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The NYCFC U12 forward left spectators in awe with a breathtaking strike

Khasaia scored a remarkable goal from outside the boxThe strike helped NYCFC U12 secure victory in the tournamentGame showcased promising talentWHAT HAPPENED

During a high-stakes EDP Cup match, NYCFC U12's Zukas Khasaia unleashed a stunning long-range effort that found the top corner of the net, leaving the opposing goalkeeper with no chance and securing a win for his team.

Khasaia's goal not only secured three points for NYCFC U12 but also highlighted the effectiveness of the club's youth development program.

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The EDP Cup serves as a crucial platform for young talent to showcase their skills in front of youth coaches and academy scouts.

Khasaia's performance underscores the depth of talent in NYCFC's youth system and bodes well for the future of both the club and potentially the U.S. youth national team setup.

WHAT’S NEXT?

As the EDP Cup progresses, all eyes will be on Khasaia and the NYCFC U12 squad to see if they can build on this momentum.

The youngster’s spectacular goal has undoubtedly raised expectations.

Matt Parkinson makes debut as England’s first concussion replacement

Andrew Miller02-Jun-2022Jack Leach was withdrawn from the first LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand at Lord’s and is a doubt for next week’s second Test at Trent Bridge, after suffering concussion symptoms following a heavy fall in the outfield.Concussion protocols allow for a player to be substituted out of the game so long as the man coming in is a like-for-like replacement. England opted for Matt Parkinson, who arrived at Lord’s from Manchester an hour before the close on the first day and can play a full part in the game.Dom Bess and Moeen Ali, who retired from Test cricket last year but has signalled his willingness to consider a return, were among the other potential call-ups that Parkinson beat to make it to the XI and play his first-ever Test match. The 25-year-old Lancashire legspinner has 126 wickets from 37 first-class games.Leach, who was playing in his first home Test match since the Ashes in 2019, suffered the injury in the sixth over of the match, as he chased a Devon Conway drive to the backward-point boundary.As Leach dived, successfully dragging the ball back from the edge of the rope, he landed heavily on his head, and appeared to injure his neck in the process. New Zealand’s medical team were the first on the scene, and attended to him for several minutes before he was able to walk from the field of play back to the pavilion.However, after subsequent examination from the ECB medical team, the decision was taken to withdraw him from the match. “Jack Leach has symptoms of concussion following his head injury whilst fielding,” read an ECB statement. “As per concussion guidelines, he has been withdrawn from this Test.”In a subsequent statement, the ECB confirmed that he would be out of action for the next seven days at least in line with protocols, meaning his participation in the Trent Bridge Test, which gets underway on June 10, is in doubt.Parkinson will make his Test debut as a concussion replacement•Getty Images”He’s a tough character,” Matthew Potts, England’s debutant, said. “It was a freak thing that can happen. The first thing he said was, ‘I’m fine – I saved the four though!’ That is testament to his character. He’s a tough lad. We said we are going to really hunt the ball down in the field and put in a good fielding display, which we did.”Brendon McCullum, England’s new Test coach, had made a point of asking players to keep chasing every ball before this Test. “Brendon said one basic thing for his mindset is: you chase every ball to the boundary as hard as you can until it’s at the boundary edge,” Stuart Broad said on Tuesday. “That is just a mindset of positivity, all the time – that you are going to give everything to this game.”Parkinson, who has played nine games for England across the white-ball formats, has been a regular member of touring squads over the last two years and believed he was close to making his Test debut in the Caribbean. He has taken 24 wickets at 25.95 in the County Championship this season, the most of any spinner in the country.”I’m sure he has had an interesting drive down,” Potts said. “Receiving that call, I’m sure there will have been a wave of emotions. He can collect his thoughts tonight and approach tomorrow with a clear head rather than coming in very flustered from a freak scenario.”He becomes the second Test cricketer to make a debut as a concussion replacement after Zimbabwe’s Brian Mudzinganyama, who replaced Kevin Kasuza against Sri Lanka in early 2020.

