All posts by n8rngtd.top

It was a significant show of faith in Rio Ngumoha’s potential when Liverpool opted against directly replacing Luis Diaz this summer.

Diaz, 28, had been a steady source of positivity down the left flank for over three years on Merseyside, and he was instrumental in winning the Premier League last season, posting 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

But he and FSG had reached a contract dispute, and his openness to moving for new pastures saw Bayern Munich’s £65.5m offer accepted in August. He brought four major honours to Anfield.

Liverpool welcomed a wealth of talent to their ranks this summer, but they didn’t sign an out-and-out left winger. Partly, this was because of Cody Gakpo and £116m arrival Florian Wirtz’s ability to play out on the flank, but Ngumoha’s emergence also played a factor.

However, the up-and-down start to the season will have shown Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes that perhaps that was a mistake. And if rumours are to be believed, the Reds hierarchy are considering rectifying that blunder.

Why Liverpool need a left winger

When Wirtz joined Liverpool in July, it was expected that he would settle in as one of the Premier League’s best players. That is still the anticipation, though his start to life in England has left much to be desired.

After assisting Hugo Ekitike on his debut in the Community Shield, the 22-year-old has since blanked across each of his eight appearances, lacking the quality and confidence in the crucial moments to make a difference.

That quality is in there, but Liverpool’s wider tactical struggles this term have exacerbated Wirtz’s slow start, with the attacking midfielder struggling to find his feet across central and wide berths.

While the German international can play out wide, this is not his most effective role, and with that in mind, Liverpool might want to sign a Diaz-like winger in 2026 to help balance the system out once again, perhaps raising Wirtz’s game concurrently.

And, according to Spanish sources, FSG are preparing an official €75m (£65m) offer for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, though the Basque outfit are holding out to see that their €90m (£78m) valuation is met.

Williams, 23, was reported by Fabrizio Romano this summer to be Arsenal’s “dream target”, but the Gunners failed to make a breakthrough and went down a different track.

Liverpool are aware of interest from other suitors and hope to close a deal swiftly, so keep a close eye on this one.

What Nico Williams would bring to Liverpool

A maverick of a winger, Williams rose to prominence for his performances at the 2024 European Championship with Spain, vital to the Iberian nation’s triumph, hailed for his “incredible” talent by Barcelona’s Pedri.

During that summer tournament, Spain were simply a cut above the rest, and Williams and Lamine Yamal drew so many plaudits for their electric performances, uncontainable.

The fast-footed talent has played 171 matches for Athletic Bilbao and earned 30 caps for Spain. For his club, he has posted 32 goals and assists apiece.

A groin injury has disrupted his start to the current campaign, but with a goal and two assists to his name already, the £276k-per-week ace is sure to hit form once fitness levels have been recovered.

Last season wasn’t one of seamless success for Williams, who only scored five times in La Liga, but he notched 14 goals across all competitions and showed through his underlying data his high-level ability. As per Sofascore, he completed 2.3 dribbles and won 4.9 duels on average each game.

It’s more than Williams operates in a similar way to Diaz, and thus could be an invaluable puzzle piece for Slot as the Dutch manager works on recalibrating his out-of-sorts Liverpool team.

You would hope that the Merseysiders’ struggles would have been combatted by the end of the campaign, but Williams could prove a long-term success and an upgrade on Wirtz down the left channel.

Curiously, there are quite a few similarities between the respective players, even though stylistic differences are clear when observing them in action.

Both players are adept at taking on defenders, with staggering close control. Wirtz is artful on the ball. However, Williams is more of a relentless carrier, and that is something Slot’s side need to stretch lines and accommodate Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the centre.

In fact, he has been described in the past as a “world-class prospect” by journalist Zach Lowy, who went on to say that the “absolute menace” was proving a terror for Spanish defences across the 2023/24 campaign.

It’s clear that Wirtz is a talented footballer and that he could become one of the Premier League’s leading figures at Liverpool. But Liverpool need to sign a first-class winger to add width and energy to Slot’s flanks.

Williams is that man, with his “unpredictable” and “relentless” dribbling, as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson, bound to add a dimension to the Liverpool fold, especially when Mohamed Salah lacks his one-time athleticism on the alternate wing.

Is Williams a more technically talented footballer than Wirtz? Does his ceiling stretch higher than the German playmaker’s own? In both cases, probably not.

However, Liverpool haven’t looked quite right this season, and the Spaniard’s electric pace and Diaz-like qualities as a winger might prove the upgrade needed to restore the tactical equilibrium.

Their answer to Semenyo: Liverpool have a future "best winger in the world"

Liverpool have so much talent within Arne Slot’s squad.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 16, 2025

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has urged his players to "stay humble" after their surprising 1-0 defeat to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. On a night that was supposed to celebrate Selhurst Park's first-ever European fixture, the Eagles' dream turned sour as the visitors spoiled the occasion with a second-half winner and a stark reminder for the Premier League side.

• Eagles beaten on home soil by minnows

  Crystal Palace suffered a stunning home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the first-ever European match at Selhurst Park, losing 1-0 despite dominating large spells of the game. The Premier League side created 15 chances but failed to make their possession count, registering just one shot on target in a frustrating performance. Riad Bajic scored the only goal of the night in the 51st minute, punishing a defensive error from Jaydee Canvot to hand the Cypriot visitors a famous victory.

  The result ended Palace’s 14-match unbeaten home run and left supporters disappointed on what was meant to be a historic European night. Selhurst Park had been electric before kick-off, with banners and chants celebrating the club’s FA Cup triumph and newfound continental adventure. However, as Glasner’s men squandered chance after chance, the energy quickly turned to disbelief.

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  Glasner questions Palace 'environment'

  "You are always told when you play in the Premier League you win the Conference League," Glasner told reporters after the game. "Stay humble. I don’t know if any debutant is able to win the competition. I don’t think so. We will learn from it, the players will learn. It’s disappointing, a frustrating night, but maybe the whole environment needed it to stay humble."

  The Austrian coach admitted that his team’s failure to take their chances felt like "a little bit deja vu" after recent games in which they didn’t take their chances: "That's European football, and when you play the first time, maybe you have to learn that small mistakes get punished. We had enough chances to win the game, that's the story of not just today, but for many games. I think we had four or five big chances to score, but we didn't and made one mistake, and then you can lose a game like this, and it's now for us to learn from this and keep heads up."

• Inconsistency creeping in for south Londoners

  The defeat came at a time when optimism around Selhurst Park was soaring. Palace have enjoyed one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League season under Glasner, currently sitting eighth in the table with just one league loss in eight matches. They began the campaign by lifting the Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, their second major trophy after having won the FA Cup, a few months earlier.

  In the Premier League, Palace’s form has been steady, highlighted by a 2-1 win over champions Liverpool and a 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been the standout performer, scoring seven goals in all competitions, while Daichi Kamada and Tyrick Mitchell have also impressed. Yet despite these highs, recent weeks have seen a dip in consistency – the Larnaca loss followed a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth and a 2-1 defeat to Everton.

  For all their progress under Glasner, Thursday’s setback exposed how fine the margins are in European football. Against a Larnaca side ranked fifth in the Cypriot league, Palace’s lack of clinical edge and lapses in focus proved costly. The defeat also reignited questions about the squad’s depth and ability to manage playing two games a week.

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  Attention turns to Premier League clash with Arsenal

  Crystal Palace will look to regroup quickly as they turn their attention back to Premier League action. Glasner’s men face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday – a daunting test that could reveal how much they’ve learned from Thursday’s humbling experience. In the longer term, Palace remain well-positioned domestically and still have time to recover in the Conference League group stage.

If it wasn’t for a last-minute equaliser from AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, Leeds United would have been celebrating two successive Premier League wins under Daniel Farke.

