Let’s scale back two years. Liverpool had completed their midfield rebuild under Jurgen Klopp and were primed for a new chapter, putting that bleak 2022/23 campaign to bed.

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and co had gone past their sell-by dates, and FSG went full ham as they countered the midfield exodus with four interesting signings: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.

Those additions led Klopp’s side back into the Champions League and saw the German cap off his Anfield dynasty with one final slice of silverware, beating Chelsea against injury-hit odds in the Carabao Cup final.

Arne Slot approached the recent summer market with a similar need for change.

Well, similar insofar as much money needed to be spent, but Liverpool had just won the Premier League and were supported by the many years of Klopp’s labours. This is supposed to be a successful season for the Reds.

And it still could be, but so much has gone wrong for Slot’s tactically imbalanced team, who have lost four matches in a row and lack any sense of confidence or coherence.

We could pick at any area of the field, but the midfielders have certainly left something to be desired in recent months.

Liverpool need a new midfielder

Two years on, FSG may need to shop once again for a high-level midfielder. While the Merseysiders have talented options in the engine room, the woes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s new role at right-back suggest more physicality and press resistance could be added to ease Gravenberch’s burden.

The 26-year-old Mac Allister, in particular, has been dreadful this term, lacking his typical coolness and energy on the ball, that rare ability to marry technical elegance with combative physicality.

That simply hasn’t been there, with one Premier League noting that the Argentina international is “not up to scratch” at the moment, winning only one tackle per game and losing 57% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

It hasn’t been good enough, and while, candidly, part of Mac Allister’s struggle is down to mismanagement, there’s a sense that an upgrade is needed to add a much-needed dimension to the midfield.

Well, that man could arrive in the form of Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, with Spanish sources confirming this week that the France international could be on the move in 2026, an update which has certainly put Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, on alert.

Valued by Los Blancos at around €80m (equating to £69m), Camavinga is no longer considered untouchable by Xabi Alonso, and those in Spain believe an audacious January bid could be staged by the Premier League champions.

The 22-year-old has been in Madrid for over four years, but injuries and Alonso’s vision have opened the door for potential suitors. Manchester City and Manchester United both expressed interest this summer.

Why Camavinga could be an upgrade on Mac Allister

Camavinga was regarded as a wonder-kid when he first took steps onto the professional stage. Joining from Rennes for around £35m in 2021, he has since featured 186 times for the Spanish giants, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

Though the past year has been an effort to maintain regular fitness levels for Camavinga, he remains a world-class talent, a “duel-monster” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan, who could benefit from a change of scenery, joining a Liverpool team where he could foster his skills for many years to come.

His arrival would not knock Mac Allister from his prominent position, but it would give him competition, to be sure, and Camavinga might even come to be an upgrade down the line, with the statistics drawn from the past year certainly suggesting he has what it takes to outstrip him.

Goals

0.12

0.18

Assists

0.06

0.18

Touches

76.36

63.29

Pass completion (%)

90.1

82.7

Shot-creating actions

2.51

4.01

Progressive passes

5.07

5.64

Progressive carries

2.04

1.37

Successful take-ons

1.11

0.53

Recoveries

6.30

4.69

Tackles won

2.91

1.63

Interceptions

1.40

0.89

Aerials won

1.52

0.50

As you can see, Camavinga has played with a touch more completeness and energy than his Argentine counterpart over the past year, and that having suffered with injury problems all the while. He might actually boast a higher standard of quality than Mac Allister, and that is not to the Liverpool man’s discredit.

There is also the matter of age. Camavinga is only 22 years old, and with a wealth of elite experience at that.

He might be struggling for minutes and fluency at Real Madrid, but he’s so young and clearly such a talented midfielder, an expert on the ball and relentless in the challenge.

These are attributes shared with Liverpool’s No. 10, though there’s a case to be made that the Frenchman is even more complete in his midfield game, hailed for his “extraordinary qualities” by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who went on to claim his young star could “play anywhere on the pitch”.

Similar praise have been laid at Mac Allister’s feet in the Premier League. Shortly after the South American’s £35m transfer from Brighton to Liverpool, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described him as a “superstar” signing for the Reds, drawing attention to his own ability to “play anywhere” his manager wants him to.

