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Liverpool have complained to the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) about the decision to rule out a goal by Virgil van Dijk during Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. The Reds have raised "serious concerns" after seeing Van Dijk's effort chalked off as Andy Robertson was ruled to be offside when he ducked out of the way of Van Dijk's header as it flew past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

• Liverpool fume at disallowed goal

  With Liverpool trailing 1-0, Van Dijk thought he had equalised when he headed home a corner in the 38th minute of the game but saw referee Chris Kavanagh rule out the goal and the decision backed by video assistant referee, Michael Oliver. The Premier League confirmed the decision, explaining: "The referee's call of offside and no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper."

  However, Liverpool have now been in touch with the PGMOL and refereing chief Howard Webb to express their "serious concerns" about the decision, as reported by . The Reds "do not accept that the decision to disallow the goal" was "subjective" and feel that Robertson was not affecting Donnarumma's vision. Liverpool also think "the usual checks and balances that are central to the VAR process did not take place" and feel if they had, then a different decision may have been reached. 

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  'Wrong decision' – Slot blasts decision

  Liverpool manager Arne Slot made it clear he did not think the right decision had been made by the match officials. He told : "I think it's obvious and clear that the wrong decision has been made, at least in my opinion. Because he [Robertson] didn't interfere at all with what the goalkeeper could do. Immediately after the game someone showed me the goal that the same referee allowed City against Wolves last season [John Stones’ last minute winner]. So, it took the linesman 13 seconds to raise his flag to say it's offside. So, there was clearly communication. That could have influenced the game in a positive way for us because in the first half we were so poor.

  "We would have been lucky going 1-0 down at half-time, let alone if it was 1-1 or 2-1 down. So it has been an influential decision, which is not to say that we then would have had a result over here because you cannot predict how the second half would have gone."

• Van Dijk reacts to controversial call

  Van Dijk was also quizzed on the decision after the game but did not want to waste time talking about it any more. He told : "In football the officials are deciding the key decisions and we have to deal with it on the pitch. There is no point discussing this from my point of view. The reality is that we lost 3-0 and that is a big blow. It doesn't matter what I say [about the goal] because anything I say will be in the media and the whole international break will be about my comment on the decision. I just focus on the fact we lost. You guys can debate if it should have stood."

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  Liverpool in crisis?

  Liverpool went on to lose 3-0 at the Etihad as the defending champions suffered their fifth Premier League defeat of the campaign so far. Television pundit Roy Keane insisted the struggling Reds "are in crisis" after their latest defeat and believes they looked a "really weak team" against Pep Guardiola's side despite a summer of heavy investment.

  However, the international break does allow Slot and his team some time to reset after falling eight points behind league leaders Arsenal. Liverpool return to action against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and then continue their Champions League campaign against PSV.

As expected, Juan Soto is commanding the news cycle as winter meetings draw nearer. The superstar, who took up residence with the New York Yankees this past season, is expected to get a massive contract across over a decade.

At just 26 and having helped bring the Yankees to their first World Series in 15 years last season, wants him.

The Boston Red Sox held an informational session with Soto to pitch him on coming to play for the Red Sox in Southern California on Thursday night. The meeting was three hours long and described as productive by Sean McAdam of MassLive. Soto was described as "impressed."

During the meeting, Soto inquired about three things in particular, according to McAdam: The team's commitment to winning, how it evaluates players, and Fenway Park and its facilities.

The last item is particularly noteworthy since it could be viewed as a big advantage or disadvantage to the Red Sox, depending on Soto's perspective. Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in MLB. If you value tradition, that's great. If you want modernity, well, you can only put so many fresh coats of paint on a 110-plus-year-old park. The locker room was revamped ahead of 2023.

It's a factor that also implicates the Chicago Cubs, whose Wrigely Field is just two years younger than Fenway Park. It's unclear how engaged the Cubs will be, if at all, on Soto in free agency, but they haven't appeared in any reports to this point.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has played down concerns about a potential rift between Lamine Yamal and Dani Carvajal after their heated exchange following El Clasico. The Roja boss insists there is “no strange behaviour” in the squad and confirmed he has spoken to the Barcelona and Real Madrid players, stressing unity ahead of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

• De la Fuente calms feud fears after El Clasico confrontation

  Spain head coach De la Fuente has dismissed concerns of tension between Yamal and Carvajal following their on-field confrontation at the end of Clasico between Madrid and Barca. The incident occurred after Madrid’s win at the Bernabeu, where Carvajal was seen confronting the teenage winger for comments he made in Gerard Pique’s Kings League ahead of the clash.

