da stake casino： O atacante Victor Paraíba, que estava no Atlético-GO, assinou com a Ferroviária para a disputa da Série D do Campeonato Brasileiro. Focado neste novo desafio, o jogador, que também passou pelo CSA, comemorou a nova chance na carreira.
Relíquias! Veja figurinhas antigas de veteranos do Brasileirão 2021
– Estou muito feliz com esse acerto na Ferroviária. É um clube que vem crescendo ao longo dos anos e tem feito um grande trabalho dentro e fora de campo. Vou lutar muito para ajudar o grupo na sequência da temporada e para fazer um grande segundo semestre no clube. – disse o jogador.
VEJA TABELA E SIMULE AS PRIMEIRAS RODADAS DO BRASILEIRÃO
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da supremo： Segundo Paraíba, o elenco é muito forte e vai com tudo na Série D.
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– Nossa ideia é fazer uma grande competição para brigar pelo acesso. O clube tem potencial para isso e vamos acreditar e lutar até o fim para que isso seja possível. – concluiu.
It was a good day at the office for Arsenal on Wednesday night. A calm and relatively straightforward win over Luton Town sent them back to the top of the Premier League table, at least for now.
Mikel Arteta made a number of changes to the side that earned a point at the Etihad on Sunday – five to be exact – and while Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe certainly pleaded their case to be more involved in the title run-in, some of the others didn't.
One of those who flattered to deceive was Hale End graduate Reiss Nelson, who, while busy, failed to have much of an impact on proceedings. So, it might be time for the club to cash in.
Reiss Nelson's performance vs Luton
In fairness to Nelson, he was always going to be up against it last night as he had the unenviable task of filling in for the talismanic Bukayo Saka, who has been a near-permanent fixture on the right under Arteta.
That said, he struggled to make a case for himself throughout his performance, and for the first time in a long time, Arsenal's attacks were split relatively evenly between their left and right flanks.
It looked as if he had scored the second goal of the night in the first half, but in reality, he had missed Smith Rowe's brilliantly driven pass, and it was Luton's Daiki Hashioka who bundled it into his own net.
The Elephant and Castle-born wideman wasn't terrible, but he did look a level below the man he was replacing, and the 6/10 rating he received from the Standard's Simon Collings, who claimed he 'didn't take his chance like others', was probably fair.
Minutes
75'
Expected Goals
0.11
Expected Assists
0.03
Shots on Target
0
Shots off Target
0
Blocked Shots
1
Touches
44
Passing Accuracy
33/33 (100%
Key Passes
1
Duels (Won)
7 (3)
This inability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck is clear in his individual statistics. In his 75 minutes of action, the 24-year-old completed 100% of his passes, took 44 touches and played one key pass, but he registered just 0.11 expected goals and 0.03 expected assists, had just one shot – which was blocked – and lost four of his seven duels.
In all, it wasn't an impressive showing from a man who so desperately needed to make an impact.
Reiss Nelson's stats this season
The reason last night was such a pivotal game for the tricky winger was because it was his second start of the season and first league start since July 2020, to be specific.
Including last night, the right-footed talent has made 23 appearances for the north Londoners this campaign. In these, he's scored just one goal and provided two assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 7.6 games.
However, these appearances have amounted to just 639 minutes of first-team football, meaning he's averaged a goal involvement every 213 minutes, which still isn't spectacular.
Appearances
23
Minutes
639
Goals
1
Assists
2
Minutes per Goal Involvement
213
So, with it abundantly clear that Arteta doesn't fancy him in the first team, is it time the club moved Nelson on?
Why Arsenal should sell Nelson
So, at this point, the answer looks like quite a resounding yes, as his path to regular first-team football in N5 looks more blocked than ever. Moreover, there appears to be genuine interest in his services from other top-flight sides, notably Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson.
Early last month, TEAMtalk revealed that the Seagulls were interested in bringing the £100k-per-week Arsenal man to the south coast. While the report states that the winger would be willing to leave, any deal would require a package of around £30m.
