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Chelsea huffed and puffed but were unable to return to winning ways in the Women's Super League as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday. The Blues have now failed to win back-to-back league games for the first time since the 2021-22 season as they could only close the gap to leaders Manchester City to three points having been pegged back after taking an early lead.

Chelsea started brightly and carved out their first chance in the opening minute as Alyssa Thompson broke down the left. The ball eventually found its way to Erin Cuthbert, who dragged her effort harmlessly side.

Liverpool responded well and it took some quick thinking from goalkeeper Livia Peng – playing due to an injury suffered by Hannah Hampton – to deny Beata Olsson a chance after Mille Bright had played a sloppy pass. The Blues, though, were ahead in the ninth minute as Thompson expertly tucked past Faye Kirby from the left having beaten the offside trip.

Chelsea dominated possession, but it was Liverpool who netted the equaliser with a little over 10 minutes of the half remaining as the Reds sprung a rapid counter. Nathalie Bjorn failed to completely cut out a Lily Woodham pass for Olsson, who made no mistake one-on-one with Peng.

Catarina Macario should have put Chelsea back in front but fluffed her lines from close range shortly before the break as the champions looked to make their dominance count. Sonia Bompastor then looked to change things up for the Blues at the break and took off Bright and Macario for the second half as the west London side pushed to go ahead in the second half.

Thompson fired an effort over, while the American winger then sought to turn provider for Cuthbert, but the midfielder's effort was blocked. Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones then missed a decent chance to put Chelsea back in front as they failed to break down the Reds wall.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Totally Wicked Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Livia Peng (6/10):

  Came off her line quickly to deny Olsson early on. Could do little prevent the Liverpool striker from equalising in the 33rd minute.

  Ellie Carpenter (5/10):

  Struggled to impact the game in the final third while Liverpool's goal came down her side of the pitch.

  Nathalie Bjorn (5/10):

  Failed to cut out a Woodham pass for Olsson to score. Withdrawn midway through the second half.

  Millie Bright (5/10):

  Made a record-setting 211th WSL appearance. Gave the ball away cheaply in the opening five minutes that presented Liverpool with a chance. Subbed off at the break.

  Niamh Charles (6/10):

  Solid if unspectacular before she was replaced by James as Chelsea pushed for the winner.

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  Midfield

  Wieke Kaptein (6/10):

  Played a perfect pass through for Thompson to open the scoring early on.

  Kiera Walsh (6/10):

  Solid if unspectacular as she kept play ticking over in the middle of the park.

  Erin Cuthbert (7/10):

  Dragged an effort just wide in the opening minute after some good work by Thompson. Worked hard off the ball and was arguably Chelsea's best midfielder.

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  Attack

  Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (6/10):

  Put in a subdued display before she came off in the 55th minute.

  Catarina Macario (4/10):

  Missed a huge chance from close range five minutes before the break. Came off at half-time after a poor opening 45.

  Alyssa Thompson (7/10):

  Started brightly with her run down the left resulting in a chance for Cuthbert. Scored a fine opener in the ninth-minute. Was Chelsea's best attacker.

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  Subs & Manager

  Naomi Girma (6/10):

  Replaced Bright for the second half. Chelsea looked better defensively following her introduction.

  Aggie Beever-Jones (6/10):

  Came on at the break. Missed a decent chance to put Chelsea ahead midway through the second half.

  Sandy Baltimore (6/10):

  Was effective from the left when introduced in the 55th minute.

  Lucy Bronze (5/10):

  Didn't have much to do defensively after she came on.

  Lauren James (5/10):

  Ineffective in the final third as Liverpool held firm.

  Sonia Bompastor (5/10):

  Got it wrong by picking Bright and using a high defensive line. Threw everything into the game to turn the fixture in Chelsea's favour but initial selection cost the Blues.

Five years ago, Jurgen Klopp watched his Liverpool team crumble as injuries overwhelmed them. They had just won the Premier League, and the year before, christened what was to be a historic chapter when the boss led them to victory in the Champions League.

Lightning has struck twice. Arne Slot dominated the English game last year and won the title with such confidence, but Liverpool have fallen apart after a summer of significant spending, faulty across any number of areas and bereft of fluency and coherence.

There is maybe a need for patience, and for allowing these new cogs to connect with the Slot machine, but then the flip side of that would be that there is no excusing the error-strewn displays, and inability to react to opposition approaches.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher called it a crisis, with the Merseysiders having lost four Premier League matches on the bounce.

And while many exciting attacking signings were made, with the full-back ranks reshaped, Liverpool are leaving so much to be desired defensively, and changes are surely needed.

