All posts by z3u9t.icu

When it rains, it pours, and Tottenham Hotspur are sure to be feeling the effects of the storm right now after Wolverhampton Wanderers' two late goals snatched victory from Ange Postecoglou to conclude a miserable week.

Just one week ago, Spurs were flying in the Premier League and revelling in an extraordinary start to the season under the Australian manager's wing, but an anarchic match against Chelsea resulted in a 4-1 loss after injuries to key players James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, as well as dismissals to Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero.

This exacerbation of problems resulted in a much-changed backline at Molineux today, with the notable absence of Maddison's creative ingenuity in the centre also felt.

And despite taking the lead through Brennan Johnson's early strike – his first for Tottenham – a lack of control in the centre allowed Wolves to gain a foothold, with poor finishing from the hosts the only thing stopped parity from being restored earlier on.

And with two stoppage-time goals from Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina turning the game on its head in the dying embers, questions must be asked of the attacking options on the pitch, with captain Heung-min Son at the epicentre.

Heung-min Son's performance vs Wolves

Son extended an unwanted individual record against the Old Gold today, extending his record of 11 matches against the club without scoring, with such a statistic emblematic of the South Korean's performance at Molineux today.

Ineffective in his centre-forward position, the 31-year-old took just 36 touches and completed 83% of his passes, with his only shot of the game blocked in the late stages, right before the turnaround, as per Sofascore.

The dynamic attacker did make one key pass, but he was definitely out of sorts in comparison to his fantastic feats this season, scoring eight goals across his past eight games as the focal frontman in the Premier League before today.

Handing him a 5/10 score in his post-match player ratings, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick wrote: 'Missing the service for long periods but struggled to get into the game or hold up the ball effectively.'

Son did drop deeper and out wide on multiple occasions to get the ball rolling, so to speak, and did feel the void left in Maddison's wake, but it was one of his arguably worst displays under Postecoglou and he will now hope to return to blistering form after the forthcoming international break.

He was not the only offensive outlet to have flattered to deceive, with winger Dejan Kulusevski not really building on a strong start and ultimately leaving much to be desired.

Dejan Kulusevski's stats vs Wolves

To be fair, many of Kulusevski's best attributes were on display in the Midlands, with the Swede's relentless running and high energy charging the right channel; it is for this reason that Postecoglou has given him a starting berth across all 12 league encounters this season, having scored three goals.

Kulusevski started with a brilliant contribution, latching onto Pape Sarr's cross-field pass to weave it into the path of Pedro Porro, whose incisive whipped delivery was turned in by Johnson for his maiden Spurs goal.

But that proved to be the end of Tottenham's attacking intent, with the host taking control and launching a fusillade of efforts on Guglielmo Vicario's goal over the duration of the contest – it was only poor finishing that ensured the lead was preserved for as long as it was.

Kulusevski was indeed as energetic as ever but he failed to contribute defensively – making no tackles, clearances, or interceptions – and was actually dribbled past on five occasions, having failed with both of his own attempted carries with the ball at his feet.

Moreover, the 23-year-old only won two duels all game despite contesting in 16; having also lost the ball 13 times, the 45-touch wideman endured an afternoon to forget and will hope to rekindle his better form when his side return to action in a few weeks.

It's important to remain calm, with Spurs still thriving after Postecoglou's summer arrival and still in a promising position. With a fully-fit squad, it's plausible that the London club would still be undefeated in the Premier League this season.

But alas, calamity struck, and now is the time to rally together and ensure that the early-season exploits do not turn out to be a false dawn.

Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to action on Saturday afternoon, as the Old Gold hosted Liverpool in their fifth Premier League fixture of the 2023/24 campaign.

Gary O’Neil’s side were hoping to build on their last result against Merseyside opposition, as the Midlands club secured their first win of the season against Everton late on in their third clash.

Last time out, Wolves had been defeated 3-2 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with goals from Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha not enough to take a result back to Molineux.

Hwang once again found the net against Liverpool, although they were undone by some late goals, eventually succumbing 3-1.

What is the latest Wolves team news?

Against Palace, O’Neil’s side dominated the possession with 57% of the ball, however once again fell short in the final third, with the hosts taking centre stage in providing the goal threat.

As per Sofascore, the Eagles registered 2.11 expected goals (xG) to Wolves’ 1.18, registering a mammoth 11 shots on targets to the visitors four during the 90 minutes played.

Cunha opened his scoring tally for the 2023/24 campaign, joined by super-sub Hwang, who has been a reliable source of threat for the Midlands side, meaning his start on Saturday against Liverpool was well deserved.

Deadline day arrival Tommy Doyle was forced to wait for his first start against the Anfield side after a minor knee injury, although did make his debut from the bench in that encounter.

It surely won't be too long before we see him earning regular minutes, but one player who must be kept on the bench at the expense of that is Pablo Sarabia.

Should Pablo Sarabia be starting?

Sarabia went from hero to zero in the week of the showdown at Selhurst, as he put in a stellar performance in the Carabao Cup where he was dubbed the “architect” by journalist Nathan Judah, only to then go missing against the Eagles.

The winger received an 8.2 Sofascore match rating against Blackpool in the cup, followed by a below-par 6.6 rating against Palace, where he was branded as “anonymous” by journalist Alex Richards for his display.

Despite Wolves’ control in possession, Sarabia made 33 touches in the 60 minutes he played, losing possession ten times and failing to provide the danger sufficient enough to wound Roy Hodgson’s side.

On the hour mark, O’Neil pulled the £90k-per-week Spaniard off to be replaced by Hwang, who displayed exactly what the 31-year-old was missing to his game on the day by scoring and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.

The manager was clearly keen to replicate that when they took on Liverpool, as Sarabia was benched with Hwang coming into the starting XI.

That was hardly a surprise after the loss at Selhurst, with the aforementioned Richards also commenting on Sarabia’s “problems” in adapting to the “speed and physicality” of the Premier League, providing another weak element of his game.

With four losses in their opening five games, Wolves will be hoping to finally kick on. The likes of Hwang and Co will certainly help them do that. Including Sarabia, however, will not. After a vibrant display from the South Korean, it is time the Spaniard stays among the subs.

Aston Villa enjoyed a successful summer in the transfer window, as Unai Emery and Monchi navigated the direction of the funds to welcome five new faces to Villa Park.

The Spanish duo broke the club’s record transfer fee in the process, securing their primary target in Moussa Diaby for a price of £51.9m from Bayer Leverkusen.

Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres, Nicolo Zaniolo and Clement Lenglet also made the Midlands their new homes, with all five of Villa’s acquisitions having the potential to make a significant improvement to the squad.

Despite capturing the signatures of the new arrivals, Emery and Monchi were linked with a host of other names, with some deals not prevailing that could have made the side even better.

From Jadon Sancho to Ansu Fati, the Villans were named as a club interested in some of the best talents in Europe, with one player signing for an alternative Premier League side in a deal that has seen him flourish in his new surroundings.

West Ham United signed James Ward-Prowse after weeks of speculation over his future and now that the Englishman has made a fast start to life in the capital, Emery will be dwelling on the player he could have had.

Did Aston Villa nearly sign James Ward-Prowse?

Following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, the future of Ward-Prowse became one of the main talking points of the transfer window.

Back in May, prior to the opening of the window, the Daily Mail reported that the former Saints captain did not have a relegation release clause embedded into his contract, with Villa named as one of the clubs eyeing his movements.

It wasn’t the first time that the Midlands side had hoped to sign the midfielder, with Dean Smith having a £25m bid rejected for the set-piece specialist back in the summer of 2021.

It was West Ham who sealed the deal for the 28-year-old, paying a fee of £30m to Southampton just weeks after walking away from negotiations, signing the Saints star on a four-year contract to end his 20-year association at St Mary’s.

This summer was the moment for Villa to step up and capture the signature of Ward-Prowse, however, it just wasn’t meant to be as the Villans took on fellow relegation-suffering star Youri Tielemans from Leicester City.

What is James Ward-Prowse’s market value?

There was a lot of talk surrounding Ward-Prowse’s next destination after the Mail reported that Saints had put a mammoth £50m price tag on the Englishman’s head this summer.