Such dynamism. Though Liverpool would want to retain Mac Allister’s services for as long as they can, it’s clear he plays a role unlike any other in the Liverpool squad. To put that another way, he provides a dimension his teammates cannot mimic.

And, with that in mind, adding Camavinga to the fold might prove a stroke of genius on Hughes’ part. Real Madrid might want something in the ballpark of £69m, but Liverpool could take advantage of his injury struggles and seat on the Santiago Bernabeu fringe over the past 12 months.

Looking at how it could all transpire in the long run, Liverpool might strike a player who could yet grow into one of the best in the world, eclipsing a star in Mac Allister, who has already provided the club with a higher brand of technical midfield play than they had been treated to in the years before his signing.

Slot can fix Konate & Leoni blow by unleashing Liverpool's 19-year-old star

Liverpool have something of a sore spot in defence this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 18, 2025

Despite a few early wins this season, Leeds United are already looking like they could get dragged into a relegation fight. Unlike fellow newly promoted side Sunderland, who are seventh in the Premier League, the Whites have eight points and find themselves in 16th.

Perhaps it is too early for alarm bells, but the 2024/25 Championship winners are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and have now lost their last two games.

Their next assignment is huge, with 19th-place West Ham United set to visit Elland Road on Friday night.

If this poor form continues, then the future of manager Daniel Farke could once again come into question for the 49ers regime.

Farke’s uncertain future at Leeds

The 2024/25 campaign was an unquestionable success for Leeds. They were guided back to the Premier League by Farke at the second time of asking, reaching 100 points and winning the title on goal difference.

You would automatically assume that the German boss would be safe in his job at Elland Road, but that was not the case over the summer. There were several reports which suggested the 49ers were ready to remove Farke from his post.

Pundits were also quick to claim that the former Norwich City boss would not be the right man to lead the club in the Premier League. Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT that the German “hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he struggled as a manager,” suggesting they should sack him.

However, those rumours were squashed by the Whites’ chairman, Paraag Marathe. He confirmed at the end of last campaign that the 48-year-old would stay as Leeds manager, saying, “I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

However, football is a results business, and the Whites must start putting points on the board, or Farke’s job could come under fire again. In recent days, they have been linked with a new boss.

Who Leeds could appoint to replace Farke

It would be a bold call for Leeds to sack the man who got them to the Premier League, after backing him so openly. Yet, as reported this week, they have been tipped to target Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior as his replacement.

Former Leeds fullback Aidy White described it as a “huge gamble,” although his current role in France has shown just how capable a gaffer Rosenior is. He’s handled the jump to a top-flight side well after previously managing Hull City in the second tier.

The 41-year-old, who was born in London, has a positive record in charge of the BlueCo-owned side. Rosenior has managed 48 games for Strasbourg, winning 25 times, drawing 11 and losing the other 12.

One of the things Leeds have struggled with this term is not conceding goals. They’ve let in 13 so far, three more than Strasbourg’s ten. However, six of those came in games against Paris Saint-Germain, which they drew 3-3, and table toppers Marseille, which ended in a narrow 3-2 loss.

It is certainly encouraging that the Whites would be appointing a manager who is much more defensively stable. When he was sacked by Hull, their owner said Rosenior played “a more defensive style of football,” which could work well in Leeds’ favour.

That does not mean that a Rosenior side is ineffective going forward. In fact, this season Strasbourg have scored the second most goals in Ligue 1, with 17, and have the third best expected goals tally of 15.7xG.

Goals

17

2nd

Expected goals

15.7xG

3rd

Goals per game

2.12

2nd

Goals conceded

10

=4th

Clean sheets

4

=2nd

It is easy to see why writer Zach Lowy thinks Rosenior can become “one of the best coaches of the next 20 years.” There is plenty of upside to his game, given his tactical flexibility and the ability to coach defensively sound sides, yet also pose a great attacking threat.

If Leeds were to sack Farke in the near future, Rosenior could be a fantastic option to first guide them away from relegation and then build towards Premier League stability.

Farke can bin Harrison by playing Leeds academy star who's a "joy to watch"

Leeds United have a teenage prospect in their academy ranks who could replace Jack Harrison.

