football
Injured Pogba might have played last game for Man United
Paul Pogba might have played his last game for Manchester United.
The France midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of the season, came off injured in the 4-0 loss to Liverpool on Tuesday and will take at least four weeks to recover, United manager Ralf Rangnick said Friday.
Read: DPL Super League: Sheikh Jamal secure top spot, Abahani suffer 2nd defeat
“I don’t think it is very likely that he will be able to play again (this season),” Rangnick said.
Pogba joined United in 2016 for a second spell at a club where he came through the academy, before moving to Juventus in 2012.
He has struggled to reproduce the form he delivers on a more consistent basis for the French national team.
Man United hires Erik ten Hag as 5th manager in 9 years
Once a model of coaching stability in Alex Ferguson’s long trophy-filled tenure, Manchester United hired a fifth full-time manager in nine years since his retirement by bringing in Erik ten Hag from Ajax.
Ten Hag’s arrival was announced by United on Thursday, with the 52-year-old Dutchman joining at the end of the season to 2025. He is tasked with awakening a fallen superpower in European soccer that is enduring its longest trophy drought in nearly 40 years.
“I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead,” ten Hag said. “I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.”
Adopting the attacking philosophy of the great Johan Cruyff, ten Hag succeeded in bringing the good times back to Ajax, leading the biggest team in the Netherlands to two Eredivisie titles — it could be three in a few weeks — as well as the Champions League semifinals in entertaining style in 2019.
Read: Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022
Returning United to its former heights is set to be an even bigger job, given the team won the last of its record 20 English titles in 2013 — Ferguson’s final season of his 26-year reign — and hasn’t won a trophy since beating Ajax in the Europa League final in 2017. United hasn’t endured such a trophy drought since the early 1980s and has slipped way behind rivals Manchester City and Liverpool despite continuing to spend heavily on players.
Nowhere was this decline more evident than this week, when United was thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool to go along with its rival’s 5-0 win at Old Trafford in October.
The three-time European champion might not even return to the Champions League next season. United is three points out of the Premier League top four with five games remaining and is already assured of ending a season without a trophy for the fifth straight year.
“In our conversations with Erik leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Manchester United to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that,” said John Murtough, United’s football director.
United has been led by interim managers Michael Carrick and currently Ralf Rangnick since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired in November. The club has been speaking to candidates over recent weeks — Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly also on the shortlist — but it settled on ten Hag, who might be the biggest managerial gamble in United’s turbulent post-Ferguson era.
Aside from a two-year spell with Bayern Munich’s reserve team (in 2013-15, when Pep Guardiola was in charge of the first team), ten Hag has coached only in the Netherlands — with Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht and most recently Ajax since 2017.
As such, he is untested in the Premier League and in handling the egos of some of the biggest players in world soccer — and United has some of them in Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
Read: Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Pogba is, however, out of contract at the end of the season and is set to leave as part of what could be a major shake-up of a playing squad that needs rebuilding and strengthening in key areas like central midfield and up front.
An advocate of the 4-3-3 formation that is so popular in the Netherlands, ten Hag tries to play attractive, attacking football in the manner of the teams coached by Cruyff, whose shadow and philosophy hangs over the club like Ferguson’s does at Old Trafford.
Since Ferguson’s departure, United has gone with the man he hand-picked as a successor, David Moyes, and then managers with bigger profiles in Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. None of them worked out and nor did Solskjaer, although he at least got United to a second-place finish last season.
Ten Hag joins with United now at perhaps its lowest ebb since Ferguson’s retirement and his first big decision might be what to do with Ronaldo, a striker who keeps scoring goals — with 15, he is third on Premier League scoring list — but whose work rate and mobility is not at the level of forwards at other big clubs.
Can he get the best out of United’s younger forwards, such as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, and bring through youth players like he has at Ajax?
“Erik has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in Europe,” Murtough said, “renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking football and commitment to youth.”
Before all that, ten Hag will look to sign off at Ajax with another Dutch league title. With five games remaining, Ajax leads second-place PSV Eindhoven by four points.
“I’m happy that it has been finalized and that it has been officially announced,” he said. “That clarity is important. But I only have one interest now and that’s these last five games. I want to finish my time here on a positive note, by winning the league.”
