A brittle backline cost the Reds the Premier League title last season, and history could repeat itself unless reinforcements arrive this month

With their side on track to beat Liverpool 1-0 for the second time this season thanks to Chris Wood's early goal, Nottingham Forest's joyous supporters couldn't resist the opportunity to take a shot at the opposition manager. As well as performing their own hilarious take on 'Zombie' by The Cranberries, the home crowd also sang with glee: "It's happening again, it's happening again, Arne Slot, it's happening again!"

In the end, the Forest fans were grateful for a point against the Premier League leaders, as Slot issued the perfect response to the taunts by making a double substitution that immediately drew Liverpool level midway through the second half, with Diogo Jota heading in Kostas Tsimikas' corner. From that moment on, the visitors dominated and would have won the game had it not been for some sensational saves from Matz Sels and stirring last-ditch defending from Nikola Milenkovic & Co.

Indeed, while Liverpool's forwards were left lamenting missed opportunities at the full-time whistle, the difference in defending was the real reason the game ended in a draw. Whereas a wonderfully well-organised Forest backline managed to restrict the Reds to one goal, their Liverpool counterparts once again conceded first – and far too easily.

It happened an awful lot under Jurgen Klopp last season, and it's now happening again under his successor.

Getty ImagesHistory repeating itself?

When Liverpool last visited Nottingham on March 2, Darwin Nunez nodded in a 99th-minute winner that sent Klopp's men four points clear at the top of the Premier League. At the time, it was unthinkable that the Reds would end up finishing a distant third in the table.

Fatigue was the major factor in Liverpool running out of steam down the home straight, as injuries eventually took their toll on an over-achieving squad. However, their brittle backline was also brutally exposed during the business end of the 2023-24 season. Liverpool didn't manage another clean sheet after their City Ground shutout until the final day of the campaign, against Wolves – by which time their title challenge had long since gone up in smoke.

For all of the excitement surrounding Jarell Quansah's emergence as a legitimate contender to start alongside Virgil van Dijk, which Klopp quipped saved the club millions, the Reds were ultimately left counting the cost of failing to adequately strengthen their defence. There's now a real risk of history repeating itself.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportKonate can't be relied upon

Liverpool didn't just fail to sign a defensive midfielder during the summer, they also inexplicably neglected to bring in a new centre-back (despite being once again linked with a plethora of players). They've been so fortunate that Slot has managed to solve the former problem by transforming Ryan Gravenberch into a stellar No.6, but hope that he could also find an in-house answer to the longstanding problem at the heart of the defence is fading fast.

Ibrahima Konate was fantastic during the opening three months of the season, forming a formidable partnership with Van Dijk after coming into the team at half-time in the opening-day win at Ipswich. However, the Frenchman's form and fitness have once again become causes for concern.

After missing all of December's league games with a knee injury, Konate has been shaky and sluggish since returning to action in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United on January 5, when he appeared to be running in quicksand as he tried – and failed – to cut out the cut-back that led to Amad Diallo's equaliser at Anfield.

Konate looked a liability again at Forest, tellingly taken off after just 65 minutes as Slot moved Gravenberch back into defence – a sign in itself of Liverpool's lack of alternative ball-playing options at the back.

Action needs to be taken, then. And fast. Because Konate clearly can't be relied upon for any significant spell of time.

Getty Images SportTime to replace Robertson

Konate wasn't the only man removed just after the hour mark, with Tsimikas replacing Andy Robertson at left-back – an overdue change that needs to be made before the start of Saturday's must-win match at Brentford.

It's difficult not to feel sorry for the Scot, who, at his peak, was arguably the best player in his position for at least a couple of years, but is now an accident waiting to happen. When he's not getting himself sent off because of a terrible first touch, he's failing to get close enough to wingers or simply slipping at the most inopportune of moments.

There may be an element of misfortune in Robertson's errors, but they're becoming far too frequent and consequential to ignore at this point. If Liverpool don't bring in a left-back before the close of the January transfer window – and they really should – Slot simply has to give Tsimikas a chance to lock down the left-back berth.

The Greek is certainly not a long-term solution. In truth, he probably isn't good enough to be the starting left-back at Liverpool at all – but he's a better option than a slowing and clearly confidence-sapped Robertson right now.