At the point of such talk, Football Transfers recorded the Portsmouth-born ace’s expected transfer value (xTV) at €39.3m (£34m), making the south coast club’s valuation of their captain a little high for interested clubs to consider without discussion.

Taking into consideration the importance of the individual to Saints at the time, along with the fact he signed a five-year extension with the club in 2021, it’s clear to see why Southampton placed such a price on the midfielder at that moment.

£30m was the price that the Hammers managed to haggle the Englishman for, in what was a superb deal considering that his market value was an accurate measure of the figure paid at the time.

Fast forward to now, and the Irons maestro has a current xTV of €31.1m (£26.9m), highlighting that David Moyes got his man at the right time for the right price this summer.

How many goals has James Ward-Prowse scored?

It’s clear to see why Villa, among other clubs, were interested in Ward-Prowse following Southampton’s relegation, with the 28-year-old being a seasoned professional in the Premier League and a consistently high-performer at St Mary’s.

While at Saints, the midfielder accumulated 343 Premier League appearances, showing experience in the English top flight that rarely can be bought, with the adaptation period typically difficult for midfielders from abroad.

James Ward-Prowse's previous five Premier League seasons (via Transfermarkt)

2019/20

Southampton

38

5

3

2020/21

Southampton

38

8

7

2021/22

Southampton

36

10

5

2022/23

Southampton

38

9

4

2023/24 so far

West Ham United

4

2

3

Throughout his career with the south coast side, the academy graduate turned captain scored a total of 55 goals in all competitions, as well as registering 54 assists in that time.

When Saints were low on inspiration, the Englishman was almost always there to shed some excellence on proceedings, dubbed as “incredible” by current Southampton manager Russell Martin with reference to his time at the club.

While Ward-Prowse’s contributions in the midfield as well as in the final third are admirable, his dead-ball excellence is never overlooked, as he is currently just one direct free-kick away from equalling the Premier League record.

Treble-winner Pep Guardiola previously lauded the 11-cap England international as being “the best free-kick taker” he had “ever seen”, which is praise indeed from a figure that has managed the likes of Lionel Messi.

David Beckham’s record stands at 18, with the Hammers genius just one behind with 17 and considering his track record, the 28-year-old is in good stead to rewrite history in that aspect.

What could James Ward-Prowse have offered to Villa?

Aside from his set-piece theatrics, what West Ham secured was a competent and commanding asset in the middle of the park.

The treasure that the Irons collected was the sparkle that was missed by Villa, who could have had a far stronger set-up in midfield if they had pushed to secure his signature.

John McGinn has shone since Emery’s arrival, however, the Scotsman is not as strong a performer as Ward-Prowse, who could have provided an upgrade to the 28-year-old in the Spaniard’s free-flowing formation.

As per FBref, last season in the Premier League, the former Saints hero averaged 0.18 non-penalty goals per 90, as well as 3.39 shot-creating actions per 90 to showcase the threat he could pose on goal, despite being in a team short of desire.

McGinn fell short in such areas for Villa last term, showing far less of a presence in the final third with an average of 0.03 non-penalty goals per 90, and 2.67 shot-creating actions.

When it came to passing in the 2022/23 campaign, the Villans midfielder ranked lower than their reported summer target in terms of his ability to get the ball into advanced areas, averaging 4.68 progressive passes and just 0.60 key passes per 90.

Ward-Prowse recorded a superior average of 1.98 key passes per 90 during Saints’ bottom-of-the-table season, as well as averaging 5.05 progressive passes per 90 to convey his presence in the midfield, via FBref.

Having contributed to five goals in four fixtures already this campaign for the Irons, the £30m man is already looking to be a bargain, having scored two and assisted three in his opening moments as a Hammer.

Emery has been shown early days just what he could have had in his side if the club had pushed to sign the Englishman, however, the Spaniard will have to find peace in what has prevailed to be a smart piece of business by the east Londoners.

Leeds United ran riot today in their Championship win over Millwall, defying all expectations to truly kickstart Daniel Farke's reign at Elland Road.

Described by journalist Joe Donnohue as the "most complete performance of the season", many thought that today's clash would mark the first true test of this new regime, travelling to the feared Den.

How did Joel Piroe play vs Millwall?