ByDan Emery Oct 22, 2025

Bayern Munich continued their record-breaking start to the season as the Bundesliga leaders swept aside Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at the Allianz Arena to secure a 15th straight victory of the new season. With Harry Kane named amongst the substitutes, Nicolas Jackson stepped up to score his first Bundesliga goal. Serge Gnabry also scored for Vincent Kompany's side, while Loic Bade put through his own net to secure the result before half-time.

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Vincent Kompany's team selection raised a few eyebrows prior to kick-off, as the Bayern head coach opted to change his entire front three, dropping Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise to the bench and giving Jackson a start through the centre.

Despite the absence of some of the league leaders' biggest stars, Bayern were clearly the superior side over their visitors from start to finish. Lennart Karl showed flashes of brilliance early on, curling just wide from the edge as the 17-year-old looked to score his third goal in four matches.

It would be Gnabry who opened the scoring. Played through beautifully by Tom Bischof, the 20-year-old's curling pass was severely misjudged by Jarell Quansah to allow Gnabry in behind. When the German found a clear path through on goal, there would only be one outcome and Bayern had taken a 25th-minute lead.

One would become two just six minutes later, Jackson scoring in the Bundesliga for the first time with a perfectly-placed header from Konrad Laimer's cross from the right. It was a big moment for Jackson, who had proven his credentials to fill in for Kane in the Bayern attack. He had the ball in the net a second time less than ten minutes later, but was adjudged to have gone slightly early with the goal disallowed for offside.

Just before half-time the game was safe when Bade put through his own net, deflecting in a Raphael Guerrero cross to secure another comfortable victory before the champions had even needed to call upon their in-form attacking trio on the bench.

Jackson could, and maybe should, have had a second from another inch-perfect Laimer delivery, but on this occasion the Senegalese headed just wide of the post. Soon after as the game approached the hour mark, Kompany rang the changes and took off both of his goalscorers alongside Karl, with all of Kane, Diaz and Olise taking to the field to strike further fear into Leverkusen hearts.

The away side came into the game from a possession stand-point at least in the second period, as the game began to slow down into a lull with the three points already secured. But the visitors, last season's runners-up who currently sit fifth in the division after a challenging start, never truly looked like scoring and did not have a single shot on target until the 80th minute. Christian Kofane sliced wide at the near post when given space in the Bayern penalty area, in a moment which summed up Leverkusen's day in front of goal. It was another comfortable victory for Bayern, who look very difficult to stop so far this season.

Leverkusen, for their part, have seen their 37-game away unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended, and emphatically so. AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe MVP

Having already scored twice for Bayern in the Champions League this season, getting off the mark in the Bundesliga was important for Jackson. Tasked with filling in for Kane against one of the division's top sides, he scored a great header and had the ball in the net on another occasion in the first half. Also played a part in the third goal with a smart first-time pass into Guerrero.

Though he missed a presentable opportunity in the second period, Kompany will be encouraged by the Chelsea loanee's showing as he proves a valuable part of the Bavarian giants' squad which will look to win it all this season.

Bayern had strong performers across the park, as Laimer was a strong creative presence while Karl continued to show flashes. Jonathan Tah was imperious at the back as he faced off against his former club. But Jackson will get many of the headlines, and deservedly so.

The big loser

Leverkusen were second-best across the park, but Loic Bade struggled and scored an own-goal in pretty poor circumstances. Giving the ball away himself in the build-up, the French defender could not sort his feet out and got it all wrong, striking the ball beyond Mark Flekken to seal defeat for Leverkusen before the break. The visitors had no answer to Bayern and can have no complaints about the result.

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Chelsea finish for the international break with plenty to build on under Enzo Maresca, and they could now go big for a forward in January to bolster their striking ranks.

Chelsea rejoice after last-gasp winner vs Liverpool

Last week proved to be a significant one in West London, and plenty of pressure was on the shoulders of Maresca after winning once in five matches leading into the Blues’ double-header against Benfica and Liverpool.

On the face of it, the Italian can count himself slightly unfortunate to be under the spotlight after bringing two trophies to the club during his tenure so far. Nevertheless, the high demands at Stamford Bridge rest for nobody as Chelsea look to place themselves among the Premier League elite.

