Joe Donnohue has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh.
What’s the latest?
In a recent post on Twitter, the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist revealed that, despite the defender’s long-term future at Elland Road previously looking extremely uncertain, after the 20-year-old held talks with Jesse Marsch regarding his place in the Whites squad, the England U21 international is now fully committed to earning a place in the 48-year-old’s starting XI next season.
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In his tweet, Donnohue said: “Cody Drameh was Cardiff’s Player of the Season after going on loan in January, but is focused squarely on LUFC now. With [Luke] Ayling (2-4 months) & [Stuart] Dallas (6 months) on crutches, there’s no time like the present. He & Marsch have already spoken of his intention.”
Supporters will be buzzing
Considering just how exciting a talent Drameh quite clearly is, in addition to it previously looking as if the right-back’s time in LS11 was all but over, Donnohue’s update that the 20-year-old now intends to stay and fight for a place in Marsch’s first team is sure to be news that will have the Elland Road faithful buzzing.
Indeed, over his 22 Championship appearances in 2021/22, the £2.7m-rated full-back more than proved his undoubted ability, registering three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.6 key passes and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.
The £4.4k-per-week defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping Cardiff keep six clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.0 interceptions, 3.8 tackles, 2.0 clearances and winning 6.9 duels – at a success rate of 57% – per fixture.
These returns saw the former Fulham starlet average a quite extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as the Bluebird’s fourth-best performer in the second tier of English football.
As such, it is clear to see that the defender choosing to remain at Leeds in order to fight for a starting spot ahead of seeking a move away from the club is fantastic news for everyone involved with the Whites, as Drameh undoubtedly boasts the potential to overtake Ayling in Marsch’s right-back pecking order next season.
AND in other news: Orta now plotting Leeds bid for “unreal” £59.5m-rated talent, he’s Alphonso Davies 2.0
Everton managed to secure survival in the Premier League following an intense relegation battle this season and now Frank Lampard is set for a huge overhaul at Goodison Park this summer as a new transfer update emerges.
What’s the latest?
According to journalist and Everton reporter for 90min Chris Smith, Lampard is lining up seven players that will be offered out to other clubs.
Smith tweeted:
“Allan, Michael Keane, Andre Gomes, Tom Davies, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Andros Townsend and Salomon Rondon are all players Everton are willing to entertain offers for this summer, I’m told per source.”
Supporters will be delighted
There is no doubt that big changes are needed at Everton to ensure that they are not in the position they found themselves in over the last few months next season, so supporters will be delighted that the club is working to weed out any players that could be ineffective.
The Toffees have struggled both defensively and offensively this season conceding 66 goals and scoring 23 less, with the fifth most goals conceded in the Premier League, something they will need to address if they don’t want to be in another relegation fight next season.
Some of the players named in the tweet by Smith have already been linked with moves to other clubs, Allan has already been touted with a move to Lazio so he could be one of the first players to leave the club this summer.
Obviously, they will need to maintain some level of squad depth so it is unlikely that all of the aforementioned players will be shown the door during the transfer window, but selling even half of the players would recoup funds that the manager could invest in new talent that can flourish at Goodison Park in the future.
With that being said, there is a lot of work to do at Everton in identifying the players that they sign to make an instant impact and improvement to the squad as well as making sure they can get the best deals for outgoing members of the squad too, to ensure they can go into the new season in a good position to have a much better campaign.
Either way, supporters will surely be pleased to see plenty of the current crop who have been rather average this season head for the exit door this summer.
AND in other news: Moshiri plotting Everton bid for “rapid” £30m “game winner”, he’s Demarai Gray 2.0
Bas de Leede, meanwhile, recorded the most expensive bowling figures in ODI cricket
Sampath Bandarupalli25-Oct-202340 Balls for Glenn Maxwell to complete his century, the fastest in the history of the men’s ODI World Cup. He broke the record set just three weeks ago, by Aiden Markram with his 49-ball ton against Sri Lanka, also in Delhi.ESPNcricinfo Ltd39.1 overs – Maxwell’s entry point after Australia lost their fourth wicket. It is the latest entry point for a batter who has gone on to score a century in ODIs (where fall-of-wickets data is available). The previous latest entry point was de Villiers’, who came in at 38.4 overs against West Indies in the 2015 Johannesburg ODI, where he made 149.1 Maxwell’s 40-ball hundred is the fastest for Australia in the ODI format. The previous fastest was off 45 balls by Meg Lanning against New Zealand Women in 2012, while the previous quickest in men’s ODIs was by Maxwell himself, who made a 51-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in the 2015 World Cup.3 Only three ODI hundreds have come in fewer balls than Maxwell’s 40-ball effort against Netherlands. AB de Villiers hit a 31-ball century against West Indies in 2015, which is the fastest by anyone in the format, followed by Corey Anderson (36 balls against WI) and Shahid Afridi (37 balls against Sri Lanka)ESPNcricinfo Ltd6 Hundreds for David Warner in World Cups, the most for Australia, surpassing Ricky Ponting’s five. Warner is now tied in second place for most World Cup hundreds with Sachin Tendulkar and is only behind Rohit Sharma, who has seven.399 for 8 Australia’s total against Netherlands is their second-highest at the World Cup, behind the 417 for 6 against Afghanistan in 2015. It is also the highest total by Australia in ODIs in India, bettering the 367 for 9 they posted against Pakistan in their previous match.115 Runs conceded by Bas de Leede in his ten overs today, the most by any bowler in a men’s ODI. The previous record was 113 runs, held by two Australians – Mick Lewis against South Africa in 2006 and Adam Zampa against South Africa again in 2023.ESPNcricinfo Ltd106 Runs scored by Maxwell in the last ten overs are the fifth-most by any batter in a men’s ODI (where ball-by-ball data is available). These are also the most runs scored by an Australian between the 41st and 50th over in an innings, surpassing Cameron White’s 81 runs against India in 2010.309 Margin of Australia’s win in Delhi, the biggest by runs for any team in the World Cup. It is also the second-biggest win margin by runs in men’s ODIs, behind India’s 317-run win against Sri Lanka at the start of this year.3 Consecutive four-wicket hauls for Adam Zampa, the second Australian to pull this off in men’s ODIs, after Shane Warne in 1996-97. Zampa is also only the third bowler with three consecutive four-plus wicket hauls at the World Cup, after Shahid Afridi and Mohammed Shami.6 Hundreds at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla across four matches in this World Cup. These are the joint-most hundreds at a venue in a men’s ODI World Cup, equaling the six hundreds at Manchester’s Old Trafford in 2019.
Two of the greatest teams of modern times, with a storied past against each other, meet at a venue steeped in cricket history
Sambit Bal07-Oct-2023Australia are training in the outdoor nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as the sun sets over the Marina, a beach so wide that the water seems to start at the horizon. From up close, Mitchell Starc’s run-up seems almost as long, and Steven Smith, it feels, has been batting for an eternity.By Chennai’s standards, it’s an unusually cool evening. The monsoon has come early and the tree-lined streets leading to the stadium are wet, but the relief from the balmy heat is set off by worry about the fate of the match. However, locals are confident that weather disruptions, if any, will be minor. Which is just as well.With apologies to the other teams, this World Cup will burst to life when India take on Australia on Sunday.Related
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India vs Pakistan in Ahmedabad is billed as the blockbuster of the tournament. It’s hard to match the emotional charge, visceral and bordering on the toxic, of a cricket match between these two countries.England vs Australia carries the significance of history and tradition, but for those who know their cricket, India vs Australia is a whole new feeling. Over the last two decades, they have been the worthiest of opponents, producing epic, gladiatorial, astonishing, and unforgettable contests. In many ways, it’s a sporting rivalry of the purest kind, based mainly on the quality of the cricket, the performances it has extracted and the memories it has created.Great players and performances are measured against the toughness of their opponents, and Indian players of the last two generations have their Australian links firmly established. It began with Sachin Tendulkar, who announced himself to the world with that dazzling hundred as a teenager in Perth in 1992 and went on to score ten more in Tests, and 20 in all, against Australia. VVS Laxman’s 281 in Kolkata in 2001 remains arguably the greatest Test innings by an Indian, and Rahul Dravid would count his 180 in that Test, and his match-winning double-hundred in Adelaide in 2003, among his finest.The India-Australia fixture has been one with stars and star performances•Getty ImagesVirat Kohli, Tendulkar’s batting successor, has followed the same path, saving his best for his greatest opponents, starting with a maiden Test hundred in Adelaide and following with seven more in Tests and 16 overall.Though he took his time to establish himself in the national side, Rohit Sharma’s precocity was established with a half-century full of serene drives in the first of two CB Series finals in 2008, in the course of which he helped India with a 123-run partnership with Tendulkar on a tough pitch. KL Rahul discovered himself as an international player with a stroke-filled hundred in Sydney in 2015, and the 91 from Shubman Gill – tipped to be India’s next all-format batting great – that set up India’s astonishing and history-making chase in Brisbane in 2021 has to be his best international innings yet.Australia’s World Cup dominance has its roots in India, where they came from behind in 1987 to win their first title in Calcutta, in front of the biggest audience for a World Cup final. It kicked off a journey where they became the pre-eminent team across formats. One of the architects of that win, Steve Waugh, would go on to elevate India in the minds of his compatriots as worthy rivals for Australia with his remark in 2001 about India being the final frontier for them. India have matched them step for step since. No other team has taken more Test series off Australia this century, and apart from South Africa, no other team has beaten them back to back in their own den. Between them, the two teams have ten appearances in World Cup finals, and seven winners’ trophies, and in the minds of many, Sunday’s match is already a final before the actual final, however early it may come in the tournament.The MA Chidambaram Stadium, a cricket venue steeped in the history and tradition of the game, where the reverence, affection and care for the sport is evident in every wall, and will be in the crowds that will fill the ground on Sunday, seems the appropriate stage for this event. The freshly painted murals that greet you when you walk through the main entrance depict Chennai’s cricket heritage, the stadium itself gleams with a new coat of white, the stands have been redesigned in recent years to let in sea breeze, and the outfield is lush.The last World Cup encounter between these two teams here was a thriller in 1987 that Australia edged by a run, just a year after the two teams played out a tied Test, only the second in history, on the same turf. Like he would go on to do in the final, Waugh defended eight runs in the last over of that Chepauk ODI, and two off the last ball, with, by some uncanny coincidence, Maninder Singh, the batter who faced the final ball in the tied Test, on strike.In the 1987 final, the home crowd in Calcutta was on the side of Allan Border’s Australia when they beat England, who had knocked India out•Getty ImagesIn hindsight, it was a reversed decision that became the clincher. A hit over the top down the ground by Dean Jones off Maninder had initially been deemed a four but was changed to six upon review during the break by umpire Dickie Bird, following protests from the Australians. In the absence of conclusive television evidence, it’s a call that is still disputed by the players involved, but it was a sign of the times that the incident led to no outrage then – let alone a diplomatic crisis between the boards.Australia have gone on to win four more World Cups since then, and India are the game’s undisputed powerhouse. The IPL draws the best of the world to these shores for nearly two months every year, and none more than it does the Australians. Cultural differences have melted away and so has the challenge of alien playing conditions. Many of the Australians in this year’s World Cup team have adopted India as a second home, or at least as a regular workplace away from home.So setting aside the rankings and recent form – India are on a hot streak and Australia have lost five of their last six ODIs – it will be a match of equals when the coin comes down on Sunday. Australia will put on their tournament armour against what feels like the best-prepared Indian team at a World Cup in recent memory.If signs are your thing, here’s another filter to gauge the significance of this match by. Barring 1987, Australia, the winningest World Cup side, have never won the World Cup when they have lost to India at least once in the tournament; and both of India’s World Cup-winning campaigns have featured a win over Australia in the earlier rounds.But why rely on quirky stats when the evidence before us points to the prospects of an utterly compelling day of cricket between two hot pre-tournament favourites?
After their shocking act in Game 4 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees on Oct. 29, two Yankees fans have formally received their punishment.
MLB has banned Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen from all of its events in perpetuity after they interfered with Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts's attempt to catch a foul ball, it told WCBS-TV in New York Friday afternoon.
"Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball ("MLB") is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities. You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB," the league said in a statement. "Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass."
In the first inning of Game 4, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres fouled a 1-0 Ben Casparius pitch down the right field line. As Betts jumped for the ball, Capobianco and Hansen attempted to jostle it out of his hands; umpires alertly called Torres out. The fans were ejected from the game and later banned from attending Game 5.
