Liverpool have lost four games on the spin in the Premier League and their latest setback came under controversial circumstances at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Arne Slot’s side slipped to another damaging defeat on Saturday night after being beaten 3-2 by Brentford, adding to recent defeats against Manchester United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

The defending Premier League champions are now sat seventh in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and Wayne Rooney has concerns about the leadership within the team.

“Three or four weeks ago no one saw this coming. It has hit them quick, it’s hit them hard and I think they’re struggling to find a way out of it,” the former England and Manchester United striker said on his podcast this weekend.

“This is a time where the manager, the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. (Virgil) Van Dijk and (Mohamed) Salah signed new deals, but I don’t think they’ve really lead that team this season, with performances and body language.

“Body language tells you a lot and I think we are seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team. If their body language isn’t right that affects everyone else.

“If I was a Liverpool fan or the manager that would be a big concern for me.”

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Liverpool’s crisis deepened as they were condemned to a fourth successive Premier League defeat at Brentford.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2025 Hooper praised for role in Liverpool penalty decision

Van Dijk was furious about the decision to award Brentford a penalty for his challenge on Dango Ouattara during the second half, a call that was made by back-up referee Tim Robinson after Simon Hooper had to be replaced due to an injury.

Hooper had his own controversy to deal with in the first half however, neglecting to award Liverpool a penalty after Nathan Collins tangled with Cody Gakpo.

The incident has now been reviewed by former PGMOL referee Dermot Gallagher, who labelled the decision “marvellous”.

“When you look, Nathan Collins plants his foot, he does no more, he doesn’t make a challenge, I think Gakpo anticipates the challenge, it doesn’t come and he goes over, it’s not a foul,” he said on Sky Sports’ ref review show.

He continued: “I think Simon Hooper has done really marvellous there. Because it does look a penalty, there’s no doubt it looks a penalty… you look at the replay and you see it’s so different. But Simon Hooper has one look, makes one decision, gets it right.”

While it certainly would have been a soft penalty, Liverpool fans will be incensed by Gallagher’s claims that Collins “doesn’t make a challenge”, but they can have little complaints about the final score.

Brentford were just the latest team to walk away with a higher expected goals rate than the Reds, and Arne Slot’s side are being outfought on a weekly basis, which will be the most worrying aspect of the current rut for owners FSG, who pumped huge funds into the Dutchman’s squad this summer.

Whether conversations begin about the manager’s future may be determined by their fixtures prior to the November international break, as they face Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Man City in the next four.

West Ham United are looking to build some momentum under Nuno Espirito Santo, though they now appear to have suffered an injury blow at the London Stadium.

Nuno Espírito Santo makes early judgements on West Ham squad

Nuno has only been in East London for a matter of weeks. However, the former Nottingham Forest boss is already laying down the law as he aims to secure Premier League survival at a minimum this term.

Coming as a surprise to some, West Ham have put James Ward-Prowse up for sale, with Guido Rodriguez also an apparent target for Saudi Pro League clubs.

Nevertheless, the Argentina star reportedly rejected a switch to the Gulf region despite being offered a £30,000 pay increase, as an unnamed agent delivered the lowdown on his situation, via Claret & Hugh.

They said: “Rodriguez had five interested clubs in the summer but didn’t want to move. One offer from Saudi would have given him an extra £30k per week, but he said no.”

On the other hand, Ward-Prowse has been withdrawn from West Ham’s matchday squads against Arsenal and Everton, signalling that Nuno isn’t willing to offer any chance of redemption to players he doesn’t believe will fit his tactical framework.

Taking decisions for the benefit of his group, Nuno will be keen to add a sense of physicality to his side, who have been too passive this term and easy to cut through, conceding more than anyone else in the top-flight with 16.

The Hammers have also scored the joint-second fewest goals at just six, and they may now be struggling for firepower even more following the latest developments coming out of the international break.

With George Earthy out until November after sustaining a hamstring problem (ExWHUemployee), Nuno has been dealt another injury blow.

West Ham star Niclas Füllkrug suffers injury blow

As relayed by Kicker, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann confirms that West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug has suffered a “torn muscle bundle in his thigh” on international duty, and will now be out for ‘several weeks’ as he looks to work his way back to fitness.

