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Ibrahima Konate was fiercely defended by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot amid his rising errors at the back as the Reds look to end their losing run. The French centre-back was shaky against Crystal Palace, gifting two gilt-edged chances in a disastrous first half and picking up a booking in the process. A similar story unfolded at Galatasaray on Tuesday, where his hesitant defending and loose touches under pressure left fans biting their nails.

Konate's rough patch

Against Galatasaray, Konate's struggles were compounded by a costly pass that set Victor Osimhen free, forcing goalkeeper Alisson Becker into a desperate sprint. The Brazilian hurt his hamstring in the process and now faces an extended spell on the sidelines, adding to Liverpool’s mounting defensive headaches.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNot at ease with the ball at his feet

Konate’s acknowledged weakness on the ball has long been an area of concern. While the Reds continue to work on improving this aspect of his game, the spotlight is firmly on the Frenchman as Liverpool try to halt a worrying slide. Even going forward, Konate has been frustrated. From corners in both matches, he sent headers wide that should have been hammered home.

Slot refuses to panic

"If you are losing a game of football, it doesn’t help if you lose the ball a few times very easily," Slot said at a press conference on Friday. "Ibou has been one of them, but definitely not the only one. Against Galatasaray, apart from the penalty, maybe they got three or four other moments, all from us losing simple balls without any pressure, which happened to him once in the Palace game and once against Galatasaray.

"If you lose there is so much focus on that moment and, all of a sudden, 90 minutes have been very poor. That’s not the way I analyse a game when I watch it back. I see what we did well and what we did wrong. In the last two games, it has been obvious and clear we have made a few errors, not only him, but also others we are not used to. If you do things that people are not used to then normally the manager gets criticised."

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AFPWorrying record for Slot

Liverpool's record this season tells a worrying story: only two clean sheets in ten games and four in 21 since a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain back in March. Contrast that with four clean sheets in the first six games of last term, and it’s clear Liverpool’s defensive issues run deeper than any one player. It remains to be seen if Slot chooses to stick to Konate against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge or tries out Joe Gomez. 

ESPNcricinfo has learned that it was Goa Cricket Association which approached the India opener

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Apr-2025Yashasvi Jaiswal has switched states and will move from Mumbai to Goa for the 2025-26 domestic season. It is learned that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) found it “surprising” when Jaiswal wrote to them about the transfer but issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) immediately.Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Shambu Desai confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that it was GCA which approached the India opener, who is counted among the best players in both international cricket as well as IPL where he plays for Rajasthan Royals. “We are developing a good squad for Goa and want to get the best talent available and hence we approached him (Jaiswal) recently,” Desai said.Jaiswal, 23, has represented Mumbai since his Under-19 days and is one of the most sought-after players from the younger crop. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2019 and has since played ten first-class games for them, scoring 863 runs at an impressive average of 53.93, which includes four centuries, two fifties and a highest score of 181 against Uttar Pradesh in 2022.In the 2021-22 season, he had smashed hundreds in three successive innings in Mumbai’s run to the final, where they lost to Madhya Pradesh. He has also scored 1296 runs across 25 List A games for Mumbai at an average of 58.90, along with 648 runs in 28 T20s at a strike rate of 136.42.Jaiswal last played for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season where he managed scores of 4 and 26. He was due to play in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha in February, but was ruled out after injuring his right ankle during training ahead of the game. Jaiswal follows in the footsteps of Siddesh Lad and Arjun Tendulkar, both of whom made a switch from Mumbai to Goa during their careers.Jaiswal made his India debut in July 2023 against West Indies where he thrashed 171 in his maiden innings and also added 209 against England the following year. While Jaiswal is a regular feature in India’s Test and T20I squads, he has only played a solitary ODI so far. More recently, he was excluded from India’s Champions Trophy squad but was part of the list of non-travelling substitutes.The 23-year-old is currently playing in the IPL where he is part of the RR side. He’s had a tough start to the tournament managing scores of 1, 29 and 4 in the three innings. RR next play Punjab Kings in an away fixture in Mullanpur on April 5.Goa won the Ranji Trophy Plate League in 2024-25, topping the table with five wins out of five, and beating Nagaland in the final.

Olivier Giroud has revealed that he plans to retire at Lille, calling the French club "most certainly" the last he will play for. The 39-year-old striker, France’s all-time top scorer, returned to Ligue 1 in the summer after a stint in MLS. Despite Lille’s inconsistent form, Giroud remains focused on finishing strong in what could be the final chapter of his storied career.

