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Amid their recent struggles, Portsmouth have had their misery compiled by three fresh injury doubts who are now facing a race to be fit enough to square off against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Portsmouth injury news

After earning promotion from League One, Pompey would have been full of optimism that they’ve got enough to stay put in England’s second tier. Just 11 games in, however, and that optimism has evaporated with John Mousinho’s side sitting rock bottom of the Championship. Some hope may have been restored when they defeated Queens Park Rangers, but Portsmouth have since been returned to reality in brutal fashion by fellow strugglers Cardiff City.

On the end of a 2-0 defeat, Portsmouth must pick themselves up and go again against Sheffield Wednesday as soon as Friday in what should be seen as another winnable game. Pick up three points against the Owls and Pompey will even find themselves out of the relegation zone if results go their way. That said, they have already been handed a triple blow in pursuit of those three points.

As confirmed by Mousinho and reported by the Star, Paddy Lane, Jordan Williams and Nico Schmid are all doubts to face Sheffield Wednesday on Friday after all three were forced off with injuries against Cardiff.

Mousinho provided an update on the trio, telling reporters: “Paddy has done something to his Achilles and Jordan took a nasty knock to the hip flexor in the challenge that somehow saw Cardiff awarded a free-kick… Nico got a whack to the head when they scored their second goal and had blurred vision, so we took him off.”

Ahead of a crucial relegation six-pointer against Sheffield Wednesday, Pompey will particularly miss mainstays Williams and Lane in what is now an uphill battle towards victory.

More frustration for Portsmouth

Losing three players in one game due to injury almost sums up Portsmouth’s fortunes so far this season, with those at Fratton Park currently hurtling straight back down to League One. Mousinho’s hope will be to at least get Williams and Lane back fit and firing as soon as possible – perhaps even after his side’s game against the Owls on Friday.

Both have started eight of Portsmouth’s 11 Championship games so far this season, highlighting their importance under Mousinho. If Lane, in particlar, can return from his current knock with a bang, then his side’s survival chances will undoubtedly increase. Playing a vital part in promotion last season, the winger scored 12 goals and assisted another seven in League One, but has so far failed to replicate that output in the Championship.

Following Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth take a trip to Hull City before then facing Plymouth Argyle. Truth be told, the next three games are the kind that Mousinho’s side must be earning points from. Further defeats would leave even the most optimistic Portsmouth fan fearing the worst in what could prove to be a make-or-break run in the coming weeks.

After a January spending spree, the soon-to-be deposed champions are expected to splash even more cash this summer to overhaul an ageing squad

Wednesday was weird. It was a pivotal night in the Premier League title race, and yet Manchester City's game against Tottenham was an irrelevance. The only meaningful action was taking place at Anfield and the City Ground, as Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the table to 13 points with a home win over Newcastle while second-placed Arsenal were being easily held by Nottingham Forest.

Not since Pep Guardiola's first season in charge have City been effectively out of the Premier League title after 27 rounds. Back in the spring of 2017, though, we were already starting to see signs that the Catalan was building something special at the Etihad Stadium. Indeed, City lost just one league game from January 16 onwards – and even that was away to eventual champions Chelsea on April 5.

By the season's end, then, it was clear that Guardiola's footballing philosophy was already starting to take root and, that summer, he added a number of key elements – including Ederson, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker – to what would become his first great City side.

Despite the patchy nature of the performance at Spurs, there was enough evidence on display to suggest that Pep might well be in the process of constructing another squad capable of dominating the English game…

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  Unexpected and rapid decline

  City's collapse was as swift as it was shocking. Rodri's majestic influence over Guardiola's team may have been underestimated, but there was little reason to believe that they would completely fall apart a matter of weeks after the Spaniard suffered a likely season-ending ACL injury in September. After all, City had won an unprecedented fourth-consecutive title just four months previously.

