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Ibrahima Konate avoided being sent off in Liverpool's clash with Paris Saint-Germain, despite appearing to shove Bradley Barcola over as the last man.

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• Konate looked to have fouled Barcola
• No red card given
• Referee initially waved play on

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During the first half of Liverpool's Champions League clash with PSG, Barcola zipped beyond the Reds backline. As Konate chased back, he shoulder-barged Barcola to the ground right on the edge of the box, but the referee waved play on, and VAR chose against intervening to the extent of recommending a red card for the defender.

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• THE EXPLANATION

  The referee initially played on but VAR did not recommend a red card, seemingly because it was not deemed a clear and obvious error. During the review, VAR did upgrade the severity of the offence before it was eventually cleared. The video assistant referee cannot recommend a yellow card, so, as the foul was not seen as worthy of a sending off, referee Davide Massa had no other option. The decision sparked angry scenes, with PSG sporting director caught on camera berating Massa in the tunnel at half-time.

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  DID YOU KNOW

  Konate had not played for Liverpool in the Champions League since November, when the Reds beat Real Madrid 2-0. Due to injury, he was absent from clashes with Girona, Lille, and PSV Eindhoven.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool play Southampton this weekend as they return to domestic action. They sit 13 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.

Anfield might have seen sweeping structural changes enforced this summer, but very little has been tweaked within the Liverpool first-team squad.

Various bits of fat were trimmed, but Federico Chiesa has been the only signing to have played for the Reds this season – and his injury issues have left him with merely three appearances to date.

It’s hardly been detrimental. Liverpool have been brilliant under Arne Slot, smashing past opponents to claim the top spot in the Premier League and Champions League tables, through to the last eight of the Carabao Cup too.

Slot’s tactical nous and disarming demeanour have worked a treat for Liverpool in the wake of Jurgen Klopp’s departure. The Dutch boss has been loath to enforce changes, but there’s one area that has seen two players jockey for the number one spot: left-back.

Liverpool's left-back tussle

For what seems like the first time since Andy Robertson joined Liverpool from Hull City in a deal worth around £10m, his number one spot on the left side of the backline is under threat.

Kostas Tsimikas, 28, has been happily playing second fiddle since arriving just over three years ago and has been an able deputy throughout, posting 17 assists across 97 outings.

But Robertson was embroiled in suffering across the 2022/23 campaign, along with his teammates, and was beset by more trouble last season, injuring his shoulder on international duty in October and failing to recover his finest form.

The 30-year-old Robertson has been a stalwart for Liverpool, but Slot seemingly isn’t the biggest fan and appears to be sending out probes ahead of anticipated transfer activity in 2025.

Liverpool eyeing new left-back

As per a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool have joined Manchester United in weighing up a move for Fulham’s Antonee Robinson.

The USMNT international has been a core part of Marco Silva’s success over the past few years in the Premier League and, aged 27, has built up the experience to make a positive impact at a top-performing club.

A separate report commenting on the Red Devils’ interest reveals that Fulham are willing to field offers worth £40m for the dynamic left-back, and this might be worth the money for a Liverpool side already flying high.

Why Antonee Robinson would be a Robertson upgrade

Robertson is keen to prove the doubters wrong once again, and in fairness, the Scotland skipper is still one of the finest full-backs in the world, even if there are signs of regression.

Is it so hard to recognise that a player of unceasing energy might splutter after many years of service in a full-throttle Klopp system? Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott once hailed the Scotsman as a “Duracell Bunny”, but all batteries run out of juice at some stage.

Robinson isn’t quite a new kid on the block, but the 27-year-old is currently operating at the height of his game and has only played 261 senior club matches across his career. Robertson, in comparison, has played 514 – with only 45 coming since the start of last season.

The Fulham man’s performances have led pundits such as Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley to hail him as “one of the best left-backs in the world”, with others, like analyst Ben Mattinson, claiming that the North American ace is a full-back with “insane defensive numbers and anticipation.”

As per FBref, Robinson ranks among the top 4% of Premier League full-backs this season for assists and carries into the penalty area per 90. Praiseworthy stuff. However, he also ranks among the top 6% for tackles and interceptions won and the top 9% for aerial duel success rate.

It’s quite clear that Robinson is operating at a brilliant level, and that he might be the missing piece in Liverpool’s puzzle. The Reds are thriving under Slot’s wing, sure, but there are always facets to work upon, to improve.

As the table above demonstrates, Robinson is outperforming his positional peer across a range of key metrics this season, having been far more aggressive in defensive phases and more accurate still.

Furthermore, the west Londoner is actually seeing more of the ball than Robertson despite playing in a team that enjoys less possession and control. This is largely down to his mobility, performing 1.1 dribbles per match compared to his Liverpool counterpart’s 0.2.

While Robertson has been marginally more creative than his counterpart, it’s important to remember that Fulham, impressive though they have been, do not operate in the same realm as Slot’s rampant Reds.

And still, Robinson has outstripped the Scot. Given the quality of Liverpool’s rivals in England’s top flight, it’s vital that means of improvement are uncovered and pounced upon, lest stagnancy take hold and fellow Premier League heavyweights enter the ascendency.

The fate of Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite side of Slot’s backline is bound to conjure up the most deafening noise from a transfer perspective, but keep an eye on the left flank; Robertson is still an excellent player, but Robinson is showing every bit the signs of superiority right now.

If Liverpool are to create a dynasty under their new boss, perhaps this might be the move to go for, completing the strength of the left side.

Liverpool thought they had the next Messi & Ronaldo, then he left for £0

Liverpool must regret signing £20m flop who was once compared to Messi & Ronaldo

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 14, 2024

Brahim Diaz shouted "speak now!" at Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone after netting Real Madrid's winner in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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• Simeone believed Diaz would not start
• Forward played and scored the winner
• Shouted "speak now!" at Atletico boss

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Simeone claimed ahead of the first leg of the round of 16 tie that he did not believe Diaz would start the match, predicting that Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric would be preferred. The Spaniard was in Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI, though, and scored the winner in Real's 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Diaz has generally been used as a squad player by Ancelotti this season, starting four of Real's 11 Champions League matches. Jude Bellingham's suspension opened up a vacancy in midfield, however, and the youngster took his chance.

• WHAT BRAHIM DIAZ SAID

  Before the game, Simeone had said: "I believe Modric and Camavinga will start over Brahim, but he is still an option." When Diaz scored the winner, he was spotted shouting towards the Atletico bench: "Speak now, speak now. You talked yesterday, speak now!"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BRAHIM DIAZ AND REAL MADRID?

  Despite scoring such a crucial goal, Diaz's place in the Real starting XI moving forward is far from assured. Bellingham returns from La Liga and Champions League suspensions in the next week, while Rodrygo – one of Diaz's main rivals for a place in the team – was the other goalscorer in the 2-1 win at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Barcelona were struggling to complete the registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, but Real Madrid president Florentino Perez lent a helping hand.

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• La Liga unregistered Olmo and Victor in January
• Barca re-registered them after going to court
• Laporta thanked Perez for helping him out

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A report from (h/t Football Espana) revealed how Real Madrid president Perez aided Barcelona with the registrations of Olmo and Victor earlier this year. The registration saga of Olmo and Victor caused quite an uproar in Spanish football, with Barcelona engaging in a legal war with La Liga and RFEF after the league unregistered the duo at the start of the January transfer window.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Speaking at a press conference in January, Barca president Joan Laporta expressed his gratitude to Real Madrid for taking a neutral stand over the registration issue, after other La Liga clubs such as Sevilla and Atletico Madrid opposed the re-registration of Olmo and Victor.

  "I am not going to explain the conversation I had with Florentino and other presidents. Yes, I can tell you that I am grateful to the clubs that have not taken a position against our decision. It was an atmosphere of harmony with Florentino, knowing that we had everything more or less already arranged with the issue of registrations," Laporta said.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Catalunya Radio reported that Perez allegedly contacted Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, the President of the High Court for Sport, in an effort to influence the decision on the injunction requested by Barcelona. This version of events is supported by La Liga President Javier Tebas and other league executives, who are convinced that Perez’s intervention was key in enabling Barcelona to re-register Olmo and Victor.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID?

  The two Spanish heavyweights secured their passage to the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this week. Barcelona beat Benfica 4-1 on aggregate, while Real Madrid prevailed on penalties against Atletico Madrid (4-2 on penalties, 2-2 after extra time) after the two teams could not be separated.

  In the league, Hansi Flick's troops sit atop the league table and will take on Atletico on Sunday. Madrid, meanwhile, find themselves in second place, level on points with Barcelona, albeit having played one more game. They will visit Villarreal on Saturday.

It’s the infamous top-versus-bottom fixture in the Premier League today, with title-chasing Liverpool journeying to Southampton to face Russell Martin’s bottom-placed side.

Southampton secured an instant return to the top flight last season but have struggled to translate their ball-focused style. Actually, they’ve had no problem enforcing the system, it’s just not bred the results needed, with one win and nine losses from 11 matches.

The Premier League loves to throw out a surprise though, and Liverpool will need to be wary against a Saints side that desperately need to improve.

Arne Slot’s Redmen currently sit at the top of the table but must ensure that their fluency is still intact after the November international break.

Unfortunately, there are some damaging injuries for the visitors to contend with.

Liverpool team news

Liverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold as he completes his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury suffered against Aston Villa two weeks ago.

The same for injury-prone duo Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker, who, unlike Alexander-Arnold, stand no chance of recovering in time for the Champions League contest against Real Madrid in midweek.

Virgil van Dijk, however, is set to start despite returning from Netherlands duty early last week. It was precautionary. Liverpool signed the 33-year-old from Southampton for £75m in January 2018, perhaps the most transformative winter acquisition in Premier League history.

Elsewhere, Federico Chiesa is training but not yet ready for match action. Thankfully, Liverpool have another right-sided forward who might fancy their chances against today’s opponents.

Mohamed Salah's start to the season

Mohamed Salah has scored eight goals and assisted six more across 11 Premier League appearances this season, also averaging 1.9 key passes, 1.6 dribbles and four successful duels per match, as per Sofascore.

Some player. Saints defenders must be quaking right now. He’s obviously ravenous for the shiniest successes this season and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

He’ll be the linchpin against Southampton. With seven goals and four assists from 11 appearances against the foe, he’s no stranger to silencing Saints song. That said, though, Salah has gone five matches since scoring against them, albeit notching three assists in that timeframe.

Liverpool are purring, and Salah is basking in the success of the high-flying system. However, Slot might be tempted to make a change that could benefit his Egyptian machine.

Indeed, Harvey Elliott is believed to be fit once again, and he could be Liverpool’s secret weapon.

Harvey Elliott could be Slot's secret weapon

Salah’s dribbling output has decreased in recent years, though his numbers in that regard have interestingly seen an upswing under new management.

He’s more intelligent and more effective. The cultured forward is hardly starved for service but Alexander-Arnold’s absence will pull away some supplementary numbers for him, and Elliott could compensate and then some from the middle of the park.

The 21-year-old was an unused substitute on the opening day of the campaign, as Liverpool beat Ipswich Town, and managed just seven minutes against Brentford before sitting out during the demolition job over Manchester United at Old Trafford. That remains his only outing in 2024/25.

Opportunity abounded in front of him, though, and how cruel that he should fracture his foot with England U21s in September and only now be ready for match action.

Right-sided, the English maestro has a seemingly innate connection with Salah, a collective understanding regarding position and movement.

He also came into his own at the backend of the 2023/24 season, posting a goal and four assists across the final six Premier League fixtures under Jurgen Klopp.

Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley once hailed Elliott for producing “some real bits of magic on the ball” as he sought to make a name for himself and earn a call-up to Klopp’s senior side.

It’s fair to say that his ball-playing wizardry has been translated to the major stage, for Elliott ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

To be sure, the £40k-per-week talent has things to improve, but the raw quality that was so patent from the beginning has been moulded into something productive and impactful over the past year.

It’s unfortunate that he was cruelly struck by injury woe at the start of Slot’s tenure. However, Elliott has weathered adversity before and is back in a position to make an impact as his side’s attacking midfielder, whereby he can provide his wonderful creativity.

The up-and-comer, who has already amassed 120 appearances and clinched 24 goal contributions, said in December 2023 that he does not like the ‘super-sub’ tag that he has somewhat adopted, and instead wants to nail down an unmoving starting berth for Liverpool. Now, Slot can give him the opportunity to prove that he indeed deserves a prominent role.

With Alexis Mac Allister having played for Argentina in midweek, perhaps it would be wise to bench him and play Elliott alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones, though this would also mean that Dominik Szoboszlai would be benched.

