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A 2-0 lead is the worst lead. So goes the footballing cliché. But it’s a saying aptly applied to Arne Slot’s Liverpool as they continue to face adversity when two goals to the good this season.

Three times had Liverpool ceded their lead when two goals up before meeting Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

After a barnstorming start to the all-Liverpool clash, the Reds looking back to their ferocious best, old habits crept in, with Idrissa Gueye pulling one back after the interval and casting an anxious blanket across most of Anfield.

However, this time Slot’s men didn’t need to dig deep and find a last-gasp winner, instead coming together to repel the impressive Toffees and see the game off.

Five wins from five in the Premier League. The hosts might have made a slight meal of things in the second half, but they got the job done once again, with a series of players stepping up.

Liverpool's best performers vs Everton

Virgil van Dijk is imperious as Liverpool’s leader and centre-back supreme, but Ibrahima Konate performed very well indeed against Everton, putting that shaky start to the season firmly behind him.

Against Everton, the France international won seven of eight aerial duels that came his way (data courtesy of Sofascore), while making eight clearances and two tackles, showing off that physical robustness when powering forward to stamp out danger or cover a wandering midfielder.

In the first half, Liverpool won 55% of the duels, but after the break, it was Everton who showed more impetus in the challenge, flipping that to a 56% success rate against the Anfield side.

That doesn’t tell the full story, though, and Dominik Szoboszlai is a testament to that, having only won half of his eight duels but thrived in an all-action midfield role, leading the press and showing off his first-rate stamina as the match wound down, instrumental to snuffing out a late comeback.

Record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both entered the fray either side of the hour mark, but neither could write their names into the headlines as the visitors applied pressure and pushed for an equaliser.

That pairing have the skills and styles to emerge as Liverpool’s new version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, but it’s two higher-flying members of Slot’s squad who are emerging as such stars of old.

Liverpool's new version of Gerrard & Torres

Torres and Gerrard formed one of the most iconic partnerships in Premier League history, turning aside opponents from every which way. Liverpool’s legendary skipper once said El Niño was “the best striker in the world”, before he up and left for Chelsea.

Hugo Ekitike has some stiff competition in Isak at number nine at Liverpool, but he’s playing like a man who knows it right now, having scored his fourth goal of the season after calmly collecting from a delicious Ryan Gravenberch pass and sending the ball past Jordan Pickford.

Liverpool’s £69m striker built on Gravenberch’s earlier goal, an incredible finish, dinked up and over Pickford and down and into the net after Mohamed Salah lobbed into space.

The duo have been incredible this season; they are proving invaluable proponents of Slot’s tactics, so coolly hitting the right heights under the head coach’s guidance.

Last season, Gravenberch announced himself as a major contender for a top side, but he now appears to have taken his game to the next level.

Peter Crouch remarked after the match for TNT Sports that he believes Gravenberch “has been Liverpool’s best player this season”, and it would be hard to contest that, so influential has he been across every corner of the midfield.

Now that he’s kindling a devastating attacking side to his game, the Dutchman is truly shaping into a new, modern version of Gerrard, who was the king of complete performances when in his heyday.

Moreover, Gerrard was a constant thorn in Everton’s side, with no man having scored more in the Merseyside derby than him.

Torres was hardly a pushover on derby day, either, scoring three times against the Blues over five appearances as a Liverpool player; all three strikes came during his first two contests.

Ekitike appears up for the task of emulating the one-time hero, and he might even be playing with an air of the Spaniard’s flair too, with former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster saying during the game that the 23-year-old “looks like prime Fernando Torres running around Anfield”.

There was something Torres-esque about the way Ekitike worked overtime, just as it should be in a meeting of intense rivalry. The Frenchman completed all four of his dribbles, won seven duels and made two tackles for Slot’s side.

Isak, to be sure, has his work cut out this season and beyond. But Liverpool want to defend their Premier League title while challenging for silverware across all the other fronts too this term, and the duality of elite options at centre-forward will go a long way toward achieving that.

Boasting a combined Transfermarkt valuation of £130m and showcasing a budding partnership when Grav threaded through for his new frontman, there’s plenty of reason to be excited on the Red half of Merseyside, with such players already shaping this new charge toward the title.

Gravenberch, too, shares the midfield with a host of world-class players, but it’s hard to argue against the Netherlands international being the first name on the team-sheet right now, immovable and brilliant in the middle of the park.

Slot may be brewing a bigger talent than Isak in "special” Liverpool teen

Liverpool boast one of the finest prospects in Europe in this up-and-coming star.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 19, 2025

Given she has been an unused substitute for 12 of England's 13 games in 2025, it wouldn't be a huge shock if Maya Le Tissier didn't feature for the Lionesses during their October international window – and yet, the Manchester United captain has come into camp as one of the most talked about names of the 24 Sarina Wiegman has selected for games against Brazil and Australia. Why? Because the England boss' perspective on the 23-year-old is very different to that of the majority.

That has been evident for a while, but was re-emphasised last week when Wiegman faced the media after naming her first squad since the Lionesses' triumph at the 2025 European Championship in the summer. When quizzed on what position she sees as Le Tissier's best, the Dutchwoman reiterated the stance she has always had: "She plays centre-back every single [club] game and I think she has good performances, but I also think that, for us, her first position still is the right full-back position."

It sparked a frenzy on social media, particularly after the United social media admin, somewhat incredibly, got involved. "Maya Le Tissier has started 104 games for United," a post on the club's official X account read. "103 of them have been at centre-back." Ian Wright, meanwhile, took to Instagram to note that he simply didn't "understand" Wiegman's point of view, calling Le Tissier "the most consistent" English centre-back in the Women's Super League.

It's become a very contentious topic and one even more relevant given the circumstances of the Lionesses' first camp since the Euros.

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  Opportunity knocks

  That's because England come into this international break with plenty of questions at centre-back. Leah Williamson, their captain, remains sidelined with an injury she sustained during that title run in Switzerland, with it possible that she misses the Lionesses' November camp as she continues her recovery, too. Combine that with Millie Bright's international retirement, announced last week, and the withdrawal from the squad of Katie Reid, the teenager who had earned a first senior call-up because of how well she's deputised for Williamson in the Arsenal defence, and England are not as blessed as normal with centre-back options this month.

  That's not to say they lack bodies in that department. Esme Morgan has been a popular choice with Wiegman in recent times and it is at centre-back that Jess Carter is best, not in the left-back position she was shoe-horned into during the Euros. Lotte Wubben-Moy is another candidate to start as the right-sided centre-back, alongside Alex Greenwood who has seemingly – and deservedly – nailed down the left-sided role, while Grace Fisk is also in the squad after taking Reid's place this week.

  None, though, are in the form that Le Tissier is in right now.

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  Outstanding form

  It's hard to overstate how well Le Tissier is playing for United right now. Into her second season as the Red Devils' captain, the 23-year-old has been solid as a rock through her team's first 12 games of the new campaign, helping them to qualify for the Women's Champions League proper for the first time and enjoy an unbeaten start to the 2025-26 WSL.

  United have kept eight clean sheets in those 12 games, with Le Tissier playing a huge part in that success. No team-mate has made more clearances and only two have made more blocks this term, with her most recent club performance particularly catching the eye. The Red Devils went down to 10 players in the first half, through a controversial red card, but clung onto their clean sheet to win at Atletico Madrid, with Le Tissier coming out on top in all of her duels, blocking three shots and making 10 clearances in a heroic display.

  It's not just about her defending, either. That the United captain is leading the WSL in touches is an indication of how she has developed into a conductor in possession. With the ball at her feet, she has completed more passes than any other player in the division, with an accuracy of 87.8 per cent, leading the league for successful passes between 15 and 30 yards and completing more long passes, of more than 30 yards, than any outfielder.

  Given her age, Le Tissier has got all the qualities to be a top centre-back for club and country for years to come, and with plenty of room to grow.

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  Versatility on show

  So, why does Wiegman see Le Tissier as a right-back? Well, the former Brighton starlet did play there during her days with the Seagulls. Having initially broken into the first team in a central role, then-manager Hope Powell brought in New Zealand stalwart Rebekah Stott in the summer transfer window of 2020, moving Le Tissier out onto the right for a new challenge.

  “I told her over the summer she's going to be in that position,” Powell explained at the time. “Her athleticism, her levels of fitness, I think really suit that role. Also, she gives us that extra option as a centre half.”

  Then just 18 years old, the defender took to the new role well, helping Brighton to secure a fantastic sixth-placed finish in the WSL and enjoy a run to the FA Cup semi-finals. Unsurprisingly, she was named the club's Young Player of the Year, an accolade she would collect again 12 months later, just before her departure for Manchester.

  Le Tissier was playing in the England youth teams at this point and, having been a regular centre-back for the Young Lionesses, most notably captaining the Under-17s to the 2019 Euros, the youngster did start to turn out as a right-back a little more in light of the versatility she was showing at club level. It's notable that this was also happening as Wiegman took charge of the senior team, too, meaning that she will have initially seen a lot of footage of Le Tissier excelling as a right-back, for club and country.

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  Lack of depth

  That would have been a welcome sight for Wiegman, too, as the Lionesses team she was taking over didn't have much depth at right-back. Of course, she had Lucy Bronze, the best in the world in that position, but the back-up to her was lacking, so much so that Williamson and Rachel Daly were the options Phil Neville used there, in Bronze's absence, in his final games in charge of England at the start of 2020.

  In the five years since, there haven't been many other candidates to emerge, either. In fact, the only other player to really fit the criteria in that time has been Ella Morris, who was handed a first senior call-up back in May. However, the Tottenham defender suffered a devastating ACL injury during that very camp, meaning Le Tissier remains the only player other than Bronze or Daly to be given a proper run-out in the right-back role for England under Wiegman, barring the odd appearance from the bench there for Niamh Charles or Carter.

Manchester United have now reportedly received an early response in the battle to sign a Premier League rival for Ruben Amorim in 2026.

Amorim: "It's more excitement than fear" at Man Utd

There’s still plenty of work for Amorim to do at Man United. The Red Devils invested well in the summer, but were brought back down to earth in the opening weeks of the season.

Carabao Cup defeat against Grimsby Town followed by a 3-0 thrashing in the Manchester derby even led to uncomfortable questions about the manager’s future, but he’s claimed that there is an “excitement” within United this season.

Just how long that excitement lasts is the big question. What is clear is that INEOS will back their man away from the pitch. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co. spent around £200m in the summer transfer window and recent reports suggest that more spending is on the way.

The likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Adam Wharton have both been linked with moves to Old Trafford in recent weeks and there’s no doubt that they’d make significant impacts under Amorim.

Vlahovic is far from a bad option, either. The Juventus striker is fighting for his place in Turin and arguably winning what was once a losing battle, scoring four goals in his first five games this season.

Wharton is particularly one to watch, however. The Crystal Palace star is the latest Eagle to rise at Selhurst Park and interest from the very top always seemed inevitable. If United are looking to upgrade on Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte then he is their man alongside another England international.

Man Utd receive early response in race for Anderson

According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Nottingham Forest have issued a hands-off warning to Man United about Elliot Anderson. The Midlands club are keen to keep hold of the impressive Englishman, with both Liverpool and the Red Devils plotting 2026 moves to secure his signature.

Bailey told TBR: “Anderson has been top class for Forest, and they are aware of the interest is emerging. But I am told that Forest have no intention of entertaining any interest in him, and with Ange Postecoglou arriving – they want him to be a cornerstone to his team going forward.”

Ahead of Mainoo: Man Utd ace was heir to #18 shirt, then he left for £857k

Man Utd may wish they’d kept hold of this midfield star.

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 26, 2025

The 22-year-old has been a standout at the City Ground all season and that was no different in midweek when Forest travelled to face Real Betis. Anderson was at the centre of everything positive that Ange Postecoglou’s side did and has done no harm to his hopes of securing a World Cup place next summer in recent weeks.

Dubbed “phenomenal” by England teammate and Chelsea star Reece James in the September international break, Anderson is the type of player that Man United should do everything to sign next summer.

With the title race having already swung back and forth while the top-four and relegation battles are as open as they have been for a few years, the Premier League is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Sure, the odd match still follows the formbook, but a number of teams are proving tough to pin down and figure out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis.

As such, knowing what shape the news cycle is going to take is anyone's guess at the start of a round of fixtures. Refereeing controversies, outrageous managerial quotes and even the reactions of big-name pundits can drive the narrative around the English top-flight, and thus it's difficult to figure out what will be dominating the newspaper back pages, website homepages and fan reaction shows in the hours and days that follow.

