West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has swung the axe on midfielder James Ward-Prowse, but one player has impressed him behind-the-scenes at Rush Green.

Nuno making key West Ham decisions in build up to Arsenal

The Hammers take on Premier League title contenders Arsenal this weekend, and Nuno could hardly ask for a tougher second game in charge.

Related Harry Redknapp predicts major David Sullivan decision that will transform West Ham

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West Ham have looked as soft as butter in all respects defensively, especially when it comes to set-pieces, and threatening from dead ball situations is something that Arsenal seriously specialise in.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Mikel Arteta’s side could have a field day if the Hammers don’t shore up in that regard and quickly, with Nuno looking to build upon his solid 1-1 draw at Everton on Monday.

Further up the field, Nuno has already decided that Ward-Prowse won’t be a part of his long-term plans – just under a year after Nottingham Forest cut his loan spell short with the 51-year-old still in charge – so he clearly doesn’t rate the midfielder that much at all.

Ward-Prowse was axed from the matchday squad for West Ham’s trip to Everton, and credible reports since then have claimed that the 30-year-old is expected to leave in January.

Fabrizio Romano has backed up the Englishman’s potential winter departure too, with journalist Dean Jones suggesting that Ward-Prowse could re-join Southampton as his exit looks nailed on.

However, while Ward-Prowse seems as if he’s being pushed out the door, Nuno has quite the opposite opinion on defender Max Kilman.

Nuno says Max Kilman has absolutely shone in West Ham training

The former Wolves boss worked with Kilman at Molineux for years, and Nuno says that the centre-back has impressed him at Rush Green so far with his work ethic in training.

Nuno’s arrival could be exactly what Kilman needs to rediscover his very best form, as the pair enjoyed a very productive relationship at Wolves.

The 28-year-old seriously credited Nuno for his development when they worked in the Midlands together, telling the Birmingham Mail in 2020 that West Ham’s boss helped him understand the game a lot better.

Interestingly, Kilman stood out as West Ham’s joint-best performer alongside Alphonse Areola against Everton (WhoScored), and supporters will be hoping that will spur on a string of convincing defensive displays.

Italy cruised to a 3-0 win over Israel in their World Cup qualifying clash on Tuesday, which sees the Azzurri stretch their winning streak to five games. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso was pleased with his side's performance and heaped praise on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while also hoping for "God's blessings" as they aim a World Cup play-off spot.

• Italy continue winning run in World Cup qualifying

  Israel gave Italy a run for their money in last month's qualifiers, which dramatically ended 5-4 in the latter's favour. On Tuesday, though, the result was rather straightforward. Gattuso's troops registered a comfortable 3-0 victory, thanks to a brace from Mateo Retegui and a stoppage time goal from Gianluca Mancini. The result mathematically secured Italy's spot in the World Cup play-offs and extended their winning streak to five games. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Gattuso happy to keep a clean sheet, praises Donnarumma

  Speaking to after the game, Gattuso said: "We played well. We all remember the match a month ago. They had us dancing, taking us for a walk. Congratulations to the lads, especially Gigio [Donnarumma], who made some good saves. Personally, I'm satisfied. I saw great spirit and I'm happy not to have conceded a goal. We played the game we needed to play, even though we had everything to lose today… Very, very good."

• Gattuso wants 'God's blessings' in hopes to qualify for 2026 World Cup

  Italy are at risk of missing out on a direct spot at next year's World Cup, which means they might have to settle for a play-off spot. However, the former AC Milan head coach continues to show belief in his squad. 

  "But we have to know how to suffer; few teams in the world can handle it," he added. "And when we have the ball, the quality is there, but we need to regain consistency and work on every inch. Playoffs? We won't rest, let's hope for God's blessings and that we don't lose any players. We'll play two solid matches and try to form a compact core that can perform well on and off the pitch."

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• AFP
  

  Italy hoping third time's the charm to qualify for World Cup

  Italy's last appearance in World Cup finals was in the 2014 edition. Since then, they have suffered the humiliation of failing to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The latter failure was especially stunning, coming just over a year after they had been crowned European champions. 

  As many as 48 teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, out of which 16 slots have been assigned to teams that fall under UEFA's governance. There are currently 12 groups in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers. Winners of these 12 groups will automatically qualify for next year's showpiece event, while the 12 runners-up will be joined by four best-ranked Nations League section winners. These 16 teams will vie for the remaining four UEFA slots at the World Cup.

  Italy have racked up 15 points from six games, three less than Norway, who have won all six games so far. In order to attain a play-off spot, they need to ensure they collect at least one point from their remaining two games. If they want to win the group, they will have to win the remaining two games against Norway and Moldova, while hoping that the Scandinavians drop points against Estonia. 

A former Premier League legend has urged Steven Gerrard to ignore an old football cliche after the Liverpool icon re-emerged as the favourite candidate to land the Rangers job. The club's hierarchy are in the market for a new head coach after they parted ways with Russell Martin earlier this month. Martin oversaw a nightmare start for the Gers in the 2025-26 campaign in the Scottish Premiership.

Gerrard pulled out of race to become Rangers boss after advanced talks

Rangers parted ways with Martin just a few months after the former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager took charge at Ibrox. Gers got off to a nightmare start as they managed to register just one win in their first seven league matches. Martin also faced opposition from the fans, who went public with their anger during a Scottish League Cup clash, where they arrived at Ibrox with banners reading, "Russell out – worst manager in history." They also hurled balls onto the pitch, which led to a delay in the start of the game. A week before the international break, Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership. The result proved to be the last straw for the top brass, as the club announced the departure of the manager.

Following Martin's exit, the Gers began their hunt for a new coach and were reportedly in advanced talks with Reds icon Gerrard at one point, but the former England midfielder eventually withdrew his name from the race, although both parties kept the door open for future negotiations, and his name is now back in the headlines as one of the favourites to take the role.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGerrard told to ignore football cliche

Premier League and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has opened up on the Rangers' situation as he addressed Gerrard pulling out of contention for becoming the Scottish giants' next head coach.

Speaking to , Shearer said: "I don't know Steven's tax situation with him being back in the UK and he can only answer that. There is that 'never go back' saying but if he wants to get back to management, he knows what it's like up there, he's done it and been successful before. He's a huge name in football. I don't think Celtic are that great either. Hearts are top of the SPFL at the moment so that tells you that Celtic aren't a great team either. Steven, or whoever goes into that role may fancy their chances and say it's worth the opportunity and worth going up there to compete. Rangers are miles off it at the minute and it's no surprise that Russell lost his job. The fans were going mad up there and it's not nice to see because of the human behind it and at the end of it. That's what you have to think of but you also know the score when you go into management – if you don't win games, you'll get sacked. The Rangers job will be a brilliant one for whoever takes over."

Was Gerrard afraid of becoming a 'laughing stock'?

Former Scotland star Pat Nevin backed Gerrard's decision to pull out of the running for the coaching role as he felt it would have been difficult for the 45-year-old to manage a team that had made a disastrous start in the new season. 

Speaking to , Nevin said: “Steven Gerrard's the last one that won a title and it stopped Celtic doing the ten titles in a row. So he's literally as good as anyone else and he's certainly got a tune out of that team that season. I feel sorry for the board because when you look elsewhere it's tough. It's really, really tough to get a top manager because when you come into Rangers, it's not just Russell Martin. You're behind the eight ball already. When you walk in, they're so far behind the league just now. The expectation is, if you got second this season, even from so far behind, people will still be a bit grumpy with you. I understand that, they've got high standards. But the amount of managers that have gone in there and come out and been trashed, absolutely trashed. And there's no win for it. Celtic typically have so much more money. Celtic have got a base there. Celtic can go and blow Rangers out of the water with money just now if they want, (but) they're not. They've got plenty in the bank they can use. There's all sorts of stuff that Celtic have got in place. Rangers have got this team that's been built by a whole bunch of different managers. And I go to see Celtic-Rangers games a lot and you think, so who's playing for Rangers now? And that's not what you want.“

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Getty Images SportMan Utd coaches in contention to become new Rangers boss

Ex-Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his former assistant coach at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick, are linked with the Rangers job. Both managers are currently out of work after getting sacked by Besiktas and Middlesbrough, respectively, earlier this year. Rangers are also looking at options like Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna, although he may be difficult to prise away from the Suffolk side.

