تحدث ستيفن وارنوك، لاعب ليفربول السابق عن جلوس محمد صلاح نجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول على دكة البدلاء خلال مباراة فريقه أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وواجه ليفربول نظيره فرانكفورت الألماني مساء أمس الأربعاء، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وحقق ليفربول فوزًا مهمًا على نظيره الألماني بخماسية مقابل هدف جعلته يستعيد ثقته مرة أخرى بعد عدم الفوز في 4 مباريات متتالية.
وكان آرني سلوت قد اتخذ قرارًا بجلوس محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت للمباراة الثانية على التوالي بدوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد جلوسه أمام جالطة سراي في المباراة السابقة.
اقرأ أيضًا | كاراجر عن جلوس محمد صلاح بديلًا في مباراة ليفربول وفرانكفورت: سلوت كان يشاهدني
وقد دفع المدرب الهولندي بالنجم المصري محمد صلاح في الدقيقة 72 من زمن الشوط الثاني، وحاول لاعب ليفربول أن يسجل أو يهدد مرمى آينتراخت فرانكفورت ولكن دون نجاح.
وفي ضوء ذلك قال وارنوك، في تصريحات عبر “بي بي سي” سبورت: “لم يكن صلاح في كامل تألقه الفترة الماضية لكنهم أظهروا ضد آينتراخت فرانكفورت قدرتهم على تحقيق الفوز بدونه”.
وأكمل: “من الواضح أن بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية قادمة في ديسمبر ولذك كانت هذه لمحة بسيطة عما سيفعله الفريق بدونه”.
وأتم: “إذا نجح نظام ليفربول بدونه فسيكون من الصعب إعادة صلاح إلى التشكيل بعد ذلك أيضًا، لكن إصابة إيزاك قد تكون بمثابة بطاقة نجاة له من أجل اللعب مرة أخرى”.
Manchester United went into the summer in desperate need of a squad overhaul following their record-low Premier League finish last season.
The main area that needed improvement was the attack, with players like Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund being pushed out of the club. The deals to sign Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko seemed like the easiest ones that the club completed in the summer, as they were both completed in a matter of days.
However, not every deal was as smooth. United spent a significant portion of the transfer window locked in transfer negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo. They also appeared to have a protracted back and forth with Brighton about the signing of Carlos Baleba, but that deal did not materialise due to the south coast club’s reluctance to drop their asking price below the £100 million mark.
With limited time left in the transfer window, United still wanted a goalkeeper and a midfielder, with only the former being recruited in time. A former Arsenal star who played a significant role in the goalkeeper signing has now shared how the deal unfolded and how his club acted differently to Brentford and Brighton.
How the Lammens deal unfolded
The last signing that United managed to complete in the summer was that of Royal Antwerp keeper Senne Lammens. The 23-year-old cost United just over £18 million on deadline day.
One of the key figures at Royal Antwerp is Director of Football Marc Overmars, who spent three seasons playing for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Reports from the Netherlands via Sports Witness have seen Overmars share that Antwerp’s approach to transfers is a more amicable one than United would have experienced dealing with some of the Premier League teams.
Going into deadline day, it seemed certain that United would sign a keeper, but it was unclear whether that would be Lammens or Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
If Martinez were to join United, then Villa would have signed Lammens instead, but as the day progressed, it became clear that United favoured the younger of the two and actually had an offer accepted lower than Villa’s, hijacking a transfer in the process.
Man Utd's plan for Lammens
Lammens is yet to make his debut for United, with Altay Bayindir currently retaining the number one spot. However, with Andre Onana’s departure to Trabzonspor, it looks likely that Lammens will be given a chance between the sticks this season.
One reason why Lammens may not have started yet is that the first games he was eligible for were against Manchester City and Chelsea, which could have been daunting opening games. United’s next games are against Brentford and Sunderland, and despite strong starts to the season, they were both teams in the relegation conversation and are the perfect opportunity for Lammens to find his feet.
It’s hard to argue that even with his Premier League experience, Martinez would have walked straight into the first team, as he has only featured twice this season, with Unai Emery opting for Marco Bizot in goal on a number of occasions.
Only time will tell whether or not United came to the correct decision on deadline day, but with Lammens being the younger player by 10 years, he does look like the better option in the long term.
Snoop Dogg is reportedly set to make his first appearance at a Swansea game when a derby date with Welsh rivals Wrexham is taken in. The Red Dragons are co-owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynold and Rob Mac, who have made a habit of inviting celebrity guests to EFL fixtures down the years. Rap icon Snoop is now poised to make his bow with the Swans, having become a minority stakeholder.
Getty Images/GOALStar investors: Snoop & Modric involved with Swansea
The legendary musician bought into the Swans back in July. He then helped to front the launch of the club’s home kit for 2025-26, with his global appeal being put to good use. Snoop is not the only familiar face to figure on Swansea’s board, with Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric – who is now with AC Milan after severing ties with Real Madrid – another with financial ties to the Championship outfit.
Modric is otherwise engaged at present prolonging his playing career in Italy at 40 years of age, making trips to South Wales difficult. Snoop is, however, finding space in his schedule to take in that journey. The 53-year-old is a big sports fan and has previously been spotted at NBA matches and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
AdvertisementDerby date: When Swansea face Wrexham in the Championship
Another change of scenery is about to be taken in, with Swans star Liam Cullen revealing that Snoop is due in Wales for the most glamorous of fixtures. There is no word on whether Reynolds and Mac will be joining him for a meeting between two geographical rivals.
Cullen told the BBC when asked about Snoop’s ties to Swansea: “I've not seen him yet. I think he's actually coming over for the Wrexham game. That's what I've heard. So I'm looking forward to seeing him."
Wrexham are due at the Swansea.com Stadium on December 19. Snoop could be on hand to deliver early Christmas presents, with Swans CEO Tom Gorringe having already talked up the commercial benefits that he brings to the club.
Cullen added on embracing famous faces: “With the new investors in Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on the club, and with the investment there's a higher expectation now, which is good for us. It's a good thing to have the expectation of going and needing to do well.”
Getty/GOALSnoop warning: Urged to remain behind the scenes
Snoop’s son, Cordell C Broadus, has paid a visit to Swansea, taking in a 1-1 draw with Watford on August 23. He stopped by the dressing room to mingle with players and coaches, and his father has admitted that he is readying a “pep talk” for his trip to the United Kingdom.
While Swansea are delighted to have Snoop involved, he has been urged not to interfere with team affairs. Experienced Welsh manager Tony Pulis has told sports betting site BetVictor: “Would I be pleased if someone like that came into a football club? Yeah, as long as they didn't poke their nose in and start picking the team and picking the players and picking the tactics, it'd be no issues to me.
“I've met Luka Modric. What a wonderful, wonderful man. An absolutely fantastic player. Top, top player. And I mean a top, top player, but he's a fantastic lad as well. Having Luka around would be unbelievable. Snoop Dogg, I don't even know what he sings!”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Swansea have enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular start to the 2025-26 campaign. They have picked up 12 points from nine games that have delivered three wins, a trio of defeats and a few draws. They remain within three points of the play-off places in a congested Championship table – with Wrexham only two points behind them.
Alan Sheehan is the coach charged with the task of generating positive results, with a permanent contract being passed his way after initially taking the reins on a caretaker basis in February. He is cutting his managerial teeth in a demanding division, with the presence of Snoop and Modric behind the scenes bringing with it added pressure. The Swans will return to action after the latest international break when taking in a trip to Southampton on October 18.
