O Palmeiras treinou na tarde desta sexta-feira (26), na Academia de Futebol, e seguiu a preparação para enfrentar o Atlético-MG, neste domingo (28), às 18h30, no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte-MG, pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A comissão de Abel Ferreira utilizou a atividade do dia para comandar atividades técnicas.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
No gramado, o elenco realizou inicialmente dois trabalhos em campo reduzido com ênfase na marcação e opções de passe, entre outros aspectos do jogo. Os atletas mais desgastados fizeram um complemento físico e deixaram o campo na sequência, enquanto os demais ainda fizeram trabalhos específicos dos setores defensivo e ofensivo em lados opostos do campo.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
Por enquanto, os únicos desfalques de Abel Ferreira para a partida de domingo são o volante Atuesta, que se recupera de cirurgia no joelho, o zagueiro Murilo, que passou por cirurgia no ombro e o atacante Giovani, que está com a Seleção Brasileira no Mundial sub-20.
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Vale lembrar que o Palmeiras não permite a presença dos jornalistas na Academia de Futebol para acompanhar os treinamentos. As informações acima são fornecidas pela assessoria de imprensa do clube.
+ Entenda qual é a novidade do Palmeiras nos treinos de preparação dos goleiros: ‘Não existe no Brasil’
Uma dúvida para o time titular neste domingo é a lateral-direita. Marcos Rocha retornou de lesão recentemente, mas ficou no banco nos dois jogos em que foi relacionado. Mayke, que é considerado reserva da posição, seguiu como titular. Dessa forma, um provável Verdão contra o Galo é: Weverton; Mayke (Marcos Rocha), Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Artur, Dudu e Rony.
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O Alviverde volta a treinar neste sábado (27), às 10h, antes do embarque a Belo Horizonte-MG. Vice-líder com 15 pontos, o Palmeiras é o único invicto nesta edição do Brasileirão, além de ter o melhor ataque (16 gols, seguido pelo Botafogo, com 14) e uma das segundas melhores defesas (seis gols sofridos, ao lado de Botafogo, Fluminense, Atlético-MG, Cruzeiro, São Paulo e Fortaleza e atrás apenas do Santos, com cinco).
يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول لاستكمال مشواره في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا مساء الثلاثاء المقبل ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري.
وكان ليفربول قد خسر لأول مرة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز أمام كريستال بالاس بنتيجة 2/1، في المباراة التي جمعتهما في الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وواجه ليفربول نظيره كريستال بالاس عصر أمس، السبت، في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساءً، على ملعب “سيلهرست بارك”.
وظهر ليفربول بمستوى سيئ للغاية في المباراة إذ لم يكن في المستوى المطلوب خلال أحداث الشوط الأول من المباراة التي شهدت فرصًا كبيرة ضائعة من لاعبي كريستال بالاس.
اقرأ أيضًا | حكم مباراة ريال مدريد وكيرات في دوري أبطال أوروبا
ولم يفز ليفربول في آخر 3 مواجهات أمام كريستال بالاس إذ تعادل مرة وخسر مباراة كأس الدرع الخيرية ومباراة الأمس.
وواجه رجال آرني سلوت أتلتيكو مدريد في الجولة الأولى من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا والتي انتهت بفوز صعب لليفربول بنتيجة 3/2 في الدقائق الأخيرة عن طريق المدافع الهولندي فيرجيل فان دايك.
ويلتقي ليفربول نظيره جالطة سراي في إطار الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، يوم الثلاثاء المقبل الموافق 30 من شهر سبتمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية، على ملعب “رامس بارك” معقل الفريق التركي. حكم مباراة ليفربول وجالطة سراي في دوري أبطال أوروبا
ويقود مباراة ليفربول وجالطة سراي في الجولة الثانية من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، طاقمًا تحكيميًا بقيادة الفرنسي كليمين توربين ويوروم بريسار حكمًا لتقينة الفيديو.
Roberto Martinez insisted "Diogo Jota is with us" after Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 21st minute of Portugal's first game since the tragic death of the Liverpool star. The ex-Wolves forward and his brother Andre lost their lives in a devastating car crash, leaving the football world in shock.
Ronaldo scores 21st-minute tribute goalTeammates honour Diogo Jota’s memoryFans and players unite in remembranceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ahead of the game against Armenia in Yerevan, teammates and friends ensured Jota’s memory was unmistakably present. Ruben Neves, Jota’s former Wolves colleague and close friend, swapped his usual shirt number to 21, the number Jota wore for his country, as a deeply personal homage.
