USWNT forward Alex Morgan believes their failure at the World Cup last year will act as a fuel for the upcoming Olympic games.
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Barcelona are pushing to seal the signature of Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, with Liverpool also vying for his services.
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Amorim among managers expected to be on marketXavi set to leave Barca at end of seasonAlonso's decision to stay in Germany affects raceWHAT HAPPENED?
Competition to bring in Amorim is heating up. The Sporting manager is seen as the ideal replacement for Xavi at Barcelona, with reporting that the Catalan club are hoping to snatch the 39-year-old off the market before other major clubs can strike.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Amorim appeared to be a backup option for the Reds, who had Alonso at the top of their list after Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to depart at the end of this season. But with the Bayer Leverkusen manager set to stay in Germany for at least one more year, Liverpool have been forced to turn elsewhere; and Amorim is among their top targets.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
In a press conference, the Sporting manager was noncommittal on his future when quizzed on Liverpool's interest: "I'm focused on Sporting. I'm very proud to be Sporting's coach. We're all focused on winning titles, but in the end, we'll soon see what happens… I have a contract with Sporting, I'm very happy here. The focus is now on beating Benfica in the cup."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Blaugrana seem to face a tricky summer. Although they are reportedly attempting to convince Xavi to stay, the Catalan manager has shown little interest in reversing his decision. Their next game is a high-profile Champions League clash with PSG on April 10.
Manchester United continue to underperform this season and sink to new lows consequently, a chastening 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in a rivalry often fiercely contested saw the Red Devils surrender to the might of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and more from Pep Guardiola's title-chasers to leave an all too familiar sick feeling in the stomaches of disheartened supporters.
Erik ten Hag could be on borrowed time in the hot seat at Old Trafford as a result, the Dutch manager unable to inspire his players ten games into the new campaign with Man United languishing in an unsatisfactory tenth spot in the Premier League.
The players going out there week in week out have to shoulder the responsibility too alongside their former Ajax boss, individuals such as Antony not covering themselves in glory whatsoever after a petulant outburst in the Manchester Derby.
The powers that be at The Theatre of Dreams should have tried harder to keep this player in retrospect, the out-going Anthony Elanga succeeding with Nottingham Forest ever since waving Manchester goodbye.
At this point, Elanga is even outperforming a lacklustre Antony who continues to let himself and his team down in a Red Devils strip.
Antony's numbers this season
Joining Man United for an extortionate £82m, the Brazilian winger was almost set up to flop from the very beginning – his performances out in the Netherlands not really justifying this inflated fee, scoring 24 times from 82 matches for Ajax.
In total for the Red Devils since this mega-money move, he has registered 11 goal contributions over 53 appearances with eight goals scored and only three more assisted.
His showboating whilst at Ajax was an effective calling card, but his remarkable skill and flair on the ball haven't quite been the same in the Premier League.
It has often led to the 23-year-old giving up the ball for his team, on top of skill moves rarely paying off but then the following pass going astray.
He lost possession a whopping 15 times for his side against Arsenal at the start of September, only completing 59% of his passes accurately too per Sofascore.
This campaign to date, he is yet to contribute with zero goals and zero assists with his attitude often dominating the headlines instead – squaring up to Jeremy Doku last match, angry and aggrieved.
In contrast, Elanga has stood out as a key man for Steve Cooper's Forest on the pitch.
Elanga's numbers this season
The 21-year-old Swedish winger will have put the disappointment of leaving Man United firmly to the back of his mind now, Elanga an important component of a Forest team aiming to stay up in the top flight once more.
Elanga has four goal contributions for the Garibaldi this campaign, including two assists at the City Ground versus Luton to help his side take a 2-0 lead before collapsing late on as the Hatters salvaged a 2-2 draw.
He's even stood out this season when called onto the pitch from the substitutes bench, Elanga invigorated to help Forest attempt an unlikely comeback at ex-rivals Man City in September.
The young midfielder hit two shots on target from 34 minutes played, Forest's number 27 peppering Ederson's goal with Guardiola's down to ten men but the current Premier League champions would hold out in the end for a 2-0 victory.
Man United have been left full of regret letting their former Academy talent go for only £15m a matter of months ago. Indeed, Ten Hag could have utilised Elanga in the current set-up to replace Antony or as an option off the bench.