Honors even in Derby as four visiting batters register half-centuries in follow-on innings
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay28-Apr-2025
Holden’s 94 took him past 500 runs for the season•Getty Images
Ryan Higgins found his form at just the right time to save Middlesex from defeat on the final day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby.Higgins scored 56, his first fifty of the season, sharing a seventh wicket stand of 75 from 155 balls with Zafar Gohar who was unbeaten on 52 off 108 balls to take Middlesex to 307 for 7, 150 ahead, when the teams shook hands on a draw.Max Holden with 94 and Stephen Eskinazi, 61, had added 169 for the second wicket only to throw their wickets away in the last over before lunch.Derbyshire’s hopes lifted when the visitors slipped to 220 for 6 but Higgins and Gohar stood firm to deny them although the draw takes them to second place, 13 points behind leaders Leicestershire.Middlesex started the morning 97 runs behind needing to bat deep into the day to deny Derbyshire victory.Their first objective was to deny the hosts early wickets on a pitch that was offering turn and Eskinazi and Holden started well although both had moments of good fortune.Eskinaz edged Blair Tickner between first and second slip to the third man boundary before Holden was given a reprieve on 46. He swept Jack Morley hard to short mid-wicket where Tickner could only parry the ball in front of his face.It was a tough chance withTickner doing well to get his hands up to protect himself and the rest of the session was largely uneventful until Middlesex inexplicably pressed the self-destruct button in the last over before lunch.Holden had passed 500 runs for the season and was closing on a third century in seven innings when he went for a big slog sweep at Morley and was bowled.Perhaps he was trying to get to three figures before the interval but given the game situation it was an irresponsible dismissal.What followed bordered on farce as Leus du Plooy, batting with a runner, drove the ball towards the cover boundary where Harry Came’s return to the bowler’s end ran out Eskinazi who had raced down the pitch looking for a third run.Those two dismissals had opened the door for Derbyshire who gave it another firm shove after the interval.Du Plooy injured his right foot batting in the first innings and a Tickner yorker struck his left foot in line to send him hobbling back to the pavilion.Four runs later, Ben Geddes got an inside edge off Alex Thomson onto pad and Caleb Jewell dived at leg slip to take the catch.Chappell then produced a beauty to have Jack Davies caught behind but Gohar and Higgins got to tea with Middlesex 86 ahead.Derbyshire took the second new ball but the pair continued to steer their side towards safety until Higgins swept Thomson to deep square leg with the visitors 138 ahead.But Gohar completed his 50 with his second six and Derbyshire called off the chase with 15 overs remaining.
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.
Liverpool: FFC’s Player Ratings vs Everton
Player
Match Rating
(GK) Alisson Becker
6/10
(RB) Conor Bradley
6/10
(CB) Ibrahima Konate
8/10
(CB) Virgil van Dijk
7/10
(LB) Milos Kerkez
6.5/10
(CM) Ryan Gravenberch
9/10
(CM) Alexis Mac Allister
6/10
(RW) Mohamed Salah
7/10
(AM) Dominik Szoboszlai
7.5/10
(LW) Cody Gakpo
6/10
(ST) Hugo Ekitike
9/10
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.
Top Scorers in the Merseyside Derby
Player
Club
Goals
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool
9
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
8
Divock Origi
Liverpool
6
Robbie Fowler
Liverpool
6
Tim Cahill
Everton
5
Dirk Kuyt
Liverpool
5
Data via StatMuse
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.
Fernando Torres celebrates for Liverpool
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.
Ruben Amorim has become a man under pressure at Manchester United in recent weeks after yet another dismal few weeks in charge at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils boss was given the benefit of the doubt during last campaign, after largely working with the players already at his disposal upon taking the reins in November.
However, he was handed the tools to do just that this summer, subsequently spending over £200m on the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.
Big money, spent on big-name players, but yet still the same result, leading to questions being asked about the boss’s long-term future in the role.
The defeat in the Manchester Derby on Sunday made just one win from the opening four Premier League outings of the 2025/26 campaign – once again sitting just a couple of places above the drop zone.
Their tally of seven goals conceded is the fourth worst in the division, highlighting the need for added work in the defensive third – an area that was massively neglected during the off-season.
However, Amorim did decide to finally part ways with one player, but it’s evident that he wasn’t the only issue currently within that area of the pitch for the Red Devils.
Why Man Utd decided to offload Andre Onana
Goalkeeper Andre Onana is a player who has come under huge fire at United over the last couple of months for his lacklustre performances between the sticks.
Huge excitement was generated around his signature back in the summer of 2023, after the Cameroonian international joined in a £47m transfer from Inter Milan.
He was seen as the ideal replacement for the outgoing David de Gea, but it’s safe to say, two years on from his move to Manchester – the deal has been a disaster.
The 29-year-old has cost the side in key moments, with countless mistakes leading to goals – six of which came in the Premier League last season, subsequently contributing to the lowly top-division finish.
Even in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, he was unable to keep out a routine effort from Brennan Johnson, with such a failure handing the European trophy to the Lilywhites.
Onana’s failures continued into 2025/26, arguably being at fault for both goals in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town – undoubtedly leading to his loan move to Trabzonspor over the last few weeks.
However, despite his temporary departure, there’s another player in the current side that Amorim desperately needs to axe if he is to have any chance of saving his job.
The United player who Amorim needs to axe
In his 47 games in charge of United, Amorim has suffered defeat on 20 occasions, resulting in the former Sporting CP boss achieving a measly 38% win percentage to date.
The recent defeat against Pep Guardiola’s men has raised further questions about his future in the role, especially given his reluctance to move away from his current 3-4-2-1 system.
The 40-year-old stated after the match at the Etihad that the club will have to change the man before he changes his ideas – a statement that has piled further pressure on his shoulders.
Within his back three at the Etihad, the manager utilised Luke Shaw, with the Englishman switching from a wing-back role that he operated in during the early stages of his career.
Injuries have played a massive part in the 30-year-old’s progress, only managing over 30 appearances across all competitions in one of the last five years.
He’s suffered 13 separate injury setbacks during the aforementioned timeframe – subsequently missing nearly 150 games of first-team action in the process.
However, Amorim has put faith in the Englishman to play a huge part in his backline – but his recent displays have highlighted the need for added investment in such an area.
Shaw, who’s been labelled “woeful” by one analyst, has only made 0.2 interceptions per 90 and has been dribbled past 1.2 times per 90 – highlighting his inability to regain possession for the Red Devils.
Games played
4
Minutes played
347
Pass accuracy
85%
Tackles won
50%
Interceptions made
0.2
Recoveries made
3.3
Dribbled past
1.2
Tackles made
0.9
Fouls committed
1.5
He’s also won less than one tackle per 90, at a success rate of just 50% – often being an unreliable option – as seen by the club’s measly defensive record.
Injuries in the backline have undoubtedly contributed to his run of games in the side, with Shaw likely to lose his place to the likes of Lisandro Martínez upon his return to first-team action.
With the 30-year-old having two years left on his current deal at Old Trafford, the hierarchy desperately need to offload the defender in the distant future.
His decline over recent years is there for all to see, with the manager desperately needing to replicate a deal for Onana and allow him to move on if he’s to have any chance of keeping his job.
Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma & Haaland but Man Utd got Altay & Sesko instead
It’s been yet another poor start to a Premier League season for Manchester United.
The Blaze 170 for 3 (Elwiss 53, K Bryce 49*) beat Lancashire 169 for 4 (Mack 59, McCarthy 1-13) by seven wicketsThe Blaze gained revenge for Monday’s County T20 Cup semi-final defeat as they chased 170 to beat Lancashire Thunder in their second game of the Vitality Blast women’s competition at Emirates Old Trafford.Following a home tie against Bears yesterday, opener Georgia Elwiss set up the chase with 53 off 43 balls. She shared 101 inside 12 overs for the first wicket with Marie Kelly, who contributed 40. But Kathryn Bryce’s nerveless 49 not out off 29 sealed a seven-wicket win with five balls remaining.Katie Mack had top-scored with 59 off 37 balls at the top of the order for County Cup champions Thunder, who totalled an imposing 169 for 4 having been inserted on a used pitch at the start of a double header T20 day with the Red Rose and Nottinghamshire men. This was their first game.England leg-spinner Sarah Glenn struck once with her leg-spinners for the visitors and took a brilliant diving one-handed catch at backward point to help remove Mack on Lancashire’s Pride day.Thunder overseas Mack is playing the first three games of this competition before making way for her compatriot, the international leg-spinner Alana King. There was plenty of invention on show from Mack, who was supported by a quartet of scores in the twenties from opening partner Tilly Kesteven, Seren Smale, Fi Morris and Sophie Ecclestone.Mack and Kesteven shared 50 inside the first six overs, and when Mack was superbly caught by Glenn off the seam of Elwiss, Lancashire were 106 for two in the 13th over.Last year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 regional champions The Blaze dragged things back well for the next few overs, Glenn getting Smale stumped. But Thunder ended with a bang as 30 runs came from the last three overs, with Ecclestone hitting three fours in 22 off 15 balls and Morris two fours and a heaved six over midwicket in 27 not out off 22.However, the runs kept coming, which was good news for The Blaze. Elwiss hoisted Ecclestone for an eye-catching six over long-on in the fourth over, added to two boundaries, as the score reached 38 without loss.Opening partner Kelly was actually quicker out of the blocks as she and Elwiss took the score to 63 after six overs and beyond. But Elwiss was the one who went to 50, off 39 balls, by which time the score was 103 for 1 in the 12th over. Kelly had only just miscued the seam of Tara Norris to mid-off.A feature of Elwiss’s innings – and perhaps the deciding factor in the game – was how she didn’t let England left-arm spinner Ecclestone settle. She returned figures of nought for 26 from 3.1 overs.The game did tighten up when Elwiss dragged Mahika Gaur’s left-arm seam to long-off, leaving Blaze 109 for 2 after 13 overs. The target became 49 off the last five overs and later 18 off two with Gaur having struck again.But fabulous Kathryn Bryce, who hit six fours and six over long-off, and New Zealander Maddy Green took 16 off the penultimate over from the spin of Sophie Morris, including a straight six from the latter, to ice the game.
Looking ahead to 2026, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign a former Real Madrid defender alongside a number of Premier League rivals.
David Moyed "thrilled" with Crystal Palace win
Without a win in four games in all competitions and heading into the Hill Dickinson to host a Crystal Palace side without a defeat in 19 games, Everton looked destined for an uphill battle on Sunday. The Eagles had just defeated the Premier League champions in Liverpool and were after another Merseyside scalp – taking the lead through Daniel Munoz.
As bad as Barry: Moyes must drop Everton star who won just 30% duels
Everton won vs Palace but some of their new signings struggled to impress.
1 ByWill Miller Oct 6, 2025
From there, it seemed as though Everton were set to hand Palace the 20-game unbeaten run that they were after, only for the Hill Dickinson to get its most dramatic moment yet.
After equalising through Iliman Ndiaye in the final 15 minutes, the stage was set for someone to become a hero and that someone was Jack Grealish. The Manchester City loanee was perfectly placed to benefit from Munoz’s clearance and simply deflected home to hand his side a 93rd-minute winner.
David Moyes, like every Everton fan inside the Hill Dickinson, was left “thrilled” by his side’s dramatic comeback – telling reporters: “I’m thrilled with the three points, thrilled with the result.
“Mixed emotions on the performance. Not very good at all in the first half and could have been three down, but kept defending, kept stuck at it, showed a bit of resilience.
“I’ve been waiting on a late goal here. Aston Villa was 0-0, we couldn’t quite get the winner against West Ham, so I was hoping we’d get one of them. Thankfully, we got it today.”
Having sealed the three points, Moyes’ side now sit as high as eighth in the Premier League and providing an early marker to become shock contenders for a European place – something that should boost their transfer ambitions.
Everton join race to sign Mario Gila
According to The Boot Room, Everton have joined the race to sign Mario Gila from Lazio in 2026. The former Real Madrid defender has attracted interest from all around the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth all joining Everton in the battle to secure his signature.
It’s no real surprise that interest is rising in the 25-year-old, who has been one of few bright sparks in Maurizio Sarri’s struggling Lazio side.
Former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare was also full of praise for the Spanish defender after signing him from Real Madrid, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”
Considering concerns that Jarrad Branthwaite could still leave Everton, Gila wouldn’t exactly be a bad signing to welcome in 2026. The Spaniard is at the peak of his powers and already has impressive experience under his belt.
It would be yet another ambitious move from The Friedkin Group, who’d be signing a former Real Madrid gem ahead of their rivals.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has discovered when he could welcome back a highly-rated player who’s suffered an injury blow.
Arsenal edge past Olympiacos with West Ham up next
The Gunners edged past Greek Super League champions Olympiacos in midweek thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with Arsenal maintaining their 100 per cent start in Europe.
Martinelli opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a simple tap in after Viktor Gyökeres’ shot struck the post and rolled kindly into the Brazilian’s path. However, while you might’ve expected the floodgates to open thereafter, it ended up being a tense evening for Arteta’s side — who squandered numerous opportunities to extend their lead.
Martin Odegaard
8.1
Myles Lewis-Skelly
7.9
David Raya
7.6
Mikel Merino
7.4
Chiquinho
7.4
via WhoScored
David Raya was also forced into a spectacular one-handed save to deny an equaliser from ex-Wolves forward Daniel Podence. The Portuguese winger caught a low cross perfectly on the volley from eight yards, only for Raya to instinctively fling himself to his left and divert the ball over the crossbar with an outstretched hand.
Leandro Trossard and captain Martin Odegaard, who was praised for his excellent display against Olympiacos, also missed chances to double Arsenal’s advantage before Saka finally put the game beyond doubt in added time.
Arteta initially rested Saka for tonight, perhaps in an effort to manage his fitness with the England international coming back from a hamstring problem, but his late inclusion turned out to be vital.
We’re certain to see much more of Saka given summer signing Noni Madueke is out for several weeks with a knee injury, giving Arteta precious few alternatives, with the forward joining Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie on the treatment table.
Arteta was also dealt a scare when Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off for Cristhian Mosquera, receiving treatment on the pitch, but Arsenal’s boss has since given a reassuring update.