  Los Blancos' captain, appeared to tell Yamal that he “talks too much”, sparking a brief but highly public exchange between the pair. Given both players’ crucial roles in Spain’s setup, the altercation prompted questions about whether club rivalries might affect the national team’s harmony.

  However, De la Fuente quickly moved to downplay the matter during an appearance on the podcast. “There has never been any incident, no strange behaviour from anyone,” he insisted. “Because of a school fight? No, there is no school fight. Really, there is no fight. The feeling within the group is one of family and union.”

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  Spain boss confirms talks with both players

  De la Fuente confirmed that he has spoken directly to both Yamal and Carvajal following the altercation but reiterated that there was no lasting issue. “I have spoken a lot with Lamine, as well as with Dani Carvajal,” he explained, confirming that both players had been addressed privately after the Clasico. When asked directly if he had spoken with Carvajal, De la Fuente simply replied: “Yes, I spoke with Dani.”

  The Spanish coach was firm in maintaining that the matter should now rest with the players’ clubs, signalling his intention to keep the national team’s focus on collective goals rather than off-field controversy.

  By taking this stance, De la Fuente made clear that he expects professionalism and maturity from his players, especially given the high stakes of Spain’s upcoming international fixtures. His remarks also reflect his ongoing commitment to ensuring the national team remains unaffected by domestic rivalries, no matter how intense they may become.

• 'Unity and family' – De la Fuente highlights La Roja’s team spirit

  The 63-year-old tactician repeatedly returned to one theme during the interview, unity. “In addition, the feeling within the group is of family, of union. The common good is prioritized over the individual, and that says a lot about this group of players,” he said.

  To illustrate his point, De la Fuente recalled a memorable moment from Euro 2024, when Yamal assisted Carvajal for a crucial goal before the pair embraced in celebration. “I’ll always remember the image from the Euros, Lamine’s cross, Carvajal’s finish, the hug they shared, their expressions… that’s what happens in the national team,” he explained. “I am totally convinced that the only interest here is the general interest.”

  De la Fuente’s words carry weight not just because of his authority but because of his insistence on fostering a collective spirit within the squad. By framing his team as a “family”, he sends a clear message to both players and fans that Spain’s ambitions come before any personal rivalries or egos.

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  Yamal’s rise, Carvajal’s leadership and Spain’s next challenge

  Carvajal, who recently underwent knee surgery, will not feature in Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey. Yamal, however, is expected to be called up despite nursing a mild pubalgia issue that has limited his recent minutes for Barcelona.

  Yamal’s rise to prominence has been meteoric and at just 18, he has already become one of Spain’s brightest attacking talents and a cornerstone of the post-Euro 2024 rebuild. Meanwhile, Carvajal remains a respected veteran and leader, a role that requires careful balance between rivalry and responsibility.

  As Spain look ahead to their qualifying campaign, De la Fuente’s management of personalities and locker-room dynamics could prove vital. With tensions between Barcelona and Madrid stars always simmering beneath the surface, his public show of calm and confidence suggests a manager determined to maintain unity at all costs.

Newcastle United have now discovered the extent of Tino Livramento’s injury and whether he suffered an ACL blow ahead of a spell on the sidelines.

Howe responds to Rummenigge's "idiot" claim

Nick Woltemade has enjoyed an excellent start to life in Tyneside and, as such, questions have arrived for Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga giants failed to secure the German’s signature in the summer, allowing Newcastle to swoop ahead and finally sign the striker they needed, but those in Bavaria have insisted that they wouldn’t have paid as much as £69m.

Ex-chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge even told reporters: “I can only congratulate those in Stuttgart for finding – I’ll use quotation marks here – an idiot who paid that much money. Because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich!”

It’s strangely-timed criticism of a deal that is quite clearly working out for all parties so far and Eddie Howe reiterated that he’s pleased with Woltemade’s early goalscoring form.

The towering forward was once again at the top of his game against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, opening the scoring for the Magpies with his third strike in six games before they went on to seal a comfortable 4-0 victory.

It’s a week that needed to include a positive note following Arsenal’s late victory at St James’ Park on Sunday and, ultimately, one that also delivered some fairly positive news on Livramento.

Livramento injury update

As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Tino Livramento has avoided an ACL rupture and will now miss the next 6-8 weeks for Newcastle. After seeking a second opinion, the news will come as a huge relief for the Magpies, given that there were initial fears that the England international had suffered the second ACL injury of his career.