Now, getting such a sizable fee for a player who doesn't play would be a brilliant deal for the Gunners, but Brighton would also be getting their hands on a talented ace.
Appearances
152
Goals
8
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.11
While he's not getting much game time at the moment, he's still made 152 appearances for the north Londoners and has eight goals and nine assists to his name, and under the progressive system at the Amex, he could explode.
Arsenal's "monster" who didn't play against Luton was the biggest winner
The brilliant player didn’t step foot on the pitch but now looks more secure than ever in his starting role.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 4, 2024
Ultimately, if Arsenal and Brighton can agree to a deal even close to £30m, then Nelson should be sold, as it would benefit all parties involved.
On the evidence of his display against the Hatters, he's seemingly never going to realise his potential at the Emirates.
Tottenham Hotspur are making progress under Ange Postecoglou but there is still much work to do before the club reaches the desired standard.
Postecoglou had caught the eye for his work in Scotland with Celtic but after acceding to the dugout in north London was faced with mountainous problems: no European football; no belief; no Harry Kane.
However, despite some stumbles along the way, Tottenham are heading into the business end of the campaign in a great position, fifth in the Premier League and nearing a fully fit and available squad.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
This has scarcely been the case throughout the maiden months of the Australian's tenure, a blistering start to life severely affected by a damaging 4-1 home defeat against Chelsea, resulting in dismissals to Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie and injuries to influential signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
A tough period had been presaged, and indeed table-topping Spurs fell by the wayside – four defeats and a draw from five league matches – still fighting now to cement a spot in top four.
Losing the key components of his rearguard was particularly damaging for Postecoglou, and with a threadbare backline, 18-year-old centre-back Alfie Dorrington stepped up to the first-team.
Alfie Dorrington's season in numbers
It was the start of October and Postecoglou had stated that Dorrington and dynamic attacker Jamie Donley had "stood out" for the U21s and thus had been promoted to first-team training.
The latter has now made four appearances for the Lilywhites across recent weeks and while Dorrington has yet to make his senior debut, those aforementioned blows to Van de Ven and Romero had placed him in regular matchday contention.
Indeed, the teenager has been an unused substitute in the Premier League on ten occasions this term, capturing Postecoglou's attention after his stellar showings in the Premier League 2.
At youth level, Dorrington has played 11 times in the league this season as Wayne Burnett's development squad go from strength to strength, also making three appearances in the EFL Trophy, starring in a stunning 5-0 victoy over Colchester United.
Over his three outings in the EFL Trophy, the Enfield-born defender has completed 85% of his passes, averaged 5.3 ball recoveries and 4.7 clearances per game and succeeded with an incredible 83% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
Lauded for his "terrific" ability by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the signs certainly point toward stardom, with Dorrington boasting all the traits to succeed at the apex of English football.
Alfie Dorrington's style of play
A ball-playing centre-back with a boldness in his progression, Dorrington is a defender and will likely remain in the defensive third, so impressive in his ball retention and dispossessing ability, but he has a elegance in possession that could quite easily set him up for success in the centre of the park.
According to club insider Superhotspur, Dorrington is dynamic and has been said to have a 'commanding style of defending as well as his positivity on the ball, and ability to go on long and skilful surging forward runs out of defence.'
With such glowing natural qualities, Dorrington might even bloom into the finest player from the productive Spurs academy, Superhotspur remarking that: 'Alfie is in my opinion one of the very best footballing centre-halves that I have ever seen in the Spurs Academy set-up.'
There sure is competition for that particular crown, with 18-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall signed for €10m (£8m) plus add-ons from Swedish side Djurgårdens IF on deadline day, hijacking Barcelona's approach for the ace.
Bergvall has been hailed for his "generational" quality by one scout and has earned comparisons to Real Madrid phenomenon Jude Bellingham for his high-class multi-functionality in midfield.
Still, he's not the only prodigy in Tottenham's formative fold – actually joining officially in the summer – and Dorrington's success in wedging into the first-team already speaks of his talent and the trust held in his skill set by Postecoglou.
