Tag Futebol

It would be fair to say that, on paper anyway, last week was Arsenal’s toughest so far this season.

Therefore, Mikel Arteta’s side should be pretty happy with seven points from nine in games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

However, while the North Londoners were exceptional in the first two encounters, they were uncharacteristically poor away to the Blues, and that has understandably taken the shine off somewhat.

Moreover, while there were underwhelming performances across the pitch for Arsenal, one player in particular was really disappointing and currently looks miles off what fans saw last season.

Arsenal's underwhelming starters vs Chelsea

Starting at the back, and while he has arguably been one of Arsenal’s players of the season so far this year, Ricarrdo Calafiori looked way off the pace on Sunday evening.

Chalkboard

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

Aside from a well-timed last-man tackle on Estevao in the first ten minutes, the Italian looked far shakier defensively than he has all year, losing two of the three tackles he made and getting a silly yellow card when he lost Reece James.

It wasn’t much better going forward either, as the former Bologna man failed to deliver a single cross for the attackers to get onto, and was understandably hooked at the interval.

Things didn’t go much better for Eberechi Eze, as following his hat-trick last weekend and assist against Bayern, the former Crystal Palace star was utterly ineffective at Stamford Bridge.

In fact, while it sounds harsh, it would be a fair assessment to describe him as anonymous on Sunday, as was Gabriel Martinelli, whose most significant contribution was a shot from outside the penalty area in the first half.

Finally, while they were not terrible, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie were clear downgrades on the Gunners’ usual partnership.

Moreover, on top of being less defensively solid, it was clear that they were less confident starting together, which massively impacted the team’s build-up.

With all that said, there was another Arsenal star on Sunday who looked way off the pace, and unfortunately has done all season.

The Arsenal star who has taken a step back

Unfortunately for Arteta, the poor performances on Sunday evening were not limited to the starters, as Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cameo off the bench was one to forget.

The Hale Ender was sent on to replace Calafiori after the Italian picked up his silly yellow card, but just nine minutes into the second half, he got one himself.

That moment sort of summarised the teenager’s display, as while there were a few moments of quality, like a run through the middle of the pitch towards the end, he largely struggled.

He offered little going forward and looked less than secure defensively and in possession, so much so that there were more than a few occasions when you could see Rice getting frustrated with him, notably when under no pressure at all, the youngster played the ball straight to a Chelsea player on the left-hand side of the pitch.

Unsurprisingly, the watching press were not hugely impressed with the youngster, with Arsenal writer Charles Watts awarding him just a 5/10 match rating at full-time.

Lewis-Skelly’s game v Chelsea
Minutes	45′
Expected Assists	0.01
Interceptions	1
Ground Duels (Won)	4 (2)
Aerial Duels (Won)	3 (0)
Fouls	1
Key Passes	0
Dribbles	0
Shots	0
All Stats via Sofascore

That might sound harsh, but his statistics justify it; in his 45 minutes, the 19-year-old produced an expected assists figure of just 0.02, lost 50% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial duels, didn’t play a single key pass or cross and committed one foul.

The worrying thing is that Sunday was not the full-back’s first poor performance of the season, as he also looked the weakest of the club’s starters against Bayern.

With that said, it would be unfair to blame this entirely on the youngster, club insider Hand of Arsenal, dubbed a “future captain,” as he’s just not been given enough game time.

One of the things that allowed him to play as well as he did last year was that Arteta picked him time and time again, in turn building his sharpness and understanding of the team’s rhythm.

Therefore, while it’s true that Lewis-Skelly has taken a step back this season, fans shouldn’t worry too much, as more games on the horizon should give him more opportunities to play and rebuild that sharpness.

Arteta must drop 4/10 Arsenal star who lost every single duel vs Chelsea

Arsenal were not at their free-flowing best as they drew with Chelsea.

By
Matt Dawson

Dec 1, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Após a paralisação do campeonato por contas das chuvas no Rio Grande do Sul, Vitória e Atlético-GO se enfrentam neste sábado (1), pela nona rodada do Brasileirão. A bola vai rolar a partir das 16h (de Brasília), na Barradão (BA), com transmissão do Premiere.

continua após a publicidade

As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!

Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre TIME A e TIME B (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
Vitória X Atlético-GO
9ª rodada – Campeonato Brasileiro
🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 1º de junho de 2024, às 16h (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Barradão, Salvador (BA);
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere;
🟨 Árbitro: Kleber Ariel Goncalves da Silva (PR);
🚩 Assistentes: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (FIFA-SP) e Brígida Cirilo Ferreira (FIFA-AL);
🖥️ VAR: Daiane Muniz (FIFA-SP).

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES:

Vitória (Técnico: Thiago Carpini)
 Lucas Arcanjo; Willean Lepo, Bruno Uvini, Wagner Leonardo e Patric Calmon; Rodrigo Andrade e Dudu (Luan Santos); Daniel Júnior, Matheusinho e Iury Castilho; Osvaldo (Luiz Adriano). 

continua após a publicidade

Atlético-GO (Técnico: Jair)
Ronaldo; Luiz Felipe (Maguinho), Adriano Martins, Pedro Henrique (Alix Vinícius) e Guilherme Romão; Lucas Kal, Gabriel Baralhas e Alejo Cruz; Shaylon, Luiz Fernando e Vágner Love.

Tudo sobre

Atlético-GOBrasileirãoFutebol NacionalOnde assistirVitória

England boss Thomas Tuchel says he would consider singing God Save the King at next year's World Cup but joked he is not sure he has earned that right yet. The German was announced as Gareth Southgate's successor just over a year ago, sparking much consternation in certain quarters. But after an upturn in form, Tuchel believes that if the positive results keep coming, he may be singing the English anthem soon.

• Push back over Tuchel appointment

  When Tuchel was sworn in as England's new manager, following a successful and long spell with Southgate at the helm, not everyone was thrilled. Some media outlets wanted a British manager, as did ex-Premier League manager Harry Redknapp. But the former Bayern Munich boss said he was "proud" to take up the challenge of guiding England to their first World Cup triumph since 1966.

  "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team," he said in October 2024. "I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting. Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank The FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tuchel feels the love from England

  The German guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 before being sacked in 2022. He has spent more of his managerial career in Germany but Tuchel admitted he has a certain fondness for England, something that he doesn't always feel in his homeland. 

  He said, "I feel that we are very critical of each other in Germany, especially with players and coaches, not only me. It's very hard to escape it once you're in it… so there is a picture, and this is the picture for years and years. I felt more appreciation in England, yes. This is just a fact."

• Tuchel teases English national anthem singing

  Tuchel is the third non-English manager to take charge of the Three Lions after Sven Goran-Eriksson and Fabio Capello. So, will he sing the English anthem?

  He told reporters on Friday: "I will earn it with results, with building a group, with doing my job properly and by creating a feeling where maybe even you guys say at some point, 'Now it's time that you sing it, it feels like you properly earned it and you're a proper English guy now'. Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like, 'He should sing it now, he's one of our own, he's the English manager, he should sing it'."

  Asked if he believed he had earned the right to sing the national anthem now, he said with a grin: "You think it is already there? I will think about it."

  Asked if he might sing the national anthem at the World Cup, he again smiled and said, "Yeah, maybe. Let's see."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next for Tuchel's England?

  England are eyeing a 100 per cent winning record for their World Cup qualifying campaign after beating Serbia 2-0 on Thursday to make it seven wins from seven games. Next up is second-placed Albania on Sunday. The Three Lions are also trying to go the entire campaign without conceding a goal, with Tuchel's side having a goal difference of +20.