MatériaMais Notícias

A era Fernando Diniz teve início na tarde desta sexta-feira (18) na Seleção Brasileira. Com o espaço para Neymar, que chegou ao futebol árabe, para o goleiro Bento, do Athletico-PR, e o zagueiro Nino, os meias André, do Fluminense, e Raphael Veiga, do Palmeiras, o comandante anunciou os convocados que estarão nos primeiros compromissos das Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo de 2026.

O Brasil enfrentará a Bolívia, no Mangueirão, e o Peru, no Estádio Hernando Siles.

– É sempre complexo. A lista foi mudando com o tempo – afirmou.

O treinador falou sobre o que projeta para o seu trabalho na Seleção.

– Vou dar sequência àquilo que penso sobre futebol. Com o aditivo de ter a melhor matéria-prima do mundo. É um sonho para mim. Vai ser muito rico para o meu crescimento estar aqui. A chance disso dar certo é muito grande. Tenho uma relação muito forte com os jogadores. A minha vida na Seleção passa pelo desejo dos jogadores. É uma continuidade daquilo que tenho feito na minha carreira. Procurar fazer um jogo competitivo, que tenha estética e beleza. Que tenha a ver com as nossas raízes da maneira brasileira de jogar futebol – garantiu.

Em relação à presença de Neymar, que chegou recentemente ao Al-Hilal, o técnico destacou.

– De fato o Neymar externou o desejo de trabalharmos juntos e a vontade de repensar a passagem dele na Seleção. Conversei com ele, e ele se mostrou disposto e feliz. Em relação a ele, vocês já sabem o que penso. É um talento muito raro do futebol mundial. Acredito que ele merece, até o final da sua carreira, escrever o capítulo mais bonito dessa história, que eu acho que ainda não foi escrito – disse.

A ausência na lista de convocados foi do meia Lucas Paquetá. O jogador é investigado pela Federação Inglesa (FA) por supostas ligações com esquemas de apostas. Diniz não se esquivou de falar do assunto.

– Eu sou um cara que, o que me protege na minha vida inteira, é a verdade. Paquetá estava na lista. É um jogador que eu gosto muito. É uma questão de preservação, deixá-lo resolver essas questões, que excedem o jogo. Deixá-lo mais à vontade para resolver. Tivemos estes problemas aqui no Brasil. Isso precisa do fator tempo para que as coisas se esclareçam. É um jogador que eu adoro, embora nunca tenhamos trabalhado juntos. A CBF vai estar com as portas abertas para recebê-lo assim que ele resolver positivamente essas questões que tivemos de última hora – afirmou.

Convocados:

Goleiros

Alisson (Liverpool)

Bento (Athletico-PR)

Ederson (Liverpool)

Laterais

Danilo (Juventus)

Vanderson (Monaco)

Caio Henrique (Monaco)

Renan Lodi (Atlético de Madrid)

Zagueiros

Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)

Ibañez (Al-Ahli)

Marquinhos (PSG)

Nino (Fluminense)

Meias

André (Fluminense

Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)

Casemiro (Manchester United)

Joelinton (Newcastle)

Raphael Veiga (Palmeiras)

Atacantes

Antony (Manchester United)

Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton)

Neymar (Al-Hilal)

Richarlison (Tottenham)

Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Vini Júnior (Real Madrid)

Out-of-form sides look to turn the corner in this series

Danyal Rasool27-May-2025Big pictureLike one of those stifling work dinners there’s no getting out of, this Pakistan-Bangladesh series is to be endured rather than enjoyed. Initially meant to be three ODIs and as many T20Is, it was shortened to five T20I games, before the PSL encroached into its window and lopped off the two games in Faisalabad. Now, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in three T20Is at the tail end of May and the start of June, midway through a heatwave, as two out-of-form T20 sides look to turn the corner.It’s less than 48 hours ago that the PSL concluded with a spectacular final at the Gaddafi Stadium, where these three games will all take place. Ticket prices have been slashed, and the start time has been pushed back by an extra half-hour to allow the relatively cooler evening conditions time to take hold.Pakistan begin yet another new era, though the frequency of these reboots likely stretches the meaning of that word to breaking point. Mike Hesson has been appointed the white-ball coach. Regarded as one of the game’s canniest thinkers with a stellar resume of leading teams to success behind him, you’d think his arrival represents an exciting new time in Pakistan cricket. A bit like when Gary Kirsten was appointed to the same position 12 months earlier.Related

