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The England international returned to form as Arsenal's attack put on a five-star performance to reignite their Women's Super League campaign

Three goals in 12 first-half minutes helped Arsenal thrash in-form Brighton in a 5-0 Women's Super League win at the Emirates on Friday night.

Lionesses ace Beth Mead put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute when her left-footed shot curled into the corner before Caitlin Foord doubled their lead nine minutes later as she finished off a beautiful team move from close range.

Frida Maanum scored a goal of the season contender in the 25th minute when she fired the ball into the top corner. Foord nearly made it 4-0 before the half-hour mark when her shot cannoned off the post as she tried to catch out an out of position Sophie Baggaley in the Brighton goal.

The visitors improved after the break, with the lively Kiko Seike firing a powerful strike against the crossbar – but a Maisie Symonds own-goal 14 minutes from time summed up a torrid night for Dario Vidosic's side in the capital.

To make matters even worse, Jorelyn Carabali conceded a penalty in second-half stoppage time and Alessia Russo converted the subsequent spot-kick.

After registering their worst start to a WSL season for a decade before the match, the Gunners secured a statement win and rose to fourth in the table. Brighton, who lost substitute Aisha Masaka to a serious-looking injury at the end, are still third despite this heavy defeat.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Manuela Zinsberger (7/10):

  Had virtually nothing to do all night as her defence easily kept Brighton's attack in check.

  Emily Fox (7/10):

  Was up against the tricky Kiko Seike and did not have it all her own way. While she struggled at times with the Japanese attacker, she was effective when she was allowed to get forward.

  Leah Williamson (8/10):

  Both her and team-mate Stephanie Catley kept Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby quiet for the majority of the contest.

  Stephanie Catley (8/10):

  Didn't have a great deal to do but when there were some signs of danger, she was more than equal to it.

  Katie McCabe (8/10):

  Swept up a lot of the potential danger that came her way and didn't have much trouble with Madison Haley and Kirby on the right.

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  Midfield

  Beth Mead (8/10):

  Justified her return to the starting lineup, after being on the bench against Manchester United, as she took her goal in sumptuous fashion and was constantly busy looking for work.

  Kim Little (8/10):

  Was neat and tidy in midfield, got a lovely assist for Foord, and barely put a foot wrong in the centre of the park.

  Lia Walti (8/10):

  Got stuck into the midfield battle and nearly always came out on top against Vicky Losada and co.

  Caitlin Foord (9/10):

  Bagged her seventh goal of the season in all competitions as she was in the right place at the right time to tuck home Kim Little's pinpoint cross. Could have had a hat-trick on another day but she was a right nuisance all night long for Brighton.

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  Attack

  Frida Maanum (9/10):

  Not many will score a better goal than her one this season. The Norwegian was a threat throughout and was perhaps unfortunate to be taken off early in the second half.

  Alessia Russo (8/10):

  Her work rate and work off the ball were impressive in what was a fairly selfless play for the striker. Deservedly bagged a goal late on from the spot.

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  Subs & Manager

  Stina Blackstenius (7/10):

  Gave Brighton's defence another look and won her side a penalty at the death.

  Laia Codina (8/10):

  Added a bit more defensively solidity when she came on for Fox. Made an excellent last-ditch tackle at the death.

  Kyra Cooney-Cross (8/10):

  Showed plenty of neat touches and tricks and flicks in an exciting display.

  Lina Hurtig (7/10):

  Was physical and direct when she came off the bench.

  Rosa Kafaji (N/A):

  Didn't get many touches of the ball.

  Renee Slegers (8/10):

  The interim manager did what not many teams have been able to do this season – unpick a high-flying Brighton side. They could have hit double figures against the Seagulls and if she keeps this up, the Dutchwoman could get the job on a permanent basis.

Manchester City are close to completing the signing of a player who Pep Guardiola has described as "incredible" in the past, according to a new transfer rumour.

Man City transfer news

The Premier League champions will once again be expected to seal title glory in 2024/25, but Guardiola will also know the importance of freshening up his squad, in order to ensure players don't get too comfortable.