  After the Serbia win, Tuchel said: "It was a difficult match. It was complicated because they knew everything about us and we knew nothing about them. Go through the list of players, they are at top clubs, they play in top leagues. They have individual quality, they came with new energy and they made it a final for them. I liked the first half a lot. I think we deserved to go up, I think we deserved to have maybe a second goal with Harry's header. Second-half, we didn't get the pressing right all the time, they escaped sometimes from the deep build-up into fast attacks so the back four had to work hard to keep the clean sheet. We had to overcome some difficult moments but I like it, not everything is easy. Not every win is 2-0, 3-0, 5-0. It is good. We kept a clean sheet and it was decisive in the end."

The first ever bilateral series between the two teams will be played against the backdrop of severe criticism from one of South Africa’s top human rights organisations

Firdose Moonda17-Sep-2024South Africa play Afghanistan for the first time in a bilateral series against the backdrop of severe criticism from one of the country’s top human rights organisations, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). On Tuesday, LHR released a statement calling the three-match series a “tacit endorsement of the Taliban’s repressive regime”.Cricket South Africa (CSA) has chosen not to respond but earlier in the week, the South African Cricketers Association (SACA) issued a statement in support of Afghan women, which was echoed by ODI captain Temba Bavuma (who, incidentally, will miss the first ODI because of illness, with Aiden Markram taking the reins).Not for the first time, Bavuma finds himself in the awkward position of having to discuss off-field issues while preparing for on-field ones. It was in the UAE in 2021 that Bavuma fronted the media when Quinton de Kock opted to sit out a T20 World Cup match against West Indies rather than follow a CSA directive to take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.Now, CSA’s only instruction is to focus preparations on ODI cricket with the Champions Trophy looming. But the backlash at home is fierce as LHR has accused them of undermining the country’s “own values and human rights obligations”, and SACA asked CSA to use its leverage to highlight the situation facing Afghan women, who are banned from public life. It is understood there are internal discussions on whether and how CSA can speak out for women, but no decisions have been made yet.Instead, the focus will shift to three matches that will be played in Sharjah this week, with conditions, team combinations and tactics up for discussion.Related

• Cricketing nomads Afghanistan hurt by lack of dedicated home venue

• SA reaffirms support for women's cricket ahead of Afghanistan series

• South Africa add fresh faces for white-ball games against Afghanistan and Ireland

Who is more settled in Sharjah?

The UAE is one of Afghanistan’s adopted homes, and they have played 25 ODIs in Sharjah, dating back to 2010. Their most recent matches in the format, against Ireland, were also there. Of those, they’ve won 16 and lost nine, mostly to Zimbabwe and Ireland. Mohammad Nabi has played in all those matches and is Afghanistan’s second-leading runs-scorer at the ground with 557 runs, including two fifties and also their highest wicket-taker at the venue with 35 at an average of 22.02.On the other hand, South Africa have played 12 ODIs in Sharjah and won 10, but have not been to the venue since 2013. None of the current squad were at the series against Pakistan 11 years ago and David Miller, who is not involved in this series as he competes in the CPL, is the only player from that time who is still nationally contracted.

Batting in the spotlight: Beyond the top order

Though Afghanistan’s opening batter Ibrahim Zadran has been ruled out of the series with an ankle sprain, the presence of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, their first ODI centurion, still makes their top order a threat. Lungi Ngidi identified it as the area South Africa needed to target.”They seem to be very aggressive up front so the biggest thing for us is going to be to control the top end of their batting lineup,” Ngidi said, at a media engagement on Tuesday. “If you can take care of that and then make sure that you squeeze the lower half, it should be all right.”Afghanistan’s strength is arguably South Africa’s weakness as they navigate ODI cricket after de Kock’s retirement at the ODI World Cup last year. Bavuma, who entered that tournament in form but was then the only batter in the top six that did not score a century, has the opportunity to re-stake his claim as a leader in this format, when he’s back from his illness. Tony de Zorzi’s century against India in December has set him up for a long run in the format while Reeza Hendricks will also want to re-find form after a lean patch in the T20Is in the West Indies.South Africa will be wary of the threat posed by Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top of the order•Getty Images

How do the attacks stack up?

Variation is the best adjective to describe what both bowling line-ups look like with at least one left-arm seamer – Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmed for Afghanistan and Nandre Burger for South Africa – in either squad. Almost every member of the Afghan side can turn their arm over, which means they won’t be short of options, and Ngidi believes that’s where their advantage lies.”We know that their bowling is probably one of their strengths, so we’re going to have to make sure that whatever they get on the board, we can chase it down and that our batters don’t give them easy opportunities,” he said.South Africa will also know there is some inexperience especially among the young Afghan quicks – Bilal Sami and Naveed Zadran, who were part of their 2022 Under-19 World Cup squad – but will be more concerned with assessing the quality of their own seam-bowling allrounders. They have three in the squad for this series. Andile Phehlukwayo and Wiaan Mulder are well-known names who need to work on consistency while there could be a debut for Andile Simelane.Tristan Stubbs will be available for the ODIs, but South Africa will be without several other big names due to their participation in the ongoing CPL•AFP/Getty Images

Young spinners to look out for

Perhaps the most exciting component of the series will be to watch the progression of the young spinners on either side. For Afghanistan, it’s the offspinner AM Ghazanfar, who played at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa and stunned New Zealand with three wickets upfront and is starting to find his feet in senior international cricket. He has two ODI caps to his name, both earned against Ireland in Sharjah in March, and is still searching for his first wicket.For South Africa, it’s the legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who was named the CSA’s domestic newcomer of the season and T20 challenge player of the season at the annual awards and who bowled his domestic team, the Lions, to victory in the T20 tournament. Peter made his international debut in West Indies and has limited experience in longer formats. To date, he only has six List A matches to his name and his seventh could well be an ODI.

Who is missing?

In a packed cricket calendar, there has to be some attention on those who sit out. Apart from Zadran, Afghanistan are also without Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who has a finger injury. Of their CPL players, South Africa will only have Tristan Stubbs available for the ODIs, with Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje all at the tournament. Heinrich Klaasen is dealing with a family matter, Kagiso Rabada is being rested and Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee are in a conditioning block, and are expected to return only by November.That means South Africa are providing plenty of opportunity for the next tier of players, and Afghanistan could see that as a chance to earn their first win over them. These teams have only met at World Cups and South Africa have always taken maximum points. They beat Afghanistan at the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2010, 2016 and 2024 T20 World Cups.

These players, and some others, will be looking to impress at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, especially with the IPL auction and T20 World Cup coming up

Shashank Kishore25-Nov-2025

Prithvi Shaw

After losing his spot in the Mumbai team and going unsold in IPL 2025 following concerns over form, fitness and discipline, Shaw has rebooted his career in Maharashtra. The move has given him a fresh start, and he has responded with an impressive return to red-ball cricket – 470 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 92.33 in the Ranji Trophy. With the white-ball leg of the season beginning, Shaw is also in contention to lead Maharashtra once Ruturaj Gaikwad links up with the India ODI squad for the South Africa series. A natural powerplay aggressor, Shaw will be eyeing big runs and hoping to make a strong statement to IPL teams about what he could bring to the table in 2026.Riyan Parag is among the candidates who could captain Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026•BCCI

Riyan Parag

Parag stepped in as Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain during Sanju Samson’s injury-enforced absence in IPL 2025, but his own form failed to reach the heights of the previous season. With Samson now moving to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Parag has a chance to reassert himself, both as a performer and as a leader, when he turns out for Assam. He hasn’t been close to an India call-up for nearly a year after a shoulder injury. His form in the recent India A series against South Africa A too was lukewarm, making this an important stretch to rebuild momentum. There’s also the Royals’ long-term captaincy to stake a claim for, with the franchise having backed him heavily since 2018.Venkatesh Iyer was released by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 auction•Associated Press