Perfect for Postecoglou
Back when Postecoglou managed Celtic, he touched upon the importance of entrusting youth with chances to make their mark, saying: “I think it’s important having players who were brought up with this club. I mean, you just have to look at our captain. It’s not just for Callum McGregor it’s for our supporters to know that one of their own has gone from the terraces to on the pitch.”
This was reflected during his time at Celtic Park and has been discernible throughout the early phase of his Tottenham career, and while moves have been made to shore up the defence in January, Radu Dragusin signing from Genoa for around £27m, Eric Dier left for Bayern Munich and so there are still not options aplenty.
Eric Dier for Tottenham
Dorrington making his debut before the summer is certainly a possibility, albeit hampered by the club's sole focus in the Premier League, and given that natural ball-playing ability and 'commanding' presence in defence, he could even be Romero's understudy.
Dragusin has an aggressive disposition that makes him a menace on the pitch but he is not a pass-proficient centre-half – he's competent, sure, but that is not where is finest attributes lie.
The same does not apply to Romero, who has been described as a "Rolls-Royce" of a player by pundit Martin Keown and has established himself as one of the Premier League's standout defenders since signing from Serie A club Atalanta for £42m back in 2021.
Cristian Romero: Similar PL Players
#
Player
Club
1.
Pau Torres
Aston Villa
2.
Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa
3.
Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal
4.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool
5.
Manuel Akanji
Manchester City
Source: Football Transfers
Moreover, he ranks among the top 11% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive passes and the top 5% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
For these reasons, Dorrington has the perfect mentor as he strives to take the next step in his development over these upcoming months, with Romero able to show him the many facets of the defensive trade.
Whether Postecoglou hands the teenage titan a starting berth this term remains to be seen; the gruelling nature of the fight for Champions League qualification in the Premier League could inhibit his chances.
Nonetheless, Dorrington is creeping ever closer to a prominent role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and in a matter of years he could be the biggest talent at the club, surpassing even the likes of Donley and new recruit Bergvall.
Leeds United are planning to accept a permanent offer for a versatile midfielder this summer, according to a new update.
Leeds' summer overhaul
The Whites are currently reaping the rewards of a busy off-field period which saw the 49ers Enterprises take control in Yorkshire and Daniel Farke come in as manager.
The German now has Leeds in the top two in the Championship as they look for an immediate return to the Premier League, and one market they have used well is when it comes to loans. A number of players activated relegation release clauses in their contracts to depart on a temporary basis as part of a massive overhaul last summer.
Jack Harrison
Everton
Diego Llorente
AS Roma
Rasmus Kristensen
AS Roma
Brenden Aaronson
Union Berlin
Marc Roca
Real Betis
Max Wober
Borussia Monchengladbach
Robin Koch
Eintracht Frankfurt (set to become permanent)
Luis Sinisterra
AFC Bournemouth (now permanent)
Sam Greenwood
Middlesbrough
Cody Drameh
Birmingham City
Meanwhile, Leeds brought in centre-back Joe Rodon on a season-long loan, with the Wales international playing an important role. Connor Roberts also arrived on loan in January from Burnley and the right-back has chipped in with two goal contributions so far.
However, with the summer window now just around the corner, Leeds may have to make decisions on some of their players who could possibly return. The club are open to offers for Ramus Kristensen, and another update has emerged in recent days.
Leeds planning to accept Marc Roca offer
Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke provided an update on the future of Roca in the last 48 hours, stating that the Whites plan to accept an offer for the Spaniard this summer.
Leeds ‘will be open to bids for the 27-year-old regardless of whether they achieve promotion back to the Premier League in the coming weeks’.
Real Betis midfielder Marc Roca.
Roca’s Elland Road contract ‘allows him to leave the club on loan once again next term if the club are not promoted’, but even if Farke’s side does go up, it is likely he will leave.
The midfielder is currently on loan with Real Betis and appears to have had an enjoyable spell back in his native country, showing his versatility by turning out as a holding midfielder and a centre-back.
Appearances
35
Goals
4
Assists
3
Yellow cards
7
On £50,000-a-week, Roca is under contract with Leeds until 2026, so the White could recoup plenty of the £10m they spent on him back in 2022. He has earned plenty of praise during his career, too, with former manager Julian Nagelsmann hailing him during his time with Bayern Munich.
حرص المحترف المصري محمود حسن تريزيجيه على تقديم رسالة وداع إلى نادي طرابزون سبور التركي، عقب رحيله إلى الدوري القطري مساء يوم الثلاثاء.
وانضم تريزيجيه إلى صفوف الريان القطري، مساء اليوم، قادمًا من طرابزون سبور (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
من جانبه، كتب تريزيجيه عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع فيس بوك: “شكرًا لفريقي الرائع والجماهير الرائعة على كل الذكريات التي لا تُنسى داخل وخارج الملعب”.
وأضاف: “لقد كان شرفًا لي أن أرتدي هذا القميص وأمثل هذا النادي، سأعتز دائمًا بالوقت الذي أمضيته هنا والعلاقات التي تشكلت مع زملائي في الفريق والمشجعين”.
وواصل: “على الرغم من أن رحلتي مع هذا الفريق تقترب من نهايتها، فإن حبي لكم والامتنان الذي أشعر به تجاه هذا النادي لن يختفي أبدًا”.
واختتم: “شكرًا لكم جميعًا على الدعم اللا متناهي وجعل هذه التجربة مميزة حقًا، وداعًا، ولكن ليس وداعًا”.
وانضم تريزيجيه إلى طرابزون سبور قادمًا من أستون فيلا، في 2022، وشارك في 76 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات، وسجل 25 هدفًا وصنع 16.
Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a wonderful 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, and it meant they had recorded a Premier League double over the club in the process.
The Old Gold have lost just twice in 2024 so far and Gary O’Neil will be hoping to maintain this type of form as they play Sheffield United this afternoon.
The Blades are currently sitting bottom of the table on 13 points, conceding a staggering 65 goals across their 25 matches, and it gives Wolves a perfect opportunity to record another win.
With over a week between matches, does the manager make a tweak to the starting XI? Or will he leave it unchanged for the clash today?
Wolves team news vs Sheffield United
The good news for the former Bournemouth boss is he has an unchanged squad to choose from as there are no new injury worries among the team.
Matheus Cunha is still absent, however, and he is unlikely to be back available until after the next international break, which occurs at the end of March.
O’Neil must be happy with the state of play regarding his options, and he could drop Mario Lemina to the bench against the Blades and unleash Tommy Doyle, who could unlock the Blades’ defence.
Tommy Doyle’s season in numbers
Wolves signed the Manchester City gem on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy last summer, and he has proven to be an exciting option for O’Neil to have among his squad.
The 22-year-old was hailed as a “superb midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig back in 2022, and he has gained plenty of senior experience in recent seasons, most notably helping today's opponents get promoted back to the top flight last season.
Tommy Doyle
Despite starting just five Premier League matches this season, Doyle has an average pass success rate of 86% and this could be key in unlocking the Blades’ defence today.
Across the top five European leagues in the previous 365 days, Doyle currently ranks in the top 11% for attempted passes per 90 (68.82) and this is yet further evidence that he could be a handful in the heart of the midfield for Wolves.
The youngster has also lost possession just 5.6 times per game, won 56% of his total duels per game and has been dribbled past only 0.2 times per match, indicating that he possesses the required physical strength to succeed in the top flight and this defensive nature could allow the likes of Joao Gomes to push forward more often.
70
50
34/37 (92%)
2/3
7
Despite Sheffield United defeating the Molineux side in the reverse fixture earlier this season, a lot has changed since and O’Neil’s men have gained plenty of morale-boosting wins in recent weeks.
