Dom Bess chimes in with 41 not out to help guide visitors home at Chesterfield
ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2023Yorkshire celebrated a County Championship victory for the first time in 14 months when they beat Derbyshire by three wickets on the final morning of the match at Chesterfield.Shan Masood played the leading role against his former county with an unbeaten 95 off 112 balls while a run-a-ball 41 not out from Dom Bess helped see the visitors home after Dawid Malan had fallen to the first ball of the day.Yorkshire needed 65 when Mark Watt removed Malan but Masood and Bess played with composure to share an eighth-wicket stand of 68 from 82 balls to win a gripping contest on 215 for 7The odds had shifted in Derbyshire’s favour when Watt struck with the first ball of the morning. Malan tried to paddle sweep the left-arm spinner but only succeeded in lobbing a simple catch to Matt Lamb at short leg.Given the situation, it was a poor shot by a player of Malan’s quality and experience and put even more responsibility on the shoulders of Masood.With balls keeping low,, there was little margin for error but Bess eased some of the tension by sweeping Watt behind square for four before Masood stroked Alex Thomson to the cover boundary.There were more cheers from the Yorkshire dressing room when Bess cut Watt for four and clipped him through midwicket for three but there was an anxious moment for the visitors in the same over.Masood was on 76 when he missed a sweep at Watt and umpire Chris Watts appeared to uphold the appeal but was only signalling to the bowler to get off the pitch.Bess drove Thomson through the covers for another four and when Zak Chappell replaced Watt at the Pavilion end, Masood turned him behind square to the ropes.Watt switched to the Lake end but the target was now under 20 and Masood swept him to the midwicket boundary to move into the nineties.With 14 required, Thomson replaced Chappell but Bess skipped down the pitch to whip him through midwicket for four and in the next over, he swept Watt for another boundary to take Yorkshire to within touching distance of the finishing line.With everyone around the bat, Bess turned Watt through midwicket for three and struck the winning blow by pulling a Thomson full toss to the boundary shortly before midday to finally end Yorkshire’s 17-game wait for a red-ball victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr have won their appeal against Al-Orouba for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-1 Saudi Pro League loss.
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Al-Nassr win appeal against Al-Orouba
Handed a win by default and three points
Back in the race for Champions League Elite
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Saudi Pro League relegation battlers, Al-Orouba, managed to stun Al-Nassr in the first week of March with a surprise 2-1 win. Stefano Pioli's side then launched an appeal against Al-Orouba for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in the form of their goalkeeper Rafi Al-Ruwaili, who was the Man of the Match in that clash. Al-Nassr contested that the goalkeeper was not eligible to play against their side as he was a government employee, and the league demanded full-time professional players.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Saudi Sports Arbitration Centre (SSC) announced on Sunday evening that it had accepted Al-Nassr's appeal against Al-Orouba after Faris Najd had provided documented proof that Al-Ruwaili continued government work. The decision has now handed Al-Nassr an automatic win and a vital extra three points that puts them back in the hunt for AFC Champions League Elite qualification.
DID YOU KNOW?
Two weeks ago, Al-Nassr were mathematically ruled out of the race to achieve AFC Champions League Elite qualification after their 1-1 draw with Al-Taawoun, as second-placed Al-Hilal gained a seven-point lead with two games left. However, Al-Nassr's win by default has now put them on 70 points, just two points off the last place for AFC Champions League Elite qualification.
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WHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?
Ronaldo and Co will be in action for the last time this season when they take on Al-Fateh on Monday, May 26. To achieve AFC Champions League Elite qualification, Pioli's side will have to get a win and hope that Al-Hilal will lose, as a draw for Mohammad Al-Shalhoub's side would be enough to secure second place via goal difference.
Liverpool have been handed a massive injury boost with the news that a key player has returned to full training ahead of a huge week.
Defining week for Liverpool as PSG and Newcastle loom
The Reds have reached a vital point in the season, building a 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with Arne Slot and his players starting to dream of title glory. There is still work to be done, but they are clearly now on the verge of a fantastic achievement.
This week, however, league commitments make way for other duties, with a huge clash with Paris Saint-Germain arriving on Tuesday evening. Liverpool lead 1-0 from the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie, but the Ligue 1 side’s performance at the Parc des Princes was superb, and Slot’s side were bailed out by Alisson and Harvey Elliott.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
After the PSG game comes the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the Reds taking on a Newcastle United side looking for their first piece of domestic silverware in 70 years while hampered by plenty of injuries.
