Manchester City will hope to ride the crest of a wave as they plot a route into the Premier League race, and the Citizens may also be preparing for a fight with Liverpool to sign a lucrative international at zero cost.

Manchester City look to kick on after derby victory

The Etihad Stadium paid witness to some raucous scenes last weekend as Manchester City swept aside Manchester United to move within six points of Liverpool at the top of the table.

Before the match, Erling Haaland urged his new teammates to take on added responsibility after a busy transfer window that saw his side lose a number of influential figures. When it mattered, they all stepped up to deliver a stirring display.

Speaking after his side recorded a convincing triumph, Pep Guardiola reserved special praise for his Norwegian talisman and homegrown hero Phil Foden, who both got themselves on the scoresheet.

Starting with Haaland, the former Barcelona manager said: “Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever. I would say better than the Treble year. He’s dynamic and I don’t judge him for the clearance, we want him to score goals and to help us.”

Later, he added on Foden: “We missed him so much and the season before he was the best player in the Premier League so we need him, he has a work ethic. Phil is the core, the heart of the club, from the academy and he loves City. To have him back is good news.”

With 2026 not too far in the distance, Manchester City are set to block interest from Al Nassr in a £112 million move for Phil Foden, and they now have their eye on one of his international teammates.

Man City ready to up the ante to land Marc Guehi in 2026

According to The Mirror, Manchester City are huge admirers of Marc Guehi, planning a move and will throw everything at landing him on a free transfer in 2026, with Crystal Palace unwilling to sanction his exit in the January window.

Despite Liverpool’s well-documented interest in the former Chelsea man alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Juventus, the Citizens are hopeful they can secure his services without having to pay a transfer fee, teeing up the saga of next summer.

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Labelled a “monster in defence” by Bobby Manzi, Guehi has handled himself exceptionally well despite being at the centre of a failed move to Anfield on Deadline Day, even scoring once in seven appearances across all competitions.

Guardiola’s backline has been altered following the departures of Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker, and there may be more movement to come as they step up their efforts to land Guehi.

It remains to be seen who will win the battle for his signature, with Barca and Real described as ready to move. But regardless, Manchester City seem ready to go all-in given the lucrative possibility of signing a reliable Premier League performer.

أفادت تقارير صحفية أن مانشستر سيتي أصبح مهتمًا بتدعيم خط وسطه، ويضع أنظاره على أحد المواهب الشابة في الدوري الألماني لكرة القدم.

وكان مانشستر سيتي قد قام بإعادة هيكلة خط وسطه بعد أن حل هوجو فيانا محل تكسيكي بيجريستيان كمدير رياضي، وقد وافق النادي على رحيل دي بروين وجونوجان وجيمس مكاتي.

ويتطلع مانشستر سيتي للمنافسة على الألقاب خلال المواسم القادمة، بكل الصفقات التي تعاقد معها الفريق في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية.

ووفقاً لصحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية فإن مانشستر سيتي من بين الأندية المهتمة بالتعاقد مع سعيد الملا نجم خط وسط كولن والمنتخب الألماني الشاب.

اقرأ أيضاً.. جوارديولا: هالاند لا يغني عن أهمية عمر مرموش في مانشستر سيتي

ورفض كولن عرضًا بقيمة 20 مليون يورو من برايتون للاستغناء عن خدمات الملا في الصيف الماضي، وتراقب عدة أندية في الدوري الإنجليزي وأوروبا صاحب الـ17 عاماً وتطوره في ألمانيا.

وقد استفسر بايرن ميونخ وبوروسيا دورتموند عن ضم سعيد الملا بشكل غير رسمي وأجريا محادثات مع ممثلي ووالدي اللاعب الشاب، والذي يجذب اهتمام كل من مانشستر يونايتد وتشيلسي وباريس سان جيرمان.

ولا يتوقع أن يقوم مانشستر سيتي بالبحث عن لاعب خط وسط دفاعي خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير، وقد تضطر الإدارة الرياضية لإعادة تقييم موقف السيتي بضم تعزيزات في هذا المركز في حالة استمرت المشاكل البدنية التي يعاني منها رودري.

