Al-Hilal's Italian coach, Simone Inzaghi, has finalized his decision on who will replace full-back Hamad Al-Yami, who suffered a serious knee injury during the team's previous match against Al-Taawoun. The Italian coach has decided to field Mutaib Al-Harbi as a key player in the team's lineup for the upcoming match.

This move comes at a crucial time in the season, as the coaching staff seeks to maintain the team's technical and tactical stability to ensure continued competitiveness for titles. Mutaib Al-Harbi has proven his readiness this season, having participated in 25 matches for Al-Hilal, scoring one goal and providing two assists for his teammates, accumulating 1352 minutes of playing time. This makes him a reliable option for coach Inzaghi in this important match.

Details of Al-Yami's injury and treatment journey

Al-Hilal Club issued an official statement earlier today clarifying the nature of Hamad Al-Yami's injury. Medical examinations confirmed a patellar tendon injury. The statement indicated that the player requires surgery, which will take place in Finland next week, under close monitoring and continuous coordination with the club's medical staff to ensure his optimal return to the field. It is worth noting that Al-Yami, 26, has been a key player this season, having participated in 27 matches across all competitions, providing two assists in a total of 1316 minutes of play.

Riyadh derby: Conflicting ambitions

Al-Hilal is scheduled to be a formidable guest against Al-Shabab at 10:00 PM this Friday, in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League. This match carries special significance as it is a derby between the two Riyadh giants, and matches between them are always characterized by intense rivalry and high fan turnout, regardless of their positions in the league standings.

Al-Hilal enters the match with its sights set on three points to solidify its position in the competition. Currently in third place with 55 points, they aim to close the gap with the league leaders. Meanwhile, Al-Shabab is experiencing a difficult season, sitting in twelfth place with 25 points. They hope to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to achieve a positive result that will restore their balance and distance them from the relegation zone. This encounter will be a true test for Inzaghi's squad, given the absences, and will reveal the ability of the substitutes to fill the gaps left by the starters in such a crucial match.

In remarkable statements reflecting the extent of the pressure on top stars, Dutchman Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, believes that his Egyptian star Mohamed Salah is currently paying the price for his continued brilliance over the years, as he is going through the worst goal drought of his Premier League career.

Salah, 33, is going through a difficult period technically, having failed to score for 9 consecutive league matches, an unprecedented negative record in the career of the player who has been accustomed to breaking records since he set foot on Anfield Road in 2017. This worrying statistic prompted coach Slott to defend his player before the upcoming match against West Ham, saying: “Salah has set very high standards for himself, and the moment he doesn’t score in a few matches, people are immediately surprised, and that is actually the greatest compliment a footballer can receive.”.

A rich history and a heavy legacy

The current crisis cannot be separated from the historical context of what the "Egyptian Pharaoh" has offered the Reds. Salah has won the Golden Boot award for the Premier League's top scorer four times, most recently last season when Liverpool won the title. This immense legacy makes any dip in form a hot topic of discussion. Slaught pointed out that fans have become accustomed to Salah's prolific goal-scoring, making the difference in his current performance seem vast, even though goal droughts are a natural part of football, albeit longer than usual this time.

A collective crisis and a financial burden

The Liverpool manager, whose team is in sixth place with 45 points, 16 points behind leaders Arsenal, stressed that the problem is not individual, explaining: “Salah is not the only striker who is not scoring as often as usual. The focus is on him because of his history, but the reality is that Frenchman Ugo Ekieke and Dutchman Cody Gakpo have not scored many goals recently either, and this is a collective issue that we need to improve.”.

On the economic front, which casts a shadow over the outlook, Liverpool announced a return to profitability with a surplus of $20.5 million, boosted by increased broadcasting revenue. However, the club now has the highest wage bill in the Premier League, with staff expenses soaring to £428 million, surpassing Manchester City (£408 million). This substantial increase is attributed to contract renewals for key players such as Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk, in addition to bonuses for winning the title last season.

Huge investments for the future

It's worth noting that the announced financial figures don't include the massive summer spending of £450 million, which included the signing of high-profile names such as Swede Alexander Isak, the record-breaking British transfer fee, German Florian Wirtz, and striker Ekikiye. These signings place additional pressure on the coaching staff and players to deliver immediate results commensurate with the scale of the investment, making a return to winning ways and ending Salah's goal drought a pressing necessity in upcoming matches.

Saudi handball fans will be glued to their screens tomorrow evening, Saturday, as the 16th round of the Saudi Premier Handball League kicks off in the sports halls of Dammam, Jeddah, Zulfi, and Qatif. This round comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, with the title race beginning to take shape and the battle for second place and to avoid relegation intensifying. A large crowd is expected, reflecting the growing popularity of the sport in the Kingdom.

The Gulf and the journey to maintain its position at the top

Al-Khaleej, the league leaders and the hope of Saihat's fans, will kick off the round's matches when they host Al-Adalah at 9:00 PM at the Ministry of Sports Hall in Dammam. Al-Khaleej enters the match with 28 points, aiming to secure the two points needed to move closer to clinching the league title, capitalizing on the significant difference in quality between them and Al-Adalah, who are struggling near the bottom of the table with only 4 points.

Round highlight: The battle for second place in Jeddah

In one of the season's most anticipated matches, all eyes turn to Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea, where Al-Ahli (third place with 22 points) hosts Al-Huda (second place with 23 points) at 10:00 PM at the Ministry of Sports Hall. This is a must-win game for both sides; a victory for Al-Huda would put them in a tight race with league leaders Al-Khaleej, while an Al-Ahli win would see them leapfrog Al-Huda into second place and ignite the title race to the very end.

Eastern Derby and the Warm Zone Struggle

The round features a special derby with historical significance between the two giants of Eastern Province handball, Al-Noor and Mudhar, who will meet at 11:00 PM in Dammam. Despite being relatively far from the top of the table this season, matches between the two teams are always fiercely contested and exciting due to their long and storied history. Al-Noor aims to break into the top four, while Mudhar fights to maintain its fourth-place position, which qualifies them for the Elite Championship.

In a related context, Al-Zulfi hosts Al-Fateh, and Al-Safa meets Al-Muheet in crucial matches for the bottom and middle teams, as each team seeks to secure its position and avoid complex relegation calculations.

The importance of the round and the context of the competition

Round 16 holds strategic importance that transcends the mere three points at stake. The Saudi Handball League is currently one of the strongest leagues in the Arab world and Asia, thanks to the significant support provided by the Ministry of Sports to various sports and the clubs' recruitment of high-caliber professionals. Furthermore, the competition extends beyond the title race, encompassing the battle for the top four spots that qualify for the "Elite" championship held at the end of the season, making every match a cup final in itself.

League standings before round 16

• 1) Gulf: 28 points
• 2) Guidance: 23 points
• 3) Al Ahly: 22 points
• 4) Mudar: 18 points
• 5) Al-Nour: 16 points
• 6) Al-Zulfi: 14 points
• 7) Unit: 9 points
• 8) Al-Fateh: 8 points
• 9) Perimeter: 6 points
• 10) Justice: 4 points
• 11) Al-Safa: 2 points

Match schedule (Saturday evening)

• 09:00: Al-Khaleej vs Al-Adalah (Dammam)
• 10:00: Al-Zulfi vs Al-Fateh (Al-Zulfi)
• 10:00: Al-Safa vs Al-Muheet (Qatif)
• 10:00: Al-Ahli vs Al-Huda (Jeddah)
• 11:00: Al-Noor vs Mudar (Dammam)