While Liverpool will be favourites to prevail at Wembley, they know all about the threat that the Magpies pose, following a 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in the Premier League back in December. There have been injury problems for the Merseysiders in recent weeks too, but now a key update has emerged regarding one star attacker.
Liverpool handed massive injury boost as Gakpo returns to training
On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Gakpo has returned to full training for Liverpool, ahead of the crucial visit of PSG, with the Dutchman seen alongside his teammates at the AXA Training Centre.
The 25-year-old could start his first game in a month – his last being the Merseyside Derby on February 12 – when PSG come to town on Tuesday evening.
Cody Gakpo in action for Liverpool
Having Gakpo but is music to the ears of Slot, with the winger a big miss in recent times. Aside from Mohamed Salah, who is romping towards the PFA Player of the Year award, the Netherlands international has been Liverpool’s most consistent attacking player this season, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, including eight in the Premier League.
Appearances
26
Starts
16
Minutes played
1412
Goals
8
Assists
3
Shots per game
1.7
Key passes per game
1.2
Tackles per game
0.9
Whether he is deemed to be fit enough to start against PSG is up for debate, however, with the game likely to be a fast-paced affair where every player needs to be at the top of their game. For that reason, it could make more sense to use Gakpo from the substitutes’ bench, with a start then potentially coming his way against Newcastle this weekend.
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Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have all been hit-and-miss of late, only scoring six times between them in 2025, showing why the return of Gakpo is so important for Liverpool.
Michael Hogan, the Australia-born former Glamorgan fast bowler, has gone back on his decision to retire and signed a one-year deal with Kent at the age of 41.Hogan, who has a British passport and qualifies as a local player, made his first-class debut for Western Australia as a 28-year-old, before starting a decade-long association with Glamorgan. He announced last year that 2022 would be his last summer with the club, although he remained a reliable performer and won involvement with the Hundred as a Blast wildcard pick for Southern Brave.He revealed after the final game in his testimonial season for Glamorgan that he had been contacted by other counties about continuing his career, telling the BBC: “It’s better to be wanted than not, but at 41 years old, I’m over the moon with how long a career I’ve had. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family.”However, he has been tempted into a rethink by Kent, where he will bolster the seam attack after the departures of Matt Milnes, Harry Podmore (who signed for Glamorgan this week in an unrelated move) and allrounder Darren Stevens.Related
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“Hoges has been an outstanding bowler for many years and will bring a vast amount of experience to our bowling unit. His numbers show he is an invaluable acquisition, and he continues to be a threat in both four-day and T20 cricket,” Kent’s director of cricket, Paul Downton, said.”I’m particularly excited about the knowledge he will bring with him, which will be invaluable to all our bowlers, particularly the young and upcoming talents at the club.”Hogan was Glamorgan’s leading wicket-taker in both the Blast, with 20 at 16.65, and the County Championship (45 at 27.44) last season. He also captained the club between 2017 and 2018, and it was reported in the last week that Glamorgan, who had offered him another one-year deal, were unhappy to learn of his change of heart.The contract at Kent will see Hogan begin moves into coaching, as he joins the backroom set-up for their defence of the Royal London Cup.It will also test his ability to maintain an unlikely world record: never having been dismissed lbw in 380 appearances as a professional.Hogan said: “I’m really looking forward to a fresh challenge at this stage of my playing career. After 10 memorable seasons with Glamorgan the opportunity to play for Kent in Division One of the Championship, and to also cut my teeth mentoring in a new environment, is an exciting one.”
Ipswich Town are now showing interest in a summer move for an “excellent” defender who is currently starring in the Championship, according to a report.
Ipswich fighting to avoid the drop
It was always going to be a tough task for Ipswich to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but they are refusing to go down without a fight, and it was another spirited performance away at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Despite going down to 10 men in the first half, with Axel Tuanzebe being shown a red card, the Tractor Boys managed to pick up a point at a tough place to go in Villa Park, with Liam Delap once again getting on the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw.
Kieran McKenna’s side are still two points from safety, but Saturday’s performance should give them confidence heading into another tough period.
Tottenham Hotspur (h)
February 22nd
Manchester United (a)
February 26th
Nottingham Forest (a) (FA Cup)
March 3rd
Crystal Palace (a)
March 8th
Nottingham Forest (h)
March 15th
There is still uncertainty as to which division Ipswich will be playing in next season, but they are starting to look at potential recruits ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to a report from GiveMeSport, the Tractor Boys are now showing interest in Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga, who has impressed in the Championship this season.
However, there could be a great deal of competition for Tanganga’s signature, with Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Southampton also name-checked as potential destinations.
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Premier League scouts are planning to watch the defender in action next month when Crystal Palace take on the Lions at Selhurst Park in the FA Cup.
In the January transfer window, Millwall warded off interest in the centre-back with a £12m asking price, but it is unclear how much they would be looking to receive for him in the summer.
Tanganga could be an "excellent" signing
Regardless of which league Ipswich find themselves in next season, the 25-year-old could be a fantastic addition to the squad given his top-flight experience and performances in the second tier this season.
As per Sofascore, the former Tottenham Hotspur man has averaged a match rating of 7.18, the highest of any player in the Millwall squad, and he has established himself as a key player, making 29 appearances in the Championship.
Millwall's JaphetTangangain action with Portsmouth's Thomas Waddingham
Ex-Millwall boss Neil Harris was also full of praise for the Englishman earlier this season, saying: “He’s a Premier League player all day long, we all know that.
“We want him on the pitch every week and he knows his place in the team. I know what he’s excellent at, which is pretty much everything.”
As such, it is promising news that Ipswich are now in the race to sign Tanganga, and they should continue to monitor his performances in the Championship for the remainder of the season.
For a long time, the world of football punditry often took a fairly serious tone.
Sky Sports would have Gary Neville telling us that “this is Manchester United” as they endured another moment to forget, we’d get Roy Keane telling us that it’s a goalkeeper’s job to produce outrageous saves, whilst Jamie Carragher would often stop things “there” on an instant replay.
And in many ways, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that setup, but CBS Sports has found success by taking a different route on their Champions League broadcast.
Combining an unlikely trio of Thierry Henry, Carragher and Micah Richards, the American sports channel has been responsible for broadcasting some of the most entertaining moments in the world of football across the last couple of years.
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Whether it’s been discussing Stade Brest or even confusing Serie A’s finest clubs with a Scouse accent, that aforementioned trio, alongside host Kate Scott, have stolen the show on football’s biggest stage for CBS’s Golazo show.
6 Kane denies Carragher call
Most pundits have likely been there, telling a small white lie, or as is often the case, exaggerating an age-old story which has developed from one point to another over the years. But not many get caught out as Carragher was by Harry Kane and CBS last March.
Oftentimes, when that white lie is told, those same pundits aren’t faced with the subject of that lie just hours later. However, the former Liverpool defender faced exactly that. When Scott asked Kane whether Carragher really did call him in the build-up to his Champions League clash for Bayern Munich against Lazio, the striker revealed that did not happen.
Leaving Carragher with egg on his face, the pundit was in disbelief as Richards, Henry and Scott burst into laughter.
5 Burn, Carragher & Richards dance goes viral
After earning his place in Newcastle United folklore alongside the rest of his teammates by defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season, the first thing that Dan Burn had to do was not warm down and celebrate, it was to help Richards and Carragher go viral through the medium of dance.
That said, using the word “dance” is almost an insult to the professionals, as Carragher and Richards attempt the so-called Orange Justice alongside the towering defender, only to perform similarly to dads at a wedding. Carragher was right, though – the dance did “smash the internet”, amassing two million views on Twitter alone.
4 Rafael Leao struggles with Carragher's accent
In what may seem like a rarity, the CBS studio was set up for a serious post-match interview with Milan star Rafael Leao when his side found themselves in the Champions League quarter-final against Serie A rivals Napoli in a clash which eventually saw the winner square off against Inter.
Even Carragher seemed on his best behaviour when attempting to ask about just how huge that semi-final could be, only for his accent to quickly descend the interview into chaos.
Left asking the Scouser to repeat the question, Carragher attempted to use Internazionale in his second attempt, which only confused the Milan winger even further, leaving Richards in tears of laughter at his co-star’s expense.
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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 5, 2023 3 Carragher joins the Yellow Wall
If Carragher was difficult to understand following Milan’s Champions League game, he’d have been near-impossible to decipher after he spent time in Borussia Dortmund’s Yellow Wall indulging in true football culture.
Joining Peter Schmeichel in his interview with Jadon Sancho for CBS Sports, the legendary Liverpool defender – worse for wear than his co-pundit at this stage – even invited the Dortmund winger out for a drink if his side reached the Champions League final.
Sancho swiftly revealed that he doesn’t drink, but it remains unknown whether the duo have met up again in another form to celebrate Dortmund’s excellent run to Wembley last season. We’re sure that Carragher made plenty of friends inside the famous Yellow Wall regardless as CBS let him loose at the Westfalenstadion.
2 Jack Grealish asks the ultimate question
Fresh from winning their first Champions League trophy, Manchester City’s confidence was rightly sky-high. In their minds, they were undeniable no matter the occasion, and in Jack Grealish’s mind, teammate Kyle Walker was more unbeatable than ever – so much so that he posed the ultimate question to the legendary Thierry Henry.
Momentarily swapping roles, Grealish became the interviewer as the Frenchman answered his question as to whether he’d have been capable of taking Walker on in his prime.
Of course, in the current climate, the mere suggestion of Walker keeping one of the game’s greatest players quiet is as laughable as it gets, but the Manchester City captain deserves credit for just how unbeatable he was at the peak of his powers before his more recent struggles.
That said, we’d have to agree with Henry that he would have given the England international a horrible day at the office.
1 The panel discuss all things (Stade) Brest
Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher on punditry duty for CBS.
When Stade Brest shocked French football by qualifying for the Champions League last season, it was almost destined that the CBS team would have to discuss their upcoming fixtures and reach a verdict on their chances of causing an upset or two.
But if viewers believed that a deep analysis was coming without some tongue-in-cheek moments, they’re not quite familiar with Henry, Carragher and Richards’ technique.
With Richards sailing close to the wind on a previous occasion, he was banished from a later discussion to keep things serious. Henry, Carragher and Scott couldn’t help but make comments of their own, referencing whether Brest’s backline will be exposed in the Champions League or whether they’re fans of Eric Roy’s Brest setup, in a statement fully open to interpretation. This was the panel at their light-hearted best.
One Manchester United star has an agreement in principle to leave Old Trafford in the January transfer window.
Man Utd transfer rumours
Ruben Amorim has yet to make his first marquee signing as Red Devils boss. However, the manager did admit towards the turn of the year that the club would try to do something in the winter window.
“When the window is open, we can try to do something and we will try to do something. But I think, in the next weeks, we are going to have more time to train and we can improve, that’s the only way.
“We had a lot of games without training, now we will have more space to grow. You can see that the context is worse in this moment, as we had a lot of losses, so we have to manage everything.”
Man Utd vs Southampton
January 16
Man Utd vs Brighton
January 19
Man Utd vs Rangers
January 23
Fulham vs Man Utd
January 26
FCSB vs Man Utd
January 30
When asked on which positions in the squad he’d like to bolster, the boss replied: “I will keep that to myself. But we’ll try to do something.”
A plethora of players have been linked with moves to Old Trafford in recent weeks, including striker Randal Kolo Muani, who now looks set to join Juventus over a move to the Premier League.
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Elsewhere, United are said to be eyeing goalkeeper Zion Suzuki once again after he turned down a move to Manchester in 2023 under Erik ten Hag. Talks have been held over a new left-back, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes seemingly a target after working under Amorim at Sporting CP.
There may well be a number of departures in January, too. Marcus Rashford’s future has been a hot topic of conversation, whereas Antony is also being linked with a move away.
Another attacker who has been getting more game time than Rashford and Antony is Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine was linked with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona last month, however, he appears to have an agreement with another European side.
Man Utd star Garnacho has agreement in principle to join Napoli
According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Garnacho has an agreement in principle with Serie A giants Napoli.
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna travelled to meet Garnacho’s entourage this week and that there is now an agreement in principle over a five-year contract at €3m per season which works out at around £12.5m across the duration of the deal.
INEOS want up to €70m (£59m) to sell the winger, whereas Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis won’t go beyond €50m (£42m), so a transfer fee still needs to be agreed.
It could well be a deal to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, but with Garnacho a regular, missing just one game under Amorim, and under contract at Old Trafford until 2028, INEOS appear to hold all the cards at this stage.
