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The Pittsburgh Pirates have limped to the fourth-worst record in MLB (16-33) this season despite the best efforts of their generational ace and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. The jarring juxtaposition of Skenes's immense success against the Pirates' lack thereof has both angered and upset fans. And out of those emotions has risen conjecture and speculation about a potential Skenes trade.

As it turns out, the subject is one that has apparently been broached among rival front offices. During an appearance on last week, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, while noting that a deal would be unlikely, stated that "there are teams that are already going to ask about Paul Skenes at the trade deadline."

And, thanks to Jon Heyman, there is now an idea of how the Pirates would respond to trade inquiries about the flamethrowing righthander.

Skenes is not getting traded, a Pirates source told Heyman. In fact, the words, "no chance, no way, no how" were used, aptly describing Pittsburgh's emphatic stance when it comes to Skenes's future.

During one of the most impressive rookie seasons in MLB history, Skenes, 22, became the sixth-youngest pitcher to start the MLB All-Star Game, won National League ROY and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award race. Skenes had a 1.96 ERA and 11 wins in 23 starts as a rookie, but an alarming trend—the Pirates' bats or bullpen failing to hold up its end of the bargain for the ace starter—developed during the '24 campaign. And it's continued into the '25 season, as Skenes has a sub-3.00 ERA but has a 3-5 record. The Pirates are 3-7 in his 10 starts this year.

Skenes himself has even admitted that it's been "difficult" seeing the team struggle despite his own individual success. But given the Pirates' lack of recent success—six straight losing seasons—there's not a whole lot of faith that the organization can field a club that reflects Skenes's own brilliance.

Trading the ace for a king's ransom could set up the organization for long-term success while allowing Skenes to where his skills can directly translate to team victories.

As of this point, a Skenes trade is not an idea the Pirates are even willing to discuss.

Aston Villa are now preparing an ambitious January move to sign a “seriously impressive” midfielder, with his current club now willing to cash-in for £30m.

Villa looking to bolster options in midfield amid Elliott uncertainty

Despite Harvey Elliott making a solid start to life at Villa Park, scoring on his first start in the EFL Cup defeat at Brentford, his future is now in doubt, with Unai Emery unwilling to give the midfielder any game time as of late.

As there is an obligation to buy clause is activated if the 22-year-old plays in just ten matches this season, he has fallen down the pecking order considerably, and there are now major doubts over whether the Liverpool loanee will remain at Villa beyond January.

As such, Emery may need to bring in another midfielder in the upcoming transfer window, and there has now been a new update on the Villans’ pursuit of Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now preparing an ambitious January move to sign De Cat, and they are keen to accelerate talks, amid growing interest from elsewhere, with Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Brighton also in the race.

Scouts from across Europe have been left impressed by the Anderlecht maestro, and the Belgian club would be willing to cash-in for the right fee, with a £30m asking price being touted.

The Villans are now readying a bid of €22m – €25m (£19m – £22m) up front, such is their level of interest in the youngster, who has been likened to Manchester City star and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

Aston Villa plotting £18m bid for "tremendous" defender, Martinez is a big fan

The Villans are planning a move for a new centre-back, who is also being targeted by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025 "Seriously impressive" De Cat is one for the future

The 17-year-old is held in very high regard by scout Ben Mattinson, who took to X to provide an overview of his key strengths earlier this year.

Although he is still very young, the teenager, who stands at a towering 6’4, has already established himself as a key player for Anderlecht, making 20 appearances across all competitions this season.

Given that the Belgian is yet to prove himself in a major European league, he may not yet be at the level to make an instant impact at Aston Villa, but the starlet has the makings of a future star, and it is little wonder so many top clubs are keen.

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Thiago Carpini ainda não sabe se poderá contar James Rodríguez e Lucas Moura para o confronto do São Paulo contra o Palmeiras, pela Supercopa do Brasil, no domingo (4).

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Lucas cumpriu cronograma individualizado de atividades durante o treino do Tricolor nesta sexta-feira (2), no CT da Barra Funda. O camisa 7 foi substituído com dores na coxa na vitória sobre o Corinthians, e é dúvida para a decisão. O atleta deve viajar com a deleção para Belo Horizonte, e a comissão técnica avaliará se o jogador terá condições para iniciar entre os titulares ou ser opção no banco de reservas.