Unleashing Doyle could give him an opportunity to impress from the first whistle and, considering their opponents are weak at the back, it will allow the club to go seeking quite a few goals.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
If the 5 foot 7 starlet does shine, it could cement his place in the starting XI for future matches, no doubt about it.
da apostebet： Over time, Liverpool supporters have come to trust Jurgen Klopp's judgement in the transfer market, with the illustrious Premier League outfit often delving down a shrewder road than their rivals when improving the squad.
da leao： While staple members Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk were signed for lofty figures, deals for iconic Klopp stars such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Joel Matip – certainly not an exhaustive list – were welcomed for bargain sums in today's jaw-dropping landscape.
The remarkable accuracy in the transfer market has left certain rivals rueing their own lack of discernment and has been the foundation of the Reds' success under Klopp's wing.
Jurgen Klopp
But it hasn't always gone well and there are a few deals littered throughout the German's tenure that are best left in distant memory.
Indeed, three-and-a-half years ago Liverpool ventured to sign Thiago Alcantara, long considered one of Europe's superlative centre-midfielders, though the Spain international's time on Merseyside has been marred by an incredible series of injury problems.
Liverpool's signing of Thiago Alcantara
It was 2020 and Liverpool were preparing for the eventuality of Gini Wijnaldum's sale; the Dutchman has one year remaining on his current contract and renewal looked unlikely. A replacement was needed.
Wijnaldum would indeed move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer one year later but FSG moved to sign Thiago from Bayern Munich and wrapped up a deal for a fee rising to £25m.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara
Long regarded as a "magnificent" footballer with "outstanding technique" – as was once said by Phillip Lahm – the La Masia youth graduate had won honours in abundance throughout a glittering career, notably gleaning the Champions League with both Bayern and Barcelona, and his acquisition looked a no-brainer for a heavy metal Liverpool side transitioning toward a style with a tad more control and composure.
The one little concern was an unflattering injury record, but then there was hope that that wouldn't present too large a quandary.
Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool career so far
Thiago has completed 98 appearances for Liverpool and played a big role as Klopp chased a quadruple in 2021/22 – unsuccessfully, sure, but not without triumph in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
andre-thiago-alcantara-liverpool-opinion
The £200k-per-week star enjoyed success that year and actually started 17 Premier League matches during that season, completing 89% of his passes and averaging 1.2 key passes, 1.9 tackles and 4.5 successful duels per fixture, as per Sofascore.
He was important last season but fell to injury in the new year and made his final Premier League start against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the beginning of February.
Yet to feature from the outset since Thiago made his anticipated return off the bench during Liverpool's recent defeat against title rivals Arsenal, but got fans groaning after bewildering news that he had suffered a hamstring issue.
These incessant problems have caused the player's transfer value to plummet, with Football Transfers recording Thiago's current value at just £4m, which marks an 80% decrease – such has been the enormity of his decline.
Thiago Alcantara: Premier League Stats by Season
Season
Apps
Starts
23/24
1
0
22/23
18
14
21/22
25
17
20/21
24
20
Source: WhoScored
Once praised for his "staggering" talents by pundit and former Liverpool man Michael Owen, Thiago has enjoyed some fine moments but all too often has watched on in shadowed obscurity as his confreres fight for honours.
He's not been the most expensive addition during Klopp's reign and while he carries the patina of a wisened and cultured veteran, he has been unable to strut his stuff with the slightest bit of regularity, and it remains to be seen if Liverpool will get more than a sliver out of his services before the end of the campaign.
Worse than Naby Keita
They say that availability is the best ability, and while this is worn-out phrasing it certainly speaks a truth regarding Thiago's Liverpool career.
Endowed with such scintillating technical ability and tactical intelligence that allows him to control matches with remarkable ease, Thiago is comfortably one of the best players to perform under Klopp at Liverpool, when going off raw quality alone.
However, raw quality is only one of many important facets down a winding path toward success and the 32-year-old's startling inability to maintain fitness has ravaged any hopes of etching his name into Premier League lore for his feats on the pitch.
