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Steven Gerrard is probably the most influential and peerless Liverpool affiliate of the 21st century, and that reputation isn’t going to budge.

Maybe, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood a chance of knocking his hero away from top spot, but he’d have needed to devote the entirety of his career to his boyhood club to achieve this, and instead will sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer aged 26.

Trent’s decision heightens the situation going on at both of Liverpool’s defensive flanks. Andy Robertson, 31, still has a year left on his deal but has waned in influence and security this term, and heirs are being considered ahead of the transfer window.

Despite the issues Liverpool have faced at left-back, Cody Gakpo has still managed to go from strength to strength on the left wing, lacking the desirable stream of creative support though he has.

Cody Gakpo's season in numbers

It’s interesting that Gakpo should have hit his smoothest stride in a Liverpool shirt this season despite Robertson’s declining creative output.

This isn’t to say that the left-back has completely lost his way, but there’s no question things have been taken down a notch. That’s not true in Gakpo’s case, though, with his efforts this year leading to a return of 17 goals and six assists across all competitions, including 29 starts.

A shrewd and dynamic grtasp of the fundamentals had led Jurgen Klopp to play the Dutchman across a wide range of roles last season, but Arne Slot has shaved the fat off Gakpo’s game, limited him to a goalscoring duty off the left flank.

Centre-forward

27

12

4

Left winger

12

3

3

Right winger

7

1

0

Central midfield

7

0

0

It’s paid dividends, with pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch agreeing that he has “gone up another level” in his countryman’s tactical set-up.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, highlighting Slot’s success in sharpening his clinical edge into something keen and deadly.

Robertson still plays his part, crisp in possession and with a close-knit connection with Virgil van Dijk, but Liverpool are ready to sign an upgrade who could take Gakpo to the next level.

Liverpool chasing new left-back

Following the latest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are indeed ready to address their left-back conundrum after Robertson’s up-and-down season, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez at the top of the shopping list.

With the Cherries, who are pushing for Europe, ready to sell the 21-year-old for a £45m figure, this is one FSG will be giving their full consideration to.

However, Kerkez is the prototypical modern full-back and would make Slot’s system that much better.

Imagine Gakpo & Milos Kerkez together

Gakpo is chiefly a goalscorer, but he’s also a forward of impressive physicality, causing problems for opponents and getting stuck in with duels and dribbles.

Kerkez will take his game to the next level.

The Bournemouth man might only be young but he’s made quite the name for himself across the past year, posting two goals and five assists in the Premier League this year, creating eight big chances, as per Sofascore, winning 60% of his ground duels and averaging 4.5 ball recoveries per game.

Also ranking among the top 14% of full-backs in the English top flight this term for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, the Hungary international has the burners to apply pressure on his opponents ahead of him, thus allowing Gakpo the time and space to find better positions and maybe lift his goal tally even higher next year.

It’s worth noting Robertson, having failed to register a goal contribution in the league this year, has averaged 0.2 dribbles per game, evening out to one every five matches.

Luckily, Gakpo has stepped up and produced the goods, impressively winning 56% of his ground duels, completing 60% of his dribbles and missing just six big chances in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, having converted nine strikes.

With something young and hungry behind him, overlapping and proving a general thorn in his opponents’ sides, Kerkez is exactly what Liverpool need, having already been singled out as a “machine” by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christansen for his tireless and combative performances.

Kerkez’s strengths as an attacking full-back are exactly what Slot needs, perhaps demonstrating a style of football that Robertson would have been able to match and even surpass back in his pomp, but Father Time has crept up on the Scotland skipper after so many years of gruelling service at Liverpool.

While Robertson should keep his place in the Liverpool squad (meaning Kostas Tsimikas will need to be sold), Kerkez should find himself taking the first-choice spot, not only completing the defence and restoring some much-needed creativity to the wide positions but driving Gakpo’s journey even further into the limelight.

Athletic and adventurous, Kerkez has dazzled for Bournemouth this season, a core part of Andoni Iraola’s efforts and, just maybe, success in securing a place on the continent for the first time in the Vitality Stadium’s history.

