Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time and has played in some iconic stadiums during his career. The Argentine has controlled games of football since 2004, starring for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and now Inter Miami, with fans from all across the world flocking to stadiums to watch the attacker in action.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and has played in plenty of countries across Europe, coming up against some raucous crowds during that time.
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Interestingly, Messi actually picked out one Scottish giant as “the best atmosphere in Europe”, with the Argentina icon playing at both Celtic Park and Ibrox during his time as a Barcelona player.
Games
6
Wins
5
Goals
8
Games
2
Wins
1
Goals
1
In 2007, Messi played in a 0-0 Champions League group stage draw with Rangers in his only visit to Ibrox.
He fared much better on the other side of Glasgow against Celtic, though, scoring braces in victories in 2008 and 2016, while also getting on the scoresheet in a shock 2-1 defeat in 2012.
He came up against Fraser Forster as the Hoops defeated Barcelona, with Messi later admitting he was left shocked by the goalkeeper’s display that evening.
“The performance of Fraser Forster against us was talked about for a long time. There was one game in Scotland when he was not human, it was the best goalkeeping performance I have seen. When Victor Valdes said that he was leaving Barcelona we even talked about him playing here.”
Messi decides between Celtic and Rangers for best atmosphere
Talking in 2015, Messi was asked to name the best stadium atmosphere he has ever experienced as a player. He named Celtic over Rangers, describing Parkhead as “special”, “a tough place to go” and “the best” in Europe.
Messi, who is now with Inter Miami in the United States of America, may never play at Parkhead again, but his three visits to Glasgow certainly left a mark on one of the best footballers to ever play the game.
After suffering a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge, Rangers have reportedly been handed further concern in the form of an opening bid for one of Russell Martin’s star men.
Martin "proud" despite Club Brugge defeat
There’s no denying that it’s been a disastrous start for Martin at Rangers. The former Southampton boss is yet to win in the Scottish Premiership and even watched on as his side made hard work of defeating Scottish League One side Alloa Athletic in the cup last weekend. So the arrival of Club Brugge couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Unlike Rangers as of late, the Belgian side were in a ruthless mood and raced into a shock 3-0 lead within the space of 20 disastrous first-half minutes. Ibrox began to empty and the thought of qualifying for this season’s Champions League proper became a mere fantasy for the Gers, who only managed to gain one goal back courtesy of Danilo.
Despite yet another evening to forget, however, Martin was “proud” of his side for how they responded to Club Brugge’s 20-minute thrashing. He told reporters: “That’s as hard as it will ever be for the players on the pitch. I’m proud of how they responded.
“We concede a crazy goal and don’t respond anywhere near well enough. Then we concede out of anxiety and make decisions based on desperation. The game plan went out the window. When you’re 2-0 down after seven minutes, tactics don’t come into it. It’s not about style of play it’s about the reaction and we didn’t react well.”
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Meanwhile, with one leg out of the Champions League, the Gers could reportedly be in for an almighty blow on the transfer front to only add to their recent woes.
Lille submit fresh Igamane offer
According to Rangers Review, LOSC Lille have now submitted a fresh loan offer to sign Hamza Igamane, only for that to be laughed off by the 49ers who have set their price-tag at a hefty £15m to sell the forward. Whether the French side now opt to get anywhere near that valuation before the end of the month remains to be seen.
The 49ers’ stance will come as a major relief to Martin, who simply cannot afford to lose a player of Igamane’s quality at this stage of the transfer window. The talented forward is yet to start a game under the new manager as he works his way back to full fitness after a disrupted pre-season, but Rangers will be hoping to see their star man become a much-needed difference-maker sooner rather than later.
A player who was described as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig last season, Igamane has all the tools to become the most important player of Martin’s tenure and Rangers simply must avoid his departure at all costs this summer.
Manchester United’s need for added attacking reinforcements this summer was evident after only managing to find the net on 44 occasions in the Premier League last season.
Anthony, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford have all departed the Red Devils, freeing up funds for Ruben Amorim to make the additions he wanted this summer.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are two signings who have joined the club, with the latter already opening his account after netting against Burnley last Saturday.
Whilst the duo may have cost the hierarchy around £130m, they do have the Premier League experience needed to help the club avoid a bottom-half finish – just like they did in the 2024/25 campaign.
