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Jordan Henderson England recall shows Thomas Tuchel is World Cup or bust
By Joe Townsend
Football
Thu March 20, 2025 · 3h ago
I consider myself very much in the minority; I really look forward to England squad announcements.

Not necessarily for who’s been included – although it is exciting that teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly could potentially be a world-class left-back for England for almost the next two decades – but the reaction to it.

It’s always been the case that for many of those up in arms over who's been left out, their own hypothetical squad unknowingly includes 40 or more players, and it is absolutely the norm that any player excluded automatically becomes better simply by virtue of not making the cut.

But what is more extreme than ever in an increasingly polarised, social media-driven era of outrage and anger is the complete lack of middle ground when it comes to the standout talking point.

Or in this case, the whipping boy served up by new England manager Thomas Tuchel.


"He is the glue in every team where he played..." ��️

Thomas Tuchel spoke to @GabrielClarke05 on his decision to recall Jordan Henderson to the England squad ��������������#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | @England pic.twitter.com/77fjCb3Vrh

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 19, 2025
“We try to build a team for our fans and a team that they are proud of and can identify with. Jordan embodies everything we want from this team."

Jordan Henderson. Jordan. Henderson.

That’s it, sack him before the Albania game and get Eddie Howe in. What a giant waste of time appointing this German idiot was. We just knew he wouldn’t get it! All those things Tuchel just said about 'Hendo', that’s what we don’t like! That’s why we all hate Harry Kane as well and why we started booing Jude Bellingham for no reason!

Get onboard Thomas. This is England mate.

Judging by the predictably hyperbolic reaction to Henderson’s recall you really could be forgiven for thinking Tuchel had gone full Mike Bassett and accidentally called up Benson and Hedges by writing his squad selection on the back of a bottle of Hendo’s Relish.


If you remain very much against what is objectively a left-field selection, let's take a moment and consider that perhaps the new England coach and former manager of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, might have a vague idea about what he’s doing.

“I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad,” said Jordan Pickford when inevitability quizzed on the same topic, one that has dominated the build-up to England's start to World Cup qualifying.

"He was vice-captain for numerous years. He didn't come to the last Euros but was vice-captain in 2018 to Harry. It's great having leaders in your group, the teams that have won have always had that experience in the side as well.

“I think it's a great move for us to have someone like him in the squad. What he has done, how he is still driven - whether he plays or not he is going to be the leader on the training pitch.”

Thomas Tuchel
By naming Henderson in his squad, Tuchel has been shrewd.

Aside from the bonus of the new Three Lions boss being afforded a glimpse into the damaged psyche of the fans he is aiming to deliver a World Cup to in 15 short months, he can tap into the knowledge and experience of a player part of the England set-up for the past 15 years.

And it really isn't inconceivable that a veteran midfielder whose most recent, and 80th, cap came in November 2023, has since played exclusively in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, and will be 36 by the time of the World Cup, makes it on to the plane.

Jordan Henderson
It seems to have escaped most people's attention that major tournament squads are now enormous.

In Gareth Southgate’s first tournament, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, every outfield player featured. That was the last time 23 not 26 players were permitted.

At last summer's Euros three (Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez and Adam Wharton) didn’t play a single minute, with Anthony Gordon’s sole involvement as an 89th-minute substitute in a goalless draw with Slovenia. The World Cup in Qatar was the same, with Conor Coady, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison and Ben White unused, while Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared once off the bench. Coady, White and Ben Chilwell were left kicking their heels at Euro 2020.

Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate always had an eye on the future but ultimately fell short on the now
While still very much focused on winning, Southgate always had an eye on what was next, with some players included to help further England’s prospects at future tournaments.

That is not what his successor has been brought in to do.

“He said the goal is to put another star on the jersey,” said 32-year-old Dan Burn, who will become England’s oldest debutant since Bolton striker Kevin Davies in 2010 should he feature in the upcoming qualifiers.

“We only have 24 training days up to the World Cup, it's not a lot at all."

Thomas Tuchel
The appointment of Tuchel had a very gun for hire feel, a major step change from the FA. His first squad, and it’s unashamedly short-sighted nature, confirms that.

Jordan Henderson isn’t the messiah. England haven't abandoned all their principles by turning to a German in an all-out pursuit to quench its long thirst for major-tournament glory. Henderson might never play for England again; he might not ever be in another squad, he might make it all the way to North America. Tuchel might even extend his contract.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

What we do know from these very early days is England's new boss will take any fine margin he can to drag a squad of nearly men to that first major trophy in 60 years.