Giroud ready to hang up his boots at Lille

The 2018 World Cup winner has hinted that his ongoing season with Lille will mark the end of a journey spanning nearly two decades at the top level. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan forward, who returned to France after a spell at LAFC in the United States, has already scored three goals in eight appearances, showing that he remains a valuable asset in Ligue 1.

AdvertisementAFPGiroud on retirement plans: 'Most certainly my last club'

The 39-year-old, who turns 40 in 2026, discussed his future plans during an appearance on RMC’s , confirming that his time with Les Dogues will likely be his farewell to professional football. 

Reflecting on his current campaign and what lies ahead, Giroud kept things straightforward and said: “I’m focusing on this year, making sure it goes well and we’ll take stock at the end.”

When asked if Lille could be his last club, the veteran striker didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely,” he replied, before adding: “Most certainly.”

From Montpellier to Milan: A decorated career comes full circle

Giroud's journey is one of late bloom and lasting excellence. After humble beginnings at Grenoble, Istres and Tours, his breakout season at Montpellier saw him win the Ligue 1 title and Golden Boot in 2012. That success paved the way for stints in England and Italy, where he lifted major honours with Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan.

His brief spell at Los Angeles FC in MLS was less impressive statistically, producing five goals and three assists in 37 appearances. However, he did help the side to a U.S. Open Cup triumph and a Club World Cup appearance. Now back in France, his experience has been invaluable to a youthful Lille side adjusting after Jonathan David’s departure.

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AFPLille’s struggles and Giroud’s final test

Despite Giroud’s steady form, Lille have endured a mixed start to their campaign. Bruno Genesio men sit seventh in Ligue 1 after a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain and back-to-back defeats to Lyon and Lens, though their Europa League win over Roma offered a glimpse of their potential.

As Les Dogues push for European qualification, Giroud will aim to lead by example one final time ending his storied career where it all began, in front of French fans who have followed his rise from Montpellier to Milan and now, back home to Lille.

After a summer of perhaps foolish optimism, any such positives have been hard to find for Manchester United in the early weeks of 2025/26, amid what has been the club’s worst start to a Premier League season since the inaugural campaign in 1992.

One notable ray of light has been the displays of summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo, however, with the Cameroonian – signed from Brentford on an initial £65m deal – having scored twice in five games, while denied a third by the sprawling Gianluigi Donnarumma last time out.

There is evidence to suggest that the Red Devils shouldn’t get too carried away by such a promising start. Indeed, £86m flop Antony scored in his first three league outings for the club. Dan James, meanwhile, netted three times in just his first four top-flight games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

That said, the silk and speed of Mbeumo is difficult not to be heartened by, with both he and fellow new arrival Matheus Cunha seemingly relishing their new status in Manchester, rather than being burdened by it.

The question remains as to whether Mbeumo and co now have the right manager to get the best out of them, with talk rife over the future of Ruben Amorim.

When previous post-Fergie managers were sacked

There are mixed reports over whether Amorim is actually under real pressure or not, with recent claims suggesting that he retains the backing of the board. Other reports, however, have claimed that he could have just three games left to save himself, with Chelsea, Sunderland and Brentford to come before the next international break.

Should a change occur by the time that October hiatus comes around, it would make the Portuguese coach the manager to have been sacked the quickest into a new season in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, even ahead of his predecessor Erik ten Hag.

In the case of the Dutchman, a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United – which included a glaring Diogo Dalot miss and a controversial late penalty for the Hammers – spelt the end for his turbulent Old Trafford reign, with the ex-Ajax boss relieved of his duties on 28 October.

The permanent manager that Ten Hag had replaced – Solskjaer – was given his marching orders on 21 November 2021, with a 4-1 defeat away to Watford sparking what appeared an inevitable exit, in the wake of prior defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Norwegian had himself been parachuted in mid-season three years earlier, with Jose Mourinho dismissed in December 2018, a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool proving the final nail in the coffin.

As for Louis van Gaal, the enigmatic veteran did at least see out the season before his 2016 dismissal, albeit with news of his departure unfortunately filtering through as he celebrated his FA Cup triumph on the Wembley turf.

David Moyes – the man to endure the briefest permanent tenure to date – lasted just ten months into his six-year deal, prior to being given the boot in April 2014.

Erik ten Hag

28 Oct 2024

West Ham 3-1 Man Utd

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

21 Nov 2021

Watford 4-1 Man Utd

Jose Mourinho

18 Dec 2018

Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd

Louis van Gaal

23 May 2016

Man Utd 2-1 Palace

David Moyes

22 April 2014

Everton 2-0 Man Utd

Amorim could well be the next victim of such ruthlessness, with a potential replacement already being lined up…

Why Andoni Iraola could be a perfect Amorim replacement

According to reports relayed by Caught Offside, among the leading candidates to replace the former Sporting CP man in Manchester is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with tension in the Old Trafford boardroom said to have reached “boiling point”.

The report claims that there is a potential plan in place to carry out an “international reset” in the next break, should results not drastically improve, with Iraola among the top targets being lined up amid his fine work on the south coast. This comes amid reports that Sir Gareth Southgate may also be in the mix.

In an era of managerial excuses and complaints, the Spaniard has set himself apart by simply cracking on with things at the Vitality Stadium, be it despite a raft of injuries last term, or numerous key exits this summer.

Indeed, the Basque-born tactician has thus far guided the Cherries to fourth in the table in 2025/26, despite having lost four members of last season’s back five, including Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi.

The only defeat thus far came on the opening night away at Anfield, although with the expensively assembled hosts needing two late goals to see off their spirited visitors and the lively Antoine Semenyo in that 4-2 thriller.

Iraola – who has overseen respectable 12th and ninth-place finishes in the Premier League – has been particularly key in taking that man Semenyo to a whole new level, registering 36 goals and assists in 83 games under Gary O’Neil’s successor, as per Transfermarkt.

That includes three goals and two assists already this season, with the Ghanaian thriving as part of a relentless and dynamic front line. Such an approach appears tailor-made to get the best out of Mbeumo, with the pair deemed to be statistically and stylistically similar players among those in their position in Europe, as per FBref.

Like Semenyo, the United man is an adept goalscorer and creator, while mirroring his Bournemouth counterpart in being able to operate off the right flank or centrally.

That ability was evident last term, with Mbeumo racking up 27 goals and assists in the league, while creating 17 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Semenyo, for context, registered 17 goals and assists of his own, while creating 11 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.2 key passes under Iraola’s watch.

For the ex-Bristol City man to have flourished with the in-demand coach at the helm, just imagine the heights that Mbeumo could reach in such a front-foot, aggressive attacking set-up.

He is an “incredible” manager, as lauded by Pep Guardiola, with it likely to be intriguing to see if the 43-year-old could translate such success at United.

He’s young, Premier League proven and with a knack for getting results despite the circumstances and chaos surrounding him – sounds perfect, right?

Time running out: 5 ways that Ruben Amorim can save his job at Man Utd

INEOS are running out of patience.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 17, 2025

The Karachi Kings captain was disappointed with his batters’ lack of intent during their chase against Quetta Gladiators

Danyal Rasool25-Apr-2025Karachi Kings captain David Warner has criticised his side for “handing the opposition the game” after Quetta Gladiators came back to seal victory from a position of near-certain defeat. In pursuit of 143, the Kings sat pretty at 77 for 1 in the ninth over before a spectacular collapse saw them slump to 115 for 8 in the 18th. There was little by way of attacking intent from any player once opener Tim Seifert, who had flown out of the blocks and struck an authoritative 47 off 26 balls, fell in the 12th over to Mohammad Wasim.This lack of intent disappointed Warner the most. “Tonight just wasn’t good enough,” he said in an interview immediately after the game, which Karachi lost by five runs. “I don’t mind losing if you’re fighting but handing the opposition the game is just not acceptable. We didn’t take any positive approaches there. When you lose 4 for 11 in 6 or 7 overs [5 for 14 in 4.4 overs], you’re not going to win too many games if you’re not applying pressure. I don’t think they bowled particularly well in that area, I think we just were a little bit complacent and we lost wickets in clumps.”Related

Gladiators bowlers turn tables on Kings to defend 142

It has been a stuttering campaign for the Kings, who brought Warner in as their marquee signing and appointed him captain. The Kings are looking to revert a slide that has seen them eliminated before reaching the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. There have been improvements this season with the Kings squarely within the playoffs places, but they have alternated wins and losses with three of each in their first six games.Part of that has been down to a bowling attack that has occasionally been exceptionally effective, as it was at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. “We will look at the positives with our bowling unit,” Warner said. “They’ve been exceptional last few games and couldn’t be any prouder of the way that they’ve executed, especially in the powerplay.”I thought the wicket was fantastic. I don’t think 142 and 137 [reflects] the wicket at all. I think it’s a 170-180 wicket. To bowl them out for 142 was exceptional.”Warner called on his team to replicate what he feels they have done across the tournament so far, even in games they have come up short in. “It’s about assessing what we are doing well,” he said. “Batting-wise, it’s simple in that we weren’t positive. The last few games when we’ve won games, we’ve been very, very positive. Even when we’ve lost, we’ve been positive, so we need to look at where we’re missing the mark a little bit.”Karachi Kings now have four days off before they play again on May 1, against Multan Sultans, who are currently bottom of the table with one win and four losses.

After losing three of his first six Premier League games in charge of Manchester United this season, it’s no surprise that pressure is once again starting to mount on manager Ruben Amorim.

The 40-year-old could only lead the Red Devils to a 15th-place finish last time around, but he was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins midway through the campaign.

However, the hierarchy backed him with over £200m worth of funds to strengthen his first-team squad, but so far, it appears that his attempts have been to no avail.

Questions have since started to be asked about his long-term future in the role, but it’s thought that the hierarchy aren’t yet planning a change of manager despite the recent poor form.

Despite such reports, rumours continue to swirl around Old Trafford, with numerous names constantly touted over a potential switch to take the reins in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement

Over the last couple of days, former England boss Gareth Southgate has been hugely linked with the role at United – not for the first time, after being touted for the position numerous times in recent years.

The 55-year-old would be a cheap option for the hierarchy, with no compensation fee needing to be paid, given he’s currently without a job after departing the Three Lions role in July last year.

However, he’s not the only manager currently in their sights, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner another huge target, according to Graeme Bailey.

The journalist confirmed in recent days that the Eagles are planning to tie the Austrian down to a new contract, but the Red Devils are looking to swoop and secure his services.

He also stated that the 51-year-old could be open to the switch after receiving a lack of funding at Selhurst Park, with the move to Old Trafford undoubtedly a huge jump in his managerial career.

Why United’s latest target would be the next Mourinho

José Mourinho was a manager who divided opinion during his time at United, but his ability to win trophies is something which simply can’t be understated.

The 62-year-old spent two and a half years in the role at Old Trafford, securing two trophies in the form of the Europa League and the EFL Cup – with both trophies coming in the 2016/17 campaign.

He also led the club to their joint-highest league standing since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, ending the 2017/18 season in 2nd place behind Manchester City.

His outspoken nature often drew discontent from the fanbase, subsequently leading to his departure from the Red Devils back in December 2018.

However, the hierarchy could appoint their next version of the manager should they appoint Glasner, with the Austrian possessing a lot of similarities to Mourinho.

In a surprising turn of events in 2024/25, the 51-year-old claimed the FA Cup by beating Manchester City in the final to secure their first-ever major trophy.

He also won the Community Shield against Liverpool back in August, matching the feat achieved by Mourinho at Chelsea before his own move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Games managed

57

Wins

23

Draws

20

Losses

14

Goals scored

88

Goals conceded

68

Points won

89

Points per game

1.6

Win percentage

40.3%

Glasner, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has also led the Eagles to an 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions – the longest of any side in England’s top-flight.

In his 72 outings in charge of the Eagles, he’s claimed victory in 35 of them, whilst only losing 15 times – further highlighting how impressive he’s been at Selhurst Park.

Such a record has seen him lose six fewer games than Amorim at United, that’s despite taking charge of 23 more outings than the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.

It remains unclear if Glasner himself would be open to making the move to Manchester, but it’s clear that the Austrian would be an unbelievable appointment should Amorim depart.

Given the failures felt since the current boss took charge nearly 12 months ago, it’s crucial that the board make a huge call on his future in the coming weeks, but the appointment is just as important, with Glasner needing to be the number one target.

Amorim upgrade: "Best coach in the PL" would now "love" to manage Man Utd

Manchester United may look to one manager to replace Ruben Amorim in the near future.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 2, 2025

Former England allrounder strikes 54 and takes 3 for 42 on Headingley return

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-May-2025Northamptonshire 237 for 4 (Broad 67, Willey 54) beat Yorkshire 224 for 9 (Wharton 58, Sutherland 58, Willey 3-42) by 13 runsCaptain David Willey haunted his former side as Northamptonshire’s captain starred with bat and then ball in a remarkable opening night Vitality Blast win for the Steelbacks, by 13 runs, against Yorkshire at Headingley.Willey led Yorkshire’s T20 side before returning home in 2022. Here, he smashed six sixes in 54 off 24 balls in a mammoth 237 for 4 total – his county’s highest ever in this format.Justin Broad top-scored with a career best 67 off 32 balls, the pair sharing a third-wicket stand of 85 inside six overs during the second half of the innings.Last year’s quarter-finalists then reduced Yorkshire’s chase to nine for three inside five balls, Willey striking twice with his left-arm pace en-route to 3 for 42. But runs kept coming as Yorkshire recovered to finish with 224 for 9.James Wharton and Australian overseas all-rounder Will Sutherland hit 58 apiece, the latter hitting four of his six sixes in one over. He faced 30 balls.Ricardo Vasconcelos shared an opening 73 inside six overs with South African Matthew Breetzke after the Steelbacks had been inserted.The latter contributed 36 with three sixes – one of which was pulled out of the ground over backward square-leg against under-fire New Zealand quick Will O’Rourke.Off-spinner Dom Bess bowled Breetzke in his first over, but the Steelbacks maintained the momentum through more measured Vasconcelos and Broad, who took the score to 105 for 1 after 10 overs on a batting paradise of a pitch.Bess struck again to bowl Vasconcelos for 48 – 116 for 2 in the 12th – but that brought Willey in. He reached his fifty off 20 balls after Broad’s had come up in 23. The former was brutal in favouring the leg-side.Broad, particularly strong against spin in his 20th career appearance, hit five of 17 sixes in an innings which saw debutant O’Rourke return figures of nought for 67 from four overs. Yorkshire’s hopes of reeling in what would have been their highest successful run chase in Blast history were then hurt badly inside five balls.New captain Dawid Malan hoisted Willey out to deep midwicket before Will Luxton edged the next ball to slip. A wide ball followed before Adam Lyth was run out at the striker’s end coming back for three to deep midwicket, leaving Yorkshire nine for three.Northamptonshire had taken three wickets in three legal deliveries. But fourth-wicket pair Harry Duke, batting for the first time in his sixth T20 appearance, and Wharton then threatened a revival with a scintillating 81-run partnership inside six overs.Duke hit four sixes in an 18-ball 37 before being bowled sweeping at Australian leg-spinner Lloyd Pope’s third ball. Wharton continued on and reached 50 off 27 balls before playing on pulling at Willey, leaving Yorkshire 141 for 5 in the 12th over.Sutherland then clattered compatriot Liam Guthrie – nought for 68 from three overs – for four sixes in the 13th to reach 50 off 26 balls before falling caught at long-off against Pope in the next – 174 for six.Yorkshire continued to hang tough, taking the target to 30 off the last two overs and 22 off the last. But George Scrimshaw got his side over the line. Just.

Danny Murphy, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has explained why any £57 million ($76m) transfer involving Harry Kane would be a “big risk” and a “downgrade” for the England captain if he were to head back to Tottenham. After lifting his trophy curse with Bayern Munich, the former Spurs striker is seeing a return to his homeland in the summer of 2026 speculated on.

Kane clause: Why transfer could happen in 2026

That is because there are clauses in Kane’s contract that can be triggered in upcoming windows. It is claimed that if the 32-year-old frontman were to inform Bayern in January of his desire to move on, then a deal could be done a matter of months later. The terms of said transfer package are already in place.

It has been suggested that teams in the Premier League could look at bringing Kane home – allowing him to chase down Alan Shearer’s all-time goal record in that division. Spurs have the option to match any bid made for their leading scorer, having reluctantly agreed to part with a home-grown superstar in 2023.

Kane has achieved what he set out to when bidding farewell to north London, with his silverware duck being broken when landing the Bundesliga title last season. He has also passed 100 goals for Bayern and stated how Spurs will forever hold a special place in his heart.