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The tribute came to life spectacularly in the 21st minute, when Ronaldo scored for Portugal. Aligning perfectly with Jota’s iconic number, the goal was a moving gesture that resonated with Martinez.
WHAT MARTINEZ SAID
Martinez spoke emotionally about the squad’s determination to honour Jota.
"Diogo Jota is with us. Being able to score in the 21st minute was special. We continue on our journey. I really believe [in coincidences]. Diogo's spirit is with us, it was a sign, in the 21st minute and we scored. We felt Diogo Jota from the first day of the training camp and his strength and motivation."
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Other teammates joined in the homage. Joao Cancelo performed Jota’s signature video game-style goal celebration, a moment that drew both applause and tears. Fans responded in kind, holding up posters and chanting in honour of the late forward.
تنبأ جيمي كاراجر مدافع وقائد ليفربول السابق باسم الفائز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية، بشكل يحبط النجم المصري محمد صلاح والذي يعد أحد أبرز المرشحين للفوز بجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم.
ورشح كاراجر مدافع ليفربول السابق، عثمان ديمبلي نجم باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي ومنتخب فرنسا للفوز بالجائزة، على الرغم من الموسم القياسي الذي حققه صلاح العام الماضي وتحقيقه لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في أول موسم للمدرب آرني سلوت.
ويتألق ليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وقد كان محمد صلاح مرشحاً بقوة للفوز بالجائزة بعد بدايته المذهلة في الموسم الماضي، حيث أنهى الموسم بـ 34 هدفا وصنع 23 تمريرة حاسمة في 52 مباراة، ومن المقرر الإعلان عن الفائز بالكرة الذهبية يوم الاثنين.
وقال كاراجر في تصريحات نقلتها شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” البريطانية: “أعتقد بالنسبة لي أن أفضل ستة لاعبين في العالم هم عثمان ديمبلي وأشرف حكيمي ومبابي ورافينيا ومحمد صلاح ولامين يامال”.
أقرأ أيضاً.. محمد صلاح يستهدف رقمين رائعين في مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون
وأضاف :”أعتقد أنني تابعتهم في معظم مباريات الموسم الماضي، ربما في دوري أبطال أوروبا وأيضاً لأدائهم مع أنديتهم”.
وختم عن توقعه للفائز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية: “أعتقد أن ديمبلي سيكون المرشح الأبرز، خاصة بعد الموسم المميز الذي قدمه باريس سان جيرمان لكن جميع هؤلاء اللاعبين لديهم فرصة جيدة للفوز بالكرة الذهبية”.
وحول رأيه في تباطؤ ليفربول لتجديد عقود صلاح وفان دايك، ذكر كاراجر: “فيرجيل فان دايك خرج من هذا الوضع الصعب هذا الموسم كقائد للنادي وهو يحظى بتقدير كبير مني، في أسلوبه، في التصرف، في أدائه في الملعب وفي طريقة قيادته للفريق، أود على الأرجح أن أشيد بفان دايك بدلاً من الحديث عن أرنولد وصلاح”.
وأتم عن صلاح: “صلاح رجل دولة حقيقي، طريقة تعامله مع الأمر رائعة، لقد طرحت عليه أسئلة ولم يغب، إنه هنا للفوز بالدوري ويبذل قصارى جهده من أجل ليفربول وأتمنى له كل التوفيق”.
A £12,000-a-week Celtic player is eager to seal a move away from Parkhead this summer and looks set to get his wish with a transfer agreement now reached.
Celtic’s 2025 summer signings so far
The Hoops have been busy during the summer transfer window as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to maintain their Scottish Premiership dominance during the 2025/26 season.
Four new signings have been made so far, including permanent deals for Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand from Nordsjaelland and Fulham respectively.
Meanwhile, there have also been returns to Celtic Park for left-back Kieran Tierney and goalkeeper Ross Doohan, with Rodgers hailing the Scottish duo recently upon his return to Lennoxtown.
“For Kieran, I’m absolutely delighted. We’re getting a top player back. Sometimes top players like that might come later on in their career, but we’re getting Kieran at 27 years of age. I was with him during the summer so I know first-hand how excited he is to be here.
“And it’s great for Ross to be back. He was here during my first spell and he left to go and gain experience. He’s an international goalkeeper now. He answered the call and got his cap, which is absolutely brilliant. I know where his heart is and I know that in bringing him back to here, he’ll make a real good contribution in that goalkeeper department for us.”
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However, with four players already through the door, there will also be some Lennoxtown departures. Greg Taylor and Scott Bain have both left after their contracts expired, joining PAOK and Falkirk, and by the looks of things, Celtic are about to cash in on 24/25 star Nicolas Kuhn.
Kuhn desperate to leave Celtic as £17m+ agreement reached
As per Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Kuhn is on course to leave Celtic for Serie A side Como, with a medical booked for next week.
An agreement worth €20m (£17.2m) was struck on Thursday, and Kuhn will sign a four-year deal with Cesc Fabregas’ side. Bundesliga side RB Leipzig were also keen on Kuhn, however, the £12,000-a-week Celtic star was ‘desperate’ to leave Scotland for Como.
Described as a pathetic fee by a Celtic media outlet, Kuhn was only signed by the Hoops for £3.5m back in 2024, so they are in line to make a significant profit.
In the German’s first full season at Celtic Park, Kuhn scored 21 goals and registered 15 assists, so it isn’t a shock that he would attract interest, and now we could see Nygren look to fill the void left by Kuhn.
Slowly and then all at once might be one way to describe Arsenal’s transfer window so far.
For weeks and weeks, it felt like very little was happening at the Emirates, but now Martin Zubimendi’s transfer is reportedly wrapped up, as is Kepa Arrizabalaga’s, and there have been reports of progress being made towards both Rodrygo and Viktor Gyokeres.
It’s not just incomings either, as Fabrizio Romano broke the news yesterday afternoon that Thomas Partey is now “set to leave” this month.
As if that wasn’t enough, yesterday also saw news come out linking Arsenal to Christian Nørgaard as a potential replacement, but if other reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta could be looking to sign another midfielder who’d be even better than the Brentford star.
Arsenal target Nørgaard upgrade
While it’s been known for a few days now that the contract talks with Partey were not advancing and that there was, therefore, a real chance the Ghanaian could leave this summer, there were no murmurings that Nørgaard was being looked at as a potential signing.
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In fact, the report from Danish journalist Mads Glenn Wehlast on Wednesday morning was the first time most people had any idea the club were even supposedly interested in the 31-year-old.
The report claims that the Gunners have already submitted an offer worth around €11m in total, which is about £9m.
While that could end up being a good deal, there is still another midfielder the club are interested in, someone who’d be a better signing: Lucien Agoume.
According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal are still very much interested in the Sevilla star, who has been the subject of talks.
A price for the young Frenchman is not mentioned in the report, but stories from earlier this week claim that he could be available for just £20m, although he is also a target for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
It might not be a big-name signing, but based on the ability Agoume has already shown, and the potential so many believe him to possess, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, especially as he would be a better addition to the squad than Nørgaard.
How Agoume compares to Nørgaard
So, if it ends up being a choice between signing Agoume and Nørgaard in the coming weeks, why should Arsenal opt for the former?
Lucien Agoume in action against Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe.
Well, the first argument, and its significant one, is the statistical one, as when we take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers, it becomes clear that the Sevilla star, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig described as “10 out of 10 talent,” is the more well-rounded midfielder.
The Dane might do marginally better in a few metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists and passing accuracy per 90, but he comes out a clear second-best in most other statistics that are relevant for a number six.
Agoumé vs Nørgaard
Statistics per 90
Agoumé
Nørgaard
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.14
0.18
Progressive Carries
1.23
0.45
Progressive Passes
5.74
4.92
Passing Accuracy
81.5%
81.6%
Key Passes
1.15
0.58
Passes into the Final Third
5.36
4.38
Shot-Creating Actions
2.55
1.85
Goal-Creating Actions
0.21
0.42
Tackles
2.98
2.52
Blocks
1.28
1.66
Interceptions
1.74
1.57
Errors Leading to a Shot
0.00
0.03
Successful take-ons
0.94
0.22
Aerial Duels Won
1.79
1.57
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
For example, the former Inter Milan gem comes out looking far better in things like progressive passes and carries, key passes, shot-creating actions and, most crucially, tackles, interceptions and aerial duels won per 90.
This suggests that not only does he have the Bees ace beat in plenty of attacking areas, but he’d also be able to better provide cover for the back four, and the fact he’s so good at winning balls in the air will be like music to Arteta’s ears.
Finally, there is another number that matters here: his age.
At 22 years old, the Yaoundé-born maestro has plenty of time to continue developing, and if he does do that, then the Gunners would have a serious midfielder on their hands down the line, whereas at 31, the Brentford star is only going to regress over time.
Moreover, if Zubimendi is going to be the starting six anyway, surely it makes sense to bring in a promising understudy to cover for him, someone who could seriously rival him for game time in a few years.
Ultimately, while Nørgaard wouldn’t be a bad signing by any means, Agoume just looks like the far better option, and therefore, Arsenal should be doing what they can to get him this summer.
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Scott Parker certainly lived up to his label as a serial promotion winner out of the Championship this season at the Burnley helm.
Securing second spot for the Clarets on a mighty 100 points means Parker has now won promotion three times up to the Premier League as a boss, with the uphill battle of attempting to keep the Lancashire underdogs afloat in the taxing division now the tough goal.
It’s been a less-than-ideal summer so far for the newly promoted side unfortunately, as CJ Egan-Riley nears ever closer to a sad Clarets exit, whilst Josh Brownhill’s future at the club is reportedly up in the air having attracted interest from West Ham.
But, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom as the Clarets anxiously count down the days until the Premier League returns to Turf Moor.
How might the Clarets look in the Premier League? We’ve laid out their dream XI in the top-flight right here…
1 GK – James Trafford
James Trafford for Burnley.
Much like Egan-Riley, Burnley’s number one goalkeeper James Trafford has reportedly been the subject of interest from Newcastle.
But, Parker and Co will just aim to keep swatting away interested parties, knowing full well that Trafford is Premier League capable, having kept a ridiculous 29 clean sheets last season.
2 RB – Connor Roberts
Connor Roberts is also likely to retain his place as Burnley’s starting right-back in top-flight action.
He was another steady presence in the Clarets’ formidable defence last campaign, whilst also being able to boast a season of Premier League experience already with the Lancashire outfit.
3 CB – Victor Nelsson
Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson.
The first brand-new purchase could see Burnley take a punt on 26-year-old centre-back Victor Nelsson in a bid to immediately fill the Egan-Riley void.
Previously linked with a €10m (£8m) move for Nelsson in January, the 6 foot 1 Dane has shown across his career to date his ability to shine in some top divisions.
Before falling out of favour at Galatasaray and heading to AS Roma on loan, Nelsson would pick up a hefty 11 clean sheets in Super Lig action across the 2023/24 season, finishing too with an imposing average of 5.3 duels won per contest.
With his spell at Roma not going to plan either, the Scandinavian could well fancy leaving Turkey behind for good which is where Burnley might capitalise.
4 CB – Maxime Esteve
Burnley's MaximeEstevecelebrates after the match
Whilst the news of Egan-Riley’s expected exit will sting, Burnley being able to keep a firm grip on his usual centre-back partner in Maxime Esteve could at least come as some source of comfort.
The Frenchman has been linked with a switch away to Crystal Palace, but if the Clarets are serious about their survival hopes, they must keep Esteve around.
The 23-year-old already looks ready-made for the Premier League, with the ex-Montpellier enforcer both confident on the ball with a 91% pass accuracy averaged last season in league action, but also assured when launching into many a tackle.
5 LB – Josip Juranovic
1. FC Union Berlin's JosipJuranovic
Whilst normally a right-back by trade, Burnley’s lack of a main left-back option could see the Clarets swoop in for reported target Josip Juranovic for help.
The “immense” Croat, as he’s been previously lauded by European football expert Zach Lowy, has been a goal-and-assist machine wherever he’s gone across his nomadic career.
That’s seen in his career tally of 43 goal contributions – but it’s ability to slot in as a right-back, left-back or even as a centre-back with ease that will have piqued Burnley’s interest.
6 CM – Josh Brownhill
Josh Brownhill
Much like Esteve, it would be a complete disaster if Burnley were to lose Josh Brownhill after his sublime promotion heroics.
But, with his contract running down, it could well be a sticky situation to solve.
Still, if they can get their exciting captain to say, it would make the world of difference to the Clarets’ survival odds, considering the wanted star fired home 18 strikes last season as Burnley’s top scorer.
7 CM – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Burnley-linked Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall might soon form a healthy working relationship with Josh Brownhill if the ex-Leicester City man is finally freed from his Stamford Bridge ordeal.