Having weathered an early storm from the hosts, it clearly gave the Whites the confidence needed to grow into the game and go ahead after a nice run of play saw Joel Piroe score his first.

Although his second was slightly more fortuitous, his brace spearheaded an emphatic victory for the visitors to propel them up the table.

Unsurprisingly, the Dutchman's 8.2 Sofascore rating for the game was merited, although it was hugely buoyed by those two goals which proved so important.

Other than that, the striker largely struggled to make an impact despite once again being deployed deeper.

In fact, it was arguably his strike partner who truly stole the show for Farke, as Georginio Rutter continues to mastermind his comeback after last season's thorough disappointment.

How did Georginio Rutter play vs Millwall?

Having signed for a club record £35m, expectations were understandably but perhaps unfairly high for the 21-year-old who was expected to spearhead their survival push.

Given today's clash was played in the Championship, it is clear that this was a failed venture, although that was far from Rutter's burden to hold.

Should he prove to be as instrumental as this early-season form suggests, that could end up being one of Jesse Marsch's unwise investments that actually come to fruition.

After all, the £70k-per-week forward's 8.6 rating was the highest of anyone on the pitch, as he managed to not only score but assist too, via Sofascore.

However, it was his creativity that truly stood out in a match that was crying out for a magical moment, which Rutter gladly provided on numerous occasions.

The former Hoffenheim ace provided a startling five key passes despite starting the match up front, with his positional fluidity proving tough for the hosts to compete with.

Some stellar defensive work buoyed the aforementioned figure further, as he would also win four duels whilst making two interceptions and one tackle, as per Sofascore.

It was a performance bound to draw praise, with the away support handing him "his flowers" in the words of Donnohue.

Then, another writer in Graham Smyth would wax lyrical after handing the forward an admirable 8/10 in his post-match ratings: "Fought to try and hold the ball up, provided an assist, played a part in the second goal and scored the third. Not everything he tried came off but he deserved his ovation."

Such a persistent effort to create something special helped him to stand out in a game that could have easily devolved into a scrappy affair. Fortunately for Farke, he was in possession of a magician with true quality which shone through on the day.

Although Piroe will steal the headlines for his brace, Rutter's continued performances at a level befitting a side hoping for promotion will be of far more importance to the German tactician after today.

Tottenham Hotspur could make a "concrete" move to sign an "unreal" midfielder to replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Spurs have enjoyed an absolutely brilliant start to this 2023/2024 Premier League season, but potential injuries to star players could well hamper their form given Ange Postecoglou's lack of squad depth. The likes of Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Brennan Johnson are already on the treatment table at Tottenham, but if the likes of James Maddison, Son Heung-min son or Micky van de Ven were to join them, it would spell disaster.

As a result, it has been reported that the north Londoners are targeting a second central defensive signing in the January transfer window as cover for both van de Ven and Cristian Romero. An array of names have been linked, including the likes of Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, Juventus star Gleison Bremer and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba most recently.

Tottenham sealed seven major signings in the summer window, but they've been tipped to be busy again this winter. The Lilywhites may also sign a new midfield ace, and one who can provide more attacking flair, if the sporadically-used Hojbjerg leaves in 2024.

Who could Tottenham sign in January?

Once a mainstay under Conte, the Denmark international now finds himself on the periphery of Postecoglou's first team, with the majority of his appearances this season coming from the substitute's bench. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are favoured as Tottenham's dual midfield pivot; limiting Hojbjerg's involvement.

There have been rumours that the former Southampton star even feels "betrayed" by Spurs over his sparse game time, prompting interest from Serie A giants Juventus, who are apparently eager to take advantage and swoop for the 28-year-old. Journalist Rudy Galetti, sharing an update for Tribal Football, has an update on the situation and who Spurs could replace Hojbjerg with.

According to the transfer reporter, Tottenham could make a "concrete move" for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, and he says to "keep an eye" on that potential development.

£40m

£17.2m

Free

£47.5m

£13m

£2m

£43m

"Conor – as is well known – attracted the attention of many Premier League teams and continues to do so," wrote Galletti. "For this reason, let's keep an eye on Tottenham, already in January: Spurs could make a concrete move following the possible farewell of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg."