West Bromwich Albion will hope they can get back to winning ways in the Championship this coming Sunday after falling to a narrow 2-1 loss to Watford last time out.

Winning their next clash versus Bristol City at the Hawthorns would set them up nicely for two away days in quick succession before 2024 is out, with a tough tie against table-toppers Sheffield United closing out the busy year.

Even as the fixtures come thick and fast around this bumper Christmas period, Carlos Corberan will likely keep selecting Josh Maja to lead the line, who has more than turned around his Baggies career this campaign.

Maja's heroics at West Brom

Although he has fired blanks across his last five games in the tricky league, the Spaniard has continued to select the former Sunderland man, knowing he can rifle the back of the net with an effort in the blink of an eye.

After all, the clinical 25-year-old has only averaged a mere 26 touches per Championship clash this season, but still has a very impressive goal haul of ten from 20 games to boast about.

Even as his output in front of goal has dried up of late, he still managed to pick up an assist towards the start of the month when the Baggies valiantly rescued a share of the points versus the Blades, having linked up with assist king Tom Fellows well to level the game at 2-2.

Whilst Maja’s space in the side is understandably concrete, the same cannot be said for Grady Diangana anymore, who had started to fall way down Corberan’s pecking order even before his recent injury troubles popped up.

Diangana's future at West Brom

With his contract up next summer, the time could soon be coming for West Brom to have a conversation with Diangana about his future at the second-tier outfit.

Just glancing at his high wage in Corberan’s camp is enough to think a parting of the ways will soon happen, with the Congolese winger earning a steep £20.3k-per-week pay packet, which makes him a higher earner than even Maja who rakes in a surprisingly lesser £17k-per-week salary.

At least with Maja, it’s been well-documented how excellent he’s been this season, whereas Diangana was struggling even before injury disaster struck for him in November.

Last season in the Championship, the ex-West Ham United attacker picked up a sublime seven goals and eight assists, but he has nothing to show for his efforts during a dismal 2024/25 campaign to date.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Diangana

Games played

12

Games started

5

Minutes averaged*

44

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Shots on target*

0.1

Touches*

27.7

Accurate passes*

14.6 (81%)

Looking at the table above, Diangana has suddenly become a reserve figure for the Baggies, with no goals and zero assists to shout about when he is unleashed into the action by Corberan.

Of course, the experienced forward hasn’t been helped by his luck with injuries – having now been absent since West Brom’s trip to Hull City last month – but his lack of game time hasn’t really impacted his side in their pursuit of promotion.

Once dazzling his adoring set of supporters with showboat-laden displays, with one of his West Brom teammates, Jed Wallace, even labelling him as “unbelievable” in the past, Corberan just isn’t that reliant on the 26-year-old to be a bright spark anymore, when you also consider he has Fellows and Mikey Johnston to call on down the channels.

This January could be the perfect opportunity for West Brom to cut ties with their loyal servant, therefore, before he is allowed to leave for nothing, managing to perhaps recoup a fee before going full steam ahead to try and return to the Premier League.

Worth less than Dike: West Brom hit gold selling star who had "great value"

West Bromwich Albion fans will have forgotten about this former star now.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 19, 2024

Everton and Sean Dyche are looking to complete the signing of a new right-back and winger in the January transfer window, according to a new claim.

Latest Everton news

Both incoming and outgoing transfer news continues to emerge at Goodison Park, with Beto being linked with a move away from the club next month. The striker has been a disappointing signing overall, scoring just once in 10 Premier League appearances this season, and talks regarding a move to Sevilla are thought to have taken place.

If Beto does move on, it is imperative that another striker is brought in to replace him, and Borussia Monchengladbach ace Tim Kleindienst has been backed to join Everton. The 29-year-old has nine goals in 15 outings in the Bundesliga in 2024/25 to date, suggesting that he could be a prolific addition to Dyche’s squad.

Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech is another player who is seen as an option for the Blues in January, with the Moroccan wanting a move away from current club Galatasaray. The 31-year-old may not quite be at his peak these days, but he could still add so much quality in wide areas, wreaking havoc with his left foot.

The future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin also means that other attackers need to be looked at alongside Kleindienst, in case the Englishman moves on, as well as Beto, which does admittedly seem an unlikely scenario. Rangers star Hamza Igamane has been mentioned as a target for Everton, having found the net four times in the Europa League this season.

Everton eyeing double signing in January

According to a new report from Football Insider, Everton and Dyche want to bring in a new right-back and winger next month, with the positions seen as “priority” areas for the Blues to strengthen in.

Although it is unlikely that The Friedkin Group will “open the chequebook and splash the money” in the January window, Dyche knows where he needs new signings. While that seems tricky, in terms of finances, the Merseysiders are “hoping to sign cover at right back for the rest of the season”, as well as bringing in a “wide attacker”.

It is encouraging to see that Everton are looking to bring in some reinforcements in January, in order to stave off the threat of relegation. While wholesale changes to the squad shouldn’t be expected, seeing a couple of new faces arrive in key areas should give Dyche the extra depth that he craves.

Seamus Coleman continues to be a dogged performer for the Blues, but he is now 36 years of age and needs more of a breather, with Nathan Patterson only managing 18 minutes in the league this season because of injuries.

Everton now in talks over selling "hard-working" £50k-p/w player in January

The 26-year-old is believed to be keen on the move.

ByDominic Lund Dec 29, 2024

Meanwhile, a right-sided attacker also makes complete sense, with Iliman Ndiaye flourishing on the opposite flank, and someone of Ziyech’s ilk could be perfect, coming straight in as a key starter and making an immediate difference in the final third.

There were outstanding performances from all three England forwards on Sunday as Renee Slegers' side won a fifth WSL game in a row

Sunday was all about Arsenal's Lionesses as Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly starred in a front line that secured the Gunners a 4-0 win at Crystal Palace, moving them back into second place in the Women's Super League table with just four games to go. Manchester United had leapfrogged the north London side earlier in the day by beating Everton in the early kick-off, but it took just a couple of hours for Arsenal to rise back above them and maintain their seven-point cushion inside the Champions League places, with them also ready to pounce should pace-setters Chelsea slip-up in the run-in.

Bottom side Palace boosted their survival hopes earlier this month with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa and the spring that, plus the appointment of Leif Gunnar Smerud, has put in their step was evident in the early stages of a game that was quite even. However, once Kelly and Mead had combined brilliantly to put Arsenal ahead, it was difficult to see anything but an away win. The former's cross was volleyed in wonderfully for the latter's 50th WSL goal and from there the Gunners never looked back. Just over 10 minutes later, it was two, with Mariona Caldentey able to pick the pocket of My Cato in the Palace half to allow Russo to continue a wonderful week, this her third goal of it after her heroics against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

Palace generally did well to stay in the game, albeit without creating many chances and while thanking goalkeeper Shae Yanez for some big saves. Caldentey and Russo were both denied by the American, with Kelly and Frida Maanum missing the target from other opportunities, before the third goal of the day finally came in the closing stages. Kelly was the instigator, darting inside from the left, and Allyson Swaby was the unlucky Palace defender who inadvertently prodded the ball into the back of her own net to put the result well and truly beyond doubt. There was still time for a fourth, though, as Mead's cross-cum-shot beat Yanez in stoppage time to complete a great day out for the Gunners – and especially their England stars.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Gander Green Lane…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

Had very little to do all afternoon.

Emily Fox (7/10):

Great on the ball and battled well, coming up with some timely defensive actions to thwart Palace.

Leah Williamson (7/10):

Mopped up nicely at the back and was central to most of Arsenal's attacking play, too.