The 32-year-old has gone through a series of unfortunate absences since arriving in London and will now be out for the foreseeable, leaving Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall as Nuno’s only two available strikers for Brentford.

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Struggling to get his West Ham career off the ground, Fullkrug, on around £90,000 per week at the London Stadium, has netted three times in 27 appearances for the club and is yet to get off the mark this term.

Jarrod Bowen may also be a candidate to feature through the middle in his absence, with Nuno searching for his first win ahead of a potential six-pointer next weekend.

Luck hasn’t been on Fullkrug’s side since joining the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund, albeit everyone connected with the club will hope he can make a speedy recovery as West Ham look to kick on after a poor start to the campaign.

Manchester United now hold an advantage in the race to sign Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand, with the midfielder being targeted as a replacement for Casemiro.

Casemiro has repaid Ruben Amorim’s faith in him with some fantastic performances this season, most recently picking up a goal and an assist in the 4-2 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion, while also making a number of other important contributions.

Statistic

Number completed

Tackles

3

Interceptions

2

Ground duels (won)

6 (4)

The Brazilian was lauded by Amorim after the match, with the 40-year-old suggesting he should be a role model for the other United players, saying: “I think he gives a lot of experience,

“He’s so important for us. Today he run a lot. He had to press so high and then return, and he’s doing that. So, I’m really pleased with him. And the other guys need to look at Casemiro.”

However, the 33-year-old’s long-term future at Old Trafford remains up in the air, given that his contract is set to expire next summer, and the Red Devils are now lining up moves for new midfielders, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson emerging as a target.

A deal for Anderson could be on the expensive side, however, with it being reported Forest could hold out for £120m, and the England international is not the only target on the shortlist…

Man Utd hold advantage in race for Hjulmand

According to a report from Football Insider, Man United hold an advantage in the race for Sporting CP midfielder Hjulmand, given his links with Amorim, with the Portuguese manager signing the Dane from Lecce back in 2023.

The central midfielder has a £70m release clause in his contract, but there is now a feeling he could be available for the cut-price fee of £50m, which will also be welcome news for the Red Devils.

Amorim is known to be a big fan of the 26-year-old, but there may be competition for his signature, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City also in the race.

With it also being revealed that United don’t plan to trigger the extension clause in Casemiro’s contract, the Sporting star could be brought in as a replacement, and he may be a solid option, having impressed for club and country.

The Denmark international displayed his ball-striking ability with a fantastic goal against England at Euro 2024, and there are signs he could have a positive influence in the Man United dressing room, having been dubbed a “leader” by sporting boss Rui Borges.

It would be a shame to see Casemiro depart, but the 33-year-old is on massive wages, raking in £350k-a-week, so it could make sense to sign a younger midfielder this summer, and Hjulmand, who’s made 12 Champions League appearances, may now be ready to test himself at a top club.

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The Red Devils have identified a new top target in midfield, and they could make a move in the January transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

Messi was controlled for most of game 2, and there is an ominous sense that the Herons can be easily beaten in one-off matches

It took 89 minutes for Lionel Messi to get half a look at goal. Nashville had marked him expertly throughout most of their first-round playoff fixture. They had, in fact, done all of the classics. There was the man-on-man defense. There was the carefully pieced together rotational fouling. They cut off passing lanes, nudged him here and there.

Some of the tackles were a little stronger than they needed to be. There is no playbook for stopping Messi – no one can. But for nearly the full game, Nashville came pretty close. Until they didn't.

All it took was one lapse. Messi was double-teamed at the top of the box. Nashville allowed him half a yard on left foot. Before the defenders could realize they were going the wrong way, the ball had been smashed into the back of the net. 

And in any other situation, that would have been the turning point. Except, rather than serving as the moment that got them sent home from the playoffs, this was a brief blemish on what was, otherwise, a remarkably efficient 90 minutes from B.J. Callaghan's side.

This is a better Miami than last year. They are more organized, more resolute defensively. But Nashville showed over the weekend that they can be beaten in much the same way. Miami might have retooled, re-worked their side, and made some smart signings, but they are still very much the same vulnerable team. 

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  The long ball

  There are some goals that coaches hate to concede.

