Yet more dropped points for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, although, on this occasion, at least Barry Ferguson’s men didn’t lose.

On Sunday, the Gers seemed set for yet another defeat, 2-0 down against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and a man down too.

However, Hamza Igamane halved the deficit immediately after half time before, right at the death, after Cyriel Dessers had thwacked the post, Ianis Hagi curled home a stunning equaliser with, virtually, the last kick of the afternoon.

During Sky Sports’ coverage, Rangers legend Kris Boyd, rather jokingly, exclaimed that the title race is still on, with the Light Blues now 15 points behind Celtic with five games to go, albeit their goal difference is 42 inferior.

One player in particular came in for scathing criticism for his performance at Pittodrie.

Yet another Rangers red card

40 minutes into Sunday’s visit to Aberdeen, Ross McCausland was sent off for a second bookable offense, making a very rash challenge on Topi Keskinen.

This came just three days after Robin Pröpper was dismissed only 12 minutes into their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Club Bilbao, with Barry Ferguson’s side doing incredibly well to hold on for a goalless draw given the circumstances.

This is the Gers’ fifth red card of the campaign, after Jefté vs Dynamo Kyiv, Mohamed Diomandé vs Dundee United and Hagi vs St Johnstone, so let’s see how that compares to previous seasons.

As the table shows, one more sending off for Rangers this season would be their highest amount in a single campaign since 2018/19 when, mind-bogglingly, they collected 12, albeit five of which were brandished in the direction of a certain Alfredo Morelos.

Rangers number of red cards per season

Season

Red cards

2024/25

5

2023/24

5

2022/23

3

2021/22

4

2020/21

2

2019/20

4

2018/19

12

2017/18

6

2016/17

4

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

However, it was not the dismissed McCausland who came in for the most criticism on Sunday.

Rangers star must be dropped after early substitution

Fair to say, Danilo has not lived up to expectations since arriving at Rangers from Feyenoord two years ago.

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However, his display at Pittodrie must surely be one of his worst in red, white and blue, as these statistics outline.

Danilo’s performance vs Aberdeen

Statistics

Danilo

Match rank

Minutes

45

N/A

Shots

0

12th

Dribbles attempted

3

5th

Dribbles successful

0

N/A

Possession lost

9

14th

Duels lost

7

6th

SofaScore rating

6.5

23rd

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore

The fact Danilo lost the ball nine times in just 45 minutes is very concerning, having no shots, successfully completing no dribbles, and winning only four of 11 duels.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Kris Boyd exclaimed, “Danilo. £5m… WOW!”, adding “some of these Rangers players should never be seen again”, labeling the team’s first half performance “lethargic” and “embarrassing”.

Danilo has so far scored just 12 goals in 43 Rangers appearances, which is even more concerning considering there have been 68 matches during this period that he has not featured in, either due to injury or simply because he hasn’t been selected.

Thus, Ferguson is not likely to give the Brazilian forward any minutes against Athletic Club at San Mamés on Thursday, and his days as a Rangers player might be numbered.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 10, 2025

Four wins on the trot in the Premier League – the last of which came resoundingly against Manchester United – have put Newcastle United in a strong position as they look to return to the Champions League.

Winning at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening would certainly help to consolidate their position, one point behind third-place Nottingham Forest while holding a game in hand.

The chance to make it count has arrived, but Oliver Glasner’s Palace have been in fine fettle of late and boast a box of dangers that Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones – Eddie Howe is absent, recuperating from pneumonia – will need to ensure do not spring a trap at St. James’ Park.

24/25

Premier League (A)

0-0 draw

23/24

Premier League (A)

2-0 loss

23/24

Premier League (H)

4-0 win

22/23

Premier League (A)

0-0 draw

22/23

Carabao Cup (H)

0-0 (3-2 p.) win

Four of the past 14 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have been goalless draws, but with such impressive attacking armouries, you feel that this evening-lit fixture could bring the fireworks.

Newcastle team news pre-Crystal Palace

Centre-backs Jamal Lascelles and Sven Botman are still sidelined, with left-back Lewis Hall also not expected back before the end of the season.

Tindall is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the team that thrashed the Red Devils on Sunday, but one or two tweaks could be enforced.

Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali should reprise their places in midfield, arguably the finest central trio in the Premier League right now.

However, despite his recent purple patch, there might be just cause for Harvey Barnes to return to the bench for this one. Here’s why.

Why Tindall should drop Harvey Barnes

Barnes put on a second-half clinic to thwart Man United and take his haul, impressively, to eight goals and three assists from just ten Premier League starts this season.

With three in his past two, the 27-year-old is riding the crest of a wave, his clinical edge coming up trumps with Alexander Isak four top-flight games without a goal and Anthony Gordon only returning off the bench on Sunday after his red card suspension.

However, Gordon is now back and offers a more dynamic threat. Given the Eagles’ shakiness during their 5-2 thrashing by Man City at the weekend, Gordon’s multi-skilled approach could be the best way to funnel through to Isak while upholding a balanced attacking threat.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Jacob Murphy, on that note, is effectively undroppable on the right. So consistent. So cool. So collected.

With a return of nine goals and seven assists across all competitions this season, Gordon knows he could do better in that regard. But the England international brings so much more than direct goal involvements.

As per Sofascore, he’s averaged 1.9 key passes and won 4.7 duels per Premier League game this term, making good on the self-said proclamation that he’s a “nightmare for anyone” he plays against.

With this extra match wedged into Newcastle’s run-in, shuffling the pack would be a good way to keep things fresh and maintain form. Saturday evening, after all, brings an away trip to CL-chasing rivals Aston Villa.

Gordon has been an immense part of the Magpies’ rise, and while Palace’s Eagles are flying high themselves, adding Gordon to the starting line-up would be the perfect way to overwhelm a backline that has shown its chinks in recent games.

Their own Yamal: Newcastle join race to sign "electrifying" £35m star

Newcastle have their eyes on one of the finest talents in Europe ahead of the summer.

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 15, 2025

Ladies and gentlemen, Bukayo Saka is back. Wow, what a sight that was. Three months Arsenal fans have had to stand by to watch him kick a ball again and boy was it worth the wait.

The club’s heralded number 7 hasn’t been seen since sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on 21st December and since then, the Gunners’ title challenge has been extinguished swiftly.

Yet, there is still hope for Arsenal’s season. Despite their 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening, a game Saka scored in, they are unlikely to win the Premier League title.

However, the winger’s return is timely with Real Madrid to look forward to in just under a week’s time in the Champions League.

For once, Mikel Arteta has a bunch of positives to swoon over. That hasn’t been said too often about the club’s season now has it?

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

The biggest positives from Arsenal's win over Fulham

Oh Saka, you little beauty. It’s been a hellish 12 week period for Arsenal since the Englishman took to the field but he is back and back with a bang.

He had only been on the field for seven minutes before he found the net. It wasn’t in classic Saka fashion but it raised the roof off the Emirates Stadium nonetheless.

Mikel Merino moved into the left channel and swung in a ball that was guided towards Saka with remarkable skill and audacity by Gabriel Martinelli.

The returning hero was just inches out from goal and couldn’t miss, heading the ball past former Gunner Bernd Leno.

Saka wasn’t the only positive either, far from it. The aforementioned Merino and Martinelli were both in top form, the former scoring the game’s opening goal and the latter unfortunate not to leave proceedings with a goal to his name as well.

Minutes played

24

Touches

13

Accurate passes

7/8 (88%)

Key passes

0

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

1/3

Was fouled

x1

The Brazilian was a constant livewire, not just providing the assist for Saka’s goal, a game-winning strike, but he also found the back of the net himself, albeit it was ruled out for offside.

Nonetheless, it was phenomenal to see the winger back at top speed. He was a constant nuisance throughout, terrorising Fulham’s Timothy Castagne with a performance that was remeniscent of 2022/23 Martinelli.

He left the field having had three shots, completed two dribbles and produced five key passes.

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Beyond Saka’s incredible return, the biggest positive that aside was perhaps the performance of the club’s makeshift centre-forward.

Arsenal have found their modern-day Olivier Giroud

When Gabriel Jesus went down with an injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United, there was a collective panic. But…it was alright…they were going to strengthen in the January transfer window. Famous last words and all that.

Arsenal did not strengthen. Their reward? A season-ending injury for Kai Havertz too.

Since then, Arteta has preferred to field the aforementioned Merino as his out and out centre-forward and it’s had mixed success.

Truth be told, the £28m summer arrival has done an admiral job. He’s scored five goals in eight games as a striker. Had he started the campaign as the club’s number 9, he’d on for a 23-goal season. Not bad indeed.

Unlike many others during the club’s injury-hit season, he’s stepped up big time and in the words of Arsenal writer Oli Price Bates, is “not getting enough credit for his performances.”

Another game came and went against Fulham where the Spaniard made quite the impression. His goal was a scruffy finish, finding the net via a deflection but it was a crucial goal all the same.

It’s not the first time the former Real Sociedad man has come up trumps, notably scoring that brace off the bench in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.

Since then, he’s been much-maligned, rather in the same way as a certain Olivier Giroud. Now, there are clear differences between the two. Giroud was a direct centre-forward first and foremost.

However, there are specific similarities in the way the two play the game. The Frenchman scored some beautiful goals but he always had quite an awkward play style, a technique that looked rather awkward. At the same time, his left peg was certainly pretty special.

Those traits can certainly be applied to Merino too. He’s not the most technically elegant – he’s a bit scruffy and awkward like Giroud. He’s also pretty underappreciated and underrated. That’s not to mention their ability to act as target men and link play too.

Minutes played

90

Touches

28

Accurate passes

14/16 (88%)

Key passes

1

Shots

2

Shots on target

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Duels won

3/9

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Against Fulham, the Spain international certainly showcased that. He scored the opening goal and went on to complete 88% of his passes and make a key pass too. The 28-year-old was subsequently handed an 8/10 player rating by GOAL.

Merino’s future is certainly not in the final third but credit where credit is due, he’s been a huge servant to Arteta in the back end of this unforgiving season for Arsenal.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 30, 2025

Liverpool’s summer transfer window will be crucial if they are to build on the success endured by Arne Slot in his first season in charge of the side at Anfield.

The Dutchman looks set to claim the Premier League title at the first attempt, but additions will be needed if he is to replicate such a feat in 2025/26.

Numerous players are expected to depart the Reds during the off-season, needing to provide added depth to the squad, whilst also upgrading players who remain on Merseyside.

Darwin Núñez and Harvey Elliott have both already been touted with a summer move, with any deals likely to hand the manager added funds to make improvements to his side.

It appears as though he’s wasted no time in targeting reinforcements, with one player emerging as a huge target ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool make contact to land £50m PL star

According to The Athletic, Liverpool have made contact with Bournemouth ahead of a summer deal to land centre-back Dean Huijsen, but face serious competition for his signature.

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United are all in the race to land the 19-year-old who’s massively impressed for the Cherries in 2024/25.

He’s notched 25 Premier League appearances to date, registering two goals and one assist, playing a vital role in their ambitions of securing European football under Andoni Iraola.

The report claims that the Reds’ hierarchy have already held meetings with the defender’s representatives over a move to Merseyside, with the Spaniard having a £50m release clause in his current contract.

Whilst it may seem a hefty sum for such a young talent, it would be a worthwhile investment, allowing Slot to land a player who could star at the heart of the backline for many years to come.

Why Huijsen would be a better signing than Kerkez for Liverpool

Over the last few weeks, Huijsen hasn’t been the only Bournemouth player touted with a move to join Liverpool, with Milos Kerkez strongly linked with a move to Slot’s side.

The Hungarian left-back has been subject to interest over £40m move to join the Reds, but it remains to be seen whether a deal will be completed this summer.

His talent is there for all to see, scoring twice and registering five assists in the Premier League this campaign, being a key part of the Cherries’ success under Iraola this year.

However, a move for Huijsen would undeniably be a better signing than Kerkez, especially considering the other sides also in the race for his services this window.

The Spanish international would be a perfect partner to current centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with any move allowing him to learn off the Dutchman and become the club’s leading defensive star down the line.

He’s already showcased his talent on the South Coast, outperforming Van Dijk in numerous key areas, further highlighting why he would be a better addition than the full-back.

Huijsen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered more progressive carries per 90 – showcasing his impressive ability on the ball, subsequently being able to fit into Slot’s possession-based system.

Games played

25

31

Goals & assists

3

2

Progressive carries

1.5

0.5

Tackles won

1.1

0.5

Blocks made

1.5

0.7

Interceptions made

2.2

1.6

Clearances made

6.9

5.1

The youngster has also thrived defensively, winning more tackles per 90, along with more interceptions – outperforming Van Dijk despite his tender age, highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be.

