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The fans might still be basking in what ended up being a brilliant Premier League weekend, but Arsenal now have to shift their focus to the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently sitting on a 100% record in the competition after wins against Athletic Club and Olympiacos, but will face their biggest challenge against Atlético Madrid.

While famous for their defensive nous in seasons past, Diego Simeone’s side are looking a far more potent threat this year, and should give the Emirates faithful a spectacle.

However, to ensure his team comes out on the right side, Arteta might need to make a few changes and keep a keen eye out for two particularly dangerous Atleti stars.

Atlético Madrid's dangermen

Unfortunately for Arteta and Arsenal, more than a handful of Atlético Madrid players could cause them some real trouble on Tuesday night, but there are two who perhaps stand out above the rest.

Chalkboard

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

The first is, of course, Julián Alvarez, who the Gunners will already be all too familiar with due to his time winning Premier League titles with Manchester City at their expense.

However, while the Argentine has ultimately had the last laugh over the North Londoners, his personal record against them isn’t great, as in the four matches he’s played against Arteta and Co, he has won two, lost two and failed to score or assist a goal.

Yet, the player fans saw leave England last summer is not the same one who’s become Atléti’s talisman, as in 57 appearances last season, totalling 3967 minutes, he scored 29 goals and provided eight assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 107.21 minutes.

Then, so far this season, the Calchín-born monster has scored seven goals and provided three assists in ten appearances, totalling 800 minutes, which is an astounding average of a goal involvement every game, or every 80 minutes.

Appearances

57

10

Minutes

3967′

800′

Goals

29

7

Assists

8

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

1.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.21′

80′

There is no doubt that Alvarez is the most dangerous player for the Spanish side.

Even so, Arteta and Co cannot forget about Antoine Griezmann, as while he’s no longer as prolific as he once was, he is still more than capable of causing trouble and pulling strings from just behind the centre-forward – plus he scored his 200th goal for the club last month.

In all, the attack is what Arsenal have to worry about most from Atlético, so it’s good that the Gunners’ defence is their biggest strength, although Arteta should make at least one change to it.

The change Arteta should make

It should go without saying that for a game of this magnitude, William Saliba and Gabriel Mageheles simply have to start, and Jurrien Timber probably should as well, leaving Riccardo Calafiori as the man to come out of the side.

Now, this is no slight on the Italian international, as he has been exceptional for much of the campaign, so much so that it would be hard to disagree with one analyst’s opinion that he has been “Arsenal’s Player of the Season so far.”

However, there are a few reasons he should come out of the lineup for this game, the first of which is his fitness record.

24/25

175

30

23/24

4

2

22/23

53

15

21/22

73

18

20/21

118

33

19/20

43

5

18/19

291

75

Since joining the club last summer, the former Bologna gem has missed 30 games for club and country through injury, four of which have been problems with his knee.

So, considering he has already started nine games this season, it would make sense to let him sit this game out, as losing him to fatigue could be detrimental to the league campaign.

Second, while he is a maverick on the pitch and really helps out with attacks, it would be fair to say he has not shown himself to be quite as solid defensively, especially when compared to the player who should come in to replace him: Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The incredibly talented Hale Ender was Arteta’s starting left-back for much of last season, and while he has the ability to help out offensively, and has a wand of a left foot, he’s even better when it comes to locking down attackers.

For example, he helped keep a clean sheet at home against Real Madrid last season, and then looked brilliant at the Bernabeu as well.

The 19-year-old has a real tenacity about him, an edge that makes opposition attackers think twice before having a go, and that is why he has been hailed as a “future captain” by club insider Hand of Arsenal.

Ultimately, with Calafiori needing a rest and Lewis-Skelly being more than good enough to lock down Alvarez and Co, this change feels like a no-brainer for Arteta.

Arsenal have signed a "monster" who could help Saka reach Henry's level

The potentially game-changing Arsenal star could help Saka reach the levels of Henry.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 20, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Após grande desempenho com a camisa do PAOK, da Grécia, o volante Douglas foi contratado pelo Nantes em agosto de 2023. E em sua primeira temporada na França, ele foi o grande destaque da sua equipe e um dos principais da Ligue 1 na sua posição.

