Bayern Munich have confirmed Michael Olise has joined the club on a five-year contract from Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Derby County will go into tonight's clash with Charlton Athletic knowing that picking up three points is a must, with Bolton Wanderers waiting in the wings eager for another Rams slip-up.
Bolton could well leapfrog Paul Warne's men to second spot in League One if Derby end up succumbing to a second league defeat on the spin at the hands of the Addicks, the visitors to Pride Park desperately need to turn around their fortunes too sitting near the bottom of the division.
There could well be various changes made to get an immediate reaction out of his stuttering troops, knowing that a win is vital to ensure they remain in the driver's seat over automatic promotion.
Kane Wilson could be one notable casualty from Warne's lineup as a result, with the Derby defender below-par throughout at Barnsley in the disappointing 2-1 defeat.
The Derby number two was nowhere near his best away at Oakwell, with the 23-year-old defender quiet for large portions of the game.
The former Bristol City full-back would only amass a meagre 39 touches in the tense contest, coming in with eight less touches than the Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith on the day.
Only registering one accurate cross across his lacklustre 90 minutes, on top of only accurately completing 13 passes, Wilson had an afternoon to forget versus Neill Collins' promotion-seeking Barnsley.
Losing possession 14 times as well, which allowed the likes of Nicky Cadden to terrorise the Rams' defence, Wilson's cemented first-team spot could now be on shaky ground for tonight's clash against Nathan Jones' Charlton.
Wilson isn't the only member of the starting XI that started the narrow defeat at Oakwell that could now drop out, with experienced captain Conor Hourihane at risk of being axed by Warne tonight despite picking up an assist versus the Tykes.
Hourihane didn't cover himself in much glory against Barnsley minus assisting Sonny Bradley's opener, with the ex-Aston Villa midfielder hauled off by Warne just after the hour mark.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The Republic of Ireland international was equally as wayward with his passing compared to Wilson, losing possession 16 times in the centre of the park to the detriment of the automatic promotion candidates on their travels.
Winning just one of his five duels at Oakwell also, Hourihane's fixed position in midfield could be up for grabs tonight with the likes of Korey Smith sniffing around for a starting spot at the expense of the experienced 33-year-old.
|
Hourihane's numbers vs Barnsley |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
61 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Touches |
43 |
|
Accurate passes |
20/27 (74%) |
|
Accurate crosses |
2/6 |
|
Successful dribbles |
0/2 |
|
Duels won |
1/5 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
|
Completing zero successful dribbles up against the Tykes, with the hosts now just three points shy of the Rams off the back of this slim defeat, Hourihane was flat and could well be given a rare day off against Charlton consequently – the Irishman present in 31 of Derby's 34 League contests to date.
Given a 4.5/10 rating by DerbyshireLive journalist Leigh Curtis post-match when assessing the Barnsley loss – with Curtis stating that Hourihane 'found it hard to stamp his authority' against his former employers – the time could be right to give the veteran a breather at Pride Park for fresh blood to start.
Warne will just keep his fingers crossed that Derby aren't derailed by the defeat on the road to the Tykes whatever lineup is fielded, responding to the 2-1 loss by confidently dispatching of Charlton with ease.
Kyle Walker has received more criticism from Lauryn Goodman, with his ex-mistress responding to claims of the England ace being an undeserving father.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Liverpool have been handed a significant boost regarding one of their "world-class" superstars, following an update from a reliable journalist.
The Reds have enjoyed extraordinary success under Jurgen Klopp, with the German masterminding a memorable period at Anfield over the past eight-and-a-half years. While the 56-year-old has been the driving force behind Liverpool winning so many trophies, not to mention playing superb football, there have also been numerous world-class stars who have had a major impact, too.
£128m release cause: Liverpool “come really close” to signing “top talent”
The Reds are still keen on completing a move.
By
Henry Jackson
Mar 9, 2024
Mohamed Salah has become one of the greatest players in the club's history since arriving from Roma in 2017, smashing endless records, including being on the verge of becoming the first Reds player ever to score at least 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons.
Meanwhile, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have grown into arguably among the best of all time in their respective positions, as Klopp and Michael Edwards used the Philippe Coutinho money expertly, bringing in two colossal figures.
Others are also worthy of a mention, from current heroes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to past legends such as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, and the key now is for Liverpool to kick on without their iconic manager around.
Now, a new update has emerged regarding one of those aforementioned Anfield heroes, in what represents positive news in the short-term.
According to journalist Ismael Mahmoud on X, Salah will not have to represent Egypt in the upcoming international break, after Liverpool requested he stays put on Merseyside after a recent injury absence:
"Mo Salah will be ruled out from Egypt squad for the next international break. Good news for Liverpool and for Mo."
This will come as a massive relief for Liverpool supporters and Klopp, with Salah needing to be wrapped in cotton wool during the internationals, as he looks to be in the best possible shape between now and the end of the season.
The Reds have already lost their star attacker in recent times because of his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations, so seeing him head off on Egypt duty again could have been a massive concern.
| Liverpool's attackers' stats this season | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | 29 | 23 | 19 | 9 |
| Darwin Nunez | 39 | 24 | 16 | 11 |
| Diogo Jota | 28 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| Luis Diaz | 37 | 29 | 11 | 3 |
| Cody Gakpo | 39 | 24 | 11 | 4 |
If Liverpool are to go all the way in the Premier League this season, they will surely need Salah available for the run-in, with Klopp himself lauding his player's adaptability alongside Darwin Nunez in the recent past, saying:
"Now it’s slightly different, especially with Darwin [Nunez] when he is playing, we have another speed player up there. So that changed Mo’s position, definitely, and he is smart enough to adapt to all these different things. Yes, massive development since he arrived, but he was in all phases world-class – and that is probably the best you can say about a player."
The hope is that Salah stays at Liverpool long beyond this summer, ignoring any potential interest from Saudi Arabia, with many more record-breaking moments to come.
Paul Mullin does not form part of Wrexham’s North American tour, with the prolific striker recovering from surgery undergone during pre-season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
In recent times, Everton have had to work on a shoestring budget given their FFP troubles, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.
The FFP issues have allowed boss Sean Dyche to work closely with his squad, creating a tight-knit group that can fight relegation despite their points deduction this season.
Players such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford have been crucial in the defensive third for the Toffees, with Dyche's side currently boasting the best defensive record of any side outside the Premier League's top four.
The duo have both been named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad – reflecting their sensational displays for the club so far in what has been a tricky campaign for the club.
However, in the near future, the pair might be joined by a Toffees teammate within the England setup after his impressive season under Dyche.
Since arriving at Goodison Park during the summer of 2022, midfielder James Garner has impressed in multiple different positions under Dyche.
He's often been utilised at right-back and right-midfield before finally cementing his place in the Toffees' midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye, with Abdoulaye Doucoure playing slightly further forward.
The former Manchester United youngster has made 51 appearances since his switch to Goodison, scoring twice including a stunner in the Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
His stats this season are very impressive, with the former Nottingham Forest loanee averaging 1.6 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season – a figure that ranks him within the top 7% of all midfielders in Europe's top five leagues this season.
Garner also averages 2.6 tackles per 90 this season, with the midfielder demonstrating his ball-winning qualities in the middle of Dyche's side.
The 23-year-old has also excelled in possession for the Toffees, averaging 3.6 progressive passes per game with the midfielder racking up two assists in the Premier League so far this campaign.
Garner joined the club for £9m back in the summer of 2022 from fellow Premier League side Man United, with the midfielder once having a big future at Old Trafford.
Nearly two years on from his arrival in the North West, Garner now has a market value of €30m (£25m), with the 23-year-old currently worth just over six times more than in-form teammate Doucoure, who's value sits at €5m (£4m) – as per CIES Football Observatory.
While at 31, Doucoure's age may be a factor in that minimal market value, the expectation would have been that a player who has netted six league goals this season would be one of the most valuable members of the squad, yet it is Garner who is seemingly on the rise.
The "exceptional" midfielder, as dubbed by former Premier League 'keeper Paul Robinson, has been key to Dyche's side this campaign as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
With Garner only being 23, he has a huge future ahead of him at Goodison Park, with the versatile talent for sure in line to receive a senior England call-up in the near future.
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos heaped praise on Arda Guler while issuing a warning regarding his fitness.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Roberto De Zerbi says Mason Greenwood was the “first player” he called as Marseille boss, with the ex-Manchester United ace sent pre-transfer warning.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Russell Martin will hope his Southampton players are full of vigour and energy for the visit of Middlesbrough today, having last played a Championship game all the way back on 9 March.
The Saints boss will further be praying for a more defensively solid performance against Michael Carrick's men, with the promotion hopefuls leaking two goals last game to Sunderland and three the match prior away at Birmingham City.
The issues in the Saints ranks aren't just all at the back, however, which could see Martin axe centre-forward Che Adams for the Good Friday clash.
Adams was quiet in attack against Sunderland last match, even as his teammates managed to put four past the hapless Black Cats.
Whilst the likes of Adam Armstrong, Stuart Armstrong and Joe Rothwell all shared out the goals in the 4-2 win over the Black Cats, Adams went without a strike in the back-and-forth contest and could risk being dropped as a consequence.
The Scotland international would only muster up one effort on goal in the 84 minutes he managed on the St. Mary's turf before being hauled off, on top of only making 21 accurate passes as a quiet figure on the pitch.
In stark contrast, Southampton's number nine in Armstrong would register six shots on Anthony Patterson's net alongside managing to notch up ten more accurate passes as a lively attacker.
Adams did manage to find the back of the net in Southampton's last two games before this underwhelming display, but with the likes of Sekou Mara available at Martin's disposal over him, the former Birmingham City man could find his spot taken by a new body for the clash with Boro.
Jack Stephens could also be another casualty when their Teesside opponents make the lengthy trip down the South Coast today, having won zero duels last time out in a dire 73-minute display from the experienced Saints servant.
Clearly admired by his manager who once described the 30-year-old defender as a "real leader", Martin won't be able to still be blinded by his past praise when it comes to assessing Stephen's torrid display against the Black Cats last match.
Winning zero duels from the three he attempted to launch himself into, Stephens was also lackadaisical with the ball at his feet at times with the Saints' number five squandering possession seven times from his poor 73-minute spell.
Amassing just 48 touches, with his centre-back partner on the day in Jan Bednarek just about doubling that with a superior 99 touches registered, Martin could see potential returning figures to the Southampton camp from injury as a blessing to ditch the seasoned defender for the test of Carrick's Boro.
|
Southampton's last five matches versus Middlesbrough |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Result |
Date |
Result |
|
1. Middlesbrough vs Southampton |
23rd Sept 2023 |
2-1 Boro W |
|
2. Middlesbrough vs Southampton |
13th May 2017 |
2-1 Saints W |
|
3. Southampton vs Middlesbrough |
11th Dec 2016 |
1-0 Saints W |
|
4. Middlesbrough vs Southampton |
21st April 2012 |
2-1 Boro W |
|
5. Southampton vs Middlesbrough |
29th Oct 2011 |
3-0 Saints W |
|
Sourced by 11v11 |
||
Kyle Walker-Peters potentially being back and ready for selection could see Martin reshuffle accordingly, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis taking Stephens' shaky first-team spot for Walker-Peters to come back in and star at right-back after nursing a knock.
Martin will hope that whatever team is selected can pick up a third home win on the trot against their Teesside opponents as seen in the head-to-head table above, with Stephens and Adams at risk of both being out of the Saints manager's plans to try and pick up another three points.
Liverpool are narrowing their search for a new manager this summer, and appear to be finalising their options ahead of a pivotal period.
Though Liverpool are thriving on the pitch, much of the focus in recent months has been off it. In January, Reds boss Jürgen Klopp announced his intention to depart the club at the end of the current Premier League season, leading to a host of speculation about who could replace the impressive German in the technical area at Anfield.
|
Jürgen Klopp's time at Liverpool |
|
|
Games |
477 |
|
Wins |
298 |
|
Losses |
82 |
|
Goals |
1,066 |
|
Points per game |
2.08 |
|
Win % |
62.5% |
|
Trophies |
8 |
Reports on Thursday evening handed Liverpool and Bayern Munich fans the news they had been dreading. The pair had been battling it out behind the scenes to secure impressive manager and former player, Xabi Alonso, whose Bayer Leverkusen side are currently unbeaten this season and sit ten points clear in the German Bundesliga as things stand.
Spanish media: Liverpool make increased £68m offer to sign Real Madrid star
The Reds have already begun planning their squad for next season.
By
Ben Browning
Mar 28, 2024
However, it has been reported Alonso has now opted to stay put with Leverkusen for at least another year, and though 'Liverpool have been aware for some time' of the situation, it will still come as a blow to the Reds' planning for the post-Klopp era.
It means that they will have to look elsewhere for Klopp's successor and attempt to avoid the road bumps that both Arsenal and Manchester United experienced when trying to replace their successful long-term managers.
One man whose name has been in the conversation for much of the discussion period has been Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, who has impressed during his time in Portugal and already tasted success against English sides, having knocked Mikel Arteta's Arsenal out of the Europa League last season. But there are other options, too.
Now, recent reports have claimed that Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi is another that Liverpool are considering for their vacancy, with the Seagulls chief having impressed plenty with his style of play on the south coast, even with mixed results.
The Italian has drawn praise from all corners, and Pep Guardiola described De Zerbi as "one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years," adding that "it’s one of the teams that I try to learn a lot from, it’s unique."
He has even been linked with the soon-to-be vacant Barcelona job, such has been his impression on those watching Brighton in the last 18 months.
Amid his success in England, De Zerbi is yet to taste defeat against Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, knocking the Anfield side out of the FA Cup last season while the Premier League has seen them win one and draw two of their three matchups to date.
Transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has now claimed that the Seagulls man is 'expected to make' the final shortlist that the Liverpool hierarchy draw up, though the Brighton boss has a release clause in his contract which could complicate matters.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Brighton man is handed the job, but he is certainly in the mix and one to watch this summer.