Liverpool's need for centre-backs

Virgil van Dijk has for so long been a pillar of strength and leadership at Liverpool. Both things remain true, but the captain turned 34 in July and, while still immense, lacks the structure around him to give rise to his finest football.

To put that another way, Liverpool are a bit of a mess at the back, and Van Dijk has been carried along with the current across recent weeks.

Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes have overseen a stylistic restructure across Liverpool’s backline, and this has knocked things out of kilter. Questions must be asked of the strategy behind adding Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to the ranks, neither of whom appear to be glove-tight fits.

And the fumbled deal for Crystal Palace centre-half Marc Guehi has aggravated the issue. Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah this summer, and Giovanni Leoni, 18, is out for the season after suffering an ACL injury on his debut. Guehi was needed, but Liverpool left it late, and the Eagles didn’t want to play ball after missing out on targets of their own.

With that in mind, it appears the Reds have set their sights on a bid for Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano. According to Spanish sources, Liverpool joined by Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid in angling for a move in 2026.

The France international is out of contract at the end of the term, and while the Bundesliga giants are desperate to seal his renewal, the 27-year-old may be tempted by lucrative offers from the Premier League and La Liga.

Why Liverpool want to sign Upamecano

Liverpool struck gold in the past when they landed a talented defender from the Bundesliga on a free transfer. Indeed, Joel Matip played a defining role in the Klopp era, playing 201 games for the club, scoring 11 goals and supplying six assists.

He won the Premier League and the Champions League among further honours, notably playing in Divock Origi for the Belgian’s conclusive goal against Tottenham in Madrid, six years ago.

It all started when the Cameroonian agreed to join Klopp’s nascent project in February 2016, arriving at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.

Van Dijk has had many partners at the back, but when Matip was fully-fit and firing beside him, Klopp’s behemoths formed quite the partnership.

Now, with Upamecano approaching the end of his journey at the Allianz Arena, FSG are desperate to capitalise once again.

Bayern signed the Frenchman from divisional rivals RB Leipzig in 2021 for a reported £38m fee. He had been described as an “elite talent and a joy to watch” by scout Jacek Kulig before his move to Bayern.

And he’s gone from strength to strength since. Indeed, the tough-tackling star has polished his skillset to a standard that would befit a starring, much-scrutinised role in Slot’s Liverpool side. Should Liverpool pull this off, they may even forget all about that botched bid for Guehi.

Hailed for his “sensational” defensive ability by writer Mohammed Butt, Upamecano has the experience, athleticism and technical quality to make his mark on the Premier League, perhaps even bringing a more complete brand than someone like Guehi.

Van Dijk will expect to captain Liverpool next season, and the Dutchman’s cultured shift into his veteran years suggests that, with a more stable framework around him, he could see his club achieve their goals.

Guehi might have the experience within the English game, but Upamecano would fancy himself a cut above, boasting a wealth of top-level experience and with much silverware in the bank.

In 2025, he has also, crucially, established himself as a starting centre-back for Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus side, and with the World Cup on the horizon, this tells much of his quality and the faith of those above him.

A ball-playing defender, data-driven platform FBref suggest that there is a likeness between Upamecano and former Anfield star Quansah, though Slot would hope to bring in a more refined and cultured presence than the up-and-comer he deemed unfit for a starring role in his project.

FBref reveal that, over the past 12 months, Upamecano ranks among the top 4% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 11% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for recoveries made per 90. Clearly, he’s got the skills and physicality to succeed in the Premier League.

Though Liverpool remain in the mix for Guehi, his free agency will attract the biggest sharks across the continent.

Not only would the £166k-per-week Upamecano prove a worthy fallback, but he might even be the better pick.

The new Thiago: Liverpool "superstar" is becoming a "huge disappointment"

This Liverpool mainstay has flattered to deceive this season.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 29, 2025

Don't look now, but the New York Mets are just two wins away from the NLCS. Yes, the same Mets that started the year 0-5. The same Mets that were, at one point, 17.5 games back. On Saturday, New York took the first game of the NLDS from the Philadelphia Phillies, going from a low of 21.8 percent win probability (per ESPN) to a 6-2 victory thanks in large part to a five-run eighth inning.

The Mets had to do plenty to make it into the postseason. They had to win one of their final two games (in doubleheader format) on the final day of the season to make it in, but that was crawling out of that massive deficit. Along the way, they were the good vibes ship captains with McDonald's mascot Grimace becoming a key icon and a latin pop hit from one of its players, Jose Iglesias, becoming their anthem.

But, with how hard they had to claw to get here, shouldn't they slow soon? The magic is entertaining, but it has to wear off sometime, right?

Brandon Nimmo doesn't think so. The Mets outfielder was asked on MLB Network if the team is tiring:

"I don't think you can be tired in the playoffs and with this atmosphere. We've been on the road for two weeks now, we've had some amazing games. I think I've played two or three of the best games of my career and they've been within a week span."

Nimmo continued, insisting this is what it's all about:

"This is what we play for. This is what we do that 162-[game] grind for. When you're standing on the line before a game and there's 50,000 people waving their towels and you've got the Red October, it's just like you dream when you're a kid. And you've got all that emotion and adrenaline going, I just don't think you can be tired."

It's perhaps fear-inducing, considering the Phillies have created one of the best home field advantages in baseball the last several years, to hear that the raucous, loud Philly crowd is essentially what's giving the visiting Mets extra life.

From Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane to Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, MLS has featured some high-octane duos

Major League Soccer is built on star power, but not always on individuals. Sometimes the stars align, quite literally in this case, to create something even better. Throughout the league's history, dynasties have been formed by high-profile pairings, tandems that have helped lead some of the best teams in league history.

From the early days in MLS, some of the league's all-time teams have been led by two dynamic attacking players. And we might just be seeing another league-altering duo emerge. Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga are running right through MLS, and not just the regular season. Austin FC were recently put to the sword by LAFC's new duo, who combined for two goals and three assists in a 4-1 MLS playoff win on Sunday.

Like all great duos, Son and Bouanga have a natural chemistry. They're also individually dangerous. Son, of course, has long been one of the best wingers in the world. Bouanga, meanwhile, has blossomed into one of the most fearsome goalscorers in the league, one that was striking fear in defenses long before his South Korean running mate arrived.

GOAL takes a look at the all-time great MLS duos.

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  LA Galaxy: Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane

  Yes, there was the David Beckham era for the LA Galaxy. But there was another following the English icon's departure: the Donovan-Keane era.

  Landon Donovan remains the true face of the LA Galaxy, the star that accomplished it all during his extended run as the guy in MLS. There's a reason the MLS MVP award is named after him. He didn't do it alone, though, as, starting in 2011, he was joined by Irish star Robbie Keane to form a duo that turned winning MLS Cups into something of a habit.

  During their four seasons together, they lifted the big trophy three times. Each time, Donovan and Keane were a huge part of it.

  "It’s been an honor to play with him," Keane said of Donovan at the time. "The understanding that we’ve both had on the field, the amount of goals both of us have scored and assists we have provided over the last four years has been fantastic. It is definitely up there with the best partnerships I’ve had in the game."

  During their run together, they accounted for 174 combined goals and assists, nearly half of the Galaxy's numbers in total in that stretch. It's why, for many, Keane and Donovan remain the gold standard for partnerships in MLS.

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  Seattle Sounders: Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins

  They were here for a good time, not a long time, and those in Seattle would say it was a very, very good time. In the spring and summer of 2013, the Sounders took two big swings to bring Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey on board from Europe. It was, particularly at the time, a massive statement from the club. In truth, the ball didn't get rolling right away but, once it did, there was no stopping it.

  In 2014, the Oba-Deuce duo exploded, leading the Sounders to the Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup. Martins finished with 17 goals, a club record, as well as 13 assists. Dempsey had 15 goals. What made those so special, though, was the manner in which they were scored. 

  Throughout their run together, Dempsey and Martins often made it look like they were playing in a recreational league, not in MLS' biggest matches. There was a certain ease and flair to every goal they scored.

  "I love playing with Oba," Dempsey said in 2015. "He’s one of the players I’ve enjoyed the most playing with in my career because it reminds me of being a kid playing pickup style, just thinking alike and knowing that if you make the right run, he’s going to find you."

  Unfortunately, neither Dempsey nor Martins were around for the Sounders' crowning achievement two years later. Martins had, at that point, headed to China for a massive payday. Dempsey, meanwhile, was sidelined with a heart condition that prevented him from helping the Sounders lift the MLS Cup that winter.

  For those who remember that era, though, the Dempsey-Martins combo was just as iconic as the MLS Cup trophy – and they paved the way.

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  Toronto FC: Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco

  During the mid-to-late-2010s, MLS was often defined by Seattle and Toronto, who met in the league final three times in a four-year span. Toronto was led by an attacking duo of their own. One big, one small, but Toronto FC's two attackers – Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco – ultimately ended up being a perfect pairing.

  “For me, it’s a pleasure to play with Jozy," Giovinco said. "He’s more physical, I’m more technical, so we complete each other.”