Regardless, the former Red Devil will continue performing in his new surroundings whilst his former head coach attempts to turn around the continuing mess at Old Trafford.
Liverpool's summer transfer window was not without its turbulence, but in hindsight, the mass midfield exodus and subsequent influx has reshaped and restored a side in decline.
Last season, the Reds languished and looked pitiful in the face of some heavy adversity, and the fifth-placed Premier League finish was an apt reflection of a miserable campaign.
Jurgen Klopp even admitted that he could face the sack in April should the terrible form seep into the 2023/24 season, having just slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Manchester City; it would have been an ignominious end to an illustrious reign.
Out with the old, in with the new – or so it goes. The likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho were shown the door and an exciting new clutch of midfield talent has thus far pumped vitality and quality into the squad to uphold Klopp's system.
The impressive start to the campaign hints at prosperity once again, with the last residual vestiges of enervation wiped away, but it could have been that last term's issues were avoided entirely had transfer business in 2022 not been so myopic.
Arthur Melo was the sole midfield signing – a panic buy, on loan, late into the window – despite obvious signs of wear and tear, and the Brazilian flopped big time, playing just 13 minutes of action.
Klopp and co wanted the perfect addition, and after the pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni ended fruitless, with the Frenchman joining Real Madrid in a €100m (£85m) transfer, an unadventurous end to the market set the Anfield side up for failure.
Liverpool transfer news – Aurelien Tchouameni
Last year, Liverpool were fighting fiercely to secure Tchouameni's services, with Fabrizio Romano even confirming that they were among the frontrunners for the touted talent.
Carlo Ancelotti's side, however, always looked to have the lead in the race and indeed triumphed, compounding Liverpool's upset after defeating them in the Champions League final.
Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Anfield remain suitors for the 28-cap France international as Arsenal's budding interest grows, though any move would probably be unlikely in the immediate future.
Regardless, for all Liverpool's success in rebuilding the midfield recently, a specialist No. 6 is still required, with Wataru Endo not considered the long-term, first-choice solution – Tchouameni, it seems, would be the dream option.
The stats that show Tchouameni would be a good signing for Liverpool
Having joined the Santiago Bernabeu side for such an expensive fee, Tchouameni perhaps felt the weight of a move to arguably the world's most prestigious club and didn't quite reach his peak.
The £205k-per-week star made 50 appearances across all competitions and won the Copa del Rey, though was benched throughout the Champions League knockout stage and for both semi-final ties against Barcelona in the cup.
Clearly not quite entrusted with a central role in the biggest moments, Tchouameni has made the improvements to his craft this season and now appears indispensable.
Indeed, in La Liga this term – as per Sofascore – the holding midfielder has completed 93% of his passes, made 1.7 tackles and 3.6 ball recoveries per game and won an incredible 80% of his dribbles and 70% of his duels – Manchester City's Rodri, in comparison, has won 63% of his duels in the Premier League this season.
Aurelien Tchouameni: Similar Players
#
Player
Club
1
Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona
2
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid
3
Pedri
Barcelona
4
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich
5
Nicolo Barella
Inter Milan
*Statistics sourced via Football Transfers
As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 7% for passes attempted, the top 5% for interceptions, the top 7% for aerial wins, the top 10% for clearances and the top 18% for tackles per 90.
He's a superlative defensive force in the centre, considered "world-class" by Transfermarkt's Stefan Bienkowski, having now made 14 appearances this season for his high-flying outfit.
He has recently sustained a foot injury that will likely rule him out of action for the remainder of 2023, and whether Madrid can maintain their impressive form in his absence remains to be seen.
It feels like he's getting better with every performance on the pitch, and should Liverpool pull off a transfer that would possibly eclipse anything in recent years, Klopp's team would thrive at the forefront for years to come.
An acquisition could even surpass the impact of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been positively incredible in the centre of the park since joining the Premier League side this summer.
How Aurelien Tchouameni compares to Szoboszlai
There may have been a few half-hearted claims of the tougher competition in the Premier League after Szoboszlai joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal in July, but the innate technical ability surpasses Europe's majority.
Last season, the 36-cap Hungary captain had posted ten goals and 13 assists across all competitions for his German side as they claimed a second successive DFB Pokal trophy, with his exploits leading journalist Marcel Moeller to describe him as a "generational talent."
