Reece Topley has emerged as an injury doubt for England’s opening match of the T20 World Cup, against Afghanistan in Perth on Saturday – and potentially beyond – after rolling his ankle on the boundary markings ahead of the team’s warm-up match against Pakistan in Brisbane on Monday.Topley, 28, has claimed 17 wickets at 28.00 in 16 T20Is in 2022 – more than any other England bowler – to cement his status as one of the key seamers in Jos Buttler’s new-look set-up, with his dual roles in the Powerplay and at the death.He has done so after overcoming a gruelling series of injury setbacks, including four stress fractures of the back in the space of five years since his fleeting appearance in England’s 2016 T20 World Cup campaign.This, however, was more of a freak setback, during a fielding drill in the build-up to England’s otherwise comprehensive six-wicket win over Pakistan at the Gabba, as Topley stepped on a triangular boundary marker while attempting a catch.He did not bowl in the subsequent contest as England rotated eight options in the course of their 19-over fielding stint, and according to an ECB spokesperson, will be assessed throughout the week ahead of the Afghanistan clash on Saturday.Should his injury prove more serious than hoped, England have options in their reserves – not least his fellow left-arm seamer, Tymal Mills, who was himself replaced by Topley after suffering a groin strain during last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.Lancashire’s Richard Gleeson is also among the team’s travelling reserves, while David Willey and Sam Curran are other left-arm seamers within the original 15-man party.In better news for England, Liam Livingstone showed no ill-effects after returning from his own ankle injury, sustained during the Hundred in August, as he produced a freeflowing innings of 28 from 16 at the Gabba.
Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League on 53 points after 22 games played, whilst Arsenal sit second on 47 points with 23 games played. If Arne Slot’s side continue at this rate, they will lift the trophy and secure Premier League glory for the first time since 2019/20.
When you compare Liverpool to their closest competitor – Arsenal – their defensive records are similar, both conceding 21 goals so far this season. Therefore, the goalscoring prowess of the Anfield side, scoring 54 goals compared to Arsenal’s 44 goals this season, is clearly where the points are being made up.
Of course, Mohamed Salah has played a huge part in that, scoring 23 goals and providing 17 assists so far this season, with 19 goals and 13 assists in his 22 Premier League games played. However, in their last four games, Salah only contributed with two goals and assists, which saw Slot’s side drop four points.
Whilst Salah will likely continue to provide high output, if he doesn’t provide said output, Liverpool could struggle to find the breakthrough, which could be the difference between them winning the league and not. Therefore, could the last few days of this window be key for the Reds?
Liverpool's need for a striker
Reports earlier this month claimed that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen – who is currently on loan at Galatasaray – was an option for Liverpool, in their bid to strengthen the forward line.
Transfer Focus
Whilst Chelsea and PSG hold long-term interest in the Nigerian number nine, the Merseysiders could make a move for the forward eventually, especially if Darwin Núñez was to be moved on, amid links to the Saudi Pro League.
Liverpool’s current striking options are Nunez, who has struggled for consistent minutes under Slot and has struggled to find his best form, Diogo Jota, who has struggled to stay fit throughout the season, and Luis Diaz, who has been playing as a make-shift centre-forward, despite being more of a left-winger.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenis picture wearing a protective face mask
Osimhen – who has made 21 appearances for the Turkish side this season, scoring 17 goals, providing five assists and totalling 1,627 minutes played – could well then be the answer, if a late swoop were to be pursued.
How Osimhen compares to Nunez
Nunez has managed 29 appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring six goals, providing four assists and totalling 1,515 minutes played.
Whilst he is still being used, the fact Diaz has been shifted to play through the middle shows Slot perhaps doesn’t fully trust him yet.
Stats (per 90 mins)
Osimhen
Nunez
Goals
0.94
0.36
Assists
0.29
0.24
xG
1.43
0.47
Progressive Carries
1.91
2.33
Progressive Passes
1.06
2.03
Shots Total
5.88
3.08
Shot-Creating Actions
4.26
2.26
Touches (Att Pen)
9.57
5.94
Aerial Duels Won
4.04
1.05
When comparing Osimhen to Nunez this season, you can see Osimhen is more of a typical box striker, scoring goals at an extremely high rate, generating exceptional xG numbers per 90, taking a high volume of shots and winning aerial duels for fun.
Nunez does, however, contribute more in regards to progressive actions, dropping deep and linking play more effectively, but given the quality in Liverpool’s squad already, a striker who can offer something different could be a better option for Slot’s side.