A 2-2 draw against Andoni Iraola’s stern Cherries isn’t a terrible result, all things considered, as the promoted sides up from the Championship continue to show that they belong at such an intimidating level.

The close showdown with the visitors from the South Coast also showed off Leeds’ excellent summer recruitment, as both Anton Stach and Noah Okafor stood out once more, among other fresh purchases.

Leeds' standout performers vs Bournemouth

Stach wasn’t as overwhelmingly brilliant as he was against Wolverhampton Wanderers, however, with no more audacious free-kicks being hammered home.

Still, come the final whistle, the German had still won three ground duels from his 40 touches of the ball, with his goalscoring flair substituted out for some grit for the challenge of Bournemouth.

Leeds fans would have been relieved to see another hero from that 3-1 away day success at Molineux start against Bournemouth in the form of Okafor, with the Switzerland international looking rather sheepish by the close of that whirlwind contest.

He did last just an hour against the Cherries, but his directness on the ball in forward areas certainly caught the eye of the Elland Road masses, with three successful dribbles and two shots on the Bournemouth goal nearly catching Iraola’s men out.

Chalkboard

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

Yet, away from all the shiny new toys filling out Farke’s starting XI, it was the old reliable Joe Rodon who equalised for Leeds with a bullet header, with the £10m to bring him in permanently last summer continuing to look like a steal.

He isn’t the only recent buy being made to look like a bargain deal, however, with one under-the-radar star now boasting a higher transfer valuation than both in-form Stach and Okafor, despite both their impressive starts to life in England.

Leeds' under-the-radar star is now worth more than Stach & Okafor

Signings from far-off Europe are always going to be instant attention grabbers, with Stach costing a high £20m to obtain from Hoffenheim, on top of Okafor joining from AC Milan for an equally pricey £18m.

However, Farke would have been abundantly aware this summer that the spine of his side needed Premier League experience, having tasted the bitter disappointment of relegation from the division previously with Norwich City when that experience just wasn’t there.

Thankfully, Sean Longstaff has already come to the rescue in this department.

Purchased for just £12m, the ex-Newcastle United midfielder has already managed to show off his top-flight class, with his all-round showing against Bournemouth seeing Farke declare the 6-foot-2 ace as “outstanding.”

It was deserved praise too, when glancing over his superb numbers from the score draw, with Longstaff very much good value for both his goal and assist, having amassed a ludicrous seven key passes throughout.

On top of this creative flair, however, the 27-year-old – who is now up to 177 top-flight outings – also won a powerful ten duels in total, with Alan Shearer’s previous comments about Longstaff being an “unbelievable” talent very much now ringing true, even if he has departed his boyhood employers.

Arguably, Newcastle could well have driven a harder bargain when getting rid of their homegrown talent, with Football Transfers now estimating that Longstaff’s value is way above the £12m he was purchased for back in July.

Amazingly, Longstaff is now Leeds’ second-highest valued asset at £21m – according to Football Transfers – with both Stach and Okafor not even making the above list, with their own values coming in at £16m and £15m respectively.

Despite this sharp increase in Longstaff’s value sticking out, Farke will know he needs his full talented squad to keep firing on all cylinders to ensure survival is reached, with the early signs looking hopeful in their quest for Premier League safety.

Leeds want to sign new Brazil winger with £50m+ release clause on the cheap

The Whites are looking to sanction an exciting deal…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Sep 28, 2025

With every team in action on Tuesday, let's focus on which stars are set to go yard.

In the discussion for an AL MVP, Bobby Witt Jr. will look to keep a hot June going with a home run against a lowly Athletics pitching staff in favorable conditions, highligting my card on Tuesday with two other sluggers in the mix as well.

Find out how I'm attacking home run props on Tuesday's slate.

Best MLB Home Run Prop Bets Today, June 18th

• Adley Rutschman (+520)
• Julio Rodriguez (+420)
• Bobby Witt Jr. (+430)

Adley Rutschman

Rutchsman is dangerous against lefty pitchers, which he is in line to face on Tuesday when the Yankees send out Nestor Cortes. 