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Com 27 jogos pelo Nantes, Douglas chegou e logo foi se consolidando na equipe titular. Ele terminou a temporada como o jogador que mais desarmou no seu time e figurou entre os quatro principais desse quesito na Ligue 1.

Cria do Fluminense e com passagens por Bahia e Corinthians, Douglas está na europa desde 2019. Ele falou sobre o término de mais uma temporada, a sua primeira na França. Além disso, o brasileiro também comentou sobre o título do PAOK, que conquistou o Campeonato Grego.

continua após a publicidade

– Estou muito feliz pelo desempenho que tive aqui nesta temporada. Meu primeiro ano na França, precisei me adaptar rapidamente e graças a Deus consegui desempenhar um bom papel. Acho que o trabalho no dia a dia fez com que conseguisse alcançar bons números no campeonato. Quando o Nantes demonstrou interesse no meu trabalho, fiquei muito feliz e sabia que precisaria corresponder. Não fizemos uma temporada da forma que queríamos, mas tenho certeza que a próxima será diferente. E queria aproveitar para dar os parabéns ao PAOK pela conquista da Liga. Fiquei alguns anos no clube e tenho um carinho imenso por todos lá. Merecem esse título e muito mais – afirmou.

Tudo sobre

Nantes

After Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from Manchester United in October last year, it was always going to be crucial that the hierarchy made the right call with their next appointment.

The Red Devils board turned to Ruben Amorim to fill the void, but around 13 months on from his arrival, he’s still struggling to provide the goods on a consistent basis.

He’s currently achieving a 41% win record in his 56 matches in charge at Old Trafford to date, with the 40-year-old only registering a total of 23 victories across all competitions.

His 3-4-2-1 system is yet to be seen in full flow, as numerous players are still getting used to the demands of the manager’s intricate system in the Premier League.

One player in particular has had to adapt his playstyle over the last couple of months as a result of the switch, but he’s struggled in 2025/25 – as seen by his stats in recent weeks.

The stats behind Dalot’s struggles in 2025/26

Diogo Dalot was signed by United back in 2018 from boyhood club Porto, with the Portuguese star seen as the long-term solution at right-back at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has already racked up over 200 senior appearances for the Red Devils since his transfer, but concerns have been raised about his performance levels in 2025/26.

He’s been asked to operate in a more advanced right-wing-back role as a result of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system – a position in which he’s massively struggled to date.

In his 11 appearances in the Premier League, he’s massively struggled in possession, as seen by his lowly tally of just 2.8 progressive passes completed per 90.

Such a tally ranks him within the bottom 20% of all full-backs in the division this season, further showcasing his lack of impact when in possession this campaign.

Going forward, he’s also massively struggled to impress, as seen by his tally of just 1.7 passes into the final per 90 – which also places him in the bottom 14% of other defenders in the league.

When he gets himself into shooting positions, Dalot has also massively struggled in the Premier League, as seen by his tally of zero shots on target, the joint-worst of any player in the division.

It’s evident that he’s massively struggled to impress since the arrival of his compatriot, with the manager desperately needing to address the situation in such an area.

The star who can end Dalot’s Man Utd career

In an attempt to fix the issues in the wing-back department, Amorim has put faith in Amad Diallo to try and nail the place down as his own in recent months.

The Ivorian, who’s primarily a winger, has managed to impress in the role, with the 23-year-old netting 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

In the current season, the youngster has continued to impress, already netting a goal and two assists – with his only goal a tremendous strike in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

However, the manager could be presented with an issue in the months ahead, with the player set to join up with the Ivory Coast national team for the African Cup of Nations.

Despite the issues, the manager could call upon academy star Bendito Mantato to try and fill the void and solve the long-standing problem in wide areas.

The Englishman joined the academy at the age of nine, subsequently spending his entire youth years with the Red Devils and is now a star performer in the youth ranks.

He’s made three appearances for the U18 squad during the early stages of this season, but has managed to impress – as seen by his tally of three goals and three assists.

Mantato, who started out as a winger, has even played as a full-back for the academy sides, subsequently allowing him to make 11 appearances for the under-21 side this campaign.

As a result of his recent performances, analyst Ben Mattinson has already labelled “explosive” – even touching on his ability to get up and down the pitch with his tireless nature.

Games played

14

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

89%

Successful dribbles

1.1

Tackles made

3.4

Duels won

6.7

Duels won

49%

Fouls won

1.3

The youngster starred in the U18s 7-0 demolition of Liverpool at the weekend, with the wideman finding the net early on to get the ball rolling against their bitter rivals.

At just 17, expectations will no doubt have to be managed by the club and Amorim, but it’s evident that he’s a player with bags of talent and potential for the future.

However, if he does manage to continue his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t replace Dalot in the first-team setup and save the hierarchy millions.

The Portuguese international is certainly on borrowed time at Old Trafford, with the full-back needing a miracle to prevent the hierarchy from looking at options to replace him.

Better than Dorgu: Man Utd plot move to sign 'the world's most coveted LB'

Manchester United look set to make yet another big-money move in the defensive department.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 2, 2025

Crystal Palace could make a January move for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, with the Portuguese club’s stance on sanctioning a departure recently being revealed.

The interest in the Sporting star comes amid major doubt over Marc Guehi’s future, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United among the main suitors within the Premier League, while interest is also building from across Europe.

Losing Guehi would undoubtedly be a major blow, with the captain continuing to impress over the past few weeks, having kept clean sheets in three of his last four matches in all competitions.

However, with the 25-year-old’s contract set to expire next summer, it is looking extremely unlikely the Eagles will be able to keep hold of him, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of a potential replacement.

Crystal Palace could make January move for Ousmane Diomande

According to a report from Record (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace could make a renewed approach to sign Diomande in the January transfer window, having initially set €55m (£49m) aside to bring in the Sporting CP defender during the summer.

However, it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, with the Portuguese club eager to keep hold of the centre-back, given their aspirations of winning the Liga Portugal title, meaning Palace may have to trigger his €80m (£71m) release clause.

With the 21-year-old also being described as one of the ‘most coveted’ players in Sporting’s squad, Oliver Glasner’s side may face competition in the race for his signature, but it would be a major statement of intent if they were able to lure him to Selhurst Park.

Indeed, the youngster could have a big future ahead, given the praise he has received from scout Ben Mattinson, who dubbed the Sporting star as a “hybrid” between Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba, while also adding “he could become a monster in no time”.

Despite his age, the starlet has already built up a wealth of first-team experience, making 109 appearances for the Portuguese side, including 11 in the Champions League, which suggests he may now be ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Signing Diomande would undoubtedly soften the blow of losing Guehi, but the potential transfer fee of £71m could be an issue, given that Crystal Palace paid just £27m for their record signing, Christian Benteke.

Crystal Palace also targeting Ezri Konsa to replace Marc Guehi Crystal Palace identify Ezri Konsa as new target amid Marc Guehi uncertainty

The Eagles have joined the race for Konsa, with Guehi poised to leave on a free transfer next summer.

1 ByDominic Lund Oct 31, 2025

Just a matter of weeks ago Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim cut a forlorn figure.

He looked ready to give up. The Red Devils were a sinking ship and Amorim was being engulfed by the stress and pressures of being the top man at Old Trafford.

Yet, he has turned a corner and all of a sudden, United look in the hunt for a top four berth, pouncing on the inconsistencies of the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in recent weeks.

United have now only lost one of their last six matches and have only dropped points in one of their last four outings. It’s an amazing run of form considering how the Amorim era has played out to date.

The Portuguese’s side still have room for improvement, of course they do, but it’s impossible to deny that he isn’t a good coach. He has, after all, managed to revive the careers of Luke Shaw and in-form midfielder Casemiro.

Yet, while the Brazilian has now found the net in successive matches, his companion in defence, Diogo Dalot continues to struggle. United have improved but they still have issues.

Why Dalot has become a big problem for Manchester United

When Amorim was first given the job, he came to English football with a clear style and philosophy. He traditionally plays with a three-man defence, utilising wing-backs to provide the width.

That area of the field is a pivotal one for the manager and it beggars belief that they haven’t strengthened more there.

Amad Diallo has found a home at right wing-back, notably scoring in the draw with Nottingham Forest and striking up a fine partnership with Bryan Mbeumo down the flanks.

Sadly, the left flank continues to be a big problem. Patrick Dorgu is the only senior wing-back that INEOS have signed since Amorim was appointed but the young Dane has not covered himself in much glory since joining.

As a result, alternative solutions have been sought, one of which has been Dalot.

The Portugal international has featured at left-back of left wing-back on 34 occasions in Man United colours but it’s safe to say he’s far more competent on the right.

Dalot was particularly poor at The City Ground a few days ago with the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston handing the defender a 3/10 rating, writing that ‘there are always question marks around Dalot when he plays on the left side and he was exposed at various stages of the contest.’

Minutes played

68

Touches

43

Accurate passes

21/24 (88%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/2

Shots

0

Possession lost

12x

Tackles

1

Interceptions

2

Clearances

3

Dorgu has by no means been much better on the left but he is at least more natural in that position and will give Amorim the rampaging style of play he prefers from his wing-backs.

So, what’s the solution? Well, perhaps there’s one lying in wait at Carrington.

Identifying Man United's Diogo Dalot solution

The most obvious solution here is to exclusively field the 26-year-old on the right, but with Amad having made that position his own in 2025/26, it really does feel as though Dalot is on borrowed time at Old Trafford.

Couple that with some of the young talent United have coming through and the future certainly looks bleak for Dalot.

One talent coming through is Diego Leon and they must start to hand him more minutes before they risk an Alvaro Carreras repeat.

The wing-back has gone around the houses to reach Real Madrid, going via Preston North End and suffering from Erik ten Hag’s rejection before ending up at the world’s most famous football club.

Ten Hag never played him. In fact, Carreras never featured in a single competitive game for United before leaving. That said, he’s been able to thrive away from Manchester and is now seriously catching the eye for Madrid after leaving Benfica behind in a deal worth a whopping £43m.

The fact he left United for just £5m must now leave a seriously bad taste in the mouth of those at Old Trafford.

Carreras has been in the news of late after scoring his first Real goal just last week, belting the ball home in quite some fashion.

The 22-year-old has become a mainstay in Xabi Alonso’s side this season, starting every LaLiga game and playing more minutes (981) than any outfield player in the Bernabeu ranks.

As some have suggested on social media, he is now regarded as “one of the best full-backs in the world”, notably ranking inside the top 2% of wide defenders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes per 90 minutes and among the best 9% for interceptions per 90, according to FBRef.

What might have been for United, eh, but perhaps they have another version of Carreras in the academy?

In The Pipeline

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

Step forward Leon, signed from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno for just £3.3m in the summer. An exciting wing-back, he is yet to feature competitively for United but looks like he has the potential to thrive in the Premier League before too long.

For the U23s this season, the 18-year-old has played just three times but he’s already found the back of the net. Like Carreras’ goal for Madrid, it was a remarkable effort too.

The teenager has been in the matchday squad in the Premier League on three occasions and it is surely only a matter of time before we see him in action. After all, Dalot’s position is under threat and Dorgu is yet to convince many.

So, what’s so exciting about the young Paraguayan? Well, as analyst Ben Mattinson outlines, he is a “powerhouse”.

Revealing more about the wing-back, Mattinson noted that “the standout trait of Leon is his physicality”, adding that “with a broad, compact build he’s able to dominate duels with real aggression despite his young age.”

But, Leon isn’t just about winning duels, something that is vital in the English top-flight. The defender is also strong going forward. Mattinson further commented that Leon “is a powerful runner who takes on players with explosiveness and directness.”

So, he’s got the powerful running style that Dorgu possesses but pivotally, he also looks like a very strong defender.

Whisper it quietly but the teen looks as though he’s got all the raw attributes needed to be a success in English football. Watch out Dalot and Dorgu, Leon is coming for your place.

Tottenham Hotspur may have been knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle United on Wednesday night, but they have had a strong start to life under Thomas Frank.

The Lilywhites are third in the Premier League after nine matches, with five wins and just two defeats, and their recruitment in the summer has played a significant role in that.

Spurs splashed out £55m to sign winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, and he has hit the ground running in North London.

The left-footed star has scored one goal and provided four assists in nine appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third.