Manchester United face Sunderland at Old Trafford this afternoon, looking to finally kickstart their Premier League campaign after a dismal start to life in 2025/26.

The Red Devils have lost 50% of their league games to date, subsequently ramping up the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim after he was backed in the transfer market.

The 40-year-old’s side will be looking to right the wrongs of last weekend, where they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Brentford – in what was an all-round afternoon to forget.

This afternoon’s clash will be the first against the Black Cats since April 2017, with Regis Le Bris’ side in fine form and currently sitting in 5th place after just one defeat in the first six outings.

However, if Amorim is to secure a needed three points against the newly promoted outfit, he will need to drop one player who has fallen way below the levels the supporters expect of him.

Why Dorgu needs to be dropped against Sunderland

Back in January, United forked out £30m for the signature of wing-back Patrick Dorgu, with the youngster becoming the manager’s first major addition of his tenure.

The Dane has started five of the Red Devils’ league outings in 2025/26, with the only game he missed coming against Burnley – a game the side managed to claim victory in.

Dorgu

However, when he has featured as of late, the 20-year-old has struggled to make a positive impact, with his showing against the Bees last weekend highlighting his struggles.

He featured for 85 minutes before being replaced, but his withdrawal was certainly warranted, after committing three fouls and picking up his second booking of the campaign.

The youngster also only managed to complete 33% of his dribbles whilst being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses – highlighting his inability to create carnage when in transition.

As a result, the manager desperately needs to give him a break and give one other player at the club the opportunity to showcase his talents within the first-team setup.

The United star who could replace Dorgu against Sunderland

The wing-back areas have been a huge concern for United ever since Amorim entered the door, with his 3-4-2-1 system, one that requires high energy in such a department.

Luke Shaw’s injury issues have seen him drop into a more left-sided centre-back role, further reducing the options available to the manager in wide areas.

On the opposite side, Amad Diallo has often filled such a void, with Diogo Dalot also making numerous appearances – but neither seem fully suited to such a position.

However, the left-hand side has been the biggest concern to many, which could see summer addition Diego Leon given his first real opportunity to thrive at Old Trafford.

The hierarchy paid up to £7m for the full-back from Paraguayan Primera División side Club Cerro Porteño, with real hope that the youngster can be one for the future.

At just 18, Leon has bags of time to make his mark for the Red Devils, but the lack of quality in such areas could catapult him into the limelight a lot sooner than anyone expected.

The youngster, who’s been labelled a “steam train” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has already racked up 35 senior appearances despite his tender age, already impressing in the professional game.

Diego Leon – stats before joining United

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

35

Goals scored

4

Pass accuracy

80%

Crosses completed

0.8

Dribbles completed

1.1

Tackles won

1.7

Interceptions made

1.1

Duels won

5.4

Stats via FotMob

Leon ranked in the 70th percentile for crosses completed last campaign, whilst also completing 1.1 dribbles per 90 – showcasing his ability to impress with the ball at his feet.

However, without it, he was just as impressive, winning 1.7 tackles per 90 and making 1.1 interceptions – arguably making him the perfect all-round option for the Red Devils.

Whilst he’s yet to make a single senior appearance for Amorim’s side, this afternoon’s clash could be the perfect chance for the youngster to kickstart his career in English football.

It could be a risk given his tender age, but given the lack of quality in such an area of the pitch, it’s a decision that the manager could look to make to help save his job at Old Trafford.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

Last season Tottenham Hotspur may have won the Europa League but there is no hiding behind the fact that domestically, things were a complete write-off.

Former boss Ange Postecoglou proclaimed that things are always better in season three, but sadly for the craggy-faced Aussie, he didn’t see in his third campaign at the helm.

The writing had been on the wall for a while, really. Spurs were a mess at the back. It’s “who we are, mate” Ange also exclaimed when asked about his philosophy and high line. Yet, those who fail to adapt and change…ahem, Ruben Amorim, often fail.

