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Liverpool emphatically ended the mini-quandary arising from two meek performances against Luton Town and Toulouse respectively with a statement Anfield victory over Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp revamped his midfield during the summer after the 2022/23 campaign yielded rotten results, and despite the industrial scale transfer work the seamless integration has been noted.

Finishing fifth last season and consequently missing out on the Champions League this year, Liverpool have been plying their trade in the Europa League, and while they top Group E after four matches, a chastening 3-2 defeat to Toulouse last week showed startling signs of last season's spiritlessness.

It's perhaps understandable that there will be bumps in the road, and given that the Reds are just one point behind league leaders Manchester City heading into the third international break of the term, there is cautious optimism that results can be sustained to mount another challenge for the title under Klopp's leadership.

And while the 3-0 win over Brentford was an impressive show of strength on home soil – maintaining the 100% record at Anfield since the summer – there were still areas for improvement that the club's German manager will seek to iron out over the coming period.

In fairness, there were multiple absences in midfield – Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones joined Spanish duo Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic in the injury room, while Alexis Mac Allister missed out due to suspension – which meant Wataru Endo's way was paved for a second Premier League start of the season, despite flattering to deceive in midweek.

Wataru Endo's game vs Brentford by numbers

Endo has been a bit of a mixed bag since arriving from Stuttgart for £16m in the summer, signed after the Reds failed to secure both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, who both opted to join Chelsea.

Due to the lack of options last weekend, Klopp handed the Japan star a starting berth and while he didn't struggle, per se, his lack of authority in defensive moments was clear to see.

As per Sofascore, the 30-year-old took 67 touches from the centre of the park, completing 86% of his passes and making four clearances to stifle Brentford's advances on the counter, but he won only one of his nine ground duels and did not evoke the confidence that a defensive midfielder should for a side of Liverpool's calibre, winning just one tackle and also being dribbled past twice.

Against TSC on Thursday night, Endo won none of his five contested ground duels, and for all his composure and industriousness it is clear why Klopp opts not to start him on the big occasions.

Cody Gakpo's performance vs Brentford

With multiple absences, Cody Gakpo was also placed in midfield, having started there across the opening two matches of the Premier League campaign against Chelsea and Bournemouth, struggling on both occasions.

Against Thomas Frank's Bees, he impressed in instances and demonstrated some of the attributes that prompted Klopp to recognise his worth in the middle, but he failed to influence the play as he would in an offensive position and should not be unleashed from deep when other options are at Klopp's disposal.

Testing Mark Flekken with a stinging shot in the first half, Gakpo was crisp in possession, energetic and hard-working, but once again he proved that his deployment in the position must be used as a last resort.

Indeed, despite completing 91% of his passes, winning four ground duels (44%) and succeeding with two dribbles, Gakpo failed to make a single key pass and only took 46 touches.

For comparison, Dominik Szoboszlai took 73 touches and completed two key passes, always looking a threat and starting promising passages of play.

Goal's Mark Doyle handed the Dutchman a 6/10 match rating despite the big win, writing: 'Once again started in midfield because of Liverpool's injury issues but while he worked hard, and had a couple of efforts from distance, he was once again largely ineffective in a deeper role. Subbed late on.'

While it was no detriment to the win, Klopp will no doubt be happy that key personnel in the middle will be back for the daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in two weeks.

Where Cody Gakpo fits in at Liverpool

Gakpo perhaps gets a bit too much stick. He hasn't proved to be the most clinical of forces since completing a £35m transfer to the Anfield side last winter, but he's technically proficient and intelligent both in possession and without the ball.

With the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah wreaking havoc through their clinical exploits, might the £120k-per-week Gakpo's work be going under the radar?

He has scored four goals and supplied an assist from nine starts across all competitions this season, and, as per FBref, the dynamo also ranks among the top 20% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles and the top 8% for blocks per 90.

Once hailed as "something special" by Fabrizio Romano, the all-encompassing nature of his craft welcomes space and success for other attack-centric peers, but his best qualities have been negated on both occasions he has been fielded in the centre of the park this year.

Of course, Liverpool's list of midfield absentees last weekend precluded the possibility of easy squad selection, but with Harvey Elliott replacing the 19-cap international in the 83rd minute, there's an argument there that Klopp unleashed the wrong man in the centre.

Such claims could be thrown into the realm of the pedantic; Liverpool won, convincingly, against a disciplined team that was riding a three-match Premier League win streak, but it's something that Klopp will consider going forward.

Manchester United may be able to prise Jarrad Branthwaite away from Everton in a cut-price deal, with the Red Devils making the defender a top target.

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• Red Devils ready to spend again
• Looking for defensive reinforcements
• Toffees under pressure to sell

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Transfer plans are in the process of being drawn up at Old Trafford, although it remains to be seen who will be calling the shots from the dugout in 2024-25 – with questions continuing to be asked of Erik ten Hag’s future. Whoever is at the helm, the general consensus is that reinforcements at the back are required.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With that in mind, Branthwaite continues to register on United’s radar. At 21 years of age, and having already been drafted into the senior England squad, the commanding centre-half is considered to be a shrewd addition for the present and future.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Everton will be reluctant sellers, but their precarious financial position is leaving them vulnerable to early summer raids. Having already been stung with two points deductions for breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the Toffees need to try and balance books by June 30.

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  TELL ME MORE

  United could look to take advantage of that by making a play for Branthwaite. They will be aware of Everton’s need to raise funds – even with a potential takeover from 777 Partners still in the pipeline – and reports that a supposed £80 million ($100m) asking price could be lowered.

Glasgow Rangers could be set to lose one of their up-and-coming prospects next year, with a fresh report revealing that he’s being targeted ahead of January.

Recent departures at Rangers

Over the summer, those at Ibrox side sanctioned the sales of 11 players in total, with eight of those leaving on a permanent basis, while the remaining three were sent out on loan for the rest of the season to increase their game time and experience.

The Light Blues have John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin and Leon Balogun who will have reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the term so they could also soon be heading for the exit door (Rangers contracts).

The Ibrox outfit, now managed by Philippe Clement, additionally have a decision to make over the future of right-winger Ross McCausland who is another squad member who will be out of contract upon the conclusion of the current campaign, though chiefs appear keen to retain his services for the foreseeable.

The Northern Ireland youth international is reportedly set to be tabled fresh terms in order to fend off any potential interest during the upcoming transfer window, but if the following update is to be believed, the 20-year-old has already been brought onto the radar of two clubs in the Serie A so could leave the Scottish Premiership.

Atalanta and AS Roma want Ross McCausland

According to outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), McCausland is of interest to Atalanta and AS Roma ahead of January. The Italian pair are among “numerous clubs” who are keeping a close eye on his performances, but the mentioned duo are in particular “monitoring him through their scouts”.

Whilst talks are yet to take place, the forward’s contract situation means that he “could represent an opportunity” in the new year, where he may cost as little as €450k (£392k) should a pre-contract agreement be reached.

Rangers need to keep "superb talent" in McCausland

Despite McCausland having only made nine senior appearances for Rangers, Clement will know that he may have an exciting prospect with bags of potential to offer, so it’s important that the club tie him down because he will be a key player for the future in Glasgow.

The County Antrim-born talent has clocked up 20 involvements, 14 goals and six assists, in 59 appearances since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – McCausland stats), displaying how prolific he can be at creating and putting chances away in the final third.

The Teddy Bears starlet is also a versatile operator having been deployed in four different positions over the grass since first bursting onto the professional scene, including out wide on both the left and right flanks, alongside two roles in the midfield, so he’s a wonderful option to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur.

According to journalist Josh Bunting, McCausland is a “superb talent” and even the thought of losing him could be a real blow, so there’s no doubt that everyone associated with the club may well be hoping that he puts pen to paper on an improved contract instead of making the decision to move onto new pastures in January.