However, other additions have been made within the final third throughout the off-season, leading to Amorim and the board taking a gamble on one young European talisman.
Benjamin Sesko’s move to join United this summer
A new striker was a huge priority for United this summer, with Benjamin Sesko the man chosen to lead the line for the Red Devils in 2025/26 and beyond.
The hierarchy forked out a deal totalling £73.7m, including add-ons – a figure that is a huge gamble on a player who’s only featured in Europe’s top-five leagues for two seasons.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
The Slovenian has only made one start for United to date – coming in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town – but has been named as a substitute in all three league outings.
As a result of his limited action, the 22-year-old is yet to open his account for the club, but judgement will need to be held on his addition, given his lack of action in recent weeks.
Hopefully, Sesko will get the chance to showcase his talents after the current international break, but he could’ve been aided at the club had the hierarchy kept hold of one talent.
The former United star who would’ve got Sesko firing
As previously mentioned, Cunha and Mbeumo have also been added to the United attacking department – injecting needed goals and assists to the club’s frontline.
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha
The pair combined for 48 combined goal contributions throughout 2024/25, with such a record higher than the Red Devils squad managed as a whole last season.
If they can replicate such numbers, they will make themselves fan-favourites, whilst also providing Sesko with the opportunities he will need to thrive within the final third.
Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system relies upon two attacking midfielders – the positions Cunha and Mbeumo have featured in – but also two wing-backs, who are tasked with having an impact in forward areas.
Patrick Dorgu currently occupies the role down the left-hand side, but former United star Alvaro Carreras is a player whom the hierarchy may regret selling too prematurely.
Alvaro Carreras for Benfica.
The 22-year-old spent four years at Old Trafford – but failed to make a single senior appearance – being sent on loan spells at the likes of Preston, Granada and Benfica.
It was the Spaniard’s spell at the latter that catapulted him to stardom, with the Portuguese outfit triggering the £5m option in his contract at the end of his loan spell in 2023/24.
His numbers from last season are nothing short of mind-boggling, registering eight combined goals and assists across all competitions – numbers which could’ve handed Sesko the ammunition he’ll need for success in Manchester.
Carreras, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, also created 1.2 chances per 90 last campaign – completing 23% of the crosses attempted, with the latter aiding the Slovenian’s aerial abilities had the hierarchy kept hold of him.
Games played
52
Goals & assists
8
Chances created
1.2
Cross accuracy
23%
Pass accuracy
83%
Dribble success
53%
Tackles won
61%
Recoveries made
5.5
However, despite only joining Benfica a year ago, he secured another transfer in the recent window, this time moving to LaLiga giants Real Madrid in a reported £43m transfer.
Such a transfer has just compounded the Red Devils’ misery over recent years, further highlighting how many mistakes they’ve made in the transfer market, whether that be incomings or outgoings.
FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Benfica's Alvaro FernandezCarreras
The prospect of the Spaniard linking up with Sesko in forward areas is something the supporters would’ve loved to see under Amorim – but unfortunately, it’ll always be a case of what could’ve been with their loss, now Madrid’s gain.
Man Utd may regret selling perfect Mainoo replacement for just £500k
Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing a young star to depart Old Trafford.
Liverpool have done it. When all is said and done at the end of the transfer window, which closes at 7pm this evening, Arne Slot’s side will have welcomed Alexander Isak to their ranks.
Isak, 25, has fought to leave Newcastle United and sign for the Premier League champions for many weeks, and after weeks of interminable waiting, now has his wish. Isak will sign for Liverpool.
27 goals for Eddie Howe’s Magpies last season, the Sweden striker is an unstoppable force, so many ways to hurt his opponents. However, FSG don’t seem content with merely the record-breaking man, and plan for more before the window slams shut.
Liverpool planning D-day business
When Marc Guehi scored a looping strike at Villa Park on Sunday evening, he celebrated with the passion and weight of a player set to jump ship.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi
Liverpool want the centre-back, but they are also ready to move for a new winger to complement Isak, with transfer insider Matt Thielen revealing Richard Hughes has received an offer from AC Milan for Liverpool to sign Rafael Leao as a part of the deal that could see Joe Gomez sign for the Italians.
