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One year ago, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar served as a welcome break for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp as he assessed the quandary that his campaign had morphed into.

What had went wrong? Why had Liverpool fallen off a proverbial cliff? To say that the Anfield side were a shadow of their former selves would insinuate a squad cut of the same shape, but Liverpool had been mangled and contorted and were unrecognisable from the team that mere months before had come within a whisker of an unprecedented Quadruple.

The Reds failed to quite return to form despite a late-season purple patch that painted brilliant colour back into Klopp's system, and the summer transfer work in refitting the engine room with shiny new signings has worked wonders: the Reds top the Premier League table after 16 matches.

But last year's issues closed the door on Champions League qualification, and while the return to the Europa League after seven years was poignant, Liverpool are righting their wrongs and have topped Group E with a match to spare.

Now, Klopp has the luxury to issue heavy rotation ahead of his team's final group fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, with a crucial few weeks of festive football ahead on the domestic scene.

Liverpool team news vs USG

Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have all remained on Merseyside as Klopp decided to rest multiple players for the trip to USG, with Alexis Mac Allister also sidelined as he recovers from a knee stamp.

The German manager has already confirmed that he will make multiple changes to the starting line-up in the dead-rubber contest, with forthcoming Premier League matches against Manchester United and Arsenal sandwiching a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against West Ham United in midweek.

Spanish midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain long-term absentees, while Joel Matip is out for the season after rupturing his ACL and Andy Robertson continues his rehabilitation following shoulder surgery in October; Diogo Jota is nearing a return but will not be risked at the Stade Joseph Marian.

Why Elliott and Quansah must start vs USG

Harvey Elliott scored the winner as toiling Liverpool found a way to win against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, firing home in the 90th minute to send the travelling support into a red sea of rapture.

The creative midfielder, aged 20, is a special talent and has been a valuable member of Klopp's side over the past few years, but recently remarked that he wishes to shrug off the moniker of 'Super Sub', and instead start to wedge his way into the starting line-up with regularity.

Elliott has made 20 appearances this season and played every minute of Liverpool's Europa League campaign, but has only started once in the Premier League and was hooked at half-time on that outing (against Brighton & Hove Albion).

Despite this, he has scored once and supplied two assists in the English top-flight and received praise for "visionary" distribution by TNT Sports' commentator Ian Darke, ranking among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

He's vital and offers something that perhaps none of his Liverpool confreres can quite replicate: a breezy and progressive presence blended with constant creativity.

Player

Club

Luis Alberto

Lazio

Lovro Majer

Wolfsburg

Alexis Mac Allister

Liverpool

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Nicolo Barella

Inter Milan

*Sourced via FBref

He has to start, much like his defensive peer Jarell Quansah, also aged 20, who has excelled in breaking into the senior set-up this term after spending the latter half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with League One side Bristol Rovers.

Described as "absolutely phenomenal" by Alexander-Arnold, Quansah has chalked up 11 displays for Liverpool and has impressed with his composed and commanding performances in the central defence.

While Matip's season is now over, Ibrahima Konate remains the No. 1 option to partner captain Van Dijk in front of Alisson's goal, but the 6 foot 5 titan has demonstrated his worth over his displays thus far, having started twice in the Premier League and secured three points on both occasions – away to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Palace.

He also ranks among the top 16% of positional peers for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for pass completion, the top 135 for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting the modern set of skills that make him a perfect fit to succeed a player such as Matip in Klopp's team.

Both players earn regular spots in the matchday squad and will be eager to take advantage of the upcoming tie to further stake their claim to increased responsibility.

Not the only players who should receive a starting berth in Belgium, left-back Luke Chambers has the perfect opportunity to really make himself known to Klopp after making his debut several months ago.

Why Luke Chambers must start

Chambers is only 19 years old but has taken advantage of Robertson's ongoing injury to earn his first start for Liverpool earlier in the campaign, playing 67 minutes as his side dismantled Toulouse 5-1 in the Europa League.

With Kostas Tsimikas the main man at left-back in Robertson's absence, it might be wise to give the Greek ace a break and entrust Chambers with a second role from the outset, having enjoyed a breakthrough loan stint with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes noted his "outstanding" displays in Scotland last season and praised his maturity, having averaged one key pass per game while winning 62% of his ground duels – showcasing his versatility.

Also described as a "diamond" by McInnes, Chambers can also play as a centre-half and could use his defensive experience to produce a sturdy display to really underline his potential to Klopp, who will still feel that he needs convincing before integrating the player into regular senior action.

But with such an important week up ahead, Liverpool must not take any more risks than necessary in the Europa League, and there is absolutely no reason why Chambers should not be offered the opportunity to follow in Elliott and Quansah's footsteps and use the dead rubber situation to rise to the fore.