Darwin Nunez against Real Madrid
Osimhen has been labelled a “world-class” striker by José Mourinho, and that could be exactly what Liverpool need to take the goal-scoring burden off of Salah, having a centre-forward who can generate high xG chances when Salah isn’t performing and also cause havoc in the box, creating space for others around him.
Having the addition of such a clinical presence through the middle could hand the Reds that extra edge as they bid to secure the title.
Liverpool hold concrete interest in "exceptional" £50m Salah replacement
The Reds now hold concrete interest in a forward who has been in impressive form this season, as a potential heir to the Egyptian.
This season continues to be a roller coaster for Arsenal and their fans.
All the optimism and excitement brought about by the win over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby last Wednesday was entirely undone by the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, which has left them six points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League.
For once, the defence and midfield were more to blame for the dropped points than the frontline, but that doesn’t mean attacking reinforcements still aren’t essential for this team to reach their true potential this season and beyond.
Arsenal’s recent form
Competition
Opposition
Result
Premier League
Aston Villa (H)
2-2 (D)
Premier League
Tottenham (H)
2-1 (W)
FA Cup
Man United (H)
1-1 (L on Pens)
League Cup
Newcastle (H)
2-0 (L)
Premier League
Brighton (A)
1-1 (D)
So, recent reports linking the club with another goalscoring forward are no surprise.
Arsenal chasing Serie A striker
The player in question is not the much-talked-about Dušan Vlahović, who has been consistently touted for a move to the Emirates; it’s someone even better.
Indeed, according to a recent report from Italian outlet Play.it, Arsenal are ‘crazy’ about the idea of signing Inter Milan star Marcus Thuram.
The report has revealed that Mikel Arteta and the Gunners have been longtime admirers of the French forward and ‘would like to bring him to the Premier League right away.’
However, Inter are understandably unwilling to sell the star forward this month, and if the North Londoners are to secure his services in the summer, it could cost them up to €70m, which is about £59m.
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It might be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given how well Thuram has played this season, it’s one worth fighting for, especially since he’s even better than the club’s other Serie A target, Vlahović.
How Thuram compares to Vlahović
So, if Arsenal are currently interested in both Vlahović and Thuram, who should they splash the cash on, and how can we determine which one is the better centre-forward?
Well, the first thing we should do is look at their raw output from this season, and this is an area where the Inter ace comes out looking far more impressive than his Serbian rival.
For example, in just 26 appearances, totalling 1749 minutes, the “world-class” Frenchman, as dubbed by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schäfer, has scored 14 goals and provided six assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.30 games or every 87.45 minutes.
In contrast, the Juventus star has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 24 appearances, totalling 1880 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 132.28 minutes.
Unfortunately for the former Fiorentina star, the one-sided nature of this comparison only grows when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.
Thuram vs Vlahović
Statistics per 90
Thuram
Vlahović
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.58
0.50
Actual Non-Penalty G+As
0.96
0.27
Progressive Passes
2.23
0.88
Progressive Carries
2.05
0.95
Shots
2.77
3.48
Shots on Target
1.50
1.02
Passing Accuracy
73.1%
67.6%
Key Passes
1.39
0.61
Passes into the Penalty Area
0.96
0.20
Shot-Creating Actions
3.43
1.91
Goal-Creating Actions
0.66
0.07
Tackles Won
0.42
0.07
Successful Take-Ons
0.66
0.27
Ball Recoveries
2.71
1.55
Aerial Duels Won
1.87
1.76
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Serie A Season
For example, in almost every relevant metric, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach star comes out ahead, including but not limited to actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot and shots on target, goal and shot-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, Arsenal’s need for a lethal attacker has become impossible to ignore this season, and while Vlahović would undoubtedly be a brilliant addition to the Gunners’ squad, Thuram appears to be more effective than him in practically every department.
Therefore, while it’ll cost them an arm and a leg, the North Londoners must do what they can to bring the Frenchman to N5 this year.
Imagine him & Nwaneri: Arsenal target £10m gem to form Saka & Odegaard 2.0
The incredible prospect will be brilliant for Arsenal.
It would be fair to say that this season has been tough for Tottenham Hotspur.
The club may still be in three cup competitions at present, but their form in the Premier League has been diabolical, with Wednesday night’s defeat to Arsenal being their 11th of the campaign.
