MatériaMais Notícias

O gramado da Arena Corinthians amanheceu pichado na manhã desta quarta-feira, dia do clássico contra o Palmeiras, que acontece às 21h30, pela 11ª rodada do Campeonato Paulista.A informação foi divulgada primeiramente pelo ‘Meu Timão’ e confirmada pelo LANCE!. Na pichação foi escrito o placar de ‘8×0’, que faz referência para a maior goleada aplicada no clássico, aplicada pelo Palmeiras.

Além da pichação da goleada, a trave de um dos gols da Arena também foi pichada com os dizeres ‘Cássio Frango’, em letras verdes.

RelacionadasVídeoVeja um vídeo especial produzido para a volta do CorinthiansVídeo22/07/2020VídeoRelembre golaço de Tevez pelo Corinthians em um Dérbi de 2005Vídeo21/07/2020PalmeirasComeça no Dérbi: saiba por que Willian virou ‘o cara’ no PalmeirasPalmeiras21/07/2020

A reportagem do L! confirmou as veracidades das imagens. O campo da Arena está sem linhas pois as demarcações são feitas nos dias que o estádio recebe as partidas. A pichação já está sendo removida.

Detalhe na trave pic.twitter.com/l0X6n3lppp

— Qdo vai poder falar fora Covid? 🇧🇷 (@anderson_kbca) July 22, 2020

Em nota oficial, o Corinthians lamentou a atitude, classificando o ato como ‘criminoso’ e lavrou boletim de ocorrência por invasão de propriedade particular. Veja a nota colocada pelo Alvinegro:

“O Sport Club Corinthians Paulista lamenta a ação de vândalos palmeirenses que, ao arrepio da lei e da ordem, invadiram criminosamente o interior da Arena Corinthians na madrugada desta quarta com o único objetivo de depredar suas instalações. O clube comunica que já lavrou boletim de ocorrência por invasão de propriedade particular e que as imagens do sistema de câmeras de monitoramento serão disponibilizadas e auxiliarão as autoridades na identificação e punição exemplar aos responsáveis por ato vil e covarde e que não condiz com a grandeza e com a estatura da agremiação envolvida no confronto esportivo previsto para a noite desta quarta na Casa do Povo.”

O presidente Andres Sanchez usou o Twitter para lamentar a atitude dos torcedores rivais. Veja a postagem do mandatário corintiano.

Acabo de receber a triste notícia de que nossa Arena foi invadida e depredada por vandalos palmeirenses. Não acreditamos na violência, futebol se ganha na bola. Passamos imagens pra polícia e fizemos BO. Garanto ao torcedor: esse ataque contra nossa casa NÃO vai ficar impune.

— Andres Sanchez (@andresanchez63) July 22, 2020

Vale lembrar que a goleada de 8×0 do Palmeiras em cima do Corinthians aconteceu em 1933, quando o Alviverde ainda se chamava Palestra Itália. O jogo foi realizado no Parque Antarctica.

After becoming the Reds' leading Premier League goalscorer, the Egyptian unquestionably belongs among the club's best ever players…

So much for the power shift, then. 

Sunday had been billed as the meeting of a spent force and an emerging giant. A fading Liverpool and a rising Manchester United. A vibrant team on the up against one stuck in an irreversible decline.

The reality was rather different, with Jurgen Klopp’s side recording the biggest win in the fixture’s history. Their 7-0 victory, as one-sided as it sounds, will live long in the memory, as well as in the record books. 

“A freak result,” Klopp called it. “Unprofessional,” said a shell-shocked Erik ten Hag.

There were stars wherever you looked at Anfield, and all of them were wearing red. Whether it was Cody Gakpo or Darwin Nunez, both of whom scored twice, or the relentless Andy Robertson, Liverpool had all of the game’s standout performers.

None better than Mohamed Salah, of course.

The Egyptian loves playing against Manchester United, and he had a field day on Sunday, scoring twice, assisting twice and setting yet another personal record in the process. With 129 goals, the 30-year-old is now the Reds’ all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.

The man he surpassed, Robbie Fowler, posted a wonderful picture on social media on Sunday afternoon, paying tribute to his successor. #LiverpoolLegend was the hashtag Fowler chose to accompany it, and it’s hard to argue…

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  Non-stop production

  Six seasons into his Anfield career, Salah continues to set the most exacting of standards. In each of those campaigns, he has reached 20 goals in all competitions – he now has 22 this term – and he has reached double figures for assists in all-but-one of them as well. His output, quite frankly, is absurd.

  Against United, Salah cemented his status as the fixture's all-time leading scorer, becoming the first Reds player ever to score in five successive league games against their fierce rivals. In those five games, he has scored nine and assisted four.

  He contributed directly to four of the Reds’ seven goals on Sunday. First, he finished a mesmerising run down the right with a perfect pass for Gakpo to make it 3-0. Then, he took advantage of a kind deflection off Scott McTominay to hammer home a right-foot strike via the underside of the bar for 4-0.

  His second goal, Liverpool’s sixth, showcased his poacher’s instinct, finding himself in the right place to slot home from six-yards after Luke Shaw’s clearance struck Roberto Firmino. He then wrapped things up by setting up Firmino to make it seven in the closing stages.

  “Unbelievable!” he told Sky Sports afterwards. “I’m going home to celebrate with the family, have a chamomile tea and sleep.”

  He’d more than earned it. Some performance. Some player. 

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  Only Rush above him?

  So, where does Salah sit in terms of the Anfield greats? With 178, he is already seventh on the club’s all-time goalscoring list, and is now within five of Fowler in sixth, and within eight of Steven Gerrard in fifth.

  With a fair wind, Salah could pass both by the end of this season. Then, he’s looking at Billy Liddell (226), and Gordon Hodgson (241) as ambitious, but still realistic, targets.

  The records of Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346) will prove beyond him, surely, but Salah has unquestionably put himself in the frame when we talk about Liverpool’s greatest ever goalscorers. Realistically, only Rush, whose record will surely never be surpassed, stands above him.

  Salah’s goals-per-game record (1.63) is actually better than both Rush’s (1.91) and Hunt’s (1.73). Of players to have scored more than 50 times for Liverpool, only Hodgson, who netted 241 times in 377 games during the 1920s and 30s, and Luis Suarez have a better ratio than Salah does at present.

  Salah’s longevity already places him well ahead of Suarez, as well as the likes of Fernando Torres, John Aldridge and Michael Owen, and his trophy haul takes him above Liddell and Hunt, the stars of the 1950s and 60s sides.

  Fowler was right; he is a Liverpool Legend, and then some. And by the time he eventually leaves the club, we could be speaking about him as the greatest of all.

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  Every type of goal

  One of the more remarkable things about Salah’s scoring feats, besides the fact that he is, unlike Rush, Hunt, Fowler or Hodgson, a wide forward rather than a classic No.9, has been the sheer variety of his goals.

  He can score with spectacular strikes – his first goal on Sunday was pretty impressive, while a long-ranger against Chelsea in 2019 sticks in the mind – or with individual brilliance, such as his back-to-back worldies against Manchester City or Watford last season.

  There are delicate touches like against Ajax and Tottenham this season, shows of poise and strength like his winner against City in October. There are tap-ins and curlers, blasts and scuffs. He scores with his right foot and his left, against the cream and against the fodder.

  He scores at home and he scores on the road. He scores early and he scores late. Forty of his goals have come in the final 15 minutes of games. His fitness and mindset truly is astounding.

  The Manchester clubs are his favoured opponents. He has 12 goals against United and 10 against City. Bournemouth, Liverpool's next opponents, are high on his list too. He has eight in seven appearances against the Cherries.

  Who'd bet against him adding to that tally this weekend?

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  Brand new playmates

  Against United, Salah was supported admirably by a couple of brand new playmates, as Liverpool offered a tantalising glimpse of their attacking future.

  Klopp has already built one elite forward line at Anfield, and it looks like another is emerging, with Salah, Gakpo and Darwin Nunez delivering the kind of performance which will have put defences on notice, and have Reds fans licking their lips.

  Each scored twice, each causing chaos in different ways with their skill, tenacity and finishing prowess. Crucially, each looked sure of both their own role and that of their team-mates. The understanding was there, and so was the magic.

  With Sadio Mane gone and Firmino going soon, Liverpool’s attack is evolving fast. Salah, Gakpo and Nunez, plus the fit-again Diogo Jota and the soon-to-be-back Luis Diaz, give hope that that process will not be as painful as it might once have appeared.

The Germany midfielder wrote his name into the history books at Wembley, but David de Gea signed off a poor season on a miserable note

Ilkay Gundogan conjured two magical volleys to win a tense and tight FA Cup final against Manchester United and secure the double for Manchester City. Now the Cityzens have just one more step to take on their stairway to a heavenly treble.

Gundogan scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history with an outstanding strike after only 13 seconds at Wembley, and after Bruno Fernandes had pulled United back into contention from the penalty spot, the German struck again, meeting Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick and beating a lacklustre David de Gea.

While De Bruyne and Gundogan were City's outstanding performers, the finger will again be pointed at United's goalkeeper, who ended a poor season on a miserable note. But United showed character to overcome their nightmare start and pushed City all the way, with Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho coming agonisingly close to equalising and forcing extra-time.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley Stadium…

GettyWINNER: Ilkay Gundogan

If this is to be Gundogan's last game for City in England, it was the perfect way to go out. The Germany midfielder etched his name into FA Cup history by scoring the fastest goal in a final in the competition's 151 years. And what a finish it was – his volley took everyone in the stadium by surprise, including De Gea, who watched motionless as the ball ripped into the net. His second goal was another volley, even if he benefited from a very slow reaction from De Gea.

Gundogan's contract expires on June 30 and while Pep Guardiola wants to keep him, the midfielder feels like he has done his service. No-one could argue with that after scoring twice to win last season's title and now slaying City's biggest rivals with another double.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: David de Gea

The Spaniard capped a season to forget with another dismal performance. As his kicking is not up to the standards of the modern game – he gave the ball away on a few occasions with hopeless punts straight to City players – he only has his shot-stopping ability to fall back on.

And he keeps on letting in shots he should be saving. He was left stunned by Gundogan's lightning-quick opening strike, but will be very disappointed not to have kept out the second goal.

It was another bad piece of goalkeeping to file alongside costly errors against Brentford, Sevilla, Everton and West Ham from across the campaign, and his overall performance underlined United's need to go and sign a young 'keeper to compete for his place next season.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Kevin De Bruyne

By his own high standards, the Belgian had a poor first half. He kept over-hitting passes and could not dictate the game in his usual way. Everything changed in the second half, though, as he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

His nifty footwork fooled Fred into fouling him early in the second period, and he dusted himself down to deliver the perfect cross for Gundogan to strike for the second time. His down-then-up display showed that not only is he one of the most talented players to have graced English football, he also has a highly resilient mentality.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Marcus Rashford

The United striker grabbed the winner in the last Manchester derby, but he was barely involved in the final. He had the misfortune to start as centre-forward, where he is not nearly as dangerous as when playing on the left of the attack.

He had only one shooting opportunity, a weak header which dribbled hopelessly wide, and United's best prospect of an equaliser lay in substitute Alejandro Garnacho. As United's only Mancunian to start the game, he will desperately disappointed not to have had a bigger impact in the biggest match of the season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians e Riachuelo, rede varejista de moda, anunciaram nesta quarta-feira um acordo de patrocínio pontual para o jogo que marca o reinício do Campeonato Paulista, contra o Palmeiras, que será disputado a partir das 21h30, na Arena de Itaquera. A marca da empresa estará estampada nas mangas do uniforme corintiano, além de ações para o Dia dos Pais.

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Segundo nota oficial divulgada, o patrocínio pontual é o pontapé inicial de relacionamento entre o clube e a empresa, que se desdobrará numa série de ações digitais com foco no Dia dos Pais, a ser comemorado no dia 9 de agosto.

– O Corinthians saúda e agradece à Riachuelo e espera que essas sejam as primeiras de diversas ações sinérgicas entre a marca e a instituição – afirmou Andrés Sanchez, presidente do Corinthians.

A concretização do patrocínio pontual foi possível em virtude de gentil cessão do grupo Galera Group, que assinou recentemente com o clube acordo para exibição de marca na mesma posição no uniforme.

Uma votação virtual está sendo realizada com a participação da torcida, neste mês de julho, para a escolha do nome e da logomarca da plataforma de apostas que será a marca que figurará no manto alvinegro.

No momento, o Corinthians conta com nove patrocinadores na camisa: Banco BMG (máster), ALE, Galera Group (que cede o espaço nesta noite para a Riachuelo), Serasa Limpa Nome (que substitui a Totvs), Cartão de Todos, Hapvida, Joli, Midea e Poty, além da Nike, fornecedora de material esportivo.

Everything you need to know about England and Chelsea midfield star Mason Mount!

Mason Tony Mount is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking or central midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team. He was born on 10 January 1999, in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Mount began his football journey in the youth academy of Chelsea, one of the elite clubs in England. He joined the Blues at the age of six and progressed through the various age groups, showcasing his exceptional work-rate and footballing intelligence.

After rapid development in the youth ranks, he was loaned out to gain valuable first-team experience. During the 2017-2018 season, Mount was loaned to Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, where he impressed with 24 direct goal contributions from 40 appearances across all competitions.

Another loan move followed, this time to Championship outfit Derby County. He shone again with 11 goals and six assists from 44 outings. Following his successful loan spells, Mount returned to Chelsea and made his first-team debut in August 2019, and never looked back since, quickly establishing himself as a regular starter under manager Frank Lampard, who had a reputation for nurturing young talent.

Mount continued to shine for Chelsea, playing a vital role in their success in recent years, but the major highlight arrived in May 2021 when the Englishman lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy with Chelsea, assisting Kai Havertz’s match-winning goal against Manchester City in the final. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the same year.

Mount made his senior international debut for England in September 2019 after showcasing his potential across all youth levels with the Three Lions. He has since become a regular member of the England squad and was an integral part of the team that reached the final of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, ultimately losing to Italy in a penalty shootout.

The 36-cap England star also featured at the recent 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where England were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

At just 24 years old, Mason Mount has already achieved a significant amount in his career, but what are 13 fun things about Mount you need to know…!

Living his dad's dream

Mount's footballing education began at an early age at his family home. His father, Tony Mount, had the most influence on his son's football career. Tony was a former non-league footballer who later coached local clubs, including Havant Town and Newport.

While Mount's father had a rather unimpressive professional career, he vowed to continue living his dream through his son. No wonder Mount Senior was the one who enrolled him into one of the town’s best football academies, Baorhunt FC, at the age of four.

Mount has spoken about how his father's influence has been crucial to his development as a footballer. He has said that his father taught him the importance of work-rate, passion, and dedication in football, and that he has always been there to support him.

He said: "Dad always said to me, “You have got to do the dirty work”. ‘He told me you can’t just be good on the ball. You have to track back, you have to make tackles and get stuck in. I always want to introduce that into what I am doing now. I don’t just want to be an attacking player who gets into the box and scores goals. I’ve got to do it all."

AdvertisementHis father called an emergency family meeting 🚨

It was way back in 2014 and Mount, one of the most in-demand 15-year-old talents in the country, had to pick between a scholarship with the Blues and a host of tempting offers to leave.

However, this was the time when Chelsea were bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and the club's transfer policy was more centred around buying ready-made superstars instead of promoting talent from youth ranks.

World-class players like Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah were not given a chance to play at Chelsea, and so they left – becoming big stars.

His father was worried about the situation and called a family meeting to discuss the possibility of leaving Chelsea. Uncles, aunts and grandparents offered advice to the talented teenager after dad Tony called a family meeting at their Portsmouth home. Mount's resolve to become a Chelsea star, though, stayed firm as he refused to budge under pressure.

Tony later explained the incident in an interview with The Sun, saying: "I told Mason I thought he needed to move on to get the best opportunity.

"I said, 'No one at Chelsea's academy has got into the first-team since John Terry — what chance have you got?'

"Mason shot back, 'I'll be the next one.' He said, 'I'm not leaving Chelsea, it's my club. I've been here since the age of six and I'm going all the way.'"

Getty ImagesFootballing inspirations in life?

Mount's idols in football were Lampard, Andres Iniesta, and Luka Modric.

In an interview, he said: “Frank was an example throughout my career at Chelsea, and throughout my career as a midfielder. When it comes to scoring goals as a midfielder, you look at Frank Lampard as a role model. I looked at [Luka] Modric when he was in the Premier League at Tottenham. Andres Iniesta at Barcelona in his prime, playing their tiki-taka, I was always watching them on YouTube.”

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Getty ImagesBest friends with Declan Rice 🤝

West Ham United star Declan Rice and Mount have been best friends for over 12 years. The pair first met when they were just eight years old. They were in their formative footballing years in Chelsea's Cobham Academy, at a time when their aspirations of professional contracts and England call-ups were simply just dreams.

They remained close friends and have since progressed to England teammates. Both have risen to stardom at club level, too, with Rice becoming a key player and captain at West Ham while Mount stayed at Chelsea and has become an integral figure at Stamford Bridge.

With both West Ham and Chelsea in close proximity, Mount and Rice remain in close touch and hang out every now and then on the streets of London. What's more, Mount unknowingly violated the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions by going out in the open to play football with his best buddy in 2020, for which he was criticised in the mainstream media.

Marcus Rashford's second-half missile gave Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Real Betis after a shaky start.

The Red Devils advanced to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a whopping 5-1 aggregate scoreline over the Spanish side, their 1-0 win in the second leg Thursday more than enough to go through.

But the result should not hide the fact that they were overwhelmed for much of the first half and were fortunate not to at least be a goal down.

Joaquin hit the post and David de Gea had to make a towering save from Juanmi as Betis swarmed over United, roared on by a 52,000-strong crowd in Seville.

United, however, could have scored themselves just before the break when Facundo Pellistri hit the post.

Erik ten Hag's side improved thereafter and once Rashford struck his 27th goal in all competitions it was game over for Betis and their former Manhester City coach Manuel Pellegrini.

GOAL rates Manchester United's players from the Estadio Benito Villamarin…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David de Gea (8/10):

  Made himself big to thwart Juanmi early on and made an outstanding reflex save to deny Ayoze Perez.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (7/10):

  Continued his resurgence under Ten Hag.

  Harry Maguire (7/10):

  Making only his fifth start of 2023, the captain anticipated the game well and made a number of crucial blocks. Should have scored with a header from a corner in second half.

  Lisandro Martinez (6/10):

  A bit shaken at the start but then improved.

  Tyrell Malacia (5/10):

  Struggled a lot against Aitor Ruibal and was not very effective in attack.

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  Midfield

  Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

  Was better defensively than in attack. Taken off early as he was one booking away from suspension.

  Casemiro (5/10):

  Gave Joaquin too much space in the first half and has to shoulder some responsibility for Betis' first-half storm. Avoided a booking and is at least not suspended for the quarter-finals.

  Fred (6/10):

  Worked his socks off in the middle of the park.

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  Attack

  Facundo Pellistri (7/10):

  Almost scored at the end of the first half and was good after the break.

  Wout Weghorst (5/10):

  Should have made contact with Pellistri's cross-shot and again failed to create much danger.

  Marcus Rashford (7/10):

  Killed off the tie with a marvellous strike from outside the area, making amends for two bad misses, including hitting the ball into the second tier of the stadium moments before his goal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Jadon Sancho (5/10):

  Should have done more with the game stretched. Still poor with his decisions and the individual training plan hasn't had the desired effect.

  Marcel Sabitzer (6/10):

  Helped see out the victory with a solid midfield display.

  Anthony Elanga (6/10):

  Put some fear into Betis with his pace but didn't have much of an impact.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10):

  Had some good attacking spells when he came on.

  Victor Lindelof (6/10):

  Came on with 15 minutes to go.

  Erik ten Hag (7/10):

  Set up his side not to bottle the tie, and they followed his orders.

MatériaMais Notícias

O que importa é o resultado.

Mas será que essa regra vale sempre, em quaisquer circunstâncias?

Vejamos o que aconteceu essa semana, quarta-feira à noite em Itaquera, na volta do Campeonato Paulista após a paralisação da pandemia.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras x Água Santa: prováveis escalações, desfalques e onde assistirPalmeiras25/07/2020Futebol LatinoE o Palmeiras? Dudu assiste jogo do novo time e vibra com golFutebol Latino25/07/2020PalmeirasNeymar terá campo sintético idêntico ao do Allianz Parque em sua casaPalmeiras25/07/2020

Ganhar um clássico é sempre bom. Ganhar do maior rival é melhor ainda. Razão de sobra para a Fiel comemorar, gritar “chuuuupa Porco” na janela e zoar com os adversários nas redes sociais. Mas, se parar para pensar um pouco além dos 90 minutos daquele jogo, o torcedor corintiano vai perceber que não tem nenhum motivo para estar tranquilo. Muito pelo contrário. O Timão que retoma o Estadual é o mesmo time cambaleante de antes, com dificuldade de construir jogadas no meio de campo e um mínimo de objetividade no ataque. São Cassio o salvou!

Mas o resultado não é o que importa?

O Palmeiras perdeu o jogo. Mas foi um novo Palmeiras. Um Palmeiras de toque de bola, envolvente, abusando da verticalidade das jogadas, com velocidade, uma marcação forte sob pressão desde o campo do adversário. Diriam as más línguas que Luxemburgo foi picado por uma mosca chamada Jorge Jesus… Uma maldade, certamente. Mas, apontado hoje em dia como o único time capaz de confrontar o Flamengo em uma disputa de título brasileiro, por exemplo, o Verdão, claramente, evoluiu.

A saída de Dudu parece ter aberto espaço para mudanças mais profundas no jeito de jogar do time de Luxa. É preciso, agora, apostar nisso para valer. O elenco palestrino não tem nem 30 dias de treino. E treino é a palavra chave para quem quer jogar com a intensidade e a proposta que o Palmeiras apresentou na quarta-feira. Mas o jogo deixa um sinal bem claro: ao contrário dos corintianos, os palmeirenses têm, sim, motivos para ficar otimistas, para vislumbrar um futuro mais promissor nessa volta do futebol. E isso, apesar do resultado do dérbi, do incômodo 1 a 0 que resistiu no placar de Itaquera ao verdadeiro massacre que foi o segundo tempo. Faltou acertar o último passe, competência na finalização.

Mas o resultado não é o que importa?

Um time jogar bonito e vencer é a situação ideal. Mas derrotas, como foi a do Palmeiras, nem sempre são um sinônimo de fracasso. Um resultado adverso pode vir quase que por uma obra do acaso – em uma bola parada, uma falha de marcação, um erro do goleiro como aconteceu na quarta-feira. Ou ser, tão simplesmente, um capricho dos deuses dos estádios, determinados a não deixar que um dia a bola entre onde deveria entrar. O importante é manter a proposta, persistir para avançar. As coisas irão se acertando em campo.

Ah, apenas para ilustrar essa história de que só resultado importa, vale lembrar de fatos recentes. Obviamente, sem propor aqui qualquer comparação técnica ou de relevância entre campeonatos muito diferentes.

Há derrotados que jamais serão esquecidos. E pouco se fala de quem os venceu. A Holanda de Cruyff; o Brasil de Zico, Sócrates, Falcão, Junior e Cerezzo perderam um jogo e um título mundial. Mas marcaram o futebol para sempre. Já a Argentina e a Itália, que os venceram… tornaram-se tão somente um dado a mais nas estatísticas. É como gira a roda do futebol.

The Reds' hopes of landing their top target are over, so who else could they target to fix their biggest issue ahead of 2023-24?

If ever there was an update Liverpool fans didn't want, this was it. For months, the idea of Jude Bellingham arriving at Anfield this summer has provided some comfort for supporters amid the Reds' underwhelming, and at times infuriating, campaign.

Now, though, that comfort has been ripped away. GOAL confirmed on Tuesday that Liverpool are ready to move on from their Bellingham pursuit, deciding that they cannot afford the Borussia Dortmund star when they need a whole clutch of new players this summer to arrest this season's considerable drop in standards.

Jurgen Klopp has spoken publicly of the need for "a big summer", and with the likes of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, it is safe to assume that work is already underway to identify potential summer targets, even if the club's struggle to secure Champions League qualification provides an unwanted obstacle, and distraction, to their plans.

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🚨 MUST READ: No Bellingham, no perfect summer for desperate Liverpool

Bellingham, of course, was the dream, but as Klopp pointed out recently, there are a lot of talented footballers available for a club like Liverpool. And according to sources familiar with the situation at Anfield, there is a long list of potential summer targets, whether they land a top-four finish or not.

With that in mind, GOAL takes a look at some players who could, or indeed should, find themselves on the Reds’ radar…

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  Moises Caicedo

  The Brighton midfielder is a player who is clearly destined for a Champions League club, and was pursued strongly by Premier League leaders Arsenal, as well as big-spending Chelsea, at the end of the January window.

  Brighton, though, stood firm despite the Ecuadorian stating publicly his desire to leave. Caicedo has since signed a new deal at the Amex Stadium, although many suspect that is more about protecting his value than any long-term desire to remain on the South Coast.

  Liverpool sources have previously played down the club's interest in the 21-year-old, but Caicedo's age and all-round skillset would make him a perfect fit for the Reds, even if he is likely to cost in excess of £80 million ($98m).

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  Alexis Mac Allister

  What about Caicedo’s team-mate at the Amex, then? Mac Allister, undoubtedly, is hot property after playing a key role in Argentina’s World Cup win, and like Caicedo has already been linked with a move to a bigger, more high-profile club.

  The 24-year-old's father, Carlos, reportedly attended Liverpool's Champions League game with Real Madrid at Anfield last month, and certainly Alexis' blend of attacking guile and defensive output mark him out as a player who could make a difference to Liverpool.

  Mind you, given the Reds lost 5-2 against Real that night, maybe the Mac Allister clan could have second thoughts on the idea of a move to Merseyside…

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  Mason Mount

  It is increasingly likely that the England international will leave Chelsea this summer, with Mount set to enter the final year of his contract and talks over a new deal having hit a roadblock.

  Liverpool, along with Manchester United and newly-ambitious Newcastle, are all keen, with the 24-year-old having already appointed a new agent, Neil Fewings, in preparation for a summer transfer.

  Mount, it should be said, has not had the best of times this season, but Liverpool are long-term admirers, and his hard-running, positionally-smart style of play could be very useful as Klopp rebuilds his midfield.

  Expect the Reds to be very much in the race for Mount this summer.

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  Matheus Nunes

  Despite a mixed first season in the Premier League with Wolves, Nunes is a player who is very much admired by Liverpool.

  Indeed, stories earlier this year suggested that an agreement was already in place for the Reds to bid for the 24-year-old this summer, with Liverpool having opted not to pursue the player when he moved to Wolves from Sporting CP last August.

  Nunes, who has been in and out at Molineux so far, still has a lot to prove in England, but he is versatile and skilled, and at a cost of around £50m ($61m) would not break the bank either.

Real Madrid are famed for their ‘Galacticos’ transfer policy, with it possible that Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will form part of that process.

The Blancos, with Florentino Perez filling the role of club president, have previously invested heavily in the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Financial constraints mean that the very best in the business cannot always be targeted in each passing window.

Real are, however, looking to build for the future once again and are said to have French World Cup winner Mbappe back in their sights as he nudges an exit door open at Paris Saint-Germain. They have also been linked with prolific Norwegian frontman Haaland in the past and could be a future landing spot for him once he has finished breaking records and collecting major honours at Manchester City.

Former Madrid star Julio Baptista can see such deals being put in place, with the Brazilian discussing superstar recruitment at Santiago Bernabeu with GOAL…

GettyGalacticos Part III

Quizzed on whether Real could one day boast a fearsome front three of Mbappe, Haaland and Vinicius Junior, Baptista – who was speaking on behalf of – told GOAL: “I think the whole world would like to see these players play together. The only man that could create that situation is Florentino. He has done it in the past, he could do it again now. When you have so many good players in one team it is not easy to control them. When you are successful it is okay, but when you aren’t then it becomes very complicated. This has happened in the past and it’s hard.”

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Real are reported to be mulling over a move for Mbappe that could cost them upwards of €200 million (£174m/$224m), with Baptista saying when asked if he expects the exciting 24-year-old to end up in Spain: “It depends on his choice. I don’t know if he will move in the summer or the next window. I think he knows that to become one of the best players in the world, he needs to move. PSG have an incredible team, but they don’t create something special like other teams – Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich. These type of teams create something, a legacy. PSG is missing something to complete the process, they have got to the final of the Champions League and created an incredible team but are still missing the final piece. I think he needs to move if he wants to be the best player in the world.”

Getty/Real MadridNow or never

Pressed further on whether Real should make their move this summer, in order to avoid seeing a rival suitor steal in for one of the most sought-after players on the planet, Baptista added: “This is the risk you take. If the player doesn’t want to move, then you can’t sell the player. If the player says ‘sorry, I don’t to join this team’, then you can’t sell the player.”

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GettyStay or go?

Real already have one superstar forward on their books in the form of Vinicius Jr – with Karim Benzema having departed as a free agent – but questions have been asked of how long he will stick around after being subjected to regular rounds of vile racist abuse. Baptista said when asked if he sees his fellow countryman spending a long time in the Spanish capital: “I think he needs to stay at Real Madrid. He knows the Spanish league now. He has been in incredible form. I think he had an amazing season and he needs to continue to do what he does. If he continues, maybe he can compete to be the best player in the world. He needs to stay in the same way as he did last season.”

The Saudi side were top of the table when the Portuguese superstar arrived in January on a colossal contract, but were usurped by Al-Ittihad

Cristiano Ronaldo has definitely still got it. He posted a picture of himself in his underwear last Saturday and racked up four million likes on Instagram inside the first two hours. Furthermore, his historically big-money move to Saudi Arabia has seen him knock one-time rival Lionel Messi off the top of the Forbes list of the highest-earning athletes in sport.

It's been a slightly different story on the field, though. When he arrived in Riyadh in January to impressive fanfare, Al-Nassr were top of the Saudi Pro League. However, Ronaldo's new club sensationally ended up finishing second to Al-Ittihad, who claimed their first title in 14 yearsafter Ronaldo and Co. slipped to a 1-1 draw against Al-Ettifaq on Saturday. That result left Al-Nassr five points behind the champions elect with just one game left to play.

So, what went wrong for the heavy favourites? Did Al-Nassr throw away the title? And was Ronaldo's signing a factor in an underwhelming second half of the season?

• 'A better man now'?

  Ronaldo recently conceded that he had a "bad career run" during his second stint at Manchester United, which ended with him leaving in the most acrimonious of circumstances, prompting criticism from some of his staunchest supporters.

  However, he argued that it was "part of my growth", that it helped him mature. "I'm a better man now," he insisted in an interview with in March.

  That may well be true, but he's certainly not a calmer character. If anything, the Ronaldo we've seen in Saudi Arabia is even more aggressive and petulant than any previous incarnation of 'CR7'. In the space of a month, we saw him angrily boot the ball away (while Al-Nassr were 2-0 up!), kick a water bottle, lash out at his own bench, throw a tantrum over a contentious call, shove a member of a rival backroom team who wanted a selfie, reject a shirt-swap, and even floor an opponent with a wrestling-style takedown.

  Most controversially of all, he appeared to make an obscene gesture towards Al-Hilal fans – who had been taunting him with Messi chants from before the game – after a 2-0 loss at the King Fahd International Stadium on April 18.

  There were even calls for him to be kicked out of the league for grabbing his crotch in a seemingly provocative manner. However, Ronaldo escaped sanction, thanks in no small part to the fact that The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Association only reviewed official match footage of the game, and not fan videos that subsequently appeared on social media.

  Although the club's rather ingenious explanation of Ronaldo's actions, which was relayed to journalist Muhammed Al-Enezi, may also have helped: "Ronaldo suffers from an injury. His challenge with Gustavo Cuellar, the Al-Hilal player, started with a blow in a very sensitive area. This is confirmed information. As for the fans' explanations, they are free to think whatever they want."

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  'The envious invent the rumour…'

  It's worth noting that Ronaldo has, depressingly, had to put up with increased media focus on his private life since arriving in Saudi Arabia. There were even reports that his relationship with Georgina Rodriguez was on the rocks after an argument while boarding a plane in April. However, Ronaldo's partner replied on Instagram: "The envious invent the rumour, the gossip spreads it and the idiot believes it."

  Such tabloid tattle is, unfortunately, nothing new for the family. The only difference during this latest adventure is that they have had to deal with scrutiny of their marital status, given it's illegal for an unmarried couple to cohabit in Saudi Arabia.

  An exception seems to have been made for Ronaldo and Rodriguez, but that still hasn't ceased speculation surrounding the latter's online activity because of the country's laws on clothing and social media posts. Almost inevitably, that has led to talk of the Argentina-born Spanish model being unsettled in Saudi Arabia and wanting to return to Europe.

• 'The not-so-happy life he's living'

  Brazil legend Rivaldo recently questioned Ronaldo's decision to join Al-Nassr, claiming that "sometimes players are fooled by the big contracts they sign in Saudi Arabia".

  "But then life there is more closed and soccer is not always as easy as they expect," the World Cup winner told . "Maybe he’s going through a period of disappointment and even reflection. Is the money he’s being paid to make up for the not-so-happy life he’s living right now?"

  Reports in Spain suggest that Real Madrid's all-time record goalscorer is not happy with the standard of infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, with claiming that he feels it is "very far from modern society". However, it would be unfair to portray Ronaldo's time in Saudi Arabia to date as a completely miserable experience.

  We've seen his family in the stands joyously celebrating a dramatic win over Al-Batin at the start of March, while Ronaldo himself was all smiles after twice receiving special cakes from his club, first for his birthday, and then for becoming the most-capped player in international football history. We also saw the Portuguese's playful side when he played the role of photographer during a team training session.

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• Flashes of his former self

  There have also undoubtedly been times when he's looked like he's enjoying his football again. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner may have been held scoreless in his first two competitive outings for Al-Nassr, but he was named the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month for February after scoring eight times in just four fixtures.

  With on rounds remaining, he's managed 14 goals in 19 matches, which is not too shabby, even if five of those strikes came from the penalty spot.

  There have also been flashes of the old turn of pace that used to leave defenders trailing in his wake, and even a goal from a free-kick.

  Of course, at other times, he's looked like exactly what he is: an ageing superstar struggling to connect with colleagues of inferior quality. "I swear to God," former Al-Nassr star Fahd Al-Huraifi wrote on Twitter, "I did not want Cristiano to come to the Al-Nassr while we still had Talisca, because if both players say 'Give me the ball to score', it's a disaster.

  "I love Ronaldo very much, I love his professionalism and respect, all of which are indisputable but… he is no longer able to dribble or rely on himself. He always wants an assist."

  Of course, that is precisely the kind of striker Ronaldo has had to become in order to prolong his incredible career. But it's also why agent Jorge Mendes was unable to find any elite European club for his former client last summer, leading to their bitter "divorce".

  Ronaldo believes he can still score goals at the very highest level – and why wouldn't he, given everything he's achieved in his career? But fellow United legend Eric Cantona is among those who feel that Ronaldo is struggling to accept that he no longer deserves to be a starter wherever he plays – which is what Erik ten Hag quickly concluded at Old Trafford earlier this season.

  "There are two types of veterans: those who want to play every game because they still think they’re 25 and those who realise they’re not 25 and are here to help young players, they know they won’t play every game, but they’re aware that they’ll have their moment," the Frenchman told .

  "There are players who help new players: [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic still does it with Milan, or [technical director] Paolo Maldini when he was a player at Milan. Ronaldo doesn’t realise he’s not 25 years old. He’s already older and doesn’t know that, instead of being unhappy about not having played all the time, he should accept the situation."

  Ronaldo appears unsuited to such a role, though. As he admitted himself, he struggled to get through the younger players during his second stint at United, thought that arguably says more about them than Ronaldo.