  If your side is the victim of sparkling play, intricate move, or one virtuosic piece of skill, there is only so much that can be done. Messi dribbles five Madrid defenders and then slots home at the Santiago Bernabeu? Fine. Diego Maradona rounds the keeper and connects to beat England? Sure. A Cristiano Ronaldo bicycle kick sends you out of the Champions League? Unplayable. 

  But perhaps the one unforgivable goal – in any circumstance – is the long ball over the top. It is, in the modern constructs of soccer, so preventable. Put enough pressure on the passer and it shouldn't be on. Even if you don't, then the defensive line should be organized enough to spring an offside trap. And even if it comes down to that, the goalkeeper should be able to react quickly enough to clear his lines.

  So much for that. Miami went 0-for-3 against Nashville after just eight minutes Saturday night. Hany Mukhtar received the ball, had time to ponder space, angles, weight, flight, test the direction of the wind and inspect the state of the grass before he launched a ball over the top. The Miami defense stepped forward and then didn't.

  Sam Surridge, a direct No. 9 who is not known for his speed, scampered in behind. Inexperienced goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo hesitated. Surrdige rounded him. Rios Novo swept his legs. It was among the easier penalties the referee will ever give. Surridge converted, 1-0, and no one had really broken a sweat. 

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  A recognizable formula

  That would be annoying on the best of days for Javier Mascherano. It's a silly goal to concede. The issue is, Miami have been letting up some version of it for months now. In fact, it's how Atlanta United beat them a year ago. Miami have tried to change so many things since then – personnel, formation, the actual manager – but they are so simple to play through.

  Mascherano, in fairness, tried to counter that against Nashville. So he set up a little more defensively. Sergio Busquets, he realized, does not have the legs to cover ground in an open game. So he asked the defensive midfielder to play as a de-facto third center back, shifting Miami to more of a 5-3-2 than 4-4-2. In theory, that offers a bit more solidity.

  But there were two problems. The first is that Busquets, for all of his soccer smarts, is not a centerback. He doesn't understand the movements of a backline. He doesn't get how to spring an offside trap. When a large English forward makes a simple diagonal run over his left shoulder, he doesn't have the insticts to coordinate with his two fellow center backs to ensure he's offisde. 

  The second is far more basic. Miami decided, in an interesting stroke of defensive judgement, to not mark the opponent's best player. Mukhtar is a wonderful creative player in a league packed with them, and when he dropped deep to receive the ball, no one tracked him. Luis Suarez didn't get across. Tadeo Allende just watched.

  The Miami defense, in effect, admired as he played a truly lovely ball over the top. It was a lovely piece of work, but also such a preventable one – especially for a team with MLS Cup ambitions. 

• Getty
  

  'Balon a Messi'

  The second goal was even cheaper. Miami were working their way back into the game. They had a couple of half chances denied. But then, on a corner, lumbering right back Josh Bauer strolled into the box, got ahead of his man, fluffed his lines once, and then had time to recover, poke home, and make it 2-0.

  By then, Miami were in familiar territory. To be sure, it is a good thing to be able to rally from a deficit, and get back into a game. Comeback victories are noble, character-building and good fun. But there is also something to be said for not allowing yourself to get there in the first place. And Miami tend to be good at working their way into games.

  But this is the playoffs, and teams tend to not only be quite good but also more tactically drilled than they might otherwise be in the slog of the season. Miami's signature technique to get themselves out of a hole is a reliable one, tried and tested for nearly 20 years on a football pitch by now: get the ball to Lionel Messi. There is nothing wrong with that. In fairness, it's kind of what you have to do.

  Except Nashville knew this. In his younger years, Messi would be able to counter whatever defensive job was done on him. If he was marked close to goal, he would drop deep. If he was caught in tight spaces, another teammate would make a run to clear them up. There was also the stark reality that you could give a triple teamed Messi the ball and watch him dribble around everyone. 

  But this is Messi at 38, with older legs. He can't truly be stopped, but he can be controlled. And Nashville did just that. After going up 2-0, they were content to let Miami have the ball. The Herons worked all sorts of angles, but seldom got the ball to their main man in any sort of dangerous area. And when he did have it, he was crowded out.

  Messi doesn't win foot races these days. He also can't quite accelerate away from players like he used to. Nashville prepared for that. By the end of it all, Messi didn't complete a single dribble, and finished with just four touches in their box. 