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Getty Images SportAlisson's shocking stats

Goalkeepers have a longer shelf-life than left-backs, but there are also growing concerns that time – or perhaps persistent injury issues – may also be starting to catch up with Alisson Becker.

When Caoimhin Kelleher gifted Newcastle a 3-3 draw at St. James' Park on December 4 by misjudging a late cross, it was felt that Alisson's return to full fitness couldn't have come at a better moment. The expectancy was that the Brazilian would help restore order to a defensive unit that was starting to creak – that simply hasn't been the case, though. If anything, Alisson has only added to the mounting sense of uncertainty.

It shouldn't be forgotten that Kelleher had been excellent up until his error on Tyneside and Liverpool wouldn't have even been in a position to win that particular game had it not been for the Irishman's earlier heroics in goal. Kelleher is by no means as comfortable on the ball as Alisson, but he's looked like the better shot-stopper this season. Despite playing two fewer games than Alisson in all competitions, he's kept more clean sheets (7-6) and made more saves (44-33). Kelleher also boasts the superior save percentage (79 to 71) – and Alisson's is only getting worse. He's faced 16 shots on target since coming back into the side – but only managed to keep out seven of them.

It's hardly surprising, then, that after seeing the Brazil international beaten by relatively weak efforts from Amad and Wood in the last two games, many Liverpool fans are wondering if Alisson is no longer as mobile and reactive as he was at his peak – before the injuries started to arrive with alarming regularity.

At the very least, it's now easy to understand why Liverpool moved so quickly to wrap up a deal for the highly rated Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will join from Valencia this summer.

Glasgow Rangers recorded a fourth straight win without conceding a goal in all competitions as they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Hibernian on Sunday.

Tom Lawrence, who brilliantly curled the ball into the top corner in the first half, scored the only goal of the game for the Light Blues, whilst Jack Butland saved a penalty just before half time.

Philippe Clement is looking to add to his trophy haul this season, having won the League Cup with Rangers last term, and was allowed to make wholesale changes to the squad during the summer transfer window in order to compete for silverware.

Head of recruitment Nils Koppen and the Belgian boss sanctioned the departures of experienced players like Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack, and John Lundstram, among others.

Allowing a large contingent of the club’s players over the age of 30 opened the door for the Gers to invest in young talent in order to develop a team over the years to come.

Rangers invested in promising prospects who could grow with more game time at Ibrox and one summer signing who has hit the ground running, despite his young age, is Connor Barron.

Connor Barron's strong start to life at Rangers

The central midfielder arrived in Glasgow during the summer transfer window after his contract with Scottish Premiership rivals Aberdeen came to an end.

That allowed Rangers to snap him up, with compensation due to be paid for his services, and they appear to have hit the jackpot with the Scotland international.

Barron has started all six of the club’s matches in the Premiership so far this season and showcased his quality in and out of possession for the Light Blues.

The Scottish maestro has offered reliability on the ball for Rangers with a pass success rate of 91% and 59.8 completed passes per match in the league.

This shows that the central midfielder rarely gives the ball away and helps to keep play ticking, which allows him to dictate the tempo of matches and control games for Clement. He knows when to slow the game down with simple passes and when to speed it up with balls forward between the lines to start attacks.

Out of possession, Barron has buzzed around the pitch to break up attacks and disrupt the opposition with 3.2 tackles and interceptions and 4.0 ball recoveries per match.

24/25 Premiership

Connor Barron

Rank vs Rangers midfielders

Tackles per game

2.2

1st

Interceptions per game

1.0

1st

Clearances per game

2.7

1st

Blocks per game

0.7

1st

Pass accuracy

91%

1st

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old has been the outstanding defensive star of the Rangers midfield this season, whilst also being the most reliable passer in the engine room.

With the January transfer window coming up after the turn of the year, the Gers could look to land a dream midfield partner for Barron by dipping into the market to sign one of their reported targets.

Rangers' interest in Premiership starlet

During the summer transfer window, Football Scotland revealed that the Ibrox giants had sent scouts to watch Motherwell star Lennon Miller in action.

The report claimed that Clement was looking to revamp his squad with young talent and the then-17-year-old starlet fit the bill, having enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Scottish top-flight last season.

