Gearing up to do battle in the transfer market once again, Newcastle United have now reportedly joined a Premier League race to sign a Bundesliga talent.

Howe admits Newcastle "different" without Isak

It was another frustrating away draw for Newcastle on Sunday. This time, the Magpies were forced to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw against a stubborn Bournemouth side. It makes it just one win in five games for Eddie Howe’s side, who are still adjusting to life without star man Alexander Isak.

The good news for Newcastle is that there aren’t many sides in the Premier League without problems as of late. Only Liverpool, who sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League, have maintained a 100% record.

With new signing Yoane Wissa likely to be on his way back from injury after the international break too, Howe will be hoping to see his side find their feet sooner rather than later.

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In the meantime, PIF are still focusing on potential incomings away from the action. With 2026 presenting those at St James’ Park with a fresh opportunity to spend big, the Magpies have reportedly joined a Premier League race to sign another Bundesliga talent.

Newcastle join race to sign Brown

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. Joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United in the battle to welcome the German left-back, those in Tyneside should be desperate to finally get one over on their rivals in the transfer market.

Signing another young left-back would certainly make sense following the interest that came Tino Livramento’s way in the summer. Losing the Englishman would be a major blow for Howe, but welcoming Brown would instantly provide the Newcastle boss with a replacement.

Described as a “pacy, flying” left-back by analyst Ben Mattinson back in May, Brown is one to watch in the Bundesliga. Newcastle already dipped into the pool of young German talent to welcome Nick Woltemade in the summer and could do so again to welcome a defensive talent.

Celtic are back in European action again this evening as they prepare to take on Red Star Belgrade away from Parkhead in the Europa League.

The Hoops are not in the European competition that they were aiming to compete in because they were beaten by Kairat on penalties to knock them out of the Champions League.

The drop down to the Europa League does, though, provide the Scottish Premiership champions with a greater chance of progressing to the latter stages and, potentially, winning the entire thing.

Rangers, of course, reached the final of the competition and only lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, which shows that it is possible for a Scottish team to make it that far.

The Hoops come into this match off the back of a dominant and convincing 4-0 win over Championship side Partick Thistle in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Sunday.

Red Star Belgrade are likely to provide a much greater test for the Scottish giants this evening, though, as they have some danger men at the top end of the pitch.

The Red Star Belgrade player that Celtic need to stop

The Serbian outfit have a player who will be familiar to anyone who has followed European or English football over the last decade, Marko Arnautovic.

Red Star Belgrade’s versatile attacker turned 36 earlier this year, but he is still a force to be reckoned with, particularly for Celtic ahead of this evening’s clash.

The Austrian star joined the club on a free transfer from Inter in the summer transfer window. That came after the striker scored 14 goals in 65 matches for the Italian giants, per Transfermarkt.

The goal from Arnautovic for Inter in the clip above from earlier this year shows that the Austria international still has the quality to produce big moments in matches, despite his age.

He has delivered one goal and three assists in three league games for Red Star Belgrade this season, per Transfermarkt, which also shows that the attacker has hit the ground running with his new club.

Premier League

184

43 + 33

Serie A

102

33 + 7

Bundesliga

72

14 + 11

Eredivisie

44

12 + 9

As you can see in the table above, Arnautovic has provided plenty of goals and assists throughout his career in several major leagues across Europe: in England, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The former Stoke City and West Ham star has also scored 41 goals and grabbed 30 assists in 127 caps for Austria to date, showing that he can thrive on the international stage as well as at club level.

All of these statistics suggest that the 36-year-old centre-forward is the big danger man for Red Star Belgrade. He is the player that the Hoops need to silence if they want to come away with any points from their Europa League clash this evening.

With this in mind, Brendan Rodgers must ensure that he picks a team that can handle the Austrian striker and silence him throughout the match tonight.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Northern Irish head coach must, now, be incredibly bold and ruthlessly ditch Liam Scales from the starting line-up to bring 22-year-old centre-back Dane Murray into the side to silence Red Star Belgrade’s key player.

