Liverpool FC are coming off a thrilling 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League group stages last night. Roberto Firmino scored the game winner in extra time, overcoming an eye injury he suffered last weekend to rise off the bench and provide the fireworks.
He celebrated with a gesture that mocked his eye fitness issue, and the reaction of teammate Mohamed Salah to the scoring strike inspired controversy. Was Salah angry? Did the Egyptian celebrate his team’s glory? Take a look at the video at this link, which gives you a clear answer.
For now, let’s take a look at some of the Liverpool news stories making the rounds on the internet in the wake of yesterday’s big win, with a league fixture against Southampton coming Saturday.
Sadio Mane continued a habit he’s picked up recently- copying the goal celebrations of his mates. However, the very memorable moment almost didn’t happen, as Firmino was a major doubt as the match drew closer. Mane revealed that he had to convince the Brazilian to feature, telling him that he can one-eyed.
“I think Bobby doesn’t need his eye to play so I told him,” Mane told the media after the game. “I sent him a message on Monday saying: ‘Hey Bobby, come on, we need you.’
“You’ve all seen the ‘no look’ goals so I think he doesn’t need his eye to play. I texted him saying: ‘You don’t need your eye!'”
Added Joe Gomez: “I think this year we’re confident as a team. The squad is so strong as a unit. With Bobby obviously struggling, Studge comes in and scores for us.”
It shows we have so much quality. Obviously it’s big for us to compete against teams like that. But we see ourselves at that level. We have to. Although we see ourselves [there], we have to keep making the point. And that’s what we’ve done by beating both of them [PSG and Spurs].
“We’ve got a tough few games coming up — Chelsea, who have a 100 percent record, and Southampton at the weekend. No game is easy. We have to keep going.”
-Finally, Dejan Lovren has been charged with false testimony by the Croatia state’s attorney office during a trial against officials at one of his former clubs, Dinamo Zagreb. Per Croatian custom, he was not specifically named in the statement that was released, but Lovren said he was notified of this development the same way the rest of us were, when news of it broke.
He posted the following message on Instagram, maintaining his innocence.
“I want to tell everyone that I’m innocent,” Lovren posted.
“I did not commit any criminal offense. I’m proud of my life, of what my family and I have achieved. … I reject all accusations with indignation. I will win this battle.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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