How good is Conor Gallagher?

The 23-year-old has become a mainstay under Mauricio Pochettino this season; starting all seven of Chelsea's league games while ranking as their best-performing regular per 90 (with more than one start), according to WhoScored. Gallagher, it would seem, is justifying Lee Bowyer's past praise.

"He's a good player," Bowyer told talkSPORT. "Whatever you tell him he does and I just keep encouraging him to get in the box, and things are falling for him at the moment. His willingness and work rate are unreal."

Manchester United are going through somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde campaign under Erik ten Hag, winning just half of their Premier League matches thus far while struggling in the Champions League.

The Dutchman is still looking to get his summer signings firing as the likes of Mason Mount and Andre Onana haven’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of starts to their careers at United.

It isn’t just the new arrivals who are failing to hit the ground running, as Marcus Rashford has scored just once across all competitions, failing to replicate last season’s wonderful form in which he netted 30 times in total.

The former Ajax boss is having to rely on Bruno Fernandes yet again to be his main creative output and the Portuguese attacking midfielder has already racked up four goal contributions in ten matches.

The 29-year-old is arguably at his peak, yet the Red Devils won't have him forever and Ten Hag may need to think about potential heirs to his throne.

He could of course delve into the transfer market for a replacement when the time comes, or the 53-year-old could turn to the academy, where Shola Shoretire has been sparkling in the same position for the U21 side this term.

How good is Shola Shoretire?

The 19-year-old has been at Old Trafford since the age of nine and signed his first professional contract back in 2021 having clearly impressed the hierarchy of his potential.

Journalist Daniel Brown hailed Shoretire as a “wonderful talent” and as someone who “has all the qualities needed to be successful in the senior game” following a two-goal salvo against Chelsea for the U21s last season, and he has shone during the 2023/24 campaign.

The youngster has already managed to register three goals and three assists and while operating in an attacking midfield role, Shoretire has scored twice and grabbed three assists, indicating that it could be his most effective position.

His attacking qualities shouldn’t be underestimated as the Englishman has netted 29 times while registering 22 assists across spells at U21, U19 and U18 level and these statistics certainly suggest he could be an ideal heir to Fernandes, especially considering his statistics while playing in the number ten role.

How many times has Shola Shoretire played for Manchester United?

The talented teenager has already made five appearances for the senior side and therefore knows what it's like to represent the club at the highest level.

He made his debut against Newcastle United in February 2021 and has played in the Premier League, Europa League, and the Champions League, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly rated him highly enough to present the youngster with these opportunities.

Shoretire has yet to feature under Ten Hag however, but his form for the U21 side this season may soon be enough to warrant another chance in the first-team squad before the season is over.

The Red Devils haven’t enjoyed the best of starts and the Dutchman is having to rely on a few members of his squad to bail him out at times. Fernandes is an integral part of the team, yet he won't be at the club forever and Shoretire must harbour ambitions that one day he could be an ideal heir to the former Sporting CP star.

Newcastle United suffered a surprise defeat against West Ham United at St. James’ Park on Monday evening, and thus the gravity of this weekend’s Premier League contest against Crystal Palace is heightened.

Eddie Howe’s side have shown flashes of brilliance this season but are stuck in a stream of inconsistency that is hindering the quest for European football.

Palace have failed to kick on this season after displaying such remarkable progress under Oliver Glasner last year, but they remain a threat and Selhurst Park is a ground known to swallow teams up.

It won’t be easy, but with Alexander Isak back in red-hot form, the Magpies have a weapon that could silence the south Londoners.

Alexander Isak could be Palace's undoing

Newcastle signed Real Sociedad’s talented striker in a club-record £63m package in 2022, and while he suffered an injury-affected debut campaign, Isak has posted 40 goals and seven assists across 79 appearances for the English club.

Since the start of last season, the Sweden international has scored 25 goals across 40 Premier League outings, missing only 27 big chances throughout.

Aged 25, Isak has plenty of football still ahead of him, perhaps his brightest, most awe-inspiring days are still to come. With four goals from five recent matches under Howe’s wing, he’s found his feet after a slow start and will be the chief supplier of success, should it arrive, on Saturday.

