Once Luis Diaz swept a strong finish past the gallant Alphonse Areola, few onlookers sat in the London Stadium would have bet on anything other than a Liverpool victory.

West Ham United were crushed, picked apart and played with by Arne Slot’s unstoppable side. Liverpool are now eight points clear of second-placed Nottingham Forest with a game in hand – they are firm favourites for the Premier League title.

It’s all the more incredible when considering the variables. Jurgen Klopp stood down at the end of a 2023/24 campaign that tapered off for the Merseysiders; Federico Chiesa was the sole summer signing for £12.5m and he’s started just one game; arguably the three pre-eminent Liverpool players are out of contract at the end of the term, each able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with clubs from overseas.

Ibrahima Konate has also been injured for the best part of a month after a sensational start to the campaign, hailed for reaching the “elite category of defenders” under his Dutch coach’s tactics by one journalist.

The France international is still out, and Joe Gomez has joined him in the infirmary.

Joe Gomez's injury concern

Gomez scarcely featured in the Premier League over the first few months of the season, perhaps slightly knocked out of kilter after a move to Newcastle United failed to reach the final stage in August.

You wouldn’t think that the 27-year-old, Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player, would harbour too many grudges after the botched and prospective transfer, especially now that he’s thriving in Slot’s project.

One Serie A reporter has hailed him as a “coach’s dream,” with his versatility and multi-faceted technical quality making him an invaluable asset.

injuries have been the bane of his career, however, and he appeared to pull his hamstring as Liverpool romped past West Ham, reducing him to merely 37 minutes of action and potentially an extended spell on the sidelines.

To be sure, Liverpool could do with another part at the rear, and FSG may sanction a move in 2025 after one Premier League star has expressed his desire to play under the Anfield lights.

Prem centre-back wants to sign for Liverpool

As per reports relayed by the Metro, Liverpool are interested in signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi – and the attraction is understood to be reciprocated.

Guehi starred for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 and has been a rock at the back of the Eagles backline for several years, with Newcastle United lodging four unsuccessful bids for his signature in the summer, the final of which totalled £65m.

With Palace keen on bringing Ben Doak – who is currently shining away from Anfield for Middlesbrough – to Selhurst Park, perhaps on loan, Liverpool could shift a few pieces to align with Slot’s vision, bolstering the backline with the perfect new part.

Guehi is also out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. The time to pounce is nearly upon us.

What Marc Guehi would bring to Liverpool

Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea in a transfer worth £18m in 2021 and he’s since gone through the gears to reach England’s senior squad and attract interest from some of the Premier League’s finest outfits.

He’s a wonderful centre-half, endowed with a lion’s bite and a cheetah’s easy movement in front of the goal. Oh, and a devotion toward protecting his goal and snuffing out attackers’ efforts. His former England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, a goalkeeper, has hailed him as “an absolute tank” of a defender in the past.

Oliver Glasner’s side have struggled to recapture the dreamy form of the last few months of the 2023/24 season, but without Guehi, there’s no doubt that the Eagles would be stuck in the pit of the Premier League.

Marc Guehi – Premier League Stats (24/25)
Match Stats*	#
Matches (starts)	18 (18)
Goals	2
Assists	1
Clean sheets	4
Touches*	66.3
Pass completion	84%
Key passes*	0.4
Dribbles (completed)*	0.5 (82%)
Ball recoveries*	4.2
Tackles + interceptions*	2.2
Clearances*	4.8
Total duels (won)*	5.5 (64%)
Stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

Analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that the Englishman is “one of those versatile CBs who can play both sides equally as comfortably,” shifting with ease. This could be crucial as Van Dijk enters the later stage of his brilliant career, for his playing time may need to be mitigated if he does indeed extend his contract and captaincy on Merseyside.

As per FBref, Guehi also ranks among the top 7% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, making a convincing comment on his ball-playing and carrying skills. Skills that are tailor-made for Slot’s system.

Whether Liverpool succeed in their endeavour remains to be seen and probably won’t become clear until the summer sun stretches down onto Anfield.

However, given Guehi’s dynamism, technical quality and monstrous defensive skill set, there’s every reason why he could be the perfect arrival at Liverpool, taking Slot’s system to the next level and elevating an already imperious backline.

