Liverpool are flying. Of course, they were held to a draw against Newcastle United on Wednesday evening, dropping points in the Premier League after seven victories on the trot in all competitions, but the incredible start to the season remains intact.

It’s foolish to think that Arne Slot’s Reds will win every game they play, though it’s frustrating that Fabian Schar was able to restore parity late on.

Defensively, Liverpool have been solid this season, making improvements on last year’s efforts. The Anfield side top the Premier League and Champions League tables so far, but in order to achieve illustrious heights across many years under Slot’s wing, some areas do need some work.

The areas where Liverpool need to improve

Liverpool flattered to deceive in defence at St. James’ Park, lacking the robust and steely quality that Ibrahima Konate brings to the table, fusing his athletic skillset with Virgil van Dijk’s cultured style.

Of course, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both out of contract at the end of the season, and though FSG are hoping to tie down both stalwarts to fresh deals, it’s gravely concerning all the same.

Losing two core parts of an imperious backline would be to Slot’s detriment, for both stars transcend their so-called defensive roles and operate at world-renowned levels.

Liverpool could also add an extra element to the thriving midfield. Ryan Gravenberch has been in fine fettle this season but looked tired against Newcastle and needs some competition at number six. Martin Zubimendi, who is still believed to be of interest to Liverpool, could be the missing component there.

Elsewhere, though, there are one or two mainstays who could actually find themselves dislodged from their starting position. While he’s been an integral part over the years, Andy Robertson may be one of them.

Why Liverpool should replace Andy Robertson

Liverpool signed Robertson from Hull City in 2017, completing a £10m transfer that was met with derision from many pockets of the Premier League.

This young and relatively unknown Scotsman was surely not the kind of player that Jurgen Klopp’s project needed to propel themselves to new heights. Liverpool, it seemed, were content with mediocrity, settling back into the familiarity of passableness.

How the detractors were silenced. Robertson is one of the greatest left-backs in Premier League history, conqueror of the biggest prizes and only trumped in creativity by his prodigious partner Alexander-Arnold.

Top Assists in Premier League History (Defenders)

Rank

Player

Assists

1.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

61

2.

Andy Robertson

59

3.

Leighton Baines

53

4.

Graeme Le Saux

44

5.

Antonio Valencia

39

Stats via Premier League

The thing is though, Robertson’s creeping toward his 31st year and has served tirelessly within Liverpool’s highly-charged system for many years, completing 316 appearances.

Described as a “Duracell Bunny” by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott, Robertson has operated at full throttle for many years and indeed is starting to look like a lesser version of the superstar who was hailed as “the best left-back in the world” by Klopp about three years ago.

There’s still a lot to like about the veteran, who ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

But then he’s found himself jockeying with Kostas Tsimikas for that first-choice spot this season, Slot seemingly unsatisfied with the £160k-per-week Robertson in phases.

Though he’s regarded as one of Alexander-Arnold’s “closest friends” – as revealed below – the Tartan Army skipper cannot keep his place in the side over the coming years if it is going to hamper Slot’s system from hitting its apex.

Liverpool need to be ruthless, and though tying Alexander-Arnold down to a lucrative new contract is crucial, so too is the good of the collective team.

Former scout Mick Brown, recently speaking to Football Insider, believes that the Reds are getting ready to focus on strengthening the left-back position in 2025, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson – who has been recently hailed as “one of the best left-backs in the world” by journalist Dougie Critchley for his exploits at Fulham – at the very top of the shopping list.

Compared to Robertson, it’s perhaps fair to say that both carry greater athletic and rounded qualities at present and that Liverpool might be wise to make the bold move.

Select Premier League Left-backs (2024/25)

Match Stats*

Robertson

Robinson

Kerkez

Matches (starts)

13 (12)

14 (14)

14 (14)

Goals

0

0

1

Assists

0

4

2

Touches*

68.5

72.1

51.3

Pass completion

88%

82%

83%

Key passes*

1.5

0.9

1.0

Dribbles completed*

0.2 (33%)

1.4 (67%)

0.5 (70%)

Ball recoveries*

4.0

3.8

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

4.6

2.5

Ground duels (won)*

1.7 (51%)

4.6 (59%)

3.0 (65%)

All stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

This isn’t to say that Liverpool’s long-time servant needs to be sold, but a reduced role might be on the cards over the coming campaigns and this would only prove to elevate Slot’s exciting system higher.

