Liverpool may have signed Giorgi Mamardashvili last summer, but now another international shot-stopper has claimed that he himself opted not to move to the club as their first-choice target in that position.
Mamardashvili set to move to Liverpool this summer
Alisson remains the Reds’ undisputed first-choice goalkeeper currently, and at 32 years of age, there is no reason why his peak should end any time soon.
That said, Liverpool still have to plan for the long-term future between sticks, and Mamardashvili is seemingly coming in as his eventual successor at Anfield.
The 24-year-old signed for the Reds last summer, following a hugely impressive Euro 2024 campaign with Georgia, but he is spending this season with Valencia, prior to officially joining the Merseysiders ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
That could spell the end for Caoimhin Kelleher at Liverpool, with the Republic of Ireland international such an able deputy to Alisson, but now surely at a point in his career where he needs to be No.1 somewhere. He is good enough to star for another Premier League team, so it will be interesting to see where he goes, assuming he does leave.
Lopes claims he turned down move to Liverpool
Speaking to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Nantes goalkeeper Anthony Lopes says he turned down the chance to join Liverpool from Lyon last summer before the Mamardashvili agreement, admitting he may have said yes later in the transfer window.
“Did I say no to becoming Liverpool’s number two? Yes, in June, I said no. I’ll be very clear: I didn’t have that option in mind at all. I told myself that I had to keep playing, that I had fire in my legs, and that I couldn’t put my bum on the bench, even if it was at Liverpool, Bayern, or elsewhere.
“But I’ll be very clear: if this offer had come at the end of August, just before the end of the transfer window, I would have accepted it, I would have left, I would have put my bum on the bench, and I would have shut my mouth.”
Lopes could have been a shrewd addition by Liverpool in 2024, with the Nantes ace possessing a wealth of experience at the top level, making 489 appearances for Lyon during his time at Ligue 1 giants.
He is also a 14-cap Portugal international, and was part of the squad that won Euro 2016, so it is easy to see why the Reds looked at him as a good option.
At 34 years of age, however, Lopes is two years Alisson’s senior, so he wouldn’t have been considered a long-term successor to him, making Mamardashvili the better choice to come in.
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It’s rare that a player turns down the chance to play for a club of Liverpool’s stature, though, and with all due respect to Nantes, there may be a part of him that sometimes wonders if he made the right decision.
Newcastle United are interested in completing the signing of a “phenomenal” Premier League player in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Latest Newcastle news
The Magpies are still on cloud nine after reaching the final of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening, following their 2-0 win at home to Arsenal. It sealed a 4-0 aggregate triumph across the two legs, setting up a highly-anticipated final clash with Liverpool at Wembley next month.
It is also vital that Newcastle keep up their previous good form in the Premier League – they have lost their last two home games, against Bournemouth and Fulham – ensuring they get back into the Champions League ahead of next season.
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon celebrates scoring their second goal with KieranTrippier
In terms of potential new signings moving forward, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been mentioned as a target for the Magpies, having scored 10 goals in 22 Premier League starts this season. He hopefully wouldn’t be seen as a possible replacement for Alexander Isak, though.
Meanwhile, another Palace player, Marc Guehi, is also being talked about as a summer target, having been constantly linked with a move to St James’ Park in recent transfer windows. An exit from Selhurst Park looks likely at the end of the season, as he looks to kick on to the next level in his career.
Newcastle eyeing move for "phenomenal" ace
Speaking on his YouTube channel [via The Boot Room], Romano said Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen is a target for Newcastle this summer: “What we can add is that also Newcastle are showing an interest in Huijsen.
“They are doing very well, and in case they will be in Champions League football next season, the investment on a centre-back back could be made, and Huijsen is one of the players they are monitoring.
“Remember the exclusive story from mid-January, he has a release clause in his contract valid in the summer. So Huijsen will be for sure one to watch in the summer transfer window.”
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
Huijsen is enjoying an exceptional season for an impressive Bournemouth side, excelling alongside Illia Zabarnyi at the heart of the defence, so he could be a great signing for Newcastle.
