Can Celtic book their place at Hampden?

On Sunday, the Hoops will face Glasgow neighbours Partick Thistle in a League Cup quarter-final at Firhill.

The Celts are League Cup holders, winning the competition in seven of the last nine seasons, so are huge favourites to progress through to the last four.

Considering the hosts sit third in the Scottish Championship, the Hoops having won each of their last eight encounters with the Jags, Brendan Rodgers surely has an opportunity to experiment, so should he start his “natural finisher”?

Kelechi Iheanacho's start to life at Celtic

Kelechi Iheanacho’s move to Celtic is the archetypal panic buy, if ever there has been one.

To end the transfer window, the Hoops sold their only senior out-and-out centre-forward, with Adam Idah joining Swansea City for £7m, with no replacement signed before the window closed.

So, having had his contract terminated by Sevilla, the Nigerian was able to move to Glasgow as a free agent, certainly having an instant impact, converting this stoppage-time penalty to snatch victory at Kilmarnock last Sunday.

Nevertheless, Iheanacho’s career has very much endured a downward trajectory in recent seasons, as documented below.

Iheanacho’s scoring record

Seasons

Minutes

Goals

2025/26

20

1

2024/25

1,348

4

2023/24

1,111

6

2022/23

1,437

8

2021/22

2,214

8

2020/21

2,259

19

via Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, since being at the peak of his powers at Leicester City during the lockdown season, Iheanacho has not been a regular goalscorer, with three of his four goals last season coming against Spanish amateur sides Las Rozas and UE Olot in the Copa del Rey.

The 28-year-old, reunited with Rodgers, will almost certainly score goals at Scottish Premiership level, but is surely lacking match fitness.

Also, will the Nigerian be a high-level difference maker, which he’ll need to be, with Celtic set to start their Europa League campaign against Crvena zvezda at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade on Wednesday?

So, ahead of that key fixture, should Rodgers try out an alternative centre-forward at Firhill?

Celtic's best centre-forward option

Among all the discourse surrounding Celtic’s attacking options, supporters furious about the lack of adequate replacements for Kyōgo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kühn, Johnny Kenny is often the forgotten man.

After joining the club from Sligo Rovers in 2022, Kenny featured for the club’s controversial B team in the Lowland League, before being loaned out to Queen’s Park, not making much of an impact there, but then very much showing what he was capable of back in Ireland with Shamrock Rovers.

In 76 appearances for the Dublin-based club, Kenny scored 26 goals, of which, notably, seven came in European competition.

Last season, he bagged braces against Víkingur Reykjavík and Borac Banja Luka, as well as scoring against Larne, The New Saints and Rapid Wien, helping Shamrock Rovers reach the knockout stages of the Conference League.

He then returned to Celtic in January, scoring goals against Livingston and Aberdeen, albeit his opportunities have been very limited, seeing just 291 minutes of action, only 96 of which have come this season.

His only start of the campaign, so far, came against Falkirk in the previous round of the League Cup, a resounding 4-1 victory, as Rodgers heavily rotated ahead of the ill-fated Champions League play-off against Kairat, which didn’t go quite so well.

Shortly after his integration in January, Rodgers labelled Kenny “absolutely brilliant”, later describing him as a “natural finisher”, forecasting that he will develop into a top-level striker.

Well, if the manager truly believes that, he needs to give the 22-year-old opportunities, so what better time to do so than a cup tie against lower-league opposition, one that comes three days before a crucial European tie?

Iheanacho was only fit enough to see 20 minutes off the bench at Rugby Park last Sunday, during which time he touched the ball only ten times.

Thus, the Nigerian surely won’t be ready to go this week, his services required far more in Belgrade on Wednesday, so Kenny more than deserves his chance to stake a claim for a spot that is very much up for grabs.

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Liverpool are flying in the Premier League, and Arne Slot will be satisfied with the 12 points claimed from as many available during this early stage of the season.

But each time the Reds have come close to sharing the spoils, with the midweek Champions League victory, Virgil van Dijk thumping home in the dying embers, ensuring Liverpool have left it late to win their fifth match in a row.

Bournemouth

Federico Chiesa

88′

Newcastle

Rio Ngumoha

90’+10

Arsenal

Dominik Szoboszlai

83′

Burnley

Mohamed Salah

90’+5

Atletico Madrid

Virgil van Dijk

90’+2

Unsustainable? Sure. Although, more importantly, this is the sign of a winning unit, one still acclimatising to a new wave of quality.

