AC Milan have shared a positive injury recovery update on Christian Pulisic, with a date being pencilled in for the USMNT star’s return to action.

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Picked up calf complaint vs AtalantaAmerican has sat out three fixturesCould figure in final game of 2024Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international was forced out of a Serie A clash with Atalanta on December 6. A minor tear in his right calf muscle has kept Pulisic sidelined for three games in domestic and Champions League competition – with there fears that his 2024 may be over.

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Milan are, however, optimistic that the American forward will figure in their final fixture of the calendar year. The Rossoneri, who returned to winning ways in the Italian top-flight against Verona on Friday, are due to host Roma on December 29.

GettyWHAT FONSECA SAID

Pulisic could come back into contention for that contest, although no risks will be taken on his fitness given how important he has become to the collective cause at San Siro. Milan boss Paulo Fonseca has said: "I'm optimistic about Pulisic for Roma, but we'll see during the week."

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WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC & AC MILAN?

If Pulisic fails to make it back in time for a clash with Roma, then his return could come in a Supercoppa Italia semi-final date with Juventus on January 3. The American has been in impressive form this season, posting club-high figures for goals (eight) and assists (five).

Leeds United are believed to have made a surprise approach for an "absolutely top class" player this summer, according to a new transfer rumour.

More Leeds signings needed after Ramazani

The Whites most recently acquired the signature of Largie Ramazani, with the winger arriving on a permanent basis from Almeria, having scored three goals and chipped in with five assists in La Liga last season.

While the diminutive Belgian represents an exciting piece of business for Leeds, coming in and helping make up for the loss of Crysencio Summerville to West Ham, it is still clear that further additions are needed in the next week or so before the transfer window closes.

Archie Gray's exit to Tottenham has heightened the need for a new right-back to come in for Daniel Farke, even though Jayden Bogle has joined from Sheffield United, and a central midfielder is also vital after Glen Kamara's departure to Ligue 1 side Rennes.

It looks as though Leeds may be set to address one of those aforementioned areas of focus, with a new update dropping regarding their upcoming business.

Leeds make loan approach for "top class" player

According to Football Insider, Leeds have made an approach by registering their interest in Bournemouth defender Max Aarons, seeing him as a good option to bring in on loan.

The Whites are thought to be "readying a surprise move" for the £35,000-a-week right-back, and perhaps most significant is the fact that Farke is believed to be a "big fan", having worked together during their Norwich City days.

Aarons could be such a shrewd signing by Leeds this month, gaining so much experience over the years and proving to be a right-back who could offer quality at both ends of the pitch. The fact that Farke knows him so well can only bode well, too.

At 24, he still has a lot to offer in his career, and given his lack of playing time at Bournemouth – only 13 starts came his way in the Premier League last season – he could feel that now is the best time for him to move to another club.

Aarons has made 90 appearances in the Premier League, which shows how experienced he is at playing at a high level, as well as appearing 131 times in the Championship, scoring five goals and registering 13 assists for good measure. Meanwhile, former Norwich manager David Wagner once said of him: "Everybody knows how highly we rate him as a player and as a person as well. He's been absolutely top class."

The former Norwich City man could come in and provide competition for Bogle, who can also operate as a winger, meaning that he may even be first-choice from the off, boosting Leeds' hopes of returning to the Premier League in the process.

£20,000-p/w Leeds player who Farke starts is pushing to leave Elland Road

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1 ByHenry Jackson Aug 23, 2024

A 27-time capped England Under-21 international, Aarons may not have made the step up to being an elite-level right-back, but he could be one of the best players in the Championship in his position, becoming a key man for the Whites.

West Ham United have had a very busy summer transfer window so far in 2024. The Hammers have made an impressive eight signings as they look to give new manager Julen Lopetegui the perfect platform to launch off ahead of his first season as manager at the London Stadium.

The East London outfit have strengthened all areas of their squad, with the marquee signing arguably being Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville. The Dutchman joined the Hammers for a reported fee of £25m. The Hammers also strengthened in attacking areas by purchasing Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £27m.

There has also been a major overhaul of their defence this summer for the Hammers, who have signed three new additions at the back. Two of those have been at centre-back, with Jean-Clair Todibo signing on a loan-to-buy deal from Nice, and Max KIlman swapping Wolverhampton Wanderers for West Ham for £40m. They also added Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka to their squad, for a fee of just £15m.

It has certainly been a heavy summer of spending for the Hammers so far, but they are perhaps not done yet, with journalist Fabrizio Romano revealing that contact has been made regarding a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Carlos Soler, who has spent the last two seasons at the Parc des Princes.

The playmaking Spaniard – who chalked up 67 goals and assists in 226 games for former club Valencia – would be yet another statement signing for Tim Steidten and co for the new season, although further activity could well lie in store…

West Ham targeting Championship winger

The player in question here is Sunderland’s exciting young English winger Jack Clarke. The 23-year-old has been very impressive for Sunderland during his time at the Stadium of Light and has constantly been linked with a move away from the club.

