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Liverpool have won the Premier League less than one year after Jurgen Klopp bowed out, almost nine years of leadership, leading the larger-than-life German to intimate his decision to call it a day.

He built Anfield back up from the disrepair it had slumped into. Klopp’s Liverpool wasn’t built in a day but it will stand strong for many years to come, with Arne Slot proving that by taking the blueprint and winning the Premier League in his first season at the helm.

The Dutch tactician is a genius, but he’s dovetailed into Klopp’s hothouse and has taken this special team to another level, Liverpool now crowned top-flight champions for a record-equalling 20th time, perching alongside Manchester United.

One of Klopp’s final and most significant hurrahs was the success in repackaging a flagging midfield and turning it back into a robust machine.

They’ve all played important roles, but who can say that Alexis Mac Allister hasn’t been the pick of the bunch? He was the centrepiece as Tottenham Hotspur were defeated on Sunday evening, for sure.

Alexis Mac Allister's performance vs Spurs

Dominic Solanke powered a header past Alisson after just 12 minutes, silencing Anfield’s raucous atmosphere and threatening to spoil the party.

But Liverpool returned like a tidal wave, scoring three goals before the break and two more after the hour mark. Mac Allister’s was the pick of the bunch, thundering home to restore his team’s lead after Luis Diaz had restored parity eight minutes earlier.

The Argentine put in a performance for the ages, underscored his trophy-winning credentials and status as one of the finest midfielders in the world.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Blending combativeness with a cultured foot, Spurs simply didn’t have the answer and were overwhelmed in the centre, something which proved fatal as Mohamed Salah and co were then able to swarm and pick at the shaky backline.

Minutes played

83′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

3 (2)

Accurate passes

35/40 (88%)

Key passes

2

Tackles + interceptions

7

Clearances

1

Duels won

7/11

The former Brighton man has earned his flowers, no doubt about that. However, he wasn’t the only one to produce the goods when Liverpool needed it, with Cody Gakpo’s display confirming, were it not known already, that he is undroppable over on the left flank.

Cody Gakpo is now undroppable after title win

Gakpo has been frustrated by injury over the past few months, but he’s come on leaps and bounds under the wing of Slot this season and effectively sealed the title-winning victory over Tottenham when making it 3-1 before half-time.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

BBC Sport’s Pat Nevin hailed Gakpo for his “twinkle toes,” collecting from the corner and moving into a pocket with fleet feet, capitalising on some shoddy defending before unleashing a pinpoint finish to Guglielmo Vicario’s right.

The 25-year-old’s cool finish was emblematic of his campaign, an icy figure down the left flank whose goalscoring knack and industrious approach to his football suggests he has nailed down the berth and should not be moved.

There’s a case to be made that Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez should both be sold this summer, with Diaz working so seamlessly as a roving focal frontman.

It allows Salah to maximise his output and it has paid dividends for Gakpo, whose positional readjustment this season, almost exclusively playing off the left, having been dotted all about last year, has seen him clinch 17 goals and six assists in all competitions this season.

The Dutchman isn’t just a poacher either. His goals come in various forms, and he gets stuck in defensively too, having won six of his eight duels against Tottenham while chipping in with two tackles and two interceptions apiece, as per Sofascore. As a result, he was awarded with an 8/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo.

Plenty has been made of Liverpool’s projected transfer plans, and while fans would like a new wideman to enrich these formidable ranks, Gakpo, a Premier League champion, has proved that he’s a fixed feature in Slot’s starting line-up.

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1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 24, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now fighting to sign “one of the best left-backs in Europe”, but there could be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing left-back amid Udogie uncertainty

There have been few standout players for Tottenham this season, given what has been a very disappointing Premier League campaign, but Destiny Udogie has clearly done enough to catch the eye.

Manchester City are now pushing to sign the left-back, with new sporting director Hugo Viana believed to be a long-term admirer, although it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be willing to strengthen a direct rival.

Cristian Romero’s future in north London also remains in doubt, with the Lilywhites contacting AFC Bournemouth over Dean Huijsen, who could be brought in as a replacement for the Argentine.

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With a move also potentially on the cards for Udogie, Ange Postecoglou could also be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, should the Australian keep his job, and an exciting target has now been identified.

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now in the race to sign AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez, but there could be stiff competition for his signature, given that Chelsea and Man City have also expressed an interest.

Hernandez’s contract is set to expire in 2026, which means this summer could be Milan’s last opportunity to receive a sizeable fee for his services, with the Frenchman’s value believed to be around £30m.

The 27-year-old is believed to be a key target at left-back, but with a number of top clubs queuing up for his signature, it remains to be seen whether Spurs will be able to lure him to north London.

Hernandez could be "brilliant" addition for Tottenham

It would be fair to say the Milan defender is not enjoying the best of seasons, but journalist Zach Lowy states he has been “one of the best left-backs in Europe over the past decade”, having particularly impressed in an attacking sense.

The France international has chipped in with a remarkable 34 goals and 45 assists in 256 appearances for Milan, during which time he has been lauded as “consistently brilliant” by football writer Carlo Garganese, which indicates this season may just be a blip.

Hernandez has proven he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, and £30m could be a bargain fee, given the level of his performances in the Serie A over a number of years.

However, Spurs’ number one priority should be to keep hold of Udogie, which they should be in a strong position to do, given that the 22-year-old is contracted until 2030.

Manchester United are now seriously considering a move for an “incredible” former player, as they are starting to realise it was a mistake to let him leave, according to a report.

Summer of change needed at Old Trafford

A slight improvement in form, coupled with the announcement of the new stadium plans, gave Man United fans cause for some excitement prior to the international break, but they were immediately brought back down to earth after the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.

The loss against the Tricky Trees once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to strengthen his squad during his first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager has set out to replace a number of underperforming players.

With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling, the Red Devils are looking to bring in a new striker, with the likes of Sporting CP’s VIktor Gyokeres and FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa among the potential targets, alongside Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

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There have also been suggestions Andre Onana could be replaced in the summer, and talks over a deal for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan are believed to be progressing, with the Frenchman said to be Amorim’s top target.

However, a new report from Spain has thrown another interesting name into the mix, stating Man United are seriously considering a move for former goalkeeper David De Gea, given the Spaniard’s return to form since signing for Fiorentina.

The United hierarchy are said to have acknowledged they made a mistake by letting De Gea leave at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, and they are now aiming to bring him back to Old Trafford, which could lead to negotiations over a deal.

With Onana costing Amorim’s side valuable points this season, it is looking increasingly likely a replacement will be brought in this summer.

"Incredible" De Gea reigniting career at Fiorentina

The Spanish goalkeeper spent 12 seasons at Old Trafford, winning the Premier League Golden Glove award two times, including during his final season with United, but he was ultimately replaced with Onana, given the Cameroonian’s ability with his feet.

However, the 29-year-old has struggled this season, making three errors leading to goals in the Premier League, while De Gea has started to reignite his career in Italy, putting in a number of impressive performances for Fiorentina.

Journalist Josh Bunting lauded the £36k-per-week former United man for his “incredible goalkeeping” earlier this season, and he has outperformed Onana on a number of key goalkeeping metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

David De Gea

Andre Onana

Goals against

1.0

1.47

Save percentage

75.2%

71.2%

Clean sheet percentage

37%

21.3%

That said, given that De Gea is now 34-years-old, and Man United have already cut ties with him on one occasion, it is probably wise to move for a younger goalkeeper to replace Onana, and Maignan could be available at a 50% discount this summer.

Football works in mysterious ways, and with the majority of players having numerous clubs during their careers, there’s a good chance some will come back to haunt their former sides.

From scoring important goals or regularly being a thorn in their ex-club’s side over the years, we’ve seen it on multiple occasions on the biggest stages.

Anthony Elanga recently came back to bite Manchester United, who will surely be regretting selling the winger in the summer of 2023, particularly with Nottingham Forest now miles ahead of their midweek opponents, who were beaten by the Swede’s special winner at the City Ground.

Here, we’ve taken a look at 11 stars who have haunted their former clubs.

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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 31, 2025 1 Anthony Elanga Nottingham Forest v Man Utd

Anthony Elanga has been something of a revelation since his move to Nottingham Forest, with the Reds benefiting from the Swede being unable to find a home during his stay at Manchester United.

The winger has often been in electrifying form, but showcased his talents to his former employers with a superb solo run before scoring an eventual winner in their recent Premier League clash.

With Forest set to finish in the European places, the move has certainly worked out for the 22-year-old.

2 Robin van Persie Man Utd v Arsenal

Robin van Persie made what was a controversial move at the time from Arsenal to Man Utd in 2012.

The Dutch striker was the Gunners captain and star striker at the time, so to swap the Emirates for Old Trafford was a high-profile deal and all eyes were on the first meeting between the two sides months later.

