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Aside from finally facing a shot on target, that was about as perfect a game as Arsenal could have hoped for.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, and while Diego Simeone’s side are usually no pushovers, they were in North London.

Bar a momentary loss of composure from David Raya in the first half and a decent-looking shot from Julián Alvarez in the second, the Gunners never really looked in any danger and tore the Spanish side to pieces, earning their third win in Europe this season.

There were standout performances from all over the pitch for the hosts, but two starters really stood out: Declan Rice and someone who now has to be considered as one of the best in the world in his position.

Rice's game vs Atlético

While Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi put in brilliant performances alongside him, Rice was once again Arsenal’s most impressive midfielder on Tuesday night.

Granted, there were a couple of times in which he seemed to lose his footing, but aside from those minor blips, he was near enough faultless from the first minute to the last.

If the former West Ham United captain wasn’t helping snuff out attacks, he was helping kickstart them for the North Londoners, and as always seems to be the case these days, his deliveries were on another level.

It was his free-kick that led to the opening goal, and then towards the end of the game, he came incredibly close to picking up another assist with a similar pinpoint accurate delivery.

The all-action monster also left quite the impression on the Sun’s Jordan Davies, who awarded him an 8/10 match rating at full-time.

Rice’s game in numbers

Minutes

93′

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

2

Key Passes

3

Passes (Accurate)

45/46 (98%)

Shots

1

Touches

63

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

2

All Stats via Sofascore

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than justify the praise and back up the eyetest.

In 93 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.36, created two big chances, played three key passes, completed 45 of 46 passes, was accurate with 100% of his long balls, took one shot, took 63 touches, and made one clearance, an interception and two ball recoveries.

In all, it was another world-class performance from Rice that more than proves he is one of the very best in the world, which could also be said about one of his teammates displays.

The Arsenal star who is one of the best in the world

The brilliant thing for Arteta and the Arsenal faithful is that a host of players delivered sensational performances on Tuesday night.

Chalkboard

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

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For example, Gabriel Martinelli scored a wonderful goal, Viktor Gyokeres nabbed a brace, and Jurrien Timber continued his impressive form going forward.

However, while all these starters were excellent, it’s impossible to ignore Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian centre-back was at his imperious best against Simeone’s usually hard-as-nails Atlético, and in all phases of play looked near enough untouchable.

Of course, it was he who opened the scoring when he got on the end of Rice’s free-kick in the 57th minute.

And then, as if the Madrid outfit hadn’t learned their lesson from 13 minutes earlier, he once again got his head on a set-piece to provide the assist for Gyokeres to make it 4-0.

It wasn’t just in the opposition’s penalty area where he was a monster, though, as he did his absolute best to try and keep Raya from facing a shot on target at the other end of the pitch.

Unsurprisingly, the Sun’s Davies was massively impressed, awarding him a 9/10 and analyst Statman Dave went even further, describing him as one of the best defenders “on the planet.”

The 27-year-old’s statistics certainly help such a claim.

Gabriel’s game in numbers

Minutes

72′

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances

3

Blocked Shots

1

Aerial Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

1

Passes (Accurate)

43/48 (90%)

Shots

3

All Stats via Sofascore

In just 72 minutes, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.54, made three clearances, won 100% of his ground duels, blocked one shot, played one key pass, created one big chance, took three shots and completed 90% of his passes.

Ultimately, given his years of impressive displays and the level at which he is operating this season, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Gabriel is one of the best in the world, and Tuesday night only helped his case.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 20, 2025

Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez has been given time off and psychological support after being involved in a tragic road accident near the club’s training base that claimed the life of an 81-year-old man. The Spaniard was expected to be on the bench for Inter’s midweek game against Fiorentina, but will now take a week off to recover from the emotional trauma.

Inter offer full support to struggling Martinez

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Inter’s training base in Fenegro, when Martinez’s car struck an elderly man who was crossing the road in a wheelchair. The Spaniard reportedly did his best to help the victim, who was later identified as Paolo Saibene, until emergency services arrived. An air ambulance being called to the scene, but the 81-year-old man was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The Serie A club quickly recognised the seriousness of the situation and moved quickly to support a visibly shaken Martinez. By the time Martinez arrived home on Monday evening, a psychologist was already waiting on him to provide support in coping with the emotional trauma, having been called in by the Milan club. According to , teammates and staff have stayed in constant contact, and Inter gave the goalkeeper the week off to recover from the tragic incident.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportInter cancel press conference and reach out to victim’s family

The incident happened shortly before 10am on Monday, leading Inter to cancel head coach Cristian Chivu’s scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of the Fiorentina game and morale was reportedly low during training, with the thoughts of the players and staff with the victim and the Spanish goalkeeper. 

Club officials are also expected to contact Saibene’s family to offer condolences and support. Meanwhile, Martinez went through routine drug and alcohol tests at Saronno hospital, with club officials present to assist him. Authorities in Como are still reviewing the accident, and a full report from reconstruction experts is expected later this week.

"Unfortunately, a serious and delicate event has occurred," Inter president Beppe Marotta said on Tuesday. "Our deepest sympathies are clearly with the family of the deceased, and we also feel for our player, whom we know very well. These are situations and misfortunes that, unfortunately, are part of everyday life, but I hope that we can also benefit from this tragic situation."

Martinez settling in at Inter

This season had started well for Martinez. Born in Las Palmas, Martinez came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy before joining RB Leipzig in 2020. After two years in Germany, he moved to Genoa and later signed for the Italian giants in the summer of 2024. The Spaniard was beginning to settle in and gain confidence, earning back-to-back starts against Sassuolo and Cagliari as he worked to prove himself as a reliable option behind veteran keeper Yann Sommer.

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IMAGO / Nicolo CampoDistraught Martinez cuts himself off from social media

Martinez won’t return to training until next week as he continues to recover from the emotional shock. The goalkeeper has been in touch with his teammates, coach Chivu, and club officials, who have all reached out to check on him and offer support. The 27-year-old has also stepped away from social media, deactivating his Instagram account to avoid online abuse. Meanwhile, Inter, who are currently fourth in Serie A standings, are doing their best to protect Martinez as he focuses on getting through one of the toughest weeks of his career.

كشف الهولندي آرني سلوت، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول أنه اكتشف شيئًا غريبًا في مباراة كريستال بالاس ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو.

وخسر ليفربول بثلاثية نظيفة أمام كريستال بالاس في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات كأس كاراباو.

واستضاف ملعب “آنفيلد” المباراة بين ليفربول وكريستال بالاس مساء أمس الأربعاء، في إطار منافسات كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية المحترفة.

وتعتبر هذه أول بطولة يخسرها ليفربول هذا الموسم ليستمر مسلسل الهزائم المتتالية التي يعيشها الفريق على مدار الفترة الماضية.

وتلقى البديل الشاب أمارا ناللو بطاقة حمراء مباشرة بعد عرقلته جاستن ديفيني لاعب فريق كريستال بالاس، في الدقيقة 79 من عمر المباراة.

اقرأ أيضًا | فودين يرد على أنباء وفاة ابنه وإصابة ابنته بالسرطان

وكان سلوت دفع بناللو في الدقيقة 67 من اللقاء، حيث شارك بدلاً من أليكسيس ماك أليستر لاعب ليفربول.

وقال مدرب ليفربول في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية: “لم أكن بحاجة لقول هذا الكلام لأن هناك أمرًا آخر أعجبني وهو أن كوناتي وفيرجيل دخلا الملعب فورًا للتحدث إليه، وهذا يُثبت لي أنهما شخصان رائعان في لحظة كهذه، حيث يُطرد لاعب شاب للمرة الثانية”.