According to a report from The Sun's print edition (20 August, page 48), the former Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur winger is thought to be of interest to the Hammers, who could make a move for the enterprising talent before the deadline on the 30th of August.

However, Lopeteugui’s side are not thought to be the only side interested in acquiring the 23-year-old’s services before the window is over. Newly promoted side Southampton are also chasing a deal for Clarke. The Saints have already bought two players from the EFL this summer, young centre-back pair Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood, and there is no reason to suggest they would not make a move to sign Clarke, either.

A recent report from TEAMtalk suggests that the Black Cats want a fee of around £25m for Clarke. Given the fact West Ham have spent so much money this summer, it remains to be seen if they still have enough left to pay their asking price.

How Clarke can replicate Bowen

The 23-year-old former Spurs winger has certainly impressed for the Black Cats over the last few seasons. Last term, Clarke scored 15 goals and grabbed four assists in 40 appearances in the second tier of England, and already has one goal and one assist in two Championship games this season.

Clarke Championship record for Sunderland
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2022/23	45	9	12
2023/24	40	15	4
2024/25	2	1	1
Total	87	25	17
Stats from Transfermarkt

Should the Hammers bring Clarke to the London Stadium this summer, it could be the second coming of new club captain Jarrod Bowen. Like the Sunderland number 20, the England international received part of his footballing education in the EFL, playing for Hull City before his move to East London.

Bowen was very impressive in the second tier for the Tigers. He played 131 games in all competitions for the Nothern club, including seven in the Premier League without a goal involvement. However, he scored 54 times and grabbed 14 assists in orange and black, leading West Ham to sign him for around £20m.

The winger has since gone on to become a modern-day great for the Hammers. He has scored 60 goals and has registered 39 assists in 203 games in all competitions, and is now the club captain. One of those goals is one of the most famous strikes in the Hammers’ history, the winner in the 90th minute against Fiorentina in the 2022/23 Europa Conference League final.

Clarke, who was described as a “diamond” by former manager Tony Mowbray, could certainly have a similar impact as Bowen on the London Stadium, and follow in his footsteps. Like the Hammers skipper, he is a winger who has received vital education in the Championship and has impressed consistently.

For just £25m, this could be a shrewd signing for West Ham as they look to bolster their squad further, amid the parallel interest in the aforementioned Soler.

West Ham could bag dream signing for Fullkrug in "complete" £17m star

The summer spending spree continues…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 20, 2024

The Premier League has seen numerous exhilarating fixtures since its inception in 1992.

More often than not, a game starts with 22 players on the pitch and finishes with the same number. However, we have recently seen games finishing with a significant reduction in numbers – particularly since the introduction of VAR.

But what top-flight games have received the most cards in the Premier League’s history? We have delved into the stats to find out the league’s ugliest fixtures. For this list, we consider players to have been booked twice as receiving three cards (2 yellows, 1 red).

Chelsea’s recent win over Bournemouth recently made the headlines for the wrong reasons, with referee Anthony Taylor handing out a record 14 yellow cards – a new Premier League record. Only three matches can claim to have seen as many bookings – here is the full list:

Premier League matches with the most cards

Rank

Match

Date

Yellow cards

Red cards

1

Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea

Sep 2024

14

0

2

Tottenham 2-1 Sheff Utd

Sep 2023

13

1

3

Leeds 0-0 Chelsea

Oct 1998

13

1

4

Newcastle 2-0 Everton

Feb 1995

12

2

5

Everton 2-3 Liverpool

Apr 2001

12

1

6

Southampton 2-3 Wimbledon

Dec 1994

12

1

7

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

Sep 2023

11

2

8

Wolves 0-1 Aston Villa

Dec 2020

11

2

9

Liverpool 3-1 Everton

Mar 2006

11

2

10

Everton 2-2 Newcastle

Sep 2003

11

2

11

Arsenal 1-2 Leeds

Aug 2001

11

2

12

Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal

Nov 1999

11

2

13

West Ham 2-1 Arsenal

Oct 1999

11

2

13 West Ham 2-1 Arsenal (Oct 1999) 11 yellows, 2 reds

An all-London classic saw two sides quite literally come to blows back in October 1999, a time when Harry Redknapp was joined by Frank Lampard Sr in the West Ham dugout.

Four of the yellow cards were awarded to Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and the Hammers’ Marc-Vivien Foe alone, with a total of 11 yellows brandished at Upton Park, where the Gunners failed to overcome a Paolo Di Canio brace – while outnumbering the Hammers’ cautions by 7 to 6.

Davor Suker’s 77th-minute strike offered the Gunners a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t enough for Arsene Wenger’s side in a season when they would go on to finish second, 18 points behind Manchester United.