£50m would be a huge fee for such a young star, but in his short spell in England’s top flight, he’s shown how impressive he’s been, having all of the tools to improve further.

Given the vast amount of interest in his signature, the club’s hierarchy will have to work quickly to avoid missing out on him, undoubtedly making a huge mistake if they don’t pursue his services.

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Liverpool could be about to make another huge investment to partner Virgil van Dijk next season.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 10, 2025

Newcastle currently sit 6th in the Premier League, having played 29 matches so far, earning 50 points. The Magpies have a game in hand over the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, who currently sit fifth and fourth in the division at this stage.

After their EFL Cup victory, Eddie Howe will be looking for his side to finish the season strong, aiming for a UEFA Champions League qualification spot, as they look to return to the competition having not qualified last season, which would aid their plans to add more quality to the squad in the summer.

But securing Champions League football won’t only be important for attracting new players to the club, but also important to keeping their best players and building on top of their success this season, winning their first trophy together.

Alexander Isak's form for Newcastle

Newcastle signed Swedish striker Alexander Isak back in 2022 for a club-record fee of around £63m. Since then, the 25-year-old talisman has made 101 appearances for the Magpies, netting 59 times, providing nine assists and totaling 7,332 minutes played.

Isak is now valued at €100.00m (£85m) according to Transfermarkt, but reports have stated Newcastle will “demand” £150m to allow their star striker to depart in the summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool circling like sharks.

Whilst it seems Isak is very happy at the club, Newcastle will want to qualify for Champions League football to avoid any outside temptation for the striker to leave the club and one man who will be key to their top four aspirations is perhaps their best signing since Isak.

Newcastle's big game player

Newcastle signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, with the Italian joining the club for a fee of around £55m. The 24-year-old midfielder only managed 12 appearances in his debut season, spending the majority of the campaign out through suspension.

However, Tonali has been a revelation under Howe this season, moving from the number eight/box to box midfield position into the number six, playing as a more defensive midfielder, often orchestrating play from deeper in the build-up.

Goals + Assists

0.13

0.25

Progressive Carries

2.39

1.44

Progressive Passes

3.73

4.11

Pass Completion %

82.2%

82.5%

Passes into Final Third

2.69

3.56

Key Passes

1.19

0.54

Tackles

1.19

2.03

Blocks

0.60

1.19

Interceptions

0.53

1.10

Ball Recoveries

3.73

6.34

When you compare Tonali’s metrics from the 2023/24 season (692 minutes played) and the 2024/25 season so far (2,499 minutes played), you can see the improvement he has made, especially with his defensive contribution, playing as that number six and almost doubling his ball recoveries per 90.

Whilst his key passes and progressive carries have fallen, this change in role has also unleashed Bruno Guimaraes in a number eight position, something that has given Howe a brilliant balance in the midfield.

The Italian midfield maestro, once labeled a “big game player” by Jacek Kulig, has been superb this season, proving he is worth the fee spent to bring him to the club back in 2023. Tonali has made a case for being arguably Newcastle’s best signing since Isak.

Chelsea are in ongoing negotiations over the signing of an “incredible” forward, and it is believed winger Jadon Sancho could now be used as leverage to make a deal happen for the player.

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A new winger is believed to be one of BlueCo’s main transfer priorities this summer.

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It would be a big decision.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025

This year, there will be two separate windows for Chelsea to conduct transfer business, with one open from June 1st to June 10th. This will allow them to sign players before their Club World Cup campaign, which is seen as important by many, given the prize money available.

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Chelsea could obtain a £97 million windfall by winning all of their group stage games and the tournament itself, based on various factors, so it is clear to see why Stamford Bridge officials won’t be taking their participation lightly.

It could be very lucrative indeed for Enzo Maresca’s side, prompting reports that the west Londoners will be active when the pre-CWC transfer window opens.

One of the key items on their agenda is bringing in an exciting new wide player (Simon Phillips), with uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Sancho.

Mudryk is currently serving an on-field ban after testing positive for banned substances, while there are suggestions Chelsea are open to selling Madueke as Eddie Howe’s Newcastle and Aston Villa consider deals.

Chelsea are obliged to sign Sancho on a permanent deal from Man United, after triggering his £25 million clause, with the Blues now guaranteed to finish above 15th in the table.

Chelsea could still opt out of this by paying a £5 million penalty to United, but it now appears they could hatch a different plan for Sancho, involving top target and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.

Chelsea could offer Jadon Sancho in "separate" swap deal for Jamie Gittens

Chelsea opened talks to sign Gittens earlier this week, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, and now TEAMtalk have shared another update.

The outlet claims Chelsea are in “active talks” to sign Gittens, and preferably want a deal for the Englishman finalised before the CWC commences. While Gittens is valued at around £35 million, they have ways to bring the overall cost down.

Dortmund loanee Carney Chukwuemeka is also valued at £35m, and could head the other way permanently to cancel out the fee needed for Gittens. However, so soon after triggering his £25m clause, TT write that Chelsea could offer Sancho in a separate deal for Gittens as well.

While both transfers would be apart from one another on paper, this is essentially a swap deal, just not in the traditional sense, and it is a further example of just how common player-trading is becoming in the market now – as clubs seek to navigate their way around PSR.

Gittens has been a mainstay for Dortmund this term, despite his very young age, with the 20-year-old scoring 12 goals and assisting five others across 45 appearances in all competitions.

He could well be worth all of this effort, with ex-Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin describing him as an “incredible” one-v-one attacker.

Last night was not the game or result Arsenal would’ve been hoping for ahead of their Champions League semi-final next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side lined up against Crystal Palace, who happen to have an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, and put in one of their most lacklustre and underwhelming performances of the entire season, which saw them pick up their 13th Premier League draw of the campaign – the second most in the competition.

From David Raya between the sticks to Raheem Sterling in attack, there were dire displays across the pitch for the Gunners.

However, there was at least one player who put in yet another impressive showing, a player who has made himself undroppable and is starting to resemble Granit Xhaka in certain ways.

The story of Xhaka's redemption at Arsenal

Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach around £30m for Xhaka in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t particularly poor, it would probably be fair to say he underwhelmed for the first few seasons of his career in North London.

However, it was clear from the get-go that he was a passionate player and that, combined with his seniority, saw him handed the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 following a vote from his teammates.

Unfortunately, the team’s results nosedived soon after and, following an unsavoury episode in which he swore and goaded a jeering Emirates before throwing the shirt and armband to the floor, he had the captaincy stripped from him less than two months after receiving it.

The Swiss international would later reveal that at that point, he was set on leaving the club but eventually decided to stay and fight for his reputation after being convinced to do so by the recently appointed Arteta.

While it took some time, the Basel-born titan eventually started to win the fans back onside, and finally, after three years of graft, he was handed the armband again by Arteta in the absence of Martin Odegaard away to Brentford in September 2022, a game that also saw the fans begin to sing his name again, much to his appreciation.

That season would be his best in red and white as he racked up a brilliant tally of nine goals – two of which came in his final game – and seven assists in 47 appearances from central midfield.

Xhaka left the club that summer, but instead of doing so under a cloud of controversy as it seemed he would just a few years earlier, he left as a cult hero and with a rapturous Emirates Stadium singing his name.

Now it looks like a player in the current squad could be crafting something of a cult status for himself this year.

Xhaka’s Arsenal career

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

Red Cards

16/17

46

4

3

2

17/18

48

3

8

0

18/19

40

4

5

0

19/20

41

1

2

0

20/21

45

1

2

1

21/22

30

1

2

2

22/23

47

9

7

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The current Arsenal star with shades of Xhaka

There are probably some of you thinking that the player in question is Mikel Merino, as, after all, the Spaniard is positionally similar to Xhaka and has seen his stock skyrocket among Arsenal fans in recent months, but you’d be wrong.

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Instead, the current Gunners star who is starting to have shades of the Swiss international about him is none other than Jakub Kiwior.

Okay, so we know the pair couldn’t be more different in terms of position and, therefore, playstyle, but where they play has practically nothing to do with this comparison, as it’s based on their standing within the fanbase more than anything else.

For example, just a few months ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who’d had a particularly strong feeling towards the Polish international, as while he’s stepped in here and there, he’s never really looked like a first-team quality player.

In fact, it was only in December that Arsenal podcaster Phil Costa branded the former Spezia ace “shocking,” claiming that “he hasn’t kicked on at all since joining” and that, at the end of the day, “he isn’t good enough.”

Now, in his defence, it wasn’t an uncommon opinion, with content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny describing the international as “shakey” following his underwhelming performance vs Bayern Munich last season.

So, while there wasn’t the same vitriol that there was surrounding Xhaka’s fall, there was a similar desire from plenty of fans to move the Tychy-born star on and find someone better as soon as possible, which in turn led to some serious concern over how he’d cope covering for Gabriel Magalhães following the Brazilian’s hamstring surgery.

However, instead of becoming a weak spot in the team, the “extraordinary” defender, as dubbed by Robert Lewandowski, has stepped up in a massive way.

For example, aside from a minor mistake early on in the first leg against Real Madrid, he was simply sensational. Moreover, after William Saliba’s mistake that led to a goal in the second leg, there is a strong argument that he was the better centre-back of the pair.

Then again, last night, while the Frenchman made a costly mistake, he was near-enough faultless, scoring a goal, making some impressive tackles and earning himself an 8/10 match rating from journalist Tom Canton, which was more than justified by his statistics.

For example, in 98 minutes of action, he scored, made six clearances, won 100% of his duels, blocked two shots, made one tackle, lost the ball just seven times despite taking 135 touches, completed 115 passes, was accurate with two of three long balls, and was even successful in 100% of his dribbles.

Kiwio’s game in numbers

Minutes

98′

Expected Goals

0.04

Goals

1

Clearances

6

Blocked Shos

2

Tackles

1

Dribbled Past

0

Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Lost Possession

7

Touches

135

Passing Accuracy

115/120 (96%)

Long Balls (Accurate)

3 (2)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls

0

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, Kiwior has transformed from a player fans were worried about starting into one who’s outshining Saliba and becoming an increasing fan favourite for the no-nonsense way he’s going about his job – if that doesn’t remind you of Xhaka’s transformation, we don’t know what will.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 24, 2025

Everton have finally got their head above the water, and David Moyes is planning on strengthening his squad this summer to ensure Bramley Moore has a good chance of tasting more lucrative successes than Goodison Park has been treated to in recent years.

While fans will hope for a flashy new forward, a rock-sold defender with a modern twist, it’s important to remember that a couple of under-the-radar, pragmatic signings will be essential in establishing a balanced and dynamic team.

Central midfield probably needs the least amount of work, but Moyes is planning on signing a former favourite to complete his set.

Everton chasing PL midfielder

According to Wednesday’s edition of MF Dnes – via Sport Witness – Tomas Soucek has major reservations about continuing at West Ham United, given Graham Potter views him as a utility option.

Transfer Focus

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The experienced star is seemingly keen to remain loyal to his current employers, with two years left on his current deal, although he seemingly won’t accept an ‘inferior’ role under the new Potter regime.

This opens the door for Everton, with Moyes taking the Czech midfielder under his wing for the lion’s share of his Premier League career.

However, newly-promoted Leeds United are also keen, so The Friedkin Group will need to act quickly to avoid any embarrassment in securing a shrewd summer signing.

Why Moyes wants Soucek at Everton

Hailed as a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, Soucek has been a regular feature for West Ham across the 20s, signed by Moyes from Slavia Prague on loan in January 2020 before his signing was wrapped up on a permanent basis for about £19m at the end of that season.

The 30-year-old played a vital role in winning the Conference League and challenging in European competition across three seasons in Moyes’ system, scoring 39 goals across 240 Irons appearances, including seven in the Premier League this term.

In spite of his prolificness and strong presence in the middle of the park, Potter’s not convinced, and it seems like Everton are ready to pounce on this opportunity and sign a replacement for Doucoure, 32, who is indeed out of a deal this summer.

This is probably the right decision, given he’s the club’s top earner at £130k per week. Moreover, the well of goals, Doucoure’s trademark, has dried up, with just three Premier League goals to his name this season.

1.

Martin Peters

355

98

2.

Sir Trevor Booking

514

81

3.

Mark Noble

550

62

4.

Billy Bonds

645

49

5.

Tomas Soucek

240

39

He knows how to find the back of the net, but Soucek, once remarked to be a “revelation” at West Ham by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, certainly isn’t a one-trick pony, with his physicality and industriousness forging a complete midfielder, perfect for Moyes’ system.

It’s no surprise the Scottish manager wants his towering 6 foot 3 general back in his fold, and with the likes of Idrissa Gueye getting on a bit, making a summer move makes sense irrespective of the Moyes factor.

West Ham might not be the most exciting team in the Premier League this season but Soucek has retained his threatening presence in the final third nonetheless, with FBref ranking him among the top 5% of centre-midfielders in the division this term for goals scored and the top 1% for touches in the box per 90.

Given that the data-driven site list Doucoure as one of Soucek’s most statistically comparable players, it feels like something of a no-brainer, not least because Moyes knows Soucek well, trusts him.

Moreover, Soucek’s scoring knack from midfield offers shades of Tim Cahill.

Cahill is one of Everton’s most memorable stars of the Premier League era, having scored 56 goals from 226 matches for the Toffees, predominantly from an attacking midfield standpoint.

Despite his smallish stature, Cahill was something of an aerial monster, a further similarity to Soucek, who, albeit, is much taller.

It feels important that Everton address their goalscoring issues with a wider scope this summer, not just bagging a new centre-forward but indeed signing a player such as Soucek who could add a much-needed dimension from deeper, making those effortless runs into dangerous positions to emulate Cahill and add a string to the manager’s tactical bow.

Hailed as one of Europe’s “prolific central midfielders” by esteemed analyst Michael Cox, Soucek has the qualities to step into Cahill’s boots, so to speak, fuelled further by the past connection with Moyes.

The Malian’s offensive sharpness has waned in recent years, and Soucek could be the perfect addition to uphold Moyes’ values at Bramley Moore.

The Czech international has averaged 5.1 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, and would freshen up the Toffees ranks for sure.

With Potter not all that enamoured, West Ham’s loss will prove to be Everton’s gain.

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Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in February 2006 remains one of the Gunners’ finest nights in their history.

In the clubs’ first-ever meeting, a sole Thierry Henry goal was enough to give the north Londoners a slim advantage going into the second leg at Highbury.

Arsene Wenger’s side would pull off a big Champions League upset by holding the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo to a goalless draw to make the quarter-finals.

19 years on, Arsenal are once again heading to the Santiago Bernabeu, this time hoping to secure a semi-final berth after a spellbinding 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

But what has come of the side that beat Real Madrid nearly two decades on? Here, we look back and reminisce over the players who started on that special night.

1

Jens Lehmann

Goalkeeper

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made history in the 2005/06 Champions League, helping the Gunners produce a record 10 consecutive clean sheets in the competition.

The shutout in Madrid was clean sheet number 5, and Lehmann miraculously repeated the feat in the second leg, partly thanks to a sensational save to deny Raul.

Since retiring, the Invincible has been in coaching roles at Arsenal and Augsburg, and can currently be seen as one of the managers in Baller League UK.

2

Emmanuel Eboue

Right-back

The 2005/06 campaign saw Emmanuel Eboue’s breakthrough at Arsenal, with the full-back standing in for Lauren in the Cameroonian’s final season at the club.

Eboue managed to keep Robinho quiet at the Bernabeu, with the Brazilian taken off after an hour for Spain legend Raul.

The Ivorian has kept a low profile since retiring and has previously opened up on his mental health struggles following the end of his playing career, while he remains a cult hero in N5.

3

Philippe Senderos

Centre-back

Philippe Senderos was called upon to deputise for Sol Campbell while the England ace was out.

Senderos had not long turned 21 at the time of the first leg and kept Ronaldo at bay for 180 minutes, during which he was faultless, perhaps bar a fluffed clearance in the second leg that could have cost Arsenal dear.

Another former player to step away from the limelight since retiring, Senderos retired in 2019 after playing for second-tier Swiss side Chiasso.

4

Kolo Toure

Centre-back

Kolo Toure was a part of the Invincibles squad before moving to Manchester City in 2009.

He marshalled the back four alongside Senderos and was one of the heroes of the 2006 Champions League run, scoring the eventual winner in the semi-final against Villarreal.

Toure moved into coaching following retirement and was most recently the manager of Wigan Athletic, though he failed to win any of his games in charge.

5

Mathieu Flamini

Left-back

Mathieu Flamini was Arsenal’s makeshift left-back throughout their Champions League run with Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy both unavailable.

The Frenchman played every minute from matchday 2 until the quarter-final second leg against Juventus, securing 9 clean sheets in 10 games.

Now a successful entrepreneur, Flamini is a partner at GF Biochemicals, which looks to provide sustainable solutions for oil-based products that harm the environment.

6

Freddie Ljungberg

Right-midfield

Freddie Ljungberg is an Arsenal hero, and another of the Invincibles squad who stuck around long enough to beat Madrid on their own backyard.

The Swede had chances to score himself before Henry’s opener as Arsenal made a threatening start in Spain, coming closest but for a last-ditch challenge from Roberto Carlos.

Ljungberg was an Arsenal youth team coach and briefly the Gunners’ interim manager following Unai Emery’s sacking, and can also be seen alongside Jens Lehmann in the Baller League, where they manage N5 FC.

7

Alexander Hleb

Centre-midfield

Alexander Hleb was a January signing from VfB Stuttgart, and had seemed a shrewd addition to the side based on his first impressions.

His link-up play set up several chances on that night in the Bernabeu, and was a key player for the Gunners until his departure to Barcelona in 2008.

Now 43, the Belarussian has seemingly stepped away from football altogether since retiring in 2019.

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8

Gilberto Silva

Centre-midfield

Gilberto Silva was Arsenal’s primary midfield general post-Patrick Vieira, and the experienced head in the middle of the park before leaving north London in 2008.

Another Invincibles star, Gilberto won the league and FA Cup during his time at Arsenal.

Having retired in 2015, the Brazilian is an athlete mentor and public speaker, as per his X account. He is also a club ambassador for the Gunners.

9

Cesc Fabregas

Centre-midfield

Cesc Fabregas was in something of a breakthrough campaign at Arsenal as he emerged from the shadow of the departed Patrick Vieira, whose Juventus side he helped knock out of the Champions League with a goal in the quarter-final.

In the round of 16 against Madrid, Fabregas played the all-important assist for Thierry Henry to give Arsenal the lead in the Spanish capital.

A former Gunners captain, Fabregas is now the manager of Italian side Como, who are set to secure safety in Serie A following their promotion last year.

10

Jose Antonio Reyes

Left-midfield

Jose Antonio Reyes became an instant hero following his arrival at Arsenal in January 2004, and was an integral part of the team in his first 18 months at the club.

His Gunners career petered out after that, but Reyes did play in all bar one of Arsenal’s matches in the Champions League, starting both legs against Madrid.

Reyes sadly passed away in 2019, though he is still fondly remembered by the Arsenal faithful as one of their Invincibles heroes.

In search of boosting their frontline once again, Chelsea chiefs are now reportedly ready to match the £60m asking price of one impressive forward having already made their first approach for his signature.

Chelsea's UCL push going down to the wire

Whilst there would have been plenty of relief around Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford in midweek, Chelsea still have it all to do in the race to secure Champions League qualification. Sat fifth on goal difference and in the last remaining Champions League spot, the Blues may need to win all four of their remaining games to finish above the chasing pack of Forest and Aston Villa.

With Premier League champions Liverpool to face this weekend too, it doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea who may be hoping to come up against a side in celebration rather than the ruthless Reds that English football has become accustomed to this season.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca recently had his say on the Champions League race, telling reporters: “How many times in the last two years has Chelsea been in the Champions League [places]? Zero.

“How many times this season? Almost all season. It is an improvement or not? It is already an improvement because we spend all season there. Now, we are going to try our best to finish there no doubt.

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“We want to finish there, no doubt. We are happy to finish there, yes. Is it enough? No, because we want to compete for titles. But compared to the past two years, I think it is quite clear that there is an improvement. Now, if you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. It depends which way. I see it.”

Meanwhile, should the London club go on and confirm their place among Europe’s elite this month, they could be well placed to welcome an impressive Premier League rival.

Chelsea ready to meet Watkins price tag

According to Football Transfers, Chelsea are now ready to match Ollie Watkins’ £60m valuation to welcome the Aston Villa striker this summer, having already made their first approach for his signature.

Watkins was, of course, at the centre of attention in January when Arsenal came calling. Unlike Chelsea, however, the Gunners were reluctant to meet Villa’s asking price and the England international therefore stayed put in the Midlands.

At 29 years old, the Villa star goes against BlueCo’s usual transfer route of young stars, but an established Premier League goalscorer could be exactly what Maresca’s side need if they are to improve this summer.

Starts

27

26

Goals

15

10

Assists

7

5

Expected Goals

14.5

12.2

Dubbed “amazing” by Villa boss Unai Emery earlier this season, Watkins’ numbers compared to Nicolas Jackson highlight the upgrade that he would instantly offer Chelsea and Maresca.