It was stated that Rangers were interested in signing the Scotland youth international and that they sent representatives to keep tabs on his progress in pre-season.

However, a move never materialised as the transfer window came to a close and Miller remained at Motherwell, as Rangers either could not afford to sign him or decided that they did not want to push for him in that particular window.

Speaking on the Open Goal podcast last month, James McFadden and Derek Ferguson both urged the Light Blues to swoop for the central midfielder next year.

McFadden claimed that the teenage star’s understanding of the game is “ridiculous” whilst Ferguson described him as a “big” and “strong” athlete, who could follow in Barron’s footsteps at Ibrox.

Clement and Koppen must now make a move for the Motherwell sensation when the January transfer window opens for business, as he could be a dream for Barron in midfield.

Why Lennon Miller would be a dream for Connor Barron

Firstly, the 18-year-old is another young Scottish midfielder who could develop and grow alongside his fellow Scotland U21 international at Ibrox.

This means that they could learn alongside each other and become the mainstay central midfield pairing for the club for many more years to come, barring any potential moves away for big money.

Miller, who Graham Dorrans claimed has a “bit of arrogance” in his play, could also be a dream for Barron because he offers an attacking threat from the middle of the park, which is a part of his game that the Rangers star is yet to show in Glasgow.

24/25 Premiership

Lennon Miller

Connor Barron

Appearances

6

6

Goals

2

0

Big chances created

4

0

Assists

2

0

Key passes per game

2.5

0.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Motherwell star has produced four goals and assists in six outings, along with 2.5 key passes per game, whilst the Gers man has yet to register a single goal contribution.

This suggests that they could complement each other in the middle of the park as Barron could buzz around the pitch to win the ball back and provide a metronomic presence with his high pass accuracy, whilst Miller could push on and get involved at the top end of the pitch.

However, the 18-year-old gem has also made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match and won 60% of his ground duels in the Premiership this term, after winning 68% of his duels across 25 league outings in the 2023/24 campaign for Motherwell.

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This shows that both players can hold their own defensively, making them a secure midfield pairing out of possession, and Clement must now swoop to sign Miller in January to form an exciting partnership for Rangers moving forward.

Durham and Glamorgan to contest most downgraded one-day final in English cricket history

David Hopps18-Aug-2021Durham and Glamorgan contest the most downgraded one-day final in English cricket history when they meet under the Trent Bridge floodlights on Thursday – but Durham’s captain, Scott Borthwick, insists that it remains a prize worthy of a sleepless night or two.For Alex Lees, Durham’s opening batsman, it probably means a more disturbed night than most. With England’s top order in disarray, there are a few noises about England potential again, although the days when a Player of the Match award in a 50-over final could get you on a plane for a winter tour are long gone.With a sizeable chunk of professionals engaged in a Test series against India, or taking part in the inaugural season of the Hundred, county squads have been stretched to the limit. The Royal London Cup, a tournament that in recent years was already playing second fiddle to Finals Day in the Blast, is now further down the food chain.With the play-offs, semi-finals and final all crammed into a six-day period, and the final scheduled for midweek, Trent Bridge will be relieved to be more than half full, and the ECB are already indicating that there could be a return to a weekend final whatever the make-up in the tournament in 2022.This is now a tournament easy to knock, but the county game remains the lifeblood of hundreds of cricket professionals and is cared for by hundreds of thousands of followers. For many – maybe not enough, but many all the same – this final is not just an entertaining day out, but is fought out on their behalf by a club embedded into their lives.Borthwick, who is in his first season as Durham captain, sees a Trent Bridge final as further indication that county cricket’s most northerly outpost is putting troubled financial years behind it and can again become a powerhouse in the professional game.”From the outside it might look like the Hundred has taken the glory and rightly so because that has been an amazing competition and brings money into the game,” Borthwick said. “But every team has taken it seriously and playing in it feels important.”I’m sorry it’s not at Lord’s, it’s like an FA Cup final not being at Wembley, but having said that Trent Bridge is a fantastic ground and to captain the side in a final is a great honour.”Part of our plan at the start of the season was to win a white-ball competition and this was one of them. We just missed out on Division One but we played some outstanding cricket and the belief is coming back. We showed we deserve to be playing proper cricket with the big boys.”It is perhaps no surprise that one of the finalists, Glamorgan, have been raided comparatively lightly by the Hundred; Welsh Fire’s men’s team is most notable for not actually having many Welshmen. Durham have had to make do without a trio of pace bowlers in Ben Raine, Matty Potts and Brydon Carse, as well as their oft-absent England pair, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood, although their top order has remained intact and has been a prime reason for their success.Related