  After swinging and missing with Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC handed the attacking keys to Altidore and Giovinco, who arrived in January 2015. What followed was nothing short of magic. Giovinco, the diminutive Italian, became the first player to lead MLS in goals and assists in the same season. He was also the first player to record consecutive seasons of 30-plus goals and assists.

  Altidore, meanwhile, was right there with him, hitting double figures for goals in each of their first three seasons together. With Altidore and Giovinco leading the line, and Michael Bradley anchoring the midfield, Toronto FC made it to three MLS Cups, winning in 2017. They also won a Supporters' Shield and three Canadian Championships, with Altidore and Giovinco playing definitive roles.

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  D.C. United: Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno

  One for the OGs here. Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno were the league's original duo and, to this day, their achievements match up with virtually any other. The two Bolivian stars were the iconic faces of MLS' early years, with Etcheverry so often the creator and Moreno so often the one finishing.

  Together, they won three MLS Cups to establish D.C. United's dominance in the league's first years. To take it one step further, they also lifted a CONCACAF Champions Cup, too, to prove that D.C. – and MLS – could compete with the very best in the region.

  “I’ve known Marco since my first cap with the national team in the 1991 Copa America," Moreno said in 2013. "Since then, we have always had an amazing friendship. We then met at D.C. and my arrival to the club was so quick, I don’t think he was even expecting it. Marco means titles, and with him, we had the best years in D.C.

  "Today, soccer is different and is not as exquisite as it was before. Marco used to put that exquisite touch to the game and to D.C.”

  For many, they will be the best on this list, and there's plenty to back that up. Both were named to MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005 and, while MLS has evolved since they ran things in the late '90s, they remain part of the league's foundation.

At first glance, it was rather head-scratching to see Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts leave his starter, Jack Flaherty, in Game 5 of the NLCS as the New York Mets uncorked run after run in the first three innings of the game.

Flaherty, through three innings of work, gave up eight earned runs on eight hits and four walks. Why would Roberts not turn to his bullpen when the Mets were rallying, up 3–1, to try to keep the game within reach?

Well, what's ahead might be on his mind. beat writer Jack Harris pointed out that a Game 6 on Sunday would be a likely bullpen game. Roberts wants to keep those arms fresh. Of course, Los Angeles has three games in the series and winning tonight would wrap it up, so it's valid to quarrel over if this was the right strategy or not for Game 5.

Importantly, the Dodgers have scored 30 runs across the first four games of this series. It's also not totally out there for Roberts to believe in the explosiveness of his offense with so much game left to play. It's certainly a more nuanced decision than it appears on the surface.

The truth is, as much as the Dodgers would love to close it out on Friday, with a 3-1 series lead they do not have as much reason as New York to be urgent. But dropping a game always runs the risk of handing momentum over to your opponent at the wrong moment.

Liverpool won the transfer window. So we were led to believe, anyway.

On paper that statement appeared to be true. Arne Slot and Co had spent a colossal amount of money on improving the squad, notably signing Florian Wirtz for a British record of £116m before breaking that very record just weeks later when they shelled out £125m to sign Alexander Isak.

Those two deals made the Reds favourites for the title but the once successful Slot era appears to be unravelling rather quickly.

The Anfield outfit may have won the Premier League in 2024/25 but they look a shadow of that side now.

Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah signed new deals but that matters not; both look beyond their best.

As for Wirtz and Isak, the numbers are damning. They have only scored once between them since moving to Merseyside.

So, after losing 2-1 to Manchester United on Sunday, there are clearly some big issues to fix.

The biggest problems facing Arne Slot at Liverpool

Much has been made of Liverpool’s regression as a defensive unit this season.

Andy Robertson has been forced to sit out most games on the bench, even if Milos Kerkez continues to underperform, while Trent Alexander-Arnold arguably hasn’t been properly replaced.

Conor Bradley has endured a slow start to the campaign and Jeremie Frimpong’s debut term at Liverpool has so far been full of injuries.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Despite that, however, some may well argue that the biggest problems are in the centre of defence.

Ibrahima Konate appears to be distracted by speculation surrounding his future and Van Dijk is no longer the force he once was, something that was demonstrated when Liverpool conceded in the first minute on Sunday.

Amad picked up the ball on the right and threaded a lovely ball through towards Bryan Mbeumo.

The Van Dijk of old would have anticipated the pass and then intercepted the play but he was caught napping. The great Dutchman was slow to react, slow to get back and slow to track Mbeumo. The end result? The Cameroon international found the back of the net.

However, while Liverpool continue to struggle at the back, the tactical make-up of the team has been a problem from minute one of the Community Shield.

Salah is having less of an impact on games and has only scored one non-penalty goal in the Premier League during the first eight game weeks.

New signing Hugo Ekitike and fellow forward Cody Gakpo have been rare bright sparks but even the latter should have taken the game out of sight on Sunday. The Dutchman scored but also struck the woodwork an incredible three times.

Plenty of new signings there certainly are, but there’s a lack of chemistry and synergy from Slot’s men and it’s worrying that he can’t get a tune out of three of the most exciting forwards around in Salah, Isak and Wirtz.

You sense the future of the club needs to be built around the final two names but that’s easier said than done considering their form so far.

To only exacerbate the problems Slot is facing, the midfield are also not covering themselves in much glory.

Slot's midfield conundrum

This has been a peculiar start to the campaign and it just seems as if Slot cannot strike the right balance.

On Sunday, he ended the game with a central midfielder at right back in Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong at right wing. It’s good that the manager has options and flexibility but he simply isn’t using his squad correctly.

The midfield continues to be an issue, too, although that feels more down to overall player performance.

Ryan Gravenberch has floated in and out of form but the regression of Alexis Mac Allister has been more worrying.

Signed for just £35m from Brighton, he has long been seen as a bargain. Last season he was perhaps unfortunate not to be nominated for Premier League player of the year ahead of Gravenberch as Liverpool won the title.

Yet, in 2025/26, he’s been a shadow of his former self and the defeat to United summed that up.

Eventually replaced just after the hour mark, the Argentine left the field having had just 22 touches and completed only 13 passes, a worryingly low amount for a central midfielder.

There lies the issue, though. Too many games are simply passing Mac Allister by right now and he’s becoming a scapegoat as a result.

In the process of losing every duel he contested, criticism came the midfielder’s way. One Reds content creator on X bemoaned that the Argentina international as the “most overrated player” in the Liverpool squad, suggesting that he “plods around like he’s pushing 40” from the middle of the park.

Mac Allister is usually so technically secure but he lacks athleticism and power to get across the field in a similar way to Gravenberch.

GOAL handed the player an average 6/10 rating at full-time, noting that he “covered plenty of ground, but was quiet by his standards.”

The midfielder has been one of Liverpool’s standout performers in recent years but it really does feel like he’s currently on borrowed time in this system.

A midfield trio of Gravenberch, Wirtz and Szoboszlai feels like the way to go from now on and with Curtis Jones also waiting in the wings, it’s not as though Slot is short of options.

Neymar has been snubbed by Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti again, with the injury-ravaged Santos superstar missing out on selection for upcoming friendly dates against Senegal and Tunisia. The 33-year-old playmaker has made no secret of the fact that he wants to represent his country at next summer’s World Cup, but faces a race against time to prove his worth.

• When did Neymar make his last appearance for Brazil?

  Neymar has not figured for Brazil since October 2023, when he ruptured knee ligaments during a clash with Uruguay. He spent 12 months stuck on the sidelines recovering from that injury and is now two years into a wander through the international wilderness.

  Ancelotti has not called upon Neymar since taking charge of South American heavyweights due to a series of unfortunate fitness setbacks – with his last selection in March 2025 ending in withdrawal. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has struggled to steer clear of the treatment table.

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  No contact: Brazil boss has not spoken with Neymar

  That has been the case again of late, with Neymar making his latest return to action in Santos’ 1-1 draw with Fortaleza on Saturday – a game that saw him step off the bench. Ancelotti is not convinced that Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer is ready to add to his collection of 128 caps.

  Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich boss Ancelotti is reluctant to be dragged into a debate regarding Neymar’s situation, with the Italian delivering a blunt response when quizzed on that topic at his latest squad reveal. Ancelotti said: “I haven't spoken to Neymar again. We'll see when he recovers and starts playing again.”

  Brazil’s head coach has previously said of the mercurial No.10: “Neymar can play at his highest level in this team without any problems. When he is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world because of his talent.”

• Ancelotti leaves ex-Brazil stars puzzled with Neymar stance

  Ancelotti’s reluctance to discuss Neymar is puzzling many, with former defender Fabio Luciano telling : “I think this issue of Neymar going to the World Cup isn't going to be like that, that he'll only go if he's 100%. If he's not flying high, but he's delivering good football… I don't think he needs to be 100% to be called up, because he's a different kind of player technically.

  “He has to be in good condition, I just don't think it's going to be like 'Neymar has to be flying high physically'. I think if he's well, he'll play. We don't have anyone similar and if he can maintain good performances he'll be called up.”

  Another former Brazil star, Luisao, added: “I think the Neymar issue has gone too far. We're always chasing our own tails when we talk about Neymar. I'm surprised I don't understand why the national team hasn't resolved this situation already. It's about being clear, 'I spoke with him and from today on I won't talk about Neymar'.

  “Every time there's a squad announcement, an interview, they'll talk about him. Ancelotti always says the same things. What's the problem with you acknowledging the situation and saying you only talk about the players called up? It's annoying.”

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  Messi reunion: Where will Neymar be playing in 2026?

  World Cup winner Ronaldo has said of Neymar taking in one more shot at global glory: “Brazil can achieve anything with the players they have available. Neymar can be, and I believe he will be, an important player in the World Cup. Everyone wants Neymar at 100%. That's what Ancelotti wants, and what he wants too. In his mind, I see a strong desire to be at the World Cup and help the Brazilian team.

  “I hope he's 100%. He's coming off a serious injury, and what he's going through is very natural: re-adaptation, game rhythm. The criticism is exaggerated, but expectations for him are always high, and that's why they exist. But Neymar knows what needs to be done to be 100% at the World Cup.”

  While generating plenty of discussion when it comes to his international future, Neymar is also the focus of speculation at club level. That is because his contract at Santos continues to run down towards free agency, with it being suggested that he could head to MLS early in 2026 and reunite with fellow ‘MSN’ members Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to return from the international break in style as they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in North London in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Lilywhites did, though, make the perfect start to the match when central midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur fired in the opener in the fifth minute.

Unfortunately, stunning strikes from both Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia, who both fired the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box, meant that the away side travelled away from London with all three points.

Thomas Frank will be disappointed with the time and space that both players had to get their shots away on the edge of the box, as Spurs players failed to close them down on both occasions from range.

However, the former Brentford head coach should also be disappointed with how his side played in possession, as they failed to pose a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

One of the players who failed to produce an impressive performance for the Lilywhites in the final third was former Burnley attacker Wilson Odobert on the left wing.

What Wilson Odobert needs to do to kickstart his Spurs career

The £40k-per-week starlet has so many interesting qualities that suggest that he has the potential to be a star. He’s dynamic, he has great speed, he can take players on in one-on-one situations, he has a terrific first touch.

However, and this is the crucial bit, the end product is not quite there for him yet. Per Sofasore, Odobert completed three of his four attempted dribbles, which is great, but he only created one chance in 79 minutes on the pitch.

The France U21 international was unable to turn his completed dribbles into dangerous situations for Spurs in the final third, as evidenced by his statistics.

As you can see in the table above, Odobert missed the only ‘big chance’ that came his way and only created one chance for this team, which shows that the forward did not do enough with the opportunities that he created for himself by dribbling past defenders.

The next step for him, therefore, to kickstart his Spurs career is to improve his consistency in his end product when he gets into good positions around the opposition’s box to ensure that when he does get into those areas, he makes the right decision, whether that is to shoot, pass, or cross.

Given the lack of natural quality out wide within the Spurs squad, for the left flank, it may make sense to stick with Odobert and be patient with him to hope that the experience of playing week-in-week-out helps him to build consistency in his play.

However, one of the other attackers in the starting XI was even worse than Odobert and should be brutally dropped from the team by Frank, Mathys Tel.

Why Mathys Tel should be dropped

The France U21 international was selected to lead the line ahead of Richarlison for this match, which seemed like a fair call given his recent form. Tel scored in the 2-1 win over Leeds United before the international break, whilst he also scored two goals and registered one assist in two matches for France’s U21s.

There is no doubt that he has quality. He has shown it in flashes, in that win over Leeds and for France, but he is still a young player who is learning and developing, which means that there will also be low moments for him.

Unfortunately, his performance against Aston Villa was one of those low moments, as the former Bayern Munich forward failed to make a positive impact in his hour on the pitch in North London.

He was even worse than Odobert as part of the front three that started the match, as he was unable to even create a chance for his side, whilst his compatriot at least created one ‘big chance’.

As you can see in the table above, the Frenchman was completely ineffective in and out of possession throughout the match, with no shots on target or chances created, and seven of his eight duels lost.

Tel did not provide a threat at the top end of the pitch, as either a scorer or a creator, and he was far too easy to play against for the likes of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres, who marked him out of the game with relative ease.

The one chance that the 20-year-old star did have to run at the Villa defence, he turned down several opportunities to set up Mohammed Kudus or Rodrigo Bentancur to his right to take Konsa on and was easily stopped by the England international. He had plenty of time to make up his mind and play a pass across, but took too long and did not provide quality in his one-on-one duel with the defender.

Given that Richarlison is Tottenham’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, with three goals to his name, it feels like the right time to drop Tel from the starting line-up after an underwhelming display against the Villans.

Tel, as aforementioned, has quality and can be impactful at his best, but Frank’s job is to ensure that he can provide that quality consistently for Spurs, as that is not the case at the moment.

Unfortunately for Tel, though, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani are both waiting in the wings to take the number nine position, which means that he cannot afford to have poor performances like this one, hence why the manager must ruthlessly ditch him from the team.

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Whereas, with Odobert, there is not a natural and top-quality left-wing option who can be dropped into the side next time out, which is why he may keep his place for now.

Mikel Arteta believes Eberechi Eze still has plenty more to bring to Arsenal’s attacking play after watching him score his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Port Vale.

Eze struck just eight minutes into the match at Vale Park but, despite that early strike, Arsenal struggled to create clear opportunities against their League One hosts, not killing the game off until substitute Leandro Trossard struck in the 86th minute.

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But Eze’s goal – his first since he returned to the club in a £60million move from Crystal Palace – already looked like being enough for Arsenal on a night when the 27-year-old was the brightest of Arsenal’s attacking players.

Eze, on £9.3m a year at the Emirates, started on the left of Arsenal’s attack for this match but has already lined up in a number of different positions for Arteta in his five appearances to date.

Arsenal spent the summer looking to add greater depth to the squad as they aim to compete on multiple fronts this term and that showed on the team sheet here as Arteta made nine changes from Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City but still fielded a strong side.

Kepa Arrizabalaga made his debut in goal, Christian Norgaard got a first start in midfield and Bukayo Saka clocked up an hour as he returns from a hamstring injury, with Arteta saying he now had a number of decisions to make ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

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“What we need to do… is generate the performances that we want with the players that haven’t really played together, with a completely different midfield than they’ve played together before, with a front line that is different as well,” he said.

“Max [Dowman] came in as well and connect(ed) immediately with the team. It’s a lot of positives to take from the game. That’s exactly what we want, that they’re giving us and me those headaches because that means that they are so connected with the team, that they really want to help the team. Everybody will play a lot of minutes.”

The USWNT, having never conceded in 11 previous all-time matches against Portugal, were stunned by a pair of set pieces in 2-1 loss

There was no masking the frustration. Speaking moments after her team's shocking 2-1 loss to Portugal – a team that have never beaten or even scored a goal in 11 previous all-time matches against the USWNT – manager Emma Hayes was notably irritated. She had reasons to be. The U.S. had lost in her tenure twice before, to high-caliber teams, Brazil and Japan.

They had not, however, lost in the way they did Thursday night.

"Sometimes, as a coach in this position, it feels like whack-a-mole," Hayes told TNT. "I aged 113 years on the touchline. It’s frustrating… What am I telling them for the next game? Let’s get our fundamentals right. We can’t score at the start of the game and be on back foot afterwards… We scored a goal, and we stopped playing. If the Under-23s were watching, we’ve worked on our principles and plays and if they’ve watched that tonight, they’d wonder what ours were?

"We didn’t look like a team the whole evening, on both sides of the ball. We didn’t press together, we didn’t possess together, it felt like a yard off in our brain. I could see that.”

After netting just 33 seconds into the match on a finish from Rose Lavelle, the USWNT, in Hayes' eyes, switched off. That can happen. The problem was that they never switched back on, giving up two inexcusable set-piece goals to a Portugal team that had, coming into the game, gone winless in their last eight matches.

And while much of the credit goes to Portugal for standing firm against the defending Olympic gold medalists, Hayes and the USWNT – which hadn't played since July, and bore the rust to prove it – are rightly looking in the mirror after something of a wakeup call.

"We can use that as an excuse, but I think that’s a cop out," midfielder Sam Coffey told TNT, referring to the long layoff. "We’re too good for that and ultimately, tonight was just not acceptable. It was not our standard. I think we were really individual. There’s a lot of weight that comes with wearing this jersey, and that’s the way – we take it so seriously. That’s the best responsibility in the world and I don’t think we did a good enough job honoring that tonight.

"With that being said, it's a bump in the road. And I know this team and we have to respond now in the best way possible."

That response will have to come on Sunday, when these same two teams meet again in East Hartford, Connecticut. It's clear that Hayes will expect something much different.

"I am frustrated," the USWNT boss said. "I have to do my job. I’m in this team, too. I am responsible. It’s my job to pick us up and demand the best from us.”

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Subaru Park.

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  LOSER: Set pieces

  So often, particularly in the modern game, set pieces make all the difference. They create moments of chaos and, ultimately, goals. Teams feast on those dead-ball moments. On Thursday, the USWNT were undone by them.