That hasn't stopped us at GOAL from trying, though. Rather than merely predicting the weekend's results, we have looked into our crystal balls to figure out what headlines you, the fans, will be reading and clicking on as you digest the latest Premier League action…

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  'Man Utd emerge as title dark horses after breezing past Brighton'

  Manchester United's first win over Liverpool at Anfield for nine years was the turning point in Ruben Amorim's reign. Not only did the Portuguese coach handily outfox Arne Slot in the tactical stakes, he also finally ended his wait for back-to-back victories as United manager, and you could feel the confidence surging through the Red Devils' squad.

  It has so often been one step forward, two steps back for Amorim, but Brighton won't have enough to halt his team's momentum at Old Trafford on Saturday. With new goalkeeper Senne Lammens bringing a sense of stability to a defence that had been lacking for so long and feeding long balls to the frontline, United finally have a recipe for success.

  Whether Mason Mount starts as a false nine again or Benjamin Sesko gets the nod upfront, the Red Devils will have too much firepower from the second balls for Brighton to cope with. A third successive win and a clean sheet are on the cards, which could put United into the top six. With no European football commitments and all the players now fully up to speed with Amorim's system, they should then be considered dark horses for the title, and 'The United Strand' will soon be able to take a hair clipper to his out-of-control afro.

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  'Salah blows last chance as Liverpool are stung by the Bees'

  Liverpool snapped a four-game losing streak by thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday as Slot was rewarded for making some bold changes. That included dropping struggling club legend Mohamed Salah to the bench and shifting to a 4-4-2 formation, which made the Reds both more solid at the back and more potent going forward. 

  But Brentford will bring the reigning champions crashing back down to earth at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Despite Salah being on a run of seven Premier League matches without a non-penalty goal, Slot is liable to give the Egyptian one final chance to rediscover his best form, which will mean reverting to a 4-2-3-1 and leaving Liverpool exposed on the right flank again.

  The likes of Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago could subsequently have a field day. The Bees have looked very strong at home, beating Aston Villa and Manchester United while drawing with Chelsea, and Liverpool will be their next victims. This game could mark the end of the Reds' title defence and ensure that Salah is relegated to a place among the substitutes for the foreseeable future.

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  'Villa expose Man City's flaws as Haaland kept on a leash'

  "I don’t think they’re a top team at the moment. They’re still in the title race because of [Erling] Haaland," former Arsenal star Paul Merson said on when assessing Manchester City's 2-0 victory over Everton last week. "But you take Haaland out of the equation and then I’d struggle to think they would get in the top four."

  Indeed, the Norwegian terminator's haul of 11 Premier League goals accounts for 65 percent of the 17 City have scored so far in 2025-26. Their second-highest scorer is Maxime Esteve, who gave up two own goals when Burnley went down 5-1 to Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad. That is conclusive evidence that City are a one-man team, which makes their current form unsustainable.

  The flaws in City's set-up will be exposed when they travel to the West Midlands to face an Aston Villa side brimming with confidence after back-to-back league wins. If Villa can put a leash on Haaland, as they did to Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons when picking up a 2-1 victory at Tottenham last time, it could even be an easy day's work for Unai Emery's men. They should be able to overrun City in midfield, allowing the likes of Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and Morgan Rogers to wreak havoc upfront.

  Guardiola may have to reassess his aims for the campaign after this one.

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  'Arsenal lay down another marker with easy Palace win'

  Arsenal continued their ominous run of form by putting four goals past Atletico Madrid without reply in the Champions League on Tuesday, and a seventh consecutive win is inevitable when Crystal Palace arrive at the Emirates. Oliver Glasner's Eagles are a match for any side at their best, but they'll only be at 50 per cent again after their Thursday night exertions in the Conference League.

  Palace followed up their last European outing with a 2-1 loss at Everton, and Arsenal will be next to exploit their tired legs. Bukayo Saka hasn't scored from open play since matchday two, but he could boost his numbers significantly here, with a battle against Tyrick Mitchell threatening to be a complete mismatch.

  After doing a job on Julian Alvarez, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba should have no trouble with Jean-Philippe Mateta either. David Raya will be celebrating his ninth shut-out of the season in all competitions come full-time, and Arsenal will be six points clear of the chasing park after laying down another title marker.

Newcastle United eased some of the concerns surrounding their early-season form with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

For Eddie Howe, it was an important three points, but the performance also highlighted ongoing areas for improvement.