But Liverpool need a new left-back, and he fits the bill. Bringing such pace and potency down the channel, such energy and enthusiasm, Kerkez would be sure to elevate Gakpo’s game to the next level, striking the perfect balance that could see Slot defend his Premier League crown.

Better than Rogers: Liverpool could see £65m bid accepted for 18-goal star

Liverpool are in the market for new forwards this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 5, 2025

It’s been an unusual season for Arsenal this year.

On the domestic front, injuries and some lacklustre form in periods have cost them any real chance of lifting the Premier League title at the third time of asking.

However, in Europe, there is now a real feeling that Mikel Arteta’s side could go all the way in the Champions League after dismantling Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final earlier this week.

Yet, as well as the team played on Tuesday, there was still one starter who was a little underwhelming and even received a 6/10 match rating from the Express’ Charlie Parker-Turner: Martin Odegaard.

It’s been a campaign to forget for the Gunners’ captain and two-time Player of the Season, but based on recent reports, the club could sign someone in the summer who may well get him back to his very best next season.

Arsenal transfer news

Surprisingly, given their immense record at the back and need for attacking reinforcements, one of the players most recently touted for a move to the Emirates this summer has been Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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

The Bournemouth star, whom FBref has places in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions and the top 2% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists per 90, reportedly has a £50m release clause in his contract.

However, fans shouldn’t worry as the North Londoners also seem hell-bent on signing a new striker as well, with Benjamin Sesko reportedly still on their list of targets, per David Ornstein.

Yet it appears that another striker from the continent has now jumped ahead of the Slovenian on the Gunners’ list of transfer targets, someone who could get Odegaard back to his best: Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Premier League side have now prepared an offer for the player, who could leave the Lisbon outfit for anything from €70m – £61m – to €100m – £87m.

So, it would require an extraordinary amount of money to sign Gyokeres this summer, but given his immense ability, it would be worth it, especially as he could get the best out of Odegaard again.

Why Gyokeres would revive Odegaard

So, it’s no secret that Odegaard has struggled somewhat this season. Compared to his 23 goal involvements in 48 games last year, he currently has just 13 in 35 games.

So, with that said, how would Gyokeres help him get back to his best, if not beyond it? Well, the simple answer is his output.

Since moving to Portugal in the summer of 2023, the former Coventry City star has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine, and even when Ruben Amorim left earlier this season, he’s continued to be simply unstoppable.

For example, since the start of last season, the “ball-striking monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a simply staggering 87 goals and provided 26 assists in 94 appearances, totalling 7689 minutes.

In other words, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has maintained an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 68.04 minutes, since moving to Lisbon.

Moreover, he’s also been incredible in Europe’s top competition, the Champions League, and has a tally of six goals in just eight appearances, including a hat trick against Manchester City.

So, just imagine a striker as deadly and powerful as the Swede starting ahead of Odegaard next season, the Norwegian’s assist numbers would go through the roof.

Moreover, if the Gunners had a more clinical frontline this year, he’d already have more, as, according to Understat, his four league assists this term have come from an expected assists figure of 6.16.

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player who has not enjoyed a particularly good season, but with someone like Gyokeres in the team next year, he could bounce back and remind everyone why he’s the club’s captain.

White repeat: Arsenal in the leading pack to sign "dominant" £50m phenom

The sensational talent would make Arsenal’s squad so much better.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 11, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet vitoria： Uma cena entre Yuri Alberto e Vanderlei Luxemburgo chamou a atenção após o empate por 1 a 1 entre Corinthians e Fortaleza, no Brasileirão. O atacante, que encerrou o jejum de nove gols sem marcar, deixou o técnico “no vácuo” enquanto o comandante cumprimentava os jogadores após a partida na Neo Química Arena.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansLuxemburgo explica Yuri Alberto na reserva e Róger Guedes ‘solitário’ no ataque do CorinthiansCorinthians08/05/2023CorinthiansVÍDEO: Veja os melhores momentos do empate entre Corinthians e Fortaleza no BrasileirãoCorinthians08/05/2023CorinthiansYuri Alberto revela desânimo durante jejum e valoriza ponto conquistado pelo Corinthians no BrasileirãoCorinthians08/05/2023

da brwin： + Timão segura renovações de medalhões, Ancelotti fala em fim de ciclo no Real Madrid… O Dia do Mercado!