Spurs eyeing repeat of Mohammed Kudus transfer

With the January transfer window on the horizon, the Europa League champions are reportedly keen on a star who could be Kudus 2.0 for the club.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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A report from Spain explains that Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a move to sign West Ham United and England forward Jarrod Bowen to add to their options at the top end of the pitch.

Fabio Paratici has identified the Hammers star as a player who can add fluidity to their squad, as he can play out wide as a winger or through the middle as a centre-forward.

It adds that Spurs are willing to make a move to sign the 28-year-old attacker in a deal that could be worth £53m, but it remains to be seen whether or not that would be enough for West Ham to sanction his departure.

Why Jarrod Bowen would be a Mohammed Kudus repeat

If the Lilywhites are able to convince the Hammers to sell Bowen to them in January, the English star would come in as a Kudus repeat, for several reasons.

The obvious similarity would be that the attacker would be another left-footed forward joining Spurs from West Ham for a fee of more than £50m.

However, the main reason why Bowen would be a Kudus repeat for Tottenham is because he is another Premier League-proven star who could come in to hit the ground running for Frank.

The former Hull City star, who was dubbed a “game changer” by reporter Roshane Thomas, scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions for the Hammers in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, and has started the current season in impressive form.

Jarrod Bowen (Premier League)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

34

9

xG

8.64

1.01

Goals

13

3

Big chances created

11

2

xA

6.47

1.17

Assists

8

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £53m-rated attacker has outperformed his xG since the start of last season, showing that he is clinical and reliable in front of goal, unlike Dominic Solanke, who scored nine goals from 10.97 xG for Spurs last term.

To date, Bowen has scored 59 goals and assisted a further 44 in 209 appearances in the Premier League for West Ham, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has proven himself over a significant period of time.

These statistics show that he has the quality to deliver consistently at the top end of the pitch in the English top-flight, as he has provided a regular stream of goals and assists for the Hammers throughout his time at the London Stadium.

This suggests that he would be able to hit the ground running in North London as a signing who could slot straight into the team and make an impact in the final third, as he knows the division and has proven his quality.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 31, 2025

Therefore, signing Bowen in January would be a Kudus repeat for the Europa League champions because he is another ready-made Premier League star who could bolster Frank’s squad as an upgrade on Solanke as a finisher up front.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo esgotado e contando os dias para deixar a presidência do Corinthians, Duílio Monteiro Alves sonha sair em alta do clube alvinegro. Sem títulos, a ideia é entregar uma grande conquista administrativa até o dia 31 de dezembro, quando o mandatário do Timão passará o bastão para o seu sucessor, que será eleito no dia 25 de novembro. 

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Desde a eliminação corintiana na Conmebol Sul-Americana para o Fortaleza, no dia 3 de outubro, a diretoria tem discutido possibilidades de, pelo menos, fazer uma grande entrega antes deste ano terminar. 

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Sem mais alternativas de conquistas no futebol e com a janela de transferências fechadas, o grande objetivo é buscar reduzir significativamente a dívida do Corinthians, que hoje é superior a R$ 900 milhões. No entendimento interno, a forma mais viável para fazer isso acontecer é através de alguma parceira comercial ou até com possíveis investidores.

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A ideia é que inicie um período de ataque forte do Corinthians ao mercado, buscando empresas capazes de investirem em ações específicas do Corinthians ou até mesmo patrocinar o clube com valores superiores aos que são pagos atualmente. Alguns contratos se encerram em dezembro, e o desejo é tentar superar o lucro deles. 

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Algumas pessoas no Timão estão animadas com a possibilidade de contribuírem com a realização de, pelo menos, uma ação importante até o fim do ano. Porém, internamente, o clima é de pés no chão e consciência de que isso é bastante complicado.

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É por isso, por exemplo, que a diretoria sentiu tanto o baque da desclassificação na Sul-Americana. Ele entende que o trabalho de gestão foi bem-feito, mas a ausência de sucesso no futebol apagará os restantes das ações, o que não aconteceria no caso do Timão conquistar o torneio continental. 