O São Paulo não forneceu atualizações sobre James Rodríguez, e o colombiano segue realizando cronograma individual de controle de carga. O camisa 55 tem presença incerta para o clássico contra o Palmeiras. O clube também não forneceu atualizações sobre Igor Vinícius, que deve ser desfalque para o Choque-Rei.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Sem Lucas, o técnico Thiago Carpini esboçou a escalação titular do São Paulo, que faz o último treino no sábado (3), antes de embarcar para Belo Horizonte.

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Lucas MouraSão Paulo

Former Barcelona forward Vitor Roque feels he moved to Europe too early in his career as he reflected on his disappointing period with the Catalan club. Now back in Brazil with Palmeiras, Roque believes the return was an important step that will help him move forward professionally. His resurgence has not gone unnoticed, as the Brazilian forward has been selected by Carlo Ancelotti for Brazil’s upcoming friendlies.

• Roque’s forgetful time at Barcelona

  Roque joined Barcelona in 2023 for €35 million (£31m/$40m) after impressing with Athletico Paranaense, where he scored 21 goals in 60 appearances. He had already shown his potential by winning the South American U20 Championship in 2020, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals. Expectations were extremely high when he arrived in Barcelona, but his debut season fell short. Under coach Xavi, Roque made only 16 appearances and scored two goals, with limited playing time suggesting a lack of trust from the coach. His situation declined further when Hansi Flick took charge, as he was immediately loaned to Real Betis in August 2024. The loan spell was cut short and by February this year Barcelona had sold him to Palmeiras for €25m (£22m/$29m) plus add-ons. 

  Barcelona sporting director Deco sympathised with Roque for his difficult spell at the club, believing he struggled to cope with the pressure that comes with playing for Barcelona. Deco said: “I feel really sorry for him. With Vitor, I always think arriving in January did not do him any favours. He started well and scored a few goals, but then it became hard to handle the pressure that comes with playing for Barcelona.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Roque reflects on his time at Barcelona

  Now thriving at Palmeiras and back in the Brazil squad, the 20-year-old's career is certainly back on track as he reflected on his La Liga adventure. 

  "I went to Europe very early," he said at a press conference. "I learned a lot and I think the same way. Returning to Brazilian football is not a step backward. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward. Luiz Henrique is a real example. He came back to win titles, and I hope to win some too."

  Roque pointed to Zenit St Petersburg full-back Luiz Henrique as an example, noting how the player returned from Real Betis to Botafogo before earning another move to Europe. "Luiz Henrique is a real example. He came back to win titles, and I hope to win some too," he said.

• Palmeiras resurgence rewarded with Brazil call

  Roque’s path to redemption at Palmeiras was far from smooth, as he went his first 10 matches without scoring. Despite the slow start, the club showed full confidence in him, giving him the time and support needed to settle. Their patience paid off, as Roque delivered an outstanding 2025 season, scoring 20 goals and providing five assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. His resurgence became a key factor in Palmeiras leading at the top of the league with 68 points, edging Flamengo on head to head record. Roque’s strong form has also put him firmly in the Golden Boot race, sitting just one goal behind the league’s top scorer, Kaio Jorge, and he could end up a Copa Libertadores winner as his side meet Flamengo in the final later this month. His performances have earned him a place in the Brazil national team, with Carlo Ancelotti recalling him to the squad.

  Roque spoke about his redemption at Palmeiras, explaining how dejected he had felt before coach Abel Ferreira restored his confidence. He said, “When I returned from Europe, I was in a bad place psychologically, with no confidence whatsoever. When I was at Palmeiras lacking confidence, coach Abel placed his trust in me.”

  He added: “Having a consistent run of games is very important to regain that confidence. I managed to score goals and provide assists. I am very happy to be here.”

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  Ancelotti's prepparation for the World Cup

  Brazil are set to face Senegal in a friendly match this week as Ancelotti prepares to test different player combinations to help shape his final squad for the World Cup next year. They will then take on Tunisia on November 18.