  However, City lost six of their eight league games between November 2 and December 21 to plummet from first to seventh in the standings. Never before had a Guardiola side experienced such a drastic dip in form – and the incredibly concerning thing was that the Catalan looked completely incapable of arresting the slide.

  Consequently, there was even talk that a visibly stressed Guardiola might even resign a matter of weeks after signing a contract extension until 2027 – and it certainly didn't seem beyond the realms of possibility. After all, Guardiola had taken a sabbatical from coaching after the pressure had become too much for him during his fourth and final season at Barcelona, when the Blaugrana were dethroned as champions of Spain at Barcelona.

  He had also walked away from Bayern Munich after three successive seasons of Champions League disappointment. Guardiola, remember, had taken over a treble-winning team at the Allianz Arena, but didn't manage to get them back into a single European final in spite of the arrivals of top talents such as Thiago Alcantara, Xabi Alonso, Robert Lewandowski, Arturo Vidal and Joshua Kimmich.

  Despite the Etihad extension, then, there was a legitimate question mark over whether Guardiola had it in him to go again. We got an emphatic answer in January, though.

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• Manchester City FC
  

  Spending spree

  By the midway point of a calamitous campaign which cast considerable doubt on City's hopes of finishing in the top four, it was clear that Guardiola was in dire need of help. Luckily, his Abu Dhabi-based employers provided it in abundance.

  City spent a whopping £180m ($223m) during the winter transfer window – more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined. Only Todd Boehly's Chelsea had splashed more January cash during their historic and utterly insane spending spree of 2023.

  Having erred badly by failing to sign a replacement for Julian Alvarez during the summer, City belatedly addressed their lack of an alternative to – and support for – Erling Haaland in attack by signing Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m. It also came as no surprise to see them pay £50m for Porto's Nico Gonzalez, given Mateo Kovacic had failed miserably to fill the Rodri-shaped hole in midfield. City's injury issues in defence also resulted in a combined £63.2m outlay on two young centre-backs in Abdukodir Khusanov (20) and Vitor Reis (19).

  Guardiola is supremely confident that his four most significant January signings – teenager Juma Bah also arrived at the tail end of January from Valladolid – will eventually make a big impact in the Premier League. And, in fairness, some have already made their presence felt.

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  Khusanov recovering well

  Obviously, Khusanov gained immediate attention for all the wrong reasons by dropping a clanger on his debut against Chelsea, but he's barely put a foot wrong since, and the Uzbek was immensely impressive in the 1-0 win at Spurs.

  "He travelled with no wash bag, no nothing," an incredulous Guardiola told reporters after the game in north London. "He arrived to play football and when you talk to him, he just laughs, all the time! But he's a reliable player, so fast, so quick and, with the ball, the quality of pass is extraordinary and he has the ability to break lines.

  "Of course, he has to improve, but he's 20, so young. But I've seen players with a lot of pace and he is one of them. People adore him; he's silent, works, no complaints, so humble, and I’m pretty sure our fans will love him too. It's not easy to overcome his first, negative impact against Chelsea. But he was so calm the days after, and the games he's played recently have been really good."

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  Nico already at home

  Gonzalez has slotted even more seamlessly into City's starting line-up, which is hardly surprising, as he and Guardiola speak the same language – in every sense.

  The 23-year-old Spaniard was schooled at La Masia and made his professional breakthrough at Barcelona before attracting Guardiola's attention with his performances at Porto over the past two-and-a-half seasons.

  City may have been ultimately overwhelmed by Real Madrid in the Champions League, and outfoxed by in-form Liverpool at the Etihad last weekend, but they've undeniably started to look a little more like their old selves with the Rodri-like Gonzalez pulling the strings in midfield, and Guardiola believes that his two compatriots could form a formidable midfield pairing when the Ballon d'Or winner eventually returns to full fitness.

As they aim to continue their turnaround in form as of late, Newcastle United have been handed a much-needed boost on the injury front with one player taking a vital step towards his recovery after missing seven months of action.