O Avaí não esconde de ninguém que o seu principal objetivo no Campeonato Brasileiro é manter a sua vaga na elite do futebol nacional.
– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO
Para isso acontecer, o Leão aposta na força da Ressacada e nas vitórias em duelos contra rivais diretos.
Neste início, o Avaí cumpre a risca a sua meta e, nos dois confrontos em casa, manteve o 100% de aproveitamento e está bem longe do Z-4.
Além disso, o time catarinense venceu Goiás e América-MG, dois times que estão no ‘campeonato’ do Avaí.
Na próxima rodada, o Leão volta a campo para encarar o Internacional, fora de casa.
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Nuno Espírito Santo has conducted excellent work in charge of Nottingham Forest this season, leading them to fifth place in the Premier League after the first 15 outings.
He’s made the Reds a tough outfit to break down, exceeding all expectations in the opening months of 2024/25 after impressive business during the off-season.
Nikola Milenkovic will undoubtedly go down as one of the signings of the season, starting at the heart of Nuno’s backline, providing that real commanding figure that the club have been lacking over the years.
The Serbian scored his first goal for the club in the win over Manchester United at the weekend, now making his £12m transfer fee look like a bargain and worth way more than what they paid for his services.
However, their dealings in the window haven’t all been successful, often wasting a lorryload of money on players who simply aren’t up to the level required of the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest's worst signings since promotion
After fending off interest from West Ham United, the addition of Jesse Lingard gave the supporters a huge buzz of excitement, especially given his top-flight experience and quality.
Despite the early promise, the move would be a disaster, making just 20 appearances in all competitions – scoring twice with none coming in the Premier League.
Jesse Lingard
He cost a pretty penny despite arriving on a free transfer, earning £115k-per-week, making him the highest-paid player in Forest’s history at the time of his move to the City Ground.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner joined in the summer of 2023, looking to provide long-term stability in the goalkeeper department after various loan deals the season prior.
However, the move for the American international was a disaster, featuring 21 times in all competitions before being dropped by Nuno upon his arrival last December.
The former Arsenal talent had a save prevention rate of -5.45, showcasing how often he was to blame for needless errors during his spell as a regular starter.
One other player has been just as disappointing during his own spell in the East Midlands, with Nuno desperately needing to offload him in January.
The player who Nottingham Forest need to offload in January
Attacker Emmanuel Dennis brought about huge excitement after costing £20m during the summer of 2022 – looking to provide the quality needed to secure their top-flight status in the first year after a 23-year absence.
Expectations were also placed on his shoulders given his record the season prior with Watford, scoring ten times despite the Hornets’ eventual relegation back to England’s second tier.
However, his time at the City Ground has been a disaster, only making 25 appearances in all competitions despite former boss Steve Cooper dubbing him as a “game changer” upon his transfer.
The Nigerian only notched two goals in his first season in Nottingham, before being sent on multiple loan spells in 2023/24 to Istanbul Basaksehir and former side Watford.
Neither move could catapult him into Nuno’s plans during pre-season, and despite going on the tour of Spain, he wasn’t included in the Premier League squad and also failed to secure a move away.
The 27-year-old still remains on the club’s books despite not featuring since April 2023, pocketing a small fortune in the process, burning a while in their finances.
Emmanuel Dennis’ stats at Forest (22/23)
Statistics
Tally
Appearances
25
Starts
9
Goals
2
Assists
2
Dribbles completed
15
Pass accuracy
79%
Fouls committed
23
Minutes played
1,199′
Stats via FotMob
Given his £40k-per-week wages, the hierarchy desperately needs to offload the attacker in January, or even offer a mutual termination to get him off the wage bill and potentially allow for new signings.
It’s such a shame to see a player with high expectations fail to deliver, but his time at the City Ground has been dreadful, simply being unable to adhere himself to the fanbase.
Nottingham Forest's Emmanuel Dennis
There’s no doubt that if they were to try and sell him next month they would be lucky to recoup the majority of the fee spent on his services, but ultimately, anything is a bonus at this point given his lack of impact since arriving.
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There’s a professionalism to Arne Slot’s Liverpool that creates composure and coolness no matter the situation. It’s a core element of the club’s success.
Liverpool have fallen behind on numerous occasions this season, but far more often than not, have overturned the deficit and strengthened their title-chasing claim.
As the fog hung above Anfield’s pitch, the Reds struggled to achieve focus in the first half, before Slot’s tweaks and half-time team talk triggered a stylish second-half performance.
Liverpool players celebrate
The frontline was firing, though not quite across all cylinders. Darwin Nunez continues to be an enigma, and it’s beginning to look like Slot is joining Jurgen Klopp in struggling to crack the nut.
Darwin Nunez's performance vs Leicester
The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed Nunez a 6/10 match rating for his labours, praising his ‘sufficient effort’ but noting that he didn’t influence all that much despite his huffing and puffing.
Minutes played
78′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
25
Shots (on target)
4 (1)
Accurate passes
10/19 (53%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles (completed)
0 (0)
Total duels (won)
5 (2)
There just isn’t quite enough on show from this wonderful striker, this agonising and frustrating striker. We know you have it in you, Anfield seems to cry. We know that you have the tools to rival the finest marksmen across the continent.
But Slot’s patience is bound to be wearing thin, and without a dramatic upswing, the Dutch coach may urge FSG to peruse the market at the end of the season.
Darwin Nunez in action for Liverpool
It was Nunez who was caught offside when Cody Gakpo fired his second of the night home, prompting a VAR intervention. Too often has the Uruguay star been the weak link in Slot’s frontline, too often has he failed to harness and streamline his frenetic energy.
It’s a harsh thing to face, but Liverpool fans should acknowledge that Nunez is into his third campaign on Merseyside since signing in a deal rising to a club-record £85m.
He’s notched 37 goals from 119 matches in total, missing 50 big chances in the Premier League alone, as per Sofascore. How much longer can he toil up top before it is accepted that he will never be the free-scoring number nine that Liverpool need to ease Salah’s burden?
Liverpool need something new, something that can breathe fresh life into an attack blessed with an abundance of quality.
Liverpool eyeing new forward
As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, there is “a strong chance” that Randal Kolo Muani will move to the Premier League this winter, having been ostracised from Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain side.
Liverpool are among the contenders, with Plettenberg revealing that Liverpool have already gathered information on the striker’s situation, considering whether to make their move in January.
Arsenal, Manchester United and a host of overseas suitors are keen, and given that the France international joined PSG for a £77m fee, bagging him on loan could be a deal to trigger a new level of offensive fluency down Anfield Road.
What Randal Kolo Muani would bring to Liverpool
Described as “very complete” by Kylian Mbappe, Kolo Muani was one of the hottest commodities in Europe during his time with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, but he’s fallen by the wayside with the imperious French champions, scoring only 11 goals from 54 appearances since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
Still, Kolo Muani’s a menace, and while he’s been shackled to a bit-part role this term, starting just two times in Ligue 1, there’s little question that he has the many properties to succeed in the Premier League.
Indeed: as per FBref, the 26-year-old ranks among the top 12% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 14% for tackles per 90, showcasing his flair and completeness.
Curiously, FBref list Nunez as one of Kolo Muani’s most statistically comparable players, suggesting that Liverpool could integrate a player endowed with similar athletic qualities but hopefully a greater degree of finishing accuracy and composure.
A versatile forward, Kolo Muani would join a fluid Liverpool frontline that is interchangeable and electrifying through such dynamism, but his principal role can be found at number nine and this makes an interesting comment on Slot’s tactical plans.
Centre-forward
145
50
34
Right winger
20
5
3
Left winger
12
5
1
Attacking midfield
2
0
1
Last season, Kolo Muani only scored nine goals and assisted six more across 40 fixtures, but he had entered a testing environment that didn’t recognise his qualities. Indeed, he racked up 40 goal contributions with Frankfurt during the 2022/23 campaign.
His clinical edge from seasons past does suggest that he might have the tools to take Nunez’s position. After all, he scored 15 goals during the 2022/23 Bundesliga season but only missed 14 big chances.
With Salah to his right and Gakpo and Luis Diaz jockeying for a place on the left, the electric Frenchman might just have the tools to craft a successful Premier League career, offering more with his movement and physicality than Nunez, who seems to drift through matches like a rogue piece of flotsam under Slot’s wing.
It’s something of a risk given that he’s flattered to deceive at PSG, but on a loan deal with the option for purchase, this could be an immense signing for Slot, who stands as good a chance of anyone in sparking the fire in such a forward’s belly.
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