Liverpool were a day late and a dollar short against Manchester United in the FA Cup, failing to make their pressure count and succumbing to late pressure from the hosts. The (unlikely) bid for a quadruple is no more.

The five-on-two situation at Old Trafford typified the shift and reshaping in Jurgen Klopp's system over the past few years.

Years back, when Mohamed Salah was partnered with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, the synergy and lightning coursing through the Reds' every forward surge struck fear into opponents. Seeing these breakaway players heading toward goal was terrifying, like watching an inexorably rushing avalanche from the foot of a mountain.

The latter two are both gone, earning a pretty penny in the Saudi Pro League. Salah still remains; he scored against Manchester United, but his forward teammates lacked the incisiveness needed to make the pressure pay.

Despite being introduced in the second half, Cody Gakpo flattered to deceive once again and there is a sense that the Netherlands international will need to pick up form soon and prove his worth with so many cogs changing in the Liverpool mechanism.

Cody Gakpo's performance vs Manchester United

Gakpo arrived at Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £35m in January 2023 off the back of a World Cup campaign in Qatar that announced his presence to the world, but he is still leaving much to be desired.

This season, in all competitions, Gakpo boasts a healthy return of 13 goals and five assists from 25 starting appearances, but he has also struggled for fluency and influence on the pitch as his versatility hampers his chances of cementing a spot in Klopp's strongest XI.

Indeed, the 24-year-old has played across a myriad of positions this season – including seven games in central midfield – and this has left him as bit of a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Against Manchester United, he entered the field of play after 77 minutes, replacing Salah, and across his 43 minutes of action struggled to make his mark, notably messing up a break at 2-1 that would have given the visitors a two-goal advantage in the late stage of normal time, had his languid pass been smoother, quicker, more precise.

As per Sofascore, he made one key pass across his 43 minutes of action, though took just 24 touches and had one blocked shot. The Independent's Jamie Braidwood branded him with a 3/10 match rating, with Liverpool regressing in sharpness after he took Salah's spot.

So: Liverpool's scapegoat or Klopp's spare part? It's really quite hard to define at the moment. On one hand, Gakpo offers a steady goal threat and is a talented forward with his best years probably ahead of him.

On the other, he's comfortably Liverpool's least effective and least important forward when all are fit, and with Klopp leaving and Michael Edwards returning, there are no guarantees that he will have a place in Liverpool's long-term future.

Related The stunning lineup Michael Edwards could build by rejoining Liverpool

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Mar 1, 2024

Darwin Nunez, however, will be expected to play a central role in Liverpool's exploits over the coming years, but he failed to impress at the Theatre of Dreams and should be held accountable over his Dutch peer given he started.

Why Darwin Nunez let Klopp down vs Manchester United

Nunez has largely been brilliant this term, scoring, assisting and dazzling with his penetrative bursts. Want a forward who brings dynamism, energy and electricity across the ambit of the forward role? Look no further. Want a forward with a machine-like prolificness? Perhaps look a bit further toward Manchester.

As per FBref, the £140k-per-week star ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 9% for tackles per 90 – he's a deadly threat, but didn't offer the full scope of this skill set on Sunday.

Still, the Uruguay talisman is sensational and his assist for Alexis Mac Allister's first-half goal takes his tally to 17 goals and 13 assists in 2023/24; last year, Nunez scored 15 goals and supplied five assists from the same number of fixtures (42).

He's more polished and more effective, but against the Red Devils it was his wayward ball that sparked the build-up to Marcus Rashford's equaliser in added time, and it was his overall lack of sharpness in his ball-playing that contributed toward a lack of control that proved detrimental.

Darwin Nunez: Stats vs Manchester United

Stat

#

Minutes played

120'

Goals

0

Assists

1

Touches

44

Shots

6

Accurate passes

13/25 (52%)

Key passes

3

Possession lost

18x

Ground duels won

2/9

Dribble attempts

1/3

Stats via Sofascore

Braidwood gave the 24-year-old a 5/10 match rating, and while he huffed and puffed and fought to make things happen, this is probably a fair assessment after a game that could have been contested better on his part.