Tottenham Hotspur's air of invincibility has faded away after a terrible week of double losses in the Premier League, coming as a by-product of the flood of injuries and suspensions in the home defeat against Chelsea.

Ange Postecoglou, it must be said, has worked miracles since arriving in the summer, taking a beleaguered outfit that had squandered European exploits after a terrible 2022/23 campaign and restoring the verve, storming into early title contention and spending three match weeks as the table-toppers before falling to a first defeat last Monday.

But the squad had been left threadbare following the suspensions of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie against the Blues, compounding the injury woes to influential summer signings Micky van de Ven and James Maddison.

Postecoglou has his work cut out to steady the ship over the gruelling winter period after Pablo Sarabia's brilliance imbued a Wolverhampton Wanderers turnaround in the dying embers last week, inflicting successive defeats on the Lilywhites.

It's important to remain calm in this instance; Tottenham might have dropped to fourth place but they are just two points off league leaders Manchester City, who face second-placed Liverpool after the international break.

In the short term, Postecoglou will have to make do – and they do say that a good craftsman works with the tools at his disposal. But once the Australian manager reaches the January transfer window it is really a given that he will act swiftly to bolster the ranks, and, as such, the recent rumours focussing on Lloyd Kelly might ring true.

Tottenham transfer news – Lloyd Kelly

According to the Evening Standard, Van de Ven's injury – which is likely to rule him out into the new year – has accelerated plans to strengthen the backline, and Bournemouth's Kelly is among the chief candidates.

With Liverpool also sniffing around, Football Insider have recently revealed that Andoni Idraola's side will demand £30m for the dynamic defender amid suggestions that Spurs will move in January. Though given that Kelly is out of contract at the end of the season, this fee might dissuade the suitors.

Nonetheless, Spurs desperately need depth in defence and not only does Kelly fit the bill, he was targetted in the summer and subject to a £20m bid, though the player rejected this with concerns over his minutes on the pitch.

But now, the one-time Bristol City star could walk into an exciting Tottenham project with the chance to play a central role and continue his striking development, and it now falls into the realm of negotiation.

Lloyd Kelly's style of play

A versatile and confident defender, Kelly finds success of equal measure as a centre-half and out wide, dominating the left channel.

Since signing from Bristol City for £13m in 2019, he has made 125 appearances, scoring twice and supplying seven assists; stricken by injury on his debut campaign as the Cherries fell to relegation, Kelly played a central role in guiding the club back to the big time over the next two years.

Former boss Scott Parker was a firm believer that his talents stretched beyond the constraints of the Championship, claiming in 2022: "I think Lloyd Kelly has got the attributes and the ability to be a top Premier League centre-half. And I think we are blessed and very, very lucky to have someone of his quality, really.

"You take players like Lloyd probably for granted in the sense that he makes things look very effortless and easy."

Having stayed up last year, Bournemouth owed much to Kelly's involvement, having completed 81% of his passes in the Premier League, making 4.3 clearances per game and winning 60% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Robust and reliable, the 5 foot 11 ace ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for clearances and the top 17% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his energetic and imposing qualities.

He would not be the first player to make the leap to the higher level of Premier League outfit – he wouldn't be the first left-sided defender from Bournemouth either; look at Nathan Ake's success at Manchester City – and Spurs would be wise to secure this rising star's signature, providing the perfect cover in Van de Ven's absence.

Why Lloyd Kelly could replace Van de Ven

Signing from German side Wolfsburg for £43m in the summer, Van de Van has been nothing short of a revelation for Postecoglou's project, proving the doubters wrong emphatically.

Liverpool were interested in snapping the Dutchman up but cooled their interest in July due to concerns regarding the price tag, but that is the Anfield side's loss.

Van de Ven is one of the quickest and most athletic centre-backs around, ranking among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Given that Tottenham languished to an eighth-placed league finish last year having shipped a shoulder-sagging 63 goals, his impact has been extraordinary alongside the revived Romero, who, albeit, lost face after seeing red against Chelsea.

But such only strengthens the need to sign a player of Kelly's ilk, with stand-in duo Eric Dier and Ben Davies hardly evoking confidence.

Lloyd Kelly: Similar PL Players
#	Player	Club
1	Victor Lindelof	Manchester United
2	Lisandro Martinez	Manchester United
3	Benoit Badiashile	Chelsea
4	Harry Maguire	Manchester United
5	Wesley Fofana	Chelsea
*Sourced via Football Transfers

The £30k-per-week Kelly is the left-centred defender to impress, and he's already proving his worth against high-calibre opposition, having played a pivotal part in his south coast club's excellent victory over Newcastle United last weekend.

In that 2-0 win, he won both of his ground duels from left-back and completed 80% of his passes, finding his man with six long balls too, and he embodies the spirit and positivity that Postecoglou could make sterling use of.

Once lauded as a "Rolls-Royce" in the rearguard by Jonathan Woodgate – former AFCB manager and Spurs defender – Kelly clearly possesses the ball-playing ability to slot right into Postecoglou's side, and while he is playing in a struggling Bournemouth side, this does not negate his potential.

Tottenham must ensure that they sign Kelly in January and beat Liverpool to a talented defender for the second time in six months, enhancing their chances of rekindling the winning mentality and producing a successful conclusion to their season under Postecoglou's exciting leadership.

Thomas Tuchel has claimed the Arsenal vs Bayern referee admitted to knowing he'd made a "mistake" by not awarding a penalty for a Gabriel handball.

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• Bizarre penalty incident in 67th minute
• Bayern were leading 2-1 at the time
• Tuchel claims ref owned up to error

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In the 67th minute of a pulsating Champions League quarter-final first leg clash at the Emirates Stadium, David Raya played a short goal kick to Gabriel Magalhaes, who picked up the ball and retook the kick himself, seemingly unaware referee Glenn Nyberg had already blown his whistle for the restart. Bayern players protested but no penalty was awarded.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The controversial incident came with Bayern leading 2-1 on the night, and was quickly followed by Leandro Trossard's equalising goal. It could have major implications on who progresses to the last four, which only heightened Tuchel's rage.

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• WHAT TUCHEL SAID

  Speaking after the game, Tuchel said to : "I think the referee did not have the courage to give a deserved penalty today in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation.

  “He admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation and that [for a] quarter-final [the incident] is not enough for him to give a penalty, for a kid’s mistake. He admitted he saw the mistake the player made.

  “It was a goal kick, the goalkeeper passed to a central defender and one touched the ball with the hand because he thought it was not in game. But it was in game and the referee admitted it was in game and was handball. Very frustrating.”

During the summer transfer window, things looked to be going well for Newcastle United once again as they attempted to build a squad capable of competing on all fronts, including in the Champions League. Fast-forward a few months, however, and their biggest deal has quickly become somewhat void, given that Sandro Tonali is now at the beginning of a 10-month ban following his breach of betting regulations.

That leaves the Magpies with a difficult dilemma and a gaping hole in the middle of the park. They could yet turn to the transfer market to once again solve their problems though, with reports suggesting that they could move for a particular Ligue 1 target.

Newcastle United transfer news

In Tonali's absence, Newcastle have lost just once, which came in their most recent outing in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, prior to that defeat, Eddie Howe's side picked up impressive victories in the Carabao Cup against Manchester United, sweeping the Red Devils aside 3-0, and Arsenal in the Premier League as they shot the Gunners' title chances down with a controversial 1-0 win.

The likes of Joe Willock have stepped up well in the Italian's absence, but any more injuries and the Magpies could struggle. That's when January should ease their issues, however. According to 90min, Newcastle are eyeing a move for Youssouf Fofana alongside both Manchester United and Liverpool. The AS Monaco central midfielder, who can also play on the right of midfield, is reportedly on the Magpies' radar but is not at the top of the club's list of priorities.

As things stand, Fofana's current Monaco deal is set to expire at the end of the season, which could have handed Newcastle and others a potential boost before reports suggested that the Ligue 1 side will trigger their automatic option to extend his contract by a further year. Nonetheless, with three Premier League clubs reportedly interested, Fofana could be one to keep an eye on in the coming months.

"Magnificent" Fofana could replace Tonali

Like Tonali, Fofana is a midfielder capable of operating in both boxes and is at the top of his game, with a career high transfer value. Fofana's Adidas sponsorship would certainly feel fitting for Newcastle too, given the recent deal that they signed with the sports brand.

Whether the Magpies make their move or not remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the Frenchman could step in and fill the shoes of the banned Tonali. Fofana's stats prove as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Blocks Per 90

Goals + Assists

Youssouf Fofana

8.04

1.31

1.31

3

Sandro Tonali

3.88

0.41

0.61

1

The stats even suggest that Fofana wouldn't just step in and briefly replace Tonali at St James' Park, but he'd be more than capable of keeping the former AC Milan man out of Howe's side upon his return in just under a year.

His numbers and performances have resulted in deserved praise, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who posted on X: "All eyes are on Aurélien Tchouaméni but Youssouf Fofana is also a magnificent player. Top clubs EPL clubs should definitely have him on their radar."

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has enjoyed an excellent start to life in Yorkshire after taking on the job following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

The German boss was tasked with bringing the feel-good factor back to Elland Road after a disappointing 2022/23 campaign that ended the side's three-year stay in the top-flight.

He has done a good job of it so far as Leeds head into the October international break in fifth-place in the Championship table with five wins and two defeats in their opening 11 matches.

Points

94

97

Goals for

93

75

Goals against

57

36

Games won

27

29

Farke's Championship title-winning seasons with Norwich (via Sky Sports):

Farke's work during the summer transfer window is already paying off as a number of his signings have hit the ground running and made an instant impact on the pitch for the Whites.

Joel Piroe was brought in from Swansea and has made himself a star for the club with his prolific performances at the top end of the pitch.

Although the Dutch forward is only 24, Leeds may also already have the dream long-term heir to his position in the team with Sam Greenwood – who left to join Middlesbrough on loan.

Why has Piroe played in midfield this season?

He has been deployed as a number ten, behind Georginio Rutter, in what has been a fluid role for the attacker as he is given license to advance beyond the French dynamo, when the ex-Hoffenheim man drops deeper to pick up possession.

Farke explained that, despite him playing as a number nine for Swansea, Piroe's attributes make him the ideal option for the number ten role in his 4-2-3-1 system due to his "world-class" finishing and ability to link-up play in deep positions.

He also stated that the Dutch attacker's pressing is not one of his strengths and that he wants his strikers to stretch the play, which is what Patrick Bamford and Rutter are able to do.

However, the German tactician also revealed that he would be willing to play Piroe as a centre-forward if Leeds needed a number nine to drop deep and progress play to quick wingers on the counter-attack, rather than in matches where they need pressing and pace to stretch a compact defence.

This role within Farke's system could also be perfect for Greenwood. The 21-year-old gem has played the majority of his career so far as a striker or attacking midfielder and this means that he is experienced in both positions, which suggests that the young ace could suit playing a hybrid of the two alongside Rutter or Bamford.

How many goals has Piroe scored this season?

There is no immediate need for anyone to replace Piroe, though, as the Dutch marksman has enjoyed a strong start to the 2023/24 campaign with five goals.

He has plundered five goals in eight Championship starts for Leeds since his move to the club from Swansea during the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old whiz, who scored two goals in one EFL Cup game for the Swans earlier this season, has only missed three 'big chances' in the second tier this season and this backs up Farke's high praise of his finishing qualities.

However, there is work to do on the creative side of his game as the forward has only created 0.5 chances per match for Leeds and is yet to register his first assist of the campaign.

How many goals did Piroe score for Swansea?

The talented dynamo racked up 46 goals in 96 appearances for the Welsh outfit in little more than two years with the Championship side.

Piroe produced a superb 22 goals and six assists in 45 league outings throughout his debut campaign in English football during the 2021/22 campaign.

The prolific ace followed that up with 19 goals and two assists in 43 Championship matches in the 2022/23 season for Russell Martin's side.

These statistics show that Leeds brought in a proven goalscorer who had already showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis at this level, albeit in a different position to the one that Farke has deemed best for him.

If his goals for the Whites end up attracting interest from elsewhere or, for whatever reason, his form dips significantly then Farke could already have his dream heir in Greenwood.

How many goals has Greenwood scored?

The 21-year-old talent, who is currently on loan with Middlesbrough, has scored 46 goals in 145 matches at senior and academy level combined in his club career.

Greenwood recently started his second league match of the season for Boro and scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 win over Sunderland in the Championship.

He is still adapting to life in a first-team setting after a return of one goal and five assists in 35 senior outings for Leeds prior to his loan move to Teesside.

However, his record at youth level suggests that the potential is there for him to carry a huge goalscoring threat in the future. Former Leeds man Noel Whelan once praised Greenwood's "immense" ability and stated that he is a "weapon" for the club with his quality from deadball situations.

The £2.6k-per-week whiz scored 22 goals in 43 U21 matches for the Yorkshire-based side and that came after his tally of 15 goals and six assists in 39 U18 games for Arsenal earlier in his career.

Greenwood, who produced six goals and six assists in 15 U18 outings for Sunderland, has not exploded at first-team level yet but still has plenty of time left ahead of him at the age of 21.

He is an excellent young prospect who could turn into the perfect heir to Piroe with his ability to play as either a striker or a number ten whilst carrying an excellent scoring threat, if he can translate his youth team form over to a senior environment.

One stumbling block, however, to this is that Middlesbrough reportedly have an option to sign him permanently for £1.5m at the end of his loan spell.

This means that Farke would need to persuade Greenwood to turn down a move to Teesside to return to Elland Road if he sees enough from the youngster this season to convince him that Piroe's eventual replacement can be unearthed.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a “leader” and will “fight for this badge” at Al-Nassr as he endeavours to deliver major silverware at the Saudi Pro League side.

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• Portuguese superstar going strong at 39
• Remains a prolific source of goals
• Determined to savour tangible success

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is certainly doing his bit for that cause this season. Despite now being 39 years of age, evergreen Ronaldo has registered 36 goals in the current campaign – with some of those forming part of his world-leading haul of 54 for club and country in 2023.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down and continues to wear his heart on his sleeve – which can get him into trouble at times and earn unwelcome suspensions. Passion is, however, what CR7 is all about and he is not about to change his ways.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Al-Nassr would not want him to, with the Saudi outfit paying homage to their talismanic captain on social media. His latest appearance saw him register another match-winning goal, but routes to trophy triumphs have been closed off over recent weeks.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Ronaldo remains in the hunt for Saudi Super Cup and King Cup of Champions glory, with the five-time Champions League winner determined to savour tangible success in 2024 having already taken in an Arab Club Champions Cup triumph during his time in the Middle East.

Everton have been handed some positive news regarding one of their injured senior players, who has staged his comeback whilst away on international duty, according to a recent report.

Which Everton players are injured?

The Toffees currently have Seamus Coleman (knee), Dele Alli (groin) and Andre Gomes (calf) all out on the sidelines with their own respective injuries, and as it stands, it is unknown when any of the trio are set to return having been out for a while.

The Merseyside outfit have had several members of their squad away representing their nations over the past fortnight, including Jordan Pickford with England, Amadou Onana with Belgium and Vitaliy Mykolenko with Ukraine, and there was another who still travelled despite carrying a problem of his own.

At Goodison, Idrissa Gueye was due to start in the last Premier League 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, but having sustained a knock during the warm-up, he ended up pulling out of the line-up, with this issue being one that Sean Dyche was already aware of.

The Senegalese central midfielder has been a regular feature this season having started seven out of the opening eight games in the top-flight (WhoScored – Gueye statistics), so the fact he couldn’t participate will have caused concern, though there has now been some positive news surrounding the 34-year-old.

Idrissa Gueye injury update

According to the Liverpool Echo who have shared an injury update on Idrissa Gueye, Everton are likely set to welcome the veteran back to their squad this weekend for the Merseyside derby at Anfield:

"Idrissa Gueye has handed Everton manager Sean Dyche a potential selection boost ahead of Saturday’s game against Liverpool after returning to action with Senegal. The midfielder's place against the Cherries was taken by Amadou Onana but Gueye was back on the pitch at Lens’ Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Monday night."

How good is Idrissa Gueye?

According to journalist Josh Bunting, Gueye is an “excellent” member of Everton’s squad, and considering the positive impact he was having prior to his absence in the last fixture, it will be a huge boost if he was to return for the highly-anticipated encounter on Saturday.

The Dakar native currently ranks in the 97th percentile for tackles by players in his position so loves to get stuck in and win back possession for his team (FBRef – Gueye statistics), and when he does retrieve the ball he’s calm and composed, recording an 88.2% pass success rate this term, which is higher than any other member of the squad (WhoScored – Everton statistics).

Likes to shoot from distance

Gets fouled often

Likes to play short passes

Likes to tackle

Commits fouls often (Data via WhoScored)

Dyche’s £80k-per-week earner (Everton salaries), is also a versatile operator having previously been deployed in four out of the five positions in the midfield (Transfermarkt – Gueye statistics), so there’s no doubt that the club’s chances of achieving success will only increase with Gueye back in the side, hopefully for the boss, starting this weekend.

The Slovakian national football team, or The Falcons as they are sometimes called, are an interesting side to talk about, as there have been some brilliant Slovakian footballers over the years, and yet, the country has only made it to one World Cup since the dissolution of the Czechoslovakian football team.

Czechoslovakia made it to eight World Cups – coming second in two of them – and three European Championships – coming third twice and winning one. And so, when creating a list of the ten greatest Slovakian footballers, we had to include a few Slovakian stars who reached the pinnacle of their careers under the banner of Czechoslovakia – you’ve got to love geopolitics, right?

With that, here’s our list of arguably the ten greatest Slovakian footballers!

10

Martin Dubravka

Kicking off the list is Slovakia’s current number one goalkeeper, Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. Now, it could’ve been Fulham’s Marek Rodak in here instead, as he was, for a while, claiming the number one spot in the national side, but since he lost the gloves at Fulham to Bernd Leno, Dubravka has become Slovakia’s number one.

In all, the Zilina-born shot-stopper has played for seven clubs – including a loan stint with the Magpies – with his most successful spell coming with the Magpies, where he has made 179 appearances. He was named Player of the Year at Newcastle for his contributions in the 2019/20 season.

At the international level, he has won 52 caps and looks to have – for now, anyway – cemented his place as the team’s number one.

9

Peter Pakarik

The second name on our list might be one unfamiliar to those who don’t watch much of the Bundesliga: Peter Pakarik. 38-year-old has had an incredibly long and successful career in the German top flight.

