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Liverpool’s issues run far and wide this season, and Arne Slot’s second season is falling from a concern to a calamity. Nottingham Forest pitched up at Anfield on Saturday and won 3-0. That’s six defeats from seven Premier League matches for the champions.

The fact that Liverpool produced a confident and front-footed performance for the first half-hour, before Murillo pounced after a corner, is immaterial. Even the residue of the fluent and coherent and tenacious spine has deserted Slot’s side.

Things can change quickly in football, but on the basis of the current evidence, Liverpool will struggle to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, let alone challenge high-flying Arsenal for the title.

Change is needed, a strange thing to say given the Reds’ record-breaking summer of spending. But with such glaring tactical problems, it feels likely that FSG will authorise a signing or two this winter.

Liverpool search for winter signings

With Ibrahima Konate so horribly out of sorts and free to talk to overseas suitors in January, out of contract at the end of the season, there is an understandable anxiety about Liverpool’s defensive depth, let alone the stability of the backline.

This club’s reputation as masterful strategists has disintegrated over the past few months. The squeals of delight from rival fans are loud, and it goes without saying that it’s crucial that sporting director Richard Hughes gets it right if dipping back into the market come January.

Liverpool need a centre-back, sure, but that’s not the extent of their issues, with Slot actually hinting in the past week that his club’s transfer arm may extend in a different direction.

Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing to launch a statement bid for Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who has been earmarked as an alternative to Antoine Semenyo, admired by FSG and with a £65m release clause that becomes active in January.

Liverpool might have broken the British transfer record on Alexander Isak this summer, but they are now looking to smash that once again with a deal for the French winger, who is valued at €200m (about £177m).

Change is needed at Anfield, and with Olise added to the fold, the intensity and sparkle that have been so sorely lacking may be rekindled.

What Olise would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool have been lacking something out wide this season, and a large part of that has been the failure to effectively replace Luis Diaz.

Diaz, sold to Bayern Munich this summer, was so dynamic and dangerous, and in his new teammate Olise, Liverpool could restore that style of wide forward to their set-up.

Olise has been described as “easily a top-five right winger in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and with the need for a Mohamed Salah replacement intensifying, this could be the perfect move to go for, the Les Bleus star only continuing to go from strength to strength.

Whether Liverpool opt for the cheaper route in signing Semenyo remains to be seen, but this would be a statement, and Olise has proven his capacity to succeed in different systems and different areas.

Of course, there is a big difference between playing for Bournemouth and starring for Bayern Munich. The Cherries are an attractive and impressive outfit, but they lack the offensive freedom of Die Roten at the peak of the Bundesliga.

Goals scored

0.63

0.55

Assists

0.63

0.27

Shots taken

4.62

1.91

Shot-creating actions

6.82

3.28

Touches (att pen)

7.55

3.64

Pass completion (%)

81.6

69.4

Progressive passes

6.40

3.55

Progressive carries

5.45

3.19

Successful take-ons

2.31

1.91

Ball recoveries

4.72

5.28

Tackles + interceptions

1.36

1.82

Olise would be able to transfer his elite-level experience back over to the Premier League, where he has played so spectacularly before, and provide Slot’s side with creative and physical upgrades, echoing Semenyo’s skills in that regard.

But he would also give Liverpool the Diaz-like presence they have missed since the summer. The Colombian’s energy and core strength made him a fearsome Premier League winger, and with 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions last term, he was instrumental in propping up Slot’s reputation.

Podcast host Ryan Dilks said five years ago that Olise was a “superstar in waiting”, destined for the top, and now that has been put into practice, with the 23-year-old in his second season at Bayern and currently boasting nine goals and ten assists across 18 matches in all competitions this season.

It cannot be understated how much of a detrimental effect Diaz’s sale has had on Liverpool’s form and fluency this season. Olise would fix that. As per Sofascore, he has won 4.4 duels per game in the Bundesliga this season. His final season in the Premier League with Palace? Olise averaged 5.7 duels per match.

Liverpool are crying out for this kind of winger, and while Semenyo would add qualities that the club need, Olise is equally tenacious and physical, and he’s far superior from a technical standpoint and proven as one of the game’s most prolific wide forwards around.

