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Liverpool won the transfer window. So we were led to believe, anyway.

On paper that statement appeared to be true. Arne Slot and Co had spent a colossal amount of money on improving the squad, notably signing Florian Wirtz for a British record of £116m before breaking that very record just weeks later when they shelled out £125m to sign Alexander Isak.

Those two deals made the Reds favourites for the title but the once successful Slot era appears to be unravelling rather quickly.

The Anfield outfit may have won the Premier League in 2024/25 but they look a shadow of that side now.

Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah signed new deals but that matters not; both look beyond their best.

As for Wirtz and Isak, the numbers are damning. They have only scored once between them since moving to Merseyside.

So, after losing 2-1 to Manchester United on Sunday, there are clearly some big issues to fix.

The biggest problems facing Arne Slot at Liverpool

Much has been made of Liverpool’s regression as a defensive unit this season.

Andy Robertson has been forced to sit out most games on the bench, even if Milos Kerkez continues to underperform, while Trent Alexander-Arnold arguably hasn’t been properly replaced.

Conor Bradley has endured a slow start to the campaign and Jeremie Frimpong’s debut term at Liverpool has so far been full of injuries.

Chalkboard

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

Despite that, however, some may well argue that the biggest problems are in the centre of defence.

Ibrahima Konate appears to be distracted by speculation surrounding his future and Van Dijk is no longer the force he once was, something that was demonstrated when Liverpool conceded in the first minute on Sunday.

Amad picked up the ball on the right and threaded a lovely ball through towards Bryan Mbeumo.

The Van Dijk of old would have anticipated the pass and then intercepted the play but he was caught napping. The great Dutchman was slow to react, slow to get back and slow to track Mbeumo. The end result? The Cameroon international found the back of the net.

However, while Liverpool continue to struggle at the back, the tactical make-up of the team has been a problem from minute one of the Community Shield.

Salah is having less of an impact on games and has only scored one non-penalty goal in the Premier League during the first eight game weeks.

New signing Hugo Ekitike and fellow forward Cody Gakpo have been rare bright sparks but even the latter should have taken the game out of sight on Sunday. The Dutchman scored but also struck the woodwork an incredible three times.

Plenty of new signings there certainly are, but there’s a lack of chemistry and synergy from Slot’s men and it’s worrying that he can’t get a tune out of three of the most exciting forwards around in Salah, Isak and Wirtz.

You sense the future of the club needs to be built around the final two names but that’s easier said than done considering their form so far.

To only exacerbate the problems Slot is facing, the midfield are also not covering themselves in much glory.

Slot's midfield conundrum

This has been a peculiar start to the campaign and it just seems as if Slot cannot strike the right balance.

On Sunday, he ended the game with a central midfielder at right back in Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong at right wing. It’s good that the manager has options and flexibility but he simply isn’t using his squad correctly.

The midfield continues to be an issue, too, although that feels more down to overall player performance.

Ryan Gravenberch has floated in and out of form but the regression of Alexis Mac Allister has been more worrying.

Signed for just £35m from Brighton, he has long been seen as a bargain. Last season he was perhaps unfortunate not to be nominated for Premier League player of the year ahead of Gravenberch as Liverpool won the title.

Yet, in 2025/26, he’s been a shadow of his former self and the defeat to United summed that up.

Eventually replaced just after the hour mark, the Argentine left the field having had just 22 touches and completed only 13 passes, a worryingly low amount for a central midfielder.

Minutes played

62

Touches

22

Accurate passes

13/17 (76%)

Long balls completed

0/2

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Key passes

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Recoveries

1

Duels won

0/2

There lies the issue, though. Too many games are simply passing Mac Allister by right now and he’s becoming a scapegoat as a result.

In the process of losing every duel he contested, criticism came the midfielder’s way. One Reds content creator on X bemoaned that the Argentina international as the “most overrated player” in the Liverpool squad, suggesting that he “plods around like he’s pushing 40” from the middle of the park.

Mac Allister is usually so technically secure but he lacks athleticism and power to get across the field in a similar way to Gravenberch.

GOAL handed the player an average 6/10 rating at full-time, noting that he “covered plenty of ground, but was quiet by his standards.”

The midfielder has been one of Liverpool’s standout performers in recent years but it really does feel like he’s currently on borrowed time in this system.

A midfield trio of Gravenberch, Wirtz and Szoboszlai feels like the way to go from now on and with Curtis Jones also waiting in the wings, it’s not as though Slot is short of options.

أدلى قائد فريق ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، بتصريحات عقب خسارتهم في مباراة يوم الأحد ضد مانشستر سيتي، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26، حيث حقق مانشستر سيتي فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.

وسجل فيرجيل فان دايك هدفًا في اللحظات الأخيرة من الشوط الأول، ولكن تم إلغائه بداعِ وجود تسلل على زميله آندي روبرتسون.

وقال فان دايك، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “هدفي الملغي؟ الحكام في كرة القدم هم من يتخذون القرارات الحاسمة، وعلينا التعامل مع الأمر على أرض الملعب، لا جدوى من مناقشة هذا من وجهة نظري، الحقيقة هي أننا خسرنا 3-0، وهذه ضربة موجعة”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وليفربول بـ الدوري الإنجليزي؟

وأضاف: “لا يهم ما أقوله عن ذلك الهدف، لأن أي شيء أقوله سينُشر في وسائل الإعلام، وستكون فترة التوقف الدولي بأكملها مخصصة لتعليقي على القرار، أنا أركز فقط على حقيقة خسارتنا، يمكنكم مناقشة ما إذا كان يجب احتسابه”.

وواصل: “كان الشوط الأول صعبًا، كان مانشستر سيتي أكثر ارتياحًا مع الكرة وكان من الصعب على لاعبينا الضغط عليهم، لا أعتقد أن هناك خطورة كبيرة، لكن دوكو قدم مباراة جيدة، وكان الأمر صعبًا على كونور برادلي في بعض الأحيان في المواجهات الفردية، لا أعتقد أننا كنا في ورطة كبيرة، لكن كان بإمكاننا تقديم أداء أفضل”.

واستكمل: “كان علينا أن نضغط بقوة في الشوط الثاني، كان لدينا زخم أكبر في الاستحواذ على الكرة، لكن الضغط لم يكن كافيًا، الأمر يتعلق بالاستمرارية والثبات”.

واختتم الهولندي: “الآن سنذهب إلى بلادنا ونحافظ على لياقتنا البدنية ونستعد لسباق كبير بعد ذلك، لن نستسلم أبدًا، نحن في نوفمبر، ومستعدون لموسم طويل وتحد كبير”.

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard scripted history on Wednesday after guiding Coventry City to a record-breaking start to their Championship campaign. Under Lampard's tutelage this season, the Sky Blues have remained unbeaten in their first 11 matches, a feat that has been achieved for the first time in the club's history. Coventry now lead Middlesbrough by four points at the top of the table.

• Coventry City's historic start in the 2025-26 campaign

  Coventry kicked off the 2025-26 campaign with a draw against Hull City before going on to register back-to-back wins against Derby County and QPR as they scored a whopping 12 goals in those two matches. They then drew their next three matches, before their latest five-match streak began on September 27 against Birmingham City. On Wednesday, the club beat Portsmouth 2-1, riding on Brandon Thomas-Asante's brace. With seven wins and four draws, the Sky Blues have already secured 25 points from their first 11 league matches, the best start the club has ever experienced.       

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  Lampard clashed with opposition coach

  While the Chelsea legend was thrilled after overseeing yet another victory over Portsmouth, he also lashed out at the opponent manager, John Mousinho for his on-field behaviour. The two coaches were spotted exchanging words and having to be separated in a heated touchline row following full-time.

  Lampard later shared his take on the incident after the game, telling reporters, "I haven't seen it again. I didn't think it was one at the time. I think it is a stadium where the crowd can put pressure on the referee and I don't think added pressure on the fourth official was necessary." 

  Explaining the incident, Mousinho shared his statement as he added: "It looks a clear penalty to me. The ball strikes his arm way outside of the body. I spoke to the referee and he wasn't looking at the incident – he was looking at the box – but I still expect someone from the officiating team to pick it up. I was trying to speak to the fourth official about it but I couldn't do it. But there is no needle with Lampard. I just spoke to him there and my main problem is with the officiating team for not dealing with it differently. It is a disappointing result, but I think it was a fair result overall. We got ourselves back into the game too little, too late."

• Lampard praised Coventry's performance

  Overall, the former England midfielder was satisfied with the performance of his side as they continued to remain unbeaten in the Championship. Lampard told reporters, "I thought we played well. To come here and look as powerful and dangerous in front of goal, and we could have scored one or two more, was good. People will get excited, and that ramps up when you win games but our job is to stay on it and stay diligent. We are happy with the start to the season with the performances and results, but we know what this league does if you relax."    

  The manager also heaped praise on the star of the game, Thomas-Asante, as he added: "From day one of pre-season, he has been amazing. He's been fit, hungry and fresh. For us as staff to have someone who moves from left side to right side to number 10 to number nine, gives us everything. Then you add his talent and his confidence at the moment and he deserves a lot of credit. All he needs to do now is stay humble and keep doing it. We need the talent he is showing at the moment to continue."

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  Coventry aim to extend their unbeaten streak

  Lampard failed to secure a promotion to the Premier League last season, despite guiding the team to a fifth-place finish after taking charge of the club in November last year. However, Sky Blues were eliminated from the play-off after losing against Sunderland in the semi-final. This time, though, the 47-year-old is determined to finish at the top of the table and secure a direct promotion to the top-flight. For now, Coventry's immediate goal is to continue their unbeaten streak and they next face Watford in the Championship on Saturday.      

Alexia Putellas is back to her best for Barcelona Femini after getting rid of her injury woes in the past few years. In the final few days of the transfer window, reports from Spain mentioned that Paris Saint-Germain were ready to make a record-breaking offer for the two-time Ballon d'Or winner. The Spaniard, however, stayed put and has now shed light on PSG's interest as well as her future at Barca.

Putellas back to her best

After spending the majority of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Putellas was back to her sizzling best in the 2024-25 season. An incredible individual campaign saw her notch 27 goals and 21 assists for club and country, even though she tasted heartbreak in the Champions League final with Barca and Euro final with Spain. Having won back-to-back Ballons d'Or Feminin in 2021 and 2022, she finished fourth in this year's ranking, with her midfield partner Aitana Bonmati bagging the award for the third-time in a row. 

AdvertisementAFPPSG made record-breaking approach for Putellas over the summer

With Putellas' contract expiring in June 2026, PSG Feminines made a late approach for Putellas in September, just days before the deadline for women's transfer window in Europe. Per reports, they were ready to trigger the €1.1 million release clause in Putellas' contract. It would have been only the sixth instance of a transfer in football exceeding the million-euro figure. However, the 31-year-old, after conversations with both PSG and Barca's hierarchy, made it clear that her future lied in Catalunya.

Spain and Barcelona star sheds light on PSG's interest

Speaking in an interview with , Putellas said: "What happened with that offer is that it was publicised in the media, but it wasn't the first one. The process was short and easy. When it arrived, as with the other offers, I spoke to the club: ‘What's going on? What do you want? Are you counting on me or not?’ And that was the end of the discussion: the present is the shirt I wear."

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Getty Images SportWill Putellas stay at Barca beyond 2026?

Although her contract expires at the end of this season, there's an option to renew for another year. However, Putellas neither confirmed nor declined whether her long-term future lies at Barca. 

"My relationship with the club has always been one of trust and naturalness," she said. "Everyone knows what it means to me to play here: it's not a typical 'work for pay' relationship. It goes much further than that. I've spent almost half my life at Barca, I've played 95% of my career here. This will continue as long as, on the one hand, I continue to feel that motivation, energy and daily demand to perform at my best and meet my goals, and, on the other hand, the club feels the same way."

Tom Bailey’s superb opening salvo had home side struggling at 7 for 3

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Apr-2025

Middlesex 260 and 288 for 6 (Holden 135*, Geddes 74, Bailey 3-47) lead Lancashire 359 (Harris 138, Jennings 55, Jones 40) by 186 runsMax Holden’s sixth first-class hundred led a Middlesex fightback on day three at Lord’s to set up the prospect of an exciting finish against Division Two title favourites Lancashire.The Cambridge-born left-hander followed up his half-century of the first innings with an unbeaten 135 to rescue his side from the havoc of 7 for 3 in the wake of Tom Bailey’s superb three-wicket opening salvo.Holden shared stands of 106 with Ryan Higgins (43) and 163 with debutante Ben Geddes (74) as the hosts reached 288 for 6 at stumps.Bailey couldn’t add to his pre-lunch heroics, but late wickets with the second new ball gave the visitors the edge once more ahead of day four.All this unfolded after Lancashire added just six to their overnight first-innings score to be bowled out for 359, Saturday’s centurion Marcus Harris last to go for 138, Zafar Gohar finishing with 4 for 79.It was only two seasons ago Middlesex found themselves 4 for 4 in the first game of the season with the top four all dismissed without scoring and while this wasn’t quite as calamitous, Bailey’s new-ball spell still caused much scrambling on of pads in the home dressing-room.Nathan Fernandes looked nervous from the get-go and Bailey soon lured him into fencing at one he should have left alone, allowing wicketkeeper Matty Hurst to gobble up the chance.If Fernandes was culpable, then Sam Robson was undone by a super piece of bowling, Bailey squaring up the former England opener and rapping him on the pad. Any hope it would be considered too high was quickly dashed as umpire Surendiran Shanmugan sent him on his way.Two balls later, 7 for 2 became 7 for 3 as Leus du Ploy slashed wildly at a ball around fifth stump giving Hurst his second catch in a matter of minutes. Bailey had taken 3 for 2 in 15 balls, leaving the hosts staring at the prospect of defeat inside three days.Calm heads were required and for the second time in the match it was former England Lions batter Holden who was first to raise his hand, employing a mix of studious defence with drives caressed through the covers and savage square cuts.Six such boundaries carried him past 50 and there would be seven more on the way to three figures, reached in style with an on-drive back past the stumps to the pavilion rope.Fightbacks of course need co-conspirators and not for the first time, Ryan Higgins was first to come to the left-hander’s assistance. A classy pull shot in front of square got the allrounder moving and he then dispatched Luke Wells deliveries to the fence twice in the same over.Bailey returned immediately after lunch as a game of patience unfolded, the two batters resisting his second surge and a miserly spell from Will Williams to raise the 100 partnership.It required a jaffer from George Balderson to castle Higgins with the hosts 14 in front, but Geddes, a young player hailed this week by Richard Johnson as a player with a ‘high ceiling’, came in to take the baton and after a shaky start he too blossomed, an off-drive through midwicket the pick of his early boundaries.By tea the lead had swollen to 72 and the pair showed greater intent after the resumption to move the stand to 100 and beyond.Geddes reached his half-century with five fours, before falling to the second new ball, though replays suggested he hadn’t made contact with the delivery which found its way to Hurst’s gloves.Nightwatcher Blake Cullen also perished before stumps, but Holden remains to try and steer Middlesex to a defendable total on day four.

Taskin Ahmed misses out due to a left Achilles tendon issue, while Litton Das has been granted NOC to play in the PSL

Mohammad Isam08-Apr-2025

Fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib has earned a maiden Test call-up while Taskin Ahmed’s injury has forced him out of the Bangladesh squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe in Sylhet from April 20. Taskin is rehabilitating for a left Achilles tendon issue, with Tanzim getting in as a like-for-like replacement.The BCB has also given a break to Litton Das to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He is part of Karachi Kings in the league which begins on April 11.Taskin and Litton were part of the two-Test series against West Indies, which was Bangladesh’s last Test assignment in late November 2024. Those returning to the side include regular captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, who missed the Tests against West Indies due to injuries.Offspinner Nayeem Hasan is also in the 15-member squad, apart from fast bowlers Khaled Ahmed and Tanzim. There was, however, no place for Shahadat Hossain and Shoriful Islam, who featured in the West Indies Tests, as well as Hasan Murad.”We have formed the Test team with our best possible players,” chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said. “We are returning to Tests after four months. We have Tests against Sri Lanka in June and we haven’t really done that well in home Tests in the last 12 months. This is why we are refraining from experimenting in this Test series.”Taskin Ahmed is currently rehabilitating for a left Achilles tendon issue•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh are also monitoring Ebadot Hossain’s progress, who has returned to competitive cricket this season after a long injury layoff.”Tanzim has shown promise in the white-ball sides,” Ashraf said. “He has shown hunger and ability to take wickets. He has earned his place in the side. We are still observing Ebadot Hossain. We have a lot of cricket coming up, so those who are missing out from the first Test, have no reason to worry.”The Bangladesh side will undertake a ten-day training camp in Sylhet ahead of the first Test. Zimbabwe are slated to arrive in the country on April 15.Bangladesh’s squad for first Test against ZimbabweNajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan