Liverpool are looking to complete the signing of an “incredible” player next year, potentially beating rivals Manchester United to his signature, among others.

Isak in Liverpool training ahead of debut

The Reds are back in Premier League action on Sunday action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Burnley in a game that many will expect to see the visitors win comfortably.

For Alexander Isak, it has the potential to be a special day, with the Swede in line to make his debut at some point, even if it is from the substitutes’ bench.

The 25-year-old took part in his first training session for Liverpool on Wednesday, with footage showing the elite finishing ability that he has in his locker, and why the Premier League champions were willing to pay Newcastle United a record-breaking £125m for his services.

Granted, Isak needs time to build up his match fitness, so as mentioned, Hugo Ekitike is likely to be preferred at Burnley this weekend, but a second-half cameo feels on the cards, in what is hopefully the first of many appearances in a Liverpool shirt.

Liverpool enter race to sign "incredible" ace

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now battling to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in 2026, whether that be in January or next summer.

Man Utd “face a fierce battle” with their biggest rivals, with FSG now entering the race, whereas Newcastle United and Chelsea are also mentioned as options for the £60m-rated England international.

Wharton is one of the most exciting young English players around currently, already becoming such an accomplished footballer at the age of just 21.

The Palace star is an elegant player with a lovely left foot, and he possesses the ability to both dictate play from a deep midfield role, but also shine out of possession, displaying good positional sense and a strong work ethic.

Wharton, who has won two of his three games against the Reds (66%), could be a brilliant squad addition for Liverpool, coming in as a replacement for Wataru Endo, before maturing into a key starter, having been lauded by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.

“Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”

"Huge money" – Liverpool eye 2026 move for "magician" after Isak and Wirtz

What a signing this could be.

By
Henry Jackson

Sep 9, 2025

There was a time when United were clearly the more exciting proposition than Liverpool, but that has changed significantly in the modern game, and the hope is that Wharton sees the champions as his best future option, picking them over the Red Devils and other suitors.

Pujara reckons Gill is best suited to staying in the top order, but wouldn’t rule out a move to No. 4

Yash Jha13-May-20252:08

Who will replace Kohli as India’s No. 4 in Tests?

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Tests poses an immediate question to India: who will be their next No. 4? And it’s a question that might need some time to be answered, in the opinion of Cheteshwar Pujara.”We will need a couple of series to figure out who is well suited to bat at No. 4, because it’s an important position,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo. “You need your best batter to bat at No. 4. And at this time, I think it’s still a spot where the team management will have to figure out who is the most suited player at No. 4.”It’s a dilemma India haven’t faced in over a decade – they have played 115 Tests since Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, and Kohli batted at No. 4 in 99 of them; Ajinkya Rahane – with nine such appearances – comes next. In the last series that Kohli missed entirely – the home Tests against England in early 2024 – India used as many as four batters at two-down: KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar (in two Tests) and Devdutt Padikkal.Related

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Pujara, who slotted in at No. 4 in seven Tests between 2015 and 2023, believes it might be prudent for India to “take some time” before settling in on a candidate. “There are a lot of players who are making their way into the playing XI, no one has a secured spot at this stage. It’s a process which will take some time.”India’s first assignment as they begin life after Kohli and Rohit Sharma is a five-match tour of England in June, which will also kickstart the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.”It’s still early days to make a call, but it will be important to see who performs well in England because someone who can perform well in England can have that No. 4 spot,” Pujara said.Shubman Gill is one of the options for the No. 4 position, Pujara said•Getty Images

Could Shubman Gill – who is also in line to take over the Test captaincy following Rohit’s retirement – be an option? “He [Gill] is an option, definitely. But he has been batting at No. 3,” he said. “Does he want to shift his spot? Does he want to bat at No. 4? We’ll have to see.”Shubman is someone who is more capable of playing the new balls. He has been opening the innings earlier, before he started batting at No. 3. He prefers to bat when the ball is slightly hard and new. Will he be able to manage with the old ball? That is a big question at this stage.”Gill is yet to bat outside the top three in 32 Tests since making his debut in December 2020. He spent most of his early days opening, before shifting down to No. 3 at the start of the previous WTC cycle in 2023. Pujara reckons Gill is best suited to staying in the top order, but wouldn’t rule out a move to No. 4.”Since he has batted well with the new ball, I would still say that he should be batting in [the] top three, which is his ideal position, which suits him well.”If he bats at No. 4 in England and if he can be successful at that position, then, yes, he can be a No. 4 for the Indian team.”

After a few years away, Chelsea are finally back in Champions League action tonight.

It won’t be an easy reintroduction to Europe’s premier competition, though, as Enzo Maresca’s Conference League winners will be taking on Bayern Munich.

The German champions are stacked with incredible players in every position, but the one the Blues have to be most wary of is undoubtedly Harry Kane.

The England captain has the ability to take games away from teams, although Chelsea have a superstar of their own, someone who could well outshine Kane.

Chelsea's record against Bayern Munich

Despite both Bayern and Chelsea being two of the biggest clubs in European football and consistently competing for the top prizes in recent decades, they’ve only played one another in five competitive games.

The first was back in the 2004/05 season, in which the Baverians travelled to West London for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, a game the hosts won 4-2, which was then followed by a 3-2 win for the German giants in the second leg.

However, the most famous meeting between the two institutions came just over 13 years ago, when Roberto Di Matteo’s side managed to beat the odds and claim their first Champions League title by beating Jupp Heynckes’ men 4-3 on penalties.

It was in that game that Didier Drogba scored his most famous goal for the Blues, and Petr Čech played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time.

Unfortunately, FC Hollywood have had the upper hand in the two games since that incredible final.

They demolished Frank Lampard’s side 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in February 2020, and then completed the job with a 4-1 win when the competition resumed that August after the first lockdown.

In all, while Bayern have won most of their encounters, Chelsea fans wouldn’t swap their records thanks to that famous night in Munich. Although with that said, Maresca will be looking to improve that record tonight, and so long as he starts the player who could upstage Kane, then there is every chance he will.

Chelsea star could outshine Kane

While they’ve received plenty of criticism for their transfer strategy over the years, Chelsea now have a team packed with brilliant players.

Chalkboard

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

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernández could get into most top teams around Europe, but without a doubt, the Blues’ best player is Cole Palmer.

The former Manchester City gem is the definition of a game-changer, and should he be on song against Bayern, there is every chance he could outshine Kane.

While the England captain is that bit more prolific a goalscorer, almost everything good the West Londoners do goes through their dazzling number ten, so much so that GOAL’s Sean Walsh once suggested that he is “Lampard, Drogba & Hazard all in one”, combining the best attributes of three Stamford Bridge legends.

Rather unsurprising, Chelsea’s fortunes changed for the better when he came on at the weekend, entering the fray on Saturday in the 56th minute and just five minutes later scoring the equalising goal for his side.

It was hardly a surprise, though, as in 99 appearances for the Pensioners, totalling 7984 minutes, the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Scott Bradley, has scored 44 goals and provided 29 assists.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 109.36 minutes, which is frankly absurd.

Appearances

99

Minutes

7984′

Goals

44

Assists

29

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

Minutes per Goal Involvements

109.36′

Moreover, he proved himself to be a big-game player at the Club World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against a heavily favoured Paris Saint-Germain.

Ultimately, while Bayern will be the favourites, Chelsea have every chance of coming away with all three points tomorrow night, especially if Palmer starts and is on song.

"It's on you" – Redknapp criticises £40m Chelsea star after Brentford draw

The Sky Sports presenter slammed one Chelsea player after the 2-2 draw against Brentford.

ByDominic Lund Sep 15, 2025

Everton host West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday evening, and David Moyes will look to take advantage after the beleaguered Irons sacked Graham Potter on Saturday.