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At just 19 years of age, the Spain Under-21 international is already performing consistently at a high level, so he could be viewed as the future of the Magpies’ defence alongside Sven Botman. He has plenty of admirers, not least football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has called him “phenomenal”.
Huijsen looks like one of the best young centre-backs in Europe in current form, so Newcastle going all in for him this summer is a no-brainer.
The revamped format of the Champions League raised some eyebrows when it was announced, replacing the 32-team tournament that had been in place for over 20 years.
Change is inevitable in football, as in every sport, and the new system has worked quite well, producing some excellent matches, while giving those lower down the food chain a chance to secure a place in the last 16.
The top 11 clubs with the most wins in Champions League matches
All bar one have won the Champions League before…
ByRoss Kilvington Dec 24, 2024
Since the 1992/93 season – the inaugural campaign of the revamped Champions League – there have been several high-scoring matches in the competition, some featuring the most successful teams in Europe.
Here, we have taken a deeper look at the highest-scoring Champions League matches over the previous 33 years.
Featuring the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and erm, Aalborg, take a walk down memory lane to relive some wonderful games.
The 11 highest-scoring Champions League games
Rank
Result
Season
1
Borussia Dortmund 8-4 Legia Warsaw
2016/17
=2
Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb
2024/25
=2
Monaco 8-3 Deportivo
2003/04
4
Bayern Munich 8-2 Barcelona
2019/20
=5
Benfica 4-5 Barcelona
2024/25
=5
PSG 7-2 Maccabi Haifa
2022/23
=5
Man City 6-3 RB Leipzig
2021/22
=5
Tottenham 2-7 Bayern Munich
2019/20
=5
Villarreal 6-3 Aalborg
2008/09
=5
Lyon 7-2 Werder Bremen
2004/05
=5
PSG 7-2 Rosenborg
2000/01
Via UEFA.com
11 PSG 7-2 Rosenborg Group stage, 2000/01
The 2000/01 season marked just the third time that PSG had qualified for the Champions League. They reached the semi-finals in 1994/95, while exiting the group stage in 1997/98.
This stunning 7-2 victory over Rosenborg was certainly impressive. In all, six different scorers gave the French side all three points, with Nicolas Anelka scoring twice in the demolition of the Norwegian champions.
They ended up finishing second behind Bayern Munich in the first group stage, before bowing out in the second group phase with just five points behind Deportivo, Galatasaray and Milan.
10 Lyon 7-2 Werder Bremen Round of 16 second leg, 2004/05
Lyon
Lyon’s dominance of French football since 2003 had yet to see them really offer much in European competition, but this 7-2 win over Werder Bremen – who won the Bundesliga in 2003/04 – offered hope that this could be their year.
With a team featuring Michael Essien, Sylvain Wiltord and Florent Malouda, the German side were certainly up against it. Indeed, six of Lyon’s goals were scored between these three, with Wiltord scoring a stunning hat-trick.
Lyon had won the first leg 3-0, so this win sealed a dominant 10-2 aggregate victory as they reached the quarter-finals. Despite being slight favourites in the following round, they succumbed to PSV on penalties after the teams couldn’t be separated.
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ByCharlie Smith May 14, 2025 9 Villarreal 6-3 Aalborg Group stage, 2008/09
Perhaps not the two strongest sides in the competition, but nevertheless, Villarreal and Danish side Aalborg played one of the most entertaining matches in the 2008/09 season.
The game was finely poised at 2-2 at the interval, but the La Liga side showed their class in the second period, netting four times to seal the win.
Aalborg didn’t do too badly in the end despite the defeat, finishing third in the group after beating Celtic, but Villarreal, who made the quarter-finals, were at a different level during the 6-3 win.
8 Tottenham 2-7 Bayern Munich Group stage, 2019/20
This wasn’t the first time Bayern Munich had scored five or more goals against a team from north London, doing so against Arsenal at the last-16 stage during the 2016/17 season in back-to-back matches.
This defeat was certainly painful for Spurs. The club had reached their first final in the competition’s history in the previous June and were eyeing a repeat. Bayern put a dent in those ambitions early on.
Despite Son Heung-min giving the home side an early lead, Bayern scored four without reply to practically secure the win. Harry Kane pulled one back in the second half, but another three goals for the Bundesliga side in the final seven minutes ensured a humiliating defeat for Mauricio Pochettino.
7 Manchester City 6-3 RB Leipzig Group stage, 2021/22
Manchester City had reached the Champions League final only months prior to this clash against RB Leipzig, but Pep Guardiola was outfoxed by Thomas Tuchel, who led Chelsea to a stunning 1-0 win in Porto.
Prior to that, they had reached the semi-finals just once since their takeover in 2008, and winning the competition was seen as a must if the club wanted to count themselves among the best in the world.
They started off the 2021/22 season well with this dominant display against the German side. Remarkably, it was 3-2 to City with 40 minutes to go, before they netted a further three times to secure all three points.
The Citizens reached the semi-finals, but failed to make it to another final after dramatically losing to Real Madrid.
6 PSG 7-2 Maccabi Haifa Group stage, 2022/23
Neymar and Lionel Messi of PSG
PSG’s 7-2 demolition of Maccabi Haifa saw Lionel Messi score twice for the French side on the way to an easy victory.
Kylian Mbappé also got in on the act, netting two goals during the game, while Neymar, not one to be left out, scored once as the Israeli side were totally outplayed in Paris.
Despite this win and boasting that exceptional front three, the Ligue 1 side were knocked out at the last-16 stage, suffering an 3-0 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich, losing both legs.
5 Benfica 4-5 Barcelona League phase, 2024/25
Barcelona
This nine-goal thriller was one of the best the Champions League has ever seen, with hat-tricks, penalties and a superb comeback capping a marvellous evening’s entertainment.
Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis joined a rare group of players who have managed to score a hat-trick in the Champions League against Barcelona, with only Kylian Mbappé, Andriy Shevchenko and Faustino Asprilla managing the feat.
The Greek striker’s 28-minute hat-trick and Ronald Araujo’s own goal had given the hosts a 4-2 lead with just over 20 minutes to go, before Robert Lewandowski’s second of the night set up a nervy finish.
And just as Eric Garcia had looked to have gained a point, Raphinha’s last-minute winner in the driving rain capped a frenetic night as Barca also survived a late VAR check.
4 Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich Quarter-final, 2019/20
Bayern Munich against Barcelona
Due to the pandemic shutting down European football between March and June 2020, the finals stages of the 2019/20 tournament were played as single-match knockout ties at a neutral venue in Lisbon.
Bayern became the first club to score eight goals during a single Champions League knockout match with their demolition of Barcelona.
The German side led 4-2 after just 31 minutes as goals from Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski and a double from Philippe Coutinho – who was on loan at Bayern from Barcelona – sent the club through to the semi-finals while sending shockwaves throughout Europe.
The Bavarian side ended up claiming their sixth triumph in the competition following a 1-0 win over PSG in the final, but it is the tie against Barcelona which stands out as one of the finest team displays in the tournament’s history.
3 Monaco 8-3 Deportivo Group stage, 2003/04
Dado Prso
The 2003/04 season was full of surprises in the Champions League, but one of the best moments came during the group stage.
Monaco, under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, were not expected to go as far as they did, but confidence was certainly gained from their 8-3 win over Deportivo.
Croatian forward Dado Prso had a superb match. The striker was approaching the final years of his career, but netted four times for the French side as they secured an impressive win.
Incredibly, Monaco led 5-3 at the interval in what was one of the most entertaining first halves of football anyone is likely to see, especially in the Champions League.
Only three goals were scored in the second period as Monaco reached eight, and they carried this form all the way to the final, where the club were defeated by José Mourinho’s Porto.