Ultimately, Liverpool still have a reliable left-back in their mix, with elite ball-playing skills and a wealth of experience besides. The Redmen need to evolve over the coming years though, and Robertson might need to be axed at some point soon.

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Australia brace for spin challenge as they make adjustments to their plans following India vs Pakistan fixture

Annesha Ghosh07-Mar-2022Beth Mooney has admitted that Australia are wary of the challenge Pakistan’s spinners might pose for them on Tuesday on the used Bay Oval surface, where on Sunday, India collapsed after a strong start. To counter a potential spin-dominant ploy from Pakistan, Australia have had to tweak their plans “a little bit, slightly”, Mooney said.”We obviously had the opportunity to play over here last year in a similar time, and we had three one-dayers at the Bay Oval here [against New Zealand] and played on the same wicket all three times,” Mooney said on match eve in Mount Maunganui. “And when we got to the third game, it had slowed up quite a lot. So using that intel that we had from last year when we played will become really handy for us as a batting unit and a bowling unit.Related

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“So we expect that Pakistan’s bowlers… their spinners especially bowl quite differently to ours in terms of pace through the air. So we had a session today, specifically on that as a top six, and hopefully we can use that to our advantage tomorrow.”Australia haven’t played Pakistan in ODIs since October 2018, and have only ever played 12 50-over games against them, winning each fixture. Mooney believes the lack of game time against Pakistan over the years could be a “blessing in disguise”, and said that watching the India vs Pakistan match, where spinners picked up five India wicket in the space of 12.1 overs, has helped Australia make adjustments to their plans.”We watched a little bit of the game yesterday just to see what they were doing in terms of the bowlers. Our bowling unit watched a little bit of their batting as well,” said Mooney. “So I think it’s almost a blessing in disguise at times when we come up against an unknown opponent of sorts and obviously we played them a few years ago now. So that’s very different about that group.”I thought they were outstanding with the ball yesterday and outstanding with the bat against India. So, yeah, it’s a different kind of challenge. But I think what we probably have focused on a little bit more in the last few months is worrying about what we can control and how we want to go about our game. So hopefully we can do that again tomorrow and adjust where we have to and adapt where we can.”

“Something that we pride ourselves on as a batting group is making sure we’re always moving the game forward and accessing different areas of the ground obviously to get the fields that we want. So just seeing a little bit of that in the game yesterday will be really important for us heading into tomorrow.”Beth Mooney

Save for opener Alyssa Healy’s early dismissal, Australia, frontrunners for the title, showed no weaknesses with the bat in their high-scoring opening game against defending champions England. Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning’s record 196-run second-wicket stand meant Australia’s middle-order got time to bat only after the 42nd over. Even then, No. 4 Mooney, who made 27 not out, and No. 5 Ellyse Perry dug in as Australia powered to 310 for 3.Mooney felt that despite the Pakistani spinners’ impressive performance against India, Australia would be able to replicate their batting dominance at Bay Oval, where the match will be played on the same strip that was used for the West Indies vs New Zealand and the India vs Pakistan games.”Something that we pride ourselves on as a batting group is making sure we’re always moving the game forward and accessing different areas of the ground obviously to get the fields that we want,” Mooney said. “So just seeing a little bit of that in the game yesterday will be really important for us heading into tomorrow.”In terms of team news, Ashleigh Gardner is serving a ten-day isolation in Christchurch after testing positive for Covid-19, and Heather Graham, who has played a solitary ODI, has been drafted in as a temporary replacement for Gardner. A Covid-19 replacement at the 2022 ODI World Cup can be temporary, in that once the player has recovered, she would be eligible to return to the squad in position of the travelling reserve that replaced her.

Chairman Daniel Levy has set the price tag as sources close to a Tottenham star hold a serious belief that Man United are about to bid for him, with their new manager Ruben Amorim looking to make a splash in the dugout at Old Trafford.

Spurs players who look set to leave in 2025

There is interest from Real Madrid in the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, as the Galacticos seek the arrival of an emergency new centre-back.

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Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are both out for the rest of this season with anterior cruciate ligament tears, dealing a major selection headache to Carlo Ancelotti, while David Alaba remains on the comeback trail from his own ACL problem.