Rutchsman is hitting .420 with a .693 slugging percentage against southpaws, crushing six home runs in 93 plate appearances. 

In the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium, Rutschman can take advantage of Cortes’ concerning hard-hit metrics, 17th percentile in the big leagues according to MLB Statcast, and high fly ball rate, fourth percentile in groundball rate. 

Rutschman is worth a bet at north of +500. 

Julio Rodriguez

Rodriguez only has seven home runs on the year, but is still hitting the ball just fine. He is in the 91st percentile in terms of hard-hit percentage and is in the 91st percentile in average exit velocity. 

We are starting to see his numbers trend upwards, hitting .281 in June with a slugging percentage that is a monthly high of .456. He already has tied May for the most home runs in a month with three in June and I fancy his chances of going yard on Tuesday against Triston McKenzie. 

The Guardians right hander is in for harsh regression as the season continues, posting an xERA of 4.81 that far outpaces his 4.10 ERA. Further, the wind is set to blow out of Progressive Field at nearly six miles per hour, helping J-Rod’s hard contact to push over the fence. 

Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt Jr's numbers are fantastic this season, and they should be even better. With 11 home runs and a slugging percentage of .551, Witt's xSLG is .616. He is one of the best hitters in the bigs and should have plenty of more home runs already.

Tuesday is a great set up for him, facing an Athletics pitchign staff that is bottom five in ERA and starting lefty Hogan Harris. The utility arm has allowed three home runs to right handers in five appearances this season, making for a tough matchup against the likes of Witt Jr, who will also have the benefit of more than nine miles per hour of winds pushing the ball out.

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has offered up an update on striker Endrick with the Brazilian linked with a January move. The teenager is yet to make an appearance for the Spanish giants in any competition under Alonso having struggled for regular game time last season following his arrival from Brasileirao giants Palmeiras with a temporary January move rumoured.

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  Alonso yet to call upon Endrick

  Endrick has made a handful of matchday squads for Real Madrid but is yet to feature for Los Blancos in any competition this season, last pulling on a Real Madrid shirt under Carlo Ancelotti back in May as the Liga giants beat Sevilla on the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Xabi Alonso, though, is yet to use the Brazilian in any capacity with Gonzalo Garcia preferred as Kylian Mbappe's deputy.

  Even then, Garcia's game time has been limited. The 21-year-old has registered just 91 minutes of league action despite shining at the Club World Cup, scoring four goals across six appearances up until their 4-0 semi-final defeat at the hands of Champions League winners PSG.

  Garcia, like Endrick, has also been linked with a January exit as the two young strikers look to garner regular playing time in the second half of the season. However, Alonso has moved to quash talk that the duo will depart next year.

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• Real Madrid pair unlikely to leave

  Ahead of Real Madrid's game against Getafe on Sunday, Alonso was asked about the possibility of both Endrick and Garcia departing in January, stating: "I'm not thinking about it at the moment, it's not on my mind."

  Alonso was also adamant that neither Endrick or Garcia had "asked to leave this winter", adding: "Both are ready to play. It's a position where competition is fierce." Marseille have been linked with a move for Endrick, where he'd link up with Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang under Roberto De Zerbi.

  A move to PSG has also been mooted, with ESPN Brazil reporting a deal that would see Endrick move to Paris and Fabian Ruiz sign for Real Madrid was in the pipeline. Ruiz was admired by former boss Ancelotti, though a player exchange looks unlikely at this stage.

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  Endrick has Premier League suitors

  Ligue 1 pair Marseille and PSG aren't the only sides rumoured to be interested in Endrick, with Premier League teams also believed to be keen on the young striker. Manchester United and West Ham have emerged as potential destinations for the 19-year-old as the English pair seek to bolster their forward options.