He made his way to the league via Wolfsburg in 2009 and played every game in the second half of the season, bar one, as the club won the first league title in their history. After another couple of years with the club, he would eventually join fellow Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, where he remained until his exit in 2024, 231 appearances and a second-division title later.

He has won 134 caps for the national side, playing in the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

8

Martin Skrtel

Up next is someone many consider to be something of a Premier League cult hero, Martin Skrtel. The often intimidating centre-back has played for seven clubs across six countries in his career, but he will always be best remembered for his eight-year stint on Merseyside for Liverpool.

Skrtel joined the team in 2008 from Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg and ended up making 320 appearances for the Reds, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in the process. His time with the club saw him win three Slovakian Footballer of the Year awards, one Liverpool Player of the Year award and one League Cup in 2012.

On the international scene, he was a vital member of the team that played at the 2010 World Cup and the one that made it to the 2016 European Championships. In all, he won 104 caps for his country and scored six goals.

7

Stanislav Lobotka

Another player who’s still playing, and if anything, is still firmly in his prime years at the age of 30, Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka. Before the club’s remarkable league title in 2022/23, Lobotka might’ve been a name relatively unfamiliar to many fans outside of Napoli, but not anymore.

The 5 foot 6 midfielder was a central pillar to the team’s hardworking and tenacious midfield, well and truly establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier central midfielders and following in the footsteps of national icon Marek Hamsik.

He has also won 67 caps for the national side, having made his debut just a few months after the country’s involvement at Euro 2016.

6

Milan Skriniar

The next name on the list has been one of the best defenders in Europe for over half a decade now and is showing no signs of slowing down, Milan Skriniar. Despite playing for three clubs beforehand, it was his time with Italian giants Inter Milan that truly caught Europe’s attention.

In total, he made 246 appearances for I Nerazzurri, scored 11 goals, provided five assists, and never once got a straight red card. During his time with the club, he won one Scudetto, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups, and was voted Slovakian Footballer of the Year four times.

On the international scene, Skriniar has won 79 caps since his debut in 2016, while featuring at three major tournaments.

5

Marián Masný

Born on the 13th of August 1950 in the Slovakian village of Rybany, Marián Masný has to go down as one the country’s greatest ever footballers for both his exploits at international level and club level.

In all, he earned 81 caps for Czechoslovakia between 1974 and 1982, scoring 20 goals and playing a vital role in helping the side emerge from the 1976 European Championships as champions.

The team beat West Germany on penalties in the final after the match ended 2-2, with Masný stepping up first and scoring to set the tone.

Masný would spend the majority of his club career in his home country, ending up with two league titles and two national cups. He may have been at his best before a lot of fans were even watching the game, but he is still certainly deserving of a place on this list.

4

Peter Dubovsky

Peter Dubovsky was a player who could’ve gone on to further cement himself as one of Slovakia’s all-time greats were it not for his unfortunate death in 2000, aged just 28. The Bratislava-born forward was a real talent during his early years playing for Slovan Bratislava, and Real Madrid must’ve thought the same.

Los Blancos signed Dubovsky in 1993 off the back of his 59 goals in 94 appearances for the Slovakian side. However, while he wasn’t a flop in Madrid, nor was he a runaway success, after two years, he moved on to fellow La Liga side Real Oviedo, where he would make 120 appearances before his untimely death.

Alongside a club career many dream of, he was also excellent for the national team, earning 14 caps for Czechoslovakia and 33 for Slovakia. He was the country’s top scorer with 14 at the time of his passing and would remain so until it was broken in 2003 by Szilard Nemeth.

3

Jozef Adamec

Another of Slovakia’s greats from the past, Jozef Adamec, enjoyed an incredibly successful domestic career in his home country and shone for Czechoslovakia whenever he was called upon.

In all, Adamec won 44 caps for his homeland, scored 14 goals, and was part of the legendary side that finished as runners-up in the 1962 edition of the World Cup. Another of his greatest moments for the national side came in a friendly against Brazil in 1968, a friendly Czechoslovakia won 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Adamec.

On a domestic front, the Vrbove-born forward never left his homeland, moving between four clubs over a 22 year spell, winning seven league titles, three cups and one Mitropa Cup.

He may not be a name all that well known outside of Czechia or Slovakia, but Adamec was a genuine great of football in his time.

2

Jan Popluhar

The last of our old-school picks here and certainly one of the very best. Jan Popluhar was an extremely talented Slovak defender with a career spanning three decades from 1955 to 1979. While he spent the majority of that career in his homeland with sides like Slovan Bratislava, Ruda Hvezda Brno, and Zbrojovka Brno, he also enjoyed a fruitful two-season spell with French giants Lyon from 1969 to 1970.

He was also a vital member of the national side that made it to the 1958 and 1962 World Cups – finishing as runners-up on both occasions – and the 1960 European Championships, where they placed third.