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VAI INTERFERIR NA ELEIÇÃO

Essa movimentação de Duílio e a sua equipe também colocará de vez o atual mandatário como peça ativa na disputa eleitoral. Monteiro Alves é membro do grupo ‘Renovação e Transparência’, mas se manteve alheio às manifestações políticas que aconteceram durante este ano. Ele até mesmo se distanciou de membros influentes do coletivo e foi contrário à escolha de André Luiz de Oliveira, o André Negão, como candidato.

Porém, a tendência é que o mandatário atual abrace a causa da ‘R&T’, principalmente após a crítica pública feita ao candidato da oposição Augusto Mello, que foi contrário à contratação de Mano Menezes como técnico há duas semanas, no dia seguinte à demissão de Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Duilio ficou revoltado com a postura de Mello. O atual presidente entende que o candidato tornou política uma tomada de decisão que era fundamental para o futebol corintiano.

Ousmane Dembele may be a Ballon d’Or winner, but former Ligue 1 star Chris Waddle claims that the Paris Saint-Germain forward can look “like a fourth division player” at times. The France international has been named the best player on the planet in 2025, with an era of dominance from all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being brought to a close.

• End of an era: Messi and Ronaldo no longer Ballon d'Or contenders

  Argentine GOAT Messi won his eighth Golden Ball in 2023 on the back of helping his country to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022. He and Ronaldo now have 13 Ballons d’Or between them, with remarkable standards being set by two of the best to ever do it.

  Messi is, however, 38 years of age and plying his trade in MLS with Inter Miami, while CR7 is 40 and still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. They are no longer perennial contenders for the grandest of individual prizes.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Rodri succeeded by Dembele as best player on the planet

  Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2024, on the back of landing another Premier League title and savouring European Championship glory with his country. Dembele inherited that award 12 months on, with the mercurial talents of Barcelona’s teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal being fended off for now.

• Great players: Does PSG star Dembele tick that box?

  Ex-England international Waddle, who starred for Marseille in France during his playing days, has – while speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer football odds – said of the successors to Messi and Ronaldo’s crown: “I think people are too invested in stats. If a player is the top goalscorer, it proves they're the best at scoring goals, but that doesn't necessarily make them a great player. I've had discussions about this: there are great goalscorers and then there are great players, like Lionel Messi. Why did Ronaldo and Messi always win the Ballon d'Or?

  “Not now, obviously, Ousmane Dembele won it. Dembele is an off-the-cuff player who sometimes dribbles like Messi, but other weeks he looks like a fourth division player. You never know what you're going to get with him. He's a dribbler.

  “There are great goalscorers, but getting a great player is a different thing. Messi, yes, a great player. As is Ronaldo. When you look at goalscorers, I always judge people as just that: goalscorers. They're not necessarily the greatest players in the world. You can see people who have scored 30 goals in a season, but realistically you think, ‘He doesn't really do anything else. He scores the goals for them, but he doesn't really dribble, doesn't link the play up well, doesn't really hit it well.’ So, you're good at your job as a goalscorer.

  “Wayne Rooney was an all-around player. Alan Shearer was a great goal scorer, a good target man who could hold the ball up, but he was judged on his goals. Harry Kane, as I said, can play as a nine or a ten. He is an all-around footballer who can score his own goals. I think if Harry Kane came back, if he had that in his head, I believe Harry does like his stats. If he did come back, and purely wanted to come back to beat Shearer’s record, then there's a fair chance he'd definitely beat it.

  “He can score all types of goals and can also play as a number ten. There aren't many centre forwards, if you're talking about goal scorers, who can play as both a ten and a nine. Wayne Rooney obviously played as a ten more than a nine, but Harry Kane can definitely play both.”

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  Future Ballon d'Or winner? Kane in contention amid transfer talk

  Free-scoring Bayern Munich striker Kane has seen a return to the Premier League speculated on, with there a clause in the contract of Tottenham’s all-time leading marksman that can be triggered in the summer of 2026.

  Ex-Spurs star Waddle would like to see Kane back in north London, but has urged the England captain to remain outside of his comfort zone and take on another entirely new challenge. It has been suggested that Kane could become another ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid alongside Kylian Mbappe and international team-mate Jude Bellingham.

Let’s be clear: Liverpool have not looked that good this season. Four times have Arne Slot’s side had to dig deep in the Premier League and find something within the dying embers to secure all three points.

And yet, Liverpool have only played four matches in the Premier League this season, and have indeed won all four, and have started their title defence flawlessly, the only side to have done so.

Now, domestic action takes a breather, and the Champions League campaign begins. The Reds host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening, kicking off their eight-part group phase.

Defeated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain last season in the round of 16, Liverpool know they need to start strongly. Even so, their stunning top place finish in the group phase last year still pitted them against PSG, who had been subpar early on.

Liverpool have won every game in the Premier League this season, but they have also lacked their usual fluency and fizz in the final third.

Florian Wirtz joined for £116m in the summer, but the German has left plenty to be desired so far, and the question will be posed as to whether he should be dropped.

Wirtz's start to life at Liverpool

Wirtz, 22, left his German homeland cherished as one of the country’s modern greats. Indeed, journalist Chris Stonadge hailed him as a “generational talent” after playing an instrumental role in Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible championship of 2023/24.

But there’s no denying he’s struggled to get going for Slot’s Liverpool so far, assisting Hugo Ekitike in the Community Shield but blanking across his first four appearances in England’s top flight.

Might Liverpool be ready to place their midfield maestro on the bench? Wirtz, to be sure, has been somewhat below his best since joining the Premier League champions, but he’s still a world-class player and will soon crack the nut.

And anyway, he has demonstrated an incredible level of ability on the continental stage, starring for Leverkusen in the Champions League last season and picking up five Man of the Match awards, more than any other player.

It was his first foray into the competition.

It would be bold for Slot to drop Wirtz ahead of the opening night of the Champions League season, but the Dutch coach could make an even more contentious call by withdrawing one of Liverpool’s most instrumental figures from the starting line-up on Wednesday evening.

Slot could boldly axe Liverpool's talisman

It’s not been the smoothest start to the season for Mohamed Salah, and yet he has scored twice and assisted one goal across four games in the Premier League. This is Salah. This is what he does.

However, Slot is catering to a new system, which carries all the vagaries of fresh faces and how they fit together and how this affects the existing crop on the field. For the 33-year-old Salah, one of Europe’s deadliest attacking players, it has been a late-career learning curve, with the newfound quality at number nine hemming him in on the right flank.

Last year, the Egyptian icon was immense, the leading light who led Liverpool to the Premier League title. Across all competitions, he scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists. In the Premier League, his 47 goal involvements broke the record for a 38-game season. Sky Sports’ Gary Neville described him as a “superstar”, and who could argue against it?

And yet, he’s struggling, spending most of his time outside the flow of the match so far. To suggest that he should be dropped would be to accept bewilderment from many, but here it is anyway.

The season is young, and so make what you will of the data below, but with Sofascore recording Salah’s heatmap to have been pulled somewhat closer to the touchline, it’s clear that a new role has been handed to him, a subtle shift.

Salah might benefit from a pause from the action, allowed to enter the fray after the interval and prey on tired legs.

This would not be a regular occurrence, not at all, but with Jeremie Frimpong waiting in the wings and having impressed off the bench against Burnley, maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world, adding some energy and pace into the game against an Atletico side who will enjoy nothing more than negating the Reds’ attacking threat.

Liverpool might not have hit the ground running this season, but they have claimed 12 points from 12 in the Premier League. Salah has played a big part in achieving that.

The Merseyside derby awaits on Saturday, and though the right winger’s athleticism and fitness are remarkable things, he might benefit from taking to the dugout for this one, still primed to enter the fray and make things happen after the break.

For 99% of Salah’s Liverpool career, dropping him on a big occasion has felt incomprehensible. Maybe it still does. But the 33-year-old veteran finds a new wealth of attacking talent to ease his burden, and his opening performances this term have left a lot to be desired, even with his trademark prolificness still intact.

Atletico will employ a rigid defensive structure, and they will seek to neutralise Salah and cut off that lane of creativity from the right.

Chalkboard

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

And, after all, Salah would still be ready for a big role throughout the second half, and given Liverpool’s current predilection for late goals, would a fresh Egyptian King in the closing stages not be a good thing, should Slot’s side need a goal?

