Juan Soto's debut game with the New York Mets concluded in unceremonious fashion as Soto struck out to end the game and fall to the Houston Astros.
The Astros held a 3-0 lead for much of the game before Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to bring the score to 3-1. With two outs, runners on first and third base and the game on the line, Soto came up to the plate against Astros closer Josh Hader. Hader pitched three balls to start the plate appearance, but then struck out Soto, sealing the Astros win and Mets loss.
"I was expecting to win the game, definitely is not how we wanted. They're a really good team over there," Soto said after the game. "For me, it was a good experience. These guys are amazing. We've been having a good time since spring training, so we've just got to bring that all the way."
Soto finished his first Mets game 1-for-3 with two walks. The ninth inning strikeout was far from what him and the team hoped after he was signed to a record $765 million deal in free agency this offseason, but he should have plenty of other opportunities this season to come up clutch in the final inning.
Getting a win in his debut with the Mets would have been nice, but it's far from a concern. The Mets started last season by losing their first five games and went on to make the National League Championship Series.
Captain suffers another in-match injury as batting collapses in his absence
Firdose Moonda07-Sep-2025Temba Bavuma has suffered a left calf strain in the field in the third ODI against England and will only bat if required. The severity of the injury is yet to be determined but the niggle may cause some alarm bells for South African cricket. There are five weeks until they begin their World Test Championship title defence in Pakistan.This is Bavuma’s second in-match injury this year, after he strained his hamstring early in his innings during the World Test Championship final in June. On that occasion, he continued batting and made 66 in a match-winning 147 run third-wicket partnership with Aiden Markram. However, he missed South Africa’s Tests in ZImbabwe in July as he recovered from the injury.”It is a little bit sore now. I will know properly when I get home,” Bavuma said, when asked about the seriousness of his injury.Bavuma returned to action in the ODI series against Australia last month, where he played two of the three matches as his workload was managed. That was due to continue in this series but Bavuma has started all three matches. He is not part of the T20 squad and will next be in action in the Tests in mid-October.The latest setback will also be a concern for Bavuma as he looks to build towards the 2027 home ODI World Cup, where he hopes to lead South Africa. Bavuma will be 37 at the time of the tournament and, given his history of injury, may not be fit enough to play through the event. Bavuma had a hamstring injury at the 2023 World Cup and again in Tests against India later that year. He also has a long-standing elbow injury and bats with heavy strapping.In his absence, South Africa collapsed to 72 all out and a record 342-run loss in the third ODI, with Wiaan Mulder – Bavuma’s replacement at No.3 – falling for a duck.
It has been reported how much Premier League suitors have to pay to trigger Antoine Semenyo's release clause ahead of the January transfer window. Semenyo is a wanted man by a number of the division's big hitters, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United among those keen on the Bournemouth star. The Ghanaian was linked with a recent summer move away from the south coast but penned a five-year deal with the Cherries.
Bournemouth keen to keep Semenyo until the summer
However, Bournemouth expect Semenyo to leave the club in the New Year as the Cherries reluctantly accept that they may be powerless to prevent the 25-year-old from leaving the club in the January transfer window. Semenyo has made a flying start to the season under Andoni Iraola having scored six goals and provided an additional three assists for Bournemouth.
The south coast side are keen to retain their star man's services until the end of the season as they look to build upon a fine start to the campaign. Indeed, Bournemouth are currently ninth in the table following back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Aston Villa but level on 18 points with Tottenham, Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool from fifth down to eighth.
Semenyo has been central to that solid start to the campaign even if he has failed to directly contribute to a goal in his last four league outings, which includes a penalty miss in a 4-0 loss at Villa last weekend.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportSpurs, Utd & Liverpool keen on January Semenyo move
Semenyo had his suitors over the summer, with Tottenham and Manchester United previously keen on the forward. However, both teams opted to pursue alternative targets, with Spurs signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, while United acquired Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford, respectively.
Spurs and United have again been linked with a move for Semenyo, while Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the Bournemouth star. A report this week suggested that Liverpool have sounded out a January move for Semenyo as they look to revive their stuttering title defence.
