Liverpool are cruising toward the Premier League title, with a variety of scenarios meaning that Arne Slot’s side could have the quest wrapped up before the end of the week.

However, FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes will be hard at work on the transfer front, getting everything in order ahead of the summer window.

Although Liverpool have exceeded expectations this term, there’s a sense that the Reds carry a number of weaknesses that need to be ironed out ahead of Slot’s second season at the helm, with Mohamed Salah the architect of most of Liverpool’s success in and around the final third.

His contract has been renewed, but the 32-year-old’s form has also dipped, and it’s clear that work needs to be done in order to bring him back to his A-game ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Mohamed Salah's dip in form

Salah has gone six games without a goal in all competitions, with his performances in particular against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United drawing criticism from some onlookers.

However, it’s hardly surprising that he’s plateaued of late, having carried the weight of a multi-title-challenging football club on his back for the lion’s share of the season.

Salah, for what it’s worth, has posted 32 goals and 23 assists across all competitions this season, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher saying he’s “one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen in the Premier League.”

And anyway, it’s not as if he’s been dismal of late. As per Sofascore, the 32-year-old has created seven big chances since last scoring in the Premier League four games ago, hitting the woodwork twice during the recent victory over Leicester.

Salah remains head and shoulders ahead of his goalscoring rivals in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, even though it’s been four fixtures since he last made the net bulge.

1.

Mohamed Salah

33

27

2.

Erling Haaland

28

21

2=

Alexander Isak

30

21

4.

Chris Wood

30

18

4=

Bryan Mbeumo

33

18

His Liverpool teammates haven’t been the most helpful in front of goal, with FSG set to bring in some fresh firepower this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Set to win the English title, Liverpool are gearing up to aim big, with one of Europe’s foremost players on the club’s radar.

Liverpool learn conditions for world-class forward

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have learned that they could potentially sign Raphinha this summer, with financially-troubled Barcelona not against selling their most valuable asset.

With a vested long-term interest in the winger, Arsenal and Chelsea are both keen too and intermediaries have informed Premier League suitors that he could be available for around an £80m transfer fee.

Raphinha, 28, has indeed been one of the best players in the world this season and would significantly strengthen Liverpool’s robust attacking line, perhaps even restoring Salah to his absolute best.

Why Liverpool should sign Raphinha

If the money is indeed there to be spent on a rising sensation such as Raphinha, it feels like something of a no-brainer for a Liverpool side that will be desperate to consolidate its place at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool have dipped in form and fluency over the past several months, with Slot unwilling to utilise his wider first-team squad with the rotation that perhaps some fans have hoped for. But with a player like Raphinha, Liverpool’s frontline would only go from strength to strength, actually restoring talisman Salah to full strength.

Like Salah, Raphinha has adjusted his tactical approach to suit his burgeoning prolific ability. There’s no denying he’s a high-level athlete, with a powerful gait and fleet-footedness that once led his former Leeds United teammate Dan James to hail him as a “magician” of a footballer.

On that note, Raphinha is also Prem-proven, which is always a bonus. Littered with flops is the road toward superstardom on English shores.

But he’s never played as well as he is right now, within Hansi Flick’s attack-centric La Blaugrana set-up.

As per FBref, the Brazilian ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal contributions and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, perfectly illustrating his newfound place among the game’s top brass.

There’s also the matter of Raphinha’s Champions League campaign. With 12 goals and seven assists from 12 matches on the continental front, it’s clear why he’s among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, something Liverpool fans will hold onto hopes that Salah will claim.

But with Barca challenging for a treble, there’s every chance that “Europe’s best player in 2024/25,” as he has been called by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, will swipe the crown.

Hypothetically, if Slot could succeed in capturing and preserving Raphinha’s ridiculous output, unleashing it on the left flank at Liverpool, then there’s no telling how dynamic and deadly his title-defending frontline might be next season.

Right winger

70

19

21

0.57

Left winger

54

30

20

0.93

Attacking midfield

8

1

7

1.00

Central midfield

1

0

0

0.00

Such a balanced attacking force could be exactly what Salah needs to stay firing next season, with the in-form Luis Diaz potentially playing in a centre-forward role to accommodate both players.

Salah’s multi-dimensional output would only be reinforced by Raphinha’s arrival, and even though £80m would make him one of the most expensive players in the club’s history, it’s something FSG will want to consider.

Nunez upgrade: Liverpool likely to see £50m bid accepted for "mini-Salah"

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1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 20, 2025

Liverpool have joined the race to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi as the FA Cup-winning defender edges closer to the end of his contract.

