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Category: Football

  • Salah pulls clear and Gakpo joins list of every Liverpool scorer v Big Six after Man Utd mauling

    Salah pulls clear and Gakpo joins list of every Liverpool scorer v Big Six after Man Utd mauling

    Cody Gakpo joins the list of Liverpool scorers in Premier League games against Big Six opposition, but he has some catching up with Mo Salah to do.

    From the slew of predictable leading names to single-goal stalwarts such as Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic and Jonjo Shelvey, here is every player to have scored for Liverpool in Premier League matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham since the start of the 2010/11 season – the first in which they comprised the top six.

    We have even broken it down into goals against each opponent before confirming the overall totals. These numbers are accurate as of the last Liverpool game versus a Big Six side (7-0 v Man Utd on March 5, 2023).

     

    v Arsenal
    Roberto Firmino (10)

    Sadio Mane, Mo Salah (7)

    Diogo Jota (5)

    Philippe Coutinho (4)

    Martin Skrtel (3)

    Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, og (2)

    Joe Allen, Dirk Kuyt, Adam Lallana, Joel Matip, James Milner, Takumi Minamino, David Ngog, Darwin Nunez, Andy Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum (1)

     

    v Chelsea
    Sadio Mane, Mo Salah (4)

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Christian Benteke, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Georginio Wijnaldum (2)

    Daniel Agger, Emre Can, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Naby Keita, Dejan Lovren, Raul Meireles, Maxi Rodriguez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Skrtel, og (1)

     

    v Manchester City
    Mo Salah (6)

    Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane (4)

    James Milner, Martin Skrtel, og (3)

    Andy Carroll (2)

    Fabinho, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Diogo Jota, Dirk Kuyt, Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Georginio Wijnaldum (1)

     

    v Manchester United
    Mo Salah (10)

    Steven Gerrard (6)

    Roberto Firmino, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Sturridge (3)

    Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane, Darwin Nunez, Xherdan Shaqiri, Luis Suarez (2)

    Christian Benteke, Luis Diaz, Naby Keita, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Virgil van Dijk, og (1)

     

    v Tottenham
    Mo Salah (7)

    Roberto Firmino (5)

    Luis Suarez (4)

    Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, og (3)

    Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling (2)

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mario Balotelli, Stewart Downing, Luis Diaz, Jon Flanagan, Diogo Jota, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno, Andy Robertson, Martin Skrtel, Georginio Wijnaldum (1)

     

    Total (current players in italics)
    Mo Salah (34)

    Roberto Firmino (24)

    Sadio Mane (20)

    Philippe Coutinho (12)

    Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez (11)

    Diogo Jota (9)

    Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge (8)

    Martin Skrtel (7)

    Dirk Kuyt, James Milner, Raheem Sterling, Georginio Wijnaldum (5)

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Christian Benteke, Adam Lallana, Darwin Nunez (3)

    Andy Carroll, Luis Diaz, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson, Xherdan Shaqiri, Fernando Torres (2)

    Daniel Agger, Joe Allen, Mario Balotelli, Emre Can, Stewart Downing, Fabinho, Jon Flanagan, Dejan Lovren, Lazar Markovic, Joel Matip, Raul Meireles, Takumi Minamino, Alberto Moreno, David Ngog, Maxi Rodriguez, Jonjo Shelvey, Virgil van Dijk (1)



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  • Spurs have been rinsed by Davinson Sanchez

    Spurs have been rinsed by Davinson Sanchez

    3 minute read


    Tottenham Hotspur have endured plenty of transfer missteps in recent years, as their desperation for a trophy has revealed itself in many failed big-money moves.

    As Mauricio Pochettino was building his squad, which seemed to improve with each passing season, it seemed even the measured Argentine succumbed to this pressure in the form of a few questionable deals during the end of his reign.

    Has Sanchez been a bad signing?

    Yes

    No

    No

    One such example was the decision to acquire Davinson Sanchez, who admittedly had enjoyed a fine last season at Ajax before moving to north London.