This has led to Real considering a move to sign Romero from Tottenham, while there has also been tentative interest from Ancelotti in van de Ven, according to some reports out of Spain in the last few months.

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

Tottenham vs Fulham

December 1

Bournemouth vs Tottenham

December 5

Tottenham vs Chelsea

December 8

Southampton vs Tottenham

December 15

The likelihood that manager Ange Postecoglou green-lights a departure for either centre-back is slim at best, but perhaps Levy could be tempted by a mouth-watering offer.

Meanwhile, Spurs players much more likely to leave next year are Alfie Whiteman, Fraser Forster, Ben Davies and Sergio Reguilon. All four players are out of contract next summer, and there are even reports that Reguilon could terminate his Tottenham contract and depart for La Liga in January.

Reguilon is training with the first team but hasn’t been handed a single minute in all competitions, all whilst failing to make a single Premier League matchday squad.

Spurs are also expected to green-light a Leipzig return for Timo Werner, as Levy and co edge towards the decision of severing ties after his loan deal. The Lilywhites have an option to sign the German for just £8.5 million, but concerns surround his wasteful finishing in front of goal, so perhaps letting him go back to the Bundesliga is best for Postecoglou’s side.

People close to Pedro Porro convinced Man United will make Tottenham bid

According to a report by Spanish newspaper AS, right-back Pedro Porro is attracting interest from Man United and Man City.

Real have been linked with Porro as well, but the Spaniard’s form under Postecoglou in this past season-and-a-half is also turning heads in Manchester.

AS write that Porro’s agents at Tottenham are convinced Man United will bid for him, with Amorim’s side interested in providing the 25-year-old a route back up north, where he once plied his trade in Sky Blue.

However, Levy won’t let him go on the cheap. The former Sporting Lisbon star’s price tag is at least £58 million, so United and INEOS will need to invest heavily.

“It’s brilliant and well deserved – he’s been outstanding all year,” said Postecoglou on Porro being called up to the Spain squad earlier this year.

“He’s worked awfully hard on his game on both the offensive and defensive side. We’ve obviously put some different demands on that position, but he’s adapted so well and credit to him, he’s worked really hard.

“He never let it get him down at any stage, the fact that he wasn’t part of the national team, I think it’s well-deserved and hopefully he gets an opportunity to show what he can do.”

Manchester United have now joined the race to sign a star in the making who has already caught the attentions of Chelsea this year, with Ruben Amorim personally having recommended the signing.

Manchester United change transfer policy

There has been significant change at Old Trafford since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took charge of the Premier League giants at the start of 2024. A whole new club hierarchy has been established, with Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth poached from Southampton and Newcastle United respectively to take charge of transfer policy, while Omar Berrada arrived from Manchester City to take up the CEO role.

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The overhaul has also seen a change in the transfer policy itself, with the Red Devils now opting to sign younger players with higher potential rather than pre-established world-class stars, as they did under Erik ten Hag with the addition of Casemiro.

Though they signed five players for a combined £190m over the summer, only Noussair Mazraoui was over the age of 25, emphasising the shift in policy at the club.

Player

Age

Leny Yoro

18

Joshua Zirkzee

23

Manuel Ugarte

23

Matthijs de Ligt

25

Noussair Mazraoui

26

Though the change is yet to bear fruit, there is a long-term belief that targeting younger players will be a more successful operating model for the club, summed up by Ratcliffe explaining in March that “I would rather sign the next Mbappé rather than spend a fortune buying success.”

Now, he could be set to throw his hat in the ring for a star at the other end of the pitch.

Amorim wants Manchester United to sign Portuguese talent

Reports from Spain claim that Ruben Amorim has personally recommended Manchester United join the race to sign Benfica talent Tomas Araujo.

The defender is well known to Premier League clubs; Crystal Palace saw a summer offer rejected for his services, while Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Chelsea are “in love” with the Portuguese defender, who they were willing to bid for in the summer only for Benfica to inform them that he wasn’t for sale.

“Chelsea were considering to bring in a new centre-back. For example, a player they are in love with is Tomas Araujo at Benfica.”

“They were considering a move for him, but then nothing happened because Benfica were not selling an important player a few days before the end of the transfer window.”

Now, the report claims that Manchester United have joined the race for his services, but he won’t come cheap, with the report adding that “any deal for Araújo is estimated to be in the region of €50m” (£41m).

This could yet be higher, with Araujo having a €100m (£83m) release clause in his £9k-a-week deal in Portugal, while Benfica are unlikely to sell midway through the season.

With the futures of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof all unclear beyond this summer, United will likely be back in the market for another defender soon, and could do far worse than Araujo.

He was dubbed “potentially one of the best CBs” by football scouting account DanielScouting on X, who added: “He’s a technical maestro. His turns, dribbling, manipulation, & passing make you think he’s a CM,” and claimed he was already an “elite player”.

Able to play across the defence, he could be an excellent signing and a future superstar, but is more likely to be one for the summer.

Latest update comes following sequence of meetings between the allrounder and BCB boss Nazmul Hassan

Mohammad Isam12-Mar-2022

Will he? Won’t he? As things stand, Shakib Al Hasan will be touring South Africa•ICC via Getty

In yet another dramatic turn of events, Shakib Al Hasan has decided to tour South Africa with the Bangladesh team. He will now fly out from Dhaka on Sunday, in time for the ODI series that begins on March 18.”I spoke to [BCB president Nazmul Hassan] Papon for the last two days, when we planned the entire year. I am available for all three formats,” Shakib said in a joint press conference with Hassan and other board members on Saturday. “The board will decide when to give me rest, that includes the South Africa series. I am available for the SA series.”Hassan explained that after the BCB had reacted to Shakib’s request for rest, because he was “physically and mentally fatigued”, by leaving him out of international cricket till April 30, the two of them met a couple of times to discuss the situation.”After reaching Dubai [for a personal engagement], Shakib told me he would make the final decision after speaking to me. Then he told us that he didn’t want to go to South Africa,” Hassan said. “We granted him leave, which was later announced to the media (on Thursday). Then, the day before yesterday, he told me he was mentally tired. It can happen to anyone at any time.”He was having trouble making up his mind, so we supported him during this time. The board is always with them [the players].”At that point, Hassan said, Shakib decided to make himself available. “Shakib is available for all the formats for the South Africa tour. He will travel to South Africa tomorrow. If he skips a match in this series, please accept it. He wants to play. That is the most important thing.”Related

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The situation started to develop late last month when Hassan said, after Bangladesh’s third ODI against Afghanistan, that he had directed Shakib to tour South Africa to play both Tests and ODIs. This came in the wake of Shakib informing the BCB that he wanted to skip Tests for six months this year. After Hassan made his statement on February 28, the selectors named Shakib in both the ODI and Test squads for South Africa.Shakib subsequently said that he was mentally and physically drained, and wasn’t in a position to tour South Africa. He told the media that he had appraised Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations committee chairman, of his decision. After that, Hassan, as well as Bangladesh men’s team director Khaled Mahmud, responded by questioning Shakib’s commitment to the Bangladesh team, and on Thursday, Yunus announced that Shakib has been rested till April 30, which meant he would miss the South Africa tour altogether as well as the Dhaka Premier League.Then, just yesterday, in perhaps a sign of things to come, Shakib, along with four other players, was handed an all-format central contract by the BCB.The series in South Africa starts on March 18 with the first of three ODIs, and will be followed by two Test matches.

Helpless. That was no doubt how Ruben Amorim was feeling after wave after wave of Arsenal corners on Wednesday night, with the Portuguese watching on as his Manchester United side somewhat wilted under the mounting pressure.

For the first time in 34 league games, the former Sporting CP boss tasted defeat. A first loss has come just three matches into his Premier League tenure. That’s what life at United can do…

The crouching coach may well have grown a few more grey hairs while witnessing the limp second-half showing of his side at the Emirates, with the 39-year-old’s prophecy coming true that his team will have to “suffer” in the early knockings of his reign.

Unlike in recent years, however, there was at least a semblance of a plan, of an idea in the first 45 minutes, with a stubborn showing helping to frustrate the hosts, even if things didn’t click into gear in an attacking sense.

Worryingly though, that encouraging performance was not built on in the second period, with the new man’s largely enforced substitutions failing to pay off.

At the very least, such a showing will have provided Amorim with greater learning regarding the quality and character of his squad, with further changes likely to be in store for the visit of Nottingham Forest later today.