It’s no secret that West Ham have endured a torrid start to the season, and in fact, have toiled ever since parting ways with Moyes at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The two sides sit at opposite ends of the Premier League scale right now, and while Everton are tenth, they find themselves with a glorious chance to return to the win column and put the frustrating Carabao Cup exit at Wolves behind them.

Moyes shuffled his pack for that midweek defeat, but by reinstating his side’s biggest stars, the Blues might just get the job done.

How Everton can beat West Ham

Everton have yet to taste defeat at their new home, and for that to change on Monday would be considered a big blow for a side looking to make headway after several years of imperilled fortunes.

But stranger things have happened, and West Ham will hope to use this transitional period to strike while expectations are low. However, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye returning to the starting line-up, Everton should have enough to breach a wobbly defence.

The Londoners’ xG allowed total of 7.6 is next-to-last in the standings right now, marginally behind pointless Wolves. This effectively means they have been poor in defence, shipping many chances and lacking the authority and coherence to repel danger.

Grealish must be excited to test himself against such rusted Iron, and Ndiaye too. But West Ham have weapons of their own, and the home side’s backline must have their wits about them.

Everton have enjoyed, by their standards, a fine start to the season, habitually slow to get into gear. And all this without their star defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who is now ready to return to the field.

Branthwaite has not yet kicked a ball at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but his form and fitness will yet shape the mood on the blue half of Merseyside over the coming months, and he will be crucial in silencing Hammers talisman Jarrod Bowen.

The return of Jarrad Branthwaite

Said to be “one of the best defenders” out there by journalist John Barlow, Branthwaite has settled comfortably into his standout role at Everton over the past few seasons.

And, for the second campaign in succession, he’s been absent throughout the early weeks. This proved detrimental for Sean Dyche’s system one year ago, but Moyes has staved off any threat of a relegation-battling term, having made some emphatic summer signings.

With the England star now fit again and in line to make his seasonal debut, the Blues might just shape into a force to be reckoned with, the backline reinforced and setting a rigid framework for the forwards ahead.

It might prove the missing piece of the puzzle to raise Everton’s game and rebuff a disorganised West Ham side.

Matches (starts)

35 (35)

30 (28)

Goals

3

0

Assists

0

1

Clean sheets

12

8

Touches*

52.2

51.9

Accurate passes*

31.4 (80%)

32.7 (83%)

Ball recoveries*

5.2

3.1

Tackles*

1.9

1.2

Interceptions*

1.4

0.9

Clearances*

4.5

6.3

Ground duels won*

2.5 (67%)

1.9 (69%)

Aerial duels won*

2.7 (68%)

2.1 (59%)

And it’s the forwards who are taking the plaudits in Everton’s team right now. The Toffees have been hard at work this summer, with Moyes adding Grealish and Tyler Dibling to pre-existing ranks boasting the fickle Beto and the deadly Ndiaye, who was the club’s top scorer last year with ten strikes across all competitions.

However, Bowen would love nothing more than to torment his former mentor on Monday night, and while West Ham have struggled this season, with two goals from three recent league matches, the Three Lions forward is one to watch.

Bowen scored three goals from his first six games against Everton, but has blanked across each of the past two top-flight terms. Curiously, those four fixtures coincide with Branthwaite’s return from PSV to Merseyside.

Previously said to be “unplayable” on his day by The Guardian’s Barney Ronay, the 28-year-old will certainly be up for the task. As per Sofascore, he has averaged five duels a game in the Premier League this season, also converting his only two big chances.

Bowen’s pace and tenacity on the ball serve him well, but Branthwaite would directly impede that facet of his game, one of the toughest tacklers in the Premier League.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 7% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for clearances per 90.

Moreover, Branthwaite has a cast-iron relationship with the stand-in skipper, James Tarkowski, on the field, and his return to fitness will only raise the 32-year-old’s game once more.