Alexander Isak made his debut for the club on Wednesday evening, having joined from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on deadline day. Will he reprise his starting berth against David Moyes’ Everton, or should fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitike get the nod?

Who Liverpool should start up front against Everton

It’s the Merseyside derby, and the chances are that Liverpool will face another stern test as they continue to click into gear and push for a second successive Premier League title.

Slot was quizzed on whether Isak or Ekitike would play up top against the Toffees, and his answer was unsurprisingly elusive.

However, it’s rather comforting to know that, throw Cody Gakpo into the mix too, and Liverpool have an abundance of quality ready to shift and change as the manager demands.

This is a team capable of competing for all the major honours this term, to be sure.

However, the tale of Liverpool’s tape has indeed been one of late-stage drama, and Slot might actually be forced to turn to another forward on Saturday afternoon, one who might be required to channel his inner Divock Origi, who loved a derby for the Reds.

Liverpool's new Divock Origi

Origi is perhaps the definitive cult hero of modern times for Liverpool, a player who never managed to nail down a starting berth with any regularity but popped up with big goals on numerous occasions.

Across his Liverpool career, the Belgian striker scored 41 goals and supplied 17 more across 175 matches, notably scoring the wrap-it-up goal in the Champions League final as the Anfield side downed Tottenham Hotspur.

And how he loved to play Everton, notching six goals against the Blues. In fact, his haul of six goals against Liverpool’s rivals is double a host of teams who sit second in his personal scoring chart.

And Federico Chiesa could now step up as Slot’s own version of the 30-year-old, with the Italian having enjoyed something of an early Liverpool rebirth himself so far this season (Origi was loaned out to Wolfsburg after a slow start to his career in England).

Chiesa was Liverpool’s sole summer signing one year ago, and injuries limited him to a bit-part role. However, he has already raised the bar this year, netting the winner as Liverpool beat Bournemouth in their opening Premier League match of the season.

Hailed as a “wizard” for his remarkable performances in his homeland by broadcaster Roger Bennett, Chiesa has rekindled the fire in his belly and looks set to contribute toward the club’s efforts this season.

All eyes will be on Isak for the Merseyside derby, should the record-breaking striker indeed start from the opening. If not him, it’s bound to be Ekitike at number nine.

But Liverpool’s proclivity, their need, for late goals and the nature of this fixture against Everton suggest that it may once again go down to the wire, and if that is the case, Chiesa’s skills might be needed.

He’s already come up trumps once for Slot’s side this season, and now the dynamic attacker may be called upon again, channelling his inner Origi to perhaps strike late and ensure Liverpool’s flawless start continues.

Would such an outcome really be that surprising at this point?

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SRH captain Pat Cummins struck thrice and that helped restrict DC to just 133

Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-20251:01

What did Cummins do right?

No Result Rain put an official end to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) IPL 2025 playoffs hopes and gave Delhi Capitals (DC) what could be a valuable point in their bid to finish in the top four. It certainly looked like a point gained for DC rather than one lost, after Pat Cummins took three new-ball wickets to put SRH in the driver’s seat at the innings break.Rain arrived soon after DC, sent in to bat, finished their innings at 133 for 7. By the time the weather cleared, the outfield was too sodden for the ground staff to clear by 11.42pm, the official cut-off time for a five-over chase.c Kishan b Cummins, again and again and againA grass-free surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium proved to be a tricky one, offering enough grip for balls banged into a hard length to misbehave, and Cummins is a master of banging the ball into a hard length.The SRH captain took the new ball himself with Mohammed Shami left out, and struck first ball, getting it to straighten and find Karun Nair’s edge. It was a sign of things to come, with the ball frequently stopping on the batter or – particularly if delivered with a wobbly seam – deviating sideways, usually just enough to find the edge.By the time he had bowled 19 balls, Cummins had taken three wickets and Ishan Kishan – keeping for the first time this season, relieving Heinrich Klaasen of the gloves – three catches.Pat Cummins wheels away after dismissing Karun Nair with the first ball•BCCI

With Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat also getting into the wickets column, DC were gasping at 29 for 5 in the eighth over. The fullish ball Unadkat bowled to dismiss KL Rahul, from left-arm around, summed up the conditions – on nine out of ten IPL pitches, Rahul would have probably middled the drive he attempted; this was the tenth pitch, and the ball straightened to kiss his edge and make Kishan the first keeper to catch out an entire top four in an IPL innings.Stubbs and Ashutosh steer DC towards respectabilityTristan Stubbs anchored DC’s recovery from that point, putting on 33 with Vipraj Nigam for the sixth wicket – Nigam sacrificed his wicket following a mix-up that left both batters at the same end – and 66 with Ashutosh Sharma for the seventh.As they have done in other recent games, DC named a bowler-heavy starting XI despite batting first, and brought Ashutosh off the Impact Player bench when the need arose. And Ashutosh was primarily responsible for a late flourish that brought DC 61 runs off their last six overs, hitting three sixes in a 26-ball 41. Stubbs finished unbeaten on 41 off 36 balls.Rain ends SRH’s hopesRain began soon after DC’s innings ended, leaving SRH waiting to begin a chase that eventually never took place.With three games left to play, SRH can finish the league stage with a maximum of 13 points. Four teams already have 14 or more points. DC, with 13 from 11 games, sit just outside that group.

That Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) haven’t been the team many people expected them to be in IPL 2025 is common knowledge. Now, with the wham-bam top three not quite coming off, is there logic in pushing Heinrich Klaasen higher than the No. 5 or 6 he has usually batted at (except in one game, when he went in one down)? After all, he has been their only consistent batter, and their highest run-getter at this stage of the tournament.”Those of us who’ve seen him play over the years and those who are watching [know] that’s what he is capable of and more,” Nick Knight said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “He just needs an opportunity to do it more often. I think he is batting far too low in that side. Six overs [or] a tick over, get him out there.On Wednesday night, during SRH’s sixth loss of the season in their eighth game, against Mumbai Indians (MI) at home, Klaasen walked out at No. 5 with SRH 13 for 3 in the fourth over. That became 35 for 5 by the ninth. “It was game over [by then],” Knight said, but Klaasen, with Impact Player Abhinav Manohar for company, gave the innings a semblance of respectability. The 99-run stand with Manohar ended when Klaasen fell off the last ball of the 19th over for a 44-ball 71.Related

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“It’s difficult to do [assess the par score and play accordingly] when you’re 24 for 4 after the powerplay,” SRH head coach Daniel Vettori said at the press conference. “[But] Klaasen and Abhinav had a wonderful partnership and took some responsibility to try to get a score, but it wasn’t enough.”The 71 took Klaasen up to No. 11 on the Orange Cap table for the season, with 281 runs at an average of 40.14 and a strike rate of 159.65. Klaasen hasn’t had a real failure yet, with 21 not out his lowest score. He has had two scores in the 20s, four scores in the 30s, and the 71. For an under-performing batting unit, that’s remarkable.Varun Aaron, speaking on the same show, agreed with Knight and marvelled at how well Klaasen stuck to the basics while batting.”Just how still he is [at the crease], he just doesn’t give the bowler anything before the bowler can bowl,” Aaron said. “Just still, hands through the ball, and it almost looks like he isn’t trying to overhit anything.”1:45

Would Heinrich Klaasen rather dance at the IPL opening ceremony or appear in a Telugu film?

SRH ‘can’t second-guess themselves now’

Vettori acknowledged that the batters haven’t been able to adapt to the changing conditions well this year, but stressed that the style of play – with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, primarily, going hard to “maximise” the powerplay – wouldn’t change.”They can’t second-guess themselves now,” Varun Aaron, Knight’s co-panellist, said. “When we talk about Bazball, or the style of cricket SRH is playing, it’s given them results last year. They came back last year after being eighth and tenth the previous two years to play in the finals last year. So that has given them results. It’s not worked out this year.”But again, if you see last year, the guys who performed for them: Abhishek Sharma had a blitz out of nowhere, previous to that his record wasn’t the best; Travis Head again didn’t have the best record in the IPL; Pat Cummins, up until then, didn’t have a great IPL ever. So a lot of the guys last year had their best IPLs. So coming back from your best IPL and trying to replicate that can never be easy.”So people must be mindful of that. And obviously they have had their best IPL with a lot of players playing a certain way. They wanted to bring that same kind of pattern this year and it hasn’t worked out. But they can’t second-guess themselves at this point.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a semifinal diante do São Paulo se aproximando, o torcedor do Corinthians se agarra em todas as superstições possíveis para acreditar na classificação à final da Copa do Brasil, e Taylor Swift é o “amuleto da sorte” do Timão.