With Arteta appearing hopeful that Gabriel will be available for Arsenal’s crunch Premier League clash against Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham this weekend, their last match before the international break, things are a bit more uncertain with Hincapie.
The Ecuador international suffered an injury blow to his groin recently and has been unable to feature — playing just one minute since joining the club on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
Hincapie is still waiting to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal, with a timeline on the defender’s return to action now emerging.
Piero Hincapie targeting October return for Arsenal
According to insider ‘HandOfArsenal’ on X, the 23-year-old is hoping to return to the fold this month, if all goes to plan, though a specific date hasn’t been specified just yet.
The versatile defender is currently on a season-long trial at the Emirates, as he looks to show sporting director Andrea Berta that Arsenal should trigger the £45 million buy option in his contract.
Hincapie was a regular under Xabi Alonso during Leverkusen’s historic 2024 double-winning season, where they went the entire domestic campaign unbeaten, and was among the club’s key starters last season — making 45 appearances in all competitions.
The South American, dubbed an “absolute beast” by members of the media, played at centre-back, left-back and even left-midfield on two occasions last term — and it will be interesting to see how he fits into Arteta’s plans moving forward.
Arsenal already have a stacked defence and Mosquera has been particularly impressive as a new recruit, so Hincapie is facing a battle to get in the side.
Leeds United play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Elland Road on Saturday in their last match before the international break.
Their clash with Spurs means that there will be a reunion for Daniel Farke and some of the players with former Leeds loanee Djed Spence, who has emerged as a regular starter at full-back for Thomas Frank.
The England international spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Elland Road from the Premier League side, but it did not quite work out for him in West Yorkshire.
Why it did not work out for Djed Spence at Leeds
After playing just seven matches in the Championship, Leeds opted to send him back to Spurs in the January transfer window and Farke suggested that his professionalism played a part in that decision.
When asked about why Spence’s loan was cut short, Farke said: “Listen, in the summer we came here in order to create and to bring new values and to create a new culture within the club and when we speak about a player if he’s on here on a permanent or a loan deal, we have expectations and these expectations are in several topics important.
“Obviously it’s important, the potential and the quality of the player but also it’s professionalism, it’s discipline, it’s workload on and off the pitch and also the soft skills, so also if he’s positive and committed, good for the group and engaged with these topics, paint then more or less a picture.”
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Whilst Spence’s professionalism may have been one of the reasons behind why the loan did not work out, the form of Archie Gray at right-back and Junior Firpo at left-back also played a major role because it meant that the loanee could not break into the XI.
Now, there is a player in the current Leeds squad who is in a similar situation and is in danger of becoming Farke’s next Spence at Elland Road.
The Leeds player who is in danger of becoming the next Djed Spence
The Championship champions agreed a deal worth up to £10m to sign James Justin from Leicester City in the summer transfer window to add quality to their full-back department.
Up to £10m on a 27-year-old back-up full-back may not have been the best allocation of funds, given that the Whites did not sign any right-wingers or number tens to bolster their attack in the window.
Speaking on talkSPORT, presenter Jeff Stelling said: “James Justin has been a very good player, good enough to win England caps, but he’s struggled for form in the last couple of seasons, I think it’s fair to say.”
He added: “I think they need to bring a Jack Grealish type figure in, someone who you know, the fans can really get excited about.
“And however well Justin does, the fans are not going to get excited about signing a full-back.”
The comment from Stelling about the defender’s struggles was interesting. Justin made two errors that led to goals as Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, which shows that Leeds were not signing a player who was in great form or full of confidence.
Bournemouth
0
N/A
Wolves
12
0
Fulham
0
N/A
Newcastle
10
0
As you can see in the table above, the English full-back has only played 22 minutes of football since being signed for an initial fee of £8m from the Foxes.
Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle appear to have the full-back positions locked down, as Gray and Firpo did when Spence was at the club, and Justin is in real danger of struggling for minutes throughout the campaign unless injuries present him with an opportunity.
This is why the former Leicester man may follow the same path that Spence and Isaac Schmidt, who left to join Werder Bremen on loan this summer, followed as back-up full-back options under Farke.
Farke can solve James blow by unleashing Leeds star who's the new Raphinha
Leeds United doesn’t need to be plagued with worry about Daniel James being out with an injury.
ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025
Justin will be hoping that he can get a chance to impress and nail down a place in the starting XI by producing quality performances, to avoid getting to January and having to make a decision about his game time, as Spence and Leeds had to do in 2024.