Chalkboard

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In any case, Liverpool have the tools to defeat Southampton. Elliott must be chomping at the bit to make an impression under Slot’s wing, and with such exciting playmaking properties, could be the man to ensure Salah keeps on firing too.

Liverpool thought they had the next Alonso, but then he left for £0

Before Bajcetic, Liverpool sold a flop who was supposed to be the next Xabi Alonso.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 23, 2024

It is fair to say that it has not been the start to the season that Glasgow Rangers were hoping for in the Scottish Premiership under Philippe Clement.

The Light Blues have lost three and drawn two of their opening 14 matches in the division and that has left them a whopping 11 points behind Celtic in the title race, and below Aberdeen in the table.

Clement’s side have suffered losses to Kilmarnock, Celtic, and Aberdeen in the Scottish top-flight, which has left them with plenty of work to do to catch up with their rivals.

Football Insider recently reported that the Belgian head coach is under mounting pressure but that he is set to remain in post until after the League Cup final clash with the Hoops at Hampden Park later this month.

Patrick Stewart is due to officially start as CEO after that match and the report claimed that his first decision on the board could be to make a call on the future of the former Monaco boss.

Clement, therefore, needs to keep picking up strong results to show the board and Stewart that he deserves more time at Ibrox, and ensuring that his key players – including Nicolas Raskin – continue to shine is key to that.

Nicolas Raskin's form this season

Whilst the season as a whole has been disappointing for the Gers so far, the manager has helped the Belgian central midfielder to thrive in the middle of the park since his return from injury.

The 23-year-old star was out from July to September through injury, missing nine competitive matches, and has come back to emerge as a regular starter alongside Connor Barron in midfield.

Raskin has started eight of his 11 appearances in the Premiership and three of his five outings in the Europa League this term, which shows how much trust Clement has had in him, despite his injury issues.

As you can see in the table above, the former Standard Liege star has been a terrific anchor at the base of the Rangers midfield in the Scottish top-flight so far this season.

He has offered reliability in possession as well as incredibly strong defensive work, winning the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, whilst making over three tackles per game on average.

Clement and Rangers could elevate his game to another level, however, by swooping to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka when the January transfer window officially opens for business next month.

Rangers linked with Premier League starlet

The Boot Room recently reported that the Scottish giants have been offered the chance to sign the England U21 international ahead of the second half of the season.

It was claimed that both Rangers and Celtic have been told that the former Aston Villa prospect is available in January and that the Blues would be willing to send him to Glasgow on loan.

The outlet added that the Premier League giants would also be prepared to sell Chukwuemeka on a permanent basis, but did not reveal how much they would want for the 21-year-old gem, whom they paid £20m for in 2022.

Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not Celtic or Rangers are ready to take Chelsea up on their offer to sign the English talent, the Austrian-born gem has been offered to clubs across Europe, which suggests that there could end up being plenty of competition for his signature.

The Boot Room claimed that Chukwuemeka is not a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans at Stamford Bridge and it has been agreed that he will be allowed to explore a potential exit in January, as the midfielder is ready to move on from the club.

Transfer Focus

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

With this in mind, Nils Koppena and Clement, should he still be in a job come January, should push hard to win the race to sign the Chelsea youngster, because he could be a perfect partner to help Raskin to elevate his game.

Why Carney Chukwuemeka would be perfect for Nicolas Raskin

Firstly, the Blues gem stands at 6 foot 2 and could offer the height and physicality that the 5 foot 10 Belgian whiz does not offer in the middle of the park, which could help the Gers against taller and stronger teams, particularly in Europe.

Chukwuemeka is also a player with the attacking potential to come in and thrive at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues, which is an area in which Raskin has struggled.

The current Rangers star is yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premiership so far this season and has only created 0.6 chances per game in the division, which shows that he has struggled to make things happen in the final third.

Having a midfielder next to him, or in the number ten position in front of the double pivot, could allow Raskin to solely focus on his defensive work and then recycling possession to find the likes of Chukwuemeka, Ianis Hagi, Nedim Bajrami, and Vaclav Cerny in dangerous areas.

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old showed plenty of promise at youth level for club and country as a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position.

His statistics do not seem great on paper at first-team level but he has only started six Premier League games for Villa and Chelsea combined to date, which means that the youngster has not had an opportunity to showcase his quality on a regular basis.

James Norris, who played with him at youth level, once claimed that Chukwuemeka is a “a bit like Pogba”, which is a comparison which makes sense when you consider his attacking potential and height in a midfield role.

Villa insider Charlie Jennings, when speaking to Sempre Milan amid links to AC Milan, illustrated the youngster’s strengths by saying:

“Carney is an outstanding ball carrier from deep areas of the midfield. He is known for marauding, mind-boggling dribbles through tight areas and compliments this with a delightful array of passes.”

Rangers signed their own Kante before he left after one forgettable year

Glasgow Rangers thought they had their own version of N’Golo Kante, then he flopped.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 25, 2024

Pogba, who scored 39 goals and provided 48 assists in 233 games for Manchester United, offered similar qualities in the middle of the park, and Rangers could find their own version of him in a swoop for Chukwuemeka, who could then elevate Raskin’s game by allowing him to focus solely on his best qualities as a ball winner and passer from deep.

The Real Madrid winger has repeatedly underwhelmed at international level but he has the talent – and support – to turn things around

There was an incredible incident right at the end of Brazil's dramatic World Cup qualifier against Colombia on Thursday evening.

Just moments after Vinicius Junior had scored what proved to be the winner with a deflected strike from distance in the ninth minute of injury time, coach Dorival Junior decided to take off the Real Madrid superstar to waste a little time. Vinicius, though, was intent on eating up even more seconds, so he made his way from the field as slowly as possible, unsurprisingly upsetting a couple of Colombia players as he did so.

It was at this point that one of the winger's own team-mates got involved – and not to protect Vinicius but to physically remove him from the fray. Knowing the Real Madrid star was a yellow card away from being suspended for Tuesday's massive clash with Argentina, Raphinha repeatedly pushed his colleague towards the touchline to save him from sanction.

The whole episode proved two things: firstly, Raphinha is now firmly established as one of the key characters in Dorival's Brazil squad; and, secondly, the Barcelona man has an important role to play in Vinicius belatedly becoming the Selecao's 'new Neymar'.

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  'No respectable leaders'

  Ronaldinho resigned as a Brazil fan before last year's Copa America.

  "That's it folks, I've had enough," the iconic No.10 posted on Instagram. "This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer.

  "It's getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority."

  Coming from a living legend, those words devastated Dorival's squad, all of whom had grown up idolising Ronaldinho.

  They also failed miserably to prove him wrong during a calamitous Copa campaign.

  After winning just one group game, against Paraguay, a Selecao shorn of the services of the injured Neymar were eliminated on penalties in the quarter-finals after performing abysmally in a scoreless draw with Uruguay.

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• 'This time it's my fault'

  Vinicius took a significant share of the blame for Brazil's atrocious tournament and he was the first to admit that he had contributed to the national team's embarrassingly early exit.

  At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he'd been forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as the Selecao suffered a heartbreaking shootout loss to Croatia, having been replaced after 66 ineffective minutes at the Education City Stadium.

  He found himself in the same position last summer, only this time he'd sat out the entire game having stupidly got himself suspended for the meeting with Uruguay in Nevada.

  "The Copa America is over and it's time to reflect, and know how to deal with defeat," he wrote on social media. "The feeling of frustration kicks in again, and again on the penalties.

  "I received two yellow cards [in the group stage] and watched elimination from outside again, but this time it's my fault. I apologise for that."

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  'I have three or four players marking me'

  Vinicius didn't know it at the time but his desperately disappointing Copa America effectively cost him the Ballon d'Or he believed was in the bag after the starring role he'd played in Real Madrid's 2023-24 Champions League triumph, resulting in the most pathetic of hissy-fits.

  In fairness, plenty of his compatriots were outraged by the perceived snub (even though Rodri was a most worthy winner of the game's most prestigious individual accolade) but a significant number were also quick to acknowledge that Vinicius had consistently failed to replicate his club form at international level.

  There have been mitigating factors, of course.

  Playing in the same left-wing position as Neymar certainly didn't help. Even when Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer was deployed more in a central role as a No.10, the pair never clicked, partly due to the elder man's propensity for instinctively drifting out to his favoured flank.

  It also has to be said that Ronaldinho had a point about the quality of the current crop of players. This is definitely not a vintage era for the most successful country in World Cup history, with Brazil having made the semi-finals just once in the past 23 years – and even on that occasion, they were utterly humiliated on home soil by Germany.