New York went on to win the game, but went on to lose the series in five games.
Scott McTominay has urged Napoli boss Antonio Conte to pursue reported interest in Kobbie Mainoo next month. McTominay is one of a number of former Manchester United outcasts currently shining in Naples, with Rasmus Hojlund and Romelu Lukaku also impressing for the defending Serie A champions. The Scottish midfielder has been instrumental for the Italian side since joining last summer.
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McTominay has thrived since leaving United
The 28-year-old was named Serie A MVP for his instrumental role in Napoli's title triumph under Conte last season. McTominay has taken to Italian football like a duck to water and he's not the only former Manchester United star that has caught the eye for Conte's side.
Lukaku, who spent two years with United, was also key for the Partenopei last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 10 assists as Napoli pipped Inter to the Scudetto. The Belgian is yet to play for Napoli this season, though this has presented Hojlund with the chance to shine in Italy after the Dane returned to Serie A on a season-long loan.
And McTominay believes that Napoli should pursue a move for Kobbie Mainoo in the New Year as Conte's side challenge for the title once more. Mainoo has struggled for game time this season, registering just 138 minutes of league action, while his only start came in the EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby back in August.
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'He would fit straight in'
Mainoo, who missed United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday due to injury, had hoped to secure a summer move away from Old Trafford as he looked to garner regular minutes in a World Cup year. The youngster hasn't featured for England since coming on as a substitute against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League last September, however United's failure to bring in a midfielder, despite links with a move for Carlos Baleba, saw the club turn down the 20-year-old's request to leave earlier in the year.
United are expected to bring in a new midfielder in January, with Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson among those on the club's radar, and a new body in the middle of the park would likely see Mainoo depart. And according to SunSport, a source close to McTominay has told Conte to sign Mainoo in the New Year.
"Scott has been to see Conte and told him to get Kobbie. He’s told him all about his strengths and what an outstanding player he is. He knows all about him from his time at United and thinks he would be a great addition to the squad, whether it’s on loan or a permanent deal.
"Kobbie has been brought up the right way at United having been in the academy since he was a little boy. He would fit straight in and give Napoli a boost."
AFP
De Bruyne injury may force Napoli's hand
Napoli signed one central midfielder from the Premier League over the summer as Kevin De Bruyne made the move to Italy after his departure from Manchester City. The experienced Belgian has made an immediate impact for Conte's team but is unlikely to play again this year.
That's because De Bruyne suffered a thigh injury after scoring a penalty in Napoli's 3-1 win over title rivals Inter last month. The 34-year-old has scored four league goals for Napoli following his arrival over the summer.
De Bruyne's injury is likely to force Napoli into the market in January, with Mainoo already an established target for the Serie A giants.
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Napoli gunning for top spot
Napoli will hope to reclaim top spot in Serie A on Sunday afternoon as they take on Bologna at the Renato Dall'Ara. Conte's side dropped to second in Italy's top tier as AC Milan threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 draw with Parma on Saturday night.
Elsewhere, Roma host Udinese and Inter welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday in an incredibly tight Serie A title race. Indeed, just one point separates the top four ahead of the final international break of the year.
Martin O’Neill boasted an imperious record against Rangers when he was first Celtic manager, so can he continue that now that the 73-year-old is back in the Parkhead hot-seat two decades later?
To date, the Northern Irishman has won 16 of his 27 Glasgow derbies, losing only eight, the first of which was certainly the most memorable, a 6-2 victory in 2000, in which both Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson bagged braces.
Now though, having been parachuted back into the role, following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday, O’Neill is faced with a huge League Cup semi-final on Sunday, coming after Wednesday night’s confidence-boosting 4-0 victory over Falkirk.
If the Hoops are going to prevail at Hampden, thereby setting up a final date with either St Mirren or Motherwell, O’Neill has to make some tough selection decisions, but simply must start one star in place of Celtic’s club-record signing.
Arne Engels' Celtic form
Arne Engels arrived at Celtic on deadline day in the summer of 2024 with sky-high expectations, given that he was replacing Matt O’Riley, one of the best midfielders the club has seen in modern times, as well as the fact that he cost £11m, a club-record fee.
Most expensive SPFL signings before the 2025 summer window
Well, so far, the Belgian international has not flourished in the way many hoped, or indeed expected.
In 68 appearances for the Hoops, Engels has scored ten goals and registered 15 assists, but just two of these goals have come from open play, most recently on target against St Mirren on 1 March, converting a penalty during a 5-2 victory in Paisley.
Prior to starting the last three matches, Engels had not been a regular in the lineup this season, introduced off the bench on nine occasions, with Rodgers favouring summer signing Benjamin Nygren in his position.
Well, the 22-year-old has not grasped these recent opportunities with both hands, considering the Scotsman awarded him a 5/10 rating following last Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle, a match in which he lost possession on 25 occasions, nine times more than any other Celtic player.
The Celts can ill-afford that level of wastefulness at Hampden on Sunday, so O’Neill should relegate Engels back to the bench and start a midfield alternative.
Who Martin O'Neill should start in place of Arne Engels
O’Neill does have plenty of midfield options.
Callum McGregor is a lock, while Nygren returned to the midfield three on Wednesday, having been deployed further forward for Rodgers’ final two fixtures, with Reo Hatate the obvious candidate to complete the trio.
Since arriving in January 2022, the Japanese international has made 156 appearances in hoops, scoring 28 goals and registering 28 assists.
His only goal of this campaign, to date, was a rocket at Pittodrie against Aberdeen in August, thereby only brought on for the final 13 minutes against Falkirk this week.
Nevertheless, Hatate’s statistics from last season underline his importance to this Celtic side.
Hatate 24/25 Celtic stats
Stats
Hatate
Celtic rank
Minutes
3,849
6th
Goals
11
5th
Assists
9
5th
Shots
92
1st
Big chances created
18
1st
Average rating
7.29
7th
Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref & SofaScore
As the table highlights, Hatate was a vital figure in Celtic’s team last season; in fact, of the four players who scored more goals than he did, only Daizen Maeda is still at the club, with compatriot Kyōgo Furuhashi, Adam Idah and Nicolas Kühn having all departed.
Hatate also led the way in terms of shot and big chances created, while he has previously netted three times against Rangers, on target twice during his Glasgow derby debut in February 2022, one of the most famous nights Parkhead has witnessed in a long time, as well as firing into the bottom corner in vain back in March.
Callum McFadden describes Hatate as “one of the most naturally gifted players” Celtic have had in recent decades, while Martin Crawford of Breaking the Lines asserted that he is ‘the best player in Scotland’, adding that the ‘naturally refined technician’ possesses incredible ‘energy, determination and…. football intellect’.
Arriving from Kawasaki Frontale for just £1.5m, Football Transfers believe the midfielder’s current market value to be around £9.23m, representing one of the best bargain buys in Scottish football history, and there were a few contenders during the Ange Postecoglou-era.
Bringing it back to this Sunday’s derby, Hatate’s on-ball quality and out-of-possession work-rate makes him a must starter for O’Neill.
Danny Röhl is set to deploy Rangers in a 3-4-2-1, giving the midfield pairing of Mohamed Diomandé and Nicolas Raskin a lot of ground to cover, so Celtic need to do everything they can to win this midfield battle.
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Unlike Engels, Hatate has proved consistently capable of producing big moments in the biggest matches, so the Japanese international, alongside captain McGregor and Nygren, is surely the way to go, with midfield the real strength of this Celtic team.
Centre-back and centre-forward, given the ongoing injury crisis….. not so much!
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Former Real Madrid striker Ivan Zamorano has sparked controversy by claiming Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal 'doesn’t have the essence or soul' of a Real Madrid player. While dismissing the winger as unfit for Los Blancos, Zamorano showered praise on Pedri, calling him a 'phenomenon' and urging Barcelona to better guide Yamal amid recent off-field distractions.
Yamal labelled ‘not Real Madrid material’ by Zamorano
Former Madrid striker Zamorano has launched a strong criticism of Barcelona’s 18-year-old winger Yamal, saying the youngster “isn’t the essence or the soul of what a Real Madrid player should be.”
The Chilean described Yamal as a talented player lacking the maturity and character expected at the Santiago Bernabeu. His comments arrive amid growing scrutiny of the teenager’s attitude and professionalism after a turbulent few weeks both on and off the pitch.
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'Pedri has the essence of Madrid' – Zamorano’s contrasting praise
Speaking to Josep Pedrerol on the ex-Madrid star made his feelings clear when comparing Yamal to Barcelona midfielder Pedri, whom he described as a perfect example of humility and class.
“I wouldn’t sign Lamine Yamal for Real Madrid. He’s a star, but he doesn’t embody the essence or soul of what a Real Madrid player should be,” Zamorano said. “I would sign Pedri, who is a star and a phenomenon… and without saying a word. He is humble, down-to-earth, and speaks only when necessary. Pedri has the essence, the soul, of Real Madrid.”
Zamorano, who represented Los Blancos between 1992 and 1996, went on to emphasise that players wearing the white shirt must reflect the club’s “class and culture.” He added: “Real Madrid is a team with class and culture, and the players who play for Madrid have to represent that. I never heard Messi say that Real Madrid steals, and he was the best in the world.”
His remark was a direct reference to Yamal’s pre-Clasico Twitch stream, where the teenager stirred controversy by quipping: “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain.” The comment reportedly angered several Madrid players and added fuel to the growing criticism surrounding his maturity.
Barcelona urged to guide Yamal amid growing frustration
Despite his criticism, Zamorano offered advice for Barca, suggesting that Yamal still has the potential to become a legendary player if properly mentored. “They have to try to guide Lamine Yamal. That way he’ll only become a great player. Players who leave a legacy are made of a different breed,” he said.
The young winger’s struggles have been evident on and off the field. He has been battling a recurring groin issue, while also dealing with increased media scrutiny following his recent breakup with singer Nicki Nicole. He was also involved in a spat with Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal at the end of the recent Clasico clash between the two sides, which the Bernabeu club won 2-1.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who continues to back the teenager publicly, addressed Yamal’s fitness concerns after the 3-1 win over Elche. “He has to manage his injury; he’s disciplined. He has to train, undergo treatment… he’s doing it. I can’t say the injury is over; it comes and goes. And he has to manage it,” Flick explained.
The German manager has privately expressed frustration over the mounting distractions surrounding the winger but remains hopeful that Yamal’s focus will return once his injury stabilises and media pressure eases.
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Focus turns to Brugge test before international break
Barcelona’s attention now shifts back to football as they prepare to face Club Brugge in the Champions League. The Catalan giants currently sit ninth in the continental table and will aim for a crucial win to strengthen their qualification hopes before facing Celta Vigo in La Liga.
Trailing five points behind leaders Real Madrid, Flick’s men are under pressure to close the gap before the international break. With fixtures piling up, the German coach is counting on his young stars including Yamal, who has four goals from nine matches this season, to rediscover their rhythm and help steady the club’s form during a crucial phase of the campaign.
Liverpool fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, and their star players are taking significant criticism in the wake of their third straight loss in the top flight.
Carragher calls for Salah to be dropped
The Reds have now lost four matches in a row in all competitions, with Sunday’s loss at home to United the nadir in an increasingly concerning season for the champions.
It was another off day for Mohamed Salah, who missed a huge chance after the break and generally struggled to have any kind of positive impact on proceedings, with Jamie Carragher calling for him to be dropped on Sky Sports after the game, having also questioned his form before proceedings began.
“I don’t think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it’s like ‘first name on the teamsheet’. Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don’t think Salah should start both of those games.
“He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today. But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don’t think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he’s in.”
Arne Slot finds himself under genuine pressure as Liverpool’s head coach, but he isn’t being helped out by star players, from Salah to recent signings.
Harry Maguire outscoring Liverpool strikers
Incredibly, Harry Maguire’s winner for United means that he now has scored the same number of goals at Anfield in the league this season as Salah (1), Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak combined, leading to plenty of fans panicking on social media after BBC journalist Statman Dave shed light on Isak in particular.
The latter pair are still waiting to strike for the Reds in the top flight home or away, having arrived as the two most expensive signings in Reds history earlier this year, and the Swede has racked up 1.4 expected goals even in his limited playing time, so really should have found the net by now.
To say that this statistic is damning would be an understatement, with almost nobody expecting Liverpool to make such an unconvincing start to their title defence.
Salah’s form is concerning, with signs that the 33-year-old may have peaked as a footballer, while Wirtz and Isak are taking longer to adjust to life at Anfield that a lot would have hoped.
There are mitigating factors surrounding their struggles, though, with fellow new signings Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez flattering to deceive, and the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister in poor form in too many games.
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Wirtz and Isak will likely come good, and Salah is too special a footballer not to overcome this enormous slump, but if things don’t improve fast, Liverpool will be out of the Premier League title race by Christmas.
Alessia Russo's late goal kept Arsenal's Women's Super League title hopes alive in a controversy-riddled 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Alyssa Thompson gave the visitors the lead before Stina Blackstenius' strike was ruled out for a questionable handball. Russo then delivered the crucial equaliser before even more late drama, as Frida Maanum had her stoppage-time winner chalked off for offside.
The hosts started sluggishly, and shortly after Johanna Rytting Kaneryd hit the post, Alyssa Thompson gave Chelsea a ninth-minute lead when her curling shot looped into the corner after a piercing run. It was nearly 2-0 when goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar failed to hold Catarina Macario's shot, with the loose ball bouncing off the bar and away to safety. Arsenal finally got going from the 25-minute mark, but when they reached the final third, they were found wanting.
The game's big talking point came in the 53rd minute when Blackstenius smashed home after a corner wasn't cleared, but the referee, Melissa Burgin, chalked it off for a handball, which appeared inconclusive. Just when it looked like the Gunners' toothless attack would prove their undoing, Russo swept home in the 87th minute for a deserved equaliser. An offside flag denied Maanum a stoppage-time winner but the result means Arsenal stayed within five points of the table-topping Blues, who extended their unbeaten WSL run to 33 games.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players at Emirates Stadium…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Daphne van Domselaar (5/10):
Was rooted to the spot for Chelsea's opener, which she could do nothing about, but was very fortunate not to concede another when Macario's shot nearly went through her, before bouncing off the bar. Had a better second half, though.
Emily Fox (5/10):
Was chasing shadows early on but wasn't really tested as the game progressed and Arsenal had the lion's share of the ball.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):
Her positioning was questionable for Chelsea's opener but came up with some important blocks on the flip side.
Stephanie Catley (5/10):
Had some uncomfortable moments but didn't do a huge amount wrong on the day.
Katie McCabe (6/10):
Had a bit of joy against Lucy Bronze when bombing forward but, equally, was struggling with the attack-minded Kaneryd. Booked for bringing down Bronze and was subbed on the hour mark.
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Midfield
Beth Mead (4/10):
The England international was fairly ineffective in the first half and other than a dangerous corner for their disallowed goal, offered precious little.
Victoria Pelova (6/10):
Like her team-mates, didn't do a great deal early on but grew into the contest as it progressed. In the end, was part of a dominant midfield.
Mariona Caldentey (5/10):
Struggled to make an impact inside the opening 20 minutes or so, and her usual crisp passing and quality abandoned her for long stretches.
Caitlin Foord (7/10):
Seemed the most likely to provide a bit of magic to unlock Chelsea's defence thanks to her quick feet and directness.
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Attack
Alessia Russo (7/10):
Held up the ball well and brought others into the game but sometimes she wasn't on the same wavelength as her team-mates. After a fairly quiet afternoon, she took her goal well to earn her team a point.
Stina Blackstenius (6/10):
Was repeatedly flagged for being offside as she got the timings of her runs all wrong. Seemed to score a perfectly good goal but the referee had other ideas.
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Subs & Manager
Taylor Hinds (7/10):
Her side of the defence looked more solid when she came on as Arsenal dominated.
Olivia Smith (8/10):
Arsenal's returning record signing made an instant impact off the bench. It won't be long before she's back in the starting XI, such is her quality.
Frida Maanum (7/10):
Looked to have grabbed the winner but her goal was ruled out for offside, in another debatable moment.
Chloe Kelly (7/10):
Her shooting was a bit wayward but posed a threat when introduced.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (N/A):
Was brought on late on.
Renee Slegers (6/10):
Will have been disappointed that her team didn't wake up until the second part of the first half. When they did emerge from their slumber, they didn't test Hampton nearly enough as their decision-making in Chelsea's box let them down. Her subs made a difference, though.