Jordan Henderson celebrates against Senegal
"Jordan is a serial winner. He is captain of Ajax. He is available and has played a lot of matches," Tuchel continued.

"What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, energy. He makes sure that everyone lives by standards and with this characteristic he embodies everything that we try to build.”

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Myles Lewis-Skelly and the 10 England teenagers Thomas Tuchel should call up
By Joe Townsend
Football
Mon March 24, 2025 · 37 min ago
There were audible groans up and down our great nation when Thomas Tuchel's first England squad was announced.

Granted, that was mainly due to his recall of Jordan Henderson but it was also a result of so many of the usual names being called up at the expense of a particularly exciting crop of Young Lions.

A couple of uncapped 22-year-olds, James Trafford and Jarell Quansah, did make the cut alongside rogue inclusion Dan Burn.

The only teenager to join the England seniors was Myles Lewis-Skelly; boy did he make an impression.

Myles Lewis-Skelly
But the Arsenal defender has been far from the only teen to turn heads in the top flight this term, with Premier League XIs all of a sudden littered with under-20s - many of them English.

In fairness to Tuchel he hardly picked a squad of geriatrics, with 13 players aged 25 or younger, seven of those between 18 and 22.

Here are 10 teenagers he should think about including next time.

Myles Lewis-Skelly
Lewis-Skelly deserves top mention for the outstanding breakout season he's had at Arsenal - and that's even before a dream night against Albania saw him become the youngest player to score on their England debut and third-youngest England goalscorer of all time behind only Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.


And he's a left-back.

Not in a dissimilar fashion to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, having progressed through academy football as a central midfielder the 18-year-old is finding his feet at full-back, so it's unclear what position he will ultimately settle into it.

His naturally combative nature and ball-carrying ability, compared to Alexander-Arnold's unique role as a playmaker, perhaps opens up more of a possibility for him to play as a modern day number 6 or 8 than his future England team-mate realistically had.

Or he just stays at left-back.

Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri
Ethan Nwaneri is another incredibly exciting Arsenal academy graduate.

He became the Premier League's youngest ever player when aged just 15 years and 181 days he came off the bench against Brentford in September 2022.

The left-footed forward has since been slowing embedded into the first team, and despite only just turning 18 is closing in on 50 Gunners appearances.

Barring injury it's hard to imagine he and Lewis-Skelly, just 176 days his junior, won't be England regulars for years to come.

Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo
An underwhelming 2024/25 for Manchester United and Kobbie Mainoo has led to many quickly forgetting just how fantastic the midfielder was in his debut season for both club and country.

Bursting on to the scene as an 18-year-old, being named man of the match on his full debut in a 3-0 win at Everton, Mainoo ended his campaign with United by becoming the first English teenager to score in the FA Cup final for 43 years, and the youngest since 1964 when he set the club on their way to a shock win over Manchester City.

England manager Gareth Southgate speaks to Kobbie Mainoo
He then forced his way into the England side at the Euros, starting every match in the knockout stage including the final.

This season may have been something of a write-off because of injury, but he'll be back.

Archie Gray
Tottenham's Archie Gray wins a header against Hearts
Perhaps flying under the radar through a combination of Tottenham's terrible domestic season and being played out of position across the back four in his maiden top-flight campaign, it's remarkable what Archie Gray has achieved already.

Only just 19 he is approaching 100 first-team appearances for Leeds and Spurs, most of which have come in the Championship, Premier League and Europa League.

Last term, Gray even spent some time playing as a number 10; this term he's spent all of his time trying to stop them.

It'll be exciting to see what he could achieve next season if given the opportunity to play in his natural midfield role, especially with all of this experience under his belt.

Tyler Dibling
Dibling
There is expected to be a bunfight for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling this summer, with the teenager's performances one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal Saints campaign.

An injury-hit second half of the season has disrupted his progress, and it's probably fair to say the speculation over where he could move next hasn't helped either for a player who has already experienced a failed, short-lived spell at Chelsea.

With Thomas Tuchel known to favour pacy, direct wingers, Dibling could be a player he has his eye on next season.

Jack Hinshelwood
Jack Hinshelwood
Brighton have rightly carved out a reputation for being the best in the business when it comes to unearthing hidden gems, but now they have 'one of their own' to be really excited about too.

In a fiercely competitive, talented squad Jack Hinshelwood has become first choice under Fabian Hurzeler, who could have a job on his hands convincing the biggest shrewdy of them all Tony Bloom not to sell when the vultures inevitability circle this summer.

What harms his chances of a call-up is Hurzeler's seeming preference to use him as an inverted full-back rather than in central midfield, although looking at it the other way that kind of versatility could prove useful at a major tournament.

Lewis Miley
Newcastle's youngster Lewis Miley
Newcastle youngster Lewis Miley took his chance in 2023/24, benefitting from the opportunity that presented itself when Sandro Tonali was banned and several of his team-mates were out injured - both for significant periods of time.

He hasn't quite managed to displace the settled trio of Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton this term, but at just 18 years old a season out of the spotlight may do him good in the long-term.

Mikey Moore
Mikey Moore
Tottenham fans were clutching for anything they could earlier this season when losing week after week with players seemingly getting injured in every game, so when 17-year-old academy graduate Mikey Moore scored a meaningless third goal in stoppage time against Elfsborg in the Europa League, that was all they needed.

He started against Brentford in the Premier League three days later and was substituted at half-time.

In the flashes we've seen he looks like a player of serious promise, but it's far too early to judge.

Ayden Heaven
Ayden Heaven
Talking of far too early to judge and clutching at straws, I give you new Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven.

It's almost too perfect that just when United's season was teetering on the edge of total collapse, on the verge of almost needing [insert groan here] divine intervention, a young left-sided centre back poached from Arsenal showed some promise against his former club.

It's far, far too early to tell if he is a player with England potential, but even from his early showings what we can say is it looks as though United have snagged an absolute bargain for a reported £1.5m compensation fee.

Romaine Esse
Romain Esse
If Crystal Palace's track record for plucking players from the EFL is anything to go by, Romaine Esse is a cast iron certainty to play for England.

Signed from Millwall in January, the midfielder will hope to follow in the footsteps of full internationals Ebereche Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton.

With only a handful of top-flight appearances to his name so far, forecasting his development is tricky, but scoring with your first touch is a pretty good start.

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How do Liverpool replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the best right-backs in the history of the game?
By Sam McGuire
Football
Wed March 26, 2025 · 2h ago
It has been one of the worst kept secrets in football.

It wasn’t a case of if Trent Alexander-Arnold might move to Real Madrid, but when. If reports are to be believed, an agreement between the player and the reigning European champions is now close and the England international will be moving to the Spanish capital as a free agent at the end of the season.

This is an inevitable conclusion to what has been a drawn out saga. The La Liga giants have been courting the Liverpool No66 publicly in the media for the best part of two years now. Viewed as the long-term successor to Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid have been working on this deal for well over 18 months.

Whereas the Spanish side have been awfully loud in their pursuit of him, the right-back has shied away from talking about his future. He told the media earlier in the season that he didn’t want contract talks to be played out publicly. Yet, in this scenario especially, his silence has spoken volumes.

Trent
If he wanted to remain at Anfield, the vice-captain has had ample opportunity to make it clear. The fact he hasn’t suggests he’s known all along that his long-term future was at the Santiago Bernabéu and he was just biding his time with the Reds until he could make it official.

And while it isn’t yet official, the fact the likes of David Ornstein is now acknowledging that a move is likely suggests things are closer than ever before.

So what do Liverpool do?

The Premier League leaders aren’t just having to replace any old right-back. They’re going to have to replace one of the best creative players in the world and one of the best right-backs in the history of the game.

Even this season, when the narrative has been that the 33-cap international hasn’t been at his best, he’s still been one of the most creative players in the English top-flight.

Trent
Alexander-Arnold has racked up six assists, the second highest for Liverpool behind Mohamed Salah. He’s carved out 51 chances and 14 big chances. Again, only Salah can beat these numbers.

The No66 has an Expected Assists total of 6.7 for the season, just slightly behind the Egyptian international, but the No66 has fewer minutes to his name. On a per 90 basis, however, Alexander-Arnold leads the way with 0.28. For added context here, Conor Bradley, Liverpool’s second choice right-back, has an xA90 of just 0.06 in the English top-flight in his albeit limited minutes this season.

Looking at how he compares to those across the entirety of the Premier League, Alexander-Arnold ranks sixth for big chances created, joint-eighth for chances created, fourth for xA and sixth for xA90.