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A cantora pop nunca deu nenhuma declaração dizendo ser fã do Corinthians, mas a relação entre Taylor e o clube paulista surgiu após uma curiosidade tomar conta das redes sociais. O Timão possui um aproveitamento quase perfeito quando a cantora lança um novo álbum.

O Corinthians sofreu apenas duas derrotas antes ou depois da artista anunciar um novo álbum. A primeira aconteceu dois dias antes do “Red (Taylor´s Version), onde o Timão perdeu por 3 a 0 diante do Atlético-MG, em novembro de 2021. A mais recente foi em julho de 2023, na regravação do álbum “Speak Now”, quando a equipe de Luxemburgo perdeu o primeiro jogo para o América-MG, nas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil.

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Segundo dados da página “Timão Dados”, o clube alvinegro venceu ou empatou nas semanas dos lançamentos de de Taylor Swifit (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), Lover (2019), Folklore e Evermore (ambos de 2020).

Chelsea’s return to the Champions League ended in disappointment as they fell 3-1 away to Bayern Munich in their opening group fixture.

It was the club’s first appearance in the competition since 2023, and the performance suggested Enzo Maresca’s young squad still has much to learn about competing at Europe’s top table.

Chelsea entered the Allianz Arena buoyed by a successful 2024/25 campaign, finishing fourth in the Premier League and lifting the Europa Conference League.

They added the Club World Cup over the summer, dispatching PSG 3-0 in the final, but the match against Bayern proved far more demanding.

With only 117 Champions League appearances across their entire 24-man squad, their inexperience showed in key moments.

Switching off at a throw-in allowed Michael Olise the time to deliver a cross that Trevoh Chalobah turned into his own net, before Moises Caicedo brought down Harry Kane in the box.

Bayern were ruthless, and while Chelsea did show flashes of promise, the experiment of deploying Reece James in midfield again raised questions about whether it is a strategy that can truly succeed at this level.

Reece James' role in Munich

At 25, Reece James is the only survivor from Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League-winning side, and his presence in the squad offers both quality and leadership.

Yet his career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries – more than 140 matches missed – leaving doubts about whether he can sustain the rhythm of playing twice a week in both domestic and European competition.

Against Bayern, James was positioned in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, while Malo Gusto filled in at right-back.

The idea was to utilise James’ technical quality and tactical awareness in central areas, but the execution was less convincing. Across 68 minutes on the pitch, James touched the ball just 35 times and attempted 27 passes, completing 22 of them (81%).

He failed to register a single key pass and did not win either of his two ground duels, while also conceding possession too cheaply.

His final rating of 6.1 reflected a subdued display that neither shielded Chelsea’s defence nor offered enough progression going forward.

The wider concern is that James’ strengths as a full-back are being muted in midfield. Where Chelsea need dynamism and ball-winning, the skipper struggled to impose himself.

Chalkboard

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

It is no surprise that he was replaced by Andrey Santos midway through the second half.

Andrey Santos: A better Fit in midfield

The introduction of Andrey Santos, a 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder, gave Chelsea fresh energy in the second half.

Santos, who returned from a successful loan at Strasbourg, where he played 45 times and contributed 12 goals and five assists, is starting to prove he belongs on this stage.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “duel monster” in midfield – a description that speaks to both his physicality and presence.

Santos has already demonstrated qualities that align more closely with Chelsea’s needs in the middle of the pitch: aerial strength, ball progression, composure in possession, and a natural tackling instinct.

These attributes showed during his 32 appearances last season, where he produced 13 goal involvements compared to James’ two in 19 matches.

The statistical comparison underlines why Santos might be the more natural option in midfield.

Andrey Santos – 2024/25

Matches Played

32

Goals

10

Assists

3

Progressive Carries

29

Progressive Passes

149

Source: FBRef

He averaged 3.47 tackles per 90, far outweighing James’ 0.85, and also registered more blocks (1.45 vs. 1.19).