Why Dane Murray could silence Marko Arnautovic

Firstly, dropping Scales from the team would be a big decision for the manager because the Ireland international has started all five matches in the Scottish Premiership and started both of the Champions League qualifying games.

However, despite scoring, the left-footed central defender looked shaky defensively against Championship side Patrick Thistle on Sunday, as former Hoops man Tony Watt got the drop on him several times.

Some of his performances in the Champions League last season also left a bit to be desired. He lost three of his four ground duels in a 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund and lost one of his three ground duels in a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, per Sofascore.

As you can see in the highlights above, Scales was caught out by the quick feet of Morgan Rogers for the second goal and was out of position and left Auston Trusty with two players to mark for the third goal.

Therefore, there may be a concern that Arnautovic’s quality and experience could cause problems for the Irish defender, who seems to struggle against top-quality opponents who shift the ball quickly and have clever movement.

This is why Dane Murray may be better equipped to silence the Austria international, because he has the physicality and pace to deal with tricky centre-forwards.

Speaking about the 22-year-old star earlier this year, Rodgers said: “A really talented young player, [he] had a challenging time with injury. He’s 6 foot 4, good pace, and can play.”

Minutes

90

45

Goals conceded

0

0

Clearances

7

2

Interceptions

1

0

Tackles

3

1

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Duels won

8/13

2/2

Pass accuracy

89%

98%

As you can see in the table above, Murray impressed in his last two appearances for the first-team in August, dominating opposition forwards in physical duels and helping the Hoops to two clean sheets in the process.

He has the physicality to dominate opposition players in duels and the pace to prevent forwards from dribbling past him, which makes the Scottish ace a difficult centre-back for strikers to play against.

Murray, of course, also scored a goal in the cup win over Falkirk earlier this season. This shows that he can also offer a threat at the other end of the pitch from set-pieces.

Overall, the Scottish defender’s physicality in duels and mobility to prevent players from getting the better of him with their speed could make him the ideal man to step in and silence Arnautovic ahead of Scales, who struggled against the better forwards in Europe last season.

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It is now down to Rodgers to be bold and unleash the rarely-seen central defender alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers for this match this evening.

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.

Travishek finally clicked this season and effortlessly chased down 246 in Hyderabad

Shashank Kishore12-Apr-20251:54

Jaffer: Abhishek has given SRH a new lease of life

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ended a four-match losing streak in style by pulling off the second-highest run chase in IPL history, roaring past the 245 of Punjab Kings (PBKS), the team that holds the record. The win was made possible by Travishek, the opening duo finally clicking this season.On a Hyderabad pitch back to its batting-friendly best after last week’s turner against Gujarat Titans (GT), Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head capitalised, punishing PBKS with the season’s highest partnership – 171 in just 12.2 overs – after Abhishek rode his luck, surviving two missed chances.Related

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Stats – Abhishek Sharma smashes the highest IPL score by an Indian

Abhishek, previously without a six this season, smashed six on his way to a 40-ball century that floored PBKS. He then added a few more after celebrating his landmark with a note: “This one is for the Orange Army.”Abhishek’s maiden IPL century – the highest score by an Indian in the tournament – stole the spotlight, but Harshal Patel’s 4 for 42 was just as crucial, as it helped cut PBKS short by at least 20 runs from what they seemed set to score. It was only their second loss of the season, made worse by an injury to key pacer Lockie Ferguson.The Travishek showComing off scores of 18, 2, 1 and 6, Abhishek hit the ground running with three consecutive fours off Marco Jansen in the second over of the chase. Head followed suit by giving similar treatment to Arshdeep Singh, peppering different pockets of the ground.Abhishek got a lifeline on 28 when Yash Thakur, who came on as an Impact Sub for Nehal Wadhera, had him slice a catch to deep point but was found to have overstepped. Abhishek capitalised on the free-hit with his first six of the season, sparking the explosion.2:33