He has been a creative maestro, just without the fanfare or acclaim of previous campaigns.

His xA this season is already higher than it was for the 2023/24 campaign. His xA90 is on par with the 2022/23 season when he finished with nine assists.

Alexander-Arnold is actually the most progressive player in the Premier League this season, averaging 11.18 progressive actions per 90. When he leaves, Liverpool lose a creator, a progressor, a game-changer and a game-breaker.


Replacing that is going to be almost impossible. No sole player can do that, not from right-back anyway.

The Reds have been linked with Jeremie Frimpong. While he’s an asset in the final third for Bayer Leverkusen, with four goals and five assists this term, he’s not like Alexander-Arnold in the slightest. There’s an argument to be made that he’s not even a right-back.

The Dutch international has been deployed at wing-back. He’s not much of a passer, averaging just 34 passes per 90 this season, and he’s averaging just 2.17 progressive passes per 90. Alexander-Arnold, on the other hand, is averaging 75 passes and 8.5 progressive passes per 90.

Trent
So Frimpong might chip in with goal involvements but he’s not involved in the initial build-up phase, meaning if he was to sign this summer and join the Dutch contingent at Anfield, Liverpool would need to rejig their midfield too in order to make up for the loss of their No66.

A first phase passer would be needed. Someone to break the lines and get the ball into the feet of the forwards with direct passing. Ryan Gravenberch has performed well as a sitting midfielder for the Reds but that isn’t his natural game. He’s more of a carrier than a passer.

What happens to the midfield three of Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. It has done well this season but none of the trio can be that Alexander-Arnold replacement in the build-up phase, so one of them will have to be sacrificed. Arne Slot and the recruitment team will also have to ensure their midfield options can cover the weaknesses of someone like Frimpong.

All of a sudden, the search for an Alexander-Arnold replacement becomes a much more difficult problem to solve. Multiple players are required, a midfield overhaul might be on the cards to accommodate the changes and big money could well be spent in a bid to fill the void left by the No66. Liverpool have become so reliant on the England international that his departure was always going to be a significant blow to their style.

The Reds aren’t replacing a right-back. They’re almost having to come up with a completely new identity.

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Eberechi Eze helps send Crystal Palace to FA Cup semi-final after 3-0 defeat of Fulham
By Sporting Life
Football
Sat March 29, 2025 · 1h ago
Eberechi Eze's dream week ended with a stunning opener to send Crystal Palace on their way to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Fresh from England duty which included his first international goal, Eze needed no such help from a deflection this time as he fired Palace in front at Craven Cottage.

Minutes later, Eze turned provider as his powerful cross was turned home by Ismaïla Sarr, before Eddie Nketiah capped a 3-0 win for the visitors late in the second half.


Fulham boss Marco Silva felt his side ought to have been ahead early and were then unfortunate to see Adam Wharton escape a second yellow card, when the game was still goalless.

Wharton appeared to kick out at Rodrigo Muniz having already been booked, but no action was taken by VAR and, 10 minutes later, Fulham were behind when Eze struck from range.

From there Palace went on to complete a ruthless display sparked by their star man.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner told ITV: "Key number one was to survive the first 20 mins. We were really rusty after three weeks with no competitive game. Key number two was Eberechi's goal. It's unbelievable, the individual quality.

"It was so important the first goal because we got the belief back, we were really struggling in the beginning. You need something when you're struggling in the game, some positive actions to get the belief back.

"It's not fair to only talk about one player because it was such a great team effort. In the second half there was a lot of pressure because if they (Fulham) score one goal it would be a tight game again.

"It's a great group and everyone is here to help the team."

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Nottingham Forest 1-0 Manchester United: Anthony Elanga fires Forest past former club
By Jake Osgathorpe
Football
Tue April 01, 2025 · 1 min ago
Nottingham Forest edge closer to qualifying for the Champions League thanks to a 1-0 over Manchester United.Nottingham Forest edge closer to qualifying for the Champions League thanks to a 1-0 over Manchester United.

Anthony Elanga, a player sold by United two seasons ago for just £15m, scored a sensational solo goal in just the fifth minute of the game, and that strike turned out to be the winner.

Forest did what they've done best at home this season, got in front and defended valiantly.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have now scored the first goal in 12 of 15 games at the City Ground (80%), and given no side has conceded fewer home goals (10), Forest have built a real recipe for success.

They limited a tame Manchester United side well in the first half, with Ruben Amorim's side creating few chances of note, and the second half followed the same pattern until late on.

The game was stale in the second period, with neither team looking threatening in attack. Forest were happy to cede possession while United failed to carve out clear opportunities.

That was until the introduction of Harry Maguire in the 88th minute, who was basically deployed as a striker.

He caused chaos and could have scored two late goals. Maguire first had a headed opportunity (0.30 xG) go wide before a shot from close range (0.21) beat keeper Matz Sels only for Murillo to clear off the line.

That was the last action of the game, and sparked scenes of both relief and jubilation as Forest hung on for another three points.

The win moves them onto 57 points, some 10 points clear of sixth-placed Newcastle and nine ahead of Manchester City in fifth.

As for Manchester United, it was another away day to forget for Amorim, who has now overseen only three away wins in 10 league road games.

They stay 13th and look destined for a bottom-half finish, being seven points adrift of 10th with just eight games to go.

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Southampton become the 'earliest' side ever relegated from the Premier League
By Tom Carnduff
Football
Sun April 06, 2025 · 18h ago
Southampton have become the 'earliest' side ever relegated from the Premier League following Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Tottenham.

Ivan Juric's side have dropped out of the top-flight after 31 games, beating the previous record of Gameweek 32 held by Huddersfield in 2018/19 and the infamous Derby outfit of 2007/08.

Brennan Johnson's strike just 13 minutes in sent Spurs on their way to victory before he added a second moments prior to the half-time break.

Lucas Bergvall also saw one ruled out for offside, and while Mateus Fernandes halved the deficit with his 90th minute effort, Mathys Tel's late penalty crushed any hopes of a point to avoid the unwanted record.


It's been a disastrous campaign following promotion via the play-offs last season.

Russell Martin guided the Saints back to the Premier League but was dismissed in mid-December following a 5-0 thrashing by Spurs.

At that stage, the club had five points on their tally after 16 games. They'd only won once, that coming against Everton at the beginning of November.

The arrival of Juric just before Christmas failed to deliver a desired upturn in form and results. Taking charge of his first game on Boxing Day, Southampton have managed just one win and one draw in 14 league outings.

Southampton boss Ivan Juric
Ivan Juric failed to keep Southampton in the league
That other victory arrived at fellow promoted side Ipswich, who also look very likely to return to the Sky Bet Championship following Saturday's loss to Wolves.

Kieren McKenna's side are now 12 points adrift of safety despite occupying the final spot in the bottom three. Leicester remain 15 points behind 17th but have a game in-hand over those around them.

What's the current lowest Premier League points tally?
That Derby side of 2007/08 currently own the unwanted record of the lowest single season points total in Premier League history with just 11.

Could Southampton get the lowest ever points tally?
Yes. For that to happen, they'd have to lose all seven of their remaining fixtures.

If they were to draw one of those final games, they'd take joint-ownership of the record with the Rams while two points would be enough to avoid the history books again.

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Leicester break unwanted home record as Ruud van Nistelrooy's side fail to score again
By Tom Carnduff
Football
Tue April 08, 2025 · 2h ago
Leicester have broken an unwanted English football record following Monday's 3-0 defeat to Newcastle.

A brace from Jacob Murphy - both of those coming in the first 11 minutes - alongside Harvey Barnes' strike fired the visitors into a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.

It's an advantage that they would comfortably hold onto, with the Foxes failing to register a shot on target in the second-half.

Leicester 0-3 Newcastle
As Leicester lost the game without scoring, they became the first side in Football League history to lose eight home league games in a row without a goal.

Watford were the previous joint-holders of the record - they had lost seven in a row between December 1971 and March 1972.

Van Nistelrooy also became only the second manager in Premier League history to lose eight successive home games. The first of those being Daniel Farke with Norwich across two seasons (July 2020 to September 2021).

Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester are set to be relegated
"What I want to say is that it’s very disappointing," expressed Van Nistelrooy on Leicester's current losing run.

"If I speak for myself, coming here with the intent to bring the club forward. So far it didn’t work.

"I tried different things, different players, different structures, without results. That’s what I can say about how I feel at this moment."

The Foxes are just weeks away from a likely relegation as they sit 19th in the Premier League table - 15 points adrift of safety with 21 left to play for.

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Newcastle boost Champions League hopes with Eddie Howe in hospital
By Sporting Life
Football
Mon April 14, 2025 · 1h ago
Newcastle beat Manchester United 4-1 on Sunday despite the absence of hospitalised boss Eddie Howe, boosting their Champions League hopes.

Howe was hospitalised on Friday having been taken ill, and speaking prior to the match, assistant Jason Tindall revealed he'd had little involvement in preparations for Sunday's game.

Tindall told Sky Sports: "I think when you've been ill all week it's very difficult to have the kind of input that I'm sure he'd normally have, but the way we work we know the expectations, we've got a fantastic group of players, and they know the demands that the manager and everybody else will put on them, so it's important that they go out and deliver the performance that the manager will be proud of."

Newcastle did that, taking the lead through a fine goal from Sandro Tonali, then responding to Alejandro Garnacho's equaliser thanks to a brace from Harvey Barnes before Bruno Guimaraes capped a dominant display which saw them climb to fourth place in the Premier League table.


That was made possible by Chelsea's 2-2 draw at home against Ipswich, who had led 2-0, and the five sides seemingly battling for three Champions League spots alongside Liverpool and Arsenal are now separated by only three points.

Newcastle are the only side in the top seven who have a game in hand which comes on Wednesday, when they host Crystal Palace. Should they win, they will enter next weekend in third place.

United were poor for the most part, generating just one big chance, and it was a tough day for goalkeeper Altay Bayindir who was brought in to replace Andre Onana.

Ruben Amorim dropped Onana from the matchday squad altogether and said: "Of course, you have to see the context. It is a normal thing. Sometimes, you have to push the player to play again, sometimes you have to let him disconnect a little bit.

"Tomorrow, he will be in training to prepare for the next one so I felt that it was a good time for Andre to disconnect."


Also on Sunday, Liverpool scored late to beat West Ham 2-1, while Tottenham suffered another miserable defeat, this time 4-2 at Wolves.

Under-fire Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou left Son Heung-min out of his squad due to a minor foot injury and kept Micky van de Ven on the bench ahead of a massive Europa League trip to Frankfurt on Thursday.

His side created plenty but their defensive woes, typified by an own goal from Djed Spence, were again costly as Wolves moved to within two points of them, and three of United, in the table.

"It's a funny old game," Postecoglou told Sky Sports. "The performance wasn't too bad, but obviously the goals we conceded made it really difficult for us. In general I thought we were well in the game, but we just kept conceding very poor goals."

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How do Manchester City replace the influential Kevin De Bruyne?
By Ryan Baldi
Football
Fri April 11, 2025 · 4d ago
Last week, via an Instagram post, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed what Manchester City fans had both feared and expected for several months: at the end of the season, he will leave the club.

The Belgian’s departure when his contract at the Etihad expires at the end of the campaign will bring to a close City’s association with arguably the best player in their history and the Premier League career of one of the finest midfielders the league has known.

Signed from Wolfsburg for what at the time was considered an exorbitant £55 million, his 106 goals, 176 assists and major hand in five league titles, two FA Cups, a Champions League and more have since made City’s investment look like a snip.

“You always have to be careful, have respect for the players who play main roles, and incredible players that play for the last, I don’t know, 20, 30 years in this club,” Pep Guardiola said in tribute to De Bruyne after the reigning Premier League champions drew 0-0 with Manchester United last weekend.

“But come on, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest, for sure. Because of his consistency – except the last year, year and a half, that he had injury problems – in important games and not important games, and every three days being there.

“Our success in the last decade, that would be impossible without him.”

Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola
Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola have won plenty together
And so even as the tributes will continue to rain in as De Bruyne faces his final weeks as a City player, thoughts are inevitably already turning to how they will replace their iconic playmaker.

It is perhaps not as pressing a matter as it would have been had the 33-year-old departed, say, two years ago.

As Guardiola alluded to in his post-match remarks, injuries have limited De Bruyne to a bit-part role over the last couple of seasons, with just 15 league starts last term and only 13 so far in 2024-25.

But even with his playing time restricted, De Bruyne has remained typically productive, totalling 22 goal involvements (six goals, 16 assists) across those two injury-hit seasons.

Plus, allowing key players to age beyond their prime and then leave without attempting to replace them is not a team-building recipe for success.

Finding an heir to De Bruyne as the Etihad’s creator-in-chief will be a crucial part of City’s rebuilding efforts as they seek to return to the Premier League’s summit next year and beyond.

Kevin De Bruyne chances created
The answer might already be in-house.

When De Bruyne missed an extended period of play last season, Phil Foden assumed a greater creative burden and thrived, producing the best form of his career.

The versatile England international was voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the year after scoring 27 goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions.

Foden has endured a less individually productive campaign this term, with just seven league goals and two assists to his name. But the diminutive technician is still only 24 years old.

His prime years remain ahead of him and a player of his undisputed quality should be able to rediscover his best form in the near future.

However, owing to his slight frame, Foden would not be a candidate for a like-for-like De Bruyne-esque role, starting slightly deeper in midfield than he is used to.

Jack Grealish heat map
One player who has the physicality and stamina to adapt to a midfield remit, and someone whose City career could be rejuvenated by a reimagining of his role, is Jack Grealish.

The former Aston Villa winger, who was a £100 million signing in 2021, has been little more than a rotational option for Guardiola outside of City’s Treble-winning 2022/23 season.

Grealish is regarded as a candidate for sale this summer, but perhaps it would be worth rolling the dice on a change of position for the 29-year-old winger, tapping into his natural athleticism and experimenting with utilising his dribbling, close control and creativity closer to the middle of the pitch.

What about options elsewhere?
The likeliest option, though, is that City will seek their long-term De Bruyne heir via the transfer market.

They have already been linked with a big-money move for sought-after Germany attacker Florian Wirtz, the young star of Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga triumph last season.

Wirtz would not be a cheap option, valued upwards of £100m, and City would face stiff competition for his signature from long-term suitors like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Florian Wirtz stats
Nor would the 21-year-old be a seamless tactical fit as a De Bruyne replacement, more adept in the kind of hybrid attacking midfield role Foden occupies, as opposed to the “free 8” position in which the Belgian has starred for much of his City career.

While his signing might be a less attractive prospect for City fans, this is why another reported target, Morgan Gibbs-White, makes more sense when it comes to plotting for the post-De Bruyne era.

The Nottingham Forest star can play as a No.10 or as the more advanced player in a midfield three.

And the 25-year-old has proven beyond question his elite pedigree since an eyebrow-raising switch from Wolves to the City Ground in a 2022 deal worth up to £40 million.

Morgan Gibbs-White stats
Over the past two Premier League seasons, Gibbs-White has logged 10 goals and 17 assists within a team who average just a 39.5 per cent share of possession.

That possession statistic – owing to Forest’s counter-attacking style under Nuno Espirito Santo – points to a stylistic adaptation Gibbs-White would have to undergo were he to move to City.

But on the plus side, the midfielder has a long-established chemistry with Foden, dating back to their time together as two of the standout youngsters in England U-17 World Cup-winning side of 2017.

Replacing a player of De Bruyne’s calibre is an arduous task for any club – even one with City’s resources.

But Guardiola has a handful of fascinating options.

[miri-01]

Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle: Unai Emery's side boost Champions League hopes with thumping win
By Joe Townsend
Football
Sat April 19, 2025 · 14h ago
Aston Villa thrashed Newcastle 4-1 to win a fifth successive Premier League game and boost their hopes of returning to the Champions League next season.

Fresh from suffering the heartbreak of losing in the quarter-finals of Europe's top-tier competition despite a stirring fightback to beat PSG on Tuesday night, Unai Emery's side blew Newcastle away in the second half at Villa Park.

Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle: Stats and insight
Fabian Schar had earlier cancelled out Ollie Watkins' first-minute goal to leave the match level at the break, but Villa's superior squad depth proved decisive in the second period as their substitutions helped overpower a tiring Newcastle midfield to score three goals in 11 minutes just after the hour mark.

A sweeping move from back to front first ended with Ian Maatsen deservedly putting the home side back in front before an unfortunate ricochet saw Dan Burn divert the ball into his own net to provide some breathing space.

Moments later substitute Amadou Onana curled home a wonderful strike to make sure Villa's pursuit of a top-five finish continued unabated.

Victory extends their unbeaten home run to 16 matches in all competitions and leaves Emery's team sixth and just two points behind third-placed Newcastle with five matches remaining.

They continue a daunting run-in with a trip to fourth-placed Manchester City on Tuesday, while the Magpies have a week to recover before hosting all-but relegated Ipswich.