A tetchy 1-0 victory over Benfica came at the right time for Maresca, and he followed that up with an excellent 2-1 triumph over Liverpool to move his side into seventh, leading the former Manchester City assistant to a dismissal after enjoying wild celebrations with their support.

Stepping in after the match, his assistant Willy Caballero urged the Blues to take advantage of the international break to come back stronger once they are back in the capital.

He stated: “He’s OK (Maresca after red card). He’s so happy now. Of course, he cannot be here now but we are so happy that we achieved the three points in the last seconds. We are so happy and so proud. The players did a fantastic job. Now is a good break for many of them, and hopefully we can recover a few more players and start the new cycle of games with energy.”

After a brief wobble, things are looking up for Chelsea, and they could now be set to target a January move for one of the most prolific forwards in the top-flight.

Chelsea preparing bid for Antoine Semenyo

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are preparing a bid worth around £78 million for Antoine Semenyo after his blistering start to the Premier League campaign at Bournemouth.

Moving to Stamford Bridge appeals to the Ghana international after publicly admitting he separates his Arsenal fandom from his job, and the Cherries may find it tough to resist the financial capital on offer despite his return of six goals and three assists in his opening seven top-flight appearances.

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Neville has delivered his verdict.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 5, 2025

Labelled a “special player” by Owen Hargreaves, Semenyo has created an impressive ten chances in the Premier League, per Fotmob, thriving on either flank or whether coming inside to provide a focal point for his teammates.

October 2022

€3m

October 2023

€9m

October 2024

€20m

October 2025

€40m

Chelsea are in the market for another attacker to mix experience with their youtful frontline. However, they are unlikely to be the only club interested in offering the 25-year-old a new challenge.

With the Blues pushing for the Champions League slots, Semenyo could well be the difference if he were to pitch up in West London.

Aside from the continuous number of injuries they’ve had to deal with, it’s starting to feel like everything is falling into place for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have pretty much perfected the art of set-pieces, have become near enough impossible to score against, and as a result, are sitting atop the Premier League table.

Moreover, while there is still a level to go for many of the attacking players, many of those who underwhelmed last year are starting to look back to their best.

This includes one of Arteta’s signings, who has even been compared to the iconic Santi Cazorla – and no, it’s not Martin Zubimendi.

Santi Cazorla's Arsenal career

Cazorla joined Arsenal for a fee of just £16m from Spanish outfit Malaga in the summer of 2012, and it did not take him long at all to make an impact at the club.

The mercurial midfielder put in a man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland in what was his debut for the North Londoners, and ended up finishing that first campaign with a tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 49 games.

By the time he left the Gunners in August 2018, he did so with an impressive haul of 29 goals and 45 assists in just 180 appearances, but it wasn’t the output that made him such a firm fan favourite, but the way in which he played the game.

When fit, the 40-year-old magician was seemingly able to do it all, from playing outrageous balls from one side of the pitch to the other, to driving with the ball and beating opposition defenders with ease.

At times, the two-footed wizard was the embodiment of what Wenger wanted his teams to do on the pitch, someone who was capable of winning games with some incredible skill, but doing so while also entertaining the paying fans.

There are really countless examples of the Spaniard doing something remarkable in the famous red and white, but perhaps the most iconic and impactful was his free-kick in the 2014 FA Cup final, which kick-started the club’s comeback.

Had he managed to keep fit, there is no telling what Cazorla could have accomplished at Arsenal, and while the club have not quite had a player like him since, there is someone in the current squad who has been compared to the Emirates icon.

The Arsenal star compared to Cazorla

Now, the first player many of you might think of here is Zubimendi. After all, he is a Spanish midfielder with a great range of passing and the ability to use both feet when needed.

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However, in this instance, the comparison to the former Arsenal star comes from another former Gunners’ great, Kevin Campbell, and concerns Leandro Trossard.

Yes, when speaking back in 2023, Campbell was full of praise for the Belgian, saying that while “they don’t play in the same spot”, he could “see the comparison because he has such quick feet like Santi did.”

He went on to compare the way in which the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem is also able to “see things quickly and Santi saw things quickly.”

Another similarity the 30-year-old shares with the Spaniard, aside from wearing the number 19, is his impressive ability to use both feet without much trouble at all.

You can see this during games, and then on top of that, his former coach at Genk once told Sky Sports that the dynamic left-winger is indeed “right-footed and left-footed.”

Finally, while there are still plenty of other differences between the pair, one more key point of overlap is the Maasmechelen-born gem’s ability to make something happen, generally by finishing a chance most would consider too difficult.

After all, that is why Arteta has referred to him as a “little magician” and Ian Wright made the bold claim that he’s the Gunners’ “best finisher.”

Ultimately, Trossard is not the same player Cazorla was at Arsenal, but from his two-footedness to his technical class and ability to make things happen, he certainly shares a great deal in common with the Spaniard.

Related Arteta must boldly bench Saka & unleash Arsenal's "phenomenal" talent

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 29, 2025

تحدث الإسباني داني أولمو، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، عن زميله لامين يامال وأزمته مع منتخب إسبانيا الأخيرة.

وعاد أولمو إلى قائمة برشلونة أمام إلتشي بعد غيابه عن آخر 3 مباريات بسبب الإصابة، ضد جيرونا وأولمبياكوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وريال مدريد في الليجا.

لعب نجم خط الوسط 33 مباراة في الدوري الإسباني، و11 مباراة في دوري أبطال أوروبا، و4 مباريات في كأس ملك إسبانيا، ومباراة واحدة في كأس السوبر الإسباني.

وانتقل داني أولمو إلى برشلونة في أغسطس 2024، موقعًا عقدًا لمدة 6 سنوات حتى يونيو 2030، بشرط جزائي قدره 500 مليون يورو، وبلغت قيمة الصفقة حوالي 55 مليون يورو.

وقال أولمو، في تصريحات عبر صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “لامين يامال يتمنى دائمًا أن يكون هنا في المنتخب الوطني، إن لم يكن قادرًا على ذلك فذلك لأنه ليس في كامل لياقته البدنية”.

اقرأ أيضًا | داني أولمو: ارتباط اسمي بالإصابات ليس مريحًا.. وهناك بطولة تنقصنا

وأكمل: “في النهاية، رغبة لامين في التواجد هنا ليست محل شك لكن خلف الأبواب المغلقة الأمر عكس ذلك تمامًا، أما العلاقة بين برشلونة والاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم فلا توجد مشكلة لأن الجميع يريده في كامل لياقته البدنية، لقد اعتاد على حديث الناس عنه”.

وعندما سُئل الأسئلة السريعة حول الأفضل جاءت إجاباته على النحو التالي:-

أفضل ساق يسرى؟ ميسي.

أفضل ساق يُمنى؟ بيدري.

أفضل صاحب ضربات رأس؟ ليفاندوفسكي.

السرعة؟ مبابي مهاجم ريال مدريد.

أفضل مُمرر؟ تشافي.

الأكثر مهارة؟ نيمار.

القائد؟ بويول.

The conspiracy theorists were on it immediately. Less than 10 minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Marseille, Trent Alexander-Arnold went down holding his hamstring. He had that resigned look on his face, combined with the shake of the head, the pained expression and the acceptance that something wasn't right, nor could it be immediately fixed.

And he wasn't wrong. Alexander-Arnold had indeed pulled his hamstring, as Madrid confirmed within the next 24 hours. There were two possible routes in response. The first was that of sympathy for a player who was making his way at a new club, in a new country, who could have done without an almost-immediate spell on the sidelines.

The second, and admittedly more Scouse, point of view went something like, 'Couldn't have happened to a nicer lad…'.

Those conspiracy theorists immediately pointed out that Alexander-Arnold's injury would potentially offer him an 'opportunity' to avoid the return to Anfield that had been added to Madrid's schedule when they drew Liverpool for the second successive season in the Champions League league phase. The England defender hardly received the warmest of send-offs when he left Merseyside back in May, so not having to face that same hostile atmosphere so soon after would probably have sat well with Alexander-Arnold.