The truth is that Postecoglou did not change his ways, leading to the concession of 65 Premier League goals, the fifth-worst record in the division last term.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, he made an immediate attempt to improve the backline before anything else and that decision has been vindicated.

Spurs look like a different outfit now. They are more organised, more structured, and the numbers showcase that. They have kept five clean sheets already in 2025/26 across all competitions and have shipped just five goals. Only Arsenal (3) have let in fewer.

While Frank will take a lot of the plaudits, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero’s partnership has looked like one of the best in the division.

Why Van de Ven and Romero complement each other so well at Spurs

Since arriving in north London, Romero has attracted his fair share of criticism.

He’s too hot-headed, too rash, too ill-disciplined to ever be a competent defender. Those were the cries from certain sections of the media and fanbase. Alas, there is a reason that he is captaining the side and there is a reason that Real Madrid have reportedly courted him.

The Argentine is a typical South American defender. He’s brutish, has a never-say-die attitude and when faced with a striker, it’s not often they get the better of him.

Indeed, he’s only been dribbled past 0.3 times per match under Frank so far, winning 65% of his ground duels and another 65% of his aerial duels.

To put those numbers into context, he’s winning more aerial battles than Arsenal’s imperious Brazilian, Gabriel (60%) and a similar number of ground duels to William Saliba (66%).

Romero is the more aggressive of he and Van de Ven, but the Dutchman’s recovery speed and ability to sweep in behind his defensive colleague is why they work so well.

Last term, no player was quicker in the English top-flight than Spurs’ number 37.

Yet despite all of that, the club have a defender in their ranks who stands an excellent chance of disrupting this fine partnership. Step forward Spurs’ new Mousa Dembele.

Spurs have found the defensive version of Dembele

What a player Dembele was in his prime. Part of a very special Spurs team including the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, the Belgian was the glue that held everything together.

In the words of Kyle Walker, “Dembele was probably the best player I’ve ever seen play football” while Eric Dier, now of Monaco, stated that he was “a freak of nature”.

Shots

0.8

Key passes

1.0

Dribbles

2.9

Times fouled

1.1

Tackles

3.6

An all-action machine, it was nigh on impossible to get the ball off Dembele. He was a fine dribbler but he was also a duel monster.

From 2012 to 2019, no player in the Premier League had a better success rate for dribbles than Dembele’s tally of 77.9%. The next best during that time frame was Nemanja Matic on 73.1%.

As for winning duels, during the 2015/16 season, only three players, of which one was N’Golo Kante, won more tackles per match. Dembele won 3.6 while Kante topped the charts with 4.7.

Why is this all relevant now? Well, it looks like Spurs have found another duel machine, someone capable of dominating play in a similar manner, albeit from defensive phases of play.

That player is Luka Vuskovic. Spurs first reached an agreement to sign the centre-back in 2023 for £12m from Hajduk Split when he was only 16.

They had to wait until 2025 for the young Croatian to finally arrive but it was worth the wait. Vuskovic scored in pre-season against Reading and more than looks the part.

Now 18, the teenager has already made a habit of scoring regular goals. At KVC Westerlo in the Belgian top-flight last season, he scored seven goals in 36 outings.

Now on loan at Hamburg in Germany, he’s already showcasing why he’s so highly rated. The youngster has featured on four occasions, scoring once and breaking a little bit of history along the way.

During Hamburg’s clash against Union Berlin last weekend, he won a mind-blowing 18 aerial duels. To sum up just how incredible that statistic is, no player has won more aerial duels in a Bundesliga game across the last ten seasons and he is the first player to win 18 aerial duels in a single match in Europe’s top five leagues over the last five seasons.

While Dembele may not have been as menacing in the air as that, it demonstrates Vuskovic’s imperious duel-winning ability and his capability to overpower his opponents.

When asked what he thought of his teammate, Hamburg full-back Miro Muheim simply described him as a “monster” after the game. Rather apt if you ask us.

But, as the Athletic’s German Football correspondent, Seb Stafford-Bloor, outlines, the Croat is also “good with the ball at his feet”, emulating Dembele with that area of the game too.

Vuskovic has completed 85% of his passes in the Bundesliga so far and has also been successful with 100% of his dribble attempts, according to Sofascore.

Not just a beast physically, he’s technically brilliant, just as Dembele was from further forward. An exciting player no doubt, and one who could well make this Spurs backline even better.

You bet Frank can’t wait to get him back in the fold next season.

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ByMatt Dawson Oct 1, 2025

Nuno Espirito Santo has warned West Ham that they are "going to have problems" this season after their 2-0 defeat to Brentford. The former Nottingham Forest manager has now been in charge for three games, but he is yet to oversee a victory, after drawing with Everton and losing to both Arsenal and the Bees.

• West Ham's dismal start

  The Hammers have endured a crisis at the start of the season, sacking Graham Potter and appointing Nuno in his stead. The Hammers have won just one of their opening eight games and sit 19th in the Premier League table, just two points ahead of rock-bottom Wolves. They have conceded 18 goals, more than anyone else in the Premier League, and have only scored six, the second-lowest number of the 20 sides in the league. Now, Nuno has warned his players that they must improve if they are to fight their way out of relegation trouble. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Nuno's sobering warning

  The Portuguese, who left Forest in acrimonious circumstances earlier this season, told reporters: "It's that we still have problems. We are going to have problems. We didn't play good enough and the realisation that we have to improve.

  "Concerns that the improvement must come from the players individually – they need to win their own games, the duels and then for sure, as a team we are going to improve.

  "Annoyed is not the word. I was frustrated because we started the game really well in the first 20 minutes. But we weren't able to sustain it. That was the main disappointment."

  He added: "It's up to us to connect the fans again. It's up to us that the fans go to the stadium and they enjoy and that they are on our side.

  "I felt it on the players. They were rushing their decisions. We have quality and talent enough to make those passes but it wasn't happening. You have to tell to the players play their game and try to ignore other things.

  "We are not getting enough points – that's the main issue. To do that, we must improve our game. We must play better – home and away and in training sessions. No matter where."

  Asked if a January splurge could save the Irons, he added: "The reality is that it's us who are going to solve our problems. Us who are in the building.

  "Not who is out. Us here. We must solve our own problems."

• Nuno urges Hammers to harness frustration

  The former Tottenham boss has urged his players to harness their frustration at such a poor start as the Irons look to carve a path back up the table. 

  He added: "When the game against Brentford finished, we need to take the frustration, commitment and motivation so that we can play better. This is the step we need to take.

  "Individually we have to improve our players. We need to improve their fitness, tactical awareness – everything. Then, we concede a lot of set-pieces – too much – but we defend them pretty well. We are improving on that but we need to improve on not conceding.

  "Some of them are easy situations we can solve. So we are working on that. It's not only set-pieces or being compact. It's about improving overall.

  "We didn't do enough offensively against Brentford. We need to have the freedom to attack. But it's difficult to find that balance."

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  What comes next?

  West Ham face Leeds this weekend in a huge game at the bottom end of the Premier League table. Daniel Farke's side sit 16th, with eight points from their opening eight games. They have won two and drawn two of those fixtures, and will hope to take three more points from the hapless Hammers this weekend. 

  Farke has already said his team are excited about the encounter, saying: “Like always, I expect a difficult game. West Ham are a well-established Premier League side. They have high individual quality, many, many very experienced and quality players for this level.

  “In the offence and midfield, also in the defence, they have with Nuno a very, very experienced coach at this level. You have a very, very experienced and quality coach and you have also quality players. These players make sure, and I have also spoken after the game, we have to deliver the basics.

  “When they are switched on at this moment, then you can tell that this team will show a good performance and it will be difficult to beat them. This is what I definitely expect. I would rather play against a team that perhaps underestimates a newly promoted side. I think especially after last Monday, they will be pretty much on it.

  “Still, West Ham are a very, very experienced, established Premier League side. I expect a difficult game for us but nevertheless at this level, each of the games is difficult. We know that especially in home games, we have a good chance to win some points. We have shown this more or less in each of the home games so far. For that, we also don’t go into this game with fear.

  “We are looking forward to this game and want to deliver a good performance and hopefully also the right result."

B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh have been picked in India’s Test squad for the first time, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have made comebacks for the five-match series in England that starts on June 20.The 18-man squad is led by 25-year old Shubman Gill, who was appointed India’s new Test captain by the selection panel headed by Ajit Agarkar at a meeting in Mumbai on Saturday. Agarkar said Jasprit Bumrah, who was India’s vice-captain on the recent tour of Australia, was unlikely to play all five Tests in England due to workload management and that was a factor in him not being given the captaincy.Gill succeeded Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format in May following poor returns over the past season, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Rishabh Pant was appointed vice-captain of the squad.Related

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The batting group includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran in addition to Gill, Pant, Sudharsan and Nair, with Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper.The squad has four allrounders (two pace, two spin) in Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy.There are five specialist fast bowlers – Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep – with Kuldeep Yadav the only specialist spinner in the 18.The series is India’s first since the retirements of Rohit, R Ashwin and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, and Mohammed Shami was also missing from the squad. Shami had not yet built up to Test match workloads during his recovery from the ankle surgery he had in February last year.Sarfaraz Khan and Harshit Rana are the only two players who were part of the original Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad to be dropped for the England tour. Tanush Kotian and Devdutt Padikkal, who came in as replacements during India’s tour of Australia, were not picked either.The five Tests against England will be India’s first in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. They play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third at Lord’s (from July 10), the fourth at Old Trafford (from July 23), and the final at The Oval (from July 31).They begin the tour with a four-day match against India A at Beckenham on the outskirts of London between June 13 and 16.

India Test squad for England

Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (vc, wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh

Wednesday night saw Arsenal pick up their second win in as many Champions League games this season.

Was it the perfect performance? No, probably not, but Mikel Arteta made a slew of changes to the lineup, and on another night, they could have scored a handful more goals.

Moreover, several starters really shone, including David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, and, even though he didn’t score, Viktor Gyokeres looked lively.

However, when it comes to the man of the match, it’s hard to look past Martin Odegaard, who, unlike one of his teammates, has undoubtedly played himself into the lineup for West Ham United.

Arsenal's best player vs Olympiacos

It would be fair to say that, following his ankle injury, last season was one to forget for Odegaard.

The Arsenal captain looked a shell of his former self for the best part of a year, so much so that plenty of fans and pundits alike began to doubt his quality and ability to get back to his best.

Now, it’s certainly still early doors in that respect, but the Norwegian looked great in his cameo against Newcastle United on Sunday, and then took things up another level against Olympiacos on Wednesday.

According to content creator Connor Humm, the Gunners’ number eight showed a version of himself that “has been absent too long” and was “sensational.”

It would be hard to disagree, as for much of the first half and moments of the second, he seemed to be constantly playing perfect balls through the Greek side’s defence and got his rewards with an assist for Bukayo Saka’s strike.

The Drammen-born star was so effective that the Standard’s Simon Collings gave him a 9/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘looked so sharp and played some majestic through-balls’.

Such high praise is more than justified by his statistics, as in his 95 minutes of action, the 26-year-old amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 1.65, took 86 touches, played four key passes, was accurate in seven of ten long balls, took one shot on target, completed 100% of his dribbles and made one clearance.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

0.72

Expected Assists

0.93

Assists

1

Key Passes

4

Touches

86

Long Balls (Accurate)

10 (7)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Clearances

1

Tackles

1

In short, it was the kind of performance that has to see him keep his place for the weekend, which is the opposite for another starter.

Arsenal's worst player vs Olympiacos

While most of the team played well, some starters, such as Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli, were not particularly impressive, despite the latter’s goal.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, it would be hard to deny that the most disappointing display in red and white on Wednesday night came from Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian international retained his place in the starting lineup from the Newcastle game, but unfortunately, he was even less effective than he had been in that match.

In fact, if there is one word to describe the 30-year-old’s display against the Greek outfit, it would be frustrating.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion star kept finding himself in promising positions, but time and time again, he’d waste the moment, either through a wayward shot or a poor pass.