Gomez may still want a fresh challenge, and if he does get his wish next year, this man, a man who wants to make the move, is the one to go for.

He wants to leave: Liverpool must sell star earning more than Jota & Gakpo

Slot’s Liverpool ace is looking to leave the club in 2025.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 30, 2024

Incoming Chelsea sensation Kendry Paez is training at sister club Strasbourg to 'understand methods' of manager Liam Rosenior.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Paez training at Strasbourg
• Unlikely to be sent on loan to the French club
• Paez will be included in Club World Cup squad

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues finalised the signing of Paez from Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in 2023. The two clubs agreed that the player will travel to London at the end of the 2024-25 campaign when he turns 18. Ahead of his formal move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, the player is currently training in France at Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg to understand the methods of head coach Liam Rosenior, according to . The journalist also claimed that Paez reportedly visited Cobham a couple of times last month.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In March, it was reported that the Premier League giants could consider sending Paez out on loan to Strasbourg immediately after he formally joins the club. Journalist has claimed that despite training at Starsbourg's facilities, it is unlikely that the youngster will be sent out on loan to the Ligue 1 side as the West London club plan to include him in Enzo Maresca's squad that will travel to the US for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea reportedly beat Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Paez in 2023 as they paid a fee in the region of €20 million (£17.2m) to land the youngster from his boyhood club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Maresca's men will be back in action on Thursday as they take on Legia Warszawa in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final fixture away from home.

All of the drama surrounding West Bromwich Albion being without a manager since Carlos Corberan’s unfortunate Christmas exit has finally been nipped in the bud as Tony Mowbray is now officially back at the helm.

Signing a two-and-a-half year deal, Baggies supporters will hope the re-appointment of their ex-managerial great will inspire a promotion push in the here and now, considering the 61-year-old tasted that success with the West Midlands titans back in 2008.

The long-awaited arrival of Mowbray back at the Hawthorns will now see the Baggies scramble about in the transfer window to get some last-minute deals done, with one already edging towards completion.

West Brom close to landing long-term target

As per reports from Belgium – as has been relayed by Sport Witness – West Brom have now pencilled in a medical for Northern Irish star Isaac Price to finally join the club, having been previously linked with the Standard Liege midfielder last window.

Talks have progressed quickly and are now believed to be at their final stage. Sport Witness relays that Price is on his way over to England to finalise a switch, with the move coming in at around the £1.6m mark, as the Baggies go about strengthening before the February deadline.

Mowbray would love for this move to go swimmingly to win himself a speedy first purchase back in the Hawthorns dug-out, with the 21-year-old potentially another young gem the ex-Sunderland boss can work his magic on, having garnered a reputation for getting the best out of a wide array of raw starlets when situated at the Stadium of Light.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse What Price could offer West Brom

Moving back to West Brom, Price could link up with Alex Mowatt well in the middle of the park in learning the demands of the EFL, with the pair perhaps striking up an exciting partnership centrally if the former Everton youngster can break into the first-team and excel.

After all, the 21-year-old managed to settle in well to his new surroundings in Belgium after walking away from his boyhood club in the Toffees, with a goal and two assists tallied up by the versatile midfielder last season.

Away from his ability to score and assist – which saw him hammer home a last minute strike last campaign in Jupiler Pro League action – Price has also won the affection of Liege supporters with his battling nature which could make the Baggies sterner in the middle alongside a more creative Mowatt, with five ball recoveries made per league clash for 2024/25 on top of 5.2 duels being successfully won.

This could give Mowbray a welcome headache on his arrival, therefore, with Jayson Molumby the preferred partner for the ex-Leeds United man at this moment in time, with both Uros Racic and Ousmane Diakité fading into obscurity in these positions as alternate options.

Away from simply offering another body alongside Mowatt, Price has proven across his career to date that he’s also a versatile and adaptable presence, with the former Toffees academy product more than comfortable with playing down the wings if needs be, alongside also slotting into defence as a makeshift centre-back.