Simmons rallies behind Bangladesh's quicks to step up in Pakistan

Mustafizur Rahman out of Pakistan T20Is with thumb injury

Litton Das named Bangladesh T20I captain

Pakistan are coming off a chastening 4-1 series loss to New Zealand in March, but have largely stuck to the same mentality, if not necessarily the personnel, for this tour. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are all absent. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return from injury, while Naseem Shah is also back. Meanwhile, performances in the PSL have seen Hasan Ali and Sahibzada Farhan called up to the squad.Bangladesh’s form isn’t much better. Last week, they fell to an ignominious series defeat to the UAE, who came from behind to inflict a 2-1 defeat. Head coach Phil Simmons insisted the mood remained upbeat despite that defeat, but complicating Bangladesh’s task in Pakistan is the absence of several first-choice players.Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar and Taskin Ahmed are out injured, while Nahid Rana has opted out of the tour. They will, though, have the services of new fast bowling coach Shaun Tait, who previously served in that role with Pakistan.As with the later stages of the PSL, there will be no Hawkeye available during this series. The provider of the technology did not return to Pakistan once the PSL resumed, and the PCB has not deemed it cost-effective to arrange a replacement.Form guidePakistan LLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLWWWIn the spotlightSaim Ayub is fully fit, but didn’t hit his stride properly during the PSL. Starting off with a trademark half-century for Peshawar Zalmi, he followed it up with six successive single-digit scores as his tournament ended with a whimper. Five months earlier, when he last played T20I cricket before an ankle injury doomed him to a spell on the sidelines, he was in irresistible form; his most recent T20I score is an unbeaten 57-ball 98 against South Africa at Centurion. Pakistan will hope he can pick up where he left that sort of form.Litton Das was named T20I captain recently•BCCIAll eyes will be on Litton Das, who oversaw Bangladesh’s 2-1 defeat against UAE last week. Litton is the newly appointed T20I captain after Najmul Hossain Shanto stood down from the position earlier in the year. Litton got the position on the back of his good leadership in the West Indies in December. However, his batting form remains suspect. He made 65 runs against the UAE, often looking uncertain with his role in the batting order. Litton may have to take the anchor role with the bigger hitters around them, while at the same time managing the bowling attack.Pakistan are coming off a series defeat against New Zealand•Getty ImagesTeam newsA side strain has ruled Mohammad Wasim Jnr out of the series, with Abbas Afridi named his replacement. With this being Hesson’s first squad, there are positions up for grabs in the batting order, while Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf are expected to make up the seam-bowling numbers.Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan/Mohammad Haris (wk) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Hasan Nawaz 5 Salman Ali Agha (capt) 6 Shadab Khan 7 Khushdil Shah 8 Faheem Ashraf 9 Haris Rauf 10 Hasan Ali 11 Abrar AhmedBangladesh have a limited pace attack so they will have to bring in at least two of their spinners into the XI. It might be a choice between vice captain Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali (wk), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz/Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Shoriful IslamPitch and conditionsIt remains hot and dry in Lahore, though an occasional evening breeze does make conditions around match time more bearable. If the PSL is any indicator, the surfaces should be conducive to high scores.Stats and triviaBangladesh have a woeful T20I record against Pakistan, winning 3 and losing 16 matches. They did, however, win the last time these two sides played, though it involved second-string sides at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.Shoriful Islam and Mahedi Hasan are one and two wickets away respectively from becoming the fourth and fifth Bangladeshi bowlers to take 50 T20I wicketsPakistan’s T20I record since the start of 2024 makes for grim reading. Excluding games against Ireland, Canada and Zimbabwe, they have won four of 23 T20Is in this periodQuotes”Taskin and Fizz [Mustafizur] are key bowlers. But the young guys step up in their absence. They have a big opportunity to show their skills. We have a very good balanced side. We believe in our bowlers who are quite capable.”

تفاعلت جماهير فريق ليفربول مع أداء النجم المصري محمد صلاح في مباراة يوم السبت في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ضد خصمه فريق أستون فيلا.

واستضاف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وأستون فيلا، في الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26، حيث حقق حامل اللقب فوزًأ بهدفين دون رد.

وخاض محمد صلاح مباراة ليفربول ضد أستون فيلا بأكملها، وتمكن من تسجيل الهدف الأول قبل نهاية الشوط الأول. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا

وكعادتها، تفاعلت جماهير ليفربول مع أداء محمد صلاح في مباراة أستون فيلا، عبر موقع إكس، خاصة مع وصوله إلى هدفه رقم 250 مع الريدز، على النحو التالي:

“أعظم لاعب لدينا في القرن، أعتقد أن الأمر أصبح واضحًا الآن”.

Our greatest player of the century, I think it’s pretty clear now ❤️ — the.best (@thebest_LFC) November 1, 2025

“أفضل هداف في ليفربول منذ إيان راش، يا له من أسطورة حية”.

Best goal scorer we’ve produced since rush ❤️👑 what a living playing legend — Baidy_LFC (@FpLBaiDY) November 1, 2025

“يا لها من أسطورة، هذه الاستمرارية تُعد عظمة خالصة”.

what a legend consistency like that is pure greatness — Bull.web3 🐂 (@TheBullWeb3) November 1, 2025

“إنجاز رائع لـ محمد صلاح”.

A remarkable milestone for Salah — 0xNick (@0xnickmortal) November 1, 2025

“الملك عاد”.

king is back — nami’s bf (@bahurehat) November 1, 2025

“يا له من لاعب! حلم مشجعو ليفربول بمثل هذا السجل على مدار 25 عامًا!”.

What a player. For 25 years @LFC supporters dreaming of such a record. — Biswa27 (@2b7_law) November 1, 2025

“بصراحة، لم أتخيل في حياتي أن أرى لاعبًا يسجل حتى 200 هدفًا مع ليفربول، إنجاز مذهل من لاعب مذهل، من الرائع مشاهدته وهو يعود بالسنين إلى الوراء الليلة”.

Honestly never thought in my lifetime that I’d see a player score 200 goals for Liverpool yet alone 250! Amazing achievement from an amazing player. Beautiful watching him roll back the years tonight. — The BigEeeZee 🇵🇸 🇬🇧 (@ZishanI) November 1, 2025

“إنجاز مذهل من ملكنا المصري، أسطورة بحق”.

An astonishing achievement from our Egyptian King.

Truly a legend — Common Sense Is Dead (@commonsense1191) November 1, 2025

“أعظم لاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي على الإطلاق”.

Greatest epl player of all time — Elvis⁶𓅓 (@mafia3O) November 1, 2025

Despite not starting the 2025/26 season in perfect fashion, one thing that Manchester City have not had trouble with in their five Premier League games so far is finding the back of the net. According to Understat, there are just four sides that have scored more than City’s nine goals so far this term.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s side have been consistent in front of goal this season. The Citizens have the fourth-highest expected goals tally in the English top flight, with 8.8xG. That means they’re exceeding it by just 0.2xG so far, showing extreme consistency.

It is no surprise that City’s goalscoring form has coincided with Erling Haaland’s fine form.

Haaland’s start to the 2025/26 season

There is a certain inevitability about Norwegian striker Haaland. The 25-year-old has been one of the best strikers in the Premier League since he first moved to East Manchester.

His record for City currently stands at 131 goals in just 152 games.

This season, the former Borussia Dortmund star simply cannot stop scoring.

He’s already found the back of the net seven times in just six appearances, which included two goals per game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United on derby day.

There has been a constant debate over the past 12 months over who is the better striker, Haaland or new Liverpool recruit Alexander Isak. Of course, the Swede scored 23 times in the top flight last season, finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind new teammate Mohamed Salah.

