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Bangladesh Hockey team to leave for Bangkok on May 4 to participate in Asian Games Qualifiers
Bangladesh National Hockey team will leave here for Thailand on May 4 by an Air Asia flight to compete in the nine-nation Asian Games Qualifiers to be held in Bangkok from May 6-15.
Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) announced an 18-member final national squad to compete in both the Asian Games Qualifiers and the Men's Asia Cup Hockey, also naming two stand-by players.
BHF named two separate captains for two tournaments keeping the same squad intact.
Rezaul Karim Babu will lead the Bangladesh team in the Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers scheduled for May 6-15 in Bangkok while Khorshedur Rahman will captain the Bangladesh team in the Men's a Asia Cup Hockey in Jakarta from May 23 to June 1.
READ: National Hockey team for Men's Asia Cup, Asian Games Qualifiers announced
Iman Gobinathan Krishnamurthy of Malaysia named as the head coach, Zahirul Islam Mitul as assistant coach and Mohammad Rafiul Haque as team leader of Bangladesh for both the tournaments.
The hockey players of the national camp given holiday from today (Wednesday) and they will again report and join the camp at the Hockey Stadium on May before fly for Thailand.
Earlier, Bangladesh team put Pool B of the Men's Asian Games Qualifiers along with Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Singapore.
Bangladesh will play hosts Indonesia on May 7, Sri Lanka on May 10 and Singapore on May 12 in the group matches.
In the eight- nation Hero Men's Asia Cup Hockey, Bangladesh team also been placed in Pool B with Malaysia, Korea and Oman.
Bangladesh will face Korea on May 23, Oman on May 24 and Malaysia on May 26.
Earlier, Bangladesh qualified for the Men’s Asia Cup as they clinched the fourth consecutive title of the Men’s AHF Cup last month.
Oman, who finished as runners-up in the meet, also qualified to play in the eight-nation Men's Asia Cup with auto-qualifiers – India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, hosts Indonesia.
Bangladesh squad:
Goalkeepers: Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayeed Nippon,
Defenders: Khorshedur Rahman, Farhd Ahmed Shitul, Ashraful Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Rezaul Karim Babu, Shohanur Rahman Sabuj
Midfielders: Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Naim Uddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Prince Lal Samanta.
Forwards: Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Milon Hossain, Pushkor Khisha Mimo, Arshad Hossain, Rakibul Hasan Rocky (Jr),
Two stand by players are: Al Nahian Shuvo and Deen Islam Imon.
Nayeem added to Test squad to replace injured Mehidy
A finger injury ruled Mehidy Hasan Miraz out of the first Test against Sri Lanka that will begin on May 15 in Chattogram.
To replace Mehidy, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) added right-arm spinner Nayeem Hasan to the 15-man squad.
“Miraz dislocated his right little finger while trying to take a catch in a match on 24 April. An X-ray has revealed a small avulsion fracture,” Dr Debashis Chowdhur, the chief physician of BCB, said in a statement.
“A splint has been used to support and protect the injured area. Initial assessments suggest that the recovery could take at least three weeks which effectively rules him out of the first Test against Sri Lanka,” he added.
Mehidy sustained the blow on his right small finger during a Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match.
READ: Anamul's record-breaking season keeps getting better
The Sri Lanka cricket team will arrive in Bangladesh on May 8 for a two-match series. This series is a part of the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship.
While the first Test will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on May 15, the second Test commences at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on May 23.
Bangladesh squad (for 1st Test):
Mominul Haque(Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Yasir Ali, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shohidul Islam, Shoriful Islam (subject to fitness)
Key Takeaways from the DPL 2022
The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League's traditional one-day format returned this year after a two-year break owing to the coronavirus epidemic. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have clinched the DPL 2022 title, their first trophy in the Dhaka Premier League. Individually, top-order batter Anamul Haque Bijoy has had a fantastic season, while young, up-and-coming spinner Rakibul Hasan has been a revelation with the ball. Let's look at some of the key takeaways from the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League in 2022.
Dhaka Premier League 2022: Noteworthy Performers
The Dhaka Premier Cricket League 2022 consists of 73 matches, with three matches remaining until the season ends. This season has seen some truly phenomenal performances. Let's take a look at some of the most notable ones.
