Manchester United made a splash in the summer transfer window and now have one of Europe’s brightest talents in their eyeline despite attention from the likes of Liverpool.

Manchester United look to the future under Ruben Amorim

From the sounds of things, the Red Devils are planning for the long-term under Ruben Amorim as the Portuguese boss looks to take forward a squad that has been streamlined in both age and in terms of personnel.

Undoubtedly, his start to the Premier League season has been mixed, coupled with a shock EFL Cup exit to Grimsby Town, but there have been some flickers of his style of play starting to gel after a bruising 2024/25 campaign.

Having to make some difficult calls at Old Trafford, Amorim’s decision to offload Andre Onana on loan to Trabzonspor has led to a change of the guard between the sticks, with Senne Lammens the man to challenge Altay Bayindir for the number one jersey.

Speaking about the decision to sign Lammens from Royal Antwerp, the former Sporting boss outlined that ‘potential’ was the main motivation behind his capture, something that appears to have also manifested itself in the additions of Benjamin Sesko and Diego Leon.

Amorim said: “We are really pleased, he is a goalkeeper with a lot of potential. We are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience, but we also have to look at the present with a focus on the future so it is a bit of both. He will be ready.”

With further signings set to be on the agenda in January, Manuel Ugarte may be someone who makes way at Manchester United, potentially paving the way for an exciting replacement from the continent.

Man Utd looking to beat Liverpool to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are looking to beat Liverpool to sign Lille central midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who will be able to leave the Ligue 1 outfit when he turns 18 years of age.

AC Milan are believed to be heavily interested in the France international. Meanwhile, the Red Devils alongside Arsenal and other keen suitors have taken in his performances this term, and INEOS have made it clear they don’t plan to back down in the race for his signature.

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Making a mark at senior level, Bouaddi has notched three assists in 57 appearances for his current employers, though he is able to move to clubs inside the European Union regardless of age, which may allow AC Milan to steal a march on their Premier League competitors.

Renowned for his technical ability in the engine room, the 17-year-old is set to be offered a new contract by Lille, though Manchester United will hope the lure of playing at Old Trafford is too much to refuse compared to other potential avenues.

Manchester City are enjoying their return after the international break, but could be set to allow a Pep Guardiola signing to leave the club despite the player in question only joining mere months ago.

Manchester City summer signings make instant impact

The transfer window has been and gone, leaving Manchester City hopeful they can start to build momentum as they look to reclaim the Premier League title from Liverpool.

Last weekend’s resounding victory over Manchester United will have restored belief after back-to-back top-flight defeats, and the introduction of Gianluigi Donnarumma to the fold has certainly provided an elevated level of assurance within the Citizens’ backline.

Impressing with his gigantic figure between the sticks, Peter Schmeichel admitted to Premier League Productions that he even tried to convince the Manchester City stopper to move to Old Trafford before his transfer to the blue side of the city materialised.

He said, detailing a previous encounter when he was at Paris Saint-Germain: “I asked my first question and he started to answer in Italian, and I had no clue! Over the last season I kept saying to him, ‘We want you at Man United.

“I did. So I went to him, ‘What are you doing here? You should be in the other goal (for United),’ but he said, ‘I’m very, very happy here.’ He showed it, he gave it to the team today, didn’t he.”

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Little did Schmeichel know that Donnarumma would immediately be installed as Guardiola’s number one, but there are always ramifications that come with new signings being made.

Now, the Citizens could be willing to offload one of their summer additions in a surprise move that will shock many supporters.

James Trafford could make Man City loan exit

According to TBR, Man City could allow James Trafford to leave on loan in January to help keep his hopes of making Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad alive, given Donnarumma has become Guardiola’s preferred stopper.

The £50,000 per week earner has fallen down the pecking order, something that is further complicated by Stefan Ortega remaining at the club, and he could be permitted a temporary exit after joining for £27 million from Burnley.

Trafford, who himself is open to a loan move away, has started three of Manchester City’s opening four Premier League matches, keeping a clean sheet against Wolverhampton Wanderers, followed by less convincing performances against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Nevertheless, he is a fine talent who also courted attention from Newcastle United during the summer before settling on a move back to the club where it all started.

Now, he needs minutes to keep his hopes of being under contention with England alive, and he is unlikely to be short of suitors once the January window opens.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was a dealt a significant blow last weekend after in-form summer signing Noni Madueke injured his knee in the 1-1 draw with Man City on Sunday, meaning he could now miss up to eight weeks.

Noni Madueke set to miss at least 10 Arsenal games after injury

The 23-year-old hadn’t managed a goal or assist in Gunners colours prior to his lay-off, but it’s safe to say Madueke has been Andrea Berta’s most impressive summer coup thus far alongside young defender Cristhian Mosquera.

While Mosquera seriously impressed in William Saliba’s absence, Madueke was being a menace for full-backs in the attacking areas – with his burst of pace, trickery and inventiveness in the final third showing exactly why Arsenal splashed £52 million on his signature.

There were huge question marks aimed at Arteta and Berta’s decision to sign the England international after a mixed spell at Chelsea, including from Gary Neville, but the Sky Sports pundit is now among critics to admit they were wrong.

The ex-Eredivisie sensation could have hardly asked for a better start to life at the Emirates Stadium, putting the ‘#NotToMadueke’ movement firmly to rights, but he’s now set to miss a host of crucial games for Arsenal.

Madueke managed to avoid an ACL tear, which in itself is excellent news. However, the winger could be out for a maximum of two months and a minimum of six weeks, meaning he won’t be available for at least 10 games.

Port Vale (away)

September 24

Carabao Cup

Newcastle (away)

September 28

Premier League

Olympiacos (home)

October 1

Champions League

West Ham (home)

October 4

Premier League

Fulham (away)

October 18

Premier League

Atletico Madrid (home)

October 21

Champions League

Crystal Palace (home)

October 26

Premier League

Burnley (away)

November 1

Premier League

Slavia Prague (away)

November 4

Champions League

Sunderland (away)

November 8

Premier League

There is a chance Madueke will be back for the North London derby against Tottenham in November, and Arteta will be optimistic that is indeed the case as he seeks to end Arsenal’s two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal also without Piero Hincapie after groin injury

Madueke isn’t the only summer signing with fitness issues either, with Arteta now confirming that defender Piero Hincapie has picked up a groin injury.

The Ecuador international was a surprise absentee from Arsenal’s matchday squad against City, and their manager has shared why.

The 23-year-old was signed with Mosquera as a quality back-up for Saliba and Gabriel, not to mention a defender who can play full-back as well.

Hincapie is highly-rated after two impressive seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, and was a regular in Xabi Alonso’s famous, domestically unbeaten double-winning side from 2024.

Hincapie has barely played since joining from Leverkusen on loan with a £45 million option to buy, so he’ll be looking to convince Berta he’s worthy of the purchase option at the earliest opportunity once fit and available.

If Steven Smith returns to the XI for the second Test against West Indies, Josh Inglis is likely to make way from the playing group

Andrew McGlashan29-Jun-20252:25

Webster’s 63 steadies Australia

Steven Smith is on track to be fit for Australia’s second Test against West Indies in Grenada after the compound dislocation he suffered against South Africa at Lord’s during the World Test Championship final.Smith has spent the last week in New York where he has had a net against a tennis ball and an “incredi-ball” (a soft cricket ball) and rejoined the squad in Barbados on Saturday evening following their three-day victory in the opening Test.He still needs to tick off a few protocols with the medical staff, with Tuesday’s training session in Grenada likely to be the key day, but head coach Andrew McDonald expected him to be ready to return at No. 4, which is likely to see Josh Inglis drop out of the XI.Related

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“It’s really about functionality around the finger rather than anything else,” McDonald said. “There’ll be no risk to long-term health of that finger. He’ll return and I think it’s likely he’ll play. Leading into the next game, he’ll have the main session two days out.”He’ll [also] train the day before [the match]. If that all goes well, then I’d expect Steve to resume at No. 4.”When Smith suffered the injury, dropping a catch offered by Temba Bavuma on the third day at Lord’s, he was told he would need to wear a splint for eight weeks. He won’t be able to field in the slips on his return and will need to patrol the outfield somewhere, which may need some management given the problems he has had with his elbow.While there is no question that Smith, if fit, will resume his role at No. 4 the problems at the top of Australia’s order have prompted the debate about whether he should resume the No. 3 job to allow Cameron Green to come in a position lower.”In terms of why we see him as No. 4, I think we’ve settled on that,” McDonald said. “We could slide him up higher if we wanted to. He’s been excellent at number three. But I think if you look at the last 12 months at No. 4 and his ability to stabilise that position, two down, arguably our greatest batter, we want to keep him at four and build around that rather than potentially risking too many moves in the order.”Knowing that Smith may only miss the first Test, McDonald was also keen not to create further uncertainty in the batting order which is why Travis Head has not moved from his No. 5 position despite being a senior player.Marnus Labuschagne could be released from the squad if Steven Smith is available•Getty Images

Should Smith be available for the remainder of the series, there is a possibility that Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped for the first time in the format since 2019 ahead of the first Test, may be released from the squad in order to play some cricket, either for Glamorgan or in the Australia A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin, which starts next month. The first four-day game of the ‘A’ series begins on July 13, which would run concurrently with the final Test in Jamacia.”If we do have a surfeit of batters then we’ll explore match opportunities for sure,” McDonald said. “I think we’ve done that with the fast bowlers over time. We’ve sent Scott Boland back from India. So if we feel as though we’re carrying too many, we’ll look for game time.”[But] it’s a long way for players to get here as well. If we release someone and then someone has to come in late, then it’s a big journey. So we’ve just got to balance that out.”However, McDonald indicated that Labuschagne was set to be part of the ODI squad that will face South Africa in the Top End during August.”He’s important in our one-day structure,” he said. “[With] Steve Smith’s recent retirement, Glenn Maxwell retiring as well. We don’t want to compromise one-day cricket in the build towards 2027.”

Jasprit Bumrah resumed Test cricket from where he had left off in Australia with a stress reaction in the already operated-on back: carrying the India attack and looking the most threatening bowler on the park. While he was away, there was concern aplenty if Bumrah had been bowled into the ground and how well he would be able to return from the injury.While Bumrah has kept his medical status close to his and his inner circle’s chest, experts felt another such injury could prove to be the last one for his Test career. The headlines haven’t impressed Bumrah. “I can’t control what people write,” he said. “Nor am I trying to teach people what to write and what not to write about me. Everybody is free to write what they want. I understand cricket is very popular in our country, and I understand that using my name in the headline boosts the viewership. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me. Because if I let it get into my head, I will start believing it. I need my beliefs and my ways to dictate how I go. Not the way others want me to play.”I always wanted to play for India. I played for India on my belief. I have played every format on my belief. I have always heard ‘no’ from people. First they said ‘you won’t be able to play’; then they said ‘you will last only six months’; then they said ‘you will last only eight months’, and just like that I have spent ten years in international cricket listening to all this. I have played the IPL for 12-13 years.Related

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“Even now people keep saying this injury will be it. Keep waiting, I will not think about that. I will keep doing my work. Every three-four months there will be headlines but, let’s see, I will play till it is in my destiny. I prepare my best, and leave the rest to god. Whatever [abundance or good fortune] god has given me, I try to carry it forward, and try to take Indian cricket forward.”The last injury does seem to have changed his outlook towards how much he should push himself. He has already informed the team management he will not be available for all the Tests this series. That, he says, is why he opted out of captaincy.Given that it had been announced he would be playing only three Tests, it could increase the sense of urgency around these games – because he will have fewer days to make an impact in. Not for Bumrah. “You don’t look at what is going to happen in the future,” Bumrah said. “You are there in the ground at that moment. You have to do a job. So at that moment I’m trying to assess the wicket. I’m trying to assess what is happening, what are my options, how is the wicket behaving, who’s the batter there, what is he thinking, how do I outsmart him or what do I do? I look at all of those things at that moment. I was not thinking about what will happen or how many games I will play. At this moment, focusing on the Test match. When the match is over, think about all these permutations and combinations.”The expectations, he said, can be extra baggage, which he doesn’t want to carry. “I ask myself this question at night, did I give my absolute best?” Bumrah said. “If the answer is yes, I quietly go to sleep.”

After making a slow start in front of goal this season, Newcastle United are reportedly ready to launch a 2026 move to sign a £40m+ striker who just humiliated Real Madrid.

Newcastle's goalscoring problem

It’s only natural that Newcastle are struggling in front of goal. They just lost one of the best strikers in the Premier League for a record deal in Alexander Isak. Replacing the Swede’s output was never going to be an easy task, but replacing his underrated creativity has so far proven to be even tougher.

Whilst Nick Woltemade has so far ticked the box for goals on his own – scoring three goals in his first four Premier League games – the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga have still struggled to contribute around him.

Minutes

392

269

329

Goals

3

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

In total, Newcastle have scored six Premier League goals. Only Nottingham Forest and bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers have managed less and there’s no denying that it’s a problem that Eddie Howe must solve.

That said, the manager is far from panicking, having told reporters earlier this season: “I’m excited by the team we can be. We have certainly got things to learn about each other and formulas to try and generate that we know will work.

“The biggest thing is the foundation is solid. The team’s playing at strength, but we’re just missing that X-factor that I think will come. With the players that we have, some are guaranteed goals and have done that historically.”

What could certainly help find that “X-factor” is the January transfer window. After such a chaotic summer, the Magpies are reportedly ready to go again in the hope of boosting their attacking options even further this winter.

Newcastle readying Sorloth offer

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are now readying an offer to sign Alexander Sorloth from Real Madrid in a deal worth €50m (£44m). The Atletico Madrid forward has started just three La Liga games so far this season and may be forced to look elsewhere for consistent game time in the near future.

Newcastle should be well aware of the 29-year-old’s situation after sending scouts to watch him in action against Real Madrid as he scored the equalising goal in a 5-2 thrashing of Atletico’s rivals.

Whether Diego Simeone and the Atletico sanction Sortloth’s exit in 2026 is the big question.

The iconic manager was full of praise for the forward when he scored the fastest hat-trick in La Liga history against Real Sociedad last season, saying: “I was very happy with the team’s first half in general.

“Alex, of course, is a whole different matter. He had a fantastic night, especially those first 45 minutes, where he decisively finished every ball that came his way.”

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If there is a chance for Newcastle, then turning towards Sorloth wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s a proven striker at the top level these days and has unfinished business in the Premier League after previous struggles at Crystal Palace.

While they have yet to win anything, Arsenal now have arguably the best squad in the Premier League.

Whether it’s the outrageously stacked defence, the midfield or up top, Mikel Arteta has an abundance of talent to pick from every week, and his second-string side would probably give some teams a good game.

Yet, even with the embarrassment of riches at his disposal, most fans and pundits alike would agree that his best and most important player remains Bukayo Saka.

Yet, even so, the manager should be looking to take the Englishman out of the lineup for the Champions League game against Olympiacos.

Why Saka should be dropped

Now, there is, of course, a compelling argument that Arsenal should field their best players in a European game like this.

Chalkboard

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

However, even though that’s a totally valid point of view, and one that most might hold, there are a few reasons why Saka should be dropped.

First and foremost, Arteta needs to protect the Hale End superstar from being overplayed and picking up any more injuries.

After all, he missed almost four months of action due to hamstring surgery last season, and then missed a few weeks earlier this year due to an injury to his other hamstring.

Moreover, since returning from his recent setback, the 24-year-old “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has already made three appearances, including two starts in the last two games.

In other words, he’s already had the chance to regain a significant amount of match sharpness and therefore doesn’t need to start a third game in seven days.

Second, if the North Londoners were playing a title rival or one of the real big boys in Europe, then there would be an argument to risk another start given his importance to the team.

However, without being disrespectful, Olympiacos are one of the easier opponents the Gunners will face this season, with UEFA ranking them 37th in their coefficients, behind the likes of Bodo/Glimt, PSV Eindhoven and Club Brugge.

Finally, there is also no need to play Saka, as Arteta already has the perfect option to start in his stead, and no, it’s not Max Dowman.

The Arsenal star who should start ahead of Saka

There will be plenty of fans who want to see Dowman come in from the start against Olympiacos, and while there is undoubtedly an argument to throw him in the deep end, it might be a little too much too soon.

Especially when Arteta already has the perfect option to start in Saka and the 15-year-old’s place: Ethan Nwaneri.

Speaking about him during the early stages of Nwaneri’s development, Mikel Arteta noted that the teenager is “a little bit like Jack Wilshere,” and that may suggest why he’s been getting more game time in the middle of the park recently.

That looks likely to be his long-term position, but it would make perfect sense to start the Hale Ender off the right against the Greek outfit.

The most significant argument for doing so is that the 18-year-old dynamo already has a decent amount of experience playing out there and put up some good numbers when doing so last season.

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the dynamic gem scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.

Nwaneri in 24/25
Appearances	37
Minutes	1378′
Goals	9
Assists	2
Goal Involvements per Match	0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement	125.27′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In other words, the manager can rest assured that starting the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, would not be detrimental to the side’s attacking output.

Another reason the Spaniard should be playing academy product is that, now that he has been tied down to a long-term contract, he needs to be given ample opportunities to play first-team football and continue his impressive development.

So, while a start against Newcastle United, for example, might be too risky, the same cannot really be said about a European fixture in which the Gunners are big favourites.

Ultimately, Saka needs to be rested and protected to ensure he does not suffer another injury, and though Dowman should feature against Olympiacos, it should be Nwaneri who starts the game off the right.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 1, 2025

The 2024/25 campaign was undoubtedly one of the worst in Manchester United’s history, with the Red Devils registering their lowest-ever Premier League finish under Ruben Amorim.

His side ended the year in a measly 15th place, just a handful of spots above the relegation zone, but it didn’t stop Bruno Fernandes from impressing within attacking areas.

The 31-year-old registered a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – certainly preventing the side from being dragged into a relegation battle.

Such a year was one of the best of his career at Old Trafford, with the Portuguese international often being the go-to man to get them out of trouble, which is something needed in a club captain.

However, he’s often had to revert to operating in an unfamiliar number eight role since Amorim took the reins last November – a decision that has proved a huge talking point in recent months.

The real question is, where is Fernandes best suited and how effective are the team as a whole depending on which role he operates in?

The effect of Bruno playing in the #8 compared to the #10

Since Amorim’s appointment, Bruno has been named in the starting eleven on 34 occasions in the Premier League – missing a couple due to suspension or being rested ahead of the Europa League.

The Red Devils have lost 50% of their games with the 31-year-old operating in a deeper position, compared to just 37.5% when he started in his natural position.

Such a record could indicate that Amorim’s side have often lacked creativity in attacking areas – something which is backed up by the goalscoring figures.

In such a period, United averaged just 1.06 goals per 90 when Bruno featured deeper, whilst posting 1.3 per 90 when operating further forward – further backing up his incredible ability to create carnage.

The only benefit of the former Sporting star operating deeper is the goals conceded tally, letting in 0.19 goals fewer when playing in one of the two box-to-box roles.

All the aforementioned figures showcase how important the captain is in forward areas, with Amorim needing to utilise him in such an area as a result.

However, that could take away the minutes of one other player in the process, leaving the manager with a huge conundrum if he is to save his job at Old Trafford.

The United star who’s becoming a Bruno-type player at United

During the recent summer transfer window, the United hierarchy handed Amorim a £200m budget to make the changes he required to his squad after the dismal 2024/25 campaign.

He decided to use the majority of the funds within the forward areas, landing two players to operate in the number ten positions of his infamous 3-4-2-1 system.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were the players to fill such roles, as seen by the majority of the outings in recent months following their respective moves to Old Trafford.

The latter of the duo has missed some action due to a hamstring injury, which has handed Bruno the opportunity to feature in his preferred role – but such chances have been few and far between.

However, he’s not alone in being forced to feature in another position, with Amad Diallo similar to Bruno in having to make do with minutes in other areas of the pitch.

The Ivorian joined the Red Devils back in the winter window of 2021, arriving from Italian side Atalanta as a right-sided winger with huge potential to explode in England’s top-flight.

Given the difference in system, the 23-year-old has been forced to operate in either a number ten role or a right-wing back position over the last couple of months.

Amad, who “plays football like a kid” as described by Gary Neville, has been questioned over his best position, but it’s clear that he’s more suited to a wing-back role.

His best display of the 2024/25 campaign came at Old Trafford, where he scored a hat-trick against Southampton – doing so whilst operating in a somewhat deeper position.

Games played

26

Goals & assists

14

Pass accuracy

86%

Shots taken

2.6

Chances created

2.4

Successful dribbles

2.1

Touches in opposition box

7.2

It’s also allowed him to bring out his creativity, as seen by the 4-0 triumph against Everton, subsequently registering two assists and claiming the Man of the Match award.

The similarities between him and Bruno are there for all to see, with both needing to adapt their games in recent times to make an impact within Amorim’s philosophy.

Both have popped up with key contributions in numerous matches, undoubtedly making them two players who will be vital if the club are to return to their former glory in the near future.

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There was no shortage of stars on show as the Lionesses took to the pitch for Tuesday's clash with an Australia side boasting plenty of household names of their own. Be it the likes of Lucy Bronze, Ella Toone, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo in the home colours, or Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley representing the visitors, there was top-class talent all over the park. And yet, it was a relatively unknown 21-year-old by the name of Lucia Kendall who stole the show.

Many of those who watched the action unfold at Pride Park will not have been familiar with Kendall prior to Tuesday. After all, the midfielder had only just earned her first senior call-up for October's friendlies that were scheduled to celebrate the summer's Euros success. Even regular watchers of the Women's Super League might not have come across Kendall just yet, given she is only a few games into her first season in the top-flight.

But Kendall will have put herself on many more radars now after a Player of the Match display in the biggest game of her career to date. "I had hoped, maybe," Sarina Wiegman said afterwards, asked if she was surprised at how comfortable the debutante looked. "Expected? You never know exactly what you can expect in the first game. I just wanted her to go out there and play and enjoy herself. I think that's what she did."

GettyWhere it all began

A talented cricketer in her youth as well as a promising footballer, Kendall joined Southampton at the age of 11 and would make her first-team debut five years later, starting a journey that would see her become a key player for the Saints during their rise up the leagues. The midfielder scored in the victory over Portsmouth which secured the National League title, bagged a brace a week later in the National League Cup final as Southampton sealed a double and was a stand-out performer in the play-off win over Wolves the following month, as the club achieved promotion to the second-tier at the end of a monumental 2021-22 season.

Kendall took to that new challenge like a duck to water. Her performance level went up a notch in the Women's Championship, now rebranded as WSL 2, and Aston Villa took real notice, snapping the young midfielder up on a free transfer upon the expiry of her Southampton contract back in the summer. Having been trusted consistently on the south coast, Natalia Arroyo, her new head coach, has continued to rely on her in the Midlands, too, with Kendall starting all of Villa's last four games before the international break.

"I'm really grateful for the level of trust that she's shown in me," the 21-year-old said of Arroyo last week. “I'm a young player in the team and so even the first start that I was given at the Emirates Stadium, not every manager would throw you in the deep end like that. But I was really grateful for that opportunity and to be able to show what I can do and I feel that trust from her.

"Being at Southampton for so long, I've played regular senior football from when I was 16, and I think that's given me a really good step. The consistent trust that they've shown in me as a player and belief, and to be able to make that next step, I felt like I was ready for it."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break

Kendall's steady progress at club level has been mirrored at national team level, too. She's played in essentially every age group with England, making the jump up to the Under-23s at the end of 2023 when she was still just 19 years old. The strong communication and aligned approach within the pathway then helped her make that final step into the senior side this month. The Lionesses have needed to build out the depth in their midfield for a while now, and Kendall, whose start to the new club season has been praised by Wiegman, provided a potential option to help with that.

"It's amazing to see the players go through [the pathway]," Emma Coates, head coach of the U23s, said last week. "I worked with Lucia back in the U18s and U19s. Between myself and Gemma [Davies, U23s assistant], we've probably spent the last four or five years working with her. Granted, it's a very small proportion of time that we spend with her, but to just be part of her journey and then see her make that step across is brilliant.

"We were at St George's Park the other day and I was chatting with Sarina, seeing how she's settling in, how she getting on, and the feedback has been positive. Lucia had a big smile on her face. It's a really nice moment and it's great for the [other U23] players to see as well."

Getty ImagesHow it's going

It all culminated in her England debut on Tuesday and an impressive debut at that. Kendall completed 50 of her 51 attempted passes on the night, created a whopping five chances and was very unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, hitting the woodwork with one opportunity before just not getting the connection she'd have liked on another.

"It was amazing, to be honest," she told afterwards. "I felt at home. The girls were so easy to play with. You've got world-class players on that pitch, so it was easy to fit in. When I was a little girl you couldn't even dream of that, to be able to go out there to a sell-out crowd, playing with a team that had just gone and won back-to-back Euros. It was really special."

To be presented with her Player of the Match award by Bronze at full-time was the cherry on the cake for someone whose performance level may have surprised many, but not Wiegman.

"To be honest, I was not really surprised because she has done so well with Aston Villa in the first part of the season," the Lionesses boss remarked in her post-match press conference. "She came into our environment and straight away you saw her understanding of the game, her reading of the game and she was connecting with players very quickly and very well. Also, she keeps things very simple. Well, it looks simple. It's not simple."

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Getty ImagesBiggest strengths

Kendall's confidence in possession is something that stands out immediately. "She's constantly wanted the ball, constantly showing, even in her own half," Ian Wright noted on punditry for on Tuesday. She's got good reason to have that belief in herself, too, given how good she is on the ball. That was evident in her completing all-but one pass in that win over Australia and creating so many chances.

That all-roundedness she is able to showcase in possession is also a consequence of the various midfield positions she has played in her career. Kendall is able to be so confident in picking the ball up in dangerous, defensive areas because she's played that holding role and had to do that, and she's able to be just as confident threading a pass through for her centre-forward because she's also played as a No.8 and a No.10.

That experience means she has picked up some of the other traits associated with each, too. She's able to make those late midfield runs into the box, she's strong and stands her ground in her duels and she's able to identify where the pockets of space are for her to pick up and cause problems for the opponent.

"I’d like to say that I can play any of those three roles, probably more naturally a little bit more defensive, but I want to be able to play all three positions in that midfield," she noted last week.

Liverpool have been ‘found out’. At least, that’s what some of the discourse around the Premier League champions’ wobbly start to the season would tell you.

Curiously, for all the noise around Liverpool’s struggles, they sit just one point behind first-place Arsenal after losing back-to-back matches in the division. Their bitter defeat at Galatasaray in the Champions League need not be more than an outlier.

But there’s no question that Arne Slot and FSG have work to do. The Reds lack fluency and verve, and after a record-breaking summer of spending, concerns are justified.

But, conversely, teething problems are not abnormal and nor are they an indicator of the players’ chances of long-term success at Anfield.

But improvements, nonetheless, are needed going forward.

Liverpool's new-look frontline

Liverpool were beaten at Stamford Bridge before the October international break. Cody Gakpo cancelled out Moises Caicedo’s thumping first-half strike, but Slot’s side lacked coherence and confidence in the closing stages and were caught out at the flickering embers by young Estevao Willian.

Tactically, the problems run through the squad, but the frontline still haven’t performed to their usual, expected standard, and the toils of Mohamed Salah serve as the bleak representation of that.

Thus far, £69m striker Hugo Ekitike is the only one who can hold his head high, with Florian Wirtz in particular coming under scrutiny for his struggles since completing a record £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen, since trumped by new teammate Alexander Isak.

Liverpool’s Frontline in 2025/26

Player

Apps

Goals (assists)

Hugo Ekitike

10

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

10

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Cody Gakpo

10

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

6

1 (1)

Florian Wirtz

9

0 (1)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

Data via Transfermarkt

With so much upheaval having taken place, there’s a sense of ruefulness across the fanbase concerning the deal to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich before the penultimate year of his contract.

The reality is not so simple, but it’s frustrating to watch the 28-year-old do so well in Germany nonetheless.

Liverpool may regret selling Luis Diaz

Replacing Sadio Mane down the left flank at Liverpool was always going to be a tall order, but Diaz gave it a good go across his three-and-a-half years on Merseyside.

Arriving from Porto in January 2022, the Colombian international. He won the Premier League, two Carabao Cups and the FA Cup during his time in England.

Last season, having posted 17 goals and eight assists across the 2024/25 campaign, Diaz was instrumental for Slot, filling in at centre-forward as well as his natural left-sided attacking role.

Now plying his craft for Bayern in the Bundesliga, Diaz has started off this new chapter in fine fashion, scoring six goals and assisting four more across all competitions so far. Terrific on the ball and scarily dynamic in attack, former Barcelona boss Xavi has hailed him as a “world-class footballer” with “blistering speed”.

Ten goal involvements far eclipse that of Slot’s Liverpool crop, and while the Premier League typically proves more difficult than other divisions to unleash prolific performances on opponents with such consistency, it’s still evidence that Liverpool perhaps jumped the gun with his sale.

Liverpool’s vision is a bold one, and sporting director Richard Hughes has certainly recruited first-team stars this summer with the potential to see the club dominate for many years to come.

But Diaz was an immense performer last season, ebbing and flowing in front of goal but always playing with focus and tenacity. He won the Premier League.

Given the early-season issues Slot has faced, you wonder whether he might miss the Colombian’s electric presence, zipping around the final third.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 11, 2025