There is now a “real prospect” of Liverpool completing the signing of an “extraordinary” France international as they seek to break out of their recent rut.

Van Dijk's leadership breaks Liverpool slump

The Premier League champions are back in action away to Brentford on Saturday evening, looking to build on Wednesday’s 5-1 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk revealed after the win in Germany that he held a meeting with just the players at the start of the week, following a dreadful run of form.

“On Monday everyone was sad because we lost to Man United at home,” said Van Dijk. “It was tough under the circumstances so on Monday we came together but it wasn’t a crisis meeting. Nobody wants to lose four games in a row but it was the situation we faced.

“Obviously we also had a proper debrief with the manager but we also had a separate one as players. I wanted to say some things. It’s not something I do after every game. After my meeting everyone was happy!”

Away from Liverpool’s on-pitch duties, an exciting new transfer rumour has emerged, with FSG seemingly planning to spend their way out of their recent run.

Liverpool in race to sign Champions League winner

Speaking to TEAMtalk, journalist Dean Jones claimed that Liverpool have a “real” chance of signing Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, but face competition for his signature.

Camavinga has a €1bn release clause in his Real Madrid contract, but stands out as a wonderful option for Liverpool, should he and Xabi Alonso fail to fully click at Madrid, resulting in Los Blancos cashing in for a more reasonable figure.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has won two Champions League crowns in his career, as well as a couple of La Liga titles, while Carlo Ancelotti has called him an “extraordinary” player, which is high praise from a legendary manager.

Liverpool have signed a Salah-type player who's got the "pace of Torres"

Liverpool are watching before their eyes the birth of a superstar.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 24, 2025

Camavinga would bring class, elegance and substance to Liverpool’s midfield, not to mention being able to shine at left-back, and given his age, he could mature into a genuinely world-class midfield at Anfield. Arne Slot does have great depth there, but if the chance arises to sign him, it would be foolish to say no.

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the 20-year-old fullback to discuss his career trajectory and World Cup ambitions

Alex Freeman can acknowledge it: there have been plenty of occastions throughout the last seven months in which he's felt like a young player. His first MLS start in the spring? Scary as can be, especially knowing his parents happened to be in attendance. 

His U.S. men's national team debut against a loaded Turkey squad? Butterflies before, during and after. His appearance with the MLS All-Stars? All he could do was look around and wonder what he did to belong on that field with those players.

The thing is, though, that despite his relative youth and inexperience, Freeman routinely proved that he did, in fact, belong. It's why those moments kept happening. And it's why, in a culmination of everything that has happened prior, he was recognized for them this week.

On Thursday, Freeman was named MLS Young Player of the Year, beating out Diego Luna and Obed Vargas for this year's award. The voting was largely one-sided, with Freeman winning the players, coaches and media blocks as well as, the overall vote.

American soccer had seen what they needed to see from the Orlando City fullback to determine that, this season, he was the young player to watch. That isn't lost on Freeman. Despite all he's accomplished this year, this all still feels surreal. He can remember the nerves that came with the big moments and now, reflecting on them alongside this award, it's easy to acknowledge just how much the last few months have changed him for the better.

"It's just been such a crazy seven months for me," Freeman told GOAL. "Obviously, in March, having my first start to now being able to win this award, it just shows the kind of year I've had. I'm grateful for winning this award, but also just to be able to continue playing. I feel like this award isn't going to stop me from trying to improve every day.

"But I think just looking at where I was in March to now in October, it's something that shows why it was such a memorable season for me."

Freeman is able to reflect, but he's also able to project forward, too, as he builds on his latest moment in the spotlight.

Getty Images'The summer was a lot for me'

The exact point at which Freeman actually realized his life was changing is unclear. But it happened over the summer, when everything sped up.  After emerging as one of the top stars in MLS throughout the spring, Freeman was named to Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT squad ahead of this summer's Gold Cup.

Prior to the tournament, he started against Turkey, facing off with rising stars like Kenan Yildiz and Arda Guler. Then, as the summer wore on, Freeman remained the team's first-choice right-back right on through the final loss to Mexico.