However, Newcastle aren’t quite purring this term, lacking some of that bite from previous years. Isak can’t do it alone, and with Anthony Gordon failing to produce his best football at the moment, Howe must unleash Harvey Barnes from the outset.

He could be the perfect weapon against the Eagles backline, containing, of course, Marc Guehi.

Why Harvey Barnes must start at Selhurst Park

In August, Newcastle threw the kitchen sink at Steve Parish, whose transfer resolve – or perhaps obstinance – remained moveless. Four bids were lodged for Guehi, but the England centre-half was prevented from moving to Tyneside.

Neither outfit have enjoyed the campaign that they had hoped for so far, but Guehi has still been a titanic presence in Glasner’s backline, winning 63% of his duels and averaging a whopping 5.8 clearances per game, as per Sofascore.

He’ll be tasked with subduing Isak, and that’s why Barnes needs to start, providing the visitors with a varying attacking outlet to ensure that three points are claimed.

Creativity isn’t flowing as Howe would have hoped, with the 15 big chances created in the Premier League this season ranking Newcastle in joint-15th for that metric.

As such, a player of Barnes’ clinical quality could be crucial. As per FBref, the English winger ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored (0.62) per 90, highlighting the goalscoring edge that Newcastle so desperately need.

2024/25

Newcastle

12 (5)

4

1

0.42

2023/24

Newcastle

21 (7)

5

3

0.38

2022/23

Leicester

34 (32)

13

1

0.41

2021/22

Leicester

32 (24)

6

10

0.50

2020/21

Leicester

25 (22)

9

4

0.52

Such potency, four goals from only five Premier League starts in 2024/25, could see the Eagles downed and the Magpies take flight.

Guehi’s gritty, no-nonsense defending makes him a tough adversary for any forward worth their salt, but Barnes is a “menace” – as he has been praised by journalist Mikey Stafford – and could prove too much for his countryman, whose mind will be focused on Isak and his ball-striking prowess.

Isak can’t do it all himself, and while he had an off day against the Hammers last time out, he was let down by the profligacy and stuttered attacking labours of his teammates.

Barnes needs to play from the outset and be allowed to develop his relationship with the lively Lewis Hall down the left lane.

New role: Howe can replicate Joelinton success with Newcastle sensation

Howe should unleash a rising Newcastle star in a new role to create Joelinton 2.0

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 29, 2024

As the Arne Slot machine keeps hitting the jackpot, Liverpool are now reportedly plotting to get an early victory over new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim by signing one Sporting CP gem ahead of interest from their rivals.

Liverpool transfer news

If there was a definition for seamless transition then 14 wins in 16 games would be among them. Slot has entered Anfield and simply picked up where Jurgen Klopp left off whilst implementing his own calmer, more controlled approach than the exciting, positively frantic style of the German. And things were no different against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, as Luis Diaz’s hat-trick sent Xabi Alonso packing.

Back on top in the Premier League and in European football, Michael Edwards will now want to get Liverpool back to the top in the transfer market following a quiet window last time out.

The Reds have already been linked with the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, but now reportedly want to spoil one of Amorim’s first plans at Manchester United.

According to TeamTalk, Liverpool now want to sign Geovany Quenda from Sporting Club, who will only let their 17-year-old winger leave if his hefty €100m (£84m) release clause is triggered.

Those at Anfield sit alongside Manchester City and Manchester United with their interest and the latter may well have the advantage on paper given Amorim’s Sporting links. That said, it would then be quite the way to deal an early blow to the new Red Devils boss by instantly luring one of his former players away from his grasp.

90% passing, 100% dribbles: 8/10 Liverpool star was just as good as Diaz

Liverpool swept Bayer Leverkusen aside with a rip-roaring Champions League win.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 6, 2024

Quenda – still a teenager – is considered one of Sporting’s hottest prospects and is undoubtedly one to keep an eye on.

"Talented" Quenda is one for the future

Whilst it remains uncertain whether Mohamed Salah will put pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal, what is a known fact is that the Egyptian doesn’t have several years left at the top now that he’s 32 years old. In an ideal world, the Liverpool great will sign a new contract just as the Reds welcome the heir to his throne in the form of Quenda – a player who would instantly learn from Salah.