West Ham cards

Arsenal cards

Steve Lomas booked

Martin Keown booked

Marc Vivien-Foe booked (x2)

Gilles Grimandi booked

John Moncur booked

Patrick Vieira booked (x2)

Paulo Wanchope booked

Dennis Bergkamp booked

Thierry Henry booked

12 Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (Nov 1999) 11 yellows, 2 reds

Just five weeks after their action-packed defeat to West Ham, Arsenal were involved in another feisty affair against their even-bigger rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

It was Spurs’ last league victory at White Hart Lane against the Gunners for 11 years, until April 2010.

The visitors picked up most of the cards, with Freddie Ljungberg seeing a straight red after taking issue with a challenge from Justin Edinburgh (he later aimed a V sign at referee David Elleray) and Martin Keown taking a walk after a second yellow in added time.

Steffen Iversen and Tim Sherwood scored two early goals for Spurs and Arsenal could only offer one of their own through Vieira.

Tottenham cards

Arsenal cards

Stephen Carr booked

Lee Dixon booked

Justin Edinburgh booked

Martin Keown booked (x2)

Oyvind Leonhardsen booked

Patrick Vieira booked

Stephen Clemence booked

Freddie Ljungberg sent off

Emmanuel Petit booked

Dennis Bergkamp booked

Davor Suker booked

11 Arsenal 1-2 Leeds (Aug 2001) 11 yellows, 2 reds

Arsenal fans, rest assured – it wasn’t anyone’s intention to feature three successive 2-1 defeats on this list of Premier League games with the most cards!

We’re talking about the Gunners again, but this time it was Leeds United who were the more aggressive of the two: Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills both saw red after picking up their second yellow cards in the final 15 minutes of play.

Leeds picked up 7 of the 11 yellows that day, and bizarrely ended the game not only as the victors, but with over half their team coming through unscathed.

Ian Harte put David O’Leary’s side ahead after 29 minutes with a cheeky quick free kick, but Arsenal equalised through Sylvain Wiltord three minutes later.

Then, in what was Arsenal’s first home game of the 2001/02 season, Mark Viduka’s 53rd-minute strike sent the away fans into bedlam and secured all three points for Leeds.

Arsenal cards

Leeds cards

Ashley Cole booked

Danny Mills booked (x2)

Robert Pires booked

Olivier Dacourt booked

Thierry Henry booked

Lee Bowyer booked (x2)

Francis Jeffers booked

Eirik Bakke booked

Alan Smith booked

10 Everton 2-2 Newcastle (Sep 2003) 11 yellows, 2 reds

Everton’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at Goodison Park in September 2003 saw four second-half goals, three successfully converted penalties, a straight red and 11 yellow cards.

Newcastle had yet to register a Premier League win for the season, but took the lead after Gary Naysmith’s straight red card allowed Alan Shearer to net from 12 yards in the 58th minute.

However, the Magpies were already down to 10 men, as Laurent Robert had been shown a second yellow in the first half, and it took Everton just eight minutes to equalise through Tomasz Radzinski.

Shearer scored another penalty, but Duncan Ferguson’s spot kick salvaged a point for the hosts with three minutes to play.

Everton cards

Newcastle cards

Steve Watson booked

Andy Griffin booked

Alan Stubbs booked

Olivier Bernard booked

Gary Naysmith sent off

Laurent Robert booked (x2)

Tobias Linderoth booked

Craig Bellamy booked

Duncan Ferguson booked

Jermaine Jenas booked

Francis Jeffers booked

9 Liverpool 3-1 Everton (Mar 2006) 11 yellows, 2 reds

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Everton in March 2006 is not the only Merseyside derby to appear on this list. This was a particularly memorable one that featured a red card after only 18 minutes of play.

Steven Gerrard was the recipient of two quickfire yellows for kicking the ball away and a bad tackle on Kevin Kilbane from referee Phil Dowd at Anfield.

Six of Everton’s starting XI were also booked, while substitute Andy van der Meyde received a straight red card in the 73rd minute for an elbow just five minutes after coming on the pitch.

Luis Garcia doubled the Reds’ lead after a Phil Neville own goal. Tim Cahill pulled one back for the visitors, but Harry Kewell secured all three points for Liverpool with six minutes remaining.

Liverpool cards

Everton cards

Harry Kewell booked

David Weir booked

Steven Gerrard booked (x2)

Alan Stubbs booked

Xabi Alonso booked

Phil Neville booked

Tony Hibbert booked

Kevin Kilbane booked

Tim Cahill booked

Andy van der Meyde sent off

Duncan Ferguson booked

8 Wolves 0-1 Aston Villa (Dec 2020) 11 yellows, 2 reds

It was a Midlands derby with a difference. Not only was it played in front of no fans, but Wolves’ 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Molineux also witnessed one of the highest card counts in Premier League history.

There was little action in the opening stages of the fixture until the final 10 minutes, which saw five yellow cards and a red. There would follow an additional red card and a penalty four minutes into added time.

Mike Dean awarded Villa a penalty in the 94th minute after Nelson Semedo brought John McGinn down in the box, and Anwar El Ghazi converted.

A minute later, Joao Moutinho received his second yellow and joined Douglas Luiz, who had done the same late on, in having an early shower to leave both sides with 10 men and little time remaining on the clock.