Lionel Messi is "making every opponent look amateur" in Major League Soccer after joining Inter Miami, according to ex-USMNT star Herculez Gomez.

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• Messi has fired Inter Miami to top of standings
• In prolific form in MLS
• Told he's making rivals look 'amateur'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi has made a superb start to his first full season in Major League Soccer, scoring nine times in just seven games and helping fire The Herons to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Argentine helped secure a first Leagues Cup triumph after arriving from PSG but will be aiming for more silverware in 2024 with Tata Martino's side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi's displays at the start of the 2024 MLS season have drawn regular praise from commentators and opponents alike. Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez has joined the list of admirers by explaining just how impressed he has been to see the 36-year-old more than live up to the hype after arriving in the United States.

• WHAT GOMEZ SAID

  He told ESPN: "He's the best player I've ever seen play Major League Soccer. I don't think it's a secret, I don't think it's debatable. You look at this guy's numbers: he's got 11 goals, nine assists in his last 10 games in all competitions. Nine league goals in the last six games. He's played 24 games in Major League Soccer since he signed with Inter Miami. He's got 22 goals, 11 assists. I'm talking primary assists, not the hockey assists that MLS adds to pad the stats. This guys has been as good as advertised. He's been that player.

  "This is his playground and he's making every single player, every single opponent look amateur. It's been that good and when he's not been good there's been a reason for it, it's been injury-related. But when he's healthy, when he's fit, when he's on the pitch, he's unstoppable."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi has recorded a goal contribution in his last 10 straight club matches in all competitions for the seventh time in his career and the first since September-December 2018, when he was still on the books at Barcelona.

Newcastle United are flying high in the Premier League at the moment and are currently sitting two points behind fourth-place Aston Villa, having put Manchester United to the sword at St. James' Park on Saturday night.

The Magpies were sensational against the Red Devils, recording an xG of 2.5 from 22 shots while boasting 58% of the ball.

However, there was a devastating drawback to Newcastle's emphatic victory as Nick Pope was taken off late in the game after diving for a shot in the second half.

Head coach Eddie Howe has confirmed that Pope will be out for roughly four months which will certainly be a worry but there is one player in the squad who could help ease the team's goalkeeping woes.

Nick Pope's stats this season

Pope has been outstanding once more for Newcastle United this season and even put in a Man of the Match display for the side as Howe's men came away with a point against Paris Saint-Germain last week in the Champions League, despite conceding an xG of 4.54. Furthermore, the only goal Pope conceded during the game was from the penalty spot.

When compared to all other goalkeepers from Europe's top-five leagues across the last 365 days, Pope ranks quite favourably in a number of key goalkeeping metrics.

It has been reported since Pope's injury blow that former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is being lined up as a potential short-term replacement until Newcastle's number one returns from his lengthy spell on the sidelines, although Howe has since quashed these rumours in his recent pre-match press conference.

Coincidentally, according to FBref, one of the goalkeepers Pope is most similar to is De Gea, so perhaps bringing the Spaniard to St. James' Park in the interim may not be the worst decision Howe has made so far.

Nevertheless, there is one other cost-effective option that the head coach could utilise in the meantime.

Martin Dubravka's stats

The man to replace Pope following his injury on Saturday night was Martin Dubravka. The Slovakia international moved to Newcastle back in 2018 for a mere £4m during Rafa Benitez's spell in charge and quickly became a fan-favourite, with former England shot-stopper Paul Robinson labelling Dubravka as "inspirational" in net for the Geordie club.

In his pre-match presser ahead of Newcastle's trip to Everton, Howe hinted that Dubravka will be Pope's successor while the first-choice goalkeeper is sidelined. That would be quite something considering he's not started a league game for the club since May.