Valued at £86m and also targeted by Arsenal this summer, the Portuguese winger, 26, would truly be the icing on the cake for the Redmen, adding with Isak quality of the highest class to Slot’s frontline.
What Rafael Leao would bring to Liverpool
Leao has been remarked to be “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and while Milan struggled throughout the 2024/25 campaign, he stood proud as a shining light, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists across the campaign, 50 matches all told.
AC Milan's RafaelLeaobefore the match
A consistently menacing forward season upon season, Leao is electric-paced and utterly terrifying when on the ball and hurtling down the flank. FBref data records that he ranks among the top 4% of wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.
His world-class credentials and staggering price tag suggest that Liverpool could make an instant repeat of the deal that saw them land Isak by getting it done on D-day.
25/26
1
1
0
24/25
50
12
13
23/24
47
15
14
22/23
48
16
15
21/22
42
14
12
20/21
40
7
6
19/20
33
6
2
In fact, Leao has actually been described by Milan coach Stefano Pioli as looking like “the early Thierry Henry”, and that’s something that has been attributed to Isak over the past several years too, having been likened to the Arsenal and Les Bleus legend last season, bringing such flair and destructive quality to the final third.
While Leao has yet to unearth and maintain truly jaw-dropping levels in front of goal, he has the talent, all right, and might just reach that giddy level of his game with a move to Merseyside.
Rangy and robust, he’s the real deal and would provide Liverpool with the perfect contrasting skill set to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.
Similar to Isak in some ways, he would work wonders alongside the Scandinavian star, supplying and interchanging in seamless synergy.
In Isak, Liverpool have signed one of the finest centre-forwards in the business, but if they manage to wrap up a move for Leao too, there’s surely going to be no stopping the Anfield side, chock-full with world-class quality.
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Liverpool dug deep to defeat title rivals Arsenal to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has claimed one player is “not good enough” and part of a “massive problem” after the 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Man Utd fall to 14th after Manchester derby defeat
It was always going to be a difficult task for Man United to get something from Sunday’s game, but the manner of the defeat is likely to be particularly concerning, with Ruben Amorim’s side suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester City.
Speaking after the game, Paul Scholes suggested a simple lack of quality on United’s behalf was the difference between the two sides, with the club legend particularly critical of the midfield.
Scholes said: “I don’t think the quality is there. “Whatever two out of the four or five they have got in [midfield] – Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], [Kobbie] Mainoo – whatever combination he seems to try doesn’t seem to work.
“That’s a big issue. I thought all summer the absolute priority was a centre midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game.”
With the Red Devils falling to 14th after the heavy defeat, Neville was also left unimpressed, and the former right-back singled out a midfielder for criticism on his podcast after the match (via GiveMeSport).
The Sky Sports pundit said: “The midfield is a massive problem, and we’ve known that. United fans know that. Ugarte And Fernandes today, I think you mentioned it early, about an hour before the game, that Ugarte and Fernandes played in this fixture last year from start to finish, and United won the game, but Ugarte is not good enough.”
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ByAngus Sinclair Sep 15, 2025 Ugarte fails to impress once again
Unfortunately for Amorim, Ugarte seems to be yet another player who has failed to adapt to life at Man United, despite exhibiting very promising signs before making the move to Old Trafford.
In fairness, the Uruguayan wasn’t one of the worst performers for Amorim’s side on Sunday, receiving a SofaScore match rating of 6.8, but he struggled to have any real impact on the match, being dribbled past on one occasion and losing possession eight times.
Neville is not the only person to have called out the £120k-a-week midfielder this season either, with football writer Muhammad Butt very critical of the 24-year-old’s performance in the embarrassing EFL Cup defeat at the hands of Grimsby Town.
As such, it is little wonder Man United are looking to strengthen their midfield in January, with Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba among the targets.
Tottenham Hotspur have reshaped their squad this summer, and with Thomas Frank now at the helm, it feels like the Londoners can challenge toward the top end of the Premier League once again.
It’s been a fruitful start for the Danish coach, taken from Brentford after the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou. Not without blots on the copybook, the Lilywhites have marched steadily through the early stages of the campaign, third in the league with ten points from five fixtures and having beaten Villarreal in their opening match back in the Champions League.