Perhaps the most exciting part is that Branthwaite is still only 23 years old and has much still to learn as he marries his physicality and athleticism with a more cultured take on the technical side of the game.

The development and modernisation of Moyes’ tactics will give rise to such growth, to be sure, and while Branthwaite is an “absolute monster” of a centre-half, as he has been declared by talent scout Jacek Kulig after winning back-to-back Young Player of the Year awards on Merseyside, there is still room for improvement.

But the fact that he has the skillset to negate the threat of a talisman such as Bowen at this stage of his career bodes well indeed. West Ham are in disarray, and Everton are not. A combination of fluent attacking play and steely defensive work should prove enough for Everton to withstand against the advances of their opponents and strike them down.

Everton messed up selling their original Tyler Dibling for just £1.5m

As Everton place their faith in youth gamble, one former player offers a cautionary tale.

ByWill Miller Sep 26, 2025

Northamptonshire 123 for 5 (Bopara 46*, Walker 2-20) beat Leicestershire 122 (van Beek 42, Sanderson 4-15) by five wickets Northants Steelbacks maintained their 100 per cent start to the Vitality Blast after comfortably beating Leicestershire Foxes by five wickets at Northampton.The Foxes mustered only 122 after their top order was blown away by Ben Sanderson (4 for 15) and David Willey (3 for 20). It was a meagre total, albeit a decent recovery from 39 for 7 thanks to a Foxes record T20 eighth-wicket stand of 55 between Logan van Beek (42 from 42 balls) and Tom Scriven (23).The Steelbacks did not find run-scoring easy either but were always in control of the chase and reached 123 for 5 with four balls to spare. Ravi Bopara showed his experience and class in decisive fashion with a victory-clinching 46 not out from 40 balls.Steelbacks captain Willey won the toss, chose to bowl and took out two Foxes in the first over. His first ball was chipped straight to mid-wicket by Rishi Patel. His fourth sent Louis Kimber’s middle stump halfway back to Leicester.If that was spectacular, almost as much so was the one-handed slip catch by Ricardo Vasconcelos when Shan Masood edged Sanderson in the next over. Sol Budinger, having lost three partners before facing a ball, got the score moving with a couple of fours but then left his leg-stump exposed and Willey hit it. When Lewis Hill cut Sanderson to point, providing the bowler’s 100th T20 wicket for Steelbacks, the Foxes were 18 for 5 after 20 balls.Sanderson, bowling his stint straight through, pinned Ben Cox lbw and had Liam Trevaskis caught behind to finish with his joint-best T20 figures. At 39 for 7, the Foxes were in a spot of bother.Van Beek and Scriven responded with an intelligent stand of 55 from 46 balls. Scriven hoisted Lloyd Pope to long on and Van Beek pulled George Scrimshire to long leg but those two, along with some late clubbing from Roman Walker at least gave their side a glimmer of a chance.Vasconcelos launched Steelbacks’ reply by flicking Van Beek over mid-wicket for six but edged the seventh ball of the innings, from Matt Salisbury, to slip. Van Beek delivered that T20 rarity, a maiden over, and added the scalp of Willey, brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Cox.At 25 for 2, the door was ajar for the Foxes but Matt Breetzke and Bopara, with time on their side, added a pragmatic 50 in 50 balls. Breetzke and Saif Zaib, fell to successive balls from Walker but Bopara and George Bartlett (26) combined care with watchful aggression to see their side to the brink of victory with a partnership of 46 in 30 balls.

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.

John Terry is one of the most iconic Premier League players of the modern era and was a ferocious competitor on the pitch, and he appears to still have plenty of that fighting spirit judging by his recent comments in a bizarre spat with a former England international.

Claiming five top-flight titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups alongside the Champions League and Europa League, there are few men who boast such a powerful CV and degree of influence at the elite level over such a lengthy span of time.

Nevertheless, players retire and legacies are rewritten by some, including former professionals who have a wealth of stars to pit ex-opponents against by order of who they think was the most talented.

On this occasion, Terry has taken exception to a former Three Lions man sharing his opinion and not for the first time, making for intriguing reading as an unexpected feud has now been reignited.

John Terry reignites spat with Carlton Palmer

Terry has previously taken issue with former Leeds United man Carlton Palmer after the latter placed him fifth in a ranking of the Premier League’s top five defenders, claiming Ricardo Carvalho and Marcel Desailly were better than him, as was Rio Ferdinand.

Palmer said: “There’d be an argument that the two players he played with, Desailly and Carvalho, were better than him. But I wouldn’t argue with him going in the top five. I don’t believe he was better than Rio Ferdinand, that’s for sure.”

Replying at the time, Terry made a mockery of a previous clip showing Palmer mistakenly stating that he played against the Stamford Bridge icon in 1991 – when he was actually only 11 years old: “Please repost Carlton Palmer’s video saying ‘I remember back in 1991 we played against Chelsea and the team talk was to target John Terry,’ I was 11 and at school, and you’re still getting him on your show.”

Now, a fresh video from Karel Prince, who has become a social media sensation for pointing out false storytelling from ex-footballers on podcasts, has prompted another jab from Terry.

Bringing the story back up, Terry had a fresh pop at Palmer, writing on his personal story: “I was 11 years old and I was still better than this clown.”

Will John Terry return to full-time coaching?

Surprisingly, Terry admitted earlier this year that he is done with trying to break through in full-time management, and he is enjoying life working within Chelsea’s academy set-up.

He told The Sun: “I’m done in terms of coaching. I’m enjoying my life, I’m working in the Chelsea academy. I don’t really coach at the moment, I’m a mentor, ambassador. I went for a couple of jobs and those days are gone for me. I’m enjoying my life a little bit, I’ve got my time to myself, I play a bit of golf, I’m in the academy and I have some family time as well. It’s a really good balance for me.”

Previously, Terry was assistant manager at Aston Villa, and he also coached the 26ers in the UK Baller League, though any chance of witnessing the Englishman in the dugout professionally again appears to be off the table for now.

Xabi Alonso has lavished praise on Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler, describing him as a 'mix between Mesut Ozil and Guti' ahead of their Champions League clash with Juventus. The Turkey international has impressed with his creativity and game intelligence, becoming a key figure in Alonso’s system as Madrid prepare for a crucial week which will include El Clasico against Barcelona.

• Alonso praises Guler as a mix of legends

  Madrid head coach Alonso singled out Turkey international Guler for special praise, comparing the 20-year-old to two of the club’s iconic midfielders, Ozil and Guti. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Juventus, Alonso explained, "Not just because of his origins, but because of his quality. He's a mix between Ozil and Guti, because Guti could also play close to the crease while also providing that final pass. The more we find Arda, the better we do. We have to keep pushing him to improve his game, but I'm happy." This endorsement highlights Guler’s growing importance in Madrid’s midfield, combining vision, technical skill, and an eye for decisive passes.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Guler's journey and influence on recent results

  Guler’s performances have already started to make a tangible impact. During Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Getafe, the Turkey international came off the bench to assist Kylian Mbappe’s well-taken goal, demonstrating his creativity and ability to change games from midfield. Alonso has emphasised the need to nurture Guler’s talent while integrating him into a squad that also relies on Vinicius Junior and Mbappe for attacking impetus. The coach noted: "We need him for what's coming up. He needs to be very focused on what he has to do and what he does well."

  Since his signing from Fenerbahce in July 2023, Guler, who has also been branded as 'Turkish Lionel Messi', has steadily integrated into the first team, earning a six-year contract lasting until June 2029. Initially featuring sporadically, he began playing more regularly under Alonso, scoring his first 2025-26 season goal in a 2-1 La Liga win over Mallorca. His performances earned him La Liga's Under-23 Player of the Month award for September, having contributed two goals and two assists. Alonso’s management has been key in developing Guler’s creativity and decision-making, allowing him to flourish alongside established stars in the squad.

• Balancing talent and competition in midfield

  Despite Guler’s rise, Alonso highlighted the fierce competition within his squad as players like Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz remain ready to challenge for midfield roles, while Endrick and other forwards are also pushing for minutes in the first team. Alonso commented: "We’re not at that point. The competition up front is intense, and you have to be ready for the moment. Also Gonzalo, Brahim… who are coming in or are about to come in. This is elite football; we need a lot of players." His remarks underscore how Guler must consistently perform to maintain a starting place in a star-studded Madrid roster. 

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• Getty Images
  

  Focus turns to Champions League challenge

  Los Blancos now turn their attention to Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Juventus at the Bernabeu. After securing back-to-back group-stage wins, including a 5-0 demolition of Kairat Almaty featuring a Mbappe hat-trick, Alonso’s side aim to maintain momentum while preparing for the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona. Guler’s creativity and vision will be crucial in breaking down Juventus’ defense, as Madrid look to assert themselves both domestically and in Europe. With a demanding schedule ahead, Alonso’s careful management of key players like Guler, Militao, and Vinicius Jr will be decisive for the club’s ambitions this season, as they battle with key injuries.

  Tudor’s side head to Madrid with little margin for error, having drawn their opening two group-stage matches under dramatic circumstances. Against Borussia Dortmund, Juventus conceded twice late but salvaged a 4-4 draw with stoppage-time goals, and in their following match, they suffered a similar fate when ex-Juve loanee Renato Veiga equalised for Villarreal in the final moments to make it 2-2. That result marked part of a five-match draw streak, their longest in nearly 20 years, while five of their last seven domestic and European fixtures have ended level. Away from home in Europe, Juventus have won just once in their last 11 matches, and they come to Spain off a 2-0 defeat to Como, leaving the team struggling for form and confidence.

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.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo vive um momento único na sua história. Caminhando a passos largos para ser consagrado campeão brasileiro, a equipe vem lotando todos os seus jogos em casa, no Nilton Santos. Porém, durante muitos anos, foi o Estádio Caio Martins, em Niterói, que recebeu importantes partidas do Glorioso.

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Depois de 33 anos sob a gestão do Botafogo, o estádio voltou para a administração da Secretaria de Esporte, Lazer e Juventude do Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro em 2021 por um decreto. Mas, o local, que estava concedido ao Glorioso desde 1988, continuou sendo usado pelo clube. Nos últimos anos, o Caio Martins era o espaço para treinamentos da base e do futebol feminino.

+ Botafogo vem tendo sua maior média de gols dos últimos 15 anos

No dia 17 de agosto, o governo realizou a primeira consulta pública sobre o futuro do complexo esportivo que abriga o estádio. Cláudio Castro, governador do Rio, decretou a criação de um Grupo de Trabalho (GT) para debater os próximos passos. Além da consulta à população, um site também foi criado para que as pessoas possam opinar de forma remota.

– Quero garantir que o equipamento não será substituído por empreendimentos imobiliários ou shoppings, é destinado ao esporte, lazer e cultura. O site com a consulta pública já está disponível para todos opinarem e contém as informações oficiais sobre todo o andamento do nosso grupo de trabalho – afirmou o secretário de Esporte e Lazer do Estado, Rafael Picciani

+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão e simule resultados

Construído na década de 40, o estádio do Complexo do Caio Martins foi inaugurado no dia 20 de julho de 1941, na partida entre Vasco e Canto do Rio, uma vitória de 3 a 1 do Cruz-Maltino. Já a última partida profissional foi em 2004, na última rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, entre Botafogo e o Corinthians, com o placar de 2 a 1 para os paulistas. O campo chegou a ser palco da campanha do time feminino do Glorioso no título Carioca de 2022, mas sem a presença de público.