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All was going smoothly for Liverpool this season up until last week. The Reds are top of the Premier League, through to the Carabao Cup final, through in the FA Cup and through in the Europa League. That joy was turned to panic when Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current campaign though, and FSG must now begin planning for a new man at the helm – and a squad in his image.

Liverpool eyeing a true "genius" manager to replace Jurgen Klopp

FSG have their work cut out in identifying a successor to lead ‘Liverpool 2.0’

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 30, 2024

Indeed, Liverpool's hunt for reinforcements doesn't come to an end with Klopp's announcement, as they look to hand their next manager every chance of carrying the torch that the German set alight.

Liverpool transfer news

Klopp has at least set Liverpool up well – he won't be leaving a squad in disarray. Instead, he will leave having built Liverpool 2.0, with a transformed midfield and frontline raring to go. He could yet be leaving Merseyside as a Premier League champion once again too, given that the Reds currently sit top of the tree in England's top flight. Securing the silverware would certainly go a long way in attracting players, including one particular Arsenal target.

According to Goal in Brazil, Liverpool have enquired about signing Ederson from Atalanta in what would be a summer move – a welcome present for the new boss. They would have to beat the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain to the midfielder's signature though in a tightly-contested race for his signature in the coming months.

Liverpool, of course, spent the entirety of last summer strengthening their options in the middle of the park following the departures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner. Having welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai, however, those at Anfield haven't looked back since. Now, they could get the final piece to the puzzle in the form of Ederson.

"Energetic" Ederson can unlock Mac Allister

As impressively as Mac Allister has settled into his role at the base of Liverpool's midfield, it is not his natural position. The Argentine operates best when in a slightly more advanced role like the one he played with great success at Brighton & Hove Albion. The arrival of Ederson would instantly allow Liverpool to make what could be a crucial change to unlock Mac Allister's full potential, rather than limiting him to a deeper role. As highlighted by Bence Boscak, Ederson certainly has the defensive traits to play the role instead:

Ederson's stats also prove that he'd better suit the deeper position when compared with Mac Allister so far this season, carrying the defensive traits that the Argentine perhaps doesn't.

Tackles Won

36

21

Blocks

27

31

Interceptions

28

20

Clearances

16

9

Aerial Duels Won

61.5%

48%

With that said, when the summer transfer window arrives, Ederson may well be one to keep an eye on, as Liverpool look to continue their success after Klopp's exit.

The PCB has allowed families to stay with the Pakistan players during the World Cup, but only after their match against Australia on June 12 at Taunton. Earlier, a new PCB policy had stated that a player’s family members, who wanted to travel along with them, had to make their own arrangements throughout the event. Only Haris Sohail and Asif Ali were granted special dispensation on personal grounds.Players’ wives and families were allowed to stay with them during the recent bilateral series against England, but the team manager had since informed the players about the new policy. Previously, Pakistan’s players insisted on having their wives during overseas series, and they were allowed to share hotel rooms.Pakistan are set to begin their campaign against West Indies in Nottingham on May 31 to kick off a World Cup that will see them play nine games across seven venues before the semi-finals.*

Domino's have mocked Manchester City by promising to give 115 free pizzas to Manchester United fans at this weekend's FA Cup final.

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• Man City facing 115 Financial Fair Play charges
• Man Utd fans to receive pizza at Wembley
• City aiming to win the double

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City are facing the prospect of being punished for their alleged 115 financial breaches and Domino's have now announced that they will give away 115 "Financial Free Pizzas" to United supporters ahead of the FA Cup final. Red Devils fans simply need to turn up at Dominos' Wembley store, wearing a red kit, and ask for their "Financial Free Pizza".

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The pizzas will be served exclusively in blue boxes, in another nod to City. The 115 pizzas will all be small, with a cheese and tomato topping. Domino's have made it clear they are available only on a first-come-first-serve basis.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  City won the Premier League title last weekend and will be aiming to seal a domestic double this weekend at Wembley. United, by comparison, finished eighth in the table, 31 points behind their bitter rivals.

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• Dominos
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The FA Cup final will take place on Sunday as both City and United go in search of the final trophy of their respective seasons. It's understood that Erik ten Hag's job as Manchester United manager is in serious jeopardy, regardless of the result at Wembley.

So often, Liverpool have got it right in the transfer market under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage, with numerous astute pieces of business serving as pillars throughout the illustrious period with the German at the helm.

Even last summer, when Liverpool fought and failed to sign both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo – both joining Chelsea after a high-profile transfer saga – the surprise replacement deal for Wataru Endo has confirmed the Anfield side's prowess in the market once more.

The sweeping changes that were made to the midfield last summer have restored Liverpool after a struggle last term, but now Klopp seems intent on completing the pack and is looking to make a move for a leading No. 6 this summer.

Liverpool's search to complete their midfield

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have been told that an offer of £100m will be accepted for Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz in the summer transfer window, with Arsenal and Barcelona also interested.

The Reds are still eager to sign a defensive midfielder to close the door on the tinkering to the engine room and would welcome a leading Premier League figure by getting this one over the line.

How Douglas Luiz compares to Declan Rice

Aston Villa signed Luiz from Manchester City in a £15m deal in 2019 when he was just 21 years old, having now amassed 181 appearances, scoring 19 goals and supplying 20 assists.

Described as "the complete player" by The Athletic reporter Jacob Tanswell, the Villan star, now aged 25, has found the formula to bring all the various elements of the midfield game into his personal repertoire.

This is evidenced through his performances this season for high-flying Villa, posting six goals and three assists across 20 Premier League displays, as per Sofascore, completing 89% of his passes, averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.1 tackles, 4.9 ground duels and 6.2 ball recoveries per match while also succeeding with 63% of his dribbles.

His exploits have even led pundit and former Red Jermaine Pennant to declare that he would rather have Luiz in the No. 6 role than Declan Rice, saying: "I think he can do everything that Rice can do and better."

The England international – who signed for the Gunners from West Ham United for £105m in the summer – is among the finest centre-midfielders in Europe but there is substance to Pennant's claim.

Rice has completed 92% of his passes this term, also averaging 2.1 tackles, 4.2 ground duels and 5.1 ball recoveries per game, demonstrating that the respective stars are almost neck-and-neck in their craft this term.

Goals

0.15

0.31

Assists

0.05

0.15

Shots

1.39

1.70

Pass Success

91%

85%

Key Passes

0.77

1.49

Progressive Passes

9.48

5.67

Shot-creating Actions

2.06

3.81

Tackles Won

1.24

1.29

Successful take-ons

0.67

0.77

Progressive Carries

1.96

1.96

Aerial duel win %

39%

57%

There's absolutely no chance that Rice will wind up at Anfield any time soon but Luiz's arrival is a real possibility, and while it would be a brilliant signing, it might have detrimental effects for certain members of the squad.

How Douglas Luiz would fit in at Liverpool

Luiz embodies the new wave of midfielders gracing the front of the European game, proving to be a reliable and commanding defensive figure but also incorporating multiple different facets to provide his manager with a very singular tool to craft success.

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The ten-cap Brazil international would expect to play a prominent role at the heart of Klopp's Liverpool system and because of this Endo might find himself struggling for regular match action, already competing with Alexis Mac Allister for the deep-lying spot at Anfield.

The Japan star has been an important player for Liverpool this season and despite a slow start has risen to the fore of late, awarded the club's Player of the Month award for December.

Having chalked up 24 appearances for his English side across all competitions, scoring twice and providing one assist, the 30-year-old has even been hailed for his "game-changing" ability by reporter Neil Jones,

His energy and commitment have been crucial for Liverpool and have allowed the more creative members of the midfield to flourish, completing 87% of his passes across 15 Premier League matches and averaging 1.1 tackles and 2.8 ball recoveries per game, also only winning 40% of his ground duels.

As is quite clear, his technical ability struggles to hold up against a star of Luiz's standing, with the South American also ranking among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 20% for assists and the top 16% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Marc Roca

Real Betis

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle United

Hakan Calhanoglu

Inter Milan

Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea

Wataru Endo

Liverpool

The fact that Endo is considered a similar player to Luiz hardly helps the former's case either, with the £50k-per-week Liverpool ace's style overshadowed by the Aston Villa player's game, effectively surpassing him in all areas.

Of course, were the 5 foot 11 Villa Park stalwart to join Liverpool it would not preclude Endo's chances of success in any format, but it would make it much harder to wedge his way into a regular starting berth in the Premier League.

Mac Allister is not a natural holding midfielder but his passing prowess and relentlessness in his work does allow him to find success in this area, having played the lion's share of his football for Liverpool serving this role.

In this regard, Endo and the Argentine have found a sort of counterbalance which Klopp can utilise to field the star he deems best fit to thrive in any particular contest.

Would it be ruthless to make a move to sign Villa's Brazilian maestro, basically a direct upgrade on Endo? Perhaps it would. But then with so much on the line and a future of illustrious proportions envisaged within Klopp's sagacious footballing mind, it might be the move to make to ensure that Liverpool continue their resurgence.

Newcastle United are no stranger to a transfer saga involving a high-profile player and are now reportedly lining up a swoop to bring a talented star to St James' Park.

Newcastle United transfer updates…

Since taking over in the North East in late 2021, Eddie Howe has built a side for the city of Newcastle to be proud of as the Magpies continue to compete with the elite of English football, with the likes of Kieran Tripper, Nick Pope and Alexander Isak becoming iconic fixtures of his side at St James' Park.

In the summer, Tino Livramento has probably been the recent standout piece of business for the Magpies amid Sandro Tonali's ban; however, Howe may be wary that he will need to ensure further arrivals come through the door in January in light of his side's injury problems.

Pope, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Javier Manquillo, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson and Matt Targett are all currently sidelined due to various issues, which will undoubtedly prompt PIF into discussions over potentially securing cover in several positions as their back luck with injuries continues to linger.

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Adam Scully

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Between the sticks, Pope's absence has prompted the Magpies to look into bringing in a goalkeeper in January and reports suggest that free agent David De Gea would be open to a shock return to the Premier League to fill the void left by the England international.

The 33-year-old has been without a club since his emotional exit from Manchester United in the summer; nevertheless, Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale is also someone who has been mentioned in connection with Newcastle as they look to ensure they have adequate options in the goalkeeper department.

Now, PIF look like they mean business as another encouraging update has emerged regarding another reported Magpies target.

Matias Soule eyed by Newcastle United

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are ready to pay the fee needed to sign Juventus winger Matias Soule, who is currently on loan at Serie A outfit Frosinone. The outlet claim that the Old Lady's director Cristiano Giuntoli has previously travelled to England to handle interest in his services, with the Magpies alongside Crystal Palace cited as suitors for the Argentina Under-20 international.

Matias Soule stats in 2023/24 – (Transfermarkt)
Appearances	13
Goals	6
Assists	1
Soule's creativity and eye for goal in 2023/24 – (FBRef)
Shot-creating actions in Serie A	64
Expected goals in Serie A action	4.2

Now, an update on proceedings has indicated that Juventus are keen to raise funds to bring in January arrivals and Soule could be made available for a fee of €25 million. Newcastle United 'above all' are keen to act to secure his signature and could now strike once they receive permission from Giuntoli.

Labelled a "fantastic talent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it is unclear whether a move for Soule could arise in January or next summer, with the latter seeming more likely due to his current loan status. Nevertheless, bringing Soule to the North East may prove to be a major statement of intent from Howe and co as Newcastle look to establish themselves as one of the elite in English football.

Manchester City are ready to hand an "important contract" to a record-breaking player after trying to sign him in the past, according to an eye-catching new report.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola has an incredibly talented squad at his disposal currently, as has been the case for a number of years, with a plethora of elite options littered all over the pitch. City aren't necessarily in top gear at the moment, having only won three of their last seven Premier League games, but they remain the favourites to win yet another title, due in part to the incredible squad that they possess.

That doesn't mean that Guardiola won't look to make new signings in the January transfer window, however, in order to give his squad some extra freshness heading into the second half of the season.

City have been linked with a number of additions in recent times, with 16-year-old Palmeiras star Estevao Willian seen as a potential option for Guardiola's side, and an Etihad move for West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta possibly on the cards in January, having failed to snap him up during the summer.

Man City keen to re-sign "different class" player; he's been shortlisted

Manchester City could enact a surprise move in the January transfer window…

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 27, 2023 Man City plot contract offer for Francesco Camarda

According to Tuttosport [via Sport Witness], Manchester City are looking to complete the signing of hugely exciting Italian starlet Francesca Camarda, having been linked with him a number of times already in recent days.

It is claimed that the reigning Premier League and Champions League winners are "ready to offer important contracts" to AC Milan for the 15-year-old, who became Serie A's youngest player in history on Saturday when he came on as a substitute in his side's 1-0 win at home to Fiorentina.

Milan are desperate to retain the services of one of their most prized assets, with the Italian giants aware that there is a "risk" of losing him, amid interest from various top clubs, including Arsenal, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, Calciomercato claim that City have "seriously tried" to sign Camarda already, and they are "ready to snatch him" from Milan's grasp.

While Guardiola no doubt wants to sign players for the present in January, in order to make his treble-winning squad even stronger than they already are, planning for the future long after the Spaniard has left as manager is also important.

For that reason, Camarda could be such an eye-catching addition for City, with his record-breaking exploits over the weekend truly astonishing, considering he still hasn't turned 16 years of age yet.

Italy Under-17s

6

4

Italy Under-16s

7

3

Italy Under-15s

9

6

AC Milan Under-19s

10

4

The young City target has already made such an impression as youth team level for Italy, scoring 13 goals in 22 caps for the Under-17s, Under-16s and Under-15s combined, and he has also netted four times in ten matches for Milan's Under-19s.

A striker with so much potential, Camarda could even be loaned out again straight away if he joins City, in order to keep maturing as a player elsewhere, before becoming a future star at the Etihad.

The England midfielder made Spain's biggest game his own once again as he provided another huge goal to take down Madrid's biggest rivals

Jude Bellingham seems to like playing against Barcelona. The England midfielder is still to new to playing in El Clasico, but he is already having a major impact on Spain's biggest rivalry. On Sunday, in his third Clasico of the season, he came up with his biggest moment yet, as he capped off a chaotic, often controversial game with a dramatic late winner to secure a 3-2 victory – one that will surely sew up La Liga for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Barca made it a game early on, taking advantage of a sloppy Madrid start. They opened the scoring from a corner, when Andriy Lunin misjudged a teasing delivery, leaving an empty net for Andreas Christensen to nod into. But Los Blancos woke up, and worked their way back into the game, though they were rather gifted their equaliser when a careless tackle from Pau Cubarsi on Lucas Vazquez gave Madrid a penalty, which Vinicius Jr dutifully tucked away.

Barca thought they had retaken the lead soon after when Lamine Yamal's instinctive flick at the near post appeared to cross the line – but a VAR check determined that the ball had stayed out. A glance at the replay, though, proved inconclusive, and La Liga's puzzling lack of goal-line technology will surely come under the spotlight in the coming days.

Xavi's side did bag a second after the break, as substitute Fermin Lopez took advantage of another Lunin mistake for an easy close-range finish. But once again, Barca couldn't hold on, as Vazquez snuck in at the far post to meet Vinicius' whipped cross. And then came Bellingham's moment; the boy from Birmingham darted in at the far post to meet Vazquez's cross, and smashed the ball into the roof of the net with his weaker left foot to win the game – and establish himself as the new king of this storied fixture.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Santiago Bernabeu…

• David Ramos/Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Jude Bellingham

  Will Bellingham ever tire of this fixture? Probably not, but he'll have to go some way to match the impact he's had on his opening taste of the Clasico rivalry. He has now produced the crucial moments in two of the three games between Madrid and Barca this season, and was instrumental in the third.

  Back in October, Bellingham turned the game on its head single-handedly, scoring twice in the second half – including once in stoppage-time – to secure a 2-1 win at the Olympic Stadium. He showed up in the Spanish Super Cup final, too, assisting Vinicius' effort as Los Blancos ran riot in Saudi Arabia.

  And now on Sunday, he provided another match-winner, rifling an effort into the roof of the net with his only clear goal-scoring opportunity of the match for what was a deserved finish to another impressive performance.

  The Englishman has been subject to mild criticism in recent weeks after his goals dried up, and at one point, it seemed he could easily surpass 30 in all competitions in 2023-24. Sunday's strike was his 21st of the campaign, which may seem like something of a let down given his early season pace, but that would be harsh in the grander scheme of things.

  This is a 20-year-old making the world's biggest fixture his own; what more could Real Madrid ask for?

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  LOSER: Frenkie de Jong

  How unlucky can De Jong get? The Dutch midfielder finally looked settled in the Barca line up last season, and everything seemed geared towards his continued development – if not pending superstardom – this campaign. But he's been robbed of what should have been his best season yet by a series of injuries.

  It started in August, when he suffered a high ankle sprain – one that he reaggravated a few months later. On Sunday, meanwhile, he picked up another injury, which also resulted from a blow to his lower leg – and saw him stretchered off the pitch.

  It's unfortunate for the De Jong, not least because he has been a crucial part of Barca's midfield when fit. There are problems all over the pitch that Xavi has had to solve, but De Jong's 'pausa' in the middle of the park always gives them a chance. Without him, they're simply not the same. Factor in that this latest blow comes so close to Euro 2024, and De Jong, who was understandably distraught upon his substitution, just can't catch a break.

• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Lucas Vazquez

  Perhaps not the Clasico hero that many were expecting, but Vazquez turned out to be the man Madrid needed to keep them on the track to success. Defensively, the Spain international kept Raphinha quiet, leaving the in-form Brazilian to feed off scraps for long stretches, but he was even better going the other way.

  His marauding run down the right-wing led to Madrid's first equaliser, as he breezed past Joao Cancelo and cleverly embraced contact from Cubarsi to win the penalty that Vinicius converted. Later on, he scored Los Blancos' second, tucking home an awkward bouncing cross from the opposite wing. And although Bellingham will rightfully claim the plaudits for the winner, it was Vazquez's angled delivery that fell kindly to the feet of the Englishman in the 91st minute.

  Bellingham labelled the full-back a "f*cking legend" on X post-match, and while Dani Carvajal remains Madrid's first-choice right-back, Vazquez's longevity and ability to pop up in crucial moments means many Madridistas will agree with their midfielder's assessment of the 32-year-old.

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  LOSER: La Liga

  Not a great evening for the Spanish top-flight. First, the league's lack of goal-line technology threw jeopardy into what should have been an easy clarification when Yamal's near-post flick potentially crossed the line. It remains unclear as to whether the ball did indeed go all the way into the goal, but it will undoubtedly become a talking point when the league really should jut invest in the technology.

  It all led to an embarrassing tweet from La Liga president Javier Tebas who defended his stance by pointing to rare instances when the technology hasn't worked elsewhere. Such an incident happening in the league's most high-profile fixture, though, threatens to deepen a crisis that really shouldn't exist.

  And then, there is the question of the title race. It was probably over before Sunday, in all honesty, as Madrid's eight-point lead seemed secure, while an inconsistent Barca couldn't be trusted to win out. But this result ended it for good, meaning fans will have to look elsewhere for excitement during the final six rounds of fixtures.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking into a move to bring a new goalkeeper to the Premier League, according to a fresh report.

Gary O'Neil's current options

The Old Gold have Jose Sa as their number one and Daniel Bentley and Tom King as their back-up shot-stoppers at it stands, but regardless of having plenty of cover available, that hasn’t stopped chiefs from wanting to enter the market to find further reinforcements.

Fosun and Gary O’Neil are hoping to bolster their ranks with another up-and-coming talent during the transfer window at the start of next year, and if the following update is to be believed, they have already identified a candidate that they would like to recruit.

Wolves now eyeing move for "exceptional" star

Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to secure a high-profile signing in January…

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 26, 2023

AZ Alkmaar’s Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro has been at his club ever since his childhood days having been a regular feature of their youth sides, but the 19-year-old is yet to make a single senior appearance under Pascal Jansen at the AFAS Stadium (Transfermarkt – Owusu-Oduro statistics).

The Netherlands youth international is one of five goalkeepers on the books of the Eredivisie outfit, so he knows that he’ll have to make a move elsewhere should he want to receive regular game time moving forward, and a destination for him could be Molineux.

Fosun keen to reach agreement for Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro

According to The Express and Star, Wolves have made contact for Owusu-Oduro and are in negotiations regarding a deal to sign the teenager in January.

“The 19-year-old shot-stopper is one of the game's rising stars and Wolves have made enquiries over his signature, with a possible January move on the cards. A permanent deal would require a fee of around £2million to secure his services, with Wolves keen to add an exciting young prospect to their goalkeeping department.”

Owusu-Oduro is an "exciting" prospect

Following his arrival on the professional scene, Owusu-Oduro has kept a total of 24 clean sheets from 63 matches overall which is a respectable track record for a goalkeeper who is still at such a young age, so there’s no doubt that he could be a wonderful purchase for the long-term future of Wolves.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the colossus has made 34 saves from 51 shots on target against so far this season so he isn’t afraid to come off his line to prevent the ball from entering the net (FBRef – Owusu-Oduro statistics), which will be another attractive attribute to O’Neil.

The Midlands outfit’s target has also had a taste of what it’s like to compete and be successful at a good level having been crowned UEFA Youth League winner and Youth Cup champion with AZ Alkmaar, so he will possess the winning mentality that is required in the top-flight.

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Owusu-Oduro is an “exciting” player with bags of potential to offer, and for what would be a real bargain at just £2m, it would be a huge coup if the hierarchy are able to get a deal over the line ahead of January.

An "unbelievable" Liverpool player could be on the verge of leaving the club in the near future, according to an update from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Liverpool transfer news – Thiago and Matip contracts

The Reds made significant changes to their squad during the summer transfer window, with their primary focus on revamping an ageing midfield, moving on the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner, among others, following a poor 2022/23 season.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were two excellent signings who arrived in their place, with Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch also coming in later in the window. They have made a big difference already, helping Jurgen Klopp's side to second in the Premier League table heading into the last international break of the year, and they should only continue to improve.

While there is plenty of love for the new arrivals, and further signings are required moving forward, there are also some players who could be out of favour come the end of the season.

Joel Matip and Thiago are among those whose are out of contract at Liverpool in 2024, meaning they could leave for free at that point, but an update has now emerged regarding one man who could leave for a fee with several years still left on his deal.

Fabio Carvalho tipped for Liverpool exit

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Sheth hinted that Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho could leave the club soon, with the decision from the Reds to send him to the Bundesliga not helping his cause.

"He is a young player though and he's come from the Championship effectively when he moved from Fulham. So it's a difficult situation that he's in just now, but of course, the lack of game time that he's getting with RB Leipzig hasn't helped him for his development and also trying to knock on the door for Klopp as he can point to look what I'm doing at RB Leipzig. And crucially, I think as well, it just feels like Liverpool are moving on as well."

There were high expectations of Carvalho when he arrived from Fulham in the summer of 2022, with many hoping he could enjoy a similar trajectory to fellow former Cottagers ace Harvey Elliott. Instead, the 21-year-old had a really tough first season on Merseyside, not helped by playing in a team that was struggling so badly, and Carvalho's statistics of just three goals in 21 appearances for Liverpool hardly set the world alight.

The young attacking midfielder has also found it tough at Leipzig since joining on loan in the summer, with no goals or assists for Carvalho in six Bundesliga appearances in 2023/24 to date, although that has admittedly totalled just 138 minutes of action.

In fairness to Carvalho, Klopp has described him as an "unbelievable" talent in the past, so he seemingly sees him as a good footballer, but it is hard to see how he is going to feature prominently for Liverpool in the years to come, with so many top-quality options ahead of him in midfield and attack, and more new faces likely to arrive in the coming transfer windows.

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson was the star of the USMNT shoot as they celebrated a third CONCACAF Nations League victory against Mexico.

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USMNT celebrate Nations League winPlayers take part in photoshootRobinson stars in cowboy hatGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The stars of Sunday's victory over El Tri lined up alongside the Nations League trophy to feature in a hilarious photoshoot. In it, Robinson stunned in a white cowboy hot while multiple players donned ski goggles. Several chucked up a 'three' fingers sign in reference to the USMNT's Nations League wins since its inauguration in 2018, which remains a record tally of the CONCACAF nations.

AdvertisementWHAT THE USMNT POSTEDUSA Today Sports THE BIGGER PICTURE

The shoot lined up different sets of club team-mates to strike a pose, such as Juventus duo Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, AC Milan stars Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic, and the PSV trio of Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi. Standing alone was Bournemouth man Tyler Adams, who scored a screamer on his return to the starting line-up. Adams did, however, reveal after the 2-0 win that he was forced to have a "tough conversation" with coach Gregg Berhalter, as his minutes continue to be managed.

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

Robinson and the remaining Stars and Stripes players return to their respective clubs ahead of the back-end of a busy season. For the USMNT, they won't be in action next until the pre-Copa America friendlies in June against South American giants Colombia and Brazil.