Newcastle injury news

The Magpies are no strangers to injury problems, having opened their campaign with a list of absentees before the likes of Alexander Isak also suffered knocks. With Eddie Howe’s squad gradually reaching full fitness, however, the form of both his side and particularly Isak has come at a much-needed time in the last couple of weeks. The Swede has rediscovered his goalscoring boots to get both his and Newcastle’s season going again.

Given that Newcastle failed to welcome a number of reinforcements in the summer transfer window, getting the current version of Howe’s squad back to full fitness has to be the key to any success. Without European football this season too, the Magpies’ squad depth – or lack thereof – should not be as exposed as it was in the previous campaign.

Shearer wants Newcastle to sign £60m striker who's even better than Isak

Alan Shearer believes Newcastle need to dip into the transfer market

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 8, 2024

What will certainly help those at St James’ Park, meanwhile, is the pending return of one particular player. As confirmed by Howe, Sven Botman is now back in Newcastle training in a vital step towards his recovery after missing the last seven months through an ACL injury.

Although a positive sign, Howe did admit that the Dutchman’s return will still take some time, telling reporters: “We hope Sven can begin light training in the next few weeks. If we see him before the end of the year, that would be a bonus. We are probably looking at more like January.”

A cautious update more than anything, Botman will only make his return when the time is right after missing several months.

"Excellent" Botman will ease need for January arrival

After spending almost the entirety of their summer on a failed pursuit of Marc Guehi, Newcastle found themselves in a concerning position and have since paid the price for a lack of depth within their backline. And whilst it would be easy to now panic in the January transfer window and make up for lost time, Botman should ease Newcastle’s centre-back struggles once and for all upon his return in the new year.

Howe will be a relieved man to his the Dutch defender on his way to a full recovery too, having previously been full of praise for his £90,000-a-week star. The Newcastle boss said via Chronicle Live after a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup at the end of 2022: “Sven Botman was excellent tonight – I thought that was his best game for us aerially. He was dominant against their strikers.

“His use of the ball this season has been excellent but he’s also come on a lot in other areas. It was a good night for him – and us.”

Getting closer and closer to full strength, Newcastle may yet have their eye on European qualification once again.

What was supposed to be a triumphant campaign to finally lift the Premier League title is quickly deteriorating into a disappointing battle for a Champions League place for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a rough start to the season, which sees them down in fourth place and nine points behind league leader Liverpool.

What’s worse is that, alongside Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and a few other names, the Gunners could now be without Leandro Trossard for the upcoming game against Nottingham Forest after he came off injured for Belgium last night.

However, in recent weeks, the 29-year-old has been underwhelming, and based on recent reports, he could soon be replaced at the Emirates.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report out of Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs keen on signing Barcelona star Raphinha.

The report claims that while the Brazilian winger remains ‘one of the most attractive figures for the top European clubs,’ the Gunners are firmly in the race to land his signature.

However, Hansi Flick is reportedly reluctant to lose one of his best players in January or the summer, so should a team wish to sign the former Leeds United ace, the report has revealed they’ll have to make an offer of around €90m to get the ball rolling, which is about £75m.

It would represent a significant investment from Arsenal, but given Raphinha’s immense skill, one well worth making, especially as he’d be the ideal Trossard upgrade.

How Raphinha compares to Trossard

So, if Arsenal were able to get their man, either in January or the summer, it seems like the position he’d get the most game time would be left-wing, as we can’t imagine Arteta starting anyone over Saka on the right, and so far this season, the Brazilian has started more games off the left than anywhere else.

With that said, this would put him in direct competition with Trossard for a starting role, so which one comes out on top in a comparison?

Well, from a pure output perspective, it’s the Porto Alegre-born dynamo, whom former manager Xavi dubbed “one of the best players in the world”, who comes out ahead.