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By
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Whilst this still means that Livramento will likely miss the next 10 Newcastle games, an ACL rupture would have ended his season altogether and all but ended his chances of returning to full fitness in time to make Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 England World Cup squad.

Missing three Champions League games and seven in the Premier League, Livramento is likely to return around the end of November when Newcastle travel to the Hill Dickinson for the first time to face Everton.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reiterated that winning the DFB-Pokal is not just a dream for the fans but a vital objective for the team this season, after Harry Kane’s brace inspired a 4-1 victory over Koln in the competition. Koln manager Lukas Kwasniok echoed Kompany’s words, saying it is evident that Bayern are “desperate for the treble”.

• Bayern's unbeaten run underlines treble ambitions

  The 4-1 victory over Koln ensured Bayern's incredible winning run continues. Having won all 14 of their matches so far in all competitions, Kompany's men have now broken a European record set by AC Milan in the 1992-93 season.

  Despite losing key attacking players such as Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and club legend Thomas Muller over the summer, and missing out on primary transfer targets like Nick Woltemade, Bayern have remained competitive on all fronts. Much of the credit is going to manager Kompany, whose tactical acumen and meticulous training methods have instilled discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance within the squad. His man-management has also played a crucial role, helping players such as Kane and Konrad Laimer flourish so far this term.

  Bayern’s dominant performances and consistency have reignited talk of a possible treble, reminiscent of their historic 2019-20 campaign.

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• Bayern 'hungry and want more' after another win

  Speaking ahead the midweek victory, Kompany emphasised his side are taking the cup competition seriously as they target a clean sweep of trophies. "My team is incredibly hungry for the trophy," he said. "It's not just the fans who want the title, it's something we live and breathe."

  He repeated that message after the win, saying: "The records come when we approach every game with the mentality of wanting to win. That's the first thing. And the second is quality. The lads are fit and you can see a lot of automatic movements. They're hungry and want more! That's helping us right now."

  His words were reiterated by Jonathan Tah, who told reporters: "We're always hungry, we always want to win and we're never satisfied. We're happy today, and tomorrow we'll focus on the next game."

  Koln manager Kwasniok acknowledged his counterpart’s words and reaffirmed Bayern’s treble ambitions, saying: "They desperately want the treble."

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  Bundesliga champions pull off comeback DFB-Pokal comeback

  Koln took a surprise lead in the game after the haf-hour mark when Bayern failed to track a deep run from Ragnar Ache, who met Johannesson’s cross from a set piece and headed it past Urbig. The lead did not last long as Laimer drove up the pitch and found Josip Stanisic, whose shot was saved by the Koln goalkeeper, but the rebound was tapped in by Luis Diaz. 

  Kane showed his perseverance and work rate when he dispossessed a Koln defender before swivelling and firing a shot into the net. He got his second of the night in the 64th minute, rising high to head the ball in from a Joshua Kimmich corner. In the 72nd minute, Michael Olise rounded off the score after starting a flowing counterattack from the right. Aleksander Pavlovic found Diaz on the left, who squared the ball for Olise to poke it past Zieler, finishing off the move he had started.

  “What I love about this team is that we stay calm. We clawed our way back into the game," Kompany said. “It was a great fight, a real cup match. I'm very happy with the fighting spirit of our lads. We came back from 1-0 down and remained dangerous in the second half. We kept the intensity high. Koln kept clawing themselves back into the game. I'm very happy. We already had great chances in the first half. Koln believed in themselves and fought for the second balls. At times, we didn't execute our set pieces quickly enough. We were always dangerous when we had speed in our possession. It's important for us to use our squad, and we still have players returning. Now, we have three games in six days, so we'll only be regenerating. Leverkusen and PSG will be tough, but we deserve to be confident."

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  Bayern's upcoming clash versus Leverkusen

  Bayern will look to extend their winning run and strengthen their pursuit of the treble when they face Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The clash promises to be a crucial test for Kompany’s side, as they aim to maintain momentum and tighten their grip at the top of the table against a strong Leverkusen outfit.

Wrexham AFC have enjoyed a phenomenal rise up the leagues under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and are now splashing the cash as a Championship side.

As a result, their annual payroll has increased dramatically to an eye-catching £18.2m, with the average Red Dragons’ player picking up more than £550,000 per season.

Wrexham's most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a look at Wrexham’s record signings.

