Huge lead with two days remaining, as Derbyshire face prospect of saving innings defeat
ECB Reporters Network01-Jul-2024
James Wharton made a career-best 188 for Yorkshire•Getty Images
James Wharton and Jonny Tattersall shared a record-breaking stand before rain frustrated Yorkshire on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.The pair shared a partnership of 241, Yorkshire’s highest for the sixth wicket against Derbyshire, as the visitors moved to 416 for 6 when play was abandoned shortly before 4.30pmWharton faced 241 balls for his career-best 188 which contained 23 fours and six sixes with Tattersall 93 not out off 151 balls to give Yorkshire a lead of 340.Yorkshire had been unrelenting with the ball on day one and there was no respite for Derbyshire as Wharton and Tattersall batted through a rain-shortened first session.With Derbyshire bowling spin from both ends to improve their over-rate, they did much as they pleased to eclipse a record which had stood for more than a hundred years.Wharton twice dispatched the leg spin of Mitch Wagstaff for six and after surviving a difficult chance to deep cover on 147, he reached 150 off 180 balls, 104 of them coming in boundaries.Tattersall’s contribution was not as eye-catching but was just as valuable in putting Yorkshire into a near impregnable position and the pair eased past the county’s previous highest sixth wicket stand against Derbyshire of 178 set by Emmott Robinson and Cecil Burton in 1921.Derbyshire eventually claimed a second new ball after 89 overs and after Wharton drove Daryn Dupavillon through the covers to bring up the 400, rain brought another prosperous session for the visitors to a close.When play resumed after lunch, Dupavillon finally broke through by having Wharton caught at second slip for the 12th highest individual score against Derbyshire in Yorkshire’s history.He departed to a standing ovation and warm congratulations from the Derbyshire fielders who recognised how well he had played in far from straight-forward conditions.Jordan Thompson announced his intentions by hitting two fours before more rain stopped play with Tattersall seven short of a century.and that proved to be the final action on a day when only 35.1 overs were bowled.
It must be said: Liverpool are perhaps enjoying a better summer transfer window than they ever did under Jurgen Klopp.
FSG’s incisiveness gives us all the material we need to surmise their Anfield ambitions over the coming years. Though afflicted by the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid on a free transfer, Jeremie Frimpong has joined from Bayer Leverkusen in a £29.5m deal to jockey with Conor Bradley for the right-back berth.
And with Milos Kerkez on the cusp of replacing Andy Robertson, 31, who is being targeted by Atletico Madrid as he enters the last year of his contract, Arne Slot’s new-look defensive flanks could be solidified for many exciting years to come.
The Premier League champions should also see Florian Wirtz follow Frimpong from Leverkusen to sign for the Reds in what could rise to a British-record £116m fee (£100m will be paid upfront and a further £16m is possible through add-ons).
The elite playmaker allegedly rejected interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to join Liverpool, with his medical set for this week.
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool have turned a corner, all right, now acting like the behemoth they are. However, such signings are fantastic, but Liverpool’s priority perhaps remains at number nine, with a new centre-forward needed to ease Mohamed Salah’s talismanic burden.
Why Liverpool need a new striker
Three years ago (almost to the day), Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica in an initial £64m deal. It could have reached a club-record £85m fee, but that never happened, largely because of the Uruguayan’s stop-start performances.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
Now, he’s going to be sold, with suitors in the Saudi Pro League and mounting interest in Serie A, Napoli and AC Milan both keen on completing a deal.
He needs to go, and Salah needs help. The Egyptian has just turned 33 and the balance of output must be spread across Slot’s frontline next year, lest he be overwhelmed by responsibility once again.
Looking at the forwards’ respective hauls across the 2024/25 season, it’s interesting that Nunez and Diogo Jota, the two recognised central strikers, languished near the bottom, better only than the rarely-played Federico Chiesa.
Mohamed Salah
38 (38)
29
18
Luis Diaz
36 (28)
13
7
Cody Gakpo
35 (23)
10
5
Diogo Jota
26 (14)
6
4
Darwin Nunez
30 (8)
5
3
Federico Chiesa
6 (1)
0
0
The expectation is that Nunez will be sold, but he will be sold as a Premier League champion, having also registered four goal involvements en route to lifting the Carabao Cup in 2023/24 too.
Salah needs a new dance partner, and there so happens to be one on FSG’s radar.
Liverpool remain in race for new striker
As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool remain in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike alongside Chelsea, though Manchester United are ramping up their efforts for the striker, with club-to-club talks having begun last week.
This shows that Liverpool will need to accelerate their own interest, but likely, they will struggle to do so until Nunez has been offloaded. Crucially, this will need to happen soon, although Plettenberg’s earlier report on the matter claims the French forward is aware of Anfield’s plan.
However, with Frankfurt obstinately holding onto their €100m (£85m) valuation, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool or indeed anyone will pay up, with Chelsea already sounding out alternatives.
This is followed by transfer insider Graeme Bailey’s claim that the Merseyside outfit can be considered frontrunners after holding talks, and that the player’s entourage have informed interested parties that he might actually be available for a cheaper figure than Frankfurt want.
Why Liverpool should sign Ekitike
Ekitike is only 22, but he’s already proved himself capable of approaching world-class level, with analyst Ben Mattinson even declaring him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March.
This has been ratified by the data: not only did Ekitike finish the campaign with 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, but he also wrapped it up ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 19% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
He’s come a long way already, only scoring four times and making 33 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain before being loaned out and then sold, having signed the Reims prospect for €35m (£30m) in July 2022.
Perhaps the Eagles want too much, but that’s up to sporting director Richard Hughes to engineer a more agreeable package for one of the most talented frontmen out there.
His elegance and underlying data suggest he could not only help Salah maintain his high level of performance but also become Slot’s very own version of the Premier League all-timer.
In 2017, when Liverpool purchased Salah from Roma in a deal worth £34m, few expected him to become a superstar under Jurgen Klopp, having previously failed to make it work with Chelsea, scoring twice over 19 games before being offloaded to Italy.
Now, he’s a legend, having scored 245 goals and provided 113 assists across 401 trophy-filled fixtures as a Liverpool sensation.
Salah is chiefly a deadly marksman, but he’s also something of an underrated playmaker. Of course, all know of his impressive creativity, but perhaps not so much his highest-station calibre in that regard, among conversations with some all-timers in the ball-playing department.
But it’s not just the way these two will play together (although that’s a tantalising thought), but indeed Ekitike could prove to be Liverpool’s next version of the Egyptian King, albeit in a different attacking position.
As we have discussed, Ekitike is enjoying new prolific heights but this stands atop the wide foundations of an expansive skill set, with all the facets no doubt gleaned by Liverpool’s renowned data-driven team.
The same was true for Salah, who enjoyed his time in Italy, earning praise for his goalscoring, but was far more even in that earlier iteration.
Matches (starts)
34 (32)
31 (29)
Goals
14
15
Assists
6
11
Shots (on target)*
2.1 (0.9)
2.6 (1.1)
Big chances missed
8
16
Pass completion
83%
80%
Big chances created
8
13
Key passes*
1.9
2.4
Dribbles*
1.6
1.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.0
1.2
Duels won*
3.7
3.1
As you can see, he was consistent in his playmaking, dribbling and crispness in retaining possession, also chipping in with a lively amount of defensive work, also winning a fair amount of duels on a game-by-game basis.
And you could even draw upon the right winger’s 16 big chances missed on that final campaign in Rome, scoring 15 times. Ekitike actually mirrored that in the German top division last season, 15 goals, 16 big chances squandered.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
His constant drive forward, electric and connective with those around him, project the style of a complete forward, something Liverpool typically like at number nine and, of course, a style which Salah has used to wreak havoc on the Premier League for so many years.
Liverpool saw something that others didn’t and welcomed Salah as he was getting going. Now they are basking in the glory of it, have been for many years.
By following this well-beaten internal path, they might just hit the jackpot once again, landing an “incredible” new attacking asset, as Ekitike has been called by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.
Salah’s is a story of merciless predation on hapless Premier League and European defences. His greatness is carved into the division and Liverpool’s most fundamental history; have a conversation about the best of the best, and he shall be named.
Ekitike’s got a long way to go, but he too has weathered the storm of a tough start to life at one of the continent’s superpowers, and having taken a so-called step down to find his feet, is now ready to move to the Premier League and become one of the best of the best.
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Arsenal will surely sign a new striker for big money this summer, but the question remains, who will it be?
The Gunners have scored just 64 goals in the Premier League this season, down from 91 last year and 88 the season before that, which is a major factor why they will conclude the campaign trophyless.
So, given that they’re unlikely to be unable to land Mikel Arteta’s dream target, are they about to snap-up an “electric” alternative?
Arsenal's search for a new striker
According to a report by Miguel Delaney of the Independent, Arsenal have ‘laid the groundwork’ as they continue to pursue RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Šeško.
The Gunners attempted to sign the Slovenian international early last summer before the European Championships, but the 21-year-old decided to sign a new contract with Leipzig instead of moving to North London.
Now though, Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland claims that Šeško has a release clause worth €80m (around £68m), adding that a move ‘is also possible without triggering the clause’.
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Philipp Hinze, also of Sky Sports Deutschland, reports that Leipzig ‘don’t want to let’ him go but, with die Roten Bullen on course to miss out on Champions League qualification, all the indications are that Šeško will be on the move this summer, so could it be to Arsenal?
Why Benjamin Šeško would be a good signing for Arsenal
Of course, Šeško is not Arteta’s dream striker signing, that is Alexander Isak, with Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport outlining how he is top of the manager’s wishlist, while acknowledging that this move is very unlikely to happen, with Phil McNulty of BBC Sport adding that he cannot see Newcastle selling their ‘best player’ to a direct Premier League rival.
Meantime, speaking on the Arsecast Extra, James McNicholas adds that it is going to be near-impossible for Arsenal to sign the Swede if Newcastle qualify for the Champions League, which they’re very much on course to achieve, thereby meaning they’ll surely have to look elsewhere.
So, should Šeško be the next name on the list?
Well, analyst Ben Mattinson labels the Slovenian “electric”, praising his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis notes that he ‘possesses the ability to score a wide variety of goals’, which is certainly a useful skill to have, one that many members of Arsenal’s forward line do not.
Meantime, Luis Kircher of Total Football Analysis describes Šeško as an ‘exceptional talent’, while Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the ‘hot prospect’ is destined for the top, sighting Matthias Jaissle, his former manager at RB Salzburg, who labelled him “a dream of a player”.
A 6 foot 4 monster of a centre-forward, much like Isak, the Leipzig man is very much a young version of his Newcastle counterpart. So let’s assess how the duo compare this season.
Benjamin Šeško vs Alexander Isak 2024/25 comparison
Statistics
Šeško
Isak
Appearances
43
40
Minutes
3,186
3,144
Goals
21
27
Assists
6
6
Goals – xG
+2.8
+2.2
Shots
121
129
Shots on target %
47.9%
43.4%
Shot-creating actions
56
89
Goals-creating actions
9
14
Big chances missed
18
20
Touches in opposition area per 90
4
7
Touches per 90
26
25
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com, SofaScore and Squawka
As the table outlines, in a near-identical number of minutes this season, Šeško and Isak’s statistics are often very similar, but with a few key differences.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
Šeško boasts a slightly better goals – xG figure, while a higher percentage of his shots find the target, missing two-fewer Opta-defined big chances.
Meantime, Isak comes out on top when it comes to goals, shot-creating actions and pure total shots, while the Swede takes a higher proportion of his touches inside the opposition’s penalty area.
Nevertheless, if Isak is the unascertainable dream target, Šeško’s statistics suggest he would be a more than adequate, youthful alternative, firing Arsenal to the big trophies that they so desperately crave.
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The brutal reality of the latter stages of the Champions League hit Aston Villa like a brick when they travelled to Paris to take on PSG on Wednesday night.
Villa, who did take the lead through Morgan Rogers, were beaten 3-1 by a dominant Paris Saint-Germain side, managed by Luis Enrique, who had some terrific individuals on display at the top end of the pitch.
The effervescent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Ousmane Dembele put on a masterclass in front of their home supporters, with all three of them involved in at least one of the three goals.
Because of the quality of the PSG attackers, several Aston Villa players endured a rough evening in France. One of those was Axel Disasi, after he was brought on at half-time.
Axel Disasi's awful performance against PSG
The versatile defender, who is a centre-back by trade, came on to replace Matty Cash at the break at right-back and was almost immediately sent to the shops for PSG’s second goal in the 49th minute.
Kvaratskhelia, who is a test for any full-back, showed unbelievable footwork to jink past the Frenchman before blasting a finish into the top corner of Emi Martinez’s near post.
In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Disasi managed two tackles, one interception, one block, and one key pass, whilst he also won half (2/4) of his ground duels, in what was a solid display outside of being brilliantly beaten by the Georgian magician.
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
The 27-year-old defender, who is on loan from Chelsea, was far from the worst player on the pitch for Unai Emery, though…
Aston Villa's worst player against PSG
While Disasi struggled, it was Matty Cash who was even worse than him in the first half.
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The Poland international was actually selected ahead of the Chelsea loanee to start at right-back against Kvaratskhelia and had to be withdrawn from the action at half-time after a dismal opening 45 minutes in Paris.
GOAL awarded him a player rating of just 4/10 and wrote that he was a ‘red card waiting to happen’, after his early yellow card for a foul on the former Napoli forward.
The English-born defender must be brutally binned from the starting XI by Emery after his poor showing in the opening 45 minutes, as Disasi outperformed him off the bench – despite his part in the second PSG goal.
Minutes
45
45
Pass accuracy
50%
69%
Key passes
0
1
Tackles + interceptions
3
3
Duels won
3/8
2/5
Possession lost
9x
5x
Fouls committed
4
0
As you can see in the table above, the 4/10 full-back was incredibly wasteful with the ball at his feet and offered nothing at the top end of the pitch, whilst Disasi – at least – created one chance for the team in the second half.
As mentioned by GOAL, Cash was also walking a disciplinary tightrope with four fouls committed and a yellow card to his name in the first 45 minutes, as he was forced to foul Kvaratskhelia, who got the better of him, on several occasions.
With their respective performances in mind, Emery must drop the former Nottingham Forest star from the starting line-up to bring Disasi in at right-back from the start next time out.
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If you’re an Arsenal fan right now then it must feel as though the world is ending. The Gunners had enjoyed an 18-game unbeaten run but it’s now over, swept clean by Aston Villa and Unai Emery no less.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been the best side in the country this season. They’ve been one of the best teams in the whole of Europe. However, whatever you have to say about their impressive squad depth, they look tired and leggy.
Their performance at Villa Park was not one that we’ve become accustomed to. Yes, they were missing the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, but the defence looked a mess, a shell of what we’ve come to expect from this outfit.
In attack, they also struggled and the fact Arteta made two substitutions at half-time spoke volumes about the display his team were showing.
Arsenal's biggest underperformers against Aston Villa
Let’s get one thing out in the open first. Villa Park is not an easy ground to go to. It’s a bit like St James’ Park. The supporters raise their voice even louder when the big boys come to town.
While Arsenal had their fair share of the ball, when Matty Cash slammed home the opener at the back post, it was always going to be an uphill battle.
Leandro Trossard came to the rescue once again, scoring a vital equaliser but Arteta’s defence crumbled in the dying embers. Emilino Buendia – once linked with Arsenal – slammed home a last-gasp winning goal.
That chaotic moment came from their inability to clear the ball. Piero Hincapie – Gabriel’s stand-in – claimed the ball inside the penalty area and, instead of clearing it upfield, ran possession out of play.
The resulting phase of play ended up in a goal for the Villans. A game of pinball played out inside the area and with several Arsenal players scrambling to get their bodies in the way, Buendia came up with a moment of composure and quality.
Truth be told, this was Arsenal’s worst defensive display of the season. While Jurrien Timber filled in well at centre-half against Brentford in the week, he and Hincapie were terrorised by the runs of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers throughout.
At left-back, Riccardo Calafiori struggled too and in midfield, Martin Zubimendi looked dead on his feet. Any chance of a Christian Norgaard cameo? That signing looks all the more puzzling as the days go by.
For once, Mikel Merino as a striker didn’t work. The Spaniard managed just 17 touches and didn’t have a single shot before he was dragged off for Viktor Gyokeres at the break.
The Swede didn’t cover himself in much glory either. He made just four passes and didn’t have a shot during his 45 minutes on the field. Arsenal needed an elite centre-forward in the summer and if we’re being brutally honest, it doesn’t look like they’ve signed one.
So, changes must be made. Arteta needs to find a solution. Here’s one of them.
Arsenal duo must not start together again
While something of a makeshift defence was put together by the manager on Saturday lunchtime, the midfield and forward line looked fluid.
It’s always exciting when two silky playmakers in the form of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze are named on the same teamsheet but it’s safe to say it did not work against Villa.
Eze had just been named Arsenal’s Player of the Month for November over the weekend. He had found his groove last month, scoring that hat-trick against Spurs and linking superbly well with Merino in the final third.
He did so having played as the number 10, just behind the striker. This time, he was forced out onto the left to accommodate Odegaard and it’s a decision Arteta must regret.
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Eze perhaps endured his worst performance for the club yet. It was his lack of awareness, switching off at the back post, that led to Cash’s goal and even if the summer signing did have a goal disallowed for offside, he failed to offer much in the final third.
That said, can you really blame him? The former Crystal Palace man likes to affect the game from central areas but was pinned out on the left and told to stay there.
Odegaard, on the other hand, did not possess the same pizzazz as Eze has offered from central areas. The Norwegian did manage three key passes, but from three efforts at goal, only amassed an xG of 0.14.
Odegaard & Eze vs Villa
Stat
Odegaard
Eze
Mins played
90
45
Touches
80
13
Key passes
3
0
Shots
3
0
Successful dribbles
1/4
1/1
Duels won
3/10
2/5
Possession lost
15x
3x
Stats via Sofascore.
Odegaard was keen to get on the ball but unlike Eze, whose movement and decision-making are quick, he took far too many touches. He slowed the play down, allowed Villa to regroup and reorganise. When Arsenal go forward, it needs to be quick but the club captain was not alert enough.
While there is an argument to suggest that Bukayo Saka looked more threatening with Odegaard back in the team, some of Arsenal’s finest attacking displays of 2025 have come with Eze playing behind Merino. If the £65m addition is going to play then it cannot be out on the left.
As a result, it doesn’t look as though a combination of Eze and Odegaard will ever work. It’s an experiment that Arteta must quickly forget about unless he can get the former to impact things from the middle.
4/10 star had his worst game in an Arsenal shirt vs Aston Villa
Arsenal suffered their second defeat of the season against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.
The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.
Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.
During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.
Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United
After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.
The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.
However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.
He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.
Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.
His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.
Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim
In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.
Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.
The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.
Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.
However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.
The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.
He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.
The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.
Minutes played
90
Touches
110
Passes completed
83
Aerials lost
50%
Dribbled past
2x
Interceptions
1
Clearances
1
Crosses completed
0
He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.
Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.
Manchester United's Luke Shaw.
The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.
His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.
Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.
Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed
Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.
Newcastle United supporters are frustrated at the moment, and justifiably so.
Only last weekend, Eddie Howe’s side put in a herculean performance, a display of great resilience and strength, to see off Manchester City in the Premier League.
But that was at St. James’ Park, and the Magpies’ issues on the road deepened against Marseille in the Champions League, going ahead through the in-form Harvey Barnes but succumbing to defeat after two second-half strikes from Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Newcastle’s Form in 2025/26 (all comps)
Home
Stat
Away
11
Games
8
8
Wins
1
0
Draws
3
3
Losses
4
16
Goals scored
8
8
Goals conceded
10
2.18
PPG
0.75
As Barnes goes from strength to strength, with three goals from his past two Premier League matches too, Anthony Gordon’s struggles on Tyneside have been accentuated.
The England international is among the most talented players in Howe’s squad, but he’s not been at the races this season.
Anthony Gordon's form for Newcastle
Gordon took some time to get going at Newcastle after joining from Everton for £45m in January 2023, but he thrived across the 2023/24 campaign, winning the club’s Player of the Year after recording 11 goals and ten assists in the Premier League.
Last season was a testing one for the 24-year-old on an individual level, though, and he’s sunk deeper into his struggles this season, yet to score or assist in the Premier League.
Though Gordon is impressing in front of goal on the continent, he’s been out of sorts as a whole this season, with Newcastle blogger Thomas Hammond saying “a summer sale is looking more and more favourable” given clubs like Liverpool have been interested in the £100m-rated winger in the past.
Anthony Gordon for Newcastle (25/26)
Match Stats (* per game)
PL
UCL
Matches (starts)
7 (7)
5 (5)
Goals
0
4
Assists
0
1
Touches*
35.4
39.2
Shots (on target)*
2.0 (0.7)
2.2 (1.0)
Accurate passes*
14.7 (80%)
16.4 (77%)
Chances created*
1.0
0.4
Dribbles*
1.4
1.4
Ball recoveries*
2.6
3.2
Tackles + interceptions*
0.7
1.4
Duels (won)*
4.7 (49%)
4.0 (41%)
Data via Sofascore
There’s a tenacity and will to win embedded in Gordon’s footballing brain, but this has led to some questionable decision-making, with the £150k-per-week talent sent off three times across 120 appearances as a Magpie.
And with Barnes getting better and better, it could be that PIF look to cash in on their profitable asset going forward. After all, if he continues to struggle, his market value will only depreciate.
Against Marseille, Howe opted to field Gordon as his central striker. This is nothing new, but the versatile forward toiled away. Considering the different variables, there might be cause for Gordon to be sold, especially when considering another Newcastle star’s form this season.
The Newcastle star who could end Gordon's stay
Since arriving on Tyneside at the end of August, Nick Woltemade has been a revelation for Newcastle.
The 23-year-old completed a club-record move from Stuttgart to St. James’ Park after establishing himself as one of German football’s most exciting up-and-coming strikers, and while Howe’s side have problems, six goals from his first 16 games for the club suggest the jackpot has been struck.
The 6 foot 6 star is far more than just a goalscorer, of course, and his ability to drop deep and influence across different areas of the pitch suggests that Woltemade could play alongside Yoane Wissa when the DR Congo star returns to fitness.
And he’s thriving for Germany too. Woltemade is nailing down his claim for the number nine spot ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America, having posted four goals from his past three matches for his nation.
Hailed as a “world-class talent” by content creator Adam Pearson, Woltemade cannot be expected to haul all this weight by himself each week. He needs players like Gordon to step up.
But with Barnes establishing himself as United’s clear-cut left winger and Wissa soon to enter the equation as he nears the end of the recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out since signing for the club from Brentford last year, there’s a sense that Gordon may find regular minutes from the outset hard to come by down the line.
Woltemade is not a winger, of course, but he does bring many dynamic qualities to the table that emphasise his protean attacking ability. As per data-led site FBref, the German ranks among the top 9% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90.
His knack at finding space to shoot and then doing so clinically is the staple of his skillset, but Woltemade is also a menace in that he has different creative and athletic attributes that help him transcend his striking role.
Could we see a scenario in which Woltemade plays alongside Wissa, flanked by Barnes and Anthony Elanga? It might be the case, and with Newcastle eager to strengthen across the park next summer – notably with a deal for academy product Elliot Anderson in the pipeline – there’s a case to be made that Gordon’s days on Tyneside could be numbered.
He has, of course, proven himself at Newcastle before, but time is running out for Gordon to reestablish himself as one of Howe’s talismanic forwards, and while Barnes appears the most direct threat to his place in the starting line-up, Woltemade’s continual growth adds another chapter to the story.
PIF have signed an "explosive" talent who can end Gordon's Newcastle career
Newcastle United already have an exciting attacker up their sleeve who can end Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies career.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank privately doesn’t rate two of his Spurs players and a January exit could be on the cards for at least one of them, according to a new report.
Spurs played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at lunchtime on Saturday, and the match brought with it a reoccurring theme of their season.
The Lilywhites seriously lacked creativity for large portions of the 90 minutes and were even booed off at half-time after United star Bryan Mbeumo handed the visitors a pretty deserved lead. Djed Spence’s “lackadaisical” defending in the build up to their opener, and Pape Sarr’s questionable decision not to clear, were key in handing Ruben Amorim’s side the early advantage.
Frank’s side had chances, testing Senne Lammens after the restart, particularly Cristian Romero from close range, but it looked more than likely the Red Devils would see out a fairly comfortable 1-0 win in the capital at one stage.
However, Frank’s substitutions were on hand to very nearly clinch a last-gasp three points and turn the game on its head.
Tottenham 2-2 Man United – best players
Match Rating
Wilson Odobert
7.4
Matthijs de Ligt
7.3
Amad Diallo
7.3
Mathys Tel
7.1
Patrick Dorgu
7.1
via WhoScored
Mathys Tel fed off Destiny Udogie’s sharp pass into the box to swivel and blast a deflected effort past Lammens, levelling the score and sparking real hope they could actually win the game.
Just minutes later, fellow sub Wilson Odobert set up Richarlison, who guided a deft header into the bottom corner to make it 2-1, with the Brazilian taking his shirt off and celebrating in raptures as the stadium went wild.
Spurs were suddenly on the verge of what looked like a very unlikely win and their first at home since the opening Premier League weekend, but their hearts were broken deep into added time when United defender Matthijs de Ligt equalised from a set piece.
For Frank, their home woes continue, having won just four of their last 20 league games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It doesn’t get any easier for them either, with a North London derby scheduled immediately after the international break and European champions PSG awaiting them in the Champions League just days later.
Off the field, Frank is now getting a good idea of which players he wants to stick with going forward as he continues his slow Tottenham rebuild.
While Richarlison put Spurs 2-1 ahead, you can make a serious case that he was largely ineffective against United, while Dominic Solanke is continuing his slow return to fitness.
Thomas Frank sees Solanke and Richarlison as "expendable" Tottenham players
In the build up to January, Tottenham have reportedly been exploring the possibility of signing a more impactful striker, and Al-Ahli star Ivan Toney is Frank’s “preferred” option.
That is according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, who also reports that Frank views both Solanke and Richarlison as “expendable” Tottenham players.
Veysey adds that one of the duo could be sold to raise funds and make room for Toney, and it’ll likely be the latter.
Richarlison, whose contract expires in 2027, has been repeatedly linked with a Spurs exit in recent months and his form has been criticised — meaning that the 28-year-old may well be sacrificed as Frank eyes a reunion with Toney at N17.
Toney has been free scoring in Saudi Arabia since joining Al-Ahli last year, bagging 41 strikes in 59 total appearances, but his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad is far from certain.
The former Brentford star, bar one call-up last summer, has been excluded from the Three Lions set up and a loan move back to the Premier League could be the answer ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Frank, meanwhile, has made no secret of his admiration for the number nine, once joking that he’s worth ‘£100 million-plus’.
The Portugal U16 women’s national team experienced the surprise of a lifetime as they came face-to-face with Cristiano Ronaldo and the senior men’s squad during a special visit to training. The young players were left speechless as they stood only steps away from their idols, witnessing the global icons up close in a heart-warming moment that instantly went viral.
Portugal U16 Women's team meet Ronaldo and Co.
The Portugal U16 girls’ team were invited to watch the senior men’s national team train during the current international camp. The session quickly turned unforgettable when Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and the rest of the senior squad made their way over to greet the young players. The girls, visibly stunned as the stars approached, reacted with wide-eyed smiles, nervous laughter and complete disbelief as they met the players they had grown up admiring.
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Ronaldo closing in on his final year with Portugal
For the U16 girls, meeting Ronaldo was particularly emotional, given the forward’s status as the country’s greatest sporting icon and the inspiration behind countless youth careers across Portugal. The entire event was captured on camera, showing the young team freezing in awe before gradually breaking into excitement as each senior player greeted them.
The timing of the encounter also adds significance, as Ronaldo is nearing the final chapter of his legendary international journey. The 40-year-old has publicly stated he expects the 2026 World Cup to be his sixth and final tournament, marking an extraordinary milestone no other male footballer has reached. Despite his age, he remains a key figure in Portugal’s squad and continues to score at an elite level, proving he still has much to offer in the national colours.
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Ronaldo meeting to serve as motivation for the future
Beyond his on-field achievements, Ronaldo has spoken openly in recent interviews about preparing for life after football. He admitted that retirement is “soon,” saying he expects to step away from the sport within one or two years and focus more on his family, hobbies, and business ventures. His perspective reflects how long he has lived in football’s spotlight and how meeting young players today represents passing the torch to the next generation.
For the U16 girls’ team, the experience is likely to serve as long-lasting motivation as they continue their national-team development. They now return to their training camp with newfound inspiration and a firsthand glimpse of the professionalism, charisma and humility that define Portugal’s biggest stars.
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Portugal prepare for WC26 qualifier with Ireland
For Ronaldo and the senior squad, focus now shifts back to sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Portugal need a win on Friday against Ireland to qualify, and the veteran icon is determined to make his final tournament one to remember. As retirement moves closer, Ronaldo’s influence off the pitch becomes just as meaningful, and interactions like this show the lasting legacy he hopes to leave behind.
One European club is now ready to launch a move to sign a big-money Liverpool star in 2026, despite facing competition from the Saudi Pro League.
Slot expects "aggressive" Leeds vs Liverpool
Despite Wednesday night’s timid draw against Sunderland at Anfield, Arne Slot was in good spirits ahead of Liverpool’s next game against Leeds United this weekend. The Reds will be looking to stretch their mini-unbeaten run to three games in the same week, but must also get back to winning ways after Wednesday.
On paper, a trip to newly-promoted Leeds looks routine and once upon a time it was exactly that for the Reds. Those days, for the time being, are gone, however, and the Premier League champions are now set to square off against a side who could physically outmatch them once again.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot admitted that he expects to face an “aggressive” Leeds side: “Yesterday I looked at Leeds v Chelsea and I thought I saw a Liverpool game; Chelsea conceding a set-piece and for the third goal making a big, big error where they conceded a goal from. [It was] very difficult for them.
“Either Leeds went very aggressive to one-v-one or they went to a low block and it was really hard to create chances. It’s not only difficult for us, that playing style, it’s difficult for many teams – including us.”
It’s been the story of Liverpool’s season so far. Whenever they’ve encountered physicality, the Premier League champions have simply been bullied.
Something had to change and that has seen Mohamed Salah sacrificed. The struggling Egyptian has not started either of Liverpool’s last two games and reports suggest he could yet leave the club in 2026.
Galatasaray ready to launch Salah bid
According to reports in Spain, Galatasaray are now ready to launch their bid to sign Salah next year. The Turkish giants are looking to take full advantage of the winger’s situation and will reportedly aim to beat clubs in Saudi Arabia to his signature.
Whether Liverpool are willing to sell Salah remains to be seen, though. The Anfield icon only signed a new two-year deal last season, which is set to expire in 2027, but they must ask themselves if he is now past the peak of his powers.
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Former centre-back, turned Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher certainly believes that’s the case, recently saying: “The catalyst for Liverpool at the very start of the run in 2018 with Jürgen Klopp was Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah.
“Alisson’s injured a lot now, he doesn’t play so much. But you watch Van Dijk now, not the same player, and Mo Salah looks like his legs have gone.”
The 33-year-old will be desperate to prove Carragher wrong and make his £21m-a-year contract worthwhile even if that is to be from the bench following Slot’s recent ruthlessness.
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