Latest news with #Salah
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah's visit to Japanese temple sparks social media debate among Egyptians
BEIRUT: Photographs of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah visiting a Buddhist temple in Japan this week — alongside his teammates — have sparked controversy among Egyptians on social media, with some praising Salah's open-mindedness and others having a different opinion. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport As part of their summer tour ahead of the Premier League's start next month, Liverpool posted a video on their X handle on Monday about their visit to Eko-in Temple, a Jodo-shu Buddhist temple in Tokyo, for what they described as a 'bespoke meditation session.' Some Arabic news websites posted photos of players, including Salah, sitting cross-legged on the temple's floor while they seemed to be attending a meditation session, which Liverpool said was 'guided by a monk.' A morning of meditation — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 28, 2025 Some social media users praised Salah for being culturally curious and respecting and accepting of other religions, while others criticized his visit and considered whether — as an icon for millions in the Arab and Muslim world — he should instead have visited an Islamic center or a mosque in Tokyo. Several users commented on X that Salah had represented Egypt and the Egyptians in the best way through showing respect and openness toward other cultures and religions. At the Ekoin Temple in Tokyo, the Reds were guided by a monk in a bespoke meditation session — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 28, 2025 Others had an opposite viewpoint, saying they would have preferred to have seen Salah visiting a mosque in Tokyo rather than a temple. One group of users — describing the criticism and controversy as 'exaggerated' — said that Liverpool's visit to the temple had no religious significance but rather fell within the tourist and cultural program of a global sports team. According to the club's official website, Liverpool's tour of Japan included friendly matches and cultural activities aimed at strengthening ties with Japanese fans. Eko-in Temple is a popular tourist destination in the Japanese capital, distinguished by its traditional architecture and the meditation sessions held there.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
How would Liverpool fit Ekitike and Isak in the same team?
Liverpool's summer window was already the most curious we've ever seen from a Premier League Bundesliga stars en masse and swapping out both full-backs implies a major tactical shift that will emphatically end the Jurgen Klopp era and herald the dawn of a new bringing in Newcastle's Alexander Isak would push Liverpool's transfer business into unprecedented territory, having already also signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht since the age of good old-fashioned 4-4-2s - when little-and-large strike partnerships were borderline mandatory - have we seen a top club sign two elite number nines in the same exactly is Arne Slot thinking?Here are five ways it might work… An ultra-narrow 4-2-3-1 with Wirtz, Ekitike and Salah behind Isak All of our theories here are going to require some square pegs in round holes - except this could deploy a squeezed 4-2-3-1, in which the nominal wingers Salah and Ekitike are so narrow they operate more as number 10s either side of Florian Wirtz, with the width then provided by two flying Frimpong is a very attacking right-back, whose presence is likely to push Salah more infield anyway, while Ekitike tends to drop into 10-ish positions even when starting as a nine, as we see in the graphic below. This system would allow for fluid movement among that trio of number 10s. For example, when one of Salah and Ekitike drifts wide the other would remain narrow alongside Wirtz, creating the box-shape (with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch) that is so important in modern Premier League other moments, Ekitike or Salah may drive ahead into more of a centre-forward role next to Isak, in turn shuffling the box up a line, connecting with two number 10s behind is arguably the most dynamic formation Slot could use to get all four players into his starting XI - but it would be quite a departure from what went let's look at a more conservative idea... Ekitike replacing Diaz as left-winger in Slot's conventional 4-2-3-1 The simpler thing to do is fully convert Ekitike into a Luis Diaz replacement, assuming the Colombia forward completes his move to Bayern has played just nine games (two starts and 324 minutes total) as a left-winger, although he has often tended to drift out to that side, most notably throughout 2023-24. More importantly, the way Slot has used Cody Gapko and Diaz - as one-on-one dribblers, using their acceleration to cut inside full-backs - corresponds with Ekitike's best the Bundesliga last season Ekitike came fifth for attempted dribbles (126) and for shot-ending carries (44). He also provided eight assists and ranked fifth (again) for 'attacking sequence' involvements. He hasn't done it much before, but Ekitike has the makings of a Slot left-winger. Ekitike and Isak together, Frankfurt-style, in a 4-2-2-2 Ekitike's best football at Frankfurt came as part of a proper strike partnership with Omar Marmoush before his January departure to Manchester City saw the end of Dino Toppmoller's 3-5-2 and Ekitike regularly swapped positions, dove-tailing instinctively as one dropped and the other went in behind. It was a swirling, rhythmic balance that confounded defenders and propelled Frankfurt into a title challenge until late are unlikely to move to a back three any time soon, not least because a 3-5-2 with Ekitike and Isak would mean benching Salah. But there is a way to put Isak and Ekitike together, albeit a pretty risky Liverpool regularly line up in a 4-2-4/4-4-2 when not in possession, but crucially that's with a 10 (Dominik Szoboszlai) playing very much as a third midfielder when Liverpool have the we're suggesting here is notably more fragile through the middle, requiring a two-man midfield to cover all the space when a quick turnover triggers an opposition also the problem of playing Wirtz on the left, a position he has only very occasionally played for Bayer Leverkusen and all likelihood, this is one for when Liverpool are chasing a game. It's a bit kitchen-sinky for anything earlier than that. Ekitike and Wirtz as dual eights in the De Bruyne and Silva mould If number three sounded a bit weird, then you won't like this idea. But it really could is regularly compared favourably with Kevin de Bruyne, while Marmoush (Ekitike's old strike partner and a player with similar characteristics to the new Liverpool forward) has been plonked into the De Bruyne role at Man plausible Ekitike could adapt into that hybrid eight/10 position, playing alongside Wirtz much in the way Pep Guardiola has historically used two aggressive eights in front of a number has always been a big influence on Slot, who once described the Catalan's playing style as "the ultimate joy in football". Maybe, just maybe, the Liverpool manager plans to take the Pep influence to a whole new level and regularly start with two eights/ Premier League football is increasingly transitional and end-to-end, with slower possession-hogging on its way out, which is why Guardiola is far more likely to play with two sixes - in a 4-2-3-1 - than the dual playmaker system we saw in his early title elite teams start to see less of the ball, and when the opposition isn't so pinned back, it becomes more important to have a solid midfield base that can block those quick-fire of the time, Ryan Gravenberch won't be able to do it all on his own. But a City-esque 4-3-3 would be exciting to see. Ekitike as competition for four separate forward positions We don't necessarily need to come up with a wildcard formation that crams all the new signings into the same all goes well Liverpool will play over 60 games next season, meaning they will need a regularly rotating front line to keep legs fresh and opponents as a £69m cover option probably doesn't sound very appealing, but he will arguably be the second-best player in four separate positions for Liverpool - although Szoboszlai, rivalling Wirtz, might say you consider injuries, the need to rotate for twice-weekly football, and Slot's tactical adaptations to the opposition, Ekitike could easily tot up over 30 starts in all competitions even if he wasn't technically considered to be in the club's best that managers of elite clubs tend to think in terms of 'best XIs' anymore - schedules are too busy and injuries too common for fact, what fans assume to be their team's best XI rarely actually play together, as many Liverpool supporters know all too most mind-blowing example of this phenomenon was first highlighted by Duncan Alexander,, external who pointed out that the supposedly-iconic Liverpool XI under Klopp - the one that started the Champions League final - had never played together before that game and never played together after how do you solve the riddle? How do you get all of Liverpool's new signings into the same team? Answer: you don't.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool signed the NEW face of adidas
Liverpool's latest partnership with adidas is already set for tremendous success. It's the third time the iconic sportswear brand is returning to become a manufacturer of the club's shirts. The relationship between Liverpool and adidas stems all the way back to the 1980s. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now It was in adidas colours that Liverpool lifted their last few First Division titles. It was also in adidas colours that Liverpool were toppled by Manchester United in the 1990s. The Reds then went onto swap adidas for Reebok during a decade long partnership between 1996 to 2006, before once again collaborating with adidas until 2012. Since then, Liverpool have worked together with Warrior, New Balance and Nike but are now returning to the brand which it is most familiar with. Being the current Premier League champions, and having the summer that the Reds have had when it comes to recruitment means Liverpool are expecting record shirt sales when the home kit is finally announced on August 1st. But this is a partnership that doesn't just help them this summer, it sets them up for the future. There's been a lot of talk about the adidas athletes at the club, most notably Mohamed Salah, who is one of the biggest athletes currently represented by the brand. He's not alone, Florian Wirtz is recognised as one of the future faces of adidas. With the brand originating from Germany, there are close ties between adidas and Wirtz. He often features prominently in advertising campaigns for adidas, and will continue to do so at Liverpool - the only difference is that he will be able to wear his Liverpool shirt in the advertisement campaigns. Wirtz and Salah linked-up recently alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal to promote adidas' new F50 boots. The sparkly boots have hit stores already and they are one of the best designs adidas has made in recent years. Wirtz and Salah though are not the only Liverpool athletes who is promoting the brand though.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rodrygo's sly comment at Mo Salah could backfire as Liverpool interested in £80m star
With Liverpool reportedly holding an interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, the Brazilian's previous comments about Mohamed Salah could cause uproar in the Liverpool dressing room Rodrygo's past digs at Mohamed Salah may not be received well by the Liverpool dressing room should the Reds clinch a move for the Real Madrid star. The Brazilian is reportedly subject to interest from the Premier League champions and Arsenal after a season where his involvement on the pitch declined due to the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. With the Spanish giants said to have placed a price tag of £86million on the winger, speculation surrounding his future is strife. He's been touted as a potential replacement for Luis Diaz at Anfield with the Colombian who is eager for a new challenge, as Bayern Munich are keen to sign the 28-year-old. While the Brazilian would certainly prove to be an impressive addition for Arne Slot - who acquired Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday - amends may need to be made if a deal comes to fruition after he previously took aim at Salah in an interview. It was in 2018 when the Egyptian superstar was left devastated after being forced off after 30 minutes in the Champions League final against Madrid when suffering an shoulder injury via a foul from Sergio Ramos. Madrid went on to win the match 3-1 and four years later, the two clubs met again in the European final. Salah took to social media after the Spanish side knocked out Manchester City in the semi-finals as he wrote on X: "We have a score to settle." Salah doubled down on his need for vengeance after he was named the FWA Footballer of the Year award, where he added: "Yeah, I think it's revenge time." Despite his motivations, Liverpool came up short once again, narrowly losing 1-0 with Vinicius Jr scoring the only goal in the game. Rodrygo - who came on in the 93rd minute of the match - didn't take too kindly to Salah's talk of revenge before their clash. He enjoyed the last laugh after discussing his team-mates' desire to make fun of the Liverpool winger in a podcast. Speaking on Podpah's YouTube channel, he said: "When a guy provokes, sometimes you just want to win so you can make fun of them. In training we used to say 'come Salah, come Salah'… in our head it was already 'we have to win to then make fun of Salah'." Given the close-knit bond that exists within the Liverpool squad, it remains to be seen whether Rodrygo's comments could create tension if a move to Anfield materialises this summer. While the Brazilian's importance at Madrid dwindled slightly last season under Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham made sure to give the winger his flowers earlier this year by showering praise on him. Speaking to CBS Sports earlier this year, the England midfielder said: "Rodrygo is so underrated. For me, he's probably the most talented and most gifted player in the squad. The things he can do with the football. We'll be messing around, and he'll flick the ball up somehow, and you're thinking, 'How'd he do that?' I'm twisting my ankles if I try that." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
☕️🥐 FC Breakfast: unbelievable misses 🤯, Salah shines 👑, bizarre banner 🤣
Is Salah the Greatest African in History? In an interview with Ballon d'Or, Mohamed Salah claimed to be the greatest African player in history... before also mentioning George Weah, Didier Drogba, and Samuel Eto'o. So, is the Egyptian really the greatest? WTF Sign 😭 The Tour de France is in full swing, and some pranksters never miss the chance to get noticed by the roadside. This time, it was this Nantes supporter who surprised everyone with his sign. Crazy Misses 🤯 During their friendly defeat against Guingamp (2-1), FC Nantes stood out for their clumsiness. An FC25 action that could break your controller. Speed Gets Shut Down in 1v1 ⚡️ While in Paris for a live event, Speed tried his hand at a 1v1, and it didn't go quite as he imagined. Yesterday's Must-Sees 🍿 - 📸 France - Germany: the WTF red card given to the Mannschaft 😭 - 💰 Transfer update for July 19 - From 0-4 to 5-4: we already have the comeback of the season in C4 🤯🔥 This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here. 📸 Michael Regan - 2025 Getty Images