The new recruits are blending in nicely, but not all are firing on all cylinders. Indeed, despite having spent the latter half of the 2024/25 term on loan at the club, Mathys Tel continues to leave plenty to be desired.
Mathys Tel's struggles at Spurs
It was not Frank’s decision to activate a £30m permanent option to reel Tel over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for good, but Daniel Levy’s. Now, Levy has stepped down, and the original bid, led by Ange, has left Tel somewhat adrift, having lacked quality on the field.
Aged 20, it’s clear that confidence is a factor, having featured five times across all competitions, yet to score or assist, following an indifferent start to life in London last season, posting three goals and two assists across his five months on board.
His only starting berth in the Premier League so far came during the 3-0 romp over West Ham United, and Tel was handed a 5/10 match rating by football.london, who acknowledged his hard work but drew attention to the luckless performance at number nine.
No one can doubt the France U21 forward’s commitment, and having been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as being the “long-term Heung-min Son replacement”.
That’s all well and good, but Spurs actually have another rising winger in Mikey Moore, and there may not be room for both in Frank’s system.
Mikey Moore's Spurs future
Moore left Tottenham this summer, relocating to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on a one-year loan deal.
Hailed as a “superstar” in the making by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore only turned 18 in August but has already featured 21 times for Tottenham’s senior side, bypassing the road into U21 territory after an incredible start to life with the U18s.
Tottenham U18
24
19 (13)
Tottenham
21
1 (2)
Rangers
7
0 (1)
Tottenham U21
5
2 (2)
Tottenham U19
5
0 (0)
His development was deemed to be best served away from the Premier League, gaining invaluable experience in a prominent role at Rangers.
Moore has endured a somewhat difficult start to his time in Scotland, but this is hardly his fault. Most of the blame can be apportioned to Russell Martin and the dysfunctional first-team system at Rangers, who have started the season wretchedly.
But the boy’s talent cannot be disputed, having gone from strength to strength among the Tottenham seniors last season before his 18th birthday.
Given that Moore tends to occupy that left-sided flank, he and Tel might come to blows in a tussle for the ascendancy down the line, and the teenager’s pace and power and potency will soon be translated to the senior stage, especially if Rangers manage to click into gear in the coming months.
Given that Moore is two years Tel’s junior and already looking every bit the same calibre of player, albeit raw and unpolished, it might just be that both prospects cannot cohabit in Frank’s set-up, not in the long run.
If push comes to shove, Moore might just emerge on top.
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While Aston Villa finally got their Premier League season off the ground on Sunday with a much-needed win, Newcastle United slipped to another defeat in the tough division at the hands of Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners took over the never-say-die role from Arne Slot’s Liverpool when travelling to Tyneside, with the determined North Londoners grabbing two late goals in the dying stages to leave the hosts empty-handed in a 2-1 defeat.
This all-too-familiar sting of a loss leaves Eddie Howe’s hosts with only a concerning three points next to their name from their opening six league clashes, with Howe now potentially prepared to drop Dan Burn for games to come after his poor individual showing.
Burn's poor performance vs Arsenal
Straight off the bat, it wasn’t a completely shambolic display at the back overall from the Toon, with both Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman managing to win a commanding 12 duels between them to keep opposition attackers such as Viktor Gyokeres at bay.
But, for Burn, it was a rough day at the office, not helped by Howe’s ultimately foolish decision to draft the 6-foot-7 defender out to a position on the left flank, with Thiaw and Botman positioned in the heart of the defence.
Amazingly, despite coming in at that lofty height, Burn would still manage to be beaten in the air by Gabriel for Arsenal’s dramatic winner.
But, it was more his shoddy performance as a full-back that left a lot to be desired, with the likes of Bukayo Saka on the left channel not intimidated one bit by Burn, who looked shaky throughout coming up against the tricky number seven.
Indeed, Burn would be dribbled past an alarming three times when trying to keep close to his marker, with the 33-year-old also giving up possession a costly 26 times to boost Arsenal’s confidence in attack late on.
Having been a regular starter week in week out for Howe this season in the Premier League – with all six of Newcastle’s games this campaign seeing Burn start – it will be intriguing to see if Burn makes the cut for the upcoming Champions League test away at Royal Saint-Gilloise.
