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Arne Slot eased the pressure when he led his Liverpool side to victory over West Ham United at the weekend, but in a matter of days, the Reds will have hosted Sunderland and travelled to Elland Road to face Leeds United, and that will make a more accurate barometer of this squad’s level.

The pressure has cranked up in recent weeks, and who of a red persuasion could contest the scrutiny? The Premier League champions had lost nine of 12 matches in all competitions before arresting the slump, and after the November international break, Anfield has been left reeling after successive drubbings dished out by Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

It’s clear that Liverpool have lost their way, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get back on track. A summer of record-breaking spending has packaged the Reds team with so much quality, but it’s true that Liverpool are an imbalanced outfit.

Sporting director Richard Hughes may need to dig back into the transfer market, which will be upon us in less than a month.

Liverpool's January transfer plans

It’s incredible that after spending more than £400m this summer, Liverpool still need to address a number of areas across Slot’s squad. Namely, Liverpool need a centre-back, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a leading contender to strengthen the frontline this January.

But with Marc Guehi out of contract at the end of the season and Manchester City also holding talks for Semenyo’s services, FSG may be tempted to look elsewhere.

And according to Caught Offside, Juventus’ rising star Kenan Yildiz has been shortlisted as a Semenyo alternative, having enjoyed a rip-roaring start to the campaign in Italy.

The 20-year-old certainly wouldn’t come cheap. Viewed as one of Serie A’s brightest young stars, Juventus do not want to sell the attacking midfielder, but a concerted approach from FSG could help shift some weight.

With Chelsea also interested, the Old Lady are looking to bank a €100m cheque (translating to £88m) for their prized player.

Why Liverpool want Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz might be young, but he is “already one of the best left wingers in the world”, according to one Serie A scout, and has a far higher ceiling than the 25-year-old Semenyo besides.

Semenyo is the talk of the town in the Premier League, but he’s gone five matches without a goal involvement after such a prolific start to the campaign.

Yildiz, by contrast, is spreading out his output, notching both strikes in Juve’s recent 2-1 league win over Cagliari.

He is a ferocious runner and he is sharp with his playmaking. As per data-driven site FBref, Yildiz ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this he has what it takes to match Semenyo’s athleticism and dynamism. In this he can become one of the Premier League’s finest.

Moreover, Yildiz has only missed one big chance in the Italian top flight, scoring four times.

Matches (starts)

12 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

52.4

49.6

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.1)

2.2 (1.2)

Accurate passes*

27.1 (85%)

19.9 (77%)

Chances created*

2.3

1.3

Dribbles*

1.5

1.8

Recoveries*

3.7

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.9

1.8

Duels won*

4.2

6.3

From a statistical standpoint, Semenyo has probably enjoyed the better season so far, but data only tells so much of a story in football, and Yildiz is clearly making startling progress at such a young age, close now to establishing himself as one of the best in the business.

He is “100% a superstar”, in the eyes of analyst Ben Mattinson, so dynamic and electric down the left flank. His duelling success doesn’t yet match Semenyo, who is one of the Premier League’s most combative wide forwards, and in just a few years, he could be far outstripping the Ghana international.

Whether Liverpool opt to fork out close to £100m for an up-and-coming talent remains to be seen, but Yildiz has already proven that he belongs on the world stage.

Semenyo would be a terrific signing, but the Turkish winger has that special something that suggests he could become one of the very best in the business.

Better move than Semenyo: Liverpool set to table bid to sign £53m "machine"

Liverpool and FSG are considering a host of positions ahead of the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

Vitor Matos now reportedly wants to take the Swansea City job in a major boost for the Championship club, who are preparing to trigger his big-money release clause.

It’s been a chaotic search for a new manager in Wales. The Swans decided to sack Alan Sheehan at the same time that Southampton, Norwich City and Middlesbrough all moving on from their own coaches – sending the Championship into a managerial merry-go-round.

Ultimately, it was Swansea who were made to pay for their timing, with top target Kim Hellberg now heading to Boro to replace Rob Edwards and send his first admirers back to square one.

With the Championship set to make a return from the international break this weekend, Swansea remain without a manager and will be led by Darren O’Shea on an interim basis.

Up against Bristol City on Saturday afternoon, Swansea will be looking to avoid a fifth-straight game without a victory and avoid dropping down to as low as 20th in the Championship.

Just when they’ll have their next permanent manager in charge is the big question. The Jacks head straight from their game against Bristol into a Tuesday night clash against Derby County and with the fixtures coming thick and fast, they need a permanent appointment sooner rather than later.

According to some recent reports, however, they could be in for some good news in their chase to sign Matos, who has made his decision.

Swansea preparing to trigger Matos release clause

According to reports in Portugal, as relayed by Wales Online, Swansea are now ready to trigger Matos’ release clause following rumours that the Maritime manager has decided to take the job if the opportunity comes his way.

Meanwhile, although other reports have claimed that Maritime are not willing to enter negotiations under any circumstances, those in Portugal have revealed that Matos has a release clause worth €1m (£900k) in his current contract – allowing Swansea to bypass club-to-club talks.

It’s good news for Swansea that the 37-year-old is keen to take the job, but there’s no denying that hiring him would be a gamble. The former Liverpool coach is incredibly inexperienced and the Swansea job would be his first as a manager in England.

Jurgen Klopp would be the first to hand the 4-3-3 coach rave reviews, but even the German is yet to see Matos in a potential relegation scrap. Those in Wales currently sit just seven points clear of the Championship’s dropzone and simply cannot afford to get their next appointment wrong in the coming weeks.

Instant blow for Matos as "one of Swansea's key players" could now leave

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Nacional-PAR e Corinthians se enfrentam nesta terça-feira (7), pela quarta rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana. A bola vai rolar a partir das 19h (de Brasília), no Estádio Defensores del Chaco, em Assunção, no Paraguai, com transmissão da ESPN e do Star+.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
NACIONAL-PAR X CORINTHIANS
COPA SUL-AMERICANA – FASE DE GRUPOS – QUARTA RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: terça-feira, 7 de maio de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estádio Defensores del Chaco, em Assunção, no Paraguai
📺 Onde assistir: ESPN e Star+
🟨 Árbitro: Angel Arteaga (VEN)
🚩 Assistentes: Alberto Ponte (VEN) e Freker Colmemares (VEN)
🖥️ VAR: Carlos Orbe (EQU)

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⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
NACIONAL-PAR (Técnico: Victor Bernay)
Antony Silva; Juan Luis Alfaro, Brian Blasi, Alexis Cañete, Leonardo Conge; Leandro Meza, Juan Fernando Alfaro, Gustavo Caballero, Benítez; Diego Duarte e Ignacio Bailone

CORINTHIANS (Técnico: António Oliveira)
Carlos Miguel; Fágner, Cacá, Felix Torres e Hugo; Raniele, Breno Bidon e Rodrigo Garro; Wesley, Gustavo Mosquito e Romero (Yuri Alberto)

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CorinthiansSul-Americana

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo carried a no hitter into the eighth inning of Thursday's game against the New York Yankees before it was broken up on a single by Jazz Chisholm Jr. that snuck through the right side of the infield.

It was certainly a painful way to lose a no hitter, but Woo was a good sport about it and walked over to first base to give Chisholm a quick pat on the backside in what was quick and respectful gesture.

It was a classy move from Woo, who was likely fighting back some frustrations as he went over to acknowledge Chisholm on first base.

Woo was dominant on the mound throughout the night, but Chisholm found a way to get on base, and he would later come around to score to get the Yankees on the board for the first time all game. After trailing 5–0 and not having a single hit heading into the bottom of the eighth, New York staged a miracle comeback to win in extra innings, 6–5.

Woo ended his night with five strikeouts, two walks and two earned runs across 7 1/3 innings. He improved his season ERA to 2.75, eighth best in the American League.

Steven Smith again stood alone amid the wreckage of the NSW batting

AAP12-Nov-2025Steven Smith will enter the Ashes averaging more than 100 for the summer, after his half-century couldn’t save New South Wales from a 300-run Sheffield Shield defeat to Victoria who made it four wins from four.On a dramatic third day at the SCG where both Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott left the ground for hamstring scans, NSW were all out for 125 chasing 425 for victory.Related

• Starc fires up after search for rhythm but Handscomb hits 'special' hundred

• Hazlewood cleared of injury, Abbott out of first Test after hamstring scans

• Webster bags eight for the match but Tasmania lose to South Australia

Hazlewood has since been cleared for the first Test but Abbott is out of contention, with their issues just nine days out from Ashes opener in Perth overshadowing NSW’s woes.But by the end of Wednesday, NSW had still been convincingly beaten inside three days, after being bowled out twice in a combined 89.3 overs for the match.Sam Elliott picked up three wickets for Victoria to go with his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings, while Fergus O’Neill bowled well for his 2 for 22.But what can’t be denied is the form Smith will enter next week’s first Test in, as he prepares to captain Australia in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins.Smith’s unbeaten 56 on Wednesday means he now has scores of 118, 57 and 56 not out to start the summer for NSW after returning from an extended holiday in America.While he flourished with the drive in the first innings on Tuesday, the bulk of his runs came square of the wicket and behind it as he played a lone hand on Wednesday.There was still one big six down the ground off Todd Murphy, when he lifted the fingerspinner over long off.But while Smith again looked in good shape, Sam Konstas’s 27 in the fourth innings made him the only other NSW batter to pass 20 in the match. On a pitch with plenty of variable bounce, six batters were either bowled or trapped lbwEarlier, Abbott took three wickets in six balls before suffering his injury at the end of a five-over spell. The seamer bowled Todd Murphy and Peter Handscomb in the same over, before Oliver Peake edged a ball back onto his own stumps in Abbott’s next over.Hazlewood also had Sam Harper caught on the pull shot, before reporting some tightness to Smith and leaving the field for scans.”Coming into this game, we knew it was going to be a big challenge,” Victoria coach Chris Rogers said.  “It’s almost one of those games where you’re playing against a bit of a superstar team. If you lose, that’s okay. It could be a good health check to see where you are.”But to come out and play with such a dominant performance, I think it gives our changing room such a lift.”

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Grêmio e Athletico-PR se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (17), pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão 2024. A bola vai rolar a partir das 19h (de Brasília), na Arena do Grêmio, em Porto Alegre (RS), com transmissão do SporTV (TV fechada) e Premiere (pay-per-view).

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Grêmio x Athletico-PR
2ª rodada – Brasileirão

🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 16 de março de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Arena do Grêmio, em Porto Alegre (RS)
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Lucas Paulo Torezin
🚩Assistentes: Nailton Junior de Sousa e Brigida Cirilo Ferreira; Marco Aurelio Augusto (VAR)

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⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

GRÊMIO (Técnico: Renato Gaúcho)
Marchesín; João Pedro, Geromel, Kannemann e Cuiabano; Villasanti, Du Queiroz e Cristaldo; Gustavo Nunes, Pavón e JP Galvão.

ATHLETICO-PR (Técnico: Cuca)
Bento; Léo Godoy, Thiago Heleno (Pedro Henrique), Kaique Rocha e Esquivel; Fernandinho, Erick e Zapelli; Christian (Julimar), Canobbio e Mastriani (Pablo).

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Athletico-PRBrasileirãoGrêmioOnde assistir

Jacob deGrom's accomplished quite a lot in his MLB career, and he added another historic feat to his ever growing résumé on Sunday.

During Sunday's matchup with the Mariners, the Rangers ace logged his 1,800th career strikeout. deGrom became the fastest MLB pitcher in history to reach this milestone as he did so in 240 games and 1,493.1 innings.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner's historic strikeout was thrown against Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford in the second inning of Sunday's game. The three strikes thrown to Crawford were all 98 mph fastballs. It was deGrom's fourth strikeout of the game, too.

After deGrom's past two seasons were riddled with injuries, the ace is having a great comeback season this year. Ahead of Sunday's game, deGrom had a 2.55 ERA with a 10–3 record. He'd thrown 130 strikeouts this season—a solid 9.5 per nine innings pitched

The Rangers star now sits at No. 128 on the MLB's all-time list of strikeouts thrown by pitchers. Nolan Ryan holds a very strong lead for the record with 5,714 strikeouts thrown in his career.

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has found himself in the eye of a storm as he is being accused of showing sympathy for a far-right political party in France after liking a post on Instagram. The 22-year-old shot-stopper insists it was an accident and says he’s “being portrayed as a fascist” as responded to the backlash.

• Chavelier's like causes social media fury

  Just hours before PSG’s clash with Lyon, Chevalier woke up to a media firestorm. A screenshot circulating on social media showed that the young goalkeeper had liked a post from former MP Julien Aubert, suggesting support for the National Rally, a far-right party long accused of xenophobia. Within minutes, social media was ablaze with fans accusing him of aligning with extremist politics, others defending him as a victim of cancel culture.

  The controversy couldn’t have come at a worse time. Chevalier, still struggling to win over the Parisian crowd after replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma, found himself painted as a political symbol rather than an athlete. In a club defined by its multicultural identity, the backlash was immediate with supporters from the Collectif Ultras Paris, known for their anti-racist stance, condemned the act, while others called for his dismissal.

  PSG’s management quickly sought to defuse the tension, focusing attention on the Lyon match. But the uproar had already shaken the dressing room and overshadowed the game itself.

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• AFP
  

  'It pisses me off' – Chevalier breaks his silence

  At around 4 a.m., an exhausted and furious Chevalier took to Instagram to set the record straight.

  “I saw what was being said about me regarding the fact that I liked a post on Instagram with a political stance, which I obviously don’t share,” he wrote. “ I'm not trying to convince you, but it's disheartening to know that by scrolling and unknowingly liking a post, you're informed that your image has been completely tarnished for an accidental action. It pisses me off. The damage is done, and the die is cast. You tried to portray me as a fascist, and it wasn't just me you targeted, but my entire family.”

  The goalkeeper went on to express his frustration at being reduced to a political caricature:

  "I will never play the victim, but the lines have been crossed, and by a long shot. Furthermore, some people are using this to justify my mediocre sporting performances when they have absolutely no understanding of the goalkeeper position. It's the same people from the beginning, and they seem to enjoy it. Anyway. I wanted to apologise for the inconvenience caused, because ultimately, I am the one in charge. I have always tried to be a good person in my daily life and on the pitch, and I will continue to do so. I don't often speak out, but it was necessary today because the world we live in is tending to go haywire. 

  "I truly never thought I'd one day have to explain myself about this completely ludicrous matter on social media."

• Chevalier's post turns political outrage to racial tension

  As the story spread, the backlash took an uglier turn. Chevalier faced personal insults online, with hate messages flooding his accounts. Paradoxically, the far-right politician Eric Ciotti came to his defence, denouncing “anti-white racism” and calling the attacks “unbearable.”

  This unexpected endorsement only deepened the controversy further fuelling debates about double standards, political opportunism, and the toxic intersection between sport and ideology. The affair became less about football and more about France’s social fractures, exposing how athletes now operate in a space where neutrality itself is politicised.

  Many fans, however, urged restraint. Prominent commentators reminded the public that “a like is not a manifesto,” and that intent matters. Yet in an era of screenshots and instant outrage, nuance often comes too late.

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• AFP
  

  Night at Lyon gets worse for Chevalier

  On the field, the night was no kinder to Chevalier. During PSG’s 3-2 win over Lyon, he was at fault for two goals. One from Afonso Moreira’s counterattack and another from Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s lob, mistakes that reignited doubts about his form. Despite making several key saves, his shaky performance only compounded the pressure.

  Teammates like Lucas Hernandez publicly backed him, insisting that defensive lapses, not goalkeeping errors alone, were to blame. But the headlines had already shifted with Chevalier’s image crisis had become a defining subplot of PSG’s season.

  Now, as PSG prepare for fixtures against Le Havre, Monaco, Rennes and Tottenham in the Champions League, Chevalier faces a test far greater than any he’s had between the posts. He must restore faith and not only in his ability as a goalkeeper but in his integrity as a professional.

The difficult decision to bench Liverpool talisman Mo Salah has left Reds boss Arne Slot with a major decision to make ahead of their clash with Leeds United. The Egyptian star’s performances have certainly been below his usual high standards, and he has come in for substantial criticism from TV pundits, but Slot has hinted he could reinstate him for the crunch trip to Elland Road.

Salah's struggles in title defence

Salah is enduring a challenging season on Merseyside, a stark contrast to his stellar previous campaign where he secured the Premier League title and bagged the Golden Boot, too. His form has seen a significant drop so far this season, he’s scored four goals and laid on two assists in his 13 Premier League appearances so far this season. The arrival of new players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, has altered the team's attacking dynamics, and the departure of long-time right-back partner Trent Alexander-Arnold has severely impacted on him. 

Club legend Jamie Carragher has been a vocal critic of Salah's form and perceived lack of leadership. Carragher has suggested that Salah's declining pace and reluctance to track back defensively are leaving the team exposed, especially in away games. He has also called for the Egyptian to speak publicly more often during the team's struggles. 

And while Salah has started on the bench for the Reds’ last two fixtures, missing out entirely in the win against West Ham and coming on as second-half substitute in the draw with Sunderland, his Dutch boss has hinted he could be re-introduced against Leeds.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSlot: 'It is completely normal for people to talk'

Speaking to the press on Friday, Slot said: "I think for every player in my mind can start and Mo is an exceptional player for us. He is always in my mind to either start or to come (off the bench). The chatter, yes (I understand it) because he deserves that, he has been so influential for me for six or seven years. It's completely normal for people to talk about it when he isn't (playing)." 

Another player who is has struggled this season is Wirtz, but Slot has backed his marquee summer signing to take the positives from recent performances, saying: "You can see his confidence from how often he wants the ball and how often they give him it. So he has a lot of confidence but it's also clear he came back with an injury from Germany, so I am happy he can play so many minutes. He has done well. Not surprised he was involved in the goal against Sunderland, he was one of the ones who kept constantly trying and was creative."

Redknapp suggests Salah could leave

 Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp weighed into the argument, claiming a player of Salah’s calibre wouldn’t be willing to sit on the bench and hinted he could leave. Redknapp said: "There is no way Salah is going to be content being a bit-part player in this team. Whether it's in January or in the summer, if he finds the right clubs, I think he deserves the right to move on if things aren't going to go his way. I can only see that outcome. Now that trust is broken, especially with someone like Salah, he needs that confidence and love from a manager."

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Getty Images SportLeeds test awaits at Elland Road

Liverpool travel to Elland Road off the back of another poor performance in the one-all draw with Sunderland as defensive frailties continued to plague them, which Leeds boss Daniel Farke’s side will look to exploit. And Slot is aware just how intense and physical the match will be, he said: "I watched Leeds versus Chelsea and I saw a Liverpool game: Chelsea conceding a set piece and then a big, big error. Leeds went very aggressive in one-v-one and then a low block to stop chances. It is difficult for us that style, and many other teams. We saw them coming back from two down to Manchester City, Phil Foden made the difference with a moment of magic there and against Chelsea Leeds were very strong. What to expect is what we have faced in many other games."

انتهت منافسات الجولة الأولى من المجموعة الثالثة في بطولة كأس العرب 2025، والتي تضم منتخب مصر.

وتضم المجموعة منتخبات مصر والكويت والأردن والإمارات في المجموعة الثالثة من بطولة كأس العرب.

والتقى منتخب مصر مع الكويت، امس الثلاثاء، في مستهل مشوار المنتخبين ببطولة كأس العرب 2025 المقامة في قطر خلال الفترة الحالية، على ملعب استاد لوسيل.

وانتهت المواجهة بين مصر والكويت، بنتيجة التعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله، حيث سجل منتخب الكويت الأول عن طريق فهد الهاجري وتعادل للفراعنة محمد مجدي أفشة.

 وأقيمت  مباراة الأردن والإمارات، على ملعب استاد البيت، في إطار مرحلة المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر خلال الفترة الحالية.

وحقق منتخب الأردن فوزًا مثيرًا على نظيره الإمارات بهدفين مقابل هدف ليحتل صدارة المجموعة من الجولة الأولى.

طالع.. فيديو | أفشة يسجل هدف مصر الأول أمام الكويت في كأس العرب

واحتل منتخب الأردن، صدارة المجموعة برصيد 3 نقاط، بعد الفوز في لقاء اليوم، بينما منتخب مصر في المركز الثاني بنقطة واحدة.

وفي المركز الثالث منتخب الكويت، بينما الإمارات في المركز الأخير بدون نقاط. ترتيب مجموعة منتخب مصر في كأس العرب 2025

1- منتخب الأردن، 3 نقاط.

2- منتخب مصر، نقطة.

3- منتخب الكويت، نقطة.

4- منتخب الإمارات، دون نقاط.