AdvertisementGettyHow likely is Kane return? Doubts cast over Spurs switch

Murphy, though, is not convinced that Kane will be retracing steps to familiar surroundings. The former Tottenham midfielder, speaking in association with online casino BetWright, told GOAL when asked if the odds of such a switch being agreed stand at 50/50: “I would think much less. Harry Kane is succeeding where he is at the moment – more than succeeding, he’s flying and scoring a lot of goals. He’s in a team where he thinks he can compete for the Champions League. He’s won his first league title, first trophy.

“There is always the family factor. We can never know about how that is. I remember Michael Owen being in Spain and a year in just wanting to come home with the family. We don’t know that side of Kane’s life. But from a football perspective, to go back to Tottenham, there is only one reason he would go back there and that’s because of the fact that the fans love him. In terms of football reasons, it would be to try and break Alan Shearer’s record.

“The way he is playing, if he wanted to leave Munich, I think he would have other options where he could go to another club and compete for the biggest honours on the planet – domestic titles and the Champions League. It sounds romantic going back to Tottenham but the reality is that while they are improving – I’m a big fan of Thomas Frank – he’d be going there to win a League Cup or an FA Cup. It’s a downgrade. He would be downgrading. His level of performance at the moment, he doesn’t need to.”

Value for money: Questions of £57m fee

Despite Kane’s stunning record for Bayern, and with England, Murphy has cast doubt over whether the figures being discussed for Kane – who will turn 33 in July 2026 – represent value for money. He added: “I’m a bit different with that – £57m for a 33-year-old is not something I would want my club doing. I think you know you’re not going to get anything back for that so it’s just ‘there’s 57’ and you are hoping that somebody at 33 is physically able to carry on at the level he has shown for another two or three years.

“You don’t want to play 57 million for a season. I think that’s a big risk. He hasn’t always played full seasons in the Premier League, with the intensity of it, he has had some injury problems. Although he doesn’t rely on pace and I’m sure he can play for a few more years, I’m not sure there will be too many clubs willing to pay £57 million at 33.”

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GettyBayern centurion and World Cup qualification

Kane – who is under contract at the Allianz Arena through to 2027 – has hit 18 goals for Bayern this season through 10 appearances, with that haul including two-hat-tricks. He has 103 efforts in total for the German giants from 106 games. His record-setting tally with England has been taken to 76, with the most destructive of No.9s preparing to captain the Three Lions at next summer’s World Cup after seeing qualification for that tournament wrapped up.

There were a few positives to take away from the narrow win that Glasgow Rangers picked up on their travels in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.

The Light Blues won their first match of the league season, after four draws and one defeat in their first five matches, and Oliver Antman registered his first goal contribution in the league.

As shown in the clip above, the Finland international did well to hook the ball back into a dangerous area to set up James Tavernier for the opening goal against Livingston.

Unfortunately, goal contributions for Rangers forwards have been few and far between in the Premiership this season, as Russell Martin’s wide men have failed to deliver much in the way of quality.

How Rangers wingers have performed in the Premiership

Antman’s assist for Tavernier’s goal on Sunday was only the second goal contribution provided by a Rangers winger in six league games so far in the 2025/26 campaign, which is a damning indictment of how they have performed as a collective.

Djeidi Gassama

525

0 + 0

Oliver Antman

272

0 + 1

Mikey Moore

171

0 + 0

Nedim Bajrami

52

0 + 0

Findlay Curtis

35

1 + 0

Oscar Cortes

7

0 + 0

As you can see in the table above, Findlay Curtis, who scored against St Mirren, is the only other player who has delivered a goal or an assist from a wide position for the Gers this season.

Martin’s wide players have, to put it simply, not done enough in the final third in the Premiership, which will need to change if the Gers want to string more wins together to get their campaign back on track.

Whilst the wingers currently at the club are struggling in front of goal, a winger sent out on loan by Rangers is currently outperforming them all.

The Rangers loanee who is outperforming Oliver Antman

Ross McCausland was sent out on loan to Aris Limassol on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window, and the Northern Ireland international has impressed in Cyprus.

The Rangers academy graduate has delivered three goals and one assist in four league matches for Aris to date, which means that he has more goal contributions at league level (four) than every Gers winger combined (two) this season, per Sofascore.

McCausland, who scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 66 matches for Rangers (Transfermarkt), only started four times in the Premiership for the Ibrox giants in the 2024/25 campaign, including a game at right wing-back that saw him sent off against Aberdeen.

Looking back, the Gers may regret that he did not get more opportunities in his natural position, as a right winger, given what he has achieved in such a short time in Cyprus.