It's really not all doom and gloom though; Liverpool's chances of winning every trophy on offer was always slight and with the Carabao Cup in the bag, the Reds can focus on leapfrogging table-toppers Arsenal in the Premier League title race – of whom Liverpool are level with on points; Arsenal also travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City next in the league.

Moreover, Liverpool are into the Europa League quarter-finals and have been pitted against Serie A side Atalanta – which is not an easy tie by any stretch but is one that the Reds are more than capable of prevailing in.

And if that's not enough, it's only a few weeks until Klopp's team return to Old Trafford to face their historic rivals once more. It's a Premier League clash that could shape the final stretch of the campaign. It's a chance for a reprisal and one last say on Klopp's part.

Mason Greenwood is considering rejecting an offer to join Marseille in the summer transfer window following an intervention from the city's mayor.

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Marseille agreed deal with Man UtdFans and mayor voiced anger at transferGreenwood hesitant to make the moveWHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United and Marseille reached an agreement over a deal worth a total of €31.6 million (£27m/$34m) for the England international, it was reported on Tuesday. However, the French side have not yet struck a deal with the 22-year-old, and the move is in danger of falling through.

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Greenwood remains a controversial figure because of the charges of alleged attempted rape, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour that were raised against him before being dropped in February 2023. When the talk of a possible move for Greenwood first emerged, Marseille fans launched a social media campaign to show that the forward is not welcome at the club in an attempt to block it.

Then, on Tuesday, the mayor of Marseille slammed the deal as "unbearable" and said: "Can you imagine, violence against women? Do you realise that? And he claims to play for Olympique de Marseille, Greenwood? It’s a disgrace. I will ask the president of Olympique de Marseille not to recruit Greenwood. I don’t want my club to be covered in the shame. It’s not acceptable."

DID YOU KNOW?

Now, according to , the backlash has caused the United academy graduate to pause talks with the Ligue 1 team, though Marseille are not giving up on signing him. Asked about the controversial deal, new coach Roberto De Zerbi said he would publicly defend Greenwood like one of his own children if he were to join the club.

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Getty WHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD?

Greenwood will have to consider his options as he looks to continue his career away from Old Trafford. The likes of Lazio, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have been linked to the player who impressed while on loan at Getafe last season.

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly shown interest in Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as they look to make up for the loss of Kylian Mbappe.

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• PSG interested in signing Bruno Fernandes
• Had been interested in him in 2021 as well
• Man Utd could let captain leave amid overhaul

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  PSG lost Mbappe as a free agent this summer as the Frenchman completed his long-standing dream of joining Real Madrid. As per L'Equipe, Les Parisiens are now looking to make up for the loss in firepower by luring Fernandes to Parc des Princes this summer.

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  Fernandes has been a key player for Manchester United since he joined the club from Sporting in the winter of 2020. He has put up some fantastic numbers despite the Red Devils having struggled through the last few years and has reportedly been thinking about a move away from the club. As such, he has been linked with clubs like Bayern Munich and Al-Nassr this summer. As per a report by TEAMtalk earlier this month, United had also given the Portuguese midfielder the 'green light' to begin chats with Saudi clubs.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Back in 2021, then PSG boss Thomas Tuchel had heavily praised Fernandes despite having only been in the limelight for over a year with the Red Devils. The German coach had revealed that he had asked the club to try and undertake the signing of the midfielder before his move to Old Trafford.

  He said: "With my first sporting director in Paris, Antero Henrique, a Portuguese sporting director, and he knew [Fernandes] very well.

  "We fought hard to have a connection to him and to bring him to our team. I got made aware of him more in detail, so we watched more and more games about him and followed him and tried to be in touch with him to make it happen.

  "Obviously, he decided [to sign for Man Utd] and I was never personally in touch with him, but we tried and he went another way. [It is] bad for us that we have to play against him."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDES?

  At the moment, it seems highly unlikely that a move away from Erik ten Hag's side is possible for the Manchester United captain. However, considering the squad overhaul being conducted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, the Portugal international could be allowed to leave if the club feels like it.

Glasgow Rangers are preparing for the final furlong of the 2023/24 season, with ten important matches left (11 if they reach the Scottish Cup final).