The Magpies have had a mixed start to the campaign.

While their Champions League adventure produced a resounding 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise last week, the Premier League has been more testing.

Before the Forest clash, Newcastle were near the bottom of the table in expected goals created, their attack lacking sharpness despite the arrival of high-profile summer signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

Sunday’s victory, alongside the midweek European triumph, suggested signs of improvement.

Howe’s side have now scored six without reply across their last two matches, showing greater cohesion in both attack and defence.

Importantly, these results came despite a growing injury list.

Full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are both facing extended spells on the sidelines, Wissa is yet to even train for the club, and Ramsey is only just nearing a return.

Squad depth will be vital if Newcastle are to juggle the demands of domestic and European competition.

Newcastle's performance vs Forest in numbers

The win over Nottingham Forest was, in many respects, Newcastle’s most complete attacking performance of the Premier League season so far.

The Magpies generated an expected goals tally of 3.28 – their highest in a single match this campaign – and created six big chances while taking 18 shots. On another day, the margin of victory could have been far greater.

Bruno Guimarães was the standout performer.

Wearing the captain’s armband, the Brazilian midfielder dictated the tempo and constantly found space to progress play.

He scored a wonderful curling strike from outside the area in the 58th minute to break the deadlock and later won the penalty, courtesy of a foul by former Newcastle player Elliot Anderson, that Woltemade converted to seal the points.

Guimarães’ match rating, via Sofascore, of 9.4 reflected his dominance.

Elsewhere, however, not everything clicked – Newcastle’s wingers continue to underwhelm.

Both Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga found it difficult to impose themselves, struggling to provide consistent service into the box. The latter walked from the field after 70 minutes having delivered just one accurate cross from nine attempts. He also only won three of his 12 duels.

Howe will be concerned by their lack of productivity, especially given the volume of chances wasted.

The positives outweighed the negatives on this occasion, but the game underlined that Newcastle are still searching for fluency in certain areas of the pitch.

Joelinton's struggles vs Forest

One of the more disappointing displays came from Joelinton.

The Brazilian midfielder has become a divisive figure within the Newcastle fanbase, admired for his physicality and work rate but also criticised for his inconsistency.

Against Forest, like Elanga and Gordon, he struggled to impact the game in a positive way.

He registered 50 touches and attempted 35 passes, completing 32 of them with a strong 91% accuracy.

However, his influence largely stopped there. He failed to complete a single dribble, won only two of his seven ground duels, and missed a big chance in the first half.

Chalkboard

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

His tendency to concede unnecessary fouls also stood out, with three infringements breaking up momentum and handing Forest opportunities to relieve pressure.

At times, Joelinton looked more focused on disrupting the opposition than building play.

He lost possession four times and rarely provided the driving runs that have made him such an effective marauding presence in midfield.

Substituted for Lewis Miley, his performance was a reminder that fatigue may be playing a role – with Newcastle now playing every few days due to Champions League and domestic cup commitments, he appears less able to sustain his usual high-intensity style.

For Howe, the return of Jacob Ramsey cannot come soon enough.

The England U21 international is expected to challenge directly for Joelinton’s spot, and his arrival could provide both competition and inspiration.

Joelinton has shown before that he can rise to the occasion when pushed; now, he may need that extra spark to rediscover his best form.

While there is plenty to work on, Newcastle’s recent results have helped ease the pressure that was beginning to mount.

Back-to-back wins, six goals scored, and two clean sheets point towards progress, even if performances are not yet polished.

Howe has weathered the early storm, but the weeks ahead will test just how deep and adaptable this Newcastle squad really is.

90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 5, 2025

Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal are all prominently featured among the 11 nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2025. The nomination sets up another potential battle between Dembele and Yamal, who recently went head-to-head for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, an award Dembele ultimately won. And there's a showdown between England Lionesses hero Alessia Russo and Aitana Bonmati for the women’s gong.

• Massive awards for football's elite

  The Best FIFA Football Awards are presented annually to honour the sport's most outstanding performers, including players and coaches. Relaunched in 2017, the winners are determined by a combined vote from four equally weighted groups. These groups include national team captains and coaches, selected media representatives, and the general public. The awards are seen as a modern way to celebrate excellence within the sport, covering a specific performance period rather than a calendar year. Recent notable winners include Bonmati, who won Best Women's Player in both 2023 and 2024, and Vinicius Junior and Lionel Messi, who were named Best Men's Player in 2024 and 2023 respectively. These accolades reflect the highest achievements within the world of football.

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  Race for the men's title

  Yamal, the brilliant teenage sensation, won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and 2025 and finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or. He was instrumental in Barcelona's domestic Treble and won Euro 2024 with Spain, showcasing incredible skill. Dembele had a career-defining season, winning the 2025 Ballon d'Or and the Champions League with Paris St-Germain as part of another stunning Treble. He was also named the Champions League Player of the Season. And Kane finally ended his long wait for a major trophy by winning the 2024/25 Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. His brilliant goalscoring form saw him finish as the league's top scorer for the second consecutive season – and he’s already bagged 22 in all competitions for club and country this season. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, and Cole Palmer will also hope to have some sort of say in the destiny of the prize. 

  The full list of nominees: Dembele (Paris St-Germain) Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain) Kane (Bayern Munich) Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain) Cole Palmer (Chelsea) Pedri (Barcelona) Raphinha (Barcelona) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Vitinha (Paris St-Germain) Yamal (Barcelona).

• Race for the women's title

  And there’s a huge battle in store to land the women’s crown. Russo had a brilliant 2024-2025 season, winning the WSL Golden Boot with 12 goals for Arsenal. She also helped the Gunners to a historic Champions League victory with eight goals in the competition and was named the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year. For Barcelona, Bonmati enjoyed another exceptional year, winning her third successive Ballon d'Or. She was also instrumental in Barcelona's domestic treble and earned the UEFA Women's Champions League Player of the Season award for the third time running. 

  The full list of nominees: Sandy Baltimore (Paris St-Germain) Nathalie Bjorn (Chelsea) Bonmati (Barcelona) Lucy Bronze (Chelsea) Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current) Kadidiatou Diani (Olympique Lyonnais) Melchie Dumornay (Olympique Lyonnais) Patri Guijarro (Barcelona) Lauren James (Chelsea) Chloe Kelly (Arsenal) Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) Claudia Pina (Barcelona) Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) Russo (Arsenal) Leah Williamson (Arsenal).

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  Wait for awards to be announced

  The exact date and location for the next ceremony have not yet been announced by FIFA. The ceremony typically takes place early in the new year, often in January, to honour performances from the previous full calendar year. The 2024 awards were held in Doha, Qatar, in December 2024, and the 2023 awards were in London in January 2024. An announcement regarding the host city and specific date is expected in the coming months. The Best awards are often seen as a potential bellweather ahead of the Ballon d'Or too, so the player who ends up lifting the trophy may well also have designs on the most prestigious individual award a footballer can receive. 

Happy Monday!   

There are 10 games on the MLB slate today, and plenty of ways to get in on the action. Here are a couple of wagers we are targeting tonight.  

MLB Best Bets Today for Monday, Aug. 19

• Baltimore Orioles ML (+120)
• White Sox at Giants NRFI (-125)

Baltimore Orioles ML (+120) vs. New York Mets

It’s not often we get the option to take the Baltimore Orioles as underdogs, so we are going to grab the chance tonight against the New York Mets.

The Orioles have a 36-24 road record this season and are 43-27 vs. teams above .500.  Meanwhile, the Mets are just 33-32 at home and 25-35 vs. teams above .500.  

Baltimore will start Trevor Rogers tonight, and on the surface that gives them a big disadvantage. The lefty has struggled this season, and especially since the All-Star Break. Since the break he has an ERA of 5.55 while allowing hitters a .330 batting average. That is not good.   

His xERA and exit velocity allowed are in the bottom 9% percent of MLB.

New York will start lefty David Peterson, which could line up nicely for the O's.

Peterson has a 2.97 ERA since the All-Star Break, allowing just a .222 batting average to opposing hitters. However, taking a peek under the hood, Peterson could be due for regression. Peterson’s xERA is in the bottom 7% of the league, which is even higher than Rogers', and his exit velocity allowed is in the bottom 20% of the league. 

It’s far from a sure thing that he can keep this Orioles team that’s scored the sixth-most runs since the All Star Break at bay. 