Steph Catley (7/10):

Another who was fantastic in possession and also did well whenever called upon defensively.

Jenna Nighswonger (7/10):

Got forward plenty on her full WSL debut, adding even more threat to Arsenals' already lively left-hand side.

AdvertisementMidfield

Lia Walti (6/10):

Was a little loose in possession at times, but still played a number of great passes and did plenty of good work off the ball as well.

Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

After running the show in midfield on Wednesday, found herself in a central role again and picked up where she left off with another great performance.

Frida Maanum (7/10):

Got involved plenty, be it in defence or attack. Was sharp in attack and created some nice openings, while also winning possession back more than any other player before going off just past the hour.

Getty ImagesAttack

Chloe Kelly (8/10):

Delivered a number of brilliant crosses, most notably the one Mead volleyed home to break the deadlock, and caused the problems that led to Arsenal's third.

Alessia Russo (7/10):

Didn't have many chances but pounced upon the first that fell her way, doubling Arsenal's lead with a clinical finish. Should've had a second, mind.

Beth Mead (8/10):

A really lively performance in which she created plenty and netted twice, with the first an absolute cracker.

Subs & Manager

Kim Little (7/10):

Added a little more impetus than Walti when replacing the Swiss international just past the hour.

Victoria Pelova (6/10):

Continued her return from a devastating ACL injury with a strong half an hour here. Could've had an assist, after setting up Russo for a great chance.

Rosa Kafaji (N/A):

Made her first league appearance in eight weeks in the closing stages.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (N/A):

Another late sub to freshen up the midfield.

Katie Reid (N/A):

The promising young defender replaced Williamson for the final few minutes.

Renee Slegers (7/10):

Freshened things up after a big midweek performance, with Nighswonger and Mead among those who took big opportunities to start. Decision to keep Caldentey in a central role was another great call that paid dividends.

Significant blow to club in wake of racism scandal as senior batter decides to move on

David Hopps20-Jun-2022Yorkshire are bracing themselves for a potential exodus of leading players after the announcement that Tom Kohler-Cadmore has been released from the final year of his contract and will join Somerset at the end of the season.Kohler-Cadmore’s departure comes less than a week after their England all-rounder and T20 captain, David Willey, abruptly broke off contractual negotiations to rejoin Northamptonshire, complaining that the racism furore within the club had made his “work environment unsettling”.Yorkshire will stage the Headingley Test this week after a reconstituted Board convinced the ECB that they were taking their responsibilities on diversity seriously following the furore caused by Azeem Rafiq’s racism allegations.But despite the unceasing efforts of their interim MD of cricket, Darren Gough, and head coach, Ottis Gibson, to create a positive environment, resentment still runs high within the dressing room about the manner in which the entire coaching staff were sacked en bloc when the public outcry was at its height.The need for Yorkshire to win hearts and minds – not within the ECB, nor with public opinion, but within the confines of their own dressing room – could not be starker. The need is to sell the idea of a New Yorkshire and what that culture looks like. If that proves to be impossible then there could be considerable transfer activity around the club, both in and out, over the next year or so.Kohler-Cadmore, who has joined Somerset on a three-year deal, was always one of the likeliest to depart. His father, Mick, acted as a Headingley dressing room attendant, and he walked out in protest at the mass sackings. He has missed much of the season because of delayed concussion after being struck in the nets by his team-mate Pat Brown, during the Pakistan Super League.Gough said: “Having been in discussions with Tom over the last few months, it has become clear that this opportunity for him to join Somerset is one he would very much like to take. I’d like to thank him for his significant contributions to the Club over the last six years and wish him all the best for his future.”Unlike Willey, Kohler-Cadmore did not depart with a barb at the club – as he has been released from his contract, that was never going to happen. “I’m very grateful to Darren Gough for his understanding in allowing me to pursue an opportunity elsewhere and have enjoyed my time at Headingley,” was his official remark.Kohler-Cadmore is a big loss. A former Wisden Schoolboy cricketer of the Year and England Lions batter, he has developed more successfully in the white-ball formats, where he has been in global demand, and a first-class average of 32 is respectable enough, although declining. He also keeps wicket – and Somerset’s options in this area are uncertain with Tom Banton out of contract at the end of the season and Steve Davies’ deal ending a year later. The England U-19 batter/keeper, James Rew, is also highly thought of.Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “We are delighted to have been able to secure the services of such a talented batter who is driven to playing at the highest level. His record speaks for itself across all formats, and he will bring a wealth of experience from his time within the English domestic game plus from the time that he’s spent in global competitions around the world.”Related

