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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.

Arteta expecting more from Arsenal signing Eze

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.

Thomas Tuchel delivered a rousing team talk as England booked their place at the 2026 World Cup, saying he accomplished a “childhood dream” following the emphatic 5-0 victory over Latvia. The Three Lions will compete at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after powering through their qualifying group with two games to spare.

• Captain Kane scores twice as England seal World Cup spot

  England became the first team from Europe to seal their spot at the World Cup in North America after downing Latvia on Tuesday evening. Two goals from Harry Kane and strikes from Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze helped Tuchel’s men to victory on a dominant night which saw the travelling supporters play their part. The victory in Riga was England’s six win from as many qualifying games under Tuchel, having also defeated Albania, Andorra (twice), and Serbia, alongside an earlier triumph over Latvia in March.

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• Tuchel and Kane deliver rousing team talks following Latvia victory

  And after clinching their World Cup berth, Tuchel was full of praise for his England players, telling a delighted dressing room how competing in the biggest competition in world football was one of his lifelong ambitions.

  In a behind-the-scenes video which has now been shared by England, Tuchel began with exuberant clapping and shouting “really nice” towards his charges, before formally addressing them by saying: “One minute, congratulations, six wins, six clean sheets, eighteen points, we are there in the summer, we are there, brilliant.

  “My childhood dream to go to the World Cup, I could not be more proud than to go with you guys, we will rock this thing in America next year, okay, let’s go!”

  Tuchel was then joined by captain Kane, who urged his team-mates to maintain their focus ahead of England’s remaining two qualifiers against Serbia and Albania in November, stressing the importance of building momentum ahead of the World Cup.

  The Bayern Munich striker politely asked “Boys, can I add something?” and after his wish was granted by Tuchel, he continued by saying to the dressing room: “Boys, I think it’s easy to underestimate what we have achieved, you know, six wins, no goals (conceded), sometimes the outside noise will make it seem like 'oh, we just turn up in America and it’s easy', but I think the work we’ve done together, the relationships we’re building, it’s what makes a special team. You know, I said in the last camp, I feel like we’re getting a good momentum going forward and now we continue that, we’re qualified but we go full gas in November, everyone back, everyone ready to go and we carry on like we’re doing.”

• Kane joins Ronaldo in elite goalscoring club after Latvia brace

  After helping fire England to the World Cup with his brace against Latvia, Kane joined an elite goalscoring club featuring Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old is now the fifth top European scorer in international football, having recorded his 75th and 76th goals for England on his 110th appearance for his country. Kane sits behind Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas (84), Poland striker Robert Lewandowski (86), Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku (89) and Ronaldo, who has a whopping 143 goals for Portugal, on the list.

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  Tuchel takes chants on the chin after criticising England support

  Tuchel, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of pointed chants from the good-humoured England faithful at the Daugava Stadium. After criticising the level of support his players received in the 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley Stadium, chants of “Thomas Tuchel, we’ll sing when we want!” and “Thomas Tuchel, are we loud enough for you?” were aimed towards the German in Latvia.

  However, Tuchel took the response from the England fans on the chin, saying after the game: "I got a bit of stick today, in the first half, pretty much in every song. So fair enough. Well done. I take it and good humour, good sense of humour. They had a reason today from my last comments and I guess that's fair enough. I got a bit of stick and I found it quite creative. It made me smile and this is how it has to be. It's British humour and I surely can take it. No harm done. It's so important. They are here and I said the support in Serbia was brilliant, and we are very sure the support in America will be absolutely brilliant.”

Enzo Maresca has made it desperately obvious that he wants a new striker at Chelsea this summer, constantly targeting a new talisman after taking the reins 12 months ago.

The Italian has been working tirelessly to land a new forward, potentially having the chance to end his hunt during the upcoming transfer window – aiding their Premier League title ambitions.

Nicolas Jackson has been the Blues’ main option at the top end of the pitch in 2024/25, but has struggled with injuries as of late, massively restricting his progress in the final third.

The Senegalese international has scored 10 league goals to date, but could’ve certainly had more had he not missed six games through injury between February and April.

Despite his impressive goalscoring record, it’s evident that the boss wants another option ahead of 2025/26, leading to countless attackers being touted with a switch to Stamford Bridge in the coming months.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker

Victor Osimhen was a player firmly on Chelsea’s radar last summer, but the club were unable to secure a deal to land him from Napoli – subsequently joining Galatasaray on loan for the current season.

However, with such a deal coming to an end, the Blues have once again been touted with a switch for the Nigerian, with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest also in the race for his signature.

It would be a hefty sum if they were to sign the 26-year-old, potentially leading to a move for another striker target in the form of Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha, according to TBR.

The report claims that the Dutchman, who plies his trade for the Blues’ sister club, has been on their radar and has impressed the staff behind the scenes at the Bridge.

It also goes on to state that he would provide an added body to Maresca in the final third, potentially nailing a regular role in the side given his record of 14 goals in 28 games this season.

Why Chelsea’s latest target would be better than Delap

Another player who’s been firmly on their radar to bolster the striker department is Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap, who appears to be a man in demand this summer.

The 22-year-old, who’s scored 12 goals in the Premier League this year, has a £30m relegation release clause in his contract – coming into effect after the Tractor Boys dropped back into the Championship.

The Blues aren’t the only side in the race for his signature, with Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and Liverpool also credited with an interest in recent days.

However, despite the interest in Delap ahead of the upcoming window, they may be better off pursuing a deal for Emegha, with the sister club potentially playing a key role in their pursuit.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, the Strasbourg star has managed to dominate the Ipswich forward in numerous key areas – showing why the Blues must prioritise a deal for his services.

Emegha, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored more goals to date, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst coming out on top in more of the aerial battles he’s entered – handing Maresca that focal point which he’s craved since arriving at the club.

Given the fact that he currently plays for Strasbourg, a cost-effective deal could likely be agreed, offering a cheaper alternative to Delap – but one that would be a better fit for the team, as seen by the stats produced.

If the club are to keep progressing next season, a new talisman desperately needs to be their priority on any shortlist, with Emegha the man who could take responsibility and thrive at the top end of the pitch.

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Rangers are reportedly likely to sell an “excellent” midfielder permanently at the end of the season, as a billionaire-owned club eye a summer move for him.

Rangers still searching for solution in the dugout

The Gers are still looking to nail their next manager ahead of next season, with Barry Ferguson in interim charge until the end of the current campaign. Former Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose is a name who has been mentioned as a possible option, with the 48-year-old most recently in charge of RB Leipzig until earlier this year. He is a two-time Austrian league champion, as well as winning one German Cup and German Super Cup apiece.

Steven Gerrard has been seen as a front-runner for the Rangers job this summer, assuming Ferguson isn’t retained, having guided the Gers to the Scottish Premiership title back in 2020/21. He knows the club well, which could be a bonus, and he may feel he has unfinished business there.

In terms of potential signings this summer, young Hearts striker James Wilson has been linked with a summer switch to Ibrox, with the 18-year-old a player with a bright future in the game. Now, a Rangers exit update has emerged, with one player’s time at the club possibly nearing its conclusion.

"Excellent" Rangers player likely to leave for good this summer

According to a new update from The Daily Record, Rangers midfielder Kieran Dowell is likely to leave the club once and for all this summer, with Birmingham City keen on signing him on a permanent basis. The 27-year-old is currently on loan at the League One side, who are owned by billionaire Tom Wagner, helping them cruise to the title this season, and it now looks like his stay there could be a long-term one.

This does feel like the right time for Rangers to sell the £16,000-a-week Dowell, considering he was loaned out to Birmingham because he wasn’t considered a key part of the club’s plans. The Englishman is out of contract at Ibrox at the end of next season, meaning this summer is the last chance to get a good fee for him, rather than losing him on a free transfer in 2026.

Dowell has done well at Birmingham, scoring five goals and registering four assists in League One this season, and Blues manager Chris Davies has heaped praise on him.

“You can see that from the outside but what you don’t see is what the character is like. Does he work hard? Does he take information on? Whether he is a team player. You only get to see that when you work with someone and he is all that – he works for the team, runs, covers a lot of distance, very diligent. I have given him four, five defensive jobs – everyone he has been switched on to. For me, that is excellent because these are the type of players I want in the team.”

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A move to Birmingham feels like the perfect outcome for the League One side, Rangers and Dowell himself, and it will hopefully be sorted by the time next season gets underway.

Arsenal are now preparing a bid for a midfielder who has “enormous potential”, and they believe he would be a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s system, according to a report.

Gunners pursuing a midfielder

Arteta will undoubtedly be very pleased with Declan Rice’s performances recently, with the Englishman scoring two remarkable free-kicks to put the Gunners in a very strong position to reach the semi-final of the Champions League.

However, the manager is keen to strengthen his midfield even further this summer, with the Spaniard and new sporting director Andrea Berta looking to bring in a partner for Rice, and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi remains one of the key targets.

The north Londoners are set to trigger Zubimendi’s £51m release clause, having already reached an agreement on personal terms, but there is set to be stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, with Real Madrid also keen.

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The Real Sociedad maestro is not the only La Liga midfielder on the shortlist, however, with a new report from Spain revealing Arsenal are now leading the race for Valencia’s Javi Guerra, who has emerged as a key player for the Spanish side this season.

Guerra’s performances have attracted the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs, but the Gunners are currently in the driving seat, and they are now preparing to make a considerable offer for his services.

Having closely followed the maestro’s performances, the north Londoners are convinced he would be a perfect fit for Arteta’s system, but it could be tricky to get a deal over the line.

Valencia are reluctant to sanction the midfielder’s departure, given his emergence as an important player, but there is an awareness it will be difficult to keep hold of him, amid widespread interest in his signature.

"Explosive" Guerra could has "enormous potential"

The youngster has established himself as a key player for Valencia this season, making 30 appearances in La Liga, during which time he has picked up two goals and three assists, and there are signs he could get even better.

Valencia director Miguel Angel Corona clearly believes the central midfielder is a future star, saying: “We are fully aware that we have a player with enormous potential for the future and the ability to perform at a good level now.”

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also given an overview of the Valencia star’s abilities, while praising him for a solid display against Celta Vigo earlier this season.

Guerra could be an excellent addition for Arsenal in midfield, so it is exciting news they could soon formalise their interest by making a huge bid.