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12 months left on Guehi's contractSeveral clubs interestedLiverpool join raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Daily Mail, Slot's team are looking to bring in a central defender amid ongoing speculation about Jarrel Quansah's potential exit to Bayer Leverkusen. Guehi has been identified as a strong addition to the squad, but Palace's previous asking price of £65 million ($87m) may be a little steep for the Premier League champions. They have rejected bids to that value before, from Newcastle, but their bargaining power has taken a hit since.

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Liverpool's excellent Premier League-winning campaign, in which they also bagged serious funds from a strong Champions League performance, means they have plenty of cash to spend this summer. Guehi would serve as a replacement to Quansah and potentially a long-term successor to Ibrahima Konate, who has been linked with Real Madrid.

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool are having a busy summer in the transfer market, but in order to finance big-money moves like their record-breaking swoop for Florian Wirtz, player exits are also crucial. Frustratingly, he club has just been dealt a blow regarding out-of-favour forward Darwin Nunez; Napoli boss Antonio Conte is reportedly very keen on landing his signature, but the Uruguayan's price tag is proving a serious obstacle.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL & GUEHI?

Guehi's path towards an exit is potentially about to be cleared, with Palace in talks to sign Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande for around £40m. With a replacement lined up, the Eagulls are far more likely to let their captain leave, and if the Premier League champions make a substantial offer, it'll be difficult for the England international to refuse.

da spicy bet： Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim revealed after the extra-time win over Lyon in the Europa League that he would give young players a chance to shine in the Premier League for the rest of the season.

da 888： The Portuguese tactician was true to his word in the clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Tyler Fredericson and Harry Amass both started.

Whilst it was a disappointing 1-0 defeat for the Reds, Amass caught the eye with a bright showing in the left wing-back position for the Red Devils.

Why Harry Amass is an exciting talent

The 18-year-old starlet played the full 90 minutes against Wolves and showcased his defensive strength and tenacity, winning nine of his 13 duels. He also completed 89% of his attempted passes and created one chance down the flank.

It was his third Premier League appearance and second start this season, whilst he also played 20 minutes off the bench against Lyon, and reporter Sam Luckhurst claimed “all signs” suggest that he can “compete” with Patrick Dorgu for a starting berth next term.

This all suggests that Amass is an exciting talent who could be a future star at Old Trafford, given his emergence in the first-team at such a young age, and his strong display against Wolves.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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However, Manchester United may have already signed a player who could ruin the young left-back’s development next season and moving forward, in the form of Diego Leon.

Why Diego Leon could ruin Harry Amass' development

The Red Devils snapped up the teenage defender from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay during the January transfer window for a fee that could reportedly rise to £7m.

Whilst it is not certain to go this way, Leon could be viewed as a better long-term option than Amass because the academy graduate is a more valuable asset to be sold for PSR.

Homegrown players represent pure profit for clubs because they were not signed for lavish transfer fees and this means that United could, in theory, cash in on players like Kobbie Mainoo and Amass to give themselves more room with PSR to make big signings in other positions.

Leon’s experience at first-team level at a similar age also suggests that the potential is there for him to arrive at Old Trafford in the summer as a danger to Amass’ place in the squad.

Stats

Leon (2024 Primera Division)

Amass (24/25 Premier League)

Appearances (starts)

19 (18)

3 (2)

Goals

2

0

Big chances created

1

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

1.6

Dribbled past per game

0.7x

0.7x

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

Duels won per game

4.4

4.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old talent has already played 19 times and started 18 games at league level, despite only turning 18 this month, and outperformed the English defender in several statistics.

Leon, who was once described as an “explosive” and “marauding” left-back, has had more time to adjust to playing first-team football and that could give him an edge over Amass heading into pre-season.

Therefore, the Paraguay youth international could ruin the United academy graduate’s development by arriving as a potential upgrade on him, at the same age.

It could be an interesting sub-plot to keep an eye on during the club’s pre-season tour because there could be a big battle on between them to impress Amorim.

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Posts 1 ByDan Emery Apr 21, 2025

The U.S. are avoiding and tuning out criticism aimed at them and Pulisic ahead of the Gold Cup

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• Adams says U.S. tuning out criticism from anyone
• Donovan, Dempsey have piled on Pulisic in recent days
• Midfielder suffered "turf toe" injury vs. Turkey, hopeful for quick recovery

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. men’s national team captain Tyler Adams says the squad is ignoring outside criticism, including recent pointed comments from Landon Donovan, after Christian Pulisic opted out of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

  "We don't talk about that internally as a group," Adams told the Associated Press. "The noise on the outside is the noise on the outside. I think we need to focus on what we need to do as a group and continue to build."

  Donovan, while serving as an analyst for FOX’s coverage of the EURO Nations League, took a thinly veiled shot at Pulisic without naming him directly. While praising Cristiano Ronaldo’s commitment to Portugal at age 40, Donovan expressed frustration with unnamed USMNT players who declined to join the squad this summer.

  “This is what it means to represent your country,” Donovan said. “And if you don’t want to take this, as a professional soccer player and someone who gets the opportunity to wear that jersey and take it seriously and responsibly, then don’t come in… I can’t help but think about some of our guys on vacation right now not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It’s p*ssing me off.”

  Pulisic’s father later responded on social media, telling Donovan to “look in the mirror.” Clint Dempsey also weighed in on his podcast, saying, “I always wanted to play in those games.”

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The U.S., which has lost four straight games for the first time since 2011, fell to Switzerland 4-0 Tuesday evening in their final tune-up match ahead of this summer's Gold Cup.

  "This is part of the process," Adams said. "You're going to win games. You're going to lose games. It's about continuing to build that. I think we're on the right path. We have to continue to build and try the things that we've been training. It'll take a little bit of time, but it will come together."

  Adams, who didn't dress for the affair due to a minor injury, is hoping to be ready for their opening game of the competition against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.

  "A little turf toe-type injury. More of an overuse thing probably than anything — overload. It was something that I picked up when I came into camp," Adams said. "Progressing well right now, but just trying to be smart and manage it."

• ADAMS REFLECTS ON INJURY RECOVERY

  This past campaign, Adams appeared in 28 Premier League matches for Bournemouth – a career-high for the after he missed a large chunk of the 2023-24 season due to injury, where he was limited to just three showings.

  "It's definitely enjoyable when you're healthy," he said. "The 16 to 18 months that it was just on and off inconsistency is something I never had in my career and never had to battle. And then when it hits you and you go through that, you just learn different ways to navigate things, enjoy life, just not take things for granted, all the little things."

  The U.S., who played their 10th game under manager Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday, are trying to play more freely on the pitch, breaking away from the previously confined structure that was deployed under former manager Gregg Berhalter.

  "From a positional standpoint, obviously we had probably a little bit of a different structure under Gregg," Adams said. "Mauricio gives the players freedom to find spots they're comfortable in and see how they can affect the game in different ways. I think our attacking players definitely have freedom to try and find the ball and create things in the right areas of the field. So, yeah, I think he gives everyone freedom, but there's still structure to the way that we want to play."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ADAMS?

  The U.S. play Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in their opening Group Stage match of the Gold Cup.

Sheffield United look as if they’ll be narrowly missing out on automatic promotion at the very top of the Championship with their opponents on Easter Monday in Scott Parker’s Burnley perhaps clinching a return to the Premier League at their expense.

Indeed, the Clarets can seal an immediate return to the promised land of the top-flight if they beat the travelling Blades, with Leeds United also only one victory away if Burnley get the job done against Chris Wilder’s men and they win themselves.

The South Yorkshire titans don’t have the most glittering record when it comes to the lottery of the playoffs unfortunately, with the Blades losing out during their last five playoff adventures, away from triumphantly managing to go up via the more drama-free top-two.

Wilder has only ever got his side up via these automatic spots, with other bosses such as the passionate Neil Warnock also clinching a passage up to the top-flight at the end of the 2005/06 season without the agony of the playoffs courtesy of Phil Jagielka’s heroics at the back.

Jagielka's heroics at Sheffield United

Before Jagielka went on to cement himself as a Premier League regular at Everton, the Blades youth product would initially make a name for himself at his boyhood side.

The 40-time England international amassed a whopping 305 appearances for United across two spells, with his efforts at the back during the aforementioned 05/06 campaign more than helping his team leap up to the top-flight, having bagged a sizeable eight goals as a titan defensively.

He went on to help himself to a further four goals the following campaign even whilst Warnock’s men tragically fell straight back down to the EFL, leading to Everton swooping in to land the 5 foot 11 defender to make him a recognised name in the big time.

Amazingly, Wilder might well be brewing United’s next Jagielka now during the dramatic promotion run-in.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Sheffield United's modern-day Jagielka

Wilder has shown this campaign that he’s unafraid to make a team selection that throws the cat amongst the pigeons, with faces such as £10m striker Tom Cannon regularly left out.

Last time out in the second tier, the Blades boss even left out ex-Liverpool defender Jack Robinson to gift Crystal Palace loanee Rob Holding a start, a decision that was immediately vindicated when assessing his top display against Cardiff City.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

70

Accurate passes

58/61 (95%)

Accurate long balls

11/14

Clearances

4

Blocked shots

1

Tackles

1

Total duels won

4/8

The brand-new United number five was calm and controlled on the ball throughout, particularly considering it was just his second league start since a January switch.

That was epitomised by his pass completion rate, with only three of his 61 passes missing their intended target during his time on the field.

Moreover, he also battled well against the relegation-threatened Bluebirds with four clearances tallied up alongside four duels being successfully won, leading to Wilder lauding the ex-Arsenal man as “outstanding” post-match.

As a result, the club may well have unearthed their next version of Jagielka. That’s considering Holding – much like his now retired counterpart – has a wealth of top-flight experience under his belt, having amassed 162 appearances for the Gunners in total away from injury issues.

With discussions centring in on the fact United could try to tie down Holding to a permanent deal, Wilder would love for the 29-year-old – like Jagielka – to continue putting in stern displays when called upon to try and clinch promotion.

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Sheffield United already have a dominant performer defensively in this standout star.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 16, 2025

Match details

Kolkata Knight Riders (2nd; W3 L1) vs Lucknow Super Giants (4th; W3 L2)
Kolkata, 3.30pm IST (10am GMT)

Big picture – KKR’s home run

Which IPL team has their headquarters only six kilometres from Eden Gardens? If you’re thinking Kolkata Knight Riders, that’s wrong.That honour belongs to Lucknow Super Giants, whose owners are based in Kolkata. They have a majority stake in another local team with a strong fan base – Mohun Bagan – and the last time they played at Eden Gardens, LSG turned out sporting that football team’s iconic maroon, leaving local KKR fans split over who to root for.In that sense, Kolkata is LSG’s home away from home, and they have enjoyed a 3-0 streak against KKR. Their last two victories, by two runs and one run, cemented this fixture as a rivalry worth earmarking for the future. Even now it takes special prominence when you factor in the presence of Gautam Gambhir – LSG’s mentor in 2022 and 2023 – returning to KKR ahead of this season.Related

• Why Phil Salt bats for a good time

• Injured Mayank Yadav 'unlikely to play' next two games for LSG, says Justin Langer

Off-field developments aside, LSG are in a good space with their six points in five games. Despite losing to Delhi Capitals on Friday, they are still in the top four on the points table and would be pleased with the coolness shown by Ayush Badoni and Arshad Khan to drag the side from an insipid 94 for 7 to a final score of 167. Their only real concern is Devdutt Padikkal’s form; he has scored only 25 runs in five games.KKR had their first defeat of the season in their previous game, against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai. But like LSG, KKR are also in a comfortable position, just two points behind table-toppers Rajasthan Royals and with a game in hand. In the first leg of the schedule, they had three away games and won two of those. The quirk of scheduling in an election year now sees them based at home for their next five fixtures, which means, if they can exert dominance at home the way CSK, Mumbai Indians or Gujarat Titans do, they could have one foot in the playoffs by the end of it.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders: LWWW
Lucknow Super Giants: LWWWL

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Kolkata Knight RidersVice-captain Nitish Rana (hand injury) and seamer Harshit Rana (shoulder injury) were spotted in training and could return. Nitish would likely replace Ramandeep Singh.Suyash Sharma is the likely impact player, but they may use left-arm spinner Anukul Roy instead if KKR need runs from a No. 9.Likely XII: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 , 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 6 Ramandeep Singh/Nitish Rana, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Rinku Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Vaibhav Arora/Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Shreyas Iyer hasn’t been at his fluent best•Associated Press

Lucknow Super GiantsPadikkal is close to losing his place and Deepak Hooda is already on the bench due to poor form. That means, one of Arshin Kulkarni, Yudhvir Singh and Prerak Mankad may play if LSG want to keep the same overseas quartet. There are more creative options if LSG drop an overseas batter or Naveen-ul-Haq, like the inclusion of Shamar Joseph to make up for Mayank Yadav’s absence. Both Mayank (hip injury) and Mohsin Khan (shoulder injury) are unavailable.Spinner M Siddharth is the likeliest impact player in place of Quinton de Kock.Likely XII: 1 , 2 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 3 Devdutt Padikkal/Prerak Mankad, 4 Marcus Stoinis, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Krunal Pandya, 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Arshad Khan, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Yash Thakur, 12

In the spotlight – Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul

Shreyas Iyer has two scores in the 30s but he hasn’t been at his fluent best. He has also been dismissed exclusively by left-arm seamers – Mustafizur Rahman, Khaleel Ahmed and T Natarajan – so Arshad could be an early match-up against him. Shreyas could counterattack by dominating spinners from the other end, but historically, he has struggled to put away Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya in T20s with strike rates of 117.64 and 90.47 respectively.Strike rates and KL Rahul share a love-hate relationship but he appears to be changing his powerplay approach. In his latest outing, Rahul made 30 off 14 against Capitals. Never before has he scored as many runs in the powerplay as an LSG player. Will he continue in the same vein?KL Rahul hit a six on the third ball he faced against Capitals•Associated Press

Stats that matter

• Mitchell Starc has dismissed Nicholas Pooran twice in four innings. However, Pooran has dominated Andre Russell, hitting him for 105 runs in 69 balls, and Varun Chakravarthy, striking 51 runs in 29 balls.
• Should KKR bat Russell higher? Since IPL 2018, his entry point has not made much difference to his strike rate. It is 182.2 when entering after the 14th over, and 177.6 when he comes in before the tenth, and 173.3 when he comes in between overs 10 and 14.
• Bishnoi loves facing KKR. His nine wickets are his highest against any team, and he has a favourable average (19.2) and economy (6.40) too.