O camisa 9 colocou panos quentes na situação e afirmou não ter visto o treinador enquanto ele cumprimentava o elenco corintiano.

– Estava cumprimentando todo mundo, ele veio pela direita, não tinha visto. Ele parabenizou pelo jogo, disse que as chances iam começar a aparecer – disse Yuri na zona mista.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

O próximo compromisso do Timão é contra o Botafogo, e Yuri acredita que o empate diante do Leão do Pici pode servir como virada de chave para o jogo contra o líder do Brasileirão.

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– Vai ser um jogo importante fora de casa. Esse empate, começando perdendo e eu ajudei a equipe, foi muito importante. Para nós, uma virada de chave. Nesse próximo jogo vamos ter uma atitude diferente, se Deus quiser as coisas vão acontecer – ponderou.

+ Veja tabela e a situação do Timão no Brasileirão

Yuri Alberto não ficava no banco do Corinthians desde 8 de outubro do ano passado, na vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Athletico-PR. Na coletiva, Luxemburgo disse que a opção por deixar o camisa 9 na reserva não foi punição. O centroavante assegurou que não conversou com o técnico sobre seu status na equipe, e percebeu que perderia a posição nos treinos.

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BrasileirãoCorinthiansYuri Alberto

CA chief Kevin Roberts also lauded the work done by Tim Paine and Justin Langer in leading Australia onwards from the Newlands scandal

Daniel Brettig14-Sep-2019Australia’s selection panel is to be overhauled over the next six months, with the imminent retirement of Greg Chappell and the expiry of Trevor Hohns’ contract at the end of the home summer ushering a generational change to better reflect the Twenty20 era the game has now spent more than a decade in.Reshaping the way Australian teams are chosen is a key plank of the job for the new head of national teams Ben Oliver, who commenced his role at the outset of the Ashes series after a lengthy interim stint by Belinda Clark. Kevin Roberts, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has flagged it to be one of the first issues he and Oliver will address upon his return home from England, via a brief visit to Pakistan that is part of CA’s wider efforts to improve relationships with other boards.Nevertheless, there have already been plenty of moves afoot around the selection area, ever since ESPNcricinfo revealed that Chappell would exit at the end of the Ashes. Discussions have revolved around whether or not the current panel format should be retained or pared down to a single selection convener working with the national team coach Justin Langer and the state and Big Bash League coaches, and also the need for more contemporary voices, particularly relevant to T20. The likes of Cameron White and Michael Klinger have been raised as possible selectors, though there is also a view that selection, complete with an ever more comprehensive use of statistics and analytics, is a skill requiring more than playing experience.Cameron White had a distinguished career with Victoria•Getty Images”Certainly we need to take into account the sorts of experience that are required,” Roberts said. “If you look at the shape of the panel now, one of the things we’d like to have more of in the future is more experience in T20 games as an example. So rather than targeting an individual person, it’s really about determining what are the characteristics or capabilities we need among the panel and who are the people in Australian cricket who can fulfil those.”I think it’s knowledge of the T20 game, whether it be playing, coaching, and various other roles in the T20 game. So I probably wouldn’t describe it as generational change but I would absolutely say it is a matter of having a really deep knowledge of T20 cricket. A lot of Australians have been involved in the IPL and the BBL as well and some of those are young, some are not so young. Really it’s about the experience they’ve had as opposed to when they might’ve been born.A hallmark of Roberts’ tenure so far has been to repeatedly emphasise the need for deeper and better relationships between CA and the state associations, something he said needed also to be reflected in the way selection was done. “The main thing I would say is certain is that we need to deepen the links through the state system and domestic competitions and make sure that we’ve got the best possible view of all players who are in contention to play,” Roberts said.”What sort of form are they in, how’s their physical health, how’s their mental well-being. That’s a key consideration these days in all walks of life and the same certainly goes for players. One of the benefits of splitting the old role and having Ben Oliver playing the national teams role and Drew Ginn the high performance role working with the states is Drew can then work with the states and make sure we’ve got a very clear overview of the top X number of players, their position in terms of form, physical and mental well-being and everything else that contributes to how they’re going as a player. I’m really looking forward to that coming to fruition too.”