What’s worse is that Ange Postecoglou’s usually ultra-positive side didn’t even offer much in attack and looked bereft of ideas for much of the encounter.
Fortunately, recent reports have linked the club with an incredibly exciting Premier League star who could be their answer to the Gunners’ Bukayo Saka.
Spurs chase Premier League star
According to a recent report from French outlet RMC Sports, Tottenham are one of several clubs interested in Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoin action with Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Magalhaes
Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has claimed that the Gunners and Manchester United are also incredibly keen on landing the inform winger this month.
However, the story has also revealed that, due to the Bees’ position in the league and successful campaign thus far, it would take a ‘big cheque’ to tempt them into selling, with reports from earlier this month claiming an offer in the region of £50m might do.
It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Mbeumo’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as there are some apparent similarities between him and Saka.
How Mbeumo could be Spurs' Saka
Now, Spurs fans might not like Saka for understandable partisan reasons, but there is no denying that the Arsenal man is one of the best wingers in world football, let alone the Premier League, as before suffering his hamstring injury, he had racked up a haul of nine goals and 13 assists in just 24 games this season.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka
So, the fact that Mbeumo shares some similarities with him can only be a good thing, and the first similarity is his productivity.
For example, in just 25 appearances this season, the former Troyes star, whom pundit Dan Bardell recently dubbed “one of the best players in the Premier League,” has found the back of the net on 13 occasions and provided four assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.47 games.
Appearances
24
25
Goals
9
13
Assists
13
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.91
0.68
On top of this ability to change games with a goal or assist, the Cameroonian international shares some physical traits with the Hale Ender.
For example, while the Englishman is three inches taller than the 5 foot 7 Bees star, they are both unassumingly strong and share a low centre of gravity, which helps them manoeuvre with the ball and send opposition full-backs the wrong way when out on the wing.
Moreover, both are left-footed right-wingers, which facilitates their nature to cut in and fire off a shot from just outside the box or from inside when they time their runs just right.
Finally, both players have become the focal points of the respective teams, with the Arsenal ace taking up the mantle in light of a weaker left-side and lack of clinical strikers, while Mbeumo stepped up in the absence of Ivan Toney last season and hasn’t relinquished that spotlight since.
Ultimately, it might cost an arm and a leg to get down this month, but if Spurs want to instantly improve Ange’s attacking options, then they have to sign the Brentford star, as he’s got all the ingredients to explode at a top six side, and maybe even become their answer to Saka.
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Arsenal are interested in signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP this summer as Mikel Arteta hunts for a new striker.
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Arteta desperate to sign new No.9
Gunners developing interest in Gyokeres
Also linked with Newcastle's Isak
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Per , Arsenal are developing a strong interest in signing Gyokeres from Sporting in the summer. New sporting director Andrea Berti is a big admirer of the striker, and he represents a more cost-effective option than Newcastle's Alexander Isak, while RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko has also been considered, but he has multiple suitors.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Gyokeres has scored 85 goals in 92 games for Sporting, and is emerging as the Gunners' top target. It is unclear how much he will cost, but he has a contract with the Portuguese club until 2028.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gyokeres is on a remarkable scoring run and has netted eight times in his last five games. In the Primeira Liga, he has netted 30 times in 26 outings, while also scoring six goals in eight Champions League games.
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT?
Sporting remain top of the league and play Rio Ave in the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal. Arsenal, in the meantime, face Fulham in a London derby in midweek.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to make it three wins from as many games under the leadership of Vitor Pereira as they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this afternoon.
Wins over Leicester City and Manchester United have moved the Old Gold out of the relegation zone and hopes are high the club can maintain their top-flight status under the new manager.
Against the Old Trafford side, the majority of the starting XI played rather well as they secured all three points, but there were a couple of players who underperformed.
Goncalo Guedes was deployed alongside Matheus Cunha as an attacking midfielder but didn’t have the same impact as the Brazilian.
Goncalo Guedes’ game in numbers vs Man Utd
The 28-year-old has scored five goals and grabbed four assists in all competitions for the Molineux outfit this season, but his display on Boxing Day wasn’t his best of the campaign.
The Portuguese star failed with both of his dribble attempts, registered just one shot on goal and failed to make a key pass or create a big chance in the final third.