Wolves cards

Aston Villa cards

Adama Traore booked

Douglas Luiz booked (x2)

Leander Dendoncker booked

Matty Cash booked

Joao Moutinho booked (x2)

John McGinn booked

Matt Targett booked

Ezri Konsa booked

Jack Grealish booked

7 Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool (Sep 2023) 11 yellows, 2 reds

Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Liverpool last season was one of the most controversial and dramatic games in recent years; it was memorable for numerous reasons. It quite literally had everything.

A straight red, three goals – including a 96th-minute own goal – 12 yellow cards and a goal that was incorrectly disallowed.

The referees’ body, PGMOL, officially apologised after the game for incorrectly ruling Luis Diaz’s first-half strike as offside.

Aside from the three goals and Joel Matip’s own goal, which gifted Spurs the victory, this Premier League thriller was also packed with cards.

Curtis Jones was handed a straight red, while Diogo Jota joined him in the dressing room after picking up two yellows inside the space of a minute in the second half.

Tottenham cards

Liverpool cards

Destiny Udogie booked

Curtis Jones sent off

Yves Bissouma booked

Alexis Mac Allister booked

Cristian Romero booked

Mohamed Salah booked

Pedro Porro booked

Diogo Jota booked (x2)

Alejo Veliz booked

Andy Robertson booked

Virgil van Dijk booked

6 Southampton 2-3 Wimbledon (Dec 1994) 12 yellows, 1 red

A five-goal Boxing Day thriller between Southampton and Wimbledon in the 1994/95 season was packed with plenty of festive cards.

Only two points separated the two sides going into the fixture, with both teams in mid-table. Despite this, the visiting Dons were just three points above the drop, with four clubs going down that season.

However, with the teams all square at the break, it was Wimbledon who stole all three points through a Dean Holdsworth penalty in the 72nd minute.

12 yellow cards were dished out during the 90 minutes, with Wimbledon’s Andy Thorn being sent off for his second yellow of the afternoon.

Southampton cards

Wimbledon cards

Jason Dodd booked

Chris Perry booked

David Hughes booked

Andy Thorn booked (x2)

Tommy Widdrington booked

Gary Elkins booked

Jim Magilton booked

Efan Ekoku booked

Iain Dowie booked

Mick Harford booked

Dean Holdsworth booked

5 Everton 2-3 Liverpool (Apr 2001) 12 yellows, 1 red

Onto a fixture where you would expect to see an abundance of cards on display. It was one of the most memorable Merseyside derbies of all time in April 2001 when Gary McAllister’s incredible free-kick saw Liverpool win at Goodison Park for the first time since 1990.

Emile Heskey opened the scoring for the visitors, bagging his 21st goal of the season after just five minutes. Duncan Ferguson and Markus Babbel then exchanged goals before Robbie Fowler smacked the post with a penalty.

Everton thought they had secured a point when David Unsworth’s penalty made it 2-2, but McAllister’s stunner in the fourth minute of stoppage time snatched a win for the Reds.

To add to the drama, Igor Biscan saw red after 77 minutes with his second yellow of the game, and 10 other yellow cards were handed out from the 9th minute, right up until the 94th.

Everton cards

Liverpool cards

Michael Ball booked

Igor Biscan booked (x2)

Duncan Ferguson booked

Dietmar Hamann booked

Richard Gough booked

Jamie Carragher booked

Paul Gerrard booked

Gary McAllister booked

David Unsworth booked

Stephane Henchoz booked

Niclas Alexandersson booked

4 Newcastle 2-0 Everton (Feb 1995) 12 yellows, 2 reds

Everton received a total of nine yellow cards on their visit to St James’ Park in February 1995. Two of those led to a red for Earl Barrett, who was making his debut after a move from Aston Villa, and Barry Horne, who made the walk to the dressing room just a minute later.

Newcastle scored their goals through Ruel Fox and a Peter Beardsley penalty. The Toon would go on to finish sixth that year and Everton ended 15th, albeit with an FA Cup triumph to cap the season.

Newcastle cards

Everton cards

Robbie Elliott booked

Neville Southall booked

Rob Lee booked

David Unsworth booked

Peter Beardsley booked

David Burrows booked

Earl Barrett booked (x2)

Joe Parkinson booked

Barry Horne booked (x2)

John Ebbrell booked

Things are going to start shifting at Everton. Sean Dyche knows this and has expressed that he wants to lead the Merseysiders forward as they leave Goodison Park and move into their highly-anticipated new stadium in 2025.

Dyche will also know that his team’s abject run of form to start the season off needs to change – fast. Crystal Palace head to Liverpool tomorrow afternoon in a contest between two outfits seeking their first Premier League victory of the year. If Everton fail to win, the 53-year-old manager will be sweating over his future in the dugout.

But let’s be pragmatic for a moment – is Dyche really the man to take the club forward, even if he lifts the Toffees away from danger this year?

There’s a case for the negative.

