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Liverpool were taken to the cleaners by Newcastle United on Sunday, a distant second-best as the Magpies earned a 2-1 victory at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup and end 70 years of hurt.

It closed a miserable week for the Reds, whose Champions League campaign tail-spun into the murk as Paris Saint-Germain won the shootout at Anfield. Newcastle’s victory has closed the door on another pathway, leaving the Premier League standing alone over the final two months.

But, of course, it’s not all doom and gloom. Arne Slot’s side are 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the division and can now invest their time and energy exclusively on clinching the covetous trophy. Supporters would have snapped at the chance for such an outcome last summer after Jurgen Klopp departed and Liverpool were prematurely written off.

Maybe it’s the high ceiling Slot has offered a glimpse of that has left such a deflating feeling across Merseyside. Liverpool, to be sure, will be frustrated with having fallen from all three cup fronts, with potential departures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold adding insult to injury.

Liverpool are going to need a revamp at the front of the ship, and Alexander Isak, scorer in the capital on Sunday, is set to be at the top of the wish list.

Liverpool's summer transfer plans

Multiple sources have confirmed over the past few months that Liverpool are attentive to Isak’s situation at St. James’ Park. Arsenal also have a vested interest, and he may yet remain in black and white, potentially buoyed by winning a trophy and potentially qualifying for the Champions League.

For upwards of a reported £150m, Isak’s arrival would blow a blow out of FSG’s transfer chest, perhaps detrimentally so. Newcastle want the Sweden striker to stay for the long run and will fiercely protect him this summer.

He’s desirable, that’s for sure. But Isak isn’t the only player who could fit right in as a starting member of Slot’s Liverpool team. Last summer, Anthony Gordon came close to moving back to Merseyside, but Liverpool ultimately decided against the £75m-rated winger.

With Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all facing uncertain futures at Liverpool, such interest may be revisited. However, there’s actually another member of Eddie Howe’s outfit who should be prioritised above his peers in the market this year.

Forget Isak: Liverpool might need another Newcastle star

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano discussed several plot points regarding Liverpool’s plans this summer, confirming talks have been held regarding Isak.

However, there’s another Newcastle man Slot may want to sign this summer, and he’s not a forward.

Since arriving in the Premier League in January 2022, Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation in midfield for the Toon. The £40m signing from Lyon was described as a “world-class” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig. With such an impressive all-round game, you’d say Guimaraes would dovetail right into the Liverpool starting lineup.

According to FBref, the Brazilian bears a distinct statistical likeness to Jude Bellingham, Alexis Mac Allister and Declan Rice, an amalgamation of the three, capable of excelling across the different functions of an elite midfielder.

At Wembley, Guimaraes might not have retained the ball with the greatest crispness, but it mattered not. Newcastle were content with Liverpool holding onto the ball and doing little with it. His combative and tenacious nature showed though, winning a whopping nine duels, making six interventions and just putting in a worthy shift for the trophy.

It’s this kind of presence Liverpool need in their centre, offering something more crunching to pack an extra punch while still retaining every bit of technical style. Guimaraes led his team and followed PSG’s blueprint, both sides steamrolling the Reds out of cup competitions.

Minutes played

90′

67′

74′

Touches

40

45

53

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

0 (0)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

14/22 (64%)

28/33 (85%)

34/42 (81%)

Key passes

2

0

0

Dribbles

1/1

1/2

1/1

Tackles + interceptions

6

1

3

Duels won

9/14

2/7

3/7

The Guardian even handed Guimaraes a 9/10 match rating after his display at Wembley, hailing his success in imposing himself on his Liverpool adversaries, overwhelming them.

His passing range is something to behold, a technical level most all high-performing midfielders across Europe can only dream of.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals + assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

If you’re not convinced already, well-respected analyst Raj Chohan said “Newcastle have every right to be putting a £100m valuation” on their general, whose dynamic and all-encompassing midfield qualities would not be found in a replacement.

That said, if FSG do indeed have money to burn this year, there are few options in that exorbitant ballpark who would be worth the effort more than Guimaraes, who could reinforce the central fold and unlock a new level to Slot’s team. He ran the show at Wembley, after all.

When discussing Liverpool’s interest in Isak, Romano also suggested midfield could be an area FSG do business in the summer. “Let’s see what happens,” he said.

Given Liverpool were reported to have been keen last summer, perhaps they could now revisit a deal.

Slot’s reluctance to change his starting options in the centre this year does make a telling comment on his view toward some fringe options. Guimaraes would change all of that; in fact, the midfield machine might just become the cream of Liverpool’s crop.