This is not the first time Reds supporters have been led to get excited by a high-profile addition to the midfield, with Naby Keita's £53m acquisition back in 2018 supposed to be a game-changing move during Liverpool's primitive face under Klopp, who dubbed the Guinean "the complete midfielder."
Naby Keita: Key Characteristics
Strengths
Weaknesses
Passing
Aerial duels
Tackling
Blocking
Through balls
Source: WhoScored
In a similar decline, Keita managed only stuttering glimpses of the quality that prompted Klopp to grant such an expensive outlay, scoring 11 goals and supplying seven assists across 129 fixtures in all competitions for the Anfield side but, given that he completed five campaigns in England, this averages out to a measly 26 appearances per term.
To put that in perspective, Mohamed Salah averaged 51 games per season during the same period.
Like Thiago, Keita is among Europe's most naturally talented midfielders and has even been hailed for his "world-class" attributes by Virgil van Dijk in the past, but given that the former has reaped lucrative rewards across both German and Spanish pitches, it's hard to feel more aggrieved by Keita's struggles.
Naby Keita.
The end date draws ever closer and it's very hard to imagine a world where Thiago, who turns 33 in two months exactly, pens new terms and has another shot at crafting a successful campaign for himself.
There's a wistful air surrounding these closing months of Thiago's Liverpool career and it will very much go down as a transfer that offered some lovely, influential moments but ultimately failed to deliver even a portion of the goods.
Klopp's sweeping changes to the midfield last summer have allayed any fears that Thiago's exit might be detrimental but it is a real shame nonetheless. He's one of the finest footballers around.
Liverpool thumped Bournemouth 4-0 in the Premier League last weekend to continue their imperious form and maintain the pursuit of silverware.
With Storm Isha threatening Jurgen Klopp's side's fluency, a goalless first half was a fair reflection of a slightly disjointed effort, but Liverpool clicked into gear after the break, as has become a trend this season, to blitz the Cherries and create a five-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
There has been much to cheer about for the resurgent Anfield side this season, having put last term's malaise firmly behind them, with sweeping changes made to the midfield to revive the energy and spirit.
Of course, the work is never done and bolstering the defence has been a topic of transfer conversation for some time now, and while results such as the one at the Vitality Stadium underscore Liverpool's strength as title challengers, reinforcements are needed to preserve the rekindled form.
Liverpool's search for defenders
Joel Matip's season-ending injury against Fulham in December was a cruel blow for a stalwart out of contract at the end of the season, but Jarell Quansah's emergence has ensured that drastic measures need not be taken this month.
The central defence is not the only area that needs investment, however, with a new left-back being considered for transfer in Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Wolves' Rayan Ait-Nouri against West Ham's Jarrod Bowen.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are set to rival Arsenal for the signature of the Algeria international in the summer, with Wolves unwilling to do business this month, as Klopp continues to assess his options in defence.
The Old Gold have placed a lofty £50m price tag on their player and it's now up to the Reds' shrewd negotiating skills to bypass the Gunners' interest and reach an agreement this year.
Why Liverpool are interested in Rayan Ait-Nouri
Admittedly, Joe Gomez has performed admirably at left-back over recent matches and has been quirkily dubbed a "Swiss army knife" for his noteworthy multi-functionality.
The 26-year-old has played the role nine times this term due to injuries to both Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas but Ait-Nouri would be a natural rising star down that flank to work his way up to a starring role under Klopp's wing.
Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Signing for Wolves from French club Angers in a £9.5m transfer in July 2021, Ait-Nouri has now chalked up 97 appearances for his side, though he only started nine Premier League matches last season.
This season, now under Gary O'Neil's leadership, the £10k-per-week ace has featured 17 times in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 2.1 tackles and 4.7 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 61% of his dribbles and 59% of his contested duels.
Dribbling
Concentration
Tackling
Crossing
Passing
Source: WhoScored
As per FBref, the 22-year-old dynamo ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons (dribbles) and the top 11% for tackles made per 90, which effectively illuminates his prowess as one of the most frightening vehicles the position has to offer.