Philippe Clement has done a remarkable job since joining the Ibrox side in mid-October, losing just three games while leading the club to a League Cup triumph and to the last 16 of the Europa League.

It is in the Premiership where the most improvement has been made as Rangers were eight points adrift of Celtic after just seven games.

Michael Beale led the club to three league defeats in their opening seven matches, and he was dismissed following the 3-1 loss to Aberdeen at Ibrox.

This result summarised Beale’s tenure to a tee. A gutless performance by a group of players who delivered yet another woeful display, and it was clear that the Englishman failed to improve his squad during the transfer window.

Not only did some of his summer signings look downright bizarre (Sam Lammers), but his decision to allow several first-team players to leave for nothing at the end of 2022/23 proved to be a mistake.

Filip Helander was one, as the defender is enjoying a new lease of life at his current club.

How much Rangers paid for Filip Helander

Following a trophyless debut season in charge of Rangers, Steven Gerrard spent the summer of 2019 attempting to bolster his squad to give Celtic a better challenge for the league crown.

New arrivals included Joe Aribo, Ryan Kent, and Steven Davies, while Helander was also signed midway through the transfer window.

Ryan Kent

Liverpool

Joe Aribo

Charlton Athletic

Filip Helander

Bologna

George Edmundson

Oldham Athletic

Greg Stewart

Birmingham City

Steven Davies

Southampton

Jack Hastie

Motherwell

Jordan Jones

Kilmarnock

Sheyi Ojo

Liverpool

Brandon Barker

Man City

Andy King

Leicester City

Gerrard splashed £3m on the Swedish centre-back to lure him from Bologna as he looked to strengthen his defensive options.

“At £3m, we’ve done really well to get Filip,” said Gerrard. “He naturally gives us balance as a left-footer. That enables us to play with a two or with a back three. He will be able to defend our box and be a threat at set pieces.

“He is comfortable on the ball. He’s a good man, he’s a leader. We do need more voices out there if we want to challenge for the top prizes.”

It didn’t take long for him to make an impact at the Light Blues, forming a solid partnership with Connor Goldson.

Filip Helander’s Rangers career in numbers

Although he only made 18 appearances during his first season, Helander looked assured at the heart of the defence. He suffered a foot injury against Celtic in the League Cup in December 2019 and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Swede returned for the 2020/21 campaign, playing 28 games in all competitions as the Gers won their first league title in a decade, conceding just 13 times across 38 league matches.

Helander and Goldson were formidable at the heart of the defence, but this was to be as good as it got for the Swede, as injury problems started to mount.

During his final two seasons, he missed a grand total of 99 games through injury, failing to even make a single senior appearance throughout 2022/23, and he was released when his contract expired last May.

On the surface, it sounded like a logical decision, yet since leaving Ibrox, Helander has found himself a new club and is currently shining abroad.

Where Filip Helander is playing in 2024

During the summer transfer window, Helander made the move to Danish side Odense Boldklub following his release from the Gers, since playing 16 times for the club.

His form in Denmark led to the defender receiving a call-up to the Swedish national side for the first time since 2022, making another four appearances for his country, showing how impressive he had been.

The 30-year-old currently ranks in the top ten players among the squad for accurate passes, accurate long balls, tackles, interceptions and clearances per game, further evidence of his return to form since leaving Glasgow last summer.

Filip Helander's salary in 2024

Offering the defender a one-year deal to prove his fitness might have been an ideal option for Beale, and there is no doubt he fumbled badly on a player who is now earning significantly less than a Gers defender in Ben Davies.

Davies has struggled at Ibrox since joining from Liverpool during the summer of 2022, making 50 appearances for the Light Blues, but failing to really have an impact in the starting XI.

He is certainly not one of Clement’s favourites, as the Englishman has made just four starts under the Belgian and this could very well be his final season in Glasgow, especially if the former Club Brugge manager aims to bring in his own signings.

Davies is currently picking up a hefty wage of £27k-per-week, which places him as the third-highest earner in the Rangers squad, behind Goldson and James Tavernier.