2 Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb League phase, 2024/25
Bayern are the only club in the Champions League to score seven, eight and nine goals in one game. Against Dinamo Zagreb in the first match of the current season, they got off to a perfect start under Vincent Kompany.
After 50 minutes, the score was 3-2 in favour of the home side, but a remarkable six goals were scored in the final 40 minutes, Harry Kane scored four and Michael Olise netted twice as a statement was sent by Kompany and his men that they would be tough to beat.
Tottenham's Richarlison shared a video taken by Pape Matar Sarr on social media, as the Brazilian shouted and cursed at him on the roads.
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Richarlison rages at SarrSmacks car and flips him offLeaves midfielder in hystericsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The video, which was posted jointly on both players' Instagram accounts, showed Richarlison leaping from his Corvette to hit the bonnet of Sarr's Mercedes after the Senegalese midfielder honked at a junction when he was stopped behind Tottenham's No.9. The Brazilian then shot expletives and raised his middle finger at Sarr, who was filming and laughing hysterically.
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As it was, Richarlison did see the funny side of the encounter with Sarr during his hilarious road rage. The Brazilian went on to take shots at the Senegalese midfielder as he wrote as the caption: "Tag your friend who has no patience in traffic!!!"
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WHAT NEXT FOR RICHARLISON & SARR?
Tottenham are down to 16th in the Premier League table heading into Sunday's match at home to Southampton. Sarr could feature for Ange Postecoglou's side but Richarlison is expected to miss out through injury.
Arsenal’s title ambitions have often stuttered this season, with injuries massively halting their progress under Mikel Arteta after numerous near misses.
Martin Odegaard has been the midfield orchestrator in recent years, but his absence with an ankle issue took away their biggest creative asset, leading to a decline in results.
However, the defence has often been plagued with setbacks, leading to various different partnerships along the backline, offering no continuity, which has undoubtedly contributed to the lack of threat to current Premier League leaders Liverpool.
In recent weeks, a handful of absentees have made their way back into action, which has seen results return to a form of normality, including a 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday night.
The Spaniard could be about to bolster his defensive options in the next couple of weeks, with the transfer window just around the corner.
Arsenal set to make offer for £62m star
According to one Spanish outlet, Arsenal are preparing a bid to sign Barcelona defender Jules Koundé ahead of the January transfer window.
The report states that the Gunners are willing to offer €75m (£62m) for the France international, with the former Sevilla star said to be keen on a move to England’s top flight.
Kounde would provide that added cover Arteta has massively desired in recent months, featuring in 70 games this calendar year – the most of any player in world football.
He’s capable of featuring in either a centre-back or right-back role should he make the move to North London, with his ball-playing assets of massive interest to the Gunners boss, according to the report.
Given the current partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of the backline, he would likely fill in a right-sided role but would face serious competition from the current options at the Emirates.
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Englishman White has been missing since the start of November with a knee issue, allowing the Dutchman to stake his claim for a regular starting role after missing the vast majority of his debut year in England with an ACL injury.
However, both of the aforementioned players are similar to the Barcelona star in the fact they have both featured centrally, before being utilised in a full-back role – highlighting their versatility under the Gunners boss.
Their similarities are further reflected by FBref, ranking the two Arsenal stars as similar players to Kounde based on their respective figures in the Champions League so far this campaign.
When delving into their stats, the comparison is understandable, with the Frenchman bettering the pair in various key areas across the pitch.
How Kounde compares in the Champions League (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Kounde
White
Timber
Games played
6
3
5
Goals & assists
3
0
1
Progressive carries
2.2
1.2
1.4
Blocks
1.2
0
0.6
Clearances
2.8
1.2
1.7
Take-ons attempted
2
0
2
Crosses completed
2.2
0.8
1.7
Recoveries made
4.3
3.6
3.4
Stats via FBref
The “world-class” talent, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has more combined goals and assists in Europe, also managing more progressive carries per 90 – showcasing his talent with the ball at his feet.