Collings felt similarly about the winger, giving him a rather generous 6/10 match rating and writing that he ‘wasted’ his fair share of chances.

Unsurprisingly, his statistics tell a similar story: in 73 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.48 but failed to produce either, took 48 touches but completed just 17 passes, lost 50% of his duels, lost the ball 14 times, and was dribbled past twice.

Minutes

73′

Expected Goals

0.44

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.04

Assists

0

Passes

17/25 (68%)

Touches

48

Long Balls (Accurate)

4 (2)

Shots on Target

1

Lost Possession

14

Duels (Won)

12 (6)

Dribbled Past

2

It was a performance that did little to dispel the idea that the 5 foot 8 ace is far better coming off the bench than starting games.

Therefore, while it might seem harsh, Arteta should look to drop Trossard for the upcoming game against West Ham.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 30, 2025

Arne Slot, lauded as a tactical genius. And rightly so. The Liverpool coach’s smart-witted approach saw him lift the Premier League title in his first year last season, head and shoulders above his rivals.

But there’s no denying Liverpool look tactically imbalanced this year, and there are wrinkles to be ironed out. The Dutchman sprung a tactical surprise against Crystal Palace, but it didn’t work out and the Reds were ragdolled throughout a bleak first half at Selhurst Park.

They rallied, and Federico Chiesa’s late goal off the bench looked to have sealed a point. Maybe all three. Liverpool pushed and pushed and they huffed and puffed, but their late-hour charm ran out as Eddie Nketiah struck at the eleventh hour to hand the champions their first league loss of the term.

There’s a lot to unpick, but let’s dilute it down to just a few talking points here. Right-back has been a hot topic on Merseyside this summer, and Conor Bradley flattered to deceive on his return to the starting line-up.

Bradley's performance vs Palace

Bradley filled big boots this summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold up and leaving for Real Madrid. The Northern Irish right-back has dazzled in the Premier League before, but suffered with injuries for much of Slot’s debut term.

Aged 22, Bradley has started Liverpool’s past two Premier League matches, and while he did a decent job against the in-form Jack Grealish in the Merseyside derby, he endured a game to forget against Oliver Glasner’s Eagles, hooked at half-time.

Lacking any semblance of clarity or creativity on the ball, Bradley failed with three of four attempted dribbles and lost possession 12 times, also losing four of his seven contested ground duels, as recorded by Sofascore.

However, with Ibrahima Konate producing another sloppy performance, laden with errors, Bradley was always going to be up against it.

And, moreover, Mohamed Salah was anonymous once again.

Slot should have axed Salah

Salah, 33, has been Liverpool’s all-inspiring superstar for so many years, and he ran roughshod over Premier League defences all through the 2024/25 campaign en route to the title.

He has posted three goals and three assists across the opening weeks of the season, but has also lacked much of his usual swagger and gusto, and that has not been more apparent than against Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The right winger missed a big chance and created two chances, but his moments of real joy were few and far between, losing all five of his ground duels, and this is not an outlier, with the metrics across the term, when collated against last year’s data, highlighting his regression.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

6 (6)

Goals

29

2

Assists

18

2

Touches*

49.1

43.2

Shots (on target)*

3.4 (1.6)

1.7 (0.8)

Accurate passes*

22.4 (74%)

21.0 (75%)

Key passes*

2.4

1.3

Dribbles*

1.5

0.2

Ball recoveries*

2.7

3.3

Tackles*

0.6

0.0

Duels won*

3.3

1.7

We are still early in the season, but the underlying data is telling. Salah has fallen off a proverbial cliff in regard to his application and effectiveness.

Now playing a role with a greater emphasis on hugging the touchline and maintaining space for the reformed number nine squad, the veteran is toiling.

And Chiesa’s resurgence in red continues. The Italy international has now posted two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions since the summer, and he looks a different beast indeed, with observers anticipating a return to one-time elite form.