Price’s career numbers by position

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

CM

60

2

2

DM

22

2

3

RM

18

0

0

AM

14

0

1

RW

2

0

0

LM

1

0

0

CB

1

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Looking at the table above, Mowbray would love to make Price his first buy based on his willingness to slot in wherever, with the 21-year-old acting as more of an attacking player for his national side – away from usually slotting in as a holding figure in the centre of the park – with five goals picked up from 16 senior international caps.

Once lauded as an “outstanding” prospect by ex-Everton teammate Asmir Begovic, Price will also hope a move back to England sees him flourish after waving goodbye to Goodison Park prematurely, with Mowbray perhaps the perfect man to get the most out of the new recruit.

Related Fellows stays, Maja rival signs: Mowbray's dream West Brom XI after January

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Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson Jan 16, 2025

Suspected broken finger could rule Stone out of the Hundred as injury frustrations continue

Matt Roller23-Jul-2022

“I feel physically in the best shape I have been in, and the ball is coming out nicely”•Nottinghamshire CCC

Olly Stone, the England fast bowler, will join Nottinghamshire at the end of the season. He may already have played his last game for Warwickshire after suffering a finger injury that has ruled him out for at least a month.ESPNcricinfo understands that Stone’s contract talks with Warwickshire broke down because of the club’s reluctance to offer him a multi-year deal keeping in mind his injury history, while Notts agreed a three-year, all-format deal, which will run until the end of the 2025 season.”I have always had good games against Nottinghamshire, and I love playing at Trent Bridge,” Stone said. “It is a great ground, and when the option came up to make it my home, it was really exciting.Related

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Warwickshire land long-term target Barnard

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“The wicket teaches you to bowl well; it tests you every time you have the ball in hand, but you get the rewards if you get it in the right area. The pitch has pace and bounce, so hopefully I can make the most of that.”I feel physically in the best shape I have been in, and the ball is coming out nicely. My pace is where it needs to be. Now, it is just about putting a run of games together and performances in to back it up.”Stone has had another frustrating year with injuries, recovering from a stress fracture he suffered last summer to play ten games in the Blast, taking 13 wickets and bowling at good pace. There was an outside chance that he would have played against Surrey this week in what would have been his first first-class game in over a year. But he was injured during a second-team game this week with a suspected broken finger – an injury which looks set to rule him out of his £100,000 contract with Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.”He got an injury on the third day and has broken a finger so he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Mark Robinson, Warwickshire’s coach, told BBC West Midlands. “For a bloke who has had a lot of injuries to have another one now after all the work he had done… suddenly to be out for six weeks, or four weeks with this break in his finger, it’s heartbreaking for him.”Stone has not played a first-class game since his most recent Test appearance in June 2021•AFP/Getty Images

Phoenix will be able to sign a replacement for Stone if they wish. They may also have to contend without Chris Woakes for most of the season. Robinson described Woakes as being “no nearer” to a comeback from injury – though Adam Milne, the New Zealand fast bowler, should be fit to play a part after a recent Achilles injury.Stone joined Warwickshire at the end of the 2016 season after breaking through at Northamptonshire and said his highlights at the club were playing in Finals Day in 2017, winning the County Championship last summer, and playing a Test at Edgbaston in 2021.”While it’s disappointing that Olly has made this decision, we of course respect it and wish him all the best for the future,” Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, said. “We know our bowling attack is an area we need to strengthen, and we have already made some movements as we look to enhance the squad for 2023, in addition to the recent signings of allrounders Ed Barnard and Moeen Ali.”Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s coach, said, “Olly is a fantastic bowler across all formats, as he has shown across a long period of time, and his pace and aggression have proved a handful in the games he has played against us.”He has experienced some highs as a player, in winning trophies and playing for his country, but he continues to possess great drive and an insatiable appetite to keep improving – which I have no doubt he will at Trent Bridge.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers had enjoyed an exceptional start to life under new boss Vitor Pereira in the Premier League, up until Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest travelled to Molineux to sour the high spirits.

Indeed, the high-flying away side convincingly put the Old Gold to the sword in a 3-0 defeat, leaving Wolves precariously near the drop zone but just outside of it on goal difference.

Pereira will want his side to be a lot sterner in defence in matches to come, having kept a clean sheet during his debut match away at Leicester City, only to then be turned over in worrying fashion to start 2025.

Therefore, new defensive additions are firmly on the Portuguese manager’s mind, with a number of deals reportedly in the works.

Wolves looking at new centre-back

As per a report by Daily Mail Online, Wolves are now in the hunt for reserve Chelsea defender Renato Veiga as another option to improve their numbers at the back.

AFC Bournemouth are also reportedly sniffing around from the Premier League, with Veiga perhaps fancying a move away already from Stamford Bridge due to limited game-time, despite only joining last summer.

This wouldn’t be the only new possible recruit at Wolves when it comes to defensive additions, with a deal edging ever closer for Emmanuel Agbadou to join the ranks from Rennes, alongside this fresh news that the ex-Basel man could soon join him in through the door.

After all, Pereira’s side do hold the unwanted tag of being the leakiest defence in the top flight this season, with 45 goals in total leaked, meaning fresh new improvements might well see more resolute displays moving forward.

Alongside helping out at the back, the potential acquisition of the Blues youngster could give Rayan Ait-Nouri more freedom to attack down the left, with Veiga a left-sided defender by nature who will likely sit back whilst the Algerian excels roaming forward.

What Veiga could offer Wolves

The Portuguese target would make a name for himself as a battling presence defensively playing for Basel back in the Swiss Super League, with a stunning seven ball recoveries averaged per league clash during his standout 2023/24 campaign, leading to Chelsea forking out £12m to land the exciting defender.

Of course, his opportunities in the main team in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca have been limited due to the breadth of options at the Italian’s disposal, but when he has started for his new side in the Europa Conference League, he has impressed.

Stat

Veiga

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches

98

Accurate passes

68/77 (88%)

Shots on goal

5

Total duels won

2/5

Interceptions

3

Stats by Sofascore

His showing versus Astana shows off an adaptability in Veiga’s game that will make him an even more attractive buy for Wolves, with a goal picked up in the Conference League when playing down the channels, away from strictly being a defensive option.

Of course – in the Old Gold’s current predicament – they would like Veiga to be more of an option they can throw into the mix as one of three centre-backs, which he can also do with the majority of his appearances for Basel either coming in defensive midfield or in a more traditional centre-back position.

Playing the new potential Wolves buy here would allow Ait Nouri to prosper further up the pitch, with his link-up play often a joy to watch when he’s at full pelt, leading to him amassing eight goal contributions this season in league action from just 19 games.

Transfer Focus

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

Last match, instead of causing Forest problems in this capacity, Ait Nouri was selected to play as one of three centre-backs by Pereira, culminating in Wolves drawing blanks all night long.

As such, having an addition like Veiga in the building could allow the Algerian to have the freedom to bomb on down the left flank in his preferred wing-back role, safe in the knowledge that he has quality cover behind him in the form of the current Chelsea man.

Once referred to as a “hidden gem” by football data analyst Ben Mattinson, Veiga will hope a move this January can make him become a leading man for whatever side takes him on, with Pereira hopeful this addition can provide more defensive solidity for his team during testing times.

Wolves in talks to sign Champions League winner who'd upgrade on Hwang

Wolves could sign a Champions League winner to upgrade on Hwang Hee-chan.

Jan 6, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Em entrevista concedida pelo atacante Ytalo a ‘ESPN’, o centroavante do Bragantino afirmou que teve uma oportunidade concreta de deixar o Massa Bruta rumo ao Flamengo, o mesmo caminho feito na atual temporada por Fabrício Bruno.

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>Tino Marcos revela que presenciou ex-Seleção usando cocaína

Entretanto, no caso do avante, o convite teria sido feito no ano de 2019 em caráter direto por parte de Jorge Jesus, treinador que ficou marcado pelas conquistas do Brasileirão e da Libertadores na equipe carioca.

Por conta da vivência de Ytalo no futebol português, o Mister já conhecia de outros tempos seu futebol e chegou a abordá-lo para fazer o convite. Entretanto, o atleta entendeu que, diante do seu momento de carreira e de vida além do conhecimento que tinha do projeto em Bragança Paulista, era melhor optar por sua permanência:

-Eu estava no Marítimo e fiz um gol no Benfica quando jogamos contra. Ele me conhecia de lá, e eu estava muito bem aqui. Por isso ele indicou, até porque o Flamengo tinha machucado o centroavante. Optei por ficar aqui por conta da organização do clube. Lá eu sabia que iria por empréstimo, porque sei que a concorrência é forte. É o Flamengo, mas como sou mais experiente não fui.

-Se fosse mais novo, acho que até pensaria em ir, mas com a minha experiência preferi ficar no Red Bull Bragantino, porque o projeto é muito bom. Estou aqui há quatro anos, desde o Red Bull Brasil até o Red Bull Bragantino. Minha fase sempre foi boa, sempre fazendo gols e ajudando a equipe. Foi nesse pensamento que quis ficar aqui – acrescentou.

Desde 2018 na estrutura dos clubes geridos pela Red Bull, tendo defendido antes o Red Bull Brasil antes de chegar ao Braga, Ytalo tem 152 partidas realizadas pelo Massa Bruta com 50 tentos assinalados.

أعلن أيمن الرمادي المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك، عن تشكيل لاعبيه أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

وتُلعب المباراة بين الزمالك ومنافسه سيراميكا كليوباترا على أرضية استاد المقاولون العرب، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة من عمر منافسات المرحلة النهائية لبطولة الدوري.

طالع | اتحاد الكرة يجري تعديلا بطاقم تحكيم مباراة الزمالك وسيراميكا كليوباترا

وتعد المباراة الظهور الأول الرسمي لـ أيمن الرمادي مدرب الأبيض الجديد، الذي تولى المهمة خلفًا للبرتغالي جوزيه بيسيرو، الذي رحل عن الفريق بالتراضي، إثر سلسلة من النتائج السلبية.

ويدخل الزمالك المباراة في المركز الثالث برصيد 41 نقطة، من 11 انتصارًا و7 تعادلات، مقابل 3 هزائم، طامحًا في تحقيق الانتصار.

وشهد تشكيل الزمالك مشاركة محمد صبحي أساسيًا في مركز حارس المرمى، وكذلك تواجد سيف فاروق جعفر في خط الوسط. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمى : محمد صبحي.

خط الدفاع: محمود بنتايج – حسام عبد المجيد – صلاح مصدق – عمر جابر.

خط الوسط : نبيل عماد دونجا – عبد الله السعيد – سيف جعفر – ناصر ماهر .

خط الهجوم : مصطفى شلبي – ناصر منسي.

Chelsea battled hard to secure a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Monday night to move up to fourth in the division.

The Blues are fighting to land a place in the Champions League for the 2025/26 campaign and took another step towards achieving that goal with their victory over Wolves.

Away from the goalscorers, centre-back Trevoh Chalobah caught the eye with a strong performance on his return to the club after a loan spell with Crystal Palace in the first-half of the season.

The academy graduate won six of his eight duels and made three interceptions on the night, but Chelsea are now reportedly eyeing a player in his position who could be even better for Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea confident of signing new centre-back

According to GIVEMESPORT, the Premier League giants are confident that they will get a deal over the line for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.

The report claims that the Blues are ‘adamant’ that they will eventually win the race to sign the England international, even if they have to wait until the summer to do it because Palace are unwilling to cash in on him midseason.

It states that the Eagles value the central defender at around £70m and that Chelsea believe Guehi is interested in returning to Stamford Bridge for a second spell at the club.

GIVEMESPORT adds that the player’s interest in making the move could give the Blues an advantage in the race to sign him, which may be why they are so confident that a deal will be done.

If Chelsea do eventually win the race for Guehi’s signature then it could be a fantastic piece of business for Maresca, as he could come in as an instant upgrade on Chalobah.

Why Guehi could be an upgrade on Chalobah

The two centre-backs, of course, spent the first half of this season playing in the same defensive unit for Palace and it was the England international who caught the eye with his impressive performances.

It is worth noting that Guehi has already been capped 22 times by England at international level, whilst Chalobah is yet to make his senior bow, which suggests that Gareth Southgate viewed the former as the better option out of the two in recent years.

Their respective performances in the Premier League for Palace this season back up that opinion, as the Eagles captain has been far more dominant from a defensive perspective.

Appearances

21

13

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

3.2

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

0.8x

Ground duel success rate

66%

58%

Aerial duel success rate

63%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Chalobah has made more defensive interventions per game but that has opened him up to being dribbled past twice as often, whilst losing more of his duels on the ground and in the air.

These statistics suggest that Guehi, once dubbed “exceptional” by Southgate, is harder for opposition players to beat, in dribbles and in duels, and that could make him even more solid at the back for Chelsea in comparison to his former teammate.

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Therefore, Maresca should be delighted that the Blues are confident of getting a deal over the line for the Palace star, because he could come in and immediately improve the team with his dominant defensive play.

England’s first tour of Pakistan in 17 years will begin on September 20, as the men’s team play seven T20Is in Karachi (the first four) and Lahore (the last three). The last game is on October 2 before England travel to Australia for the men’s T20 World Cup. They are scheduled to return to Pakistan for a series of three Tests in December – their first Tests in Pakistan since the 2005-06 tour.In what the PCB called Pakistan’s “bumper international season”, they will also host New Zealand in two spells, first for two Tests and three ODIs in December-January, and then for five ODIs and five T20Is in April next year. West Indies will also tour Pakistan for three T20Is in late January. In a statement, the PCB said that the itineraries for England’s Test series as well as the matches against New Zealand and West Indies would be released “in due course”.Related

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• WTC scenarios: Is an India vs Pakistan final possible?

The series will be the second of seven T20Is or more, with the encounters between the Malawi and Mozambique men’s teams in 2019 the only previous instance of such a long bilateral series.Next year, Pakistan are also scheduled to host the Asia Cup for the first time since 2008. Pakistan were originally due to host the T20 Asia Cup this year, but swapped with Sri Lanka – the 2022 Asia Cup starts at the end of August and has moved to the UAE. But the 50-over version is due to now take place in Pakistan next year – most likely in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup, which takes place in India in October-November. This year’s Asia Cup moved to the UAE (though SLC remains the host), following concerns about the SLC’s ability to host a multi-nation tournament of this stature in the midst of the country’s economic and political crisis.As reported by ESPNcricinfo in early July, Karachi’s National Stadium will host T20Is against England on September 20, 22, 23 and 25, before the action shifts to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the matches on September 28 and 30, and October 2. All the matches are floodlit affairs, starting at 7.30pm Pakistan time.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We are absolutely delighted to confirm hosting England for seven T20Is in Karachi and Lahore as a curtain-raiser to a busy, entertaining and exciting season of home internationals,” Zakir Khan, PCB director of international cricket, said in a statement. “England is one of the top-ranked T20I teams and them playing the shortest format in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan will not only help the team management to finalise their preparations, but will also set the tone for December’s three-Test series.”A three-member ECB security-assessment team visited Pakistan to take stock of the arrangements in late July. The team went back satisfied enough to green-light England’s first tour of Pakistan in 17 years.”We demonstrated our event planning and operational skills in the highly-successful series against Australia in March-April and I am confident we will be able to replicate these when England visit us for the first time since 2005,” Zakir said. “We have been able to confirm schedule of the T20Is following a successful tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board recce team, which was pleased and satisfied with all our arrangements.”England have not toured Pakistan since 2005, and two of home Pakistan’s home series against them, in 2012 and 2016, were played in the UAE. England also chose to withdraw their men’s and women’s teams’ tours to Pakistan last year citing “bubble fatigue” and increasing concerns about travelling to the region”. This came soon after New Zealand had withdrawn their men’s team, citing similar concerns.”We are looking forward to returning to Pakistan and playing these seven T20Is as the team builds up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, said. “We have been liaising closely with the PCB over arrangements for this visit and the Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, British High Commission and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours.”We would like to thank the PCB and the city authorities for all their ongoing assistance with planning for the tours, including hosting the recent pre-tour planning visit by ECB representatives and the PCA CEO.”

Liverpool supporters have been frustrated by Manchester City’s sharp efficiency this month. The four-in-a-row champions have acted incisively to address glaring concerns within Pep Guardiola’s squad while latterly tying Erling Haaland down to an extraordinary new contract, valid until 2034.

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been free to discuss pre-contract agreements with suitors overseas since the turn of the new year, while discontent grows around a supposed dearth of depth across the backline.

It’s hardly all doom and gloom. Arne Slot’s side perch atop the Premier League with a four-point lead over Arsenal, holding a game in hand at that.

Top of the Champions League group phase and still in both domestic cup competitions, the Reds are searching for silverware this season and have a talented and balanced squad that can achieve the lofty goals.

However, City’s recent action serves as a reminder to FSG and Richard Hughes that they need to ramp up the gas, lest this wonderful position flakes away over the business months of the campaign.

Andy Robertson, for one, needs replacing.

Why Liverpool need to replace Andy Robertson

A tremendous player, one of Liverpool’s finest since his smart £10m signing in 2017, leaving Hull City, Robertson has enjoyed a successful career as one of Europe’s superlative left-backs.

He’s still only 30, but the Scotland skipper is discernibly regressing in terms of athleticism, concentration and creativity, three staples of his skill set.

His understudy, Kostas Tsimikas, has a fine eye for a pass but is clearly unfavoured by Slot as the starting option, so Liverpool need to address this problem going forward. The Athletic’s James Pearce issued a pragmatic response on the matter, claiming that signing a new left-back is high on the to-do list but unlikely to be resolved this month given that there is existing depth.

Robertson, however, has consistently found himself at the scene of the crime this term and lacks the technicality and confidence that once established him as a world-beater.

Liverpool do have a successor in mind and may still push to complete a deal this month.

Liverpool's left-back search

As reported by Italian outlet Solo Lecce earlier this week, Liverpool have entered the race for Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

It’s understood that Liverpool’s admiration has grown with rapidity and that FSG chiefs have already prepared a €40m (£34m) offer for the Denmark international.

Dorgu, only 20, has impressed Liverpool scouts with his power and energy, also showing versatile traits that could see Slot will him into a shape of his choosing going forward.

What Patrick Dorgu would bring to Liverpool

Dorgu is one of Italian football’s brightest young talents, already chalking up 55 senior appearances for Lecce, scoring five goals, since earning his stripes in FC Nordsjælland’s academy in his homeland.

Currently plying his craft in Italy, Dorgu could prove to be Slot’s own Salah signing, with the Egypt sensation joining Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool from Roma for a £34m fee in 2017, the same window as Robertson, and going on to score 232 goals and set up 105 more across 378 appearances, winning the full gamut of trophies (Europa League notwithstanding).

Dorgu has shown flashes of quality but could realise his full potential with Slot’s Liverpool project beginning to hit full swing, similar to Klopp’s side way back when, with Salah serving as the attacking catalyst and still carrying that burden to this day.

The rising star, after all, has already been hailed as an “elite team player” with “immense physicality” by one analyst, so there’s every reason for Liverpool fans to get excited, for he could become one of the finest defenders competing on English shores.

Right winger

10

3

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Left-back

5

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1

Left winger

4

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Right-back

3

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As you can see above, Dorgu is one of the most positionally flexible players in Serie A, and while he’s found comparative prolific success on the right wing, Lecce manager Marco Giampaolo, who was appointed in November, has moved him back into a more conventional left-back role.

This is positive, proving that Slot, one of Europe’s superior tactical minds, could sculpt Dorgu to his own design, though it’s probable that the young gun will continue to provide support across a range of roles, skirting away from being pigeonholed into one tightly-held category.

Anyway, as per FBref, Dorgu ranks among the top 9% of Serie A wingers this season for tackles, the top 7% for interceptions, the top 5% for clearances and the top 9% for aerial battles won per 90, illustrating the strong defensive application that stays with him even when fielded in offensive situations.

There is hope that an agreement will be struck and Liverpool will extend Salah’s stay on Merseyside. If this is to be the case, Slot is not going to need a first-class replacement just yet.

But in Dorgu, he could land his own Salah signing, killing two birds with one stone. The lively Dane may prove to be the perfect Robertson replacement going forward, but his proven success as a moonlighting right winger has made a convincing remark on the dynamism that is practically custom-made for Slot’s fluid system.

Better signing than Kvaratskhelia: Liverpool set to win race for £50m star

Liverpool are getting ready to make some improvements in the transfer market this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 16, 2025