The young right-winger has been at the centre of significant praise so far this season, including from Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, who described him as “one of the most talented wingers in world football” this week.

Replacing Salah will be no easy task, whenever that may be, but getting one over on Manchester United and Amorim whilst doing exactly that would be quite the move from those at Anfield.

Before Jurgen Klopp arrived, Liverpool supporters just wanted to see their team be competitive in the fight for Champions League qualification, year in, year out.

This is a proud and prestigious football club, one of the biggest worldwide, but it was a fallen giant despite the anomaly of that 2013/14 season, supercharged by the once-in-a-lifetime Luis Suarez.

Only, he wasn’t actually an unrepeatable kind of forward, for Mohamed Salah would arrive three years beyond the Uruguayan’s sale, and has forged a legacy for the ages.

Mohamed Salah has surpassed Luis Suarez

Salah might be the greatest Liverpool forward of the Premier League era. Sure, Suarez took a rather average team, fused together with the very spirit of Steven Gerrard and posted 31 goals and 13 assists across 33 top-flight fixtures.

Again, Robbie Fowler is a division great, while Fernando Torres’ time on Merseyside was unforgettable, almost indefinable in the connection he forged with the city. Michael Owen literally won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 while rising to prominence with the Anfield side.

No one compares to Salah though, whose unceasing brilliance over what will be eight years this summer has etched his name into eternal Premier League folklore. Journalist David Lynch has called him an “all-time great”, praise that echoes across the country.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260 (0.59)

2.

Harry Kane

320

213 (0.67)

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208 (0.42)

4.

Andy Cole

414

187 (0.45)

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184 (0.67)

6.

Frank Lampard

609

177 (0.29)

7.

Thierry Henry

258

175 (0.68)

8.

Mohamed Salah

274

165 (0.60)

9.

Robbie Fowler

379

163 (0.43)

10.

Jermaine Defoe

496

162 (0.33)

Salah needs just 11 Premier League goals to surpass Thierry Henry and insinuate himself among the top seven goalscorers in the league’s history. The 32-year-old requires merely 20 strikes to overtake Sergio Aguero in the top five. The big-boy league.

Liverpool have been treated to a wondrous talent, one who spearheaded trophy-laden success throughout the Klopp era and might just have a definitive say in a similar fight under Arne Slot’s wing this season.

It all could have been so different though. In that weird, bleak hinterland between Suarez’s exit and Klopp’s advent, Liverpool wanted to replace their all-powerful number nine with a new attacking talisman – and settled on Lazar Markovic.

Lazar Markovic was supposed to be Liverpool's superstar

Farewell, Suarez. At least that £75m transfer fee can be put toward a thrilling rebuild that will set Liverpool up for an age at the highest echelon of English football, right?

Right?

Adam Lallana

Southampton

£25m

Lazar Markovic

SL Benfica

£20m

Dejan Lovren

Southampton

£20m

Mario Balotelli

AC Milan

£16m

Alberto Moreno

Sevilla

£12m

Divock Origi

LOSC Lille

£10m

Emre Can

Bayer Leverkusen

£10m

Rickie Lambert

Southampton

£4m

Javier Manquillo

Atletico Madrid

Loan

It was a disaster of a window, though not without its (in hindsight) silver linings. How funny that Divock Origi, a £10m signing from Lille who was tasked with replacing Suarez in the aggregate, would score the win-settling goal in the Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur, five years later, despite never really establishing himself as a high-scoring star.

For Markovic, no such luck. The young winger arrived from SL Benfica for a pretty hefty £20m fee, with correspondent James Pearce looking back at the transfer flop and saying: “He was rated as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.”

His Liverpool career probably reached its apotheosis when he played a rather simple, Busquets-esque pass into Phil Coutinho’s vicinity against Southampton in 2015, who thus proceeded to dispatch one of the most awe-inspiring ranged strikes in the Reds’ Premier League history.

That, sadly, is the tale of the tape. Or rather, a fleeting bright moment bespeaking high footballing merit that sits alongside a sweep of struggle.