Batting
Anamul Haque Bijoy of Prime Bank Cricket Club has been the most in-form player this season. This right-handed top-order batter has set the DPL record for most runs scored in a single season. Anamul Haque Bijoy is also the only player in the history of the Dhaka Premier League to score 1,000 runs in a single season. With an average of 80.15, he has 1,042 runs in 14 innings. Anamul has amassed three hundred and eight half-centuries. The highlight of Anamul's season is his swashbuckling 184-run effort against Shinepukur Cricket. He can improve his record even further with one more match remaining. Bijoy's uncanny consistency has caught the attention of the selectors, and he deserves another chance to represent his country.
Read DPL 2022: Sheikh Jamal win championship, while Khelaghar are relegated
Apart from Anamul Bijoy; Naeem Islam of Legends of Rupganj (836 in 14 innings), Mosaddek Hossain of Abahani (658 in 14 innings), and Zakir Hossain of Rupganj Tigers (627 in 14 innings) have also had successful DPL 2022 season with the bat.
Bowling
Slow left-arm orthodox spinner, Rakibul Hasan has been the most successful bowler in the tournament on slow surfaces in Dhaka. He has been a reliable wicket-taker for his team, Prime Bank Cricket Club. Rakibul Hasan has 27 wickets in 14 innings with an average of 20.33. 4/40 has been his best bowling figure this season.
Apart from Rakibul Hasan, Parvez Rasool of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (26 wickets in 14 innings), CS Jani of Legends of Rupganj (25 wickets in 14 innings), Tanvir Islam of Abahani Ltd (21 wickets in 14 innings), and Masum Khan of Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity (20 wickets in 12 innings) have all taken over 20 wickets so far this season.
Read IPL 2022: Halfway Through, Playoffs Qualification Scenarios for Ten Teams
Others
There have been three 200+ partnerships this season. The 238-run third-wicket stand between CS Jani and Naeem Islam against Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club has been the best thus far. Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque's match-winning 234*-run stand against Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club was awe-inspiring.
Imrul Kayes, Shykat Ali, and CS Jani have each taken 10 catches this season. In wicket-keeping, City Club's Shahriar Komol has the most dismissals with 19 thus far. Gazi Group Cricketers Akbar Ali (18), Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club's Zakir Hasan (17), and Abahani Limited's Jaker Ali (16) have all had a successful season with gloves.
Aftermath
The primary talking point in the DPL 2022 has been Anamul Haque's record-breaking run with the bat. This right-handed batter has shown throughout the tournament that he is still a capable top-order batter who can consistently score runs. Furthermore, some young and prospective cricketers played well in this year's event, which is promising for Bangladesh cricket. Overall, the 2022 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League has been a success, with some exciting matches.
Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis
DPL 2022: Sheikh Jamal win championship, while Khelaghar are relegated
The eighth season of the Dhaka Premier League (after receiving List A status) will come to an end on Thursday (April 28) with one more round in both the Super League and relegation phase. The winner of the DPL 2022 was determined on April 26. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club won their first-ever Dhaka Premier League trophy after defeating Abahani Limited by four wickets in Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla cricket stadium on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity cricket team has been relegated to the Dhaka first division cricket league.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Crowned Champions
The Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club enjoyed a considerable edge before the Super League commenced. They were four points ahead of Abahani Limited, who were in the second position. All they needed to do was keep up the momentum into the Super League phase. Sheikh Jamal has done just that, winning three of their four games in this phase to win the title for the first time. They have one more encounter against the Legends of Rupganj on Thursday. This game is crucial for the Legends to finish second in the DPL 2022 competition.
Read: Nurul Hasan guides Sheikh Jamal to maiden DPL title
Abahani Limited will meet Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club, while Prime Bank Cricket Club will face Gazi Group Cricketers in the last two Super League matches. Prime Bank will strive for a second-place finish, while Abahani Limited will aim for a third-place finish. Gazi Group Cricketers and Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club will compete for fifth and sixth places, respectively in the 2022 Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.
Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity Down
At the end of the group stage, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity, City Club, and Brothers Union were the bottom three clubs. Brothers Union and City Club had shown some battling spirit to avoid relegation, but the Khelaghar team had been decimated from the start of the campaign. They only won one game in the group phase, and they won the same number of games in the relegation phase. Khelaghar were demoted to the first division league after finishing the Dhaka Premier League 2022 season with only four points.
Read: Anamul's record-breaking season keeps getting better
With six points apiece, Brothers Union and City Club finished ninth and tenth, respectively, at the end of the league phase. Therefore, they enjoyed a substantial edge before the start of the relegation phase. Brothers Union escaped relegation after defeating Khelaghar by 8 wickets on April 21. City Club were defeated by Khelaghar by 85 runs in their first match of this phase, while their match against Brother Union was called off due to inclement weather.
Aftermath
For the first time ever, Bangladesh's Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club won Bangladesh's most prestigious club cricket championship. They were by far the best team in the competition and deservedly won the DPL 2022 tournament with a game to spare. On the other hand, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity struggled all through the tournament and are down to the first division with only two victories this season.
Anamul's record-breaking season keeps getting better
An imperious Anamul Haque Bijoy became the first batter to cross 1000 runs in a single season of the Dhaka Premier League since the competition was awarded List-A cricket status in 2013.
In the fourth round of the Super League phase of DPL on Tuesday, Anamul scored the 15th ton in his List-A career, and with this ton, he completed 1000 runs. It was his third century in this season of the Dhaka League.
After 14 matches, Anamuld scored 1042 runs at an outstanding average of 80.15 with a strike rate of 97.47. He also scored eight fifties along with hitting 44 sixes— most by any batter in the league.
In the league’s 2019 edition, Saif Hassan scored 814 runs which remained the best batting performance after the league won the List-A status. Anamul surpassed Saif in this league and raised the bar to 1000.
READ: BAN vs SL Series 2022: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis
Along with making this record, Anamul scored 184 in a match which is the highest by any batter in this edition of the Dhaka League.
Anamul played his last international match back in 2019 in Sri Lanka. He failed to impress the selectors in that series and subsequently lost his place in the national team.
The right-handed batter did not stop working hard to improve his game and proved that he was on the right track. The ongoing edition of the Dhaka League came as another demonstration of his batsmanship.
Recently, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the former Bangladesh captain, said that Anamul has improved a lot and the batter deserves to be close to the national team.
Nurul Hasan guides Sheikh Jamal to maiden DPL title
Another matchwinning knock by Nurul Hasan Sohan guided his team Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to their maiden title in the Dhaka Premier League on Tuesday beating Abahani Limited by four wickets.
In pursuit of 230 in Mirpur, Sheikh Jamal lost five wickets before posting 100 runs on the board. Nurul Hasan, the captain of Sheikh Jamal, came to the wicket at number seven and ended up winning the match scoring 81 off 81 balls with eight fours and two sixes.
On the seventh wicket, Ziaur Rahman and Nurul added 82 runs, to guide their team to an imperious record-making win. For Abahani, Mohammad Saifuddin scalped two wickets.
Earlier, Abahani posted 229 for six in 50 overs with the fifty of Towhid Hridoy. Wicket-keeper batter Jaker Ali was the second-highest runs scorer for them with 47. Saifuddin, the right-handed allrounder, posted 44 off just 33 balls with five sixes as well.
For Sheikh Jamal, Ziaur Rahman scalped two wickets.
With this win, Sheikh Jamal secured 24 points from 12 wins in 14 matches so far in the league. They still have a match to play. But even a defeat in the last match won’t be able to change their top place. The team that has the second-highest points- 20 points- is Legends of Rupganj.
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In the other fourth-round matches of the Super League phase of Dhaka League, Legends of Rupganj beat Gazi Group Cricketers by 196 runs. Sabbir Rahman hit 90 for Rupganj while Shakib Al Hasan scored 59 off 26 balls.
Riding on their batting performance, Rupganj posted 293 for 9 wickets in 50 overs. In reply, Gazi Group tumbled for 97 with Chirag Jani bagging five wickets for Rupganj. Sabbir won the player of the match award.
In another match of the day, Prime Bank Cricket Club beat Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club by 10 wickets riding on the centuries of Anamul Haque Bijoy and Tamim Iqbal. These two have come up with an opening partnership of 234 runs.
And with the century in this match, Anamul completed 1000 runs in this league. Anamul’s 1000 is now the best batting performance in Dhaka League since it attained the List-A status in 2013.
Int'l Rating Chess: Minhaz Uddin maintains solo lead
International Master Mohammad Minhaz Uddin of Bangladesh Navy maintaining his sole lead in the Marcel Invitational International Rating Chess Tournament securing 7 points after the 8th and penultimate round matches held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room on Tuesday.
FIDE Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed of Bangladesh Navy is in the 2nd position with 6.5 points. Candidate Master Manon Reja Neer of Uttara Central Chess Club is in the 3rd slot with 6 points.
Seven players shared the 4th position collecting 5.5 points each.
They are: Anata Choudhury of Rupali Bank Krira Parisad, FIDE Master Syed Mahfuzur Rahman of Janata Bank Officer Welfare Society, Shafiq Ahmed and Showkat Hossain Pollab of Sheikh Russel Chess Club, Jabed Al Azad of Manha’s Castle, Abdul Momin of Khelaghar Daba Sangah of Gopalganj and Mukitul Islam Ripon of Agrani Bank Daba Dal.
READ: Int'l Rating Chess: CM Manon Reja Neer takes solo lead
In the day's 8th round matches, IM Minhaz beat Shafiq, FM Sheikh Nasir beat Md. Abu Hanif, Anata drew with FM Mahfuz, CM Neer beat CM Md. Sharif Hossain, Pollab beat FM Khandekar Aminul Islam, Ripon beat CM Md. Jamal Uddin, Momin beat FM Mohammad Javed, Md. Sariatullah drew with CM Md. Shawket Bin Osman Shaon and Jabed beat Kazi Zarin Tasmin.
The 9th and last round matches will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11 am at the same venue.
The prize distribution ceremony of the tournament will be held on the same day (Wednesday) from 4: pm at the Chess Federation hall-room soon after completion of the games.
Senior Executive Director and Head of Games and Welfare of the meet's sponsor Walton Hi-Tech Industries FM Iqbal Bin Anwar Dawn will distribute prizes among winners as the chief guest.
IPL 2022: Halfway Through, Playoffs Qualification Scenarios for Ten Teams
The Indian Premier League's 15th season began on March 26, with 10 franchises competing in this year's edition. A total of 74 matches are to be played in the IPL 2022, with 38 of them already finished. With half of the league stage matches completed, the current position of each team in the point standings is becoming apparent. The Gujarat Titans currently top the points table with 12 points, while the Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, are in the last position with no wins. Let's have a look at the ten-team IPL 2022 playoffs qualification scenarios.
Scenarios for the IPL 2022 Playoffs
The fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League has reached the halfway mark. The points table scenario is discussed here.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans are having a fantastic season in the IPL 2022. They have only lost one of their seven games so far. The Gujarat Titans are expected to win as many points as possible in the next seven matches in order to finish first in the standings and proceed to the playoff round to play qualifier 1.
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Remaining Fixtures:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 27), Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 30), Punjab Kings (May 3), Mumbai Indians (May 6), Lucknow Super Giants (May 10), Chennai Super Kings (May 15), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 19)
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore
With 10 points apiece, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Lucknow, and Bangalore are in second, third, and fourth position, respectively. The net run rates are separating each other in the points standings. They are all in solid positions in the points table and poised to make a push for the top four.
Remaining Fixtures (Sunrisers Hyderabad):
Gujarat Titans (April 27), Chennai Super Kings (May 1), Delhi Capitals (May 5), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 8), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 14), Mumbai Indians (May 17), Punjab Kings (May 22).
Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis
Remaining Fixtures (Rajasthan Royals):
Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 26), Mumbai Indians (April 30), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 2), Punjab Kings (May 7), Delhi Capitals (May 11), Lucknow Super Giants (May 15), Chennai Super Kings (May 20)
Remaining Fixtures (Lucknow Super Giants):
Punjab Kings (April 29), Delhi Capitals (May 1), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 7), Gujarat Titans (May 10), Rajasthan Royals (May 15), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 18)
Remaining Fixtures (Royal Challengers Bangalore):
Rajasthan Royals (April 26), Gujarat Titans (April 30), Chennai Super Kings (May 4), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 8), Punjab Kings (May 13), Gujarat Titans (May 19).
Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Mustafizur's versatile bowling could have been beneficial for Bangladesh
Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings
Punjab are in the sixth position with eight points from eight games, followed by Delhi and Kolkata, both with six points. Chennai are in ninth place with four points. Among these clubs, Punjab have a greater chance of making the playoffs than the rest. However, Delhi and Kolkata can advance to the next round if they win their remaining games. On the other hand, Chennai have a very slim chance of making the playoffs.
Remaining Fixtures (Punjab Kings):
Lucknow Super Giants (April 29), Gujarat Titans (May 3), Rajasthan Royals (May 7), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 13), Delhi Capitals (May 16), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 22)
Remaining Fixtures (Delhi Capitals):
Kolkata Knight Riders (April 28), Lucknow Super Giants (May 1), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 5), Chennai Super Kings (May 8), Rajasthan Royals (May 11), Punjab Kings (May 16), Mumbai Indians (May 21).
Read IPL 2022: Jos Buttler's Record-Breaking Knock Helps Rajasthan Reach the Top
Remaining Fixtures (Kolkata Knight Riders):
Delhi Capitals (April 28), Rajasthan Royals (May 2), Lucknow Super Giants (May 7), Mumbai Indians (May 9), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 14), Lucknow Super Giants (May 18)
Mumbai Indians
The most successful team in IPL history, Mumbai Indians are yet to win a game this season. They presently have 0 points and are at the bottom of the standings. In reality, the Rohit Sharma-led team has no chance of progressing to the next round.
Aftermath
The top four teams in the points table will advance to the playoffs. As a result, teams compete against one another to finish in the top four positions in the standings. As of now, the Gujarat Titans are in a prime position to qualify for the playoffs as the first team. Apart from that, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all in fine shape in their quest for a playoffs berth. Mumbai Indians, who have failed to gain a point after eight IPL 2022 group matches, are virtually out of playoffs contention among the bottom teams.
Read Sheikh Jamal, Legends of Rupganj in Pole Position to Win DPL 2022
Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022: Champions League Semi-Final Preview, Team News, Prediction
Liverpool will host Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Thursday (April 28) at 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Liverpool are one of the best clubs in Europe, and they are currently on fire. On the other hand, Villarreal astonished everyone by defeating two heavyweights, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 and Quarter-Final stages respectively. Villarreal knocking Liverpool out of the semi-finals would be one of the biggest upsets of the season. The match preview, team news, and prediction for Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022 are discussed in this article.
Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022: Team Lineups
Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino is in doubt for this fixture as he has been struggling with a foot injury, which kept him out of the Merseyside derby on Sunday (April 24). Apart from that, the rest of the Liverpool players from the squad would be available for selection.
Predicted Starting XI (Liverpool)
Alisson Ramses Becker (GK); Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB), Ibrahima Konate (CB), Virgil van Dijk (CB), Andrew Robertson (LB); Jordan Henderson (MF), Fabinho (MF), Thiago Alcantara (MF); Mohamed Salah (FW), Sadio Mane (FW), Luis Diaz (FW).
Read Manchester City vs Real Madrid 2022: Champions League Semi-Final Match Preview
Former Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno and star forward Gerard Moreno are both in doubt for this match due to injury issues. Therefore, one of the major dilemmas in this fixture for Villarreal would be to pick an ideal partner for Arnaut Danjuma.
Predicted Starting XI (Villarreal):
Geronimo Rulli (GK); Juan Foyth (RB), Raul Albiol (CB), Pau Torres (CB), Pervis Estupinan (LB); Dani Parejo (MF), Francis Coquelin (MF), Etienne Capoue (MF); Giovani Lo Celso (FW), Samuel Chukwueze (FW), Arnaut Danjuma (FW)
Villarreal vs Liverpool: Head-to-Head Record
Villarreal and Liverpool have never met in the UEFA Champions League; therefore, Thursday's match will be their first. However, both teams have previously played each other in the 2016 Europa League semi-finals. Liverpool reached the final by defeating Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, but they were defeated by Sevilla in the championship match. In all, Villarreal and Liverpool have met twice in official matches, with both teams winning once.
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So far, Liverpool have scored three goals against Villarreal, while Villarreal have only scored once. Villarreal's highest goal scorer in the UCL is Arnaut Danjuma, who has six goals, whereas Liverpool's top scorer is Mohamed Salah, who has 34.
Liverpool vs Villarreal First Leg of Semi-Final 2022: Match Prediction
Liverpool have won their previous three matches. More importantly, all those three matches were against their bitter rivals. They beat Manchester City 3-2 in the FA Cup semi-final, followed by a 4-0 win over Manchester United and a 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League. So, the Red Devils squad has a positive vibe at the moment.
On the other hand, after drawing a UCL match against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Villarreal overcame Getafe 2-1 and Valencia by 2-0. So, the confidence level of the Villarreal team is also very high at the moment.
Read English Premier League 2021-22: Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United Race for Top Four
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's ideal formation is 4-3-3. However, he prefers heavy metal football, which means high pressure, high defensive line, and fluid forward. He demands counter-pressing or gegenpressing from his players. It basically encourages players to recover the ball immediately after losing it. So, it is expected that Kloop will deploy the same tactics against Villarreal in the first leg of their semi-final match.
Villarreal head coach Unai Emery loves to build-up play and encourages his full-backs to support the attacking players. Emery usually deploys a traditional 4-4-2 system, and he was successful against both Bayern Munich and Juventus in the previous phases. However, he can also switch his system to 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1, or 4-3-3. It will be interesting to see what tactics Emery will deploy against Liverpool at Anfield. But one thing is certain: he will make every effort to limit the number of goals conceded.
Read Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022
Match Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Villarreal
Verdict
The hosts will start as favourites in the first leg of the Liverpool vs Villarreal 2022 semi-final encounter. However, the Yellow Submarine still have a chance if they play to their full potential in both legs. To take Villarreal to the final for the first time, Unai Emery will need to craft a better plan to counter Liverpool's, Jurgen Klopp. Despite being favourites, Liverpool will be put to the test as Villarreal attempt for the third time in a row to shock football fans.
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BPL Football: Dhaka Abahani regains 2nd slot beating Muktijoddha SKC 4-3
Coming from 0-2 behind, six-time champions Dhaka Abahani Limited regained the 2nd slot in their opening 2nd phase match of the 12-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football '2021-22 beating Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 4-3 goals at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj Monday afternoon.
The popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani were trailing by 0-2 goals in the first half against the lowly ranked freedom fighters team Muktis in nerve shattering match.
Japanese forward T Misawa put the freedom fighters team Muktijoddha ahead in the 35th minute from a penalty (1-0) while Japanese midfielder Soma Otani doubled the Muktijoddha margin in the 50th minute (2-0).
Russian World Cup playing Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres made the match exciting one scoring first goal for Abahani in the 64th minute (1-2).
Rakib Hossain scored two quick successive goals in the 66th and 69th minutes to put Abahani ahead from behind (3-2).
Brazilian medio Raphael Augusto further sounded the Abahani margin in the 75th minute scoring the 4th goal (4-2).
T. Misawa reduced the Muktijoddha margin again in the stoppage time of the match scoring his 2nd goal from his 2nd penalty (4-3).
After the day's 12th round matches, Dhaka Abahani were in the 2nd slot securing 26 points, four points behind the league leader Bashundhara Kings, who bagged 29 points.
In the day's another match, Saif Sporting Club beat Bangladesh Police FC by 6-1 goals at Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
READ: BPL Football: Holders Bashundhara Kings make good start in 2nd phase beating Swadhinata KS 2-0
Uzbek defender Asror Gafurov struck twice in the 39th and 69th minutes, two Nigerian forwards Mfon Udoh and Emeka Ogbugh, Faisal Ahmed Fahim and Sajjad Hossain scored one goal each for Saif SC in the 25th, 31st, 78th and 82nd minutes respectively.
DM Djawa netted the consolation goal for Police FC in the stoppage time of the first half (45+2) minute.
In the day's other match, Dhaka Mohammedan SC played to a 1-1 draw with Sheikh Russel KC at the Bashundhara Sports Complex here.
Jewel put Sheikh Russel KC ahead in the 22nd minute while Jafar leveled the margin for the black and whites Mohammedan in the 88th minute.
Sujon of Mohammedan got marching order after receiving two yellow cards in the match.
The day's another match between Chittagong Abahani and Rahmatganj MFS ended in a goalless draw at the Sylhet District Stadium.