His worst display in Liverpool red: 3/10 star was even worse than Jota

Arne Slot’s abject Liverpool side were defeated by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 16, 2025

Bowler admits to rustiness after injury, but warns he’ll be ‘done’ if conditions are same all series

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2023James Anderson has admitted that the Edgbaston pitch for the first Ashes Test was “like kryptonite” for him, and warns that if the surfaces for the remaining four matches of the series prove to be similarly flat, then he will be “done”.Anderson, who turns 41 next month, returned the disappointing figures of 1 for 109 in 38 overs during Australia’s two-wicket win in the first Test, and was noticeably overlooked for the crucial new ball when England were striving for a breakthrough on the tense final afternoon.He was unlucky in his first spell of the second innings, when Usman Khawaja – Australia’s player of the match – edged at a catchable height past Jonny Bairstow in Anderson’s first over. But overall, he conceded that his body had felt rusty in his first outing since picking up a groin strain while playing for Lancashire in the County Championship last month.Related

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“This is an Ashes series. It is a big deal,” Anderson wrote in his column in The Telegraph. “When you play on a flat pitch like the one at Edgbaston and take a wicket, a bit more emotion does come out because you have worked extra hard for it.”That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace. I’ve tried over the years to hone my skills so I can bowl in any conditions but everything I tried made no difference. I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. It’s a long series and hopefully, I can contribute at some point, but if all the pitches are like that I’m done in the Ashes series.”With Anderson below his best, England struggled for penetration at key moments at Edgbaston, and having encountered some difficulty in dislodging Ireland on the final day of their recent Test at Lord’s, there will doubtless be some temptation to bring in the extra pace of Mark Wood for next week’s second Test at the same venue.Anderson, however, is confident that he will be better for the game-time, regardless of his disappointing showing.”There was a bit of rustiness but I gave it everything I could,” he said. “Having played for a long time, I realise you can’t take wickets every game. Sometimes it is not your week. It felt like that for me. I know I wasn’t on top of my game this week. It was not my best performance. I know I have more to offer and contribute to the team.”The body felt quite good. There is some stiffness but I put that down to the unique conditions. We were running in on a very soft outfield then landing on a rock-hard pitch and that takes its toll on the body more than normal. All the bowlers were feeling that a bit.”Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson led the line for England’s quicks at Edgbaston, with Robinson returning the commendable figures of 40.4-12-98-5 across the two innings. However, his performance was equally notable for his on-field run-in with Usman Khawaja, which has since developed into an ongoing feud with Australia’s media as a whole, following more outspoken comments in his column for Wisden.com.Anderson even stepped in to pull Robinson away from a contratemps with Khawaja in the second innings, but insisted in his column that he wouldn’t be encouraging him to tone down his attitude as the series progresses.”I don’t want Ollie to change,” Anderson said. “I like him getting fired up. He bowls better when he is in that mood. From personal experience, I know I bowl better when I am a bit more aggressive and intense.”I stepped in to chat to Ollie when he and Usman were having an exchange of views in the second innings. It was gentle stuff, they were just talking cricket.”Whenever I watched cricket as a kid I wanted to see bowlers fired up. It makes for better theatre and is a lot more enjoyable to watch. Everyone is just encouraged to be themselves in our team. Some people don’t like getting into a verbal battle. Some do. Robbo thrives on it.”

Nottingham Forest are having a brilliant campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo and there is every chance their progress could secure Champions League football, which is bound to appeal to prospective summer targets.

Nottingham Forest could enjoy a transformational summer window

At the beginning of the season, there wouldn’t have been too many Premier League fans who would’ve had Nottingham Forest on their bingo card to finish in the Champions League slots.

Nevertheless, the Tricky Trees have put themselves in a remarkable position with nine matches left to play, potentially paving the way for an exciting market period at the City Ground.

Pushing their level of ambition to the limit, Nottingham Forest have made contact with Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres’s representatives. The Sweden international is viewed as an ideal long-term replacement for prolific marksman Chris Wood.

Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham is also of interest to the East Midlands-based outfit. Securing a mercurial return to Europe’s top table doesn’t seem to be enough for Espirito Santo, so it is no surprise he is aiming to cement their status as one of the most exciting sides in the English pyramid.

While their efforts in the Premier League could reap significant rewards, Nottingham Forest still find themselves in contention for the FA Cup and evidence that silverware is achievable at the City Ground is only likely to further their scope for savvy recruitment.

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He could be a fantastic addition this summer.

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Undoubtedly, the temptation to shell out big fees for premium talent will be on the mind of Evangelos Marinakis. However, value for money appears to be king under Espirito Santo’s reign if their latest target’s contract situation is anything to go by.

Nottingham Forest position themselves for cut-price Yoane Wissa deal

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are set to reignite their attempts to sign Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and could land the in-form frontman for a ‘reduced price’ of between £15-20 million, as per Pete O’Rourke.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international will enter the final year of his deal at the Gtech Community Stadium this summer and is viewed internally as ‘smart business’ should the Tricky Trees manage to push an agreement over the line.

Yoane Wissa’s excellent season for Brentford

Appearances

30

Goals

15

Assists

2

Shot-creating actions (Premier League)

49

Non-penalty Expected Goals (Premier League)

13.6 XG value

Labelled “remarkable” by Bees boss Thomas Frank, he has also managed to create 17 chances and take 117 touches in the opposition’s penalty area this campaign on league duty, illustrating his capacity to bring others into play.