MatériaMais Notícias

A entrevista coletiva que Leila Pereira concedeu na Academia de Futebol na última quarta-feira (11), ainda está dando muito o que falar na política do Palmeiras.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Nesta sexta-feira (13), o grupo formado por 26 conselheiros de oposição divulgou uma carta respondendo aos ataques de Leila, que os chamou de ‘destruidores’, quando foi questionada pelo assunto na coletiva.

Segundo o grupo de oposição, ainda que a tenham tratado de forma totalmente respeitosa, Leila os respondeu de maneira intimidatória, os segregando dos demais membros do Conselho Deliberativo.

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A guerra entre Leila Pereira e os 26 conselheiros de oposição se dá pelo fato de o grupo exigir mais transparência da atual presidente, em relação aos contratos de patrocínio do Verdão com a Crefisa/FAM e também com a Placar Linhas Aéreas. Afinal, Leila é presidente, também, das empresas que possuem grandes negócios com o clube, hoje.

Ao final da carta, o grupo reafirma o compromisso com todos associados que confiaram os seus votos neles e que estão tentando representar todos aqueles que amam a Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras.

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+ OLHAR DO PORCO: Leila Pereira precisa aprender a respeitar a história do Palmeiras

– Por fim, não nos curvaremos aos caprichos, vontades, ameaças e ofensas daquela que tem o dever de prestar contas. Contem conosco! – diz a mensagem final da carta.

Confira a carta na íntegra:

Nós, os 26 CONSELHEIROS DA SOCIEDADE ESPORTIVA PALMEIRAS, “retaliados”, tolhidos de exercer com autonomia o mandato para representar o associado, defendendo os interesses da instituição, vimos, por meio desta, nos manifestar:

O simples ato de questionar é um direito inalienável do cidadão. Quando este exerce mandato outorgado por uma coletividade, esse direito se transforma em dever. No cumprimento desse direito/dever, nós, CONSELHEIROS DA SOCIEDADE ESPORTIVA PALMEIRAS, fizemos indagações à PRESIDÊNCIA EXECUTIVA sobre os contratos de patrocínio da Crefisa/FAM e o transporte aéreo da Placar Linhas Aéreas, haja vista, fato excepcional e relevante, onde a presidente da INSTITUIÇÃO

figura como representante da contratante e sócia-proprietária das contratadas.

Ainda que os questionamentos tenham sido colocados de maneira respeitosa, a presidente nos respondeu de maneira INTIMIDATÓRIA, nos SEGREGANDO dos demais membros do CONSELHO DELIBERATIVO, tangenciando as questões. Essa mesma intimidação se escalonou com a entrevista coletiva convocada pela própria mandatária, na qual deveria esclarecer o funcionamento da relação contratual entre as empresas nas quais possui participação societária e a Sociedade Esportiva que preside.

Quando perguntada sobre o tema, se apressou em responder que não havia qualquer conflito de interesses e, de maneira grosseira, chamou os Conselheiros que ousaram questioná-la de “DESTRUIDORES”.

Esse episódio, assim como os anteriores, demonstram uma dificuldade no entendimento das atribuições estatutárias por parte de quem exerce a presidência, que administra, por tempo determinado, uma SOCIEDADE que não lhe pertence. Devendo, portanto, acrescentar em seu vocabulário termos como: CONTRADITÓRIO, RESPEITO e TRANSPARÊNCIA.

Reafirmamos o compromisso com aqueles que confiaram a nós o mandato de CONSELHEIROS e, representaremos também a todos que amam a Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras.

Por fim, não nos curvaremos aos caprichos, vontades, ameaças e ofensas daquela que tem o dever de prestar contas. Contem conosco!