Considering his form and lack of meaningful impact at the Gers, it is clear that this wage could be more appropriate elsewhere.

Helander, on the other hand, is earning £3.3k-per-week at Odense, as per Salary Sport, and this represents a massive difference from what Davies is taking home every week.

There is no doubt that when both players are fully fit, Helander is the better of the two, yet injury problems wrecked his spell at Rangers and meant he failed to enjoy the sendoff that he really deserved.

Testament to his character, however, as he has managed to get himself back to full fitness and secure a return to the national team late last year.

Helander would have been an excellent option for Clement to call upon rather than Davies, especially when fixture congestion was looking like it could derail their ambitions a few months ago.

At his peak, the Swede regularly delivered solid and reliable performances for Rangers, with Gerrard being able to trust the player in a variety of situations without having to worry about the club conceding.

Having signed a one-year deal with Odense last summer, could Helander potentially be back on the move again at the end of the current season? Only time will tell.

Shami impressed upon return, as did the other seamers and Kuldeep

The Report by Sidharth Monga11-Dec-2019Three years ago, India were asked to bat first in a World T20 semi-final by the same team at the same ground in similar conditions. They lost just two wickets in their 20 overs, but were possibly not aware that their 192 was “only” 192 in those conditions in T20 cricket. Three years later, in the series decider at Wankhede Stadium, India came with doubts still persisting if they had shed their conservatism.The answer was an emphatic yes with their three main batsmen taking two, two and five balls to hit their first boundary. And the big hits just kept coming as Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli hit 35 boundaries between them in just 119 balls. India’s attitude was clear: if it is tough to defend totals in this format, they were going to give their bowlers a well above-par total, or get dismissed trying. Under the mountain of runs, West Indies, hit by an injury to Evin Lewis, crumbled spectacularly.What will especially please India is that this is the second successive series decider they have won batting first.Start as you mean to go onIt is arguable India lost that 2016 semi-final in the first powerplay when Ajinkya Rahane went at a strike rate of around 100. Here both Sharma and Rahul went for it. Sharma even made a technical change, opening his front leg to face Sheldon Cottrell. He threw his bat at the second ball he faced, crashing it over cover. Rahul did the same the second ball he faced, getting a thick outside edge past slip. It was remarkable because Sharma is known to take his time before he starts hitting, but here he had taken the lead over Rahul, who caught up soon enough. Both struck at 200 in the powerplay, giving India their second-best powerplay batting first, a good 17 more than what they had scored in 2016.Post powerplay, Sharma took over the mantle of chief aggressor, launching Khary Pierre for six, six and four in the eighth over. India 102 for 0 in eight overs.Walsh, Williams slow India downAmid the carnage, Hayden Walsh bowled the ninth over without a boundary. India made up for it with a six and two fours in the 11th over, but in the 12th Kesrick Williams managed to get the better of Sharma with a slower legcutter. That brought about a promotion for Rishabh Pant, who tried to hit boundaries off the two balls he faced. He missed one, and drilled the second straight to long-off. The idea was right, but his dismissal had buoyed West Indies with a spell of play that read 17 balls, 13 runs, two wickets. India 145 for 3 in 13.5 overs.Kohli goesThe last ball of the 14th over, with his score reading two off four, Kohli went for his second slog and sent it over midwicket for a six. This was the start of an onslaught that was the need of the moment with Rahul having slowed down out of a combination of fatigue and the need for stability at one end. Once again, as in the first T20I of this series, it was a Jason Holder over in which Kohli cut loose. That 22-run 15th over seemed like it had put India back on track at 173 for 2.Williams comes backWilliams then came back to bowl a superb 16th over where Kohli and Rahul struggled to pick his pace, managing only three runs. Cottrell followed it up with a decent one for 11. India 187 for 2 after 17.Decision timePollard now had an over each from his gun bowlers, Williams and Cottrell, but three overs to bowl. He had to decide when to bowl the best bowler of the night, Williams, and whom to use for the third over. Both calls went awfully wrong for West Indies. Williams was asked to bowl two in a row, and it turned out both Rahul and Kohli had the measure of him. They both waited for the slower ball, hitting a six each, giving Kohli the final word in what has been an entertaining contest between the two.Well, it turned out Kohli was not done with Williams yet. Pollard took it upon himself to bowl the 19th, and Kohli got stuck into it, hitting three sixes, India taking 27 runs off the over. The second off those sixes brought up India’s fifth-fastest T20I fifty, and Kohli pointed the bat to Williams at short fine leg. , ladies and gentlemen, was the final word.India seal it off quicklyApart from Walsh and Williams, Lewis was the only man having a good day in the field. In the first few exchanges, he pulled off a ridiculous save overhead at the boundary, threw the ball back in play, jumped over the boundary hoardings, came back, and nearly ran Sharma out when taking the second run. In the 12th over, as he made a regulation save at the fence, he jammed his knee into the ground, causing himself soft tissue damage that ruled him out of the rest of the match.In Lewis’ absence, and facing a tall task, West Indies felt the pressure pretty early and started to play lower-percentage shots. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar got a wicket each, but the biggest positive was Mohammed Shami’s return. A specialist bowler playing ahead of an allrounder, Shami looked the most difficult bowler to hit, and also took out the dangerous Lendl Simmons. West Indies 19 for 3 after four overs.Full toss extinguishes flickering lightPollard and Shimron Hetmyer gave India a brief scare with effortless hitting for 60 runs in the next five overs. In the sixth, Hetmyer had it in for Kuldeep Yadav, who had replaced Yuzvendra Chahal, who had been taken apart by left-hand batsmen. The first two balls were effortless sixes again, and the third from around the wicket was a full toss. Six sixes seemed squarely on, but Hetmyer shanked this one to be caught at long-on.This wicket-induced slowdown put the matter beyond West Indies, but Pollard’s flame kept flickering at his IPL home ground. It was in the 15th over that Kumar got rid of Pollard for a career-high 68, but 100 off 31 required at that point was anyway improbable.

Liverpool are approaching the final phase of the 2023/24 campaign and despite being knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United before the international break, remain confident of succeeding in the Premier League and Europa League.

Jurgen Klopp will be stepping down from his lionised place at the helm, sure, but Liverpool have a squad and an institution poised for further success.

There are issues beyond the dugout for Michael Edwards – returning as FSG's CEO of Football – to resolve, with contractual situations regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all requiring time and thought and negotiation, deals expiring in 2025.

More imminently, injured Joel Matip will depart the club in June, barring any significant changes, and while Liverpool may well search for a new centre-back to strengthen the ranks, Edwards might find the perfect man in Sepp van den Berg, who is excelling out on loan.

Sepp van den Berg's season in numbers

Liverpool signed Dutch defender Van den Berg from PEC Zwolle back in 2019 in a deal rising to £4m, with the 17-year-old one of the Netherlands' brightest young talents.

Fast-track to the present, nearly five years on, and the centre-back has only chalked up four displays, though he's thriving in the German Bundesliga with Mainz this term and might just be playing his way into Liverpool's long-term plans.

Now aged 22, Van den Berg has started 23 matches in the German top-flight this season, scoring twice, completing 82% of his passes, averaging 5.7 ball recoveries and 4.5 clearances per game while coming out on top in 65% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

He also ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for blocks and the top 1% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his aerial dominance at both ends.

His monstrous aerial ability is particularly eye-catching, suggesting that he could step up to become Liverpool's next version of Van Dijk, who is prospering as the club captain this season.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in a £75m transfer back in December 2017, transforming Klopp's backline, with the Netherlands star proving to be one of the most commanding defenders in Premier League history, lauded for his "absolutely immense" performances by The Athletic's James Pearce.

Ranking among the top 2% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking box and aerial duels won, the top 8% for assists and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, the 32-year-old colossus is unquestionably one of the best in the business.

In the Premier League this season? Well, he's been superb, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 5.1 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per match and winning a staggering 84% of his aerial battles.

Van den Berg might have work to do to polish his distribution, but his powers of recovery and ability to command the skies speak of budding dominance that must be harnessed, providing Liverpool with a young centre-half capable of saving the club millions down the line.

There is already such a player on Liverpool's books in Jarell Quansah, but another emergence of the sort wouldn't hurt, would it?