Liverpool have slipped and slid into a morass of their own making. There are many circumstances surrounding this current crisis, but Slot is making many questionable tactical decisions and the players themselves have lost every shred of confidence and work-rate, two fixed points of the Dutch coach’s successful first season in charge.

It’s clear that there isn’t enough width and energy down the flanks, and so Olise could be the perfect Semenyo alternative to replace Salah by handing back to Merseyside a bit of Diaz-esque flair.

Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool want to sign "the best youngster in the world"

Liverpool look set to make a move for another elite-level youngster this January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

The Cincinnati Reds will have a new look this year as they're adding a patch to their uniforms honoring one of the franchise's greatest players.

For the 2025 season, Cincinnati will wear a No. 14 patch on the sleeve of their jerseys to honor MLB career hits leader Pete Rose.

What does the 14 patch on Reds uniforms stand for?

The No. 14 patch honors Rose, who died on September 30, 2024. He was one of the greatest players in franchise history and is a member of the team's Hall of Fame.

A 17-time All-Star, Rose spent much of his career in Cincinnati. He played 19 seasons with the Reds across too stints. The first coming from 1963 to '78, the second from 1984 to '86. He helped lead the Reds to back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and '76, and was named World Series MVP in '75.

Rose is the Reds' all-time leader in games played (2,722), hits (3,358), singles (2,490), doubles (601), runs scored (1,741), total bases (4,645) and walks (1,210).

Pete Rose career summary

During his 24-year career, Rose set several MLB records as well. He is the league's all-time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053), singles (3,215), most times on base (5,929), plate appearances (15,890) and most seasons with 200-plus hits (10). He was a 17-time All-Star, won three World Series and three batting titles, was named NL MVP in 1973, earned two Gold Gloves (1969, '70) and a Silver Slugger in 1981,

Despite his incredible career, Rose is not a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame after accepting a permanent ban from baseball due to a gambling scandal. The sport's hall of fame voted to exclude members on MLB's permanently ineligible list.

Anthony Rizzo doesn't seem to let the big moments faze him. In fact, some might suggest that he's a bit too relaxed when the stakes are at their highest.

Among those might be New York Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey, who, ahead of ALCS Game 3, detailed some of Rizzo's more hilarious antics.

Harkey was speaking with the YES Network and discussing how the bullpen phone can lead to some tension and how he tries to keep things loose among the pitching staff. That task becomes more difficult when Rizzo is on the other end delivering a prank call.

"Just trying to keep it as loose as I can because I know when the phone rings it becomes a little bit heart-pounding. Especially when Rizzo calls in the fourth inning, like he always does," Harkey said.

"Look, I have to yell at him after every game to stop playing on the phone. But, yeah, he likes to play on the bullpen phone," he added.

A call to the bullpen is often a signifier that things on the mound aren't going to plan. That could lead to some tension as the team needs to have a pitcher readying themselves to enter the game in relief. That doesn't stop Rizzo from having some fun at the expense of Harkey, who has to answer the phone in case it's actually Aaron Boone instructing him to get a pitcher throwing.

Never a dull moment with these Yankees.

Needing two to tie and three to win off the final ball, Hurricanes could only score one

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2025

Azmatullah Omarzai runs out Billy Stanlake off the final ball to seal Rangpur Riders’ one-run win•Ashley Allen/GSL T20