Juventus to Face Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia Final 2022
The Coppa Italia 2022 final will be held on May 11, which means there are still three weeks left for the championship match. The availability of major players will decide who will start as favourites in this contest. Therefore, injuries could change the overall scenario before the all-important final. With the present situation in Serie A, Juventus' only hope is to win the Coppa Italia. On the other hand, Inter Milan are playing for a double as they are in pole position to win Serie A. The squad strength of both Juventus and Inter Milan is discussed in this article.
The ideal Juventus formation and squad
Last summer, the Juventus team lost some of their key players, including Cristiano Ronaldo. They also replaced Andrea Pirlo with Massimiliano Allegri as manager. Allegri's team has struggled to compete for the title all season, and their main goal now is to finish in the top four in order to qualify for next season's Champions League. However, an opportunity arises for Juventus to finish the season with a trophy. They beat Fiorentina 2-0 at home on Wednesday (April 20) and advanced to the final on a 3-0 aggregate.
Read Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri’s ideal formation is a traditional 4-4-2, which can be switched to a 4-33 style. He started to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation as the season progressed. Against Inter Milan, Allegri may go with his squad strength to take the game deep. Let’s take a glance at the Juventus squad.
Goalkeepers:
Wojciech Szczęsny is Juventus' No. 1 goalkeeper since legend Gianluigi Buffon left the club in the summer of 2017. Szczęsny has done well as a keeper for the Turin side. Mattia Perin is the second-choice keeper for Juventus.
Defenders:
Juventus have some world-class defenders such as captain Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs de Ligt, Juan Cuadrado, Alex Sandro and Danilo. With these kinds of options, Allegri should feel confident with his defense.
Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Midfields:
They have some quality midfielders but don’t have many options. Arthur, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Federico Chiesa, and Federico Bernardeschi are Juventus' first-team midfielders.
Forwards:
In the January transfer window, Juventus signed the highly talented Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina to strengthen their forward line. He, along with Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata, and Moise Kean, will be the options for Juventus' forward line.
Inter Milan's squad and preferred style of play
Inter Milan let Romelu Lukaku go to Chelsea during the 2021 summer transfer window. This decision hasn’t affected much in their quest for a Serie A title. However, Inter Milan’s dream of showing commanding performance in the UEFA Champions League was dashed as they were knocked out by Liverpool in the round of 16 phase. Inter’s 2021–2022 season will still be regarded as very successful if they can win the domestic double. Inter Milan beat their arch-rivals AC Milan 3-0 at home on Wednesday and secured a place in the Coppa Italia 2022 final.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Inter Milan won the 2020–2021 Serie A title with Antonio Conte’s defensive style of play. However, things started to change when Simone Inzaghi was appointed as the new head coach. He prefers an attacking style of play and uses his defense and forward-line players for more versatility up front. Inzaghi’s ideal formation is 3-5-2, and he even deploys a 2-3-3-2 formation for quick press.
Goalkeeper:
Inter's captain Samir Handanovic, is one of the best goalkeepers in the Italian Serie A. Alex Cordaz and Ionut Radu are the other two goalkeeping options for Inter Milan.
Defenders:
Aleksandar Kolarov, Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Andrea Ranocchia, and Danilo D'Ambrosio are some of the main players in Inter’s defense. This defense unit has looked solid for their team.
Read PSG beat Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Midfields:
Inter Milan have several midfield options, including Roberto Gagliardini, Matias Vecino, Ivan Perisic, Hakan alhanoglu, Arturo Vidal, and Nicolo Barella. These players have implemented coach Simone’s plan on the field.
Forwards:
Inter Milan's Alexis Sanchez, Edin Dzeko, and Lautaro Martinez have all performed well for the team. In particular, Lautaro Martinez is in fine form and is leading the attacking half for Inter Milan.
Bottom Line
The Coppa Italia 2022 final match between Juventus and Inter Milan will be a huge tactical duel. Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus will most likely use a traditional 4-4-2 formation. Oppositely, Simone Inzaghi may use as many as multiple midfielders to seize control of the midfield. The game is also significant for both teams because these two teams will meet in a domestic cup final match for the first time in 57 years. The last time they faced in a Coppa Italia final was in 1965. Juventus won the Italian Cup that year by a solitary goal. Which team will have the last laugh on May 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome?
Read Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
Argentina vs Brazil 2022: MCG to host a SuperClasico match in June
The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia will host a match between Argentina and Brazil, famously known as SuperClasico, on June 11 this year. This will be considered a friendly contest between the arch-rivals. As the five teams, including an inter-confederation playoff, confirmed last March, this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match reportedly will not replace the suspended World Cup qualifier. This is expected to be a multi-million-dollar contest. The match details and squad information of Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match are discussed in this article.
Was there ever a match between Brazil and Argentina at the MCG?
Argentina and Brazil previously played a SuperClasico match at the MCG arena back in June 2017. The match was held on June 9 at the packed MCG stadium. The estimated crowd attendance was 95,579. This indicates how popular both Argentina and Brazil’s football teams are around the globe. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the local crowds regarding this fixture. Fans from other countries also visited Australia just to watch the showdown between the two heavyweight football nations. Tickets for this Argentina vs Brazil 2022 match will be up for grabs from April 21 (Thursday).
Read Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Argentina beat Brazil in that match by a solitary goal. In the 45th minute, defender Gabriel Mercado scored the winning goal. Argentine sensation Lionel Messi did participate in the match, but Neymar was absent. Both Messi and Neymar are expected to play in the match, which will serve as a warm-up for their participation in the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
With this fixture, the Australian government is expected to generate the same kind of enthusiasm among football lovers in that territory. They also expect this match will boost their economy as there were strict health restrictions in Victoria State during the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Read 2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
Argentina vs Brazil: Head-to-Head Record
Both sides have met each other on 109 occasions, in which Brazil have led head-to-head contests with 43 wins. On the other hand, Argentina have won 40 matches and 26 of them ended in a draw. Argentina scored 162 goals, while Brazil have netted 166 times against their arch-rivals.
Brazil and Argentina have met four times in the FIFA World Cup, where Brazil have won twice, Argentina have won once, and the other match ended in a draw. However, in Copa America, Argentina have won 16 times and Brazil have won 10 times in 34 meetings between them.
Read AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
Argentina vs. Brazil 2022: Squad Information
Both sides will be looking to put their best XI together in order to dominate the contest. Coaches will also give chances to certain players who are not confirmed for the World Cup 2022. So, this will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents against quality opposition. Let’s take a look at the probable starting XI for both teams.
Argentina (possible XI)
Emiliano Martinez (GK); Nahuel Molina (RB), Nicolas Tagliafico (LB), Cristian Romero (CB), Nicolas Otamendi (CB); Rodrigo De Paul (MF), Leandro Paredes (MF), Giovani Lo Celso (MF), Angel Di Maria (MF), Lautaro Martínez (FW), Lionel Messi (FW).
Read Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Brazil (Possible XI)
Alisson Becker (GK); Danilo (RB), Marquinhos (CB), Thiago Silva (CB), Alex Telles (LB); Casemiro (MF), Bruno Guimaraes (MF), Fabinho (MF), Vinicius Junior (FW), Rodrygo (FW), Neymar (FW).
Verdict
The forthcoming Argentina vs Brazil 2022 football match at the MCG in Melbourne will be a real showdown for football lovers. This match promises to be tightly contested as Brazil will be eagerly waiting to take revenge for their defeat to Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final at the Maracana Stadium.
Oppositely, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team are currently on a 31-match unbeaten streak and they need to remain undefeated for seven more games in order to surpass Italy’s 37-match unbeaten record. Overall, the MCG in Melbourne is a perfect venue to host a mega contest between two of the giants of football.
Read Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
Madrid wins again despite Benzema's missed penalty kicks
Not even an off-day for Karim Benzema was enough to keep Real Madrid from moving closer to clinching the Spanish league title.
Benzema missed two penalty kicks seven minutes apart in the second half but Madrid went on to earn a 3-1 win at Osasuna Wednesday to open a 17-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid, which can no longer catch its rival as both teams have five games left to play. Barcelona is 18 points back but has seven games left to play, meaning it still has a theoretical chance to catch Madrid.
Also read:Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title
“It was another small step toward reaching our objective,” Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde said. “It was a difficult first half but we corrected our mistakes and finished playing well.”
Benzema went scoreless for only the second time in the last 11 games in all competitions. Both of his penalty kicks were saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera in the 52nd and 59th minutes. He targeted both of his shots to the same side, with Herrera diving to his right to make the saves.
“It’s not a big deal,” Valverde said. “It can happen. He has scored many goals for us but today it wasn’t meant to be. We know that he will still score a lot in the remaining matches this season.”
Benzema is the league’s leading scorer with 25 goals and has netted 15 times in the last 10 matches in all competitions. The French striker scored hat tricks and decisive goals to help Madrid reach the Champions League semifinals.
Madrid defender David Alaba opened the scoring in the 12th minute after an assist by Benzema, and forward Marco Asensio added to the lead in the 45th after the hosts had equalized through Ante Budimir in the 13th. Lucas Vázquez sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Osasuna, sitting in ninth place and coming off two straight victories, had a goal disallowed for offside in the 32nd.
Alaba had to be substituted at halftime because of an injury, creating a concern ahead of Madrid’s first leg against Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League next week.
ATLÉTICO STALLS
Atlético Madrid’s struggles in attack continued in a 0-0 draw at home against relegation-threatened Granada.
It was the fourth time in the last five matches that Atlético failed to score. It had been winless in three games in a row before a last-minute 2-1 win against Espanyol on Sunday.
The result left Diego Simeone’s team in second place, one point ahead of both Barcelona and Sevilla. The Catalan club visits sixth-place Real Sociedad on Thursday, while Sevilla plays at second-to-last place Levante.
Also read:Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Atlético opened a four-point cushion over fifth-place Real Betis, the first team outside the Champions League qualification places. Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis lost 1-0 to Elche at home on Tuesday.
Granada had lost two in a row and had conceded 12 goals in its last four matches, but Atlético managed only one shot on target from 22 total attempts at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Granada coach Aitor Karanka made his debut. The team stayed in the relegation zone despite the draw, one point from safety in 18th place.
Atlético has only 11 points of 30 possible against the bottom five clubs in the standings — Mallorca, Cádiz, Granada, Levante and Alavés.
GETAFE MOVES UP
Getafe moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at Celta Vigo, with Borja Mayoral scoring a goal in each half.
It was the first away win for Getafe after 16 consecutive matches without a road victory, dating to last season.
Sitting in 14th place, Getafe is unbeaten in four straight league games.
Celta, in 11th place, lost its second in a row at home.
2nd phase of BPL Football begins Sunday
The 2nd phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football, the country's most prestigious soccer league, begins on Sunday in Rajshahi and Gopalganj.
In the 2nd phase opener, newcomers Swadhinata KS will play defending champions Bashundhara Kings at 3:30 pm at Muktijoddha Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi.
Also read: BPL Football: Sk Russel beat Swadhinata KS 2-1
In the day's other match, Sheikh Jamal DC will play Uttar Baridhara Club, also at 3:30 pm at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
On the following day (Monday), four matches will be held in Dhaka and other regional venues.
Six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Gopalganj while Saif SC will face Bangladesh Police FC in Rajshahi, both will kick off at 3:30 pm.
.In Monday's other matches, Chittagong Abahani will play Rahmatganj MFS at Sylhet District Stadium while Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Sheikh Russel KC at Bashundhara Sports Complex in Dhaka, both will kick-off at 3:30 pm.
After the eleven- round first phase matches, last two times champions Bashundhara Kings comfortably maintained their solo lead in the league table securing 26 points while Dhaka Abahani Ltd followed them distantly with 22 points.
Also read:BPL Football: Kings play 3-3 draw with Sk Jamal; Dhaka Abahani beat Uttar Baridhara 5-2
Two teams-- Sheikh Jamal DC and Chittagong Abahani Ltd --were in the 3rd slot securing 21 points each.
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and Swadhinata KS are struggling at the bottom places securing seven and six points respectively.
AFC Cup: Williams guides Mohun Bagan to group stage eliminating Abahani
A brilliant hattrick by Australian booter David Williams guided Kolkata Mohun Bagan to qualify for group stage of the AFC Cup' 2022 eliminating Dhaka Abahani by 3-1 goals in the final play-off match the Yuvo Bharati (Salt Lake) Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
With the day's feat, ATK Mohun Bagan earned rights to play in the Group D of the AFC Cup main competition alongwith Gokulam Kerala FC (India), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives).
It was the 2nd victory for traditional Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan against Dhaka Abahani in 3 meetings since 2017.
Dhaka Abahani also conceded 1-3 goals defeat against Kolkata Mohun Bagan in their away match of the AFC Cup Football in Kolkata in 2017 while their home match against the Mohun Bagan ended in a 1-1 draw in Dhaka in the same year.
In the day's match, striker David Williams made a hattrick scoring three goals in the 6th, 30th and 85th minutes while Russian World Cup playing Costa Rica booter Daniel Colindres netted the face saving goal for six times Bangladesh Premier League champions Dhaka Abahani Limited in the 61st minute.
Earlier. the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani got walkover against Club Valencia of the Maldives in their first play-off match of the AFC Cup with the latter withdrawing the team in the last minute due to funds crisis.
On other hand, Mohun Bagan cruised past Sri Lanka's, Blue Star 5-0 in the second preliminary round of the 2022 AFC Cup last Tuesday with the Mariners thrashing their opponents courtesy of braces from Joni Kauko, Manvir Singh and a goal from David Williams.
Leaked audios reveal deal between Piqué, Spanish federation
Audios stolen from the Spanish soccer federation by hackers revealed Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué helped to negotiate a 24 million euros ($25.9 million) commission to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
The federation changed the format of the Super Cup in 2020, creating a “Final Four” and moving the competition to Saudi Arabia as part of a deal that was reportedly worth 40 million euros per tournament for the federation.
Piqué's Kosmos group would be paid four million euros per tournament by the Saudi organizers for negotiating the six-year agreement, according to El Confidencial newspaper, which released the audios on Monday.
Piqué said in the audios that the money would be divided between the clubs, and the federation would keep about six million euros.
The federation told El Confidencial there was nothing illegal in what was said in the audios or in the negotiations, and the details of the deal had already been released.
When the agreement was first announced, federation president Luis Rubiales said they would not pay any commission to Piqué.
The federation received a lot of criticism from human rights groups at the time for its decision to play in Saudi Arabia.
The Super Cup had to be played in Spain again in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The release of the audios came a few days after the federation said it was targeted by hackers who also stole emails, text messages and documents involving its top officials.
The federation said it believed the information was offered anonymously to media outlets in Spain. It said it asked authorities to investigate.
Also, Rubiales is accused of making some derogatory remarks about Atlético Madrid in some of the audios.
AFC Cup play off: Abahani to play Mohun Bagan on Tuesday
Six-time Bangladesh Premier League champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will meet Indian giants ATK Mohun Bagan of Kolkata in the last and final play-off match of the AFC Cup 2022 at the Yuvo Bharati (Salt Lake) Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The neighbouring titans' battle will kick-off at 7:30 pm Bangladesh time
Striker Nabib Newaj Jibon will lead the sky-blue Dhaka Abahani while Pritom Kotal will captain the green-maroon Kolkata Mohun Bagan in Tuesday's vital match.
Also read: AFC Cup play-off: Dhaka Abahani to face Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on April 19
The winners of the match will join Gokulam Kerala FC (India), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives) in Group D of the AFC Cup main competition.
All the matches of Group D will be staged at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata from May 18 to May 24, 2022.
In previous two meetings, Dhaka Abahani conceded 1-3 goals defeat against Kolkata Mohun Bagan in their away match of the AFC Cup Football in Kolkata in 2017 while their home match against the same team ended in a 1-1 draw in Dhaka in the same year.
Earlier. the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani got a walkover against Club Valencia of the Maldives in their first play-off match of the AFC Cup with the latter withdrawing the team at the last minute due to funds crisis.
Also read: 2nd phase of BCL begins on Tuesday
Ahead of Tuesday's key match, Abahanis head coach Mario Lemos believes they are capable of beating Mohun Bagan Club on their soil.
ATK Mohun Bagan's head coach Juan Ferrando wants to focus on beating Bangladesh-side Abahani Dhaka in the last play-off round match of the 2022 AFC Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Mohun Bagan cruised past Sri Lanka's, Blue Star 5-0 in the second preliminary round of the 2022 AFC Cup last Tuesday with the Mariners thrashing their opponents courtesy of braces from Joni Kauko, Manvir Singh and a goal from David Williams.
Despite their resounding win last Tuesday, Ferrando reiterated that the playoff game against Dhaka Abahani is like a final and that it is very important for his side to focus on the all-important clash.
Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022: Who is the favourite to win the FA Cup?
The FA Cup 2022 final will take place in less than four weeks, and there may be some tweaks in the scenario for both teams. One or two injuries could determine the ultimate favourite just before the crucial finals because both Liverpool and Chelsea are very competitive. An early prediction can be made for the Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 match given each side's present form. This will be the second final meeting between these two teams this season. The squad strength of both Liverpool and Chelsea is discussed in this article.
Analysis of Liverpool’s squad and ideal formation
Liverpool now have one of the best squads in European club football. Jurgen Klopp, in particular, deserves praise for his ability to train his athletes and turn them into machines. These players are well-suited to bringing Klopp's football philosophy to reality on the field. Jurgen is a heavy metal football fanatic. He pushes his players to press high and then return to defense once an attack is completed. That is why Liverpool's players are so aggressive in their approach to the opposition's defense. Klopp’s team can play in a traditional 4-4-2 formation or a 4-3-3 system if they prefer three players up front in the Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 FA Cup final match. Let’s take a glance at the Liverpool squad.
Read PSG beat Marseille 2-1 to close in on title; Nice wins
Goalkeepers:
Alisson Becker is in charge of keeping an eye on Liverpool's goalposts. This Brazilian is one of the finest in the world, and his tactical game plan is ideal for Liverpool. Irish international, Caoimhin Kelleher, is another option for the Reds.
Defenders:
Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best defender in the world, is at the heart of Liverpool's defense. He, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, and Fabinho, can create a very tight Liverpool defense.
Midfielders:
Liverpool have a variety of midfield options to help their star-studded attacking line. Players like James Milner, Thiago, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are effective under Klopp's system.
Read Bahrain-based investors in talks to buy AC Milan
Forwards:
Liverpool have no shortage of quality upfront. Salah, Mane, Firmino, and Jota are all good fits for Klopp's philosophy. They are part of a team that can destroy any team in the world on any given day.
Chelsea's squad analysis and preferred formation
Chelsea have a big squad with several talented players who fit Thomas Tuchel's coaching style. This German master strategist is noted for executing a well-suited plan that allows him to make the best use of his players. He loves to attack with wings for more precision, and he can rapidly adapt to another formation if required. He employs a variety of formations to make his players adaptable and well-equipped for any style. Tuchel's favourite systems are 3-4-3, 3-4-2-1, 4-1-4-1, and 4-2-3-1. Let's take a look at Chelsea's squad.
Read Favourites to reach the UEFA Champions League 2022 Finals
Goalkeepers:
Arguably the finest goalkeeper in the world, Edouard Mendy, is in charge of Chelsea's goalposts. Spanish international Kepa Arrizabalaga is another alternative for the Blues.
Defenders:
Chelsea have a number of world-class defenders on its roster. The most prominent among them are Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and Cesar Azpilicueta. They may be extremely difficult to deal with for opposition forwards.
Midfielders:
Coach Thomas Tuchel's most trusted midfield choices are Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Saul. Their performances have been outstanding under the present coach.
Read Manchester City Double or Liverpool Quadruple: Which one seems more likely?
Forwards:
Chelsea's attacking line has some of the best players in the world. Romelu Lukaku is one of the top names. Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, and Kai Havertz are other well-equipped players in Tuchel's system.
Verdict
The battle on the field might influence the outcome, even if a team begins as the favourite prior to the match. This Liverpool vs Chelsea 2022 match promises to be a tactical masterpiece for the coaches of both teams. Players may engage in physical conflict because neither team wants the other to have an easy time in the contest.
Chelsea have looked impressive under Thomas Tuchel's management despite injury concerns throughout the season. On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team has played fantastic football and is chasing a quadruple. Taking everything into account, Liverpool are probably the slight favourites to win the 2022 FA Cup championship match, which will be held on May 14.
Read Benzema rallies Madrid past Sevilla, closer to league title