Jarell Quansah might have a rival

Van den Berg has not really had much of an opportunity to impress on Merseyside and if Liverpool decide to invest their resources in other areas this summer, he could be the perfect player to fortify a defence consisting of Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Quansah.

The latter, Quansah, is only 21 years old himself and was plying his trade in League One with Bristol Rovers this time last season, but has been lauded as an "absolute monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his efforts with Liverpool.

Goals

0.08 (top 16%)

Passes attempted

94.79 (top 1%)

Pass completion

89.9% (top 17%)

Progressive carries

0.92 (top 24%)

Successful take-ons

0.59 (top 6%)

Aerial duels won

3.32 (top 8%)

Breaking into the Reds' first team early in the campaign, Quansah has now chalked up 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring once and supplying three assists for his teammates.

In the Premier League, the 6 foot 5 star has only received eight starting roles so far but there's no question that he's excelled, completing 88% of his passes and slotting in seamlessly alongside his skipper, winning 62% of his duels.

His pinpoint passing and innate creativity make for tools that will allow him to emulate Van Dijk in some regards, sure, but the Liverpool captain is such a singular talent that replicating his skill set is near impossible, to the same degree in any case.

But in Van den Berg, Liverpool could meld two rising stars to unleash a formidable new backline, with Van den Berg's energy and elite aerial command sure to dovetail alongside his Reds peer.

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The young Quansah deserves plaudits for stepping up and filling in for Matip, whose season was cruelly ended in December following an ACL rupture, with his crispness in possession and robust style perfect for a progressive, high-octane Liverpool system.

And yes, Quansah is the future at Anfield but Van den Berg could certainly rival him, and given his success and similarities to compatriot Van Dijk, it might be worth giving him a shot next season.

With Brendan Rodgers' men looking the strongest they have all season, an outcast at Parkhead may have now played his final game for the club.

Celtic chase rivals for title

With the Scottish Premiership regarded as something of a foregone conclusion in recent seasons, this campaign sees Celtic neck and neck with Glasgow rivals Rangers for the title.

With no European football left to compete for after crashing out of the group stages of the Champions League, the Hoops can focus their attention on domestic trophies with a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Livingston set to take place next week.

A 7-1 victory over Dundee FC in midweek saw Rodgers' men edge closer to their bitter rivals going into the business end of the season. A slip up against Motherwell this weekend has opened the window for Celtic to leapfrog their neighbours and go one point clear at the top.

156-touch Celtic star totally ran the show vs Dundee

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By
Dan Emery

Feb 29, 2024

Getting ahead of their rivals is essential for Celtic with an Old Firm derby penciled in for next month likely to determine who comes out on top at the end of the regular season.

Whilst it has been Celtic's imperious attack that has seen them average almost 2.5 goals per game, the Hoops' excellence in front of goal may be at the expense of one man who looks to have played his last game for the club.

Johnston tipped to leave Celtic for good

Speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic and West Ham striker Frank McAvennie has stated that on-loan star Mikey Johnston is unlikely to return to Parkhead this summer.

Johnston is currently on loan at EFL Championship side West Brom and has shone during his short time in England. Arriving on deadline day, the 24-year-old has been exceptional in his new colours, scoring three goals in just seven appearances for the Baggies.

In reference to Johnston's success at his new club, McAvennie stated that “He’s not coming back to Celtic at all".

“He’s been at Celtic for years and he wasn’t getting into the team. there’s no doubting the boy’s talent".

“He’s a damn good player and the Championship is a good level for him.”

Since touching down in the West Midlands, the Irishman has been a core part of West Brom's playoff push, with a goal in Friday's win over Coventry earning him the plaudits of his new fanbase. Johnston's curling effort opened the scoring just five minutes into the tie, sending The Hawthorns into pandemonium.

Despite scoring 13 goals in 92 outings in green and white, Johnston has struggled for minutes at Celtic this season making just nine league appearances for the Hoops before departing in January.

With West Brom set to compete in the playoffs come May, Johnston will be a major part of Carlos Corberán's squad as they fight for a shot at Premier League football. Regardless of whether the Baggies come calling again this summer, it is clear that Johnston's future does not lie at Celtic.