Just three minutes into his first appearance against Arsenal, Van Persie scored for the Red Devils in a 2-1 win and netted again at the Emirates that season, helping Man Utd to another – and his first – Premier League title.

His and United’s fortunes dwindled after that, but he scored in their next meeting in late 2013, this time celebrating fully.

3 Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is one of the greatest goalscorers of the modern era, netting 103 times for Borussia Dortmund before leaving the club for rivals Bayern Munich in 2014.

Lewandowski would go on to spend eight years as a Bayern player, netting a remarkable 344 times in 375 games and winning 19 major honours.

He would regularly come up against Dortmund in the Bundesliga and in various cup competitions, and scored 27 times in 26 games against BVB for Bayern – more than any other club in his career.

Wins

19

Goals

27

Assists

3

Hat-tricks

2

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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 4 Emmanuel Adebayor Man City v Arsenal

One of the most memorable instances of a player haunting their former club came back in 2009, when Emmanuel Adebayor decided to run the length of the Etihad pitch to celebrate a goal for Manchester City in front of the Arsenal fans.

The striker swapped the red of north London for the sky blue of Manchester that summer and was suspended for two games and fined £25,000 by the FA for his celebration.

At the time, Adebayor’s reasoning for the celebration was: “I was being abused by people who six months ago were singing my name. The abuse was for no reason. It wasn’t my fault I left, it was Arsene [Wenger] who wanted to accept the offer for me.”

5 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid v Man Utd

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move from Man Utd to Real Madrid in 2009 remains one of the biggest in history, so it was always going to be huge when the Portuguese superstar came up against the Red Devils for the first time.

It took four years for Madrid and United to cross paths in the Champions League, being drawn against each other in the last 16 in 2012/13.

Ronaldo scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu in the first leg and then netted what proved to be the winner at Old Trafford.

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ByRobin Mumford May 14, 2025 6 Mohamed Salah Liverpool v Chelsea

Many didn’t think much of Chelsea’s decision to sell Mohamed Salah on a permanent deal to Roma in 2016 after the winger scored just twice for the Blues in 19 appearances.

However, following his return to England with Liverpool a year later, Salah has gone on to star in the Premier League for the Reds, scoring more than 200 goals and registering over 100 assists on Merseyside.

Salah has faced off against Chelsea on a regular basis over the last eight years, helping beat the Blues in the final of the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

The Egyptian has also scored five times and registered four assists against Chelsea for Liverpool, including a stunner back in 2019.

7 Kevin De Bruyne Man City v Chelsea

Another player who Chelsea let go too soon was Kevin De Bruyne, who has starred for Man City years over the last 10 years.

De Bruyne made just nine appearances for the Blues before they and Jose Mourinho decided to sell the Belgian to Wolfsburg in 2014. After starring in Germany, the attacking midfielder returned to England 18 months later and has gone on to win everything at the Etihad.

He scored a crucial winner for City at Stamford Bridge in 2017, helping Pep Guardiola’s side reach 100 points that season, while he netted four times in five appearances against the Blues between 2019 and 2022.

8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic Milan v Inter

Iconic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic played for multiple European giants during his career, including both Milan and Inter.

The Swedish striker had three successful years with Inter between 2006 and 2009, and after a two-year stint in Spain with Barcelona, he returned to the San Siro, with the Rossoneri.

In his first Milan derby, Ibrahimovic earned and converted a penalty for Milan, an effort which proved to be the winner and helped his side to a Serie A title. He’d go on to score seven more times for Milan against Inter.

9 Ronaldo Real Madrid v Barcelona

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is well known for his time scoring for fun at the Bernabeu for Real Madrid between 2002 and 2007, but he also played for rivals Barcelona prior to his time as a Galactico.

Ronaldo scored 47 goals in 49 games in all competitions for Barcelona in 1996/97, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award at the age of 20.

The forward moved to Inter in a world-record transfer but returned to Spain with Madrid, where he would come back to haunt Barcelona on numerous occasions.

In total, Ronaldo scored in four separate El Clasico matches, two of which came at Camp Nou, and every time he scored against Barcelona, Madrid never lost.

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1 ByBarney Lane May 10, 2025 10 Frank Lampard Man City v Chelsea

It’s easy to forget that Frank Lampard spent his final year in the Premier League as a Manchester City player.

The Chelsea legend left Stamford Bridge in 2014, and after penning a pre-contract with New York City, he joined Manchester City for the 2014/15 season, where he would come up against Chelsea.

It was written in the stars for the attacking midfielder to make an impact against the Blues. Lampard scored his first City goal late on against Chelsea in September 2014 to end his former side’s winning start to the season.

Everton need to win against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a strange thing to say, almost. Clubs seek victory each time they enter the field, but after just one win across seven recent top-flight outings, David Moyes’ side need to return to form at the Hill Dickinson and pause for the November international break on a high.

Crucial in achieving this will be the availability of talisman Iliman Ndiaye, who was withdrawn after an hour against Sunderland on Monday evening with a suspected knock, limping off the field.

The latest on Iliman Ndiaye's fitness

In short, Ndiaye has been cleared to play. The Senegalese winger has been nothing short of brilliant this season, with his return of four goals and an assist across ten matches.

But that hardly paints the full picture. It was the goal that counted at the Stadium of Light, but the manner in which the 25-year-old skipped his way into the box, wrongfooted one man, two, and then struck so sweetly past Robin Roefs, who was not wrongfooted but frozen in place.

He’s fast, furious and clever in his decision-making. So guileful. There has been concern that he will sit this one out, but Moyes revealed on Friday morning that the winger had trained as usual and is ready to play.

Given that Moyes has been so reluctant to start the 19-year-old Tyler Dibling this season, Ndiaye’s availability is crucial, not least because Fulham are a resilient and well-structured outfit, and his maverick nature could unlock that backline.

However, he’s not the only one who has the skillset to shine. Pitted against Everton at the Hill Dickinson will be their former star Alex Iwobi, and Moyes has found the Toffees’ new version this season.

Moyes must unleash Everton's new Iwobi

Iwobi was a trusty servant across his four years on Merseyside, and it was under Frank Lampard’s wing that he was resfashioned from an electric winger into a robust central midfielder.

Here the Nigerian’s creativity has been allowed to flourish, hitting 15 goal involvements in the league last year. Everton have missed this kind of player, but in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes might have signed the solution.

Dewsbury-Hall, 27, joined the club from Chelsea for a £28m fee this summer and he has impressed across his nine Premier League starts, scoring one goal, assisting one more, and creating four big chances. Sofascore record that he won 55% of his ground duels and completed 71% of his dribbles, too.

This is a complete midfielder, and while he doesn’t shirk from defensive responsibilities, Dewsbury-Hall’s bread and butter is his passing, and this makes him the perfect solvent of Iwobi’s talent, for he could overpower him in his number ten role.

The pair are considered statistically similar players in the Premier League this season by data-led platform FBref, and the £90k-per-week Dewsbury-Hall could now prove his worth by stepping up and leading the Toffees toward three points.

Goals

0.11

0.11

Assists

0.11

0.22

Touches

43.93

57.59

Pass completion (%)

77.2

79.2

Progressive passes

5.19

6.24

Shot-creating actions

3.50

3.56

Through balls

0.56

0.45

Crosses

4.63

2.67

Progressive carries

1.36

4.46

Successful take-ons

1.13

0.56

Ball recoveries

3.05

4.23

Tackles + interceptions

1.47

1.34

Playing balls in behind is Dewsbury-Hall’s speciality. He has the athleticism to dribble the ball forward, but is designated as the Blues’ conduit between midfield and attack, passing through the spaces and creating for his teammates.

Iwobi has probably enjoyed the better season so far, as the statistics will tell you above, but this is a chance for Everton’s summer recruit to properly announce himself and become the “revelation” that former boss Brendan Rodgers said he was at Leicester City.

Fulham are a tough team, and they thrashed lowly Wolves last weekend after skidding to four successive defeats. One point and one place behind Moyes’ side, they will be hungry to cause an upset.

If Dewsbury-Hall turns up, he could not only stand out and overshadow his opposite number in Iwobi but also take Everton back into the win column.

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ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

This week, Tottenham Hotspur fans will get to see Heung-min Son again. On Tuesday, he will be there, down N17, beaming and emotional as he waves goodbye to the club he devoted the prime years of his iconic career.

Poetry has a funny way of weaving its way into so many narratives in football, and there was certainly something romantic about the South Korean legend sealing silverware on his final game for Spurs, ending the endless drought.

Tottenham haven’t really replaced their former captain, just as someone on a level with Harry Kane at number nine has not been signed either.

That may change in 2026.