The Reds will also lose Mohamed Salah for the Africa Cup of Nations from mid-December, and they could be without the Egypt international for up to eight matches, which would include games at north London duo Spurs and Arsenal. While Salah has struggled to match last season's expectations, scoring just four goals and providing two assists in the Premier League this season, the Reds are wary about being caught short over the hectic winter period.
Adam Wharton has also emerged as another potential target for Liverpool as the Premier League champions weigh up a move for the Crystal Palace youngster in a bid to shore up their midfield.
Interested parties learn of release clause
Prior to Semenyo's decision to sign a new deal at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth had set a £70 million ($92m) asking price on the forward in a bid to ward off interest. However, in penning a five-year contract with Bournemouth, The Athletic writes that Semenyo now has a release clause of £65m ($86m).
Liverpool broke their transfer record over the summer to sign Alexander Isak, while Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike also made the move to Anfield for hefty fees. Spurs and United, meanwhile, both also spent big in the off-season, and it would take a significant outlay for the Premier League pair to land Semenyo.
However, the release clause must be activated by a set date in January in order to allow Bournemouth to acquire a replacement for Semenyo, but is available to any team. What's more, while the clause stands at £65m in January, interested parties will be able to activate it at a lower price in the summer.
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Getty Images SportSemenyo on Ghana duty before returning to domestic action
Semenyo was part of the Ghana side that started a 2-0 loss to Japan in a friendly on Friday and is expected to feature from the outset against South Korea on Tuesday.
Bournemouth and Semenyo then return to domestic duties with the welcome of West Ham on Saturday afternoon. The Hammers have won back-to-back league matches at the expense of Newcastle and Burnley following a rocky start to the season.
The Cherries round off the month with a trip to high-flying Sunderland as Iraola looks to mastermind a return to winning ways following a downturn in form.
Manchester United are on a better run of form than ever before under Ruben Amorim. They have now gone unbeaten in their last five games, a momentum that they will be looking to keep up ahead of what is set to be another busy festive period.
They will lose some players next month, though, with AFCON set to start just before Christmas. Bryan Mbeumo, who has been one of Amorim’s best players, will be representing Cameroon, and Noussair Mazraoui will be playing for Morocco, who host the competition.
However, perhaps the biggest loss for United will be Ivory Coast international Amad.
Why Amad will be the biggest loss during AFCON
It has not been easy for every member of United’s squad to find a place they fit into Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system. Yet, for Amad, that has been at right wing-back, a role in which he has gelled nicely.
The former Atalanta academy star has become a pivotal player on that right flank for Amorim. His electric ability going forward has been important, and his hard-working nature defensively is something which seemingly makes him a real favourite of the United manager on the right.
This term, the 23-year-old has made all but three of his ten Premier League appearances at right wing-back. Amad has grabbed two assists and a goal whilst playing that role, with the pick of the bunch surely the pass which set Mbeumo up to give the Red Devils an early lead at Anfield last month.
As to why Amad might be viewed as the biggest loss during AFCON, well, United don’t really have anyone else who can play that role like him.
If you take the Ivorian out of the equation, Diogo Dalot and Mazraoui, both full-backs, are the only viable options. The latter, of course, will be away on international duty himself.
So, Amorim may be forced to turn to the academy to help solve this particular issue.
United’s in-house Amad replacement
The academy has so often been the answer to United’s problems. Think back to Marcus Rashford’s debut for the club, when the then 18-year-old was drafted into the Europa League side at the last minute.
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He scored twice on debut, did the same again against Arsenal a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Well, the person who could step into Amad’s shoes when he is on national team duty is Shea Lacey. The youngster is also a right-winger by trade, a position in which he has shone for their academy this season.
In nine games across all competitions for the Red Devils’ youth sides, Lacey has scored three times and assisted a further two. He averages a goal involvement every 101 minutes, mainly operating as a right-winger.
The Liverpool-born forward has always been a highly-rated player. He has shone for several years in a United shirt, notably “beating Lamine Yamal” to the player of the competition award in a junior tournament, as per GOAL’s Richard Martin.
One reason why the youngster could excel as a right wing-back is his crossing ability. Look at this pass he played for Gabriele Biancheri a few weeks back.
Operating from wide on the right, he’s able to move inside and loft a perfect cross into the path of the Wales youth striker, who scored a lovely goal.
Lacey has impressed against senior sides in the EFL Trophy this term, too. The 18-year-old has put up some impressive numbers, averaging one key pass and completing 1.7 dribbles per 90 minutes.
Goals and assists
0.6
2
Key passes
1
3
Dribbles completed
1.7
5
Tackles
2.4
7
Losing Amad will be a blow to United, especially if this upturn in form continues. However, in Lacey, they might have a ready-made wing-back replacement, who, like Amad, will offer plenty going forward.
It could be seen as a risk to play the teenager in a new role, but if Amorim wants to keep in line with the DNA of the club, it might be something he is willing to do.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery told reporters on Tuesday that he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, meaning he will miss the entire 2025 season.
Montgomery exercised a $22.5 million player option for the 2025 season and is expected to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He likely will play for a new team in 2026 as Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick previously said he regrets giving the pitcher a contract in the first place.
Last season—his first year with the Diamondbacks—Montgomery pitched 117 innings in 25 games, posting a 6.23 ERA (the worst in his career when pitching more than two games). He notched 83 strikeouts and 44 walks while giving up 149 hits, 83 runs and 14 home runs.
Montgomery was part of the 2023 World Series-winning Texas Rangers after he was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals in July of that season. Coincidentally, he pitched against the Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the World Series, giving up a 9-1 loss.
He pitched in six postseason games that year, pitching in 37 2/3 innings and posting a 2.63 ERA. He had 24 strikeouts, while also allowing 42 hits, 12 runs and three home runs.
Thiago Silva’s son Isago is following in the footsteps of his famous father, with the teenage wonderkid signing his first professional contract with Chelsea. The 17-year-old, who is also a defender, is held in high regard by Premier League giants at Stamford Bridge. They are hoping to see him become another commanding presence at the heart of their back four.
GettyChelsea ties: Thiago Silva won Champions League with Blues
Thiago Silva once filled that role after moving to west London from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020. He went on to make 155 appearances for the Blues, over the course of four years, savouring Champions League glory in 2021.
Silva, who earned 113 caps for Brazil before announcing his international retirement in 2022, is currently back in his homeland with Fluminense. He is 41 years of age, but has no intention of hanging up his boots any time soon and has seen a return to Europe speculated on.
AdvertisementThiago Silva back in Brazil & separated from family
Such a switch would allow the veteran centre-half to be closer to his family, with his children and wife remaining in England when he headed back to South America. That is because Isago and younger brother Iago are on the books at Chelsea – having followed their father to England from PSG.
Thiago has said of being separated from his family, with the decision taken to return to his roots at Fluminense: “I owe a lot of this to my family, because it's not easy being away. My children had to return now, only my wife stayed.
“They have their mission at Chelsea, to get back to the season. But I know we're making the right choice, they'll follow their path and that will certainly strengthen me now. Even though I'm far away physically, my children are here with me in spirit.”
Thiago Silva & wife Belle react to Chelsea contract
Isago Silva joined Chelsea’s academy ranks at U13 level. He made his debut for the Blues’ U18 team last season. He is said to have “developed into a versatile and reliable defender comfortable operating at both left-back and centre-back”.
The youngster has figured for Chelsea’s U17 and U18 sides this season and was one of 33 academy players to be registered in the club’s Champions League squad for their home fixture against Dutch giants Ajax in October.
Isago has spoken of his pride and excitement at earning professional terms at Stamford Bridge, posting on Instagram as news of his contract broke: “Proud to sign my first pro deal with Chelsea. Hungry for more.”
Thiago shared that post on an Instagram story of his own, as he responded with heart, prayer and teary-eyed emojis. His wife Belle, who has always been a passionate supporter of her husband and children, said: “Congrats and good luck”. She accompanied her post with blue heart and goat emojis.
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Iago Silva selected by England at U15 level
Isago’s development will be monitored closely from this point, as he bids to become a senior star. His brother, Iago, is also heading down that path after earning a first call-up to the England U15 squad.
He has won numerous tournaments with Chelsea at youth level and was selected by the Young Lions in October 2025. That is despite his dad taking in over 100 appearances for Brazil between 2008 and 2022.
Iago said after being selected: “Proud moment to be invited to my first @england camp. The hard work continues.” Thiago responded with: “We are proud of you, my son! May God bless you always.”
Iago may yet pledge allegiance to Brazil, with plenty of players down the years having represented different nations at youth and senior level. For now, he is happy earning recognition with England.
He qualifies for them through residency rules. FIFA’s eligibility system dictates that players who move to a country before the age of 10 can represent said nation after three years of continuous residency. Iago has been part of the ranks at Chelsea for five years, meaning that he can explore a different international path to that one trodden by his famous father.
Leeds United made it three defeats in succession in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.
The Whites had the lead at half-time thanks to a goal from Lukas Nmecha, who bundled the ball in from close range after Anton Stach competed with Emi Martinez for a high ball.
Unfortunately, though, the away side struck twice in the second half, both goals coming from Morgan Rogers, and walked away from West Yorkshire with all three points.
Daniel Farke only made one change to his starting line-up from the side that lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest before the break, and it backfired on the Leeds boss.
The Leeds change that backfired on Daniel Farke
The German head coach opted to take Jaka Bijol out of the team, after he won four of his six duels against Forest, and brought Pascal Struijk back into the side, possibly to have a natural left-footer in that position.
Whilst the Dutchman certainly opens up more passing angles as a left-footer on the left side of the defence, his defensive work left far too much to be desired against the Villans, and that is why the change backfired on the manager.
Per Sofascore, Struijk only won three of his eight duels, losing both of his ground duels, and did not complete a single tackle in the game, which shows that he struggled with the physicality of the match.
The one tackle that the former Ajax man did attempt was his late lunge on Ross Barkley, which resulted in the free-kick from which Rogers scored the winning goal.
Struijk was far from the only poor performer on the pitch, though, as Brenden Aaronson is another player who should be ruthlessly ditched from the starting line-up.
Why Leeds must drop Brenden Aaronson
The USA international had delivered a goal and an assist in the three Premier League matches prior to the international break, which made his inclusion in the side an understandable call from Farke.
However, the return to fitness of Dan James has thrown his place in the line-up into doubt, and their respective performances against Aston Villa on Sunday suggest that the Wales international deserves a chance from the start.
Aaronson, who was awarded a 4/10 player rating by LeedsUnitedNews, lower than Struijk’s 6/10 rating, failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 80 minutes on the pitch, per Sofascore, as he came inside and got crowded out all too often.
Minutes
80
19
Shots
3
3
xG on target
0.15
0.15
Crosses attempted
1
5
Key passes
0
1
Big chances created
0
0
Dribbles completed
1/5
1/1
Possession lost
12x
6x
As you can see in the table above, James offered more to the team on the right flank in 19 minutes than the American lightweight did in his 80-minute outing against the Villans.
The fact that the Welshman attempted five times as many crosses as Aaronson, in roughly an hour less on the pitch, speaks to the difference Leeds could make to their attack by bringing him into the starting XI.
Aaronson, for all his hard work, is not a natural winger who is going to hug the byline and test teams consistently with runs in behind and crosses into the box.
James, however, is that player and almost made an instant impact when his brilliant run and ball across the box led to Dominic Calvert-Lewin finding the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for a handball by the striker.
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The Welshman deserved an assist for his play. Now, he deserves a place in the starting line-up because Aaronson was even worse than Struijk in the defeat to Villa, as he offered little to the team in or out of possession, whilst Struijk, at the very least, completed 95% of his passes and made five clearances, per Sofascore.
Hope and Powell led West Indies’ batting turnaround before the bowlers put in a comprehensive display
Mohammad Isam27-Oct-2025West Indies captain Shai Hope led a batting turnaround that helped his side win by 16 runs against Bangladesh in the first T20I in Chattogram. Hope and Rovman Powell, playing his 100th T20I, put together a late burst of sixes to help the visitors to 165 for 3. In reply, Bangladesh crashed to 42 for 4 in the powerplay, and were bowled out for 149.Jason Holder and Jayden Seales took three wickets each, while Akeal Hosein picked up two in the powerplay.It was, however, Hope and Powell’s unbroken 83-run stand for the fourth wicket that set up victory. Hope scored an unbeaten 46 off 28 balls with a four and four sixes. Powell had similar numbers, facing 28 balls, hitting four sixes and a four, and ending up unbeaten on 44.Nasum keeps WI quietBangladesh began well with the ball. They rallied around Nasum Ahmed’s four overs. He went wicketless but the left-arm spinner kept West Indies quiet, conceding just 15 runs in his quota. Openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze only hit a six each though they stuck around for 8.2 overs. Rishad Hossain bowled Athanaze for 34, when the batter missed a reverse sweep. Taskin Ahmed then removed King, caught at deep square leg for 33.Taskin followed up with the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford, whose Bangladesh ordeal continued. This time, he fell first ball, caught behind. Although Hope struck couple of sixes at this stage, West Indies couldn’t quite push the scoring rate. Nasum finished off his spell with another stingy over, the 15th.Hope, Powell roar in the endHope then went after Rishad with two sixes, but with three over remaining, the visitors looked well short of a decent total. Hope cracked a Taskin half-volley for his fourth six to start the 18th over. Powell, meanwhile, finally middled one with seven balls remaining in the innings.Rovman Powell helped revive West Indies’ innings•AFP/Getty ImagesHe slog-swept Mustafizur Rahman for a 102m six, before creaming Tanzim Hasan for three consecutive sixes in the last over. He hammered Tanzim’s full-toss, before going straight for the next two. West Indies picked up 51 runs in the last three overs, changing the complexion of the contest.Bangladesh crash in the powerplayBangladesh came out all guns blazing in their pursuit of 166 runs. Tanzid Hasan was going at a shot-a-ball but he lasted just five balls, with Romario Shepherd taking a stunning catch running back from mid-on. Litton Das then played a soft shot as Akeal Hosein got the ball to stop on the Bangladesh captain. Caught in two minds, Litton popped back a return catch, with Hosein taking it blind behind the non-striker standing next to him.Hosein then had Saif Hassan caught at short fine leg in the next over, attempting a sweep. When Holder removed Shamim Hossain in the fifth over – clipping off his off-bail – West Indies had made significant progress, with Bangladesh’s last pair of specialist batters at the crease by the end of the powerplay.Tanzim, Nasum make late effortThe hosts continued to slide when Khary Pierre bowled Nurul Hasan off the inside edge in the ninth over. Towhid Hridoy joined the procession when he fell to Seales in the 12th over. He struck just two fours in his 28 off 25 balls.Tanzim Hasan then struck a six and three fours in his 33 off 27 balls, to keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive. He added 40 runs for the seventh wicket with Nasum, before Holder had him caught at deep point in the 16th over. Nasum kept the fire burning with another boundary, but Seales made him his third wicket in the following over.Holder then snuffed out the threat of Rishad, who miscued one to long-off. The innings ended when Taskin stepped on the stumps in the final over, having sent Holder sailing out of the ground in the 18th.
Juan Soto, hitter of home runs and … flipper of bottles?
The New York Mets star added a skill to his impressive resume during his club's 6-1 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
With the Mets leading the Dodgers 6-0 in the top of the ninth inning just a day after losing to Los Angeles on a walk-off, New York's dugout could understandably exhale a bit and let loose.
And that's exactly what they did, as Soto, with a crew of Mets teammates huddled around him near the top step of the dugout, perfectly flipped a bottle of water to the amusement of the Mets broadcast booth.
Mets color analyst Ron Darling took the opportunity to make the perfect joke while invoking Soto's record $765 million contract.
"He's telling them, 'That's why they pay me the big bucks, guys,' " Darling quipped.
In all seriousness, Soto has every reason to have a bit of a pep in his step. After enduring an icy start to his career in Queens, Soto is heating up at the dish, with three home runs, six RBI and six walks in his last six games played. Perhaps the biggest testament to the fact that Soto is indeed feeling more comfortable at the plate is the return of the patented Soto shuffle, his mojo in the batter's box.
Time was when a trip to Anfield was like stepping into your own personal horror movie. Liverpool have spent much time planting the seeds of fear on their home turf, and Jurgen Klopp made that garden grow.
Then Arne Slot put on the gloves and helped Liverpool evolve into an even smoother and more stylish outfit than when Klopp departed, taking the Reds through the campaign and out the other end with a Premier League title in tow.
But that’s no longer the case. This season, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven have all beaten Liverpool on Merseyside. This sanctum of stability has been reduced to just another ground, and Slot has to fix that quickly if he is to continue his project over the coming years.
Liverpool might have avoided defeat at home to Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the point gained merely papers over the glaring problems that have left many fans shaking their heads at the false dawn at West Ham United last weekend.
It was a performance which left plenty to be desired.
How Liverpool performed vs Sunderland
After the draw, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris spoke of his surprise that his side were afforded so much time and space to play through Liverpool and carve out opportunities in the danger area.
There lies the crux of Liverpool’s problems. They are too weak and brittle, not just suffering from a soft underbelly but a doughy outer shell too.
Alexander Isak toiled in the final third, a few wayward strikes illustrating the record signing’s lack of sharpness. However, it is inconceivable that FSG should have spent around £200m on the Swede and Hugo Ekitike only for Slot to implement a system that cuts off pathways to the central strikers.
Some will take encouragement from the home side’s gear-raising final flurry, seeking out a winner after the fleet feet of Florian Wirtz led to a Nordi Mukiele own goal to restore parity.
But Liverpool are not just shorn of confidence but tactical fluency too. Slot’s strategising across the 2024/25 campaign earned him a reputation for being a “genius” and a “football scientist”, as remarked by Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
Gone is that air about the former Feyenoord boss. Against the Black Cats, Liverpool secured a hard-earned point to narrow the gap on Chelsea after their defeat at Leeds United. Elland Road is where Liverpool head next.
But imbalances and erraticness have become indivisible for the champions this season, whose title defence is in tatters and whose players have fallen by the wayside.
Ibrahima Konate was culpable of some shaky moments, as has so often been the case this term, but there was another Redman who struggled against Sunderland, leading observers to suggest he has morphed into that late version of Fabinho.
Liverpool star looks "like Fabinho in his final season"
Alexis Mac Allister has been abject this season, so far removed from the “superstar” of a midfielder, as said by pundit Joe Cole, who influenced Klopp and then Slot’s trophy-winning campaigns of recent years at Liverpool.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates winning the Premier League with Liverpool
Having spoken about this testing start to the season earlier this week, Mac Allister suggested that he is now back to full fitness after missing out on pre-season and suffering early injury issues. But this was a performance that left much to be desired, underlining the drop-off that is suggestive of a player whose athleticism has gone walkabouts.
Against Sunderland, the 26-year-old failed to impress. Again. He was so slow and stodgy on the ball, and while he won both of his tackles and three of five contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, no chances were created by a player who need to do more and remind the Premier League of his all-encompassing skillset.
Goals
0.17
0.00
Assists
0.17
0.20
Touches
64.41
64.04
Pass completion (%)
83.5
85.4
Shot-creating actions
4.16
2.73
Progressive passes
6.13
4.34
Progressive carries
1.25
1.72
Successful take-ons
0.55
0.40
Recoveries
5.13
4.14
Tackles won
2.01
0.61
Interceptions
0.76
0.61
Aerials won
0.66
0.51
After the draw, one content creator even said Mac Allister “looks like Fabinho in his final season”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.
Fabinho was a stalwart for the club over an illustrious period of Klopp-led success, but he did indeed succumb to a loss of aggression and physicality at the end, at the epicentre of Liverpool’s abject 2022/23 campaign.
This feels similar. The only difference is that Mac Allister is supposed to be stepping into the prime of his career, and is instead languishing so far below expectations it beggars belief.
Can Slot spark a turnaround? Should the Dutchman do so, it feels like Mac Allister will be needed in fine and sustainable fettle, and that has been anything but the case over the past several months.
Mac Allister has been terrible, but his struggles are symptomatic of the wider tactical and mental plague that has spread across Slot’s system this season.
It’s not good enough. It needs to change. Mac Allister is 26, but already he is starting to look like the leggy version of Fabinho, who was sold to Saudi Arabia has Klopp began a midfield rebuild that started with Mac Allister’s signature.
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