Mohammed Salah can prove Chelsea wrong at Afcon; Barcelona’s midfield makeover: Weekend talking points

Thomas Woods looks at the biggest talking points ahead of the football weekend. Click or swipe through for more. All times are UAE.

Salah’s moment

Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final is a chance for Mohammed Salah to show what a talent he is.

Chelsea were arguably too swift in giving up on the gifted Egyptian striker, who has the X-factor that few forwards have.

He has fine balance and close control and 29 goals in 51 caps at the age of 24 is a great ratio.

Nations Cup finals are often tight, nervous affairs, but it is worth tuning in to see if Roma striker Salah can do something magical.

• Africa Cup of Nations final: Sunday, 11pm

Barcelona midfield makeover

Are Barcelona heading for a major midfield recruitment drive this summer?

They have a world-class three-man forward line but, with Andres Iniesta ageing and Xavi gone, their midfield three is not as dominating as it once was.

They still dominate possession but the lack of incision from midfield is the root cause for many of their dropped points this season.

Big-money signing Andre Gomes, a Euro 2016 winner, has underwhelmed and there are surely better names out there.

Philippe Coutinho seems tailor-made for the Camp Nou as an eventual Iniesta replacement. The Brazilian’s new Liverpool contract has upped the price, though.

And Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verrati could also be an option, as he has traits of both Xavi and Andrea Pirlo in his play.

• Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao: Saturday, 7.15pm

Mane to the rescue?

Liverpool must be desperate to get Sadio Mane back in their line-up.

They won one game – an FA Cup replay against fourth-tier Plymouth Argyle – in the Senegalese forward’s absence at the Africa Cup of Nations.

It has made it clear that Jurgen Klopp’s back-up forwards – Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi – are not really up to the task of leading a title challenge.

With Mane back, Liverpool should get their mojo back. They travel to a Hull City side who put in a stern defensive performance to get a goalless draw at Manchester United on Wednesday.

But Hull still allowed United 15 shots at goal. An early strike, a big win and Liverpool’s confidence will come flooding back.

•Hull City v Liverpool, Saturday, 7pm

Celtic country

There must be a point soon when those involved in Scottish football take a look at the top division and question the state of things.

Celtic are 25 points clear at the top of the table with half the season to go – having dropped just two points – and already have a sixth straight title wrapped up.

They won the league by 18 points last season and 17 the season before.

It is going to come to a point where talk of Celtic joining the English football pyramid starts again given their continued dominance.

Fans will eventually lose interest in a league with no competition.

• St Johnston v Celtic, Sunday, 4.30pm

Can Arsenal save the title race?

A nine-point lead with 15 games left is going to be hard for Chelsea to mess up. An Arsenal victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday is near imperative.

For the chasing pack, there is hope. Arsenal have previous of putting in impressive performances away at title rivals. Look at their 2-0 win at Manchester City two seasons ago that derailed City’s title bid.

If they are going to get something, then Arsene Wenger needs to pick Alexis Sanchez over Olivier Giroud at centre forward and attack Chelsea with a more mobile front line.

• Chelsea v Arsenal, Saturday, 4.30pm

Manchester United need to get their act together

Manchester United keep throwing away chances to climb into the top four and the Uefa Champions League places.

Most of their rivals slipped up in midweek, but a frustrating 0-0 draw with Hull City saw another two dropped points. They can count about 12 points extra this season that should really have been wrapped up but for their wastefulness in front of goal.

The next two fixtures - away at struggling Leicester City and home to Watford - should yield six points.

But they need to start putting chances away. Otherwise another season without European football is on the cards.

• Leicester City v Manchester United, 8pm

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