"It's amazing, and it's priceless for us," Pochettino said of Freeman this summer. "He's a player who can work and play for us. In his debut, it was important to provide a very specific and simple concept for him to play, to grow and evolve in the direction we expect. We are so happy, and the most important thing is that he feels comfortable and, from there, he can start to grow."

Freeman has grown. Against Australia earlier this month, he was given more license to roam than he had previously. The attacking skillset he has so often shown on the club level, where he provided six goals and three assists from the right-back position, has begun to translate to the international level.

"I think the summer was a lot for me," Freeman says. "I had to adjust to Mauricio's system. I had a lot of times where I was staying back and there were times when I did go forward, too. For me, it was just about being able to get into these camps again and again with him, and learn what he wants from me and what I can do well for him. I feel like, as a coach, he expresses a lot to the players. He tells us what he wants, what he needs. And, as a player, it's very good to understand that. 

"It just gives me confidence as well, knowing that you have a coach like that in the national team and here in Orlando [Oscar Pareja] who trusts you so much. I feel like that gives me confidence to be able to go up and down, like I have been trying to do all season."

Off the field, Freeman has grown, too. He's developed close bonds with his USMNT teammates throughout his 11 caps and, with a World Cup on the horizon, he's feeling more comfortable as part of the national squad.

"The U.S. group is incredible," he says. "We're all so together. There are no egos. There are no people who think they're above anyone else. We're all so together, and I think people can see that in games with how we stick up for each other. I think, as people, everyone is amazing.

"Everyone treated me so good when I first came in. We go to dinners, do activities, work hard, and I feel like, as a group, it makes us better on the field. The players are phenomenal and every time I go in there, I'm just so excited to be with the guys."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Oh God, I'm actually here'

Shortly after his Gold Cup run, Freeman was recognized with another honor. He was named an MLS All-Star. It seemed almost unfathomable ahead of his first start just a few months prior. 

On July 23, he took the field in Austin alongside some of the league's very best. He made sure to soak up the moment, participating in the Skills Challenge. The Orlando City star ended up coming off the bench, playing 29 minutes in a 3-1 MLS win over the Liga MX All-Stars. For Freeman, though, everything leading up that appearance seemed unreal.

"It's gone so quickly, but it's hard not to think about all of the stuff going on, even as it is happening," he says. "You're gonna have days where you finish training and you're just like, 'Oh my God, I'm actually here.' I feel like one experience, for me, that was surreal was the All-Star Game. Just meeting all of the guys and being able to be recognized as one of the best in MLS, doing that in such a short amount of time, was a dream come true.

"I couldn't imagine doing that and I was just so grateful and so happy to even meet the other guys who had been named All-Stars. The whole thing, the skills challenge, the games, the media, everything, it all felt surreal. Knowing that MLS, my coaches, my teammates, everyone had gotten me to that spot, it was such an honor and a moment that I look back on and say, 'Wow, that really happened'."

Getty'Going to make me grow up quicker'

When you win Young Player of the Year, you effectively cease being a young player. You have accomplished all you can under that label. Now, you're held to a different standard. Freeman, to a degree, sees it that way. With a full MLS season under his belt and double-digit USMNT caps to his name, he is now graded on the same curve as everyone else.

Any future accolades or achievements will come because he's earned them, not just because he's young. Of course, he recognizes that he's not a finished product. This award is just a step, in many ways, albeit one that will force him to take another and another.

"I think here in Orlando, the guys make me feel like the young guy, and it's good to have that feeling around the national team as well," he says. "I'm one of the youngest guys there, so it's good to feel like that with the guys. But I also feel that this award is going to make me mature as a person and as a player. It's going to make me grow up quicker, and that's what I need to do. 

"Maybe I do feel a little older now. Maybe I will feel more experienced in certain types of ways."

Now, following Orlando City's play-in loss to the Chicago Fire, Freeman is staring down some time off the field and a long MLS offseason.

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Getty'A person people can rely on'

The USMNT's November camp is coming, and they will face two big tests. Up first is Paraguay, and then Uruguay, the team that effectively knocked them out of the Copa America in 2024. Freeman is hoping to be involved in that camp but nothing is guaranteed.

Whether he plays in those games or not, though, he's facing at least three-and-a-half months off before MLS resumes.

"I'm going to be training here in Orlando and hoping to make that November camp that's coming up," he says. "I want to be fit for that. After that, I think everyone knows I probably need a reset, and maybe not even a reset, but a rest. I want to see family, maybe travel a little. Maybe even go visit my national team teammates in different countries.

"For me, it's going to be a reset. I'm going to train and be fit as well. But it's been a long year for me, and I want to share this time with he people that have been supporting me."

The work continues this offseason, though. A World Cup is around the corner. This summer, transfer speculation began to swirl, and will almost certainly return. And Freeman will be eager to seal more awards and accolades – and appreciate it all.

"My goal is to be a better person and a better player," he says. "I'm trying to improve every day to be both. I want to help people around me who maybe aren't as fortunate. I want to link up with people I haven't seen in a while to help my community in a better way. I feel like that's the type of person I want to be. I just want to be a good person.

"When people talk about me, I want them to talk about me in a positive way. I want them to be like, 'Oh, he's a good guy. He's a good player, but he's a better guy.' I just want to show everyone that I'm a player and a person that people can rely on."

قرر الجهاز الفني لـ منتخب مصر الثاني المشارك في كأس العرب بقيادة حلمي طولان، استدعاء ثنائي جديد للانضمام إلى معسكر المنتخب المقام حاليًا.

واستبعد المنتخب عمرو السولية ومصطفي شلبي وأحمد ربيع من القائمة، حيث تبين من الفحص الطبي إصابة الثلاثي قبل الدخول إلى المعسكر.

طالع | بعد رفض بيراميدز إرسال لاعبيه.. حلمي طولان يستدعي 3 أسماء جديدة لمنتخب مصر الثاني

وضم منتخب مصر الثاني اللاعبين، محمد عادل من سيراميكا كليوباترا، وإسلام سمير من الاتحاد السكندري.

ويستعد المنتخب المصري الثاني لخوض مباراتين وديتين أمام نظيره الجزائري يومي 14 و17 نوفمبر الجاري، ضمن برنامج الإعداد للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب المقرر إقامتها في قطر خلال شهر ديسمبر المقبل.

من المقرر أن تُقام المباراتين في القاهرة على استاد السلام، ضمن معسكر منتخب مصر المشارك في كأس العرب خلال فترة التوقف الدولي المقبلة.

كان الجهاز الفني قرر استدعاء الثلاثي رجب نبيل وكريم الدبيس من سيراميكا كليوباترا، وحسام حسن من مودرن سبورت، للانضمام إلى معسكر المنتخب بدلًا من لاعبي بيراميدز.

وتلعب بطولة كأس العرب في الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر المقبل، ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثالثة، التي تضم كلاً من، الأردن والإمارات والفائز من (الكويت ضد موريتانيا).

Five years ago, Jurgen Klopp watched his Liverpool team crumble as injuries overwhelmed them. They had just won the Premier League, and the year before, christened what was to be a historic chapter when the boss led them to victory in the Champions League.

Lightning has struck twice. Arne Slot dominated the English game last year and won the title with such confidence, but Liverpool have fallen apart after a summer of significant spending, faulty across any number of areas and bereft of fluency and coherence.

There is maybe a need for patience, and for allowing these new cogs to connect with the Slot machine, but then the flip side of that would be that there is no excusing the error-strewn displays, and inability to react to opposition approaches.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher called it a crisis, with the Merseysiders having lost four Premier League matches on the bounce.

And while many exciting attacking signings were made, with the full-back ranks reshaped, Liverpool are leaving so much to be desired defensively, and changes are surely needed.

Liverpool's need for centre-backs

Virgil van Dijk has for so long been a pillar of strength and leadership at Liverpool. Both things remain true, but the captain turned 34 in July and, while still immense, lacks the structure around him to give rise to his finest football.

To put that another way, Liverpool are a bit of a mess at the back, and Van Dijk has been carried along with the current across recent weeks.

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have overseen a stylistic restructure across Liverpool’s backline, and this has knocked things out of kilter. Questions must be asked of the strategy behind adding Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to the ranks, neither of whom appear to be glove-tight fits.

And the fumbled deal for Crystal Palace centre-half Marc Guehi has aggravated the issue. Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah this summer, and Giovanni Leoni, 18, is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury on his debut. Guehi was needed, but Liverpool left it late, and the Eagles didn’t want to play ball after missing out on targets of their own.