Why Everton should sack Sean Dyche

Sources close to Everton suggest that the club’s stance on Dyche’s role in the dugout remains resolute, even though The Friedkin Group are on the cusp of completing a purchase of Farhad Moshiri’s majority shares.

Dyche is regarded as a manager who enforces an unfashionable and counter-possession style of football, and while this is certainly the case – Everton’s 37% average possession this year is the lowest in the Premier League – his side does like to drive forward.

A lack of possession does not necessarily translate to ‘defensive’ football: Arsenal rank 16th for possession held in the top flight this term with a 41% average.

Further to the point, Everton have created nine big chances in the league this year, ranking joint ninth among a host of divisional rivals. Last year, they ranked 11th with 63 big chances created, more than Manchester United.

So, you see, Everton have a way of working, Dyche has a way of doing things, but that’s not to say at all that he’s not effective, not assured in his system and its parts. Let’s not forget, without the imposed eight-point deduction, the Goodison Park side would have clocked in at a joint-11th-placed finish.

Of course, we’re dancing away from the point that Everton have been in dismal showing this season, and though they’ve managed to showcase some attacking intent in recent matches, taking the lead in each of their past three, the Blues lost against Bournemouth and Aston Villa despite holding two-goal leads and drew at Leicester City after scoring first.

The team clearly has offensive skills to offer, but Dyche’s well-known defensive solidity has slipped and melted into weak and porous. It’s time for change, and West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan could be the man for the job.

Carlos Corberan would be the dream Dyche replacement

Corberan implements an attractive and high-energy style of football that would certainly bring about a sense of change at Everton, with the promising coach previously touted as a target following Frank Lampard’s dismissal back in January 2023.

Sky Sports commentator Don Goodman has previously said that the Spaniard’s Baggies are “horrible to play against”, with his 4-2-3-1 formation succeeding in shaping his heavy-metal brand.

Having cut his teeth under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, the 41-year-old brings a style carrying a semblance to that of the Argentine, playing fluid and fast football.

His innate tactical understanding and easy-on-the-eye football could see him emerge as Everton’s top target and receive attention beyond that of former Blues gaffer David Moyes and Gareth Southgate, two names that have been linked with the job amid growing questions about Dyche’s leadership.

It could also unlock new signing Iliman Ndiaye, who has been one of Everton’s brightest sparks this season but has a skillset that could perhaps benefit from a shift in manager.

Ndiaye was signed from Marseille for a fee in the region of £15m this summer and he has indeed impressed so far, scoring twice, including against the Foxes last time out to earn Everton their first point of the term.

A technically impressive player, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising that point.

Iliman Ndiaye: Premier League Stats 2023/24

Match Stats (*per game)

#

Matches (starts)

5 (3)

Goals

1

Shots (on target)*

1.2 (0.6)

Accurate passes

81%

Key passes*

0.8

Dribbles completed*

1.8

Ball recoveries

5.0

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

Total duels won

4.6

Stats via Sofascore

An athletic and fleet-footed player, the versatile forward could be perfect in a more attack-focused system, with the roundedness and combative sheen to make it all tick – he might even become Corberan’s main man down the line, as he continues to adapt.

Once described as a “genius” by former Leeds player Romario Vieira, Corberan must be the man to target if Dyche fails to turn things around – Southgate’s tactics didn’t exactly go down a treat for the Three Lions this summer even if willpower dragged them through to the final, while Moyes’ tenure at West Ham came to an end with fans crying out for something new, given his pragmatic approach.

Although Corberan will be immensely proud of the work he has done at the Hawthorns, with West Brom indeed perched in pole position after seven fixtures in 2024/25, he will know that solidified Everton interest could prove to be an opportunity not worth passing up on.

TFG, whisper it quietly, could establish the infrastructure for a brand new world on the blue half of Merseyside – they need to make it happen.

Related Branthwaite will love him: Everton could appoint "genius" Dyche replacement

He’d be a breath of fresh air for the Merseysiders…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 27, 2024

Liverpool have had a near-perfect start to life under Arne Slot. Though there was plenty to like from the 5-1 victory over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, Wolverhampton Wanderers will present a different test.

Meeting the Old Gold at Molineux this evening, Liverpool could rise into first place in the Premier League with a win, though that hinges on Manchester City dropping points at St. James’ Park this afternoon.

Slot’s attack is firing on all cylinders. Liverpool have the sharpness up top to do great things this year, but Wolves are resilient and cohesive and will look to capitalise on a slow start through players like Matheus Cunha and Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Mohamed Salah

7 (6)

4

4

Luis Diaz

6 (5)

5

1

Diogo Jota

6 (5)

3

1

Cody Gakpo

7 (2)

2

1

Darwin Nunez

6 (2)

1

1

Federico Chiesa

3 (1)

0

1

Wolves are bottom of the pile, however, with one draw and four losses from five matches and the joint-worst defensive record in the division. Liverpool will be confident that they can get the job done.

Liverpool team news

Slot has confirmed that Alisson Becker “is ready to play” after the distinguished shot-stopped missed the past three matches in all competitions with a hamstring issue.

Harvey Elliott continues his rehabilitation from a fractured foot suffered on international duty with England U21s earlier this month, but Liverpool have a pretty clean bill of health.

Wolves have potentially lost centre-back Yerson Mosquera for the campaign after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, whereas fellow defender Toti Gomes missed last week’s defeat against Aston Villa and faces a race to return to the line-up.

Darwin Nunez has scored and assisted across his past two games – the Uruguayan’s first starts of the season – but should be dropped for this one, here’s why.

Why Slot should drop Darwin Nunez

It’s been something of a rocky road for Nunez since moving to Liverpool in a deal rising to a club-record £85m fee in 2022. The 25-year-old striker is explosive and dynamic but also frustratingly wasteful in front of goal, scoring 21 Premier League goals in total but also missing 47 big chances.

Slot has tempered his wild side, to be sure, having narrowed the forward’s stylistic approach in scope. Fewer dribbles, less chaos, more work on positioning and spatial awareness, getting into promising positions and striking true.

Jurgen Klopp once called Nunez “unstoppable” when at his best, and though he hasn’t actually reached that level with the consistency desired, there have been promising signs across the past few matches. That said, while he placed an assist against West Ham, there was plenty to be desired from his performance.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

1

Touches

27

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

13/15 (87%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles (completed)

0 (0)

Tackles

4

Total duels (won)

12 (5)

This actually means that he took fewer touches than his goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher (who took 32) despite playing the full 90 minutes. He might have made some good movements off the ball, worked hard in defence, but didn’t do enough with the opportunities presented to him.

90min felt that he hadn’t done quite enough, handing him only a 5/10 match rating and writing that he ‘struggled to get into the game’. It might be better to use him as a second-half option against Wolves, continuing the rotation that is enabled by such a vibrant and deep frontline.

Nunez also happens to be a brilliant option to unleash in the later phase of a match, which could be key against a Wolves side that has suffered from falling to late-stage strikes.

80 – 90+

5

70 – 79

3

60 – 69

1

45 – 59

2

30 – 45+

2

20 – 29

1

10 – 19

2

0 – 9

1

As you can see, Wolves have suffered from shipping goals late, burning out. Liverpool, conversely, have let in a goal only once beyond the 70th minute across all competitions this season, so a fast start from the visitors will make a telling comment on which way the pendulum will swing.

Should Nunez be dropped, it’s imperative that Luis Diaz is unleashed in his stead, shifting onto the left flank, of course.

Luis Diaz could be the difference-maker

Diaz has been a revelation for the Reds this season. Refer to the first table from earlier, and you will see that he’s already scored five goals this season, with just five appearances in the Premier League too.

This is a remarkable start from a player who, talented, yes, wasn’t exactly the most prolific of players last season, bagging 13 goals and five assists from 53 games across all competitions for Liverpool.

He’s also highly technical, ranking among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

The Colombia star – whose international efforts of late, four goals and two assists in 2024, have added to the rise – is becoming a potent force for Liverpool, and though there’s a long road to travel before he proves that his level has transcended that of a ‘purple patch’.

Described as a “livewire” by journalist Peter Hall in the past, Diaz’s clinical shooting and effective playmaking and dribbling hints toward a new version of this maverick Redman. Against the Cherries, his two-goal display earned him a 9/10 match score from the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle.

He was rested for the midweek fixture, whereas Nunez played the full contest, so it’s obvious that Slot wants to hand him a starting berth for the sixth successive time in the English top flight, but with Diogo Jota playing an hour against Bournemouth last weekend and the same again against the Irons, he will be rested and ready to take on Molineux.

That plays into the fact that Nunez will have a chance to shine later today, and who knows, given Wolves’ proneness to late concessions, he may still send the travelling Merseysiders into rapture.

Worth as much as Alisson: Liverpool star's value has risen 261% since exit

He’s been the cause of defeat for the Reds since leaving…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 27, 2024

Paul Pogba wore a vintage Zinedine Zidane Juventus shirt as he did keepy-uppies in a beach at Dominican Republic.

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Pogba donned Zidane Juventus shirtDid keepy-uppies on a beachWill return to competitive football in MarchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United and Juventus star Pogba is on holiday in Cabrera, Dominican Republic as he did keepy-uppies on a deserted beach while wearing a vintage Bianconeri shirt with Zinedine Zidane written on its back. The Frenchman shared a photograph and video on Instagram with the caption: "Meditation."

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The French midfielder had his doping ban reduced last year following an appeal to the Court of Sports Arbitration (CAS) and he will now be able to start training with a team at the start of the new year and will be allowed to return to action in March. Once his ban was reduced, he terminated his contract with Juventus on mutual terms and is currently a free agent.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 31-year-old has started training on his own and has hit the gym to get back to his best shape before returning to football. Last month, his wife Maria Zulay shared a photo of the player hard at work on Boxing Day.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

The French World Cup winner has been linked with a move to several clubs including teams in the Saudi Pro League and the MLS. He has also been tipped to join Marseille and reunite with former United team-mate Mason Greenwood in Ligue 1. It remains to be seen where the midfielder eventually heads to.