It is not easy to settle. Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones used data to assess the pair. This shows Isak to be “the more complete footballer”, although when he posed the question of who he would want to score a goal for his life, he said it “has to be Haaland.”

Well, in actual fact, City once sold a striker who now ranks close to Isak in numbers and shone in the 2024/25 campaign.

City already sold their answer to Isak

Imagine a team with both Isak and Haaland leading the line. That would certainly be a strike partnership that would be nigh on impossible to stop. Actually, Guardiola had something similar at the club, with a former player.

One of the most exciting duos up front in recent times was certainly Haaland partnered with Julian Alvarez. The Argentine striker was excellent for City before moving to Atletico Madrid last summer, where he has excelled.

During his time at the Etihad Stadium, the 2022 World Cup winner scored 36 goals and assisted 19 in 103 games for the club.

However, he only played 6007 minutes and averaged just 66 full games. That left him with a goals and assists per game record on average of 0.8.

Since moving to the Spanish capital, Alvarez has once again shone. In 63 appearances, he’s found the back of the net 33 times and grabbed a further nine assists. 29 of those strikes came last season, with eight assists also coming in 59 games.

It is for that reason that Argentine journalist Roy Nemer called him “the best forward in the world” back in March. This term, that forward has four goals and an assist in six La Liga games already.

If the stats from the past year are anything to go by, Alvarez really could have been Guardiola’s own Isak.

The pair are deemed to be statistically similar, as per FBref, both averaging 0.2 goals per shot and similar goal-creating action numbers each game, where Alvarez averages 0.49 and Isak 0.45.

Perhaps, on reflection, the decision to sell Alvarez last summer was one Guardiola regret. Having both he and Haaland in the same side was a luxury they enjoyed for a few seasons, but they could have had their own Isak in the side and been even more imperious.

He really could have been City’s answer to Isak and made them an even bigger threat in front of goal.

Outclassed by Foden: Pep must drop Man City star who "created nothing"

Phil Foden spearheaded Manchester City to a comfortable EFL Cup victory over Huddersfield Town.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 25, 2025

Juventus have been warned by club legend Alessandro Del Piero that Igor Tudor's sacking will not solve the problems at the club. The former Italy international has explained that the issues inside the club are more complex than what the decision-makers believe and that it is not a coaching problem which has led to their dismal start to the campaign.

What led to Tudor's sacking?

A 1-0 loss to Lazio in Serie A on Sunday saw the Juventus board fire head coach Tudor. The Bianconeri have rarely produced magical moments and seldom showcased dominance in the league. The Serie A campaign kick-started on a bright note, as they defeated Parma, Genoa and heavyweights Inter. However, the game against Cristian Chivu's side was in fact the last fixture that saw them emerge triumphant. Since then, they have been held to five successive draws and three consecutive losses. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportClub legend Del Piero addresses Juventus' issue

After Tudor was relieved of his duties, former player and club legend Del Piero sneaked into the fray. He defended the Croatian and highlighted that coaching was not the root problem. Rather, the club has certain complex issues to address. He said: "I don't think the word confusion is the most appropriate for Igor. I know him well as a player and a boy, I even spoke to him in Madrid: it's not a question of confusion. Juve doesn't have a coaching problem but a more complex one, regarding how the team has come together in this start to the season and the results. The team has shown it is alive, it hasn't played poorly and perhaps the draw was fairer . They also did well in Madrid, the problem was in Como. I don't think this team could win the championship with another coach. It's a broader issue. They still don't have a starting eleven: not because Tudor doesn't want to have them or because he wants to make everyone lively, but because beyond 2-3 players like Yildiz and Thuram, the others have struggled to perform consistently. You can't always blame the coach alone. Looking at the strongest teams in Italy and Europe, more or less all of them have a starting eleven chosen."

Tudor was not concerned about getting sacked

The seven-game winless run ahead of the Lazio game might have created buzz in Italy about Tudor's position under scrutiny. However, the Croatian was never interested in such rumours and pressure. In fact, before the Lazio game, he made some bold comments when questioned about his future. He said: "Honestly, I don’t have this fear, not at all. I enjoy it, even in difficulties. I’m aware of what’s around me. It’s all clear to me. When you see things clearly, you have a strength that you wouldn’t have had in other moments. I think about how to motivate players, make them rest, and find solutions." 

The issue raised by Del Piero was touched upon by Tudor after the Lazio game. He said to the reporters: "I think we prepared for the match in the right way, but we’re still missing something. There’s no need to dramatise the situation, we’re all responsible for this difficult period."

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AFPWho are Juventus considering as Tudor's replacement?

This is the second time that Juventus have changed their head coach before November in a season. The last time it happened was way back in 1969, when the Bianconeri replaced Luis Carniglia with Ercole Rabitti. The Old Lady have fixtures in quick succession. On Wednesday, they will be up against Udinese at home, before taking on Cremonese in an away match on Saturday. However, they would need to finalise a new head coach soon. As per a report in Juventus are aiming to get former Italy national team manager Luciano Spalletti on board. Initial contact has been established between the parties, with the project and financial conditions being discussed. In case the deal doesn't see daylight, Juventus will be expected to turn to Roberto Mancini, who was once looked upon as a favourite to replace Thiago Motta last year. 

Who is Liverpool’s star forward? Is it still Mohamed Salah?

Only in May was the 33-year-old handed many individual awards to surmount his team triumph with Liverpool. For his defining role in Arne Slot’s triumphant debut campaign, Salah has put to rest any doubts that he is one of the greatest players in Premier League history.

But even Salah will one day retire, and his start to the 2025/26 campaign has brought to mind the concerns that he has passed his prime and is part of the problem Slot is wrestling with, Liverpool having lost three in a row this season and lacking any of the fluency and zip on show for most of last season.

Given that the Egyptian King signed a new two-year contract on Merseyside in April, it’s clear that he and FSG feel that this story is not yet over, but sporting director Richard Hughes has nonetheless added quality to Liverpool’s attacking ranks, with Alexander Isak the showpiece.

Why Liverpool signed Alexander Isak

For nine years, Liverpool have boasted Salah as their star goalscorer, but the record-breaking addition of Isak from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day underscores a shifting of the plates at Anfield. The balance of offensive power has swung.

Last season, Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for Newcastle. He scored what proved the decisive second strike in a 2-1 win over Slot’s Reds at Wembley in March. It was there that he lifted the Carabao Cup.

Many attacking departures this summer led to FSG deciding to break the bank for a striker already established as one of the best in the business. Isak, now, will be expected to produce the goods over many years to spearhead a trophy-laden chapter.

Salah, Liverpool’s adopted son. But he’s getting old, and should he recover that same giddy level of 2024/25, it is sure to be a short-lived thing when viewed against the potential of some of his Liverpool teammates.

Like Isak. The Sweden international is 26 years old and fully settled into his Premier League career. Already, he has been described by pundit Ally McCoist as being “the best all-round centre-forward” in England.

However, he’s not Salah. Instead, Liverpool might find another within their ranks to look more like the natural replacement for the £400k-per-week superstar, albeit not quite positionally.

Slot's own Salah-type signing

When Salah first arrived at Liverpool, he arrived under scrutiny. Scroll through the archives and you will find plenty of criticism when Jurgen Klopp oversaw a £34m purchase of Roma winger Salah, formerly of Chelsea, where he failed to impress.

But nine years later, he is a Liverpool legend, having won more than his share of silverware and scored more than his share of goals.

With Salah now winding down, Hugo Ekitike could step up as the new version of the talisman, with some interesting parallels between the two.

Having joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer for an initial £69m fee, Liverpool felt they had signed one of the finest young forwards in the business. Indeed, talent scout Jacek Kulig said of the Frenchman during his days with Eintracht Frankfurt: “He could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”

But that’s a big some for a 23-year-old who had previously struggled at a big club. Before moving to Germany, Ekitike had swapped Reims in his homeland for the Paris Saint-Germain superpower, arriving in July 2022 for a €35m (about £30.5m) fee.

But, described as a “goal machine” by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch, Liverpool have landed themselves a far more complete and primed verison.

Four goals were all he scored in the French capital, having played 33 matches. This is somewhat similar to Salah’s return at Chelsea, posting two goals and three assists for the Blues before being sold to Roma.

Liverpool’s scouting team have long known their stuff, though, and Ekitike’s underlying data is a thing to behold. In fact, looking at his performance across the past year, it’s hard to distinguish the up-and-comer from the mighty Isak, which is a towering testament to his quality.

Goals scored

0.76

0.50

Assists

0.21

0.24

Shots taken

3.13

3.65

Shot-creating actions

2.96

3.15

Touches (att pen)

6.16

6.46

Pass completion (%)

75.4

75.0

Progressive passes

3.23

1.96

Progressive carries

2.65

2.78

Successful take-ons

1.38

1.61

Ball recoveries

1.93

2.38

Aerials won

0.89

1.83

There’s not a lot to separate the two. Isak is the more refined and effective goalscorer, but Ekitike is more complete and aggressive when on the ball, and better with his head besides.

These are rare breeds of centre-forward, and Liverpool now have frontmen with the quality to take the reins from Salah over the next couple of years and lead Slot’s side to more glory. Isak is a product of several years of successful development in the Premier League, but Ekitike knows what it’s like to fall by the wayside at one of the continent’s biggest hitters, and he shares that with Salah.

With five goals and an assist across his first ten matches as a Liverpool striker, Ekitike has started life as a Red on strong footing. Salah did too, breaking the record for goals in a 38-game Premier League campaign when he first returned to English shores.

Whether Ekitike will quite achieve the same degree of success is debatable, to be sure, but the fact remains that Liverpool have pulled off some exceptional business this summer, and while FSG must turn toward identifying a successor on the right wing in the coming windows, Salah’s proverbial heir has been located and welcomed in the form of Ekitike.

He is set for the top.

Liverpool determined to sign Salah upgrade who's 'one of the world's best'

Liverpool’s up-and-down start to the season has caused FSG to glance at the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 10, 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now personally requested the board sign a “special” star, with a £105m opening offer now in the works.

Man City looking to sign successor to Rodri

After spending the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sidelined due to an ACL injury, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is starting to show signs he is getting back to his best, most notably impressing in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli.

The Spaniard received an 8.3 SofaScore match rating against the Italian side, the second-highest of any City player, after making a number of key contributions and touching the ball 109 times, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels won

6

Accurate passes

87/95 (92%)

Key passes

3

Defensive actions

6

Esteemed Kompany’s Steven McInerney also sung the central midfielder’s praises after his display against the Serie A champions, but it has since emerged that Guardiola is now running the rule over potential long-term successors.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Pep is keen on Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic as an heir to Rodri, and the manager has now set his sights on a different young midfielder.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Pep has personally requested the Man City board sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves, with the manager said to be a keen admirer of the midfielder.

Such is City’s level of interest, they are already preparing a massive initial offer of €120m (£105m) for Neves, but it could be difficult to tempt the French club into a sale.

Man City in race to sign "generational" £70m Man Utd star, Pep's a big fan

The City boss is an admirer of a Premier League player, with a shock move now on the cards.

ByDominic Lund Sep 18, 2025

The 20-year-old is regarded as an essential part of PSG’s project, given that the youngster has already established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position, so his current employers are extremely hesitant to sanction a departure.

"Special" Neves would be statement signing for Man City

It seems like it will be very difficult to get a deal done, but the Portuguese maestro could be a statement signing for the Blues, with scout Ben Mattinson suggesting he is destined for the very top.

Much like Rodri, the PSG star is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, placing in the 96th percentile for tackles per 90, the 97th percentile for pass-completion rate, and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals over the past year, compared to other midfielders.

Despite his age, the starlet is already vastly experienced at the highest level, making 17 Champions League appearances en-route to PSG’s maiden triumph last season, which suggests he could be a top signing for Man City.

That said, given that Neves remains under contract until 2029, PSG should be in a strong negotiating position, and it remains to be seen whether he would even be willing to leave the reigning European champions.