However, he’s been just as impressive out of possession, making more blocks per 90 and making more recoveries to get himself into defensive positions.
The fee touted would be yet another mammoth investment from the club’s hierarchy, but it’s clear for all to see how much he would bolster Arteta’s defensive department.
Arsenal’s backline has taken a battering in recent times, with Kounde’s potential arrival handing the club the added depth needed if they are to mount a title charge during the second half of the season.
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Tis’ the season alright. Everton have received an early Christmas gift in the form of The Friedkin Group’s club takeover last week, purchasing outgoing shareholder Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake.
Sean Dyche said that he wasn’t worried about his future after the acquisition, though it’s bound to bring change to an outfit desperate to improve.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
In any case, recent reports suggest that change might indeed be afoot.
Everton considering Dyche dismissal
As per pundit Jay Bothroyd, via Football Insider, Everton’s first-team players are discontented with Dyche’s pragmatic style of football and his long-term suitability appears negligible.
Amadou Onana
That said, TFG won’t jump the gun and axe the experienced manager yet, for Everton have only lost two of their past 12 Premier League fixtures and have claimed points in recent matches against Arsenal and Chelsea.
The problem is that Everton’s 14-goal haul this year has proved emblematic of their struggles, toothless and uninspiring in attack. Indeed, the Toffees have failed to score in a league-high nine matches this year.
Premier League 24/25 – Fewest Goals Scored
Rank
Club
Goals Scored
15th
Man United
21
15th=
Leicester
21
17th
Crystal Palace
18
18th
Ipswich
16
19th
Everton
14
20th
Southampton
11
Stats via Premier League
TFG won’t do anything drastic, but they are bound to be assessing the market and might have the perfect dugout replacement in Graham Potter.
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Why Everton should appoint Graham Potter
When Dyche is no longer in the Everton hot seat, his tenure at the club may well be looked back at with more admiration and respect. He’s kept seven clean sheets in the Premier League since the start of October, more than any other side across Europe’s top five leagues.
Graham Potter as Chelsea manager
But this is a time for ambition. Everton have languished around the pit of England’s top flight for several years now and TFG need a coach whose ideas will take root in a Blues crop capable of more.
Potter is the man for the job. Sky Sports’ Alan Myers acknowledged one month ago that Potter was a strong candidate for the Everton job but that Dyche would retain the club’s backing until the new year presents a clearer picture of things.
Described as a tactical “genius” by journalist Sam Morton, Potter enforces a ball-playing system that is fluid in its in-game shape and structure.
Over at Liverpool, Arne Slot promotes a similar outlook, and given the success that the pesky Reds have found under the Dutchman’s tutelage this term, it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to appoint a manager capable of turning Everton toward slicker and more stylish football too.
Potter also cut his teeth with Swedish fourth-tier side Ostersunds in 2011, leading the outfit to the Europa League in a remarkable journey that proved fundamental to his development as a coach.
Slot, too, has enjoyed the fruits of operating away from Europe’s top five leagues, managing in his homeland for a number of trophy-filled years before moving to the Premier League in the summer.
Given that Potter likes to play without a rigid formational structure and has showcased his talents in England’s major league with Brighton & Hove Albion and, to a less successful degree, Chelsea, over the past few years, there’s every reason for TFG to bite the bullet and replace Dyche with a more modern-tailored style.
It would be imprudent to dismiss the one-time Burnley boss off the bat, but it would be wise to keep a close eye on Potter, lest he fall into a rival’s clutches before Everton are able to welcome him as the spearhead of a promising new era.
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It’s a fool’s notion to claim that a football team, however well they are playing, are bankers for a title before reaching the midpoint of a campaign.
However, Liverpool fans should rightly celebrate the way in which Arne Slot has taken to life in Jurgen Klopp’s old chair. While things are going well for the Reds at the moment, a lot can change in the business months of the season.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
But Liverpool should still stand proud as one of the most exciting and impressive clubs of the 2024/25 campaign so far, top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and firing on all cylinders, with the defence imperious, the midfield industrious and the attack deliciously potent.