Venkatesh Iyer

A headline-grabbing INR 23.75 crore signing, Iyer was at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 with major expectations around him, only to be released a year on after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Appointed vice-captain, he managed just 142 runs in seven innings with a single half-century and wasn’t used with the ball, largely because of the Impact-Player rule. With that restriction not applicable at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Iyer now has a chance to reset. He’ll likely return to the top of the order for Madhya Pradesh and take on key overs for them as they look to go one better than last year’s runners-up finish. For Iyer, this is a crucial window to remind IPL teams why he commanded such a high price just a year ago.Akash Deep is still a work in progress in T20 cricket•BCCI

Akash Deep

Picked for INR 8.25 crore by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2025, Akash Deep endured a frustrating season. Family reasons forced him to be a non-starter when the season began. Then, when he returned, he picked up a niggle. And by the time he started, he seemed woefully undercooked, and went at 12.8 an over across the six games he played for three measly wickets. For someone who has climbed the ranks quickly, Akash Deep is still far from being an established IPL, or T20, player, having started with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as a net bowler and then playing a handful of games across 2023-24. But Indian fast bowlers often command top billing at IPL auctions because of the flexibility they offer with regards to team balance. Which is why a good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could make Akash Deep an in-demand quick when the auction comes around.Ravi Bishnoi could be in demand during the IPL 2026 auction•BCCI

Ravi Bishnoi

Picked as an uncapped player for INR 4 crore by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in 2022, Bishnoi has seen his stocks plummet sharply over the past year. The return of Varun Chakravarthy and the rise of Washington Sundar, who lends depth as an allrounder, has meant Bishnoi has slipped in the pecking order as far as the national team goes. His IPL fortunes have nosedived too; in the last two seasons, he’s managed all of 19 wickets across 25 matches. Having been released, he’ll hope to put in performances of note for Gujarat to once again be back in the reckoning not just among IPL teams but also the national team.Umran Malik is back to bowling at full tilt•KKR Knight Club

Umran Malik

He burst on to the scene at IPL 2022 hitting 156.9kph on the speed gun for Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the journey since has been anything but smooth. Malik’s fitness, form and attitude have all been under the scanner, forcing him to spend more time on the sidelines and in rehab than on the cricket pitch. He missed the entire 2024-25 domestic season and the IPL that followed with bouts of injury (hip and hamstring) and illness, but has since returned and has been bowling full-tilt and has even taken part in training camps under Abhishek Nayar. Importantly, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where Nayar is now head coach, have retained Malik for the upcoming season. After playing just one Ranji game in the first leg, Malik now has a chance to show IPL teams why he’ll be an asset.

The interest in former MLB superstar Albert Pujols becoming a manager continues as a third team has been reported to be looking at the 11-time All-Star to fill their manager role.

It was previously reported that the Angels were first interested in Pujols as he played there from 2012-21. Los Angeles just let go of manager Ron Washington and interim manager Ray Montgomery after the season ended. After the Angels, the Orioles popped up as an option for Pujols to become their manager. Baltimore fired Brandon Hyde back in May.

As of Monday, the Padres have become the third team tied to Pujols, Kevin Acee of the reported. San Diego manager Mike Shildt retired from the role after the Padres' playoff exit to the Cubs. Acee reported that the Padres plan to speak with Pujols.

Pujols doesn't have any MLB managerial experience since retiring after the 2022 season. He remained in the baseball world, though, as he's acted as a special assistant to the Angels since '23, while also working as an analyst for MLB Network. He managed Leones de Escogido, a team based in his home country of the Dominican Republic, and led them to titles in the Dominican Winter League and Caribbean Series this year. He is also set to be the manager for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next year.