Stepping forward to fill the void left by Ivan Toney’s departure, Wissa has proven himself as a Premier League starter and may be cashed in on by Brentford to avoid the scenario where he departs on a free transfer in 2026.

Seizing their opportunity, Nottingham Forest will now hope to convince the 28-year-old that committing his future at the City Ground is the best course of action in light of the club’s upward trajectory.

Alejandro Garnacho has been filmed appearing to shove a fan as the Manchester United winger's future remains up in the air.

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United willing to sell GarnachoRuben Amorim has exiled ArgentineVideo shows him clashing with fanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Garnacho has been filmed being approached by a supporter, who asks him to choose between countryman Lionel Messi and his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. Garnacho does not answer, but appears to push the fan away, who reacts with surprise, and tells the winger: "Bro, you pushed me".

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Garnacho is seemingly on his way out of Old Trafford after manager Ruben Amorim reportedly told the Argentine to "pray" he can find a new club. The winger brutally labelled the club's season as "sh*t" after their Europa League final defeat, and is now said to be keen on a potential move to Chelsea, despite rival interest from Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen.

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Garnacho's future will need to be decided soon. All signs point to an exit before United play their first pre-season friendly – a clash with Leeds in the United States on July 19.

Australia captain admits to “strange” feeling but targets series win at The Oval

Andrew McGlashan23-Jul-2023In contrast to four years ago, there won’t be any big celebrations from Australia on retaining the Ashes with Pat Cummins aware the Manchester rain helped them escape with a draw after being dominated by England.Cummins was part of the side in 2019 when they eventually shared the series 2-2 having also retained the urn at Old Trafford, albeit with a convincing victory on that occasion, and those who featured that year have often spoken about it leaving unfinished business.There was a flatness all-round at the end of this game with England knowing their chance of regaining the Ashes had gone while the visitors were aware they’d put in one of their worst performances under the Cummins-Andrew McDonald era. However, Cummins did make reference to their earlier success in the series which put them 2-0 up.Related

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“It’s a bit of a strange one,” Cummins said. “As a group [we’re] proud that we’ve retained the Ashes but it’s off the back of not our greatest week. It feels like it’s good to retain the Ashes, but we know we’ve got a fair bit of work to do for next week.”I don’t think there will be huge celebrations. Maybe a bit of a pat on the back for retaining the [Ashes]. There’s been a lot of work gone into putting us into a position where a draw does make us retain the Ashes. But there’s a Test match starting in three days so that’s going to be our full focus.”It’s a pretty similar group to 2019 when we retained it and we all came away feeling okay but we felt like we’d just missed what we’d come over to achieve. In some regards whatever happened today wouldn’t really change how we look at next week. We want to win it to make sure we win it outright.”Barring Marnus Labuschagne, who had an excellent Test with scores of 51 and 111, there wasn’t a part of Australia’s performance that functioned close to their top level. But one of the main areas that came in for focus was Cummins’ captaincy during England’s rampaging innings of 592 which came at more than five an over.Cummins insisted he had not felt overwhelmed as a captain and instead turned the focus on his own bowling which fell significantly below his usual high standards.”As a bowler it’s frustrating that I didn’t bowl very well at all, not up to the standards I try and keep myself to,” he said. “I let through more boundaries than I normally do. Probably just one or two bad balls an over. I don’t know [why] really. [My] rhythm felt pretty good, I felt like I was pretty clear in my own mind with plans.”In terms of captaincy I think there has been a few of those moments where the [England] batters have played well, the game moves very quickly.”We knew coming into this series they were probably going to have a couple of days where it went their way and the game moves really quickly, so it was one of those days. It’s tough, frustrating, but that’s cricket. We’ve been on the other side of it plenty of times.”The game most dramatically ran away from Australia in the middle session of the second day where Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali and Joe Root racked up 178 in 25 overs with the visitors unable to find a response. The innings then ended in chaotic fashion as well with Jonny Bairstow and Jimmy Anderson added 66 for the last wicket.”That two-hour block in the middle session wasn’t our best,” Cummins said. “We tried to throw a few different plans at them and maybe on another day they work, a couple of the edges carry through or some of the catches go to hand, but I thought they batted well. I was pretty proud of the end of that day. We were able to wrestle back some of that control.”You definitely look at what you can try and do differently for next time,” he added. “That will be part of this week for sure. I think there are some obvious things we could do a little bit differently. Maybe some plans, the way we executed our bowling.”However, Cummins picked out Australia’s first innings when they left themselves on the back foot with a total of 317 where numerous starts from the top order weren’t converted as five of the top six reached 32.”We probably left a few runs out there in the first innings,” he said. “That was a really good wicket to bat on day one. But historically we have been really good [at] that so it’s not something I’m super worried about, but it’s a good time to look back at all our games and have a think about what we could do differently and put that into action for next week.”