Tottenham Hotspur have now been approached over a January move for Rodrygo, with a new update emerging on the forward’s future at Real Madrid.

Tottenham were in contact to sign the Brazilian during the summer transfer window, but ultimately missed out, with Thomas Frank bringing in the likes of Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus to bolster his attacking options instead.

As the only new attacker with any Premier League experience, Kudus has adapted well to life in north London, chipping in with one goal and five assists in ten top-flight outings, but it would be fair to say the other two additions have failed to hit the ground running.

Jamie Carragher has suggested Simons in particular is finding it tough to adapt to life in England, saying: “It has been really interesting with him and Florian Wirtz too, they’re just finding it tough to get up to the speed of the Premier League.”

With Kolo Muani yet to score his first goal for Spurs, Frank may now have one eye on the January transfer window, at which point he could be offered the opportunity to sign a new forward with plenty of top-level experience…

Tottenham approached over January move for Rodrygo

According to a report from The Boot Room, Tottenham have now been approached over a January move for Rodrygo, with it emerging that the forward is considering his future at the Santiago Bernabeu once again.

The Brazil international has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid this season, and intermediaries have now informed the Lilywhites that he could be available this winter.

Journalist Graeme Bailey provides a further update on the situation, saying: “I am told that Rodrygo is again considering his options, and one possibility is a switch to the Premier League, which could become a real option in January. He is certainly one to watch as we approach the New Year.”

Despite being lauded as a “world-class superstar” by former teammate Luka Modric, the 24-year-old has found game time hard to come by so far this season, featuring for just 244 minutes across nine appearances in La Liga.

However, the former Santos man certainly caught the eye at times in the 2024-25 campaign, chipping in with 25 goal contributions in all competitions, displaying his ability to compete at the top level by scoring five goals in 12 Champions League outings.

While the Osasco-born forward hasn’t done enough to force his way into Xabi Alonso’s plans as of late, he remains an important player for Brazil, scoring a brace in an emphatic 5-0 victory against South Korea last month.

At this stage of his career, Rodrygo needs to be a regular starter, and he certainly has the talent to be a difference-maker for Tottenham, amid Simons’ and Kolo Muani’s struggles.

Jamie O'Hara slams another Tottenham dud alongside Simons Jamie O'Hara slams "worst £60m ever spent" Xavi Simons and another Tottenham star

The former Tottenham man wasn’t impressed by Simons, who once again struggled at the weekend.

ByDominic Lund Nov 3, 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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ByBen Goodwin Oct 28, 2025

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.

Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.

Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool searching for a centre-back

Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.

The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.

It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.

What Bastoni would offer Liverpool

Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.

And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.

He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).

A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.

As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.

Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.

Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.

He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.

Not Bradley: Liverpool have found the new Trent & he's not even a defender

Arne Slot has now uncovered Liverpool’s next Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it’s not Conor Bradley.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 6, 2025

يشهد اليوم السبت الموافق 29-11-2025 زخمًا كرويًا كبيرًا، حيث تُقام مجموعة من أبرز المواجهات على المستويين المحلي والدولي، وتتوزع اللقاءات بين كأس مصر ودوري أبطال إفريقيا وكأس الكونفدرالية، إضافة إلى مواجهات حاسمة في الدوريات الأوروبية الكبرى التي قد تُحدث تغييرات مهمة في جداول الترتيب.

وفي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، يترقب عشاق كرة القدم مواجهة مانشستر سيتي أمام ليدز يونايتد، وهي مباراة يسعى من خلالها فريق المدرب بيب جوارديولا إلى العودة لطريق الانتصارات بعد خسارته في الجولة الماضية أمام نيوكاسل، إلى جانب هزيمته الأوروبية أمام باير ليفركوزن، ويأمل السيتي في استغلال عاملي الأرض والجمهور على ملعب “الاتحاد” لتحسين موقعه في جدول الترتيب.

أما في البطولات الإفريقية، فيخوض فريق الزمالك اختبارًا صعبًا خارج الديار أمام كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، ضمن الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لكأس الكونفدرالية، ويدخل الأبيض اللقاء بمعنويات مرتفعة بعد فوزه في الجولة الأولى على زيسكو يونايتد، بينما يسعى الفريق الجنوب إفريقي لتعويض خسارته السابقة والعودة للمنافسة داخل المجموعة.

وفي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، يدخل فريق بيراميدز مواجهة قوية أمام باور ديناموز الزامبي، طامحًا إلى مواصلة نتائجه الإيجابية بعدما حقق فوزًا عريضًا على ريفرز يونايتد في الجولة الأولى، وتبدو المجموعة مشتعلة في ظل تصدر نهضة بركان للمشهد برصيد 6 نقاط، ما يزيد من أهمية لقاء اليوم بالنسبة لبيراميدز للحفاظ على حظوظه في المنافسة.

وفي الدوري الإسباني، يخوض برشلونة مواجهة مهمة أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس على ملعب “كامب نو”، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر، ويطمح الفريق الكتالوني بقيادة هانز فليك إلى مصالحة جماهيره بعد الخسارة الثقيلة أمام تشيلسي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، بينما يسعى ألافيس إلى الخروج بنتيجة إيجابية تُحسن موقعه في جدول الترتيب.

ولا يخلو اليوم من مواجهات قوية في الدوريات الأوروبية الأخرى، وعلى رأسها الدوري الإيطالي الذي يشهد مباريات أبرزها لقاء ميلان أمام لاتسيو، بجانب مواجهة يوفنتوس وكالياري، إضافة إلى عدة مباريات في الدوري الفرنسي والألماني.

طالع أيضًا | جوارديولا يلوم لاعبي مانشستر سيتي بسبب عمر مرموش.. ويتحدث عن مشاركته في أمم إفريقيا مواعيد مباريات اليوم السبت 29-11-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات كأس مصر اليوم

الاتحاد ضد كهرباء الإسماعيلية، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة on sport. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أفريقيا اليوم

باور ديناموز ضد بيراميدز، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS XTRA 1.

بيترو أتلتيكو ضد الترجي، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 2. مواعيد مباريات كأس الكونفيدرالية اليوم

أوتوهو ضد شباب بلوزداد، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 9.

كايزر تشيفز ضد الزمالك، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 2. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي اليوم

برينتفورد ضد بيرنلي، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 6.

مانشستر سيتي ضد ليدز يونايتد، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3.

سندرلاند ضد بورنموث، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 5.

إيفرتون ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1.

توتنهام هوتسبير ضد فولهام، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإسباني اليوم

مايوركا ضد أوساسونا، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4.

برشلونة ضد ديبورتيفو ألافيس، الساعة 5:15 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6:15 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1.

ليفانتي ضد أتلتيك بيلباو، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3.

أتلتيكو مدريد ضد ريال أوفييدو، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإيطالي اليوم

جنوى ضد فيرونا، الساعة 4 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 5 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD.

بارما ضد أودينيزي، الساعة 4 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 5 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 2 HD.

يوفنتوس ضد كالياري، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD.

ميلان ضد لاتسيو، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10:45 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الفرنسي اليوم

موناكو ضد باريس سان جيرمان، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4.

باريس ضد أوكسير، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 5.

مارسيليا ضد تولوز، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الألماني اليوم

بايرن ميونخ ضد سانت باولي، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

هوفينهايم ضد أوجسبورج، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

يونيون برلين ضد هايدينهايم، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

فيردر بريمن ضد كولن، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

باير ليفركوزن ضد بوروسيا دورتموند، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد. مواعيد مباريات كأس خادم الحرمين اليوم

الهلال ضد الفتح، الساعة 4:40 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، 3:40 بتوقيت مصر، وتُذاع عبر قناة Thmanyah 1.

الاتحاد ضد الشباب، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، 6:30 بتوقيت مصر، وتُذاع عبر قناة Thmanyah 2.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Also: what’s the record for most consecutive wins from the start of a captaincy career?

Steven Lynch17-Sep-2024Shimron Hetmyer hit 91 without a four in one innings in this year’s Caribbean Premier League. Is that the highest in T20s without a four? asked Chris Dowden from Grenada

You’re right that Shimron Hetmyer’s 91 for Guyana Amazon Warriors in their CPL match against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Basseterre a couple of weeks ago contained no fours. We should perhaps mention that he did manage no fewer than 11 sixes, though!It is the highest score in any T20 match without a four, beating Shashrika Pussegolla’s 78 for Sebastianites against Police in Colombo in June 2022.The highest individual score in any T20 match with no fours or sixes appears to be 38 not out, by Navdeep Poonia for Scotland against Bermuda in Belfast during the World T20 Qualifier in August 2008.What’s the highest opening partnership in an international in which neither player scored a hundred? asked Nandra de Silva from Sri Lanka

A performance in a T20I leads the way here. Playing for Gibraltar against Bulgaria in Valletta (Malta) in 2022, Avinash Pai (86 not out) and Louis Bruce (99 not out) batted through the innings for an unbroken opening partnership of 213.In ODIs, Chris Gayle (99) and Wavell Hinds (82) put on 192 for West Indies’ first wicket against Bangladesh in Southampton during the 2004 Champions Trophy in England. Shikhar Dhawan (81 not out) and Shubman Gill (82 not out) also shared an opening stand of 192 – without being parted – for India against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2022.The men’s Test record is also 192, by Sunil Gavaskar (97) and Chetan Chauhan (93) for India against Pakistan in Lahore in 1978. However, Caroline Atkins (90) and Arran Brindle (85) put on exactly 200 for England’s first wicket in a women’s Test against India in Lucknow in 2002.I was going through scorecards of the good old days of Pakistan cricket, and spotted that in a Test against India in 2005-06, seven batters made 50-plus in the second innings. Was this a record? asked M Usman Sharif from Pakistan

You’re right that Pakistan’s second innings against India in Karachi in 2006 contained seven scores of 50 or more. Actually, it was the top seven in the order: Salman Butt 53, Imran Farhat 57, Younis Khan 77, Mohammad Yousuf 97, Faisal Iqbal 139, Shahid Afridi 60 and Abdul Razzaq 90. The total was enough for Pakistan to win by 341 runs – quite a comeback considering they had been 0 for 3 in the first over of the match, after a hat-trick from Irfan Pathan.That was actually the second Test innings to contain seven individual scores of 50 or more, after England against Australia at Old Trafford in 1934. It happened again at Lord’s in 2006, when seven Sri Lankans reached 50 after they followed on against England. Here’s the full list of seven or more batters making 50 or more.Percy Chapman holds the record for winning the most consecutive Tests at the start of a captaincy career•SR Gaiger/Getty ImagesHad England won at The Oval, Ollie Pope would have started with three wins in his first three matches as captain. Which captain won the most Tests from the start of their career? asked Mark Annear via Facebook

England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope won his first two Tests in charge, before coming a cropper in the third, at The Oval last week. Over the years, 23 captains won their first three matches in charge: six of them are from England, the most recent being Brian Close in the mid-1960s. The most recent from any country is Pope’s opposite number, Dhananjaya de Silva, earlier this year.The best start is by England’s Percy Chapman, who won his first nine Tests as captain in the late 1920s. Earlier that decade, Warwick Armstrong won his first eight Tests in charge of Australia. There’s a big gap then to seven others who won their first four Tests as captain.Regarding last week’s question about the tallest men to play for England, what about Boyd Rankin? asked Michael O’Hara from Ireland

Thanks for pointing that out: it’s not the first time I’d forgotten that fast bowler Boyd Rankin, who played county cricket for Derbyshire and Warwickshire, played a Test for England (against Australia in Sydney in 2014), as well as two for his native Ireland.Rankin is also in the region of 6ft 8in (203cm), and thus shares the distinction of being England’s tallest Test cricketer with Steven Finn. Current squad member Reece Topley is also 6ft 8in, but although he has played more than 50 white-ball internationals, he hasn’t appeared in a Test match.The tallest Test player from any country remains Mohammad Irfan of Pakistan – another left-arm quick – who extends the tape to 7ft 1in (216cm). Irfan is believed to be the tallest first-class cricketer too.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Tottenham Hotspur’s exit from the Carabao Cup last night was evidence of the hot and cold nature of Thomas Frank’s tenure at the helm so far in 2025/26.

Coming into the clash against Newcastle United, the Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory against Everton in the Premier League – but such a showing at St James’ Park was the polar opposite.

Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade’s efforts either side of the break secured the win for Eddie Howe’s men, with Frank’s first chance of claiming a trophy in North London evaporating in front of his eyes.

The Dane only made four changes from his starting eleven that defeated the Toffees on Sunday night, but little players failed to cover themselves in glory on Tyneside.

One player in particular was handed a second successive start last night, with such a run now expected to come to an end after his dismal display against the Magpies.

Brennan Johnson’s evening to forget against Newcastle

After Mohammed Kudus’ summer arrival from West Ham United, winger Brennan Johnson has often had to resort to minutes off the bench to make an impact for Spurs.

Such a decision may have come as a surprise to many of the Lilywhites faithful, especially after the Welshman ended last year on 18 goals – even scoring the winner in the Europa League final.

However, 2025/26 has been a different story for the 24-year-old, with his performances night and day from his spell under Ange Postecoglou last campaign.

His showing against Howe’s side was yet another disappointment – with his withdrawal in just the 65th minute highlighting his lack of positive impact in the North East.

Johnson only achieved a total of 28 touches, whilst losing possession on 14 occasions, subsequently gifting the ball back to the opposition every other time he was in control of the play.

Other figures such as zero dribbles and crosses completed further demonstrate his lack of creativity, something which Kudus has possessed in abundance – as seen by his tally of four assists for the Lilywhites.

Such was the level of disappointment around his showing, one Spurs analyst labelled the former Nottingham Forest star as a “passenger” – which proves Frank made the right decision by replacing him with the Ghanaian this summer.

The Spurs player who now looks finished under Frank

Alongside Johnson, numerous other players struggled to match the expectations placed upon them by the Spurs faithful ahead of the meeting with Howe’s men.

Joao Palhinha has been an excellent addition for the Lilywhites, offering the side the perfect ball-winning option at the heart of the midfield, but he was forced to operate out of position last night.

The issues at the back saw the Portuguese international drop into a centre-back role – ultimately taking away his best quality, as seen in his tally of zero tackles won.

Despite his lack of impact, Palhinha certainly left more of a positive impression than Richarlison, with the centre-forward once again ensuring an evening to forget.

After being dropped to the bench against former side Everton on Sunday, Frank recalled him to his starting eleven – handing the Brazilian the opportunity to prove his worth.

However, for the eighth game in a row, the 28-year-old was unable to find the back of the net, with his underlying figures showcasing his lack of impact against the Magpies.

Richarlison managed to complete just nine passes during his 78-minute display, whilst also losing possession on eight occasions, often being unable to provide the local point Frank has craved.

Richarlison – stats against Newcastle

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

78

Touches

29

Passes completed

9

Possession lost

8x

Big chances missed

2

Dribbles completed

0

Chances created

0

Crosses completed

0

Stats via FotMob

In front of goal, the Brazilian was just as wasteful, registering three shots on target, but two of which were defined as big chances missed – leading to one analyst labelling his showing as “unacceptable”.

His dismal display was further highlighted by his inability to complete any dribbles, crosses or create any chances for his teammate, with the manager desperately needing a solution to his problems.

Randal Kolo Muani was brought on in the second half, with the Frenchman producing numerous mazy runs which could see him handed the chance to start from the off against Chelsea.

As for Richarlison, his double on the opening day of 2025/26 has certainly fooled people into thinking he can be the talisman Frank needs to achieve success in North London.

However, there’s no denying that the Brazilian has ultimately failed to match those standards in recent weeks, as seen by his goal drought, which dates back to the 20th of September.

It’s clear he’s not the man the Lilywhites need to progress to the next level, with his career at the club pretty much all but over – which should open the door for a potential January exit.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025