He might not be the only Magpies stalwart in danger of losing his grip on a starting position, however, with this other underperformer now in danger of being ditched for Wednesday’s trip to the Belgian Pro League frontrunners.
Not just Burn: Newcastle underperformed could be ditched
Howe isn’t afraid to exclude notable presences for European nights, with Nick Woltemade – who scored Newcastle’s only effort against the Gunners – missing from the start last time out in the esteemed competition against Barcelona.
Joelinton might well fall victim to his manager’s wrath, too, after not looking at his dominant best versus the Gunners, with his overall numbers from the tight clash making for grim reading, notably amassing fewer touches than Pope.
Minutes played
89
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
Touches
40
Accurate passes
21/31 (68%)
Possession lost
13x
Total duels won
3/15
Much like Burn was uncharacteristically weak when asserting himself in challenges defensively, Joelinton also struggled to impose himself on the contest, coming up against the likes of Mikel Merino and Declan Rice centrally, with only 23% of his duels being won, despite averaging a 44% success rate across the season.
Moreover, the fiery Brazilian would also find it hard to be an attacking threat with just one effort registered on David Raya’s goal.
With Howe also aware of how difficult a challenge Joelinton found the showdown with Barcelona last month – with the South American lasting just 62 minutes against the La Liga giants after amassing a weak 27 touches – it might well be time for the Toon boss to rethink his midfield positions and go with something fresh for the clash in Belgium.
Handed a low 5/10 rating post-match by the Shields Gazette’s Dominic Scurr, who pinpointed Joelinton’s mistiming of challenges as a glaring weakness of his game against Arsenal, alternative faces such as Joe Willock or Lewis Miley could soon be set for a start, as Howe tries to find the starting XI that sees wins get on the board.
With how much this dramatic loss would have also taken out of Newcastle, it could be for the best to give Joelinton a breather mid-week in a bid to restore him to his usual self down the line.
As well as Miley: Howe must drop "disappointing" 4/10 Newcastle star
Newcastle face a tough test in the Premier League against Mikel Arteta’s title chasers.
West Ham are in the market for a new striker ahead of January, and signing one has been made all the more important as injury-prone centre-forward, Niclas Füllkrug, continues to prove he cannot be relied upon to lead Nuno Espírito Santo’s line.
West Ham turn to the two Callums after Fullkrug injury blow
Fullkrug, as confirmed by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, has suffered a torn muscle bundle in his thigh and reports suggest the 32-year-old will be absent for ‘several weeks’ as a result.
This latest knock, coming after Fullkrug missed 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season, highlights why the ex-Borussia Dortmund star isn’t the ideal man to spearhead Nuno’s side away from the relegation zone long-term.
Brentford (home)
October 20
Leeds United (away)
October 24
Newcastle United (home)
November 2
Burnley (home)
November 8
With Fullkrug out, the spotlight falls on just two strikers — Callum Marshall and Callum Wilson.
WestHamUnited manager GrahamPotter and Callum Wilson celebrate after the match
Marshall, a promising young forward, offers energy and potential but lacks Premier League experience.
While he has shown glimpses of talent during his limited appearances and time on loan at Huddersfield last season, relying heavily on a developing player to lead the line in such a competitive league is a major gamble — even if supporters are keen to see the Northern Irishman get minutes.
The pressure to perform week in, week out at this level could expose Marshall’s inexperience, and West Ham’s attacking threat might suffer as a result.
Wilson, on the other hand, brings Premier League pedigree, but his injury history has been a persistent concern.
His recurring fitness issues have severely limited the centre-forward’s availability in recent seasons, making it difficult for Nuno to count on him as a dependable option. Should the 33-year-old struggle to stay fit, West Ham’s striking options become even thinner — placing further strain on the team’s goal-scoring capabilities.
Jarrod Bowen can play as a striker when required, and this will likely be considered by Nuno before West Ham take on Brentford in his first home game as manager.
Nevertheless, the need for a new number nine is crystal clear, but West Ham have already rejected the chance to sign Emmanuel Dennis on a free transfer.
West Ham make Ivan Toney decision after being offered ideal striker
In the build up to January, reports have suggested that West Ham could turn to ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney as a temporary solution.