Regardless, he has recovered in time, and is part of Xabi Alonso's squad for Tuesday's meeting between two of Europe's most successful teams. Quite how much of a role Alexander-Arnold will play, though, remains to be seen. As while he has regained his fitness, he will still waiting to truly make his mark on Los Blancos following his €10 million (£8m/$11m) summer switch that saw Alexander-Arnold's dreams "come true".

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Mixed early bag

  Alonso has repeatedly emphasised in the months since his side were battered by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup that it wasn't really Madrid team that were dispatched by the Parisians at MetLife Stadium in the American heat. He has insisted that he didn't have enough time with the squad, and that he was, in effect, working with an exhausted outfit who were still reeling from losing a long-time manger in Carlo Ancelotti who had brought so much success to the club. There was only so much Alonso could do, he insisted. 

  One thing he did do, though, was trust Alexander-Arnold. The Englishman was in from the get go, and started the first five games of the tournament. A lot of Trent's signature moves were immediately obvious: pinged passes, roaming dribbles, the understanding of the kinds of angles that few defenders to have played the game quite comprehend. But then there were also his much-publicised and discussed defensive deficiencies as Madrid's right flank was repeatedly exploited by opponents. 

  When it came to the semi-final, Alexander-Arnold missed out due to muscle discomfort he suffered in training, thus avoiding the torture of being run ragged by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as he instead watched from the sideline as his new team were battered, 4-0. Federico Valverde started at right-back that day – as he presumably will on Tuesday, too – and there was almost a sense of relief that Alexander-Arnold wasn't available. 

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• Getty Images
  

  In and out

  Given that 'competitive pre-season', it was assumed that Alexander-Arnold would hit the ground running once he and Madrid returned to Spain for the new season. Alonso showed faith in him early on as the full-back started the opening game of the Liga season, playing 68 agreeable minutes as Madrid stuttered their way to a 1-0 win over Osasuna.

  Alexander-Arnold was unfairly targeted by the Spanish press – and some of the English media, too – but, in truth, he put in a typical performance that contained some nice passes but lacked chemistry with his team-mates. Alonso likes a rigid structure, and Alexander-Arnold didn't really stick to it. And so while he was by no means poor, he looked an awful lot like a player who was still settling in to his new surroundings.

  Concern over Alexander-Arnold's fit intensified a week later when Dani Carvajal, himself still working his way back from a serious knee injury, started the next game against Real Oviedo. Alexander-Arnold played just four minutes as Madrid cruised to a 3-0 win, and post-match reports in the local media suggested that the two would rotate every game – something Alonso regularly practiced during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Alexander-Arnold subsequently got the start against Mallorca in on matchday three, with Carvajal again stepping in for the following game. 

  Then came that Champions League injury, leaving Alexander-Arnold's post-Club World Cup stats to read as five appearances, three starts, 156 minutes played and zero assists or goals. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Competition for places

  While Alexander-Arnold watched on from the stands, Carvajal had begun to come back into his own. He is not the same level of player as the fringe Ballon d'Or candidate from the 2023-24 campaign, but he remains a scampering presence who can make things happen in attack while remaining solid defensively.

  Perhaps more importantly, Carvajal understands what it is to be . He is club captain, a true leader both on and off the pitch. He is, therefore, not an easy player to bench, and so when Alexander-Arnold picked up his injury, his absence wasn't necessarily felt all that much. 

  Unfortunately for Carvajal, he picked up a knee injury in late October that will require surgery and potentially rule him out of action until the New Year. That would, in theory, open the door for Alexander-Arnold to step back in, but he has remained on the bench in the weeks since his recovery in large part due to how well Valverde has done while filling in. The Uruguayan is a wonderful footballer who is capable of playing multiple positions, and his energetic and disciplined nature makes him an ideal fit for Alonso's system.

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  'New stage'

  Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute against both Barcelona and Valencia, meaning the chances of him being returned to the starting line up upon his return to Liverpool feel unlikely, even if Alonso hinted at the 27-year-old getting some playing time.

  "He is good. He didn’t play [against Valencia on Saturday] because of the context of the game, but he is available for any number of minutes," the Madrid boss said in his press conference on Monday. "Tomorrow he may play, and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities. He is in a new stage for him – sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad."