Pitch and conditions

With an afternoon start and temperatures expected to cross 35°C at the time of the toss, fielding in the first innings will be excruciating. However, chasing could still be the preference as historical numbers suggest, in addition to the possibility of drizzle in the evening. Expect lots of runs.

Quotes

“They know me as well . First of all, everyone knows each other very well. It’s more about how we play for three and a half hours in the field is more important. It is not like I will plan something different for them. Even they know quite a lot about me. I have planned against KKR for the last two seasons so it’s probably even-stevens. It’s the best team that wins not the team that plans best.”
“He [Mayank] is feeling good. He looks good but we do not want to rush him. We need to protect his body. But he’s itching to go. Need to make sure that he is 100% fit before he comes back.”

Sunday night was chaotic, to put it lightly, but the shootout victory ended with the U.S. booking their spot in the semifinals

This game will be remembered by U.S. men's national team fans for all its chaotic energy, the tension of a sensational shootout and a death-defying ride on the Max Arfsten rollercoaster. Dips, turns, highs, lows, and everything in between, it was a rollercoaster Arfsten will never to repeat.

Such was the madness of it all. This ride was not for the faint of heart.

In fact, nothing on Sunday was, all the way through to the shootout. In the end, though, the U.S. rode the highest peak of that rollercoaster, and with a Gold Cup semifinal spot on the line, emerged with a shootout win over Costa Rica, seemingly against all odds.

The game finished 2-2 through 90, with Arfsten playing a direct part in all four goals – good and bad. He conceded a penalty on the first and assisted the second. He then went out and scored the game's third. But then, seemingly in the clear, he and Luca de la Torre were dribbled past on the fourth, setting up a shootout that – perhaps in the ultimate irony – Arfsten wouldn't get to participate in.

The chaos continued even without him, though. Standing tall at the end of it all was Matt Freese, who stopped three of Costa Rica's six shots from the spot to send the U.S. through, 4-3, in penalties. He, ultimately, was the hero, but he wasn't the only one. For the U.S., this was a test of resilience, and Freese, like several of his teammates, showed that ability to bounce back.

So, too, did Arfsten. Malik Tillman did as well, missing a penalty in the first half before making one in the shootout. Diego Luna scored a master-class goal that gave Mauricio Pochettino's side a needed boost at a critical time. Overall, the U.S. rolled with the punches, and that's why they're still in the competition.

"Today, they showed great character," Pochettino said. "I think it's good for this group of players to have this type of experience. I always said it's really important because the reality is, when you're in a big tournament, these things can happen, and it's important that they experience them

"OK, we give a penalty, we get a penalty, we miss a penalty. But the team kept going and kept believing in the way we play."

Now, Pochettino will hope the semifinal against Guatemala on Wednesday night isn't quite as chaotic. This particular ride is over, but the USMNT – winners of four straight now in this Gold Cup, having lost four in a row entering the tournament – have at least one more coming.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from U.S. Bank Stadium.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Matt Freese

Freese could not have been more prepared for this moment. Most goalkeepers spend hours studying how penalty shootouts could go. The Harvard-educated Freese took things a step further.

"I actually did a very long research project in college about penalty kicks," said Freese, who recently told GOAL about two other soccer-related projects he did in college. "To be able to rely on that type of thing and deal with statistics, reading their hips, things like that, it's all massive."

It sure was. Freese stopped three of Costa Rica's six penalty kicks. He even guessed right on two that he didn't save. Freese was clearly prepared in the closing minues, and it was largely based on data and analytics.

Ultimately, though, shootouts are defined by mentality. Which players can keep it together? Which crack? In the moments when he wasn't in goal, Freese made sure to keep his head, turning the focus within and not to the chaos around him.

"After the first save, I went over to the corner and just kept repeating to myself, 'I want another, I want another.' " Freese said. "Then, after the second, I did the same thing. I just kept telling myself that I wanted another. You can't get too happy with yourself. You can't get complacent in the middle of a shootout."

He didn't and the U.S. won as a result. On Sunday, Freese was the ultimate star, and it doesn't take any numbers, data or research projects to prove it.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWINNER/LOSER: Max Arfsten

What can you even say about Arfsten's game on Sunday? Was it good? Was it bad? It's really hard to say. What can be said, though, is that Arfsten's fingerprints were all over this one.