Going forward, Santos was more efficient, with a 34.8% shot-on-target rate compared to James’ 27.3%. He also averaged twice as many shots on target per 90 (0.50 vs. 0.25).

In terms of progression, James does carry an edge in passing distance (370.8 metres per 90 vs. Santos’ 247.9) and averaged slightly more progressive passes (5.42 vs. 4.70).

However, Santos offered greater balance by combining forward passing with ball-carrying, recording 0.91 progressive carries per 90 compared to James’ 0.59.

His creativity was also marginally superior, averaging 1.77 shot-creating actions per 90 compared to James’ 1.52.

These numbers suggest Santos is not just a destroyer, but a midfielder capable of impacting both phases of play – regaining possession and driving Chelsea into attacking positions.

At just 21 and already capped four times by Brazil, his trajectory looks aligned with Chelsea’s long-term project.

Chelsea’s young squad will inevitably face teething problems in Europe, as the defeat in Munich showed.

Errors at the back cost them dearly, but the midfield balance was another decisive factor.

James, while a superb player when fit, may not be the answer in the middle. His injury history suggests that continuing the experiment risks undermining Chelsea’s progression.

Andrey Santos, by contrast, brings the blend of steel and skill that European nights demand.

His tackling, ball progression, and composure under pressure offer a profile Chelsea have been missing since N’Golo Kanté’s departure.

Deploying Santos in his natural role could allow James to return to right-back, where his qualities are maximised, and help Chelsea find the balance they lacked against Bayern.

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Following a second defeat in a matter of days, Arne Slot is set to hand one player his Premier League debut against Chelsea in a game that must feature an improved performance from Liverpool.

Carragher: Time for Slot to "earn his money"

It’s a slump that looked on the cards as each late goal found the back of the net against Bournemouth, Arsenal, Southampton in the Carabao Cup and against Atletico Madrid, but it’s now one that the Reds must deal with before a panic turns into a crisis.

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After suffering back-to-back defeats for just the second time under Slot, all eyes will be on Liverpool when they travel to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Defeat would signal plenty of questions for those at Anfield, who Jamie Carragher believes are playing more like a basketball team than the defending Premier League champions that they are.

The Liverpool legend then went on to say that it’s time for Slot to “really earn his money” after a smooth ride last season. Just what that means for a number of struggling stars is the big question.

The Dutchman has already proved that he’s not afraid to get ruthless at Anfield and that could be on show this weekend with one player in line to make his Premier League debut.

Slot set to hand out Premier League debut vs Chelsea

Liverpool’s night became worse when Alisson Becker went down after what appeared to be a muscle injury and Slot has already confirmed that the Brazilian will not feature against Chelsea. As such, Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to make his Premier League debut. The former Valencia man has been waiting for his chance and now he’s set to get it.

A lot of questions were asked about Mamardashvili’s game time when Alisson stayed put this season, but the 25-year-old wasn’t just signed to succeed the world-class shot-stopper. Alisson has an extensive injury history and one which has almost had an inevitability about it in recent seasons, making Mamardashvili’s arrival incredibly important.

Described as “magnificent” by scout Jacek Kulig in 2024, the summer arrival offers Liverpool the chance to replace the injured Alisson without losing much quality. Mamardashvili is more than ready to step up, particularly in the shot-stopping department.

MatériaMais Notícias

Raphael Veiga talvez esteja vivendo o seu melhor momento no ano e prova disso é que com o gol sobre o Vasco, ele se aproxima de fazer a sua melhor temporada pelo Palmeiras, e como o Verdão vai bem se o seu camisa 23 está bem.

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Com 16 gols e 14 assistências, Veiga é disparado o jogador mais importante do elenco hoje, e com a lesão de Dudu, agora terá que assumir ainda mais o protagonismo do Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira, que está próximo de ficar há três jogos do inédito tetracampeonato da Libertadores.

Engraçado que nesta temporada os papéis se inverteram, uma vez que em 2022 foi Raphael Veiga quem sofreu uma grave lesão no tornozelo e acabou se despedindo da temporada mais cedo, deixando todo o protagonismo do Palmeiras naquela ocasião para Gustavo Scarpa.

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Sem Scarpa e sem Dudu, mas com Rony, Zé Rafael e Artur, agora é Veiga que terá que chamar a responsabilidade de carregar o Palmeiras nas batalhas que ainda faltam neste ano.