Indeed, in 54 appearances since the start of last season he’s scored 22 goals and provided 23 assists, meaning he’s averaged a goal involvement once every 1.2 games for the Spanish giants.

In contrast, the Gunners’ dynamic winger has scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 61 appearances, equating to a significantly worse average of a goal involvement once every 2.77 games.

Unfortunately for the former Brighton & Hove Albion star, the comparison remains just as one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, the former Leeds star comes out way ahead in the majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, goal and shot-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Trossard remains a very talented footballer who could still play an important squad role for Arsenal, he’s clearly second-best to Raphinha.

Therefore, even if it costs them an arm and a leg, the Gunners must sign the Brazilian star as soon as possible.

Arsenal thought they had a new Henry, but he was a "mistake" & left for £0

The expensive attacker was a flop at Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 16, 2024

Xabi Alonso has urged Bayer Leverkusen to channel Liverpool's 'Miracle of Istanbul' after racking up a three-goal deficit against Bayern Munich.

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• Leverkusen lose 3-0 in first leg against Bayern
• Alonso urges side to channel 'Miracle of Istanbul'
• Liverpool came back from 3-0 half-time deficit in 2005

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayer Leverkusen have had Bayern Munich's number over the last season and a half, with the Bavarians not beating Die Werkself since September 2022; however, as the two sides faced off in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday, Vincent Kompany's side blew the visitors away with a 3-0 win thanks to a Harry Kane brace on either side of Jamal Musiala's strike.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the Champions League, a team has only come back from a three or more goal deficit from the first-leg on four occasions. As such, Alonso has urged his players to channel Liverpool's 'Miracle of Istanbul' when the Reds, who featured Alonso as a player, had come back from a three-goal deficit against AC Milan during the 2005 Champions League final.

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  WHAT ALONSO SAID

  Speaking to the media, Alonso said when asked about using the 'Miracle of Istanbul' as inspiration: "Absolutely. It will take time to analyse and go through this result because we have been beaten well. Everything went against us because of us.

  "But it is not over until it is over and, as you said, anything can happen. The mindset has to be that and if there is a chance, we will fight for it. We have to fight back. We will learn from this and believe in our return leg. We don't give up so easily. Three goals? You never know. One goal can change anything."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN?

  Die Werkself will now prepare for their Bundesliga clash against Werder Bremen before they get set to host Bayern Munich at BayArena on Tuesday, March 11, as they look to come back in supreme fashion to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Chelsea could reportedly send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United in a stunning reversal of their loan deal by paying a "financial penalty".

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• Chelsea have obligation to buy Sancho
• Yet the Blues could bypass this clause
• Man Utd return still possible

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan following a breakdown in his relationship with former United boss Erik ten Hag last season. The agreement includes an obligation to buy if Chelsea finish 14th or higher in the Premier League, triggering a fee between £22-25 million depending on their final position. With Enzo Maresca's side currently sitting in fourth place, well clear of 14th-placed United ironically, the conditions for a permanent transfer appear likely to be met.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to thethere remains a possibility that Sancho could return to Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide to back away from the deal, though this would come at a 'significant financial cost' as per the terms agreed with United. The west Londoners are said to be scouting several wingers, with Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez emerging as a potential target for the summer transfer window.

  Another factor complicating the situation is Sancho’s contract negotiations. Typically, when a player joins a club on loan with an obligation to buy, personal terms are agreed in advance to ensure a seamless transition. However, the report claims that the 24-year-old has not yet reached an agreement with Chelsea regarding long-term wages and other terms.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United are still feeling the financial burden of Sancho’s £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 with club chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who name-checked the winger as one of several signings from the previous regime INEOS are having to put up with, confirming that another £17m of the transfer fee was due to be paid this season. Sancho, who has 16 months remaining on his lucrative five-year contract, earns a reported £250,000 per week, with United currently covering a portion of his wages while the Blues paying £100,000. If he were to return to Old Trafford, the club would once again be responsible for his full salary, creating further financial headaches for United’s new ownership group.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

  Sancho’s potential return would present a major challenge for INEOS, as the club would be forced to find a new buyer for yet another high-earning player who is no longer part of their plans. With the summer transfer window approaching, Chelsea must soon decide whether to keep Sancho or cut their losses, while United face the risk of being stuck with an expensive and unwanted asset.

