It was a classic Liverpool goal. For the second consecutive Sunday, a deep cross came in from an overlapping full-back. It was met by the goalscoring winger on the far post, advancing beyond the nominal centre-forward to finish from six yards. The creator of both goals was Andy Robertson. So far, so normal. The different element was that the finisher was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Playing in Mohamed Salah’s position, he scored goals from Salah-esque areas. A diving effort against Brentford was the first headed league goal of his career. His finish against Crystal Palace was, like the majority of Salah’s goals, left-footed.
A question about Liverpool’s January was how they would cope in the absence of Salah and Sadio Mane as each played in the African Cup of Nations. If one answer was provided by the creativity of Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who have six assists in their last three games, perhaps the more unexpected element was Oxlade-Chamberlain’s prowess as Salah’s understudy. A player with one league goal since July 2020 got two in successive games.
It appeared another case of Klopp’s can-do mentality prevailing. Whether with Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi deputising for Salah and Roberto Firmino in 2019 or the rookies Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams anchoring the defence in the run-in last season, his reign is littered with examples of stand-ins standing up to be counted.
Quick as he is, Oxlade-Chamberlain had always seemed more comfortable starting his runs from deep, rather than trying to spring offside traps, and he had rarely excelled in the front three for Liverpool. Until, with Salah and Mane away and Origi injured, it was imperative he did.
But with Salah back by the time the Premier League resumes, Oxlade-Chamberlain may retreat to the margins. Indeed, his form as a forward may have felt bittersweet as Curtis Jones has flourished in the attacking midfield role he must covet. With no Salah-shaped obstacle in his way, the young Liverpudlian may likelier to get a run in the team now.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is spending his winter break in Dubai. He has much to contemplate. Like Salah, his contract expires in 2023. If each could feel his career is at a crossroads, the similarities may end there. Liverpool’s need to get Salah to re-sign is no secret.
Oxlade-Chamberlain can feel as though he will be overtaken by younger rivals, in Jones and Harvey Elliott. The sense is still that he is yet to recapture the heights he touched before suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the 2018 Champions League semi-final against Roma.
He had been dynamic and destructive, scoring in two Anfield wins against Manchester City. He was in the side ahead of Gini Wijnaldum, on course to start the Champions League final. And then he was out for a year and it became ever more apparent Klopp’s big-game formula was to field the most solid trio available in midfield.
Factor in Naby Keita and it can feel as though four players would prefer a role that doesn’t really exist. Oxlade-Chamberlain has only made four league starts against big-six opponents since 2018.
He nevertheless scored eight goals in a bright 2019-20 but, impeded by injury, had a wasted season last year. Klopp was delighted with his displays before Christmas, including the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal.
“It’s pretty much the best Oxlade since I am here,” he said then, drawing a distinction between 2018’s spectacular strikes and an overall performance level. Likeable but luckless, he can seem the great lost Klopp player, even as he has remained at Anfield. But his auxiliary, impressive part as Salah’s substitute raises the issue if he can transform himself into a regular starter on the major occasions.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
RESULTS
1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman
4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