Leeds United head into the first international break of the 2024/25 campaign sitting in fourth place in the Championship table after four matches.

The Whites started the season with back-to-back draws with Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, 3-3 and 0-0 respectively, before losing 3-0 to Middlesbrough in the League Cup.

However, they have since bounced back from their disappointing start with a 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and a 2-0 win over Hull City, with the latter coming at Elland Road on Saturday.

Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe scored the goals for the Whites in West Yorkshire at the weekend to secure all three points for Daniel Farke's side.

That clash with the Tigers came less than 24 hours after the summer transfer window slammed shut on Friday night, after months of incoming and outgoings at Elland Road.

The likes of Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, and Glen Kamara all secured permanent exits from the club over the summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds brought in Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Ao Tanaka, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rothwell, Joe Rodon, and Isaac Schmidt.

The Whites did, however, fail in an attempt to make a ninth addition to Farke's playing squad in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

Leeds failed to sign Championship star

It was reported that Leeds were interested in a deal to sign attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Championship rivals Sheffield United towards the end of the month.

The Yorkshire-based outfit reportedly made an initial offer of £13m to secure the former Coventry City star from Bramall Lane, but that was not enough to tempt the Blades.

It was also claimed that the Whites went back in with a second bid that included Joel Piroe going to Chris Wilder's side, along with an undisclosed fee paid to the relegated side.

However, Sheffield United had no interest in signing Piroe as they did not believe that he suited what they needed in their squad, and the Dutchman went on to score for Leeds against Hull after the deadline passed.

Their failure to convince the Blades to part ways with the midfielder, who produced four goals and six assists in the Premier League last season, was a shame as he is a proven Championship performer.

Appearances

45

Goals

11

Assists

11

Big chances created

18

As you can see in the table above, Hamer has recorded an eye-catching 22 direct goal contributions in his last 45 appearances in the division for Coventry and Sheffield United combined.

The 27-year-old magician is an attacking midfielder who can provide a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals at Championship level.

However, the Dutch wizard will now continue to showcase his quality in South Yorkshire, rather than West, with Wilder's side for the rest of this season, or at least until January.

How Leeds can forget about Gustavo Hamer

Leeds did not land an alternative number ten option before the summer transfer window officially slammed shut on Friday night but that does not mean that they have their hands tied behind their back until the winter.

The Whites can still dip into the market to attract free agent options at any time, as players who are not contracted to a club can still make moves in the coming days and weeks, despite the window being closed.

There are plenty of high-quality players who have yet to find a new team to play for this season and that means that there is still a chance for Farke to add an attacking midfielder to the group to bolster his side's play-off chances.

Per Transfermarkt, there are a number of attacking midfielders who are without a club at the moment, including Dele Alli, Iker Muniain, Rafinha, and Anton Miranchuk.

Leeds, as they do not have to pay a transfer fee to a team to secure their services, could be ambitious with their free agent target and go for a high-quality option.

The most valuable free agent attacking midfielder, per Transfermarkt, is former Lille number ten Yusuf Yazici, who is valued at €10m (£8.4m) by the site.

Why Leeds should swoop for Yusuf Yazici

The Whites must now attempt to convince the Turkey international to move to England to play in the Championship, as it would allow the club to move on from Hamer and forget about the Sheffield United man.

Aged 27, Yazici is not in the final throes of his career, and is the same age as Hamer in fact, and could come in at the peak of his powers for Leeds.

It will not be an easy move to get done, though, as it has been reported that Olympiacos, Galatasaray, and Nice are among the teams interested in signing the free agent, which is another reason why this would be an ambitious transfer for the 49ers to pull off.

If they could convince Yazici to move to Elland Road, though, he has the potential to be an excellent addition to the squad, after an impressive year with Lille.

The Turkish whiz, who was once dubbed an "incredible" talent by former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, racked up 12 goals and four assists in all competitions for the French side.

Appearances

27

36

Goals

5

4

Assists

2

6

Big chances created

5

10

Duel success rate

38%

37%

As you can see in the table above, Yazici was directly involved in seven goals in 27 appearances, whilst Hamer was involved in three more in nine more outings in the Premier League.

The free agent ace scored more goals in nine fewer matches in a major European league and this suggests that he could arrive at Leeds and provide a big goal threat, if he can improve his output by playing at a lower level in the second tier in England.

Yazici, who scored 29 goals in 135 matches for Lille during his time in France, could allow Farke to forget all about Hamer by coming in as a fantastic option in the number ten position, which is why the club should launch an ambitious swoop for his services.

Leeds star who's won every single tackle has been even better than Joseph

The Whites enforcer has enjoyed a terrific start to the season for Daniel Farke.

ByDan Emery Sep 3, 2024

West Ham have announced former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter as their new head coach after parting ways with Julen Lopetegui.