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Neil Snowball, the ECB’s MD of county cricket, has called the Thursday final “a one-off” but an awful lot more debate will take place before the latest jumble commonly known as the English cricket season is revealed to the world.Much attention will focus on Durham’s prolific opening pair, Lees and Graham Clark, who can boast the most runs and highest averages in the competition. Lees’ early years at Yorkshire brought praise from that most demanding of judges, especially when it comes to opening batters, Geoffrey Boycott, only for him to lose his way and head further north to Durham. Clark, who like Lees is 28, has had no such England pretensions, but he is enjoying the most successful period of his career.”The way the two of them dovetail is lovely,” Borthwick said. “They have got us off to a fantastic start time and again. Graham has come out and played his shots and gone really hard and Alex has had a strong season.”I think Alex has the ability and mindset to play Test cricket. He is a very strong character. He is a much-improved player over the past couple of years. He is a mature batsman, knows his game and wouldn’t let anybody down. He has turned himself into a very consistent run-scorer in four-day cricket and the white ball as well.”Graham didn’t actually get a big score in the T20, he got us off to flyers. I spoke to him before the competition and wanted him to keep playing the same way but if he got to 20 or 30 to realise he could kick on. His tempo has been brilliant. He has had the ability to make those starts into big scores.”

Ange Postecoglou’s side face the biggest game of their Premier League season so far tomorrow as they host Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur come into the meeting after a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United before the recent international break – looking to return to winning ways against their local rivals.

The North London Derby is always a cagey affair, with neither side wanting the other to walk away with bragging rights from the encounter.

Postecoglou’s side are searching for their first victory over the Gunners since May 2022, when Harry Kane scored a double, with Heung-min Son putting the icing on the cake in a 3-0 victory.

12/05/2022

3-0

Win

01/10/2022

3-1

Loss

15/01/2023

2-0

Loss

24/09/2023

2-2

Draw

28/04/2024

3-2

Loss

Spurs have lost three of the last four meetings with Mikel Arteta’s side, but will hope to put an end to their dismal North London run with a crucial victory tomorrow.

That being said, here is our predicted Spurs starting lineup to face Arsenal…

1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario

The Italian shot-stopper has featured in every single Premier League outing after joining the club last summer, with tomorrow’s big game expected to be his 42 consecutive league start.

He’s kept eight clean sheets in the league since moving from Empoli in 2023, with Postecoglou and the fanbase will be hoping he can add to his tally tomorrow.

2 RB – Pedro Porro

The right-back has been a superb addition for Spurs after his big-money transfer from Sporting Lisbon in 2023 – often a source of goals and assists despite being part of the backline.

He’s already notched one goal this season, but the real impetus will be on the Spaniard to keep Gabriel Martinelli quiet if they are to walk away with all three points.

3 CB – Micky Van de Ven

The first of the changes comes at centre-back, with Micky Van de Ven coming into the starting lineup to replace Radu Dragusin.

It may be a harsh call given the Romanian’s recent form, but the “dominant” Dutch international, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a key member of the squad, with his presence greatly missed against Newcastle last time out.

4 CB – Cristian Romero

The Argentinian defender has often been labelled as hot-headed with the occasion often getting the better of him in previous seasons.

He thrives on big games, often coming to the front – scoring in the last North London Derby – with the hope that he can have a positive effect at both ends of the pitch this weekend.

5 LB – Destiny Udogie

Left-back Destiny Udogie has nailed down the role as his own after his transfer from Udinese last season, starring with his relentless nature in defensive and attacking areas.

The Italian international registered five goal contributions last season, hopefully getting the ball rolling this season and securing bragging rights for the supporters.

6 CM- Yves Bissouma

Manager Postecoglou confirmed yesterday that it will be a late call if the Mali international midfielder will start the meeting with Arsenal on Sunday.

However, his combative and relentless nature could provide the difference against the Gunners, with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice both absent for the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

7 CM – Pape Sarr

The young Senegalese talent has grown into his midfield role at Spurs since the appointment of the Aussie last season.

He’s previously scored against Manchester United at home, with the 21-year-old hoping to add Arsenal to the list of big six teams he’s scored against since moving to the capital.

8 CM – James Maddison

The midfielder registered two assists in the meeting against Arsenal at the Emirates last season, with Postecoglou hoping he can produce the goods once again this weekend.

The 27-year-old already has the same number of assists in the new campaign – potentially providing the difference in the final third on Sunday.

9 RW – Dejan Kulusevski

Swedish talent Dejan Kulusevski has been featuring in a more central role in recent games to accommodate the club’s recent injury issues at the top end of the pitch.

However, he could return to a more natural right-sided role tomorrow, with one key player returning after a spell on the sidelines.

10 ST – Dominic Solanke

Club-record signing Dominic Solanke has only made one appearance for Spurs after his £65m move from Bournemouth this summer – picking up an ankle issue during the opening day draw with Leicester City.

However, he’s returned to training over the international break, hoping to mark his first North London Derby with a goal, potentially making himself an instant hit with the supporters.

He could be brought in to replace fellow new signing Wilson Odobert, who has started the previous two league outings in the Englishman’s absence.

Everton have plenty of problems, but Sean Dyche will be hoping that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can stay fit and that his frontline can muster enough firepower to rise above the relegation one and avoid another fear-inducing battle against the drop.

It's not been a great few years for the Merseysiders, though last term's travails were somewhat skewed by an eight-point deduction in the Premier League. Take that away, and the Toffees actually finished 12th, only one point behind Crystal Palace in the top ten.

It remains to be seen whether Everton will indeed have enough up top to turn the tide following a poor start to the season, but having a dynamic former forward such as Richarlison would be nice…

Why Everton sold Richarlison

Everton signed Richarlison from Watford in a £40m deal in the summer of 2018, and though this was a tall figure for an up-and-coming forward, his start to life in Liverpool led Gary Lineker to hail the "bargain".

He'd complete 152 appearances over five years, scoring 53 goals and assisting 13 more, but when Tottenham Hotspur came calling in 2022 and presented the club with a £60m offer, it was accepted in a heartbeat.

And that recouped sum looks to be more and more masterful business by the month, with the Brazil international foundering through his debut campaign in the capital, scoring one Premier League goal across 27 matches, even being branded a "joke" by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino.

Richarlison might have been a menace for the Blues but he's fallen by the wayside since leaving, albeit enjoying a bright purple patch during the 2023/24 season.

Still, as per Football Transfers, the 26-year-old is currently worth just £28m, meaning that he has suffered a depreciation totalling £32m, or, to put it another way, a 53% drop.

And anyway, Everton now has a talented winger who's more valuable than their erstwhile talisman, and his name is Dwight McNeil.

Everton have hit gold on Dwight McNeil

Lauded for his "magic" creative quality by journalist Joe Thomas, McNeil is a playmaking monster and has been one of Everton's most underrated players since signing from Burnley in 2022 for a £20m fee by then-manager Frank Lampard.

Everton might have made a torrid start to the campaign but McNeil has been breathtaking. As per Sofascore, the 24-year-old has averaged 4.3 key passes per game and he is proving to be a linchpin for a side that views his playmaking ability as indispensable.

And it's reflected through his rise in value. Football Transfers record McNeil at £30m, meaning that he is higher-rated than Richarlison and enjoying a more significant impact over these past few years.

Premier League 23/24: Most Big Chances Created
Rank	Player	Club	Stat
1.	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	22
2.	Kevin De Bruyne	Manchester City	21
2.	Bruno Fernandes	Manchester United	21
4.	Son Heung-min	Tottenham Hotspur	20
5.	Trent Alexander-Arnold	Liverpool	17
5.	Dwight McNeil	Everton	17
5.	Cole Palmer	Chelsea	17
5.	Martin Odegaard	Arsenal	17
Stats via Premier League

He's been fantastic, and though Everton have endured a bleak beginning to the 2024/25 season, with players such as McNeil fighting to restore prominence and the feel-good factor, there's every chance that the future could be brighter on the blue half of Merseyside.