Praised for his "delicious" distribution by The Athletic's Tim Spiers, the four-cap international is certainly not the finished product but he does boast a range of qualities that would offer Liverpool a new dimension in their wide play, with Robertson, for all his qualities, ranking among the bottom 20% for successful take-ons per 90.
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Tsimikas, Liverpool's second-choice left-back, is considered a similar player to Robertson on his FBref page too and for this reason, it might be wise to swoop in for a rising talent such as Ait-Nouri, who would open up a new dimension.
Moreover, Ait-Nouri's breakneck style of play could be perfect for Luis Diaz, who hasn't quite reached his zenith this season and will be desperate for an upswing in form heading into the business end.
How Rayan Ait-Nouri could unlock Luis Diaz
Liverpool signed Diaz from FC Porto for an initial fee of £37m in January 2022 and after an exciting start to life on Merseyside the winger was ravaged by injury during the 2022/23 campaign.
This season, fully recovered and with a successful pre-season behind him, Diaz has only scored six goals and supplied two assists across 26 matches in all competitions this term, which is hardly the kind of prolific form that Klopp will demand of his frontline.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.
This said, the 27-year-old is a true "game-changer" – as he has been hailed by reporter Charlotte Coates – and Anfield supporters have been treated to some mesmeric displays over the past few years that have cemented the belief that he can be a leading member over the coming years.
He will need to start ramping up that direct return, however, and Ait-Nouri, whom Spiers has also declared a "phenomenal" talent when he was a teenager (Ait-Nouri, not Spiers), has the skills to pave a launchpad from which Diaz can use to soar to new levels of success.
Diaz might be performing below the desired standard regarding his clinical touch right now, but he is undoubtedly one of the most mobile and electric wingers around with remarkable technical skill, ranking among the top 7% of positional peers over the past year for pass completion and the top 11% for touches in the attacking box per 90.
By signing Ait-Nouri, Liverpool would have an engine behind Diaz to charge his exploits tirelessly, barnstorming his way into the outer rim of the final third and providing the Colombian, whose fleet-footedness allows him to drift into the box with ease, with supplementing to start racking up some more considerable numbers.
He alone wouldn't be able to bring those numbers up but Ait-Nouri could be exactly the type of full-back to increase the ever-improving dynamism and fluency of this resurgent Liverpool team, and while Diaz is not quite there yet, the signs suggest that his very own renaissance could be just around the corner.
Erik ten Hag’s future at Bayer Leverkusen is already hanging by a thread just two games into the new Bundesliga season. The Dutchman has come in for huge internal criticism after a shaky start, with the club refusing to publicly back him. The former Manchester United boss could be out of a job again as early as next week.
Ten Hag under fire after two gamesLeverkusen chiefs silent on coach's futureDecision expected post-transfer windowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayer Leverkusen’s start under Ten Hag has been chaotic, with Saturday's 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen – during which they conceded two late goals to ten men – only adding to the unrest. Reports from claimed the club already had doubts about the Dutchman before matchday two, and the mood around the BayArena has since turned 'critical'. Amid this speculation, neither sporting director Simon Rolfes nor club management have offered Ten Hag any public support.
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The silence from the board is being seen as a major red flag for Ten Hag. Without a public vote of confidence for Rolfes and Co, his authority in the dressing room looks increasingly fragile. If the bosses already feel they made a mistake, sacking him so early would be a dramatic but telling decision.
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Before the Werder Bremen draw, Rolfes notably declined to back Ten Hag on live television. After the match, Leverkusen officials again avoided making any comment about their coach’s future. The club has only stated they will reassess the situation after the transfer window shuts, leaving Ten Hag in limbo.
gettyWHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?
Leverkusen’s hierarchy will decide on Ten Hag’s position once the transfer deadline closes on Monday evening. If results and performances do not improve quickly, a change in the dugout appears inevitable. The Dutchman is running out of time to convince the bosses he is the right man to lead the Werkself.