With that in mind, it appears the Reds have set their sights on a bid for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano. According to Spanish sources, Liverpool joined by Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid in angling for a move in 2026.

The France international is out of contract at the end of the term, and while the Bundesliga giants are desperate to seal his renewal, the 27-year-old may be tempted by lucrative offers from the Premier League and La Liga.

Why Liverpool want to sign Upamecano

Liverpool struck gold in the past when they landed a talented defender from the Bundesliga on a free transfer. Indeed, Joel Matip played a defining role in the Klopp era, playing 201 games for the club, scoring 11 goals and supplying six assists.

He won the Premier League and the Champions League among further honours, notably playing in Divock Origi for the Belgian’s conclusive goal against Tottenham in Madrid, six years ago.

It all started when the Cameroonian agreed to join Klopp’s nascent project in February 2016, arriving at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.

Van Dijk has had many partners at the back, but when Matip was fully-fit and firing beside him, Klopp’s behemoths formed quite the partnership.

Now, with Upamecano approaching the end of his journey at the Allianz Arena, FSG are desperate to capitalise once again.

Bayern signed the Frenchman from divisional rivals RB Leipzig in 2021 for a reported £38m fee. He had been described as an “elite talent and a joy to watch” by scout Jacek Kulig before his move to Bayern.

And he’s gone from strength to strength since. Indeed, the tough-tackling star has polished his skillset to a standard that would befit a starring, much-scrutinised role in Slot’s Liverpool side. Should Liverpool pull this off, they may even forget all about that botched bid for Guehi.

Hailed for his “sensational” defensive ability by writer Mohammed Butt, Upamecano has the experience, athleticism and technical quality to make his mark on the Premier League, perhaps even bringing a more complete brand than someone like Guehi.

Van Dijk will expect to captain Liverpool next season, and the Dutchman’s cultured shift into his veteran years suggests that, with a more stable framework around him, he could see his club achieve their goals.

Guehi might have the experience within the English game, but Upamecano would fancy himself a cut above, boasting a wealth of top-level experience and with much silverware in the bank.

In 2025, he has also, crucially, established himself as a starting centre-back for Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus side, and with the World Cup on the horizon, this tells much of his quality and the faith of those above him.

Dayot Upamecano – Stats by Club

Club

Apps

Goals (assists)

Bayern Munich

164

5 (10)

RB Leipzig

154

4 (3)

France

34

2 (0)

FC Liefering

16

0 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

A ball-playing defender, data-driven platform FBref suggest that there is a likeness between Upamecano and former Anfield star Quansah, though Slot would hope to bring in a more refined and cultured presence than the up-and-comer he deemed unfit for a starring role in his project.

FBref reveal that, over the past 12 months, Upamecano ranks among the top 4% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 11% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for recoveries made per 90. Clearly, he’s got the skills and physicality to succeed in the Premier League.

Though Liverpool remain in the mix for Guehi, his free agency will attract the biggest sharks across the continent.

Not only would the £166k-per-week Upamecano prove a worthy fallback, but he might even be the better pick.

Related The new Thiago: Liverpool "superstar" is becoming a "huge disappointment"

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

We have a genuine title race on our hands in Scotland.

On Sunday, in a match branded the biggest club game played on Scottish football for generations, it proved to be an afternoon of celebration for those bedecked in maroon.

Heart of Midlothian beat Celtic 3-1 at Tynecastle, a Dane Murray own goal breaking the deadlock in Edinburgh, only for Callum McGregor to equalise soon after, but quick-fire goals from Alexandros Kyziridis and then Lawrence Shankland secured the points.

This leaves Hearts eight points clear, with Celtic having now lost back-to-back league games, also beaten at Dundee a week earlier, just the second time Brendan Rodgers has tasted defeat in successive Premiership games, after December 2023, the second of which back then was also at the hands of the Jambos.

Falkirk will visit Parkhead on Wednesday, before all eyes will turn to next Sunday’s Glasgow derby at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals, but which players played their way out of contention for that one with a less than impressive display in the capital?

Celtic's centre-back crisis

Last Thursday’s come from behind Europa League victory over Sturm Graz came at a serious cost, considering Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Alistair Johnston were both forced off with injuries in the first half, but the biggest blow of all was losing Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The American international has been a mainstay in the Celtic team since joining the club from Tottenham in 2021, but could be sidelined until March due to an achilles injury.

In his absence, Murray got the nod to start at Tynecastle, this only the 22-year-old’s 29th senior appearance, 20 of which have come for Queen’s Park.

Well, his inexperience was very much apparent when, with only eight minutes on the clock, he lashed a calamitous own goal into Kasper Schmeichel’s top corner.

Given this woeful error, on what was only his third start for Celtic, he may have to wait a little while for his fourth, with Auston Trusty and forgotten man Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who may as well be on Interpol’s missing persons list at this point, surely better options to partner Liam Scales going forward.

However, which other Celtic starter, who has a much higher profile and cost a hell of a lot more money, also did not impress in Gorgie?

Expensive Celtic signing could be back on the bench

Against both Sturm Graz and Hearts, having been part of the midfield trio to start the campaign, Benjamin Nygren has been deployed on the right-wing, largely due to a lack of alternative attacking options.

His header pinched the points in Europe on Thursday, while the Swede was denied a goal at the weekend on the cusp of half time by a smart save from Alexander Schwolow, possibly paying the price for his indecisiveness.

This positional move has opened up a midfield spot, with Arne Engels returning to the starting lineup, but he certainly has not grasped this opportunity with both hands, and the table below documents his miserable afternoon in Edinburgh.

Shots

1

5th

Key passes

Zero

13th

Big chances created

Zero

3rd

Accurate passes

41

4th

Passing accuracy %

82%

9th

Duels contested

11

7th

Duels won

4

13th

Possession lost

24

1st

Touches

77

4th

SofaScore rating

6

29th

As the table documents, the Belgian’s statistics at Tynecastle do not make for good reading.

While only Murray, Scales and Callum McGregor completed more passes than Engels, he did little with this possession, creating no chances, losing possession a total of 24 times, the most of any player on the pitch, while Kieran Tierney, the next highest Celtic man in that ranking, only did so on 16 occasions.

Engels arrived in Glasgow just over a year ago to sky-high expectations, considering he was replacing Matt O’Riley while costing a club-record fee of £11m.

After an up and down first campaign, the 22-year-old had only started three times this season prior to the last two fixtures, yet to score a goal, while both of his assists have been set-piece deliveries.

Also, central midfield is possibly the only area of Rodgers’ squad with genuine depth and competition for places.

Captain McGregor’s name is written in permanent marker on the team sheet, while Nygren, Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan are all also vying for minutes.

Having been given a chance, Engels may have played his way to the back of the queue for next Sunday’s Old Firm, so it would frankly be a surprise if he was included in the starting lineup for the visit of Falkirk on Wednesday.

Not Trusty: Celtic must replace Carter-Vickers with "exceptional" youngster

With Cameron Carter-Vickers set to be sidelined for 5 months, Rodgers must trust Celtic’s “exceptional” youngster, not Auston Trusty, to start.

ByBen Gray Oct 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

A Seleção Brasileira teve uma de suas piores atuações dos últimos tempos diante do Uruguai, em Montevídeo, na derrota por 2 a 0, pelas Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo de 2026. Pelo jeito, não foi apenas os torcedores que notaram a necessidade de melhora, já que o próprio Casemiro, um dos líderes do time, admitiu o desempenho ruim. Além disso, o volante lamentou mais uma lesão de Neymar.

RelacionadasSeleção BrasileiraFernando Diniz fala em entrevista coletiva após derrota da Seleção Brasileira; assista na íntegraSeleção Brasileira17/10/2023Seleção BrasileiraUruguai passa fácil pelo Brasil e assume a vice-liderança das EliminatóriasSeleção Brasileira17/10/2023Fora de CampoInternautas pedem retorno de ex-jogador do Flamengo à Seleção Brasileira: ‘Faz falta’Fora de Campo17/10/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

O capitão do Brasil foi entrevistado pela TV Globo na saída do gramado e analisou a atuação brasileira em depoimento realista.

+ Você quer trabalhar no seu clube do coração? Matricule-se no curso Gestor de Futebol e entenda como!

– A curto prazo tem que ser realista e falar que precisa melhorar. É inevitável. Mais a adaptação, a qualidade dos jogadores, que praticamente são os mesmos. Momento não é bom. É seguir tentando crescer e implementar o estilo de jogo o quanto antes. A adaptação podemos jogar melhor.

Casemiro ainda tentou dar um recado para a torcida brasileira sobre esse momento ruim que ele diagnosticou, mas sem ser muito otimista.

– Primeiro é olhar para nós e ver que precisamos melhorar. Sabemos disso. Precisamos seguir crescendo e pegar essa mudança de estilo de treinador. Seguir dando o melhor no nosso clube. Adaptação é o mais importante para nós.

+ Uruguai passa fácil pelo Brasil e assume a vice-liderança das Eliminatórias

Por fim, o volante lamentou a lesão de Neymar, que parece ter sofrido uma torção séria no joelho esquerdo.

– Não vi. Para o Neymar sair de campo é um momento muito sério. Tomara que não seja nada. Jogador importante para nós. Pelo carinho imenso que sentimos por ele. Ele vem tendo lesões e quando começa a pegar ritmo… – concluiu o meio-campista do Manchester United-ING.

O Brasil caiu para a terceira posição nas Eliminatórias com a derrota nesta terça-feira (17). A próxima rodada da competição acontece apenas em novembro, quando enfrenta Colômbia (16/11), em Barranquilla, e Argentina (21/11), no Maracanã.

Leeds United are back in action in the Premier League for the final time before the international break when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road this afternoon.

The Whites welcome Thomas Frank’s team to West Yorkshire in the early kick-off in the top-flight, as they look to head into the break off the back of another positive result.

Daniel Farke’s side have made a respectable start to life in the Premier League after they won the Championship title with a club-record 100-point haul in the 2024/25 campaign.

Leeds have eight points on the board after six matches and were seconds away from having another two points to their name in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, as they conceded in stoppage time.

The Championship champions have scored five goals in their last two matches in the Premier League, having beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in the game before that draw with the Cherries.

Despite that impressive goal return in the last two outings in the top-flight, finishing chances has been an issue for Farke’s side throughout the season so far.

Why Leeds need more from their attackers

Leeds need to get more out of their attackers at the top end of the pitch because some of them have missed too many big chances, and others have not gotten into dangerous enough positions in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who arrived on a free transfer from Everton in the summer, scored his first goal for the club with an excellent header against Wolves last month.

However, the former England international has lacked a ruthless edge in front of goal with his performances for the club so far, which is a slight cause for concern moving forward.

Tottenham have only conceded four goals in six games in the Premier League under Frank, which suggests that chances will be few and far between and that Leeds will need to be clinical with what they are able to create.

Appearances

1

4

Goals

0

1

Minutes per goal

N/A

267

Big chances missed

4

4

Conversion rate

0%

14%

Big chances created

0

0

Assists

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has missed eight ‘big chances’ and scored one goal in five appearances for the Whites so far, which shows that he has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal.

His hold-up play, winning 5.3 duels per game (Sofascore), will be important against the Europa League champions to alleviate pressure, though, which is why he should keep his place in the team.

It is, therefore, Brenden Aaronson who should be taken out of the starting line-up for this clash with Spurs because he lacks the clinical edge that the Whites will need given how strong their opponents are at the defensive side of the game.

The USA international has failed to score in six league games so far this season and scored one goal from 3.86 xG in 36 appearances in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.

Chalkboard

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

This means that Aaronson cannot be relied upon to finish a chance if it comes his way against the Lilywhites, which is why he should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up to provide another player with an opportunity to shine.

In his place, Farke could add the clinical edge that his team will need against Spurs by unleashing Joel Piroe in a brand-new role on the right flank this afternoon at Elland Road.

Why Joel Piroe should be unleashed against Spurs

The Dutchman has fallen down the pecking order in the number nine position in West Yorkshire this season, as evidenced by the fact that he has been an unused substitute in his last three appearances in the matchday squad.

It has been a disappointing start to life in the Premier League for last season’s Championship top scorer, who caught the eye of fans and pundits with his clinical finishing.

In fact, former Spurs star Chris Waddle compared him to Harry Kane, saying: “He reminds me of how Harry Kane plays. He comes off and drags the centre halves out, which is great for Dan James and their other wingers. If you have got wingers with a bit of pace, they can exploit the space that has been created for him and I think that works very well.”

Piroe scored 19 goals in the Championship to fire Leeds to promotion and win the Golden Boot, which earned him that comparison to the Tottenham icon, who now plays for Bayern Munich.

However, instead of unleashing him as their own version of Kane, who scored 280 goals for Spurs as a number nine, Farke should look to unleash the left-footed star in a brand-new role on the right.

All 78 of his starts for Leeds have come in central positions, as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, but he has scored 13 goals in 28 matches as a right-winger for the other clubs in his career combined, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that he does have the potential to be effective in that position, even if his lack of mobility and natural physicality mean that he does not look like a natural pick in that area of the pitch.

Appearances

45

46

xG

12.74

17.17

Goals

13

19

Big chances missed

8

13

Big chances created

3

8

Assists

3

7

As you can see in the table above, Piroe was undoubtedly an immense finisher for the Whites in his two seasons in the Championship with the club, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.

That is why it was not a surprise to read that Beren Cross quoted Farke as saying that the Dutch striker is “the best finisher he has ever worked with” in his pre-match press conference for the Spurs match.

Given that the German head coach has worked with players like Teemu Pukki, Mario Gotze, and Marcus Thuram, that is incredibly high praise from the manager.

Aaronson, as aforementioned, has not offered enough of a threat as a goalscorer throughout his Premier League career and Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto are both injured, which is why unleashing Piroe on the right flank could be an inventive solution to the team’s lack of ruthless finishing.

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The Whites would then have Calvert-Lewin as the number nine to provide physicality and hold-up play, Noah Okafor on the left to provide pace and dynamism down the left, and Piroe on the right to offer a clinical edge in front of goal.

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has defended teammate Lamine Yamal over the scrutiny he has faced in recent weeks. The 18-year-old has not been at his best since September, when he succumbed to an injury in his pubic area while playing for Spain. Ever since his return, he has struggled to match his previously dizzying heights, with the glare of the spotlight shining on the youngster.

• Yamal and Balde shine as Barca outwit Elche

  After going down to Real Madrid on October 26, where Yamal was off colour and the centre of controversy at the end of the game for his pre-match comments about Los Blancos, Barca returned to winning ways against Elche this Sunday. 

  Before the clash with Los Blancos, he said, while streaming: “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…”, prompting laughter and disbelief from those on the stream. Llanos, a well-known Madrid supporter, immediately pushed back, asking, “Real Madrid steals?” To which Yamal doubled down, laughing nervously before reaffirming, “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

  Notably, it was Balde who helped Yamal open Barca's scoring for the evening in the ninth minute, as the 18-year-old enjoyed a topsy-turvy 88 minutes on the pitch. The Spaniard enjoyed a fine first half but was eventually substituted, and replaced by Roony Bardghji. 

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  Balde stands by Yamal

  After the match, Balde defended his Barca teammate for the criticism he has faced in the past weeks. He said, "It’s true that he’s always in the spotlight, but I think Lamine is a great professional despite his young age. What he is doing at only 18 years old is incredible. Sometimes people don’t appreciate what he does, as they should. At his age, what he’s doing can’t be described in words."

  Balde's words can be justified as Yamal won the Euros last season when he was just 16. This year, before he turned 18, he played a crucial role in taking Spain to the UEFA Nations League final, where they ended runners-up to Portugal. 

• What happened after the Clasico?

  Barca lost 2-1 to Madrid in their last fixture in October, and Yamal played the entire game. However, after the clash was over, he got involved in a heated exchange with Madrid players. He had a verbal argument with Dani Carvajal and offered him a challenge for the second leg. Moreover, he was also seen in chaos with Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr.

  Off the pitch, Yamal took the limelight too. Although this time, he refrained from making comments on the Clasico rivals, like he did days before the match, he was trending on social media for his separation from his partner.

  Yamal's injury is yet to be cured, and he is still recovering from it, despite featuring in the matches. Flick pointed out the same after the Elche game, stating that he needs to manage his injury while rediscovering his best form. He said, "He has to manage his injury; he's disciplined. He has to train, undergo treatment… he's doing it. I can't say the injury is over; it comes and goes. And he has to manage it."

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  Barca's upcoming ventures

  Yamal and co. will be travelling to Belgium to face Club Brugge in their upcoming Champions League clash. Positioned ninth in the continental table, Flick, would want his side to register a strong result against 20th-ranked Brugge. A third win for Barca will not only elevate their status in the table, but also provide a boost ahead of their upcoming fixtures. Barca's last outing before the international break is against Celta Vigo, which is yet again an away match. They currently have a five-point gap with La Liga toppers Madrid and would want to minimise the same in the coming games by not dropping points, despite a hectic schedule post the break, which sees them play games in quick succession.

Bangladesh have had plenty of troubles on and off the field in 2025. They have suffered series defeats against UAE, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. They have also lost the Test and ODI series in Sri Lanka with one match left on the tour. Ahead of the third T20I on Wednesday, frustration within the Bangladesh dressing room spilt out.Assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin reacted strongly at the pre-match press conference when it was suggested that the BCB is looking for a new batting coach. Salahuddin was appointed last November primarily as the team’s batting coach, but the batting unit has not completely clicked over the last nine months, with some holding Salahuddin responsible.Related

• Bangladesh look to end on a high in climactic tour finale

• Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after series loss against Sri Lanka

“My role as a coach in the Bangladesh team isn’t set in stone,” Salahuddin said. “I have never had any ego about it. If someone better comes (in the role of a batting coach), it will be for the team. The Bangladesh team is not the property of my father and grandfather. I will get criticised when I don’t do well, I will get praised when I do well. It is the reality. Whether I give 100% for my team, whether I am honest or not, is the main concern.”Salahuddin’s main gripe was with recent media reports that he has heavily influenced team decisions including selection and player roles. Given his stellar record in domestic cricket for the last two decades, he has also developed long-standing working relations with many cricketers, including those in the current Bangladesh squad.”After coaching for 27-28 years, I am hearing that there are lots of complaints in the team against me. I really would like to know about those complaints. Best if it was given to me in writing. You have to provide hard evidence. It will help me correct myself.”If I feel that the team needs a change for the good of the team, I will most likely do that. Our team has been losing regularly, so how will I benefit from favouritism?”It is not the first time during this Sri Lanka tour that discord within the Bangladesh team has come out in public. Last month, Najmul Hossain Shanto resigned from the Test captaincy, stating that the dressing room had too many captains. Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are the T20I and ODI captains, respectively.

Mandhana’s 112, her first T20I century in 149 appearances, also gave her the best rating of her career – 771 points.

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-20252:22

Mandhana: The girls were really hard on me about the century

Smriti Mandhana, ranked No. 1 among batters in the ICC ODI rankings for women, has gone past Tahlia McGrath to move to No. 3 on the T20I table after her match-winning 62-ball 112 against England in the first match of the series. The other big mover after the match was Lauren Bell, the England quick who returned 3 for 27. She moved up to No. 4, pushing team-mate Sophie Ecclestone and India’s Renuka Thakur down.Mandhana’s 112, her first T20I century in what was her 149th appearance in the format, also gave her the best rating of her career – 771 points. No. 2 Hayley Matthews is just three rating points in front, and well within Mandhana’s reach when England India play their second T20I on Tuesday, but table-topper Beth Mooney is quite a distance away, with 794 points.Full rankings tables

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Shafali Verma, who returned to India’s T20I XI and partnered Mandhana at the top in the first game after last having played a T20I in October 2024 after which she was dropped, also moved up a spot to No. 13 after scoring 20 in 22 balls and looking fairly rusty.Harleen Deol also re-entered the rankings at joint-86th after she scored 43 in 23 balls. Deol had last played a T20I in July 2023 and had dropped out of the rankings.Bell’s rise in the bowlers’ rankings has created something of a traffic jam at the top of the table. Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal is the No. 1 with 746 rating points, but Bell – with Australia’s Annabel Sutherland (736 points) and India’s Deepti Sharma (735) above her – is just 19 points behind. In fact, Deepti, Bell and Ecclestone (725) are all a good performance or two away from getting to the top of the table.