Adriano Tadeu Lívani Reale, Emerson da Rosa, Felipe Giocondo Cristovão, Francisco Vituzzo Neto, Genaro Marino Neto, Gerson Clemente Guarino, Guilherme Gomes Pereira, Guilherme Romero, João Carlos Minello, José Antonio Aparecido Junior, José Carlos Tomaselli, José Corsini Filho, Juan Manuel Berrospi Carreno, Luis Henrique Monteiro Fronterotta, Luciana Santilli, Luiz Fernando Marrey Moncau, Luiz Roberto Cassab Mousinho, Marcos Antonio Gama, Mauricio Pegoraro, Mauricio Vituzzo, Pedro José Vilar Godoy Horta, Ricardo Alberto Galassi, Ricardo Spinelli Poppi, Valdomiro Otero Sordili Filho, Victor Fruges e Vinicius Feres Zucca.

Celtic lost another star player during the summer transfer window when they sold electric forward Nicolas Kuhn to Serie A side Como for a fee of £16.5m.

The German attacker ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, per Transfermarkt.

Kuhn provided a huge threat at the top end of the pitch down the right flank because he had the quality to cause the opposition problems as both a scorer and a creator of goals, domestically and in Europe.

The Hoops did not sign a natural right winger to replace the German, though, and Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest have combined for no goals or assists in nine combined appearances in the Premiership this season, per WhoScored.

This suggests that Celtic are struggling on the right wing because they did not go out into the market to sign a like-for-like replacement for the left-footed attacker.

Another player the Hoops have yet to fully replace since they sold him for big money is attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley, who joined Brighton & Hove for a fee of more than £25m last year.

Why Matt O'Riley was so valuable for Celtic

The Scottish giants raked in a club-record fee of £25m from the Premier League side when they decided to cash in on the Denmark international. This was because of the value that he provided on the pitch for the Bhoys in the 2023/24 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 2023 to replace Ange Postecoglou in the dugout in Glasgow, and he was key to O’Riley’s impressive progression on the pitch.

The left-footed midfielder scored three goals and provided 12 assists in the Premiership in the 2022/23 campaign under the Australian head coach, which was an impressive return given his creative output.

Rodgers, though, elevated O’Riley to the next level at Parkhead by freeing him up to take on more responsibility as a goalscorer, putting him further up the pitch to break into the box by joining attacks.

As you can see in the table above, the English-born playmaker scored 15 more goals under Rodgers than he did under Postecoglou in the previous Premiership season.

Per WhoScored, O’Riley led the team in both goals (18) and assists (13) in the Premiership in that season under the Northern Irish head coach, which is why he was so valuable to the squad, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics and his importance to Celtic convinced Brighton to splash a fee of more than £25m on him in the summer of 2024, and the Scottish giants are still looking for their next version of the Dane.

Benjamin Nygren has shown flashes of promise in a central midfield role, with three goals and one assist this season, and Arne Engels delivered nine assists in the Premiership and the Champions League combined last season, per Sofascore.

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

However, Celtic may have their next Matt O’Riley in the making in the form of a player who has been rarely used by Rodgers, so much so that he has played fewer minutes than both Nygren and Engels.

Portugal U21 international Paulo Bernardo has not had too many opportunities to impress in the middle of the park, but has shown potential to develop into an impressive player in the future.

Why Paulo Bernardo could be the next Matt O'Riley for Celtic

Signed on a permanent deal from Benfica in the summer of 2024 after a loan spell in the 2023/24 campaign, the central midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the start of this season.

Luke McCowan, Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate have all played more minutes than Bernardo in the Premiership, per WhoScored, which shows that the manager rates other players ahead of him in his position at this moment in time.

The Portuguese star has only played 74 minutes in the league. This comes after he started 13 of his 28 outings in the division in the 2024/25 campaign, and showed plenty of signs of real quality at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Bernardo excelled against his positional peers per 90 in a host of key offensive metrics, in both scoring and creating goals.

These statistics suggest that the former Benfica starlet, who was described as “tenacious” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could provide a big threat at the top end of the pitch from midfield as both a scorer and a creator of goals if given the chance to start week-in-week-out and play more minutes for the Hoops.

His assist, for O’Riley in fact, in the clip above illustrates the kind of quality that Bernardo can provide in the opposition’s box when he is free to push forward and join in with attacks to make things happen in the final third.

The Portuguese whiz is a creative and silky attacking midfielder who has the ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate when allowed to express himself on the pitch, but Rodgers has rarely given him an opportunity to do that.