Azmatullah Omarzai and Khaled Ahmed helped Rangpur Riders successfully defend a total of 151 – by one run – against Hobart Hurricanes.Rangpur, the defending champions, now sit at the top of the GSL 2025 points table with wins in both their games. Hurricanes are third with a 1-1 win-loss record.Mohammad Nabi top-scored for Hurricanes with a 36-ball 44 and almost completed a stellar recovery but was dismissed by Omarzai off the final over’s fourth ball. Earlier in the over, his six had brought the equation down to six runs off the last five balls. Opener Ben McDermott (34) and No. 7 Odean Smith (20) played useful hands but Hurricanes were plagued by regular wickets through the middle overs, Iftikhar Ahmed picking up two of those for 13 runs.Hurricanes let the chase meander, hitting only one four and two sixes in the last 30 deliveries. When they needed three off the final ball, they could get only one run, with Billy Stanlake run-out looking to tie the game. Khaled collected consecutive four-fors in GSL 2025 by taking 4 for 26 as a follow-up to his 4 for 36 against Guyana Amazon Warriors.Rangpur’s batting performance also had its share of wobbles but No. 3 Kyle Mayers’ unbeaten 42-ball 67 held the innings together. He was involved in a partnership of 34 for the second wicket with Ibrahim Zadran (43), who had done most of the hitting in the powerplay.Usama Mir’s 3 for 15 in four overs, though, had strangled Rangpur’s scoring through the middle overs and it needed the big hits from Mayers in the back end to post a total that eventually turned out to be just enough. His innings comprised eight fours and two sixes, with the majority of those coming in the last five overs where Rangpur added 54 to their total. In comparison, Hurricanes scored only 40 in their final five.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha paid off sizeable chunks of their big transfer fees with spectacular displays as Manchester United beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 to record three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time in 20 months. Cunha netted his first for the club to open the scoring while Mbeumo struck twice, his last goal seeing off the growing threat of a Brighton comeback.

United had lost their last three home games against Brighton by a combined scoreline of 8-3, with Graham Potter, Roberto de Zerbi and Fabian Hurzeler all enjoying famous wins at Old Trafford. But this game felt different from the start. Fired up by beating Liverpool last week, United flew into their opponents and could have scored early when Fernandes missed the target with a header or when Cunha's rocket which was well saved by Bart Verbruggen.

United had a strong penalty claim turned down when Amad Diallo fell from a challenge from Maxim De Cuyper but they didn't need one as soon after Cunha swept the ball into the bottom corner to finally score his first goal in his ninth appearance in all competitions. Casemiro doubled United's lead with a massive deflected goal. Brighton had a couple of chances on the counter but United seemingly wrapped the game up when Mbeumo scored.

But the game was in fact far from done. United old boy Danny Welbeck fizzed in a free-kick in the 74th minute to give the hosts goosebumps before Charalampos Kostoulas cut the deficit down to one goal early in added time with a thumping header. United weathered the storm though and Mbeumo sealed the win with practically the last kick.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Sanne Lammens (6/10):

  Another confident performance, taking crosses well and getting plenty of distance with his kicks. Might have done better with Welbeck's free-kick but it was a great strike and he then flew across goal to thwart Ferdi Kadioglu.

  Leny Yoro (6/10):

  Dealt well with Brighton's counters thanks to his pace and connected well with the midfield.

  Matthijs de Ligt (7/10):

  Another imposing display from one of United's most consistent but most underrated performers this season.

  Luke Shaw (5/10):

  Not the most convincing display but got away with his biggest errors. He was beaten by Yankuba Minteh, who then failed to shoot; he had a pass blocked by Kadioglu which went out of play while he grappled with Georginio Rutter just before Mbeumo scored.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Amad Diallo (7/10):

  Caused Brighton plenty of problems with his trickery but also showed his intelligence, playing clever passes and showing good movement. Should have been awarded a penalty.

  Casemiro (8/10):

  Another monstrous display from a player who is having a resurgence to rival Maguire's. His physical presence allowed United to win key high balls while his experience is also giving United the edge at the moment. Laid the ball off for Cunha to score and then netted himself, albeit with the biggest deflection ever. Got a thunderous reception when he was taken off and it was fully deserved.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  A fine performance to celebrate his 300th game for the club. Drove the team forward with his incisive passing and was desperate to score.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10):

  Showed why he is getting the nod ahead of Patrick Dorgu with a quietly impressive display, even if his wayward shot was ill-advised.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Matheus Cunha (8/10):

  Showed he meant business with his thunderous early effort before producing a silky finish to score. He showed clever link-up play and a streetwise edge at Anfield but fans really wanted to see his talismanic qualities and he provided them today.

  Benjamin Sesko (6/10):

  His finishing let him down, particularly when he thrashed Mbeumo's lay-off wide. But he worked his socks off and is continuing to show he is getting on the same wavelength as his team-mates, assisting Mbeumo's first.

  Bryan Mbeumo (9/10):

  Built on his brilliant display at Anfield with another standout performance. Linked up well with Amad again, created a great chance for Sesko and produced a clinical finish to score the third. Nearly scored again when he hit the post then got United out of jail with his cracking second.

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• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Ayden Heaven (7/10):

  A strong display from the bench, making a crucial tackle and then playing the ball from which Mbeumo killed the game.

  Patrick Dorgu (5/10):

  Could have been sent off when he clipped Minteh.

  Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):

  Lacked the powerful presence of Casemiro and when he replaced the Brazilian Brighton got back into it.

  Joshua Zirkzee (N/A):

  Held the ball up well but didn't create much danger. Beaten at the near post for Brighton's second goal.

  Manuel Ugarte (N/A):

  Replaced Cunha in the 82nd minute.

  Ruben Amorim (7/10):

  An even better performance than at Anfield and proof that his project is slowly coming to fruition, even withstanding the nervy finish.

Arsenal are preparing to return to action against Nottingham Forest this weekend, but an intriguing transfer story has now come to light courtesy of reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Mikel Arteta’s side and Forest, now managed by former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, are the first Premier League sides back on the field in this Saturday’s lunchtime kick off.

Only a win will do for Arsenal, who lost their first game of the season against current English champions Liverpool prior to the international break, and they’ll be hoping to upset Postecoglou’s debut game in the Forest dugout with a convincing Emirates Stadium display.

Sporting director Andrea Berta did his all to back Arteta in the transfer market, splashing over £250 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie, so there are no excuses for Arsenal now.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

The pressure is truly on for Arsenal to finally win their first Premier League title in over 20 years, following three consecutive campaigns finishing second behind Man City and Liverpool.

The signings of Eze and Gyokeres in particular will be vital, amid criticism surrounding Arsenal’s lack of creativity in the final third — something which was on full display at Anfield last month.

Arsenal hijacked Tottenham to sign Eze in spectacular fashion, while Gyokeres’ arrival ended the club’s long wait for a prolific striker to come through the door.

Arsenal were also briefly in talks for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, but according to Romano, the Brazilian wasn’t the only Madrid player attracting serious interest from north London at one point.

Fabrizio Romano shares Arda Guler transfer revelation from Arsenal

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the respected reporter says that Los Blancos playmaker Arda Guler was also being seriously considered by former Arsenal director Edu Gaspar prior to Berta’s arrival.

Arsenal held internal talks over signing Guler, who was a concrete target for the Gunners before Xabi Alonso came in and started using the Turkey international starlet on a much more regular basis.

Guler has gone on to become a starter under Alonso, playing all of their La Liga matches so far, not to mention all of their matches at the Club World Cup. This has ruined all possibility of Arsenal signing the 20-year-old, but he was seriously under consideration at N5.

Guler has bagged two goals and three assists in nine starts since Alonso took charge, with the ex-Fenerbahce sensation’s Bernabeu career finally getting off the ground.

Erik ten Hag’s spell as Manchester United manager was a topsy-turvy one to say the least, with the Dutchman ultimately falling below the standards many expected upon his arrival.

He won two trophies during his two full seasons in charge at Old Trafford, winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, with the latter coming against rivals Manchester City in 2023/24.

However, despite achieving a 56% win percentage, results were often too inconsistent, especially considering the 55-year-old spent over £600m on new additions during his tenure in the Premier League.

The likes of Antony, Casemiro and Andre Onana were all signed under his watchful eye, leading to questions being asked about the recruitment, given their lack of impact since their respective big-money moves.

Ten Hag also made numerous questionable decisions over the minutes handed out to players already at his disposal – often leading to discontent from the Red Devils fanbase.

Ten Hag’s reluctance to utilise Amad Diallo

Amad Diallo joined United back in January 2021, costing a small fortune after the hierarchy paid a fee in the region of £37m after making just five senior appearances before his move to England.

The Ivorian would only make nine appearances in his first two years at Old Trafford, before spending the second half of his second year out on loan at Rangers.