Chawla: Not the Chahal we’re used to seeing

PBKS’s woes deepened when Ferguson walked off clutching his hip two balls into his spell, and when Yuzvendra Chahal dropped Abhishek off his own bowling on 57, the wheels truly came off. Abhishek punished him with a six next ball, as SRH stormed to 100 by the eighth over.Having watched the carnage from the other end, Head pummeled Glenn Maxwell for back-to-back sixes as SRH were halfway to their target inside the ninth over. The carnage led to full-blown Australian-style tension when Maxwell let go a verbal volley at Head, with Marcus Stoinis playing mediator.Abhishek mayhemAmong all the big sixes Abhishek hit, a strong bottom-handed helicopter shot off former team-mate Jansen stood out. This six off an attempted yorker was a follow-up to a short ball on the body which Abhishek managed to hit over deep square. He ended the over with back-to-back fours, ridiculously scooping and picking off length balls behind the wicketkeeper.By the time PBKS had a wicket, when Chahal had Head holing out to Maxwell at long-on, the muted celebrations told the story of a team that had already been deflated. Abhishek raised his century four balls later as the Orange Army stood up and applauded.1:31

Jaffer: ‘Shami struggles when he doesn’t nail his yorkers’

Abhishek would hit five more sixes after bringing up his century, and when he fell in the 17th over to good friend and Punjab team-mate Arshdeep, there was widespread applause from both the crowd and the opponents.Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan then saw off the chase with nine balls to spare.Arya and Shreyas lead PBKS chargeA 36-ball 82 from Shreyas Iyer and an early turbo-charge from Priyansh Arya that helped raise the joint-fastest half-century of the season helped set up the game.PBKS threatened to blaze past 250 halfway into the innings, but then appeared to fall well short of that mark as Harshal picked up the big wickets of Shreyas and Maxwell in a gun 18th over – he finished with 4 for 42.Then Stoinis, who hadn’t made much of an impact with the bat till this game, got stuck into Mohammed Shami, hitting him for four consecutive sixes in the final over that went for 27 as PBKS finished with 245 for 6. Shami’s figures read a forgettable 4-0-75-0.1:22

‘Shreyas not doing anything fancy, he just sticks to his strengths’

Harshal’s impactGenerally used at the death, Harshal was brought on early to try and stem the run flow, and he delivered in his very first over, the fourth, when he had Arya hack an offcutter to Nitish Kumar Reddy at mid-on.But his real impact was in the last six overs. Coming on for his third, in the 15th, he foxed the dangerous Shashank Singh with an offcutter that trapped him lbw in a nine-run over.Then, off the 18th, with PBKS looking for a lift-off, he had a struggling Maxwell bowled off a dipping slower ball as he attempted a reverse ramp, and then Shreyas two balls later when he took all the pace off to have him lob one to point in trying to hit the ball over the infield.In between Harshal’s heroics, Eshan Malinga, the Sri Lankan seamer, gave a good account of himself on debut to pick up two wickets.

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?

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INEOS are running out of patience.

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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.

Liverpool have signed world class players under Fenway Sports Group, led by John W. Henry.

FSG have been divisive owners among the Reds’ fanbase at times, but it is impossible to deny that they have overseen a great era of success at Anfield. While sometimes fairly accused of being too frugal, they have developed Anfield and the club’s training ground, while a refresh of the academy facility is expected to cost the investment group up to £20m in the coming years.

In the 2025 summer window, with the help of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, they broke Liverpool and British football’s transfer record twice, splashing out over £400m on new signings while keeping the right side of PSR thanks to clever sales like Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will become mainstays for the Reds for years, but they both have work to do to crack a storied list of great Liverpool signings under FSG.

10

Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister could easily end up higher on this list, depending on how long he stays at Liverpool for. He has been a wonderful addition since arriving from Brighton, and the fact that he cost just £35m makes him an unbelievable bargain.

The Argentine is a complete midfielder, combining technical brilliance, hard work and leadership, and at 26, there is still a lot more to come from him. He is a manager’s dream.

9

Jordan Henderson

Gini Wijnaldum can think himself unlucky to miss out, having been such a great signing from Newcastle United, but Jordan Henderson gets in over him on sheer longevity.

After a horrible start to life at Liverpool, Henderson grew into a fantastic leader and an underrated all-round footballer, spending 12 years at Anfield and captaining the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory.

He split opinion down the years, but his critics only got quieter the more he matured as a player, and he played a huge part in Liverpool’s success under Jurgen Klopp.

8

Fabinho

Liverpool were crying out for an elite No.6 to take them to the next level in 2018, and Fabinho proved to be the perfect addition in front of the defence.

Described as a “lighthouse” because of his ability to see everything going on around him, the Brazilian was a colossal figure at his peak, putting out fires and using the ball with both subtlety and effectiveness.

In the end, £43.7m proved to be a bargain, with the Reds crowned both European and English champions within two years of Fabinho arriving.

7

Luis Suarez

Sadly, Luis Suarez’s behaviour continues to tarnish his legacy, but there is no denying that he was a genius who FSG did superbly to bring in.

Liverpool needed a new hero when Fernando Torres departed for Chelsea in 2011 and Suarez came straight in and became the Reds’ new attacking star, enjoying three-and-a-half remarkable years at Anfield.

The Uruguayan so nearly inspired Brendan Rodgers’ side to title glory in 2013/14, producing one of the great individual seasons at Liverpool, and he departed for Barcelona with a tally of 82 goals in just 133 appearances. One of the Reds’ most talented players ever.

6

Andy Robertson

In terms of bargains, Andy Robertson could be FSG’s greatest as owners of Liverpool, considering he arrived for just £8m from Hull City in 2017.

While some were unsure if the Scot was good enough at the time, he has since grown into not only one of the Reds’ best-ever left-backs, but also one of the greatest in the history of the Premier League.

Solid defensively, effective going forward and a great leader, Robertson has racked up well over 300 appearances for Liverpool, and at 31, he continues to be an excellent squad player.

5

Roberto Firmino

There have been few more popular players at Liverpool over the past 20 years than Roberto Firmino, whose influence was almost unrivalled at his peak at Anfield.

The Brazilian almost redefined the false nine role during his time as a Reds player, combining flair, selflessness and tactical intelligence to perfection, proving to be the perfect foil for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Without Firmino, Liverpool would never have achieved the success they did with Klopp in charge – it’s fair to say he comfortably exceeded expectation levels when he joined from Hoffenheim. It was a transfer masterstroke by FSG.

4

Sadio Mane

It can almost be forgotten just how good Sadio Mane was for Liverpool, due to Salah often taking the limelight and the Senegalese sensation leaving in 2022.

Mane was an astonishing addition for the Reds, though, transforming the attack with his pace and end product from the moment he joined from Southampton in 2016, scoring a stunning solo effort away to Arsenal on his debut.

The Liverpool legend was arguably his side’s best player in the Premier League-winning 2019/20 season, which speaks volumes about his ability, and he finished his time at Anfield with 120 goals and 38 assists in 269 appearances.

3

Alisson

It is impossible to downplay the significance of Liverpool snapping up Alisson from Roma in the summer of 2018, at a time when Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius were floundering.

The Brazilian has been a colossal signing over the past seven years, consistently cementing his status as the world’s best goalkeeper and bailing out the Reds so many times. His greatest skill is making everything look effortless, when in fact, the job he is doing is a tough one.

Alisson is a once-in-a-generation ‘keeper, and by the time he hangs up his boots, he could be considered one of the best in history in his position.

2

Mohamed Salah

Remember when Salah was deemed to be a ‘one-season wonder’ and a ‘Chelsea reject’?

When the Egyptian King joined Liverpool in 2017, nobody could have predicted what would happen in the eight years that followed, with the 33-year-old now arguably one of the Reds’ three best players in history alongside Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard.

Salah has been nothing short of astonishing for the Reds, breaking too many records to mention and now sitting third in the club’s all-time scoring charts.

His consistency, dedication and winning mentality make him a true modern great of the game, and £36.9m was quite the piece of business by FSG.

1

Virgil van Dijk

Some may understandably have Salah as their No.1, but Virgil van Dijk’s influence is unmatched. When he arrived from Southampton £75m in January 2018, some laughed at the price tag, but he has been worth at least double that amount ever since.

The Dutchman is now making a strong claim to be one of the greatest centre-backs to ever play the game, with the 34-year-old so perfect in all facets of his game that he could have been created in a laboratory.

Strong, fast, an expert reader of the game, a great captain and a gifted technician, it will take a long time before we see another central defender at Van Dijk’s level. Becoming Liverpool captain has only added to his aura, and replacing him when he eventually retires or departs will be FSG’s greatest challenge yet.

FSG’s greatest Liverpool signings	Fee	Signed from
10. Alexis Mac Allister	£35m	Brighton
9. Jordan Henderson	£20m	Sunderland
8. Fabinho	£43.7m	Monaco
7. Luis Suarez	£22.7m	Ajax
6. Andy Robertson	£8m	Hull City
5. Roberto Firmino	£29m	Hoffenheim
4. Sadio Mane	£34m	Southampton
3. Alisson	£67m	Roma
2. Mohamed Salah	£36.9m	Roma
1. Virgil van Dijk	£75m	Southampton

Peshawar Zalmi needed to win of their next two games to set up what is likely a virtual quarterfinal with Lahore Qalandars. Fortunately for them, their task was about as straightforward as it gets. Beating Multan Sultans has not taken much of an effort for most sides this season, and they didn’t need to overexert. Ahmed Daniyal led a bowling effort which saw six bowlers among the wickets as the Sultans folded for 108, before Saim Ayub saw them cruise to victory with 7 overs to go.The Sultans had little to play for, but were playing in front of a home crowd as they chose to bat first. But Zalmi started sharply, and Sultans couldn’t break free early on in the Powerplay. Yasir Khan tried to lap Saim Ayub’s first ball, and never had the pace to clear fine leg, while an equally stuttering start from Mohammad Rizwan ended when Ahmed Daniyal caught him brilliantly at square leg.The tone of the game never really shifted. This wasn’t a contest of ups and downs, or even mild changes in momentum, so much as a steady, inexorable descent for Multan. Tayyab Tahir and Shai Hope put up a 26-run partnership, though the asking rate rarely threatened to exceed six, and it would only be followed by a somewhat predictable collapse.Tahir hooked one to Mitchell Owen at square leg for Daniyal’s first wicket before Ashton Turned was bowled round his legs by Maaz Sadaqat. Four wickets fell for six runs as the Sultans slumped to 66 for six, and it was only the odd slog from Shai Hope – and latterly Mohammad Hasnain – that helped the Sultans stumble past 100.There was little jeopardy in the chase, even if Owen holed out in the first over. Saim Ayub made sure of that when a pair of back-to-back sixes off Ubai kickstarted an over that conceded 22. There was brief consolation for Shahid Aziz after the Powerplay when he got one to tail in that cleaned up the Zalmi captain Babar Azam for another disappointing innings, and a slower ball which drew Ayub into holing out one run shy of a half-century, but they were a footnotes in a humbling defeat.Max Bryant, who has been involved only in a limited capacity this season, helped himself to a six and a four off Faisal Akram, before capitalising on Sultans dependably poor fielding when a chance was shelled at slip. The game would fittingly finish with a flourish from Bryant, the hapless Ubaid Shah tonked for three boundaries on the trot to seal a win that drives the Sultans further into the dirt. Zalmi’s hopes of remaining the only team never to miss out on a playoff spot remains alive.