Pakistan have named at least four allrounders, including the 14-year-old Mohammad Shahzad, in their 15-man squad for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa early next year. The in-form Rohail Nazir will continue to led the side, while 16-year-old quick Naseem Shah, who recently made his Test debut in Australia, also featured in the squad.

The squad

Rohail Nazir (capt), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Haider Ali, Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Harris, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Fahad Munir, Qasim Akram, Amir Ali, Arish Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Naseem Shah, and Tahir Hussain

“We have planned extensively and tried our best to form a fine team,” Saleem Jaffar, the Pakistan junior team head coach, said at a press conference in Lahore. “Probables selected for the World Cup will give both coach and captain full options to form a balanced side. I hope this team will go good. But whoever is left out shouldn’t be disheartened because they are on a path that will take them to the professional cricket and this isn’t the end of world.”Shahzad, a batting allrounder from Southern Punjab, caught the selectors’ eye at the ongoing Under-16 domestic tournament, where he scored 175 runs in two games and picked up six wickets.”Shahzad is a good package; [he can] bat in the opening slot and bowl at medium pace, so we are also eyeing to tap someone who can be a good prospect in future like [Abdul] Razzaq,” Jaffar said. “This is the cricket that actually take players forward. He is young on the Under-16 circuit and has done really well recently. For us, winning is equally important but at the same time we are also giving them an international feel. This Under-19 circuit is an exciting cricket and such players are the future.”

Team management

Ijaz Ahmed (head coach and manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (trainer), Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rasul (physiotherapist), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media manager) and Col (retd) Usman Riffat Ansari (security manager)

Aside from Shahzad, the allrounders’ contingent comprises Abbas Afridi, Fahad Munir and Qasim Akram, who made it to the squad on the back of his impressive returns of 296 runs and three wickets and 260 runs and 15 wickets in the PCB Under-19 one-day and three-day tournaments respectively. Akram also made a mark at the recent Emerging Under-19 Asia Cup, and the tours of South Africa and Sri Lanka, where he scored 77 and 124 runs respectively.Three out of the 28 probables – Ammad Butt Jr, Akhtar Shah and Saim Ayub – were not considered for selection because of injuries.The 2020 Under-19 World Cup will be held from January 17, in South Africa. Pakistan, the 2004 and 2006 champions and three-time runners-up, are slotted in Group C along with Bangladesh, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the 16-team competition. They will kick off their campaign against Scotland on January 19 in Potchefstroom.

Last weekend's FA Cup victory over Leicester should have been a happy moment for Chelsea and their supporters.

Among the goalscorers were Noni Madueke and Carney Chukwuemeka, two players who are the future of Stamford Bridge.

However, after a remarkable own goal from Axel Disasi and a rather dismal game for Raheem Sterling, negativity still engulfed a football club desperate to wipe away toxicity.

You feel that may well not happen until Mauricio Pochettino is gone. However, his name isn't the only one on the chopping block with the Blues in need of somewhat of a clear-out in the summer transfer window.

One name that should arguably become less prominent in 2024/25 is Sterling.

Raheem Sterling's season in numbers

At Manchester City Sterling had become world-class. This was a winger at the very peak of their powers, notably scoring double figures across seven straight seasons. He had also found the net on more than 20 occasions in three straight campaigns, even finding the net 31 times during 2019/20.

Where has that form gone then? Sterling isn't reaching the end of his career. He's still 29. The attacker should be at his peak still.

Unfortunately, the Stamford Bridge scenery doesn't help one bit. The England international has been a phenomenal player across the last decade of Premier League football but at Chelsea he is anything but.

The clash with Leicester last weekend just about summed it up. The former Liverpool man took a penalty from Cole Palmer's grasp only to miss and then sunk a close-range free-kick high, wide and handsome. It ended up in the crowd, a crowd that would then boo him.

Sterling was later substituted to warm applause but it was a game that rather aptly typified his lukewarm performances in the capital to date. It may be somewhat of a surprise to learn, therefore, that he is their second-best contributor of attacking involvements this term behind Palmer, scoring eight times and supplying ten assists.