"Football has its ups and downs," Arfsten said. "Everybody knows that. For me, it was all about making my mark on this game."

It easily could have unraveled for Arfsten. Just minutes into Sunday's match, he conceded a back-breaking penalty, one that threatened to derail the USMNT's knockout round campaign before it ever got going.

Throughout the tournament, Pochettino has often said that the most important action is the next one. Arfsten seemingly took that to heart, shaking off his early mistake to provide a goal and an assist to help lead the U.S. to victory. His first action was a disaster, but Arfsten didn't let that stop him from finding a way to make up for it.

"I wanted to get my get-back, as some would say," Arfsten said, "and really make my mark on this game. I feel like I did that."

There was no fairytale ending, though. After contributing to the USMNT goals, Arfsten was directly involved in Costa Rica's second, too, getting dribbled past en route to Alonso Martinez's goal. It was a night of extraordinary highs and extraordinary lows. Arfsten, somehow, was involved in most of them.

"Obviously, though, there's always room to improve," he said, "but I'm happy with how I showed resiliency."

Getty Images SportWINNER: Diego Luna

It wasn't just the goal, but the timing of it. Moments before Luna hit the back of the net, the USMNT were about as low as could be. Down a goal and fresh off a missed penalty, the U.S. needed a pick-me-up.

And so Luna, as he so often does, put the team on his shoulders and made something happen. It required a generous deflection, yes, but fortune favors the bold, and Luna remains the USMNT's boldest star.

So much unfolded after it that it will likely get overlooked. Luna was long gone by the time the shootout started, and his goal was, in some ways, a distant memory given all of the chaos that happened after. That doesn't diminish Luna's impact, though, nor the impact his finish had on uplifting a young team that desperately needed it.

"A lot of ups and downs," Luna said postgame, "but that's soccer, right? I think the biggest thing is to stay mentally strong and stay positive through those tough times. Then, if it doesn't go your way, it doesn't but staying positive gives you the benefit of the doubt sometimes."

Luna continues to make a positive impact, which is why he remains such a crucial piece of this team.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Costa Rica

After the match, the USMNT's players didn't mince words. There was no sympathy for Costa Rica, and that mindset stemmed from one particular incident.

Following Tillman's missed penalty, the American midfielder was surrounded by celebrating Costa Rican players. It's a bit of he-said, he-said, of course. But whatever happened in that moment led to a very angry USMNT group. A scuffle started from that, in some ways, woke the USMNT up.

"All these teams love mind games," said Tyler Adams, who buried the USMNT's first penalty in the shootout. "It's fun. It's part of it for me. I wasn't involved in it because I know better at this point! I knew if I got a yellow, I would miss the next one but, trust me, I wanted to be more involved. In the end, we're moving on, and that's all that matters."

When the night was over and the U.S. were victorious in their own shootout, they didn't feel particularly bad for the team whose night ended with their own missed penalties. Costa Rica had their chance, particularly with the U.S. missing two of their spot kicks in extra time. They were unable to take it. According to Luna, there's a reason why.

"It's bad sportsmanship to do that to an opposition player," said Luna. "You can say it now and look at it all as karma, right? That's just something you don't do."

All roads lead to Bilbao in the Europa League, with Manchester United bidding to ensure that this drab season can end with a flourish, having been drawn against Lyon in the quarter-final stage.

A third trophy in three years for the Red Devils would certainly help to paper over the cracks of the club’s dire Premier League form, although, as manager Ruben Amorim has already admitted, any European glory would not be enough to “save” their season.

Regardless of what happens on the continent, work is seemingly already being done behind the scenes ahead of what is yet another vital summer transfer window.

Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven were acquired in January, while 17-year-old wing-back, Diego Leon, is set to arrive at the end of the season, after agreeing a £3m move from his native Paraguay earlier this year.

With departures expected – including the likes of Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen – Amorim’s ranks will need to be bolstered, with rumours already rife regarding the business that could be done over the coming months.

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

It has been noteworthy in recent times that rarely have the Red Devils recruited from within the Premier League, with Erik ten Hag’s tenure notably seeing a raft of Eredivisie arrivals make the move to Old Trafford.

Since signing the likes of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019, the only senior signing – excluding academy moves, loans and free transfers such as Eriksen and Jonny Evans – to have come from another top-flight club is Mason Mount, with the Englishman joining on an initial £55m deal from Chelsea in 2023.

While that deal has backfired amid Mount’s injury woes – and his return of just one goal to date – it could be wise to once again attempt to cherry-pick the best in the division. Think landing a teenage Wayne Rooney from Everton back in 2004.

That scenario could be set to repeat itself, if recent reports are to be believed, with the Daily Mail reporting that United are among a raft of Premier League clubs to have begun working on a deal for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

As per the report, 17 top-flight sides have lodged an enquiry in their bid to land the 19-year-old sensation this summer, albeit with the Old Trafford outfit holding the trump card, due to Jason Wilcox’s connection to the Saints after serving as director of football at St Mary’s previously.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The piece indicates that United have already sent scouts to watch the England U19 international of late, with the race now on to see just who will win the battle for his signature.

Why Man Utd could be chasing their next Rooney

As alluded to above, at the peak of their powers under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils were able to poach the very best that the division had to offer, be it Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie, or indeed, a young Rooney.

After two years in the first-team at Goodison Park, ‘Wazza’ – fresh off the back of his Euro 2004 exploits – was snapped up by Ferguson and co on a £27m deal, with United’s faith in that 18-year-old superstar duly rewarded amid his eventual rise to being the club’s all-time top scorer.

The former England skipper was something of a freak talent, it must be said, yet the aforementioned Dibling could well be on a similar trajectory, having been a firm fixture of Southampton’s first team in recent years, despite his youth.

Tyler Dibling’s PL season in numbers
Stat (*per game)	Record
Games (starts)	25 (17)
Goals	2
Assists	0
Big chances missed	1
Big chances created	2
Key passes*	0.7
Pass accuracy*	83%
Successful dribbles*	1.6
Fouled*	1.8
Tackles*	1.2
Stats via Sofascore

Handed his senior debut back in 2023, the teenage winger has particularly caught the eye in a dismal Saints side this season, notably starring against United on his first Premier League start back in September, after winning a penalty following a foul from Diogo Dalot.

While, unlike Rooney, Dibling is an England youth star rather than a central figure in the senior Three Lions side, it is telling that he has already solidified a regular role for himself at club level, particularly at a time when teenagers are not so readily thrown into the mix.

A return of four goals and two assists so far this term in all competitions is encouraging for the Exeter-born starlet, with it no surprise that he has earned rave reviews, having been hailed as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

In a way, he does possess that almost street footballer vibe that a teenage Rooney also had, with Dibling catching the eye with his low socks and innate dribbling ability. Indeed, he ranks in the top 7% of Premier League midfielders for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

A “world-class talent” – in the view of Southampton academy manager, Andy Goldie – the silky sensation looks destined for the top, with it set to be intriguing to see if he can follow in Rooney’s footsteps and shine at an elite club like United, should a deal get done.

Van Nistelrooy 2.0: Man Utd offered chance to sign "best CF on the market"

Man Utd can finally end their search for a proven number one

1

By
Robbie Walls

Mar 25, 2025

It was another famous Gujarat Titans victory, in front of a home crowd of over eighty thousand

Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-2024
Keep your eyes on Shubman Gill. The captain. With Mumbai Indians on 107 for 2 after 12 overs, chasing 169, he barracked his team to get back in the game. And boy, did they ever.A batting line-up that is the envy of the T20 world came undone even with conditions pretty much in their favour, with two set batters at the crease and dew all over the park. And Titans, who had less than 8% chance of victory, went on to achieve a famous one. Or maybe it isn’t. Because they keep doing this. They keep defying the odds.Here they had their former captain – the one who built them into IPL winners – give them a huge scare. Hardik Pandya went 6 and 4 to start the last over when 19 were required. He looked in the mood. His old coach Ashish Nehra, who spent a vast majority of the chase patrolling the boundary, issuing instructions – seemingly spoon-feeding Spencer Johnson what he had to do in a 19th over that produced two of the five wickets that fell in the last 13 balls – turned away. He couldn’t watch.But he should have. Because Umesh Yadav, who doesn’t really bowl at the death, took full advantage of the two-bouncers-an-over rule and sent one up at Hardik’s right ear, which, even with his power, only went as far as the fielder at long-on. Eighty thousand and eighty one people roared in unison. They sensed it. They sensed that yet another incredible win was theirs.Pace off, game onThis game turned between overs 13 and 17 in the chase. Because only one of them yielded more than a-run-a-ball.R Sai Kishore, who doesn’t always make the Titans XI but has never come across like he’s been on the outside looking in, produced a very mature performance. He took out Rohit Sharma with some style, slowing his pace right down, pulling his length right back, and having an excellent player of spin so badly reaching for the ball that he fell over in his crease as he played the sweep.Sai Kishore picked up the all-important wicket of Rohit Sharma•BCCIRashid Khan took over from there on and created a moment that signalled the shifting of the balance. Mumbai’s best power-hitter, Tim David, was hidden from the strike because he has been averaging 7.6 against legspin since IPL 2022. This was the 17th over and the required rate was still in the eight-and-a-bit range. The batting side had six wickets in hand. They really shouldn’t have been under pressure with an equation like that.But they were and the wickets as a result of that pressure went to Mohit Sharma, who is a wonderful case study because his biggest strength goes against his job description. The fast bowler who is far more dangerous when he bowls his slower ball. That came in very handy on a two-paced pitch. He dismissed David with an offcutter-boucner that rose up to the batter’s helmet and took away all his power.A Titans comeback, which only ever looked fanciful till then, became reality.The story of the first inningsThe Titans innings was a bit staccato. Five of their 20 overs produced five or fewer runs. Four others produced 60 – including 30 back-to-back from the 10th and 11th – and 19 from the 18th over where Luke Wood lost his plans. The field was set for the slower ball, his slower ball went for six, he went for pace, and it was too easy for Rahul Tewatia with third in the circle. A two-paced pitch – which kept low too at times – was creating this kind of game.Gill made a fast start (31 off 22) and Sai Sudharsan (45 off 39) kept away the doubt that fills a batter’s mind when very few of the shots they play go for boundaries. He hit only four and his strike rate was 115 but in between innings he mentioned that the ball was holding up in the pitch and keeping low as well, and that they weren’t too displeased with the total they had got to.Bumrah magic in vainJasprit Bumrah bowled only one of the first six overs and perhaps that’s why they yielded 47 runs. He struck with a glorious yorker thudding into the base of Wriddhiman Saha’s middle stump. This was vintage from perhaps the best cricketer on the planet right now. The most inimitable one anyway.Jasprit Bumrah’s double-wicket 17th over put the brakes on Gujarat Titans’ scoring•BCCIBumrah’s dismissal of David Miller contained even more of his genius. He has that awkward action. He has unbelievable pace (for a guy who basically walks for about half his run-up). He has the best yorker in the business. The batter has all this in mind when he takes strike. And is completely unprepared for the slower ball.Miller was done. He was cooked. His body moving one way – because his feet were stuck on the crease, worried about the high-pace ball, maybe the yorker – and his bat moving the other – responding to the utter lack of pace, wandering so far in front of his body – his balance lost to the night. And so too his wicket.Bumrah finished with figures of 4-0-14-3. All of them were one over spells. He was given no opportunity to build rhythm because he can be peak right from the get-go. It was unthinkable at that point that he’d also be needed out there with bat, but you always run the risk of that when you play Titans.

Freeborn, Jones secure qualification as Seren Smale’s 88 goes in vain for Thunder

ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2024Central Sparks 150 for 2 (Freeborn 71*, Jones 67*) beat Thunder 146 for 6 (Smale 88, Potts 2-18) by eight wicketsCentral Sparks sealed their Charlotte Edwards Cup qualification with a thrilling last-ball eight-wicket victory over Thunder at Edgbaston.Put in, Thunder totalled a solid 146 for six thanks to a high-class maiden T20 half-century by Seren Smale who struck 88 not out from 61 balls. The 19-year-old reached the crease with Thunder in a tangle at three for two but rescued them with a polished innings which included nine fours. Grace Potts led the Sparks bowling with two for 18.Sparks then started slowly but from 22 for two were powered to victory by an unbroken third -wicket stand of 128 between Abi Freeborn (71, 57) and Amy Jones (67, 45). Jones struck the last two balls of the 20th over for four to kill off Thunder’s challenge both in this game and the quest for qualification.With Eve Jones ruled out by concussion, Sparks were skippered by Georgia Davis who won the toss, chose to field and saw both opening bowlers strike in their first over. Fi Morris fell second bowl when she missed with a bizarre slog at Potts. Katie Mack left her leg stump exposed, sweeping at Charis Pavely to leave Thunder three for two after two overs.It should have been six for three when Smale edged Potts between wicketkeeper and slip but neither claimed the catch. They were heavily punished for their indecision. Smale and Emma Lamb (25, 28) added 61 in 51 balls and, after Lamb chipped Davis to mid-off, Threlkeld joined the youngster in a stand of 58 in 41. The captain played very much the supporting role as Smale smoothed to her half-century in 41 balls.Throwing the bat late on, Threlkeld holed out off Katie George and Sophie Ecclestone was superbly caught by a diving Davina Perrin at backward point. Smale’s domination of the innings showed in the boundary count – she struck nine while her team-mates together hit just three.Thunder started strongly with the ball as Kate Cross lured Ami Campbell into sending up a skier in the first over and Tara Norris conceded just a single from the second.Ecclestone spun her first ball past Perrin to have her neatly stumped by Threlkeld but Freeborn and Jones rebuilt methodically. Neither were at their most fluent at first but they kept their side in the race, Freeborn passing 50 in 35 balls and Jones in 37, to leave 26 needed from the last three overs.That came down to ten off the last over, bowled by Phoebe Graham and five from the last two balls. Jones hoisted the first of those over mid off for four and the second to the cover boundary to send Sparks through to Finals Day.