The remainder of PSL 2025 has been postponed indefinitely. The PCB cited the “worsening of the situation” at the Pakistan-India border as the reason, saying the board had acted on advice from the Pakistan prime minister Shahbaz Sharif.The board said it had “sincere regard for the mental well-being of participating players and the sentiments of our foreign players, and we respect the concerns of their families who want to see them back home” and that was considered when making the decision.The development came less than 24 hours after the PCB had announced that the remaining eight games of the PSL would be played in the UAE, without specifying the dates or the venues, with the expectation that it would take about a week to resume.Overseas players as well as Pakistani players who currently hold visas to the UAE were scheduled to leave on Friday night, with the remaining visas being applied for over the weekend. That, however, has changed, and the teams have begun disbanding with immediate effect, with travel back home being arranged for foreign players.There is no word yet on when, or if, the remaining games will be played. The postponement came hours after the IPL was temporarily suspended owing to the tensions between the two countries.The PSL held an emergency meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, and involved the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi meeting with foreign players, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.”The PCB recognises the efforts and support of its partners, franchises, participating players, broadcasters, sponsors, and organisers in having ensured the smooth conduct of the tournament thus far, however; cricket while being a unifying force and a source of joy, must take a respectful pause…” the PCB statement said.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is under plenty of external pressure after a difficult start to his time in the dugout at Ibrox this season, with some noticeable booing and chanting at recent games.

The former Southampton boss has failed to win any of his four Scottish Premiership matches in charge of the Light Blues so far, and failed to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League, losing 9-1 to Club Brugge on aggregate.

There is still plenty of time left to see how things pan out, though, because he had 12 summer signings and it will take time to assess whether they were strong additions or not.

Summer transfer windows can make or break managers, as former Rangers head coach Michael Beale found out in the harshest way in 2023.

Michael Beale's worst Rangers deals

Beale signed eight players on permanent deals in the summer of 2023. Jack Butland is the only one of those eight players who started the club’s most recent game against Celtic.

Danilo was signed for £6m from Feyenoord and he has only scored nine goals in 39 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, missing 53 matches through injury in that time, per Transfermarkt.

Sam Lammers arrived from Atalanta for a fee of £3m in the same window. He scored two goals in 31 games for Rangers, per Transfermarkt, before being sold to FC Twente last year.

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What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

As well as making poor signings, Beale also allowed several quality players to leave the club that summer, including electric forward Ryan Kent.

Michael Beale had a howler with Ryan Kent

Despite working with the English winger as Steven Gerrard’s assistant in the past, Beale was unable to get the best out of the former Liverpool man at Ibrox as the head coach.

Kent played 22 times for the English tactician in all competitions in his last season in Glasgow, but only found the back of the net twice in that time, per Transfermarkt.

The left winger was once described as the “Mbappe of Scottish football” by Specs Gonzalez, whilst speaking on Sky Sports, but he was anything but Mbappe-esque under Beale.

Appearances

22

196

Goals

2

31

Games per goal

11

6.32

Assists

4

52

Games per assist

5.5

3.76

As you can see in the table above, Kent was far more prolific and creative throughout his Rangers career without Beale as his head coach, his output with and without him makes that very clear.

IbroxNoise noted at the time that the English forward’s decline under the former assistant manager was because the system being deployed meant that he had to play as a number ten rather than as a winger.

If asked to picture a Ryan Kent goal or assist for Rangers, most supporters would likely picture him on the left flank, cutting in or getting to the byline. The former being what happened in the clip above.

Beale’s wingerless system did him no favours and that was why it was not a surprise when the forward decided to let his contract run down in the summer of 2023, rather than committing his future to the club with his former Liverpool academy coach in charge.

This meant that Rangers lost Kent, a player once compared to Mbappe, for nothing that summer because their manager did not play a system that got the best out of him.

Instead, Beale played a system that attempted to accomodate the three central players he signed, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, and Lammers. Only one of those three players remains at Ibrox, Danilo, and he looks set to be a back-up to Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti this season.

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Therefore, Beale had a howler with Kent because he did not find a way to get the best out of a player who could have been a huge threat for his side down the left flank, given his return of goals and assists in his career at Rangers prior to the manager’s appointment.