“We really believe in Martin [Dubravka] and I’ve always had that high opinion of him," Howe said. It was even reported by journalist Ben Jacobs that the Newcastle manager wasn't keen for Dubravka to leave on loan to Manchester United last season, a decision which ultimately cost him a place in the EFL Cup final, having been cup-tied.

However, can Dubravka really fill Pope's boots? To answer that question, let's compare his data from his last season as Newcastle's number one back in the 2021/22 campaign to Pope's from the current campaign.

Pope has certainly been a big upgrade on Dubravka but it's also important to note that the Slovak was playing in a team that was fighting for Premier League survival, not one vying for the top four. Nevertheless, his stats aren't too bad.

While De Gea would possibly be an improvement on Dubravka, the Spaniard was on £375k-per-week at Old Trafford and will cost quite a lot in terms of wages for a temporary deal.

Dubravka could be the perfect short-term option for Howe until Pope returns given he is on just £44k-per-week and already understands the team's style of play.

Vinicius Jr is being billed as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, but the Real Madrid star is eager to point out that he will always put “teams first”.

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• Brazilian star shining in Spain
• Chasing down European glory
• Now forms part of global elite

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazil international has been in dazzling form for the Blancos this season, helping them to the Liga title and another Champions League final. His exploits across the 2023-24 campaign, as he becomes a talismanic presence at Santiago Bernabeu, have led some to suggest that a Golden Ball could be heading his way.

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  WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID

  Vinicius has said of that debate, after helping Real past Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals: “Everyone talks about the Ballon d'Or but I'm very calm. I want to win another Champions League with this team. I can do great things this season and then I have to go with Brazil [for the Copa America]. I always think about the teams first and then me. We were able to place the best team in the world in another final. We have 25 stars in the team, all of us have worked hard to achieve our aim which is to go to London [for the Champions League final] and to win La Liga. We have won La Liga, we are going to London.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius has had plenty to contend with on and off the field during his time in Spain, but the 23-year-old forward is unlocking full potential to become part of the global elite. He added: “I came here [to Madrid] when I was young, 18. I was criticised a lot and that made me work a lot more in order to be ready when the time came…I train every day to improve…I'm now here, in another final. I've never worked in a group that is as united as ours is this season. This group works a lot.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Real, who wrapped up a domestic crown with four games to spare, are set to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium on June 1. Vinicius will be hoping to figure prominently in the contest, having previously netted a winning goal for the Blancos in their 2022 showdown with Liverpool.

Tottenham have made one star centre-back a top transfer target for January, and it's believed he'll cost in and around Virgil van Dijk's Liverpool transfer fee.

Spurs transfer target list – centre-backs

Over these last few weeks, a flurry of widespread reports have shared that Spurs will be targeting a left-sided central defender as one of their key priorities for January.

Levy now ready to make Spurs bid for player and offer him "monstrous" wages

He’s “unlikely” to refuse Tottenham’s proposal.

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Losing both Micky van de Ven, who will be sidelined till 2024 with a hamstring problem, and Cristian Romero for a small period really exposed Ange Postecoglou's shortage of centre-back cover.

Tottenham's 4-1 hammering of Newcastle was Postecoglou's first Premier League win since late October, and you could argue their defence was a major issue contributing to Spurs' damp run,

At their worst point, Spurs were forced to play both Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as the makeshift centre-back pairing. Postecoglou's lack of faith in Eric Dier was also brought to the forefront during that time.

As a result, the Australian and Lilywhites chiefs are targeting a host of star defenders as options to shore up Tottenham's backline.

Uruguay defender Sebastian Caceres, Everton's Ben Godfrey, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah, Genoa star Radu Dragusin, Union Saint-Gilloise's Koki Machida, Benfica starlet Morato, Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio and others are just some of the defenders linked with January moves to Spurs recently.

Another interesting option to have emerged in recent weeks is Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite. The English starlet has been sensational as a member of Sean Dyche's rejuvenated starting eleven at Goodison Park. Everton's 10-point deduction appears to have had a galvanizing effect, with Branthwaite playing a key role in recent weeks as his side climb out of the relegation zone.

