All posts by z3u9t.icu

Real Madrid have sent employees to run the rule over an Arsenal star who they are considering a deal for, as Carlo Ancelotti's side cast their eye to the Premier League in search of proven talent.

Arsenal preparing for all-important north London derby against Tottenham

The north Londoners have an all-important derby clash against Tottenham awaiting them after the international break, and Mikel Arteta will be desperate to return to winning ways after being held by Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

"Extraordinary" Arsenal player already considering exit in January

Mikel Arteta convinced him to stay in the summer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 7, 2024

Kai Havertz's expertly taken chip over Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton net was later cancelled out by Joao Pedro's second-half strike in the second half, with the game finishing 1-1 and ending Arsenal's winning start to the new Premier League season.

"It was a very emotional afternoon, for sure," said Arteta on Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton.

"We started the game really well, created three or four chances that we didn’t convert. After that we had a period with some issues, particularly with the ball and we lacked some dominance in that period. We then score a really good goal in a moment when we take advantage of the opponent. Then we go in at half-time, come back and we were really strong. Then the referee makes a decision that changes the course of the game. With 10 men, the team reacted unbelievably well, the stadium reacts unbelievably well and we should have won the game."

To make matters more complicated for Arteta and his coaching staff, star midfielder Declan Rice was controversially sent off for two bookable offences on the day, so he is set to miss Arsenal's trip to Spurs next weekend.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

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Leicester City (home)

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Southampton (home)

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Bournemouth (away)

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Arsenal will also be without summer signing Mikel Merino for nearly two months, following the Spaniard's shoulder injury. Merino fractured his deltoid in a collision with Gabriel Magalhaes during the Spaniard's first ever training session at London Colney, so it looks like Arteta will be pretty short in midfield.

There are even suggestions that Arteta could hand youngster Salah-Eddine Oulad M'hand his senior Arsenal debut against Tottenham as a result, while other reports state Havertz could be dropped into midfield so Raheem Sterling can play a false-nine role.

Real Madrid consider signing William Saliba from Arsenal

Whatever tactical tweaks Arteta is planning, one of the few certainties next weekend is that William Saliba will be playing a crucial role at the heart of his defence.

The Frenchman has starred since coming into the team on a regular basis at the beginning of 2022/2023, so much so that Real Madrid have been regularly linked with a move for Saliba.

The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey have an update on this, and they write that Real are indeed considering a move for Saliba, sending their club scouts to watch over him during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Aston Villa – where the 23-year-old put in an excellent display.

The centre-back, who Bailey claims could fetch around £100 million in this current market, is firmly on Ancelotti's radar as they carry on keeping close tabs.

Former Celtic star Matt O'Riley's new employer, Brighton owner and chairman Tony Bloom, has provided an update on his injury after sustaining a horror challenge just moments into his debut last week.

The Hoops were very busy over the course of the summer, as manager Brendan Rodgers was keen to keep his side at full strength, as he eyes another campaign of winning everything that is on offer in Scotland, but lost O'Riley late in the day to the South coast club.

Kris Boyd reveals the difference between Rangers and Celtic after Old Firm

Is the former Gers striker spot on?

1 ByHenry Jackson Sep 2, 2024 Celtic’s transfer window

Celtic added eight players to their squad during the summer transfer window, with their biggest capture being midfielder Arne Engels from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, while they also allowed ten players to leave.

Arne Engels

FC Augsburg

Adam Idah

Norwich City

Auston Trusty

Sheff Utd

Paulo Bernardo

Benfica

Luke McCowan

Dundee FC

Viljami Sinisalo

Aston Villa

Kasper Schmeichel

RSC Anderlecht

Alex Valle (Loan)

Barcelona

The Scottish champions allowed Mikey Johnston to leave and re-join West Brom on a permanent basis after his impressive loan spell last season. Other departures saw Hyeon-gyu Oh leave, as well as Sead Haksabanovic, Tomoki Iwata, and of course O’Riley.

It could have been worse for Celtic, as star man Kyogo Furuhashi was also being linked with a move away from Celtic Park. The 29-year-old emerged as a potential target for Manchester City as they looked at options to replace Julian Alvarez.

Pep Guardiola is said to be a “huge” fan of the forward and was left impressed by his performances in pre-season, especially when he played against the Blues in the USA. Kyogo was at it again on Sunday, as he played a big role in the club’s win over Rangers.