  The Selecao did win the Copa America in 2019 but Vinicius missed out on inclusion in the squad and was a second-half substitute in the painful 2021 final loss to hated rivals Argentina at the Maracana. He's been a regular in the starting line-up since then, though, and usually struggled to impose himself on games in the manner one would expect from one of the world's top talents.

  That is a problem in itself, of course. The threat posed by Vinicius, coupled with the lack of genuine world-class quality around him, has emboldened opponents to commit more men to containing him.

  "Every time I enter the field for the national team, I have three or four players marking me," the attacker complained after a dismal display in the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica at last year's Copa America.

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  Raphinha the role model

  At the end of the day, though, six goals and five assists is an undeniably poor return from Vinicius' 38 international appearances – especially when one considers that Raphinha has already surpassed both tallies in fewer games. The latter is also displaying the kind of captaincy qualities we've not yet seen from the former.

  Age is obviously a factor. Raphinha is four years older than Vinicius and very much a late bloomer. Indeed, it was Vinicius who helped Raphinha settle when he first broke into the Selecao set-up.

  The 28-year-old has never had to deal with anything like the same weight of expectancy as his younger colleague, who was tipped for superstardom long before he agreed a move to Madrid at just 16. That's the kind of pressure to which only a select few footballers can relate.

  Raphinha has also pointed out that not even he can comprehend the mental strain facing racist abuse on an almost weekly basis in Spain has had on Vinicius, who has simultaneously had to take on La Liga's authorities almost singlehandedly while also trying to do his incredibly demanding day job at the Santiago Bernabeu.

  "We don't know what happened in his childhood. We don't know the things he heard when he was little," Raphinha said in response to allegations that separate criticism of Vinicius' on-field conduct (diving, mocking opponents, gamesmanship etc.) was justified. "These things push people to their limit and it bothers him a lot.

  "Vinicius is a very smiling boy, he is always making jokes. The only issue that bothers him a lot is this, I understand his anger. But I'm not in his situation, so I can't tell him what I would do [in his place]."

  Raphinha added in an interview with : "We get along very well and I also often talk to him and tell him that it is not necessary to do the things he does on the pitch, but I understand it. Each person is different, he is like that and I think it gives him confidence on the field to do that.

  "For example, Gavi on the pitch, in my opinion, is crazy, he's very annoying. But off the field he is an incredible person, loving, caring… Vinicius is the same.

  "However, it's hard to convince people that he's like that when they see him in a certain way on the pitch. Only if you live moments with him will you see that I am right."

Milos Kerkez is aware that Liverpool fans are begging him for a summer transfer, with the Bournemouth star admitting: "It's not like I don't see it."

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• Reds ready to bolster their ranks
• Additions required in full-back berths
• Hungarian star on recruitment radar

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Premier League leaders at Anfield are reportedly planning to freshen up their ranks following little recruitment since managerial reins on Merseyside passed from Jurgen Klopp to Arne Slot. Contract rebels Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Vijk may leave notable voids to fill.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Questions are also being asked of whether an upgrade is required on Andy Robertson at left-back, with the Scot now 31 years of age and beginning to slow down after once being a buccaneering performer on the flanks. Various additions in that department have been mooted, including USMNT and Fulham ace Antonee Robinson.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kerkez is another name said to be registering on Liverpool’s radar, with the no-nonsense Hungarian earning plenty of plaudits at Bournemouth. His social media accounts continue to be flooded with messages from Reds supporters.

• Getty
  

  WHAT MILOS KERKEZ SAID

  The 21-year-old has told of those transfer pleas: "It’s not like I don’t see it. When people say they don’t see stuff if someone says something about you, I think it’s a lie. It’s only if it hits you or not. If someone says something bad, I do my job, and if someone says something good, I just do my job. That’s it."

West Ham United have agreed to let a “fantastic” player leave after the man in question communicated that he wants to depart Rush Green, with a January exit now expected as the winter transfer window fast approaches.

Julen Lopetegui survives West Ham sack after 2-1 win over Wolves

Under-fire Irons boss Julen Lopetegui has survived the looming West Ham axe yet again, following his side’s 2-1 win over fellow Premier League strugglers Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday.

Manager open to short-term West Ham contract after "massive U-turn"

The Hammers hierarchy have changed their minds about hiring him.

