The race for the first silverware of the 2024/25 season intensifies as Premier League leaders Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal will be in Carabao Cup semifinal action this midweek.

Arsenal will host Newcastle United in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, while Liverpool travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday. Both matches will be broadcast live on GOtv Channel 65 at 9 PM.

Fresh from their impressive 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, Newcastle will aim to build on their momentum and secure a favorable result ahead of the second leg at St. James’ Park. The Magpies have already defeated Arsenal 1-0 earlier this season, and another strong performance could leave the Gunners with a steep hill to climb in the second leg.

Newcastle will be without their influential captain, Bruno Guimarāes due to suspension, while Arsenal battle with illness issues in the squad which has seen Kai Havertz miss the last two matches.

Arsenal, who haven’t lifted the Carabao Cup in 31 years, view this competition as a vital chance for silverware, especially with their league title hopes fading.

On the other side of North London, Tottenham Hotspur face defending champions Liverpool, hoping to avoid a repeat of their 6-3 thrashing by their visitors just 17 days ago. Spurs have managed just one win in their last eight matches at home in all competitions—a narrow 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the quarterfinal. Their last taste of silverware came 17 years ago when they won this competition.

Meanwhile, Liverpool, who have lost just one match all season, are chasing an ambitious quadruple. A victory over Spurs on Wednesday would put them on the brink of securing a spot in the final at Wembley.

Football fans can enjoy all Carabao Cup matches, Premier League, Serie A, Laliga and Champions League action live by reconnecting or upgrading to the GOtv Super Plus package. Simply dial *288# to renew or upgrade your subscription.

Anfield will be the epicentre of the Premier League this weekend as Liverpool clash with arch-rivals Manchester United in a titanic showdown. Ahead of the game on Sunday, which will be shown live on Showmax Premier League at 18:30, Showmax caught up with the man of the moment, Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah, to chat about his incredible season so far. Salah is currently the Premier Leagues top scorer (17), and has the most assists  (13) in the league.

You’ve had an amazing season so far, scoring 20 goals and getting 17 assists. Do you agree that if the season ended right now you would be favourite to be crowned player of the year and to win the Ballon d’Or?

I don’t know. People see it in different ways, some people prefer me, others prefer other players. So far, I’ve had a good season. But again, the most important thing is to win the Premier League and for me to play a big part in doing so.

Combining goals and assists, you have reached the same number already as Vinícius Júnior did last season. You voted for Vini Jr  for the FIFA Best Player award. Firstly, why did you vote for him and secondly is it amazing that you have his numbers and we are only half way through this season?

Of course it’s very good to have those numbers in January. It’s something incredible. I voted for Vini Jr because I like him, and he was great last season. I think it was between him and Rodri last season. Some people preferred Rodri and some preferred Vini Jr so I voted for him and Rodri. Vini had a good season and ended it in a very good way, scoring in the final. They both deserved it, to be honest. I see Vini Jr as a great player. He’s doing good, he just needs to keep going. We text sometimes and I wish him the best. He needs to keep going and enjoy his football.

You scored 44 goals and created 14 assists in your debut Liverpool season. How did you do it? And do you think you can beat it this season?

Hopefully. The plan is to beat those numbers. So far, my numbers are good, so hopefully I can beat it. But again, I don’t want to beat those numbers and not win a trophy. I just want to have a trophy, even if my numbers are a little less.

You have been crowned top scorer in the Premier League three times already. Do you think you can make it number four this season?

 The fourth would be quite tricky. We have many good strikers that are scoring lots of goals this season, so it won’t be easy. Winning it three times is something incredible because usually wingers win it once, maximum. I don’t take it for granted. I am humble and privileged to have won it.

Who has been your favourite attacker to play alongside at Liverpool so far?

I like all the guys, to be fair. But Roberto Firmino will stand out as the best. I think myself and Sadio Mane could have been better, but it wasn’t the way I wanted it to end. I like Darwin Nunez a lot. He lights up something in me that no attacker has ever done. He is always running, making those moves for the pass and to receive the ball. He is a different kind of footballer. His movement is amazing, so he may be my favourite.

What is the toughest moment you have endured in a Liverpool shirt?

It has to be the Champions League final against Real Madrid when I got injured. Only footballers will understand just how tough it is to work your hardest the whole season only to get injured in the most important moment of the season, so it was tough.

You won everything you could with Liverpool. How do you feel about the journey and the club?

It’s been an incredible journey. I have enjoyed every moment at this football club, even when we struggled. I have enjoyed the good and bad moments. Some people run away from the bad moments. I don’t. I take in every moment, because I know once I am no longer a footballer, I will never experience these moments again. Also, there are lessons to be learnt in both good and bad moments. So, I take it all in.

Do you feel like you are still improving as player at 32?

I think so. To this day, I still ask players, the young and the more experienced players, which areas I can improve in. This is part of me. Some people see the things you can’t and so I am always asking where I can improve.  I always feel like there’s improvements in many things in my game.

How has new Liverpool manager Arne Slot been for you and the team as a whole?

The team is really good, and I think we have all improved. We all needed a fresh approach after seven years with Jürgen Klopp where we achieved everything. Hopefully with the new manager, we will win everything too. I am very happy for the team because we are doing so well.

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Sign up for the Showmax Premier League mobile plan for Sign up for the Showmax Premier League mobile plan for N3,200 monthly at www.showmax.com  for all the Premier League action.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Alagura Football Club has again emerged as the winner of the 2024 Community Football Competition organised by Egbin Power Plc to foster unity and youth development in its host communities.

The tournament recorded an impressive turnout of supporters and a display of football skills by players of the 16 participating teams drawn from Egbin, Ijede, and Ipakan in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The 16 football clubs were Alagura, Sterling Ipakan, Dragon Ipakan, Ebute Olowo, Abule-Eko II, Alaanu-Omo, Igbe-Ogunro, Egbin Classical, Egbin Diamond, Abule-Eko, Estate Boys, Alajede, Oko-Ope, Ajeri, Igbopa, Oke-Eletu.

At the finals held at Ipakan Community Stadium, Ikorodu, the defending champions, Alagura FC, retained the title after defeating Oke-Eletu FC 5-3 in a penalty shootout. The match had ended in a 1-1 draw. In the third-place encounter, Ajeri FC won against Igbe FC by 2 – 1 to clinch the 2nd position.

The winning team went home with a cash prize of N1 million, while the first and second runners-up received N700,000 and N500,000, respectively, with the Best Goalkeeper award going to Yusuf of Sterling Ipakan FC and Usman Multala winning the Highest Goal Scorer Award.

Speaking on the competition, the Head of Corporate Communication and Branding at Egbin Power, Mr Felix Ofulue, said, “As a responsible organization, we are proud to provide a platform that fosters unity, promotes sports development, and showcases the talents of our youth. This competition is a testament to our commitment to investing in the future of our host communities.”

“The football competition is eagerly anticipated by the youth every year, as it fosters sportsmanship among communities and provides a reputable platform for them to showcase their talents.

“We are thrilled by the resounding success we are witnessing annually and will continue to make it better for the growth and development of our host communities,” Mr Ofulue noted.

Nigeria’s ex-international player and Atlanta ’96 Olympic Gold Medallist, Mr Abiodun Obafemi, who was the special guest at the finals, applauded Egbin Power Plc for creating a strong platform for the development of sport and fostering unity among youths in the host communities.

“This is a high-level football exhibition sponsored by Egbin Power. Two years ago, I was here, and it shows that the competition is growing bigger every year. What I saw here today gladdens my heart, seeing the progressive development. I saw some players that have a bright future in football.

“Kudos to the company for the wonderful work they are doing for these communities. This is another way of engaging the youth. It’s a platform that will prepare a majority of them for a football career. My advice to the players is for them to embrace this gesture, to be serious about it and build on it. Congratulations to the winners and Egbin Power for putting up a top-class competition,” Obafemi said.

Egbin Power’s Head of Maintenance, Felix Ebiware, and the Head, of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE), Julius Akpong, including community leaders such as the Olisa of Ijede, High Chief Musediq Aliu and Baale of Ipakan, High Chief Mustapha Lasisi were among those in attendance at the occasion.

The Olisa of Ijede, Mr Musediq Aliu, commended Egbin Power for contributing to youth and sports development in the host communities.

“Egbin Power has consistently demonstrated its interest in promoting unity, growth, and development of our communities. We are grateful for the success of this competition, and we urge the company to keep investing and promoting youth and sports development,” he stated.