Another loan spell at Sunderland, where he scored 14 times, would catapult him into Ten Hag’s side for the 2023/24 campaign – but he would often struggle to get into the manager’s first-team plans.

Amad would only make 12 appearances across all competitions, with only four of his outings coming from a starting position – subsequently falling down the manager’s pecking order.

Such decision-making from the manager would lead to concerns from the fanbase, especially given his form away from Old Trafford on a temporary basis the year prior.

The attacker has since recaptured his best form with the Red Devils since the former manager’s dismissal, highlighting the mistake Ten Hag made by not playing him during his tenure at the club.

The former United star who was ahead of Amad

Over the last 12 months, Amad has developed into a key first-team member, with Ruben Amorim utilising the 23-year-old on a consistent basis since taking the reins in November last year.

Despite an ankle injury disrupting his progress, Diallo still managed to rack up 26 Premier League appearances – ending the campaign with 14 combined goals and assists.

His most impressive outing came against Southampton at Old Trafford, scoring a second-half hat-trick and securing a 3-1 victory after being 1-0 at the break.

The youngster also netted the winner in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, further showcasing the impressive nature he demonstrated despite the measly Premier League finish.

However, whilst his career at the club has been saved by Amorim, he was once behind Omari Forson in the pecking order during Ten Hag’s stint in charge of the Red Devils.

The midfielder joined the club at the age of 15, spending various years in the youth system before making his first senior start against Fulham back in February 2024.

The youngster would end the season with seven appearances for the senior side, leading to Statman Dave labelling the teenager as an “exceptional” talent.

Forson was often preferred to Amad during such a campaign, leading to questions being asked of the manager by the fanbase – especially given the Englishman’s move away from the Red Devils.

The 21-year-old departed Old Trafford at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, rejecting the chance to extend his stay in Manchester in favour of a new challenge.

Games played

11

Minutes played

233

Goals & assists

0

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles made

1.2

Cross success

33%

Duels won

45%

Dribbled past

0.9

He subsequently joined Serie A side Monza on a free transfer last summer, making just 11 appearances last campaign – so far being unable to match the potential he emerged through the ranks with.

Given his failures away from Old Trafford, Ten Hag’s decision-making to utilise Forson ahead of Amad was a baffling one and one that was evidently a huge mistake.

As for the Ivorian, he will be hoping to kick on and build on his form from last year in the months ahead, hopefully playing a key role in any success endured during Amorim’s spell in charge.

Man Utd's future "£100m-plus footballer" is a bigger talent than Baleba

Manchester United may have saved themselves millions with one talent already at the club.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

As part of Manchester United’s £200m+ shopping spree this summer, Bryan Mbeumo completed a move to Old Trafford to try and improve the situation within the final third.

The Red Devils only netted 44 league goals in 2024/25, with the Cameroonian scoring 20 in the Premier League alone last campaign – a tally which was 45% of the Red Devils’ total.

Whilst he cost a pretty penny, arriving in a £71m deal including add-ons, he does possess the top-flight experience needed to transform the side after last year’s dismal finish.

The 26-year-old has already hit the ground running for his new side, scoring twice in his opening four outings – including in the recent league clash against Burnley at the Theatre of Dreams.

If Mbeumo is to achieve further success during his spell at United, he will likely star alongside one talent who’s been a constant positive influence despite the slump over the last few years.

Bruno Fernandes’ time at Manchester United

Upon his big-money transfer from Sporting CP in the winter of 2020, no United supporter would’ve anticipated the phenomenal level of output produced by Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese international arrived as an unknown quantity to many, but he quickly showcased his talents, scoring 12 and registering eight assists in his first 22 outings for the club.

Since his debut campaign, the 30-year-old has gone from strength to strength at Old Trafford, now racking up a total of 99 goals in his 254 appearances for the Red Devils.

Bruno has since taken on the role of captaincy under various managers, highlighting the importance to the side and the faith shown in him to take the club back to their former glory.

Despite the failures under Amorim last campaign, the midfield still managed to thrive, notching 37 combined goals and assists – by far and away the highest tally of any player in the squad.