    However, it was not a campaign that perhaps warranted his £42m fee, which shattered the club record at the time.

    His 7.25 average rating in that concluding campaign in Amsterdam was underpinned by an 89% pass accuracy as he recorded 1.9 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and an impressive 5.2 clearances per 90 (via Sofascore). All signs pointed towards the Colombian being a stellar modern-day defender for the Lilywhites, but his career has not quite panned out as planned.

    How much has Davinson Sanchez cost Spurs?

    Whilst the astronomical initial price tag might have drawn initial scrutiny, the additional finances he has swallowed only serve to exacerbate just how poor a signing he has been.

    Earning £65k-per-week for 289 weeks now, from wages alone the 26-year-old has also incurred £18.8m. Therefore, in total Sanchez has cost Daniel Levy £60.8m.

    His 6.8 average rating for this league campaign is far from meriting such a price tag, and these impressive aforementioned statistics have made a harsh drop off to just 0.8 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and just 1.9 clearances per game, per Sofascore.

    Sanchez was handed an opportunity to perhaps prove himself a capable starter in their midweek FA Cup clash, yet they were knocked out by Championship outfit Sheffield United. Cristian Stellini’s second-string side crumbled under the pressure of the high-flying Blades, with the 6 foot 2 dud partly to blame for their winner too.

    TalkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy was full of contempt for the defender following the display, in which he claimed: “For the goal it’s like he’s moving in quicksand. He’s not interested. He’s terrible.” 

    His fall from grace has been dramatic, and a man who could have spearheaded Spurs to numerous trophies has instead been a drain on their resources for nearly six years now. 



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  • Clearlake Capital: Company value and key figures in Chelsea investors

    Clearlake Capital: Company value and key figures in Chelsea investors

    Sprawled out in the executive box, flashing a toothy grin beneath a greying head of swept-back hair while wearing a pair of dark aviators, Todd Boehly is an intriguing figure that naturally draws plenty of focus.

    However, the American billionaire is only one part of the consortium which acquired Chelsea in the biggest sports franchise purchase ever. Clearlake Capital has taken more of a back seat to Boehly but the Santa Monica-based buyout firm shares joint control and equal governance of the club.

    In a bid to dilute the Boehly blindness, here’s everything you need to know about Clearlake Capital and the main figures of Chelsea’s subdued part-owners.

    According to the company’s stripped back website: “Clearlake currently has over $70bn [£58bn] of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments.”

    Shortly after acquiring Chelsea in the summer of 2022, Clearlake secured funding for its seventh flagship vehicle with $14.1bn in commitments. The company’s previous investment had attracted $7bn just two years prior. This sizeable jump ensured that Clearlake was ranked as the second-largest buyout fund in the US by Forbes.

    Behdad Eghbali (Co-founder)

    Behdad Eghbali has been the most present member of Clearlake Capital at Chelsea since the takeover went through last May. The Iran-born former investment banker regularly patrols Chelsea Cobham training ground and is heavily involved in the club’s transfer dealings – Eghbali reportedly led the team that flew out to meet Shakhtar Donetsk’s representatives to finalise the January arrival of Mykhaylo Mudryk.

    Eghbali arrived in the US as a ten-year-old – on a tourist visa initially according to The Athletic – before establishing himself as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world through a revered manipulation of the private equity sphere. Forbes values Eghbali’s personal net worth at $4.3bn (£3.6bn). This is a hefty figure Eghbali shares with his fellow Clearlake co-founder Jose E. Feliciano.

    Jose E. Feliciano (Co-founder)

    Feliciano was the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of govWorks which declared bankruptcy at the start of the 21st century but pivoted thereafter to form Clearlake in 2006 with Eghbali and Steven Chang before the latter left the firm in 2015. Feliciano is “responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm” according to his profile on RFK Human Rights.

    Feliciano has played a far more reserved role than Eghbali in the purchase of Chelsea but did comment on the “fascinating” exposure owning a football club brings. “In the past 24 months we’ve probably done a dozen transactions, six or seven which had an inter-price value greater than the value of Chelsea,” Feliciano revealed. “Most people in this room will have no idea about the IPG, Cornerstone, nobody has a clue but Chelsea everybody has an opinion, a lot of people have an opinion, particularly in Europe.”

    Chelsea are the first sports franchise that Clearlake has invested in, with the company previously focusing on software – though it has held shares in a hand-cut jerky venture in the past. As Clearlake remains entangled with Chelsea, Feliciano will continue to discover that little escapes public scrutiny in the fishbowl world of football.

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  • Newcastle: Stephenson could be Wilson heir

    Newcastle: Stephenson could be Wilson heir

    3 minute read


    Newcastle United’s disappointing run of form continued on Saturday as they were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at The Etihad in the Premier League.

    The Magpies are now five games without a win in all competitions and have won one match in the English top flight, against Fulham, since the turn of the year.

    Eddie Howe’s side have only scored twice in their last five outings and their goalscoring woes are proving to be a major hindrance as Callum Wilson continues to misfire up front.

    How has Callum Wilson performed this season?

    The £46k-per-week striker, whose attempt to score against City was branded “woeful” by journalist Luke Edwards, has found the back of the net once in his last 14 matches in all competitions for the club.

    Wilson has scored seven times in 18 Premier League games this season but the goals have dried up for the former Bournemouth centre-forward and, with the England international turning 31 last month, Howe may be thinking about long-term replacements.

    Does Callum Wilson need to be dropped?

    Yes

    Yes

    No

    No

    Alexander Isak, 23, could develop into being the first-choice between now and the end of the season if the Sweden international is given a consistent run of games but the ex-Real Sociedad man would still need competition for his place.

    Therefore, Newcastle could need to bring in another striker in the summer to be the heir to Wilson’s position in the squad, whether that is as a starter or as a rotation option for Isak.

    Howe could save the club millions by unleashing academy forward Dylan Stephenson, who is currently on loan at Hamilton in Scotland, next season.

    Journalist Craig Hope once claimed that the youngster “knows where the net is” and his record for Newcastle at youth level backs that up. The forward scored 17 times and provided four assists in 35 Premier League 2 appearances between the start of 2021/22 and January of this season.

    Stephenson joined Hamilton on a temporary deal in the winter market and has scored once and assisted two goals in 339 minutes in all competitions – a direct contribution every 113 minutes.

    Wilson, meanwhile, has produced a goal or an assist once every 160 minutes on average for Newcastle in all competitions.

    The 20-year-old has clearly shown in his performances for the U21s and Hamilton that he has the potential to regularly make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch, which is something the current Toon centre-forward has been unable to do of late.

    Howe must now offer Stephenson the chance to impress him in pre-season ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as the young marksman could well be Wilson’s heir at St. James’ Park.



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  • MLS Matchday 2 recap: St. Louis make history, LA Galaxy fall

    MLS Matchday 2 recap: St. Louis make history, LA Galaxy fall

    The 2023 Major League Soccer season is in full swing.

    Several teams came into Matchday 2 in full force, earning much-needed victories to fuel momentum, with others fell extremely short. Though we didn’t quite see the same chaos as ‘MLS is Back’ weekend, there was still much that shocked.

    Here’s everything you missed…

    Klauss, Tim Parker

    St Louis City SC celebrate first win at home. / Dilip Vishwanat/GettyImages

    St. Louis CITY recorded their second victory, and first ever home win at CITYPARK in front on a sell-out 22,000 fans. The expansion team triumphed 3-1 against Charlotte FC, as goals from Joao Klauss, Bill Tuiloma and Eduard Lowen sealed the three points.

    “Tonight was not about the result. We were fighting with the emotions of 70 years of history and bringing MLS to St. Louis,” declared St. Louis CITY SC’s head coach Bradley Carnell.

     “We knew coming up against a Charlotte team that is very gritty, very, very aggressive, very athletic, have some difference makers in that team – we knew this was going to be a very, very difficult challenge. So, that we came out victorious on the day, not expected, just in terms of the whole process. I mean, we’re truly happy, we’ll take the three points, but there was many more messages than the result today.”

    The expansion team remains unbeaten in the Western Conference, after defeating Austin in their inaugural match and earning the win against Charlotte.

    “I’m feeling amazing,” added Klauss. “Today I think was the perfect first game at home for us…amazing night.”

    Phil Neville

    Phil Neville celebrates Inter Miami’s second consecutive victory. / Ira L. Black – Corbis/GettyImages

    Inter Miami defeated favorites Philadelphia Union 2-0 at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday, as goals from Robert Taylor and Corentin Jean secured the three points. Phil Neville’s side stands as one of just two unbeaten teams in the Eastern Conferences, proving many wrong. 

    “What we’ve done in the first two games this year, we’ve knocked down a lot of the psychological barriers, not winning in the first couple of weeks of the season [previously], I think that was hanging over this football club,” said Neville. 

    “I wasn’t overly a hundred percent pleased with the performance tonight and I think that’s a good thing. And the players know that they need to be better in plays, the players know that they can improve and there’s still a long way to go.”

    The six-point haul is a sharp contrast to last year’s achievements, as the team struggled with consistency throughout the campaign. Though it may be too soon to judge the team’s upward trajectory, the back-to-back victories should be recognized as a milestone. 

    “I think it’s too soon to start making big statements,” Neville said about the magnitude of the result. “This is just a continuation of the journey and the build from last year where we do feel like there’s a different feeling around this football club.”

    Paxton Pomykal

    FC Dallas celebrated the 3-1 victory vs. LA Galaxy. / Omar Vega/GettyImages

    Jesus Ferreira propelled FC Dallas to a 3-1 comeback win against the LA Galaxy, taking over in the second half. 

    Though Dejan Joveljic opened up the scoring for the visitors, Alan Velasco quickly found the equalizer to reach half-time with the 1-1 draw. Jesus Ferrera then stepped up, and kicked off his Golden Boot campaign with two goals.

    “We needed to give it to the fans,” Ferreira said. “We had to see what we did wrong in the first game that we weren’t able to take three points and apply it to this game. And I think the team was excited and ready for the challenge.”

    It was an important victory for FC Dallas, after falling 0-1 to Minnesota on opening weekend at Toyota Stadium. The team still has much to prove given their momentum during last year’s season, but a 3-1 victory against LA Galaxy with a stellar Ferreira performance is a good place to start. 

    “I think he, overall, [used] that learning experience that he had there to grow,” FCD head coach Nico Estévez said of Ferreira. “We can’t forget that he’s a very young player still [and] it’s his second year playing as a No. 9. I think we have to be very calm with him, help him to keep growing as a person, and as a player, and we’ll see what he can do in the future.”

    Giorgio Chiellini

    Giorgio Chiellini scored his first MLS goal against the Timbers. / Michael Owens/GettyImages

    San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps: New San Jose head coach Luchi Gonzalez earned his first victory at home

    Seattle Sounders 2-0 Real Salt Lake: Second consecutive victory for Brian Schmetzer

    LAFC 3-2 Portland Timbers: the reigning MLS champions opened up the 2023 campaign with a dramatic victory at home

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  • Liverpool: Forget his goals, Salah flipped Martinez like an omelette

    Liverpool: Forget his goals, Salah flipped Martinez like an omelette

    If you’re a Liverpool fan, Sunday evening is best spent pouring a glass of wine, nestling on the sofa and allowing yourself to bask in one of the most glorious victories in your club’s entire history.

    Yes, Liverpool have won more important games than Sunday’s encounter with Manchester United. They’ve won games by a larger margin too.