The new Rooney: Liverpool already sold Salah's heir in "world-class" talent

Liverpool have so much attacking quality but might come to regret selling this star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 13, 2025

Another Gujarat Titans (GT) match, and we are again left wondering how they will go if their top three fall early with Rashid Khan at No. 7. Once again, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and B Sai Sudharsan dominated a bowling attack, albeit the listless Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) one, to post 224 on a black-soil pitch that was slow to begin with. All three of them are now among the top four run-getters in IPL 2025, with Sai Sudharsan reclaiming the Orange Cap with his 48 off 23 balls.GT failed to defend 209 in the last game, which did raise questions, but that was a par score. Here, SRH’s ordinary start with the ball – arguably the worst all year – set GT the platform for a clearly above-par total. In the run chase, the GT bowlers then bashed the hard lengths to stifle the SRH batters despite a 74 for Abhishek Sharma. Prasidh Krishna bowled four overs for just 19 runs and two wickets to bring the Purple Cap to GT as well.GT are now second with 14 points, the same as table-toppers Mumbai Indians (MI), but with a game in hand. SRH were left on the brink, each of their remaining games a must-win affair but still no guarantee to take them through to the playoffs.

Sai Sudharsan, Gill cash in their gift cards

The GT template has been to be measured for the first three overs in order to assess the conditions. However, that doesn’t mean they will look a gift horse in the mouth. Mohammed Shami, a former GT player, looked sluggish and kept missing his line. Gill got a pick-up six in the first over, and Sai Sudharsan cut and pulled five fours in the third.On top of that, Pat Cummins dished out three half-volleys in his first over to let Gill catch up with Sai Sudharsan. The result was GT’s best-ever powerplay at 82 for 0, but also another undesirable statistic for SRH. GT scored 79 of those 82 runs with shots they were in control of, the third-highest of the season; three of the top four, including the top, have come against SRH bowlers.1:59

A tale of two opening duos: how SRH and GT are so different

Gill, Buttler continue to flourish

By the time the SRH bowlers got a hang of things, they needed nothing short of a collapse to make a comeback into the contest. All they managed was one wicket, that of Sai Sudharsan, on a late cut off a Zeeshan Ansari wrong’un. Two quiet overs followed, but then Gill started to pierce gaps with surgical precision. He didn’t need any gifts anymore. In fact, he offered SRH one when he slowed down in an attempt to take what is now regarded a regulation single to short fine leg.The resultant run-out gave SRH their best period in the field. Cummins began to use the middle of the pitch, Jaydev Unadkat followed suit, and 17 balls went without a boundary. Buttler, who looked like the extreme heat – it was 41 degrees at the start of the match – was getting to him, then took a few risks and brought the innings back on track. Of GT’s top three batters, he faced the toughest conditions and bowling, which showed in his slower strike rate. But his 64 off 37 balls was key to GT getting the above-par score they had threatened all along.

Abhishek, Head start quickly; but is it quick enough?

Abhishek danced down at Mohammed Siraj off the first ball he faced, and lofted him over wide long-off. Travis Head crashed his second ball through the covers for four. They punished the new ball the best they could, but still, at 45 for 0 in four overs, they were barely keeping up with the asking rate.1:58

Shubman Gill’s runout – the Time Out verdict

Then came Prasidh

Prasidh has been using hard lengths and changes of pace all IPL to be among the top wicket-takers, but on a pitch with low bounce, he decided to do away with slower balls. He just kept banging the middle of the pitch from his high release to trouble the batters. Well, Prasidh did try one yorker early, which Head managed to squeeze out for a four in what would be the only boundary off Prasidh.The next ball got big on Head as he attempted a pull, and ended up in a sensational catch for Rashid Khan, who ran 32 metres to his right from deep square-leg, and still had to put in a dive. The tall bowlers then completely blocked boundaries from one end, which left Abhishek as the one fighting. They don’t last when you are chasing such big totals.The asking rate reached 12 at the end of the powerplay, 13 at the end of the ninth over, 14 with ten overs to go, and jumped from 14.57 to 16.33 in one Prasidh over, the 14th. Eventually, the wickets started to fall, and only an off night for Rashid the bowler – he went for 50 runs in three overs, his worst economy in a match – reduced the net-run-rate bonus for GT.