???? Raphael Veiga é o jogador com a maior Nota Sofascore do @Brasileirao 2023! ????????

⚔️ 15 jogos
⚽️ 7 gols (1 de falta)
????️ 3 assistências
⏰ 121 mins p/ participar de gol
???? 37 chutes (18 no gol)
???? 32 passes decisivos (!)
????️ 7 grandes chances criadas (!)
???? Nota Sofascore 7.53 pic.twitter.com/2sp4gmkwvU

— Sofascore Brazil (@SofascoreBR) August 28, 2023

Recém-convocado para a Seleção Brasileira na primeira lista de Fernando Diniz, Veiga passou por um momento complicado após a sua última convocação, quando ficou mais de 10 jogos sem balançar as redes e desperdiçou até uma penalidade diante do Botafogo, no jogo que era o mais importante para o Verdão na briga pela ponta da tabela do Brasileiro.

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Agora a torcida espera que a história seja diferente e que Veiga volte ainda mais decisivo para se consagrar ainda mais como um dos maiores meias da história da Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras.

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De acordo com o ‘Sofascore’, Raphael Veiga está no seleto grupo de meias com mais participações em gols no mundo desde 2020, ao lado de Arrascaeta, Bruno Fernandes e Kevin De Bruyne.

After surviving another scare to win late on against Burnley, Liverpool play host to Atletico Madrid in the hope of taking their winning run to five games in all competitions.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid team news

The big question heading into this one centres around Alexander Isak. Will the Swede make his Liverpool debut? Or will Arne Slot force Anfield to wait slightly longer before seeing their record arrival in action? If there’s a stage to introduce one of the best strikers in the world, it is the Champions League and it is in a game that will desperately need attacking quality.

There will also be question marks about the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones. The former took quite the knock against Burnley and has already endured fitness struggles in the early stages of the campaign. Jones, meanwhile, didn’t make the trip to Turf Moor altogether and is yet to return to training ahead of the Atletico Madrid clash.

The Spanish club also have some frustrating injury concerns. As Fabrizio Romano confirmed, Diego Simeone will be without both Julian Alvarez and Johnny Cardoso for his side’s trip to Anfield. Losing Alvarez is a particular blow for the Argentine manager.

The former Manchester City forward has been the star of the show ever since arriving in Spain and he has continued that form so far this season – scoring once and assisting once in four games.

The task that Simeone now has is finding a similar star within his squad to replace Alvarez ahead of such a challenging test at Anfield.

Liverpool predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley; Konate; Van Dijk; Robertson; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai; Gakpo; Wirtz; Salah; Ekitike

Atletico Madrid predicted line-up (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente; Le Normand; Lenglet; Riggeri; Simeone; Gallagher; Koke; Gonzalez; Griezmann; Sorloth

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid results

The Kop will still be stung by one of Atletico Madrid’s previous Anfield visits, in particular. But since Simeone’s side escaped with a shock 4-2 aggregate victory in extra-time to knock the Reds out of the Champions League in 2020, it has been the Premier League giants that have dominated.

Wednesday’s clash will be the first time that Slot has squared off against Atletico Madrid as Liverpool manager, but Simeone is still a manager that he knows well.

The last time that they faced each other, intense words were shared as they went back and forth on a disagreement. Given that Slot won round one with a late Feyenoord winner, there’s no doubt that he’ll be hoping for a similar victory in round two this evening.

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By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 16, 2025

The history of the fixtures tells us to expect goals, late drama, shock moments and perhaps even another Liverpool victory. Standing in the way of that will, of course, be a stern Atletico side.

It’s a game that the Spaniards could do with winning too, given that they’ve won just once in four La Liga games this season, which came last time out against Villarreal.

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid prediction and odds

Will Liverpool make it five from five in all competitions or will Atletico Madrid cause Anfield misery in a repeat of 2020? According to the bookies, who have priced the Reds at 1/2 to pick up three points, Slot’s side are the favourites here. Atletico, meanwhile, are expected to face an uphill battle at 5/1 to win, and a draw sits at 16/5.

When it comes to results, Liverpool are up and running this season. But we are yet to see a performance that reflects their hefty summer spending spree. As is often the case, however, they may well be saving their most convincing performance for the Champions League and Anfield under the lights.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Atletico Madrid

Bayern Munich would have paid even more than €100 million to for Harry Kane had they known just how prolific he would be, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen says. After two sensational seasons with the German side, his third is off to a flying start, scoring a whopping 19 goals in 11 games with the German giants winning every match they have played so far, sparking talk of a new contract for the 32-year-old.

• Kane’s brilliance turns €100m into a bargain

  England superstar Kane’s arrival at Bayern for nearly €100 million in 2023 sparked much debate, but the English striker has since proven to be worth every cent, and perhaps even more. CEO Dreesen admitted after Bayern’s win over Borussia Dortmund that Kane’s performances have exceeded all expectations.

  “If someone had told us that Harry would get better from season to season, we probably would have paid even more,” Dreesen said. Kane, now 32, has evolved beyond being just a prolific scorer, he has become a complete footballer, combining clinical finishing with intelligent link-up play and tactical awareness.

  Against Dortmund, Kane produced one of his strongest performances, showing control and composure in deeper areas, initiating attacks and even contributing defensively. His transformation into a multi-dimensional forward has made him indispensable to Vincent Kompany’s high-tempo Bayern side, who are flying both domestically and in Europe.

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  Bayern’s cautious approach to contract talks

  Despite Kane’s record-breaking start, Bayern are showing restraint regarding an extension. His current deal runs until 2027, but Dreesen insists talks will only begin at the right time.

  “We’ve already said that it’s simply too early in the season,” Dreesen told . “We will discuss it at the appropriate time.” The reason for caution lies partly in the details of Kane’s contract, it reportedly includes a €65 million release clause active until January 31, 2026, allowing him to return to England if triggered.

  Nevertheless, Bayern know the advantage they hold with the English striker on their court. Kane’s game depends less on raw athleticism and more on intelligence, timing, and technique. As a result, his style could sustain longevity at the highest level, making a contract extension more feasible despite his age. According to internally, Bayern are confident about nailing down the future of Europe's most outstanding player, hoping his admiration for Kompany’s project will outweigh any temptation to leave.

• Dreesen and Kompany hail Kane’s impact

  The Bayern CEO's admiration for Kane reflects the club’s satisfaction with their record signing, but it’s not just the hierarchy that’s impressed. Head coach Kompany has repeatedly praised the England captain’s influence both on and off the pitch.

  “He’s unlocked his next level by himself,” Kompany explained. “He’s always done that, even when I was playing against him. That’s the mentality that he’s created every year. Maybe it helped that he didn’t win a title for a long time, he kept up that hunger.” 

  Kompany added that Kane’s role in Bayern’s system goes beyond goals. “He’s felt what his role in our team can be, also among his teammates. He then also shows his quality, not just with goals but also how he gets others involved. We hope he can keep that up, but there’s no extra pressure on him if he happens to perform less once in a while," he said.

  That trust between player and manager has been crucial. In 11 games this season, Kane has already netted 19 times, becoming the leading goal contributor across Europe’s top five leagues. His combination of efficiency, maturity, and leadership has elevated Bayern’s attacking rhythm to levels unseen since Robert Lewandowski’s peak years.

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  Kompany’s renewal fuels stability and success

  Kane’s future could also be tied to the man managing him, Kompany recently signed a new deal until 2029, signalling Bayern’s faith in his long-term vision. The Belgian has guided Bayern to 11 consecutive wins across all competitions this season, giving them a five-point cushion atop the Bundesliga and establishing the best start in league history with a +23 goal difference.

  From his 67 games in charge, Kompany has overseen 49 victories and just nine defeats, restoring the feel-good factor at the Allianz Arena. For Kane, the environment could not be better, a stable coach, a united dressing room, and a relentless pursuit of trophies.

  Bayern’s immediate focus turns to Europe, where they face Club Brugge at home on Wednesday, aiming to extend their perfect run in the Champions League. With Kane spearheading the attack.

  Beyond that, Bayern’s board will reassess contract priorities early next year, but the expectation is that discussions with Kane will begin around February 2026, allowing both parties to evaluate performance, fitness, and long-term goals. For now, Bayern’s record signing looks more like a bargain, an elite striker whose influence stretches far beyond goals. If his current trajectory continues, Kane’s second chapter at Bayern could redefine what longevity looks like for strikers in Europe’s elite.