He continued to be a constant creative threat, extending his tally and remaining as the player with the most through balls completed in Europe since 2022/23 – with his tally higher than those of Kevin de Bruyne and Martin Odegaard.

There’s no denying he’s one of the best additions ever made by the recruitment team, with another player joining him in that department, given his own rise at the club.

The United star who’s been the best signing since Bruno

United have been known to conduct some questionable pieces of transfer business over the last couple of years, which has undoubtedly contributed to their demise.

The likes of Casemiro, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund all joined the Red Devils in deals worth £70m or over, but none of which have failed to make a consistent positive impression on the fanbase.

The latter two of the duo both departed the club in the closing stages of the transfer window, further showcasing the poor business conducted by the board over recent seasons.

However, the same can’t be said for defender Noussair Mazraoui, with the Moroccan international cementing himself as a key player since his move 12 months ago.

The Red Devils paid just £12.7m for his signature from Bayern Munich, making him one of the cheaper additions made by Erik ten Hag during his time in Manchester.

Such a move now appears to be a genius one, as the 27-year-old ended the 2024/25 campaign with 57 appearances across all competitions – the most of any player in the first-team squad.

He operated in various roles such as wing-back, full-back and centre-back, showcasing his versatility which made him such an important aspect of Amorim’s system.

Noussair Mazraoui – Man Utd PL stats (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

37

Minutes played

2848

Pass accuracy

86%

Dribbles completed

60%

Tackles made

2.2

Tackle success rate

60%

Cross success rate

26%

Duels won

6.8

Stats via FotMob

Mazraoui has already earned himself huge admirers behind the scenes at United, with multiple insiders claiming that the former Ajax star is the best signing made by the club in many years.

His underlying stats in 2024/25 further highlight his impressive start to life in England, leading to journalist Umir Irfan labelling the full-back as “incredible”.

The Moroccan won 2.2 tackles per 90 last campaign, winning 60% of the dispossession attempts he entered – subsequently showcasing his tremendous ability out of possession.

He also thrived with the ball at his feet, completing 86% of the passes he attempted, whilst also completing 60% of his dribbles, which allows him to end the year with two assists despite his defensive role.

£12.7m for a player of Mazraoui’s quality is a tremendous piece of business – especially when taking into account the failures of the players before him who accrued mammoth sums of money.

Should he carry on at such a level in 2025/26, there’s no reason as to why he can’t be as important as Bruno in the club’s hunt for success in the near future.

Related Ten Hag sold Man Utd's "young Giggs" for just £15m, now he's like Mbeumo

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one talented star to leave under Erik ten Hag.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

On transfer deadline day, Liverpool celebrated the record-breaking acquisition of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, ending weeks of speculation and animosity over his future.

Isak had been desperate to sign for the Anfield side, and he has got his wish at the final hour. Liverpool have got themselves a gem, with pundit Alan Shearer remarking earlier in 2025, “Everything about his game is of the highest quality.”

However, it didn’t all go the Reds’ way, with their protracted summer pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi ultimately leaving them empty-handed.

It all looked like it was ready to be green-lit, with the Three Lions star having completed his medical with the Premier League champions, but external issues have left the 25-year-old stranded at Selhurst Park.

Why Liverpool wanted Marc Guehi

With Ibrahima Konate having entered the final year of his contract at Liverpool and skipper Virgil van Dijk having turned 34 in July, thus edging closer to the twilight of his career, it was crucial that fresh defensive faces were welcomed.

And sporting director Richard Hughes came ever-so close to making that arrival Guehi, having tracked the England international all summer and respectfully awaited the green light from Eagles chairman Steve Parish, which never quite came following Oliver Glasner frustration at having not signed a suitable replacement.

Remarked to have been “England’s best player” during the 2024 European Championship by analyst Ben Mattinson, Guehi’s cool and collected defensive presence merges with an effortless ball-playing game that suggests he would dovetail right into Slot’s Liverpool squad – or indeed any elite team worth their salt.