On a rather ridiculous salary of £325k-per-week, trying to shift the forward will be troublesome but they can soon start to cast him aside courtesy of a very exciting wonderkid.

Chelsea's readymade Sterling replacement

In 2025, Chelsea will welcome one of the finest young talents in world football to the capital.

That happens to be Kendry Paez, a 16-year-old Ecuadorian who has been garnering quite a reputation throughout the globe for his stunning performances at such a young age.

The Blues agreed a £17.2m deal last year to sign the player but he is legally not allowed to move until he turns 18. As a result, it's unlikely we'll see him plying his trade with the club until the summer of 2025 at the very earliest.

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So, Sterling's place will be safe for the time being but considering Paez's ability to play on the flanks, he could be coming for the Englishman's place before too long.

What makes him so exciting? Well, he possesses a deft touch and simply awe-inspiring ball control. His dribbling ability is mesmerising too. Described as a 'technical magician' by Total Football Analysis, one of their writers noted the following: 'His attributes when it comes to dribbling, ball control, and general attacking contributions already make him a big threat.'

There is quite the hype surrounding Paez with talent scout Jacek Kulig once adding: "Every time Kendry Paez touches the ball you can almost feel his incredible class through the TV/computer."

Scoring on your senior debut at the age of 15 has no doubt spread the appeal from a young age but he's not slowing down and he's not going away.

The teenage sensation is one of the best wonderkids on the planet and has been labelled as such by GOAL's NXGN list for 2024. The Ecuadorian sensation sits at 14th this year, a position he will no doubt improve upon once he sets foot in English football.

NXGN 2024: Best 15 wonderkids

Player

Club

#15 Guillaume Restes

Toulouse

#14 Kendry Paez

Independiente del Valle

#13 Roony Bardghji

FC Copenhagen

#12 Jorrel Hato

Ajax

#11 Antonio Nusa

Club Brugge

#10 Leny Yoro

Lille

#9 Claudio Echeverri

Man City (River Plate loan)

#8 Kenan Yildiz

Juventus

#7 Kobbie Mainoo

Man United

#6 Vitor Roque

Barcelona

#5 Arda Guler

Real Madrid

#4 Mathys Tel

Bayern Munich

#3 Warren Zaire-Emery

PSG

#2 Endrick

Palmeiras

#1 Lamine Yamal

Barcelona

List compiled by GOAL.

So far this season Paez has one goal across three appearances, but his tally at senior level is already so mightily impressive. For his club, Independiente del Valle, he has found the net on six occasions in 30 outings.

Chelsea fans will have to wait their turn to get a proper glimpse of the exciting winger but once they do, it may finally be time to wave farewell to an underperforming and frustrating Sterling.

A Manchester United player was taken to the hospital after Marcus Rashford's Range Rover was hit by a suspected drunk driver in a Mercedes.

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Rashford's Range Rover in accidentForward was in a separate car behind the Range RoverPolice held a 55-year-old on suspicion of drink drivingWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the incident occurred in Wilmslow, Cheshire, earlier in July, when a black Mercedes collided with Rashford's vehicle. However, the forward was safe as he was in a separate car behind his Range Rover at the time of the crash.

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United defender Tyrell Malacia was the passenger in the Range Rover and he and the driver were both advised to seek medical attention following the collision. The Mercedes driver, a 55-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Macclesfield Hospital for examination.

Cheshire Police confirmed that they were called to the scene of the collision, which involved a blue Range Rover Sport and a black Mercedes C220 AMG Sport. The police apprehended the woman at the scene and took the two men to hospital. Despite the concerning circumstances, doctors quickly cleared both Malacia and the driver of any serious injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

The accident took place on July 16, just two days before Rashford was handed a six-month driving ban for speeding. In December 2023, Rashford was caught driving at 104 miles per hour in his Rolls-Royce on the M60, which led to the ban.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Despite the disruption, Rashford remains focussed on re-discovering his best form and has already flown to the United States for pre-season commitments. Meanwhile, Malacia will work on his fitness in Manchester as he tries to make a comeback after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.