  United are looking to bring in cover and competition for summer signing Benjamin Sesko with Joshua Zirkzee struggling for minutes in his second season at Old Trafford. Nicklas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson, meanwhile, have scored just one league goal between them for the Hammers this season as West Ham look to get their campaign really up and running when they face Brentford on Monday night.

  Endrick is looking to garner some minutes in the New Year as he eyes up a 2026 World Cup spot. The young forward has made 14 appearances for Brazil, but has featured just the once for the South American powerhouse in 2025.

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• Brazil's mixed form under Ancelotti

  Brazil have struggled for form since Ancelotti took over the reins earlier in the year. While the Selecao secured a World Cup 2026 spot, they flattered to deceive in qualifying, finishing 10 points behind rivals Argentina, who they lost 4-1 to in March.

  In addition, Ancelotti has overseen just three wins from his six matches so far as Brazil beat Paraguay, Chile and South Korea. However, they also lost to Bolivia and Japan and didn't look wholly convincing in victories over the latter.

  Competition is hardly rife for the striker spot for the Brazil national team either, with Ancelotti able to call upon Richarlison, Matheus Cunha and Igor Jesus on the frontline. Endrick, then, feels an increase in game time in the New Year will significantly boost his chances of making the Brazil World Cup squad in North America next summer.

  When called upon for Real Madrid last season, however, Endrick struggled for consistency as he scored just once in La Liga and once in the Champions League for the Spanish powerhouse. Los Blancos will look to go back to the top of the table when they face Getafe on Sunday having been leapfrogged into top spot by Barcelona on Saturday afternoon.

The circus surrounding Celtic’s transfer business will now have to be put to one side, ahead of the return of domestic action this weekend.

The fallout of what went on this summer continues, however, with it yet to be seen just how Brendan Rodgers’ side will be impacted by their lack of adequate investment, particularly in the centre-forward ranks.

At present, the Northern Irishman has been left with a pool of strikers that all have question marks around them, in the form of Shin Yamada, Johnny Kenny, Callum Osmand and late arrival, Kelechi Iheanacho.

The experienced Nigerian – who has been snapped up from Sevilla on a free transfer – scored just four times for the LaLiga side and for Middlesbrough last term, albeit while having previously flourished under Rodgers at Leicester City.

With the Hoops boss now pondering how to get the best out of the 28-year-old again, attention turns to the man he has replaced, Adam Idah, with the Republic of Ireland international departing for Swansea City following a mixed time at Parkhead.

How Idah compares to recent Celtic strikers

It is difficult to know quite what to make of Idah’s spell in Glasgow, with the 24-year-old enjoying notable highs, albeit while failing to truly deliver on a consistent basis.

Nine goals during just 19 games of his initial loan spell makes for good reading, as does his return of 20 goals in all competitions last term, despite having started just 26 games, as per Transfermarkt.

In his own words, the former Norwich City man felt that such an impact went “a bit unnoticed”, albeit with it hard to argue against his disappointing overall record of just 29 goals in 76 games in total in green and white.

Considering his £9m price tag, the man who previously scored just 17 senior goals at Carrow Road certainly underdelivered, having failed to hit the heights of those who came before him in recent times.

Of course, former teammate Kyogo Furuhashi is the gold standard when it comes to modern Celtic strikers, although even the likes of Georgios Giakoumakis fared far better, having almost matched Idah’s tally from 19 fewer games.

Odsonne Edouard – signed from PSG for a similar fee of £9m – also enjoyed a far more fruitful spell in Scotland, as did his predecessor Moussa Dembele, with the French duo playing a starring role as the club’s attacking figurehead.

Despite his £9m price tag and number nine shirt, Idah, by contrast, never truly earned such lofty status. A swift exit has now been secured, with it yet to be seen if history will repeat itself in the case of a certain Arne Engels.

The Celtic star in danger of being the next Adam Idah

The burden of a significant price tag can weigh heavy, as the case of Idah shows, with Celtic perhaps somewhat fortunate to have recouped a fair chunk of their initial investment, amid the Irishman’s £7m deadline day departure.

Time will tell whether the club will go on to cash in on young Engels for a far more handsome fee later down the line, with the £11m signing enduring his own turbulent time of things at Celtic Park thus far.

As Rodgers has been at pains to stress on numerous occasions, at 22, the promising Belgian is “nowhere near the finished article”, with there perhaps a need to look beyond the eye-catching nature of that transfer fee.

He is a player of “potential” according to his manager – having also been described as “so underrated” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – with time needing to be given for the midfielder to properly bed in at Celtic, considering his relative youth.

That being said, as was the case with Idah, that £11m figure will hang like an albatross around his neck if he continues to underwhelm, with the youngster having also dipped in and out of the side over the last 12 months or so.

Indeed, the early weeks of the new season have seen Engels start just three of a possible seven games, including a disappointing outing against Rangers, having notably been introduced off the bench for both legs of the shock defeat to Kairat Almaty in Champions League qualifying.

A return of 24 goals and assists in 59 games in all competitions to date is certainly reason for optimism, although the former FC Augsburg man is yet to truly stamp his authority on this Celtic side, having notably been usurped by summer signing Benjamin Nygren in the midfield pecking order.

With a swift departure having actually been touted over the summer, it already looks like the four-cap international could head the same way as Idah in the near future, should his standing not improve under Rodgers.

That night in Munich has highlighted what he can produce when at his best, with time still on his side to prove a success in a Celtic.

That said, if he’s not careful, Engels could well prove to be the club’s next Idah as another expensive gamble that has gone awry.

Isak thinks he's "fearless": Celtic are now brewing their next Matt O'Riley

Celtic are brewing their next Matt O’Riley with this versatile attacking star at Parkhead.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 11, 2025

Former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo has opened up on the "damned story" of AC Milan's Champions League final loss in Istanbul to Liverpool in 2005. Despite scoring twice in a 3-0 first-half lead, the Milan, Inter, Lazio and Parma legend admits the specific defeat is a major career regret and one that he still finds difficult to discuss.

• Champions League final loss still stings after 20 years

  Crespo has admitted the Rossoneri's infamous 2005 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool is a "damned story" that he struggled with for years. In a wide-ranging interview with Italian outlet , the 50-year-old, who scored twice in the final, reflected on the most painful moments of a decorated playing career.

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  The 'damned story' of Istanbul 2005

  Crespo was central to one of the most memorable finals in the competition's history. AC Milan stormed to a 3-0 half-time lead at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with captain Paolo Maldini opening the scoring in the first minute before Crespo added a clinical brace in the 39th and 44th minutes. However, a remarkable six-minute spell in the second half saw Liverpool draw level through Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, before eventually winning 3-2 on penalties. The defeat remains iconic among fans, but a significant regret for the Argentine.

  Asked what the biggest regret of his career is, he said: "Istanbul 2005, Champions League final between Milan and Liverpool. After Maldini's goal, I scored a brace, we finished the first half 3-0 up, and then the English came back and we lost on penalties. It's not easy to stomach a defeat after scoring a brace… For years, I didn't want to watch that match again. Only recently have I made peace with that damned story. But let's not dwell too much, otherwise I'll get angry again."

• Praise for Argentina successor Lautaro Martinez

  Crespo, who scored 35 goals in 64 appearances for his country, also commented on being overtaken in Argentina's all-time top scorer list by Inter captain Lautaro Martinez. The Inter star is currently level with the ex-Chelsea forward but is expected to overtake him and take fourth spot, behind Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi.

  "He's a complete striker, and he's proven it over the years at Inter and with Argentina," Crespo said. "He's deadly in the penalty area, and he sees the goal like few others. He knows how to play as a team, communicates with his teammates, and attacks the spaces. He's a good dribbler. What more can I say? Yes, I consider him a champion. He has personality, opposing defenders fear him and double-mark him. This means he's reached full maturity."

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• World Cup 'regret' with Argentina's golden generation

  Despite a stellar club career with Parma, Lazio, Inter, and Chelsea, Crespo revealed his failure to win a World Cup with a talented Argentina side remains a major source of disappointment. Playing alongside the likes of Batistuta, Juan Sebastian Veron and Diego Simeone, Crespo's national team career ended with quarter-final exits in 1998 and 2006, and a group stage elimination in 2002.

  "Throughout my career, I've chased the World Cup: my generation was born with the myth of Maradona and the 1986 Cup," he explained. "We dreamed of making the Argentinians relive those magical moments, but we didn't succeed. It's a regret I carry with me."

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has dropped an important injury claim regarding one of his teammates ahead of the Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid.

Van Dik excited about "fantastic" Isak

The Premier League champions won 1-0 at Burnley on Sunday afternoon, being frustrated for large periods but winning it through a last-gasp Mohamed Salah penalty.

Liverpool could have done with new signing Alexander Isak’s ruthlessness at times, and speaking after the game, captain Virgil van Dijk waxed lyrical over the Swede, having trained with him last week.

“Very good! Listen, he is going to be very important for the football club. Obviously he is a fantastic player and he has to realise that this is another step up, there’s more things to be asked from him on and off the pitch, but I’m not worried whatsoever.

“He is going to do pretty well, like the other new boys as well. It’s time for him now to get as fit as possible as quickly as possible and be important with goals, with link-up play – like Hugo [Ekitike] is already as well. It’s good to have competition. We have to push each other to be successful and I’m confident that will be the case.”

Alisson drops injury update regarding teammate

Speaking to ESPN after the Burnley game [via Sport Witness], Alisson claimed that Alexis Mac Allister should be fine after being on the end of a bad tackle at Turf Moor, suggesting he should be fit for Liverpool’s visit of Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, also praising the Reds’ new signings.

“He’s a very strong man. Nothing’s wrong with him, he was just in a bit of pain. I think he’s fine.

“All the players who left were important. Lucho, Darwin, they all made a difference for us with goals or their playing, fighting, defending. They had good energy, and we miss them. The ones who arrived are stars, they’re doing very well with their contributions, they have a lot of quality. It’s clear we want to improve because we need to; we have many competitions to play.”

Mac Allister hasn’t quite got going this season, having been injured at one point, and he was off the pace at Burnley, perhaps due to his exploits for Argentina during the international break.

That said, the 26-year-old still has a strong claim for being Liverpool’s most important midfielder, with his blend of quality, work rate, intelligence and leadership making him one of the first names on the team sheet.

It will be interesting to see if Arne Slot starts Mac Allister against Atlético, though, perhaps deciding to give him a breather, partnering Ryan Gravenberch with Dominik Szoboszlai.

Big-money Liverpool star is now in danger of becoming Slot's new Nunez

Arne Slot will already be concerned that this expensive Liverpool attacker is turning into his next Darwin Nunez.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 15, 2025

That would then allow Mac Allister to be fresh for Saturday’s Merseyside derby clash with Everton at Anfield, which is the more important game at this stage of the season.

Manchester City are leading the race for a “world-class” star, and they are now prepared to explore a deal in the January transfer window.

Man City looking at signing new forward after slow start

Man City’s opening match was full of promise, picking up an impressive 4-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but they have since gone on to lose their last two matches, and Rodri was very critical of the performance in the 2-1 loss at Brighton.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner said: “Some of the mistakes we are making are kids’ mistakes; you are not concentrating and paying attention. The reality is that we have to raise the level if we want to compete.”

Pep Guardiola initially attempted to ‘raise the level’ by overhauling his squad during the summer transfer window, although there were very few additions in forward areas, with the now injured Rayan Cherki the only outright attacker to move to the Etihad Stadium.

That is despite City being heavily linked with a new winger, and at one stage they were preparing an offer for Rodrygo, but the Brazilian ultimately ended up remaining at Real Madrid.

