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Liverpool are already reportedly working on their move to sign a £100m winger to replace Mohamed Salah, who was left out of the squad entirely for their trip to face Inter Milan.

Thierry Henry: Salah "wrong" for public Liverpool spat

In truth, Liverpool’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Elland Road feels like an eternity ago such is the drama that’s unfolded since. Salah’s bombshell is still leaving shrapnel around Anfield and around the Premier League, with Jamie Carragher delivering a brutal assessment on Monday Night Football and Thierry Henry since adding to that in midweek.

The Frenchman said on CBS’ Champions League show: “Look, nobody is talking about what Mo Salah has achieved in the game. We’re talking about a moment in time that I think he got wrong.

“You do not talk about your personal situation openly when your team is struggling. You do it in a dressing room. I’ve done it. I went to the dressing room and smashed everything in. I went to the office of the boss and complained about stuff.

“When I was at Barcelona, I went away with the team. They put me in the stand. Did you hear me talking about it? No. There is a team. You need to protect your team at all costs, all the time.”

"Similar" to Semenyo: Liverpool in daily talks to sign £88m Salah successor

Liverpool appear to have turned their attention to signing a suitable successor to Mohamed Salah.

ByRobbie Walls 4 days ago

Arne Slot, meanwhile, is still awaiting an apology and has at least seen his side bounce back from the Leeds game with a professional 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro.

The Athletic believe that Salah’s outburst was either aimed towards securing an exit away from the club or to put pressure on Slot’s position. If it is the former and there really is no way back then the Reds could reportedly turn their attention towards Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

Liverpool begin "work" on Barcola move

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are already “working” on a move to sign Barcola in an attempt to replace Salah in 2026. The PSG man is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal in France, leaving the door ajar for those at Anfield to make their move.

Sources told Caught Offside: “Liverpool have already begun background work on replacing Salah. A player they really like, and have been following closely for some time, is Bradley Barcola.”

Even though he’s yet to sign a new deal, Barcola’s current contract doesn’t expire until 2028. That means Liverpool will likely have to pay a premium fee to secure his signature, with reports in the summer suggesting that PSG value their winger at as much as £100m.

Dubbed “special” by Como scout Ben Mattinson last year, it’s easy to see why Barcola has emerged as an option to replace Salah. In 1,274 minutes so far this season – the same as around 14 games – the Frenchman has scored five goals and assisted another three from out wide.

Replacing Salah will be one of the toughest jobs that Richard Hughes has had as sporting director, but he may already have an ideal candidate in mind.

He could be captain after Van Dijk: £35m star very keen on joining Liverpool

Leeds United moved out of the relegation zone in the Premier League this week with an impressive 3-1 win over Chelsea at Elland Road on Wednesday night, in a game that was underpinned by Daniel Farke’s structural changes.

The German head coach, who has typically deployed a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 formation during his time at the club, opted to start with a 3-5-2 system against Enzo Maresca’s team.

It worked wonders for the Whites as they went on to claim all three points, thanks to goals from Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Why Leeds United's formation change worked so well

Changing from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 worked so well for the Whites because it allowed Jayden Bogle, who assisted the second goal, and Gabriel Gudmundsson to push higher up the pitch with three centre-backs providing enough cover defensively.

It also meant that the Whites could play with two strikers, instead of leaving one isolated on their own, and that led to Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha causing plenty of problems.

The two centre-forwards combined to win 13 duels against the Chelsea defenders and won four fouls, without committing any, per Sofascore, which shows that they were a nightmare to deal with throughout the game.

Nmecha, in particular, has benefitted from having Calvert-Lewin’s physicality alongside him. The German forward, who has scored four Premier League goals, has lost 69% of his ground duels this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he struggles with the physical side of leading the line on his own.

Having another, more physical, striker alongside him means that he can focus on making runs in behind and pressing opposition defenders, which is what makes it such an effective pairing, or at least what made it so effective against Chelsea.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Whilst Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin got the job done on Wednesday, Harry Gray could be perfect for the new role that Nmecha is now playing for Leeds.

Why Harry Gray should be unleashed in Lukas Nmecha's new role

Bringing young players into the first-team is difficult in any circumstance, but even more so in the Premier League with all that is at stake in a relegation battle.