Liverpool have not been very good this season. Viewed through the prism of extensive summer spending – more, in fact, than any other club in a single summer transfer window – some of the criticism concerning Arne Slot’s side has been justified.
But some of it has been blown out of proportion. The Reds are a team in transition, and while six defeats from seven matches in all competitions were inexcusable, the response to put Aston Villa and then Real Madrid away in the space of four days underscores the quality rippling through this team.
One of the Premier League champions’ biggest problems this year has been a lack of physicality and control in the engine room. And so, against Los Blancos on Tuesday evening, Slot reverted to type.
How Liverpool won the midfield battle vs Real Madrid
In short, Liverpool played like they wanted it more. Gone was the lethargy and limpness of recent months, and Slot grinned as he watched his outfit rekindle that irresistible quality of last year.
Real Madrid might have won 55% of the duels on the evening, but Liverpool’s midfielders were economical in their performances, far more reliable and robust than we have been forced to watch for much of the campaign.
Dominik Szoboszlai was as brilliant as ever in the ten role, unplayable at times and unquestionably in the form of his Liverpool career. Moreover, Ryan Gravenberch instilled calm in an assured showing as the anchor. It is no coincidence that Liverpool’s return to form comes after last season’s midfield have been moulded back together.
After all, it was Alexis Mac Allister who bagged himself a goal after Szoboszlai’s whipped delivery, showcasing the direct danger this midfield can pose against opponents, marrying that with slick passing and crisp defending.
A header from a midfielder against a Spanish giant on a big European night. It was reminiscent of Gini Wijnaldum against Barcelona.
However, there was another man on the field to show Slot that he could be his version of the iconic Dutchman, with a statement showing in a red shirt.
Slot's own Gini Wijnaldum
Liverpool were deserving victors against Real Madrid on Tuesday, and Wirtz played a crucial part in claiming three points, hailed post-match by Szoboszlai, who said, “What a game! He just kept on running.”
Wirtz has flattered to deceive since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m this summer, but he looks to be turning a corner, settling into the rigours of football in Slot’s Anfield side.
Despite still searching for that elusive first goal in a Liverpool shirt, the German international oozed class of a different kind against Xabi Alonso’s side, and marrying that with a remarkable physical shift, he has set the foundation for an upswing in performances over the next months.
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Most Distance Covered
Player
Minutes played
Distance covered
Florian Wirtz
88′
11.37km
Dominik Szoboszlai
90′
10.61km
Aurelien Tchouameni
90′
10.51km
Jude Bellingham
90′
10.50km
Hugo Ekitike
79′
9.87km
Data via DaveOCKOP
Hailed as being “something special” by writer Eddie Gibbs, the 22-year-old glittered against the most dominant and destructive European side around, and it’s curious that he has shuffled into a wider berth than the number ten role assigned to him for much of the season so far.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered an interesting take on the situation. The 76-year-old suggested that the inculcation of Wirtz into the midfield had been to the detriment of Liverpool’s overall fluency.
But, shaped into a more unnatural role on the left, Wirtz’s energy and incredible work ethic played into Liverpool’s victory.
In this way, he could become Slot’s own version of Wijnaldum, who would not have envisaged a permanent remould into an industrious, box-to-box midfielder at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s team when joining the Reds from Newcastle United in 2016.
And yet Wijnaldum became one of the staples of Liverpool’s incredible successes, featuring 237 times for the club but only posting 22 goals and 16 assists across all competitions.
Jurgen Klopp and Gini Wijnaldum
Wirtz will still hope to provide a prolific dimension at Liverpool over the years of his stay, but it might be that his adaptation to this new land requires something of a shift akin to Wijnaldum’s way back when.
And with such indefatigable performances as the one earlier this week, it’s surely only a matter of time until he announces himself as a superstar.
Arne Slot has just unlocked Liverpool's new Coutinho vs Real Madrid
Liverpool may have unearthed their next Philippe Coutinho after getting the better of Real Madrid 1-0.