Prolific and potent, energetic and elegant, Szoboszlai has been at the heart of Liverpool's revival and he looks set to dominate at the centre of the Anfield pitch for years to come.
Having scored two goals and assists apiece from 13 matches, the 22-year-old is dazzling under Klopp's wing. He has completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League, averaging 2.5 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 7.6 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.
For comparison, Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison – arguably the "signing of the summer", according to TNT pundit Joe Cole – has completed 85% of his passes, creating 3.2 key passes per game but winning 1.4 tackles and 2.2 ball recoveries per outing.
Similar players, Szoboszlai is thriving as the engine in the middle, far more robust and energetic – for all Maddison's might, you would find few Liverpool supporters eager to trade.
It's rather staggering to think that if Merseysiders were to pull off the elusive deal for Tchouameni, Klopp might boast a midfield ace of greater quality than the Hungarian.
Tchouameni is, of course, a different kind of midfielder, and comparisons should not be drawn from the pairs' contrasting metrics, but the presence that the former Monaco man has on the pitch is profound.
His recent injury is a massive blow to Real Madrid's season, with Ancelotti's side undefeated when he has started, and if he was deployed as the Liverpool anchor the club would be propelled to new heights.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig once lauded the player as "out of this world", and a midfield pairing of Tchouameni and Szoboszlai really would have Liverpool soaring in the skies.
Klopp will fervently hope that one day an opportunity to sign the Los Blancos man presents itself, completing his flourishing crop.
An Old Trafford pitch used for its third T20 match in a week was too much for Northants as their poor start to the Blast continued
ECB Reporters Network08-Jul-2018
ScorecardLancashire Lightning’s spinners bowled well on a pitch being used for its third T20 game in a week to set up their side’s very comfortable eight-wicket defeat of Northants Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast North Group match at Emirates Old Trafford.Liam Livingstone’s outfielders also rediscovered their best form as the visitors were limited to 123 for nine in their 20 overs, a target which Lancashire’s batsmen overhauled with 23 balls to spare, Alex Davies making 64 not out, his second T20 fifty in consecutive innings.Steelbacks now have three defeats in a row and are lodged at the foot of North Group, all of which left their coach, David Ripley, frustrated. “Richard Levi fell to a blinding catch but from then on I thought we were a bit naive,” he said. “We should have plotted our way to 150 or 160 and that would have been competitive. Poor batting set us u to lose that game fairly comfortably.We had two lads caught off long hops and that’s poor execution but we were also too defensively minded. We needed to hit the balls into gaps and run better than we did; we needed a more positive intent. We weren’t smart at the beginning, we weren’t smart in the middle and we missed a big finish at the end.”The initial signs were good for Northants, who reached 62 for one off 5.5 overs with Richard Levi unbeaten on 40. Next ball, however, Jordan Clark clung on to a return catch blasted back at him by the South African and that reverse began a spell in which the visitors lost three wickets for six runs in 11 balls.Josh Cobb and Richard Vasconcelos both fell to fine catches by Arron Lilley and Keaton Jennings respectively and none of the other Steelbacks batsmen could dominate a Lancashire attack monopolised by slow bowlers.Apart from Levi, five batsmen reached double figures but no one made more than Seekkuge Prasanna who managed to garner 17 off 22 balls. All but seven of the 20 overs were bowled by spinners with the best analysis being Matt Parkinson’s two for 14 off four overs.Stephen Parry and Livingstone also bowled their full allocation, returning figures of 2 for 19 and 2 for 29 respectively. Lancashire’s fielders supported the attack admirably, taking nine of the ten chances that were offered.In contrast to the Lightning’s performance against Worcestershire Rapids on Thursday, the catching in the deep was faultless and ensured that the Steelbacks innings never recovered the momentum initially established by Levi 21-ball onslaught.Lancashire’s pursuit of their modest target began badly when Livingstone was caught at the wicket off Prasanna for four but Lilley made a sprightly 23 off 14 balls before being caught by Levi at short third man off Graeme White.The remainder of the innings belonged almost exclusively to Davies and Keaton Jennings who steered their side home with an unbroken partnership of 88 for the third wicket in exactly 12 overs. Davies was in particularly fine form, hitting three successive fours off White and reaching his fifty off 36 balls with half a dozen fours and one six.Jennings is currently in fine form in all formats and supported his partner well by making 28 not out. The victory was Lancashire second in three matches but Northants are rooted to the foot of the table.
Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday lunchtime, but if the hosts took their chances in the first half, the narrative would have been a completely different one at full-time.
The Reds were sluggish and lethargic to begin with and Wolves capitalized by launching a barrage of attacks – led by the irrepressible Pedro Neto – who provided a superb cross for Hwang Hee-chan's opener inside seven minutes.
The Portuguese should have had a second assist to his name, however, Matheus Cunha failed to convert his wicked delivery.
With the Brazilian spurning a golden opportunity to double their lead, Liverpool gained encouragement as Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp's substitutions Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Núñez made a huge impact and helped inspire a second-half comeback.
While that trio reined in the plaudits for their impact off the bench, youngster Jarell Quansah quietly went under the radar, performing admirably on his full debut.
How did Jarell Quansah perform against Wolves?
Quansah was the latest gem to be unearthed from the Liverpool academy on Saturday, following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic in recent times.
In the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, the 20-year-old was drafted into a makeshift back line and although some youngsters would have crumbled under the pressure, Quansah shined like a diamond in the rough, especially in the first half, as Liverpool's disorganised defence were made to deal with an onslaught of Wolves attacks.
Considering the situation he was thrown into, this was the baptism of fire that the youngster needed, impressing particularly after Wolves took the lead.
Reflecting on the Englishman's performance, Klopp said: "I have to say he did really well. He was good,
"In possession as well he was calm. It was like we had just met in the car park before the game with the organisation in the first half. But he played really well."
With the German waxing lyrical about his ability in possession, Quansah made 91 touches, recorded a 96% pass completion and accurately placed all three of his attempted long balls, as per Sofascore.
Quansah's defensive capabilities were also outstanding. He won three out of his four ground duels, made three tackles, two interceptions and was only dribbled past once.
Following this performance, the young defender drew high praise for how he conducted himself considering his tender age with Joe Cole saying: "He looked like he'd played for decades in Liverpool's first team."
Lauded as "absolutely phenomenal" by fellow academy graduate Alexander-Arnold, Quansah is the latest star to come off the conveyor belt at Melwood, but he isn't the only talent to have made the step-up into the Reds senior setup in recent times.
When he was thrust into the spotlight last season, 18-year-old Bajcetic made an even bigger impact than Quansah.
How good is Stefan Bajcetic?
A destructive and combative defensive midfielder, described by journalist Zubin Daver as "special", Bajcetic stepped up to the plate last season and did a remarkable job of screening the Reds backline.
Prior to his season-ending injury in March, the 6 foot 1 titan impressed with his aggressive nature, ability to reclaim possession and get his side quickly on the front, placing in the top 7% for dribblers tackled, top 12% for interceptions, top 13% for aerials won and top 28% for ball recoveries when compared to players positionally similar to him in the Premier League last term, as per FBref.
Throughout this campaign so far, Liverpool have missed having a destructive player in the middle of the park, someone capable of shielding their defence, breaking up play effectively and driving them up the field with purpose.
Although Wataru Endo was brought into the club to do that job, the Japan international is still acclimatising to English football and has rarely featured since their 2-1 win over Newcastle.
Instead of utilising Endo, Klopp has chosen to use Alexis Mac Allister in the deep-lying playmaker role, but this has left the Reds exposed on the counter-attack with the Argentine prone to being caught upfield.
With that said, as evidenced by his 15 appearances for the club last season, Bajcetic is the ferocious, tough-tackling and aggressive midfielder that Liverpool have missed in their engine room.
Following his excellent performance in the Merseyside derby in February, teammate Salah backed up this point by directing high praise towards the teenager, saying: “Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player maybe so hopefully he keeps that confidence and keeps going.”
The fact that Salah labelled him as their best player during that period suggests how highly regarded he is at the club, as was his consistent place in the team prior to his injury.
Bajcetic made a huge impact for Liverpool prior to his injury and if Klopp unleashes him again, he could solve their current midfield conundrum and show why he is a bigger talent than Quansah.
Liverpool may well be on the up once again after a substandard year last time out, but Jurgen Klopp's side have recrafted their success with a very different feel to the side that achieved such illustrious success since the German's appointment in 2015.
Indeed, after falling flat and finishing fifth in the Premier League last term, Klopp and co decided to shake things up and revamped the midfield, something that was long overdue.
An exciting crop of talented players have replaced the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Fabinho and co, and the early results from the 2023/24 campaign suggest that the Anfield narrative will be far more favourable this time around, with three successive victories following a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to start the season.
The midfield rebuild might have dominated the discourse this year, but over the past few years, Klopp has been reconstructing a frontline that was once considered irreplaceable, and while the legendary trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will never be topped, the new-look attack has every chance of being world-class as it continues to gel.
When did Liverpool sign Sadio Mane?
Salah, of course, still plies his trade for the Merseyside outfit today, while Firmino, one of the silkiest, ingenious forwards of his generation, departed at the end of his contract this summer.
Mane was the first to break away, leaving one year ago, but will forever be remembered for his “electric” pace – as hailed by football writer Leanne Prescott – and incisiveness on the left wing of Liverpool's offence.
Heralded as "absolutely insane" by his former Liverpool manager, Mane was one of the pioneers for Klopp's Liverpool, completing a £34m transfer from Premier League rivals Southampton in June 2016, with his new boss revealing he had been tracking his progress for four years.
Mane, who diligent Saints had sealed from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg for £10m two years earlier, had posted 25 goals and 14 assists for the south coast club across his two campaigns, including a record-breaking fastest hat-trick in Premier League history against Aston Villa.
It was an exciting acquisition of a talented, Prem-proven star, and while all could see the potential that the Senegalese winger held, few envisaged the blistering rise to the top at one of English football's all-time great frontlines.
How good was Sadio Mane at Liverpool?
Leaving Liverpool in a deal worth up to £35m in June 2022, Mane drew the curtain on an illustrious Anfield career that saw silver-laden success across a wealth of competitions, notably the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Scoring 120 goals and supplying 48 assists across 269 outings, the 97-cap Senegal star's dynamism, rapier-like attacking qualities and demonic speed proved invaluable to Klopp's system, with Mane hitting 40 goals in the English top flight alone between 2019-2021.
Mohamed Salah
41
Sadio Mane
24
Roberto Firmino
22
Steven Gerrard
21
Luis Garcia
10
Statistics sourced via Statbunker
A big game player, Mane was simply integral, and will forever remain so distinctive, so awe-inspiring, that seeking to directly replace him would be futile.
That being said, Luis Diaz was signed from Portuguese giants Porto for an initial £37m in January 2022 – six months before Mane left – to serve as the heir, but the Colombian is a distinctive personality on the pitch himself, with his arrival a continuation of the outfit's fluidity, rather than a like-for-like replacement.
Throw Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo into the pot, and Liverpool do indeed boast a reformed frontline, and while Mane's departure will always remain a poignant day, it is pleasing to see the work on the transfer front has been apt enough to maintain the ferocity up front.
As said, Mane cannot be replaced, but there could be the next version of the wide forward already on the club's books, with exciting youth prospect Trent Kone-Doherty continuing to impress within the academy fold as he targets a first-team debut sooner rather than later.
Who is Trent Kone-Doherty?
Hailed for his "superb" early performances by journalist Paul Gorst, Kone-Doherty is a precocious forward looking to make waves among Liverpool's senior side in the near future.
The 17-year-old has made a prolific start to life at Liverpool, scoring 12 goals and supplying three assists from 23 matches across all competitions, and he will be hoping that this is the year he makes his senior debut, with the Europa League opening the door for the likes of the Republic of Ireland youth international to earn opportunities to impress.
Giving his thoughts on the youngster's quality to the Liverpool Echo, U18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson said: "He's a very good player and showed he can finish, he can go on the outside, and whether or not he's up against people who are bigger or a lot stronger, he still has the ability and football brain to go past people."
Such characteristics are similar to Mane's, who found success across the frontline and merged deadly finishing with deceptive strength and physicality.
He could even prove to be a bigger talent than Kaide Gordon, who has been a notable name among the Liverpool youth crop for several years now – immensely talented, but impeded by horrendous luck with injuries.
Indeed, the wily winger boasts some incredible ability for one so young, having scored 11 goals and provided five assists since joining from Derby County for around £3m in 2021, with his potential affirmed by Klopp, who dubbed him an "exceptional" talent.
He's also bagged the first goal of his senior career for the Reds, and while he has been decimated by injuries over the past few years, the 18-year-old is now in contention for a return after 17 months out.
Describing himself as "fearless", Kone-Doherty has started the current campaign in fine fettle, bagging two goals and an assist from his first three outings.
Noted as a 'tricky and exciting winger blessed with great pace' by Liverpoolfc.com, the teenage prodigy looks to hold the natural prowess to emulate a renowned star of Mane's ilk, while nurturing a growing clinicalness in front of goal, which could combine to create a weapon tailor-made for Klopp's high-octane system.
Mane was equally unflappable in the offensive third, and given the semblance of skills and innate qualities, perhaps Liverpool do have a homegrown option to serve as the ideal Mane heir, wreaking havoc for the Anfield side for years to come.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are back in action this afternoon, as the Old Gold travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town in their sixth fixture of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
In their previous game, Gary O’Neil’s side lost 3-1 to Liverpool in what was an impressive first-half display before the Reds hit top form and the hosts' hard work was undone.
With just one win on the board so far for the Midlands club, it’s imperative that they take their chances against Luton, who are the only team remaining in the league without a single point.
The Hatters have had a tough start to life in the top flight, form that Wolves must exploit in order to begin to work their way up the table after an equally as disappointing start.
What is the latest Wolves team news?
Speaking ahead of the game, O’Neil revealed that he expects Rayan Ait-Nouri to feature against Luton, despite leaving the pitch during the Liverpool defeat limping.
The Algerian had an impressive game against the Merseyside outfit, and could be a useful player for Wolves to have fit against today's opponents due to his devastating link-up play with Pedro Neto.
Playing 90 minutes against Jurgen Klopp’s side, the 23-year-old continued his impressive form this season with an assist, earning himself a 7.4 Sofascore ranking, higher than anyone else in his team on the day.
The Portuguese ace continually threatened Liverpool’s defence with his searing pace and ball-carrying skills, as highlighted by him completing four out of six of his dribble attempts in the game.
While Neto could hurt Luton from the wide areas, he wasn’t the only player that stood out for the Old Gold against the Merseysiders, with one player showing he has all the tools to leave Rob Edwards’ side with another upset to swallow.
How did Jean-Ricner Bellegarde play against Liverpool?
After signing for Wolves on deadline day from Strasbourg for £12.8m, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was handed his Premier League debut against the Reds at his new home last weekend.
Lauded as being “incredibly direct and uncomplicated” when in possession by The Athletic’s Thom Harris, the 25-year-old maintained an 85% passing accuracy rate in central attacking midfield against Liverpool’s high-profile personnel.
As per Sofascore, the £35k-per-week Frenchman recorded one key pass and attempted five dribbles in the middle of the park, showing energy and skill that could damage this afternoon’s opposition if he’s given the room to roam.
Prior to his move to the Midlands, Bellegarde was in fine form for Strasbourg, having claimed two goals and two assists in just three appearances in the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season.
His numbers in his homeland reinforce just how dangerous he can be in the final third, supported by his general gameplay against Jurgen Klopp's men on his first appearance, having done "very well" on the day – according to his manager.
After a difficult start to this season, this afternoon could be the perfect opportunity for O’Neil’s side to build some form, against a Luton squad that looks far from being at the level required to compete in the top-flight.
With Neto and Bellegard in tow, Wolves' hopes of victory are only set to be bolstered even further…
Much of the turmoil that shrouds Everton is attributed to their shocking transfer strategy.
The club has made a damaging habit of signing underwhelming players on extortionate wages, with only the rare sale gaining any profit.
As a result, in the last two Premier League seasons, the Merseysiders have narrowly avoided relegation.
Without a win or a goal in the current campaign, Sean Dyche's men now look destined for another testing year as they fight to maintain their top-flight status.
However, it seems the club is still yet to learn from its previous mistakes, and one of the latest targets won't fill the Goodison Park faithful with any confidence…
What’s the latest Everton transfer news?
According to reports, Everton are one of several clubs that are keenly tracking the availability of Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate Japhet Tanganga.