Academy talents are not used to the physicality of professional football and may need time to adapt, particularly strikers, which is why this new role that Nmecha has could be perfect for Gray.

Farke must finally unleash the 17-year-old centre-forward for his Premier League debut in the coming weeks because playing alongside an experienced striker like Calvert-Lewin could be an ideal introduction to regular football at senior level.

Gray, who was described as the club’s “newest Wonderkid” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and his contributor Joe Blackburn, has scored a whopping ten goals in 11 games in all competitions for the academy this season, per Transfermarkt.

Appearances

3

Goals

2

Conversion rate

50%

Assists

1

Dribbles completed per game

2.0

Ground duel success rate

52%

Aerial duel success rate

38%

As you can see in the table above, the teenage forward has scored two goals in three EFL Trophy games, playing against League One and League Two sides, but has struggled with the aerial duels in those games.

This suggests that he would not be well-suited to playing as a lone striker in the Premier League for Leeds, as he would need to duel with towering top-flight centre-backs and hold the ball up under intense pressure, which is also where Nmecha struggled earlier this season.

Therefore, playing alongside Calvert-Lewin, who won six of his nine aerial duels against Chelsea (Sofascore), could be the perfect way for him to be introduced into the first-team this season.

Gray’s return of 14 goals in 20 U21s games and eight goals in 11 U18s matches for Leeds, per Transfermarkt, shows that he has the technical and goalscoring qualities to potentially make an impact for the Whites, but it is the physicality that is questionable.

Leeds now prioritising £35m move to sign South American defender ahead of Juventus

He’d be one of their most expensive arrivals.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 5, 2025

This change in formation from Farke, though, may alleviate those concerns because of how the two-striker system works, and that is why the manager should unleash the teen sensation in Nmecha’s role in the coming weeks.

The word coming from FSG’s camp is that Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool’s head coach is not immediately under threat.

However, the owners who watched as Liverpool dominantly conquered the Premier League last season are now staring down the barrel of a gun regarding the Dutchman’s future at the helm, with nine losses from 12 matches in all competitions an inexplicable slide in form.

Liverpool’s crisis of confidence has left their title defence in tatters, and Slot is now facing a fight to save his position at Anfield, with the upcoming run of league fixtures – West Ham United, Sunderland, Leeds United – over the next week sure to shape the narrative and whether this rut deepens.

FSG might feel that Liverpool’s title-winning boss still has some credit in the bank, but that will change if things don’t improve, and sporting director Richard Hughes has already compiled a list of potential replacements.

Hughes begins search for Slot successor

While Liverpool are not ready to pull the trigger, they would be remiss not to sound out a few options in the event that things continue to deteriorate on Merseyside.

Earlier this week, Spanish sources suggested Jurgen Klopp is back in the mix as Hughes looks for solutions, but this would not be the right path to travel back down. The legendary German departed Liverpool in 2024 after admitting he was tired from so many taxing years at the top.

However, the Reds might choose to move for another manager who is established as one of the best in the business, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique emerging as a contender.

Enrique, 55, was the man behind PSG’s incredible quadruple-winning 2024/25 season, previously reaping riches with Barcelona, and reports – via The Mirror – believe Liverpool have made him their long-term priority in the event of Slot’s dismissal.

The suggestion is that conversations have been held at boardroom level at Anfield, amid fears over whether Slot has lost the dressing room, hence why Enrique could be lined up as a potential successor.

Why Enrique could be perfect for Liverpool

Some critical observers would suggest that Liverpool started foundering after PSG knocked Slot out of the Champions League in the last 16. Certainly, the English side petered out as the season entered the business stretch.

An experienced and decorated manager, Enrique has been hailed as “the best manager in the world” by French journalist Julien Laurens for reaching unprecedented heights with PSG, creating a stable and multi-faceted attacking outfit that was practically invincible last season.

His fluid philosophy could be attracting Hughes’ interest. Enrique employs a 4-3-3 formation, but he’s experimental with his ideas, utilising full-back width and clever passing patterns in the build-up.

This could give rise to the qualities of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, but Alexander Isak might benefit most from this potential managerial switch.

Enrique’s teams score goals. Moreover, they do so with style. Ousmane Dembele would certainly attest to that.

