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Liverpool manager insists midfielder should be judged by his influence rather than numbers

João Pedro ‘as good as Haaland’, says Alonso

Xabi Alonso has claimed João Pedro is at Erling Haaland’s level and similar in style to Karim Benzema. The Chelsea striker has reacted to missing out on Brazil’s World Cup squad by making an excellent start to the season and was named the Premier League’s player of the month on Friday.

João Pedro has scored twice in his first three league appearances and has formed an exciting attacking trio with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. Chelsea have scored 16 goals in all competitions and Alonso did not hold back when asked if the 24-year-old is as good as Haaland. “I would say yes,” Chelsea’s manager said. “If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that João is there. Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.”

The range of João Pedro’s game has added to his threat. Alonso played with Benzema at Real Madrid and sees similarities between the pair. “In many things he reminds me of Benzema,” he said. “He is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent. Still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities.”

Chelsea host Hull on Saturday afternoon and will be looking for a strong home performances after fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Leeds 6-3 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

João Pedro has scored twice in his first three league appearances for Chelsea. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters

Palmer was key to the comeback and revealed that Alonso, who had rotated heavily, ripped into his players at half-time against Leeds. “I was angry with myself that I didn’t help the players to play better or have a better feeling,” Alonso said. “There is a moment that you try to explain what is not working well, try to make preparations and then there is a moment that you need to kick their arse a little bit, in a nice way. It worked – not for me but the players who came on with a better quality and better everything in the second half.”

Chelsea will again be without Moisés Caicedo. The midfielder is yet to start this season and Alonso does not want to risk him.

De Zerbi wants exiled Richarlison to stay

Roberto De Zerbi insists he does not regret the handling of Richarlison’s situation at Tottenham after the forward was omitted from his Premier League squad, even though Spurs are yet to score in the competition.

De Zerbi said Richarlison had in effect exiled himself by refusing to sign a new contract and repeatedly saying he wanted to leave. The 29-year-old’s absence looks increasingly unfortunate for Spurs after three league matches. They have never gone four league games without scoring at the start of a season.

De Zerbi described Richarlison’s omission as a “consequence” of the Brazilian’s actions over the past month and a half. A deadline-day move to Everton, who visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, collapsed after Spurs had signed replacements. Richarlison continues to train with the first team. “If I had decided myself to leave him outside of the squad, I would have regrets,” De Zerbi said. “But the decision has not even been taken by the club.”

The Italian said it would be “much better” if Richarlison were in his squad, happy to stay and “maybe to extend his contract, because he is still an important player, he was important last season, we can’t forget. But we can’t forget also the last 45 days.”

De Zerbi is missing last season’s three top scorers: Richarlison, João Palhinha, who left for Benfica, and Cristian Romero, who joined Atlético Madrid. Mykhailo Mudryk signed on loan from Chelsea, picked up an injury in training. An ankle scan revealed ligament damage that will keep the winger out for about six weeks. De Zerbi feels the “silly injury”, caused by playing too much after being out for so long, could have been avoided.

Roberto De Zerbi believes Sávio ‘can score more goals – even if he isn’t Harry Kane.’ Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Sávio arrived from Manchester City for £75m, closely followed by Omar Marmoush on loan. Marmoush scored only 10 league goals in a season and a half at Manchester City, but was more prolific in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt. “In terms of goals he’s not Harry Kane but he can score more goals than he has done in the last two seasons,” De Zerbi said.

> “If you analyse his qualities, he can score more goals and he has to demand more goals from himself. Even the stupid goals, he has to change his habits after being used to scoring the great goals.”

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