The Hammers, amid claims they’ve considered a loan deal for the Al-Ahli striker, who earns £426,000-per-week in the Middle East, have apparently made a decision on bringing the 29-year-old back to England.
According to insider Claret & Hugh, Toney is not the right profile they’re looking for, as West Ham want someone with more pace and directness up top.
Expanding further, the source also claims that West Ham have been offered a mystery alternative to Toney who “fits the bill”.
We can only speculate as to who this striker could be, and there is a potential chance it could be Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.
The Serbian, who’s scored at least 14 goals per season since his breakthrough campaign in 21/22, is out of contract in 2026 and reports suggest his agents are reaching out to Premier League teams in search of a new club.
That being said, Vlahovic is also on mammoth wages, so he’d have to take a seismic pay cut to join West Ham.
Tottenham Hotspur have now joined the race for a “fantastic” midfielder, as they believe he would be a perfect fit for the Premier League.
Spurs looking to sign new midfielder amid Bissouma uncertainty
Yves Bissouma was widely expected to leave Tottenham during the summer transfer window, given the central midfielder’s well-documented fall-out with Thomas Frank, but the Malian ultimately remained at N17 following an injury blow.
Since then, Bissouma has managed to return to action, but he was recently stretchered off after being on the receiving end of a heavy challenge during Mali’s 4-1 victory over Madagascar in World Cup qualifying.
It remains to be seen whether the north Londoners are able to get the midfielder off the books in the January transfer window, but it doesn’t seem like he stands much chance of getting back in the side, given the fantastic start Joao Palhinha has made.
With an average SofaScore match rating of 7.21 in the Premier League, Palhinha is ranked as Spurs’ joint-second best-performing player so far this season, which suggests bringing in a new defensive midfielder will not be necessary anytime soon.
However, Tottenham have now joined the race for a central midfielder, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they have taken an interest in FC Porto’s Victor Froholdt, who is also being targeted by Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Atletico Madrid.
The Lilywhites believe Froholdt’s energy and physical attributes mean he is perfect for the Premier League, and with Porto open to offers, a move could be possible in 2026, although any deal is likely to be on the expensive side.
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The Lilywhites are keen to add more firepower to their ranks.
BySean Markus Clifford Oct 11, 2025
The Portuguese club are looking to receive a fee of around €50m – €60m (£43m – £52m), with the race for the midfielder’s signature heating up following several scouting missions.
"Fantastic" Froholdt impressing for club and country
The Danish maestro, who is represented by the same agent as Frank, only arrived at FC Porto in the summer, joining from FC Copenhagen, but scout Jacek Kulig has been left very impressed by the way he has adjusted to life in the Liga Portugal.
Not only has the 19-year-old caught the eye for Porto, but he has also impressed for Denmark in the current international break, chipping in with one goal and two assists across games against Belarus and Greece.
It is still very early days for Froholdt, with the youngster yet to prove himself in a major European league, but if he continues to develop at his current rate, Tottenham should undoubtedly consider a move in 2026.
Arne Slot saw much-changed Liverpool fell to a sixth loss in seven matches as Ismaila Sarr’s clinical brace helped Crystal Palace reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Oliver Glasner’s Eagles got the better of the Reds for the third time this season as they followed their Community Shield shoot-out triumph and last month’s Premier League victory at Selhurst Park with an Anfield win.
Sarr’s first-half brace and a late Yeremy Pino strike secured FA Cup holders Palace a 3-0 fourth round victory as increasingly scrutinised Liverpool boss Slot’s bold decision to make 10 changes backfired in front of a full house.
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He’s impressed the Reds
ByTom Cunningham Oct 29, 2025
Slot’s men had started Wednesday’s tie brightly, only for familiar foe Sarr to score twice at the end of the opening period to make it seven goals in nine matches against Liverpool.
Palace continued to cruise through the second half. The tie was over by the time teenage Reds substitute Amara Nallo was sent off in the 79th minute, with Pino adding extra gloss late on.
Defenders & goalkeeper
Freddie Woodman – 5
Even Freddie Woodman will be surprised to have received the call from Liverpool in the summer, but here he is and there he was in the starting line-up against Crystal Palace. To his credit, the Englishman was fairly flawless and could do nothing to prevent Sarr’s first-half brace or Pino’s late effort.
