All posts by h716a5.icu

Nottingham Forest’s most recent home game in the Premier League was a convincing 2-0 win over West Ham United, and if it wasn’t for poor finishing, they could have defeated Manchester United in the week.

But since Nuno Espírito Santo’s excellent start to life at the Tricky Trees, beating Newcastle United and the Red Devils in December, they’ve won once in the league.

However, Forest have the chance to turn their form and their season around this weekend, as they face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a player who simply must feature in the starting lineup, alongside Taiwo Awoniyi.

Why Taiwo Awoniyi must start vs Liverpool

The number nine has been fantastic for Forest since joining for £17.5m at the start of last season, scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in 42 appearances.

This season, his progress has been hindered by injuries, but when he has started up top, Forest have looked far more deadly, with Awoniyi netting six goals and three assists in 12 league starts.

The Nigerian is a striker who won’t just score goals but will also be a relentless outlet up front, which will be vital against Liverpool, a side that will dominate the possession.

Awoniyi is also a selfless striker who is willing to give 100% for his team off the ball, whether that be by leading the press or covering space to prevent progressive passes.

The former Liverpool centre-forward also knows how to score against his old team, netting in the 1-0 win over the Reds in this exact fixture last season, ensuring he would be a welcome return to the fold – alongside any of those who started on the bench in midweek…

Nottingham Forest star had one of his best game under Nuno vs Man Utd

He’s failed to reach the levels he achieved at times last season.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 29, 2024 Why Nicolas Dominguez could be key against Liverpool

Nicolas Dominguez has been one of the most consistent midfielders in the league this season, with his performances often going under the radar.

The versatility of the midfielder is what makes him so “impressive,” as labelled by analyst Statman Dave, with the Argentine having the ability to feature in multiple roles within one match.

However, it’s his defensive qualities while having the ability to affect the game in the final third that could make him key this afternoon.

The number 16’s performance against West Ham recently provides evidence of that, where he was deployed in the double pivot of a 4-2-3-1, which is where he should start today.

Tackles

6

Ground duels won

6

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

93%

Touches

57

As is shown in the table above, the former Bologna star thrives during the physical side of the beautiful game, breaking up the play and frustrating the opponent, as shown by his six tackles and six ground duels won.

However, he has also shown his ability to control the game and give his side a breather by retaining the ball once it’s been retrieved rather than wasting it, which will be vital later on. Against the Hammers, Dominguez had a pass accuracy of 93% and 57 touches while also registering an assist.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Dominguez’s tenacity and engine in the middle of the field will be incredibly important. The Argentine and Awoniyi could just hold the keys to a huge upset this weekend.

An epic clash between two of world cricket’s bitterest rivals gave new life to the World Cup and knocked out the defending champions