Whilst his time in West London has been rocky after a £30m switch last summer, he showed more than enough for the Foxes for Parker to consider a move, boasting 17 goals and 20 assists in total across his memorable King Power Stadium stay.
8 RM – Marcus Edwards
Now officially a permanent member of the Burnley camp, Marcus Edwards will be raring to go in the Premier League next campaign.
After all, he was once a heavily fancied kid off the block at Tottenham Hotspur, but he would never go on to make a top-flight appearance on the periphery in North London.
Now, after collecting a goal and an assist from 14 Turf Moor clashes, his opportunity finally awaits.
9 CAM – Hannibal Mejbri
Hannibal Mejbri is very much in the same camp as Edwards in attempting to show he belongs at the intimidating level.
He certainly showed he was worthy of competing at the top end of the Championship with Parker’s men, as seen in his respectable tally of one goal and five assists from the number ten spot. Therefore, he could come back to haunt his ex-employers, Manchester United.
10 LM – Jaidon Anthony
Jaidon Anthony will also be bursting with excitement about reentering the Premier League with the Clarets after penning a permanent deal at Turf Moor.
Whilst his team’s stern defence just stole most of the deserved plaudits, Anthony’s high haul of eight goals and seven assists from 43 league clashes went somewhat under the radar.
With Premier League experience also already under his belt with AFC Bournemouth, the 25-year-old could soon cause even more havoc down the left flank for Parker’s men.
Liverpool are already set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, and they may have to brace for the departure of another key player, with the Spanish side lining up another move.
Trent set to join Real Madrid
The Reds will be delighted to have managed to tie down Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to new contracts, but Trent has now confirmed his decision to leave on a free transfer this summer, with the right-back expected to join Real Madrid.
There have been widespread reports suggesting the Spanish side could even look to get a deal done early by paying around £850k, as they are eager to have the right-back available in time for this summer’s Club World Cup, which is set to start on June 14th.
With the 26-year-old set to move on this summer, Arne Slot’s side have now stepped up their pursuit of a replacement, and they are set to make an offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, who could be available for the relatively low fee of just £30m – £34m.
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However, Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool defender Madrid are keen on, with a report from Spain suggesting the La Liga side are now looking at snapping up Ibrahima Konate, whose contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
Madrid are not planning to make a move anytime soon, but they will look to make an approach closer to Konate’s contract expiry date, with the Reds at risk of losing yet another defender on a free transfer to the Spanish heavyweights.
Liverpool's IbrahimaKonatecelebrates after winning the Premier League
Arsenal’s William Saliba and AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen are also named as targets for Madrid, however, so Slot will be hoping they choose to pursue a different centre-back this summer, rather than waiting for the 25-year-old to become available.
"Incredible" Konate would be huge loss for Slot
Slot has done a fantastic job to secure the Premier League title in his first season, and the French defender has been one of the players integral to Liverpool’s success, making 39 appearances in all competitions, having continued his fantastic partnership with Van Dijk.
The Frenchman has been a consistent performer for the Reds, even managing to average more tackles and blocks per game than Van Dijk in the Premier League, so it will be a worry that Madrid have now expressed an interest.
However, the Spanish side have a number of options on the shortlist, and Liverpool still have time to tie the £70k-a-week defender down to a new contract, with Madrid not planning to make an approach in the near future.
A fortress is made impregnable not through the initial conquering but the success in defending the territory claimed over so many years, and that means Liverpool will need to strengthen their ranks this summer.
It’s clear at this point that Arne Slot is going to win the Premier League in his first term in the hot seat, an incredible feat given Liverpool were effectively written off following Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
But Slot will want an abiding position at the forefront of English and indeed European football, and Liverpool’s frontline has looked a little out of kilter over recent months.
Liverpool's DarwinNunezand Diogo Jota look dejected after the match
It’s clear that FSG are going to authorise one or two exciting summer bids.
Liverpool targeting new forwards
Mohamed Salah has meted out punishment on near every opponent he has faced this season, but Liverpool need more up front, with The Athletic among those to report Red interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their second goal
However, number nine isn’t the only spot on the club’s radar.
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze; further suitors are in the running but the Premier League’s top two share the lead here as well.
Eze’s strong and potent performances under Oliver Glasner suggest he has what it takes to thrive at a top-performing club like Liverpool, who could do with such a dynamic attacker.
Last summer, the Eagles anticipated a swarm of interest in their silky star but no one came forward. Now, the ball is in their court and demands worth £60m have been put in place.
Why Liverpool want to sign Eze
Eze packs a punch. The 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength since leaving Queens Park Rangers in the Championship in 2020 and joining the Selhurst Park ranks for a £20m fee.
Eberechi Eze for Crystal Palace
Hailed as a “superstar” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Eze has hit 12 goals and 12 assists apiece under Glasner’s wing, featuring 48 times in total.
This season alone, he’s been in fine fettle, playing a more creative role than in 2023/24 but doing so to a fine effect.
Eze’s broad skill set lends itself to multiple positions, and while he’s been fielded routinely in the middle of the park this year, he has ample experience out on the left flank.
With that in mind, Eze could be the perfect signing to upgrade on Luis Diaz, whose uncertain future at Anfield suggests a replacement will be required sooner rather than later.
PL 24/25 – Eberechi Eze vs Luis Diaz
Stats (* = per game)
Eze
Diaz
Matches (starts)
25 (23)
29 (23)
Goals
2
9
Assists
6
5
Shots taken*
3.4
2.0
Pass completion
82%
86%
Big chances created
9
6
Key passes*
2.0
1.6
Dribbles*
2.1
1.6
Ball recoveries*
4.6
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1 8
1.2
Duels won*
5.4
3.8
Stats via Sofascore
While Eze hasn’t chalked up the greatest numbers in front of goal this season, his underlying data suggests that he’s outstripping Diaz across almost every department.
This is important. Diaz isn’t exactly revered for his clinical touch, instead effusively praised for his tricks and slicks, skill and will toward driving play forward and leaving defenders munching dust.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
To sign a player who produces such qualities but to a higher standard, more relentless in the duel, creative in his playmaking duties, active in carrying the ball, it’s an intriguing proposition, one which might just dynamise Liverpool’s already progressive attacking outfit.
Moreover, Eze’s clinical side was on full show last season, firing 11 goals home across 24 Premier League appearances, missing just five big chances in an immense display of potency.
Indeed, the Englishman halted Jurgen Klopp’s bid for a farewell league triumph after scoring at Anfield in the 1-0 win in April, with journalist Keifer MacDonald noting that the playmaker had left Trent Alexander-Arnold “furious” due to his slow walk off the field when substituted late on.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
Whether the Three Lions star, who scored his first international goal off the bench in a 3-0 win over Latvia last week, is bid for remains to be seen, but Eze has everything that Slot’s Liverpool need, especially if a clinical centre-forward is welcomed to the fold this summer.
In a more distinguished team like Liverpool, Eze may even find himself unlocking his full goalscoring potential. As per FBref, the £100k-per-week talent actually ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken per 90.
Having been described as a “wizard” by Arsenal’s Declan Rice in the past, Palace’s main man may just be on the move this summer. Diaz has been a fantastic servant for Liverpool over the past several years and will be duly rewarded with a Premier League winners’ medal in the coming months, but the time might be right for a change.
The Colombian has only scored one goal across his past 19 fixtures in all competitions for the Reds – albeit assisting in four of his past six top-flight games – and at 28 is heading into the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal with sights set on a new bumper package or change of scenery.
There have been whispers of late that Diaz could be sold this summer to fund a freshen-up. Barcelona have a long-standing admiration and the Saudi Pro League are also there, quietly lurking.
How much of a vested interest sporting director Richard Hughes has in Eze at this stage, we don’t know. However, his efforts in south London over the past few years certainly indicate a future at one of the division’s European competitors, and Liverpool will be right there, ready to pounce if the right opportunity presents itself.