Man Utd's best & worst performers vs Arsenal

Let’s start on the positives, shall we?

On what was his first league start since the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa back in October, the returning Harry Maguire was a standout at the heart of the back three, with the Englishman making an impact in both boxes. In all, the 31-year-old won 100% of his duels and completed 96% of his passes, as per Sofascore.

His replacement, Leny Yoro, was also a real shining light after entering the fray, with the teenage Frenchman – who won four of his five total duels – showing what the Red Devils have been missing on what was his first competitive outing for the club.

Elsewhere, Tyrell Malacia stood firm in the first 45 up against Bukayo Saka, prior to being hooked at the break following a needless yellow card, while summer signing Manuel Ugarte showed his worth, winning nine duels and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.

On the flip side, it was a grim night in an attacking sense for the away side, with Alejandro Garnacho looking particularly off the pace, while Rasmus Hojlund failed to even get a sniff up against William Saliba, having made just 20 touches in all.

It was a similar story for those who entered the fray in the second half, with Marcus Rashford – who had scored two at the weekend – having next to no impact, aside from comically putting the ball out of play in the build-up to Arsenal’s decisive second.

Amorim will also have been given food for thought by the display of his captain, with there an argument to be made that Bruno Fernandes could now find himself on the bench against the Tricky Trees.

Why Bruno Fernandes could be dropped against Forest

Resting or benching a player who has started every Premier League game this season – while contributing nine assists in total in all competitions – may appear foolish, but there is a sense of intrigue to see what this side could look like without Fernandes involved.

Chalkboard

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A former Sporting man and compatriot of Amorim, the 30-year-old looked an obvious figure who could thrive under the new regime, although there have been lingering question marks over just where he fits in the side.

Against Everton at the weekend, the playmaker started in one of the two number ten berths and did provide two assists, although whether that is a long-term home remains to be seen, with Amorim stating following the win over Bodo/Glimt that “I think he is a midfielder”.

Stat

Ipswich

Bodo/Glimt

Everton

Arsenal

Minutes played

90

90

66

90

Touches

71

95

45

79

Goals

0

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

2

0

Key passes

3

1

2

2

Big chances created

1

0

1

0

Pass accuracy

92%

88%

73%

86%

Possession lost

10x

12x

15x

13x

Total duels won

5/10

2/4

3/7

2/11

Dribbled past

0

1x

1x

4x

Having then been thrust back into the centre of the park alongside Ugarte for the trip to North London – with Kobbie Mainoo sidelined with suspension – the United skipper was particularly poor, having regularly squandered possession after losing the ball on 13 occasions.

In the first half, in particular, Fernandes had his pocket picked after delaying on the ball, having won just two of his 11 total duels, while remarkably being dribbled past on four occasions.

The one-time Udinese man did prove two moments of quality – having teed up both Matthijs de Ligt and Antony after the break following set-pieces – yet his suitability in that midfield two must surely be questioned.

With Mainoo now returning this evening, it could be a straight swap alongside Ugarte, with the attacking berths taken up by Mason Mount, Rashford or Garnacho. Equally, pushing Amad further forward is also an option.

Yes, Fernandes could simply move into that wide ten role, yet with Amorim having already done so much experimentation of late, why not roll the dice again by considering life without his captain.

With tougher tests ahead against the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the coming weeks, now would be the perfect time for yet another personnel reshuffle.

Fernandes may be the main man, but after his display in midweek, Amorim must make it clear that no starting berth in his side is a certainty.

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The Afghanistan legspinner is in the middle of a white-ball series in Bangladesh

Umar Farooq26-Feb-2022Rashid Khan will be unavailable for the PSL final, despite Lahore Qalandars offering to fly him into Pakistan for Sunday’s game, as he is in the middle of Afghanistan’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh. Qalandars are due to play defending champions Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium and had taken the opportunity provided by the PCB’s tweaking of its Covid-19 rules to attempt the move.Rashid, however, tweeted that it wouldn’t be possible for him to play the PSL final “due to National Duty which is always a first priority.”

It would’ve been great to be part of @lahoreqalandars and play alongside lads in @thePSLt20 final.
I won’t be able to make it for the finals due to National Duty which is always a first priority.I wish my captain @iShaheenAfridi @sameenrana and team GOOD LUCK INSHALLAH

— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) February 26, 2022