Stat
Highest Ranked
Accurate passes
Matt Doherty and Andre (59)
Key passes
Kobbie Mainoo (3)
Shots on target
Matheus Cunha (2)
Ground duels won
Matheus Cunha (13)
Tackles
Toti Gomes (5)
Guedes also lost nine of the 13 ground duels he contested during his time on the pitch, along with losing possession a staggering 16 times and it is clear Pereira must make a change ahead of the clash against Spurs.
He was replaced by Hwang Hee-chan with just 15 minutes remaining and the South Korean star scored the decisive second goal which wrapped up a 2-0 win for the home side.
With this in mind, Hwang should be unleashed in place of Guedes this afternoon as he could cause the Spurs’ defence plenty of damage.
Pereira must unleash Hwang Hee-chan against Spurs
The forward hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of seasons throughout 2024/25, with his goal against United his first of the season.
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He has only started three games all campaign, but this should change today, as Pereira looks to continue the club’s impressive momentum of late.
Hwang was hailed by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in 2021, who said: “He has got everything [Hwang], he has got pace, skill, touch and awareness and he’s always driving to get into the box.”
These attributes were on show last term, as the South Korean maestro ended up scoring 13 goals for the Old Gold while also creating four big chances, averaging 0.6 key passes per game and succeeding with 1.2 dribbles each match in the Premier League.
When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last season, Hwang even ranked in the top 9% for successful take-on percentage (52.2%) per 90, showcasing his dribbling skills.
If unleashed against Spurs, he will be keen to carry on where he left off against the Red Devils. Another goal or assist would certainly give him a great chance of forcing his way into Pereira’s starting XI, and he might just help move Wolves further away from the drop zone.
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Wolves are showing interest in a German international…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been “alerted” that one club may be open to holding transfer talks over their £60 million striker in January, and they could even allow him to leave on a temporary deal in the winter.
Arsenal draw transfer shortlist as Mikel Arteta targets new striker
The Gunners have been repeatedly linked with a new marksman for a couple of seasons now, with the prospect of a prolific number nine arriving at N5 becoming a reoccurring theme.
£239k-per-week forward holds new deal talks as Arsenal look at signing him
The Gunners are reliable contenders to sign him next year.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2024
Former sporting director Edu Gaspar attempted to bring in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko over the summer window, following the 21-year-old’s impressive haul of 18 goals in all competitions last season, but he snubbed Arsenal’s advances in favour of remaining in Germany.
Arsenal could go back in for Sesko next year, if they think the Slovenia international will be available for transfer this time (Ben Jacobs), but he isn’t the only striker on Arteta’s radar heading into 2025.
Newcastle United star Alexander Isak could be subject to an £80 million bid from Arsenal (CaughtOffside), while it is believed that the north Londoners hold an interest in Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres as well.
Former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well-connected within the game, recently told Football Insider that Arsenal are closely monitoring Gyokeres ahead of a potential move – even if he has doubts over whether he’d cut it for a truly elite side.
Man United (home)
December 4
Fulham (away)
December 8
Everton (home)
December 14
Crystal Palace (away)
December 21
Ipswich Town (home)
December 27
“He’s a player I like from what I’ve seen of him, and I know some of the top clubs have been interested,” said Brown.
“Arsenal are one club who’ve been closely watching him in Portugal, and Chelsea too, but there are lots of clubs interested if he becomes available.
“But I don’t think any clubs would be willing to spend upwards of around £80million on him. It’s a big commitment to a player who, as good as he has been, is playing in a weaker league than the Premier League.
“Even during his time at Coventry, he was a very very good Championship player, but not one you’d say would be a game-changer for a real top side.”
Arteta "alerted" that Brighton could let Arsenal sign Evan Ferguson in January
According to GiveMeSport, another opportunity to shore up their forward options comes in the form of Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson.
Indeed, it is believed Arteta has been “alerted” that Brighton could be open to negotiating a Ferguson loan to Arsenal in January, with the Republic of Ireland international falling behind Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro in Fabian Hurzeler’s pecking order.
However, the 20-year-old, who commands a £60 million price tag, isn’t somebody who interests the Gunners – with Arteta unlikely to pursue a temporary deal for Ferguson despite being informed that it is an option.
Interestingly, this could disappoint club legend Ian Wright, who heaped praise on the player when Arsenal were linked with him last year.
“When you look at him, the way he plays, his appreciation for the game, his movement and finishing both feet, good in the air and good pace,” said Wright on Premier League productions in 2023.
“He has all the attributes at 18. Very mature in the way he plays. All he has to do is keep doing what he is doing and they are going to start talking about him in million terms because that striker is not allowed. “
Nat Sciver, whose 109 off 85 balls went in vain for England against Australia, moved up to No. 6 among batters
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2022
Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning have both risen in the batting rankings•Getty Images
Australia captain Meg Lanning has climbed two spots to be ranked No. 2 among ODI batters. She is currently just 15 points behind the leader, team-mate Alyssa Healy. Lanning hit 86 in Australia’s World Cup opener against England on Saturday, as they opened their campaign with a close 12-run win against the defending champions.Rachael Haynes, whose 130 at the top was instrumental in Australia posting 310, has broken into the top ten. She is at No. 7 after gaining six places in the chart. The opener, who was also the Player of the Match, added 196 with Lanning for the second wicket in that match. Haynes’ knock came off just 131 deliveries, and included 14 fours and a six.Full rankings tables
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Click here for the full player rankings
England’s Nat Sciver, who cracked an unbeaten 109 from just 85 balls in a losing cause, also made strides among batters. Sciver jumped five spots to get to No. 6, as her quick knock kept England is sight of the target for the longest time.Meanwhile, West Indies’ Hayley Matthews moved up in all three rankings tables after her all-round contribution helped her team pip hosts New Zealand in an opening-day thriller in the tournament. Matthews hit 119 in West Indies’ total of 259, with the next highest score being 36, as her innings came off 128 deliveries, and featured 16 fours and a six.And in the New Zealand run chase, she dismissed the in-form Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in an economical spell of 2 for 41 from ten overs.
Liverpool had a surprisingly quiet summer transfer window in 2024. In Arne Slot’s first window since taking charge of the Merseysiders, the consensus seemed to be that he might well look to add new players to a squad built under Jurgen Klopp.
However, the Reds made just two signings. One of those players will not join the club until next season. New goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili returned on loan to Valencia, the club who Liverpool paid £29m including add-ons to sign the Georgian from.
Federico Chiesa was the other signing made. The Italian reportedly cost just £12.5m from Juventus, but has only played three times due to injury.
Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa for Liverpool
Despite a quiet summer, Liverpool already seem to be planning for future windows and have recently been linked with someone who could add quality and depth in attacking areas.
Liverpool target Bundesliga attacker
The player in question here is Eintracht Frankfurt and Egypt attacker Omar Marmoush. According to a report from German outlet Bild, the Reds have ‘officially expressed their interest’ in the 25-year-old as they look to the future once Mohamed Salah leaves.
However, they could have to go up against Manchester United to sign the winger. Bild reports the winger is valued at just £33m at this stage and does not have a release clause in his contract, which expires in 2027.
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It adds that the Reds have made their interest known to the Bundesliga side and it now remains to be seen whether or not they are prepared to meet their valuation.
Why Marmoush would be a good signing for Liverpool
Few players have been in better form across Europe this season than Frankfurt’s number seven. He has scored 11 goals and has provided seven assists in just 13 games in all competitions. That includes an eye-catching 13 goal involvements in eight Bundesliga games.
Omar Marmoush for Frankfurt.
Impressively, the 25-year-old is one of just ten players across Europe’s big five leagues who has 10 or more goal involvements in their domestic league so far this term, as per FBref. In fact, there are only two players who have more than him; Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, who have 16 and 14 goals and assists respectively.
Player
Club
Goals
Assists
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
14
2
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
9
5
Omar Marmoush
Eintracht Frankfurt
9
4
Mateo Retegui
Atalanta
10
3
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
7
5
Raphinha
Barcelona
6
6
Erling Haaland
Man City
11
0
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
6
5
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
5
6
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
3
7
Should the Reds get this deal done, it could be a repeat of when they signed Roberto Firmino. Liverpool’s former number nine signed from the Bundesliga, costing £29m from Hoffenheim. That, in itself, is similar to Marmoush, who would also make the move to Merseyside from the German top flight.
Former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino
Firmino is a modern-day legend at Anfield, forming a deadly partnership with Salah and Sadio Mane. He scored 111 goals and grabbed 75 assists in 362 games for the club, helping to win a Premier League and Champions League title during his time at the club.
The similarities between the Frankfurt forward and the former Brazilian international extend further than the fact they have both spent time playing in Germany. The pair are versatile, and whilst they both excel at centre-forward, can play just off the striker or even out wide.
Marmoush, an “electric” player, as football presenter Dougie Critchley described him, has showcased his versatility this season. He has started the majority of games leading the line, just as Firmino did at Liverpool. However, he has also played on the left wing and even as a number 10, a position in which the Brazilian ace excelled when called upon.
Omar Marmoush for Frankfurt.
There are certainly several comparisons to be made between Liverpool’s legendary centre-forward and their reported transfer target Marmoush, even down to the fact both are right-footed attackers. He is a player that Klopp never really managed to replace, but it could well be Slot who finds the perfect player to do so.
Given the fact the Egyptian forward would move from the Bundesliga and the versatility he possesses, there are clear similarities between Firmino and the Frankfurt number seven. It is a signing that would surely excite the Anfield faithful and someone who could potentially replicate the success of the legendary Brazilian in that famous Red shirt, given his incredible form so far this season.
Sky Sports: Liverpool keen to sign Viktor Gyokeres in cut-price £50m deal
Tottenham were back, well so we thought anyway. Ange Postecoglou’s men were a free-scoring bundle of joy but they have crumbled twice now in recent times.
Sandwiching that amazing 4-1 win over West Ham, Spurs suffered a defeat to Brighton and have now just lost to Crystal Palace 1-0.
The Eagles had not won all season, they were the league’s lowest scorers. It was classic Spurs, really.
Still, it may have been a negative day at the office for Tottenham, but there was some excitement generated at least by a first Premier League start for Mikey Moore. Here’s how he got on…
Mikey Moore's performance in numbers
Against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening, 17-year-old Moore was electric with his performance, taking on the player for fun as if here…well, Neymar.
That was the viewpoint of the skipper for the night, James Maddison anyway, who was blown away by the teenager’s skillset on the continental stage.
Moore didn’t register a goal involvement that evening but he evidently impressed Postecoglou enough to be handed a full Premier League debut against Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Sadly, it didn’t go according to plan for Spurs or the young winger. He was substituted on the 62-minute mark having failed with all three of his dribble attempts and failed to register a single key pass.
You cannot fault Moore’s energy, workrate or his bravery but it simply didn’t come off for him on this occasion.
Handed a 5/10 match rating by Football.London’s Rob Guest, the Tottenham correspondent wrote of how the teen was ‘positive when on the ball’ but ‘didn’t have too many opportunities to run’.
The Hotspur Way graduate wasn’t the worst player on the field though, far from it.
Tottenham's worst players against Crystal Palace
Micky van de Ven has been fabulous in a Spurs shirt this season. That assist at Old Trafford was remarkable, bursting down the left-hand side like Gareth Bale in his prime to lay the ball on a plate for Brennan Johnson.
At Selhurst Park, the Dutchman was left wanting. It was his giveaway that led to the game’s only goal.
Van de Ven got caught in possession which allowed Eberechi Eze to collect the ball before crossing for Jean-Philippe Mateta who found the net.
Spurs weren’t great at the back but they were also pretty poor in forward areas too. That’s strange considering how impressive Postecoglou’s side have been in the final third this term, notably scoring four goals last time out against West Ham United.
Dejan Kulusevski has been a massive part of that. Before this weekend’s games, the Swede ranked first among Premier League midfielders for key passes, progressive runs and dribbles per 90.
Thus, to see him withdrawn in the same minute as Moore was disappointing. It also spoke volumes that the club’s Aussie manager was willing to take off his most creative presence when they needed a goal.
However, it was damning of the former Juventus ace’s time on the field in south London this weekend as his 31 touches were even fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario who managed 52.
Minutes played
62
Touches
31
Accurate passes
16/22 (73%)
Key passes
1
Expected assists (xA)
0.02
Crosses
0/1
Shots
1
Completed dribbles
1/1
Duels won
2/9
Fouls
4
Interceptions
1
Tackles
0
He simply wasn’t his usual self, registering just the one shot – one that was saved well by Dean Henderson – and only one key pass. His expected assists (xA) tally sat at just 0.02, far below the usual levels of creativity we’ve become accustomed to seeing from the 24-year-old in 2024/25 to date.
Handed a 4/10 match rating by the aforementioned Guest, he wrote that the ‘intricate bits of play just didn’t come off for the Swede.’
Damning words indeed for one of Tottenham’s best players this season. That’s now six points dropped from their last three games. Not ideal at all, is it?
Postecoglou’s men looked as though they were going places but old habits die hard, eh? Spurs are struggling again and the craggy-faced head coach has some questions to answer.
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