The current crisis makes it easy to forget that Isak is one of the deadliest strikers of his generation, and Enrique’s acumen would surely see a system wrought to accommodate the 26-year-old’s qualities.

Isak looks a world away from that world-class striker who tore English football apart at St. James’ Park, but, as with several other summer recruits, he has struggled to adapt in a dysfunctional team.

Liverpool are hardly a hothouse for player growth at the moment, but that is why Enrique could be such an interesting pick.

They are hardly carbon copies, but Isak and Dembele share a likeness, and, considering this, Enrique could reshape the Swedish striker into a free-scoring superstar.

Dembele vs Isak (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)	Dembele	Isak
Goals scored	1.08	0.72
Assists	0.32	0.19
Shots taken	4.69	2.91
Touches (att pen)	7.94	5.93
Shot-creating actions	6.02	2.91
Pass completion	80.2	74.7
Progressive passes	7.46	3.25
Progressive carries	5.94	2.72
Successful take-ons	1.80	1.44
Ball recoveries	1.36	1.81
Tackles + interceptions	0.68	0.57
Data via FBref

While it might look like Isak pales in comparison to the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, different factors need to be considered. Isak plays in an ostensibly tougher league and was considered to be “the best striker” in England last season, as was said by pundit Jamie Carragher.

If anything, this bears testament to Enrique’s tactical prowess, and given the natural stylistic similarities, it could be the perfect move to finally unlock the latent qualities of Liverpool’s star striker.

He's like Semenyo: Liverpool to bid £105m for "world-class" Gakpo upgrade

Liverpool are gearing up to sign a left-sided forward in the transfer market this winter.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 28, 2025

As Rob Manfred continues to look for ways to spice up Major League Baseball, he apparently is considering a new out-of-the-box idea.

MLB's commissioner recently told Puck's John Ourand that the "Golden At-Bat" rule has been discussed throughout the league.

"There are a variety of [rule change ideas] that are being talked about out there. One of them—there was a little buzz around it at an owners' meeting—was the idea of a 'Golden At-Bat.'" Manfred said on podcast.

Most probably haven't heard of the proposal for a "Golden At-Bat," but the basic concept is that a team could choose one at-bat in every game to use its best hitter regardless of where they are in the lineup. So if, say the New York Yankees had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they could bring Aaron Judge to the plate even if it wasn't his turn in the order. It would be a one-time replacement, not a substitution like a pinch hitter.

There could be variations on it. As Jayson Stark points out, restricting the rule only to teams trailing at the time could be an interesting constraint. It could also lead to scenarios where a hitter bats one spot before his turn in the lineup, so what would happen if he gets on base? Would the original hitter take his spot on the bases, for the Golden hitter to step back in the batter's box for a second consecutive at-bat? There is a ton to think through here.

"That rule, and things like that, are in the conversation-only stage right now," Manfred clarified on the podcast.

One thing is for sure: If the "Golden At-Bat" rule is eventually implemented, scorecards are going to be an absolute mess.

Tottenham Hotspur are finding their feet in the Premier League this season and there is a swell of internal belief surrounding one of their most promising stars.

Tottenham's resilience leaves Frank delighted

Over the years, external narratives involving Spurs have questioned their mentality to grind out results when the pressure is on, but Thomas Frank appears to be in a position to reverse that trend.

Speaking after Tottenham’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leeds United last weekend, the Danish boss made it clear that his side have the dig needed to secure momentous victories even in testing circumstances.

He stated: “I think if you want to build any successful team you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness. No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win, and I think we are building that more and more in the team.”

Of course, stiffer tests are to come and Frank’s men will need to show they have the mettle to claim a regular stream of points. Regardless, one loss in seven Premier League fixtures is a marked improvement on last term.

Ambition inside the building will lead that charge, and Spurs’ reported move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a sign that they aren’t willing to settle for just being part of the chasing pack.

Agbonlahor says Frank should be worried about Tottenham star who gives "zero"

The pundit claims he can’t be relied upon.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 4, 2025

Putting that aside, Frank will need to focus on the talent he has at his disposal for now, even if the January window offers an opportunity to add new faces to his collective.

Listening to that advice, the Spurs manager now believes he has a player that can rival some of the world’s best in his position over the coming years.