Analyst Josh Williams remarked that the 27-year-old “should’ve started today”, and that’s an accurate assessment. Liverpool risk become stagnant and predictable, reliant on late goals, and Chiesa’s form denotes his applicability for a starting berth in the Premier League going forward.

The Liverpool Echo branded him with a 4/10 match rating and wrote that Salah ‘struggled with the basics’ and provided non-existent defensive cover for Bradley, who had a poor game but was sandwiched between two of Liverpool’s biggest problems: Salah and Konate.

Salah is a Liverpool great, and he will continue to play a talismanic role for the club across the season. However, there’s no denying he has looked off the pace for much of the campaign so far.

He has played every minute in the Premier League since the opening whistle against Bournemouth in August, and his performances haven’t warranted that mark.

Chiesa convsersely, has looked very bright indeed, and yet the £150k-per-week ace continues to serve a peripheral role.

Now worth more than Guehi: Liverpool lost "superstar” for less than Quansah

Liverpool must regret parting ways with this iconic Jurgen Klopp talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 26, 2025

Over the past five years, Newcastle United’s fixtures with Brighton & Hove Albion have become a compelling Premier League rivalry defined by fine margins, contrasting styles, and tactical discipline.

The Magpies have often found Brighton’s fluid attacking shape difficult to contain.

Their 3–0 defeat in March 2021 under Steve Bruce was a low point in the club’s modern history – a result that underlined the growing gulf between a stagnant Newcastle and an ascendant Brighton.

Eddie Howe’s appointment marked a turning point, and by March 2022, Newcastle struck back with a 2–1 victory at St James’ Park, signalling their resurgence.

That resurgence peaked in May 2023, when Howe’s side thrashed Brighton 4–1 in one of their most complete performances of the season – a result that helped secure Champions League qualification.

But since then, Brighton have regained the upper hand.

Evan Ferguson’s stunning hat-trick in September 2023 sealed a 3–1 win at the Amex, while the Seagulls edged a dramatic 2–1 FA Cup victory after extra time at St James’ Park in 2025.

When the sides met in October 2024, Brighton’s 1–0 away win continued their dominance, meaning Newcastle have managed just one win in their last six meetings.

The rivalry has become symbolic of Newcastle’s fluctuating form – moments of brilliance offset by costly lapses – and no player embodies that sting of regret quite like Yankuba Minteh.

Why Yankuba Minteh was sold by Newcastle

Minteh’s story is one that still frustrates many Newcastle fans.

The Gambian winger, just 21 years old, joined the Magpies from Odense BK in 2023, instantly impressing with his blistering pace and low centre of gravity.

But due to the club’s rush to remain PSR compliant in the summer of 2024, he was sold to Brighton for a fee of around £30m – a decision that has since come back to haunt them.

Since making the move to the south coast, Minteh has thrived.

This season, he has already played seven times for Brighton, registering one goal and two assists, while his underlying performances show his growing maturity.

Yankuba Minteh – 2025/26

Matches

7

Minutes Played

591

Shots

11

Progressive Carries

37

Progressive Passes

7

Source: FBref

His dribbling, directness, and unpredictability have made him one of the Premier League’s most exciting young wingers.

The most symbolic moment came last season when he scored against his former club in Brighton’s home win over Newcastle.

His celebration – part praise, part provocation towards the travelling Toon Army – encapsulated both his passion and his defiance.

It was a reminder of what Newcastle had lost: a young winger capable of changing games.

Minteh’s 2024/25 campaign ended with six goals in 32 appearances, establishing him as a key piece in Fabian Hurzeler’s system.

Internationally, he continues to shine for Gambia, scoring seven goals in 19 caps since making his debut in 2022.

His evolution at Brighton highlights Newcastle’s biggest frustration – selling a player they had barely begun to utilise.

And now, as the two clubs prepare to meet again in the 3pm kick-off this Saturday, Minteh stands as both a warning and an inspiration for Eddie Howe: talent must be trusted early, or it risks flourishing elsewhere.

Newcastle's answer to Minteh

While Minteh is thriving in Brighton blue, Newcastle may already have their answer in Anthony Elanga.

The Swedish international has endured a mixed start to life on Tyneside since his move from Nottingham Forest, but recent performances suggest he’s turning a corner.

Elanga, 23, has been central to Howe’s efforts to reignite Newcastle’s attack.

Though the Magpies have been solid defensively – keeping six clean sheets already this season – their forward line has struggled to find rhythm.

Elanga’s energy, pace, and ability to stretch defences could be the key to unlocking that potential.

His performances have improved as the season progresses: sharper off the ball, more decisive in transition, and increasingly willing to take on defenders.

It’s that blend of directness and discipline that earned him the tag of “dangerous” by analyst Ben Mattinson – traits that made Elanga a standout at Forest and once an attacking outlet under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Much like Minteh, Elanga thrives when given space to run at full-backs, but his tactical versatility has allowed Howe to use him both wide and centrally.

His developing chemistry with Nick Woltemade gives Newcastle new dimensions going forward.

Crucially, Elanga represents something Newcastle lost with Minteh – fearless attacking intent.

The Swede’s willingness to press high, carry the ball aggressively, and exploit space behind defenders fits perfectly into Howe’s transition-heavy system.

With Brighton’s full-backs pushing high, Elanga’s pace could prove decisive in this weekend’s clash.

If he can produce the kind of form that once made him one of Manchester United’s brightest young prospects, Newcastle may finally have their revenge.

He already dazzled last term with 17 goals and assists in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest, as per Sofascore, far eclipsing Minteh’s own record of ten goal involvements on the south coast.

For Howe, this fixture is more than another Premier League match – it’s a test of progress, identity, and belief in youth.

Minteh’s success elsewhere may still sting, but in Elanga, Newcastle have a player ready to define their future rather than haunt their past.

Related Newcastle are brewing the homegrown Elanga in 18-year-old "huge talent"

Newcastle’s attack has struggled this season, but rising star could be the future spark they need

Posts ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant has confirmed Shubman Gill will take the No. 4 position vacated by former captain and India’s fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, Virat Kohli. Pant said India are still deliberating over who will move to No. 3, the slot last occupied by Gill, who is the new captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.The options for No. 3 seem to be the returning Karun Nair and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan, who is rated highly by experts. There might be room for both of them in the XI as India need to slot in another specialist batter after Pant at No. 5.At the moment, two days before the Test and with one training session to go, Nair looks like the favourite to take on the responsibility of batting against the new ball at No. 3. He batted at No. 3 for India against India A in the practice match they played behind closed doors. He was also at first slip in India’s slip catching practice, with KL Rahul, Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal making up the rest of the cordon in that order.Related

• Pant relishes 'senior' tag but also focuses on 'individual' game

• Buttler: Gill's captaincy 'a mix of Kohli and Rohit'

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• Dry Leeds could bring batters respite

Jaiswal and Rahul are set to reunite at the top after starting and ending the series in Australia as opening partners with Rohit taking back his place in the middle of the series. If Nair is indeed the No. 3, and given Ravindra Jadeja’s near certainty as the allrounder, that one remaining batting position could go to either Sudharsan or Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a century in Australia.The more important deliberations will be around the bowlers. Playing Reddy or Washington Sundar as the fifth bowler. The reluctance to pick a fifth bowler in Australia came under criticism as it was a departure from the successful Indian teams of the last six years, who prioritised taking 20 wickets over batting depth.The presence of Shardul Thakur, who can bat at No. 8 and give India some batting depth, could give India a fourth somewhat genuine seam-bowling option, but it wasn’t yet clear Thakur would be preferred to Reddy. The duo bowled long spells in India’s first training session at Headingley.Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were all but certain to lead the pace attack. India called up Harshit Rana for this Test as cover for possible niggles to Siraj and Akash Deep, but both of them turned up fine and were fit to go. Akash, though, wasn’t a certainty as Prasidh Krishna’s high release and disconcerting bounce could be a point of difference India might be looking for. Unless they feel the unusually warm Headingley weather will turn over the weekend. In that case, Kuldeep Yadav could become a factor unless they choose the option of batting depth and go with Washington.