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  Limited options elsewhere

  A year ago, this would all have been less of a concern. When Suarez first came to MLS, he looked a player reborn. The end of his La Liga tenure and the spell at Gremio had been tough on him. It was an easy assumption that he might retire. But he looked fresh in spring 2024, and made an immense impact in his debut season.

  There was a sense that, even when Messi wasn't quite firing, Suarez could help out. And indeed, when the Argentine missed more than a month of action with an ankle injury, Suarez provided. He was, back then, a clear second weapon – a guy you had to be equally aware of. 

  Now, though, that's not quite the case. Suarez is still a solid MLS striker, but his numbers have fallen off a cliff. It's not just the goals – he has an agreeable 10 – but the underlying stuff. He is underperforming his expected goals tally. His shots on target per 90 minutes has halved, while the volume has stayed more or less then same.

  Suarez has outperformed his statistical assumptions – the mark of a good striker – in six of his last seven seasons. This one, he is underperfoming them for the first time since 2018.  The result is that defenders can cheat a little. Suarez still needs marking, but you can afford to give him a little extra space.

  The ground can be covered to close him down. He certainly isn't running in behind anymore. His 10 assists certainly count for something, but Suarez, the goal threat, is no longer quite there. 

Codi Yusuf, the South Africa seamer, has returned to Durham on a deal that will see him available across all formats until the beginning of September, starting with the club’s Friday night Vitality Blast fixture at home to Northamptonshire.Yusuf initially signed on a short-term contract in April and went on to claim 17 wickets in four County Championship appearances. He was subsequently included in South Africa’s Test squad for the tour of Zimbabwe and went on to make his international debut, taking 10 wickets at 12.20 across the two Tests.Yusuf, who has experience of playing in the SA20 with Paarl Royals, could come into the T20 side straight away, with Durham looking for a victory that would confirm their qualification for the Blast quarter-finals.He will also be involved in the two upcoming rounds of the Championship and the group stage of the One-Day Cup, which takes place in August.”Codi was a great addition to Durham during his short spell with us earlier in the season,” Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said. “He was heavily invested in the club and his performances in the County Championship have warranted his return to Chester le Street.”We look forward to him returning to the club this week.”

Hetmyer hit Fabian Allen for five sixes in an over, while Motie followed figures of 3 for 9 with 19 runs in the chase

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2025Shimron Hetmyer went 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 6 off Fabian Allen to pump life into Guyana Amazon Warriors’ (GAW) chase of 126 against Hobart Hurricanes (HH), as Amazon Warriors warmed up for the GSL final by beating Hurricanes by four wickets. From 43 for 3 after nine overs in pursuit of 126, Amazon Warriors won with more than three overs to spare as Hetmyer crashed 39 off just ten balls – including another six, off Usama Mir.But the win was set up by Gudakesh Motie’s economical spell of 3 for 9, and Moeen Ali’s twin strikes in the second over of the Hurricanes innings, after they elected to bat first. Moeen got Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Jake Doran within three deliveries to reduce Hurricanes to 14 for 2.Dwaine Pretorius then bowled Ben McDermott for 21 off nine balls to make it 28 for 3 in the third over, which had begun with McDermott smashing Pretorius for three boundaries in a row. Despite the three early wickets, though, Hobart didn’t take a step back. Nikhil Chaudhary and Macalister Wright added 29 runs in the second half of the powerplay, including three fours and a six.But Amazon Warriors introduced Motie in the seventh over, and there was a turnaround. Motie had Chaudhary stumped first ball for 21, and trapped Wright in front for 16 off his fourth ball. What was 65 for 3 became 77 for 6 when Imran Tahir cleaned Odean Smith up. Mohammad Nabi and Allen staged another brief recovery with a 35-run stand, but Tahir and Motie cleaned the tail up to bowl Hurricanes out for 125.In reply, Amazon Warriors had their share of worries as well. They were 29 for 2 after seven overs, as Nabi, Billy Stanlake, Chaudhary and Usama Mir kept a lid on the scoring. Stanlake had bowled Johnson Charles for 8 in the first over while Nabi got Rahmanullah Gurbaz lbw for 7 in the fourth.Moeen, who had walked in at No. 4, was struggling to get going, with only eight runs coming off his first 17 deliveries. But he ended the eighth over by swinging Nabi for a six. Next over, Mir got Evin Lewis for 7, and with GAW three down and stuck at 43 in nine overs, it looked like HH would give tough competition despite a small total to defend.But Hetmyer’s six-laden cameo provided a dramatic twist. Although Stanlake had Sherfane Rutherford caught for 3 after Hetmyer fell to Mir, Motie’s 19 off 13 balls and Moeen’s patient 30* from 36 deliveries took Amazon Warriors home.

MatériaMais Notícias

Sábado (14) tem Ceará e Sampaio Corrêa em jogo válido pela 32ª rodada do Brasileirão Série B. A partida está marcada para às 18h30 (de Brasília), na Arena Castelão.

+Confira a classificação do Brasileirão – Série B

São 12 pontos os que separam o Ceará do G-4, e as chances do Vozão conseguir a vaga são remotíssimas. A equipe poderá ter que se contentar nestas últimas partidas a tentar terminar bem o torneio e começar a pensar no que fazer para a próxima temporada do futebol brasileiro,

Ainda assim, o time de Vagner Mancini tentará buscar algo importante e, no duelo deste sábado, Paulo Victor e Michel Macedo podem ser novamente desfalques, estes por lesão. Além disto, Breno não jogará o confronto contra o Sampaio por estar suspenso.

+Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

O empate com o Novorizontino na última rodada deu um pouco mais de tranquilidade a Bolívia Querida, que tem agora 35 pontos e cinco de vantagem para a Chapecoense, que é a primeira equipe dentro da zona de rebaixamento. E agora há a chance de conseguir aumentar um pouco mais tal distância nesta rodada.

E Fernando Marchiori terá uma série de problemas para escalar o time neste Ceará x Sampaio Corrêa. Pará está suspenso deste jogo mais três atletas (Pimentinha, Mikael e Neto Paraíba) não seguirão para enfrentar o Vozão por estarem lesionados. Rafael Jansen, por outro lado, está recuperado de lesão e disputa vaga na zaga com Gustavo Henrique.

Relembre o jogo pelo primeiro turno:

CEARÁ X SAMPAIO CORRÊA
32ª RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO DA SÉRIE B 2023

Data: 14 de outubro de 2023.
Horário: 18h30 (de Brasília).
Local: Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza, Ceará.
Árbitro: Rafael Martins Diniz (DF)
Assistentes: Daniel Henrique da Silva Andrade (DF) e Karla Renata Cavalcanti de Santana (PE)
VAR: Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Junior (PE)
Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere

Provável escalação do Ceará:

André Luiz; Caíque, Tiago Pagnussat, Lucas Ribeiro e David Ricardo; Léo Santos, Jean Carlos e Richardson; Barletta, Erick e Saulo Mineiro (Nicolas).Técnico:Vágner Mancini.

Provável escalação do Sampaio Corrêa:

Luiz Daniel; Matheus Pivô, Ícaro, Gustavo Henrique e Lucas Mota; Claudinei, Paraíba e Robinho; Pimentinha, Vitinho e Ytalo.Técnico:Fernando Marchiori.

Mitchell Perry also added a half-century to grow a big lead before the home side claimed an early wicket

AAP15-Jul-2025

Liam Scott, Josh Philippe and Mitchell Perry turned the screws on Sri Lanka A on day three to put Australia A in command of the four-day game at Darwin’s Marrara Oval.After the hosts resumed on Tuesday on 241 for 4 in reply to Sri Lanka A’s 272 – and lost Nathan McSweeney to the day’s first ball for 94 – batters six, seven and eight completed impressive half centuries to build Australia A a formidable first-innings score.Related

Dinusha hits defiant ton after Australia A hand another left-field debut

McSweeney anchors Australia A as he bids for second chance

When the innings came to an end around an hour before stumps, Australia A had gone from a shaky 127 for 4 on day two to be all out for 486 – a lead of 214.In reply, Sri Lanka A were quick out of the blocks with Lahiru Udara taking 12 runs from Perry off the first five deliveries of the innings. He soon fell, however, skying an attempted pull off paceman Henry Thornton to keeper Philippe on 17.McSweeney had resumed seeking six more runs for the century that would shore up his message to national selectors, after being overlooked for Australia’s current tour of the West Indies.Instead he was out on the first delivery of the morning, bowled between bat and pad by a sharp delivery from paceman Pramod Madushan which moved back off the seam, his innings ending off 220 balls and including six fours.McSweeney’s South Australia team-mate Scott began the day on 52 and added 42 more off 104 balls as he and Philippe put on 98 for the sixth wicket.But Scott also departed for 94, this time off 221 balls, the allrounder holing out to mid-on against left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha, who was the pick of Sri Lanka A’s bowlers.Philippe and Perry kept the runs coming in a 58-run stand before the former was trapped lbw to Nishan Peris for an aggressive 85 off 107 deliveries, with five fours and a six.Perry continued in building a more steady 61 before he was also caught off Dinusha, mistiming a drive to extra cover.

Napoli's head of scouting Maurizio Micheli is reportedly in advanced talks to move to Arsenal to take up a new role with the Premier League side. New sporting director Andrea Berta is continuing to make changes behind the scenes in north London and is keen to bring in the man who signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli. The exciting winger has since been sold to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £59 million.

• Arsenal set to land key Napoli scout

  Berta has identified Micheli as a "key appointment" for his team and talks are continuing over a move, as reported by BBC Sport. Micheli is in his second stint with Napoli and is credited with bringing players such as Kvaratskhelia, Marek Hamsik and Kim Min-jae to the club. He has also worked in Serie A with Hellas Verona and Udinese and is widely regarded as one of the best talent spotters in Italy, having also discovered Ghana internationals Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan.

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  Berta getting busy at Arsenal

  Berta arrived at Arsenal after over a decade in La Liga with Atletico Madrid, taking over from Edu at Emirates Stadium. The Italian helped bring the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Jan Oblak, Rodri and Joao Felix to the club and was part of an Atletico set-up that won two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League.

  Arsenal's new man has just overseen his first transfer window at Arsenal which saw the Gunners spend over £255 million ($345.7m) to refresh the squad. Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard all arrived as the north London side splashed the cash.

  Mikel Arteta's side have gone on to enjoy a strong start to the Premier League season. The Gunners currently sit top of the Premier League table, four points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City, and are also in top spot in the Champions League standings.

• Arsenal told Micheli is a 'human algorithm'

  Micheli has been praised for his work in Serie A by former Stefano Caira. He has told fans what to expect from the scout: "I bow to the analysis of Maurizio Micheli, who, for me, is a guru in selecting and knowing players. There isn’t a single player Maurizio signs whose parents, boyfriends, and so on he doesn’t know. He’s a human algorithm, capable of implementing this strategy for years now."

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  Crunch fixtures up next for Arsenal

  Arsenal face a real test of their title credentials when domestic action resume after the international break. Arteta's team return against north London rivals Tottenham and then face Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The game pits the only two teams in the competition still with a 100 per cent record up against each other at the Emirates.

  Arteta's side then face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on November 30th, and the results of those games may well offer an indicator of just how far the Gunners can go this season at home and abroad.

  The Arsenal boss is expected to welcome several injured players back for those games, and he admits the break comes at a good time for his team.

  “Now we reset with the international break, get the [international] players back nice and healthy, the ones that are not healthy make sure that they get healthy, and we go again,” he told reporters after seeing his team held to a draw by Sunderland last time out.

  “We’ll look back at what we’ve done, take all of the positive things that we do, the things that we have the opportunity to improve as well and start to plan what is coming because it’s going to be very demanding.”

What to make of Everton? In the first half at the Stadium of Light, David Moyes’ tactics worked a treat, with Sunderland unable to match the visitors’ intensity and, crucially, unable to prevent Iliman Ndiaye’s brilliance.

This was a display of resilience and grit, though it was reduced to that samey standard by Everton’s own unravelling of their progressive play. Moyes’ side reverted to type, you could say, not quite shelling up but releasing their hold on the fluency that had played the Black Cats off the park in the early rounds of the fight.

As it is, the point gained on Monday night moves the Toffees a point ahead of Fulham and into 14th place in the Premier League, though one win in seven fixtures is admittedly a concern.

Moreover, Everton have now gone six matches without a clean sheet. Jarrad Branthwaite’s continued absence is affecting the Blues, of course, but inviting pressure will invite goals, and that’s something Moyes’ side have been guilty of doing.

There’s a real chance to take this season by the scruff of the neck and push for a place in the top half of the table. After all, with Ndiaye (and Jack Grealish) in the side, such dreams are achievable.

Iliman Ndiaye strikes again

Everton made their pressure count after 15 minutes in Sunderland, with Ndiaye collecting from the right and shimmying his way down into the box and sending a perfectly-placed shot past Robin Roefs.

Presenter Jamie O’Hara described the 25-year-old as “one of the best players in the Premier League”, and the division is indeed waking up to the fact that this might be true. There is so much good about Ndiaye’s game; so often he is the difference-maker for Moyes’ team.

This season, he has scored four times from ten outings in the Premier League, assisting one goal too.

In fact, the Senegalese’s sumptuous finish has seen him peel away from Beto as the top goalscorer at the club since Moyes returned in January.

David Moyes’ Top Scorers at Everton (2nd spell)

Player

Apps

Goals

Iliman Ndiaye

27

10

Beto

31

9

Abdoulaye Doucoure

17

3

Charly Alcaraz

26

3

Michael Keane

16

2

Jake O’Brien

20

2

Data via Transfermarkt

Ndiaye’s ability has been widened this term, though. Last year, the electric-paced winger was something of a direct force. You might even say he was a touch one-dimensional.

No longer. Grealish’s arrival has prompted a shift to the right, and while Ndiaye’s striker’s instinct remains, he has now added creativity to his game, averaging 1.3 key passes per match, as per Sofascore, and opening up dimensions from which the centre-forwards are not taking advantage.

Everton have attacking problems, alright, but we’ve perhaps forgotten how a blow Branthwaite’s absence might have been. Last season, for example, the Three Lions defender’s early-season unavailability sparked a four-match losing run that laid the foundation of Dyche’s demise.

But this time around, the Merseysiders are stronger at the back, and much is owed to one man in particular.

The Everton star thriving under Moyes

Everton need to improve under Moyes this season. There is enough quality to challenge higher up the standings, even with the strikers proving so wasteful in front of goal.

But some players have stepped up, and Michael Keane epitomises this, having come within a whisker of leaving the club at the end of his contract last season, instead adding one more year to his stay.

As Branthwaite languishes in the infirmary, Keane has stepped up and emerged as one of the key pillars of the campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, starting all ten of Everton’s Premier League fixtures and playing every minute save for the win over Crystal Palace, when he was withdrawn after the hour mark.

Something of an aerial monster, the 32-year-old has been resourceful alongside the skipper James Tarkowski, who in truth has not been at his best over the past several months.

Keane, conversely, has shone, still limited technically and on the ball, but coming out on top across 62% of his ground battles. Furthermore, his 85% pass success rate suggests he is keeping things cool when playing out of defence.

And, of course, Keane has something of an unnatural instinct for goal, having scored twice under Moyes’ wing despite limited game time.

A contentious handball scare aside, Keane produced a rather faultless performance against Sunderland, standing strong against the second-half onslaught and winning five of seven contested duels, also blocking three shots and, incredibly, making 13 clearances (as per Sofascore), that final metric perhaps underscoring how deep Everton had sunk as the hosts cranked up the pressure.

Liverpool World actually awarded the 12-cap England international a 9/10 match rating, hailing his beast-like display in defence as he swept up the danger and made one brave header to prevent a certain goal during one frenzied scramble.

Everton pulled off a lot of business this summer. Moyes knew he’d enjoyed a successful window of wheeler-dealing, but the shrewdest deal of them all might have been extending Keane’s contract by an additional year.

The veteran defender has arguably outplayed Tarkowski beside him, and for a player whose career on Merseyside looked done and dusted, this is quite the resurgence for a side who, in hindsight, desperately needed someone of his ilk to steer them past the latest Branthwaite blow that has not derailed Moyes’ season so far.

In 2022, talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves said that the Toffees defender was “always struggling” for the club, so awkward on the ball that he looked like he was “not in control of his own body.”

Now, he has been revived, owing much, no doubt, to Moyes’ deep-rooted defensive principles. This is a player who is becoming every bit as undroppable as the flashy and fantastic Ndiaye this season.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 4, 2025