وأكمل: “ربما كانت المرة الأولى بعد مباراته ضد آيندهوفن، لست متأكدًا تمامًا، لكنني أعتقد أنه فعل ذلك، فهم يشعرون بمدى صعوبة تلك اللحظة عليه، وأنهما تدخلا لدعمه، لذلك لم يكن من الضروري أن أعتني به لأنهما قاما بهذا الدور على أكمل وجه”.

وأتم سلوت: “لطالما استغل النادي هذه البطولة لضم لاعبي الأكاديمية أيضًا، شعرت أن القرار كان صائبًا ولم أغير رأيي بعد خسارتنا”.

Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown is attracting interest from Europe’s elite, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all reportedly monitoring the 22-year-old. Despite the attention, Frankfurt have confirmed they will not entertain offers until next summer. Brown, who recently made his German national team debut, could command a fee of up to €60 million.

Brown emerging as top Bundesliga prospect

Brown has quickly become one of Frankfurt’s brightest young talents, standing out alongside players such as Can Uzun and Jonathan Burkardt. The 22-year-old impressed in his debut season, contributing three goals and six assists from left-back while also showcasing strong defensive capabilities. Brown made his senior debut for Germany in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg, further highlighting his rise on the international stage.

Frankfurt, who signed Brown from Nuremberg for €3m in 2024, are now preparing for substantial interest from top European clubs. With a contract running until 2030 and no release clause, the Bundesliga side are in a strong negotiating position and are reportedly considering a transfer fee of around €60m (£52m/$69m) for the left-back according to a recent report by

AdvertisementEintracht Frankfurt set transfer demand for star left-back

According to reports, Real Madrid, Arsenal and City are among the clubs showing serious interest in Brown. Despite the attention, Frankfurt have made it clear that the player will not be available for sale until the next summer transfer window at the earliest.

Brown’s performances for Frankfurt, coupled with his recent international debut, have positioned him as one of Germany’s most promising defenders. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche has overseen his development carefully, and the club’s previous dealings, such as the lucrative sales including Hugo Ekitike, suggest that they are prepared to negotiate a high-value deal if the right offer comes in.

Brown's rise and potential impact

Brown progressed through the youth systems of Jahn Regensburg and Nuremberg before joining Frankfurt, where he quickly cemented himself as a first-team starter. He has the versatility to contribute offensively and defensively, which has made him a standout performer in the Bundesliga.

The left-back’s ability to support attacks and maintain defensive solidity has drawn attention from clubs seeking young, dynamic defenders. While Arsenal have a number of options at left-back, including Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Brown’s combination of youth, international experience and Bundesliga pedigree makes him a highly attractive long-term prospect for any top club.

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GettyWhat next for Frankfurt and Brown?

Frankfurt’s decision to refuse to open transfer negotiations until next summer sets the stage for a potential bidding war for Brown, with the likes of Madrid, City and Arsenal on alert. For Brown, continued strong performances for Frankfurt and further international caps with Germany could increase his value and cement his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising left-backs. Meanwhile, interested clubs will monitor his development closely, preparing to make a move once Frankfurt officially opens negotiations in the next transfer window.

The five-time champions are currently ninth in the league after losing three of their first four games

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-202517:35

Bangar: Dhoni not playing for the crowd, he has a clear role at CSK

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must “accept reality” and focus on getting the most out of their current squad rather than make drastic changes just four games into IPL 2025, in the opinion of former CSK batter Ambati Rayudu.CSK are currently ninth on the points table with only one win in four games. On Tuesday, they will aim to end a run of three losses when they take on Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.”They’re trying to compare this CSK team to erstwhile CSK teams, which have been really good and won tournaments,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut. “When you see it like-for-like, players in the past compared to now, I’d say they’re not the same. It’s very difficult to replace a certain player with a certain player. They have to accept reality and get the best out of what they have. That’s where I feel they seem confused and can’t get their combinations right.Related

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“Players [like Deepak Hooda or Rahul Tripathi who have been dropped three games in] they thought would deliver in certain numbers, certain positions, they haven’t been able to do that. It’s quite an uphill task for them going [deep] into the season. I feel they will come back strong once they get their combination and personnel right.”Rayudu, a three-time IPL champion with CSK, said that conditions and pitches should be the least of CSK’s worries. They lost two out of their three home games, both heavy defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC). Coach Stephen Fleming has pointed to the lack of home advantage at Chepauk for a few years now.”The pitch they’re playing on is tailor made for Chennai. It’s just that they’ve not been able to execute well, and batters have come up short,” Rayudu said. “I feel they can drop one of their two really good weapons. Noor Ahmad or [Matheesha] Pathirana – should sit out to boost their batting. It’s a luxury they may not afford at this point, but one of them has to sacrifice for [Jamie] Overton.”Sanjay Bangar, the former India batting coach, said CSK’s struggles at the top of the order were having a ripple effect on the rest of the batting line-up, including key players like Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni in the lower-middle order. So far, CSK have been the slowest-scoring team in IPL 2025.

“Fans are emotional, they want results immediately. You’ve got to believe in process when things are not going well. This has worked for many years; they’ve done well. Have a little bit of patience, trust the management. A little bit of freedom and things will turn around”Ambati Rayudu

Ruturaj Gaikwad has had to come in at No. 3 in the second over in three out of four games. Opener Tripathi was dropped after three matches, while Hooda was axed after two. In total, CSK have used 17 players, including all seven of their overseas options – a stark departure from their usual strategy of maintaining continuity.”The top order not getting runs is one of the issues,” Bangar said. “Shivam Dube not being the Dube of the last couple of seasons is an issue. MS-Jadeja at the stage they are, more so MS, I’m not expecting him to come up and do a bulk of the scoring in the last six-seven overs.”Bangar said there was little more that could be done in terms of tweaking their combination. “It seems right, what they’ve now arrived at after the first three experimental games. In the fourth game, I felt their combination was just about right. It’s a matter of the batting coming together and giving them runs at the top to get the confidence back.”1:49

Rayudu: CSK’s best shot is for Gaikwad to open

In the lower order, Dhoni has struggled to hit sixes like he did last season. When asked about Jadeja’s form and whether he had passed his prime as a batter, Rayudu felt he still had plenty to offer.”I won’t say that,” Rayudu said. “He’s someone who is really fit, actually has come into his own in the last five-six years. He’s been a brilliant batsman, which we’ve not seen in his early years, [we’ve seen him] play some match-winning knocks chasing, specially playing in those 16-20 overs period. That’s the period ideally for Jadeja and Dhoni if they bat, they’ll be much more effective than coming in overs 10-14, it’s not their strength.”Rayudu also defended CSK’s methods when asked if they had not done enough to nurture young talent over the years.”Generally, we’ve seen over the years teams that have come up with lot of youngsters and have gone nowhere,” he said. “MI brought in, bred youngsters, but one at a time not four-five at a time. Fans are emotional, they want results immediately. You’ve got to believe in process when things are not going well. This has worked for many years; they’ve done well. Have a little bit of patience, trust the management. A little bit of freedom and things will turn around.”

There’s no denying Chelsea have been one of the biggest spenders in the transfer market over the last few years – subsequently playing a huge role in their Club World Cup success this summer.

However, the next step for Enzo Maresca is claiming Premier League glory – an achievement that hasn’t been done at Stamford Bridge since the 2016/17 campaign.

Over the last few days, a £40m transfer has been agreed with Manchester United for the signature of Alejandro Garnacho after tracking the Argentine all summer long.

The 21-year-old will add key depth to the left-wing department, potentially battling fellow new addition Jamie Gittens for a starting role in the Blues’ frontline.

His arrival will take the club’s summer spending to around the £300m mark, but it could yet reach new levels with a move for another talent before Monday’s deadline.

Chelsea’s hunt for new signings after Garnacho

Alongside Garnacho, Chelsea have previously been interested in a move for his United teammate Kobbie Mainoo, who’s rapidly dropped down Ruben Amorim’s pecking order.

The midfielder stated his desire to leave on loan earlier this week, but as it stands, the Red Devils are reluctant to allowing the 20-year-old to depart – even on a temporary basis.

However, another midfielder has emerged on their shortlist in the form of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez – that’s according to GIVEMESPORT journalist Ben Jacobs.

He’s claimed that talks have been held between Maresca’s side and the LaLiga giants over a move for the 22-year-old talent before Monday’s transfer deadline.

It’s also been confirmed that the player has spoken with the manager himself, but any deal would be an expensive one – with the Spaniard currently valued at €100m (£86m).

Why Chelsea’s £86m target is a bigger talent than Buonanotte

In an attempt to further the squad, Chelsea have turned their attention to Brighton & Hove Albion star Facundo Buonanotte – subsequently making a surprise move for his signature.

It was reported in recent days that a deal has been agreed for the Argentine, which will see him join the Blues on a season-long loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

Such a move doesn’t include a buy option at the end of the season, but they do have first choice on his future should they decide to want to make such a deal permanent.

Given his tally of 31 appearances in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, the 20-year-old has the experience needed to have an impact in the club’s quest for title glory.

However, he may be further down Maresca’s plans in 2025/26, especially if they were to land a deal for Fermin before the window slams shut on Monday night.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent campaign, the Barça star managed to dominate in key areas – potentially being an excellent addition despite his hefty price tag.

Fermin, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, achieved a higher tally of goals and assists – evidently offering a more potent threat in front of goal.

How Fermin & Buonanotte compared in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Fermin

Buonanotte

Games played

28

31

Goals & assists

11

7

Progressive passes

5.7

3.2

Pass accuracy

82%

76%

Key passes made

2.1

1.4

Passes into the final third

4.7

2.4

Take-on success

46%

33%

Carries into the opposition box

1.6

1.5

Crosses completed

3.4

2.5

Stats via FBref

His underlying stats are just as impressive, subsequently completing more progressive passes per 90, with more of his efforts being into the final third – highlighting the creative dominance he possesses over Buonanotte.

Lopez’s talents in possession are further reflected in his higher take-on success rate, whilst also producing more carries into the opposition box per 90.

It’s clear he can glide past the opposition, as seen by his aforementioned figures, but the Spaniard also has the end product – something which would massively aid Maresca’s hunt for top-flight glory this season.

£86m would be another mammoth addition given the previous money spent this summer, but it’s an investment that could prove worthwhile if the 22-year-old continues on his current trajectory.

Such a deal would be bad news for Buonanotte, subsequently dropping him further down the pecking order immediately after his own arrival – but it’s safe to say a deal for Lopez would be a massive statement from the hierarchy.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 30, 2025

Liverpool rocked the footballing world when they beat off fierce competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to sign Florian Wirtz in a British-record £116m deal.

Bayer Leverkusen’s talismanic playmaker had played an instrumental role in completing an invincible domestic double in 2023/24, with Xabi Alonso almost left speechless at times, managing to remark at one point: “Wirtz is a genius”.

Florian Wirtz – Career Stats by Season

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

45

16

15

23/24

49

18

20

22/23

25

4

8

21/22

31

10

14

20/21

38

8

8

19/20

9

1

0

Data via Transfermarkt

He’s ebbed and flowed across his opening two fixtures in a Liverpool shirt, it must be said, although there’s no question that the German is one of the most exciting signings in the club’s history, having showcased his easy gait and technical elegance. There’s plenty more to come.

However, there’s another top transfer target on sporting director Richard Hughes’ watchlist who could have a bigger impact than the 22-year-old, should he sign before the deadline on September 1st.

Liverpool lining up another signing

You might well feel that the following section is going to detail Liverpool’s protracted pursuit of Alexander Isak, but the Newcastle United striker is not the focus here.

Locked in purgatory at St. James’ Park, Isak has fought tooth and nail to earn his dream move to Merseyside this summer, but the Magpies have failed to sign any of their myriad targets at number nine, leaving everyone in limbo as the window approaches the final stretch.

Without a doubt, Isak is a world-class striker and Liverpool will sign him this summer if encouraged by the suits on Tyneside, but he’s not the only Premier League star on FSG’s radar.

Indeed, according to Football Insider, Liverpool remain in talks with Crystal Palace as they push to sign Marc Guehi before the transfer deadline, with the centre-back having entered the final year of his £50k-per-week contract.

The Eagles are said to have lowered their asking price from £40m to £35m after negotiations with the Anfield side, although it’s suggested that Hughes and co still harbour reservations about paying such a figure for a player who is heading toward free agency.

Why Liverpool should sign Marc Guehi

Guehi has fashioned himself into a rather top-class centre-back over the past several years, instrumental in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph under Oliver Glasner’s wing last year, after being hailed as “England’s best player” at EURO 2024 by analyst Ben Mattinson.

A steely defender with an impressive technical range and an invariably calm head, Guehi is the real deal, having been created in the furnaces of the Chelsea Cobham scene before making his way at Selhurst Park, growing in size, strength, and significance.

You can see why Liverpool want him. As per FBref, Guehi ranks among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for successful take-ons, and the top 2% for through balls per 90, underlining his quality on the ball.

Such completeness denotes his potential to become a superstar at Liverpool, and it’s not out of the question that Guehi could have a dramatic impact upon arriving at Anfield, perhaps even a bigger one than Wirtz.

While Wirtz has yet to spread his wings in a Liverpool shirt, it’s early days, and the club are also undergoing a transformation after so much change this summer.

Expect him to improve incrementally as he adapts to the pace of the Premier League.

Guehi, on the other hand, would be expected to arrive and instantly ignite a spark in Liverpool’s backline, reinforcing the defensive barriers while using those ball-playing qualities to improve the fluency of Slot’s season-year squad.

Praised as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi has what it takes to become a jackpot signing for Liverpool, especially when considering the need to bolster Virgil van Dijk’s backline with an extra player, as Ibrahima Konate’s future continues to be a flashpoint for the fans.

The France international has sadly depicted a player who has reached an important juncture and with the knowledge that they are heading toward a Bosman. Against Bournemouth, during Liverpool’s league opener, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even commented that the 26-year-old was “all over the place”.

Guehi, conversely, has been a paragon of professionalism and style over the past few weeks at Palace, captaining his team as they defeated Liverpool at Wembley to claim the Community Shield before holding Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in last week’s Premier League curtain-raiser.

It’s not hard to imagine him carrying his Eagles form over to Liverpool, providing Slot with depth and dynamism at the back that could put these lingering discussions about Liverpool’s balance and fragility in defence behind him.

Whether Liverpool have the right kind of balance with Wirtz standing proud in midfield is a debate that may well continue over the coming days. St. James’ Park on Monday evening will perhaps teach us a bit more about where things are at.

It’s the kind of signing that could ensure Liverpool get themselves over the finish line in first place, retaining their league title with a strong backline that complements an attacking mix of players so replete with first-class talent.

For sure, Wirtz has proven himself time and time again over his maiden years as a professional and certainly has the potential to leave an indelible mark on the English game.

But we haven’t seen the best of him yet, and in Guehi, Liverpool might just land themselves the missing piece of the puzzle, slotting right in and raising the bar from the off.

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Posts ByCallum Kemp Aug 21, 2025

Liverpool beat Bournemouth to get their Premier League title defence off to a flyer, though it was hardly a match without its vulnerabilities for the Anfield side as their defensive frailties were exposed against a spirited Cherries side.

Arne Slot cut a cool figure throughout his maiden year at the Liverpool helm, but he was left hot under the collar after Antoine Semenyo led a fightback from the visitors, who found themselves two goals down after the hour mark when Cody Gakpo coolly dispatched following Hugo Ekitike’s first-half goal, making it two in two for the £79m summer signing.

But while there was plenty of attacking intent on display, the Reds struggled to produce the kind of complete performance that the fanbase would have hoped for as they kicked off their title defence.

Liverpool's performance vs Bournemouth

Mohamed Salah got his goal in the last embers, paying an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota as he did so. His goal followed the volleyed strike of Federico Chiesa, who restored the lead before stoppage time after Semenyo’s double exposed Liverpool’s defensive problems.

But the Merseysiders got the job done, cementing their title defence with three points. Virgil van Dijk improved after his error-strewn display at Wembley in the Community Shield, but Slot’s backline struggled to perform, with Ibrahima Konate in particular singled out as a weak link, looking rusty in central defence.

While the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak continues to rumble in the background, there will be plenty of attention on the other end of the field, with a £26m deal completed for 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni and a move still in the works for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

But Liverpool have already welcomed some new quality to their ranks, with two new starters playing against Bournemouth.

One of the newbies showed shades of the recently sold Darwin Nunez, and it wasn’t the goalscoring Ekitike.

Liverpool's new Darwin Nunez

Liverpool might have earned themselves a winning start to the Premier League campaign, but it was far from convincing against a slick Bournemouth side who implemented a high press to a good effect.

And Milos Kerkez certainly left plenty to be desired on his first league appearance in a Liverpool shirt. It was always going to be a match freighted with nerves for the 21-year-old, especially when pitted against his old Bournemouth teammates and Semenyo, who emerged the victor in that individual battle.

The young Hungarian lacked control and composure, lunging in with a series of challenges and being shown the flash of Antony Taylor’s yellow card before being replaced by the veteran Andy Robertson before the hour mark.

It was an erratic display which evoked memories of that man Nunez, who was sent off on his Anfield debut three years ago in a 1-1 draw with Fulham.

Minutes played

59′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

47

Accurate passes

25/27 (93%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

0/0

Tackles

1

Duels won

4/10

Bookings

1x

According to Sofascore, the 21-year-old won four of his ten attempted duels and made five clearances for Liverpool, also completing 93% of his passes, but he was also handed a 5/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, who drew attention to Semenyo getting the better of his former teammate at the Vitality Stadium.

Though Nunez ultimately succumbed to his mercurial nature, unable to channel it and succeed under first Jurgen Klopp’s wing and the Slot’s, his high-level talent was never up for question on Merseyside.

And the same could be said of Kerkez, who last season was remarked to be “one of the most talented left-backs in world football” by scout Jacek Kulig.

The rising star will hope to establish more of a stable level of success at Liverpool than Nunez, who joined Al Hilal this summer after three years with the Reds, but there’s no question that he will need to temper his aggression if he wishes to succeed Robertson and play a confident part in a backline that even at this early stage has shown that improvements are needed as Slot quests for a successful title defence.

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Essex completed a crushing innings-and-40 runs Vitality County Championship win over Warwickshire inside five sessions at Edgbaston.Warwickshire’s top-order was blown away by the visiting seamers on the second morning, just as it had been on the first, to set up the most commanding victory for Tom Westley’s side.After Essex took their first innings to 232, thanks to Shane Snater’s 69 (72 balls), to secure a lead of 154, Warwickshire floundered to three for four and then 38 for six against superb bowling from Jamie Porter (six for 36) and Sam Cook (three for 36). Danny Briggs (51, 48) offered some resistance but Warwickshire, who looked a beaten side from ball one, were all out for 114 to follow their 78 all out in the first innings.Essex will face Division One leaders Surrey in their final game of the next week full of confidence from successive heavy victories. Warwickshire, still looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, must reboot – and hope seamer Chris Rushworth recovers from injury – before their last game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.The entire match was a tale of Essex domination and Warwickshire disarray and the story was encapsulated by the day’s first 35 minutes. After the visitors resumed on 189 for nine, last-wicket pair Snater and Porter extended their partnership to 60 in 14 overs. On a pitch which brought 19 wickets on the first day, Warwickshire at times deployed nine boundary fielders for Snater while Porter, with a first class batting average of 5.82 was untroubled. Further abetted by loose bowling and misfields, the pair eased Essex’s lead upwards before Craig Miles uprooted Snater’s middle stump.It was a wretched micro-session from Warwickshire which prompted their supporters to offer a few ribald thoughts from the stands – but things then went from bad to worse as their second innings hit three for four after 34 balls.The excellent Cook trapped Rob Yates lbw and plucked out the off-stumps of Will Rhodes (for a duck in his last innings as a Warwickshire player at Edgbaston) and Hamza Shaikh. Porter had Sam Hain caught at second slip from an inside-edge on to his pad.The procession continued when Ed Barnard edged Porter to wicketkeeper Michael Pepper, who kept superbly standing up to the seamers, and captain Alex Davies, having hewn 12 runs from 71 minutes, fell lbw to Snater to make it 38 for six.Briggs and Michael Burgess added 71 in 15 overs either side of lunch, the former striking 11 fours in an attractive half-century, but after Briggs edged Porter behind the end came quickly. Porter completed his five-for when Burgess (28, 66) was caught by Paul Walter at long on and rounded off the rout with the scalp of Rushworth, caught at mid off.

Chelsea are believed to be “very close” to making another major signing this summer, contrary to other reports, with Enzo Maresca’s side on the verge of another statement deal ahead of their potential challenge for a Premier League title.

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The Blues are in very high spirits right now after their Club World Cup triumph, which also brought in £87.5 million worth of prize money to the Stamford Bridge coffers – handing them an almighty boost when it comes to navigating the PSR threshold.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea have also brought in an estimated £100 million through player sales, after agreeing deals to let Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and Mathis Amougou leave west London.

So far, BlueCo have spent £145 million on Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro – so taking into account their cash windfall from departures and winning the CWC – Chelsea are actually making a profit right now.

The money to spend is there, and quite comfortably, even if they’re under pressure from UEFA to sell players and balance out their squad.

According to reliable media sources, Chelsea are putting those funds to good use.

They’re currently in talks to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is determined to join Maresca’s side, and even informed manager John Heitinga of his intentions to leave Amsterdam (Fabrizio Romano).

As well as Hato, Chelsea are in ongoing negotiations over a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, which comes amid the Bundesliga side’s attempts to land midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in a ‘separate’ move.

While Arsenal have also contacted Simons’ representatives (Fabrizio Romano), it is Chelsea who are seriously taking the lead here, as explained by journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack.

Chelsea "very close" to agreeing Xavi Simons deal

According to the reporter, a move for the 22-year-old is actually “further along” than what’s being claimed elsewhere.

Chelsea talks are “advancing fast” for Simons, and there is a sense that this deal is “very close” with just the final details left to be ironed out.

“Simons especially is actually further along than what is being reported,” wrote Phillips.

“Chelsea are likely just covering themselves in case it doesn’t get done. The club do need to sell, but there isn’t a feeling like Christopher Nkunku needs to go first before Chelsea sign Simons, but some advancement on it could help.

“The last our sources heard on Simons to Chelsea was that it was very close but had some final details to sort out.

“I continue to hear ‘deals are advancing fast’ and there is real positivity on both players [Hato and Simons].”

Simons is reported to be Leipzig’s highest-ever paid player on around £192,000-per-week, and for good reason, with the Netherlands international seriously impressing for them since initially joining on loan at the start of 2023/2024.

His tally of 21 goals and 23 assists in all competitions prompted Leipzig to make his move permanent for an initial £43 million in January, but it appears he could already be on the move, specifically to Chelsea.