Former England allrounder tells Disney+ documentary of the sport’s role in his recovery from life-changing crash

Valkerie Baynes24-Apr-20251:45

‘Flintoff’ on Disney+: An exclusive look at Freddie’s story

There’s a point in , the Disney+ documentary released on Friday about the life of England allrounder Andrew Flintoff, that stands out from a cricket perspective.Amid harrowing, never-seen-before images of the devastating injuries he suffered in a car crash just over two years ago, interspersed with footage from the highs and lows of a storied career, Flintoff’s wife, Rachael, says it first: cricket saved him.In the most confronting examples imaginable of cricket’s influence on his life, and the accident itself, Flintoff describes his instincts during the crash while filming the TV series in December 2022 as being like the split-second decision a batter makes on how to deal with a delivery hurtling towards him.As the open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 he was driving around Surrey’s Dunsfold Aerodrome overturned on that fateful day, he believed that if he turned his head a certain way, he would likely break his neck or die. So he made the decision to fall face first.He was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries, which required extensive reconstructive surgery and left him with noticeable scarring.Related

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“You get 0.4 seconds to make your mind up where the ball’s going, what shot are you going to play, how are you going to move your feet,” Flintoff says. “As it started going over, I looked at the ground and I knew if I get hit on the side, I’m going to break my neck. If I get hit on the temple, I’m dead. My best chance is go face down. I thought my face had come off. I was frightened to death.”And perhaps it is his cricket background that has contributed to the difficulty he has experienced healing the psychological scars of the accident.As a player, he says, he was able to not just visualise performing a particular skill, but to feel like he was living it. In the documentary, he likens that experience to the intensity of the nightmares and flashbacks he has of the crash, remembering everything in vivid detail. It left him battling anxiety which kept him housebound for months except for medical appointments early on in his recovery.”After the accident, I didn’t think I had it in me to get through,” Flintoff says. “This sounds awful, part of me thinks I should have been killed. Part of me thinks I wish I had died. I didn’t want to kill myself. I wouldn’t mistake the two things. I wasn’t wishing, I was thinking: that would have been so much easier. Now I try to take the attitude, the sun will come up tomorrow and my kids will still give me a hug. I feel in a better place now.”Andrew Flintoff says cricket has played a pivotal role in his recovery•ECB via Getty Images

Again, cricket has played a pivotal role in Flintoff reaching this point, finding comfort and purpose in his role as head coach of England Lions.”The common theme through my life is obviously my family – parents, brother, grandparents, Rachael, the kids – but then it seems almost everything comes back to cricket,” he tells friend and former England rugby player now presenter Martin Bayfield in a Q&A session after the film’s premiere in London.”That’s been the one constant thread through my life. It’s probably the one thing, like Rachel again said, probably saved me. I’ve been welcomed back into that fold and I’m loving it. I’ve got the opportunity now to coach. Who would have thought a 31-year-old me would be put in charge of kids, the next-best England players? And I absolutely love it.”So for everything that’s happened, I think sport has been the one thing that’s given me the coping mechanisms to get through pretty much anything, because some of the lows in cricket were so low, and you have to come back. It was resilience, it was passion, surrounded by people you love and people you trust. It was probably one of the most important things in my life after my family and my friends.”One of the friends most instrumental in Flintoff’s return to cricket is Rob Key, a former team-mate who is now director of England men’s cricket.In a moving scene in the documentary, Key sheds rare tears talking about how cricket has helped to look after his mate of nearly 30 years. The film reveals how, after the accident, Key would invite Flintoff to attend England Test matches in virtual secrecy, watching from a secluded area and visited by a select few mutual friends as he began to venture out of the house after so long.Key is now also effectively Flintoff’s boss, overseeing the Lions coaching role he has held since last October. And Flintoff was eager to bat away a question from Bayfield about progressing to the England head coach role, held by another friend, Brendon McCullum.”As a player, you’re always looking for the end of the game,” Flintoff says. “It’s about making decisions now, make a good decision now, and make a move, and then put yourself in a position to win a cricket match. I was guilty of that with a lot of things. You do a TV job, and it’s, ‘what’s the next job?’ It’s always chasing something.”We have got an exceptional England coach who is incredible. I’m so happy with where I’m at now. I’m not looking for the next job, I’m coaching the Lions, and I think for me, that is the perfect place for me to sit.”I can work with these young lads. You’re not just coaching them as cricketers, you’re trying to help them navigate through a career, through life, to be better people. I don’t see it as a stepping stone, I see it as the perfect job for me at this moment in time. I hope I am the perfect choice for them.”Flintoff says he will also continue to work in television from time to time.The crash interrupted filming a second series of Flintoff’s programme, where he teaches a group of young men from his hometown of Preston about cricket as a positive influence on their lives and which he has since finished and seen go to air. He also filmed a special edition of the gameshow with plans for more to come.But cricket is very much back as an integral part of his life again. Perhaps it never left.‘Flintoff’ is available exclusively on Disney+

يستعد منتخب مصر لكرة اليد للناشئين، تحت 17 عامًا، لخوض ثان مبارياته في بطولة العالم المقامة في المغرب، اليوم الأحد، بعد الفوز على البرازيل في الافتتاح.

وانطلقت بطولة العالم لكرة اليد للرجال تحت 17 عامًا، يوم 24 أكتوبر وتستمر حتى 1 نوفمبر 2025، في المغرب، وتضم 12 منتخبًا مقسمة على 3 مجموعات.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس العالم لليد تحت 17 عامًا بعد الفوز على البرازيل

ويشارك منتخب مصر لكرة اليد مواليد 2008 في البطولة، في مجموعة تضم إلى جانبه منتخبات البرازيل وأمريكا والمغرب، صاحب الأرض والجمهور.

وكان منتخب مصر لكرة اليد للناشئين قد فاز على نظيره البرازيلي في افتتاح مشواره ببطولة العالم المقامة في المغرب، بنتيجة 35-26 موعد مباراة مصر وأمريكا في كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا

تقام مباراة مصر وأمريكا، اليوم الأحد 26 أكتوبر، في تمام الساعة 8:50 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة مصر وأمريكا في كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا

تنقل مباراة مصر وأمريكا، اليوم الأحد، عبر بث مباشر على الصفحة الرسمية لقناة أون سبورت على “فيس بوك” طالع البث من هنا

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا

MatériaMais Notícias

O futebol é de longe o esporte mais adorado no mundo e arrasta multidões. O Brasil é conhecido principalmente pelo esporte,mas as raízes do futebol chegam até a China Antiga e a Europa.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol LatinoÉ hoje! Cavani vai estrear pelo Boca JuniorsFutebol Latino09/08/2023Atlético MineiroGuilherme Arana completa 150 jogos pelo Atlético-MGAtlético Mineiro09/08/2023Fora de CampoVisando decisão na Copa do Brasil, Neto faz pedido a Taylor Swift: ‘O Corinthians te ama’Fora de Campo09/08/2023

+ Confira a classificação atualizada e a tabela completa do Brasileirão

Os chineses foram os primeiros a ter práticas que remetem ao futebol, como chutar bolas para dentro de baliza, no século III a.c. É dito por estudiosos que soldados praticavam um animado jogo com crânios de seus inimigos.

Porém, o futebol como conhecemos hoje nasceu na Inglaterra, em 1863. Neste ano foi quando inciou a profissionalização do esporte mundial, e as regras criadas são bases para o esporte até hoje.

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Fora da Inglaterra, a propagação do esporte foi mais lenta. Por exemplo, no Brasil o esporte chegou em 1894, através do inglês Charles Miller, que chegou em São Paulo com uma bola e as regras para a prática do futebol. O crescimento foi tanto que diversas equipes de remo, que era o esporte mais popular no país na época, foram transformadas em times de futebol, como Flamengo, Botafogo e Vasco.