Most of the attack, anyway…
Liverpool's frontline in 2024/25
Obviously, Liverpool’s attacking success leans heavily into one third of the frontline, with Mohamed Salah currently riding the crest of one of the biggest waves of his career – and there have been many, many waves.
Mohamed Salah
22 (20)
16
12
Cody Gakpo
22 (11)
8
2
Luis Diaz
21 (14)
9
2
Darwin Nunez
19 (11)
3
2
Diogo Jota
10 (9)
4
2
Federico Chiesa
3 (1)
0
1
With Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz both principally playing at left wing this term, rotating, it’s rather concerning that Liverpool’s central striking position is the area most notably lacking in goals.
To his defence, Diogo Jota has been injured for the past few months and bagged four goals from just nine starts beforehand, but Darwin Nunez has now played plenty of football under Slot’s wing and is yet to prove himself as a high-class focal frontman, even if he has some neat attributes.
Why Darwin Nunez could still succeed at Liverpool
It’s beginning to feel like Nunez will never be the kind of assured goalscoring presence that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is, but that’s okay.
Darwin Nunez for Liverpool
He’s still got a wealth of qualities that make for a high-class footballer, it’s just whether Liverpool can continue to operate with him as their central talisman, especially if Salah leaves at the end of the season, meaning that the need for goals from other areas will be heightened.
This season, for example, Nunez might have only posted three goals and two assists across 19 outings, but he’s also succeeding with a Liverpool-career-high 55% of his dribbles in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, while also winning more duels on average than across either of his first two seasons.
For all his issues, Nunez still manages to provide some underlying data that speaks of his capacity for a brighter future, ranking among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 17% for progressive carries and the top 6% for tackles, as per FBref.
But is this enough? As per The Athletic’s James Pearce, it’s possible that Slot prioritises the signing of a new striker in the coming windows, for Nunez, talented as they come, can’t seem to harness and focus his own quality.
Darwin Nunez for Liverpool
To be honest, it might be that the Uruguayan needs to be sold, with suitors sure to circle from various circles of the footballing world. Reading between the lines, it feels like Slot wouldn’t be wholly against the idea, were the right offer to arrive.
Why Slot should sell Darwin Nunez
Nunez is certainly a divisive member of the Liverpool squad. Many fans adore the 25-year-old for his work rate, personality and multi-dimensionality in attack, but others are frustrated by an unending search for consistency in front of goal.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
Unfortunately, unless Nunez showcases a whole new level of potency and consistency at the front of the Liverpool line-up, it’s going to be hard for him to stake a claim for a fourth successive term at the club as the designated number one at number nine.
Some might claim that Nunez requires a certain system to flourish, operating as the spearhead of a frenetic, high-intensity line that allows him to capitalise and rise chaotic phases, but Klopp and now Slot have both tried to bring the best out of the Uruguayan, who has failed to hit the desired heights on both accounts.
Last season, Liverpool-focused writer Sam McGuire called the South American a bit of a “problem” within the Merseyside squad, and for all his ability, if he can’t finish his dinner, then it is indeed an issue going forward.
Especially when considering that Gakpo and Diaz both earn less than him, with the former on £120k-per-week and Diaz taking home just £55k-per-week, as per reports. Nunez, meanwhile, rakes in a reported £140k-per-week.
Both wingers have enjoyed a rich vein of form this season and they are jockeying with each other for a starting berth on the left flank, though that is to the detriment of neither, which makes an interesting comment on the regard that Liverpool fans have for the respective stars.
Nunez, conversely, feels like he’s only occupying the striker’s position because Jota has been sidelined with an injury.
Slot featured the Portugal international prominently throughout the opening months of the campaign and you’d wager that he will do so again once he has returned to full fitness.
Jota has returned to training as he strives to hit full match fitness in the coming weeks. Nunez will be eyeing the forthcoming Premier League fixture at home to Fulham, who are missing key defenders through injury, with an air of suppressed desperation.
