Liverpool have had some extraordinary players throughout their history, but who are the most underrated Reds individuals of the Premier League era?

So many players have become legends at Anfield, from Kenny Dalglish to Steven Gerrard in the past, to present icons Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

While Liverpool fans love a club legend, they also admire those players who go under the radar, not always receiving the acclaim they deserve.

Here are our choices for the Reds’ 10 most underrated footballers in the Premier League.

10. Didi Hamann

Didi Hamann was a superb and consistent midfielder for Liverpool in the 2000s, not least because of his game-changing cameo in the 2005 Champions League final.

The German was introduced at half-time when the Reds were 3-0 down to AC Milan, bringing more balance to the team and helping inspire one of the greatest comebacks in the history of football.

Hamann was an unflappable figure who never did anything too spectacular, but he was a shield in front of the defence and possessed underrated quality on the ball. He was also the last player to score at the old Wembley, coming in a 1-0 win for Germany over England.

9. Fabio Aurelio

Had it not been for injuries, Fabio Aurelio could be seen as Liverpool’s best left-back in the Premier League era, perhaps barring Andy Robertson.

The Brazilian had a wonderful left foot, as displayed when he scored an inch-perfect free-kick in the 4-1 win away to Manchester United back in 2009, and there was an intelligence about him that stood out, too.

John Arne Riise often received more acclaim, due to his penchant for scoring long-range stunners, but Aurelio was the more competent player overall, and he was sadly robbed of playing time too often because of fitness issues.

8. Steve Finnan

There was nothing flamboyant about Steve Finnan, but what a safe pair of hands he proved to be after joining Liverpool from Fulham in 2003.

The former Republic of Ireland international was rarely below a seven-out-of-10 in his performance level, combining solid defensive work with sporadic overlapping quality in the attacking third. He may have been sacrificed for Hamann in the aforementioned Champions League final, but his reliability was vital en route to glory that season.

7. Yossi Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun played for Liverpool at a time when Gerrard and Fernando Torres were purring alongside one another, so it’s only natural that he didn’t earn as many column inches.

That said, he was an influential figure in his own right, possessing trickery in tight areas and providing a good level of end product from his wide or attacking midfield role.

Most famously, Benayoun scored the only goal of the game away to Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2009, as well as a vital last-gasp winner at Fulham in the same year, and 47 goal contributions in 134 appearances is a good return for the Reds.

6. Jordan Henderson

Few players have divided opinion at Liverpool more in the past 30 years than Jordan Henderson, but what he achieved at the club now speaks for itself.

Never the most gifted of footballers, Henderson got every ounce out of his ability, but most importantly, he grew into a wonderful captain who skippered the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory.

The Englishman was a better technician than he was given credit for, and his industry and ability to cover endless ground made him a vital player for Liverpool during both the Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp years.

5. Dirk Kuyt

Barring Gerrard, has there been a better big-game player for Liverpool in the Premier League than Dirk Kuyt?

Like Henderson, the Dutchman wasn’t always the most aesthetically-pleasing player, but his ability to pop up in key moments was invaluable, and he was a hugely intelligent footballer in a tactical sense.

Kuyt scored a late winning penalty at Everton, as well as goals against the likes of United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter Milan down the years, and he excelled on the right wing after being changed from a striker by Rafa Benitez, netting 71 times in 285 matches.

4. Alexis Mac Allister

Of the current crop of Liverpool players, Alexis Mac Allister is the most underrated, even though he is still rated highly by many Reds supporters.

The Argentine World Cup winner has been a magnificent signing since arriving in the summer of 2023, knitting everything together in midfield, and his brilliance is arguably noticed more when he isn’t playing.

Mac Allister is elite in possession, works his socks off out of it and possesses a winning mentality, and while he deserves to be regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, he arguably isn’t.

3. Joel Matip

Joel Matip has a strong argument for being Liverpool’s greatest free transfer in history, having enjoyed eight trophy-laden years at Anfield.

An incredibly likeable player with that rare ability to be funny without trying to be, Matip was bordering on world-class when he was fully fit and not injury-plagued, thriving alongside Van Dijk.

He was Liverpool’s best player in the 2019 Champions League final win over Tottenham, and he was a lovely mix of calm and class, bringing the ball out from the back and getting stuck in defensively when he had to.

2. James Milner

Like Matip, James Milner is among Liverpool’s greatest free pieces of business, becoming one of the most versatile and dependable figures in the club’s recent history.

A perfect professional whose dedication and leadership rubbed off on those around him, Milner wasn’t always a regular starter under Klopp, but he was worth his weight in gold so often.

Nerveless from the penalty spot, capable of shining in four or five positions and highly intelligent, Liverpool’s former vice-captain played a massive role in the Reds’ past success. The fact that he is still playing in the Premier League at the age of 39 speaks volumes about him.

1. Gini Wijnaldum

Picking a No.1 was tough – Liverpool fans will always have their own choice and many above are worthy of topping this list – but we’ve gone for Gini Wijnaldum.

Klopp’s Champions League and Premier League-winning teams were full of players who got constant attention, whether it be Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino, but Wijnaldum was a more unnoticed but vital cog in the machine.

The Dutchman never stopped running in midfield, had superb positional sense and was so difficult to shrug off the ball, and he was a huge reason for that Liverpool team being so dominant.

Then there was the famous double against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019, allowing Wijnaldum his moment in the sun, but more often than not, he was underrated beyond belief.

Following Glasgow Rangers’ humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge, the 49ers have reportedly opened talks to sign a Premier League forward.

Martin apologises to fans after "painful" defeat

The pressure is increasing on Russell Martin. Some may even say that things have already reached breaking point at Ibrox. The former Southampton boss is yet to win a game in the Scottish Premiership and saw his problems extended by a Club Brugge side in no mood to offer him some kind of mercy in Belgium.

Update shared from Rangers on Russell Martin's Ibrox future before Celtic

The 39-year-old is under huge pressure.

1 ByCharlie Smith Aug 28, 2025

It was a disaster from the off for the Gers, who were instantly a man down when Max Aarons received his marching orders inside 10 minutes. An uphill battle was quickly made an impossible task and Club Brugge took full advantage, scoring five goals in the first half to take an 8-1 lead on aggregate before adding a sixth to hand Rangers an embarrassing 9-1 defeat.

Simply put, it could not have been worse for Martin, who could not hide his humiliation.

It doesn’t get any easier for those at Ibrox, either. A trip to face Old Firm rivals Celtic awaits this weekend in what may only compile Martin’s misery or perhaps even be the final nail in the coffin of what has been a nightmare stint in Scotland.

That said, the transfer window could still act as a crucial turning point for the Englishman amid reports that the 49ers are now “in talks” to sign a Premier League forward.

Rangers "in talks" to sign forward Chermiti

According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, the 49ers and Rangers are now “in talks” to sign Youssef Chermiti on loan from Everton this week with just days remaining of the window.

The young forward could replace Hamza Igamane, who is set to join LOSC Lille not long after refusing to come from the bench in the Gers’ last-gasp draw against St Mirren last weekend.

Replacing a talented forward like Igamane will be no easy task, but it appears that Chermiti has emerged as a leading candidate. Whilst the Everton forward has struggled with injuries during his time in the Premier League, there’s no denying that he’s still a player full of potential at 21 years old.

Praised as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig during his time at Sporting Club, Chermiti is also represented by the same agent as Rangers’ summer arrival Thelo Aasgaard, which could make any deal far more routine.

Seven games into the new Premier League season, this already represents a breakout campaign for Fulham academy graduate Josh King. The 18-year-old midfielder has swiftly surpassed the total number of senior minutes he managed last term, and he has been one of the standout young players in the division in the opening weeks – catching the eye with his dynamism, fearlessness and composure.

Capitalising on an otherwise frustrating summer for his club as they struggled to make additions in the transfer window, King has made himself a bona fide first-team player and, having taken everything in his stride to this point, he will now be more concerned about keeping his place in the starting line-up than worrying about his status in the squad overall.

The teenager has caught the eye with his technique, guile and age-defying confidence as the Cottager's starting No.10, as well as finding himself at the centre of a number of highly-contentious incidents – largely through no fault of his own.

After more than a decade with the club, King's hard work is paying off as he earns regular minutes under Marco Silva, but just who is the gem of Fulham's academy and how far can he go?

Getty Images SportWhere it all began

Born and raised in south-west London, King has always been Fulham. He joined the academy at the age of eight in 2015, with his parents driving him to training and away games. It's clear he was earmarked for success very early, too; after progressing through the junior age grades, King was fast-tracked into the Under-18s at 15, earning regular minutes in the 2022-23 season and even collecting a goal and assist across nine appearances in the U18 Premier League.

After beginning the next campaign with the U18s he was swiftly bumped up again, punching well above his weight as he mixed it with the U21s in PL 2, again making a tangible impact as he bagged three goals under the tutelage of ex-Crystal Palace and West Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins, whom he credits for his development.

By early February 2024, King had done enough to earn first-team recognition as Silva included the midfielder in his squads for Premier League clashes against Burnley and Bournemouth, although he wouldn't make it off the bench.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe big break

Given his swift progress through the ranks, King will have long been in the consciousness of Fulham fans who have been excitedly awaiting his first-team breakthrough. He took a significant stride towards that goal at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, as he studied for A-levels in French, maths and psychology, as he was handed his professional debut as a substitute against Birmingham in the Carabao Cup.

The youngster would have to be patient for an opportunity in the Premier League, but Silva handed him his bow in a 10-minute cameo against Brighton in December and a full debut soon followed when struggling Southampton visited the capital just before Christmas, as King played more than an hour in a goalless draw.

Although he would make a number of other brief first-team appearances and started the FA Cup fourth round win over Wigan, this wasn't a precursor to a mid-season breakthrough as Fulham pushed on to a record Premier League points tally under their Portuguese tactician, but it's clear there was a plan. "Josh is a top talent we have on our hands that we have to keep giving these experiences to," Silva said in February. "I think he showed his quality, his bravery and the way he can play between the lines."

Getty Images SportHow it's going

This season, though, has been a different story. A frugal transfer window (which was described as "passive" by Silva), where the Cottagers only made one permanent signing and long-serving midfielder Andreas Pereira returned to his native Brazil, opened the door for the 18-year-old – and it's an opportunity he has seized with both hands.

A new long-term contract in July preceded an impressive pre-season where he started all three of Fulham's friendly matches and even scored against Saudi giants Al-Ittihad. Now, King is enjoying a breakout having started every single Premier League game so far in the No.10 role, remarkably keeping club-record signing Emile Smith Rowe out of the XI. Having played for England throughout the age grades, he's already earned a call-up to the U21s.

Not only has he caught the eye with his performances, but he's already been at the centre of a number of contentious and unfortunate moments, too – most notably having a dream first competitive goal ruled out against west London rivals Chelsea following a hugely controversial intervention by the VAR, who adjudged that there had been a foul in the build-up. The teenager has also been booked twice in two games for simulation and he was bizarrely denied a penalty when his shot was clearly blocked by Matty Cash's arm against Aston Villa.

Against Brentford, his stray pass was pounced upon to gift the Bees the opening goal, but he responded by playing a key role in a comeback victory. "I was very pleased with the way he reacted," Silva said afterwards. "Again, for a difficult moment when he made a mistake like he did in that moment, of course, that is normal; it was a bad moment for him for sure, but the reaction pleased me really well because it is not easy. It doesn't surprise me, to be honest. Football is going to test him, and the response from him was very good and I am very pleased."

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GettyBiggest strengths

It's clear that King's mentality and levelheadedness are two of his key attributes, beyond his obvious technical prowess. "For a young player that is 18 years old, it is always nice to see some maturity in that moment, that composure, to keep doing the good things that you were doing before," Silva continued.

"It is another thing that is natural. Josh is very young and everybody recognises the quality that he has and everybody is supporting him, not just the technical staff, his teammates as well, and it just was a natural reaction."

When it comes to pure footballing ability, King has already proven himself to be a wonderful ball-carrier, boasting the kind of cultured technique and calmness under pressure that belie his tender years. Describing himself as a "pocket player" who "likes to receive the ball on the back foot" and "drive", he is able to drift past opponents and manipulate the ball almost effortlessly, making him a natural fit for the attacking midfield role.

However, he also has the versatility to play both deeper or out wide, even wearing 24 on his back because it is the sum of the numbers six, eight and 10.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are known to go hard with the bat. That’s why they are expected to be the first team to score 300 in the IPL. Their method of attacking from the get-go got them a win in their opening match of IPL 2025. But they have lost two in a row since, the latest being a seven-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vishakhapatnam. But SRH captain Pat Cummins believes that with the approach they have, “it happens”.SRH lost four wickets inside the powerplay and yet did not stop attacking. They were 58 for 4 after six overs, 105 for 4 after ten, and were bowled out for 163. That they reached there was thanks in large part to Aniket Verma, who hit a 41-ball 74.”We just never really got going,” Cummins said after the match. “Aniket gave us a score, but we lost a few early wickets. I think not all of them are bad shots. It happens. Obviously, a run-out and a couple [of batters] were caught on the fence, so yes, it happens.Related

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“I don’t think it’s big margins. On another day, you get going, you play one or two shots, and suddenly you’re into your innings. Not everything has gone our way in the last two games. Everything just about went our way in that first game. You review it, maybe there’s one or two options you could have done differently and the result looks a lot different.”One of the key battles ahead of the match was between Travis Head and Mitchell Starc, and DC captain Axar Patel’s move to give Starc a third over in the powerplay paid off.Mitchell Starc picked up his maiden T20 five-for•BCCI

“The plan [generally] is that I will bowl two overs [of Starc] at the start and two at the death,” Axar said. “But the situation was such that he was in rhythm, he had already given us two wickets, they [SRH] had lost three wickets. So I was thinking that in this over, I know what the opponent is going to do – they were going to attack. If we get a wicket, we could close the game. That was the plan and it was successful.”Coming into this game, Starc had dismissed Head five times in 42 balls for 24 runs across formats. Head began in the right manner today, hitting Starc for back-to-back fours in the opening over. But in Starc’s third over, Head gloved a ramp shot to a back-of-good-length offcutter to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.”I’ve played for long enough that I think guys obviously know what I’m trying to do,” Starc, the Player of the Match for his 5 for 35, said. “You’ve got to try and think of different ways or outside-the-box ways to be effective in T20 cricket these days. Even as an older player, you’ve still got to try and find new balls or find different ways to try and get batters out. It was nice to play a little bit of a different role.”I’m not sure there’s too many egos in the bowlers these days in T20 cricket,” he said. “It’s just you hang on for dear life sometimes. As a bowler, you have to think outside the box a lot more now with how the scores are trending and try and do things that you wouldn’t normally do and try and find a little bit of a leeway against these batters. It was nice to contribute in that way today.”

كشف هانز فليك، مدرب نادي برشلونة، عن تطورات إصابة ثنائي الفريق قبل مواجهة أولمبياكوس يوم غدًا الثلاثاء في إطار بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وسوف يشهد ملعب مونتوجويك يوم غدًا الثلاثاء مواجهة بين برشلونة وضيفه أولمبياكوس، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة المجموعات في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الفوز على أولمبياكوس، حيث بدأ البلوجرانا في استعادة التوازن عقب الفوز على جيرونا بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم السبت الماضي بالدوري الإسباني.

وتطرق فليك خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء إلى حالة كل من رافينها دياز، وفيران توريس، حيث يغيب الثنائي عن مباراة الغد بسبب الإصابة.

وتفاقمت إصابة رافينها، مما سيجعله يغيب عن لقاء الغد وقد يغيب كذلك عن مباراة الكلاسيكو الأسبوع المقبل ضد ريال مدريد، في حين عاد توريس مصابًا من فترة التوقف الدولي الأخير ويعاني من إجهاد عضلي.

وقال فليك: ”نأمل أن يتمكن توريس من اللعب في الكلاسيكو وكذلك رافينها وهذا ما نأمله، في النهاية عندما عاد توريس من المنتخب الوطني، رأينا أن الوضع كان صعبًا بعض الشيء، ليس كثيرًا لكن علينا تقليل المخاطر، ولعبه غدًا سيكون مخاطرة”.

وأضاف فليك: ”سنجري المزيد من الفحوصات يوم الخميس ونرى كيف ستتطور حالته، الأمر يتعلق برعاية اللاعبين وهو شئ صعب، لكن لاحقًا سيعود الجميع وسيكون لدينا وضع جديد”.

واعترف فليك، أن برشلونة يعاني من وضع صعب خلال الفترة الأخيرة حيث أوضح: “في الوقت الحالي نحن في وضع صعب، وأنا سعيد بحصولنا على النقاط الثلاث ضد جيرونا. كان ذلك مهمًا للغاية ويمكنك أن تلمس ذلك في أجواء التدريب، من الجيد أن نرى ذلك وهذا ما نحتاجه”.

وأردف: ”لدينا فريق شاب وهم بحاجة إلى هذا الفوز. عندما حللنا مباراة جيرونا، تحدثنا عن التمركز والحفاظ على مسافة مناسبة من الخصم، وإذا كنت بعيدًا عن ذلك فعليك أن تركض أكثر وهذا ما علينا تحسينه، علينا أن نجد تمركزًا أفضل ومن ثم نضغط”.

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وعن مواجهة أولمبياكوس تابع فليك: “لديهم هجوم جيد وتشير الإحصائيات إلى أنهم من أفضل الفرق هجوميًا. يكفي أن ننظر إلى مباراتهم ضد آرسنال، حيث سنحت لهم العديد من الفرص. علينا أن نكون منتبهين لهذه المواقف ولديهم لاعبون جيدون وخطة لعب، لذا علينا أن نكون حذرين معهم”.

وعن احتمالية وجود قانون جديد في التسلل رد فليك: “لا أعرف. أحترم أرسين فينجر لكننا لم نتحدث مؤخرًا. لا أعرف ما يريده أو ما الذي يهدف إليه هذا القانون الجديد. عندما يشرحون لي الأمر سأكون قادرًا على فهمه لكنني لا أريد التعليق عليه حاليًا لأننا نأمل أن يكون ذلك بعيدًا، ربما بعد عامين وهو أمر مهم بالنسبة لي”.

واستكمل: “لستُ أكثر توترًا، ربما لم تعد مشاعري كما كانت من قبل. أتذكر عندما كنت مدربًا لبايرن ميونخ كانت هناك صور لنا ونحن كنا قد فزنا 8-2 على برشلونة ولم أبتسم أبدًا بعد تسجيل ثمانية أهداف، الآن لدي مشاعر أكثر ولقد غيرني هذا النادي تمامًا”.

وقال فليك: ”ما يمكنني قوله هو أنني أحب هذا النادي، أحب برشلونة وأحب الناس هنا، إنه لأمر رائع، وأبذل قصارى جهدي من أجل هذا النادي. أعيش من أجل النادي، بصراحة لا أحب هذه الأشياء عندما أرى نفسي على التلفاز ولا أحب أن يراني حفيدي هكذا، لذا ربما علي تغيير سلوكي”.

وعن مارك بيرنال أضاف فليك: “كما قلت علينا أن نعتني به. لسنا مقتنعين بأنه جاهز تمامًا للعب هذه المباريات فهي دائمًا ما تكون صعبة للغاية، وبالنظر إلى مباريات إشبيلية وغيرها ليس هذا هو الوقت الأمثل له للعب مجددًا”.

وأوضح فليك عن بيرنال: ”سنجد مباريات مناسبة له للعودة، وعليه أيضًا أن يتحسن في التدريبات. إنه ليس في أفضل حالاته للعب المباريات الكبرى لذا علينا مساعدته على التحسن”.

وعن روني بردجي، جناح برشلونة الشاب أردف فليك: “يمكننا أيضًا التفكير في لعبه كمهاجم أو لاعب وسط هجومي، سواء كان على مقاعد البدلاء أو في التشكيلة الأساسية. نفكر في التشكيلة الأساسية وكذلك في اللاعبين الذين يكملون المباراة ونناقش الخيارات الأفضل. في الوقت الحالي القرار ليس سهلًا بشأنه”.

وعن ماركوس راشفورد رد فليك: ”راشفورد خيار جيد كمهاجم صريح لكنه يستطيع أيضًا اللعب كصانع ألعاب. هذا ما كنا نعتقده عندما تعاقدنا معه، يمكنه اللعب كمهاجم أو صانع ألعاب أو جناح ومن الرائع وجوده في فريقنا. لقد تحسن كثيرًا في الأسابيع الأخيرة ويمنحنا الكثير من الإيجابيات، وبالطبع يمكنه اللعب كمهاجم”.

وعن طرده ضد جيرونا رد المدرب الألماني: “بالنسبة لي هناك مهمة بعد هذه المباراة، لأن الآن هو وقت دوري أبطال أوروبا. يمكننا التحدث عن ذلك يوم السبت أو بعد مباراة أولمبياكوس. قلت ذلك بعد مباراة جيرونا، لم يكن هناك أي شيء ضد الحكم وقد قرر أن يرى الأمر بشكل مختلف وهذا أمر علي تقبله”.

وعن ما إذا كان ريال مدريد يتلقى دعمًا تحكيميًا اختتم فليك: “ماذا أقول؟ (يضحك) أنا هنا منذ 16 شهرًا وأنت هنا لفترة أطول بكثير وتعرف أكثر، لا أريد أن أقول أي شيء عن ذلك”.

Tim David hit Sam Curran for three sixes in the final over after CSK had asked RCB to bat first

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Mar-2025

Rajat Patidar’s half-century gave RCB a competitive total•Getty Images

Put in on a slightly tricky surface, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) displayed impressive intent as seven of their batters got into double figures, and they ended up with 196 for 7 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), whom they are aiming to beat for the first time in Chennai since 2008. Captain Rajat Patidar was the standout batter for RCB, enjoying a life on 17, then surviving three half-chances, and eventually hitting three sixes in his 51 off 32 balls.Left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad raced away to the Purple Cap with three wickets to go after his four in the first match. Khaleel Ahmed was CSK’s most economical bowler, drawing seam movement early in the powerplay, then slowing the batters down with one over in the middle, and closing out with a wicket in the 18th over.Matheesha Pathirana, replacing Nathan Ellis who had a good outing in the last game, pushed RCB back with an excellent 19th over, taking out Patidar and then conceding just one run, that too a wide.However, Tim David took toll of Sam Curran, bowling only his third over in two matches, in the 20th over, hitting him for three sixes. Had the pitch turned as much as it did in the first game in Chennai, CSK might not even have needed Curran to bowl that last over. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja managed only five overs between them for 59 runs as RCB seemed intent on not letting them get into the game. Ashwin, though, had his own back with the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal, who surprised CSK a little with his early assault at No. 3.Noor still managed to draw something out of the pitch, taking the wickets of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone. He and MS Dhoni added to the highlight reel with another brilliant stumping as Noor beat another right-hand batter on the outside edge, and Dhoni cashed in on a brief moment of the dragging of the back foot.

West Ham United boss Graham Potter is under serious pressure after a torrid start to the Premier League season, and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna has emerged as a reported candidate to replace the under-fire tactician.

Potter has recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham boss in Premier League history since he took charge, with only the infamous tenure of Avram Grant overshadowing his poor record thus far.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

Grant was in the dugout for West Ham’s relegation at the end of 2010/2011, and was sacked hours after their drop to the Championship was confirmed. The Hammers would’ve rued their decision not to hire a replacement for the Israeli before they reached that point, and if they’re not careful, history could be repeating itself with Potter.

Since the former Chelsea and Brighton boss took charge, West Ham have the worst Premier League record of any side apart from last season’s relegated three, and only Grant’s West Ham conceded more goals at this stage of the season than any other Irons side in the competition’s history.

Potter watched on as his men were dismantled 3-0 by London rivals Tottenham in what was a dominant second half by the Lilywhites on Saturday, with goals from Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven rounding off a night to forget.

Tomas Soucek was also sent off for a desperate lunge on 54 minutes, so West Ham are expected to be without the Czech fan favourite for their crucial games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Arsenal through suspension.

These are matches which could well determine Potter’s immediate future too, as reports suggest that David Sullivan and co are weighing up potential replacements for the 50-year-old.

Sullivan is personally a fan of Nuno Espirito Santo, according to journalist Alan Nixon, with the tactician also available for hire after being sacked by Nottingham Forest and replaced by Ange Postecoglou.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard and José Mourinho have also been linked to the West Ham job, as has McKenna.

Wayne Veysey told Football Insider this week that McKenna was a guest of the West Ham boardroom during their 3-0 loss to Spurs last weekend, which will fuel speculation that the 39-year-old is a favourite for the role.

West Ham insider shares 11-word message on McKenna replacing Potter

However, according to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, quoting their “top transfer source”, it is believed that a move for McKenna is unlikely.

Sharing an 11-word message, the informant simply laughs off links to the Ipswich boss who guided the Tractor Boys to successive back-to-back promotions before they were relegated last season.

They were quick to dismiss McKenna as an option, but would that be a mistake by the West Ham board?

Why West Ham should consider Kieran McKenna

McKenna is young, ambitious and would likely seize the chance to make a return to the Premier League.

He seems to develop players, get the best from limited resources and maintain high standards, as evident by his rise through the lower leagues with Ipswich these last few years.

That kind of leadership could help reset morale at West Ham, unite the dressing room and stabilize performances. While McKenna suffered a relegation last campaign, the gap between the Premier League and Championship is crystal clear by the fact all three promoted teams have gone straight back down in each of the last two seasons.

If the board decide change is needed, McKenna appears ready for a step-up, especially considering he was once a reported managerial target for Tottenham and Chelsea.

Rasmus Hojlund thanked his team-mate Kevin De Bruyne after the 34-year-old Belgian provided assists for both of his goals as Napoli beat Sporting CP on Wednesday. The Danish striker scored a match-winning brace in the 2-1 victory in the Champions League, their first in the competition this season having lost 2-0 to Manchester City two weeks ago.

• Hojlund brace sinks Sporting CP

  Hojlund put an end to a run of three goalless games on Wednesday evening, as his goals in the 36th and 79th minute of the game helped Napoli beat Sporting CP 2-1 on the second matchday of the league phase of the Champions League. It was an important brace for the 22-year-old forward, who hadn't found the back of the net since scoring on his Napoli debut three weeks ago.

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• Hojlund's double De Bruyne delight

  "It was a fantastic evening and I thank my teammates for that," Hojlund told while reflecting on the win. "We've earned our first points in the Champions League, but the road is long and we need to keep going. Later, we'll also face my brother Oscar's Eintracht Frankfurt and I can't wait." 

  Regarding the double assist provided by De Bruyne, he said:"I thanked him. Kevin is a legend of this sport and when he has the ball I know that with his quality he will always put it to me in the best possible way."

  He later wrote on Instagram: "'Hojlund scores twice in the Champions League after two assists from Kevin De Bruyne' was not on my 2025 bingo card."

• De Bruyne joins elite company

  De Bruyne became only the sixth player in Champions League history to bag two assists on five or more occasions. In the process, he joined the elite company of Angel Di Maria, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Lionel Mess, and Zinedine Zidane to achieve the feat.

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  Genoa challenge awaits Napoli

  Having started their Serie A title defence with four consecutive wins, the Partenopei's run was halted last weekend thanks to a 2-1 defeat against AC Milan. They will aim to bounce back from the loss when they welcome 19th-placed Genoa on Sunday.

Leeds United are looking to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the transfer window officially slams shut for another year this evening.

The Whites were reportedly looking to sign Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this week to add to their attacking midfield ranks, after he spent last season on loan at Leicester City.

Unfortunately, Chelsea decided to pursue a loan move for the Argentine playmaker and are now closing in on a deal to add him to their squad at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds were, of course, unable to compete with the Champions League football that Enzo Maresca’s side have on offer, and look set to miss out on Buonanotte.

Leeds have playmaker on their radar

The Championship champions are still in need of another option in the frontline after missing out on the Brighton youngster, and are reportedly looking further afield for an alternative.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to LeedsLive, Krasnodar attacking midfielder Eduard Spertsyan has emerged as a potential option for Leeds United on deadline day, as they could make a last-gasp move for the star.

The report claims that the Armenia international is one of a number of playmakers on the club’s radar as they look to bolster their options in that position before the window slams shut.

It adds that Bilal El Khannouss, Dilane Bakwa, and Manor Solomon are also being looked at by the Whites, as they look at traditional number tens and natural wingers on both sides.

Daniel Farke, though, worked with Spertsyan, who was linked with an £11m move to Southampton earlier this summer, and he may be a shrewd addition to the squad.

Why Leeds should sign Eduard Spertsyan

The West Yorkshire outfit should look to pursue a deadline day deal for the Armenian star because he could be an even better option than Buonanotte as an attacking midfielder.

Spertsyan has not experienced English football before, so it would be a risk in that respect, but his form for Krasnodar suggests that he has the potential to be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad.

The 25-year-old star, who was described as an “elegant” player by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is heading into the prime years of his career and could offer a huge threat at the top end of the pitch if he can adapt to the Premier League.

Spertsyan (Russian Premier League)	24/25	25/26
Appearances	28	7
Goals	11	4
Big chances missed	5	1
Key passes per game	2.1	3.9
Big chances created	6	5
Assists	6	8
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Spertsyan has delivered 15 goals and 14 assists in his last 35 appearances in the Russian Premier League, including eight assists in seven games this season.

These statistics show that the £11m-rated star is an incredibly creative player who looks to play key passes constantly each match, whilst he can also provide a significant threat as a goalscorer.

Meanwhile, Buonanotte has produced eight goals and three assists in 58 outings in the English Premier League in the last two seasons for Leicester and Brighton combined, per Sofascore.

This suggests that Spertsyan would be an even better signing for Leeds if they can get him to translate his performances for Krasnodar over to English football this season.

It would be a risky addition, given his lack of experience in England, but his immense form in Russia suggests that it could be worth the risk as an alternative to Buonanotte, who has not delivered consistently in the final third in his career to date.

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1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 31, 2025

Celtic did not enjoy a successful and to the summer transfer window on paper after they failed to bring in the centre-forward recruits that they wanted.

The Hoops wanted to bring in two new strikers, as they allowed Adam Idah to sign for Swansea, but failed to sign any before they snapped Kelechi Iheanacho up on a free transfer the day after deadline day.

Such was the level of frustration from sections of the fanbase, Celtic felt they needed to put out a lengthy statement explaining why they did not land their targets and why they did not invest before the Champions League qualifying clash with Kairat.

That is all in the past, now, though, and supporters may end up looking back on the summer transfer window more favourably if some of the signings continue to shine on the pitch.

For example, the signing of Sebastian Tounekti from Hammarby on deadline day is already looking like a fantastic piece of business by the Hoops.

The Scottish giants reportedly splashed out a fee of £5.2m to sign the winger from the Swedish side, and that looks like a bargain on early evidence.

Why Sebastian Tounekti looks like a bargain signing for Celtic

The speed at which Tounekti has settled into life in Glasgow has been astonishing, as he looks like he has been playing in Scottish football and in hoops for years.

His performances in training must have been as impressive as what the forward has shown on the pitch, because Brendan Rodgers was willing to chuck him straight into the starting line-up against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Tounekti signed for the club on deadline day, jetted away to play for Tunisia, then returned to start against Kilmarnock after only a few training sessions with his new teammates.

Minutes

88

58

Touches

67

34

Shots

5

0

Chances created

4

1

Dribbles completed

5/9

0/1

Duels won

6

1

That is why his performance, which was significantly better than fellow new signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s, was particularly impressive on his league debut.

The electric winger was a constant threat down the left flank for the Hoops with his willingness to drive at and take on defenders with the ball at his feet, as illustrated by his five completed dribbles in comparison to Balikwisha’s none.

That impressive display from the Tunisia international left him undroppable for the League Cup clash with Partick Thistle, irrespective of the fact that they were up against Championship opposition and could have rested him.

Tounekti left supporters excited to see more of him and Rodgers obliged. The winger did not let him down. He grabbed his first goal for the club in a 4-0 win for the Hoops on Sunday.

The 23-year-old dynamo, after just two appearances for the club, already looks like a bargain signing because of the quality that he has produced on the wing.

He also has the left wing position locked down and appears undroppable on current form, which may have a knock-on effect for other players in the squad.

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The Celtic star who currently looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti’s rapid rise to stardom at Parkhead is the 2024/25 Premiership Player of the Season, Daizen Maeda.

Why Maeda is the biggest loser of Tounekti's Celtic form

As aforementioned, the Tunisian star has shone on the left flank for the Hoops in their last two games, which means that the position is his for now.

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho has delivered a last-minute winner, albeit from the penalty spot, and an assist in his first two appearances for the club as a centre-forward, which was clearly a position that the club wanted to strengthen in.

This has left Maeda in a bit of an awkward spot, because he mainly played as a left-winger last season and has mainly played as a centre-forward this season, per Transfermarkt.

The Japan international, was hailed as “phenomenal” and “built like a brick” by former Rangers boss Barry Ferguson, delivered an unquestionably outstanding return of 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, whilst starting as a left winger in 36 of those matches.

However, it remains to be seen whether that season was just a flash in the pan for Maeda. He only managed ten goals and four assists in 36 games in the 2023/24 campaign, per Transfermarkt, and has not a blinding start to the current term.

Appearances

34

5

Goals

16

1

Goals per game

0.5

0.2

Big chances missed

17

2

Conversion rate

28%

20%

Minutes per goal

160

372

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward has only scored once in the first five games of the current league season, missing two ‘big chances’ on the way.

Maeda’s inconsistency in front of goal throughout his Celtic career, taking his 11 goals from 49 matches from the 2022/23 season into account, suggests that supporters should not expect him to score 33 goals again this year.

This is why it should not be out of the question for Rodgers to unleash the 27-year-old star in a different role, as a right winger with Iheanacho through the middle and Tounekti on the left.

Maeda has started 22 matches as a right winger in his Celtic career, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is capable of playing out wide on that side of the pitch.

As good as Tounekti: 7/10 Celtic star is now a player "to be excited about"

This Celtic star was as good as Sebastian Tounekti in the comfortable win over Partick Thistle.

ByDan Emery Sep 21, 2025

So, for now, the Japan international appears to be the biggest loser of Tounekti’s rise to stardom because the reigning Premiership Player of the Year may have to play in a different position that is not his favoured one to be in the starting line-up in the short term.