One of Celtic’s departures from this summer has already suffered a setback at his new club, and they have now provided an update on the player’s injury.

Brighton provide O'Riley injury update

Celtic’s biggest departure during the summer was midfielder Matt O’Riley, as he joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal believed to be worth an initial £25m and up to £30m. The 23-year-old made his debut for the Seagulls in last week’s Carabao Cup tie against Crawley Town, but he was forced off after six minutes with ankle ligament damage.

Now, Brighton have released a statement on the player’s injury, with chairman Bloom hoping to have the midfielder back later this season after his successful ankle surgery.

Bloom told the Albion Podcast on the club’s website, via Sussex World: “We are hugely disappointed with that horror challenge on Matt O’Riley. He had his operation today (Monday), and that has been successful.

"We are all really looking forward to seeing him back at the later part of the year. It's really important to bring the right players with the right personality. From what I have seen and from what I have heard, everyone is fitting in well.”

O’Riley left Celtic Park this summer having joined the club in January 2022 from MK Dons. He played 124 times in Glasgow, scoring 27 goals and chipping in with an impressive 35 assists. The midfielder, who has also established himself now as a senior Denmark international, played a pivotal role in Celtic winning league and cup titles, and Hoops fans will certainly wish him well in his recovery.

Liverpool have boasted their fair share of attacking talent over the years, but there has not been such a devastating unified strikeforce as the spearhead assembled under Jurgen Klopp's management.

The Reds had failed to kick on since the prosperity of the noughties and boasted just one League Cup trophy since that illustrious spell when Rafa Benitez orchestrated silver-laden success across the FA Cup and Champions League across two seasons, with Steven Gerrard the centrepiece.

Klopp arrived in 2015 after Brendan Rodgers' Luis Suarez-led side failed to win the 2013/14 Premier League title after an enthralling contest – following the bitter culmination, the Uruguayan phenomenon was sold to Barcelona for £75m in 2014.

With his pillar of prodigy gone the towering Anfield edifice crumbled, but the incoming German manager rekindled the flame and restored the Merseysiders with his transcendent stewardship.

Trophy

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Champions League

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FA Cup

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Fast-track to the present day and Liverpool has enjoyed one of the most resounding chapters in its lengthy history, winning trophies from all directions and establishing itself as a true European powerhouse once more.

While the collective growth in quality has been remarkable, Klopp will perhaps be best known for his devastating attacking instruments, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane forming an iconic frontline that struck fear into the hearts of Europe's most formidable outfits.

Salah still plies his trade on Merseyside to this day, having posted 190 goals and 83 assists across all competitions for the Reds, while Firmino departed in the summer after 362 appearances, described as a “leader” by journalist Henry Winter for his integral role.

Mane was the first to leave, but that does not discredit the profound effect he had on the Anfield side, cementing his name as one of the finest of his generation, and that's despite Klopp holding major reservations upon the first encounter between the pair.

Why did Liverpool sign Sadio Mane?

Mane is comfortably one of Liverpool's finest forwards of the modern era, with his rise to prominence really something to behold, but it wasn't always this way, with the Senegalese star not exactly making the best impression on his future manager.

Revealing his first thoughts in 2020, Klopp explained how Mane first came to his attention while he headed the Borussia Dortmund ship, and that he certainly hadn't been coloured impressed.

Klopp said: "I remember my first encounter with Sadio. It was in Dortmund. There was a really young guy sitting there. His baseball cap was askew, the blond streak he still has today.

"He looked like a rapper just starting out. I thought, 'I don't have time for this'. Our team back then really wasn't bad. I needed someone who could handle not being a starter at the very beginning, someone I could develop."

Well, a few years on and Mane had been dazzling in the Premier League with Southampton, scoring 25 goals and supplying 14 assists from 75 outings – including the division's fastest-ever hat-trick – and leaving Klopp no choice but to part with £34m in 2016 to secure his services.

It came during Klopp's first summer transfer window since taking the reins, with fellow acquisitions Gini Wijnaldum and Joel Matip forming the early framework for the forthcoming illustrious endeavours.

It was a masterful move, but no one knew that yet.

How many goals did Sadio Mane score for Liverpool?

Across 269 outings for the Merseyside outfit, the 31-year-old enjoyed the best years of his career by a long stretch, scoring 120 times and serving up 48 assists for his teammates, earning praise for his "unbelievable" performances by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Winning all the silverware – barring the Community Shield – that Klopp has gleaned on English shores to date, the 97-cap Senegal legend has been more than just instrumental, blending lightning pace with deft attacking motions a cheetah would tip its hat to.

Situated on the left channel, Mane and Salah wreaked devastation as they veered inwards, having found space following the wizardry of Roberto Firmino in the centre, whose intellect and selflessness broke the enemy lines and allowed the incisive. wide pair to flourish.

Hitting double-digits across all six of his Premier League campaigns with Liverpool, his threat was one of great consistency, notably scoring 40 goals across the 2018/19 – 2019/20 terms alone.

The one-time Red Bull Salzburg man also combined 52 times with both Salah and Firmino across his Reds career, highlighting the level of destructive ability this esteemed frontline held.

Such prowess led Klopp to hail him as “one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players" also claiming that “the goals he scored, the trophies he won; a legend, for sure, but also a modern-day Liverpool icon."

All good things come to an end, and with just one year left on his contract and a resolution looking unlikely, Mane was sold to German champions Bayern Munich for an initial £27.5m, but his time in Bavaria was anything but auspicious.

The 5 foot 9 gem scored 12 times last season but failed to truly find his feet and saw his situation compounded following a high-profile bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane.

He has since joined the lucrative Saudi Pro League wave and teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr for £24m, which ostensibly draws a curtain on his feats across Europe.

Endeared to the Liverpool fanbase and with a legacy woven into the fabric of this great footballing city, he is truly a staple of the immense success under Klopp's wing, rewriting the narrative and providing Anfield with a brilliant jewel.

Tottenham Hotspur have played host to some immeasurable talent, with the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric having kickstarted their glistening careers in N17.

The former would command a world-record fee upon his exit, whilst the latter would go on to lead his country to a World Cup final, winning it all with Real Madrid and eventually ending Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's monopoly over the Ballon d'Or to claim immortality in 2018.

Their recruitment is clearly impressive, with an academy even able to produce talent to go alongside that duo, as Harry Kane emerged nearly a decade ago and left over the summer for a whopping £100m fee.

However, there is perhaps a more underrated but equally impressive departure they instigated, which was made even more outstanding by the ease with which they had initially snagged Kyle Walker from Sheffield United, for what turned out to be a nominal fee.

Becoming a star in north London, and eventually a Premier League legend with Manchester City, it is fair to say that Harry Redknapp struck gold with his shrewd capture.

When did Spurs sign Kyle Walker?

Having worked his way up through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane, there were murmurs of a young full-back boasting raw blistering speed and a touch of class.

Having made himself the youngest Blades player to ever play at Wembley as they sought 2009 playoff glory, his consistent displays had caught Redknapp's eye despite their failure to secure promotion.

He would engineer a double swoop, bringing in both Kyle Naughton and Walker for a combined fee of around £10m. Whilst the former would fade into obscurity, instead becoming more of a cult hero with Swansea City, the now 34-year-old would continue his growth, establishing himself as a key asset under Mauricio Pochettino before his eventual sale.

That's not to suggest that this was an easy integration, with the defender having to bide his time before earning that first-team opportunity. He would return to Sheffield United initially on loan before two temporary spells at QPR and Aston Villa seemingly prepared him for the senior squad.

Ever since earning that opportunity, Walker has never looked back.

How good was Kyle Walker at Spurs?

Amassing an admirable 227 appearances during his time with the Lilywhites, his was a tenure littered with outstanding moments that underpinned his play style. Forever hard-working and physically immense, the ageing ace was also in possession of more than enough quality to shine at the apex of English football, although Spurs were largely far from it.

One such example of that talent came in 2011, as the £175k-per-week star lashed home a thunderous effort to deceive Wojciech Szczesny and win his side the north London derby.

Then, the year following would see him recognised for this ever-growing skillset, as Walker was named the PFA Young Player of the Year award, beating out the likes of Sergio Aguero, Danny Welbeck and teammate Bale.

Of all the excitement that such a stellar start to a career promised, the sole downside was the lack of silverware, as his side never really came close. That could have all changed in 2015 though, as they made their way to the EFL Cup final to face bitter rivals Chelsea. However, the right-back's return to Wembley unfortunately ended up the same way as his last, falling to defeat.

This would be the closest Walker would come to a trophy throughout his eight years with the Lilywhites, and his exit came in 2017, commanding a mouth-watering £53m fee. After all, the titan had just been named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second time, with good reason.

His 7.10 average rating for the Premier League that term marked an outstanding figure for a full-back who failed to score a single goal. Five assists outlined his creativity alongside 1.2 key passes per game, whilst his athleticism and defensive intelligence allowed him to record 1.2 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Pundit Kenny Cunningham would seek to outline the former attribute, branding City's number two a "phenomenal athlete" just last year.

Whilst many may have rushed to praise such a fine personal year, they likely had little knowledge of just how revolutionary Pep Guardiola would prove to be with the England international.

Why did Manchester City spend £53m on Kyle Walker?

It is a testament to Walker's ability to adapt to a new philosophy that he has remained such a mainstay under the ever-evolving Spanish tactician, who is forever seeking to find new ways to dominate football.

And, it must be said that, with each passing year the 52-year-old seems to succeed in such a venture. Since that 2017 departure, the 5 foot 10 stalwart has filled en entire trophy cabinet with untold silverware, playing a vital role in five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups and one Champions League, the latter of which capped off their unprecedented treble too.

In fact, such has been his longevity and success at the Etihad, his 263 games for the Citizens have actually surpassed the appearances earned with Spurs.

Although it could be debated which his standout year has been, given there have been so many, his current campaign is suggesting it could be the strongest yet despite having turned 33 back in May. After all, no defender in the squad has managed more than his 1.3 key passes a game in the league.

Guardiola even sought to laud his lucrative acquisition, highlighting the 78-cap ace's importance to their continued success: "The level Kyle has shown with us these four years has been fantastic. He’s another person who has his life calm and in order, he’s such an important player for us

“After 4 years there are moments when you can be down but last game he showed how important he is. He has to handle the best strikers in the world, and he can handle it, he can win the duels."

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Although Walker has gone on to reach impossible heights since leaving north London, few can fault his commitment before departing, and the results earned through earning such a move.

City are one of the greatest club sides ever seen, with Spurs having produced their starting right-back. The hope is that Ange Postecoglou can now forge a similar dynasty, retaining their star players to one day reach such a level.

Hoping to go one better than last season, Arsenal have got off to a solid start in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta will be well aware that it's still early days, though, especially after his side capitulated at the end of the previous campaign.

The Spaniard may even have an eye on January reinforcements to really increase the Gunners' chances of picking up some crucial silverware in the coming months. And that could include adding some defensive depth, with an offer reportedly made to sign one particular defender in the winter transfer window, who would certainly boost the North London side's title chances.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal spent a reported €235m (£205m) in the summer transfer window, welcoming the likes of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, in an attempt to bridge the gap with Manchester City. An added bonus on top of that has, of course, been their return to Champions League football, which saw them ease past PSV Eindhoven in an opening gameweek win.

Arteta and those at the Emirates are only looking to strengthen their side even further, too. According to Record, via Sport Witness, the Gunners, and by extension sporting director Edu Gaspar, have made a €35m (£30m) offer to sign Sporting Club defender Ousmane Diomande, which has already been rejected by the Portuguese side.

The defender may not be keen to make a departure anytime soon, either, having only arrived at Sporting in January. When the winter transfer window does come along, however, it will be interesting to see if Arsenal's offer becomes tempting enough for either the player or Sporting, although they are not the only interested side.

How good is Ousmane Diomande?

At 19 years of age, Diomande may well have the world at his feet. Considering how well William Saliba's progression has gone as an Arsenal player, it would be a fairly smart move to try and replicate the Frenchman's success. And that's where Diomande could come in. The Sporting defender has plenty of time to develop into an important asset for the majority of clubs around Europe.

Statistically speaking, meanwhile, it's fair to say that this is a player to watch. According to FBref, Diomande is in the top 96 percentile for progressive passes, the top 95 percentile for progressive carries, and the top 93 percentile for tackles per 90 over the past 12 months.

At his best, the reported Arsenal target has earned plenty of praise, too, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who said on X:

"Ousmane Diomande. You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."

With that said, it's clear that Arsenal are targeting a player who may not only improve their present side, but also become a crucial part of Arteta's plans in the future, once again proving just how much they've grown as a club off the pitch in recent years.

It's fair to say that Rangers have had a frustrating start to the season in the Scottish Premiership, already sitting four points behind Celtic, having lost two of their opening four games, including the most recent Old Firm derby.

On top of the league results, Michael Beale's side were also smashed 7-3 on aggregate by PSV Eindhoven in Champions League qualifying to end their hopes of competing among Europe's elite this season.

The Gers' start has put pressure on Beale to turn things around and prevent Celtic from winning a third consecutive Scottish Premiership. Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has delivered a damning new claim on the manager, however.

What did Frank McAvennie say?

Speaking to Football Insider, when asked how many games Beale has left to turn things around at Rangers, McAvennie said: "Just a few games, if anything. People are saying they have got to get him out now because they can’t have another season winning nothing.

“They have got the League Cup to go for, that could be his saving grace, whether that is going to pacify the fans because it was not Rangers that put Celtic out. The break has come at a good time for them.

“After getting battered by PSV I thought the best game to come back in would be a big game against your rivals with 50,000 fans behind you and they put in a performance like that, that is why fans are annoyed.“

Of course, it is worth noting that, when it comes to Rangers, the opinion of a former Celtic striker is likely to be taken with a pinch of salt, rather than a serious verdict on Beale's future. But, the manager's start to the season has been poor, and there's no doubt that the pressure will begin to mount and their former rival's words hold some truth.

Should Rangers sack Michael Beale?

Just four games into the season, sacking Beale would be a harsh decision from Rangers, who may not even find themselves an adequate replacement in the current managerial market – the current trendy link is Birmingham City's John Eustace.

The former Queens Park Rangers boss has lost twice in four Scottish Premiership games, but given that one of those came against a tough Celtic side, he deserves time to turn things around.

What will disappoint those at Ibrox is the manner in which Rangers were dumped out of the Champions League, smashed 7-3. It must be said once again, though, that PSV were no easy test, and the Gers were always the underdogs in that fixture.

It is worth remembering that Beale only became the Rangers manager in November of last year, which means that he has had less than a year in charge. So, if Rangers did sack him now, they would be doing themselves no favours – they would only be restarting the process that Beale has been attempting to get going since last season.

That's not to say that he hasn't overseen some disappointing results as of late, but defeat against the champions and one of the best Dutch teams should not warrant the sack.

Southampton are expected to sanction the exit of another senior squad member, and a fresh report has revealed how quickly the departure is likely to take place.

Who is leaving Southampton?

On the south coast, Sport Republic have already completed the permanent sales of James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento, Nathan Tella, Mohammed Salisu, Moussa Djenepo and Mislav Orsic over the summer, whilst also giving the green light for both Armel Bella-Kotchap and Duje Caleta-Car to go out on loan, as per Transfermarkt.

Russell Martin's side have made a promising start to life in the Championship having won three, drawn one and lost just one of their opening five games, but one of the players who is yet to make his mark in the second tier and therefore could be the next on his way out is Paul Onuachu.

This season, Nigeria's international is yet to make a single appearance in the league, so whilst he still has another three years remaining on his contract, his lack of game time shows just how out of favour he is and he will know that the only way he can increase the minutes he's getting under his belt is by sealing a departure.

The St. Mary’s outfit also already have Che Adams, Adam Armstrong, Sekou Mara and the recently signed Ross Stewart from Sunderland in the building, so the chance of the attacker getting a look in over the remainder of the campaign seems highly unlikely.

Is Paul Onuachu leaving Southampton?

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik (via Sport Witness), Trabzonspor have made contact with Southampton to enquire about a deal to sign Onuachu, with the Turkish window open until next weekend.

The Super Lig outfit are “looking for a striker” and have turned their attention towards the Saints star having previously failed to reach an agreement for Fulham’s Carlos Vinicius.

Championship chiefs paid €18m (£15.4m) for their prized asset so the chances of him being permanently sold are “slim to none”, but the option of sending him out on loan is definitely on the table.

Martin’s attacker “wants to play” on a more regular basis so he would be “happy to go” overseas, and it’s stated that the deal is “expected to be finalised this week”.

How good is Paul Onuachu?

When Nathan Jones recruited Onuachu, Southampton’s former manager dubbed him a “significant signing” considering the money he cost, but having failed to live up to expectations, Sport Republic and Martin sanctioning his departure would be completely the right decision, regardless of if it was permanently or a loan.

The Owerri native has recorded zero goals or assists since putting pen to paper and ranked as the club’s 19th best-performing player out of 36 squad members last season, via WhoScored, so he isn't really bringing anything positive to the side when given the opportunity to play and showcase what potential he has to offer.

Furthermore, Onuachu is currently pocketing £30k-per-week which is a lot for a second tier team to be cashing out on a fringe player, so the clu need to get him off the books as soon as possible and put his salary towards generating funds for fresh faces in January.

Liverpool aren't without injury problems at the moment and journalist James Pearce has now dropped a significant update regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, following the weekend victory over Aston Villa.

Who is injured for Liverpool?

The Reds had a tough-looking start to their Premier League season when the fixtures were released earlier this summer, with four matches before the international break looking taxing. They have passed with flying colours, however, picking up ten points in an extremely promising opening.

On Sunday afternoon, Liverpool swatted aside a much-fancied Villa team, winning 3-0 at Anfield thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai's opener, Matty Cash's own goal and a Mohamed Salah strike in the second half. It was arguably their best performance of the campaign to date, as confidence continues to grow about a potential title challenge being mounted.

The Reds did it all without Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate at centre-back, too, with both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez impressing greatly at the heart of the defence.

Konate is still absent through injury, as is Thiago, and another player who has also now picked up a knock is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was playing superbly before walking straight down the tunnel with a hamstring issue in the second half.

The 24-year-old ran the show with his passing ability, creating endless chances for teammates, and Jurgen Klopp will be sweating about his availability once the international break is done and dusted later this month.

How long is Trent Alexander-Arnold out for?

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic's Pearce claimed that Alexander-Arnold will now have a scan to find out the severity of the injury, but confirmed he is a "major doubt" for at least the next fortnight:

"Alexander-Arnold set for scan on hamstring problem. Major doubt for England duty."

This is clearly a massive worry for Liverpool, with Alexander-Arnold so vital to the way they play, especially since drifting into more of a midfield role when the Reds have the ball. Nobody else possesses his passing ability and vision, so not having him for an extended period of time could hurt the team badly.

It could force Klopp into a change of system, considering nobody else can play that role from right-back, perhaps leading to Gomez playing there in a more rigid back four, as he has done in the past.

Hopefully, Alexander-Arnold's injury isn't deemed too serious, however, and he is withdrawn from England duty as a precaution, being passed fit for the trip to Wolves in the Premier League on September 16th.

Liverpool have been hampered by injury problems for such a consistent period now, and there is a feeling that they could do with a bit of luck in that area, allowing Klopp the rare opportunity to have his whole squad to call upon.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Seeing Alexander-Arnold be available for the next game would be a good place to start in that respect, and while the Englishman has made errors this season against Bournemouth and Newcastle United, both of which have led to goals, he is a magnificent footballer who Joe Cole has called "outstanding".

He has such a massive role to play for many years to come, likely becoming the permanent captain once Van Dijk steps down in the future, impressing as the stand-in skipper on Sunday.

Glasgow Rangers secured a solid 2-0 victory over Ross County in the pouring rain at Dingwall, setting them up nicely for the trip to Eindhoven in midweek.

Michael Beale made a few changes from the 2-2 draw against PSV at Ibrox on Tuesday, and this included a start for Kemar Roofe – his first since April 2022.

Having lost their first Premiership tie against Kilmarnock and slipping immediately behind Celtic, all three points were required, and they duly delivered.

How did Rangers perform vs Ross County?

A solid, if unspectacular performance secured another win, and Beale will be pleased by how comfortably the game went by, especially in the first half.

Captain James Tavernier led by example with yet another wonderful performance, and his goal was a sight to behold.

Striding forward with purpose, the right-back looked in a menacing mood and unleashed a stunning, dipping shot that nestled into the top corner to give the Light Blues a two-goal advantage following Kemar Roofe’s opener.

Alongside his goal, the Englishman also demonstrated how effective he is going forward by making four key passes during the tie, while also succeeding with one successful dribble and taking three shots during the game.