He knows that an upswing is needed quickly if he is to finally reach the heights that Klopp envisaged when bringing him to Merseyside for a record fee.
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“His batting is his batting. We know how he bats and as a team we just want to give him that freedom to bat in the way that he wants to bat. But also keeping in mind certain situations of the game, where the game is going, we have also conveyed that to him, but we want to stick with his game plan as a team. It just seems to get better and get better – his game plans.”There will be times when you will smash your head and say ‘why did he play that shot’ but again we need to be ready to accept that with him when he bats. And he is somebody who can change the game in 40 minutes.”And the most significant factor of his in this series was his keeping. His keeping was best that I have seen. He kept well when England came last year and he seems to get better every time he keeps wickets for India, so that is something that I have been very impressed with.”And also the DRS calls, seems to be making the right calls. DRS, we all know – it’s like a lottery. I have made it very clear with Rishabh what I want. There are certain aspects of the game that I have told him to look into and that’s about it. DRS calls are not something you will always get it right. There will be times when you will be making wrong calls. But that’s absolutely okay.”Although both Mohali and Bangalore surfaces were spin-friendly, the bowler who emerged with the best average from this series is Jasprit Bumrah, whose 10 wickets came at an average of 9.0 exactly. He was especially impressive in the first innings in Bangalore, where he took 5 for 24.”To come out and bowl like that in these kind of conditions shows how much skill and ability he has. Someone like Bumrah, he’s never out of the game whatever the conditions are. He’s always in the game and it gives the captain a lot of benefits, to rotate and get the best out of each bowler when you have quality like Bumrah in the team. He understands the conditions really well.”To bowl on certain pitches, you need certain skillsets. And he seems to bringing those skillsets into the game depending on what sort of assistance he has from the pitch. In Mohali we saw a different sort of pitch and he was still effective. This was a different kind of pitch. it was turning and bouncing and everything was happening for spinners. If there’s any lateral movement, he’s always in play.”
O técnico Lúcio Flávio não escondeu sua lamentação pelo Botafogo sair de campo derrotado por 5 a 3 para a Portuguesa, pela nona rodada da Taça Guanabara (primeira fase do Campeonato Estadual). Em entrevista coletiva neste domingo (27), no Luso-Brasileiro, o interino alvinegro falou sobre a sucessão de falhas da equipe.
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-De fato, houve no jogo de hoje um exagero ao resultado. Se você errar, o adversário tem a capacidade de fazer os gols. Foi uma noite que não queríamos. Não foi um bom jogo, erramos muito individualmente. Foi um resultado que acaba sendo além do que esperávamos – declarou.
Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW O treinador se esquivou de apontar culpados ao falar sobre os problemas defensivos do Alvinegro durante a partida. Perguntado sobre quem tinha a missão de ajudar Vitor Marinho (lateral-direito improvisado na lateral esquerda), Lúcio Flávio frisou.
-Assim como Vitor (Marinho), outros da base também atuaram, são jogadores que têm potencial. Só vão crescer jogando. Vitor era quem nós tínhamos para a posição. Raí era o jogador que ajudava ele mais à frente – disse.
Além disto, Lúcio Flávio foi taxativo sobre as hesitações da equipe.
-Todos nós ficamos insatisfeitos, claro que ninguém queria um resultado como esse. Não fizemos uma boa jornada. Tomamos gols rápidos no início dos dois tempos. No primeiro tempo, conseguimos uma reação rápida, no segundo tempo não foi possível – disse.
O Botafogo volta a campo no dia 7, uma segunda-feira, para encarar o Volta Redonda. A equipe tem 16 pontos e está na quarta colocação.
A total of 169 different players from 40 different countries have won the Premier League Player of the Month award since the accolade’s inception in 1994.
Some, like former West Ham United and Senegal striker Diafra Sakho, Norwich City and Finland legend Teemu Pukki, and Arsenal’s Austrian cult hero Alex Manninger have won it just once, collecting the prize after enjoying unlikely purple patches.