Spurs make Branthwaite top target

Now, according to Football Transfers, Tottenham have made Branthwaite a top target heading into January, alongside Genoa's Dragusin. The 21-year-old is greatly admired by Spurs as one of the most in-form Premier League defenders this season, but according to this report, he'll cost a hefty sum.

Indeed, due to his sky-high potential and possibility of becoming an England regular in the near future, Everton have placed a £75 million price tag on his head to ward off his suitors. As highlighted by the author of the piece on X, this valuation is considered "in the van Dijk range" as Toffees chiefs believe he is genuinely that good.

Speaking to the Rest is Football podcast (via Liverpool Echo), Sky pundit Micah Richards claimed Branthwaite is a defender destined for the "very top".

“Young Branthwaite at the back was amazing [against Chelsea]. He’s going to the very top, his decision-making, he reads the game well, he’s quick enough, makes the right decisions,” said Richards.

“He’s got an experienced head with [James] Tarkowski beside him, and he’s got a manager who loves the defensive side of the game, so marry all of them together they deserve all the credit.”

Newcastle United were flying high last season and rode the wave of the PIF’s influx of cash, eventually finishing inside the top four which had been the club’s best campaign for more than two decades.

However, the Magpies are now a product of their own success and are starting to feel the pressure of increased expectations mounting on their shoulders. An early exit from the Champions League and back-to-back defeats in the Premier League over the past week certainly haven’t helped to alleviate this burden.

A draw would have secured the Geordie outfit Europa League football heading into the new year but a rather naive game plan from the side saw them throw the kitchen sink at the possibility of qualifying for the UCL knockout phase.

A handful of players froze during the game and looked incapable of handling the pressure, particularly the entire forward line.

Newcastle United’s performance in numbers vs AC Milan

Eddie Howe set his team up in a typical 4-3-3 and deployed Miguel Almiron on the right, with Anthony Gordon positioned on the left flank. Callum Wilson was perhaps the only surprise addition to the side, having made his first start since the beginning of November after suffering from a hamstring problem.

Wilson looked off the pace from the get-go. The England international had four attempts on goal which came to a total xG of 0.42 on the night. Overall, the Magpies registered an xG of 1.78, so Wilson alone had roughly one-quarter of his team’s total xG.

Incidentally, Almiron had a larger share of the xG pizza on Wednesday night. The Paraguay international had three shots at goal and boasted an xG of 0.86 in total, but failed to convert a single opportunity. This number was heightened by a miss in the 20th minute where Almiron refused to go with his right foot to tap the ball into an open goal, allowing Fikayo Tomori to make a huge block.

On the opposite side, Gordon had only one shot, which tallied an xG of 0.03, before being hooked after the hour-mark by the manager.

For Howe, the most worrying aspect of his frontline’s performances will undoubtedly be the lack of service for the striker. Both Almiron and Gordon failed to create a single chance during the game and together didn’t even manage to put a successful cross into the box, according to FotMob.

When Alexander Isak entered the fray, the Swedish centre-forward created one chance which was more than both combined. However, as per FotMob, Newcastle’s top-scorer this season managed to take merely one shot in over 30 minutes on the pitch — a true indictment of the wingers’ performances.

As a result, Newcastle are now being linked with a wide player ahead of the winter window, somebody who can offer a little more creativity than both Gordon and Almiron.

Newcastle United transfer news – Samuel Iling-Junior

According to Corriere Dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are keeping tabs on Samuel Iling-Junior’s situation with Juventus ahead of the January transfer market. The Italian outlet are claiming that the Bianconeri are willing to allow the winger to leave over the coming weeks and have even 'mandated' some agents to potentially complete a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur are another club that have been interested in signing Iling-Junior ever since Juventus made the 20-year-old available for purchase, but now the Magpies could battle it out with last Sunday’s victors for the ex-Chelsea academy star.

Iling-Junior has been tipped with having a £20m price tag as his contract does not expire with the Italian giants until the end of the 2024/25 campaign. However, Newcastle could have an edge in the race to acquire the attacker’s services as Iling-Junior has the same agent as Kieran Trippier.

Despite breaking through the ranks with the Old Lady last season, Iling-Junior hasn’t had much game-time at all this term to showcase his talents, making merely five substitute appearances which comes to 114 minutes of action. Now, a move could be on the cards.

Samuel Iling-Junior’s stats

One of Iling-Junior’s most impressive characteristics is his ability to play on either side of the flank and even as a wingback. This would be a dream for Howe as the young Englishman can cover on both wings in case another injury crisis riddles the team.

Furthermore, Iling-Junior’s attacking output is first-rate too. In 113 appearances in all competitions since the start of the 2019/20 season, including at youth level, the winger has bagged 44 goal contributions, including 21 goals and 23 assists. In that same four-and-a-half-year period, Almiron has recorded 39 goal contributions, with 10 assists and 29 goals.

It’s very clear from his statistics that Almiron is more of a goalscoring winger, considering he has almost triple the number of goals as he has assists. However, what Isak and Wilson need right now is someone who can put the ball on a plate for them.

This season alone, Howe’s side have whipped in just 239 balls which is the third-lowest in the Premier League. Only Burnley and Sheffield United have mustered fewer, according to FBref. In addition, Newcastle have scored merely five headed goals from 20 matches.

Since being at Newcastle, Almiron has registered one assist every 18.8 matches on average. Meanwhile, Iling-Junior boasts one assist every five matches in his career. The talent's style of play has even been described as "flamboyant" by football scout Jacek Kulig.

Isak is the future of Newcastle United and Howe needs a wide player who will be able to provide his top goalscorer with excellent balls to tuck away chances and win games. In this respect, Iling-Junior is a clear upgrade on Almiron and the Mags would do well to secure his services for so cheap in January.

Real Madrid midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are likely to leave the club this summer, according to reports.

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• Duo seeing fewer minutes at Madrid
• Both out-of-contract this summer
• Linked with MLS and Saudi moves

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The dynamic duo – who have been crucial to Madrid's success in recent years – are both in the final few months of their contract and the expectation is that they will move on from the La Liga champions despite their continued dominance in the league and Europe. Reports say despite it being a sad moment, it is necessary to ensure the continued upward trajectory of the club.

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  WHAT THE REPORTS SAID

  According to , Kroos and Modric are more likely to leave Madrid this summer than stay. The decision to let the veterans leave is a significant one for the Spanish giants as they will have a hard time replacing such key figures in the dressing room, while fans are believed to want Modric to stay.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Madrid have a new generation of midfield talent in Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga and they have quickly become part of the furniture at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite their status as club legends Modric and Kroos have to move on eventually and it may be better to go out while they are on top.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MODRIC AND KROOS?

  Before they even consider their next moves, the Croatian and German internationals will want to play their part in the Champions League final at Wembley on 1 June. They face Borussia Dortmund and the opportunity to win a record 15th title. If they can win the match, it would be the perfect closing chapter in their legendary story at Madrid.

The Catalan has made history by winning a fourth successive crown to make it six in total, but which was his best?

Champions again. And again, and again. Manchester City have a vice-like grip on the Premier League title, and good luck to anyone who tries to take it away from them. The Cityzens are celebrating their 10th English league title, their eighth in the Premier League era and their sixth under Pep Guardiola.

And this one is extra special, as they have become the first team in English football history to have won four consecutive crowns. Ever since winning their third title in a row last year, Guardiola had set his eyes on doing something that no team had previously achieved. And as he tends to do, the Catalan has pulled it off.

Not that he will be ranking it above any of his previous five title wins in Manchester, however. Two days before beating West Ham to secure the elusive fourth crown, Guardiola said: "Don't ask me which is more important because every one has been so important. All of the five Premier Leagues we won were so difficult and a there was lot of effort behind them."

But which was the most impressive? GOAL re-lives all six of Guardiola's Premier League triumphs with City, taking into account entertainment, difficulty and how enjoyable they were to watch…

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  62020-21: Emphatic turnaround

  By their own ridiculously high standards, City made a terrible start to the 2020-21 campaign, dropping points in five of their opening eight games, leaving them in the unthinkable position of 13th place in the table. Having made such a bad start after surrendering the league to Liverpool the previous season, there was genuine uncertainty about Guardiola's future.

  While the team were at their lowest ebb, however, City showed faith in their manager and gave him a new contract in November. It did not immediately galvanise the team as City dropped points in three of their next five games, but they started cooking up something delightful soon enough, winning 15 matches in a row, their second-longest winning streak ever.

  Yet despite that ruthless run, which helped City wrap up the title with three games to spare, there was an underwhelming feel to this triumph. That was mostly due to the fact almost every game was played in an empty stadium due to coronavirus restrictions, but it was also the least impressive in terms of points (86). They also scored fewer goals than in any other season under Guardiola.

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  52022-23: Haaland pounces on Arsenal

  This was the season in which Erling Haaland landed on English shores and immediately owned the league, scoring at a breath-taking rate and demolishing records each week. His 36 goals played a huge part in City winning a third-consecutive title for the first time in their history, while Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne all played their part in a stunning run of victories from February to May as City chased down Arsenal.

  The 12-match winning streak put City back on track towards the title, yet they were helped by a dramatic collapse from the Gunners, who had been top of the table for 32 out of 38 weeks and held an eight-point advantage with nine games to go. Mikel Arteta's side let the pressure get to them and dropped points in six of their next eight games, chucking away two-goal leads to draw at Liverpool and West Ham, while also drawing 3-3 at home with soon-to-be-relegated Southampton.

  The momentum was very much with City when they welcomed the Gunners to the Etihad Stadium in late April, and Guardiola's side hammered them 4-1 to take back control of the title race. They clinched it less than a month later when Arsenal were beaten by Brighton and then Nottingham Forest.

  It was undoubtedly a stunning finish from Guardiola's side, spearheaded by Haaland, but Arsenal certainly lent them a hand.

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  42021-22: Who needs a centre-forward?

  City had waved farewell to all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero in the summer of 2021 and played much of this season without a centre-forward. They did not get off to the smoothest of starts, either, dropping points in four of their opening 10 games and falling into third behind Chelsea and Liverpool. But soon enough they got into their usual groove, winning 12 games in a row between November and February.

  They took top spot for the first time in December and never let it go, although Liverpool pushed them mightily close. City got off to a dreadful start in their final game of the season against Aston Villa, falling two goals behind, but they roared back to score three times in the space of six minutes, with substitute Gundogan starting and completing the epic comeback.

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  32023-24: Winning a three-horse race

  City had experienced big changes over the summer of 2023 by parting with the serial-winners Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte. Then on the opening day of the season, they lost Kevin De Bruyne for more than five months to injury. But they shook off those difficulties by winning their first six games, equalling their best-ever start to a campaign, with Phil Foden finding the best form of his career.

  Their longest wobble came while Rodri was suspended, the Spaniard missing all three of their Premier League defeats, the last of which came in December. The return of De Bruyne, meanwhile, was crucial and helped them get over the line, although at times it wasn't always pretty, such as in April's scrappy win at Forest. City also had an underwhelming record against their rivals, winning just two out of eight matches against the top five.

  But this title was still hugely impressive, as they had to see off not one but two title contenders. Liverpool faded in April but Arsenal, unlike the previous season, pushed them right to the bitter end, showing none of the frailties they had previously exhibited. In the end, City just had more mettle and that's why they will go down in the record books as the first team in 135 years of English football to win four titles in a row.