However, there has now been a new update on Man City’s pursuit of Rodrygo, with a report from Caught Offside revealing they are leading the race for the 24-year-old’s signature. It is claimed that the forward is seen as a “perfect fit” and a “key piece” in City’s fluid attacking system.

During the summer transfer window, Arsenal were informed that Madrid would be prepared to listen to offers of around €80m (£69m), which suggests it may take a similar amount to get a deal done this winter, with City now willing to explore a January move.

More rounded than Isak & Haaland: Man City must rue losing 'world's best CF'

Manchester City must regret selling a centre-forward sensation who could rival Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak

By
Will Miller

Sep 6, 2025

Interestingly, Madrid are open to cashing-in on the Brazil international this summer, which may be music to Pep’s ears, given that the 54-year-old is known to be a long-term admirer.

"World-class" Rodrygo could take Man City's attack to next level

Oscar Bobb has made a decent start to the season, scoring at the Club World Cup, before going on to pick up an assist against Wolves on the opening day, but the Norwegian is still yet to truly establish himself at the top level.

As such, Pep may be keen to bring in a more proven winger this winter, and the Real Madrid forward is now a seasoned Brazil international, scoring seven goals in 33 appearances for his country, while also picking up 119 goal contributions in 272 outings for his current employers.

Journalist Kyle Bonn has previously praised the former Santos man for his ability to put away chances, which is evidenced by the fact he has averaged 0.35 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, despite being expected to score 0.21 per 90.

Rodrygo could take Man City’s attack to the next level, so it is exciting news that they have now moved into pole position in the race for his signature.

Olivier Giroud has revealed that he plans to retire at Lille, calling the French club "most certainly" the last he will play for. The 39-year-old striker, France’s all-time top scorer, returned to Ligue 1 in the summer after a stint in MLS. Despite Lille’s inconsistent form, Giroud remains focused on finishing strong in what could be the final chapter of his storied career.

• Giroud ready to hang up his boots at Lille

  The 2018 World Cup winner has hinted that his ongoing season with Lille will mark the end of a journey spanning nearly two decades at the top level. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan forward, who returned to France after a spell at LAFC in the United States, has already scored three goals in eight appearances, showing that he remains a valuable asset in Ligue 1.

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  Giroud on retirement plans: 'Most certainly my last club'

  The 39-year-old, who turns 40 in 2026, discussed his future plans during an appearance on RMC’s , confirming that his time with Les Dogues will likely be his farewell to professional football. 

  Reflecting on his current campaign and what lies ahead, Giroud kept things straightforward and said: “I’m focusing on this year, making sure it goes well and we’ll take stock at the end.”

  When asked if Lille could be his last club, the veteran striker didn’t hesitate.

  “Absolutely,” he replied, before adding: “Most certainly.”

• From Montpellier to Milan: A decorated career comes full circle

  Giroud's journey is one of late bloom and lasting excellence. After humble beginnings at Grenoble, Istres and Tours, his breakout season at Montpellier saw him win the Ligue 1 title and Golden Boot in 2012. That success paved the way for stints in England and Italy, where he lifted major honours with Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan.

  His brief spell at Los Angeles FC in MLS was less impressive statistically, producing five goals and three assists in 37 appearances. However, he did help the side to a U.S. Open Cup triumph and a Club World Cup appearance. Now back in France, his experience has been invaluable to a youthful Lille side adjusting after Jonathan David’s departure.

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  Lille’s struggles and Giroud’s final test

  Despite Giroud’s steady form, Lille have endured a mixed start to their campaign. Bruno Genesio men sit seventh in Ligue 1 after a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain and back-to-back defeats to Lyon and Lens, though their Europa League win over Roma offered a glimpse of their potential.

  As Les Dogues push for European qualification, Giroud will aim to lead by example one final time ending his storied career where it all began, in front of French fans who have followed his rise from Montpellier to Milan and now, back home to Lille.