How did the overseas stars get on during Al-Ettifaq vs Al-Nassr?
Cristiano Ronaldo is absent, Jordan Henderson makes his debut and Sadio Mane steals the show… How did the overseas stars get on during Al-Ettifaq vs Al-Nassr?
- Gerrard got off to a winning start as manager with a 2-1 win on Monday night
- Henderson and Mane were reunited but Al-Nasser missed talisman Ronaldo
- WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 1 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show
Steven Gerrard got his managerial career in Saudi Arabia off to a winning start on Monday night as his Al-Ettifaq side beat last year’s runners-up Al-Nassr 2-1.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring for the visitors but his former Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson was on hand to provide an assist from a corner as Sweden’s Robin Quaison poked home for the equaliser.
Moussa Dembele then scored the winner as Gerrard’s side turned the game on its head in the second period after struggling in the first half.
They defended well throughout the second half – and 14 minutes added time – and earned their victory to get the former Liverpool captain off to a winning start at his latest side.
Mail Sport looks at how the overseas stars in the game fared throughout.
Jordan Henderson (left) and Sadio Mane (right) captained their sides in Al-Ettifaq vs Al-Nassr
New Al-Ettifaq manager and former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard got off to the perfect start as his team won 2-1
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Jordan Henderson
Henderson’s move to the Middle East has been met with more controversy than any other high-profile move so far, and the 36 degree heat will have been a shock to the former Liverpool captain, donning a red armband rather than his rainbow strip from his Premier League days.
Gerrard knows what he’s going to get from his skipper. Cover every blade of grass, more often than not lead from the front and on occasion produce that bit of quality on the ball that the majority of the league may not yet have.
Though wasteful at times – he put one cross straight into the stands – Henderson grew into the game and looked his usual self, sticking up for his players and popping up all over the pitch where required.
A decent debut in what will be an interesting spell.
Henderson covered every blade of grass in what was a solid debut after his controversial move
Moussa Dembele
Dembele struggled to get into the game in the first half, clearly staying central under instruction as the hosts tried to get the ball out wide and into the box.
In the second half he was allowed more freedom and enjoyed more time on the ball and was rewarded with his goal, taking it well as a good poacher should.
Dembele will be the talisman for Gerrard’s side this season and may thrive with the responsibility.
Sadio Mane
By far and away the best player on the pitch, Mane looked as if he would run away with the game on his own after netting four minutes in.
His pace and movement was too much for the Al-Ettifaq defence and he poked home an opener and we saw a return of his beaming smile that was seen so often during his time at Liverpool but hardly ever throughout his spell with Bayern Munich.
When he volleyed wide after 10 minutes, viewers were left wondering how many the forward will end up with in the goals column this season.
He perhaps tried too hard to force an equaliser on his own towards the end of the game but a future partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo beckons and will strike fear into the league’s defences.
Sadio Mane was the best player on the pitch and got his side off to the perfect start early on
Steven Gerrard
Thrown into the deep end in his first game in charge, Gerrard showed passion on the sidelines, highlighted by a half time ‘discussion’ with opposing manager Luis Castro as the two made their ways to the dressing rooms.
Whatever he said in those 15 minutes paid dividends instantly as his side hit two quickfire goals and he will be delighted with the heart his team showed to hold onto the three points.
Desperate to revive his managerial career after a poor spell at Aston Villa, Gerrard got off to the perfect start with one of the country’s smaller teams.
Gerrard will be delighted with the way his team bounced back and held onto the three points
Cristiano Ronaldo missed the game through injury on Monday after going off at the weekend
Others
Ronaldo is the poster boy of Saudi Arabia football but he was absent today after going off in his side’s King Salman Clubs Club win at the weekend.
It’s hoped his injury isn’t serious, but manager Castro will hope he’s back sooner rather than later as his side look to go one further than last year’s second-place finish.
Scotland international Jack Hendry, one of the lower-profile players to have moved to Saudi Arabia, was one of the best players on the pitch, leading the Al-Ettifaq defence and regularly stepping into midfield with the ball.
But it was a Swede who got Gerrard’s side back into the game, with Robin Quaison netting the equaliser just after half time following an error from Nawaf Alaqidi.
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