Spurs lining up new forwards

In October, Tottenham announced a £100m equity injection. What this pertains to could go on interminably, but it effectively means Frank’s first-team squad will be seeing some improvements in the near future. Investment is imminent.

And it’s clear that additions are needed up top, with the potency Son provided – even on the decline, the 32-year-old scored 24 goals and assisted 19 more across his final two Premier League campaigns – yet to be matched.

Should the Lilywhites win the race for RB Leipzig prospect Yan Diomande, with their interest confirmed by Caught Offside, Frank might just land the talisman he is looking for.

The report claims Spurs are among the myriad of top clubs to have sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old winger this season, and such competitive intrigue indicates a market value or around €80m (equating to £68m).

The news comes just days after it was revealed by separate sources that Spurs were in ‘very advanced talks’ with the player’s agents last week to sign the player.

Why Spurs should sign Yan Diomande

Diomande might be in the hatchling stage of his career, but already, he is proving that he can throw down with the heavyweights, having made an electric start to his career in Germany with Leipzig, scoring seven goals and supplying four assists across 15 matches this term, having joined from

The Ivorian winger’s technical skills stand out, and a slippery dribbling style makes him a force to be reckoned with. Coach Harry Brook believes he will “be worth £100m plus” in the not-too-distant future, and so it’s worth Tottenham snapping him up promptly.

Already, we can observe startling progress across a range of areas for Diomande. He is physical and he is fast, and he is also fostering a natural-born clinical edge in front of goal, with his defensive work-rate not leaving much to be desired either.

Remind you of anyone? This could be the new Son, especially since he hails from the Bundesliga, with Tottenham signing their departed hero from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.

Goals scored

0.36

0.31

Assists

0.21

0.31

Shots taken

2.08

2.75

Shot-creating actions

5.23

4.51

Touches (att pen)

7.16

5.55

Pass completion (%)

81.2

76.4

Progressive passes

3.44

4.25

Progressive carries

6.66

4.30

Successful take-ons

4.01

1.61

Ball recoveries

6.01

3.16

Tackles + interceptions

2.72

0.83

Diomande is showing signs of elite balance in output. He’s got an eye for goal, but that doesn’t detract from his playmaking, and nor does it mean he shirks away from defensive duties, from using his speed to cover plenty of ground and influence in different areas.

Son, in many ways is irreplaceable, and perhaps that’s why the board opted against trying to find a carbon copy, as they did with Kane.

But now, real quality, bona fide quality, is needed up top, else Tottenham will find themselves struggling to match the might of rivals at the top of the Premier League.

Diomande has talent in spades, and he might just find himself developing into a winger of a similar level with Son, following that Korean legend’s footsteps from Germany over to English shores.

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Another week, another dollar for Liverpool. Up next is an Anfield clash against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and Arne Slot knows he has to win this one.

That should go without saying, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Liverpool have lost eight of their past 11 matches across all competitions, and two of their past three at Anfield.

A big response is needed, and curiously, it feels like there’s a good chance that will be delivered against the Dutch side. Whether it will be sustained is another matter, though, and Slot needs to find and instil a formula that can be carried back over to the Premier League, with West Ham United waiting in London on Sunday.

The Reds have to overcome their current malaise, and maybe they need to start Alexander Isak once again.

Why Isak should start vs PSV

Hugo Ekitike is waiting in the wings, and having been Liverpool’s most efficient forward this season, may well be disheartened by being benched once again here, especially after his side and Isak produced a staggeringly bad performance at the weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Minutes played

68′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

14

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

5/7 (71%)

Possession lost

7x

Chances created

1

Dribbles

0/1

Tackles won

0/0

Duels won

0/7

The Sweden striker, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on transfer deadline day this summer, has not yet scored in the Premier League, his only goal coming against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The 26-year-old is one of the best strikers in the world and a proven behemoth in England. But it’s not worked out thus far, and Slot has to find some answers – quickly.

Liverpool cannot allow this rut to devolve into something more permanent. Already, chatter concerning the boss’s future is rising, and he needs to prove he can rewire his team to overcome their many problems.

The free-scoring success of Isak will be essential in righting the wrongs of recent months.

If Isak is to be handed another chance to develop his fitness levels under the European lights on Wednesday, Slot should also consider handing another rarely-seen star a role from the opening.

Slot must unleash Liverpool's Semenyo-esque talent

While Cody Gakpo has played many minutes off the left wing this season, there is a sense that Liverpool need a contrasting profile. Someone like Luis Diaz.

But, with Diaz sold to Bayern Munich, rumours are rising regarding Liverpool’s interest in Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle for Bournemouth this season.

Semenyo, 25, has notched six goals and three assists from 11 Premier League matches this season, and he has been hailed as a “world-class” forward by his teammate Justin Kluivert.

He’s available in January, his £65m release clause then becoming active, but whether Liverpool should strike a deal for the Ghanaian when they have a talent like Rio Ngumoha in their ranks remains to be seen.

Ngumoha, 17, announced himself and then some earlier this season when scoring a last-gasp winner away at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since proved reluctant to hand him minutes on the biggest stage.

Given that Liverpool opted against paying out for a direct Diaz heir to keep a pathway open for the England U19 star, whose five Premier League cameos this term combine for a total of 42 minutes of action, this is questionable.

Now, while Liverpool need to win against PSV, Ngumoha could be handed a significant show of faith by starting in the Champions League, with his pace and potency and willingness to be direct potentially perfect for Isak. Just look at the connection the Swede forged with Anthony Gordon over the past few years on Tyneside.

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Kevin Fernandes, Ngumoha was given 12 minutes off the bench at the weekend, and while he was unable to turn the tide against the Tricky Trees, he certainly offered more than Gakpo, with Sofascore recording that he completed all three attempted dribbles and won three duels.

This could be a move that not only bears dividends for Isak and Ngumoha, but also rekindle the belief in Slot’s vision. Liverpool fans are passionate, and the rise of a homegrown hero could project the kind of shining light Slot needs to prove he has what it takes to lead this club forward in the long run.

After all, Ngumoha has already demonstrated this season his capacity to succeed in the Premier League, and that winner at St. James’ Park established him as one of the competition’s youngest goalscorers of all time.

#

Player

Age

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

He might be a raw and unpolished prospect, but Ngumoha is the real deal, and while we are not advocating for him to start every single match, it might be worthwhile to enforce a degree of rotation here ahead of Sunday’s must-win Premier League match at West Ham.

It would also help stabilise Isak, providing a presence to dart forward and stretch lines, playing into the record striker’s fast-running and line-breaking style of play.

The rumours concerning Liverpool’s interest in Semenyo are only going to intensify as the winter transfer window draws nearer.

But Liverpool already have a prodigious talent whose talent left FSG and Hughes opting against sourcing a direct Diaz replacement. Now it is time to unleash him.

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ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

The search for Celtic’s next manager is now officially underway following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit and a number of names are already emerging as early candidates for the job.

Celtic's manager search: The early candidates

Following defeat against Hearts at the weekend, Rodgers has officially resigned as Celtic manager to bring an end to his second spell in charge. Tensions had been boiling both behind the scenes and in public since a disappointing summer transfer window and the manager decided that was that on Monday evening.

Given the reaction of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond too, the chances of Rodgers ever taking a third spell in charge are now fairly slim. Desmond didn’t hold back once, claiming that Celtic did offer their manager a new deal and anything that has suggested otherwise, including the words of Rodgers, is “simply untrue”.

The fallout will undoubtedly continue in the coming days, but so will Celtic’s managerial search. Having appointed Martin O’Neill on an interim basis, the Bhoys have bought themselves some time to assess their options.

Several names are already beginning to emerge, including former manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest less than two months after he was appointed and desperately needs the chance to fix his reputation.

As someone who has won the Scottish Premiership twice at the club, Postecoglou represents a top option that Celtic should consider. Despite his recent failure, there’s no doubt that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss knows how to get the job done.

That said, Postecolgou isn’t the only candidate at this early stage. Joining him on the list of options at Celtic is a Champions League finalist who is still searching for his next job.

Edin Terzic now a candidate to replace Rodgers

As reported by The Daily Record, Edin Terzic is now an early candidate to take the Celtic job and replace Rodgers. The former Borussia Dortmund manager has been out of a job since leaving the Bundesliga giants in the summer of 2024 and could now make a return to the dugout courtesy of the Bhoys.

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At 42 years old, the German is one of the most interesting candidates. It was only in 2024 that he led Dortmund to a Champions League final, where they lost against Real Madrid, and he also cut Bayern Munich incredibly close in the Bundesliga. This is very much still a young manager full of potential that Celtic could unlock in full.

Terzic’s arrival would also spark an intriguing dynamic in the Old Firm derby between the young German manager and recent Rangers hire Danny Rohl, but it remains to be seen whether Celtic explore that possibility.