Celtic’s manager elevated O’Riley to the next level by playing him week-in-week-out and pushing him up the pitch to score goals, and Bernardo has the potential to follow in the Dane’s footsteps.

Celtic could unearth their next Tounekti in 18-year-old who's "some talent"

Celtic may already have their next Sebastian Tounekti in the B team.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 29, 2025

But it is now down to Rodgers to provide the 23-year-old star with more chances from the start to allow him to find some consistency in his performances and his end product on the way to being the club’s next O’Riley.

حجز منتخب مصر لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا، بطاقة التأهل إلى نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد، والتي تقام في المغرب عقب الفوز على إسبانيا، في نصف النهائي. 

وواجه منتخب مصر لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا، نظيره منتخب إسبانيا، في الساعة الـ 10:15 بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين في نصف نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد. 

طالع..منتخب مصر يهزم إسبانيا وتأهل إلى نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا

وتمكن منتخب مصر لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا، من الفوز على منتخب إسبانيا في نصف النهائي بنتيجة 31-28.

 يذكر أن بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، تقام  في الفترة من 24 أكتوبر وحتى 1 نوفمبر 2025، في المغرب، وتضم 12 منتخبا مقسمة على 3 مجموعات.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا، نظيره منتخب ألمانيا، في نهائي بطولة كأس العالم لكرة اليد، عقب فوز ألمانيا على قطر في نصف النهائي بنتيجة 39-22. موعد مباراة منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا وألمانيا في نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد 

وسيواجه منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا نظيره منتخب ألمانيا في نهائي كأس العالم لكرة اليد تحت 17 عامًا، يوم السبت المقبل الموافق 1 نوفمبر الساعة 9:15 مساءا بتوقيت القاهرة في الدار البيضاء بالمغرب.   

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 2024/25 Premier League campaign has been defined by frustration and disappointment.

Five games in, they are rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -9.

Their attack has looked blunt, generating one of the lowest expected goals (xG) figures in the division – only Aston Villa, Burnley, and Leeds rank worse.

This stands in stark contrast to their Carabao Cup outings, where they have shown flashes of potential.

They beat West Ham in the second round with a convincing display and now have an opportunity to build momentum against Everton in the third round on Wednesday night.

For manager Pereira, this cup tie feels like more than just a fixture; it’s a chance to breathe life into a faltering season.

The departure of Matheus Cunha, who was instrumental last year, has left a void in Wolves’ attacking play.

While the defensive structure under Pereira’s three-at-the-back system has shown glimpses of resilience, the final third remains the glaring weakness.

Upcoming fixtures, including clashes with relegation rivals Sunderland and Burnley after the international break, demand fresh solutions.

Arokodare's difficult start at Wolves

When Wolves signed Tolu Arokodare from Genk for £24 million, there was genuine excitement.

The 24-year-old forward had just finished as the Belgian Pro League’s Golden Boot winner, scoring 21 goals and establishing himself as a dominant aerial threat.

In total, he netted 41 times in 113 appearances for Genk, suggesting he could be the answer to Wolves’ goalscoring problems.

So far, however, the transition has been anything but smooth.

Arokodare has featured twice in the Premier League for a combined 156 minutes, starting against Newcastle and Leeds. While his physical presence is undeniable, his output has underwhelmed.

Against Leeds, he recorded three shots, but only one was on target. His dribbling attempts yielded no success, and although he contested 13 aerial duels, he only won seven, as per Sofascore.

The numbers reflect a player still adjusting to the intensity and pace of English football.

Wolves fans were expecting a ruthless finisher; instead, they’ve seen a forward struggling to impose himself.

Pereira’s persistence with Arokodare has become synonymous with the side’s wider attacking malaise.

At a time when Wolves desperately need sharpness in the final third, he has looked like a work in progress rather than a solution.

How Pereira can get Wolves firing again

The return of Jorgen Strand Larsen could change the equation entirely.

The Norwegian striker has been Wolves’ talisman since arriving from Celta Vigo, having scored 14 league goals on loan.

That tally accounted for 22% of Wolves’ total strikes, a contribution that proved decisive in avoiding relegation last season.

His commitment was underlined this summer when he signed a new deal until 2030 despite Champions League club Newcastle United tabling bids of £50m and £55m.

Strand Larsen has already opened his account for the campaign, scoring twice in the Carabao Cup win over West Ham.

Yet an Achilles injury has sidelined him for the past two league games, leaving Wolves blunt in attack.

Now fit again, his return offers Pereira an ideal chance to reset the forward line.

The ideal partner for him is Jhon Arias, the Colombian winger-forward who joined from Fluminense for £15m.

Arias contributed four goals and 13 assists in Brazil last season, showcasing his ability to both score and create.

His versatility makes him well-suited to Pereira’s 3-5-2 system, where he could play just off Strand Larsen, stretching defences and linking midfield with attack.

Although Arias has only managed 179 league minutes so far, his technical qualities have been clear, having also been hailed for his “relentless” work off the ball by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Matches Played

12

Goals

1

Assists

4

Progressive Carries

48

Progressive Passes

55

He thrives in tight spaces, has the vision to pick progressive passes, and the pace to break lines – elements Wolves sorely lack when Arokodare leads the line.

If given a run of games, Arias could replicate the kind of strike partnerships Wolves have historically relied upon in Derek Dougan and John Richards.

Everton in the League Cup provides the perfect stage to test this combination.

Strand Larsen’s presence guarantees a focal point, while Arias’ creativity and movement would add unpredictability.

Together, they could finally give Wolves the attacking structure to match the defensive solidity that has, at times, looked promising.

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Gary Neville used his post-match podcast to eviscerate the second half efforts of Liverpool's attackers after the Reds fell to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions with a 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea. The ex-Manchester United man went as far as to call the efforts of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo as "completely useless" in the closing moments of the fixture.

• Neville criticises Liverpool attackers for poor display at Stamford Bridge

  Neville was talking from the gantry at Stamford Bridge on his customary post-broadcast podcast. He had just watched Liverpool fall to a chastening defeat, after it had appeared they would mount another late comeback in this nascent season.

  Former Anfield target Moises Caicedo opened the scoring for the Blues in the first half. His piledriver from all of 30 yards gave Premier League debutant Giorgi Mamardashvili no chance in the visitors net. Gakpo levelled the scoring in the second half, as he latched onto an Alexander Isak flick on in the box to fire into the roof of Chelsea's net. Despite wresting back some momentum after the break, Liverpool wilted in the dying embers, allowing Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian to steal the show in injury time as he converted from close range to send the home fans into raptures. 

  It certainly felt the game was there for Liverpool to win after the Dutchman's equaliser, especially as Chelsea had to contend with injuries to Benoit Badiashile and Josh Achemeapong, forcing Maresca into a makeshift centre-back pairing of Jorrel Hato and Reece James in for the final half-hour. Ultimately, the champions' wasteful play in the attacking third let them down, and seemingly frustrated Neville to boot.

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• What Neville said about Liverpool's attackers in loss to Chelsea

  Neville said: "Games are won by intent, teams that look like they want to win. I'm not saying Liverpool didn't, they obviously did, but I thought that after they scored I was really disappointed by the level of their performance. A lot has been made of Liverpool's defensive work, and rightly so, but today that's not why they've lost this game.

  "They've lost this game because in the last 15-20 minutes, their creative players, their players in the final half of the pitch, the midfielders and the forwards who were absolutely useless. They were giving the ball away like you wouldn't believe. 

  "Gakpo down here, Salah over on that far side; the wastage. Wirtz not knowing how to get into a game in the last 15 minutes when it was there for the taking, and just almost sort of marking Caicedo, I was watching him a lot." 

• What GOAL made of Liverpool's attackers

  As with all major Premier League ties, GOAL cast their eye over the proceedings at Stamford Bridge. Our player ratings for the Reds backs up some of Neville's criticisms. 

  The Egyptian King, so long Liverpool's talisman, was given the lowest rating, as our writer asked the question: has Salah's finishing ever been this bad? The reigning Premier League Player of the Year was given just 3/10 for his wasteful performance in front of goal. 

  We were slightly more generous to Wirtz and Gakpo, giving each player a 6/10 and 8/10 respectively. However, we agreed with Neville that while the young German made an impact upon entering the game, he faded badly as the proceedings drew to a close.

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  Stats: Liverpool's attacking performance at Stamford Bridge

  The Reds probably feel they did enough in the attacking third to steal at least a point at Stamford Bridge. According to Opta Analyst's xG model, Liverpool created 1.74 xG to Chelsea's 0.88. 

  The issue lied in Liverpool's inability to work Robert Sanchez in the host's goal. Of the their 12 shots, just two were on target. Conversely, Chelsea forced four saves out of Mamardashvili on top of Estevao and Caicedo's successful attempts.  

  According to analytics wizz Statman Dave, Salah failed to win a single duel or complete a successful dribble. All three of his attempts failed to work the keeper. The Egyptian had the fewest touches (35) of any outfield player that completed the full 90 minutes. 

We are just one week into the Premier League season, and Arsenal already have a significant injury setback.

News broke yesterday afternoon that, after only just recovering from his hamstring injury that ruled him out of half of last season, Kai Havertz is out with a knee problem.

It’s not clear what the specific injury is, but it looks like the German will be out of action for some time, which is not what Mikel Arteta needs with a trip to Liverpool coming up.

However, there is some good news for the Arsenal faithful, as the club are being linked with an international star who could be the manager’s next Havertz.

Arsenal target their next Havertz

It has been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year, as just a few weeks ago, following Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival, spirits were high.

Transfer Focus

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

However, the sentiment in the fanbase took a nosedive this morning, mainly down to the news that Eberechi Eze looked almost certain to be heading to rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Unsurprisingly, this mood was not helped by the Havertz update, although Arsenal have acted quickly to give supporters something to look forward to with the Gunners incredibly hijacking Spurs’ bid to sign Eze, now agreeing a move themselves.

Eze hasn’t been the only Premier League attacker on the club’s radar. According to a recent report from the Sun, which has claimed Arsenal are still very interested in Morgan Rogers.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are now ‘weighing up a dramatic swoop’ for the Aston Villa star, who is valued at around £80m.

It goes on to claim that while the North Londoners were already keeping tabs on the Englishman, the injury to Havertz has only ‘increased the likelihood’ that the club will go back into the market.

It’s a lot of money to spend on one player, but Rogers is an outrageously talented player and would be more than worth it, especially as he could be Arteta’s new Havertz.

How Rogers would be Arteta's new Havertz

So, the first thing to say is that, yes, Rogers and Havertz have not played in the same position over the last couple of seasons.

However, while that is not the primary basis of this comparison, there are a few other similarities that suggest the Englishman could be Arteta’s new version of the German.

For example, while we are on the topic of positions, they both share the trait of being versatile and playing where their managers want them to.

In the case of the Villa star, he’s spent much of his time at the club moving between attacking midfield and both wings and has even spent a little bit of time up top, which might come in handy at the moment.

The former Chelsea ace, on the other hand, has primarily spent time leading the line, but was originally a left eight when he arrived in North London, and even spent some time on the right last season.

The other key similarity is that, if this transfer goes through at the price reported, it would be another massive signing from a fellow Premier League side, and one that is challenging the European places.

Finally, both players are now full internationals, and while the former Bayer Leverkusen player has far more senior caps to his name, that would be expected given the age gap.

With all that said, there is another massive reason why Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the former Middlesbrough gem: his output.

For example, in his 54 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists.

Appearances

54

Minutes

4496′

Goals

14

Assists

16

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

Minutes per Goal Involvement

149.86′

That means the often “unstoppable” midfielder, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, was able to average a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 149.86 minutes.

Having that sort of output in this team could be the difference between another second-place finish and glory.

Ultimately, even before the injury to Havertz, Arsenal should have gone all out to sign Rogers, but now we know the German will be out for some time, the club should be solely focused on bringing the Villa star to the Emirates.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 20, 2025