MatériaMais Notícias

A estrela de Marcos Leonardo brilhou mais uma vez. O camisa 9 do Santos foi o responsável foi marcar o gol da virada por 2 a 1 diante do Palmeiras neste domingo (8), na Arena Barueri, em partida válida pela 26ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Porém o bom momento não é de hoje. Marcos Leonardo é o artilheiro do Peixe na temporada, com 12 gols em 20 jogos do Brasileirão. O poder de decisão do jovem centroavante vem sendo fundamental para a recuperação do Santos na competição nacional, visto que nas três vitórias consecutivas do Alvinegro, o camisa 9 balançou a rede em todas – não foi diferente neste domingo.

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

Marcos foi o autor do gol que quebrou um tabu de quatro anos do Peixe contra o Palmeiras – o último triunfo diante do rival havia sido apenas em 2019. O Menino da Vila, que marcou quatro gols nas últimas três partidas, é a “cara” da retomada do Peixe contra o rebaixamento, e vem reforçando o seu papel fundamental a cada confronto.

Além de ter marcado o gol da virada, o centroavante de 20 anos alcançou outra importante marca pelo Alvinegro. Ele entrou na seleta lista dos 50 maiores artilheiros da história do Peixe justamente no dia em que balançou a rede pela primeira vez contra o Palmeiras. Ao total, são 157 jogos e 53 bolas na rede com a camisa santista.

+ Tomás Rincón cumpre expectativa, assume faixa de capitão do Santos e lidera reação

Com a vitória, o Santos chegou a sua terceira vitória seguida e subiu para a 14ª posição do Brasileirão, com 30 pontos, três a mais que o Vasco, primeiro time na zona de rebaixamento. O Peixe só volta a campo no dia 20 de outubro (sexta-feira), após a parada da Data Fifa, para encarar o Bragantino. A bola rola às 19h (de Brasília), na Vila Belmiro.

No. 7 continues lower-order fightback before India lose Vaibhav Suryavanshi cheaply at start of reply

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay21-Jul-2025India Under-19 51 for 1 trail England Under-19 309 (Ekansh 117, Pushpak 4-76) by 258 runsEkansh Singh completed a superb hundred on a second day of England’s Youth Test against India that was severely truncated by rain.Only 28-and-a-half overs were possible between the cloudbursts but that was long enough for Kent right-hander Singh to compile 117 sprinkled with three sixes and 14 fours. Singh was last out, as England’s youngsters totalled 309, having shared an eighth-wicket stand of exactly 100 with James Minto who made 46.Naman Pushpak finished with 4 for 76 for India who lost teenage starlet Vaibhav Suryavanshi for 20 in reaching 51 for 1 before a thunderstorm ended play shortly after 5pmOvernight and morning rain delayed the start until 12.30pm and the showers returned 22 minutes later to drive the players off again. The intervening period was long enough for Ekansh to treat the smattering of spectators to four boundaries, including two sumptuous cover drives.It was 2.15pm before the game resumed but Ekansh had lost none of his rhythm, twice driving the ball back past the stumps for four as he continued to deal exclusively in boundaries on the day until he moved into the 90s. His battle with strike bowler Aditya Rawat was an engaging one, the seamer producing two excellent yorkers both superbly dug out by the batter. There would be no nervous 90s, Ekansh raising his 100 in the grand manner with a huge six over long-on.Minto provided great support, an uppercut over the slips for six resulting in a lost ball, necessitating the third change of the cherry in the short afternoon session.The 100-stand was raised before Minto chipped one straight back to Pushpak after which the end came swiftly. Alex Green became Pushpak’s fourth victim, before Singh holed out on the long-on boundary.India’s reply began in explosive fashion with Suryavanshi and his skipper Ayush Mhatre playing almost a shot a ball. The latter top-edged one over the slips before being given a life by Ralphie Albert when he spilt him at cover, Alex French the unlucky bowler.Suryavanshi meanwhile took a heavy toll of Green, nonchalantly driving him over mid-off for six before slashing one backward of square for another maximum. However, youthful impetuosity got the better of him when he pulled Green’s next delivery down the throat of fine leg – something of a waste, especially given three balls later the rain returned, forcing an early tea.Only 15 minutes more play was possible – just long enough for India to raise their 50.