    But rarely have Liverpool thoroughly spanked their arch-rivals in this manner. 7-0. Seven Nil.

    Throughout a difficult season, as Jurgen Klopp’s side have faltered and sparked talk of a glorious era drawing to a close, United have rediscovered some of their old swagger.

    Casemiro has been anointed as the best thing since sliced bread. Lisandro Martinez has replaced Virgil van Dijk as the defender that appears in your nightmares. Marcus Rashford has supplanted Mohamed Salah as the goal-getter du jour.

    Those conclusions need to be hastily withdrawn after this historic thrashing. Salah helped himself to two goals, moving ahead of Robbie Fowler as Liverpool’s most prolific goalscorer in Premier League history.

    But the most cathartic moment for Liverpool fans, and we half expect Liverpool’s players share the same feeling, was Salah sending Martinez down to Tesco with some bewitching footwork.

    Sensing that United had mentally checked out, Liverpool raced forward in pursuit of more and increasingly hilarious goals.

    Gathering the ball on the right flank, Salah lured Martinez into the foolish belief he had a chance of winning the ball.

    What happened next shouldn’t exist outside of a Harry Potter novel; the Egypt international body swerved and swept the ball away from the United defender, who must have been rueing all the life choices that left him open to this humiliation.

    Attempting to recover a sliver of dignity, Martinez went back for more but ended up on his arse with the ridicule of the Kop ringing in his ears. Never mind cooking, Salah had flipped him like a lunchtime omelette.

    “It’s very special, I can’t lie,” Salah told Sky Sports when asked about breaking Fowler’s record.

    “This record was in my mind since I came here, I think after my first year I was always chasing that record, so to break it today, against United, with that result, was unbelievable. So I’m going home to celebrate with the family, have a camomile tea and sleep!”

    Not only did Salah score his 128th and 129th Premier League goals for Liverpool, he became the first player in Europe’s top five divisions to score 20+ goals and provide 10+ assists across all competitions in 2022-23.

    Liverpool’s Egyptian king has now scored more Premier League goals against Manchester United (9) than legends Thierry Henry (8) and Sergio Aguero (8). Alan Shearer is the only player in the competition’s history with more.

    While Salah relaxes with his favourite cup of camomile, Martinez will need to take valium to sleep tonight.

    As he lies in a darkened room, brain whirring and cheeks still rosy red with embarrassment, we guarantee that Salah’s moment of peak ridiculousness will be playing like a carousel in his mind.

    And if that thought doesn’t warm your soul, can you really consider yourself a Liverpool fan?

    By Michael Lee

    READ NEXT: 11 jaw-dropping stats from Liverpool’s 7-0 thrashing of Man Utd

    TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every Liverpool player to score v Man Utd in PL since 2000?



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  • Nintendo is the Top Gaming Company in the United States; More Popular than Electronic Arts, Epic Games or Activision Blizzard

    Nintendo is the Top Gaming Company in the United States; More Popular than Electronic Arts, Epic Games or Activision Blizzard

    While the United States might have some of the largest gaming companies in the world, worth tens of billions of dollars and counting millions of users across the globe, all of them are losing the race with the Japanese Nintendo when it comes to popularity among gamers.

    According to data presented by SportsLens.com, Japanese Nintendo is the most known and most liked gaming company in the United States, ahead of US gaming giants Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard.

    Almost Three-Quarters of US Gamers know Nintedo, and 47% Like it

    According to Statista Consumer Insights Gaming & eSports Special data, Nintendo scored much higher with the gaming fans in the United States concerning popularity and awareness than any of its US competitors.

    Statistics show almost three-quarters of US gamers know the Japanese gaming company, while 47% also like it. The runner-up Electronic Arts is known to 52% of surveyed gamers and liked by roughly one-third of them. Although Epic Games scored a slightly higher percentage of awareness of 53%, the North Carolina-based gaming company is liked by only 27% of respondents, putting it in third place. Rockstar Games and Activision Blizzard follow with 22% and 20% shares, respectively.

    The Statista survey also revealed that the best-known gaming companies are not always the most liked, and Roblox is the perfect example.

    The California-based gaming company has seen the biggest gap between popularity and awareness in the US market. According to Statista, although 50% of US gamers know Roblox, only 18% of them actually like it. Among other issues, critics pointed out the lack of real content moderation, the financial exploitation of creators, and a swathe of game experiences on the service not being suited for children.

    Three Nintendo Titles Among Top-Selling Games in the US

    Besides ranking as the most popular gaming company in the United States, Nintendo titles are also among the top-selling video games in the US market.

    According to NPD Group and VG24/7 survey, Activision Blizzard`s megahit Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II was the top-selling video game in the United States in 2022 based on dollar sales. Elden Ring was in second place, followed by the sports game Madden NFL 23.

    Statistics show Pokémon: Scarlet/Violet was the sixth top-selling video game in the US last year. Pokémon Legends: Arceus was two places behind, while Mario Kart 8 ranked tenth on the list of top-selling gaming titles.

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  • Gracie Hunt net worth: How much is the daughter of the owner of the Chiefs and FC Dallas and Pageant Queen worth

    Gracie Hunt net worth: How much is the daughter of the owner of the Chiefs and FC Dallas and Pageant Queen worth

    Gracie Hunt, the 23-year-old daughter of Clark Hunt, the co-owner, CEO, and chairperson of NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, has a net worth of around $3 million, as of 2023. Gracie, who is also a philanthropist and model, won the Miss Kansas USA crown in 2021.

    Gracie is passionate about becoming a beauty influencer and continuing her philanthropic pursuits. Her mother, Tavia Shackles, is a former Miss Kansas USA pageant winner. Gracie has two siblings, Ava Hunt and Knobel Hunt, who are also future heirs of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise.

    How much money is the Hunt family worth?

    Gracie’s family is one of the wealthiest in the US, with a net worth of $2 billion. Her grandfather, Lamar Hunt, founded the American Football League (AFL) and the Major League Soccer (MLS). Gracie’s father and his Hunt Sports Group are major investors in the Kansas City Chiefs franchise and also own the MLS side FC Dallas.

    Although Gracie is not directly involved in investments, she is part of the Hunt Sports Group. She lives with her family in a luxurious mansion in Dallas, Texas, and also owns a lavish luxury suite atop the Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri, which has six-bedrooms and a perfect view to watch live Kansas City Chiefs games.

    Gracie Hunt wins Miss Kansas USA

    Gracie Hunt was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2021. The announcement was made by the pageant on their Instagram page where Hunt expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent Kansas.

    Hunt announced her entry into the pageant in February of that year and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sport Management at the University of Kansas. Despite her passion for sports, Hunt never considered participating in pageants until her soccer career was ended by a serious concussion.

    The pageant congratulated Gracie on social media, saying that they know she will make Kansas proud. Hunt’s win is a testament to her talent, hard work, and dedication.



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  • O’Hara praises Man City’s Phil Foden

    O’Hara praises Man City’s Phil Foden

    3 minute read


    TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has praised Manchester City star Phil Foden, claiming he would be worth £200m in this market.

    How has Foden performed for Man City?

    The England international has found himself on the bench at times this season, with just 16 of his 24 league appearances coming from the start, but opened the scoring in City’s crucial victory over Newcastle.

    The 22-year-old has scored 13 and assisted five times in this campaign, as the Champions attempt to keep pace with league leaders Arsenal, and has earned praise for his level of performance.

    Speaking on Sky Sports, O’Hara lauded Foden, claiming that he could be worth double what record signing Jack Grealish is to City.

    “Whenever I watch him play, he’s just so good,” he stated.

    “We talked about Jack Grealish being a £100m player, but he’s been around for a long time. Phil Foden’s really still a kid, and he’s doing things that I’ve never seen before in a young player.

    “He’s born and bred through Manchester City’s Academy, and they have got a £200m player in Phil Foden, and every time I watch him play, I’m just mesmerised. I really am. I don’t think we appreciate how good he is.”

    Should Foden be starting more games?

    The versatile winger has to compete with Grealish and Riyad Mahrez amongst others for a starting position in City’s large squad, and regular rotation means none are guaranteed starters.

    Will Phil Foden become a club legend at Man City?

    Yes

    No

    No

    The departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus in the summer opened up more potential game time for City’s wingers, but there is a case to be made that Foden should be starting more.

    Guardiola has admitted that he is playing Foden less, partially due to the form of Grealish and Mahrez, with the more experienced players performing well.

    The Spaniard previously claimed that Foden was “the most talented player” he had ever seen, indicating that he does rate the Englishman highly despite his inconsistent starts, but Foden may have to improve his consistency if he is to become a more regular fixture on the team sheet.



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  • Alexander-Arnold reveals Man Utd success ‘burns’ thanks to Ten Hag’s ‘overnight’ turnaround – Football365

    Alexander-Arnold reveals Man Utd success ‘burns’ thanks to Ten Hag’s ‘overnight’ turnaround – Football365

    Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed he could not watch Manchester United lift the Carabao Cup trophy at Wembley.

    The Reds welcome United to Anfield in a huge Premier League clash on Sunday.

    Erik ten Hag’s side will need to get all three points to maintain their unexpected push to beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the Premier League title.

    There have been talks of an unprecedented quadruple for the Red Devils after they beat Newcastle United in the final of the Carabao Cup last weekend.

    They remain in the FA Cup and Europa League and have a great chance to win both competitions.

    However, they are 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal, although they do have two games in hand.

    A top-four finish seems inevitable, at the very least, and finishing third or fourth on top of winning a major trophy will be seen as an incredible maiden campaign in charge for Ten Hag.

    Their success this term is definitely a tough watch for many football fans, none more so than supporters of Liverpool, who have watched their own side struggle in 2022-23.

    Unlike United, the Reds face an uphill battle to finish inside the Champions League places and know they must win on Sunday.

    A victory would put Klopp’s side in fifth, above Newcastle and three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand.

    An exit from Europe’s elite competition seems very likely after a horrendous 5-2 home defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie, meaning a successful campaign heavily relies on a top-four finish.

    Ahead of Sunday’s top-flight clash between Liverpool and Manchester United, Reds right-back Alexander-Arnold has discussed the form of Ten Hag’s men.

    The England international has revealed he watched the Carabao Cup final but refused to see the United players lift the trophy, admitting the thought of doing so “burns”.

    “I watched the game, but as soon as they were getting ready for the trophy lift I turned off,” Alexander-Arnold told The Telegraph. “I thought, ‘There is no way I am watching that’. Knowing they lifted that trophy? It burns. Oh yeah. It definitely burns.”

    Alexander-Arnold notes that Ten Hag has been able to change United’s fortunes “very quickly” and also referenced table-topping Arsenal, who are defying the odds this season, as he insists Liverpool’s form is not worrying him too much.

    “It shows you how football changes very quickly,” he continued. “Look at Arsenal. At the end of last season, everyone was talking about failure for not making the top four. All of a sudden they are leading in the title race.

    “In football terms, these changes really do happen overnight. It’s the same with Manchester United when you look at the difference now to last year.

    “Even the start of this season when they lost to Brentford. How many people were saying ‘here we go again?’ Now they’re flying. It happens.

    “That is why I am not going to allow myself to get over-consumed with what has happened to us right now because I know in a few months, or possibly even weeks, it will change. I am determined to keep level-headed and balanced about what has gone on.”

    READ MORE: Liverpool 5-6 Man Utd: De Gea, Varane, Robertson snubbed as Trent gets in combined XI



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