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Manchester United have now identified an “unbelievable” manager as their first-choice target to replace Ruben Amorim, amid the uncertainty surrounding the 40-year-old’s future.

Amorim not out of the woods despite improved results

Frank Ilett, the fan who has vowed not to cut his hair until Man United win five games in a row, probably hasn’t gotten his hopes up just yet, but Amorim has made some improvements in recent weeks, guiding his side to wins in two of their last three Premier League games.

On paper, the fixture list looks relatively kind until late October, with the Red Devils set to take on Brentford away this Saturday, before taking on Sunderland at Old Trafford the following week, giving Amorim a golden opportunity to buy himself some more time.

However, the United boss will be well-aware that things must start improving, given that he is currently regarded as one of the worst appointments since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

It has now been revealed the Man United hierarchy have started making plans for life after Amorim, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the number one choice to replace the Portuguese coach.

Iraola, who is one of the most sought-after managers in Europe, is being closely monitored by the Red Devils, having transformed Bournemouth’s fortunes since replacing Gary O’Neil back in the summer of 2023.

INEOS are said to view the Spaniard as an elite coach, with the capabilities of managing a top club, and they have been impressed with the way in which he has implemented his system at the Vitality Stadium.

Related "He was our best player" – Amorim told Man Utd star is "suffering" more than Bruno in new role

He’s yet to show his best form this season…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Sep 24, 2025 "Unbelievable" Iraola could be perfect Amorim replacement

Sky Sports’ Sue Smith waxed lyrical about the job the 43-year-old has done with the Cherries earlier this year, describing the work he’s done as “unbelievable”.

The Bournemouth boss, who likes to implement a 4-2-3-1 system, led his side to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and he has made a flying start to the new campaign.

Despite losing a number of key players in the summer, such as Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara, the Cherries have taken ten points from their opening five games, with arguably their most impressive victory coming away at Tottenham Hotspur.

Having now proven himself in the Premier League over a sustained period of time, Iraola could be the ideal replacement for Amorim, but it appears as though INEOS are willing to give the current manager a little while longer, after two wins in the last three league games.

Sultans posted 228, and no Lahore Qalandars batter converted a start as the innings petered out for 195