A host of top-quality names continue to be linked with summer moves to City, including Spain ace Dani Olmo, whose reputation has arguably never been greater after a successful Euro 2024 campaign. Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has also emerged as an eye-catching option for Guardiola's side, with the Englishman seen as a possible upgrade on Jack Grealish, who had a poor season on an individual note, despite his team's success.

Another Magpies player, Bruno Guimaraes, is also reportedly being targeted by City before next season gets underway, with the Brazilian's future at St James' Park up in the air for a number of months. He isn't out of contract until the summer of 2028, but that doesn't mean that his head won't necessarily be turned by a move elsewhere.

Joao Neves is another talked-about player currently, standing out as one of Europe's most exciting young midfielders, and the Cityzens are seemingly in the race to snap him up, along with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Man City closing in on "incredible" signing

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Spain and RB Leipzig star Olmo, following "new developments on Monday".

They are believed to be in "advanced talks" to bring the 26-year-old to the Etihad in the near future, and they have "been in discussions" about activating his £60m release clause at his current club, which is on the verge of running out, creating the need for a quick deal. For his part, Olmo is open to joining City after being convinced by Pep, claims the report.

Considering what an exceptional Euro 2024 campaign Olmo has just enjoyed with Spain, leading them to go all the way in the competition, this is extremely exciting news for City supporters.

The attacking midfielder was such an eye-catching performer in Germany throughout the summer, scoring three times to share the Golden Boot, as well as chipping in with two assists. It is also common knowledge that Guardiola is a big admirer of the £152,000-a-week Leipzig maestro.

It is so easy to envisage how well Olmo could fit in at City, considering not only the technical ability at his disposal but also his work ethic, which was shown when he got back to clear a late England chance off the line on Sunday.

Man City hit gold on amazing star who's now worth as much as Yamal

His value has increased by £33m since they bought him

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 14, 2024

He averaged 1.3 tackles per game in the Champions League last season, which shows that he is happy to be effective out of possession, and it's even a higher tally than Kevin De Bruyne (0.8) and Phil Foden (0.9) managed in the Premier League.

GOAL US writers discuss takeaways from U.S. beating Jamaica, and look ahead to Milan-Juventus and MLS conference semifinals

Mauricio Pochettino got the job done in his first duo of competitive fixtures for the USMNT, with his side running out 5-2 aggregate winners over Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. It wasn't always perfect, but these are the early days in the Pochettino era, and there's a real buzz building around this team. It all feels like there's more to come.

But that won't happen until the semifinals in March, so for USMNT players, it's time again to turn the attention to the club season – with a chaotic Christmas period in sight. That means it's a full sprint for plenty of U.S. stars on the European front, with a blockbuster Milan-Juventus match kicking everything off in full on Saturday. And domestically, MLS playoffs are heating up. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami may be out – and their coach out of a job – but there are still storylines aplenty as the conference semifinals kick off this weekend.

Chaos, then, is expected, with the calendar as frantic as ever. GOAL US writersbreak it all down in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  What's the key takeaway from USMNT beating Jamaica?

  Tom Hindle: That something is forming here! Let's be honest, it's Jamaica. Sure, there are some Premier League talents here, but when Leon Bailey – he of zero goals this year – is your biggest threat, then you're really not all that. So, the USMNT had no excuses to win against the Reggae Boyz. It wasn't always super sexy, but there's a buzz around the side, and they took care of business. New gaffer, new vibes, new setup. Nothing revolutionary, but a decent start nonetheless.

  Jacob Schneider: Pochettino has a system and the players are bought in. Simply put, that's the takeaway. Singularly, was very impressed with Tanner Tessmann. Talks of Spurs wanting to sign Johnny Cardoso make sense, but come next summer, the Lyon man might be the one teams regret not pursuing.