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He has proved himself a clear-headed captain, able to manage the many personalities in the country’s cricket, but he’s currently staring down the biggest test of his captaincy
Mohammad Isam29-May-2024Delhi, November 6, 2023. Sri Lanka are 135 for 4 against Bangladesh when Angelo Mathews saunters in looking at his helmet strap. Najmul Hossain Shanto notices something that will change cricketing relations between the two sides forever. He tells his captain, Shakib Al Hasan, that if he were to appeal, Mathews could be dismissed timed-out. Shakib does a double take but then goes to umpire Marais Erasmus. The rest is history.It takes courage to stand up in the hierarchical inner world of Bangladesh cricket, and it was perhaps a sign of Shanto’s burgeoning confidence and his leadership qualities that Shakib was open to taking inputs from him. Shanto improved significantly in 2023, emerging from a five-year slump in which he was barely hanging on to his place in the team. He also grew in stature in the side, first by becoming a reliable No. 3, and by the time the Delhi game came around, ascendinging to the vice-captaincy.In 2023 he scored 1650 runs at an average of 42.30, a stark jump in his stocks, compared to the 1603 runs at 22.90 he made between 2017 and the end of 2022.Related
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Impressed by his form last year, the BCB made him captain shortly after Bangladesh’s disastrous 2023 World Cup. Shanto’s comeback from the doldrums of five years had impressed some in the board, but the BCB also wanted to take the pulse of the Bangladesh dressing room by placing a new captain in charge and seeing how the senior cricketers, especially, responded.Appointing a captain outside of Bangladesh’s big five – Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim – has been problematic over the years. Mominul Haque led them to the miraculous Mt Maunganui Test win against New Zealand but within six months he was out, unable to handle the pressure. Litton Das captained Bangladesh to the ODI series win against India in 2022, but he then admitted to the BCB that he was not looking forward to leading long-term.Shanto’s stopgap captaincy in the Tests and white-ball matches against New Zealand last year even impressed their taskmaster coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. Subsequently the BCB appointed Shanto full-time captain in all formats earlier this year.Mischief managed: Shanto’s shrewd eye for detail caused Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal in the 2023 ODI World Cup•Associated PressHis leadership credentials were tested hard just a week before the T20 World Cup, when Bangladesh played USA for the first time and lost the T20I series 2-1. Shanto’s batting form had taken a dip, and coupled with the loss, the pressure is well and truly on him to turn things around, and fast, for the team.
****
We meet on a relatively mild morning in Dhaka, the day after Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe in the fourth T20I in Mirpur earlier this month. I mention to Shanto his save on the boundary in the 19th over that ultimately made the difference for his side. He couldn’t hold on to Blessing Muzarabani’s lofted shot towards wide long-off, but his boundary-line juggling saved at least four runs. Bangladesh won by five.Shanto doesn’t quite agree with me and quickly changes the topic, a subtle reinforcement of his “team first” mantra.”The team culture is better now,” he says when I ask how his team-mates have reacted to his captaincy. “I think it is important for everyone to know that when we lose a match these days, we don’t go down emotionally. In the same way, when we win these days, we don’t jump high into the sky. We try to evaluate how we can play better even after we win the game. We also try to pick the positives when we lose.”This is how we are trying to grow the team culture in the last six or seven months. I think every player tries to help each other. For example, you will always see Taskin [Ahmed] helping the other bowlers. Even someone as young as Rishad [Hossain] tries to help the senior team-mates in the field.”Shanto looks up to Shakib and MS Dhoni, two very different captains, as his leadership role models.”I like Shakib ‘s captaincy. He is very attacking, taking brave decisions. I think it has helped me as a captain so far. I have been successful emulating him in many ways.Shanto has the confidence of famously hard-to-please coach Chandika Hathurusinghe•AFP/Getty Images”I also admire MS Dhoni’s captaincy. From what I could see on TV, he is very calm in tough moments. I don’t know what goes on inside him. He makes clear decisions. They could be right or wrong, but he makes them calmly.”Shanto learned the value of having a calm head on one’s shoulders in the World Cup last year. Apart from leading the side for a couple of games due to an injury to Shakib, Shanto’s form took a hit as the team management shuffled him and everyone else around in the batting order in a madcap strategy.”I think a captain has to remain calm at these big events. People will have huge expectations, so without focusing on those things, I want to focus on motivating my team. I also have to look to contribute as a batter. It will take the team to a better position if I can execute the plans without thinking too much,” he says.He is also trying to keep his batting and captaincy separate, which is easier said than done, especially in a high-pressure environment like Bangladesh cricket.”When I am batting out there, I think like a batter. I don’t think that I have to score all the runs just because I am the captain. I feel like a captain when I am fielding: who to bowl at what time. I also have to handle a lot of things off the field. I am enjoying those responsibilities,” he says.Challenges came early in Shanto’s life. Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh captain, first saw Shanto as a 12-year-old in the nets at his cricket academy in Rajshahi.”He had a tough time travelling every day,” Mashud says. “He lived far away. He used to cycle for two or three kilometres from his home to reach the main road, where he left the cycle in a shop. From there he would take the bus to come to Rajshahi city. And then he needed an auto-rickshaw ride to get to the academy.”He never missed a day of practice, come rain or shine. He was very hardworking and talented from a very young age.”I have loved watching Shanto grow into such a good cricketer. He has made lots of sacrifices. He has given his all to come to this stage. I want to see him become a top-level performer who has a long career. I think he has it in him. He is aware of the arithmetic of scoring runs.”Shanto seems to have successfully navigated the challenges of captaining a team of big-name players•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter his time under Mashud’s tutelage, Shanto spent the last eight years working with Khaled Mahmud, another former Bangladesh captain and the coach of Abahani Limited, for whom Shanto has been playing in the Dhaka Premier League since 2016.Mahmud thinks Shanto is a once-in-a-generation cricketer in the mould of Michael Hussey.”I call him a full-time cricketer,” he says. “He doesn’t think about anything other than cricket. He always wants to improve. He is a calm, sensible person. He keeps things under control. He is captaincy material.”Shanto spends hours in the nets under the watchful eyes of Mahmud at the Shere Bangla National Stadium and listens to his advice keenly. During his lean years from 2018 to 2021, Mahmud championed him to the BCB and to Bangladesh’s team management.”He has to work much harder to express himself fully. Captaining Bangladesh is not easy. I always tell him that he has to make his own decisions,” Mahmud says. “The coach will only play a supporting role. At the end of the day, it will be your decision that counts. If you make a wrong decision, you can reconcile it with yourself. If the coach or someone else is heavily involved, you won’t be able to.”He is a confident guy, but consistency is becoming a hurdle for him. I spoke to him recently. I told him that it looks like you are in a lot of hurry in the middle. It is not written anywhere that you have to hit a six every ball in T20s.”When Shanto’s form dipped between 2018 and 2022, Mahmud was impressed by how he kept hitting the nets and sharpening his fielding.”It was such a tough time for him, the way he was trolled on social media. I used to tell him that you have to prove it in the middle. He vowed to come back strongly. He trained hard on his skills and fitness. He is a gun fielder and a fast mover on the ground. I think those tough times really made him the cricketer he is today,” says Mahmud.Shanto knows exactly when the tide turned for him – at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he struck two fifties. No one else saw it as a major achievement at the time, but for Shanto it meant the world. His training methods were finally yielding results.Shanto made 71 against Zimbabwe and 54 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup, which he sees as a turning point in his career after a years-long batting slump•ICC via Getty”I wasn’t that confident before the T20 World Cup. I worked very hard on my skills and they improved a lot. Once I realised that, it gave me confidence. I changed my thought process, which helped me do well in that tournament.”When I was playing in the World Cup, I got positive results. If it hadn’t been that way, it would have been difficult. The most important thing is to keep improving my skills. It gives a better mentality. I can believe in myself,” he says.Shanto’s opposite number during the Zimbabwe series, Sikandar Raza, a keen observer of Bangladesh cricket, says Shanto needs support to build himself into his captaincy. Interestingly the Bangladesh captain is the player Raza has bowled to the most in T20Is.”Every captain has their ideology and philosophy,” says Raza “If I have the wellbeing of everyone in my team at heart, then my captaincy will become easier. If I am only thinking about myself, captaincy is hard.”I hope Bangladesh give him time. Allow him to make mistakes. He has won some series, he has lost some series. That’s how a captain is formed. His personal performance will play a huge role in him making the right decisions.”Mashud, who led Bangladesh during some of their worst times, famously the 2003 World Cup, believes Shanto will be best served if he enjoys the upcoming challenge of the T20 World Cup.”Bangladesh captaincy, or captaincy in any team for that matter, is tough when you don’t have the right soldiers,” Mashud says. “It is not like Shanto is leading a team like India. He has to lead like he has nothing to lose but also enjoy his time in the middle. The likes of [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzid [Hasan] and Rishad can suddenly become match-winners. Shanto should look to best utilise them. He shouldn’t worry too much about what people are saying or what’s happening outside.”Ahead of his biggest assignment, Shanto reflects on his early days in Rajshahi. He believes that getting out of his neighbourhood to become a cricketer was an achievement in itself, but as he rose rapidly through the age-group ranks and into the world of international cricket, his goals got bigger.”I wouldn’t have reached where I have without Allah’s blessings. Where I grew up, nobody had any idea that cricket could be taken up as a profession. You have to love the game and then you have to do hard work with honesty. I faced a lot of noise from people around me in my early days. They didn’t trust me, or believe in me. I had to practise correctly and work hard every day. I believed in myself strongly. If a cricketer does these things, they can do even better than me,” he says.