Danyal Rasool22-Apr-2025Multan Sultans finally got their PSL 2025 campaign off the ground, brushing Lahore Qalandars aside by 33 runs. In the first game at home on a stiflingly hot evening in Multan, Yasir Khan’s blistering 87 off 44 balls at the top gave his side an eay advantage they never relinquished. Iftikhar Ahmed’s unbeaten 40 from 18 deliveries and cameos through the innings helped Sultans post 228 – the highest-ever score in Multan in the PSL.Qalandars never batted at the tempo needed to overhaul a total of that size, and Sultans’ bowlers were far more unerring in their execution. Michael Bracewell and Ubaid Shah found wickets up top as no Qalandars batter converted a start, and the innings petered out, stopping at 195 for 9.For Sultans, their opening pair of Yasir and Mohammad Rizwan began brightly, going after Shaheen Shah Afridi in his first two overs. But it was the takedown of Zaman Khan and Haris Rauf that set the tone. Bowling the fifth over, Zaman was plundered for three sixes and a boundary by Yasir. In the sixth, Rizwan picked off Rauf’s hard lengths at will, smashing him for 20 as Sultans soared to 79 in the powerplay.Asif Afridi, the only bowler who kept Sultans quiet, got rid of Rizwan, but Yasir kept powering along. He brought up his half-century with a six off Rishad Hossain, before he and Usman Khan went after Daryl Mitchell. Meanwhile, Rauf’s return only brought more misery upon Qalandars as Usman smashed him for another 19 runs; all told, Rauf would conceded 54 in his three overs.When Shaheen returned to bowl the final over, it was Iftikhar who found his range, taking 14 off a wayward over as Sultans surged to 228. Shaheen, Haris and Zaman, once the pride of Qalandars’ attack, had combined to concede 119 runs in eight overs.Michael Bracewell continued to do well for Multan Sultans•PCBSultans have failed to defend a higher total than this, but if Qalandars were to have a hope, they needed a vintage start from Fakhar Zaman. Initially, they appeared to get it when the opener went after David Willey, taking 30 runs off his first two overs, before smearing the parsimonious Bracewell for a six. In Ubaid’s first over, though, Fakhar heaved one that sailed above the Multan floodlights, but Josh Little held his nerve to cling on to a superb catch to cut his cameo down at 32 off 14 balls.Abdullah Shafique and Mitchell tried to keep the game alive through an enterprising third-wicket partnership that produced 36 from 22 deliveries. But the demands of the asking rate were much too stratospheric. Sultans responded with a triple strike to remove the pair as well as Rishad, thus leaving Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza as the final hopes for Qalandars.Billings was finding the middle of the bat, going after Little in an 11th over that produced 16 runs and brought the asking rate to just over 13 runs an over. Ubaid, too, went for a pair of sixes in the 15th over. But, crucially, Ubaid had the last laugh off the final delivery. Billings tried to heave over midwicket, but top-edged to Kamran Ghulam. Ubaid, meanwhile, comically struck Usman in the face as he celebrated his third wicket with a bit too much exuberance.The game, though, was done and dusted. Raza hung around and slapped a few huge sixes to bring the margin of defeat down, and off the final ball of the innings, brought up a 27-ball fifty. But Qalandars’ hope of victory had long dissipated, and the Multan crowd got to see their side launch a campaign that may just be taking off.

With time ticking by on deadline day, Manchester United have reportedly reached a “total agreement” to sign one of their top targets just hours before the transfer window slams shut.

Man Utd's deadline day business

The Red Devils have already had a busy day on the outgoings front in hope of making room for some much-needed fresh faces. At the death, it looks as though both Jadon Sancho and Antony are set to get their moves to both Aston Villa and Real Betis, freeing up space on United’s hefty wage bill as a result.

Antony’s move will come as a particular relief after Betis responded to earlier reports that they had completed a move for the winger, saying: “There is no agreement for Antony and we have withdrawn the offer. We can’t afford the fee and the amounts that Manchester United must instead pay the player before the transfer.”

With two unwanted stars heading for the exit door, those at Old Trafford have also got to work on players that could arrive in the other direction. And the focus has been on finding a new goalkeeper.

The main question has been regarding just who will be arriving to replace Andre Onana. There has been little doubts that the Red Devils would be welcoming a new No.1 after one mistake too many from the former Inter Milan man.

It looked as though it would be Emiliano Martinez who arrives at one stage, as Manchester United shifted their focus towards the Argentine. Alas, after a late twist, United have now reportedly reached a total agreement to welcome an alternative option.

Man Utd reach "total agreement" to sign Lammens

As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester United have now reached a “total agreement” to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp to end a summer-long saga. Agreeing a deal worth €21m (£18m), Ruben Amorim is set to get his upgrade on Onana after United chased Lammens over Aston Villa’s Martinez.

Starts

30

37

Save Percentage

81.4%

69%

Clean Sheets

7

8

Saves

127

96

Only time will tell whether they’ve made the right decision, but the stats certainly make for positive reading. Lammens outperformed Martinez in save percentage, saves and only kept one less clean sheet than the Argentine.

Described as a player with “excellent” variance in his passing by analyst Ben Mattinson, Amorim should finally have a goalkeeper at his disposal capable of building from his backline. And that could make all the difference.

Mbeumo 2.0: "Cantona of his generation" now "wants" D-Day move to Man Utd

The sensational international would be an unreal signing for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 1, 2025

The 23-year-old’s pending arrival is a major step in the right direction for Manchester United’s goalkeeper department and Amorim’s squad, following investment this summer, must simply now kick on after the international break.

Delhi Capitals’ (DC) stand-in captain Faf du Plessis pointed out that they lost their momentum in the last two overs when Mumbai Indians (MI) were batting after bowling well for 17-18 overs, which eventually led to their 59-run defeat at the Wankhede Stadium. The loss saw DC knocked out of contention for the IPL 2025 playoffs, while MI booked the last spot.Bowling first, it looked like DC would be chasing an under-par total with MI struggling at 132 for 5 after 18 overs. But Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir hammered 48 runs off the last two overs to take MI to 180 and DC were bowled out for 121 in reply.”I thought we were excellent today in the field. The guys showed great fight. Obviously, not the easiest pitch to bat on, so probably made the bowlers’ job a little bit easier. But still, it’s a very strong batting line-up (of MI), and I thought we were excellent,” du Plessis said after the game. “And then [we] just let it slip there in the last two overs which… momentum is a real thing in cricket. So I thought the way that they counterpunched there to get almost 50 in the last two overs really [cost us]. All that hard work that we did for 17-18 overs, [we] lost that momentum.”Related

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DC were under pressure in a must-win situation as they were one point behind MI before this game, and had lost four of their last five matches before Wednesday. They further lost their regular captain Axar Patel to an illness for this match, someone who could have been useful on the Wanhede track, du Plessis said, where left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner finished with 4-0-11-3.”I’m a big believer that you’ve got to make sure you take [momentum] and you never take it for granted,” he said. “So when you’re playing like that and you’re performing well, then everything falls your way. And we could feel like the last couple of games, there was really a fight to try and get that momentum back and not doing the basics well in both departments.”So it shows you that when you’re on top of that wave, you’ve got to make sure you don’t lose it as quickly.”DC were a depleted side against MI, without Axar and their star bowler Mitchell Starc, who didn’t return to India once the IPL resumed after a brief suspension earlier this month. DC fielded as many as five uncapped players compared to MI’s one.”I think if you look at the two teams before today’s fixture, it was a case of David and Goliath. So I enjoy that because it gives guys the opportunity to really play together as a team,” he said. “So credit to them. [Sameer] Rizvi today showed some signs. He’s got some talent there. But when you’re playing against a powerful team like this, you need to be at your best all the time.1:49

Moody: ‘DC bowlers should have used the surface more’

“And unfortunately, all 17-18 overs we were, and then the last two overs I thought we were pretty average. And then with the bat, you would need a good start on a surface like that, and we didn’t get going at all with the bat. So it sums up pretty much our season. We’ve been cold in either batting or bowling the last six or seven games.”And to be in the top four in the IPL, you can’t afford to do that. So probably a fair reflection not to make that top four.”Compared to the five wickets taken by MI’s spinners combined, DC’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam managed just one between them, which made them miss Axar even more.”Yeah, I think especially [missed] Axar on a wicket like that,” du Plessis said. “If you look at the way that Mitch Santner bowled, they’re very similar bowlers. To bowl four overs, I think [Santner] only went for ten runs. Axar is that kind of class bowler, international, proven left-arm spinner that on a wicket like that, he would love to bowl in it. But unfortunately, he was very, very sick the last two days.”Starcy, yes, of course [we missed him]. Starc is a fantastic bowler. But I think especially the spinners on a wicket like this, it’s worth gold.”

Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be aware of how unfavourably their big-hitting appears to compare

Danyal Rasool29-May-2025

Hasan Ali was key in Pakistan’s win in the first T20I•Associated Press

Big pictureThe Mike Hesson era in Pakistan cricket began just about as well as could be expected, Pakistan’s complete performance giving them a straightforward victory over Bangladesh. More than the result, it was the mindset Salman Agha’s side took into the game that suggests it may be the start of something promising. Despite the loss of two early wickets and a sluggish start, the Pakistan batters continued to attack, and Nos. 3-6 produced scores between 31 and 56. Crucially, all of them boasted strike rates between 164 and 200, when traditionally an anchoring role in the middle may have chipped a chunk off their total.Topping it up was a complete bowling performance, too. Bangladesh were never allowed to keep pace with the asking rate as Pakistan continued to bruise them with regular wickets. The returning Hasan Ali continued the form he produced in the PSL, his career-best figures of 5 for 30 the cherry on top of a perfect Pakistan start.For Bangladesh, the picture is significantly less rosy. A bright start with the ball was a false dawn as the visitors found themselves outplayed through much of the rest of the game. Most notably, it was their spinners – a skillset Bangladesh rightly take pride in – who found themselves rendered ineffective, Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain leaking 91 in their eight overs.With Pakistan adopting a big-hitting power game, Bangladesh will also be aware of how unfavourably their own appears to compare. Pakistan’s bowling attack is by no means the most economical, but tellingly, Bangladesh appeared unable to take the attack to them early, consequently easing pressure off the bowlers. Flashes from captain Litton Das and Jaker Ali weren’t nearly substantial enough and received little support from their team-mates as Bangladesh crumpled to defeat.However, Pakistan’s new system is still finding its feet, with the variance between a good performance and a poor one likely significant. Bangladesh’s game style offers a more stable level of baseline performance, one that, should they reproduce in either of the remaining games, could see them give Pakistan trouble.Form guidePakistan WLLWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLWWIn the spotlightThe only downside for Pakistan during a fairly complete performance was Haris Rauf’s figures of 0 for 36 in three. The Lahore Qalandars fast bowler had a difficult PSL in terms of economy, a poor run that appears to have continued into this series. Even when he bowled towards the tail-end of the game with the jeopardy taken out, he found himself being targeted by Jaker, and ended up as the most expensive fast bowler on either side. At his best, Haris has offered precious control in the middle and later overs of T20 innings, and for a more rounded bowling attack, Pakistan need him to rediscover that prowess.Jaker Ali is one of the few in-form batters for Bangladesh•Randy Brooks

Jaker Ali struck some meaty blows on Wednesday, once more confirming his growing stature as a gritty, aggressive cricketer. His penchant for refusing to give up in difficult situations has seen regard for him improve within Bangladesh cricket circles, and in a side where big hitting is in short supply, Jaker fills a crucial hole. He is also one of the few in-form batters in the side, and it would not be a surprise if he earns a promotion up the order.Team newsWhile Pakistan may use this series to try things out, they may not want to tweak much after a well-rounded performance in the first game. If anything, Abbas Afridi may come in for Haris Rauf.Pakistan (probable): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Haris (wk), 4 Hasan Nawaz, 5 Salman Agha (capt), 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Haris Rauf/Abbas Afridi, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Abrar AhmedBangladesh may want to bring Najmul Hossain Shanto back into the XI, but it isn’t who played and who didn’t that resulted in Wednesday’s defeat so much as a flat performance across the board.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali (wk), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Shoriful IslamTowhid Hridoy rebuilt slowly for Bangladesh•Associated Press

Pitch and conditionsThe weather conditions are unlikely to change, with hot and dry weather expected throughout the series. A fresh pitch will be used, but expect the same old batting-friendly conditions.Stats and triviaThe 201 Pakistan posted on Wednesday was their highest T20I total at the Gaddafi StadiumBangladesh have only once won a T20I series where they lost the first game, against West Indies in 2018Quotes”I’d like to dedicate this performance, above all, to myself. The amount of hard work I’ve done, I should give credit to myself, too.”

Liverpool scored their customary last-minute goal on Wednesday evening, with Virgil van Dijk smashing a header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner past Jan Oblak to make it 3-2.

And so Liverpool’s Champions League campaign is up and running. Atletico Madrid did well to scrape back from two goals down, with Marcos Llorente yet again a scourge on Anfield’s vociferous fans.

But this time, Diego Simeone’s strategems did not come up trumps, with Arne Slot’s Reds mastering the art of late pressure, applying vicious intensity on their opponents to reel away the victors when just moments before it looked like the spoils would be shared.

Bournemouth

Federico Chiesa

88′

Newcastle

Rio Ngumoha

90’+10

Arsenal

Dominik Szoboszlai

83′

Burnley

Mohamed Salah

90’+5

Atletico Madrid

Virgil van Dijk

90’+2

Three times already this season, the Merseysiders have squandered a two-goal lead, and that’s a big concern. However, there’s so much to like about this squad, who seem ready to challenge across multiple fronts while defending their Premier League title too.

A host of new signings have been made, but in recent days, it has been the veteran superstars, skipper Van Dijk and talisman Mohamed Salah, who have stepped up to keep the Slot machine pushing forward.

Liverpool's veterans keep on going

It was crucial that Liverpool tied Salah and Van Dijk down to contract extensions at the backend of the 2024/25 campaign. With a hectic summer of spending anticipated, calming forces would be needed to welcome and integrate the newbies.

And they are leading by example. The 34-year-old Van Dijk has been indomitable throughout the opening weeks of the term, while Salah retains his potency, even if his all-round performances have left something to be desired so far.

But not against Los Colchoneros. The Egyptian King, 33, turned back the clock with a bouncing display, assisting and scoring inside six minutes. Alexander Isak was making his debut for the Reds after his record-breaking move from Newcastle United, but it was Salah, so often Salah, who took the plaudits, reminding everyone that he is still the Reds’ go-to man in the final third.

These long-serving heroes have entered the final years of their joint Liverpool journey, and they will soon pass the torch.

Liverpool still plan to invest in an elite centre-back in the coming markets, but the frontline is all but secure, with two players in particular suggesting they can become talismanic figures themselves, playing with an air of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard’s one-time connection against Atletico in the Champions League.

Slot's own Suarez & Gerrard

We’ve already mentioned him, but Isak arrives at Liverpool with the opportunity to cement himself as a modern great. Anfield’s bosses forked out quite the pretty penny for his signature, and they expect to be repaid in a sea of goals.

Described as an “absolute nightmare” for defenders by Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer, Isak established himself as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe across his three years with Newcastle, and a new chapter on Merseyside promises the opportunity to take that one step further and rival Erling Haaland and Harry Kane as the very best in the business.

Isak is not just a deadly goalscorer but a dynamic and intelligent player. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 7% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 16% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Signs of this were seen under the bright Anfield lights on Wednesday, with Florian Wirtz putting in his best performance in a Liverpool shirt and showing off some delightful link-up play with the new number nine. The Athletic’s James Pearce noted he “played with a swagger” and that “his link up with Isak certainly bodes well”.

Against Atletico, Wirtz had seven touches in the penalty area, created five chances and two big chances, the most for each metric of any player on the field (data courtesy of Squawka).

There’s a budding connection there with Isak, for sure, and it very much could lead the pair toward something similar to that of Gerrard and Suarez in the past.

Before Suarez, there was Fernando Torres. Gerrard played with some fantastic forwards across his illustrious Liverpool career, but the Urugayan might just have been the pick of the bunch, remarking in 2012 that Suarez was the best player he had lined up with.

Eight times did Stevie G serve Suarez a goal, but that number could be dwarfed by Wirtz in providing Isak, so mighty is Liverpool’s project. They are expected to play many games together, Isak and Wirtz, and in a team that is comfortably among the best, the most dangerous in Europe.

Suarez was one of the best strikers in the world during his time at Liverpool. In 2013/14, he scored 31 goals and provided 13 assists in the Premier League, backed by Liverpool’s legendary No. 8, who commanded the midfield and fought tirelessly to open clear lanes toward the danger area, pinging aerial passes and threading through balls through to the maverick in the box.

Xabi Alonso shaped Wirtz into the player he is today at Bayer Leverkusen, and he noted that the attacking midfielder “is a genius”.

Even though the German has endured something of a slow start to life in England, yet to score or assist across five matches in the Premier League and one in Europe, the signs of a world-class player are there to see, and the 22-year-old has the full backing of his manager, having two key passes per game in the Premier League and looked likely and tenacious in the build-up.

With Isak, proven and deadly in the Premier League, now part of the team, Wirtz will expect to hit fluent form sooner rather than later, and fans will eagerly await Sunday’s Merseyside derby, Everton coming to Anfield at noon. One analyst has already remarked that the record signings’ “link-up looks terrifying”.

Just as with Gerrard and Suarez once upon a time, Liverpool now have two new sensations in the attacking third, and they might have what it takes to create a partnership for the ages, one akin to that of before, but this time giving rise to a trophy-laden period in Liverpool’s rich history.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo finally made good on a promise in the wake of his team's 2-2 draw with Hungary in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. The Al-Nassr forward had long promised to swap his shirt with Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai, and the midfielder confirmed after the match that he had finally got his hands on the Portugal icon's jersey.

• Szoboszlai denies Ronaldo and Portugal with late goal

  Ronaldo and Portugal looked set to book their spot at World Cup 2026 on Tuesday night as they led Hungary 2-1 until the dying moments of the game. Szoboszlai then popped up with a 91st minute equaliser to deny Portugal and ensure Robert Martinez's men must wait to confirm their place in next summer's tournament. Although there was disappointment for Ronaldo, it was still a memorable night for the Portuguese superstar as he scored twice to become the player with the most goals in World Cup qualifying. Ronaldo spoke of his pride after the game but also sounded out a strong message to his team as he urged Portugal to "seal qualification for the World Cup" in their next fixture in November.

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  Ronaldo finally hands over his shirt

  Szoboszlai has made no secret of his admiration for Ronaldo and first met the Portugal legend back in 2009 when he was a mascot. When Hungary took on Portugal earlier in the campaign, Szoboszlai was spotted asking for Ronaldo's shirt after the game but was left disappointed as the skipper had already given it away. Ronaldo did promise the Liverpool star he could have his jersey the next time they met and was true to his word on Tuesday night. Szoboszlai was asked by reporters after the game if he had managed to grab Ronaldo's shirt and said with a smile: "Yes, I received it."

• Szoboszlai lifts lid on late equaliser

  Szoboszlal enjoyed a memorable night in Lisbon. Not only did he take home Ronaldo's shirt, he also grabbed a goal and an assist in an influential performance. The Liverpool star spoke about the match afterwards, telling reporters: "We started well, we fought, we tried hard, we had a bit of a slump, but we managed to overcome it. The players who came on contributed a lot, so I'm proud of everyone. I'm proud of the whole team. I couldn't get to the near post anymore, so I went to the far post. I don't know how many legs the ball passed through, but it worked. After a start like that, it couldn't have ended any other way. Now we can prepare for the November games."

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• Portugal frustrated after letting slip win

  Meanwhile, Portugal star Bruno Fernandes admitted that he and his team-mate were frustrated after letting slip a victory in stoppage time. He told reporters after the match: "It's frustrating that we didn't get the win, but we're focused on what we have to do in the next stage, which is to win to qualify. That's our mindset. We got into their game in the final minutes. We opened up the field a lot and I think we were controlling the game well, creating a lot of chances. But suddenly, we wanted to play transitions, and it didn't work out for us. 

  "Our strength is having the ball and pinning teams back. It's always better to have the ball, pin teams down, and create our chances than to open up the field and end up playing a game of attacking transitions.Every game serves as a learning experience for the next one. We were able to win the game against Ireland, and we have to be able to win again to go to the World Cup. If we qualify for the World Cup, we'll still be favorites. We're favorites, just like the teams that qualify. It doesn't affect our confidence or what we can do as a team. 

  "They're a very good team with second balls and with space for dangerous players to create danger. We have to give credit to what they did."