Calvin Ramsay – 6
Calvin Ramsay (yes, Calvin Ramsay) was perhaps the most surprising name on the teamsheet in a much-changed Liverpool side. The Reds have had their right-back problems as of late, so why not turn to the forgotten man?
Finally back at Anfield following disappointing loan spells and injury troubles, the Scotsman was one of the brightest sparks for the home side, particularly in the first half. He also gets bonus points for a stunning crossfield pass that Liverpool fans became used to down the right-hand side for several years. Welcome back, Calvin.
Joe Gomez – 3
It was a difficult evening for Joe Gomez, whose loose touch handed Sarr his first before his poor positioning allowed the Palace man a second in the space of four first-half minutes.
It was a frustrating watch for those at Anfield, who saw Gomez get off to a solid, leading start before mistakes crept into his game. Given the recent struggles of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, the last thing Liverpool needed was a poor performance from their other senior centre-back.
Andy Robertson – 4
In an unfamiliar centre-back role, it became clear that Andy Robertson was not in his favoured position from early on. Whilst he deserves credit for slotting in under the circumstances, there’s no denying that he struggled alongside Gomez. In many ways, it was fitting that the Reds played a fullback at centre-back against Marc Guehi as their regret became exposed.
That said, Robertson will be wondering what he has to do to take back his left-back spot as Liverpool’s disastrous defensive form continues.
Milos Kerkez – 4
Speaking of Liverpool left-backs, it was another frustrating evening for Milos Kerkez. He has continued to look rushed in possession and rash when defending. Although he wasn’t tested as much as previous weeks, the Hungary international was wasteful at times and that far from helped the blunt nature of Liverpool’s frontline.
Midfielders
Wataru Endo – 4
When Wataru Endo entered the Anfield turf last season, it often signalled game over for any opposition side. The Japanese international simply closed up for the evening and secured three points time and time again. This season, however, he has struggled to make the same impact.
Suddenly, there’s no hiding his weakness in possession which was shielded by work rate and robustness in the last campaign. Once again, he was loose against Palace and far from helped his side’s attempts to take control.
Trey Nyoni – 4
It was a night of learning for Trey Nyoni. Such a highly-rated player at Liverpool, the young midfielder felt the tempo of Premier League opposition in full and often found his passes misplaced.
Those at Anfield witness his unique composure in the middle of the park in pre-season, but he found out the hard way that time isn’t always a given at senior level.
Alas, it must be said that the senior members of the squad could have done a fair bit more to help the 18-year-old on a night to forget.
Alexis Mac Allister – 3
Alexis Mac Allister was undoubtedly one of Liverpool’s most important players last season’s title win. Alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, he formed an excellent midfield. Like much of Slot’s side as of late, however, he’s lost his way in the current campaign.
Still recovering from a knee injury in the summer, the Argentine once again looked a shadow of his best self against Crystal Palace. His form, or lack of it, hands Slot the worrying dilemma of just how to fix his current problems in the middle of the park.
Forwards
Kieran Morrison – 5
Thrust into the side at 18 years old, Kieran Morrison started well before gradually beginning to struggle against senior opposition. It’s not the first-team debut that he would have been dreaming of, but it is a moment in his career that he should cherish at Anfield nonetheless.
Had he at least enjoyed better service, things may have been different.
Rio Ngumoha – 6
Liverpool’s biggest bright spark, Rio Ngumoha very nearly curled a sensational effort into the top right in the first-half and certainly handed the likes of Jaydee Canvot a tough start to the evening. At 17 years old, his ability to take players on remains extraordinary and may just earn him a fair few more chances in the coming months.
Liverpool star Rio Ngumoha
Whilst Liverpool’s attack is full of big-money signings, Ngumoha’s glimpses of quality have sparked questions about his own game time despite his tender age,
Federico Chiesa – 6
It looked for a moment as though Federico Chiesa would hand Liverpool the lead in the early stages, only for his effort to end high and wide. That was that for the Italian’s chances, in truth, who struggled despite once again putting in the hard yards.
Even in defeat, his work rate should have put Slot on notice. As the Reds’ attack continues to struggle to click, Chiesa may yet provide a solution alongside the rest of his senior teammates.