Angels reportedly stopped discussions with Pujols amid other MLB teams showing interest

Shortly after the report came out on Monday regarding the Padres' interest in interviewing Pujols for their manager role, the reported that the Angels are now stopping talks with their former player.

The Post noted that the two sides had differing opinions on "coaches, resources and compensation" leading to the discussions ceasing. Pujols was the Angels' top option for the position, though, especially with his history being with the team and the fact that he still works as a special assistant for the organization.

Everton scouts have now reportedly been spotted watching Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott over the break, as he scored twice to shock Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal side.

The Toffees very nearly enjoyed the perfect summer. They welcomed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City and splashed out on one of their biggest-ever deals to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton. In many ways, it was a statement from The Friedkin Group ahead of Everton’s move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

That statement came without one key part, however, and that was a clinical goalscorer. Those in Merseyside took a £27m gamble on Villarreal’s Thierno Barry, but he’s yet to score a goal for the club. Meanwhile, Beto hasn’t done much better – scoring just twice in 13 games in all competitions.

PL stats 25/26

Barry

Beto

Minutes

386

609

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Expected Goals

1.3

4.1

What’s most concerning about the form of Everton’s strikers is that they’ve both had the chances to record better records than they have done. Barry is without a goal with an XG of 1.3, whilst Beto has significantly underperformed with one goal from a 4.1 XG.

It’s a clear problem that Everton must address for David Moyes in 2026 and a number of targets have already emerged as a result. According to recent reports, the Toffees have so far set their sights on Celtic’s Daizen Maeda, who wants to leave the Scottish club, Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney.

Related Everton now exploring Ward-Prowse move with January exit expected

The midfielder desperately needs a winter move.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 12, 2025

All three options make sense. Maeda wants to leave Celtic and is reportedly available for just £15m. Zirkzee could offer Everton a repeat of their Grealish revival, whilst Toney may need a Premier League return to boost his World Cup chances.

The list doesn’t end there, however. Joining those aforementioned names, Everton reportedly sent scouts to watch Parrot against Portugal earlier this week.

Everton send scouts to track Troy Parrott

According to Everton News, Everton sent scouts to watch Parrott in action for Ireland against Portugal on Thursday night, as he netted a brace to hand his country a major boost towards their World Cup hopes. In the same game, Ronaldo was handed the first red card of his international career to sum up a shocking night to forget.

On a stage which featured Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and others, it was Parrot who stole the show to take his goal total to 13 in 14 games for the season. Quite simply, he has been in sensational form for AZ Alkmaar and Ireland.

Compared to Irish legend Robbie Keane by the man himself, Parrott has scored more goals than Beton and Barry combined so far this season and there’s still plenty more to come.

As Everton’s search for a striker goes on, they may hand the former Tottenham Hotspur gem the perfect chance to complete a return to English football.

Everton hatch striker plan as Moyes moves for star with 18 goals this season

Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.

Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

1

Goals

0

2.51

Expected goals (xG)

0.45

17 (9)

Shots (on target)

8 (2)

4

Big chances

1

111.4km

Distance covered

112.7km

38.8%

Possession

61.2%

4

Corners

2

45%

Duels won

55%

This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool searching for a centre-back

Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.

The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.

It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.

What Bastoni would offer Liverpool

Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.

And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.

He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).

A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.

Goals

0.05

0.06

Assists

0.05

0.09

Touches

89.54

60.67

Pass completion (%)

86.5

83.5

Progressive passes

5.29

4.09

Shot-creating actions

2.36

1.53

Progressive carries

1.88

0.77

Successful take-ons

0.31

0.26

Ball recoveries

3.53

4.12

Tackles + interceptions

2.62

3.12

Clearances

2.85

4.56

Aerial duels won

1.53

1.91

As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.

Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.

Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.

He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.

Not Bradley: Liverpool have found the new Trent & he's not even a defender

Arne Slot has now uncovered Liverpool’s next Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it’s not Conor Bradley.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 6, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Após dois empates em 0 a 0, diante de Botafogo-SP e San Lorenzo-ARG, o Palmeiras enfim voltou a balançar as redes na vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Criciúma, neste domingo (2), em jogo válido pela 7ª rodada do Brasileirão 2024.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasGómez faz melhor atuação no ano e quebra recorde histórico pelo PalmeirasPalmeiras02/06/2024Fora de CampoWeb detona decisão de auxiliares de Abel em jogo do Palmeiras: ‘Inacreditável’Fora de Campo02/06/2024PalmeirasGómez e Lázaro salvam, e Palmeiras bate o Criciúma nos acréscimosPalmeiras02/06/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

Com mais um primeiro tempo de pouquíssima agressividade e chances criadas diante do Tigre, o time já ia completando 240 minutos sem gols, quando “ganhou” um pênalti, e Gustavo Gómez abriu o placar no na casa do Criciúma.

Já nos acréscimos, o Palmeiras fez mais um gol de bola parada, após desvio de Gustavo Gómez no escanteio e a fácil finalização de Lázaro para empurrar a bola ao gol e garantir a quarta vitória.

continua após a publicidade

Apesar de chegar aos cinco gols na competição nacional e ter melhorado no segundo tempo, com as entradas de Lázaro e Luís Guilherme, o ataque segue sendo o principal ponto de melhora que Abel terá que corrigir nesta pausa de 11 dias para o duelo diante do Vasco da Gama.

O Palmeiras precisa ajustar o seu sistema ofensivo e melhorar a criação do meio campo, que não está funcionando com Raphael Veiga e Richard Ríos.

continua após a publicidade

Lembrando que, para o duelo diante do Vasco, Abel deve contar com o reforço de Dudu. Em julho, o setor ganha ainda mais opção com a entrada do badalado Felipe Anderson na equipe.

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoBrasileirão 2024Palmeiras

Tarik Skubal won his second consecutive Cy Young award on Wednesday, but his future in Detroit remains murky. While Skubal has emerged as one of the best pitchers in MLB over the last few years and a key part in Detroit making back-to-back postseason appearances, he has just one more year under the Tigers’ control and is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

The Tigers still have time to try and extend Skubal, but recent reports have suggested that the two sides are not closely aligned on a deal, with Jon Heyman of the reporting last month that the sides were $250 million apart on an extension.

More: Top Tarik Skubal Trade Destinations

If Skubal and the Tigers cannot get any closer on a deal, Skubal will become a free agent in 2026. Alternatively, if the Tigers realize a deal won’t get done, they could try to trade him to ensure they get a return for the ace.

With trade rumors surrounding Skubal, Tigers general manager Jeff Greenberg said Wednesday, “We love Tarik, obviously. It’s pretty obvious what means to this organization. He’s a fantastic pitcher, he’s a Detroit Tiger. We’re never going to talk about our players in the context of trades, but we’re lucky to have him. He’s been a huge piece to what we’ve done.”

When pressed further about whether it’s an obligation to listen to calls regarding Skubal if they don’t have him signed beyond the next season, Greenberg replied, “Again, it’s not something we’re going to discuss in this context, and I’d say that about any of our players. He’s got one year of control, that’s part of the process as it is for everybody in this system. He’s a Tiger. We’re fortunate to have him. That’s the reality right now.”

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris, who is the team’s decision-maker, had a similar message last month when addressing Skubal’s future. He said in October, “I can’t comment on our players being traded, I can’t comment on free agents and I can’t comment on other teams’ players. So I’m going to respond by just not actually commenting on it. … He’s an incredible pitcher and we’re lucky to have him. That’s all I can say on that.”

Skubal himself said Wednesday, via Evan Petzold of , “Contract extension stuff is a little bit different, but trade stuff is out of my control. I've given everything I have to this organization. I want to be a Tiger for a very long time. … I love Detroit. Hopefully, I'm here. That's where I'm at with all of that."