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Aston Villa battled hard in Amsterdam last night to secure a 0-0 draw that very much keeps their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League alive.

Unai Emery made a few changes to his starting XI, which included young midfielder Tim Iroegbunam being unleashed alongside Douglas Luiz in a 4-4-2 system.

Ezri Konsa will miss the second leg after being dismissed towards the end of the game, but a stalemate is not a bad result considering they were down to ten men.

Several players failed to deliver a performance that merited their selection in the starting XI, with Moussa Diaby a notable example.

Moussa Diaby’s game in numbers vs Ajax

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has struggled for game time in recent weeks under Emery, often used as a substitute, but against Ajax, he was given his first start since the 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United back in January.

Following a positive cameo against Luton Town last weekend – providing the assist for Lucas Digne’s winner – it looked the ideal chance for the 24-year-old whiz to showcase his talents from the first whistle.

Unfortunately, his performance was way below par. Indeed, not only did the winger take just 21 touches during his time on the field, but Diaby completed only 7 of his 12 attempted passes (58%), indicating that he was not as involved as Emery would have liked.

The Frenchman did have a shot on target and made one key pass, yet he won just one ground duel and lost possession ten times in what was a poor display overall.

This was meant to be his opportunity to shine, but it looks as though Emery will have replace the liability for this weekend's clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Leon Bailey could replace Moussa Diaby

The obvious replacement on the right side of the midfield would be Leon Bailey, as the Jamaican international has been in stunning form this season.

Not only has he found the back of the net on 11 occasions, but the winger has registered 11 assists too, and he is enjoying his most profitable season in the Midlands since joining in 2021.

Bailey came off the bench to replace Morgan Rogers against Ajax and looked lively during his 27-minute cameo appearance, having two shots blocked, delivering one accurate cross, winning two of his four total duels, and making an interception.

Villa have won their previous three Premier League matches and the chance to secure three points against a Spurs side who are also challenging for the final Champions League spot could see Emery mix things up on Sunday.

The Midlands side secured a 2-1 win when the teams last met back in November and another performance like that would see them extend their advantage to eight points with just ten games remaining.

Due to the sharp turnaround between matches, the Spaniard should make a change or two to his side, with Diaby being the player most in danger of being dropped.

Bailey is arguably a better alternative, especially with his form this season, and he could lead the side to another victory over Spurs this weekend, which is why Emery must brutally ditch the former Bundesliga star for this clash.

The January transfer window slammed shut and Liverpool had refrained from lunging forward with any bids to secure any signings for Jurgen Klopp's side.

There were certainly calls for reinforcements, with central defence an area of concern last summer, but nothing doing. Joel Matip's season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in December exacerbated the situation but the emergence of Jarell Quansah has provided the title-chasing Reds with support.

Moreover, there have been rumours for many months now surrounding the long-term solution at holding midfield but despite missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea in August, the surprise £16m signing of Wataru Endo looks to be one of Klopp's shrewdest.

Still, first-placed in the Premier League, virtually through to the Europa League quarter-finals, through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and already having bagged the Carabao Cup trophy, Liverpool aren't doing too badly, with even the recent injury struggles failing to stifle the seemingly indomitable side.

While Endo was an unanticipated – if brilliant – acquisition, the same can't be said for Liverpool's early-summer transfer activity, with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai proving to be colossal upgrades on previous withered veterans such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Fabinho.

FSG have now held new talks with off-field target over Liverpool move

FSG have made their move…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 8, 2024

The latter, Szoboszlai, has struggled with injuries of late but don't let this detract from the Hungary international's sublime skills in the centre of the park.

The fee Liverpool paid for Dominik Szoboszlai

The Hungary international has effectively assumed Jordan Henderson's role on, principally, the right-sided point of the central midfield triangle, and while Liverpool had to fork out £60m to meet his release clause with RB Leipzig, it's hard to argue that he's not been worth the venture.

Hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller while still plying his trade in the German Bundesliga, Szoboszlai, who is 23 years old, arrived on Merseyside with successive DFB Pokal trophies in the bag and 42 goal contributions across two campaigns, very much the exciting addition.

While he has not produced the same kind of prolific numbers for Liverpool, Klopp has fashioned the talented gem into more of a robust centre-midfielder than he was in Germany, where he was often found in and around the final third.

The £60m purchase was certainly not cheap and actually stands as one of Liverpool's most expensive buys of all time, but he's truly been immense and has contributed to a resurgence from the 2022/23 campaign, a year when Liverpool's midfield malfunctioned and fell heavily by the wayside.

Dominik Szoboszlai's season in numbers

So far, Szoboszlai has chalked up 30 appearances for the Reds, scoring six goals and providing four assists for his teammates, though this does not paint the full picture.

As per Sofascore, he has been one of Liverpool's standout performers in the Premier League, scoring three goals and supplying two assists across 22 matches, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.7 key passes, 1.3 tackles, and 6.0 ball recoveries per game.

Dubbed the "Hungarian artist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his playmaking prowess, Szoboszlai has truly been a masterful presence and while he's not perfect, the energy and enthusiasm that he pumps into his performances are a far cry from the travails on show last year.

Moreover, as per FBref, the £120k-per-week gem ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for blocks per 90.

His displays have been filled with quality and there is a real sense that Klopp is not wielding the final product; while market valuation doesn't tell the full story, the excellent wizard's skyrocketing market value does underline his brilliance at the heart of the Anfield side.

Dominik Szoboszlai's market value in 2024

£60m is no small sum but, in fairness, is often the ballpark figure for many of the modern game's more expensive – though not remarkably so – deals.

It's a larger figure that Liverpool would have liked to have parted with but when the perfect player to star at the nucleus of the rebuild presents himself, incisiveness is required, and Klopp and technical director at the time Jorg Schmadtke pounced.

And, after an emphatic introduction to life on Merseyside, Szoboszlai has enjoyed quite the rise in valuation already, with CIES Football Observatory's valuation model listing the 6 foot 1 dynamo at £85m, which marks a stunning £25m rise – or, in other terms, a 42% increase.

To emphasise the merit of this, the Reds star has already eclipsed Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, who is valued at £68m by CIES Football Observatory, which shows that FSG hit the jackpot on the Leipzig whiz.

Fernandes signed for the Red Devils from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47m back in January 2020, and while the Portugal international has been embroiled in a tumultuous Old Trafford career, he is indisputably one of Europe's high-class playmakers.

Having amassed 221 displays for Manchester United, the £240k-per-week phenomenon boasts an excellent return of 71 goals and 63 assists and has been heralded as a "magician" by Statman Dave for his labours.

Indeed, the 29-year-old ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 13% for tackles and the top 14% for interceptions per 90.

Perhaps the respective players are not quite cut from the same cloth, but they are definitely both dynamic and tenacious in their play, creative and influential in attacking sequences but also eager to contribute to the defensive phases of play.

While Fernandes has been the cream of the crop on English soil for some time – barring his Greater Manchester neighbour Kevin De Bruyne – the younger Szoboszlai is proving to be effective for a Liverpool side already displacing Manchester United as Carabao Cup champions this season, and still on the prowl for success across every available front.

Hopefully, the Hungarian maestro will continue to contribute to Liverpool's strong form on the pitch and help to secure the first Premier League title of his impressive career so far.

The 21-year-old's talent is beyond dispute, but there have long been rumours that his attitude annoys team-mates

Euro 2024 didn't really tell us anything about Jude Bellingham that we didn't already know. The kid is world-class – but he's also quite cocky. These twin traits were perfectly illustrated by the last-gasp overhead kick he scored against Slovakia that kept England in the tournament – and the immediately iconic/infamous "Who else?" celebration that followed.

Before the tournament began, Bellingham's boastfulness wasn't considered a bad thing. He's got "an arrogance" about him, England legend Alan Shearer said on June 13, but "in a good way". The narrative has now changed, though, with Bellingham going from superstar to scapegoat in the space of a month.

Within 24 hours of England's 2-1 final loss to Spain, several media outlets were briefed that Bellingham's demeanour – on and off the field – had annoyed some of his team-mates in Germany. According to the reports, Bellingham had a bit of a 'Messiah complex'. He'd apparently bought into the message conveyed in his pre-tournament adidas advertisement that he was some sort of saviour of English football, the generational talent sent to deliver a long-suffering set of supporters from 58 years of hurt. Some of his team-mates allegedly felt that such an individualistic idea was completely at odds with the team mentality Gareth Southgate had cultivated during his time in charge of the Three Lions.

Is there a risk, then, of Bellingham believing his own hype and becoming too big for his boots? Or are we looking at another classic case of the notoriously fickle English press knocking another prodigy off the very same pedestal that they had put him on (see Wayne Rooney and David Beckham for more!)?

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  Something about Jude

  Bellingham has never hidden the fact that he doesn't "lack confidence" – which is a 'humble brag', a polite way of saying that he has the utmost faith in his own ability. That's no bad thing for a footballer, of course. In fact, it's absolutely essential for anyone with designs on becoming the best player in the world – just look at Cristiano Ronaldo, for example. As Shearer told , "To be a top player, you need to have that something about you, and Jude has got that."

  He's also in possession of admirable drive and a ferocious work ethic. He is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success.

  Bellingham felt "drained physically" after the 2022 World Cup quarter-final loss to France, which frustrated him enormously given England had been the better side for the majority of the game, and admitted he needed "a nice, long rest". And yet two weeks later he couldn't wait to get back training, Bellingham more determined than ever before to win a major trophy with his country.

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  'Bellingham has to be careful'

  Then, there's the fact that Bellingham is often his own harshest critic. After the France loss in Qatar, he chastised himself for not doing more to prevent England's elimination.

  "There was an instance in a later training session where I scored with a shot and I thought, 'That was just like the one that I had in the quarter-final.' If I put the ball more to the left, would we have gone through?" he told FIFA.

  "I was involved in second penalty (crucially missed by Harry Kane), when I put the pass behind to Mason [Mount]. I always think, 'What if I'd just put it on Mason's toe and he went and scored?' There would have been no second penalty."

  Clearly, this relentless pursuit of perfection partly explains why he's come so far, and in such a short space of time. He is constantly striving to improve. It's not in the least bit surprising, then, that a player that holds himself to such high standards expects others to do likewise. In that sense, he's a little like Roy Keane in that he is incessantly demanding more from his team-mates. However, even the Irishman was critical of the Slovakia celebration.

  "If you scored a big goal, to me that wouldn't even cross your mind. You'd be with your team-mates," Keane argued on 'Stick To Football: The Overlap Special'. "Scoring goals is the best part of football, but I just can't imagine that you'd have something in your head to say, 'Who else?' That's the bit where I'd be going, 'Hold on a second'. It's a bit cocky and arrogant.

  "Bellingham has to be careful. You're always walking a fine line; you don't want it to seem like it's all about you." Particularly at such a young age.

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  Taking the credit but never the blame

  Keane – who, like Bellingham, was also prone to becoming incredibly frustrated by team-mates – was 26 before he took command of the Manchester United dressing room, and the players welcomed his appointment as captain because he had earned both their respect and that level of authority. He had spent his early years at Old Trafford learning what it took to be leader from the likes of Bryan Robson.

  Bellingham, by contrast, was made part of the England squad's leadership group before he'd even turned 21 – despite being previously accused of suffering from delusions of grandeur ever since he broke into the Borussia Dortmund team as a teenager.

  There was a suspicion at Signal Iduna Park that he was very quick to take the credit for victories, but utterly unwilling to accept any of the blame for defeats. Some colleagues were said to be so put out by being berated by Bellingham for misplaced passes during games that Emre Can had to take his fellow midfielder aside and tell him that the very public displays of disapproval were simply not acceptable.

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  'Don't do something stupid'

  We saw similar shows of dissatisfaction in Germany this summer, as England stumbled their way through to the final, with Bellingham quite visibly annoyed at times by the perceived failings of some of his team-mates.

  "He was turning round to look at others and throwing his arms up," ex-England captain Wayne Rooney wrote in after the group game against Slovenia. "Body language like that sends a message to the fans, to his team-mates, to the manager.

  "I've been in those shoes. I know it's hard. He reminds me of myself in tournaments where you want so desperately to do well and know you and the team could be playing better, and it gets to you. But don’t do something stupid, Jude."

  Jude did something special instead, of course, with his spectacular strike against Slovakia in the last 16 saving England from an embarrassingly early exit. He also contributed an assist for Cole Palmer in the final, which only emphasised that this is an immense talent capable of producing big moments in big games.

  However, his overall performance in Berlin, coupled with his all-too-obvious on-field frustration, also hammered home the fact that Bellingham still has much to learn. He lashed out at Southgate during the final – and a water cooler after it. Then came the very deliberately timed leaks to the press regarding dressing-room discontent with Bellingham's behaviour.

The new U.S. coach immediately makes an impact, which suddenly puts this team in the conversation for gold

If you had any doubts about Emma Hayes, go ahead and admit right now that you were wrong. If you were worried about the wait, the fit or the style, then you haven't been paying attention.

We're just 180 minutes into these Olympic games, but it's already abundantly clear that Hayes has put this USWNT back on the precipice of the world's elite.

What a difference a coach can make, huh?

The Hayes Era is still very, very new, but it already feels entirely different from those sad final months of Vlatko Andonovski's tenure. The confidence and swagger have returned. So too have the goals. And perhaps those go hand-in-hand. Hayes' tactics have the USWNT running over and through opponents, and right now, they look as if they will be tough to stop.

Germany are the latest team to be pinned down to the tracks, unable to get out of the way of the U.S. freight train. Zambia felt it, too, in their 3-1 defeat, but Germany got it even worse as the USWNT ran away with a 4-1 win in Sunday's group stage.

With the win, the U.S. joined Spain as the first teams to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The USWNT has now made it out of the group in all eight trips to the Olympics and has medaled in six of its seven previous Olympic appearances.

Much of the credit should go to the players, of course. Sophia Smith, coming off an opening-match injury, balled out this time around. Mal Swanson got another goal, too. And what else is there to say about Trinity Rodman, who looks like a new player this summer compared to last?

But give Hayes her flowers, too. It's her tactics and her belief that has the U.S. in this position. Her tweaks have made all the difference. Her willingness to unleash this attack has led to goals in bunches. In just a few games, she's found the balance that the U.S. so often lacked at the 2023 World Cup.

Hayes was complimentary of the attack, saying "I think we were absolutely devastating when we needed to be." But she added that this team still a work in progress, noting that "there's still things that irritate me about us, but that's for me to fix. … There's things I'm learning about the team tonight from a character perspective that I want to see, from a resilience perspective I wanted to see. When you play a top-level opponent, you get to see all sides and I saw all sides of us tonight, which was pleasing."

Don't underestimate Hayes and, given what we've seen, don't underestimate the USWNT. This team still has a lot of work to do but, with Hayes at the helm, the hope has returned.

GOAL takes a look at the winners and losers of the USWNT's win over Germany.

• WINNER: Sophia Smith

  Last summer at the World Cup, Sophia Smith scored twice in the opener and that was that. She never found the back of the net again. It was a disappointing run during what should have been a breakout tournament.

  Smith won't be denied this summer, though. Two teams have tried and, so far, two teams have failed. The confidence is there and, when Smith is feeling that, the goals will flow.

  She scored twice on Sunday. One was a great backpost finish while the other, to be fair, required a little bit of luck. You make your own luck, though, and Smith continues to make things happen whenever she gets on the ball.

  The Portland Thorns star just looks so comfortable and confident. She interchanges with Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman in ways that make her impossible to track. And, the more goals go in, the harder it will be to stop her.

  This could be her tournament, which will only propel the USWNT.

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  LOSER: Tierna Davidson

  Injuries are never ideal, but in the case of Davidson, it could prove to be truly problematic for the U.S.

  The USWNT centerback left the game just before halftime, hobbling off the field just as Smith scored her second goal. Emily Sonnett was thrown into the match in her place and the U.S. survived, but this could be a long-term issue.

  Sonnett is the only other central defender in the squad and, even so, she's meant to be a swiss-army-knife sub at several other positions. If Davidson can't go, that leaves the U.S. extremely thin at centerback while also taking away a key supersub for Hayes.

  Davidson was playing well before her injury and her partnership with Naomi Girma has truly improved. Now, though, the U.S. will be left sweating on her fitness as they approach the group stage finale against Australia on Wednesday and, more important, the knockout stage.

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  WINNER: Emma Hayes

  U.S. Soccer was content to wait for Hayes. It was a tough choice but, in their eyes, it was a necessary one. The federation was willing to give up valuable Olympic preparation to make sure that this team had the right coach, as Hayes wrapped up her season at Chelsea. Those are the choices you have to make.

  As it turns out, perhaps US Soccer didn't compromise as much as we thought they did.

  Just a few months into her tenure, Hayes' fingerprints are all over this team. From tactics to personality, you can see her influence. This team plays a certain way, and that way is Hayes' way.

  We saw it during her tenure at Chelsea, where she established herself as an elite tactician. She's brought those ideas to the U.S., too. In just a few games, Hayes has rebalanced the midfield and rebuilt the attack, fixing the two biggest problems the U.S. had last summer. It hasn't been static, either. Hayes has different ideas for different moments and, right now, they're all working.

  In the first half against Germany, the U.S. looked to run. The team looked to unleash the attack and put Germany on the back foot. The game was a bit of a track meet as a result, and that was just fine.

  The second half was totally different. As they did against Zambia, the U.S. cruised. They possessed, moved and made Germany chase. It's the luxury of a lead. In that scenario, you can dictate how the game is played.

  Hayes is dictating just about everything right now. She's the puppet-master ensuring this show plays out to her liking. Right now, it's a hell of a show, too, with Hayes proving her worth every single game.

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  LOSER: The goalkeepers

  It was a rough day for goalkeepers overall and, while this wasn't as bad as the chaos that happened in the 6-5 Olympic instant classic between Australia and Zambia, this wasn't very good form from either shot-stopper.

  Alyssa Naeher was directly responsible for Germany's goal. She gave the ball initially, putting Sam Coffey in danger with a bad pass. She then couldn't quite get the lift to stop Giulia Gwinn's long-range shot, despite it looking very saveable.

  It was a tough day for Naeher, who has had her ups and downs over the last year. But It wasn't nearly as bad as Ann-Katrin Berger's outing, as Germany's No. 1 struggled herself.

  Berger is familiar with Hayes, having played for her at Chelsea. Eventually, Hayes opted to move on. Sunday's performance at least partly showed why as Berger had several rough moments while conceding four. Her parry back into the path of Swanson was her worst moment, but it wasn't the only one.

  Neither goalkeeper covered themselves in glory. In Naeher's case, her team played well enough to overcome it. For Berger? Not nearly enough.

Wolverhampton Wanderers find themselves on the cusp of achieving a top-half Premier League finish this season.

Recently, however, Gary O’Neil has had to deal with injuries to his star performers, as Hwang Hee-Chan, Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto have all missed matches due to injuries.

Neto could miss the rest of the campaign due to a hamstring issue, and with plenty of potential suitors showing interest, could this be his last season at Molineux?

Pedro Neto’s future at Wolves

Against Newcastle United in their recent 3-0 defeat, Neto was taken off due to suffering a second serious hamstring injury of the season, and this could rule him out until 2024/25.

The Portuguese was in fine form too, scoring three times and grabbing 11 assists in all competitions for the Old Gold and the blow came at the wrong time for O’Neil.

According to journalist David Ornstein, clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester City are all sniffing around the winger with regard to making a potential move this summer.

It could cost them up to £80m to secure the player, but there is no doubt he is in demand after a fine season in the Midlands.

If Neto does indeed depart, O’Neil may already have a dream successor lined up who is currently starring out on loan.

Fabio Silva's record at Rangers

While Silva may have scored just five goals in 72 appearances for Wolves since joining, his loan spell at Glasgow Rangers looks like it has given him a fresh lease of life.

In 14 appearances for the Light Blues, Silva has scored four times, including important goals against Hibs in the Scottish Cup and Hearts in the league, showcasing his wonderful talents in Govan.

Signed in order to give Cyriel Dessers competition for the lone striker role, Silva has thrived when being deployed on the left wing, and this could suggest he is an ideal Neto heir.

Against Benfica in the second leg of their Europa League clash, Silva was the one attacker who looked like he was going to make something happen. The youngster succeeded with three of his six dribble attempts, made one key pass and taking 50 touches during the game.

His performances meant he was called up to the Portugal U21 squad for their matches against the Faroe Islands and Croatia, and he scored the opener against the former on Thursday evening.

This led talent scout Antonio Mango to lavish praise on the youngster, saying that “Rangers got themselves a talent" after bringing the previously struggling Wolves star in on loan.

Life in the Premier League has been tough, but when spending time out on loan, Silva has thrived. Four goals for Rangers follow on from him netting 16 times during spells for PSV Eindhoven and Anderlecht last season, indicating that the ability is clearly there.

Wolves can unearth dream Neto heir & Fraser partner in 19 y/o starlet

Wolves may have an ideal Neto heir lurking in their academy

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 20, 2024

A consistent run in the English top flight next season could either make or break Silva, but if he hits the ground running, there is no doubt he would be an ideal heir for Neto.

Aston Villa have been gifted an opportunity to make a big name signing this summer as NSWE look to build on the incredible job Unai Emery has done so far this season.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans are clinging onto their place in the top four after a 2-0 win against rivals Wolves this weekend, marking just their second home Premier League win since the turn of the year, having previously made Villa Park into a near impenetrable fortress.

They now sit three points clear of Tottenham with a superior goal difference, but Ange Postecoglou's side still have a game in hand, in what looks like a two horse race that is sure to go right down to the wire.

Fifth spot should still be enough to secure a place in next year's new-look Champions League however, assuming Villa, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool continue their success on the continent this term, meaning NSWE will have funds available to be ambitious in the summer market even despite concerns about Financial Fair Play.

Leeds United sensation Crysencio Summerville is reportedly a target, and could leave Elland Road if the Whites fail to secure promotion to the top flight, while Emery is also thought to be personally keen on a move for versatile Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso.

Aston Villa talks to sign "revelation" now advanced after Emery request

He will be out of contract this summer.

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 29, 2024

Jack Grealish transfer update

Perhaps the biggest saga of the summer has only just been revealed however, with reports suggesting Jack Grealish is expected to leave Man City, opening the door for a move back to Villa.

Pep Guardiola apparently no longer sees the Birmingham-born 28 year-old as a key cog in his machine moving forward, leaving NSWE to be the "big winners" as the attacking midfielder would "love" to return to his former club.

It is a stark change from Guardiola's public opinion of the England international, who left the Midlands in a £100m move back in August of 2021, as the Spaniard heaped praise on his "ability" and "fight" earlier this season.

There is no information in the report regarding exactly how much of a hit City would be willing to take, but common sense assumes Villa would come nowhere close to the figure they cashed in for three summers ago, so it will certainly be an interesting saga to watch as the next transfer window draws nearer.

Conor Gallagher has been left in limbo and is staying in a Spanish hotel as he awaits confirmation of his move to Atletico Madrid.

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• Gallagher deal yet to go through
• Midfielder living in a Spanish hotel
• Deal to take England star to La Liga has stalled

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gallagher is in Spain awaiting the completion of his move to Atletico but nothing has been sealed. As per the , the England midfielder is currently holed up in a Spanish hotel and anxiously awaiting confirmation that the deal will go through. The collapse of Samu Omorodion's move to Stamford Bridge has stalled progress on the deal, with the move contingent on Atletico either moving the striker or Joao Felix on.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reports have suggested Atletico are currently in talks with Chelsea over sending Felix back to Stamford Bridge – he went on loan to west London in 2023 – but Gallagher is unclear on whether the deal is actually going to go through. A deal to sign Omorodion is considered dead, and thus, Felix may be the key to Gallagher moving to Spain.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gallagher has also been linked with a move to Tottenham and it is unclear if the club would be willing to potentially rival Atletico for his signature, were it to fall through at the eleventh hour.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Gallagher will hope there is some movement on his transfer swiftly, so he can find his way out of his Spanish hotel.

Manchester United have now gone unbeaten against archrivals Liverpool this season after coming from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw.

However, the score line once again flattered the Red Devils, with the underlying statistics being a concern for everyone but Erik ten Hag it seems.

Jurgen Klopp’s side tallied up a huge 28 shots and an xG of 3.59, but that’s now simply becoming the norm, which is unacceptable.

Although the team as a whole struggled, there were some promising performances from individuals, with Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and one other player all standing out.

Kobbie Mainoo & Bruno Fernandes starred vs Liverpool

Once again, it was the brilliance of Mainoo and Fernandes that saved Man United, with the midfield duo showing their ability to impact the game at both ends of the field.

The host's attack was nonexistent in the first half, not even registering a single attempt at goal, which just shows how blunt they really were.

However, a moment of pure quality got United back in the game, as the captain scored an unbelievable long-range strike after a poor pass from Jarell Quansah.

Mainoo also had his say in front of goal, curling a wonderful effort into the top right corner, which was nearly the match-winner.

Their overall game was impressive, making eight tackles between them while also winning 14 duels, which proves they put in a shift for their side defensively. That said, they weren’t quite as impressive as one fellow ace.

Man Utd's real star of the show vs Liverpool

Diogo Dalot made his 28th Premier League start of the season against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, where he was once again the most impressive defender on the pitch.

After a disastrous ending to the game against Chelsea in midweek when he conceded the penalty for Cole Palmer’s equaliser, the Portuguese ace bounced back brilliantly.

The switch to his usual right-back spot instead of being fielded at left-back helped Dalot return to the standards he’s shown this season, with football content creator Liam Canning particularly impressed with his match, taking to X to say:

“Dalot MOTM for me. Like most games he plays. Has been United’s player of the season by some margin.”

Dalot was extremely solid defensively, taking a proactive approach and making four tackles. The 25-year-old’s physicality and athleticism were also clear to see, as he won seven of his ten duels, which enabled the Red Devils to spring on a counterattack multiple times.

From an in-possession standpoint, Dalot also brought composure and control alongside the inexperienced Willy Kambwala, with his 90% pass accuracy and 57 touches a marker of that.

The former Porto defender wasn’t afraid to get forward when handed the opportunity, creating one big chance and completing 100% of his dribble attempts.

Overall, it was yet another complete performance from Dalot, who just seems to get better as each game goes by.

The Fire midfielder opens up on his U.S. career, expectations for a new manager, and how MLS's competition might evolve

Kellyn Acosta has been an underrated cog for the U.S. men's national team since his debut in 2016. Could a new era at U.S. Soccer reignite his international career?

Acosta was a crucial part of Gregg Berhalter's plans in 2021. He made 21 appearances that year, the most of any U.S. international since 1994. A deep-lying playmaker who can make an impact on defense, the midfielder has helped the USMNT lift three trophies – Gold Cups in 2017, 2021 and a dramatic Nations League win in 2021. He also made two 2022 World Cup appearances. Yet, despite his effectiveness, Acosta hasn't made an appearance since April 2023.

Now things might be different. U.S. Soccer moved on from Berhalter after a disappointing 2024 Copa America. After a high-profile head coach search, former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino reportedly has agreed to be the next head coach. With the Argentine coach taking over an ambitious squad ahead of a crucial two-year stretch, Acosta is determined to impress and make his case for inclusion. Despite playing for a struggling Chicago Fire team, he hopes his strong form this season will catch the new manager's eye.

For the Wednesday Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in the U.S. soccer scene, GOAL US caught up with the midfielder to talk about Pochettino, his national team hopes, and the Leagues Cup.

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  It's an exciting moment for the USMNT. They've reportedly brought in Pochettino to be the guy, what do you make of that decision?

  I think it's a huge decision. This shows the Federation doing their due diligence of finding a serial winner, guys that's coached at the highest level, coached top, top players. It's about rallying the group and getting the best out of the group in the years to come. I think it's an incredible signing, and it showcased how far we've come as a national team, of getting the likes of a guy like Pochettino to be in the fold.

  Obviously right now, that hasn't been officially announced, but if that were to be a case, I think it would be huge for the national team, and hopefully he can drive us forward and have a good tournament come 2026

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  Specifically, what do you think he will bring?

  From our standpoint, it's invaluable for us to just learn from him, because he's coached guys who are the best players in the world. I think it's just great to have a guy who's just a serial winner, a guy who knows what it takes, a guy who has coached at the highest level, coached top, top players. It's about getting the most out of the group that we have now.

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  Is this a new chance for you to get back into the team, and show a new manager what you can do?

  I think whenever a manager comes in, it's one of those things, like a clean slate. I can only control what I can control, which is my performance for the club. It's just about, you know, putting my best foot forward, and, you know, getting back to being involved and playing good ball. And hopefully Poch or whoever the coach may be, has their eyes looking at me. It's about me, just performing week in, week out, but exciting times ahead. Hopefully when opportunity rises, I can make the most of it.

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  Switching gears, what have you made of the Leagues Cup this year?

  It's always weird playing against teams you aren't necessarily familiar with. Liga MX is a super strong league and they've shown that over the years, especially winning a bunch of Concacaf Champions Leagues, and competing well in Leagues Cup. It's a testament to what Liga MX is all about. But it's also a positive to see MLS teams doing very, very well against Liga MX teams.

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted Al-Nassr is "likely" to be his last club while suggesting he could retire from football "soon".

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• Ronaldo is now 39
• Admits he may retire at Nassr
• Enjoyed one of the greatest careers ever

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo has been playing top-level football since 2002 and 22 years later, he admits that he is approaching retirement. Having played for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in Europe, winning numerous titles, the Portugal international says he is "likely" to bring down the curtain on his career in Saudi Arabia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo headed to the Middle East in January 2023 after cutting short his second spell at Man Utd, and has yet to win a trophy for Al-Nassr, although he does have an astonishing scoring record. In 67 games, he has scored 61 goals and registered 16 assists.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo said to Portuguese channel : "I don't know if I'll finish soon or in two or three years. But, possibly, it will be at Al Nassr. It's the team where I'm happy, where I'm good, where I feel good, both in the country and in the league. That's why, most likely I can finish my career at Al-Nassr. I'm very happy to play in the Arab league and I want to continue."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Al-Nassr are next in action on Tuesday against Al-Feiha in the Saudi Pro League. They drew their opening game of the season against Al-Raed, with Ronaldo scoring the only goal for Luis Castro's team.