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The New York Mets played the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. The NL East rivalry doesn't have as much juice this season as it has in years past; the Mets are rolling with one of the best records in baseball but the Braves have scuffled all year. Entering Tuesday night's affair there was a 13-game difference between New York and Atlanta in the divisional standings.

Even with that, though, the game did not unfold without some measure of drama.

The score was tied at 4-4 entering the ninth inning at Truist Park. Soto kicked off the top of the ninth with a single to get a man on base for Pete Alonso, batting cleanup. The Mets slugger mashed one deep into right field, but Ronald Acuña Jr. made a great play at the wall and caught the fly ball for the first out of the inning.

But Soto, for some reason, was caught between first and second for a few moments after Acuña made the grab. He seemed confused as to whether Acuña actually caught the ball or if it hit the wall first. His hesitation proved fatal as the Braves star gunned the ball back into the infield to force Soto out at first before he made it back to the bag. What could have been a rally for the Mets suddenly ended up with two outs and nobody on base; they'd go on to lose in extra innings, 5-4.

Afterwards Soto laid the blame right at the feet of the umpire for the crucial blunder, explaining he was waiting for the call to be made and felt the ump took "way too long" to do so.

"I mean, we rely on the umpires," Soto said. "We wait for them to make the call. We had something like that earlier this year too. The goal is look for the umpire and make sure he makes the right call. But I felt like he just took way too long to make the decision and it just put me in a tough spot."

Soto's frustration is clear. Obviously if he assumed the catch was made and booked it back to first base he would have been safe this time. But if he assumed wrong he would have put his team in a bad spot. Similarly if Soto presumed the catch was not made and started sprinting he would have looked foolish if the catch was, in fact, made. It's part of every baseball player's process on the basepaths to look to the umpire or their coaches to determine what happened.

Unfortunately for the Mets Soto couldn't puzzle it out on time Tuesday. He believes the ump needs to be better next time from these quotes.

Mohamed Salah is in danger of “destroying his legacy” at Liverpool, says Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, with the Egyptian superstar aiming an explosive rant in the Reds’ direction. He has accused the Premier League giants of 'throwing him under the bus', with his exploits down the years deserving greater respect, but Rooney claims it is the Anfield icon who is acting out of order.

• Legend status: Salah's remarkable record at Liverpool

  Salah has earned legend status on Merseyside, with 250 goals recorded for Liverpool through 420 appearances. He has won two domestic titles and a Champions League crown with the Reds, collecting PFA Player of the Year and Golden Boot honours along the way.

  A new two-year contract was signed during the summer of 2025, with that agreement set to take Salah to a decade of loyal service. Questions are now being asked of whether he will make it beyond January 2026.

  After being benched for a third successive game, as he was left watching on as Liverpool squandered two more points in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Leeds, Salah admitted that his working relationship with Arne Slot has broken down. He has hinted at bidding farewell to Reds fans during a home date with Brighton on Saturday – before he heads off on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

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  Tarnishing his legacy: Rooney reacts to Salah rant

  Rooney is among those to have been left stunned by the shocking episode, with the ex-England captain saying on his latest : “Arne Slot has to show his authority and pull him in and say 'you are not travelling with the team, what you said is not acceptable'. Take yourself off to Afcon and let everything calm down. If I was him there would be no way he would be in the team. It needs to be sorted out quickly either way.”

  Rooney went on to say of Salah speaking out in public, with his comments dividing opinion among a fan base that have taken him to their hearts: “He is absolutely destroying his legacy at Liverpool. It would be sad for him to throw it all away. He's gone about it all wrong.”

• Earn your spot: Salah told no position is guaranteed

  Salah has claimed that he should not have to “go every day fighting for my position because I earned it”. Rooney believes no player should adopt that mentality, with every place having to be earned – especially at the very highest level.

  He added on The Wayne Rooney Show: “Time catches up with all of us, and this season he hasn't looked as his best, at his sharpest. You want to see him roll his sleeves up and say 'ok then, I'll show you'.

  “To have the arrogance to say he doesn't have to earn his place because he has already earned his place, you need to be at your best every week to try and stay in the team. If I was one of his team-mates, I wouldn't be happy at all with what he said because this is where Liverpool need him most. If anything, he has thrown Liverpool under the bus with his words.

  “He's been absolutely incredible for Liverpool, but this was disrespectful to his team-mates, manager and fans. I would imagine he will be very quiet around the training ground and that will bring a negative energy in itself to the new players Arne has bedded in. I am sure over the next couple of years he will regret saying what he has.”

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  Fighting fires: Another issue for Slot to contend with

  Liverpool are reportedly considering leaving Salah out of their travelling squad for a Champions League clash with Serie A giants Inter on Tuesday. It could be that he is left at home to reflect on his actions and whether the matter could have been handled differently.

  Slot will likely be quizzed on the issue at his pre-match press conference in Italy, with the Dutch tactician being left with another fire to fight after finding positive results hard to come by of late – with the reigning Premier League champions struggling for consistency as a collective.

Leeds United picked up a crucial win on Wednesday night, as they beat Chelsea 3-1 to go outside of the relegation zone. With 14 points to their name in as many games, it has certainly been a struggle for Daniel Farke’s side this season.

However, they are in good form. Of course, they beat the Blues this week at Elland Road, and last Saturday were unlucky to drop points away to Manchester City.

Only a goal in the 92nd minute from Phil Foden could sink Farke’s team, who were close to the ideal week in their relegation fight.

Indeed, there have been some standout players over the past few days for the West Yorkshire side.

Leeds’ best players in their last two games

It is hard to pinpoint just a couple of players who have excelled for Farke’s side against two of the Premier League’s title challengers, with the whole squad impressing. However, one player who shone was defender Jayden Bogle.

Against City, he played as a right-back, and won 100% of his tackles and three ground duels coming up against Jeremy Doku. On Wednesday, he had more of an advanced role and made great use of it.

Operating as a wing-back on the right flank, Bogle assisted Ao Tanaka, who made it 2-0 to Leeds on the stroke of half-time.

Another standout from the impressive performances this week was summer signing Lukas Nmecha. The German striker has been in good form this term and added to his goal tally at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. He’s now bagged four times in the top flight this season.

Whilst he didn’t find the back of the net against the Blues, Nmecha still made a real nuisance of himself for the Chelsea backline.

The German was not the only Leeds attacker who stood out in the last week.

From "Bang average" to undroppable

The Whites are not short of attacking options after a busy summer. They already had the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnoto, three of the players at Farke’s disposal, who all played a big role in their promotion.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Nmecha was brought in to add to that depth, as was Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The former Everton star made the move to West Yorkshire upon the expiry of his contract on Merseyside. It was a tough start to life at Leeds, though.

The 28-year-old did not exactly set the world alight with his start in a Leeds shirt. He’d only managed one goal in his first ten Premier League games, and that was away to bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It meant the England international had to face some criticism for the lack of form in front of goal.

Earlier in the campaign, defender-turned-pundit Michael Dawson said on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday he was looking “bang average”, following the defeat to Fulham.

However, that form has recently taken a huge upturn. In what have arguably been his side’s two toughest games so far this season, Calvert-Lewin got himself on the scoresheet against both City and Chelsea.

It wasn’t just his goals that made these performances impressive, but the manner in which he played. He was a handful off the ball, winning 15 duels on Wednesday night, and six at the weekend.

He won three fouls in each game, too, making an impact despite having minimal touches.

His performances were enough to earn him a pair of 9/10 ratings from journalist Graham Smyth. Against the Citizens, he praised Calvert-Lewin for the fact that he ‘gave Leeds much more presence’ and said he ‘brought others into play’ superbly against the West Londoners.

With two goals in as many games and some good centre-forward performances outside of that, it is easy to see why Calvert-Lewin could be considered undroppable for Leeds. After a tough start, it seems like he has finally begun to show his best form.

It does seem unlikely that Farke will omit the striker from his starting XI ahead of the game against Liverpool on Saturday. Instead, he will be hoping he provide further troubles for Virgil van Dijk and the rest of the Reds’ defenders.

If Calvert-Lewin can replicate such a performance again, it will go a long way to helping Leeds achieve their goal of Premier League survival.

Best signing since Raphinha: Leeds star is one of "the best" players in PL

Leeds look to have struck gold with one of Farke’s summer signings.

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 4, 2025

Ruben Amorim has singled-out one key star for criticism, claiming their performances for their country are better than the shifts they put in for Manchester United. The United boss has also claimed he can "feel the anxiety" every time his player receives the ball in a damaging analysis ahead of the clash with Crystal Palace.

• Youngster's struggles since joining United

  Dorgu has faced some initial problems since becoming Amorim’s first signing at Man Utd, primarily due to being played as an attacking wing-back when he is a more natural full-back. Pundits and fans have described some of his performances as "dreadful," pointing out defensive lapses and poor decision-making in the final third. He has also yet to register a goal or assist for the club. 

  However, Dorgu is still only 21 years old and arrived mid-season from Lecce in Serie A, and was thrown into an unstable team under a new system. His struggles are often viewed as a result of being played out of position and mis-used by the current system rather than a lack of talent. But his boss has pointed out that Dorgu's instincts when playing for United are completely different to when he plays for his native Denmark. 

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  Amorim: 'He has time to improve'

  Ahead of the clash with Palace, Amorim said: "You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel the anxiety. When I see Patrick playing for the national team, he scored a great goal against Scotland and the decision that he made under pressure was completely different than the decision he's making in our team. I think it's the decision, he needs to be calmer playing the game."

  He added: "I remember the shot against Everton. That was easier than the decision he had to make when a guy from Scotland was there. I saw it when he played in Italy. But again, here is different and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning. He has time to improve. I just need to understand the context in trying to help them (Dorgu and Dalot). They are far from their best, and they know it. Like a lot of players in our team, like myself. I just look at them, and think they have so much more to give. So let’s see this week if we can improve that." 

• Away day woes for Amorim

  Manchester United have won just three of their last 26 Premier League away games against London sides and just one game away from home this season. And the United boss has acknowledged that his side’s form away from home is a problem he needs fix quickly. Amorim said:  "I felt during this year that when we played at home, the intensity was higher. And I felt in this game at home (against Everton) the intensity was not at the same level. So I think it's something that we need to work on. It's hard to point one thing why we are not winning away. There's a lot of issues. We are improving but we need to know how to finish the games in order to win."

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  Palace test awaits United

  Palace are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the United, winning three, and have only lost one home game all season. United, winless in their last three Premier League matches and struggling away from home and are also hampered by injuries to key attackers Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, along with defender Harry Maguire.

  Ahead of the match Amorim has conceded his team needs to defend better. The Portuguese said: “We are being really soft near the box. So we need to improve that in the last games, especially against Nottingham (Forest, the 2-2 draw). We allowed a lot of crosses, we didn’t press well [in] moments. Against Everton, they were with 10 men and we suffered the goal (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s winner) with the only shot on target."

Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter slammed Alexander Isak as “anonymous” as Liverpool suffered defeat at Anfield against Nottingham Forest for the second consecutive campaign.

The international break handed Liverpool some much-needed reprieve and there was plenty of hope that the Reds would finally bounce back from recent woes upon their return. Nottingham Forest had other ideas, however, as the Premier League champions were dealt another blow.

Arne Slot’s side initially got off to a solid start, creating chances and largely looking rejuvenated. But the threat from Nottingham Forest was always lurking and once again Liverpool were found wanting from a set piece. After Ibrahima Konate needlessly conceded the corner, Liverpool watched on as Murillo headed home. It has been the story of their season.

The Tricky Trees then thought they had a second, only for Igor Jesus’ effort to be controversially ruled out for handball in a decision that will be at the centre of debate in the coming days.

VAR couldn’t hold the visitors back forever though, and second-half goals from Nicolo Savona and a shocking third from Morgan Gibbs-White soon put Forest out of sight in the worst performance of Liverpool’s season.

It’s become worse before it’s got better for the Reds and there will be serious question marks surrounding several performances. The Premier League champions have not only seen their crown slip, they’ve seen it torn apart this season and record signing Isak has been a shadow of the player that so often caused Virgil van Dijk trouble.

Sky Sports reporter slams "anonymous" Alexander Isak

When Isak’s name appeared in the starting line-up, there would have been a growing excitement amongst Liverpool fans. Their £280,000-a-week star signing was finally set to have lift off, so they thoughtr. That was their dream, but the reality is that Slot’s side once again struggled to connect with the Swede, who took fewer touches than goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Where Liverpool go from here is the big question. They didn’t just lose against Nottingham Forest, they were shoved aside for the umpteenth time this season. Despite all the money that they finally spent in the summer, it is not clicking at Anfield.

For Isak, patience is also wearing out. Whilst he could be excused for a slow start after missing pre-season and striking at Newcastle United, he’s now had plenty of time to get back to full fitness, yet remains without a credible performance.

Liverpool now eyeing Mateta deal amid fresh Crystal Palace contract concern

The Reds know all about his quality.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 21, 2025

With Hugo Ekitike waiting in the wings, the former Newcastle man may struggle to keep hold of his place as Slot looks to solve his side’s problems and turn to the few bright sparks in his squad.

Slot's own Luis Suarez is now "offering Liverpool less than Darwin Nunez did"

In the eighth inning of the New York Yankees' game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, right fielder Aaron Judge came up with a chance to make history.

Judge was bidding to become the 19th player ever to hit four home runs in one game—and the first Yankee to do it since first baseman Lou Gehrig in 1932. Attempting to stop him: Brewers "pitcher" Jake Bauers—a position player in disguise.

Amazingly, Bauers—Judge's teammate in 2023—was able to "solve" the slugger. With a 55 mph curveball, he induced Judge into a harmless flyout—and left Judge laughing as he strode back to the dugout.

Judge ended his day 4-for-6 with three home runs and eight RBIs. Not bad.

Bauers, however, was the real hero for throwing a scoreless inning with just one walk. He also had an RBI double in his day job as a first baseman.

Despite Bauers's heroics, New York emerged a 20–9 victor.

When Manchester United meet Everton on Monday it will be exactly one year since Ruben Amorim took charge of his first game against Ipswich Town. It has been a highly eventful and not always happy 12 months featuring explosions of anger, fall-outs with players and many defeats. Many people, including the man himself, thought he might not even end up completing a year in the job.

But Amorim is still here and he feels far more equipped to succeed than when he arrived. There are some signs he is succeeding, albeit at a slow pace. When he arrived United were 14th in the Premier League table, on 11 points from nine games, with four defeats and a goal difference of -3. 

They ended the campaign in an even worse position, slumping to 15th with 42 points and a goal difference of -10. They lost 18 matches, 14 of them on the Portuguese's watch. They are in a better position now, sitting much higher up the table with 18 points after 11 games and a goal difference of plus one. They have lost three matches but are unbeaten in their last five, their longest spell without a league loss since February 2024.

According to Opta, United's 12-game rolling points-per-game average dropped to 0.83 at two stages last season after Amorim had taken charge, the lowest it had been since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Amorim then managed to outdo himself early in this campaign when that average dropped to 0.75, almost half the amount it was when Erik ten Hag was sacked. But now their rolling points-per-game average is at 1.75, the highest it has been since December 2023.

Performances have also improved. According to Opta, United's non-penalty expected goals (xG) per game has increased by 20 percent, from 1.24 under Amorim last season to 1.48 this term. United are therefore both defending and attacking better than before. The improvements show that the club's hierarchy, above all co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, were right to keep their faith in their manager and resist sacking him at the lowest points of last season, as well as in September following the defeat at Brentford, when the most important pundits on English television were saying enough was enough. 

Now Amorim needs to build on the momentum and start to pay Ratcliffe back by delivering irrefutable, and not incremental, evidence that the team are improving and that he can take them back to where they belong…

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  Ruthless approach

  Five out of the 16 players that appeared in Amorim's first game at Ipswich one year ago are no longer at the club. While Amorim had little say in Jonny Evans retiring or Christian Eriksen leaving when his contract expired, he had a big say in the departures of Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Andre Onana.

  Rashford has the paradoxical status of scoring the first goal of the Amorim era and then being the first to be hounded out of the club by the manager. The forward was cast aside from the squad on the day of the derby at Manchester City just three weeks after the coach's debut match at Portman Road, never playing for the club again. 

  The player's wavering commitment to the team both during matches and off the pitch had been bubbling under the surface for a long time and Ten Hag did not know how to handle the situation properly, giving him lenient punishments for stepping out of line before. Amorim, by contrast, took a ruthless approach to one of United's highest-paid, and their most famous homegrown player of the last decade.

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  Changing the culture

  Amorim cut Garnacho a little more slack after also dropping him for the derby but the tempestuous winger repeatedly defied the manager's authority and was ordered to find a new club after his petulant response to not starting the Europa League final. Amorim also took a no-nonsense approach with Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia (the Dutch defender is now back in the squad) by placing them in the so-called 'bomb squad', forbidding them from training with the first team. 

  It may have reduced the players' market value but it also sent out a clear message about who was in charge. Leny Yoro recently praised the manager's approach to the players who tested his authority, declaring: "We cannot build something with bad energy or bad atmosphere or bad characters." 

  The revelation from that Amorim singled out Manuel Ugarte for criticism on the same day he told Garnacho he had to leave also demonstrated that he held everyone to the same standard given he had worked with the midfielder at Sporting CP. also revealed that Amorim has made the players give more of their time to signing autographs and posing for photos for fans before and after matches at Old Trafford. Indeed, Amorim has led by example in this respect: he regularly attends to autograph and selfie hunters at the training ground.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Raising the bar

  That might seem like an insignificant detail but it is another reminder of how committed Amorim is to changing the culture of the dressing room and it seems to have worked, with the team looking more cohesive. The job, however, is far from complete. The way the team froze against Grimsby, when Amorim said "the players spoke really loud", was a reminder that they struggle to get up for every single game.

  Hojlund and Onana did not show the coach a lack of respect or lack of commitment to Amorim in the same way as Garnacho and Rashford, although he was similarly merciless with the duo, essentially determining that neither player was quite good enough to play for his team. The jury is still out on whether that was the right decision with regards to Hojlund, who has impressed on loan at Napoli while his replacement Benjamin Sesko has struggled to settle into the team and is now injured for at least a month. 

  The decision to let Onana join Trabzonspor on loan and sign Senne Lammens, however, looks like a masterstroke, with the Belgian giving United some much-needed peace of mind in goal. Onana's reported eagerness to sign an improved contract after the whole squad saw their salaries cut by missing out on Champions League football, which apparently did not go down well with the coach, further feeds into the sense that Amorim is improving the culture within the team.

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  Fighting in adversity

  A sign that this change in culture is benefitting the team on the pitch can be seen in the amount of late goals United have been scoring this season. They have struck in the 80th minute or later in their last four games, with each goal proving crucial to the final result. Harry Maguire's 84th-minute header against Liverpool saw United snatch a first win at Anfield in 10 seasons and showed their resilience as they could quite easily have caved in when Cody Gakpo had levelled a few minutes earlier. 

  The following week Bryan Mbeumo scored in the sixth minute of added time to kill off Brighton's comeback from three goals down, ensuring United won 4-2 rather than swallowing a damaging 3-3 draw. Amad Diallo's wonder-volley in the 80th minute grabbed a draw at Nottingham Forest, as did Matthijs de Ligt's 95th-minute header at Tottenham in the last game. Towards the start of the season, Bruno Fernandes' penalty in the 96th minute gave United victory over Burnley after they had twice surrendered the lead in the second half. 

  In total, the late goals have been worth an extra six points from 11 games so far this season, or eight if you count Mbeumo's strike against Brighton as preventing the Seagulls from completing their fightback. In Amorim's 27 league games last term his side scored after the 80th minute in five games, salvaging a total of nine points. "We fight in every adversity," said Amorim after the draw at Tottenham.

Liverpool will have a commanding presence in the transfer window this summer and could use that leverage to pull off an audacious player-plus-cash deal to land an exciting target, according to a report.

Liverpool look to build on Premier League title triumph

After laying claim to their second title of the Premier League era, the Reds are winding down for the campaign and won’t be too frustrated at surrendering a two-goal advantage in their draw with Arsenal last weekend.

Ultimately, Arne Slot has led his side to the goal they set out to achieve at the start of the season. Now, many are beginning to wonder what happens next once their celebrations are in the memory bank.

That is still a while off yet, though Liverpool are active in their pursuit of summer reinforcements and could look to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield. The Netherlands international is someone the club are aware of as far as his situation goes, with a release clause of between £29.5 million and £33.8 million being something they are willing to exploit.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana is also being targeted by Liverpool, potentially becoming a replacement for Luiz Diaz amid the latter attracting interest from Saudi Pro League outfit.

Darwin Nunez is another that could be moved on to free up funds and space for reinforcements in a period where Slot is expected to be ruthless in his decision-making to mould a squad fit to defend their crown. Realistically, Liverpool have nothing to prove to anyone, but they could potentially surpass their jointly-held record of 20 titles that they share with Manchester United next term with a repeat performance of this season’s excellence.

Making strides to equip themselves to do so, the Reds are now eyeing a swap deal that could see one of Europe’s revered attackers arrive on Merseyside.

Liverpool eye Ademola Lookman and Federico Chiesa swap deal

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Liverpool would be willing to swap Federico Chiesa for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman to bring the Nigeria international back to the Premier League. Formerly of Everton, Lookman has registered 19 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season. His current employers are unlikely to make allowances relating to his £50 million+ valuation, so Chiesa could be used to whittle that number down.

Better than Jota: Liverpool make contact to sign "world-class" £85m star

Liverpool have made contact to keep informed on a “world-class” star who is miles better than Diogo Jota.

2

By
Dan Emery

May 12, 2025

The Liverpool star could now be thrown into a potential swap arrangement after struggling to make an impact following his move from Juventus. Earning £150,000 per week, the Italy international has scored twice and registered two assists in just 13 outings, making him a prime candidate for a summer departure.

That said, it remains to be seen whether a swap would be the preferred option for both clubs or if conducting seperate deals is a more viable alternative to put through the books.

Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch an “outstanding” Galatasaray star in action ahead of a potential move this summer, according to a new transfer report.

Aston Villa eye signings amid Champions League push

It’s another important weekend for Unai Emery’s side, as they look to squeeze into the top five in the Premier League, sealing a place in next season’s Champions League. They are currently seventh in the table and three points adrift of fifth-place Chelsea, with the Midlands outfit hosting Fulham on Saturday lunchtime.

Villa are reportedly eyeing a stunning move for Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne this summer, with the Belgian confirming that he is leaving the Etihad. While he may no longer be at the peak of his powers, he could still be a hugely exciting addition.

The Villans have also been backed to make a move for Albacete Balompie striker Christian Kofane, with the 18-year-old considered one for the future. Manchester United are thought to be eyeing him up as well, alongside “half of Europe”.

There are some doubts over the future of Morgan Rogers at Villa, with Liverpool among those mentioned as being interested in him in recent days, and Sverre Nypan has been talked about as a possible replacement. The 18-year-old is a highly-rated young midfielder at Rosenborg, already registering 25 goal involvements (14 goals and 11 assists) in 65 appearances for the Norwegian side

Aston Villa send scouts to watch Gabriel Sara

According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Aston Villa and Monchi have sent scouts to watch Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara in action, as they eye a summer move for him. It is stated that City, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolves are also in the same situation as the Villans, with the 25-year-old potentially available for £34m at the end of the season.

Sara could be just what Emery is looking for this summer, as he looks to bolster his midfield options, with the Brazilian even having experience of English football, making 96 appearances for Norwich City and scoring 21 goals in that time.

Best deal since Tielemans: Aston Villa exploring move for "unique" PL star

Aston Villa could land their best signing since Youri Tielemans’ arrival with this deal.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 2, 2025

David Wagner, who was his manager at the Canaries at the same time, lauded him during their spell together: “He is an outstanding player. Not only for us but in this division – no one has a doubt about this. It’s crystal clear. All the goals, (barring) the penalty which was lucky, were top class.”

At 25, Sara is at a sweet spot in his career, picking up years of experience but still having lots of time to improve, and he could become a fulcrum of Villa’s midfield, combining quality and defensive work, having bagged six assists and averaged one aerial duel win per game in the Turkish Super Lig this season.

Manchester United’s season is not over, not just yet. Even at their lowest ebb, the Red Devils somehow managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat on Thursday evening to squeeze into the last four of the Europa League.

In need of a performance to keep the campaign alive, proceedings started in relatively routine fashion as the hosts led by two goals at the break, courtesy of Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot, before a Lyon fightback sparked understandable nerves inside Old Trafford.

The spirited visitors – who had been pegged back just before the end of normal time following Corentin Tolisso’s dismissal – looked to have then completed a remarkable turnaround in extra-time, with Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette sending United crashing toward humiliation.

But then. In just over seven minutes of heaven, the season – for now – was saved, with the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes converting from the penalty spot, prior to an expertly placed finish from substitute Kobbie Mainoo.

A nightmare night was totally flipped on its head at the Theatre of Dreams right at the death, as the oft-maligned Harry Maguire showcased his centre-forward instincts with a crucial backpost header. Cue delirium.

A far from vintage side produced a vintage result in the end, with Ruben Amorim now left with the unenviable task of trying to make sense of that glorious chaos.

Harry Maguire's performance vs Lyon

There’s only one place to start and that’s with that man Maguire, with the Englishman proving an unlikely hero once again this season, having notably scored the winner against Ipswich Town in the Premier League and against Leicester City in the FA Cup.

The 31-year-old had set the tone for proceedings early on with a crunching challenge on the lively Cherki on the halfway line, while also playing his part in Dalot’s first-half strike, after lofting the ball over the top of the Lyon defence to find the Portuguese full-back.

It was then the turn of Maguire himself to provide that cutting edge in the final third, with the Three Lions star thrust into a makeshift number nine berth as the home side chased the game, as Amorim later admitted that he is the “only one capable of scoring with his head”.

Such a switch paid off handsomely as Casemiro picked out the 6 foot 4 giant in stoppage time, with Maguire duly guiding the ball into the opposite corner to cap a magnificent night of entertainment in Manchester.

It would be fair to say that the £80m defender has endured a rocky road as a Manchester United player, not least after being stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag, but Thursday showcased once again just why he is an asset to this squad and this starting XI. As Amorim himself previously stated, the experienced ace is “perfect” for this 3-4-3 set-up.

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The same looked to be the case for Patrick Dorgu amid his arrival from Lecce in January, albeit with Thursday marking another shaky showing from the Dane at wing-back.

The Man Utd star who may need to be dropped

The 20-year-old hasn’t endured a smooth ride since his move to the Premier League, having notably been sent off in the 3-2 win over Ipswich, albeit while having particularly impressed against Real Sociedad after winning a penalty in that 4-1, second-leg thrashing.

Those mixed fortunes – which also saw the £30m man underwhelm in the defeat to Nottingham Forest – were on full display against the Ligue 1 outfit, with Dorgu putting in a somewhat frustrating performance down the left flank.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, the attack-minded asset looks like he is “creating a chance in almost every game”, although that willingness to get forward can come at a cost, as he lost the ball on ten occasions from just 48 touches – or every 4.8 touches.

Prior to being replaced by teenage sensation, Harry Amass, in the early stages of extra-time, Dorgu had also failed to complete a single cross nor provide a single key pass, having also skewed two efforts off target.

Those woes – which saw the left-footer also fail to successfully complete a single dribble – were added to by his shortcomings defensively as the new man was outmuscled at the backpost in the build-up to Tolisso’s strike.

That shaky defensive display led to GOAL journalist Richard Martin handing him just a 4/10 match rating while describing the new addition as a ‘weak link’, with there perhaps an argument that the 18-year-old Amass should now be handed a run of games in that wide berth.

Yes, Dorgu deserves a consistent period in the side himself in order to get up to speed in his new surroundings, although his starting berth certainly shouldn’t be guaranteed.

It is, of course, time to revel in the euphoria of Thursday’s victory, although it’s worth remembering that United were minutes away from yet more embarrassment. This team is still in need of drastic improvement…

Forget Amass: Man Utd can soon unleash teen "steam train" to rival Dorgu

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By
Joe Nuttall

Apr 17, 2025