Aston Villa are leading the transfer race to sign a 24-year-old with a £67 million release clause, according to a new report.

The Midlands side have been very busy in transfer windows since Unai Emery and Monchi’s arrival, and the January transfer window could follow suit as they eye up potential new signings.

Ex-Aston Villa employee suggests £50m star would jump at the chance to join

He could be a serious target for Emery as well.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 16, 2024

Aston Villa news and updates

Villa’s poor run of form in the last couple of weeks could have opened the club’s eyes to where they may need to improve if they are to continue competing domestically and in Europe.

Last week, it emerged that Villa are ready to compete with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to sign Jonathan David in the summer. The forward is expected to leave Lille at the end of the season, which has many clubs on alert as he will be a free agent. David is looking for a five-year contract worth £5 million a year, and Villa are said to be willing to pay that to get the Canada international to the club.

The Villans have been linked with a few midfielders during this past week, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Chelsea and Kenneth Taylor of Ajax emerging on their radar. Both are good options for Villa, and their interest could be accelerated amid the recent injury blow to Amadou Onana. The Belgian has suffered a muscle tear in his foot and is expected to miss the next few weeks – while it is not his first lay-off of the season.

Dewsbury-Hall and Taylor are not the only midfielders Emery’s side is looking to sign, as they also have their eye on a 24-year-old player from La Liga.

Aston Villa leading race to sign Oihan Sancet

According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Oihan Sancet from Athletic Club in January. The 24-year-old came through Osasuna’s youth academy but was snapped up by Athletic at an early age. Sancet has been at the club ever since and has been a key player for them during their recent successes.

The Spain international played 30 times in La Liga last season, scoring four goals and recording five assists. Meanwhile, he already looks set to beat that goalscoring tally this season, as he’s got four goals in 10 league games.

The report states that Villa are in the “box seat” to sign Sancet, as they are prepared to make a significant offer for the midfielder in the January transfer window. The Bilbao man has an €80m release clause, which is just under £67m.

Villa are thought to be undecided over meeting that figure, but the board haven’t ruled out making a move and are looking at other ways of making a deal happen.

Club scouts have watched several games that Sancet has been involved in as Emery believes he can be very successful in the Premier League. However, Villa face competition, as Manchester United are also interested in the midfielder, though it looks as though the Midlands side are in the lead when it comes to securing his signature.

Arsenal secured their first Premier League win in four matches on Saturday, securing an emphatic 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were unbeaten on the road heading into the clash in North London, but goals from Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and youngster Ethan Nwaneri secured a needed three points for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The win moves them back within a point of Manchester City after their embarrassing 4-0 home defeat against Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side.

Numerous Gunners players starred throughout, with the centre-back partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba returning back to their usual selves, keeping another clean sheet in the league – taking their tally to four this season.

However, there’s no denying who was the standout performer during the win, with one talent looking back to their scintillating best in North London during the victory.

Bukayo Saka’s stats in 2024/25

23-year-old Saka came under some scrutiny during the international break after withdrawing from the England squad having picked up a minor knock in the draw against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.

However, in the first game back after the two-week absence from club football, he started and featured for 83 minutes yesterday, adding to his already impressive Premier League goal contribution tally in the process.

His superb goal and perfectly weighted pass into the path of Partey took his tally to 12 combined goals and assists in just 11 matches – a truly remarkable feat.

The winger also completed two dribbles, constantly troubling full-back Alex Moreno throughout, registering 13 touches in the Forest penalty area – the most of any player on the pitch.