“I don’t think there’s another leader in Australian men’s cricket that could’ve done the job that Tim Paine has done over the last 18 months.”CA chief Kevin Roberts

Following the successful retention of the Ashes, the next major goals for Australian cricket are the women’s and men’s Twenty20 World Cups on home soil in 2020, while balancing a sustained bid to contest the first World Test Championship final in 2021. Roberts was rich in his praise for Langer and the Test captain Tim Paine, declaring that no other figure in Australian cricket could have led the team through the choppy waters of 2018 and into the success of this Ashes tour.”I don’t think there’s another leader in Australian men’s cricket that could’ve done the job that he’s done over the last 18 months,” Roberts said. “I also think he’s only been able to do that job because if you think about his challenges over the years he was almost out of the game for a number of years with a smashed finger. He gained some life experience during that time that’s really set him up to be the leader that he is and without that I’m not sure he could’ve done it the way that he has.”We’ve just been so happy with the way he’s led from the front and there’s no thought of succession planning at this stage. He’s got our support to continue leading from the front the way that he has done so far. We couldn’t be happier with the performance of Justin or Tim in terms of the cultural transformation of the men’s team and what that’s contributed to Australian cricket more broadly.”Most pointedly, the Australians have avoided run-ins with officialdom or opponents since the Newlands scandal, returning a clear rap sheet in terms of ICC code of conduct breaches for more than 18 months. “Look at the commitment they’ve made to make Australians proud, and also the commitment we’ve all made as an organisation,” Roberts said. “We’ve said before it’s a professional sport so the goal will always be to win and we shouldn’t hide from that.”The opposition should always know they’re in a contest when they play against Australian but at the same time the non-negotiable expectation we have of ourselves on and off the field is we compete with respect. And Justin has really led that strongly, a values-driven culture. Tim has complemented Justin brilliantly and led with real courage. They deserve huge credit. There’s been so many milestones in the way the men’s team has performed on the field, but the way they’ve done it as well.”If you look at the code of conduct charges, or the lack thereof, over the Australian summer, no code of conduct charges against the men’s team – first time in many many years and not surprisingly that saw a similar trend right across Australian cricket because of the role models the men are. The women’s team are obviously outstanding ambassadors for the game and for our country as well. It’s brilliant to know I can sleep soundly at night in the knowledge we’ve got a men’s team and a women’s team living the sort of values and behaviours that we aspire to as a sport.”As for the use of the Dukes ball in Sheffield Shield cricket, something that better equipped the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Wade and Michael Neser for their selection on this tour, Roberts indicated that CA should maintain a habit of ensuring players are bred to be versatile. “I think if you ask Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Steven Smith they’d say it’s been tremendously successful, coming into this day Josh and Pat were averaging less than 20 and going for about two and a half runs an over and of course Steve has shot the lights out with the bat,” he said. “In all seriousness we need to keep preparing our players to play in different conditions overseas, whether it be the swinging ball or the spinning ball.”

Stats highlights from the second ODI at Eden Gardens between India and Australia

Bharath Seervi21-Sep-20173 – India bowlers to claim hat-tricks in ODIs. The first to achieve this was Chetan Sharma against New Zealand in Nagpur in the 1987 World Cup. The second and third have both come at the Eden Gardens – Kapil Dev against Sri Lanka in 1991 and Kuldeep Yadav against Australia. Overall, Kuldeep registered the 44th hat-trick in ODIs.2 – Wristspinners to achieve the hat-trick in ODIs. Both have come this year within 15 matches – Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga against Zimbabwe in Galle in July and Kuldeep. No wristspinner achieved it in first 45 years of ODI cricket in 3898 games.1 – Kuldeep is the first player to take hat-trick in Under-19 youth ODIs as well as ODIs. Kuldeep took a hat-trick against Scotland in the Under-19 World Cup in 2014 in Dubai.7 – Hat-tricks against Australia in ODIs, including Kuldeep’s. The others to do so are: Jalal-ud-din in 1982 (the first hat-trick in ODI history), Wasim Akram in 1990, Jerome Taylor in 2006, Shane Bond in 2007, Lasith Malinga in 2011 and Steven Finn in 2015. 5 – India players to take a hat-trick in International cricket. Apart from Chetan, Kapil and Kuldeep in ODIs, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan have done it in Tests. Three of those have come at Eden Gardens: Kapil, Harbhajan and Kuldeep.

Manchester City are splashing the cash again, with Rayan Ait-Nouri completing a £31 million transfer from Wolves.

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Summer refresh at the Etihad StadiumAlgeria international completes transferPremier League pedigree from WolvesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Pep Guardiola spent big in January as City saw the Premier League title start to slip from their grasp. The Cityzens, after a record-breaking run of four successive top-flight triumphs, ultimately surrendered that crown to Liverpool, but are now splashing the cash again. Wolves defender Ait-Nouri has become the club's latest addition and has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

AdvertisementWHAT AIT-NOURI SAID

He told the club's official website: "I am incredibly happy and honoured to have joined Manchester City. City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true. I am also excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players. Joining City is also a very proud moment for my family too. Now I can’t wait to get started and to play in front of our supporters.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ait-Nouri will bring useful Premier League experience with him to Manchester, having spent the last five seasons with Wolves – taking in 157 appearances and scoring 12 goals for the men from Molineux.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RAYAN AIT-NOURI?

He will now be charged with the task of becoming a buccaneering presence for City on their left flank. Ait-Nouri is capable of operating as a full-back or wing-back, giving Guardiola more selection options.

Pochettino brushed off speculation and insisted he's focused on the USMNT role, not returning to Spurs

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Pochettino addresses Spurs rumorsArgentine insists its not realisticComments come after USMNT's 2-1 loss to TurkeyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Mauricio Pochettino denied any interest in succeeding the fired Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham manager, saying after the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Turkey on Saturday that "Today it's not realistic. Look at where I am, where we are, and I think is the answer is so clear."

Several media outlets have speculated that Pochettino is on Tottenham's radar, with the BBC reporting that the Spurs have interest in bringing back the U.S. boss, while also considering Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham's Marco Silva.

The BBC also reported that it would be financially challenging to hire Pochettino, given the compensation required to break his current contract with U.S. Soccer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT POCHETTINO SAID

When asked about his interest in a return to Tottenham, Pochettino noted that he had frequently been linked with the Spurs job since he was controversially let go in 2019.

"Since I left in 2019, for the position of the manager or the head coach, my name has been appearing on every list!" he said on Saturday. "If you are seeing the rumors I’ve seen, there are 100 coaches on their list! Don't be worried about that. If something happened, you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing."

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pochettino spent five years in charge at Spurs, leading the club to the 2019 Champions League final and consistently securing top-four league finishes, including a second-place finish in 2017. Since leaving north London, Pochettino has managed high-profile clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

The Argentine joined the USMNT last September, replacing the fired Gregg Berhalter, and is currently mired in a three-game losing streak, including the loss against Turkey.

WHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?

The U.S. have one more friendly against Switzerland on June 10 before kicking off their Gold Cup against Trinidad & Tobago on June 15.

Incident occurred during a Legends League T20 match in Surat

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2023Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has accused his former team-mate Gautam Gambhir of calling him a “fixer” during a Legends League match in Surat. Gambhir is the captain of India Capitals while Sreesanth is playing for Gujarat Giants in the T20 tournament.After the match, which Capitals won by 12 runs, Sreesanth posted on Instagram a video that was shot on the sidelines of the post-match presentation ceremony. “Without any provocation, he kept on calling me something which was very rude and shouldn’t have been said by Mr Gautam Gambhir,” Sreesanth claimed. “I am not at all at fault, I wanted to clear the air straight away. The things he said on a cricket field live is not acceptable.”While Sreesanth did not immediately mention what was allegedly said to him by Gambhir, he revealed more details in a second video posted on Instagram on Thursday, the day after the match.