Others, like Thierry Henry, Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, and Peter Odemwingie (yes, really) have won the award on multiple occasions, proving that their good form was indeed no fluke.
With that being said, we have listed the seven players with the most Premier League Player of the Month awards in top-flight history.
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ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2024 7 Mohamed Salah 5 POTM awards
Mohamed Salah against Ipswich Town
Given that he’s been one of the Premier League’s most outstanding players since his arrival at Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, it should come as no surprise that Mohamed Salah has won the Premier League’s Player of the Month award on five occasions.
Three of those wins came in his debut season for the Reds, with the Egyptian first collecting the prize in November 2017 and in back-to-back months in February and March 2018.
Salah finished that season as the Premier League’s runaway top scorer with 32 goals as Jurgen Klopp’s side finished fourth behind Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Salah also won the Premier League Player of the Month award in October 2021 and October 2023.
Robin van Persie is one of only 12 players in top-flight history to have won the Premier League Player of the Month award for two different clubs.
The Dutchman won it three times while playing for Arsenal in November 2005, October 2009 and October 2011, before winning it twice as a Manchester United player during his first season at Old Trafford.
Van Persie’s final Player of the Month award in April 2013 was given to him after he scored six goals in four games, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa which secured United the Premier League title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final campaign in charge.
5 Wayne Rooney 5 POTM awards
All five of Wayne Rooney’s Premier League Player of the Month wins came during his time at Manchester United.
The Englishman, who is the top flight’s third-highest scorer of all time with 208 goals, first scooped the award in February 2005 during his debut season at Old Trafford, in which he scored 11 league goals.
Rooney won the award again in December 2005, March 2006, October 2007 and January 2010.
Somehow, he didn’t scoop the prize in either August or September 2011, despite scoring nine goals – including two hat-tricks – in United’s opening five games of the 2011/12 season.
4 Cristiano Ronaldo 6 POTM awards
Widely regarded as one of the best players to ever grace a football field, Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a stellar first spell in England with Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals and winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
During that period, he was also named as the Premier League’s Player of the Month on four occasions.
The Portuguese star’s second spell at Old Trafford following his return to the club in 2021 wasn’t quite so successful (nor long), but he was still recognised for his individual brilliance.
In the 2021/22 season, Ronaldo scored 18 Premier League goals and won the division’s Player of the Month award on two occasions.
Steven Gerrard was Liverpool’s most integral player for much of his 17-season spell at Anfield, scoring 120 Premier League goals from midfield and dragging the Reds from the abyss time after time.
For his efforts, the Englishman was named the PFA Player of the Year in 2006 and was the division’s Player of the Month six times – firstly in March 2001 and lastly 13 years later in March 2014, when he shared the gong with Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez.
However, despite his best efforts, Gerrard was never able to guide Liverpool to a Premier League title, which he described as his biggest regret upon leaving the club in 2015.
“I would love to say that I have got the full collection, it would be the icing on the cake,” he told Football Focus.
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Between 2011 and 2021, Sergio Aguero spearheaded Manchester City’s transformation from newly wealthy title hopefuls to the division’s most dominant team.
In 275 top-flight games for the Citizens, the Argentinian scored a mightily impressive 184 goals, firing the club to five titles.
He was named as the Premier League’s Player of the Month on a joint-record seven occasions, firstly in October 2013 after scoring five goals in four games. His most recent award was in January 2020, shortly after netting the 350th goal of his professional career with a hat-trick against Newcastle United.
1 Harry Kane 7 POTM awards
Harry Kane may have never won a piece of team silverware during his career, but he’s picked up plenty of individual accolades.
During his time in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Kane won the Golden Boot three times and the PFA Young Player of the Year award once, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year on six occasions.
The Englishman was also named as the Premier League Player of the Month seven times, including three times in one calendar year in 2017, collecting the award in February, September and December.
He won his final Player of the Month award in March 2022 after scoring four goals and providing two assists in four games for Antonio Conte’s Spurs side.
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