4

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 7, 2024

Tomas Soucek, who paid a touching tribute to Michail Antonio with his goal, opened the scoring against Wolves with Mohammed Kudus then having the first of his two strikes chalked off by VAR – denying West Ham a two-goal cushion.

Lopetegui was then handed a heart-in-mouth few minutes when Matt Doherty equalised for the away side, but luckily for the Spaniard, it wasn’t long before a moment of sheer brilliance from winger Jarrod Bowen put them right back into the lead late on.

The score finished 2-1, and the result has kept Lopetegui in the dugout for now, as West Ham reportedly decide to give the 58-year-old more time to turn the club’s fortunes around.

“FOR NOW. We do NOT want to make a change,” said a top club source to insider ExWHUemployee (via West Ham Way).

“But we are not stupid and realise we have to improve. Last night was NOT a great performance and long term we have to do better.”

If that stance changes, which could well be the case going by West Ham’s topsy-turvy form over these last three months, then there are options for Tim Steidten and chairman David Sullivan.

Graham Potter is prepared to accept a short-term West Ham contract until the end of the season, with other linked managerial candidates including Sergio Conceicao, Kasper Hjulmand, Roger Schmidt, Thomas Frank, Massimiliano Allegri, Matthias Jaissle and Maurizio Sarri.

Luizao tells West Ham that he wants to leave with January exit expected

In the meantime, a lot of talk will also centre on the ins and outs for January. West Ham have been linked with a new forward for the winter window, among other squad reinforcements, while it is believed some members of the squad could potentially depart.

One of them who is apparently all-but-set to leave is forgotten signing Luizao, with the Brazilian starlet, brought in by David Moyes in 2022, unable to kickstart his career and break into the senior matchday squad.

According to South American news outlet UOL, Luizao is expected to leave West Ham in January, and the east Londoners are prepared to green-light a loan with the option to buy later.

The 22-year-old has expressed his desire to leave the London Stadium and return to Brazil for personal reasons, where clubs in the country’s Serie A have targeted him since the summer.

Called a “fantastic” young defender by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Luizao’s regrettable stay in England looks likely to end soon.

Michail Antonio made a heartfelt return to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance base to thank the paramedics who saved his life following a car crash.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Antonio crashed his Ferrari in December
• Suffered life-threatening injuries
• Thanked the medical staff for their service

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Back in December, the 34-year-old was pulled from the wreckage of his Ferrari after a harrowing crash near Epping Forest, Essex, where he was trapped for nearly an hour. Antonio's injuries included a broken leg that required immediate surgery.

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  Antonio’s grey Ferrari, estimated to cost £260,000, veered off the road and crashed into a tree. Fire crews had to cut through the wreckage to free the footballer, to be airlifted to hospital. However, due to storm-related high winds, the helicopter could not take off. Instead, the air ambulance team – Dr James Moloney and critical care paramedic Rob Moon – were forced to rush to the scene by road.

• WHAT ANTONIO SAID

  Now on the road to recovery, Antonio took the time to visit the airbase where he met Dr Moloney and Moon face-to-face for the first time since the incident. Emotionally charged, the Premier League star didn’t hold back in expressing his gratitude.

  "I want to say thank you because I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys," he said on the. "So you guys are basically my heroes."

  Antonio admitted the physical recovery has been steady, but the mental and emotional impact of the crash has been far more challenging.

  "For me, personally, I could never do your job," he told them.

  "If I go there and see blood or people in trouble, I would just panic or faint. It's definitely something I wouldn't be able to do. Being involved in a major accident can have life-changing physical and mental effects. I've processed it to a certain degree, but I think the emotions are going to take a long time. Mentally, trauma lasts a long time."

  Antonio, a father of six, noted that while he physically experienced the crash, the emotional toll on his family may have been greater.

  "My family probably experienced the incident more than I did," he added. "They had to see how I was in the hospital. I don't remember my face being cut or going down for surgery the next day. They lived it. They have those memories."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Upon arrival, the medical team immediately recognised the extent of the damage. Though they suspected the injured man might be a professional athlete, confirmation came when they spotted a No. 9 West Ham shirt with 'Antonio' printed on the back, lying inside the vehicle.

  "We treat everyone the same, whatever happens. But not many people have a shirt with their name on the back," said Dr Moloney.