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• West Ham sign Graham Potter as head coach
• Hammers sacked Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday
• Potter signs two-and-a-half-year deal with West Ham

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  West Ham announced the departure of Lopetegui on Wednesday afternoon following the Irons' thrashings at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool. West Ham currently sit 14th in the Premier League standings, seven points clear of the relegation spots. Lopetegui had only joined the London side in May after replacing David Moyes in the summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  West Ham have now announced that Potter is set to take charge at London Stadium and has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club. The former Brighton boss was highly rated as one of the best English managers during his stint with the Seagulls, however, after an under-par season with Chelsea, the 49-year-old has been away from the coaching circuit for just under 21 months.

• WHAT POTTER SAID

  Speaking to West Ham's club media, Potter said: “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the club I was joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

  “West Ham is a huge club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fanbase and great support all around the world. I saw the scenes that followed their Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and it was clear that this is a club with everything in place to become consistently successful, both on and off the pitch.

  “The club have made a lot of good progress in recent years and ensured there are some very strong foundations in place to build on. You don’t win a European trophy by fluke – there has to be a good bedrock at a football club for that to happen, and the challenge now is to take that on and build the next steps, to develop a team and a club that the supporters can be proud of."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR POTTER?

  The former Chelsea and Brighton manager will not have a lot of time to work with the West Ham squad before he has to take to the touchline as the Hammers are set to take on Aston Villa on Friday, January 10 in the third round of the FA Cup.

Zimbabwe gave away the advantage of having Bangladesh pinned at 76 for 4 when they bowled first

Mohammad Isam16-Jul-2021Liton Das made a comeback hundred and Shakib Al Hasan reached the pinnacle of Bangladesh’s wicket-takers in ODIs by taking a five-wicket haul as the visitors crushed Zimbabwe by 155 runs in the first ODI in Harare. The home side once again suffered a batting collapse after they gave away the advantage of having Bangladesh pinned at 76 for 4 when they bowled first.Shakib took the big wicket of Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwean captain who was playing his 200th ODI, to go past former captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s tally of 269. He finished with the third five-wicket haul in his ODI career.But it was Das’ 102 that set up Bangladesh’s 276 for 9 in 50 overs after being sent to bat first. It was his first fifty after eight innings, a patch that cost him his place in the side in their last ODI in May. Das was picked for this game after regular wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim left the tour because of a family matter. He fought through a batting collapse and a wrist injury to add 93 runs for the fifth wicket with Mahmudullah.Zimbabwe themselves collapsed from 78 for 3 to be all out for 121 runs in the space of 14.4 overs. After debutant Tadiwanashe Marumani dragged a Mohammad Saifuddin delivery on to his leg stump in the second over, Taskin Ahmed sent Wesley Madhevere’s middle stump tumbling to reduce Zimbabwe to 13 for 2 in the fifth over.Dion Myers, the other debutant for Zimbabwe, promised with his three boundaries but holed out to deep square leg when he top-edged a pull off Shoriful Islam.Then came Shakib’s big moment when he overtook Mortaza as Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs. Taylor top-edged a sweep and was caught by Taskin Ahmed at short fine leg.Regis Chakabva put up a fight with some boundaries, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Ryan Burl’s slog sweep went to deep midwicket’s hands before Luke Jongwe jaunted out of the crease only to be run out. In both cases, the fielder was Afif Hossain.Shakib then got Blessing Muzarabani lbw, had Chakabva caught at midwicket and Richard Ngarava caught behind. Zimbabwe didn’t have the service of Timycen Maruma after he got injured while fielding a ball in the 35th over of the Bangladesh innings.When Bangladesh batted first, Das’ century helped them to a position of strength as they entered the death overs before Afif took over. He clattered couple of sixes and a four in his 35-ball 45 and added 58 runs for the seventh wicket with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. It gave Bangladesh 77 runs in the last ten overs.It was a far cry from how the visitors began their innings. Muzarabani removed Tamim Iqbal and Shakib within nine overs. Both Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain poked at the ball to be caught behind. Bangladesh were reduced to 76 for 4 in the 19th over, a similar tale to their last four ODIs.Das and Mahmudullah turned things around with regular ones and twos, hitting just two fours between overs 20 to 30. Mahmudullah struck one six in his steady 33, which seemed designed for bigger things but he fell to Jongwe’s slower bouncer.But the 93-run stand with Mahmudullah seemed to invigorate Das, who changed gears with a string of boundaries to get into the 90s. He reached his hundred off 110 balls before falling in the 42nd over, top-edging Ngarava. Afif and Miraz followed it up with their seventh wicket stand, hitting three sixes and two fours collectively.Jongwe brought things back for Zimbabwe with a three-wicket penultimate over in which he removed Afif and Miraz, before Taskin Ahmed was run out. He finished with three wickets while Muzarabani and Ngarava took two wickets each. Despite how well these pace bowlers started, Zimbabwe couldn’t quite build on it.