Though FSG will retain confidence in their rearguard options, Guehi would have added icing on the cake, especially with Slot looking to defend his Premier League title while challenging for silverware across further fronts too.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

17 (14)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

64.9

46.9

Pass completion

84%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

4.3

2.0

Dribbles*

0.4

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.7

Clearances*

4.6

3.6

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

2.5 (61%)

Errors made

2

1

Leoni is a top talent, and the hope is that he will one day stand where Van Dijk stood as a long-term star at Liverpool. However, he’s not the only teenage prospect the club boast, with an existing member of Slot’s squad perhaps ready to cover for the gap where Guehi should be.

Liverpool have already got their own Guehi

Make no mistake, Leoni is one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the business, and, only 18, has so much room for improvement over the next few years.

However, the Italy international will also need time to develop his skills over the next few years, ultimately reaching a level that will see him thrive as a regular starter.

With Joe Gomez having stayed put despite transfer interest from elsewhere on deadline day, his experience will help Leoni ease into the way of things, and the same could be said for fellow teenager Amara Nallo.

Nallo hasn’t had a flawless start to life in Slot’s senior side, it must be said. In January, Nallo was sent off on his professional debut, entering the fray in the closing stages and hacking down Johan Bakayoko. It was unfortunate, but Slot said post-game that the youngster “will learn” from his mistake.

Though that remains Nallo’s sole senior showing for Liverpool, he sat three further first-team games on the bench across the 2024/25 season, and given his obvious quality in emerging from the academy, so strong and powerful and technically adept for one of his level, he could prove to be Liverpool’s own version of Guehi.

Admittedly, getting sent off on your big bow isn’t very Guehi-like, but the Palace man received an indirect card suspension himself last season, showing that he too has the capacity to make a blunder.

And Nallo won’t let a simple mistake define him, having been described by West Ham coach Carlton Cole in the past as being a “Rolls-Royce of a centre-back”.

Curiously, Nallo is two-footed and so could conceivably cover for Van Dijk and Konate across the course of the campaign. The England U19 international has also racked up 53 appearances for Liverpool’s youth sides across the two years he has been on Merseyside.

Liverpool wanted to sign Guehi for his quality and experience at the highest level, of course, but perhaps his ability on both sides of the central defence also captured Hughes’ attention. After all, the England star was described as “one of those versatile CBs who can play both sides equally as comfortably” by the aforementioned analyst Mattinson.

While Liverpool’s failed attempt to sign Guehi will have frustrated the Reds fanbase, who came so close to seeing the defender wearing red, the likes of Leoni and Nallo will perhaps have given a silent cheer as they find themselves with a clearer pathway toward playing time over the months ahead.

Nallo might be something of a forgotten man at the moment, but he was entrusted with a first-team role on the big stage last season, and there’s every chance he could now take that next step.

In The Pipeline

Given his Guehi-like tactical tendacies, perhaps this is the big opportunity he needs to take that leap and prove himself worthy of a long-term role in Liverpool’s first team.

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India are grappling with a minor personnel crisis, meaning they will need to rely to some extent on fringe players. Cummins and Co will be looking to exploit that

Alagappan Muthu21-Nov-20241:54

Malcolm: BGT a chance for Cummins and Co to cement legacy

Big PictureYou run into fast bowlers everywhere in Perth. One of them was walking down Plain Street, which is a five-minute walk from the WACA, with a bag of groceries. Mitchell Starc will be a little less chill once the clock hits 10.20am on Friday.This Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been on simmer for a fair while. Rohit Sharma faced questions about it at the start of the India home season in September and the wrap-up press conference in November was in large part about easing the pain of a home series whitewash by trying “to do something special” in Australia. Pat Cummins has had a similar experience.Related

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For their legacy, Australia can't let this series slip away

