Rangers have been dealt a big blow with the news that a key player will miss the Scottish Cup final clash with Celtic, according to an injury expert.
Rangers gearing up for final showdown
The Gers' Scottish Premiership title hopes received a hammer blow over the weekend, with Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Celtic leaving them six points adrift of their rivals and needing a genuine miracle to scoop the top prize from here.
A nightmare afternoon for John Lundstram saw him score an own goal and also receive a red card, with their chances of title glory now looking extremely slim thanks to a moment of madness from the soon to be free agent.
John Lundstram
All hope is not lost for Philippe Clement and his players this season, however, and if they do just fall short in the league, there is still another trophy on offer to add to their Scottish League Cup from earlier in the campaign.
On May 25th, Rangers take on the Hoops at Hampden Park on another massive occasion, in what could end up being a revenge mission for them. In order for them to have the possible chance of glory, however, they need as many key players available as possible, and one important individual now definitely won't be taking part.
Rangers handed injury blow before cup final
Speaking to Ibrox News, injury expert Dr. Rajpal Brar said that Danilo will miss Rangers' cup final showdown with Celtic, after hopes had risen following images of him returning to the training pitches. Brar insists that given he is still away from the full team sessions in the images, a return this season is virtually impossible.
"Considering how long he’s been out and the fact he just got back to the field and is only doing straight line running, there could still be a bit of time before he’s back in first team training.
"I would expect him to be back at the start of pre-season and he may do some individual work ahead of time in order to get back his mobility. He does seem a month away from training with the same intensity as the rest of the team."
Glasgow Rangers striker Danilo.
While not necessarily the biggest shock, having confirmation that Danilo will play no part against Celtic certainly has an adverse effect on their chances of beating their biggest adversaries.
Sadly, injuries have robbed the 25-year-old of making a genuine impact this season, but he has still scored four goals in five Scottish Premiership starts – 12 appearances in the competition in total – showing that he has been fairly prolific when available. Clement is a big admirer, too, saying of him earlier in the campaign: "He has killer capacities in the box, he’s a goalscorer.
"I want to make him a striker who works hard not only thinking about scoring goals because that’s a part we need, he has the individual actions to make a difference."
James Tavernier
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Cyriel Dessers
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Abdallah Sima
15
Danilo
6
Todd Cantwell
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Rabbi Matondo
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The aim for Danilo, who is one of the club's highest earners, will be to get back to full fitness during the summer, before returning to the Rangers side next season and enjoying an injury-free campaign. Eleven goal contributions (six goals and five assists) in 21 appearances has been a promising start, but there is hopefully so much more to come.
Arsenal have now made a "formal" bid to sign a £52 million player, and he's even been called "perfect" for manager Mikel Arteta.
Edu planning Arsenal signing spree
Sporting director Edu is planning to make four key signings for the north Londoners this summer, and they're spread across a variety of areas in the squad.
Arsenal hold internal talks over signing trophy-laden £199,000-a-week ace
The Gunners are looking to shore up a key department.
ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2024
From the defence to attack, it is believed that Edu wants to bring in a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward at Arsenal (Simon Collings), as they continue to build after what has been an impressive campaign – regardless of whether they win the Premier League or not.
There is a very serious case to be made that this current Man City team under Pep Guardiola are potentially the best footballing side England has ever seen, so even pushing them this far is an achievement in itself.
Arsenal 5-0 Chelsea
Sheffield United 0-6 Arsenal
Burnley 0-5 Arsenal
West Ham 0-6 Arsenal
Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace
Provided they beat Everton on the final day, Arsenal could finish the season on 89 points, which would've been enough to lift the title in 20 out of the last 31 seasons since the Premier League's inception (GiveMeSport).
The Gunners could be just one or two star additions away from near-invincibility, as some of their performances across 2023/2024 would highly suggest. Trimming and upgrading the squad is necessary, with this looming summer window set to be a crucial one at the Emirates Stadium.
Their midfield could look very different by next season. Arsenal are open to offers for Thomas Partey as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, while Mohamed Elneny appears set to leave north London as a free agent.
Arsenal have been linked with a host of potential replacements for the former, and one who's been regularly mentioned is Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi.
Arsenal now table formal bid to sign Martin Zubimendi
The Spaniard's contract includes a £52 million release clause, but it is believed Arsenal have attempted a low-ball proposal prior to the summer window's opening.
Indeed, according to Tutto Juve this week, Arsenal have tabled a "formal" £43 million offer for Zubimendi as they look to test Sociedad's resolve. This could apparently trigger an early bidding war between interested sides, but unfortunately for Juventus, they've already been priced out.
Martin Zubimendi
The 25-year-old has been in exceptional form for Sociedad, making 31 La Liga appearances as a mainstay under head coach Imanol Alguacil, and reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano believes he is the "perfect" midfielder for Arsenal.
“My personal feeling is that Zubimendi would be fantastic, even if [Amadou] Onana and Douglas [Luiz] have the advantage of both already knowing the Premier League," said Romano in an interview with CaughtOffside three months ago.
"Zubimendi is [a] fantastic player, he can help with his vision, quality and intelligence on the ball – he’s the perfect midfielder."
Barcelona face a significant setback with Robert Lewandowski ruled out of their upcoming Joan Gamper Trophy match due to a hamstring injury.
Lewandowski ruled out of Como clash with hamstring injury
Uncertain if he's available for La Liga opener vs Mallorca
Rashford and Torres expected to lead attack in his absence
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Lewandowski has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury in his left thigh, the club confirmed ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Como on Sunday. The Polish forward will miss this pre-season fixture and his recovery progress will dictate his availability for the La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16. No definitive timeline for his return has been provided, but the injury affects the same area that troubled him during the final part of last season. The news broke after him being linked to a move to Saudi Arabia.
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Lewandowski was a key figure last season, scoring 42 goals in 52 appearances and helping Barcelona secure the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana titles. His absence disrupts Hansi Flick’s attacking plans ahead of the new campaign. With Lewandowski sidelined, Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres may lead the line in his absence. Rashford is set to deputise in the Joan Gamper Trophy, while Torres is recovering from a muscle overload but is training again and reportedly no longer a doubt for the game against Como. The injury adds to Barcelona’s ongoing squad challenges as some new signings remain unregistered due to club financial issues, impacting squad depth.
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Dani Olmo is also struggling with a muscle strain as Barcelona added that he has been training separately from the rest of the squad ahead of the weekend's game.
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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Barcelona must adapt quickly without their star striker as they prepare for their final pre-season fixture and the upcoming La Liga campaign. Lewandowski’s progress will be closely monitored, with the hope he can return by the season opener against Mallorca. Meanwhile, manager Flick will rely on Rashford, Torres, and other attacking options to fill the gap.
Chelsea have agreed on personal terms with Alejandro Garnacho as they inch closer to securing a transfer for the Argentine winger. The Blues will now initiate transfer talks with Manchester United before placing a formal bid for the youngster. They are also pursuing RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons simultaneously.
Chelsea agree personal terms with Garnacho
Will initiate transfer talks with Man Utd
Also keen on signing Xavi Simons
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Garnacho is close to securing a transfer to Stamford Bridge this summer after agreeing personal terms with Chelsea. The Argentine winger is determined to sign for the Blues, who will now initiate talks with United over their valuation of the player.
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The reported on Thursday that the Red Devils have set an asking price of £50 million ($67m) for Garnacho. The Argentina international has been expected to depart since the start of the summer transfer window after being told by manager Ruben Amorim to find a new club.
DID YOU KNOW?
The amount that United will receive from Garnacho's transfer will be logged as pure profit and will benefit the club in terms of the profit and sustainability rules of the Premier League. The 21-year-old joined the Red Devils' youth system from Atletico Madrid in 2022 and two years later he made his professional debut.
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WHAT NEXT
As talks with United are expected to progress in the coming days, Chelsea are also pursuing a move for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The Red Devils, meanwhile, are closing in on the signing of Simons' team-mate Benjamin Sesko.
Stuart Broad could miss his first home Test since 2012 this summer
Matt Roller28-Jun-2020England’s bowlers have been told by the selectors that the team picked for the first Test against West Indies will be the strongest possible side, despite the acceptance that rotation will be a feature of the summer.The 30-man training group named ahead of the West Indies series includes 18 seamers, with the ECB’s performance director Mo Bobat telling ESPNcricinfo last month that “our depth will get challenged” by a “pretty brutal schedule”. England are set to play six Tests in a seven-week window across the West Indies and Pakistan series, and the team’s management are expected to give opportunities to fringe players at some stage.That could mean that Stuart Broad misses a Test match in England for the first time since 2012, breaking a streak that currently stands at 51 consecutive appearances at home. Jacques Kallis is the only pace bowler to have played more consecutive home Tests with 54. Speaking from the bubble at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday, Broad admitted that he was reluctant to miss any cricket, but accepted that there was a “bigger picture” for the support staff to consider.Stuart Broad is just three matches away from Jacques Kallis’s record of 54 consecutive home Tests•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“We’ve been told as a bowling group that the strongest team will be picked for the first Test. The aim is to get into that,” Broad said. “The last Test I missed in England was against West Indies in 2012, when I was named in the starting XI [before the toss] but it rained for the first two days and Andy Flower decided that a three-day Test match was one to take a rest from, over which we had an argument at the time.”I don’t like missing cricket. I feel fit at the moment – my fitness tests have been as strong as ever in this come-back-to-cricket period – but we all know how hard fast bowling is. One of my strengths over the years has been to play consistently, so the body has been used to the workload, and it has never had that period of stopping, to then have that shock of coming back.”That is the period we’re in now, and Ed Smith, James Taylor [England’s selectors] and Chris Silverwood [head coach] in the selection panel have been clear that, yes, we want to play our best team as often as possible, but we’re not going to put bodies at major risk.”Broad had an argument with Andy Flower when he last missed a home Test in 2012•PA Images via Getty Images
Despite his admission that he would rather not miss a Test, Broad conceded that the risk of injury will be heightened this summer. There have already been parallels drawn with football, where the Bundesliga and the Premier League have seen a spike in injury rates, and Broad used the example of James Anderson’s injury at Newlands to illustrate the problem.”We all wear these GPS devices now, and the stats that Phil Scott [England’s strength and conditioning coach] pulls together are quite interesting. He can almost predict when an injury might happen. If you bowl 25 or 30 overs in a day, you won’t get injured the next day – it’s a bounce of two weeks when the height of risk of injury comes, which is why rest and recuperation comes into it.”If you’re in the team on July 8 and you do your job and bowl well and you bowl the team out by only bowling 20 overs in the Test then I’m assuming you’re going to play in the next game. That has got to be your aim, and I’d love the opportunity to start. It’s always going to be hard and frustrating if you’re told you’re not playing in a Test, but there is a bigger picture for them looking after us.”We can see [from when] Jimmy came back on Boxing Day – we had a bit of illness, so he bowled loads on Boxing Day and then got injured ten days later. We want to avoid those sorts of things with our bodies not feeling as tough, as cricket-hardened as they would be in a normal summer.”ALSO READ: England’s pace attack is their best since 2005 – GoughIf England do choose to rotate, they will not have any shortage of options to choose from. Players on the fringes of selection like Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Ollie Robinson will push for inclusion in the final squad for this series in a three-day warm-up match starting on Wednesday, while England have already used as many as eight frontline seamers in Test cricket in the past 12 months.”You have 30 people trying to get in 11 spots, so training has been nicely intense,” Broad said. “The coaches have been telling us to make sure we control our intensity a little, because obviously if we come in and spike our workloads and get up to too high an intensity, we risk injury.”There is certainly no panic over the strength in depth of English fast bowling. We’ve all come here fit and fresh, which is rare for a fast-bowling group. The dream ticket is to board a flight for Brisbane [ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes] and having this lot of fast bowlers all ready to go.”Can we have Olly Stone, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, these sort of pace guys, Woakes, Curran, Broad, Anderson, all fit, fresh and ready to go? If we can, we’ve got a chance of winning there.”
Liverpool's academy has been renowned as one of the world's best for some time now.
Many players who came through the ranks at the club, such as Steven Gerrard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jamie Carragher each managed to have long-standing Premier League careers with their hometown team.
The 2023/24 season, in particular, is where the Reds' academy has been allowed to show its prowess in the development of talent.
Steven Gerrard.
Jurgen Klopp's men have had a major injury crisis all the way through the campaign thus far. Players such as Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic and even Alisson are all absent due to the long-term injuries they have sustained either during the 2022/23 campaign or this term.
Fans are unlikely to see Matip appear for the Reds again this season as the Cameroon international managed to rupture his ACL during Liverpool's 4-3 win against Fulham.
In fact, that game against the Cottagers could be the last time we see the centre-back in a Liverpool shirt at all because his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
However, departing manager, Jurgen Klopp believes FSG will "show their class" and offer the 32-year-old an extension.
"I would say so, but it’s not my decision in the end – I cannot sign the papers,” he said.
"I am pretty sure the club will show their class, just how they should do it. I am pretty sure the club told Joël already that whatever happens as long as he is injured everything is fine. Then we have to make a decision together with Joël how it looks after that."
Although all these players being absent is far from an ideal situation for the Reds, they have still managed to find themselves on top of the Premier League table and find themselves still in contention for a historic quadruple.
Granted, they are just one point ahead of second-placed Manchester City, however, they face one another on the 10th of March in what many are calling a title-deciding game.
One positive aspect which can be taken from the absences Liverpool have suffered is the fact that some of their academy players have had their careers kick-started.
Youngsters such as Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and 16-year-old Trey Nyoni have all made their debuts for the Reds' senior squad this term.
However, it is another one of Liverpool's academy players who has been setting the footballing world alight with his performances of late, that player being, Caoimhin Kelleher.
Caoimhin Kelleher's time with Liverpool so far
Described as "world-class" by his teammate Virgil van Dijk, Kelleher has been a constant around Liverpool's senior squad since his first appearance for the club in the third round of the Carabao Cup where Liverpool triumphed 2-0 over MK Dons.
Starting XI on Kelleher's debut
MK Dons 0 – 2 Liverpool September 2019
GK – Caoimhin Kelleher
RB – Ki-Jana Hoever
CB – Joe Gomez
CB – Dejan Lovren
LB – James Milner
CM – Adam Lallana
CM – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
CM – Naby Keita
RW – Harvey Elliott
ST – Rhian Brewster
LW – Curtis Jones
He joined the Reds' academy at the age of 15 from Ringmahon Rangers and managed to make his way through the youth ranks at the club and eventually to the first team.
Since then, he has cemented himself as a penalty shoot-out specialist and has come out on top a total of four times, more than any other Reds goalkeeper in history.
The most memorable of those would more than likely have to be when he rounded off the shoot-out against Chelsea in the 2021/22 edition of the Carabao Cup final.
The Reds won 11–10 thanks to the heroics of the 'keeper and granted Klopp the first Carabao Cup trophy of his tenure.
Carabao Cup winner Virgil van Dijk.
The Republic of Ireland international started to make himself known during Liverpool's pre-season tour during the 2018/19 season, where he appeared multiple times.
From then on, he made sporadic appearances for the first team on numerous occasions, racking up a total of five appearances before playing his first Champions League games against both Ajax and FC Midtjylland.
It was also during the same 2020/21 season when the youngster made his top-flight debut versus Wolves, where he was filling in for the injured Alisson.
Since then, he has only been able to make the odd appearance here and there due to the importance of the Brazilian stopper within the Liverpool line-up.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
However, over the last couple of seasons, the now 25-year-old has been afforded the chance to take the helm in the Carabao Cup games.
This season, the goalkeeper has appeared for the Reds a few more times than he would've likely expected to as Alisson has been ruled out for multiple weeks due to an injury he sustained.
Fortunately for Klopp's men, Kelleher has been on top form.
Kelleher's transfer valuation in 2024
Thanks to his strong performances throughout both 2021/22 and 2022/23, Kelleher was linked with a plethora of clubs over the summer and January transfer windows, with Celtic even being told that a £20m bid would suffice for the 'keeper.
Klopp will now be thankful that they didn't sell their academy graduate as he has managed to perform to an incredibly high standard this season.
The 2023/24 term has been the one in which fans have seen the most of the Irishman. Due to the sheer excellence of Alisson, it's easy to understand why the 25-year-old isn't afforded as many chances as he likely should be.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Since being called up whilst the 31-year-old is injured, Kelleher has managed to perform to the same level with a handful of superb displays.
Indeed, he has made multiple world-class saves and has cemented himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premier League, notably shining in the Carabao Cup final, as seen below.
Interestingly, when compared to some of his top-flight counterparts, only Arsenal's David Raya has a higher clean sheet percentage (38.1%) than Liverpool's stand-in number one (33.3%) in the Premier League.
Alisson has the same clean sheet percentage as his deputy although, he has played 15 more top-flight games.
The statistics from FBRef also show that the youngster has the third-highest save percentage (71.4%) out of the sample chosen. Only Alisson (75.3%) and, somewhat surprisingly, Manchester United's Andre Onana (73.3%) have a higher amount.
Although statistics can't always be taken for gospel, it shows how well the 'keeper has played this season and outlines how strong of a backup he is.
So, it's no wonder that Klopp has struck gold with the signing of Kelleher and, more than likely, after his stellar form this season, his value will have no doubt increased considerably.
da dobrowin： Liverpool have been hit with yet another injury concern before their Premier League clash with Sheffield United, as reported by reliable journalist David Lynch.
Liverpool injury news
da apostebet： The Reds continue to excel this season and they know that victory over the Blades at Anfield on Thursday night will put them back to the top of the table, following wins for Arsenal and Manchester City on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp has a number of injuries heading into the game, however, with several key men still unavailable after long absences from the team this season. Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota are the individuals who stand out in that respect, but the hope is that all three will be back in action in the coming weeks.
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara
Meanwhile, the quartet of Joel Matip, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak may not feature again this season, outlining the number of issues that Liverpool have had to deal with.
On the plus side, Curtis Jones is expected to be back in the squad for the Sheffield United match, as is Andy Robertson, but now a fresh issue has emerged for another player.
Liverpool star a late doubt vs Sheffield United
Taking to X after Klopp's press conferece, Lynch confirmed that Wataru Endo is "dealing with a knock sustained against Brighton", meaning he is a doubt for the Sheffield United game.
Wataru Endo for Liverpool.
It feels almost impossible for the Reds to go more than a week without a new injury emerging, and the fact that they are still in with such a great chance of winning the title is testament to the incredible job that Klopp has done in 2023/24 to date.
Endo has been one of the signings of the season, having arrived in low-key fashion from VfB Stuttgart, bringing so much balance to midfield and allowing Alexis Mac Allister to excel further up the pitch. Klopp himself knows how influential the 31-year-old has been.
If Endo is ruled out against the Blades it will be a blow, considering the understated impact he has made, but equally, Liverpool should have more than enough quality to get past their relegation-threatened opponents at Anfield.
More important is ensuring that the Japan international is available for Sunday's enormous clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, which has the potential to be a defining fixture between now and the end of the season.
Liverpool ready to make first offer for "impressive" in-demand gem
He’s attracted plenty of interest…
ByTom Cunningham Apr 3, 2024
While the Red Devils are unconvincing, they showed what they can do in the FA Cup win over the Reds, and Endo's experience anchoring the midfield will be needed in a hostile atmosphere.
Derbyshire 239 and 365 for 7 (Hudson-Prentice 91*, Godleman 86) beat Nottinghamshire 324 (Hameed 68, Patel 63, Nash 59) and 279 (Patel 80, Hameed 52) by three wicketsFynn Hudson-Prentice showed skill and character under pressure to guide Derbyshire to a remarkable three-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire in the Bob Willis Trophy North Group match at Trent Bridge.The all-rounder made a superbly judged unbeaten 91 from 169 balls as Derbyshire chased down a 365 target with one ball to spare to record their highest-ever successful run-chase against a county side.The defeat means Nottinghamshire, who lost fast bowler Joey Evison with a foot injury early on the final day, have not won a first-class game since June 2018.They were favourites to end that barren run when Derbyshire slipped to 234 for 6 but Hudson-Prentice shared half-century stands with Mattie McKiernan and Michael Cohen, on his 22nd birthday, to give a game of changing fortunes one final twist.Both teams went into the final morning with expectations of victory although overcast skies suggested conditions favoured the bowlers. It was gloomy enough for the floodlights to be switched on and Godleman and Madsen had to fight for every run against disciplined pace bowling.Godleman drove Evison to the cover boundary to bring up the century stand just before a short rain delay and when play resumed, the young fast bowler trapped Derbyshire’s captain lbw with a full length ball that he played slightly across.It was his last contribution as he left the field in the same over but despite being a bowler down, Nottinghamshire chipped away and claimed another big wicket before lunch.Leus du Plooy scored a brilliant century in the first innings but this time he moved across his stumps to Steven Mullaney who swung the ball back in to have him lbw for 7.Derbyshire’s hopes now seemingly rested with Madsen who was so intent on survival he scored only 15 runs in the first session and his obdurate innings ended soon after lunch.Madsen had faced 174 balls for 43 but Ball defeated him with a full delivery that caught him in front on the crease and Harvey Hosein had his stumps scattered four overs later.But Critchley reined in his natural attacking instincts and with Hudson-Prentice, dug in to frustrate Notts for 19 overs. The pair added 42 and tea was in sight when Critchley’s concentration wavered as Patel lured him down the pitch and raced away in celebration when Tom Moores whipped off the bails.Notts took the new ball as soon as it became available but the breakthrough did not come with Hudson-Prentice and McKiernan playing calmly as the overs ticked away.Ball came back at the Radcliffe Road End and had Hudson-Prentice dropped on 61 by Mullaney, diving across from second slip but in the same over, he squeezed one through McKiernan’s defence to break a stand that added 65 in 23 overs.But Derbyshire continued to fight with Cohen twice driving Ball to the cover boundary as the target came down to 27 from five overs.Hudson-Prentice pulled the first ball of the next over from Ball for four and then lifted Patel over mid-on to leave Derbyshire needing 13 from three.That came down to five from the final over and Cohen completed a memorable day for him and Derbyshire when he swung the penultimate delivery from Ball to midwicket for the winning runs.
Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior have been warned that Manchester City star Rodri is “head and shoulders above them” in the Ballon d’Or race.
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Real Madrid stars had led Golden Ball battle
May have been overtaken by Euro 2024 winner
Midfielder considered to be part of global elite
WHAT HAPPENED?
That battle appeared to be a two-way fight at one stage, with Bellingham and Vinicius helping Real Madrid to La Liga and Champions League titles in 2023-24. Neither, however, were able to claim international honours when representing England and Brazil respectively in European Championship and Copa America competition.
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Rodri – who steered City to a fourth consecutive Premier League crown last season, a year on from savouring a historic Treble triumph – did inspire Spain to Euro 2024 glory. He is now very much in the Golden Ball picture, with one former City star considering the all-action midfielder to be deserving of the ‘best player in the world’ tag.
WHAT DICKOV SAID
Quizzed on whether Rodri can upset the odds and walk away with the 2024 Ballon d’Or, ex-City striker Paul Dickov – speaking in association with – told GOAL: ”I think so. Not just last season, his performances over the last three or four seasons, he has by far been the best midfielder in that position in the world. Winning the Treble the season before last, four-in-a-row last year, winning the Euros with Spain – where he was arguably their best player. [Kylian] Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude are always going to be up there in the mix, mainly because of the club that they are at. But I look at Rodri and don’t think there is a more deserved winner of the Ballon d’Or than he will be.”
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Dickov – who remains a cult hero on the blue half of Manchester after featuring in back-to-back promotion-winning campaigns that lifted City out of the third tier of English football and into the Premier League – added on Rodri: “He’s not just a defensive midfielder now. If you look at Man City, how successful they are, you only have to take Rodri out of that team to see how much they struggle – and that’s with players like [Kevin] De Bruyne, [Phil] Foden, Bernardo Silva, [Erling] Haaland. All of these wonderful players that they have got in the team, if they are injured or suspended then there is like-for-like to come in and it doesn’t really effect the set-up of the team. But if you take Rodri out of the team, as we saw last season when he missed three or four games, City didn’t win. It just shows you what a huge influence he is. For me, I look around all these wonderful players that we have got in Europe, but Rodri is head and shoulders above them all.”
Liverpool have had quite a whirlwind couple of weeks of late. From winning the Carabao Cup to scoring a last-minute winner against Nottingham Forest, now feels like a good time to be a Reds fan.
Alongside their last six games resulting in victories, due to the injury crisis that the club have found themselves in, they have had to rely on their academy much more often than they would've liked to have done.
However, due to Jurgen Klopp's reliance on Liverpool's youngsters, it has sprung some of their careers into gear.
For example, Conor Bradley is the name which would come to the forefront of fans' minds when thinking about which youngsters have made the most progress.
The right-back has filled in for Trent Alexander-Arnold on multiple occasions and has even outshone him here and there.
The Northern Ireland international has played a total of 14 games in all competitions thus far and has managed six goal contributions during that time.
Although for the academy graduates, their inclusion within Liverpool's first-team is undeniably good for their development, it has meant some of the Reds' first-team players have drawn the short straw.
Liverpool's biggest loser from academy success
The most notable of those is that of Cody Gakpo. The attacker hasn't been in the best of form of late and looks to have lost some of the confidence he showed last season amidst an upturn in performance level from the younger stars of tomorrow around him.
That was particularly the case in the Reds' most recent Premier League tie against relegation battlers, Nottingham Forest.
Despite starting the game on Saturday and playing a total of 84 minutes, the attacker failed to have much of an impact on the tie.
During his time on the pitch, the Dutchman, who played as a striker, failed to register a shot on target. Additionally, he only amassed a total of 32 touches and ended up with a pass accuracy of just 81%.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.
Having such a minimal number of touches during the clash meant that the former PSV man had fewer than Caoimhin Kelleher, which, for someone who is supposed to be one of the Reds' best attackers, is quite concerning.
Unfortunately, across the rest of the season, despite scoring 11 goals, it feels as if the 24-year-old has lost his spark in recent games, failing to net in the Carabao Cup final and then frustrating at the City Ground.
Compared to the previous term of 2022/23, where the attacker joined the Merseyside club in January, the difference in output is staggering.
Gakpo played a total of 12 games less (so far) and still managed to end up with ten goal contributions with one even ending up inside the top 10 of Liverpool's best goals of the campaign.
Although this season has seen a downturn in the form of the 24-year-old, for Jayden Danns, his career has just begun.
The sudden rise of Jayden Danns
Prior to being involved in Liverpool's senior squad for the first time against Luton in what was a 4-1 win for the Reds, the striker had been lighting up the youth leagues for the club.
Jayden Danns scores for Liverpool.
In just 17 games, the attacker managed to involve himself with 20 goals, 16 of which came as his own.
Standing at a height of 6-foot, the striker is a physical presence on the field and offers Klopp yet another tactical option should he feel the need to change it up during a game.
His clinical scoring ability (as shown by his goal tally) is also a major advantage to his game. Additionally, the fact that the 18-year-old managed to slot two goals past Southampton in the FA Cup isn't something that should be frowned upon.
The attacker is one of the best stories to come out of the Liverpool camp this term and looks set to have a bright future ahead of him if his form continues.