Journalist Scott McBurns has revealed that Aris are on course to trigger their obligation to sign him permanently in January, whilst adding that he is “attracting major European interest” because of his form for his loan club.

Rangers are set to receive a six-figure fee for the Northern Irish forward, which means that they will rake in less than a million for him. Whilst this is purely guesswork, the fact that there is “major European interest” in the attacker suggests that Aris could flip him for an instant profit in January or next summer.

This is why the Light Blues will regret ditching McCausland in the summer just gone, or at least for the less than £1m fee that they agreed with Aris, as he has gone on to outperform the current Rangers wingers and could move on to another European team next year.

Rangers star was "like the best of Zidane", now he's worse than Barron

This Rangers star who was once compared to Zinedine Zidane is now even worse than Connor Barron.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 30, 2025

The Northern Ireland international may not have set the world alight during his time in the first-team at Ibrox, but he is still currently looking like a better option than what Martin has at his disposal.

Ryan Babel has finally closed the chapter on his first Liverpool home, a property that witnessed footballing dreams, life lessons, and unforgettable chaos. In a recent social media post, Babel shared one of the wildest moments the house had witnessed, when Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe built a nightclub inside and forgot to pay rent during his spell at Everton.

Babel rented Liverpool home to Drenthe

Babel joined Liverpool in July 2007, transferring for around £11.5m. Over four seasons, he made 146 appearances and scored 22 goals, leaving fans with memorable strikes, including against Manchester United in 2008 and Marseille in the Champions League in the same year. Off the pitch, Babel bought his first home in Liverpool after leaving his parents. The house became a hub of memories, laughter, and lessons and, for a brief spell, chaos. Dutch teammate Drenthe, known for his controversial lifestyle, took over the property, but skipped rental payments during his Everton days in 2011-12 season, and even built a nightclub inside the house, earning the title “tenant from hell,” from Babel.

AdvertisementAFPBad boy Drenthe lived it up in Liverpool

The former Liverpool player opened up about the memories and chaotic times he spent at his Merseyside home. Babel further claims some events were so drastic in nature, it's hard to make such stuff up.

"This house holds so many memories…it was the first place I moved into after leaving my parents’ home, full of excitement, mistakes, and lessons. When I left Liverpool, I rented it out to a few tenants… one of them being my good old Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe. Let’s just say he gave “tenant from hell” a new meaning…he somehow forgot to pay rent during his Everton days and even decided to build a nightclub inside my house without permission. You can’t make this stuff up!," Babel said in a social media post.

He further added: "Still, I’ve always been proud to own this place…it’s in a prime spot, filled with memories, laughter, and a bit of chaos. The only reason I’m selling now is because of that interest-only adjustable-rate mortgage I was talked into back when I knew absolutely nothing about real estate. Lesson learned the hard way!"

Drenthe was a controversial figure both on and off the field throughout his career. Known for his immense talent, he was often overshadowed by his turbulent lifestyle marked by disciplinary issues, late arrivals to training, clashes with managers, and partying, including sneaking girls into the training centre’s jacuzzi late at night. His volatile behaviour led to strained relations with teammates and coaches alike, with David Moyes famously confronting him over his attitude. Drenthe's off-field antics also fuelled his "bad boy" reputation.

Babel's journey post Liverpool

After leaving Liverpool in January 2011, the Dutch forward joined Hoffenheim, making 46 appearances and scoring six goals, before returning to Ajax for the 2012–2013 season, playing 29 matches and scoring 11 goals while mentoring younger players. He then moved to Kasimpasa, becoming a key attacker with over 60 appearances and 17 goals, followed by a short stint at Al Ain in the UAE. Babel later played 13 matches for Spanish side Deportivo, scoring three goals, and then joined Besiktas, contributing 15 goals in over 50 matches and winning the Super Lig title in 2016–17. A brief spell at Fulham preceded his time at Galatasaray, where he scored more than 22 goals in 85 appearances and became a veteran presence.

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AFPLife after football for Babel

Babel retired from professional football in November 2024 at age 38. Post-retirement, he has shifted focus to business ventures, particularly real estate and cryptocurrency investments, reflecting the lessons learned from his Liverpool house and career travels. From Anfield goals to managing tenants like Drenthe, Babel’s journey proves that life off the pitch can be just as eventful as the one on it.