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David Willey to return to Northamptonshire at the end of 2022 season

Yorkshire have adopted a softly-softly approach with their playing staff, hoping that wounds will heal and that they will begin to appreciate the broader perspective: that the club had to change its approach to protect its reputation, respond to the errors of the past and ensure a supportive environment and fair development pathways for players of all races.But personal relationships, especially for young players, are often more powerful. The sackings of some lesser-known figures not centrally involved in the debate, such as Kunwar Bansil, a highly-popular physio, who is now at Nottinghamshire, and Peter Sim, a former strength and conditioning coach, are thought to have left Willey and Kohler-Cadmore particularly aggrieved.Yorkshire will take comfort from the fact that the first two players to leave are imported players, not developed within the county pathways, and they will hope to build a more powerful sense of loyalty elsewhere. They are also primarily white-ball orientated, by accident or design, so have had limited value in the Championship.That said, it remains an enormous challenge for Yorkshire, and their chairman Lord Patel, to plot a route out of the biggest crisis in Yorkshire’s history and the danger is that a newly-constituted independent Board, whilst offering an impressive array of talent across a variety of fields, will not be close enough to the day-to-day tensions to find a remedy.There is also no certainty about how long Gough will remain at Yorkshire. He suspended a lucrative career as a talkSPORT pundit to come to Yorkshire’s rescue and has thrown himself into the role with huge enthusiasm, but his appointment was initially presented as a temporary solution.With at least two other influential players uncertain where their future lies, and rival counties jostling to make offers, Yorkshire’s attempts to build something better, and more enlightened, from the wreckage, remains a colossal undertaking.While they set their mind to that, Yorkshire, along with seven past players and coaches, also face ECB charges of bringing the game into disrepute. They are likely to plead guilty, at least largely so, to what a new regime regards as historical failures, but the affair could hang over them all winter.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confessed to a tactical oversight that nearly jeopardised his team’s narrow 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

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Fernandez scored to give Chelsea the three pointsLengthy VAR checks led to 12 minutes of stoppage timeMaresca believes he was lucky to escape with his changesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues secured a vital three points at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a second-half header from Enzo Fernandez, but the closing moments were anything but straightforward for the hosts.

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With Chelsea clinging to their slender lead, Maresca withdrew forward Cole Palmer and goal-scorer Fernandez, bringing on Tosin Adarabioyo and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to shore up the defence and midfield, respectively. Only after making the changes did Maresca realise that 12 minutes of stoppage time had been signalled – largely due to extensive VAR reviews that had disallowed goals for both sides during the second half.

WHAT MARESCA SAID

"We created chances enough in the first half, and then, to be honest, it has been my mistake because I did the change before I saw the extra time," Maresca told reporters.

"When I saw 12 minutes, I saw that probably was too early to make that kind of change. But fortunately, we won the game, and we are happy."

Despite his admission of a tactical error, Maresca was quick to heap praise on his players for their resilience and determination during the frantic finale.

"If you want to become a team, I think you need also to learn and to play in the way we played in the last 10 minutes: win a game in a dirty way," the Italian said.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Chelsea's next challenge comes quickly, with a short trip across London to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on April 6.

Division Two leaders lose Hameed in daunting fourth-innings target

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2022 Nottinghamshire 285 (Montgomery 80, Hameed 70, James 50, Hogan 4-47, Harris 4-65) and 19 for 1 need another 436 runs to beat Glamorgan 318 and 421 for 5 (Byrom 144, Northeast 105*, Lloyd 60)Centuries from Eddie Byrom and Sam Northeast put Glamorgan in the driving seat as they set Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire a formidable 455 to win in 105 overs at Sophia Gardens.Notts start Thursday 19 for one after Haseeb Hameed’s wicket on day three. Byrom’s 144 was his second major century in three Championship matches.Meanwhile Northeast, 105 not out, recorded his first hundred for Glamorgan, as David Lloyd and Billy Root both hit fifties.Promotion challengers Glamorgan, the only side to defeat Nottinghamshire in this campaign, started the day leading by 86 runs and quickly pushed on as they posted only their second century opening stand of the season.With Lloyd working hard to re-establish his red-ball form, Byrom reached his century just before lunch off 154 balls, a lofted straight six off Liam Patterson-White the highlight.Notts finally got some reward in the over before lunch as Lloyd edged a drive off Brett Hutton to slip for 60 with the partnership worth 172.Colin Ingram (33) and Byrom added 76 before Notts finally stemmed the flow as both fell in successive overs to Patterson-White.Byrom’s innings, including 21 fours and with a healthy strike-rate of 70 runs per 100 balls, followed his recent 176 against Sussex to continue his solid start in a new role at the county.However the stylish Northeast and busy Root made sure the punishment continued despite ultra-defensive tactics from the visitors in the final session, putting nine men on the boundary and bowling wide of the stumps.Northeast added two sixes to his eight fours with his innings coming off just 137 balls, putting on 147 for the fifth wicket before Root (53) top-edged Luke Fletcher to Clarke.Lloyd’s declaration challenged Notts to make their second highest run chase ever, and Michael Hogan claimed an early wicket as he bowled Hameed for one, beating his defensive shot.Middlesex’s defeat at Worcester gives Glamorgan the incentive to go second in the table if they can force home their advantage at Sophia Gardens.

Liverpool are now in direct talks over a move for an “unbelievable” player, who has been identified as a priority target to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to a report.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool future still in doubt

Alexander-Arnold is still yet to commit to a new contract at Anfield, with Real Madrid holding a strong interest in the right-back’s signature, but the Reds are doing everything they can to keep hold of the 26-year-old.

A bumper new contract offer has been tabled in a bid to keep Alexander-Arnold on Merseyside for a further five years. However, as yet there are no signs the right-back is willing to commit to fresh terms.

As such, Arne Slot has now started to look at replacements for the England international, and last week it was revealed that Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich is of interest, with his £300k-per-week contract set to expire in the summer.

Now, there has been a new update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Kimmich, with Sky Sports France reporting that direct talks have now been held over a deal for the versatile defender.

The Reds have now identified the German as their priority target, in the event that Alexander-Arnold exits Anfield, as they are particularly impressed by his versatility.

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The Merseyside club would even be willing to spend €25m (£21m) to get a deal done this winter, rather than waiting for the summer, casting doubt over his future at the Allianz Arena.

Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (a)

January 18th

Ipswich Town (h)

January 25th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

February 1st

Everton (a)

February 12th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

February 16th

The Bundesliga side had previously been confident about agreeing a new contract with the 29-year-old, but it remains to be seen whether he would be interested in a move to Anfield.

Kimmich could be the ideal Alexander-Arnold replacement

Trent is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, so it is promising news that Liverpool could replace him with a player of a similar quality, with Kimmich being lauded as “unbelievable” by Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount.

The Germany international is capable of playing at right-back and central midfield, making him a versatile option for Slot, and it also means that Conor Bradley could be afforded more opportunities at right-back.

That said, Liverpool will still be hoping that their academy graduate agrees to extend his stay at Anfield, considering how big a part he has played in their success for a number of years.

Alexander-Arnold’s attacking talents have been on show once again this season, picking up five goal contributions in 18 Premier League games, while also finding the back of the net with a fine strike against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup at the weekend.

The Egyptian King has signed a new, two-year deal at Anfield, meaning he's now in a position to enhance an already stellar legacy

'More in than out'? You've got to hand it to the marketing and social media teams at Liverpool. They've got a cheeky sense of humour. And at least everyone involved in the painfully protracted negotiations over Mohamed Salah's contract extension can laugh about it all now.

Because, at the time, there was nothing funny about the Egyptian revealing last November that he was "more out than in" at Anfield.

"I haven't received anything yet about my future," Salah told reporters after the 3-2 win over Southampton at St. Mary's. "There is no club like this. I love the fans. The fans love me. But it is not in my hands or the fans' hands. So, let's wait and see."

In the end, we had to wait nearly another five full months before the future of the best player in the Premier League was finally resolved, which remains difficult to get one's head around as we could be talking about the Premier League's GOAT here…

No place like Anfield

There was, of course, always the expectation that Salah would end up staying at Liverpool. When he says he loves the club, and the city, he really means it.

"I have had the best years of my career," he told the Reds' official website after signing his new, two-year deal. "I'm enjoying my life here, I'm enjoying my football. My family also feels at home.

"It's a special moment always when you play at Anfield. There is no place like it. The warmth you feel inside. The song before the game. Everything about it, every time you score a goal and they sing my song, it's something special.

"And the story will continue…"

Which is obviously just as well for Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and sporting director Richard Hughes, as they'd have had to deal with the most bitter backlash from the fans if they'd lost one of the greatest players in the club's history for nothing.

AdvertisementPlaying better than ever?

Some continue to question the wisdom of giving a lucrative new deal to a player that turns 33 in June but Salah's form left Liverpool with no choice. He's playing as well as – if not better than – ever before.

Salah has carried Arne Slot's attack for the majority of the season. He's scored 27 goals in 31 games, meaning he's not only on course to equal Thierry Henry's record haul of four Premier League Golden Boots, he's also poised to claim his first European Golden Shoe.

And as Slot said, "What makes it even more impressive is that he does this year after year after year. Not many players are able to do that and that he is able to do this tells you a lot about the quality he has."

The all-round excellence

However, we're also seeing a far less selfish Salah this season, which is the result of a very deliberate effort to improve those around him.

"That's part of growing," he explained in an interview with . "You want everybody to play well because you’re not going to win the league alone, so you want other players to also perform.

"That’s what I’m trying to do the last few months, probably from the beginning of the season, to study their games and understand what the players like. In the past, when I was younger, I just focused on myself more on the pitch.

"So far, I think this is my best season because I make the players around me better as well. That’s what I feel. I know their games. All the numbers around all the players are going to be higher than other seasons. Plus my assists are higher which means I'm really helping them a lot."

The numbers certainly support Salah's claim, as he now needs to create three more goals to become the only other player other than Henry to register more than 20 goals and assists in the same Premier League season – which would just be the ultimate testament to his all-round excellence and the perfect illustration of why Liverpool were willing to give him an extension.

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Driven by trophies, not money

Losing Salah this summer would have been a disaster for Liverpool – because there's not a single winger on the market capable of replacing him.

Deep down, there must have also been a temptation for Salah to take the massive amounts of money on offer in Saudi Arabia and leave Anfield on a high, after playing a starring role in a Premier League triumph.

However, it's clear that as he approaches his 33rd birthday in June, Salah remains as fit (he's started all 31 of Liverpool's Premier League games so far this season) as he is hungry.

This is not a man motivated by money – but by silverware – and the seamless transition Slot has overseen since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as manager has clearly played a pivotal part in Salah's decision.

"We have a great team now," Salah told the club's website. "Before also we had a great team but I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies."