Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez had a memorable Mother's Day with his mom, Yilda Diaz, on Sunday ahead of the Royals' matchup vs. the Boston Red Sox.
Diaz got to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Kauffman Stadium to her son Perez. The stadium roared with cheers for Diaz as she's the mom of the team's arguably most lovable player as Salvy is in his 14th season in Kansas City.
The best part of Diaz's first pitch is the fact that she threw a strike right to her son. Perez was all smiles and was clearly proud of his mom for showing off her baseball skills. He ran to give his mom a hug after in a sweet moment.
This will definitely be a memorable Mother's Day for both Diaz and Perez.
We'll see if Perez can score some runs or make a big play for the Royals on Sunday to make his mother even more proud.
Every UK TV fixture from the English Premier League, Championship, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Football on TV today
A daily guide to football on TV in the UK for the upcoming round of fixtures in the major European leagues. This includes where to watch live football streams, as well as the fixtures and kick-off times. As well as this, all the info on Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup football can be found here.
Friday 21st November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1
19:30
Mainz v Hoffenheim
Bundesliga
BBC iPlayer, Bundesliga YouTube
19:45
Nice v Marseille
Ligue 1
Amazon PPV, Ligue 1+
20:00
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers
Championship
Sky Sports Main Event
20:00
Valencia v Levante
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
Saturday 22nd November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A
12:30
Burnley v Chelsea
Premier League
TNT Sports 1
12:30
Bristol City v Swansea City
Championship
Sky Sports +
12:30
Charlton Athletic v Southampton
Championship
Sky Sports +
12:30
Coventry City v West Brom
Championship
Sky Sports Main Event
13:00
Alaves v Celta Vigo
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
15:15
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
La Liga
La Liga TV
17:00
Fiorentina v Juventus
Serie A
DAZN
17:30
FC Koln v Eintracht Frankfurt
Bundesliga
Sky Sports Football
17:30
Osasuna v Real Sociedad
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
17:30
Newcastle United v Manchester City
Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event
18:00
Rennes v Monaco
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 +
19:45
Napoli v Atalanta
Serie A
DAZN
20:00
Villarreal v Real Mallorca
La Liga
Disney +
20:05
PSG v Le Havre
Ligue 1
Amazon PPV, Ligue 1 +
Sunday 23rd November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A
11:30
Verona v Parma
Serie A
DAZN
12:00
Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United
Championship
ITV1, STV, Sky Sports Main Event
13:00
Real Oviedo v Rayo Vallecano
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
14:00
Auxerre v Lyon
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 +
14:00
Leeds United v Aston Villa
Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
14:00
Cremonese v Roma
Serie A
DAZN, TNT Sports 2
14:30
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen
Bundesliga
Amazon PPV
15:15
Real Betis v Girona
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
16:15
Brest v FC Metz
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 +
16:15
Nantes v Lorient
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 +
16:15
Toulouse v Angers
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 +
16:30
St Pauli v Union Berlin
Bundesliga
Amazon PPV
16:30
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
17:00
Lazio v Lecce
Serie A
DAZN
17:30
Getafe v Atletico Madrid
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
19:45
Lille v Paris FC
Ligue 1
Amazon PPV, Ligue 1 +
19:45
Inter Milan v AC Milan
Serie A
DAZN, TNT Sports 1
20:00
Elche v Real Madrid
La Liga
Premier Sports 1
Monday 24th November La Liga, Premier League, Serie A
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has revealed that Hannah Hampton could miss the rest of 2025 with a quad injury, potentially ruling her out of the Lionesses upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana later this month. The renowned shot stopper missed Chelsea's 6-0 win over St. Polten in the Women's Champions League, after picking up the injury during the Blues 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.
Hampton to miss big games for both Chelsea and England
Bompastor confirmed that Hampton will miss the next few weeks of action at the very least, ruling her out of key fixtures for both club and country. The 24-year-old completed her side's draw with rivals Arsenal despite the ailment, but was ruled out of their midweek demolition of the Austrian champions.
Chelsea travel to Liverpool tomorrow in the Women's Super League, before hosting Barcelona in the Women's Champions League on November 20. The inaugural winner of the Women's Yashin Trophy would have been a nailed on starter for Sarina Weigman's side in the upcoming international window as the European champions work towards the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Hampton was also absent from England duty last month with an elbow injury. She was replaced by Manchester City keeper Khiara Keating, who conceded twice in the first 20 minutes of her debut against Brazil. The Lionesses eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Selecao.
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Bompastor: Hampton will be out for a "few weeks"
In her pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool clash, Bompastor said: "Hannah won't be here. She picked up a quad injury.
"She will be out for a few weeks. We'll see if we see her before the end of the year but I'm not sure."
When the French manager was asked if that would rule the 24-year-old out of international duty, she simply replied: "It could be the case, yes."
Hampton injury presents an opportunity for Peng and Keating
Hampton's extended absence opens the door for Livia Peng to show her potential in the Chelsea goal. The Swiss stopper joined the Blues in the summer following an impressive two year spell with Werder Bremen. She was named to 's team of the season in 2024-25, as she kept seven clean sheets in 21 league games. The 23-year-old has cemented her spot as Switzerland's no. 1, starting all four of her country's during this summer's European Championship as the host nation was knocked out at the quarter final stage by eventual finalists Spain. She made her club debut in Chelsea's dominant win over St. Polten earlier this week.
City's Keating will also have the opportunity to stake her claim to be Hampton's clear backup at the very least. The 21-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength since supplanting Ellie Roebuck as the City No.1 during the 2023-24 season. She would go on to win the WSL Golden Globe at the end of that campaign, making her the youngest player to pick up the award. Keating has been in impressive form again this term, keeping nine clean sheets in all competitions.
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Injury comes at challenging time for Hampton
After last season's resounding successes: winning the Euros, picking up the award for the best female goalkeeper in the game and winning the WSL for the second time, the start of the 2025/26 season has been a tough ride for Hampton.
The protracted fallout from Mary Earps autobiography, in which the former Sports Personality of the Year accused her understudy of being "disruptive and unreliable" has been an unwelcome distraction. Hampton presumably would have hoped to move on from that saga by letting her play do the talking, especially with the Three Lions on her chest. While she has been in impressive form for her club, conceding just four goals in eight league appearances this term, missing her second international window in succession with injury, is a cruel blow. Hopefully, she can recover before the end of 2025. The league phase of Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign concludes with ties against Roma and Wolfsburg in December.
Kevin Filling has quickly become one of Europe’s most-watched teenage talents but the Swedish striker insists he’s staying grounded despite growing transfer noise. With Manchester United and Aston Villa circling the AIK prodigy, the youngster remains focused on cementing his place at Stockholm. For now, he says, “I don’t know anything” and prefers to let his football do the talking.
United and Villa eye Swedish teen sensation
According to FotbollDirekt, United have turned their attention to AIK Fotboll’s Filling and have added him among their latest targets. The 16-year-old forward has made headlines with both United and Villa having initiated contact with AIK for a potential deal.
The initial reports suggested “concrete negotiations,” but Swedish media quickly dismissed those claims. Still, both English clubs have sent scouts to monitor the teenager, who’s played eight Allsvenskan matches this season, scoring two goals in just 204 minutes of play.
Filling, who joined AIK’s youth setup in 2023 after stints at Vaseteras and IK Franke, has been on a steady rise. In 2025, he even spent a brief loan spell with Enkopings in Ettan Norra, Sweden’s third tier, scoring once in three appearances. His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed, and AIK’s €5 million valuation underlines their belief in his potential. United and Villa, however, are reportedly willing to pay no more than €3 million.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFilling maintains composure amid the hype
For all the transfer buzz, the teenager himself remains unfazed. Speaking to Expressen, Filling brushed off the speculation with maturity well beyond his years.
“It’s nothing special. I don’t know much. I’m focused on AIK and that’s where all my focus lies. So, I’ll just continue there.”
When pressed on whether he’s thinking about his future, his answer was even simpler:
“No. I don’t know anything, so no, I’m not thinking about it that much."
The Swedish youngster further shares that he is only focused on developing at AIK and getting regular minutes as soon as possible.
“To take a starting place in the team and do as well as I can in every match and every chance I get. I want to continue and deliver more points."
Despite turning heads across Europe, Filling knows that any move to England would be a long-term project. Under FIFA’s transfer rules, he cannot move to the UK until November 2026, when he turns 18, though a deal can be agreed in advance.
The youngster’s grounded attitude has impressed coaches and scouts alike. Sources in Sweden describe him as a “focused, humble and analytical player”. AIK currently sit fourth in the Allsvenskan table.
The making of Kevin Filling
Filling's rise has been marked by consistency over hype as he is turning heads across Europe. Born in November 2008, Filling honed his early skills at IK Franke and Vasteras before joining the AIK academy in 2023. He quickly established himself as one of their most promising talents, standing out due to his composure, positional sense, and remarkable maturity on the ball.
The 2024-25 season proved to be his breakthrough year. At just 16, Filling made his Allsvenskan debut for AIK and immediately found the net in a dominant 3-0 victory against IFK Goteborg. His subsequent performances reflect a rare combination of precision and maturity as he registered eight shots and scored two goals. Crucially, he achieved this while keeping a clean disciplinary record.
AIK coaches praise his “instinctive finishing and calmness beyond his years,” traits that have captured the attention of the Red Devils. Filling's development is a prime example of the modern football trend: elite clubs are now prioritising young, tactically intelligent forwards who combine technical skill and mental sharpness over sheer physical power.
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Getty Images/GOALUnited's development plan for Filling
Filling’s future remains in Sweden, and that may be the best place for him. AIK are determined to protect their gem, with sporting directors reiterating that “no sale is planned in the winter.” The club see him as a central figure in their 2026 plans, aiming to challenge Malmo and Djurgarden for domestic dominance.
Meanwhile, United and Villa continue to watch closely. Both are in contact with AIK, and United, under INEOS ownership, are expanding their European scouting reach, especially in Scandinavia, a region that has recently produced stars like Rasmus Hojlund and Alexander Isak. Reports suggest that United's plan for Filling involves a strategic developmental loan to Lausanne-Sport, an INEOS-owned club, to ease his transition and acclimatisation within their operational structure.
Crystal Palace are thought to be in pole position to sign a new forward who stunned Chelsea earlier this year.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner responds to Man Utd rumours
The Eagles have enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2025/26 Premier League season after lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield earlier this year and are now on a club-record 18-game unbeaten run.
Saturday’s dramatic win against champions Liverpool saw Palace move on to 12 points after six games, with Eddie Nketiah’s late winner ending the Reds’ 100% start to the campaign.
As a result of the brilliant job Oliver Glasner is doing at Selhurst Park, he continues to be linked with roles elsewhere.
There have been claims he is on Manchester United’s radar to replace Ruben Amorim, with reports even suggesting he would take the Old Trafford job “in a heartbeat”.
“My information is if Glasner was offered the Manchester United job, he would take it in a heartbeat.” (Ben Jacobs)
However, when asked about the direct rumours of a move to Manchester and other ‘top clubs’, Glasner has now said:
Steve Parish and co will be hoping Glasner continues in his position when the January 2026 transfer window opens, and it looks as if the Eagles are already working on one potential addition.
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Crystal Palace "in negotiations" to sign Flamengo forward Wallace Yan
According to reports in Brazil, relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are thought to be in pole position ahead of Wolves to sign Flamengo forward Wallace Yan in 2026.
The Eagles had talks in the summer which will continue into the New Year. Flamengo director Jose Boto is aware of Palace’s talks for Yan which involve the player’s agent, Claudio Guadagno.
Journalist Julio Miguel Neto said: “The Flamengo forward is in negotiations to move to Europe, and Crystal Palace appear as the main interested party.”
At the age of 20, Yan has now scored seven goals in 28 appearances for Flamengo’s first team after coming through the academy, two of which came at the Club World Cup. He even sealed a shock win for the Brazilian side over eventual winners Chelsea, scoring the third goal of a 3-1 win late on.
Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea left-back, is the manager of Flamengo and has described what Yan is like as a centre-forward.
“He uses both feet and finishes very well with either. He is light, versatile, healthy and a finisher. I see him much more as a nine, a guy who attacks space.”
A move to Selhurst Park is seemingly being worked on behind the scenes, making this one to watch over the coming months.
Former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison has urged Liverpool boss Arne Slot to drop summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, claiming the Dutchman’s performances have been far below the club’s standards. Hutchison believes Conor Bradley should now be given the chance to start at right-back, arguing that Frimpong’s form and confidence have dipped alarmingly since his arrival at Anfield.
Frimpong's poor start
Frimpong’s start to life at Liverpool has been far from smooth, with the high-profile summer signing struggling to replicate the form that made him a standout at Bayer Leverkusen. Having joined in a €35 million move to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, expectations were high that Frimpong’s explosive pace and attacking flair would translate seamlessly into Slot’s system.
However, the Dutch full-back has struggled to find rhythm, managing just 79 minutes across three Premier League appearances and failing to record a single goal or assist. His limited impact, coupled with growing defensive concerns, has led to mounting scrutiny over his role in Liverpool’s starting XI. Hutchison has now joined the critics, suggesting Frimpong should be benched until he regains both composure and consistency on the ball.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBradley to step in?
Hutchison made his feelings clear when analysing Liverpool’s defensive setup, insisting that Frimpong should make way for Conor Bradley. The former Everton and Sunderland midfielder didn’t hold back in his assessment, saying: “I’d have Bradley starting in the team now, absolutely. I don’t think Frimpong’s current standard gets him anywhere near the first XI for Liverpool. I’ve watched every Liverpool match I could so far this season, and in some matches like the Southampton game, he just kept giving the ball away. Simple passes were going stray, and his confidence is just starting to erode.
“He played right wing against Galatasaray, and I think that was Arne Slot experimenting for who steps in for Salah when he’s off at the Africa Cup of Nations. But he struggled then, too. I just think you’re looking at a young player who is struggling for form.
“When I watch Liverpool now, I see a team that is so out of sorts that they have to go back to basics. It needs to be Bradley at right-back. On the left, it’s harder to say. I still rate Andy Robertson but seeing him with his hands on his knees at Chelsea as Eestevao scored, I’d think he was a League Two player. I’d love to know what he was thinking when he was taking a breather then. On the left, toss a coin between Kerkez and Robertson, but Bradley has to be starting on the right.”
Frimpong's adjustment period
Frimpong’s rocky transition has been compounded by the tactical and physical demands of English football. Unlike his time in the Bundesliga, where Leverkusen’s system allowed him to operate as an attacking wing-back, Slot’s Liverpool side requires far more defensive discipline and positional awareness. The shift has exposed areas of his game that need refinement, with analysts pointing out lapses in tracking back, positioning during transitions, and misjudged passes under pressure.
In contrast, Bradley — who impressed during Liverpool’s injury-hit campaign last year — has shown a more balanced mix of defensive resilience and attacking intelligence, strengthening Hutchison’s argument.
Meanwhile, Frimpong’s struggles also come at a time when Liverpool’s overall form has been inconsistent; the team has failed to find a settled rhythm in either domestic or European competition. Frimpong’s case appears to be part of a wider pattern of adjustment issues within Slot’s squad.
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AFPWhat comes next?
As Liverpool prepare for a crucial stretch of fixtures across the Premier League and Champions League, the question now turns to whether Slot will heed Hutchison’s advice. With Bradley pushing for more minutes and fans calling for a return to defensive basics, Frimpong could find himself temporarily sidelined as he regains form and confidence. Slot’s emphasis on tactical structure and discipline means performances will dictate selection, not reputation — a stance that could work both as a challenge and a motivator for the Dutchman.
Frimpong’s attacking instincts remain a valuable asset, but consistency will be the deciding factor in whether he cements his place long-term. With the Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon and Mohamed Salah expected to miss matches, the coming weeks could be defining for both Liverpool’s right flank and Frimpong’s future role in the team.
Of all the England players who were left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for their October fixtures, Jude Bellingham's omission seemed the most confusing. The midfielder has been one of the Three Lions' main protagonists ever since breaking into the starting XI post-Euro 2020 heartbreak and has long been heralded as a key player for whichever team he's representing.
There was, at least, sound enough reasoning not to call upon Bellingham for this international window in particular. After Real Madrid's elimination from the Club World Cup in July, he decided to finally undergo surgery on a long-standing shoulder issue which had been of detriment to his performances all throughout 2024-25. This was expected to result in a period of three months on the sidelines, but such has been the superhuman aura about Bellingham in his short career thus far, he made his return in September, several weeks ahead of schedule.
Bellingham has played five times for Madrid this season, though those appearances have only seen him clock 126 minutes in total, while he has started just once – in their 5-2 defeat to city rivals Atletico. "He has not fully gathered rhythm yet at Real Madrid," Tuchel said at his squad announcement a fortnight ago. "He is back in the team. He hasn't finished one full match until now, he has only started one match, so he is in the period where he gets his rhythm, where he gets back to full strength."
That was, however, one of two reasons why Bellingham didn't make the cut on this occasion. The other ought to at least make the 22-year-old feel a little uncomfortable, but it serves as great news for positional rival and fellow West Midlands native, Morgan Rogers.
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Challenge to England outcasts
Tuchel's explanation that Bellingham needed more minutes in his legs again came as part of a wider point about why he called upon the same squad as in September (bar Bukayo Saka coming in for the injured Noni Madueke). The German also said: "Jude is a very special player, and for special players there can always be special rules. I get this. But for this camp we decided that we stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team. That applies also then for Jude, he deserves always to be in camp."
That seems fair enough, but Tuchel also laid down the gauntlet to the various other stars he either overlooked or ruled out for this camp. "We are not collecting the most talented players, we are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else," was his headline message.
"That's how it is in international football," the Three Lions' boss continued. "But the thing you are playing [back to me] is not what I am saying. You are playing the game that says: 'He (Tuchel) is saying the others who aren't in the team, you cannot build a team with them'. It's not like this. We built a team with the players who were available and they did so well so we go again with them. Nobody said we can't do the same with them. Or even better, or maybe the same level, with the others.
"For this moment we stick with our choice and the radical statement is that we don't collect the most talented players. We collect the guys who have the glue and cohesion to be the best team. Because we need to arrive as the best team. We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven't won it for decades and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time. So we have to arrive as a team or we will have no chance."
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Bellingham's role
Bellingham's performances in the Tuchel era have been quietly positive, even if the perception is they have been mixed. In the German's first game in charge, a 2-0 win at home to Albania, Bellingham played as a No.10 who was afforded licence to roam, and he teed up debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly for the opening goal. A few days later in their 3-0 triumph over Latvia, Tuchel deployed Bellingham in a deeper role with the task of drifting towards the left to link up with winger Marcus Rashford, and though he was a net-positive in attack, the Madrid man had to be hooked when he risked picking up a second booking.
Fast-forward to the June internationals, and Bellingham proved less than decisive in an underwhelming 1-0 triumph against Andorra in Barcelona. He was then dropped to the bench for the following 3-1 defeat against Senegal at the City Ground, coming on as a late substitute and seeing a goal ruled out after a VAR check for a foul in the build up.
Not for the first nor last time, Tuchel then fanned the flames of controversy post-Senegal, claiming that Bellingham's visible on-pitch attitude could be construed as 'repulsive'. He said: "How we can have the best version of him [Bellingham] and the best acceptance that people understand what he is bringing to us, and that he is bringing a certain edge? Sometimes you see the rage, you see the hunger and the rage and the fire, and it comes out in a way that can be a bit repulsive, for example for my mother when she sits in front of the TV. In general we are very happy to have him. He is a special boy."
Tuchel would go on to apologise for these comments and his careless choice of words in a second language, but the damage had been done and the soundbite was in the universe. There were already question marks over how he and a star player like Bellingham would get along.
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Less is more
Starting with that win against Latvia at Wembley back in March, Tuchel has sought to mould Rogers into more of a No.8, a traditional central midfielder who can get forward and drag the team into attack. He still gets into similar areas as at club level with Aston Villa, flitting between the lines and pulling into wide areas, but it's also clear that the England boss values Rogers' ability to drive from deep too.
In that rare start together versus Latvia, Rogers completed only 33 passes out of 39 attempted across the full match, whereas Bellingham made 56 of his 60 in 67 minutes. Rogers also completed the most dribbles, seven out of eight, compared to Bellingham's tally of one out of two. Both took six shots.
The upside of Rogers is he isn't a player who typically requires lots of touches, happy enough to drift and coast in order to make an impact out of nothing. In this sense, he is more of a Dele Alli 2.0 than Bellingham, whose evolving game has seen him demand a lot more of the ball and get involved as much as possible. Few would question if Rogers went 20 or 30 minutes without doing much, but the knives would be out for a bonafide superstar like Bellingham if they did the same.
When Rogers has been in the thick of the action in an England shirt, he's delivered, most notably proving the catalyst in last month's 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in a hostile Belgrade atmosphere. Even in this excursion, Rogers made 22 of 27 passes and had only 40 touches in total despite playing the full 90. Tuchel had his new midfield talisman team up with winger Madueke and striker Harry Kane, playing the role to a tee and building a new set of relationships that the manager has openly craved. It's hard to tell whether a jack-of-all-trades like Bellingham would retain such similar positional discipline.
When Tuchel was asked what he wants of his most advanced midfielder, he recently replied: "We want goal threat; team effort in pressing and high press; physicality; discipline in the position; being influential – everything." For now, Rogers ticks more of those boxes.
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Club struggles
While Rogers' stock as an England player has never been higher, the reverse must be said of his status at Villa. He romped to the 2024-25 PFA Young Player of the Year award, but has started the new season in questionable form for Unai Emery's side. In 10 games across all competitions for his club, Rogers is yet to score and has tallied only two assists to date.
What seemed to be the nadir of Rogers' slump came during Villa's 1-0 win at home to Bologna in their Europa League opener, during which he was booed at points and received ironic cheers whenever he completed a pass. Given he only made 10 of the 24 he attempted (in the full 90 minutes), at least that wasn't too often, then.
"The fans have to show their emotions. We have to accept it," Emery warned post-match. "They applaud us and sometimes not. We have to accept it. Morgan is young and needs time for experiences. I kept him on the field because I wanted his reaction, how he was accepting everything and he did it. He didn’t play well and wasn’t clinical in the attacking third to do the last assist, but I wanted to keep him because, firstly, he’s always doing his task. (He was) working for the team, but today he was not being clinical offensively. He needs to take experiences today, not playing every game well, the crowd not being happy with him and him getting his experiences and grow up through it."
This is problem England and Tuchel could encounter further down the line if Rogers' Premier League and Europa League performances remain the subject of such ire. Villa's improved run of seven games without defeat and four wins on the spin suggests the worst of their struggles are behind them, while Rogers' two assists came in his last two matches.
Celtic head into the first international break of the season off the back of a disappointing performance in the Scottish Premiership against their city rivals.
The Hoops travelled away from Parkhead to take on Russell Martin’s Rangers side at Ibrox on Sunday, and were held to a drab 0-0 draw in the derby clash.
There were a number of disappointing performers across the park for Brendan Rodgers in the bore-draw, including Benjamin Nygren on the right flank.
Benjamin Nygren's performance in numbers
The Sweden international has mainly played on the right of the midfield three for the Hoops since his move to the club in the summer, but the manager opted to play him on the right wing ahead of Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest.
Unfortunately, Nygren failed to offer much of a threat up against the pacey Jayden Meghoma at left-back for Rangers, failing with all five of his attempted dribbles. He ended the 90 minutes with zero key passes and zero shots on target, per Sofascore, which speaks to his lack of impact on the game.
The left-footed star did, however, work his socks off out of possession to help his team out defensively, winning nine duels and making six tackles and one interception, per Sofascore.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Whilst Nygren’s performance lacked a cutting edge at the top end of the pitch, Rodgers can still be pleased with his physical and defensive contributions, which cannot be said for Arne Engels.
Why Arne Engels should be dropped
The Belgium international was brought into the midfield three for this game, thanks to Nygren’s move to the right wing, but did not do enough to suggest that he should keep his place.
Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch the former Augsburg man for the clash with Kilmarnock after the international break because he was poor in and out of possession against Rangers in midfield.
The club-record signing played alongside Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor in the middle of the park and did not offer any creativity or a goal threat on the ball.
Minutes
65
Pass accuracy
76%
Big chances created
0
Crosses completed
0/2
Shots
0
Ground duels won
1/7
Aerial duels won
1/3
Tackles + interceptions
0
As you can see in the table above, Engels did not create anything of note for his side and was incredibly weak out of possession, losing eight of his ten physical duels.
This shows that the Rangers midfielders, Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron, found it far too easy to get the better of him in midfield in physical battles for the ball, and shows that he was even worse than Nygren, who found success in his defensive actions.
Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker noted that the Belgium international “offered little” for Celtic before he was substituted by Rodgers in the 65th minute of the match, with Forrest coming on so that the Swedish ace could play in that right-sided midfield role.
This suggests that the manager felt that Nygren was better suited to seeing out the game in the position that Engels was hoping to impress in, which says a lot about who the preferred option in that role may be when they play Kilmarnock in a fortnight.
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Therefore, Rodgers should be looking to ruthlessly ditch Engels from the starting XI after he flopped at Ibrox, moving Nygren back into his central midfield berth.
Duas falhas de Arboleda. Dois gols do Palmeiras. O São Paulo sofreu uma dura derrota para o rival neste domingo (11), em pleno Morumbi lotado, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. E como isso poderá afetar o restante da temporada tricolor? É o que tentamos descobrir nesta análise feita após o jogo, direto do gramado do jogo. Confira:
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Everton’s summer transfer strategy has been bold but calculated.
The arrival of Thierno Barry from Villarreal for £27.6m underlined a clear ambition to reshape the attack after the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Tall, powerful, and direct, Barry has been brought in to spearhead David Moyes’ frontline, but even with his signing the squad is not yet incomplete.
The most pressing gap is on the right wing. With Jack Harrison returning to Leeds after his loan, Moyes has been left without a natural option in that role.
Everton’s interest in Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu shows the urgency of the search, but reports suggest their main focus has been on securing a player capable of making an immediate difference in the Premier League.
The profile they are chasing is clear: a young winger with the ability to carry the ball over long distances, stretch opposition defences, and contribute in the final third. Such a signing would not only bring balance to the squad but also unlock Barry’s strengths by providing him with the service and support needed to thrive.
Everton’s interest has already led to an ambitious approach in the transfer market.
Everton’s pursuit of Malick Fofana
That ambition has been embodied in their attempt to land Malick Fofana from Lyon.
The 20-year-old Belgian winger has been described as “explosive” by football analyst Ben Mattinson and labelled a market opportunity that Europe’s elite should be targeting.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also among the clubs monitoring his situation, but so far Everton have been the only side to explore a move with a formal offer.
The proposal, worth €36m (£31m) including bonuses, was rejected, with Lyon insisting on a fixed €40m (£35m) fee. The French club are under financial pressure, needing to raise €40m (£35m) before June 2026 to balance the books.
Manager Paulo Fonseca is keen to keep Fofana, but the economic reality may force their hand.
Lille manager Paulo Fonseca.
For now, the player is only prepared to leave for Champions League football, which means that the Toffees will need to convince him to make the move to Merseyside.
In stylistic terms, he shares traits with Kaoru Mitoma and Pedro Neto: direct, unpredictable, and relentless in moving the ball forward.
For Everton, who lacked that profile last season, such qualities would transform their attack.
Why Everton should sign Malick Fofana
Fofana’s statistical output places him among Europe’s most exciting young wingers.
According to FBref, he ranks in the 97th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (6.60), the 94th percentile for carries into the final third (3.28), and the 85th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (6.14).
His efficiency in the final action is just as impressive, with a 99th percentile ranking for shots on target percentage (55.8%) and the 93rd percentile for penalty-area crosses (0.62 per 90).
Malick Fofana – Ligue 1 2024/25
Matches Played
29
Starts
16
Goals
5
Assists
4
Progressive Carries
112
Progressive Passes
45
What makes Everton’s pursuit of Fofana particularly intriguing is how well he could complement Barry.
The 22-year-old French striker is a classic target man in some respects. Standing at 6ft 5in, he dominates aerial duels, winning nearly two-thirds of those contested inside the penalty area.
Yet his game is not limited to physicality. Barry ranks highly for runs in behind and crosses received, showing a willingness to stretch defences and exploit space.
Last season at Villarreal, he scored 11 goals from an expected goals tally of 11.7, per FBref, adding four assists in the process. His aerial presence is matched by a sharp instinct for finding pockets of space, a skill that drew comparisons with Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade.
Everton see him as the long-term successor to Calvert-Lewin, but Moyes has admitted he will need time to adjust to the Premier League.
This is why a player like Fofana could be invaluable.
His ability to dribble past opponents and deliver precise balls into the box would immediately provide Barry with the kind of service he thrives on.
By cutting inside from the right, Fofana could create overloads in central areas, forcing defenders to step out of position and leaving Barry with space in the penalty box.
His 93rd percentile for penalty-area crosses suggests he is adept at picking out strikers, while Barry’s 86th percentile for aerials won shows he would be ready to capitalise.
The partnership would not be one-dimensional. Fofana’s threat in front of goal, reflected in his 55.8% shot accuracy, means opponents should not simply treat him as a provider.
Defences would be stretched both vertically and horizontally, creating opportunities for Everton to vary their attacking play. For a team that often struggled with breaking teams down last season, this variety could be transformative.
Everton’s 13th-place finish last year was built on defensive resilience and a late-season surge, but their lack of attacking spark prevented a higher finish.
With Barry and potentially Fofana, they would have the balance of power and flair: a forward who can dominate penalty areas and a winger who can consistently carry the ball into dangerous zones.
Of course, the financial challenge is significant. Meeting Lyon’s €40m (£35m) demand would represent a huge outlay, and Fofana’s preference for Champions League football complicates matters further.
Grealish can make him world-class: Everton "in negotiations" for £40m star
Everton still need to sign several more first-teamers before the end of the transfer window.
ByAngus Sinclair Aug 22, 2025
Yet the logic behind their pursuit is plain to see. At just 20, he offers immediate impact and long-term potential, making him a rare opportunity in the market.
For Everton, landing Fofana would be about creating a partnership in the final third that could reshape their identity under Moyes. Barry’s power and presence combined with Fofana’s creativity and explosiveness could provide exactly the attacking edge the Toffees have been missing.