  Ryan Tolmich: The USMNT finally has a competitor for Tyler Adams. After several years of really struggling to find another midfield to do that dirty work, Tanner Tessmann shined in that role against Jamaica, putting in two performances that will change the narrative around him. It remains to be seen how he would do against the elite, and Adams has proven he can do it at that level, which is why he's still the guy. For now. Even so, Tessmann is in the mix, having all but secured his spot in the USMNT squad going forward.

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  Has Pochettino already implemented his style of play?

  TH: Yes, but not in the way we all thought. There are a lot of modern tactical ideas on display here: heavy rotations, smart use of space, inverted full backs and such. That was all expected. Defensively, though, things have been a little more unpredictable. That ferocious high press we all expected after a couple of reasonably intense training sessions isn't really there, with the USMNT playing it a little safer than the wider world assumed. Otherwise, this looks a bit like a Poch team, which is cool. Bring on the bigger games.

  JS: Absolutely. It was explained when he lined up Tim Weah on the left due to "ocular reasons" – what does that even mean? We don't know, but it absolutely worked out. Factor in the pressing changes, the two central defenders overlapping each other's movement in the box – the signs are all there, and they're all impressive.

  RT: Absolutely. This most recent game, beating Jamaica 4-2 in St. Louis after winning the first leg in Kingston, felt like his true arrival. That's the moment in which his ideas really started to take hold. The tactical tweaks, the style of play, the quality on display – this was Pochettino shining through. The U.S. attempted five shots after a build-up of at least 10 passes – that highlights the patterns of play that were on display. It's all a work in progress, but you can see the vision. Now, it's about continuing to execute on that vision.

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  What's your prediction for Juventus-Milan?

  TH: It's a really tough one to call. If it wasn't at San Siro, you'd say Juventus really should win this thing. They're a better and deeper side, while Milan have been maddeningly inconsistent. But the home field advantage could really count for something, especially if Milan grab an early goal, or put the pressure on. Let's be boring, say it's some sort of 1-1 draw – with a goal from Christian Pulisic for

  JS: Pulisic will be the best attacker on the field, but will sport the best team. Juventus will take the match 3-1, with a brace from Dusan Vlahovic and a third from Manuel Locatelli off a set piece, while Christian will bag Milan's lone effort.

  RT: Serie A is wide open, so whoever win this may look back at it as the moment their season changed. Same for the loser, too, particularly if it's Milan, who clearly need this more than their black-and-white counterparts. Because of that, Pulisic and Milan should be up for it, so we'll go with a 2-1 win at home that keeps them in the Scudetto picture.

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  With Miami out, who will be MLS Conference finalists?

  TH: In the East, let's go with Atlanta-NYCFC. The Five Stripes knocked Miami out and it was all very fun, and they might just have the tools to go a little further here. Sure, Orlando is a different kind of opponent, but if Atlanta set up to hit on the break – and get another top showing from Brad Guzan – then things might just happen. As for the West, it'll be the two LA teams. Minnesota are playing some good stuff at the moment, but the Galaxy are just far too good going forward. LAFC, meanwhile, are pretty well balanced. And if Olivier Giroud remembers how to play football again, they will be MLS Cup faves.

  JS: The Sounders will beat LAFC, and the Galaxy will defeat Minnesota FC in the West. In the East, Orlando will fall to Atlanta while NYCFC will best the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby. However, you have to worry that the Galaxy are too cocky after Round One, and if Atlanta's magic will wear off after knocking out Messi.

  RT: In the West, this is all teeing up for El Trafico, which would be one of the wildest conference finals this league can put on. Both Seattle and Minnesota have the ability to play spoiler, but it really does seem as if it's Los Angeles' year – we'll just have to find out which side of LA. In the East, Atlanta has real "Team of Destiny" vibes, so we'll move them past Orlando. And, in the Hudson River Derby, anything can happen, so we'll take NYCFC due to home-field advantage.

What can we say about Harry Kane that hasn't already been said? The man is simply a marvel, even if some of his Euro 2024 displays left a lot to be desired.

Was some of the criticism for the former Spurs man warranted? Yes, yes it was. Was some of it rather harsh? You could argue that point too.

However, there is no doubting what has made him such an elite talent down the years. No player in Tottenham's history has scored more goals for the club than he. No player in England's history – there have been 1282 of them – have scored more than Kane for his country. Yeah, he's a pretty good player.

That said, without him, England and Spurs have managed to get by. It was Ollie Watkins' remarkable last-gasp strike against the Netherlands without Kane on the pitch that sent Gareth Southgate's men to the final of the European Championships.

Ranking the 10 best English football players ever

We have ranked the top 10 football players to play for the Three Lions.

1

By
Luke Randall

Jun 16, 2024

Heung-min Son, with his haul of 17 goals in 31 league outings last season proved they didn't miss him too much during Ange Postecoglou's first campaign in charge.

That said, with Kane in tow, perhaps a Champions League berth would have been secured ahead of Aston Villa.

So, a new striker would certainly go down a treat this summer.

Spurs in the race to sign new goal machine

Tottenham have been one of the more active clubs in the Premier League over the last few weeks, notably welcoming Archie Gray to the club from Leeds.

But what is next on the club's agenda? Well, they're allegedly looking at a striker currently plying his trade in Ligue 1.

Indeed, according to Football Insider this weekend, Spurs have joined the race to sign Lille centre forward Jonathan David.

It's stated that if they were to bid a bargain £25m in an attempt to secure the Canadian's signature, it would be accepted.

Why is he so cheap? Well, as the report states, David is now entering the final year of his contract in France.

Postecoglou is said to be 'obsessed' with acquiring a new number 9 and the Canada international could well be his man.

Why David would be a good signing for Spurs

Described as "one of the best strikers in the world" by Canadian podcast host Tony Marinaro, that tells you all you need to know. Great, we can wrap this article up now, surely? Well, that would all be a little bit boring. Let's provide you with more insight.

As we said, Spurs didn't exactly struggle per se without Kane, but their options were limited. Son – who was given the captaincy – was often preferred in a central striking berth but that ultimately meant that Postecoglou's options on the flanks were not always too convincing.

Brennan Johnson did end the campaign well, registering three assists in his last four games but with five goals to his name across the entire campaign he wasn't bagging on a regular basis.

The same could be said for Timo Werner who only found the net on two occasions in 14 appearances. As for Dejan Kulusevski, he scored eight times. Decent but certainly not awe-inspiring.

So, by signing David, Ange could move Son into a menacing position out wide and add more goals to the squad.

Besides Kane, Spurs have struggled to find a striker who can score regularly. That's hardly a surprise considering the lack of game time they have had but it's not as though they've even had a strong rotation option.

Richarlison – who did bag 12 last season – only scored three in his debut term, Carlos Vinicius scored just one league goal in 2020/21 and in 2018/19, Fernando Llorente fired home eight goals.

Now, let's compare that to the tallies of David.

So, while the Lille sensation certainly isn't in the same bracket as Kane, who scored a jaw-dropping 44 times for Bayern last term, he is a great deal more prolific than any of the other centre-forwards Spurs have had at their disposal over the last six years or so.

If they could secure a deal for the £25m fee mooted, it would be phenomenal business, potentially handing Postecoglou his best striker yet.

Spurs confident of landing £20k-p/w "monster" who's like Watkins

The impressive striker has made it to the Euros final.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 12, 2024

Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva say there are “many things you don’t know” about Cristiano Ronaldo, with certain secrets being revealed.

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• All-time great still going strong at 39
• Has been at the top for over 20 years
• Team-mates get a look at his private life

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  At 39 years of age, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has spent more than two decades in the public eye. He boasts a celebrity standing that transcends his chosen profession, with CR7 becoming a global superstar on and off the field.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite operating under the brightest of spotlights, few have been given a glimpse of what Ronaldo is like away from the cameras and behind the scenes. International team-mates are given a glimpse into that private life, with the Portuguese GOAT not as serious as his public persona might suggest.

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  WHAT FERNANDES & SILVA SAID

  Ex-Manchester United colleague Fernandes has told Ronaldo’s when asked what his illustrious countryman is like: “I think there are many things you don't know – you have to be always around him to know what his life is like, but… he's good at dancing, he has good dance steps.

  City star Silva added on Ronaldo’s “secrets”: “I think people know that he's very disciplined, that he likes to work at the right times and that everything has to be there, but, perhaps… that he doesn't need to eat very often. I think he only eats lunch and dinner, he doesn't eat small meals, I think that's a good curiosity about him.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Both men have also opened up on their first experiences of Ronaldo, with fellow ex-Sporting star Fernandes saying: “It’s funny, but also emotional. When I first arrived here I was surrounded by great players that I admired and I was quite shy. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I would shake hands with my head down and Cristiano wasn’t there when I arrived, because I arrived very early and when he arrived he started talking to me, saying my name… and he said to me ‘I’ve seen your games, you’ve been scoring goals, playing very well for Sporting’ and I remember going back to the room to talk to my friends and family… ‘He’s been watching my games, how does he know my name?’, because it was the first time I was arriving at the national team and you admire these players and you always think that they don’t know who you are.”

  Silva added: “Of course I have a lot of memories with him, we played together 10 years ago, because that was when I started with the national team. I think one of the first times I arrived at the training camp, I didn’t know where to sit and some of the older players said ‘you can sit there, there’s a free space’, but that was Cristiano’s place on the bus and when he arrived he started laughing and said ‘you can sit here with me’, but I was in his place, I was just a kid of 20. The other guys tricked me and put me in Cristiano’s place, so that was actually funny.”

This summer is a huge one for Tottenham Hotspur as they try to build on Ange Postecoglou’s solid first season at the helm.

His side secured a 5th-placed finish in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on a Champions League place – with the aim undoubtedly to secure qualification this season.

They’ve already invested in the squad during the transfer window, re-signing forward Timo Werner on loan, whilst splashing £40m on youngster Archie Gray.

However, despite the big-money addition of the midfielder, who starred for Leeds United last season, the Lilywhites are still targeting more new signings to increase their chances of building on last season.

Numerous names have been touted with moves to North London this summer, including one talent who has caught the eye of various sides in the Premier League.

Tottenham could sign £50k-p/w star this summer

In recent weeks, Tottenham have been linked with a move to sign Nottingham Forest right-back Neco Williams after his stellar campaign in 2023/24.

The Welsh international, who earns £50k-per-week, as per Capology, made 26 appearances for the Reds last season, claiming three successive Player of the Month awards after the arrival of Nuno Espírito Santo.

His subsequent form has also caught the eye of West Ham United and Manchester United, with the Premier League duo joining Spurs in keeping tabs on his progress at the City Ground.

The potential signing of Williams could play perfectly into the hands of one current Spurs talent who also joined the club from Forest just 12 months ago.

Why Williams could be a dream signing for Johnson

Brennan Johnson joined Postecoglou’s side in September last year for £47.5m from the East Midlands outfit, after his debut top-flight campaign that saw him score eight goals and register three assists.

He enjoyed a successful first season in North London, registering 15 goal contributions, the second most of any player in the Tottenham squad in 2023/24.

Johnson has previously starred with Williams at Forest and for the Welsh national side, with the pair potentially able to rekindle their link-up down the right-hand side should the full-back swap the East Midlands for London this summer.

Whilst Williams featured without the winger at club level during the previous campaign, he still produced some impressive figures that would allow Johnson to reach the next level in North London.

The “incredible” defender, as dubbed by former boss Jürgen Klopp, averaged 2.6 progressive carries and 2.6 progressive passes, tallies that could allow him to once more create a successful partnership with his international teammate by progressing the ball forward consistently to provide the attacker with plenty of opportunities to weave his magic in the final third.

However, his primary role is to be solid defensively, a role that he excelled in last campaign, winning an average of 3.8 tackles per 90 – ranking him within the top 1% of all defenders in Europe.

He also averaged 2.4 blocks and 2.9 clearances, playing a starring role in Espírito Santo’s side towards the back end of the season.

It goes without saying that Williams’ potential signing would be an excellent one for Spurs, but it remains to be seen if they would pursue a move after their reported interest.

It would further strengthen the right-back area, but also hand the current Tottenham forward the opportunity to reach the next level after his impressive first season at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has set a target for new head coach Ruben Amorim after a disappointing end to the Erik ten Hag era.

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• Amorim era is underway at Man Utd
• Drew 1-1 in his first match against Ipswich
• Club CEO sets out targets

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Amorim as head coach, following the departure of Ten Hag. His tenure began with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town and will continue with his first home game at Old Trafford against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Portuguese coach has inherited a squad struggling in the lower half of the Premier League table after a disappointing start to the season. Despite the uphill battle, United CEO Berrada has made it clear that the club’s ambitions remain firmly set on competing for the biggest trophies in both domestic and European competitions.

• WHAT BERRADA SAID

  Speaking during the release of the club’s latest financial results, Berrada outlined the high expectations for Amorim's tenure.

  "The season is now well underway for both our men's and women's team, and we are keen to ensure both are as competitive as possible," Berrada said. "We are delighted to have appointed Ruben Amorim as head coach of our men's team and remain committed to returning Manchester United to the top of domestic and European football."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Amorim’s task will not be without constraints, with United set to operate on a lower budget as they look to become sustainable. Thus, there won't be a huge transfer kitty for the Portuguese to work with immediately.

It's been an interesting pre-season for Manchester United so far this summer, with a mixture of results, signings and even a few injuries.

Unfortunately, two of those things combined against Arsenal last week when the incredibly exciting Leny Yoro was forced off in the first half with what turned out to be quite a serious foot injury that will see him sidelined for the next three months.

This terrible luck has left Erik ten Hag light in central defence, and with the return of the Premier League right around the corner, the timing couldn't have been worse.

However, based on recent reports, he might not be for much longer, as the latest transfer update pertains to a player who'd be the perfect solution to the Dutchman's current predicament.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United have maintained their interest in Bayern Munich star Matthijs de Ligt.

In fact, Plettenberg confirmed that the Red Devils have remained in contact with the German club to work out a deal that will see him move to Old Trafford this summer.

No mention is made about how much it might cost United to sign the £258k-per-week Dutchman, but reports from earlier this week claim it could cost around £42m.

It wouldn't be a cheap deal, but given De Ligt's ability, it would prove great value for money, and he would be an incredible person to help cover for Yoro's absence before then forming a partnership with him in the long term.

Why De Ligt would be a great signing

Okay, so the first thing to say is that De Ligt would be a fantastic signing for United, regardless of the surrounding circumstances, but now they're short a defender following Yoro's unfortunate injury, he would be an incredible signing.

So, the first thing to consider as justification for this opinion are his underlying numbers, which are, unsurprisingly, quite impressive.

For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the "insane" defender, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 4% of centre-backs for pass completion, the top 7% for non-penalty expected goals and total shots, the top 10% for expected non-penalty goals plus assists and progressive passes, the top 13% for tackles in the attacking third and the top 15% for touches, all per 90.

This set of stand-out statistics demonstrate that while the former Ajax captain can obviously defend, he can also play as a modern centre-back and help out in attack when called upon.

Moreover, something he'll be able to bring to Ten Hag's backline that Yoro couldn't is experience.

Even though he's still only 24, the Leiderdorp-born titan has made 117 appearances for Ajax, 117 for Juventus, 73 for Bayern Munich, and 45 for the Netherlands, and so far in his career, he has won a league title and a domestic trophy with every team.

Ultimately, while losing the young Frenchman for three months is far from ideal, if United can bring in De Ligt before the season starts, they should be absolutely fine, and when he comes back into the side, they'll have an incredible duo on their hands.

100% duels won: Man Utd's 8/10 ace was as good as Amad vs Real Betis

The impressive Red Devil shone in San Diego.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 1, 2024

Manchester City have been drawn with Juventus in the Club World Cup, while Lionel Messi's Inter Miami avoid Europe's big guns in the group stage.

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• Inter Miami drawn in group with Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly
• Real Madrid will play Neymar's Al Hilal
• Tournament set to kick off in June 2025

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  FIFA revealed its group stage for the Club World Cup in full Thursday evening, the expanded 32-team tournament featuring matchups from top teams around the globe. Messi's Inter Miami were selected in a seemingly comfortable group, set to face Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras and Portugese stalwarts Porto, as well as Egyptian side Al Ahly.

  Elsewhere, Madrid will have to get out of a group that includes Red Bull Salzburg, Al-Hilal and Pachuca, while City have drawn Juve, Wydad AC, and Al Ain. Group B would seem to be the most difficult, with Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and Botafogo all vying for just two possible spots into the knockout stages.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The expanded tournament has been pushed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino for years, and will play out in 12 stadiums across 11 cities in the United States next summer. The format will function much like the World Cup, with the top two teams in every group advancing to a single-elimination knockout stage. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final, 12 months in advance of being the site for the 2026 World Cup final.

• DRAW IN FULL

  Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami

  Group B: PSG, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders

  Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica

  Group D: Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, Chelsea, Leon

  Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan

  Group F: Fluminense, Dortmund, Ulsan HD, Mamelodi Sundowns

  Group G: Man City, Wydad AC, Al Ain, Juventus

  Group H: Real Madrid, Pachuca, Al Hilal, RB Salzburg

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE CLUB WORLD CUP?

  With the groups set, the countdown now begins until the tournament officially starts. Miami will host the first game, with Messi's MLS club set to open the competition against Al Ahly on June 15.

The Brazilian was back in the starting XI and back to his best against Girona as Salah scored the only goal of the game.

Arne Slot's Liverpool made it six wins from six in the Champions League this season to remain top of the standings after seeing off the challenge of a lively Girona side on Tuesday.

The visitors started brightly but suffered some scares in the first half as Bryan Gil and Arnaut Danjuma caused problems for Michel’s impressive team and fit-again Alisson was forced into a string of saves.

Yet Liverpool took control in the second half and grabbed the lead after former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek was adjudged to have fouled Luis Diaz following a VAR check.

Up stepped Mohamed Salah who made no mistake from the spot, sending goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way, to make it 1-0 and continue the Reds’ perfect Champions League record.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Montilivi…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Alisson (8/10):

  Back in the team after injury and looked like he'd never been away. Made a string of important saves in an impeccable showing.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

  Girona had plenty of joy down his flank in the first half, particularly with Miguel Gutierrez. Had a late chance with a free-kick that was saved.

  Joe Gomez (6/10):

  Almost scored with a header early on but some wobbly moments at the back and found Danjuma a tricky opponent.

  Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

  Was good in possession and looked to get the Reds going by bringing the ball out.

  Andy Robertson (7/10):

  Great delivery from corners for Liverpool and had two chances himself but saw his efforts saved.

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  Midfield

  Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10):

  Cut a frustrated figure at times and wasn't at his influential best.

  Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):

  Looked the best of Liverpool's midfielders. Played some great passes through to tee up chances.

  Curtis Jones (6/10):

  Not as effective as in recent weeks. Just couldn't quite find the right pass.

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  Attack

  Mohamed Salah (7/10):

  On the fringes of the game but thumped home the penalty to secure the win.

  Darwin Nunez (5/10):

  Had some good chances but was not clinical enough and failed to beat Gazzaniga in the Girona goal.

  Luis Diaz (6/10):

  Caused a few problems and won the penalty thanks to Van de Beek's poor challenge.

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  Subs & Manager

  Cody Gakpo (6/10):

  Replaced Nunez with the game already safe.

  Harvey Elliott (N/A)

  Gave Jones a breather late on.

  Wataru Endo (N/A)

  Just given a few minutes.

  Arne Slot (7/10):

  Made four changes and saw his team win again. Liverpool weren't at their best but remain perfect in Europe.