Defensively, he won 50% of his ground duels along with making one tackle and one interception, as well as committing just one foul, which was good enough to help his team keep a clean sheet.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

But as good as Tavernier was, it was centre-back John Souttar who was an absolute rock at the back for Beale against the Highland side, and he was a major contributing factor to the club keeping a clean sheet.

How did John Souttar perform against Ross County?

Speaking to the media before this match, fellow defender Leon Balogun praised the Scot, saying:

“I think he’s a very strong player. Last season didn’t go the way he planned as he got injured early on. Since I’ve come back, you can see that he’s a good defender and there are a few things that I’ve wanted to copy from him.

“We’ve got really good defenders in the backline and there’s no point being sour because we have big targets this season. In order to achieve them, you need a strong squad and that’s what we have.”

Against County, Souttar was a rock, while also showing how comfortable he is on the ball by taking 77 touches and completing 48 passes as he looked to start attacks from the back often.

Souttar won eight of nine total duels during the match, showcasing his physicality. He also made seven clearances, three interceptions and two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once across the 90 minutes.

It was a commanding performance by the former Hearts defender, and he has certainly emerged as a first-choice centre-back alongside Connor Goldson.

With two tough games against PSV and Celtic to come next week, seeing the 26-year-old in this sort of form will undoubtedly please Beale ahead of tougher tasks.

Leeds United could be set to secure a fine coup, opting for a Championship-proven star to spearhead their return to the Premier League…

Who else will Leeds United be signing this summer?

Having already welcomed four new faces to Elland Road, it could be easy to assume that this window has been a successful one thus far for Daniel Farke.

However, that has been far from the case. With players refusing to show up for matches, and others forcing loan exits to avoid the mess they created, the atmosphere in Yorkshire is far from ideal for the new German manager.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

That being said, some positivity does remain, with TEAMtalk now offering a beacon of hope by referencing them as one of the interested parties looking at Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill.

They are said to be very keen on the 27-year-old gem, who FootballTransfers value at €10.9m (£9m). However, they will have to battle with a host of top-flight clubs to secure his signature.

How good is Josh Brownhill?

Having spent the last few years of his career at Turf Moor, it feels like only recently has the midfield general began realising his potential after spells at Preston North End and Bristol City

After all, last season did mark a standout one for the one-time Manchester United academy graduate, who shone by showcasing his improved creativity.

Clarets boss Vincent Kompany is the man responsible for such an upturn, as he was thanked by the midfielder:

"He’s liberated us, because he believes in us, he believes we’re good players and we can win games. The lads who are still here were devastated by relegation last season. We just wanted to get back up and I’m very happy we did."

A key cog in that promotion push, already that pedigree will have caught Farke's eye, as he seeks to replicate that form.

Should Brownhill join and translate his form from Lancashire to west Yorkshire and they will certainly be in a fine position to do so.

After all, the Warrington-born machine did score seven times in the Championship during the 2022/23 campaign alongside a further eight assists. This helped him earn his 7.27 average rating as he also added 1.8 key passes and 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Sky Sports' EFL pundit Lee Hendrie had predicted such a starring year as he claimed back in 2021:

"Josh Brownhill, I think he is a fabulous player, I really do. Out of [Sander] Berge and him, I'd take Brownhill all day just because Josh Brownhill reminds me of John McGinn.

"He's very energetic, he's very neat and tidy on the ball, he gets up and down the pitch well and you know what you're getting when you're getting a player from Burnley, Sean Dyche, what he expects."

Such offensive impetus from deep could easily draw comparisons with Ilkay Gundogan, who too earned praise for how his scoring numbers improved to help Manchester City claim a historic treble.

Whilst the German has already made his switch to Barcelona, he left the Etihad a hero, having posted 18 goal contributions across all competitions.

Then, to compare his underlying figures with Brownhill's, it is clear to see the similarities. He too posted a 7.13 average rating in the Premier League, buoyed by 1.3 key passes and one tackle per game, via Sofascore.

City boss Pep Guardiola led the praise for his midfielder and captain, noting:

"Ilkay shows again, again and again his quality and his importance. His commitment to all of us at the club. It's not just scoring goals, he has his momentum because against Leeds, he was the player and again here. He can do everything."

Whilst he starred on a far larger stage, Brownhill shares enough of those starring attributes to suggest he could emulate his figures once again under Farke and help spearhead another promotion charge.