  Both goals that the U.S. conceded came from set-piece situations, giving Hayes a very easy talking point after her game. Given the USWNT's talent, set pieces will often be the best way for teams to get the upper hand. That proved true in this game as the U.S. were unable to clear their lines twice.

  Now, would having the injured Naomi Girma organizing help in these moments? Surely, but it's not as if the U.S. was lacking experience in this team. That's not to say that Portugal didn't earn it, mind you. They did, to their credit, play with the USWNT, unlike many other teams. The goals weren't good fortune and they weren't just USNWT mistakes; they were deserved.

  That doesn't mean the U.S. doesn't need to clean up those types of moments, and they'll be frustrated to have conceded two very preventable goals.

  "Disappointment is the word," Coffey told TNT after the match. "Conceding on two set pieces? We pride ourselves on defensive set pieces and we did not live up to that standard tonight."

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  WINNER: Portugal

  Portugal didn't arrive at Subaru Park with any sort of good form. They'd won just one of their prior 10 matches, losing to Spain and England by heavy margins this summer. They also had never beaten the USWNT. So, heading into this friendly, they seemed to be set up as a good old-fashioned confidence booster for a young U.S. group still building.

  Apparently no one told Portugal, though, as they came out determined to play with the USWNT. And play they did, maintaining their share of possession while, ultimately, cashing in on the chances that decided the game.

  Credit to head coach Francsco Neto, who had his team ready to play. Were they physical? Yes, and a bit too physical at certain points, to be fair. That didn't matter to Portugal, though, as they set a tone and kept a pace that the USWNT struggled to match. The U.S. had a few moments, sure, but not nearly enough. Some of that is due to sloppiness. Some of that, too, is due to Portugal.

  Good luck to them, though, as they look ahead to Sunday's rematch. It seems unlikely that this Portugal team can get the USWNT twice. But with this win already in their back pocket, they plenty of reason to believe going forward.

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  LOSER: Trinity Rodman

  Rodman was, as originally planned, in attendance on Thursday. The problem? She was watching on in street clothes, not causing chaos down the right-hand side.

  Despite her recent knee injury, Rodman was in the building for the match as part of the celebrations for her former teammate Alex Morgan. It was, for sure, bittersweet. On one hand, it was good to see Rodman back after several months away from the team with a back injury. On the other hand, it was a unfortunate that her return didn't allow her to play as Hayes had originally outlined.

  "Obviously not ideal. I wanted to be playing in this camp," Rodman said in pregame, "but, I mean, this is amazing to be able to come to this game, to be able to support the girls. I'm always grateful, and always want to be in it, even when I, like, can't be playing. So, yeah, I'm happy and all smiles for the most part.

  "I've been to one camp this year, so that sucks. Like, I was just bored. But yeah, it's important to support, even when I'm injured and, also, with so much change happening with the national team, I think just to be able to watch and to interact with them as much as I can at this stage is important."

  The USWNT could have used Rodman in the loss. Rodman, surely, would have wanted to help. The U.S. could certainly use her presence on and off the field.

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  WINNER: Alex Morgan

  It's not that anyone needed a reminder of Morgan's impact, but it was nice to get one anyway. The scenes before the opening whistle said it all: fans wearing shirts bearing her name, teammates reunited and smiling in her honor and, perhaps most notably to her, her family in attendance to share this moment.

  Oh, and her own USWNT bobblehead.

  "I just have so many incredible memories with this team. I really grew up with this team," she said pregame. "It’s just really special to run it back one more time."

  Morgan was honored as US Soccer celebrated her list of contributions to both the USWNT and the women's game as a whole. That list, of course, goes on and on: trophies, moments, goals and, most importantly, memories. Morgan created them all and, in truth, a pregame ceremony probably isn't even enough to encapsulate her impact on the game.

  “I grew up watching her. Every young girl growing up and playing is like, ‘I love Alex Morgan.’ I had a poster of her on my wall," Coffey said. "She’s an incredible player and an incredible person. She's done so much for the women's game. She deserves all the flowers in the world, and it's really exciting to be a part of the game that we get to honor her at.

  "She’s like a hero for all of us and is someone that epitomizes what it means to leave something better than you found it.”

  Even the frustration from the result couldn't dampen Hayes' enthusiasm when asked about Morgan.

  "I mean, she's an icon, and she's done it at the highest level, again and again," Hayes said after the game. "And everybody in the locker room respects her achievements for doing it the highest stage. And just to get a number of caps she had – it was well-earned. That's the thing. You know, playing for this team isn't easy. You've got the expectations to win all of the time. And, you know, I think looking at all Alex has done is a real credit to the work she's put in."

  It was nice, then, to see Morgan get her moment.