Some of the best Test cricket in recent times has happened when these two teams meet, so it’s their own fault that everywhere they go they get asked questions about it. A day out from the first Test, most of them appear to have been answered. Australia have their new opening batter, Nathan McSweeney having made a late push for the job. India have KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana primed and ready should they be needed. All that’s left is for the experience to take over.On Thursday evening, in front of an empty Perth stadium, the morning-of-day-one-drills were taking place. Regular people were pretending to be India and Australia captains to check how it’d look on screen. It was easy to be transported to the moment when all that will actually happen, and its just one sleep away. One sleep away until Jasprit Bumrah charges in. One sleep away until Steven Smith is back at No. 4. One sleep away until Virat Kohli brings the crowd to their feet. One sleep away until Rishabh Pant is broadcast all around the world via the stump mics.Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins: two fast bowlers will be leading their team’s charge for first blood in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy•AFP/Getty ImagesThe cricket, fun as it will be, is likely to come with a fair bit of flavour added in from the outside. There’s already been a little bit of needle. Ricky Ponting’s quotes being taken out of context got Gautam Gambhir fired up. India’s efforts early on to train in private caused a stir. Josh Hazlewood did a fly by when he said he was happy not to see Cheteshwar Pujara in the Indian team. Every kind of fan will be satisfied with what the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will offer and the first ball is just one sleep away.Form guideAustralia: WWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
India: LLLWWIn the spotlightIt’s been over eight months since Australia have played Test cricket and it seems Mitchell Starc has spent some of that getting into the best shape of his life. He’s 34 now. He shouldn’t be looking like a six-foot-tall brick wall. Nor should he be bowling at speeds that turns the red ball into a red blur. There has been an admission that in a five-Test series, no matter how fit they are, the big three Australian quicks might need to be managed extra carefully but right now, with the series starting at Perth stadium, where Starc averages 19, then moving to Adelaide for a pink-ball Test, in which Starc averages 18.72, they could very well set themselves up to take their time off with the series already in the bag.KL Rahul just can’t seem to get off this ride. Grew up as an opening batter but had to make his debut in the middle order. Then got that spot up top but started losing his stumps a little too often for someone to stay in that position. A shift back into the middle order, especially in white-ball cricket, seemed to indicate that’s where his future lies. An 86 against England at No. 4 in January 2024 furthered that notion, but since then he’s gone off the boil to the point that he lost his place in the side. Now he’ll be opening the batting in conditions that will not be in his favour against one of the world’s best bowling attacks.Team newsAustralia are as settled as can be, having put their trust in McSweeney, whose ability to stay calm and unflustered has earned him the nickname “Buddha”.Australia(probable): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Nathan McSweeney, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodIndia are of course without their full-time captain and grappling with a minor personnel crisis, meaning they will go into Perth relying on several fringe players. Padikkal (24), Jurel (23), Reddy (21) and Rana (22) are all in line for a spot in the XI. It is possible there will only be room for one spin bowler and R Ashwin might just make the cut ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.All this said, the last time India had a personnel crisis in Australia, remember what happened?India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna 10 Mohammed Siraj/Akash Deep, 11 Jasprit BumrahThe Optus Stadium witnessed some unseasonal rain in the lead-up to the first Test of the Australian summer•Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsAlthough some unseasonal rainfall two days ago denied the Perth stadium groundstaff from getting the pitch up to where they want it to be, there has since been a lot of sunshine, hardening the surface up and getting it to where it should offer excellent pace, bounce and carry. Head curator Issac McDonald and his staff have been working towards creating a “happy medium between bat and ball”.Stats and trivia Seven of Rahul’s eight Test centuries have come away from home but his batting average in these matches being 31 highlights how he can often be boom or bust. Nathan Lyon has more wickets at this venue (27) at a better average (18.00) with more five-wicket hauls (2) than any of his fast-bowling colleagues Bumrah’s bowling average in Australia is 21.25, which is only a shade better than Jadeja’s 21.78. One will make the XI. The other might not. Quotes”This is the toughest challenge. So I give this message to everyone: if you come and perform in this country then your cricket level will go up, and then your level will keep increasing. So we as a team are focusing to put ourselves in tough challenges so that we become better and take our cricket up.”
“It’s weird, you know, it’s basically been the same side for the last two or three years. So the week lead-in’s very normal, it’s all very relaxed. Everyone knows how they need to prepare. So it’s pretty seamless, you know, all the meetings, training, all those kind of things. We’ve done it heaps before with the same people. So, yeah, it’s just about kind of reaffirming what we do really well.”