Alongside the Toffees, Inter Milan and Luton are also looking at the defender, who is more likely to stay in England if he follows through with a move away from North London.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
The newly promoted side are said to be leading the race, as they push for a loan with an option to buy. Nevertheless, Goodison Park remains a possible destination.
The Athletic revealed that Spurs would prefer a permanent move for the 24-year-old.
Tanganga hasn’t made the squad for the opening games of the season, and he is in a group of players who are ‘free to leave.’
How good is Japhet Tanganga?
The defender joined the Tottenham academy in 2009 and made his senior debut a decade later in the EFL Cup against Colchester in 2019.
Since then, the £25k-per-week ace has been unable to nail down regular game time and now in 2023 looks like nothing more than a squad player.
Part of this is due to injury as Tanganga has missed 52 games in all competitions through injury. But, when fit, managers are reluctant to deploy him, as he only reached double-figures for appearances in a Premier League season once.
Earlier in the year, talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara [17:38pm, February 11, 2023], questioned his credentials and said:
“Tanganga, how he is still playing for Tottenham, I don’t know. It looks like he has got ice skates on him every time he is defending. It’s embarrassing.”
Moreover, this signing would derail the development of Jarrad Branthwaite, who is deserving of a first-team opportunity this term.
The 6 foot 5 titan spent last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, making 27 Eredivisie appearances.
During this time, former PSV and Ajax manager Aad de Mos heaped praise on the youngster, and said he is “very strong positionally.”
Steven Pressley, who used to coach Branthwaite at Carlisle United, goes a step further with his comments and added:
“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player. I told people he was a future England international.
“The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer.”
Given the abject form of Michael Keane, it should be Branthwwaite to assume responsibility for replacing him.
The signing of Tanganga, who has a patchy fitness record and hasn’t consistently proved himself at the highest level, is a highly risky strategy that would likely backfire, whilst pushing Branthwwaite down the pecking order.
This Monday, Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in what is the Gunners' first away game of the new 2023/24 Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta's men picked up a 2-1 home win against Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend, while Roy Hodgson and co were also victorious as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 on the road.
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Ahead of the game, which takes place at Selhurst Park on Monday 21st August at 8pm (UK time), Football FanCast has decided to predict the starting lineup for the Gunners.
Who will start for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace?
There could be a change in goal this week as Arsenal have now completed a move for Brentford's David Raya, who arrives on a season-long loan with a £27m option to buy.
However, Aaron Ramsdale has been the undisputed number one for two seasons now (playing all 38 games last term) and so it would be a shock if he was to lose his spot in the starting lineup just yet.
In defence, however, Arteta will be forced into mixing things up as a result of the unfortunate ACL injury which could keep Jurrien Timber sidelines for most of the season
The defender started at left-back last weekend and the Gunners do at least have plenty of depth in that part of the field. Speaking to the press about Oleksandr Zinchenko who's been out with a calf injury, Arteta told football.london:
"Alex has been doing really well. He's been training with us and, hopefully, we're going to have him very, very soon."
With that in mind, we think he'll make it back in time to start this one, although Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior could also be called upon if the Ukraine star can't quite make it.
Gabriel Magalhaes was surprisingly dropped against Forest, but without Timber out, Arteta may want to revert to his usually trusted centre-back option, so we expect the Brazilian to come back in.
He should start alongside William Saliba and Ben White – which would mean playing the exact same back four which started away against Palace for the opening game last season.
Thomas Partey was used as an inverted right-back on the opening weekend, but with the potential return of Zinchenko, he can step back into midfield and play the deeper role, allowing Declan Rice to push higher up into the left-eight position. Captain Martin Odegaard will, of course, start in his usual preferred position.
This means there is a debate on if and where Kai Havertz should start. Against Manchester City in the Community Shield, he started as a striker and with Gabriel Jesus still injured, the German could go up top again for this one – despite playing in midfield last weekend.
This may be harsh on Eddie Nketiah who started and scored vs Forest, but Arteta might want a little more height leading the line in an away game like this to help go long when trying to beat the opposition's press.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka should start once more on each flank after they both impressed in the opening match of the new campaign.
Arsenal's predicted XI: Aaron Ramsdale; Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Ben White; Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard; Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka