After a slow start to his Anfield career, Florian Wirtz has revealed what Liverpool manager Arne Slot has just told him to do if he wants to get back to his best.
Why Wirtz has started slow at Liverpool
Whilst it’s been far from disastrous, Wirtz hasn’t got off to the electric start that many expected from a £116m player. The former Bayer Leverkusen player arrived as a player who has the ability to change games on his own and contribute to goals, but what Liverpool have so far seen is a hard-working midfielder who has struggled to make his mark.
There have been glimpses of his best form. In the September international break, the German scored an excellent free-kick and then returned to Liverpool to enjoy his best display yet against Atletico Madrid. It’s a game that should have ended his wait for a goal or assist since the Community Shield, but there were ultimately plenty of positive signs.
There were also signs of how he can control games in a 1-0 victory against Arsenal, especially when Alexis Mac Allister was replaced and he was no longer sharing the same spaces with such a similar player. Whether those two can thrive together is the big question. Slot did, of course, drop Wirtz for the Argentine in the Merseyside derby instead of starting both.
Unlike others in the Premier League, time is on Wirtz’s side. Liverpool sit top of the Premier League by five points and are the only side with a 100% record. If there’s an environment that allows players to settle in, it is Anfield.
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That said, Slot has still spoken to the big-money star about his form and told him exactly what he must do to get back to his best.
Wirtz reveals Slot conversation about Liverpool form
Speaking to reporters, Wirtz revealed that he has held a conversation with Slot about his slow start to life at Liverpool. The German revealed that Slot suggested that his form could be down to Liverpool’s press and his struggle to adapt to that intensity whilst also playing a part in possession.
It would certainly make sense why Wirtz has struggled to keep pace at times. Alas, if that is the reason behind his underwhelming form, then logic suggests that Liverpool should see the best version of their midfielder as the season goes on and his fitness reaches the level required.
Tempers flared between the two after Munro appeared to accuse Iftikhar Ahmed of bowling with an illegal action
Danyal Rasool24-Apr-2025
Colin Munro scored 45 off 28 balls in Islamabad United’s chase•PCB
Islamabad United opener Colin Munro and Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan have been found guilty of Level 2 breaches of the PSL code of conduct, and docked 30% of their match fees for the game between the two sides on Wednesday. The players were found guilty of a clause pertaining to “personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee” after tempers flared following an interaction between Munro and Sultans bowler Iftikhar Ahmed.The incident, which occurred in the second innings, saw Munro miming a gesture at the bowler, Iftikhar, implying he was bowling with an illegal action. Iftikhar was agitated by Munro’s accusation, and went to complain to square-leg umpire Chris Brown. Rizwan, the Sultans captain, was clearly incensed, and had a heated exchange with Munro.While the PCB charge levelled against Munro does not include his accusation against Iftikhar, ESPNcricinfo understands match referee Ali Naqvi and the board took it into consideration before applying penalties. Both Munro and Rizwan were deemed to have crossed over from merely aggressive actions or behaviour, which would lead to a Level 1 charge, into outright abuse, and as a result more serious charges were laid and sanctions imposed.No umpire reported Iftikhar’s bowling action, which has never been reported in his career. However, it is not the first time a Pakistan bowler has been directly accused of illegal delivery by an opposition batter.Mohammad Hasnain was accused of chucking by Marcus Stoinis when the bowler got him out during a Hundred contest; Hasnain had only recently returned from suspension after having his action cleared. In 2018, New Zealand batter Ross Taylor appeared to indicate to the umpire that Mohammad Hafeez – who had previously been banned three times for bowling with an illegal action – was bowling with a bent arm. It prompted the then Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to term Taylor’s behaviour “disgraceful”.Islamabad United ultimately won Wednesday’s game by seven wickets, with Munro scoring 45 off 28 balls before being caught by Iftikhar off Michael Bracewell’s bowling.Karachi Kings’ Aamer Jamal, meanwhile, was fined 5% of his match fee for a Level 1 breach after being found guilty of giving Peshawar Zalmi batter Hussain Talat a send-off after dismissing him.Munro, Rizwan and Jamal accepted the charges and pleaded guilty to them.
He was pulled up under an article that deals with abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match
ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-20254:55
Moody: DC panicked when they started to lose
Mukesh Kumar, the Delhi Capitals (DC) seamer, has been fined 10% of his match fee after his team’s defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians (MI) knocked them out of playoff contentions for IPL 2025.He was pulled up for a level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of IPL’s Code of Conduct which deals with “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during a match” and accepted match referee Daniel Manohar’s sanction.Mukesh had a forgettable evening with the ball on Wednesday, conceding five fours and three sixes in his spell of 2 for 48 in four overs. He also conceded 27 runs in the 19th over of the first innings as Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir eventually lifted MI to a match-winning score of 180. That over went for 6, 1, 4, 6, 6, 4.Related
Stats – MI's season of big wins and DC's record slump
He was substituted out for impact player KL Rahul in DC’s chase but the visitors folded for 121 with only uncapped Indians Sameer Rizvi (39) and Vipraj Nigam (20) scoring 20 or more runs. Mitchell Santner and Jasprit Bumrah produced miserly spells to wreck DC in the second innings, taking three wickets between them while conceding only 23 runs in the 44 balls the pair bowled.This season, Mukesh has featured in 11 of DC’s 13 fixtures so far, taking 11 wickets at an average of 32.63 and economy of 10.11.
Hollywood is quietly littered with a number of football and, more specifically, Premier League fans. Ryan Reynolds – Wrexham co-owner – is the best example alongside Rob McElhenney, whilst Daniel Craig has never made his adoration for Liverpool a secret in between playing 007. Now, Matthew McConaughey can be added to the list.
The A-lister, who has starred in films such as Interstellar and The Gentleman, is even the co-owner of MLS side Austin FC. It’s there that he is hoping to see his side achieve a play-off place and perhaps even eventually square off against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami side.
McConaughey has played characters who have travelled space and portrayed leading roles in Guy Ritchie films, yet even he has been blown away by Messi. He even previously jokingly invited the Argentine to come and play for Austin.
The Oscar winner is no stranger to the Premier League, either. He’s been spotted watching Chelsea in the Champions League, has family links in Liverpool and even name-dropped an unexpected side that he has no choice but to support.
McConaughey reveals shock Crystal Palace support
Having appeared holding a Chelsea shirt and admitted family links to Liverpool, McConaughey’s football journey is arguably tougher to follow than space and time film Interstellar. And now, he’s complicated things further by revealing that he’s also a “fan” of Crystal Palace. He told reporters:
The actor, who was on the red carpet for The Lost Bus, was even seen in conversation with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian was likely invited by Paul Greengrass – a well-known fan of the South London club and director of The Lost Bus.
As far as unexpected crossovers go, it will be hard to beat McConaughey and the Eagles boss.
O Flamengo inicia a semana com uma sensação de alento. A vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Botafogo no Estádio Nilton Santos afastou o momento conturbado que incluía os rumores sobre uma possibilidade de Jorge Sampaoli deixar o comando da equipe. Com isso, o técnico terá tempo para, durante o período de Data Fifa, tentar ajustar da melhor forma o Rubro-Negro.
Por mais que o Rubro-Negro volte a campo no dia 13, para medir forças com o Athletico-PR, no Estádio Kleber Andrade, em Cariacica, o elenco tem seu olhar direcionado em especial para outro horizonte. No dia 17, o Flamengo disputa o primeiro jogo da final da Copa do Brasil, contra o São Paulo, no Maracanã. No dia 24, os rubro-negros fazem o duelo decisivo pelo troféu do torneio com o Tricolor paulista no Morumbi.
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O período da Data Fifa foi planejado pela comissão técnica em diversas frentes. De acordo com o “GE”, o elenco só retornará às atividades na quarta-feira (6). A preparação acontecerá entre quarta e sábado e, posteriormente, tende a ter um novo descanso no domingo (10).
A busca por aparar as arestas incluirá a tentativa de recuperar jogadores que estão no departamento médico. Arrascaeta e Luiz Araújo estão se recuperando de lesão no bíceps femoral. Varela, que sofreu uma lesão no ligamento colateral medial e cápsula articular do joelho direito, deve voltar apenas em outubro.
O técnico Jorge Sampaoli também deve aprofundar suas ideias ao elenco rubro-negro após a vitória por 2 a 1 do Flamengo sobre o Botafogo. O treinador, que reforçou que sabe o que busca no seu time, vem tendo respaldo do mandatário Rodolfo Landim.
O Flamengo tenta manter seu entusiasmo e, de maneira cautelosa, engrenar em busca da conquista da Copa do Brasil.
O treinador Arthur Elias convocou a Seleção Brasileira Feminina para dois amistosos que ocorrerão contra o Canadá, nos dias 28 e 31 de outubro. Com a presença de medalhões como Marta e Cristiane, o técnico fará sua estreia no comando da Amarelinha.
O técnico da Canarinho só alterou três nomes da primeira lista de treinos, que ocorreu em setembro. Agora, o comandante coloca na prática tudo aquilo que treinou na Granja Comary para rumar até a primeira vitória desse novo ciclo, que começou após a eliminação precoce na última edição da Copa do Mundo.
+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!
VEJA LISTA COMPLETA PARA OS DUELOS CONTRA O CANADÁ:
Ary Borges – Racing Luana – Corinthians Angelina – OL Reign Duda Sampaio – Corinthians
ATACANTES
Adriana – Orlando Pride Kerolin – North Caroline Geyse – Manchester United Debinha – Kansas City Marta – Orlando Pride Cristiane – Santos Gabi Portilho – Corinthians Bia Zanerato – Palmeiras Gabi Nunes – Levante
A NOVA GERAÇÃO!
Além da convocação da seleção principal, a equipe Sub-17 do Brasil também foi convocada para jogos contra Costa Rica, Colômbia e México. Veja as escolhidas pela técnica Simone Jatobá:
The October international break hasn’t quite slammed shut, but Liverpool fans are already looking with anticipation toward the return of Premier League action.
Arne Slot’s Premier League champions have been well below their best for most of the campaign, demonstrating much tenacity to find late winners across the opening weeks of the campaign but lacking balance and control.
They could only ride this wave for so long, with the tide turning in recent weeks and the Reds falling in successive top-flight outings, defeat in the Champions League at Galatasaray sandwiched in between.
Many high-profile signings have been made, but Liverpool need to rediscover their swagger and style. With names like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak added to the fold, welcoming another forward seems ludicrous, but it might be the answer to the Anfield side’s troubles in the long run.
Liverpool need another forward
Sporting director Richard Hughes and the senior figures at Liverpool remain confident that it will all come together. For Liverpool not to return to top-class form at some stage seems ludicrous, given the existing squad’s pedigree, the money spent this summer, and the calibre of signings brought in.
But Mohamed Salah’s form has been one of the big negative talking points this term. The 33-year-old has less than two years remaining on his £400k-per-week deal, and it’s well-known that Liverpool must spend big to secure a replacement.
According to Caught Offside, Hughes has already compiled a list of names he’s eager to pursue as Salah enters the final stretch of his Premier League career, and though talks were held in recent months for Lyon’s Malick Fofana and Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo is being considered, it is Bayern Munich star Michael Olise who must be signed.
The France international is very much on Liverpool’s shortlist, with previous reports this month claiming the Merseysiders are even preparing an offer for the £86m-rated winger.
The 23-year-old joined Bayern from Crystal Palace for £50m in 2024, but Liverpool feel a deal could be struck given their good relationship with the Bundesliga champions.
What Michael Olise would bring to Liverpool
Olise thrived at Crystal Palace, joining from Reading and helping lift them toward their modern peak. Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles are flying, and the French winger was crucial in getting the system up and running.
But his move to Germany has placed his name on the world atlas.
Last season was one of great success for Olise and his outfit, and he’s carried that form into the new campaign and fashioned something even greater, having notched five goals and six assists from just ten matches in all competitions.
There’s a sense that the best is still to come, and it’s for this reason Liverpool must chase his signature over Semenyo’s, as talented and dangerous as the Bournemouth star may be.
Comparing the two, we can see that Olise is the more clinical player and also the more explosive – though if Semenyo maintains his 2025/26 form across the duration of the year, that one may edge considerably closer.
Antoine Semenyo vs Michael Olise (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)
Semenyo
Olise
Goals scored
0.39
0.39
Assists
0.20
0.50
Shots taken
3.07
3.47
Shot-creating actions
3.88
6.56
Touches (att pen)
5.13
6.32
Pass completion (%)
72.7
80.7
Progressive passes
3.832
7.50
Progressive carries
3.88
5.02
Successful take-ons
2.01
2.48
Ball recoveries
4.46
3.81
Data via FBref
Semenyo is likely a bit more physical and active throughout the different phases of play, but Salah’s success over the past nine years would tell you that a pick-and-choose approach bears just as many dividends, if not more. And it’s not as if Olise isn’t one of the silkiest and most fleet-footed wingers in the game.
Disregarding the players’ clinical starts to the campaign, their underlying metrics are evidence of their elite athleticism, with Sofascore also showing Olise has created 1.8 chances and won 4.3 duels per game in the German top flight this season, completing 83% of his passes.
Liverpool did manage to bag all three points in a frenzied match against Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, but Semenyo was electric throughout, bagging two special goals.
Make no mistake, Liverpool would not fumble if they were to sign the Ghana international next summer, but Olise is simply a level higher, with podcaster Henry Swain even describing him as “one of the best wingers in the world”.
Moreover, he’s younger than Semenyo, almost two years his junior, and has not yet been modelled into the final shape that could place him in conversations not too dissimilar to those which have followed Salah throughout his Liverpool journey.
The Cherries star, 25, has been in inspired form at the start of the season, it must be said. He has scored six goals and assisted three more in the Premier League this season, and Salah has paled in comparison on Liverpool’s right flank.
Both Olise and Semenyo would fall into similar financial ballparks, and so Liverpool must simply pick which player they believe stands a better chance of replacing the Egyptian King effectively, across many years.
We know he can do it in the Premier League, and the rise in prolific quality since moving to the Allianz Arena has been exciting to witness. Olise is the real deal and would be the perfect profile to ease Salah’s departure when that fateful day comes.
For now, he will continue to develop and improve in the Bundesliga, but it’s hard to imagine Olise being anything other than a triumph if he returned to the Premier League and took a place on Liverpool’s right wing.
FSG sold "world-class" Liverpool star, now he's outperforming Salah & Isak
Liverpool have lacked balance and fluency in the final third this season.
أعلن المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، التشكيل الأساسي لخوض مباراة اليوم ضد فريق ريال مدريد، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/26.
ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وريال مدريد، في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري لذلك الموسم.
اقرأ أيضًا | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. والمعلق
ويحتل ريال مدريد المركز الخامس في جدول دوري أبطال أوروبا، في الوقت الحالي، برصيد 9 نقاط، في حين أن ليفربول لديه 6 نقاط في المركز العاشر.
وحسبما نُشر، يتواجد النجم المصري محمد صلاح في التشكيل الأساسي لفريق ليفربول في مباراة الليلة ضد ريال مدريد. تشكيل ليفربول أمام ريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا
حراسة المرمى: مامارداشفيلي.
خط الدفاع: كونور برادلي، إبراهيما كوناتي، فيرجيل فان دايك، آندي روبرتسون.
خط الوسط: ريان جرافنبيرخ، ماك أليستر، دومينيك سوبوسلاي.
خط الهجوم: محمد صلاح، هوجو إيكتيكي، فلوريان فيرتز.
Just 21 wickets in four days at Trent Bridge as spinners struggle to exploit hybrid pitch
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 25-Jun-2025
Matthew Revis was left stranded on 93 not out•Getty Images
Pocketing 12 points for a draw was enough to keep Nottinghamshire top of the Rothesay County Championship table with eight of 14 matches played, although they now find defending champions Surrey breathing down their necks after the match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge ended in stalemate.Nottinghamshire led Division One by 10 points going into this round but Surrey’s victory over Worcestershire at New Road has closed the gap to two ahead of next week’s second batch of fixtures with the Kookaburra ball, when Surrey meet Durham at the Kia Oval and Nottinghamshire travel to Somerset.Matthew Revis supplemented Finlay Bean’s superb double-hundred for with an unbeaten 93 but with Yorkshire’s first innings stretching to lunch on day four before Nottinghamshire could bowl them out for 510 on a generally benign pitch, the chances of a positive outcome were almost non-existent.Part-time off-spinner Freddie McCann finished with a career-best three for 53 before Nottinghamshire, who had made 487 in their first innings, reached 148 for one in their second innings, opener Ben Slater passing fifty for the sixth consecutive innings – four of them against Yorkshire – in making an unbeaten 74. The players shook hands on a draw at ten to five.All-rounder Liam Patterson-White, who was three for 129 from 52 overs of left-arm spin overnight, could not add to his wickets tally in Yorkshire’s first innings, but the additional 10 overs in his final analysis of three for 146 puts him 10th in Nottinghamshire’s table of bowling marathons.Not since 1929, when off-spinner Sam Staples sent down 408 deliveries – also against Yorkshire – to claim fourth spot in that list, has any bowler exceeded Patterson-White’s 372 bowled in a single first-class innings for the county.Farhan Ahmed, the 17-year-old off-spinner, bowled 50 overs for his one for 126, although it is not the first time he has hit that milestone despite this being only his 13th match. In the draw against Surrey here last year – also played with the Kookaburra ball – when he broke all manner of records in taking his career-best seven for 140 on his Championship debut, he was in his 51st over when he took his final wicket.With little help for the seam bowlers in using the Kookaburra ball, Nottinghamshire had hoped that a used, hybrid pitch in the prevailing dry conditions might provide significant assistance to the spinners. Yet though two thirds of the Yorkshire innings was against spin, there was never enough turn to unsettle the more capable batters hugely.McCann found some turn, bowling George Hill (30) and Jack White – the former via an inside edge – and having Dom Bess (26) stumped, but by then the Yorkshire innings was beginning to peter out. Will O’Rourke departed in a somewhat farcical run-out.Yorkshire’s left-armer, Dan Moriarty, bowled Haseeb Hameed, but Nottinghamshire were otherwise untroubled through the 48 overs that remained in the match – even when Yorkshire skipper Jonny Bairstow, having handed the wicketkeeping gloves to Bean for the final session, brought himself on to bowl in what turned out to be the last over of the match.His over of what appeared to be off-spin was only his second in professional cricket, the other – also wicketless – having been against Durham in 2014.