There’s no denying how brilliant Luka Modric was when he was at Tottenham, and since that point, he’s only gotten better. The Croatian midfielder was the magician in the heart of the Spurs team, and his departure left a gaping hole in the squad that has never really been directly replaced. 

He passed brilliantly, he was great from set-pieces, he dribbled, he scored – Modric genuinely did it all. And Spurs haven’t had a deep-lying playmaker quite like him ever since.

However, that doesn’t mean that nobody in a Tottenham shirt has been able to match him. In fact, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that somebody is starting to overtake him as far as his importance to Spurs goes. Speaking during his stint on beIN Sports, Wenger has claimed that Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is offering everything that Modric did and more at present under Mauricio Pochettino.

Wenger said: “He has developed extremely well. He can score, he can deliver on set pieces, he can give a final ball, he works very hard for the team.”

He continued: “You do not find players with so many qualities. He’s the player that Modric was before..but he scores more goals!”

Of course, Modric was a fantastic player for Tottenham, and that’s exactly why he earned a huge move to Real Madrid. Since then, he’s developed significantly, but in his absence, Eriksen has certainly filled the gap.

Generally playing on the left-hands side of the Tottenham attack, Eriksen is a focal point of the team. He’s able to score goals, he’s able to assist them, and he’s able to serve as the link between the midfield and the attack all the while.

He, of course, plays further forward than Eriksen ever did, but he’s mobile and agile, meaning that he can regularly drop back and help out in the heart of the pitch when required.

Modric scored 4 league goals during his final season at Tottenham, and that’s a tally that Eriksen has already beaten this season, wth the Dane bagging as many as 10 league goals per season in previous years.

The pair are different players, of course, but Modric and Eriksen share many characteristics. Wenger, though, isn’t wrong, and if there’s any trait that Eriksen has on the Real Madrid man, it’s his ability to score goals.

Thoughts?

شارك مُحترفنا المصري محمد صلاح، نجم ليفربول الإنجليزي وجناح منتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم، في حملة لدعم الأطفال اللاجئين، تابعة لـ المفوضية السامية للأمم المتحدة لشؤون اللاجئين.

صلاح تواجد مع طلاب لاجئين من مدارس المفوضية في كينيا وتنزانيا إلى جانب جنوب السودان، وذلك بهدف مخاطبة قادة العالم في منطقة عمل أهداف التنمية المستدامة.

وقال صلاح: “يجب أنّ نحرص على حصول جميع الشباب بما فيهم اللاجئون على التعليم، لقد حان الوقت الآن لضمان عدم إغفال الطلاب اللاجئين”.

وأضاف: “وفي ظل فيروس كورونا، فإن التعليم المتصل بالإنترنت يعتبر أمراً بالغ الأهمية”.

Before the pandemic. During the pandemic. After the pandemic. Education is everything to refugee children.@MoSalah is championing that education.

Along with @VodafoneFdn, we’re unlocking hope through Instant Network Schools. pic.twitter.com/NuS8OHKEmy — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) September 22, 2020

اقرأ أيضًا.. كلوب: محمد صلاح محترف استثنائي وجشع

وواصل: “لقد عانى الأطفال اللاجئون الأمرين ولكنهم ما زالوا يتحلون بالقوة بشكل مذهل، لديهم أحلام وآمال كثيرة، حالهم حال جميع الأطفال؛ سمعت من أربعة طلاب وهم باسيفيك ولويل وسلامة وفاتنة، وهم يمثلون ملايين الشباب الذين يعيشون في مخيمات اللاجئين عبر إفريقيا”.

وتابع: “لقد ألهمني هؤلاء الشباب الأربعة وبثوا الأمل في نفسي، لقد شاركونا أحلامهم في المستقبل وتحدثوا معي عما يعنيه التعليم بالنسبة لهم”.

وأتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “أدى حصولهم على سبل التكنولوجيا والإنترنت إلى إحداث تغيير في فصولهم الدراسية وأريد أن أضمن حصول الأطفال الآخرين في مخيمات ومجتمعات اللاجئين على نفس الفرص، خاصًة وأننا نواجه الآن فيروس كورونا، والتعليم هو كل شيء بالنسبة للأطفال اللاجئين ولا ينبغي إهمالهم”.

وذكرت المفوضية في بيان لها، أنّه خلال وباء فيروس كورونا، تأثر حوالي 90% من الأطفال ممن هم في سن الدراسة حول العالم بإغلاق المدارس، بما في ذلك ما يقدر بنحو 7 ملايين لاجئ، وكان التكيف مع القيود التي فرضها الوباء أمراً صعباً بشكل خاص بالنسبة لـ 85% من لاجئي العالم الذين يعيشون في البلدان النامية أو الأقل نمواً.

“They have inspired me and given me hope.”@MoSalah has brought four refugee voices to #UNGA.

Meet some of the students getting a digital education thanks to UNHCR and the @VodafoneFdn’s Instant Network Schools 📱📶👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/YaGIXteJ30 — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) September 22, 2020

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Loads of Sunderland fans have been discussing their current form, and they are not too happy with the team’s set piece troubles.

Sunderland sit just three points off the automatic promotion places after their 1-0 win over Wimbledon, but there are still some weak points in Jack Ross’s squad.

The Black Cats have not lost since the 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth back in December, but more than a few teams have threatened the Wearside outfit at set pieces this campaign.

Ross’s side are better in possession than most of the teams in League One, but they have struggled at times when defending set pieces, and the lack of goals at the other end from dead balls is equally frustrating.

Barnsley, who sit three points above the Black Cats in second, looked like scoring with every set piece during the thrilling 4-2 encounter at the Stadium of Light back in November, where the towering Kieffer Moore scored twice.

Being one of the more dominant teams in division, there will no doubt be games between now and the end of the season where Ross’s side can’t find a way through a packed defence, and corners could provide a vital solution, a solution that promotion rivals Barnsley have perfected.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are in total agreement that the side needs to improve this aspect of their game…

Manchester City gobbled up the first big trophy of the season as they saw off Chelsea on penalties in somewhat dour affair at Wembley.

Some last minute controversy involving goalkeeper Kepa and manager Mauro Sarri overshadowed the game really, and the incident just threw more disdain on a situation at Chelsea which is already being bleakly observed by those from afar.

However, the win for City on the otherhand tells a different story, and should give Pep Guardiola’s men the confidence they need to go ahead into the rest of the season and capture the Premier League title.

Winning trophies is a habit, and no matter what the prize, it’s always good to be involved in picking up silverware and ensuring that winning does indeed become something which comes as a given for the players involved with the club.

The Sunday could prove a turning point too, with City’s closest title rivals Liverpool being held to another dour 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.

It could represent a big swing in momentum in the title picture in general, as City once again add another trophy to the cabinet while Liverpool look on axiously and wonder what might have been this season given the lead they once held at the top.

It’s City who are now in the asendency though, and with their form, momentum, and winning habits firmly back on track, it really could be City’s title to lose now, not Liverpool’s.

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Liverpool face Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League Round-of-16 tie, and they will be hoping for a solid start at Anfield against the Bundesliga champions. Despite his previous connection to the Bavarian outfit, there are no doubts about Xherdan Shaqiri’s mindset ahead of the game.

What’s he said?

Talking to the Reds’ official club website, the Swiss had this to say on facing his former club, whom he played for between 2012 and 2015 before securing a switch to Inter Milan:

“I was very happy because I wanted to play against Bayern Munich, against my old teammates and my old team. I’m looking forward to the game.

“Two-and-a-half years I was there [at Bayern] and it was amazing; we won a lot of titles, we won the Champions League.

“I’m really looking forward to going there and trying to win the game in Munich with my team.”

With one eye clearly on the return fixture in March the former Stoke man will be hoping that he can cause Bayern problems, although it is currently unclear as to whether he will be fit to play on Tuesday night.

Fingers crossed

Asked about his side’s fitness going into the European clash, Jurgen Klopp said that the 27-year-old “did a lot, so it will be close, we have to see”.

Having completed his move to Anfield in the summer after Stoke were relegated from the Premier League, Shaqiri has enjoyed spells on the right flank as Klopp chops and changes his formation to accommodate all of his attacking talent, and has popped up with some hugely important goals this season.

If he is not cleared to play in the first leg, there is no doubt that the winger will be counting down the days until his side jet off to Germany for the clash at the Allianz Arena.

Regardless, the number 23’s words will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans who will be expecting each and every player to give their all.

We all love the Champions League theme tune but you’ve never heard it like this before! Check out the video below…

تمكن فريق ريال مدريد من التعادل أمام ريال بيتيس، في المباراة الجارية الآن بمنافسات الدوري الإسباني. وبعرضية رائعة من كارفاخال في اتجاه بنزيما، البرازيلي إيمرسون يسجل بالحطأ في مرماه في الدقيقة 48. وكان ريال مدريد تقدم بهدف لفالفيردي، ثم تعادل وتقدم بيتيس بهدفين في دقيقتين خلال الشوط الأول. تشير النتيجة الآن إلى التعادل الإيجابي (2-2).  شاهد الهدف  

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Right-back George Baldock and centre-backs Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham are all expected to be fit to feature for Sheffield United at the Hawthorns against West Brom on Saturday, as reported by The Star.

The Blades face a tough test against the Baggies, and a victory will be necessary to maintain the pace of the Championship title race. However, with a challenging run-in ahead, Chris Wilder should welcome this precious opportunity to rotate his starting XI.

For instance, 32-year-old Martin Cranie could, and should, drop to the bench in favour of Basham or O’Connell. There’s plenty of quality strength in depth at Bramall Lane, and Wilder should make sure that he exploits that – it could prove key to any promotion triumph.

With a nervy couple of months ahead, the Blades manager must take any extra advantage he can get, and the return of this defensive trio from the treatment room is just the kind of welcome bonus that he can use to give his side a boost and some of his other players a well-earned rest.

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Crystal Palace emerged 3-1 victors over Burnley on Saturday despite Roy Hodgson having made five changes to the team that lost to Manchester United last time out, dropping the likes of Andros Townsend and first-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in favour of a different look starting XI.

There was, of course, a starting spot for the ever-influential Wilfried Zaha, who is loving Palace’s new-found luxury.

What did he say?

Speaking about the weekend’s win, in which he scored, the 26-year-old said:

“Obviously, the gaffer [Hodgson] gives us a game plan and away from home we can’t be as open so we stay tight and try to break on teams.

“We went through stages where there were so many injuries and you looked at the bench and you can’t really mix it up the way the gaffer did [at Burnley].

“It’s nice to see because we obviously put some fresh legs out there and it made a difference. It’s hard when you play a three-game week, so it made a difference changing it up.”

Breathing room for Palace’s stars

In Palace’s five-year spell in the Premier League, there has largely been a big gulf between the starting XI and the bench or reserves but that is no longer the case, despite the Eagles spending frugally since a big-spending January two years ago.

Hodgson was able to call upon Max Meyer, Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott Dann and Wayne Hennessey and all deputised capably and, as Zaha says, this new-found depth makes Palace’s life far easier when the fixtures come thick and fast.

Additionally, when the Selhurst Park outfit’s key men burn out – Townsend in particular has hardly had a rest at all this season – it is crucial that they are able to be benched and that a back-up can step in and not look out of their depth in the starting XI.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The pressure on the big names – Zaha, Townsend, Mamadou Sakho and Michy Batshuayi, for instance – therefore, is alleviated as they know they are in company that can still make a difference when they are absent, be it through injury or otherwise.

Unfortunately for him, Ivorian Zaha remains undroppable and Palace have a long way to go before they can afford to leave the electric number 11 on the bench but, nevertheless, the improvement in squad depth is there for all to see.

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West Bromwich Albion ended a run of three Championship matches without a win as they beat Swansea City 3-0 at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night, and the returning Chris Brunt played a key role on his return to the XI following Darren Moore’s departure.

On the chalkboard

Well, despite being club captain the former Northern Ireland international has found first-team starts hard to come by since the opening months of the campaign.

He wasn’t helped by injury issues earlier this year, but even when he did return to the fold against Ipswich Town last weekend, he had to make do with being an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw that ultimately saw Moore receive his P45.

The 44-year-old often preferred the likes of Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and youngster Rekeem Harper in the centre of the park, but caretaker boss Jimmy Shan decided to make a big call by bringing the experienced player back in against the Swans – and it paid off.

Moore’s biggest mistake?

It is one of them, certainly.

Despite some below-par performances in the past the 34-year-old is clearly still a big fans’ favourite at The Hawthorns even if his legs are unable to do what they once could, which is hardly surprising given he has made 401 appearances for the club.

The noise around the stadium when he found the net against Graham Potter’s men said it all and he is clearly a big influence in the dressing room as skipper, which may have worked against Moore when the going got tough.

While he continued to keep the faith with an underperforming Livermore on the team-sheet more often than not, he had someone in reserve who epitomises what West Brom are about, as he showed in midweek.

Recent comments by Everton winger Bernard shows just why manager Marco Silva is the right man to steer the club to better results and ultimate success.

The Brazilian revealed to Portuguese outlet Record (via the Liverpool Echo) the squad is still fully dedicated to Silva’s structures at the club and have complete confidence in his style of coaching and managing.

The former Watford manager has been under a huge amount of scrutiny since the start of the New Year, following a bad string of results.

One win in their last six matches in all competitions has seen the manager change his team in almost every encounter and their FA Cup defeat at Millwall certainly raised question marks over Silva’s capabilities as the man in charge.

But, Bernard’s comments on how Silva prepares for every match and the detail he focuses on proves why he needs a little bit more time to get the best out of the Everton players.

According to the 26-year-old, Silva is excellent in his preparation before matches and provides a lot of insight into set-pieces, an aspect of the game where the Toffees have been really poor at this season.

Patience and maybe one or two more transfer windows could finally lead to Everton achieving new heights under the Portuguese manager.

The comments by Bernard should also be encouraging to Evertonians, who might have feared that Silva had lost the dressing but that clearly isn’t the case.

The off-weekend might also have been just what the club needed to regroup and get their campaign back on track with a Premier League clash against Cardiff City at Goodison Park coming up next week.

The encounter with Neil Warnock’s men could be the ideal opportunity for Everton to hit their stride again and get an all-important win under their belt.