Frank makes exciting Archie Gray prediction

Profiling his role, Frank believes Archie Gray could one day be as good as Declan Rice or Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, and has urged the former Leeds United man to take his game to the next level under his stewardship.

He stated: “I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position and these days midfielders need to be more complete.

Five similar players to Archie Gray (FBRef)
Marin Pongracic	Fiorentina
Clinton Mata	Lyon
Christian Mawissa	Monaco
Jean-Clair Todibo	West Ham United
Ismael Doukoure	Strasbourg

“You need to be a little bit of a six, a little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice. They can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie, and they are big names to compare him to, but I see he has got the same potential.”

Making 51 appearances for a club of Tottenham’s standing at 19 years of age is a commendable achievement, though it remains to be seen if the England Under-21 international can one day rival two of the Premier League’s most established midfielders.

India captain confirms the return of Jasprit Bumrah for the third Test at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-20252:38

Aaron: Akash has been through so much turmoil

India captain Shubman Gill has hailed the performance of his fast bowlers after India bounced back from the opening defeat at Headingley to level the series at Edgbaston. Akash Deep, who had replaced Jasprit Bumrah, led the way with his maiden ten-wicket haul in his eighth Test, including 6 for 99 in the final innings. Akash was ably backed up by Mohammed Siraj, who had picked up a six-for in England’s first innings, and Prasidh Krishna.”They [the bowlers] were magnificent,” Gill said at the post-match presentation. “I think the way we were able to get through the top order, that was very important for us. Both those bowlers bowled brilliantly. Even Prasidh, I felt, he didn’t get as many wickets as them, but he also bowled very brilliantly.”I think he [Akash Deep] bowled with so much heart and the areas and the lengths that he hit, he was just getting the ball to move both ways. On wickets like these, it’s very difficult to get the ball moving in both directions and he was able to do that. He was just magnificent for us.”Gill confirmed the return of bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the third Test, which begins at Lord’s on July 10. Bumrah was rested for the Edgbaston Test, meaning he will play two of the three remaining fixtures in the series.”Definitely (when asked about Bumrah). Very excited for that [playing at Lord’s],” Gill said. “Probably the most iconic cricket stadium in the world. And as a kid, everyone dreams about playing there. And I think no bigger honour than to be able to captain your country and lead the team there.”Gill delivered a glowing appraisal of India’s fast-bowling depth. “When two of your fast bowlers take 16-17 wickets, the captaincy becomes very easy,” Gill told the host broadcaster. “When two fast bowlers are in such good form… Bumrah was not playing in this match, but I think there is so much talent in India that the squad we have of 16-17 players, they have India’s best bowlers. And from them, any bowling attack can take 20 wickets in any situation or conditions.”Gill was pleased with his own form: he racked up scores of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston. His aggregate of 430 was the second highest in a Test match behind Graham Gooch’s 456 against India in 1990. Gill also became the second batter to make two 150-plus scores in a Test.”I’d say I’m feeling comfortable [with my batting],” Gill said. “I’m definitely feeling comfortable with my game and hopefully with my contribution, if we are able to win this series, that would be a great achievement for us.”

Barcelona are preparing meticulously for El Clasico against Real Madrid, with defender Pau Cubarsi revealing they are changing four key defensive elements to counter the threat of Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old prodigy is gearing up for a tough test against the French forward and Vinicius Junior when the injury-ravaged teams go head-to-head in Sunday's headline clash.

• Barcelona’s fragile defence and tactical overhaul

  As the Clasico countdown intensifies, Barcelona’s defensive line faces its toughest test of the season. La Blaugrana arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu amid an uncertain run that saw them lose to Paris Saint-Germain and suffer a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla, exposing Hansi Flick’s high defensive line and a lack of sharpness when pressed by top opponents. With key players like Robert Lewandowski, Andreas Christensen, Gavi and Joan Garcia out injured, Barca's preparation for the clash has been far from easy.

  To prepare, Cubarsi says Barcelona have “tweaked four things” with the aim of cutting off Madrid’s attacks and silencing Mbappe. Flick’s system has shifted slightly from a wide build-up to a narrower defensive structure, ensuring faster recovery runs and tighter marking on Madrid’s forwards.

  In contrast, Los Blancos though also struggling with injuries to David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal, the club have leaned heavily on the brilliance of Mbappe, who leads La Liga with 10 goals, and Vinicius, whose pace and dribbling remain game-changing. The French forward's explosiveness has turned him into Madrid’s focal point, while the Brazilian desire to regain his elite status adds edge to his game.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Cubarsi reveals Barcelona's defensive 'tweaks'

  Wins against Girona and Olympiacos in the past week have lifted Barca's spirits, but defender Cubarsi says a lot more work has been going on in the background to ensure they are ready for the upcoming test, focusing on Mbappe and Vinicius in particular.

  “Everyone knows who Mbappe is. We have to keep an eye on him and all of Madrid's world-class players," Cubarsi told reporters. “We've tweaked four things and it has to go well for us. We'll have to stop him in the best way possible, but especially focus on ourselves. We have to continue with our philosophy. Last year went well. Now the teams have evolved, but if we tweak a few things, we can improve."

  Asked about Vinicius, he added: "He's an agile and quick striker who moves into space. We have to be very alert at the back to stop him."

  The Barca centre-back further emphasised the importance of Flick, despite the fact that he is very likely to miss the bench against Madrid after being sent off against Girona. "He's important inside and outside. What we want is for him to help us from within; and if not, from outside," Cubarsi said.

• Barca must be extra cautious with Madrid's leading men

  Madrid’s forward line is the most lethal in Europe this season, powered by a reinvigorated Mbappe and a determined Vinicius. Mbappe’s 10 goals and two assists in just nine La Liga appearances have redefined Madrid’s attacking identity. His leadership and relentless drive have filled the void left by Karim Benzema, while his chemistry with Arda Guler has become Madrid’s main creative weapon.

  Vinicius, however, enters the Clasico with something to prove. Once the unstoppable left-wing force, he has struggled for rhythm and consistency under Xabi Alonso. His five goals and four assists in nine games reflect flashes of brilliance, but not dominance. Reports of him rejecting a new contract, wanting to be the highest-paid player at Madrid, have added an extra layer of tension to his form. Yet, Mbappe’s vocal support of him has steadied the dynamic. With Madrid also missing key defenders, Alonso will rely heavily on their directness and speed to test Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo early.

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• Getty
  

  Flick's men 'very positive' ahead of Clasico test

  Despite recent setbacks, Flick’s Barcelona still believe they can outplay Madrid with patience and identity. The German manager has urged his players to “trust their instincts” while correcting positional discipline, something missing in recent games. Flick’s expected absence from the touchline due to suspension will be a psychological blow, but his tactical imprint remains clear.

  After a 6-1 win against the Greek side in midweek, Cubarsi feels positive as he addressed his ability to adapt to a new position in defence.

  “Scoring six goals for a Champions League team boosts your morale and helps you be more focused in front of goal. It's a very, very positive thing,” he said. "I haven't played that many games on the left and I felt like I was in a more familiar position, but it's also helped me improve football-wise. It doesn't change much, although on the right, since I've played there more, I find space and open players more quickly. I like the left, and it will help me in the future."

  He further added: “We're all at a spectacular level. I'm also very comfortable with Eric [Garcia], just as I was at the Olympics alongside him. With this season's center backs, we can achieve great things.”

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

Gaikwad suffered an elbow injury while batting in the last game against Royals

Deivarayan Muthu04-Apr-20255:46

Rayudu on home fans rooting for CSK wickets: Only Dhoni can address it

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is a doubtful starter for their home game against Delhi Captals (DC) at Chepauk on Saturday. MS Dhoni is likely to take over captaincy if Gaikwad doesn’t recover in time.Gaikwad had suffered a blow on his unprotected elbow against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati last Sunday after stepping out to Tushar Deshpande and missing the ball in the second over in CSK’s unsuccessful chase of 183.”Yeah, we’re hoping he [Gaikwad] is going to try and have a bat today for training,” Mike Hussey, CSK’s batting coach, said at his press conference on the eve of the match against DC. “And, yeah, it [elbow] is still a little bit sore, but it’s improving every day. So, we’re very hopeful that he’ll be fine for tomorrow.Related