By
Charlie Smith

Dec 30, 2024

But who earns what at The Racecourse Ground? Here is what Wrexham are paying their players for the 2025/26 season, as per Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at Wrexham's top 10 earners…

10

Sam Smith

£15,000 per week

Sam Smith is just one of seven Wrexham players picking up £15,000 per week at The Racecourse, with the forward arriving in January 2025 from Reading.

He scored some vital goals to help Wrexham win promotion to the Championship and is under contract until 2028.

9

Liberato Cacace

£15,000 per week

Liberato Cacace was Wrexham’s only 2025 signing made outside of England, with the New Zealand intermational arriving from Italian side Empoli.

The left-back cost just over £2m and put pen to paper on a three-year deal in Wales.

8

Matty James

£15,000 per week

Wrexham didn’t pay a penny to sign Matty James in 2024 after he became a free agent following his Bristol City exit.

The central midfielder’s experience was key in the League One promotion run in.

7

Callum Doyle

£15,000 per week

Callum Doyle is actually one of Wrexham’s most expensive signings of all time, but he’s down the list when it comes to the club’s highest paid players.

Signed from Premier League giants Manchester City for £5m, Doyle picks up £780,000 per season in Wales.

6

Ben Sheaf

£15,000 per week

After starring for Coventry City over four years, Ben Sheaf swapped the Midlands for Wales, joining Wrexham on deadline day in September 2025.

He reportedly cost Reynolds and McElhenney £6.5m and is under contract until 2028.

5

Josh Windass

£15,000 per week

After leaving Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2024/25 season, attacker Josh Windass penned a three-year contract at Wrexham.

The forward actually scored Wrexham’s first goal back in the second-tier away at Southampton.

4

Lewis O'Brien

£17,500 per week

Another marquee signing following the club’s promotion to the Championship was Lewis O’Brien, who arrived from Nottingham Forest in a £3m transfer.

His £910,000 per season deal in Wales runs until 2028.

3

Jay Rodriguez

£25,000 per week

Signed at the beginning of 2025 to help Wrexham to promotion, Jay Rodriguez is on a deal worth £1.3m per season at The Racecourse.

A striker with Premier League experience, Rodriguez’s contract expires in 2026.

2

Conor Coady

£25,000 per week

An England international, centre-back Conor Coady signed for Wrexham from Leicester City in a deal worth £2m.

He signed a two-year contract and was made a key part of Phil Parkinson’s plans straightaway.

1

Kieffer Moore

£30,000 per week

Top of the list as Wrexham’s highest paid player is Wales international Kieffer Moore.

An experienced Championship striker who has scored goals for Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United in recent years, Moore is under contract until 2028.

Everton meet Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Sunday, closing the 2024/25 campaign in good form, two successive wins sealing a 13th-place finish in the Premier League.

Taking the wheel of a sinking ship, David Moyes has done a brilliant job, steering the Toffees away from relegation danger and ensuring they could say farewell to Goodison Park in a good moment.

Iliman Ndiaye scored twice as Southampton were defeated on Merseyside at the weekend, underscoring his value as one of the division’s most underrated stars.

It’s crucial the Friedkin Group keep him on the books next year, with a few industrious signings sure to create a secure fluency to take Ndiaye and his team to the next level.

Everton chasing Premier League midfielder

Fans will no doubt hope for a flashy new forward or too, but Moyes is a pragmatic manager in the best sense, and will be focused on making under-the-radar improvements too.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, we’ve already seen a plethora of EFL stars linked with a Merseyside switch, with Ben Knight and Sunderland’s Dan Neil two potential options.

On that evidence, it seems that one such upgrade could come in midfield, and those claims are bolstered by Football Insider who are reporting that if Everton lodge a bid worth £12m for Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff, it is likely to be accepted with both clubs eager to agree a deal.

The Englishman is about to enter the final year of his contract, and this is certainly one to keep a close eye on.

Why Everton should sign Sean Longstaff

Longstaff, 27, is thus far a one-club man, but his playing time has been limited under Eddie Howe this season, starting only eight times in the league, largely because the Magpies have such a robust starting midfield trio.

But Longstaff is a good player in his own right, with an aptitude in transitional play. Indeed, the box-to-box star is capable of breaking down opposition attacks and recycling possession by pressing forward.

Hailed as an “unsung hero” for the Toon in the past by pundit Paul Merson and as “unbelievable” by Alan Shearer, Longstaff could do the dirty work in order to promote opportunities for players like Ndiaye, creating that roundedness and energy that Moyes’ teams need to fire on all cylinders.

FBref help to underline the player’s metrics, revealing the secrets behind his success. The data-driven site show that Longstaff ranks among the top 1% of Premier League midfielders this season for tackles won in the attacking third, the top 4% for dribblers tackled and the top 8% for blocks made per 90.

What this tells us is his willingness to roam into more advanced areas and win the ball before knocking it further forward and into the path of, say, Ndiaye.

The Senegalese winger has forged quite the campaign for himself, such a dangerous presence in the final third, scoring nine Premier League goals and missing only three big chances.

Clinical as you like, Ndiaye could do with some more creative support, and while Longstaff wouldn’t plug that gap, his tenacious attitude toward turning play over and ability to apply his combativeness to offensive areas of the field denote his suitability within Moyes’ project.

And, of course, highlight the effect he could have on Ndiaye.

Widening the Everton midfield’s reach would allow Ndiaye to play with more comfort, also allowing those such as Dwight McNeil and Charly Alcaraz to supply Ndiaye more directly and ensure Everton go from strength to strength at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Most exciting deal since Richarlison: Everton could sign “world-class” star

David Moyes will look to bring in one or two exciting names to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 18, 2025

Newcastle United fans are surely in dreamland at the moment, with their Magpies heroes in the driver’s seat now involving the ongoing Champions League race in the Premier League.

Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off versus Chelsea had all the ingredients of a high-stakes affair with both the Toon and the Blues heading into the game on 63 points each.

But, Eddie Howe’s men didn’t play with any nerves visible in their free-flowing game, meaning the Magpies are now sat in a pretty third position – only one point off Arsenal – after easing past Enzo Maresca’s men 2-0.

Both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes would steal the limelight on the day as the Newcastle goalscorers, with the fantastic midfield pairing looking ready made for Champions League football off the back of their polished displays.

Tonali and Guimaraes stole the show

In such a tense affair, the best possible mood setter would be to score early on.

Tonali certainly felt that way anyway when he gifted Howe’s hosts the lead after just two minutes, with the former AC Milan maestro managing to tap home after an inviting delivery into the box fell charitably at his feet.

Away from sending the home masses into delirium with the opening strike of the day, Tonali would continue to keep plugging away centrally with his boundless energy, leading to the standout number eight winning three ground duels.

On top of that, he was also on the lookout for an assist to complement his goal with two key passes tallied up, but no such moment would arrive.

Instead, Dan Burn would turn provider when teeing up Guimaraes for Newcastle’s game-clinching second, with the popular Brazilian also showing off his varied game – much like Tonali – when winning three duels, while registering two more shots past his fabulous late effort looping over Robert Sanchez.

But, there is another sensational forward player for Howe’s side that hasn’t even been mentioned yet who is slowly but surely turning into Newcastle’s next iteration of Nolberto Solano with his expert eye for an assist.

Newcastle's new version of Solano

The now retired right winger would consistently dazzle Premier League defences with his trickery when donning Magpies black and white.

He would also pick up assists by the bucket-load to back up his memorable showboating, with Solano’s assist haul of 15 in league action during the 1999/2000 season yet to be topped, until potentially now.

Jacob Murphy amazingly only finds himself three short of Solano’s bumper total in the here and now, with his 12th assist of the Premier League season to date the cross that Tonali very kindly finished off.

It’s been a remarkable campaign for the 30-year-old so far, considering he had only picked up eight assists last season when he was sparingly used 21 times in league action due to injury concerns. Now, he’s as crucial as Tonali and Guimaraes are in Newcastle’s exciting hunt for European glory.

Staggeringly, only Alexander Isak is able to surpass Murphy for goals and assists this season in the Premier League for the Magpies, with the ex-Norwich City man certainly living up to his next Solano label more when powering home eight goals from 33 games. In total, the silky Peruvian would pick up 48 strikes on Tyneside.

Murphy will hope he can get near to that sizeable tally soon, with the hard-working yet skilful winger another gem playing out of his skin for the Toon as Champions League football possibly reappears.

Howe thinks he's perfect: Newcastle make bid for "incredible" £21m maestro

The Magpies have submitted a significant offer for a new midfielder.

By
Dominic Lund

May 9, 2025

Celtic avoided back-to-back-to-back defeats against their city rivals with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon.

A goal from Cyriel Dessers in the first half gave the home side a commanding position heading into the second 45, but a fine goal from Adam Idah secured a point for Brendan Rodgers and his men.

It was the final Old Firm clash of the 2025/26 campaign, ending with two wins and one draw apiece, and it may have been the final Old Firm match for left-back Greg Taylor.

Why that may have been Greg Taylor's last Old Firm

The Scotland international is out of contract at the end of this season, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will put pen to paper on an extension at Parkhead.

It was reported by the Daily Record last month that the Hoops are planning to offer him a new three-year deal to stay at the club, but that he also has options from abroad, in the MLS, England, and Dinamo Zagreb.

This means that the 1-1 draw with Rangers on Sunday may have been his last Old Firm match for the Hoops, unless an agreement can be reached in the coming days.

Chalkboard

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

Taylor may not have been the only player to have played his final Old Firm game for the Scottish giants, though, as Anthony Ralston should be moved on this summer.

Why Celtic should move on from Anthony Ralston

The Celtic academy graduate started for the sixth time this season and, perhaps, showed why Rodgers has not relied on him more often, as he produced a disappointing display.

During Sky Sports’ commentary of the game, pundit Chris Sutton described his challenge on Nedim Bajrami as “daft” in the first half, before suggesting that the full-back had “brain freeze” when he watched Nicolas Raskin run past him in the second half.

There were many moments like the two Sutton commented on, including a dive late in the game that almost presented Rangers with a chance to create something in the final seconds of the match.

As you can see in the table below, Ralston lost the majority of his duels, losing seven of the 13, and offered very little in possession, with all four of his crosses failing to find a teammate.

The Scottish defender, therefore, struggled on and off the ball throughout the match and did not prove himself to be a reliable option when called upon by the Celtic boss.

With Taylor possibly on his way out of Parkhead on a free transfer, the Hoops may look to revitalise their full-back option, and Ralston could be a player on the chopping block if they decide to make changes in those positions, which could make this his last Old Firm match for the club.

Or, if Ralston does stay at Parkhead, Rodgers should look to use other options from the start to avoid the defender from being a liability down the right flank, as he was on Sunday.

Worth more than Maeda: Celtic have struck gold on "immense" star

Celtic have hit the jackpot on this star who is now worth even more than Daizen Maeda.

1

By
Dan Emery

May 3, 2025

Aston Villa are thought to be in talks to sign two Barcelona players this summer, according to a new report.

Aston Villa looking to overturn two-goal deficit against PSG

The Villans and Unai Emery suffered defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. After going ahead thanks to a first-half goal from Morgan Rogers, Villa fell to a 3-1 loss and have it all to do at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes have given the Ligue 1 giants the advantage, however, talking after the game, Emery was in a defiant mood.

“The last goal is a little bit disappointing for us because it was in the last minute but it is not changing much, or our belief.

“It is not changing a lot because at 2-1 we were thinking, in the next match, we have to play to win. With 3-1, it is still the same. We need to win the next match, and not only [score] one goal but [at least] two. We were close to getting a good result.

“At the end with this goal it is still more or less the same because we still need to win next week. Villa Park is our home and hopefully we can be stronger and win more of our duels. They showed their power and individual qualities. The result is not the best but it’s not the worst. There are still 90 minutes to play, a second leg, and maybe extra time.”

Offer made: Aston Villa make approach to sign £12.5m "generational talent"

The Villans have now moved ahead of Manchester City in the race for his signature.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 9, 2025

Villa are also competing in the Premier League to finish in one of five Champions League places for next season, so there are plenty of big games coming up.

Away from the pitch, though, Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, appears to be working on possible summer signings, and a double deal from La Liga leaders Barcelona appears to be of interest to Villa.

Aston Villa in talks to sign two Barcelona players after Emery green light

According to reports from Spain, Aston Villa and Monchi have initiated talks to sign Barcelona duo Marc Casado and Andreas Christensen.

Emery has given the green light to deals for the pair as he is ‘convinced that both players can raise the team’s competitive level and establish the club among the best in the Premier League’.

It is claimed that Christensen could leave if an offer in the region of €20m, whereas Casado appears to be surplus to requirements under Hansi Flick. Christensen has experience of the Premier League after a previous stint with Chelsea and can play as a centre-back or even as a holding midfielder if required.

Meanwhile, Casado can play as a holding or central midfielder and is still only 21 years of age after coming through the famous La Masia academy.

A Spain international, Casado is currently out through injury, but by the looks of things, a double deal for the midfielder and a return to England for Christensen is on the cards.