All posts by n8rngtd.top

Chelsea are eyeing a move for Sporting CP wonderkid Dario Essugo in the summer transfer window.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Another wonderkid at Chelsea
• Blues want Sporting's Essugo
• Player on loan at Las Palmas

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea saw a host of want-away stars leaving the club on loan in the recently concluded January transfer window. Players like Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and Joao Felix, who were struggling for minutes under Enzo Maresca, have all found new homes, albeit temporarily. They also made a signing in January as they brought in midfielder Mathis Amougou from Saint-Etienne.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After securing the signature of Amougou, the Blues have now turned their attention towards another teenager sensation as they look to sign 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo from Sporting CP, according to . The teenager is currently on loan at Las Palmas but is expected to exit Sporting next summer amid interest from England and Spain.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sporting value the player at around €20m (£16m/$20m) and are expected to demand a similar from the Blues or any other club who come knocking at their door at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Enzo Maresca's side will be back in action in the FA Cup this weekend as they take on Brighton in the fourth round on Saturday.

Aston Villa has had some brilliant strikers in the past, the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor, Christian Benteke and Dwight Yorke being just a few of them.

Agbonlahor scored 86 goals in 391 games played, sitting fourth in Villa’s all-time scorers list, whilst Yorke scored 88 goals in 264 outings, sitting third on the list. Peter Withe sits second in the list with 90 goals, whilst top of the list is Johnny Dixon with 101 strikes.

But Ollie Watkins already featured highly on the list, having scored 74 times in 176 matches. The 28-year-old is on track to become Villa’s all-time top scorer if he stays at the club and hits 250-300 games played, scoring at the same rate he is now.

But, once upon time, it looked as though he could leave the Midlands behind…

When Gerrard wanted to sell Watkins

Back in August 2022, Reports emerged suggesting that Everton were interested in signing the attacker from Villa, with it believed Steven Gerrard would have been willing to let him go with one source suggesting they didn’t see “eye to eye”.

Watkins has gone on to play 177 games for Villa, scoring 74 goals, providing 29 assists and totaling 14,698 minutes for the club.

He is now the club’s sixth-highest goalscorer of all-time, and could eclipse the aforementioned Dixon in first place if he stays at the club for the foreseeable future.

The 28-year-old only scored ten goals in 39 appearances for Gerrard, but has repaid the faith shown in him by Unai Emery, scoring 45 goals in 87 games for the Spaniard, also providing 20 assists.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Ollie Watkins' record under Unai Emery

The improvement Watkins has made under Emery is especially impressive when you take into account the individual metrics rather than just his G/A improvement.

Studying the stats, you can see Watkin’s gradual improvement in all facets of play.

You can see Watkins has improved in every metric from the 2022/23 season, becoming more progressive in the 23/24 campaign (both passes and carries), and continuing to become even more clinical in front of goal, going from a 0.17 goal/shot ratio in 22/23, to a 0.21 ratio in 24/25 so far.

Not only has this improved in his own goal scoring metrics, but his creation is also up, with 1.27 key passes per 90, more touches in the penalty area, and more assists (and expected assists), another metric that has risen each year since 22/23.

It was perhaps unsurprising, therefore, to see him take home the ‘playmaker’ award in the Premier League last term for the division’s highest tally of assist.

Emery has allowed Watkins to flourish, putting the right things in place to get the best out of the England international and the Spanish manager will be very glad Gerrard didn’t get his wish, and the goal-machine wasn’t sold back in 2022. He has become an elite striker, one of the best in English football.

Aston Villa may have just found their new Jack Grealish vs Bayern

He could be sold for a fortune after his exploits so far this season.

1

By
Matt Dawson

Oct 3, 2024

The Spanish wonderkid put in a fantastic display but Barca had a tough time against their Italian opponents

Lamine Yamal's magic was not enough for Barcelona as the Spanish side twice surrendered a lead to draw 2-2 with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday. The 17-year-old winger quickly emerged as the Catalan side's most dangerous player and opened the scoring, but the visitors were able to stay in the game and deprive Hansi Flick's men of finishing top of the league phase of the competition.

Amid Barca's slow start and some promising moments from the Italians, it was Gian Piero Gasperini's team who first put the ball in the net in the 36th minute, capitalising on some awful Barcelona defending as the ball fell to an unmarked Davide Zappacosta to fire home, but a VAR review revealed he was offside.

Within 90 seconds of the restart, Barca hit their guests on the counterattack. As the ball came out to Raphinha, he sent it into Yamal's path and he took it around the goalkeeper and followed it in.

It was Yamal who kickstarted Barca's next dangerous attack as he picked out Robert Lewandowski with a pass. The Polish striker looked destined to score as he charged towards goal but he stumbled and fell as the ball missed the target. Moments later, Yamal weaved his way into a great position to score but his shot was saved.

Despite the promising moves, Barcelona still looked vulnerable and Atalanta finally exposed that in the 67th minute when Ederson received the ball outside the box, skipped past Pedri and fired in a beautiful goal.

Barca were back in the lead within five minutes, though, when a Raphinha corner found Ronald Araujo on his own at the back post and the defender headed in, but Atalanta refused to give up and pulled level through Mario Pasalic, who held off Jules Kounde and Araujo's challenges to knock through Wojciech Szczesny from close range.

The Catalan side pushed for a winner and came close in the dying stages, but were forced to settle for a point.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (5/10):

  Denied an effort from close range early on but saw the equaliser go through his legs.

  Jules Kounde (5/10):

  Found it tough dealing with Atalanta's style, leaving big spaces in key areas.

  Ronald Araujo (6/10):

  Woeful at building up and had a few shaky moments defensively, but he headed in a key goal.

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  Not the best one to partner Araujo, he looked vulnerable against a lively attack.

  Alejandro Balde (7/10):

  A strong performance defensively and he offered support on the left wing.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Frenkie de Jong (5/10):

  Slowed down Barca's attack by passing backwards too often.

  Pedri (6/10):

  Managed to stay calm on the ball despite Atalanta's pressure but was wrecked by Ederson for the goal.

  Gavi (6/10):

  Far from his best in the first half but offered more after the break with his movement and passing.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (8/10):

  Another fantastic performance as he looked to spark Barca into life and did so with the opening goal.

  Robert Lewandowski (3/10):

  Wasted his one big chance in comical fashion before he went off in the 69th minute.

  Raphinha (7/10):

  Set up Yamal with a fine cross and then planted it on Araujo's head for the second.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Fermin Lopez (5/10):

  Tried to find space between the lines but Barca had a tough time finding him.

  Ferran Torres (6/10):

  Had a tricky header go over the bar and a decent shot saved.

  Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

  Came on for the last 20 minutes and looked good.

  Marc Casado (N/A):

  A late introduction.

  Pau Victor (N/A):

  Replaced Yamal in stoppage time.

  Hansi Flick (6/10):

  Will be worried by how well Atalanta were able to stifle his team but they had chances to win it.

Leeds United secured a huge win at Elland Road on Friday night as they returned from the international break to claim all three points against Sheffield United.

Their opponents had kept six successive clean sheets in the Championship heading into the match and the Whites were able to breach their Stoic defence twice, with both goals coming in the second half.

Captain Pascal Struijk brilliantly guided a corner into the top corner with a sweet half-volley, before substitute Mateo Joseph sealed the win with a composed finish under pressure inside the box.

The Leeds skipper, who opened the scoring, was one of the most impressive performers on the pitch with his work in and out of possession on Friday.

Pascal Struik's performance against Sheffield United

The Dutch titan, of course, made the breakthrough for the West Yorkshire outfit with a fantastic finish from the corner, but his all-round display was also superb.

Struijk completed 91% of his attempted passes throughout the game, with 75 completed in total, as he remained composed in possession to help build attacks up from the back.

The central defender also won four of his six duels and made three tackles and one interception, to keep the likes of Kieffer Moore, Gustavo Hamer, and Callum O’Hare relatively quiet.

Sheffield United ended the match with just 0.20 xG and zero shots on target against Illan Meslier, which illustrates how well the team defended on the night – Struijk being a huge part of that.

There was one player, however, who was even better than the Leeds captain against the Blades at Elland Road – central midfielder Joe Rothwell.

Joe Rothwell's performance against Sheffield United

The Bournemouth loanee, who has been given an opportunity after injuries to Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu, was incredible in the middle of the park to dictate the game alongside Ao Tanaka.

Rothwell was described as “influential” by Sky Sports commentator Don Hutchinson during the live coverage, whilst LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross dubbed him ‘immense’ and awarded the star a 9/10 player rating.

They were underselling his performances, if anything, as the central midfielder provided a metronomic presence in midfield to stop Sheffield United from getting anywhere near Leeds for large periods of the game.

As you can see in the table above, he completed a whopping 94% of his attempted passes – an even higher success rate than Struijk’s – and the Blades could not stop him from doing what he wanted to do on the ball.

Rothwell was not cautious with his use of possession, either, as he created three chances and one ‘big chance’ – assisting the defender’s goal with a clever corner routine as well.

The English dynamo also showcased his quality off the ball with three interceptions and one block to protect his goal and to win possession back for his side.

Leeds thought they had a "frightening" Raphinha heir but he's already left

The Leeds forward only lasted one season at Elland Road before moving on.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 17, 2024

As Rothwell’s immense play in and off the ball was so crucial to Leeds’ dominance in the game, and he created the first goal for Struijk, he was the real hero and star of the show for Daniel Farke on Friday.

Inter Miami's attacking duo were kept quiet, while a late Fafa Picault equalizer saved the Herons' blushes after some woeful defending in a 2-2 draw

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Messi and Suarez failed to make an impact in a frustrating tie
• Woeful defending let Miami down
• Suarez held scoreless for fifth straight game

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• TELL ME MORE

  Inter Miami dropped points for the first time in preseason as in-state rivals Orlando City SC shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

  Orlando City struck first, a well-worked counterattack giving Martin Ojeda a clean look on goal – which he made the most of with a dink over the goalkeeper. Miami responded soon after, a quick interchange between Tadeo Allende and Suarez crafting an easy chance for the Argentine, who slotted into the far corner. Orlando should have made it two after 39 minutes, but a tidy save from Oscar Ustari denied Marco Pasalic's effort.

  Orlando came alive after the break. A Hector Martinez blunder handed their second, the center back miscontrolling a long ball, which Orlando dutifully crafted into an easy chance for Ramiro Enrique – who buried from close range. Fafa Picault saved Miami's blushes with a tidy finish in the 93rd minute.

  Messi, for his part, was exciting in moments, but couldn't quite make the difference. He put two free kicks narrowly wide and looked bright for brief spells. However, the magic never quite came off for him.

Advertisement

• DID YOU KNOW?

  had won four straight in the preseason before Friday, with all wins coming against Mexican and Central American opposition. MLS opponents, it seems, will offer much more of a challenge.

• IMAGN
  

  THE MVP

  This was always going to be a strange game for Orlando to approach. Miami, of course, likes to have possession, and have the kind of technical quality on the ball to be relatively press-resistant. , then, were always going to have to pick their moments to strike, and be opportunistic on the break.

  Ojeda embodied that outlook in full. He scored one, assisted another, and picked up all sorts of pockets of space around Sergio Busquets – making life uncomfortable for Miami throughout. The best 10 on the pitch Friday night wasn't wearing Miami black…

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• THE BIG LOSER

  It isn't quite coming off for Suarez at the moment. The Uruguayan is doing all of the basics right here. He gets into good positions, makes the right runs, and pulls off the usual slew of dinks and flicks around the box. But that killer moment that has defined his game over the course of his 20-year career was missing in Miami's preseason finale.

  He was a little unlucky here and had a wonderful goal ruled out for a dubious offside. Still, there were one or two half chances that a usual Suarez might bury that went awry. He will surely find a rhythm soon, but this hasn't been the best preseason after Miami elected to bring him back for another year.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are reportedly willing to part ways with another one of their young talents in the year to come, and are even willing to let him cross north London and join rivals Tottenham.

Arsenal ruing Chido Obi-Martin exit

Arsenal have seen some high-profile young talents leave the club in recent seasons, and there are fears that they may have just made another mistake.

The major case in previous years was with Serge Gnabry, who was wasted on loan at struggling Premier League side West Brom before becoming one of the best wingers in world football at Bayern Munich.

This summer, another gem escaped their grasp in the form of Chido Obi Martin, who tore the U18s apart in Arsenal colours last season, scoring 32 times in just 18 games, scoring at a rate of once every 45 minutes.

He secured a high-profile move to Manchester United over the most recent transfer window, and got his Red Devils career off to the perfect start, scoring after just 15 seconds on his way to a 14-minute hat-trick in the U18s.

Still just 16 years old, the young Danish talent is expected to work through the age groups this season, but his form could well see him fast-tracked to the first team should it continue. This would leave Arsenal once again feeling shortchanged as they look for a dominant no.9 of their own amid links to the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak.
Now, reports suggest another impressive talent could be let go, and his success might hurt even more.

Tottenham look to sign Arsenal gem

That comes as a report from Spain claims that Tottenham are keeping a very close eye on Arsenal loanee Karl Hein, who is currently out on loan at Real Valladolid.

The 22-year-old, who has made just one senior appearance for the Gunners, has turned in a series of impressive performances in LaLiga, keeping three clean sheets in 11 outings thus far.

Growing feeling inside Arsenal that "strongest striker" could sign for them

The Gunners think they’ve got a real chance.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 26, 2024

And as per the report, Hein has caught the eye of both Tottenham and Chelsea as the London pair look to strengthen their ranks, and the Estonian “fits the profile” of the goalkeeper that they want to bring in.

It is added that Arsenal “could consider selling him in the next transfer window”, though a summer sale is more likely than a winter one given his loan agreement in Spain. Indeed, the Gunners have even set a price, with the report claiming that they “would be willing to sell the young Estonian for between 15-20 million” euros (£12.5m-£17m).

The goalkeeper signed a new contract with the club last summer, and Arteta admitted that he had been left impressed by the 22-year-old.

“Karl impresses us on a daily basis with his attitude and commitment,” the Gunners boss explained. “We appreciate being able to contribute to his development. I would like to congratulate him on earning a new contract.”

With Neto only in north London on loan, there is a vacancy at the Emirates Stadium, but a first-team spot elsewhere in London may be an offer too good to refuse if it arrives.

Real Madrid striker Endrick has had to deal with a lack of playing time during his debut season at the defending European champions.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Endrick joined Madrid last summer
• Has found it tough to get minutes
• Teenager shared his feelings

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Endrick, the latest young sensation to join Real Madrid from South America, voiced his feelings regarding his lack of playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu in his debut season, citing that while being a part of this club is a privilege, it comes with added pressure.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It was never going to be easy for Endrick to find a regular role under Carlo Ancelotti, given that the Italian coach has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in attack. Indeed, Real Madrid's front line is a powerhouse, featuring world-class talents like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, each one a standout in their own right.

  However, the 18-year-old Brazilian has shown what he's capable of in the short time he has spent on the pitch. In 401 minutes, Endrick has scored five goals, averaging a goal every 80 minutes. He even bailed out Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 against Celta Vigo, scoring two goals in extra time after full-time.

• WHAT ENDRICK SAID

  "Here I am playing with many talents who can be declared the best in the world," Endrick told UOL (h/t Football Espana). "It is incredible to have them all by my side, helping me, but I have to improve in every exercise to be at their level, not only in matches, but also in training.

  "Being part of Real Madrid is an honour, but also a challenge."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• GOAL/Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

  Endrick will be desperate to get some minutes in Real Madrid's next game, which they play against Girona at the Bernabeu on Sunday, February 23.

Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus believes Serhou Guirassy should've been signed by the Bavarians in 2023, when they signed Harry Kane.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Matthaus praises Dortmund striker Guirassy
• Wanted Bayern to sign Guinea international
• Guirassy is Champions League's top scorer this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Bayern Munich player Lothar Matthaus believes that Serhou Guirassy would have been the ideal number nine for the Bavarians and they should have signed him in 2023. The summer of 2023 was a big one for Die Roten as they signed Harry Kane from Spurs for a club-record fee.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guirassy has been among the best strikers in Europe this season, thriving at Borussia Dortmund. In what has been an otherwise bleak campaign for BVB, Guirassy has scored 10 goals for the men in Black and Yellow in the Champions League, sitting at the top of the goal scorers list in the competition. The 28-year-old has scored 23 goals in 31 games in all competitions.

  On the other hand, Kane has been at his usual best, scoring goals left, right, and center for Bayern. He has scored 73 goals in 77 games since arriving in 2023, showing no signs of decline even though he is approaching the age of 32.

• WHAT LOTHAR MATTHAUS SAID

  "I said two years ago that he is a striker for Bayern Munich," Matthaus said while speaking on Sky Sports (h/t BILD).

  "His speed, his power and his assertiveness make him strong. For me he is one of the best strikers in Europe. He showed that during his last year in Stuttgart, and now he is showing it in the league and in the Champions League."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR SERHOU GUIRASSY?

  Guirassy fired four goals against Union Berlin over the weekend. He will next be seen in action against FC St. Pauli on Saturday, March 1.

Manchester United currently have a plethora of attacking talent on the books at the disposal of new boss Ruben Amorim, with the Sporting CP manager set to take over the Red Devils in the coming days.

The 39-year-old will be looking to fine-tune the group of forwards, with the club struggling to find the back of the net during the early stages of the new campaign.

Under former boss Erik ten Hag, they only managed to notch eight goals in nine matches, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the club’s ninth Premier League goal under Ruud van Nistelrooy during the recent draw with Chelsea.

Players such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Joshua Zirkee have all failed to impress during 2024/25 – with the aforementioned trio only scoring a combined two league goals so far this season.

The Brazilian cost the Red Devils £85m on his own, now looking to be a huge waste of money, potentially seeing new boss Amorim wish his new outfit had a player similar to a former fans-favourite in his prime.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s stats at Manchester United

Back in the summer of 2003, Portuguese talent Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in Manchester as an unknown quantity to many, but quickly cemented himself as a first-team regular – creating endless moments of magic at Old Trafford.

He would go on to make 277 appearances during his first stint in the Premier League, scoring 112 times – helping United win various trophies alongside his personal success.

Ronaldo would be part of three title-winning squads under Sir Alex Ferguson, also claiming a Champions League triumph back in 2007/08 over fellow English side Chelsea in Moscow.

The league and Champions League double, along with his tally of 42 goals in just 49 matches, saw him claim his first Ballon d’Or – his first of five during his successful career at the top level of European football.

He would only enjoy one more season at Old Trafford before swapping England for Spain in a mega £80m deal to join LaLiga giants Real Madrid- a then world record transfer fee.

Ronaldo would spend 18 months back at the Theatre of Dreams between 2021 and 2023, but a bust-up with former boss Ten Hag would end his dream return with United before he was subsequently shipped off to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

However, in January, the club could be presented with an opportunity to land a talent who could be their new version of the Portuguese superstar.

Man Utd interested in 17-year-old sensation

According to Manchester Evening News, Man Utd are currently tracking Sporting winger Geovany Quenda ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford.

The 17-year-old, who currently plays for Amorim’s side, has already caught the eye in this campaign, producing a stellar display in the 4-1 victory over Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Quenda has already made 17 appearances for the Liga Portugal outfit during 2024/25, scoring just once, but demonstrating the qualities of a talent way beyond his tender years.

The “unreal” winger, as dubbed by Statman Dave, has created 17 chances in his ten league outings, completing 71% of his dribbles – showcasing his ability to create opportunities in the final third – just as a young Ronaldo did at Sporting before moving to England.

However, Quenda has also won 65% of the duels he’s entered this campaign, making 29 recoveries which makes him the perfect wide option for Amorim in his 3-4-3 system – a huge reason as to why he’s keen on taking the teenager with him to Manchester.

He’s under contract until the summer of 2027 in Lisbon, with the fee for his services currently unknown but likely to be a hefty figure given his recent emergence and talent for the Liga Portugal side.

Whilst it may be an expensive deal, his potential is huge and if he is to even slightly follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo by moving from Portugal to Old Trafford as a teenager, the potential transfer would be worth every penny.

Amorim will want to make a positive impact at United from the get-go, with a deal for Quenda in January potentially boosting his chances of turning the club’s early fortunes around.

It's not Hojlund: Amorim can find his next Gyokeres in Man Utd's sensation

The Manchester United talent has already caught the eye in recent weeks.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 7, 2024

The Reds were dumped out of Europe after being punished for a dreadful defensive mistake and a real off-night for their forwards

Liverpool's hopes of a seventh European Cup ended in heart-breaking fashion at Anfield on Tuesday, with the Reds losing 4-1 on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Whereas Alisson Becker was the star of last week's win at Parc des Princes before Harvey Elliott's late winner, his PSG counterpart, Gianluigi Donnarumma, ultimately proved the difference between the two sides as he saved spot-kicks from Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez to send Luis Enrique's men through to the quarter-finals.

Liverpool played well on the night. Indeed, the game's only goal came against the run of play and was an absolute gift, with Ousmane Dembele taking advantage of some typically calamitous defending from Ibrahima Konate to break the deadlock.

However, despite hitting the woodwork through Jarell Quansah, and creating a number of terrific chances, the Reds' unusually wasteful forward line could find no way past Donnarumma, with Mohamed Salah once again especially ineffective.

GOAL rates all of the Liverpool players on show at Anfield as Arne Slot's side frustratingly fell at the first hurdle in the knockout stage proper after topping the league phase…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Alisson Becker (7.5/10):

  Nothing he could have done about the opener, but continued to frustrate PSG's forwards thereafter by betting the better of Barcola and Dembele in one-on-ones. Didn't make a save when required in the shootout, though.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

  An unforgivable giveaway in midfield should have led to Barcola scoring, but the right-back was much more effective in the second half before being forced off after following awkwardly. His fitness will now be a major concern going into Sunday's Carabao Cup final.

  Ibrahima Konate (5.5/10):

  One really does have to take the rough with the smooth when it comes to Konate. His failure to deal with Barcola's cross gifted PSG the opener, but he was impressive thereafter, often stepping into midfield to good effect and even drew a decent save from Donnarumma at one point. The Frenchman also hobbled off late on, creating another defensive headache for Slot.

  Virgil van Dijk (6.5/10):

  Once again a very commanding presence at the back, but his passing lacked its usual precision. The giant Dutchman was a threat every time he bounded forward for a corner, though.

  Andy Robertson (6.5/10):

  Once again had all sorts of issues containing PSG's interchanging wingers, but he made a real nuisance of himself whenever he got forward, upsetting Hakimi whenever he could, and his dead-ball deliveries were dangerous.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Ryan Gravenberch (6/10):

  A lot better than last week (he couldn't have been any worse, in fairness) but still not completely comfortable because of PSG's magnificent midfield three. Gravenberch did make a potentially goal-saving block on a shot from Kvaratskhelia, though.

  Alexis Mac Allister (7.5/10):

  Guilty of dallying in possession in the first half, leading to a great chance for Dembele, but the Argentine was Liverpool's most creative player, while his work-rate was also fantastic. Unsurprisingly booked after taking one for the team by picking a yellow for a cynical foul on Dembele in the dying minutes of normal time.

  Dominik Szoboszlai (7.5/10):

  The man just doesn't stop running until he's taken off! Szoboszlai repeatedly won possession back for his team high up the field, while also carrying a real goal threat throughout.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Mohamed Salah (6/10):

  Had two early chances that you would have expected the Egyptian to put away – particularly the first one. He did create some good openings and he worked tirelessly for the cause. However, Salah once again struggled against Nuno Mendes for the most part, while his final ball repeatedly let him down.

  Diogo Jota (5.5/10):

  Put himself about but didn't get much change out of PSG's powerful centre-backs and – apart from one near-post header at a corner – didn't really go remotely close to scoring.

  Luis Diaz (6/10):

  Really poor in the first half, offering absolutely nothing going forward, but he came to life after the interval. Caused problems whenever he went at Marquinhos & Co., but he really should have shot when Salah picked him out in the area instead of trying to cut back inside onto his right foot.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Jarell Quansah (7/10):

  Took over at right-back from Alexander-Arnold and went agonisingly close to sending Liverpool through during normal time, only to see his brilliant header come back off the post. Also stood up well to PSG's threat out wide.

  Darwin Nunez (4/10):

  Replaced Jota up top but struggled to make an impact before almost inevitably missing a spot-kick in the shootout.

  Curtis Jones (5/10):

  Came on for Mac Allister at the start of extra-time but took a while to get up to speed, getting caught in possession a couple of times. Not a big shock to see him miss from the spot either.

  Cody Gakpo (5.5/10):

  Made his eagerly-awaited return from injury 10 minutes into extra-time but didn't look fit at all and appeared incapable of tracking back.

  Harvey Elliott (N/A):

  Brought on for an exhausted Szoboszlai for the second half of extra-time but he was unable to repeat last week's magic.

  Wataru Endo (N/A):

  Subbed on for the injured Konate and had to play alongside Van Dijk for the final 10 minutes.

  Arne Slot (6/10):

  Liverpool started brilliantly and also had the better of the second half. The problem this week, though, was that Slot's substitutions weren't anywhere near as impactful in the second leg. The Dutchman will be bitterly frustrated by going out in the last 16, but there's a league title still to be won…