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Liverpool may make their move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo in January once his £65 million ($87m) release clause becomes active, as the situation involving Mohamed Salah continues to intensify behind the scenes. The Reds reportedly feel that this situation, coupled with rival interest in Semenyo, may force their hand and result in a mid-season bid for the Ghanaian.

• Liverpool could make January move for Semenyo amidst Salah uncertainty

  Semenyo is a top target for the Reds amongst several other Premier League sides, and has been touted for a big winter move ever since he shot to goalscoring form with Bournemouth in the early weeks of the season.

  It was revealed earlier this autumn that the 25-year-old has a release clause worth an initial £60m plus £5m in add-ons within his Cherries contract, inserted when he signed a new deal to fend off interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur over the summer.

  But an exit for the Ghana international feels an inevitability at this point, and Liverpool could be rivalled by Manchester City and Tottenham for his signature, amidst additional reported interest by Arsenal and Manchester United, both of whom are believed to be happy with their current strike-forces but are assessing the situation.

  Reported by The Mirror, Liverpool have been given ‘transfer impetus’ by the current circumstances involving Salah and this could accelerate their approach for Semenyo once the January transfer window opens. But Spurs could offer Semenyo the best financial package amidst the club's new ownership structure led by Joe Lewis' children and their ambitions for sustained success on the pitch, as per BBC Sport.

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  Salah exit could pave way for Semenyo Liverpool signing

  Semenyo has been touted as a possible long-term replacement for Salah for a number of months, but few would have expected a replacement to be needed as urgently as this January. Following the Egyptian’s recent outburst following last weekend’s 3-3 draw away at Leeds United, though, the situation may have rapidly changed.

  The 33-year-old Reds legend claimed he had been “thrown under a bus” by Arne Slot and the club, feeling as though he had been scapegoated for the club’s woeful run of form after the was dropped to the bench for three consecutive matches, only coming on as a substitute in one of them. Following his comments and the subsequent backlash by pundits and fans alike, Salah was left out of the squad to travel to Inter Milan entirely.

  Salah departs for AFCON at the beginning of next week and there are no guarantees that he will play for Liverpool ever again thereafter, amidst resurfacing rumours of an exit to the Saudi Pro League, who would relish the opportunity to secure the signing of one of the most famous footballers on the planet. 

  While a January exit for Salah would be an almighty turn of events in such a short space of time, comparable with when Cristiano Ronaldo departed Manchester United for Al-Nassr in January 2023, Liverpool’s pursuit of Semenyo reflects the fact that they feel planning for the future of their right-wing position has now become more urgent than ever.

• Ghana head coach Addo speaks on Semenyo's 'next step'

  The Mirror’s report continues that Liverpool may ‘have’ to move for Semenyo in January, with other situations ‘forcing their hand’ and resulting in the potential of a big-money move in the upcoming transfer window, which would take the Reds’ spending for the season over £500m ($669m).

  Semenyo has scored six goals and laid on three assists in the Premier League this season, and the belief amongst many is that he is ready for the big step up. This includes his Ghana head coach Otto Addo, while Bournemouth are reportedly ‘braced’ to lose their star man.

  Addo told The Athletic: “He has done very well at Bournemouth, but with all the respect for Bournemouth and what they’re doing, surely it is natural for him to take the next step. Whether it’s in the winter or summer, it is a different question but it won’t make a difference for us. I’m looking forward to him showing more of what he can to the world.”

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  Semenyo's future expected to be decided early in January window

  Semenyo’s release clause is believed only to be active for the opening two weeks of the January window, meaning there is likely to be rapid progress on this deal if it was to go ahead this winter.

  Debate over the future of Salah is then likely to rage on until the back end of the window, with AFCON coming to a close on January 18. It will be fascinating to who will be taking up Liverpool’s right-wing position by February 1, and whether both of Salah and Semenyo can coexist in the same squad together if the Egyptian opts to stay put until at least the end of the season.

West Ham United have now set their sights on welcoming a Premier League rival to become Nuno Espirito Santo’s first signing at the club, according to reports.

Frankfurt end interest in Fullkrug

It could be a fairly busy January transfer window on all fronts for West Ham as Nuno looks to mark his stamp on the side. The Hammers endured a frustrating summer transfer window and watched on as Graham Potter paid the price. In just under a month, however, they’ve got the chance to make up for lost time.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 3, 2025

That should see a number of reinforcements arrive, but it could also spell the end for a handful of current stars. And one of those likely to leave is Niclas Fullkrug. The towering German has simply never got going at the London Stadium and now finds himself behind the pecking order to Callum Wilson.

He desperately needs a move away, but that move won’t come courtesy of Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite initial interest, the Bundesliga side have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign the former Borussia Dortmund man.

Where that leaves the 32-year-old is the big question. There reportedly remains interest from Italian giants AC Milan and there’s little doubt that a winter sale would be the best outcome for all parties.

In the meantime, the Hammers must look towards the transfer market for reinforcements of their own. Whilst a striker should sit top of their priority list, it is also worth noting that they could do with further competition for Alphonse Areola following Mads Hermansen’s struggles. And that could come courtesy of Jose Sa.

West Ham targeting Jose Sa move

According to Football Insider, West Ham are now targeting a move to sign Sa as Nuno looks to raid his old club in 2026. The goalkeeper was recently dropped by new manager Rob Edwards and could only watch on as his replacement, Sam Johnstone, also struggled between the sticks.

Sa, who is represented by the same agent as Mateus Fernandes, is certainly not short on experience. The 32-year-old has been in the Premier League for the last four years and has maintained his starting place for the most part. As backups go, he would be a solid option for West Ham.

The choice between Sa and Johnstone may be a tad more complicated these days, but it wasn’t so long ago that Gary O’Neil was full of praise for the former, saying in 2024: “There’s no headache, no. Johnstone was injured today. Jose’s trained really well and been excellent. Sam was injured, Jose was excellent and has always been ready. There’s no headache, it’s really clear where we go next.”

The goalkeeper’s arrival wouldn’t steal the biggest headlines at the London Stadium, by any means. Alas, it would solve Nuno’s frustrating Hermansen problem.

Nuno must cash in on West Ham star who's quickly becoming the new Di Canio

Cal Raleigh is re-writing the record books once again—this time for the Mariners.

Raleigh hit his 57th home run of the season off Astros pitcher Framber Valdez on Saturday, and now passes Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. for the franchise's single-season home run record.

Griffey Jr., a Hall of Famer and 13-time All-Star that played for Seattle from 1989-99 and 2009-10, hit 56 home runs in a season for the Mariners in both 1997 and 1998. Now, Raleigh has passed that mark and his 57 long balls are tied for the 17th-most in a single season by any player in MLB history.

Earlier this week, Raleigh tied Griffey Jr.'s record and also broke Mickey Mantle's record for the most home runs in a single season by a switch-hitter. Mantle hit 54 home runs in 1961 to set the record, and over 60 years later, Raleigh has broken that mark and become the second switch-hitter to surpass 50 home runs in a season.

Along with these records, Raleigh previously broke Salvador Perez's record for most home runs in a season by a catcher. Perez hit 48 home runs in 2021, and Raleigh surpassed that nearly a month ago.

Inter head coach Cristian Chivu faces a severe defensive crisis ahead of the pivotal Champions League showdown against Liverpool, as key summer signing Manuel Akanji missed the final training session on Monday, leaving the Nerazzurri dangerously exposed against Arne Slot’s prolific attack.

• Chivu rocked by latest fitness concern

  The atmosphere at the Inter training centre was noticeably tense on Monday morning as the team conducted their final preparations ahead of the monumental Champions League showdown against Liverpool. What should have been a routine session of tactical fine-tuning turned into a source of major anxiety for head coach Chivu, as key defender Akanji was absent from the group.

  The Swiss centre-back, who arrived on loan from Manchester City on deadline day and has since established himself as a pillar of the Nerazzurri backline, did not participate in the final training session before the midweek match. Reports emerging from Appiano Gentile suggest that the defender is suffering from flu-like symptoms, a concern that has cast a shadow over his availability for the upcoming European fixture. For a manager still finding his feet at the elite level like Chivu, losing his most dynamic defender on the eve of facing the English champions poses a huge concern. The club medical staff are reportedly working around the clock, but with the game less than 48 hours away, the odds of the 30-year-old starting are drifting swiftly from possible to unlikely.

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  Inter stretched thin for Liverpool clash

  Akanji's potential absence exposes the fragility of an Inter squad that underwent significant surgery in the summer. When the club sanctioned the loan of Benjamin Pavard to Marseille and brought in the Swiss international as his temporary replacement, the logic was sound: swap one elite defender for another. However, that decision relies heavily on the fitness of the new arrival, and with Akanji now sidelined, the depth chart looks alarmingly thin.

  Chivu is now forced to shuffle a pack that is already light on options. The veteran Stefan de Vrij is the natural replacement in the centre of the back three, but the Dutchman lacks the recovery pace that makes Akanji so effective in a high line. Alternatively, the manager could turn to the towering Yann Aurel Bisseck, a player of immense promise but one who arguably lacks the experience for a high-stakes duel against Premier League opposition. The defensive unit, anchored by Alessandro Bastoni, relies on chemistry and fluid movement; removing a key cog like the former Borussia Dortmund man disrupts the entire mechanism. 

• Akanji absence could be fatal for Inter

  Facing Liverpool is a daunting task at the best of times, but doing so without your quickest centre-back is flirting with disaster. Under Arne Slot, the Reds evolved into a ruthless transition machine, and their attack is specifically designed to exploit gaps in opposition backlines. However, they are set to take to the field without Mohamed Salah amid the breakdown in his relationship with Slot and the Reds' ongoing struggles this season.

  Akanji’s greatest asset is his ability to cover wide channels and manage one-on-one situations, traits that are essential when facing the pace of striker Alexander Isak or the creative wizardry of Florian Wirtz. Without him, Inter risk being exposed to rapid counter-attacks, particularly if they try to impose their possession game. De Vrij or Francesco Acerbi offer positional intelligence, but if they are isolated against the speed of the Liverpool forwards, the result could be catastrophic. The English giants are struggling this season with just one win from their last six matches, but they still have the firepower to punish even the smallest error, having beaten Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt in the competition before their shock 4-1 defeat at home to PSV last time out.

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  What comes next?

  The dilemma facing the Inter boss is classic risk-versus-reward. He could hand a start to Bisseck or De Vrij in the biggest game of the campaign so far, but will be concerned about the structure of his backline for such a big game. A pragmatic approach might see Inter sit deeper to protect their slower defenders, inviting pressure from a Liverpool side that loves to dominate the ball. The final decision will likely be made on the morning of the match, after one last fitness test. Until then, the Nerazzurri camp remains in a state of suspended animation, waiting to see if their defensive leader can pull off a miracle recovery. If not, it will be up to the remaining soldiers to form a shield wall capable of repelling the English invaders.

The magnitude of Tottenham Hotspur’s victory over Brentford in the Premier League last weekend cannot be understated. Had the Bees taken the spoils against their old boss, Thomas Frank, the atmosphere down N17 may have become poisonous.

But Spurs rallied after a tough run of results, secured three points, restored the faith that this new system, more pragmatic, better organised, will stop spinning its wheels and start showcasing actual progress.

The magnitude of Xavi Simons’ magnificent solo goal, breaking his duck, cannot be understated, but neither can the fact that some Lilywhites are still flattering to deceive after last season’s inconsistency, and that needs to change.

Spurs' most disappointing players in 25/26

Simons has probably been the most salient disappointment at Tottenham this season, but there is hope that the Dutch playmaker has turned a corner after a standout showing last time out.

However, Randal Kolo Muani’s struggles rage on, the French loanee yet to score in a white shirt. There’s a real player in there, but given Spurs’ attacking problems, Frank will expect more.

Analyst Raj Chohan clearly feels Tottenham need to make a change in the engine room, calling Rodrigo Bentancur a “candidate for worst centre-midfielder at a big six club”.

Bentancur is directly inhibiting Spurs’ central build-up play, but he’s not alone in flattering to deceive, with Pedro Porro’s creativity unable to detract from some really poor defensive displays, lacking awareness and physicality in the challenge.

Porro has been well below the standard this season, but he is not alone in struggling to adapt to Frank’s tactics. Indeed, there’s another defender who simply can’t bring it all together at the moment, and in this, he runs the risk of becoming the London club’s new version of Ryan Sessegnon.

Spurs' new version of Ryan Sessegnon

In 2019, Tottenham signed Sessegnon from Fulham for a whopping £25m fee. He had enjoyed a stunning start to senior life at Craven Cottage, but fell by the wayside after incessant hamstring injuries, five in five years down N17.

One half-season loan spell aside, in 2020/21 with Hoffenheim in Germany, the fact that the 25-year-old only made 57 appearances tells much of his problems, unable to reach the potential that was clear for all to see.

Sessegnon is now enjoying a measure of revival back at Fulham, but his door at Tottenham has been closed, and fans may be worried that lightning is striking twice with Destiny Udogie, who has struggled for form this season after a few injury-hit years in the capital.

Udogie, 23, also has a shoddy track record on the fitness front, with Frank confirming ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League tie against Slavia Prague this week that the Italy international is sidelined until the new year after tweaking his hamstring against Brentford.

For a player who was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country when he broke onto the scene in 2023/24, this is a real concern. Udogie appears somewhat stagnant, having yet to raise his level to the standard that he can surely reach.

There will be heightened fears that this season could become another write-off after this latest blow. Udogie needs stability and a landscape on which he can take forward strides, and having been ruled out for the remainder of the calendar year, Spurs’ left-sided balance has been knocked out of kilter and so have the defender’s chances of restoring full fluency.

Sofascore outline the player’s struggles, and it’s not pretty reading. Udogie has only won 46% of his duels in the Premier League this season, completing 27% of his dribbles and averaging only 0.6 key passes per match. One coach said that he “needs to wake up” from a defensive perspective this term.

So much has been left to be desired by a rising star who has ebbed and flowed and found himself lower on the chart than he would have envisaged a few years ago.

If injuries continue to weigh him down, we may be looking at Sessegnon 2.0 here.

Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player

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1

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 8, 2025

Most of the attention on the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation a year ago centered on Paul Skenes, but Jared Jones quietly had a fine year as well.

The 22-year-old went 6-8 in 22 starts for the Pirates last year, posting a 4.14 ERA with slightly better peripheral numbers. He struck out 132 batters in 121 2/3 innings, and appeared positioned to serve as a building block for future Pittsburgh teams.

In March, however, Jones sprained his elbow. On Wednesday, the Pirates said he would go under the knife to treat the injury.

"We will learn of the details of the specifics of the surgery and ultimately the prognosis and timeframe for return," Pittsburgh director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said via MLB.com.

The news comes amid a poor start for the Pirates, who currently hold a 16-33 record. They already trail the Chicago Cubs by 13 games in the National League Central.

Skenes remains potent—his 2.44 ERA ranks fifth in the league—but he can't do it alone.

Real Betis midfielder and former Real Madrid star Isco has been ruled out of Sunday's Sevilla derby after requiring seven stitches following a bizarre collision with team-mate Sofyan Amrabat during their Europa League match against Utrecht. Manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that Amrabat is also a major doubt for the crucial clash due to the incident.

• Pellegrini confirms Isco and Amrabat derby absence

  Pellegrini has confirmed that Isco will miss the upcoming derby against Sevilla on Sunday following a collision with team-mate Amrabat during their Europa League victory over Utrecht. The incident occurred just ten minutes into the match as both players contested a loose ball, resulting in a heavy clash that forced both off the pitch.

  Speaking after the match, Pellegrini provided details on the severity of Isco's injury: "It was a very eventful match. Isco and Amrabat's injuries were incredible. Isco needed seven stitches; he doesn't have a bone fracture, but he won't be ready for Sunday. I don't think Amrabat will be either."

  Pellegrini also indicated that Amrabat, on loan from Fiorentina after a stint at Manchester United, is highly unlikely to feature against Sevilla unless he makes a "very good recovery in the next few hours." The double blow leaves Betis without two key midfielders for one of their most important fixtures of the season.

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  Isco's cruel injury blow after return

  The injury to Isco is particularly cruel as it came in his first start since returning from a significant injury lay-off just three days prior. The Spanish midfielder, who has been a vital creative force for Betis since joining, was on the pitch for only nine minutes before the collision forced him off.

  Reports suggest the injury is to his ankle, though it is believed to be the opposite ankle to the one that previously sidelined him. The sight of Isco writhing in pain on the pitch was a major concern for Betis fans, and Pellegrini's confirmation of his absence will be a significant setback ahead of the derby. They were dealt a further blow as Antony has been suspended for Sunday's game after he received a red card for accidentally striking a defender in the face when attempting an overhead kick.

• Betis secure vital Europa League win

  Despite the injuries, Real Betis managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Utrecht. Cucho Hernandez opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, and Abde Ezzalzouli doubled the lead shortly after half-time in the 50th minute. Utrecht pulled a goal back through Miguel Rodriguez in the 55th minute but Betis held on for the win.

  Pellegrini highlighted the importance of the three points, stating: "It was a very important win because it brings us much closer to qualifying. Hopefully, we can stay in the top eight." The victory leaves Betis in fifth place in the Europa League standings with 11 points from five matches, strengthening their position for progression to the knockout stages.

  Pellegrini was also pleased with his team's performance, noting: "I liked the intensity with which we started the game against a team that handles the ball well. We became dominant."

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  What next for Real Betis?

  Betis now turn their attention to the highly anticipated Seville derby against Sevilla on Sunday at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. The absence of Isco and likely Amrabat will require Pellegrini to reshuffle his midfield. Players like Nelson Deossa or Pablo Fornals could be called upon to fill the void left by Isco's absence.

  Pellegrini acknowledged the significance of the match: "There’s no doubt it’s a different kind of game. Both teams are missing key players, and adding three more points would be important. We hope not to let our fans down because we know what those three points mean to both sides."

  The manager also briefly addressed questions about his contract renewal, stating: "Now we are only concerned about the derby," indicating that all focus is on Sunday's crucial encounter.

When the Premier League campaign kicked off, most watching Arne Slot away from a Liverpool prism harboured major doubts that he would be able to pick up where Jurgen Klopp left off.

It was the undoable task, the insurmountable obstacle, taking a long-held dynasty to another level. Both Arsenal and Manchester United slumped after their historic managers departed, but Liverpool have bucked the trend and then some.

Most harboured doubts, but Slot and his squad beavered away and built atop the firm foundations Klopp left. Now they are Premier League champions, and dominant winners at that.

Liverpool are now ahead, but they aren’t going to quit, rather build on Klopp’s crafted squad and go again next season. Attacking additions feel the most necessary, with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa all reportedly at risk of being sold this summer.

However, the Reds will know that strengthening in the offensive third is something which could be achieved through different routes, and challenging Dominik Szoboszlai for a higher output is one of them.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai needs competition

Szoboszlai is the first Hungarian to win the Premier League, with his running power and energy so important to a Liverpool team that relies on transitions and overwhelming opponents.

However, in spite of his brace of assists as the title was clinched against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, he’s only posted 14 goals and 13 assists across 90 Liverpool appearances.

Liverpool need a more prolific attacking midfielder. That could be Szoboszlai, but he needs to up the ante in front of goal, perhaps taking a leaf from Philippe Coutinho’s book.

Coutinho was the harbinger of a new era of success at Anfield, the shining light during those few dreary post-Luis Suarez years before signing for Barcelona in January 2018 in a £142m deal. It sparked new levels of success, but Liverpool did lose an incredible attacking midfielder.

Coutinho was playing like a man possessed during that half-season, playing, admittedly, like a footballer hoping to transfer to Barcelona. In any case, he staked his claim as one of the Premier League’s most iconic playmakers.

There’s no doubt that Slot has taken Szoboszlai’s game to the next level, but it needs to rise higher still if he’s to solidify his status as a superstar at Liverpool.

Maybe he needs some fresh competition in attacking midfield, a Coutinho-esque player who could add that X-factor to the ranks. FSG appear to be keen on following that train of thought.

Liverpool chasing Premier League star

As per Football Insider, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is ready to reject a move to Manchester United in favour of a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal this summer.

The 26-year-old doesn’t feel that a move to Old Trafford, which Gary Neville recently called a “graveyard for players and coaches,” would be in the best interest of his career trajectory.

Valued at £50m, Eze would mark a significant outlay and FSG have some doubts regarding his consistency in front of goal, but Slot’s coaching acumen would be sure to take the England international’s game to the next level.

Why Eberechi Eze could be perfect for Slot

While the right-footed Eze’s fleet-footedness lends itself to a place on the left flank, he’s played plenty of football in a more central berth under Oliver Glasner and could be utilised across two areas at Liverpool.

Slot, shrewd tactical mind that he is, would be sure to raise Eze’s game to the next level, having proved himself across a number of years as one of the Premier League’s finest.

Fulham manager Marco Silva even waxed lyrical about the player’s quality earlier in the season, saying: “Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch.”

He’s certainly backed up that praise with high-level performances in the Eagles regime, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 8% for ball recoveries and the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.

This effectively underscores the creativity and athletic approach that Eze brings to the table. It’s a blend which could even see the talent become Liverpool’s next version of Coutinho.

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The Palace man is certainly capable of producing show-stopping moments, rifling a stunning strike past Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez last weekend to send his side to the FA Cup final, where Manchester City now await.

Respected journalist Henry Winter hailed the midfielder for his “magnificent goal and display,” proving to the world that he has that fizzling quality which could see him slot right into Liverpool’s system as the new version of Coutinho.

Of course, Eze has also been described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards in the past, with that unique take on the game to remind Liverpool fans of the thrill of having such a silky attacking midfielder in their mix.

Like Coutinho back in his Liverpool heyday, Eze is also willing to get stuck in, averaging 1.2 tackles and winning five successful duels per Premier League fixture, as per Sofascore, something, if you refer back to the table from earlier, Coutinho excelled at.

With ten big chances created across 28 top-flight starts this term too, Liverpool truly could get their hands on one of the most exciting players below the top rung of the divisional ladder.

His playmaking skill could be doubly important given Liverpool are set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, but whichever way you swing it, Eze is an exciting talent capable of seat-raising stuff, just like Coutinho.

Liverpool struck gold on "world-class" star who was worth more than Palmer

This Liverpool star has immortalised his name after his years of service.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 28, 2025

Everton’s winless run against Manchester City continues as Pep Guardiola’s side scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure victory.

Not since a 4-0 victory during the 2016/17 season have the Toffees tasted success against the Etihad side, although they did come close to sealing a draw at Goodison this afternoon.

David Moyes’ men held out resolutely throughout the match, but in the end, City’s quality shone through as goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic stole the three points.

With Premier League survival sealed, Moyes can now experiment over the final few matches of the campaign.

Against City, several players starred, whereas others struggled to make much of an impact.

Everton’s best and worst players against Man City

Before coming off with an injury, James Tarkowski enjoyed a solid display. He won 100% of his total duels contested, along with losing possession just four times. Would Everton have lost if he had still been on the pitch? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Elsewhere, Abdoulaye Doucoure looked solid after netting a late winner last week. He succeeded with all four of his dribble attempts while winning 50% of his total duels during the game.

These two were the standouts, but a few of the starting XI struggled to contribute much. Jack Harrison delivered yet another poor performance on the right wing. He failed to deliver a single accurate cross from five attempts, lost possession 13 times and made just one key pass.

Armando Broja was by far the worst performer in an Everton shirt at Goodison today, however, that’s for sure.

Why Armando Broja must be axed by David Moyes

The on-loan striker had made just nine Premier League appearances prior to the City clash as he has been hampered by injury issues.

Indeed, he was making only his third start for the Toffees at Goodison today, but he failed to offer much threat in the final third.

Throughout his 63 minutes on the pitch, Broja completed just four passes while taking 22 touches, 30 fewer than Jordan Pickford in goal. The Albanian even failed to register a single shot at goal while winning just a single ground duel and losing the ball 14 times.

Moyes must axe the striker, as he offers no major threat when chosen to start as a centre-forward.

Journalist Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo gave the striker a match rating of 5/10, stating that he ‘worked hard to try and make an impression but needed to be stronger as little stuck before he was hooked again’, yet this simply wasn’t good enough for Moyes.

His loan deal expires at the end of the current season, and given his current form, he will return to Chelsea ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

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Beto replaced him during the City clash, and going forward, he should be the one to start games under Moyes. That’s a certainty.

Moyes tells Everton to sign both Delap and a new "superstar" top target

Moyes wants both in the door.

2

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 18, 2025

There was certainly no shortage of drama as Manchester United played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Lyon on Thursday night, with the Europa League first-leg tussle living up to the billing following some notable pre-match jibes.

Much of the talk heading into the trip to France, of course, was centred around the war of words between Andre Onana and former United man, Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian giant branding the current Red Devils star “one of the worst keepers in Man Utd history” during the pre-match press conference.

Onana – who had ignited such criticism after stating that Ruben Amorim’s side are “way better” than their opponents – proceeded to hit back with a reference to the lack of silverware that Matic was able to achieve at Old Trafford, with the Cameroonian posting an image of him holding the FA Cup trophy aloft on his social media accounts.

That trading of verbal blows set things up nicely for the game itself, although while Lyon’s veteran midfielder watched on from the from the bench, United’s first-choice goalkeeper continued to dominate the headlines, having been arguably at fault for both of the hosts’ goals.

Talk is now rife regarding the 28-year-old’s future at Old Trafford – amid claims he could be dropped for Sunday’s clash away at Newcastle United – with it looking as if the former Inter star could even be on his way this summer, after just two years in Manchester.

Matic, meanwhile, may be hoping to be involved in Thursday’s reverse fixture, with the 36-year-old seeking to get one over on his former employers.

Nemanja Matic's Man Utd record

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Juan Mata before him, the towering midfielder was plucked from rivals Chelsea on a £40m deal in the summer of 2017, with the one-time Benfica star having just played his part in claiming Premier League title glory under Antonio Conte.

The ability to snap up a then-28-year-old Matic appeared to be a real coup for Jose Mourinho and co, not least with the aforementioned Conte seemingly displeased at the nature of the sale, having described the exit as a “great loss” for the Blues.

Having ultimately decided to reunite with Mourinho, the left-footer – who ranks fifth with regard to appearances made under the Portuguese coach in his managerial career – went on to rack up 189 appearances in all competitions for United over the next five years, while scoring four goals and registering 11 assists.

A pillar in the United midfield in those early years, he was even dubbed an “island of personality and desire and control” by his manager following a narrow FA Cup win over Brighton in 2018, with Mourinho singling him out in relation to his underwhelming colleagues.

As stated, such displays could not inspire the Red Devils to any form of silverware, although Matic certainly had his moments, including netting a stunning long-range volley to seal a 3-2 win away at Crystal Palace in 2018.

Frustratingly, however, the subsequent arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw the oft-maligned Fred and Scott McTominay partnership take precedence, with the ageing Matic becoming ‘something of an issue”, as per The Athletic’s Carl Anka, due to his lack of mobility.

There were still moments of quality, prior to his exit on a free transfer in 2022, with the 48-cap international memorably teeing up Cristiano Ronaldo with a delightful dink in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in that final campaign.

As Anka noted, while he may have been a ‘flawed signing’, when the now-veteran ‘was good, he was very good’, with his experience and quality shining through, even as his athletic qualities began to fade.

Could history be repeating itself with Casemiro?

Man Utd have now unlocked the new Nemanja Matic

In many ways, the capture of the Brazilian mirrors the signing of Matic, with United – then managed by Erik ten Hag – moving to land the Real Madrid man on a £70m deal in 2022, having been in need of a short-term, instant fix at the base of the midfield.

Again, like Matic, Casemiro did enjoy a fruitful first season at the Theatre of Dreams, as the Red Devils finished third and claimed Carabao Cup glory, with the serial-winning star even scoring the opener in that Wembley showpiece.

As the £350k-per-week star has since admitted himself, that 2022/23 campaign was individually the “best season” of his entire career, with Ten Hag dubbing him the “cement” in the side due to the influential nature of his displays.

Frustratingly for all concerned, the 33-year-old has been unable to build on that early promise amid United’s collective woes since then, with pundit Jamie Redknapp even suggesting last season that Casemiro looked like “he’s in Soccer Aid”, amid the dire nature of his displays.

Former Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher also famously suggested that the ex-Madrid man should “leave the football before the football leaves you”, with Casemiro going on to play a bit-part role in the early knockings of the current campaign.

Speculation continues to link the ageing talent with a move away from Old Trafford, despite his public desire to see out his contract, although in recent weeks, he has begun to find his groove again under Amorim.

Like Matic, the mobility may no longer be there, although Casemiro continues to show his class when utilised correctly, having notably put in a “monster shift” in the recent Manchester derby, as per Statman Dave, after winning 11 tackles on the day.

Even despite his age, the one-time Porto man appears to have ousted Manuel Ugarte as Amorim’s go-to figure in the midfield two, with the United boss admitting that he is now “learning how to use” the Selecao star.

The old cliche of ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ certainly applies in the case of Casemiro, much like Matic before him, with Amorim wise to be maximising everything he can out of a player who has enjoyed such a storied, successful career to date.

Yes, the legs may have gone, but as that derby display, in particular, showcased, the fight remains. There’s life in the old dog yet…

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By
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