Upbeat Delhi Capitals aim for a hat-trick as CSK fret over Gaikwad injury

CSK face a tricky situation with Dhoni the batter

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“I don’t think we’ve actually thought about that [captaincy] too much. Well, I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m sure Stephen Fleming [CSK head coach] and Rutu have thought about that. But we’ve got some young guy coming through. He’s behind the stumps. Maybe he can do a good job. I’m not sure. He’s got a bit of experience in the role, so maybe he could do it. But I’m not exactly sure, to be honest.”After being struck on the forearm last weekend, Gaikwad received some treatment on the field and continued to bat, scoring his second half-century in three matches this season. On Friday, Gaikwad only had a light workout for about ten minutes, taking throwdowns outside the nets. If he isn’t available to play, CSK will have to find a new top-order batter as well.Devon Conway, who was among the first group of batters to bat the nets on Friday, might be frontrunner to come in for Gaikwad and perhaps open with Rahul Tripathi, with Rachin Ravindra dropping down to No. 3. That may force CSK to leave out Jamie Overton and bring in an Indian fast bowler in Anshul Kamboj.Dhoni, 43, is functioning at reduced capacity, with Fleming saying his knees don’t allow him to bat too long. He has been CSK captain since their inception in 2008, barring the two years they were suspended and a few matches in 2022 when they tried handing over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja and it didn’t work out. Dhoni last led the team in the IPL final in 2023. CSK won that game, adding a fifth IPL title to their collection. But when the new season began, they had appointed Gaikwad as captain. CSK finished fifth in 2024, and missed the playoffs on net run rate.Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed, Tamil Nadu’s C Andre Siddarth and Delhi’s Vansh Bedi are the reserve Indian batters in the CSK squad, but all three are uncapped in the IPL.Mumbai teenager Ayush Mhatre, who recently broke Yashasvi Jaiswal’s record for the youngest batter to hit a 150-plus score in List A cricket, has joined CSK’s camp as a support player. It is understood that Mhatre’s presence in the camp is unrelated to Gaikwad’s injury or any other potential injury concerns.

Tottenham Hotspur have sealed a deal to sign a versatile teenage forward from Scottish giants Celtic.

Tottenham targeting big attacking signing before deadline

Despite agreeing personal terms with Eberechi Eze, he decided to snub Spurs and sign for rivals Arsenal last week. As a result, Tottenham are on the search for a new marquee attacking addition before Monday’s transfer deadline.

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Daniel Levy has so far spent around £118m for Thomas Frank, who has begun his time in charge of Spurs with back-to-back Premier League wins.

Mohammed Kudus

West Ham

£55m

Mathys Tel

Bayern Munich

£30m

Kevin Danso

Lens

£21m

Luka Vuskovic

Hajduk Split

£12m

Kota Taka

Kawasaki Frontale

£5m

Joao Palhinha

Bayern Munich

Loan

Tottenham haven’t conceded a goal in the victories against Burnley and Manchester City, but with James Maddison sidelined with a serious injury, Frank is after another new face in the final third.

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Talking before the win at the Etihad, Frank, who also missed out on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White earlier int he summer, said he is “confident” of making a signing before the window shuts.

“In general I don’t want any players that don’t want to come to this club and wear this fantastic badge. We don’t want them here and I’m sure the fans feel the same.

“We are in the market and we will look to strengthen the team. We have a good squad and good players [but] we need to do everything we can to be as competitive as possible. I am confident we will sign a player before the end of the window. Every club wants to sign players as early as possible, but it’s not that easy.”

That player could be RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, with Spurs looking at hijacking Chelsea’s move for the Netherlands star.

At academy level, though, Spurs have now sealed an attacking signing, with an announcement already made.

Tottenham agree deal to sign teenage forward Conall Glancy from Celtic

Making the move to north London is teenage forward Conall Glancy, who was previously on the books at Celtic.

In an official statement, Spurs revealed that Glancy, 16, has joined the club as a first-year scholar and will play for the U18s.

A versatile youngster who was in the goals last season, Glancy, should he impress, will be able to pen professional terms when he turns 17.

He’ll be a name to keep an eye on in the academy, but at first team level, Spurs continue to work on an attacking addition who will make an instant impact for Frank.