He was named the UEFA Slovak Golden Player in 2003 and was named in the World Soccer World XI on three occasions: 1962, 1963, and 1968.

1

Marek Hamsik

Come on, who else was it really going to be in top spot? When you ask the modern football fan to name a Slovakian footballer, we would be willing to bet that the vast majority answer with the same name: Marek Hamsik.

Hamsik was undoubtedly one of Europe’s greatest cult heroes in the 2010s for how much he gave to Napoli, becoming both talisman and captain for the side during his 12-year stint with the Italians.

In all, he made 520 appearances for I Partenopei, scored 121 goals, provided 103 assists and even earned himself two red cards for good measure. He might’ve left Naples without a league title to his name, but he did help the club win two Italian Cups, an Italian Super Cup, and he played in the Champions League 36 times.

So intertwined is Hamsik with the Napoli of the 2000s and 2010s that former teammate and Chelsea player Dalla Bona likened the situation to Steven Gerrard and Liverpool, saying:

“He is a legend for Napoli. He is a big legend. He is like Steven Gerrard in Liverpool. He is parallel to Gerrard, he is a top player and a leader. I played against Gerrard and with Hamsik.

“He had offers but he never wanted to change clubs. Napoli became a very big team with him.”

It wasn’t just about club football for Hamsik, though, as he also holds the record for most caps for Slovakia – 138 – and the most goals – 26. He also played a crucial role in getting the national side to the 2010 World Cup, where he would be captain, and the 2016 and 2020 Euros, where he would remain captain.

Ultimately, Hamsik will go down as not just one of the greatest Slovakian footballers of all time but one of Europe’s best footballers of all time.

And there you have it, Slovakia’s top ten footballers of all time.

Considering how much of a difference Mikel Arteta has made to the trajectory of Arsenal, it’s currently difficult to revise any negativity surrounding the Emirates over the years.

Since the Spaniard’s arrival as manager of the club in December 2019 following the dismissal of Unai Emery, he has gradually transformed the sense of togetherness on and off the pitch in north London, subsequently improving results.

The Gunners took Manchester City to the wire last season, finishing second after spending the majority of the Premier League season leading the pack. While it wasn’t meant to be for Arsenal to be crowned champions, they were restored to the Champions League.

As many associated with the club know too well, it hasn’t always been rosy at the Emirates for both Arteta and those before him, as the club were away from Europe's premier competition for seven years before their return this week.

It wasn’t long ago that players would leave Arsenal for bigger things and even more recently that the squad lacked cohesion, however Arteta has induced a change in demographic, with young stars locking down their futures in north London.

Along with extending the contracts of their top talents, the Spaniard and Edu had an impressive summer of business, welcoming Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and David Raya to the fold to bolster the side.

Gone are the days that the transfer windows were fuelled by anxiety of losing key players, although in hindsight, the Gunners allowed one player to leave far too soon in a talent that could have thrived under Arteta.

When did Serge Gnabry play for Arsenal?

In 2011, German youngster Serge Gnabry joined Arsenal’s academy from Stuttgart and spent five years associated with the north Londoners before ending his time in England to return to his homeland in 2016.

While he spent most of his time developing in the academy, the winger managed to secure 18 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s first team with his most notable performance coming against Tottenham in the FA Cup.

At 18 years old, Gnabry was influential against Spurs on a monumental occasion at the Emirates in 2014, seeing him lauded as “bright” and a player with a “good football brain” by Wenger in reaction to his display on the night.

The formidable French manager gushed over the teen, stating that he is a “strong believer” in his talents, as things looked as though they could blossom into something special for the youngster in north London.

The following year, things took a horrible turn for the winger, as he was left dejected after a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, where he was handed just one Premier League appearance by Tony Pulis.

Speaking of his time in the Midlands, Pulis claimed that Gnabry was “nowhere near it” with reference to his ability to be good enough to represent the Baggies.

Eight years later and the 43-cap German international has won the Champions League and five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, where he has been deemed good enough to play, with talent scout Jacek Kulig once backing him to become a "future legend".

Why did Arsenal sell Serge Gnabry?

Looking at what Gnabry has achieved since his dreary spell at West Brom, it becomes more and more confusing as to why he was permitted to leave north London by Wenger.

In the summer of 2016, the winger was sold to Werder Bremen for a figure reported to be in the region of £5m, a move that allowed the youngster to gain consistent game time and show his worth in his homeland.

At the time, Gnabry was not considered to be on the cusp of senior football, certainly after his disastrous spell at West Brom that left him far from being ready to jump into the first team of the Premier League side.

A player of Arsenal’s academy and a forward that showed glimpses of his true potential, the German left the club on good terms to seek a new chapter in Bremen.

What is Serge Gnabry’s market value now?

Based on what the 18-year-old showcased against Spurs on that special night in his budding career, it should have been anticipated just how good the explosive talent would become, which he quickly demonstrated in the Bundesliga.

In the 2016/17 campaign, Gnabry contributed to 13 goals in the German top-flight for Bremen, scoring 11 and assisting two to announce himself as a player to watch.

After one season, the former Arsenal prodigy was snatched up by TSG Hoffenheim, where he took his form to the next stage in the 2017/18 campaign, scoring 10 goals and assisting seven in the league, which paved the way for him to be on the move again.

The summer of 2018 marked a pivotal moment in his career, as he signed for Bayern Munich for just €8m (£6.9m), where he has since become an integral member of the side having secured 159 Bundesliga appearances so far.

Revising his market value today tells a very different story to the figure he was sold by Arsenal for and the figure he was signed by Munich at, with CIES Football Observatory valuing him at €50m (£43m).

Why is he worth that much?

Along with cementing himself as a star in Bavaria, the 28-year-old has contributed to 94 goals – scoring 60 and assisting 34 in the league – which only tells half of the story of his success.

In the 2019/20 campaign, the German won the biggest domestic prize, claiming a Champions League winners medal in a tournament that he scored nine times in to assist in firing his side to the trophy.

Since leaving north London, the winger has returned to the capital on two notable occasions in the Champions League, showing his love for Arsenal by scoring a formidable four goals against Spurs in the group stages of that 2019/20 edition.

Gnabry tormented the Lilywhites after the showdown by tweeting “North London is RED”, however his time terrorising Premier League sides was far from over, as he advanced into the Round of 16 that term and scored two goals against Chelsea.

This year, normal service seems to be resumed in terms of his form against English sides, as he scored this week against Manchester United at the Allianz Arena.

It will be hoped that Arsenal don’t meet Bayern in the tournament this season, not just for their abysmal record against the German champions, but to avoid facing the same fate as the Premier League sides before them when up against Gnabry.

Wenger will look back in shock at the price he sold the winger for, with hindsight being a wonderful thing, particularly when it comes to business in football.

MatériaMais Notícias

A partir das 19h desta segunda-feira (28), os membros do Conselho Deliberativo do Santos se reunirão virtualmente para analisar, discutir e votar o parecer da Comissão de Inquérito e Sindicância, que orienta a abertura de um novo processo de impeachment contra o presidente José Carlos Peres, após o relatório do Conselho Fiscal apontar irregularidades no demonstrativo financeiro do clube em 2019.

Em meio ao bastidor político conturbado, com possibilidade de afastamento imediato de Peres da presidência santista já neste encontro, o técnico Cuca admitiu que está preocupado com os rumos administrativos do Peixe e confessou que essas indefinições interferem ao desempenho de campo.

– Hoje eu particularmente tive um dia muito ruim porque amanhã a gente tem um dia muito conturbado aqui no Santos. Pode ocorrer uma série de coisas politicamente e a gente tá a mercê disso – disse o treinador santista em entrevista coletiva virtual após o empate do Peixe por 1 a 1 contra Fortaleza, neste domingo (27), na Vila Belmiro.

– Hoje passei o dia falando com advogado sobre o que vai acontecer amanhã, que é um peso muito grande, e as coisas precisam se organizar também, para que fora de campo a gente tenha um pouco mais de paz, porque, querendo ou não, afeta dentro – acrescentou.

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Na quinta-feira (01), o Peixe tem um jogo decisivo, que pode definir a classificação do clube às oitavas de final da Conmebol Libertadores. Basta o Peixe empatar contra o Olimpia (PAR), fora de casa, a partir das 19h, para confirmar o passaporte para próxima fase com uma rodada de antecedência, já que o Alvinegro é o líder do grupo G da competição, com 10 pontos.

– A gente fica sabendo tudo que ocorre, de que jeito ocorre, e isso também afeta um pouco. Vamos torcer para que as coisas andem não sei de que jeito amanhã, mas que seja bom pro Santos. E que a gente possa ficar ileso, para quinta-feira fazer um jogo decisivo com o Olimpia – pontuou Cuca.

Caso os conselheiros santistas optem pelo afastamento de José Carlos Peres da presidência do clube, automaticamente o vice, Orlando Rollo, assumirá o comando da gestão. Peres e Rollo não possuem um bom relacionamento desde os primeiros meses de mandato, quando a dupla rompeu e, desde então, Orlando não participa da vida política do clube, tendo inclusive pedido afastamento em 2019 e sendo impedido, por meio de uma portaria, pelo próprio presidente.

Por não fazer parte das atividades administrativas do Santos há mais de um ano, Orlando Rollo foi absolvido do parecer da CIS, diferentemente do restante do Comitê Gestor e principalmente Peres, que é alvo de um processo de impeachment.

* Sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini