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It does now appear that Daniel Farke’s days as Leeds United manager are very much numbered.

This isn’t exactly the biggest shock in the world, considering the Whites have now lost five of their last six Premier League games, with the Aston Villa loss sending them into that dreaded bottom three.

Reports are indicating that the German’s sacking looks inevitable amid doubts over whether he is the correct long-term man at Elland Road, albeit with a succession plan seemingly not yet in place.

Unfortunately, Farke looks as if he will fall victim to a fate that even the great Marcelo Bielsa had to come to terms with in the Premier League.

Not even a colossal 81 wins in charge could save the revered Argentine from the sack in the end, with far less sadness on display when Jesse Marsch was given his marching orders after the South American, when looking at his up-and-down stint in West Yorkshire.

Marc Roca's Leeds woes under Marsch

The new Canada boss would only muster up a weak 11 wins from the pressurised dug-out, in contrast, but that isn’t to say it was all doom and gloom while he occupied the hot seat.

Indeed, Marsch would steer the Whites to safety during the 2021/22 season after picking up the pieces from Bielsa, with a memorable away win at Liverpool even on his resume.

Still, a fair few of the signings the American signed off on during his brief stay in England were extremely hit-and-miss, including the one-season wonder of Marc Roca.

Initially, the Spaniard stood out as a rock-solid option in defensive midfield, with Leeds’ unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season seeing Roca win a high 15 duels in wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea.

Yet, much like Luis Sinisterra, who showed flashes of his excellence at Leeds with five Premier League goals put away, Roca’s efforts ultimately meant nothing, as Leeds succumbed to relegation during his only season at the club.

Pundit Adrian Durham would even state, during his brief time in West Yorkshire, that he wasn’t sure if Roca had the calibre to be a “Premier League footballer”. By the end of the campaign, he was merely a bit-part player, too, despite such early promise.

Leeds will hope history isn’t repeating itself now with this promising summer acquisition, who has gone off the boil somewhat in recent weeks.

Leeds' next Roca in the making

To make matters worse for the Whites, Roca would end up returning to home comforts in La Liga smoothly, having looked far more impressive back at Real Betis.

Chalkboard

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

Indeed, as per FBref, he currently ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for assists per 90, as well as in the top 10% for interceptions and the top 17% for tackles, showcasing an all-around quality that was sorely lacking at Elland Road.

Much like the Betis number 21, Anton Stach was a notable midfield purchase this summer from Europe, with £17.4m splashed out on the German, after he had collected a weighty five goals and 16 assists in the Bundesliga for the likes of Hoffenheim.

He has packed his shooting boots for England, too, with this outrageous free-kick against Wolves earlier in the season making him a fan’s favourite amongst Leeds supporters packed into Molineux.

During the same game, he also picked up an assist, while winning a combined eight tackles and duels.

Yet, since that standout performance against the bottom-of-the-table Old Gold, Stach has failed to consistently deliver, with his form out of sorts against Nottingham Forest at the start of the month, which culminated in the German completing zero successful dribbles and losing possession a high 15 times.

Stach’s PL numbers since Wolves
Stat	Stach
Games played	6
Games started	4
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Accurate passes	153/187
Total duels won	22/40
Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, Stach has only won 22 of his following 40 duels since his man-of-match-worthy display in the West Midlands, with Farke even pushing him down to the bench on occasion, which is a fate Roca became very much used to during the latter stages of his hot-and-cold Leeds stint.

Farke has even openly come out and said that Stach needs to “step up” amid a concern that his performances have gone downhill, with relegation staring Leeds in the face, even with glimpses of promise here and there from the ex-Hoffenheim star.

The under-pressure German will hope Stach listens to his words and gets back to his best shortly.

If he doesn’t, and he fades into the background like Roca, relegation looks to be on the cards, as the walls begin to be “slowly closing in” on the ex-Norwich City manager, as per the Athletic’s Beren Cross.

Leeds star is becoming Elland Road's biggest liability since Berardi

Leeds United could now have their biggest liability since the days of Gaetano Berardi in this underperforming flop.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 25, 2025

Chelsea have now been handed a major boost in the race to sign Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, but there could be competition from a number of Europe’s top clubs.

The Blues made a number of additions in attacking areas during the summer transfer window, and Alejandro Garnacho has now started to find his best form, putting in a top performance in the 3-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to the international break.

The winger was a constant threat, registering two assists and setting Malo Gusto up for the first goal of his career with a pinpoint cross from the left early in the second half.

Jamie Gittens, on the other hand, hasn’t been quite as impressive, having been unable to record a single goal contribution in his opening nine Premier League games, although it is still very early days for the Englishman, who is just 21-years-old.

However, the Blues have now set their sights on bringing in a new winger, and there has been a positive development in their pursuit of Yldiz, after submitting a proposal to the forward’s agent at the end of October.

Chelsea now receive major boost in Kenan Yildiz race

Chelsea have now received a major boost in the race to sign the Juventus winger, with a report from Caught Offside revealing talks over a new contract with the Italian club have recently stalled, given that the salary he is demanding has been deemed to be too high.

There could be fierce competition for the Turk’s signature, however, with a number of top clubs from across the continent now lining up for a possible bidding war, including Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Should the Serie A giants be unable to agree a new deal, they will look to hold out for a fee of €100m (£88m), which would make the 20-year-old one of the most expensive signings in the Blues’ history.

A deal for the youngster is likely to break the bank, but he is certainly exhibiting promising signs in Serie A, having made an impressive start to the campaign, chipping in with three goals and four assists in 14 matches across all competitions.

The starlet is also an impressive dribbler of the ball, averaging 2.25 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 89th percentile, when compared to his positional peers.

Scout Jacek Kulig has waxed lyrical about the young forward’s dribbling ability too, saying he has “high on-the-ball bravery to make spectacular solo runs”, so it would make sense for Chelsea to pursue a deal, if Gittens continues to flatter to deceive.

Kenan Yildiz has been named as one of the best wingers in the world

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By
Charlie Smith

Nov 28, 2025

خاض فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، مباراته في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز عصر يوم الأحد وذلك ضد نظيره فريق وست هام على ملعب الأخير.

واستضاف ملعب “لندن الأولمبي” مباراة فريقي ليفربول ووست هام، في خضم منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي 2025/26، حيث حقق حامل اللقب فوزًا بهدفين دون رد. أهداف مباراة ليفربول ووست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي

ودخل ليفربول تلك المباراة مع تواجد النجم المصري محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء، ولم يشارك في أي دقائق.

وسنحت فرصة هجومية لصالح ليفربول في الدقيقة الرابعة من عمر الشوط الأول، ولكن ألكسندر إيزاك سدد كرته أعلى من اللازم، لتضيع الهجمة على الضيوف.

واصطدم حارس ليفربول أليسون بيكر بزميله جو جوميز، في الدقيقة 11، خلال تصديه لتسديدة من أحد لاعبي وست هام، ليسقط على أرض الملعب حيث تدخل الطاقم الطبي قبل استكماله اللعب.

وتصدى حارس مرمى وست هام، أريولا، لفرصة هدف محقق بعد تسديدة من ألكسندر إيزاك في الدقيقة 22، ولكن الحظ لم يحالف لاعب ليفربول.

وفي الدقيقة 39، مرر جاكبو كرة إلى فلوريان فيرتز حيث كان الأخير في موقف مميز للتسجيل، ولكن كرته وصلت سهلة إلى يد حارس وست هام.

وعاد أريولا، حارس وست هام، للتألق من جديد بعدما تصدى لتسديدة من جو جوميز في الدقيقة 43.

وجاء هدف ليفربول الأول في الدقيقة 59 عن طريق ألكسندر إيزاك، بعد سلسلة من التمريرات انتهت بتمريرة من جاكبو إلى السويدي الذي سددها في الشباك، معلنًا عن هدفه الأول بقميص الريدز في الدوري الإنجليزي.

وكاد هوجو إيكتيكي أن يسجل الهدف الثاني لصالح ليفربول في الدقيقة 76 بعدما سدد كرة قوية مرت بجوار قائم مرمى وست هام.

واضطر وست هام إلى اللعب منقوصًا منذ الدقيقة 83 بعدما طُرد اللاعب لوكاس باكيتا لحصوله على بطاقة حمراء، حيث كان الأمر في البداية قاصرًا على بطاقة صفراء بسبب اعتراضه على الحكم نتيجة تدخل نيكلاس فولكروج على دومينيك سوبوسلاي.

وحاول لاعبو وست هام تهدئة باكيتا والذي استمر في معارضته للحكم، الذي أشهر البطاقة الصفراء الثانية ثم الحمراء، ثم صفق له اللاعب ساخرًا وهو يغادر الملعب.

وفي الدقيقة 92، سجل كودي جاكبو الهدف الثاني لصالح ليفربول، ليضمن النقاط كاملة لكتيبة آرني سلوت في ظل معاناتهم الفترة الأخيرة.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد ليفربول إلى 21 نقطة في المركز الثامن، بينما تجمد رصيد وست هام عند 11 نقطة في المركز السابع عشر.

Glasgow Rangers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since they appointed Danny Rohl in their 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues failed to score a goal in a home game against Falkirk for the first time this century, and it was a disappointing all-round display from the hosts.

Rangers were unable to find the back of the net from three ‘big chances’ and 1.07 xG, per Sofascore, and had to settle for one point and no goals in front of their supporters.

Despite the underwhelming performance and result, there was a positive for Rohl to take away from the match, as Nedim Bajrami showed that he has something to offer.

Why Danny Rohl must unleash Nedim Bajrami

The Albania international came in for his first start of the league season, having made six substitute appearances before Sunday, and his performance on the left flank suggests that he has been underused.

Bajrami ended his 75 minutes on the pitch with four dribbles completed, two chances created, and ten duels won, per Sofascore, which shows that he put himself about physically, moved forward with the ball with intent, and looked to make things happen in the final third.

Last season, the former Sassuolo man scored two goals and created four ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership, to go along with one goal and six ‘big chances’ created in eight starts in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

Chalkboard

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

Meanwhile, one of the summer signings, Thelo Aasgaard, has failed to prove himself to be an upgrade on Bajrami and now looks to be the biggest waste of time since Sam Lammers.

Why Thelo Aasgaard may be the new Sam Lammers

Rangers signed Lammers from Atalanta for £3m in the summer of 2022, to bolster Michael Beale’s attack, and the attacking midfielder produced two goals and two assists in 31 games for the club, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed flop spent the second half of that season on loan at Utrecht before being sold to FC Twente for an initial fee of £2.5m that could rise to £4m one year after joining the Gers.

This shows that Lammers was more or less a waste of time for the Light Blues because he rarely contributed on the pitch and he left Ibrox for a similar fee to the one that he was brought in for.

Rangers paid £3.5m to sign Aasgaard from Luton Town in the summer, only £500k more than Lammers cost, and he is, unfortunately, treading the same path that the Dutchman walked.

The Norway international, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar dubbed “rotten” last month, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is an even worse return than the Twente star ended his Ibrox career with.

Aasgaard, who was handed a 2/10 player rating vs Falkirk by IbroxNews, has as many red cards as goals, after he was sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and, as aforementioned, he has not proven that he is an upgrade on the player that he was brought in to replace, Bajrami.

Starts

15

8

Goals

2

1

Key passes

28

9

Big chances created

4

0

Assists

1

1

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder has not scored goals or created chances at a more impressive rate than the Albanian did in the Premiership last term.

The same is true for their respective form in the Europa League. Last season, Bajrami scored one goal and created six ‘big chances’ in eight starts, per Sofascore, whilst Aasgaard has no goals and no ‘big chances’ created in five outings in the competition in the 2025/26 campaign.

If the 2/10 Norwegian flop’s dismal form at the top end of the pitch continues and Bajrami gets more chances after his bright showing against Falkirk, then his future may already be in doubt when the January transfer window opens.

Like Lammers, Aasgaard may have to look at his options in January and see if there is a loan or a permanent option for him to go elsewhere, unless he can turn his form around in the coming weeks.

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For now, though, the former Luton and Wigan star looks to be the biggest waste of time since Lammers because of the fee he was signed for and the lack of consistent performances on the pitch.

Elite central midfielders cost a pretty penny in the transfer market in the modern day, but Manchester United are trying to find their next top talent in such an area.

Over the years, the Red Devils have previously been home to numerous incredible talents, with Paul Scholes one of the best midfielders to ever play for the club.

The Englishman made a staggering total of 718 appearances for the club over a 19-year period, subsequently winning every major honour available in the 1990s and 2000s.

He was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad that often dominated England’s top-flight, subsequently being a part of the squad that managed to win 11 Premier League titles.

However, in the present day, boss Ruben Amorim is yet to taste glory in the division, with the potential moves for numerous players potentially aiding his quest for success.

Man Utd ready big-money bid for new midfielder

Over the last couple of weeks, United have once again been labelled as one of the sides interested in a potential winter deal to land Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

It’s been reported that Amorim’s men could look to revisit such a move in the months ahead, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side once again expected to demand a fee in the region of £100m.

However, the Red Devils are likely unwilling to fork out such a fee, especially after rejecting a move for the Cameroonian in the summer after a similar price tag was mooted.

He’s not the only midfielder currently in INEOS’ sights, as Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has once again appeared on their radar over the last couple of days.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are set to make a €100m (£87m) offer to sign the 21-year-old when the winter window opens on January 1st.

It also states that the Eagles don’t want to part ways with their young talent, but could be forced to cash in if a bid of such a nature is to be made in the near future.

How Wharton compares to Caicedo

As previously mentioned, big money is currently being spent in the transfer market on midfield talent – with Moises Caicedo the best example of such a scenario in 2023.

The Ecuadorian international joined Chelsea for a reported £115m two years ago – a then English record – but it has since been broken by striker Alexander Isak.

However, such a deal now appears to be an excellent one despite the mammoth sum forked out for his signature, with the 24-year-old currently one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He was named as the Blues’ Player and Supporters Player of the Season for 2024/25, with clubs like United no doubt wishing they had their own version of the midfielder.

Whilst landing such a player would also cost a pretty penny, the Red Devils fans could get their wish of getting a similar calibre of player if they complete a move for Wharton.

The Englishman has been labelled as a similar player to Caicedo by FBref, with the Palace star even managing to outperform the Blues sensation in numerous key areas.

Wharton has registered more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90 to date, arguably making him a better ball-playing option at the base of the midfield.

Games played

13

12

Goals & assists

2

4

Progressive passes

5.9

5.7

Key passes

1.7

0.5

Clearances made

1.6

1.1

Tackles won

1.2

1.1

Take-on success

43%

31%

Recoveries made

5.8

5.6

Whilst being composed with the ball is key in Amorim’s system, the manager is desperately craving a dominant ball-winner who can sit and conduct the play in front of the backline.

The Palace star has demonstrated just that, even bettering the Chelsea star in that aspect, as seen by his higher tally of tackles won in the middle third of the pitch this campaign.

Wharton’s all-round dominance over the former English record addition is highlighted in his better take-on success rate and higher tally of recoveries made per 90 – which has led to one coach dubbing him the “best English midfielder since Scholes”. It sounds a stretch but given the numbers and clamour from many Three Lions supporters to see him alongside Declan Rice at next summer’s World Cup, it’s easy to see why that assessment has been made.

£87m may seem a mammoth sum for such a young talent, but it’s evident that the Englishman has bags of ability, but not to mention the potential to improve further in the years ahead.

If he can replicate such numbers at Old Trafford, he would certainly become a fan-favourite, potentially emulating Scholes in helping the club create new history in the Premier League.

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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.

Related Liverpool now eyeing Mateta deal amid fresh Crystal Palace contract concern

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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"

A renovated Santiago Bernabeu has played host to the first-ever NFL match played at the stadium, helping to elevate its status to a multi-purpose stadium and, Impressed with the revamped stadium, UEFA are reportedly planning to host a Champions League final at the Bernabeu in the near future.

First NFL game in Spain

A revamped Santiago Bernabeu hosted an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The game, which the Dolphins won 16-13, saw a huge turnout from locals as well as from fans abroad. As per a report from Defensa Central, the governing body of European football, UEFA, were surprised by the stadium's transformation. Despite having a not-so-healthy relationship with the club in recent times, UEFA did not shy away from admiring Real Madrid's innovative new-look stadium. They have also indicated a potential Champions League final taking place at the iconic stadium; however, nothing has been made official yet. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPerez's plan is successful

Back in 2023, Florentino Perez had pointed out how the renovation would pan out, explaining: "The investment in technology has been increased in all the areas of the Bernabéu Tour. The Museum will be much bigger and the spaces have been modified to make them more attractive. The traditional Tour has been extended with 2 new routes. The turf maintenance lighting has also been changed from fixed to variable spectrum, which allows the full range of natural light colours to be used, and this is the first time it has been used anywhere in the world with spectacular results. The increase in investment has also been allocated to improving the gastronomic services of the bars, which will represent a qualitative leap in the offer to members and fans. All this involves an enormous effort in the development of infrastructures, which, in addition to providing a better gastronomic experience, will serve to optimise the generation of income through this activity. In order to address all these additional investments and expenses, we have decided to finance ourselves on a long-term basis to avoid having to impact the activity and the club's outstanding balance sheet in the short term. The budget for these new investments is €370 million. Thanks to the financial solvency that Real Madrid enjoys, this will allow us to obtain financing under very favourable conditions, as we have obtained an A-rating, equivalent to that of the Kingdom of Spain."

Barriers which can prevent a Champions League final at the stadium

There is only one barrier that might prevent the stadium from hosting a Champions League final, and that is the club's will. In order to get hosting rights, the club will need to submit a bid, and as per the report, Los Blancos are in no mood to do so. Moreover, they are looking at this project to be one that generates a huge revenue. As per Defensa Central, this NFL game generated more than €80 million once ticket sales apart from other commercial activities and hospitality in the city. 

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Getty Images SportWhen do Real Madrid again play at the Bernabeu?

Real Madrid have taken a major step in the reformation of the stadium, and that is to remove the name of Santiago from it. From now on, the iconic venue will be known as only Bernabeu and necessary changes will also be made to the logo, as per Diario AS. The stadium was named after legendary Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid player Santiago Bernabeu de Yeste in 1955. Notably, Bernabeu also performed the duties of a club president for Los Blancos. With the change in name, the legacy is not expected to diminish. But Madrid are currently not playing any home fixtures, with a return scheduled for December 7, when they take on Celta Vigo in the Spanish top flight. 

Tottenham Hotspur’s exit from the Carabao Cup last night was evidence of the hot and cold nature of Thomas Frank’s tenure at the helm so far in 2025/26.

Coming into the clash against Newcastle United, the Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory against Everton in the Premier League – but such a showing at St James’ Park was the polar opposite.

Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade’s efforts either side of the break secured the win for Eddie Howe’s men, with Frank’s first chance of claiming a trophy in North London evaporating in front of his eyes.

The Dane only made four changes from his starting eleven that defeated the Toffees on Sunday night, but little players failed to cover themselves in glory on Tyneside.

One player in particular was handed a second successive start last night, with such a run now expected to come to an end after his dismal display against the Magpies.

Brennan Johnson’s evening to forget against Newcastle

After Mohammed Kudus’ summer arrival from West Ham United, winger Brennan Johnson has often had to resort to minutes off the bench to make an impact for Spurs.

Such a decision may have come as a surprise to many of the Lilywhites faithful, especially after the Welshman ended last year on 18 goals – even scoring the winner in the Europa League final.

However, 2025/26 has been a different story for the 24-year-old, with his performances night and day from his spell under Ange Postecoglou last campaign.

His showing against Howe’s side was yet another disappointment – with his withdrawal in just the 65th minute highlighting his lack of positive impact in the North East.

Johnson only achieved a total of 28 touches, whilst losing possession on 14 occasions, subsequently gifting the ball back to the opposition every other time he was in control of the play.

Other figures such as zero dribbles and crosses completed further demonstrate his lack of creativity, something which Kudus has possessed in abundance – as seen by his tally of four assists for the Lilywhites.

Such was the level of disappointment around his showing, one Spurs analyst labelled the former Nottingham Forest star as a “passenger” – which proves Frank made the right decision by replacing him with the Ghanaian this summer.

The Spurs player who now looks finished under Frank

Alongside Johnson, numerous other players struggled to match the expectations placed upon them by the Spurs faithful ahead of the meeting with Howe’s men.

Joao Palhinha has been an excellent addition for the Lilywhites, offering the side the perfect ball-winning option at the heart of the midfield, but he was forced to operate out of position last night.

The issues at the back saw the Portuguese international drop into a centre-back role – ultimately taking away his best quality, as seen in his tally of zero tackles won.

Despite his lack of impact, Palhinha certainly left more of a positive impression than Richarlison, with the centre-forward once again ensuring an evening to forget.

After being dropped to the bench against former side Everton on Sunday, Frank recalled him to his starting eleven – handing the Brazilian the opportunity to prove his worth.

However, for the eighth game in a row, the 28-year-old was unable to find the back of the net, with his underlying figures showcasing his lack of impact against the Magpies.

Richarlison managed to complete just nine passes during his 78-minute display, whilst also losing possession on eight occasions, often being unable to provide the local point Frank has craved.

Minutes played

78

Touches

29

Passes completed

9

Possession lost

8x

Big chances missed

2

Dribbles completed

0

Chances created

0

Crosses completed

0

In front of goal, the Brazilian was just as wasteful, registering three shots on target, but two of which were defined as big chances missed – leading to one analyst labelling his showing as “unacceptable”.

His dismal display was further highlighted by his inability to complete any dribbles, crosses or create any chances for his teammate, with the manager desperately needing a solution to his problems.

Randal Kolo Muani was brought on in the second half, with the Frenchman producing numerous mazy runs which could see him handed the chance to start from the off against Chelsea.

As for Richarlison, his double on the opening day of 2025/26 has certainly fooled people into thinking he can be the talisman Frank needs to achieve success in North London.

However, there’s no denying that the Brazilian has ultimately failed to match those standards in recent weeks, as seen by his goal drought, which dates back to the 20th of September.

It’s clear he’s not the man the Lilywhites need to progress to the next level, with his career at the club pretty much all but over – which should open the door for a potential January exit.

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It’s not unreasonable to suggest that Ruben Amorim’s first full season at Manchester United has, so far, been characterised by ebb and flow.

But after a patchy start, the Red Devils have lost just one of their past seven Premier League matches, with Sunday’s turnaround victory at Crystal Palace a testament to the squad’s rekindled spirit.

However, there’s a sense that United lack the requisite depth to mount a real challenge at the top of the table, and that is something INEOS must look to rectify in January.

After clearing out so much attacking deadwood this summer, Jason Wilcox and co are now turning toward a new wide forward.

Man Utd searching for new forwards

If all goes to plan, Manchester United will be competing in Europe again next season. And if all goes to plan, United will need more options in the final third.

On the right, United are pretty well stocked with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, but there’s something of a lack of depth on the alternate flank.

That’s why news is emerging of INEOS’s interest in Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes, who could be available this winter.

Barnes, 27, is being reported by Spanish reports to be the focus of a £53m bid from Man United, though the Old Trafford side have been matched by Chelsea in their pursuit.

The left-sided winger’s sharpness in front of goal is seen as a defining factor behind United’s interest, with Mbeumo the club’s only forward to have scored more than two goals in the Premier League this year.

Why Man Utd want Harvey Barnes

Barnes hasn’t always been a regular starter at St. James’ Park, but he’s invariably threatening in the final third and has an athletic and pacy style of play.

He would add width and danger, perhaps tailor-made for Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, supported by Patrick Dorgu or a potential addition there.

Barnes wouldn’t be the most expansive attacking option at the Theatre of Dreams, but he could form a neat partnership with Mbeumo on the other wing.

The £70m summer recruit from Brentford has emerged as a talismanic force for Amorim, having scored five times in the Premier League this season, including four goals from his past six outings.

Barnes’ own clinical ability would make for a perfect match, especially with the likes of Bruno Fernandes or the resurgent Mason Mount making play from the middle.

Harvey Barnes’ Last 5 PL Seasons

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals + Assists

25/26 – NUFC

13

3 + 0

24/25 – NUFC

33

9 + 5

23/24 – NUFC

21

5 + 3

22/23 – LCFC

34

13 + 1

21/22 – LCFC

32

6 + 10

Stats via Transfermarkt

Barnes’ slow start to the current campaign was in line with the general laboriousness at Newcastle, and he has now posted three goals from as many games, bagging four goals from five in the Champions League too.

Though the Englishman, who has been mooted for a conversion to the Scottish national set-up, lacks the dynamism of someone like Matheus Cunha, he has that rare and intangible instinct in front of goal, hailed, in fact, for his “unbelievable” finishing by Jurgen Klopp.

The mounting interest from different spheres is a representation of Barnes’ quality. He is now polished and at ease with his role on the field, and he would likely jump at the chance to help drive this revival at Man United.

A veteran in the Premier League with more to give, Barnes would create the balance needed – and deepen the options at Amorim’s disposal – to not only reclaim a spot in the Champions League but compete, consistently, for silverware too.

Mbeumo is establishing himself as one of United’s finest and most promising signings in recent memory, but the output in the final third is somewhat skewed.

Barnes would help fix that, having been a consistent goalscoring outlet on Tyneside since joining from relegated Leicester City in 2023.

So clinical is Barnes in the final third that he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Barnes is a proven Premier League goalscorer. You get what you paid for with him, and that’s a good thing. This would add variation and nuance to Amorim’s outfit, and he would be the perfect contrasting wideman to pair with Mbeumo as this team push for more success.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 29, 2025

Can Arsenal continue their unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge?

The Gunners will make the seven-mile trip across the capital on Sunday, currently unbeaten in six away games against Chelsea, winning three of them, despite having lost eight of their previous ten Premier League fixtures at the Bridge; how times have changed.

Well, already this week, Mikel Arteta’s team have comprehensively beaten both Tottenham and Bayern Munich at home, and a victory on Sunday would move them nine points clear of the Blues at the top of the Premier League table.

So, if the Gunners are to beat another fierce rival, Arteta should unleash his attacker labelled “better than Bukayo Saka”.

Leandro Trossard latest injury news

Just when Arsenal were starting to get some attacking players back from injury, another could be heading for the treatment room.

38 minutes into Wednesday’s win over Bayern Munich, Leandro Trossard suffered a knock and was forced to come off.

Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Arteta said that “we’ll have to see” if the Belgian will be available this weekend, noting that he has avoided serious injury, but has not trained since the match.

Losing Trossard would be a major blow, considering he has already scored five goals and registered five assists across all competitions this season, most recently breaking the deadlock in last weekend’s North London derby.

However, does Arteta have a ready-made replacement, one who will be particularly raring to face Chelsea?

The attacker Mikel Arteta must start vs Chelsea

Arsenal do remain without Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, but Arteta is now going to have some attacking options from which to choose once again.

Both Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli made their returns off the bench in mid-week, while Noni Madueke has been introduced as a substitute in each of the last two matches, scoring his first goal for the club against Bayern Munich, connecting with Riccardo Calafiori’s cross at the back post.

Before being introduced for a late cameo against Spurs, Madueke hadn’t been seen since 21 September when Manchester City drew in North London, sustaining a knee injury that day, which was a real blow because he had been really bright up until that point.

Back in September, the winger also scored his first goal for England, on target as the Three Lions demolished Serbia 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier at the Marakana in Belgrade.

After the match, former Manchester United defender Paul Parker asserted that “I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka”, a bold take, but let’s compare the pair in the Premier League last season to test this hypothesis.

Madueke vs Saka 24/25 PL stats
Stats (per 90)	Madueke	Saka
Goals	0.4	0.4
Assists	0.2	0.6
Shots	2.6	2.2
Shots on target %	56%	56%
Chances created	1.4	3
Big chances created	0.26	1.1
Big chances missed	0.6	0.4
Completed take-ons	2	2.2
Take-on success %	49.45%	52.56%
Touches	47.4	56.8
% of touches in box	18.48%	16.54%
Average rating	7.03	7.60
Stats via Squawka and SofaScore

As the table documents, Saka does come out on top for the vast majority of metrics, but Madueke’s numbers are largely comparable across the board, superior in some key areas too.

The 23-year-old attempts more shots and registers a higher percentage of his touches in the opposition penalty area, underlining that he might just be more of a goal threat, with Saka excelling as the creator.

Also, Madueke’s direct running and fearlessness could be exactly what Arteta’s team need in this game, hoping to give Reece James, Malo Gusto or whoever else Enzo Maresca might deploy at right-back nightmares.

Having been cast aside by Chelsea in the summer, told he was surplus to requirements, Madueke will surely be ultra-motivated to show his former employers what they passed up on, so could he write his name into Arsenal folklore?

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