Both teams are strong vs. left-handed pitching. The Orioles and Mets are top-five in OPS and both teams are hitting .260 (tied for seventh) vs. southpaws. However, the Orioles lead MLB in SLG vs. lefties and they are seventh in ISO as compared to the Mets in fourteenth. 

The Mets have the bullpen and home advantage, too. So, yes, they should be favorites. But, for +120, I’m willing to bet the Orioles can pull this one off in Queens.  

Chicago White Sox at San Francisco Giants NRFI (-125)

The Chicago White Sox were officially eliminated from playoff contention this weekend, and they have scored an MLB-worst 3.10 runs per game this season.  

They have also only scored 18% of the time in the first inning. 

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison has a home ERA of just 3.64, and a first inning ERA of 4.29, but that’s good enough for me to trust him against an anemic offense. 

The Giants have scored just 4.08 runs per game in August, which is the ninth-fewest in MLB, and they are also not prone to scoring early.  

San Francisco has scored in the first inning just 23% of the time this season. Jonathan Cannon will start for the White Sox tonight, and he has been good since the All Star Break with an ERA of just 3.34.    

Former German legends Dietmar Hamann and Oliver Kahn have criticised the inclusion of Said El Mala in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. Kahn argued that players should not be selected based on just two or three good performances, while Hamann felt that Nagelsmann should have waited until March next year to give El Mala his first opportunity with the national team.

• El Mala's selection to the German national team

  Germany sit joint top of their World Cup qualification group alongside Slovakia and are on the verge of securing automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Wins against Luxembourg and Slovakia in their upcoming fixtures would seal their place at the World Cup. Coach Nagelsmann’s latest squad announcement marked the return of key players Leroy Sane and Malick Thiaw, both of whom have been recalled after a lengthy absence. The big surprise in the squad was the inclusion of youngster El Mala, who has impressed with his recent club performances. 

  Nagelsmann commented on the selection, saying he wants El Mala to express his carefree nature. The coach emphasised his preference for giving young players opportunities to represent the national team, stating: “Said should get the chance to show his carefreeness and easygoingness with us. We have an eye on our U21 players and always want to give them the chance to feature for the senior national team.”

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  Hamann's criticism

  However, former German midfielder Hamann criticised the selection of El Mala, saying that Nagelsmann should have waited until spring as there is already too much hype surrounding the youngster. He said on : “For me, the nomination comes too early. I would have waited until spring; he could still have been nominated then. There's a lot of hype surrounding the lad right now anyway.

  “You could have invited El Mala at any time if he continued playing like this. That's why it's too early for me.”

  Hamann also felt that El Mala was fortunate, recalling that during his playing days, footballers with fewer than 50 Bundesliga appearances were not even considered for selection. He said: “In my day, the national coach wouldn't even look at players with fewer than 50 Bundesliga appearances. After 70 or 80 games, you might find yourself on his radar.”

• El Mala's great start to the season

  El Mala has earned widespread praise for his impressive performances this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in nine games, despite starting only twice, helping Koln rise to seventh in the table. Operating as a right winger in Lukas Kwasniok’s 3-4-3 system, El Mala combines quick feet, sharp decision-making, and excellent vision to create constant danger in the final third. His pace and agility make him extremely difficult to defend against in one-on-one situations, while his ability to shift lanes quickly despite his height adds unpredictability. 

  Additionally, his explosive acceleration makes him a key weapon in Koln’s high-pressing system. However, Koln sporting director Thomas Kessler looked to temper the growing hype around the youngster, saying: “His first appearances were very promising. However, it shouldn't be forgotten that the match against Dortmund at the weekend was only his second start in the Bundesliga. Expectations in Cologne can be immense.”

  German and Bayern legend Kahn echoed Kessler’s sentiments, saying that players should not be selected for the national team based on just a few good performances. He remarked: “I'm not a big fan of bringing in the guys right away after they've played two or three good games."

  He added: "But the coach also has a responsibility with such young players. And we all know: Julian Nagelsmann is very experimental. Sometimes even impulsive. Meaning: he observes a player who he'd like to see play, without considering the potential consequences. (…) Right now, the national team needs to focus on finding the team that you feel has a chance at the upcoming World Cup."

  However, the former goalkeeper took a more lenient stance than Hamann, acknowledging that national team coaches often want to assess how players adapt and perform within the group. He explained: “On the other hand, you also have to understand that a national coach wants to see and feel the guys – how they perform in training and how they function in the group. Therefore, I can understand the nomination.”