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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has shared his verdict on an Arsenal player, who he believes is even more imperative to the Gunners than injured captain Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard shares update on "bad" ankle injury at Arsenal

Earlier this month, supporters and critics alike were put into panic mode when Odegaard was hauled off with an ankle problem during Norway’s 2-1 win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League.

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It later emerged that Odegaard would miss weeks of action for Arsenal, coming as a blow for the Premier League title chasers who are without a key player and chief creator for the foreseeable future.

The 25-year-old – who bagged eight goals and 10 assists last season as the Gunners dragged Man City to the final day and finished with 89 points on the board – was forced to sit out of their crucial clashes against Tottenham, Atalanta and Man City recently.

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Luckily for Arteta and co, they did very well to come through the trio of tough away games unscathed – which is testament to their tactical plans and performances of other key players.

Odegaard could be back available for Liverpool on October 27, according to some reports, but Arsenal are reportedly being cautious – so the former Real Madrid ace’s recovery may well stretch beyond that timeline.

“It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there,” said Odegaard on his rehabilitation, before Arsenal beat Bolton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

“But it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can. I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.

“I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible. I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.”

Losing Odegaard has been a blow, without doubt, but Neville has claimed things could be even worse if they lost a different player – club-record signing Declan Rice.

Gary Neville says Declan Rice is more crucial to Arsenal than Odegaard

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Neville says Rice is that bit more important to Arsenal than Odegaard – with Arteta doing very well minus the England international during their trip to Tottenham.

Rice has been called “very underrated” for his contribution by fellow pundit Don Hutchison, with Neville also praising the ex-West Ham star.

“If you were City… he (Odegaard) wouldn’t be the first player I would take out of Arsenal’s team,” said Neville.

“I would pick Rice or Saliba. I don’t know which one, but I would take Rice or Saliba out of the team before I picked Odegaard.”

The former Cobham academy ace played in all 38 of Arsenal’s league games last term – scoring seven goals and racking up eight assists as a defensive midfielder – and finished 2023/2024 as their second-best performer behind Bukayo Saka, according to WhoScored. Taking this into account, it’s safe to say Neville could be very right.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has been told that there is a “very gifted” teenager in his ranks who’s yet to make his senior debut, with Spurs supporters also urged to “keep an eye” on the player.

Tottenham suffer damaging 3-2 defeat at Brighton

On Sunday, Postecoglou was handed a damaging defeat and perhaps his worst since taking over as manager last summer.

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The Australian watched on in disbelief from the Spurs dugout as his Lilywhites side blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Brighton at the Amex. The away side took full control at first through Brennan Johnson – who scored his sixth goal in six games – before James Maddison buried a side-footed finish past Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton net for their second before half-time.

After an impressive first 45, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Postecoglou’s side would run away with all three points against the Seagulls. However, the total opposite happened after the restart, with Spurs ultimately capitulating and blowing their two-goal advantage.

Tottenham vs West Ham

October 19

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

October 27

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

A three-goal swing inside 20 minutes – courtesy of strikes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck – turned the game on its head and handed Postecoglou his first defeat in all competitions since the North London Derby. A bitterly disappointed Postecoglou, speaking after the game, claimed his Spurs players allowed Brighton to overrun them.

“All of it is disappointing,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton.

“Like I said, there are certain elements of this team that have been pretty consistent throughout my tenure, and that is one, even on our not-so-good days we’ve always fought and been competitive. I think that’s been a non-negotiable. Like I said, today’s the first day I actually felt like we didn’t deliver in those areas. Whether that’s defensively, whether that’s with the ball. Like I said, sport is as much about competition as it is about anything else. And if you don’t compete, you allow the opponent to overrun you in that manner, you’re not going to get anything out of it.”

There were a few bad performers on the day, with Destiny Udogie enduring a day to forget at Brighton alongside a host of his teammates.

Tottenham fans told to "keep an eye" on Lucá Williams-Barnett

In terms of the future and their prospering academy, the future seems bright, with youngsters Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear and others impressing lately.

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham says Postecoglou has a “gifted” unseen youngster in Lucá Williams-Barnett – a 16-year-old forward currently playing a year above his age group.

“What people need to remember, is he is actually playing a year up,” Wenham said.

“Therefore, he isn’t even an official Under-18s player, he is still a schoolboy player. As a result, he will be announced in next year’s intake if he signs a scholarship. He is heavily regarded because he can play equally as well on the wing as he can in the number 10 position. He’s a very gifted technical footballer.

“It has been fantastic to see him step up with ease, he is starting every game and making a really positive contribution. Spurs fans should keep an eye on him at youth level.”

The teenager boasts six goals and two assists in six Under-18 appearances so far this term, highlighting his electric form right now. If he continues on this run, it could only be a matter of time before he features in the first team.

MatériaMais Notícias

A desvantagem do Atlhetico-PR na final da Copa do Brasil era bem difícil de reverter e tornou-se ainda mais complicada quando Keno abriu o placar para o Atlético-MG, na Arena da Baixada. Apesar de derrota por 2 a 1 e o vice-campeonato, o zagueiro Pedro Henrique agradeceu o apoio da torcida, que valorizou a grande temporada que o Furacão fez, que culminou na conquista do bicampeonato da Copa Sul-Americana.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalMudança no visual faz Athletico-PR aliar busca por modernização ao resgate de suas origens. Entenda!Futebol Nacional09/12/2021Futebol NacionalAtlético-MG derrota o Athletico-PR, é bicampeão da Copa do Brasil e completa uma temporada históricaFutebol Nacional15/12/2021Athletico ParanaenseATUAÇÕES: Athletico-PR deixa nervosismo tomar conta e perde também o jogo da volta na final da Copa do BrasilAthletico Paranaense15/12/2021

A festa é do Galo, mas também do Furacão. Torcida canta e exalta o time mesmo com a derrota #lanceBAIXADA pic.twitter.com/UYOcA32cM8

— Luiza Sá (@luizasabg) December 16, 2021

– Fizemos um jogo apático no Mineirão, temos que reconhecer isso. Mas exaltar, fizemos uma grande temporada, com muitos jogos, desgaste, um elenco curto. É difícil contra uma grande equipe que é o Atlético-MG, reconhecer que foram melhores lá e aqui. Reconhecer o potencial que tem a equipe deles com grandes atletas. A nossa equipe está de parabéns, a deles também – disse o defensor, e emendou:

+ Confira a tabela final da Copa do Brasil 2021

– Agradecer a torcida que compareceu em peso tanto lá, quanto aqui. Fez uma linda festa aqui, reconheceu a grande temporada que fizemos e agradecer a Deus e a todo mundo – completou.

Apesar da derrota, a torcida fez uma linda festa com cânticos de apoio ao Furacão, que demonstrou empenho e deixou a temporada com um saldo positivo. No fim da partida, em meio à festa dos adversários, os torcedores interagiram com os atletas, direção e comissão técnica em campo.

+ATUAÇÕES: Athletico-PR deixa nervosismo tomar conta e perde também o jogo da volta na final da Copa do Brasil

Na partida desta noite, o time paranaense não pode contar com o zagueiro Thiago Heleno, que estava suspenso pelo terceiro cartão amarelo. Além dele, o meio-campista Nikão, herói do título da Copa Sul-Americana contra o RB Bragantino, em Montevidéu, no Uruguai, também foi um dos desfalques.

أعلن السويسري مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن تشكيل اللاعبين المقرر لهم خوض مواجهة اليوم أمام حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.

وتقام مباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود على أرضية استاد المكس في الإسكندرية، ضمن لقاءات الجولة 16 من الدوري المصري.

ويحتل الأهلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 33 نقطة بعدما فاز في 9 لقاءات وتعادل 6 مرات، وسجل لاعبوه 27 هدفًا وتلقت شباكه 9 أهداف.

بينما يتواجد حرس الحدود في المركز السادس في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، ولديه 22 نقطة جمعها من الفوز بـ6 لقاءات والتعادل 4 مرات وتلقى 5 هزائم، وسجل لاعبو الفريق العسكري 16 هدفًا وتلقت شباكه مثلها.

طالع أيضًا | بدلاء الأهلي أمام حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.. بن شرقي يُجاور أشرف داري تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني – رامي ربيعة – مصطفى العش – كريم الدبيس.

خط الوسط: مروان عطية – حسين الشحات – إمام عاشور – أحمد رضا.

خط الهجوم: جراديشار – وسام أبو علي.

2005, 2011 and 2021. Three two-match series in a row West Indies took the lead at home, only for Pakistan to drag them back to parity. Rain, wet outfield, poor light all conspired to try and deny Babar Azam’s side triumph in this Test, but Pakistan’s positive approach and relentlessness in pursuit of a result was rewarded with a hugely gratifying 109-run win.Shaheen Afridi was the hero, finishing with a match haul of 10 wickets as West Indies folded against a well-rounded attack. It meant they will have to wait a few more years to record a first Test series win over Pakistan since 2001.At the start of the day, Pakistan needed nine wickets, West Indies 280 runs. For a brief while on the fourth evening, Pakistan were slightly jittery in the face of West Indian resistance. It remained that way for a brief spell on the final morning, as Alzarri Joseph and Kraigg Brathwaite kept the bowlers at bay. Each struck a boundary to get the the score rolling, and with the ball losing its shine, West Indies appeared to be making progress.But once Afridi bounced Joseph out, the innings changed colour. Hasan Ali hadn’t enjoyed a particularly memorable series until Tuesday, but it took just one ball to make an impact towards levelling the series. Nkrumah Bonner played down the wrong line and was struck dead in front; Hasan didn’t even bother to appeal as he set off to celebrate. The umpire made Pakistan review, but there was no redemption for Bonner.Faheem Ashraf at the other end should have seen off Brathwaite, but while one Pakistan opener simply cannot drop a catch in the slips, Brathwaite’s outside edge looped to the other one. Abid Ali put down a dolly, perhaps illustrating why Imran Butt had dived so spectacularly in front of him in the first Test. To rub the point home further, when Roston Chase offered up a chance the following over, Butt dived adroitly to his right as Pakistan had another wicket.Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood have been West Indies’ brightest batting sparks this tour, and for more than an hour, they kept Pakistan waiting for another breakthrough. It came from an unlikely source – their left-arm spinner Nauman Ali – who flighted the ball to draw the batter forward and induce an outside edge to the keeper.Brathwaite appeared to be the focal point of resistance when the middle session began but a rare loose shot a few overs in allowed Pakistan to chisel their way into the lower order. A loose, uppish slash to point found Fawad Alam, and Pakistan were sniffing at the prospect of finishing the game off before tea.But Kyle Mayers, who was yet to score a run this series before, found a bit of rhythm, and alongside Jason Holder, began to hunker down. The runs came from time to time, but they weren’t a priority, and as Nauman’s effectiveness wavered while the quicks tired, West Indies were raising local hopes of taking the game deep and infusing concern among the fielding side. Abid’s butterfingers didn’t help, the opener putting down his second catch of the day, this time a routine grab at short leg after an inside edge from Mayers.It was down to Afridi – who else? – to give Pakistan a lift, coming with an exquisite off-stump delivery that shaped away from the left-handed Mayers. The batter went for an expansive drive, only to see it take a feather off the outside edge, triggering relieved Pakistani celebrations.You wouldn’t have blamed Pakistan for believing they were on the cusp of a series-levelling win, but the heavens chose that moment to open, and within moments, it had gone from bright sunshine to an absolute downpour. Holder jogged back off alongside the dismissed Mayers, while Babar followed in his wake, remonstrating with the umpires; after the drama around the wet outfield, thoughts must invariably have turned to a victory snatched from under his side’s noses.But it was only a cloudburst, to Pakistan’s relief and an early tea later, back out they came. The darkening skies added dramatic flair to the occasion, and for a while Holder made hay while the sun didn’t shine. He targeted both quick and slow bowlers alike, and rode his luck on occasion, no more so than when Afridi failed to gobble up a chance on the boundary.Butt aside, Pakistan’s lacklustre fielding was thematically consistent, and with no clear notion of when time might run out, there was always the danger it could cost them once more. But with Babar having turned to the spinners to rush through till the new ball became available, Holder’s extravagance got the better of him.He had pierced Nauman through the covers the previous delivery, but three runs shy of a half-century found Alam at cover the next ball. From that point on, Afridi took over with the new ball, summarily removing Kemar Roach and Joshua Da Silva to close the game.Test cricket in these two nations might have been set back over the past few decades, but over yet another humdinger of a series, there was nothing to separate West Indies and Pakistan once more.