Stumps Washington Sundar’s prize wicket-taking set India up for a 135-run pursuit on the final day of the third Test at Lord’s, but in a twist to an enthralling fourth day in which 14 wickets fell, they only have six wickets in hand.Brydon Carse removed Karun Nair and Shubman Gill cheaply for impressive figures of 2 for 11 from four overs and Ben Stokes bowled nightwatcher Akash Deep with the last ball of the day as three wickets fell in the last half-hour of play.Related

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Washington’s 4 for 22 included the key names of Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Stokes before he claimed the last England wicket to fall, Shoaib Bashir, as the hosts took a lead of 192. After scores were level on first innings, that meant India needed to chase down 193 for a 2-1 lead in the series.Jofra Archer broke through in the second over of India’s pursuit when Yashasvi Jaiswal attempted to pull a shorter, wider ball and sent a top edge into the air above wicketkeeper Smith.But it wasn’t until 30 minutes before stumps that England were able to make inroads again, Nair flummoxed by Carse’s nip-backer and offering no shot as the ball struck the inside of his back knee. Gill, on 6, failed to overturn his lbw dismissal after he was hit on the knee roll by one in line with middle stump.When Akash Deep entered still needing to don his arm guard and gloves, Root revved up the crowd to protest at any time wasting, which had been Gill’s bugbear in a heated exchange with Zak Crawley at the end of day three.1:20

Manjrekar: Lord’s Test 70-30 in England’s favour

The issue went from prickly to farcical to downright funny when Carse rapped Akash Deep’s pads. He survived England’s review on umpire’s call with impact on the top of leg stump and India sent the physio out to apply some strapping to the batter’s leg, chewing up more time.England managed to squeeze in another over, though, and Stokes struck with the fourth ball, flattening Akash Deep’s off stump.India’s bowlers started the day with great intent. Jasprit Bumrah caused Crawley all sorts of discomfort without being rewarded and Mohammed Siraj produced a miserly seven-over opening spell yielding two wickets.1:28

Washington: One of my best days with the ball

Ben Duckett was the first to go pulling to Bumrah at mid-on amid an impassioned send-off from Siraj that ensured the tensions of the previous evening remained high.Siraj then pinned Ollie Pope lbw, although it took an India review to confirm his dismissal for just 4 off 17 balls. Pope’s average in the second innings languishes at a mere 19.64 now.Nitish Kumar Reddy relieved Bumrah midway through the morning session and removed Crawley for the second time in the match, this time a loose drive outside off stump gathered by Jaiswal at gully.1:48

Manjrekar: Gill looked tentative

Harry Brook mounted a counterattack, ramping Akash Deep for back-to-back fours before launching him down the ground for six but it was short-lived. He fell for a 19-ball 23 when, attempting to sweep a full, straight one, Akash Deep flattened his middle stump in the perfect riposte.Enter Washington as India turned to spin after lunch and he rattled Root’s middle stump with one that slid under the attempted sweep and ended his fifth-wicket stand with Stokes at 67. Root’s 40 became England’s highest of the innings and his dismissal ended a run of four scores of fifty or above at Lord’s (including three centuries on the trot).Four overs later, Washington bowled Smith for just 8 with an excellent quicker ball that didn’t turn in the slightest but skidded past the outside edge and onto off stump.2:16

Trescothick: It’s going to be an amazing final day

At that point, England were 164 for 6 and they were subsequently becalmed as Stokes and Chris Woakes looked to avoid further damage.But Stokes added just six more runs after tea before Washington struck again, beating the slog sweep and clattering middle stump to send him on his way for 33.Bumrah was finally rewarded with the wickets of Carse and Woakes, the former to a stunning, pinpoint-accurate yorker on leg stump and the latter to one that expertly clipped the leg-side bail.Bashir’s was the 12th bowled dismissal by India for the match when Washington beat his defences to close out the innings, completing an England collapse in which they lost their last four wickets for 11 runs, and their last six for 38. Washington’s 4 for 22 is the best by an India spinner at Lord’s since 1974.