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  Germany's world cup qualification challenge

  Nagelsmann will hope that El Mala can make a positive impact when Germany face Luxembourg and Slovakia, helping the team secure automatic qualification for the World Cup and, in the process, justify his selection.

Considering Ryan Mason is still a novice in the main managerial game, he has started life in the West Bromwich Albion dug-out with some promise.

Entering the international break, the Baggies only find themselves five points off the top of the tree in the Championship, with four victories picked up from their opening nine second-tier outings.

Still, just a quick glimpse doesn’t quite tell the full story, with West Brom picking up a concerning three defeats from their last five games, leaving Mason with plenty to sort out during this enforced break from fixtures.

Isaac Price will also view the break as time to assess where it has all gone wrong for him in recent weeks, after a blistering start out of the blocks from the Northern Ireland international helped the Baggies be in and around the promotion spaces straight away.

Price's up-and-down form

Even if the 22-year-old has found his form has gone off the boil in the Championship, he will also know he can be a hero for his nation away from the Hawthorns, having scored a wonderfully taken strike against Germany during the last international stretch of matches.

Bagging a much-needed strike for Northern Ireland could reignite his faltering league form, therefore, with Price now without a goal for Mason and Co. in league action across their last six up-and-down matches in the topsy-turvy division.

The ex-Everton youth prodigy, before experiencing this crisis in confidence, started the season with an unbelievable four goal contributions from his opening three league clashes, with scout Jacek Kulig once noting that the Baggies’ number 21 was a “fantastic” asset for the future.

For Price’s sake, he will hope he can breathe life back into his wavering campaign, sooner rather than later.

However, he isn’t the only rising star catching the eye in the West Midlands currently, with this other exciting youngster perhaps being seen as an even bigger talent than Price now.

Why Mason has a bigger talent than Price

While it’s undoubtedly true that Price is a Championship-level star, he has had to deal with some turmoil in his early career so far to be where he is today.

Indeed, the 22-year-old would have to relocate to Standard Liege to rebuild his senior playing days after making just three senior appearances for Everton.

On the contrary, Toby Collyer – who is now Price’s midfield teammate for the season – is already 13 appearances down for Manchester United at a senior level and is already turning heads in the West Midlands.

Since making his Red Devils’ men’s debut at just 20 years of age under Erik ten Hag, Collyer has never looked back, with this off-the-line clearance against Fulham last year backing up claims made by one of his former youth coaches in Mark Beard, that the three-time England U20 international is “like a Kante” when it comes to his energy and drive to succeed for his team.

Further lauded as being a star that “plays like two men” by Beard, it would have been viewed as a coup by West Brom when they won his loan signature this summer, and – although it hasn’t gone to plan completely for the 21-year-old yet in his fresh location – he did still manage to stand out last time out against Millwall, even when Mason and Co. were on the recieving end of a 3-0 battering.

While Collyer’s introduction into the first team fold couldn’t inspire a win at the Den, it’s safe to say the new number 13 could trudge off at the end with his head held somewhat high, with a bite present in his game when winning 70% of his duels, on top of also only misdirecting six of his 47 passes on the day.

Price, on the other hand, would only register a meagre 17 accurate passes during the 3-0 collapse, with a worry on his end that he could be dropped when Championship action returns later this month.

Collyer will be hopeful of more starts moving forward, away from Price’s form falling off a cliff, as the youngster aims to use this formative loan stint as a way to boost his long-term Old Trafford future.

West Brom star who has "everything" looks like their new Tom Fellows

Ryan Mason could now have his very own Ryan Fellows in this exciting West Bromwich Albion star.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 7, 2025

Adley Rutschman couldn't believe his eyes.

Rutschman was stunned after being rung up in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Baltimore Orioles' 1–0 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of their wild-card series.

The All-Star catcher was facing Royals closer Lucas Erceg with Baltimore trailing 1–0. He forced a 2-2 count with no outs and Ryan O'Hearn on first. Erceg fired a 93-mph changeup that sunk below the zone, and home plate umpire Ryan Additon called strike three. Rutschman was displeased.

He had a right to be upset, as the Gamecast on MLB.com indicated the pitch was low as well.