Skelly to be sent off against Wolves - but has defended referee Michael Oliver's decision.

The head of the PGMOL told his Mic'd Up show: "From the outset, I want to say we would prefer a yellow card in this situation. Clearly, the referee felt that the actions of Myles Lewis-Skelly were serious foul play.

"He saw a player moving in towards an opponent without any ability to play the ball, without any intention of playing the ball, with the intention of stopping the opponent. And the referee sees a raised foot make high contact and then the opponent go down.

"So in his opinion, it was serious foul play. The VAR checked the footage to see whether that decision was clearly and obviously wrong and determined that it wasn't, seeing that contact that was quite high on the leg.

"But, of course, we know that for serious foul play we need excessive force or brutality. And what we see here is that high contact glancing and coming off the leg quite quickly.

"So for that reason, everybody pretty much in the game has formed the same conclusion that we now form, that this is falling short of serious foul play because of that glancing contact. Because the studs don't really go right into the leg, they glance it before coming down on to the foot."

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Today, 13:46By Joe Brophy

Look no further

Former Premier League star Ademola Lookman blasted his manager's 'deeply disrespectful' comments following his missed penalty in Atalanta's defeat to Club Brugge.

Lookman had his spot-kick in the 61st minute saved by Simon Mignolet as the Italians were knocked out of the Champions League in a 5-2 aggregate defeat.

Following the loss, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini claimed the ex-Leicester and Fulham star 'wasn't supposed to take the penalty'.

He even described the Nigerian as 'one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen' in a brutal takedown.

That's despite Lookman missing only two attempts from 12 yards since 2020 and burying his previous four penalty efforts since joining Atalanta in 2022.

"It saddens me on a day like this to have to write this statement - most of all because of what we achieved together as a team and as a city," Lookman wrote on X.

"Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.

"In truth, I have dealt with many difficult moments during my time here - the majority of which I have never spoken about because in my opinion the team must always be protected and must come first. This makes what happened last night even more hurtful.

"Along with our incredible fans, we as a team are hurting too much with last night's result. During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so.

"Life's about challenges and turning pain into power which I'll continue to do."

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Today, 13:19By Joe Brophy

Gior dropping

Giorgi Mamardashvili might not be impressing Liverpool fans keeping a key eye on his services as his struggles at Valencia continue.

The Georgian goalkeeper was one of just two signings Arne Slot made upon his Anfield arrival last summer alongside Federico Chiesa.

Liverpool signed the Euro 2024 star for around £26million and immediately loaned him back to Valencia for the current campaign.