As a result of his consistent displays over the years at the Emirates, Saka has seen his market value soar, with the England international now valued at a staggering £115m as per Transfermarkt.

His emergence from The Hale End Academy is one for many young players to look up to in the years ahead, showcasing that it is possible to have a huge impact within Arteta’s squad.

The club have conducted an excellent job in providing the pathway for youngsters to progress and make their mark at the top level of English football – seen none more so than in one star who has taken huge leaps in recent months.

The player who could become Arsenal’s next Saka

Saka has undoubtedly been the biggest talent to progress into the senior setup after featuring in the youth squad, racking up just shy of 250 appearances since his debut during the 2018/19 campaign.

However, in recent months, midfielder Nwaneri has demonstrated the potential to become one of the biggest stars to progress through the club’s system and into the first team.

Whilst he may now be 17 years of age, the talent made his senior debut at the age of just 15 back in the 2022/23 season, appearing as a late substitute in the victory over Brentford.

He’s since taken his career to the next level, being a consistent figure in the England U19 side, scoring in the recent meeting with Bulgaria during the latest international break.

Despite only racking up 11 first-team appearances, he’s already demonstrated quality way beyond his tender years, registering four goals in the process, with his first league strike coming in yesterday’s victory – becoming the club’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer behind another generational star in Cesc Fàbregas.

The “sensational” talent, as dubbed by one Arsenal journalist, provided added energy and tempo during the encounter despite the game being all but won – showing urgency to impress and grab his opportunity with both hands.

Nwaneri registered a 100% pass accuracy rate off the bench, whilst also achieving a perfect completion rate for ground duels won and successful take-ons, further highlighting his impressive cameo off the bench.

He certainly has a long way to go in his professional career, but the early signs are all positive for the 17-year-old who clearly possesses numerous qualities that are rarely seen in a player of such a young age.

The midfielder has the world at his feet, potentially being a future start for Arsenal and internationally for England, hopefully matching or even surpassing Saka’s levels in North London – with the Gunners having a real world-class gem on their hands.

Arsenal have unleashed their next Fabregas & it’s not Nwaneri or Odegaard

Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard starred as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest.

By
Matt Dawson

Nov 24, 2024

Sir Alex Ferguson was spotted celebrating an emotional winner at Cheltenham Festival alongside TV star Alan Halsall.

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• Ferguson's horse Caldwell Potter won at Cheltenham
• Ex-manager bought it for £620,000 at an auction
• Claimed £65,000 for winning the race

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 83-year-old former football manager was seen beaming with joy as he celebrated his horse Caldwell Potter’s impressive victory. Caldwell Potter competed in the Jack Richards Novice Limited Handicap Chase and, under the guidance of jockey Harry Cobden, secured a significant win at the prestigious festival.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The horse, which was purchased for £620,000 at an auction last year, had initially struggled to deliver on expectations. However, this victory marked a major breakthrough for Ferguson and his group, earning them a £65,000 prize.

  The victory at Cheltenham was particularly poignant for Ferguson, as it came just months after the passing of his close friend and co-owner John Hales. Hales played a key role in purchasing Caldwell Potter, and his absence was deeply felt during the celebrations. As a tribute to Hales, jockey Harry Cobden wore the late owner's distinctive yellow and red racing silks, honoring his contribution to the team.

• WATCH THE CLIP

  Among those celebrating the win with Ferguson was television actor Alan Halsall, best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street since 1998. Last year, Ferguson and Halsall were also spotted enjoying the festival alongside football manager Sam Allardyce.

• WHAT FERGUSON SAID

  After securing victory, Ferguson told : "I think the jumping won it. What can I say? Great horse, it was a bonus. Winning here last year with two was fantastic, and doing it again this year is fantastic. Thank you very much."

Arne Slot has engineered victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City in the past week, dispatching both without conceding a goal and consolidating Liverpool’s position as Premier League and, to a lesser degree, Champions League favourites.

The nine-point Premier League lead over Arsenal and Chelsea, united in second place, bears testament to the Dutch coach’s unflappable mentality and innovative tactics, shaping Jurgen Klopp’s talented team to his own design.

Redmen from all angles have stepped up to bring elation to the Merseyside masses, who can scarcely believe the incredible start to the season that has suggested an illustrious finish is on the horizon.

At the front, though, is Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old’s future is up in the air but this is hardly affecting his performances, notching a brace against Pep Guardiola’s withered crop to raise his haul to 11 goals and seven assists across 13 top-flight appearances this term. He’s posted six goal contributions from seven matches in further competitions.

It’s clear that Salah wants to renew his £350k-per-week salary, but whether FSG bypasses their strict wage structure remains to be seen. Time’s ticking. Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes is prudently looking at potential successors, and he’s found an excellent choice to possibly replace the Egyptian king.

Liverpool eyeing Salah replacement

The Athletic have reported that Salah is open to extending his Liverpool contract by a single year but is frustrated by FSG’s handling of the situation. It’s not a good look, whichever angle it is viewed from.

The fact is, FSG have their parameters and will not acquiesce to Salah’s demands if they are deemed untenable. If the dreaded eventuality becomes reality for the Reds, Omar Marmoush is the player who is being lined up to take his place according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Marmoush, Salah’s teammate with Egypt, has been in remarkable form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season and carries the kind of dynamic attacking qualities that would allow him to dovetail into Slot’s high-flying system.

The £50m-rated forward has been brilliant this season, for sure, and could forge a deadly partnership with Liverpool’s attacking options, especially Cody Gakpo.

Imagine Omar Marmoush & Cody Gakpo

Marmoush, who is 25, scored 17 goals across 41 appearances for Frankfurt last season as he established himself as one of the most promising forwards in German football.

This season, the Egypt international has been on a different level, harvesting 17 goals and 11 assists across 19 matches in all competitions, meaning that he is incredibly outscoring Liverpool’s very own Salah.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 ace also ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90, thus showcasing a creative side to his game that would see him emulate Salah as an elite multi-faceted attacking outlet.

While Marmoush is typically found at centre-forward, his pace and movements allow him to operate on the left wing too, promoting his playmaking side. This could see him flourish alongside Gakpo, whose own positional versatility has been streamlined this term, and he is now reaping the rewards.

Goals against Real and Man City have taken the Netherlands international’s haul to eight goals under Slot’s wing, though it’s more impressive still when seeing that he has actually only been handed ten starting berths.

Exclusively posting his strikes from that left channel, it’s fair to say that Gakpo is loving life under his compatriot’s wing, and is actually thriving with Luis Diaz as the pair jockey for placement on the left.

As you can see below, Salah’s defence-splitting arced pass undid the shaky City backline on Sunday, finding the surging Gakpo and sending Anfield into an exultant roar. He had no trouble bundling the ball in, and it’s something that Marmoush might have taken note of.

Gakpo’s hardly just a marksman either, once hailed for his “special skill set” by Klopp’s former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, endowed with physical strength, shifty motions and impressive technicality that might just see him forge an innate bond with the equally dynamic Marmoush.

Though it’s easy to get ahead of the track, Liverpool fans must remember that there is plenty of football still to be played this season, with twists and turns and bumps and blocks all sure to threaten the Anfield side’s place in the ascendency.

Salah might be the cream of the crop, but players such as Gakpo are proving to offer quality fit for the biggest and shiniest titles.

To lose Salah at the supposed height of his powers is unthinkable, and surely must not be allowed to happen, but Liverpool will need to replace their 32-year-old phenomenon at some stage, and Marmoush is blessed with the talent to succeed in his stead.

Alongside Gakpo and co over the coming years, it might even be a move that maintains Liverpool’s position at the very summit of English and European competition.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 2, 2024