Markovic’s poignant failure is one of sadness, but it’s not unusual. Many a highly-touted prospect has been hurtled to the wayside upon stepping into the rigours of big-time football.

He featured 34 times for Liverpool throughout the 2014/15 season, posting three goals and one assist. His growth was stunted, however, and the now-30-year-old was loaned out to Fenerbahce the following campaign. Klopp arrived during this time and probably took one perfunctory glance at the Serbian’s file before eliminating him from contention.

Avram Grant, formerly of Chelsea and Markovic’s manager during his first stint at Partizan, even said this: “I can say that apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Markovic is one of the best talents I’ve ever seen at 19 years of age.”

This gushing praise fell flat, sort of like a drunk in the rain.

Journalist Andy Brassel said that Liverpool’s young acquisition was a player of “rare talent”, but unfortunately it was so recherché that Markovic was unable to find it within himself. He toiled.

Throughout his maiden year, Markovic featured often, but that was all she wrote. One year after his arrival, he was discarded and thrown out on a series of loan moves that culminated in a permanent move to Fulham on a free transfer.

For a player who was of such ‘rare’ quality, indeed likened to Messi and Ronaldo, arguably the two greatest footballers in history, he quite heavily fell from a promising position and failed to pick himself back up.

Perhaps, in a way, this was the ‘OG’ Salah. A talented and electric forward with a growing sense of style and skill, capable of shouldering that Atlas burden that Suarez balanced on his back with such preternatural poise.

Supposed to be, in any case. Liverpool are hardly complaining now, not with one of the greatest forwards in modern history flourishing for their team.

Forget Diaz: Liverpool may have unearthed their very own Vinicius Jr

Liverpool appear to have themselves a serious talent that could dislodge Luis Diaz.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2024

Even as Manchester United dramatically came from behind to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup quarter-finals, the issues in the squad were exposed for all to see, as Bruno Fernandes and Antony found themselves in a makeshift backline late in the game. That said, it's clear where the Red Devils' summer focus should be, and one man has already been linked with an Old Trafford switch as a result.

Man Utd transfer news

In the first transfer window under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United have the chance to prove that this truly is the beginning of a new era. They have the chance to finally get things right in the transfer market; the chance to finally turn around a sinking ship weighed down by past silverware towards fresh Premier League glory. And the rumour mill has already started on that front.

Man United scout exiting 21-year-old with agent contact made

He had Premier League interest in January

ByTom Coates Mar 3, 2024

Reports have so far linked United with the likes of Donyell Malen, Weston McKennie and Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, who knows all about Manchester after his time at Manchester City. The rumours will only continue to pick up as the months go by too, as we start to see Ratcliffe's potential plan fall into place.

Included in that plan could also be some bargain deals. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Manchester United are eyeing a move to sign Tosin Adarabioyo, who is set to leave Fulham as a free agent at the end of the season. United will reportedly have to fend off as many as six other Premier League clubs to land the defender's signature, however, in a busy race this summer.

Those six other clubs are reportedly Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle United and West Ham United, highlighting just how many options Adarabioyo has to choose from. Given United's need for a central defender though, they will hope that Old Trafford is his next destination, despite being a former Manchester City academy player.

"Fast" Adarabioyo can replace Varane

With Raphael Varane's future still uncertain, Manchester United should welcome the idea of replacements, especially since the Frenchman is now 30-years-old and often struggling with injuries. And that's where Adarabioyo should come in for a bargain price.

The pending free agent has played a vital part in Marco Silva's side this season, helping the London club earn victories over the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and even Manchester United in what could prove to have been an audition at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, the stats suggest that he's more than kept up with Varane this season.

Progressive Passes

39

54

Tackles Won

10

10

Interceptions

18

14

Aerial Duels Won

45

21

What would make a deal for the 26-year-old even sweeter is that Pep Guardiola was once a fan, saying during Manchester City's pre-season in 2016: "We have to tell Tosin he has a lot of steps to get better, so it's not done, the player isn't done. But he has all the quality.

"He is fast, he is faster than the people can believe it. He's strong in the air. He has the quality to look behind the line for the next step, the next pass, but he has a lot of things to improve and I hope I can help him to develop his skills.”