The Retroreport by Andrew Miller05-Apr-2020 #RetroLive
Pakistan’s reign as World Champions has come to an end at the hands of their bitterest rivals, after the most richly anticipated clash of the 1996 World Cup served up a seething, bare-knuckle confrontation under the Chinnaswamy floodlights.The margin, 39 runs, looked substantial by the time the last rites of the contest had been played out, in front of a deliriously satisfied crowd of 35,000 partisan fans who – with whistles, hoots and bonfires in the stands – belied Bangalore’s previously staid reputation in an atmosphere that teetered at times towards anarchy.But the agonies that those fans endured in the course of the contest were real – as were those of countless millions from Karachi to Calcutta as the subcontinent came to a standstill for one pulsating evening. And never was the fate of the protagonists more on a knife-edge than during a thrilling opening stand of 84 in ten overs between Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar, one that appeared to have placed a daunting target of 288 well within Pakistan’s grasp.And yet, in the final analysis, India found the right men for the key moments, as they turned the tables in the middle overs and held their nerve at the death. Their basic team discipline was allied to top-notes of adrenalin-fuelled inspiration – not least a ballistic late onslaught from Ajay Jadeja – as they found the means to outlast a worthy opponent. Fittingly, and poignantly, it was Javed Miandad, 38 years old, and playing in his sixth World Cup after nearly three years of self-declared exile, who was on deck as Pakistan’s hopes faded to black. He bulwarked the closing overs before being run out for 38 from 64 balls, as the mounting asking-rate enveloped his dreams of one final glory.Pakistan will rue their fate in this contest for many years to come – rarely can they have had a contest more at their mercy. But rushes of blood littered their strokeplay as the game slipped from their grasp, not least the wild hack that Aamer, standing in as captain after the grievous pre-toss loss of Wasim Akram to a side strain, aimed at a pumped-up Venkatesh Prasad to eject himself from the contest at precisely the moment when consolidation was Pakistan’s watchword.Prasad’s send-off to Aamer was as feisty and uncomplicated as his subsequent command of the legcutter proved cool and calculating, and Pakistan’s middle order struggled to hit the ground running. Ijaz Ahmed opted to counter his threat with muscle but hoisted a leading edge to cover; Inzamam-ul-Haq attempted finesse, but steered a flat-footed poke to Nayan Mongia behind the stumps. And at 132 for 4, what embers remained of Pakistan’s fight were duly doused by the spinners, Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju, who throttled the contest with four wickets between them, and ensured that India’s lack of a fifth specialist bowler would not prove costly.It has been a slow burn of a World Cup, with mismatches and cancellations dominating an over-long group stage, in which the only real jeopardy for the senior Test nations has been the identity and venue of these knock-outs. And after squandering their chance of a home tie in Karachi with last week’s untimely loss to South Africa, Pakistan’s plans took a further hit in the build-up, with Wasim’s absence compounded by the loss of an important toss which left them the unenviable task of chasing in Bangalore’s floodlit debut.That prospect perhaps informed the tempo of the game’s opening exchanges, as Pakistan shelved their habitual aggression with the new ball and veered very early towards containment. Navjot Sidhu responded with a maturely compiled 93 from 115 balls, an innings in which he outscored his more illustrious partner Sachin Tendulkar by almost 2 to 1 in an opening stand of 90. But at 237 for 6 after 47 overs, India’s innings was in danger of drifting towards mediocrity.Until, that is, an astonishing late onslaught from Jadeja, whose natural attributes of strength and timing surged to the fore to eviscerate Pakistan’s death bowlers. No-one suffered more gruesomely than Waqar Younis, whose first eight overs had yielded 27 runs, but whose final two were smashed for 22 and 18 respectively – or dis-respectfully, you might say.Up until that moment, Pakistan seemed to have been earning their rewards for perseverance. At 168 for 2, Mushtaq Ahmed – a key player in the 1992 triumph – dislodged Sidhu with the flipper when a century was there for the taking, then followed up with a masterfully disguised googly to bowl Vinod Kambli on the charge for 24. Mohammad Azharuddin had already gone by then, supremely snaffled by Rashid Latif to give Waqar the wicket that his endeavours had earned, and when Mongia was run out for 3, a total of 250 seemed the upper limit of their ambitions and the Chinnaswamy was taut with apprehension.And yet, Jadeja’s part in that run-out seemed to click him into instant overdrive. Having survived a screechingly close lbw appeal from his first ball against Waqar, he decided thereafter not to let his legs be a target as he carved repeatedly and violently through the line and across the ropes.From consecutive Waqar deliveries Jadeja creamed four, six, four, six – the best of the lot an insolent slog over wide long-off as he seized on a fractional erring in line with disdain, and when Aaqib Javed banged one in short in between whiles, he slapped a further four off his eyebrows to send the whole of his country into raptures.By the time he holed out to long-on to end Waqar’s torment, Jadeja had racked up 45 from 25 balls, and with Kumble chiming in as well, India helped themselves to 50 runs in three overs that seemed, surely, to have put the game beyond reach.But Pakistan weren’t to be beaten quite that easily, and in scenes as eerily silent as a Hitchcock thriller, Aamer and Anwar made it their business to tear chunks out of the target in an opening salvo so calm and calculating it seemed to pan out in slow motion.Javagal Srinath was bunted over midwicket by Aamer in his first over, before Anwar opened his night’s work with back-to-back boundaries off Prasad, including a cover drive so pre-meditated, he might as well have started playing it on the flight over the border.The hits just kept on coming, so much so that Azharuddin turned to Kumble as early as the fifth over, but even he found himself soaring into the stands at long-on as Anwar kept his foot to the floor. And when Srinath was plucked off the toes high over midwicket for Anwar’s second six of the night, there seemed no earthly means of pulling India’s bowling effort out of its nose-dive.But then Pakistan blinked fatefully, and their reign as World Champions began to unravel. RetroLive

Sarina Wiegman's side are set to face Ireland and Sweden, knowing two wins will ensure they have chance to defend their European title in Switzerland

Some six weeks after the seasons in most of Europe's top women's leagues finished, England are back in action over the next few days as they try to secure automatic qualification to the 2025 European Championship, at which they will be the defending champions.

It's an international break which, with its bizarre timing, highlights the issues that exist within the women's football calendar, but that will not be the focus for Sarina Wiegman's side, who know that wins over Ireland and Sweden will ensure they book a ticket to next year's tournament in Switzerland without needing to go through play-offs in a few months' time.

Qualification and the calendar are not the only talking points as the Lionesses prepare to return to action either, as GOAL picks out six things to watch ahead of England's games on Friday, at home to Ireland, and on Tuesday, in Gothenburg…

Getty ImagesEuros qualification on the line

While most would back England to come through the play-off route of qualification if it was needed, especially over two legs, the Lionesses would certainly like to avoid that – and for a couple of reasons. The first is, of course, to get the job done and avoid the need to play four must-win games at the end of the year.

But automatic qualification would also give Wiegman two international breaks where she can identify some top opponents for her side to take on in friendlies, in preparation for next year's Euros. That could be a side like Spain, the team that beat the Lionesses in last year's World Cup final and will likely be the favourites to take their European crown in 2025, or involve a different type of test, such as facing Emma Hayes' United States women's national team.

Identifying the type of opponents England need to do better against and then cherry-picking fixtures to improve the team's weaknesses is a much more appealing way for the Lionesses to finish the year, that much is for certain.

AdvertisementGettyGoalkeeper duel

So who will Wiegman trust to get that job done in these two games? One place in the team which is particularly interesting is that in between the sticks. Mary Earps has been England's No.1 throughout the Dutch coach's tenure, but Hannah Hampton has started to really challenge her for the shirt in recent months, even getting the nod in a qualifier against Ireland in April. It was the Lionesses' first starting XI for a competitive match that didn't feature Earps since September 2022.

Despite limping off minutes into her 50th England appearance in late May, it appears that Earps is going to be fit to stake a claim to start for these upcoming games, with her remaining part of the squad while others have withdrawn to continue their rehabs with club rather than country. But Hampton impressed in both games with France while her team-mate was sidelined. Could she continue in goal? It's going to be a close call, though Wiegman and the players have big trust in both.

GettyGreenwood's involvement

One of the biggest surprises in those games against France was that Alex Greenwood found herself on the bench for both. The Manchester City star has been England's most in-form centre-back for a while now and brings so much to the table with her quality out of possession, fantastic set-piece deliveries and passing range from deep.

However, Wiegman opted to start Millie Bright and Leah Williamson together in the centre for those games, despite the former being a little rusty still after a long period on the sidelines while the latter is herself continuing to work her way back to her best level following an ACL injury. Some thought that might be the case and that Greenwood would start at left-back, a position she played for many years and that England don't have a natural fit for, then. But Jess Carter took that role and thrived, impressing throughout the last international break.

What does that mean for Greenwood moving forward? These two games will give us some further information in that sense, amid a feeling that her talent would only improve this Lionesses team if utilised.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyJames' absence

While Earps and Niamh Charles were able to join back up with the England squad for this international break despite missing the last two games through injury, three players were not – including Lauren James. Her absence is, once again, a big blow for the Lionesses because she brings so much creativity and threat to the attack, in a way that no other player at Wiegman's disposal really can.

It'll be up to others to fill that void and bring a spark in the final third, the kind that helped James provide an assist in the draw with Sweden in April and score in the victory over Ireland the last time she was able to pull on her country's colours. The Lionesses have a lot of talent going forward, but who can dance past defenders and be the key that unlocks an opponent like the Chelsea star?

In recent years, Crystal Palace have developed an excellent transfer strategy that allows them to pick up bargains every window.

However, they have also proven to be successful at developing those talents into top players, which will now be the task of new boss Oliver Glasner.

Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze are two examples of their brilliant recruitment, and they are hoping Daniel Munoz and Adam Wharton will continue this run.

That said, there’s one player that stands out who has seen their market value increase since joining the club.

What Palace paid for Michael Olise

Prior to his move to Palace, Michael Olise was playing his football for Reading in the Championship, the club he made his professional debut at, which was in a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United in 2019.

However, it would be two seasons later that he really started to show his class and immense quality, as over his first two campaigns, the winger made 23 appearances in the second division, picking up just one assist.

That said, during the 2020/21 he announced himself as one of the most exciting talents in England, boasting an incredible record of seven goals and 12 assists in 37 starts, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a winger.

The following summer, Patrick Vieira decided to splash £8m on the left-footed ace, in what has proved to be one of the best steals in recent Premier League history.

Michael Olise’s market value in 2024

Since arriving at the Eagles, Olise has continued to develop as a player, and despite the step up to the Premier League often being overwhelming, the now-22-year-old wasn’t fazed one bit.

The number seven had his minutes managed in the first season, starting just 12 games but playing 26 matches in the league, with a record of two goals and five assists.

Last season, his creativity really began to flourish, as he picked up 11 assists and played in all but one game in the top flight. Unfortunately, injuries have ruined this campaign for Olise, missing 13 games, but he’s started to develop his goal-scoring ability, netting six goals and providing three assists in just eight starts.

One game this season that sums up what Olise’s all about was against Brentford at home when the Eagles won 3-1, and the table below highlights why he’s now valued 650% more than what he cost the club, with recent reports indicating that he could fetch a fee of roughly £60m this summer.

Minutes

94

Goals

2

Shots

6

Successful dribbles

5/6

Touches

90

Key passes

2

Clearances

4

The fact that Olise has added goals to his game now makes him “superb,” as per Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, while also putting him among the elite wingers who can both create and find the back of the net themselves.

The France U21 gem can also be a threat via his dribbling or his passing, which makes him extremely unpredictable and difficult to stop. His work rate is also unbelievable, and he is willing to get stuck in for his side, which just makes him even more valuable.

The signing of Olise will go down as one of the bargains of the past decade, especially if he continues to live up to his potential, and Palace will hope that they can unearth plenty more Olise-like talents in the future.

Shane Watson’s 80 off 41 looked threatening at one point but Quetta Gladiators eventually fell short

The Report by Danyal Rasool29-Feb-2020Whatever happened at the 10-over mark in the first innings, Multan Sultans need to patent. After a sluggish start from the hosts that saw them shuffle along to 65 in 10 overs, Rilee Rossouw caught fire all of a sudden, a stunning onslaught resulting in the fastest century in PSL history and an astonishing 134 runs in the final 10 overs that set Quetta Gladiators 200 to win, a target they fell short of by 31 runs.Quetta, as you might expect, gave it as good a go as their capabilities might allow, with Shane Watson at one point looking like he might pull of a heist for his side. But Quetta’s cack-handedness with the ball and in the field left him and his team with far too much to do and much too little time. Even as the sixes flew, the asking rate continued to balloon, and once Watson was dismissed, Quetta’s fate was sealed.Rilee Rossouw celebrates his quickfire century•PCBThe mood music at the start was worlds removed from its frenetic, run-heavy conclusion. Shan Masood became the first captain to opt to bat this season, and Quetta looked like they would make him regret that decision when Zeeshan Ashraf fell early and James Vince searched unsuccessfully for the sweet timing he is so coveted for. Mohammad Nawaz stifled the batsmen at the start, while Naseem Shah begun brightly.All of that went to ruin after the halfway mark, though. The moment Rossouw biffed Anwar Ali for a six the first ball of the 11th over, Quetta lost their collective composure. You could count the number of times they hit their spots from that point onwards on one hand, and Rossouw capitalised on the chaos. Just one over between 11 and 18 went for fewer than 12 runs, and while Masood got some of his own hits in, it was all about Rossouw. He would bring up his hundred in the final over; it had taken just 43 balls, including 10 fours and half a dozen sixes.Watson tried his best to match that, and batting alongside Jason Roy, brought up the 50 partnership in the sixth over. But soon after Roy holed out to deep midwicket, it quickly became clear this would be a one-person effort. That Watson took it as far as he did was achievement enough, and it isn’t often a 41-ball 80 is on the wrong side of a PSL result. But this was clearly Rossouw’s game, and Watson was merely playing in it.The supporting actNot many will come away from the game reminiscing about Masood’s 32-ball 46, and why would they, given what else just happened in that first innings? But the value of it becomes clear when you notice it was the one thing Quetta lacked in the chase. Rossouw had, in Masood, the perfect foil on the other end, with his captain ensuring he didn’t give his wicket away or hog too much of the strike. When Masood got the strike, he got away the odd boundary and turned it over quickly to the South African, neither heaping pressure on him nor starving him of the strike. Together, they put together a partnership that totalled 139 runs in 64 balls.By contrast, Quetta managed no partnership greater than Roy and Watson’s 57 at the top, and no other Quetta batsman could even reach 15. That meant the pressure was squarely on Watson’s shoulders, further driving home the point if they were going to take it close, it was all on him. Other batsmen who had helped them win big games this season all failed, with Azam Khan falling early and Ben Cutting holing out for 12. The sort of innings Masood had played was absent from Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side, and it wasn’t a surprise to see the result pan out the way it did.Star of the dayRossouw and Watson may get the hundreds and entertain the fans most, but in a game where 200 was nearly scored and then changed, perhaps the most remarkable numbers were posted by Imran Tahir. While Watson and the rest of the Quetta top order ran riot, Tahir ensured the game wouldn’t run away from Multan. Varying his flight, pace and googly with all the experience any T20 side treasures in him, Tahir kept the Quetta batsmen guessing, and, even more importantly in such a high-scoring game, cautious.It wasn’t like he had all the luck, either. In his third over, as Watson’s charge built up a crescendo, Tahir had him into skying a drive down to long-off, where Moeen Ali stood perched for a simple catch. Moeen somehow grassed the opportunity, but undeterred, Tahir dismissed Azam Khan the next ball. He wasn’t done with Watson, either, coming back the following over and coaxing a nearly identical shot from the batsman. This time, Moeen would make no mistake. In a game where scoring ten an over was the order of the day, Tahir’s figures of 4-0-27-2 didn’t flatter him in the slightest.Multan surged at the top of the table, having swept all three games in their home city. They now have four wins in five, while Quetta sit just below them, with three wins from five matches.

Germany's clash with Denmark at Euro 2024 was overshadowed by the appearance of a masked man in the rafters of the stadium.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Germany v Denmark a dramatic encounterMasked man climbed the raftersChased by police at gunpointWHAT HAPPENED?

Germany and Denmark's clash was marked by multiple delays. A thunderstorm caused a stoppage in the first half, while VAR intervened more than once to stunt the flow of the game. Towards the end of the second half, referee Michael Oliver was urged to delay the game as a masked man had climbed the rafters at the Stadion Dortmund.

AdvertisementTHE EXPLANATION

While there is no motive known for the man, he is reported to have walked along a beam high above the crowd, while fans shouted for him to come down, and Michael Oliver suspended the game. He spoke with both captains – Kasper Schmeichel and Ilkay Gundogan – with TV images showing that he was pointing out the masked individual, a 21-year-old who has since been arrested.

Police required the use of a helicopter to locate the individual, hence the delay.

Daily MailWHAT GERMAN POLICE SAID

Police said, per Bild: “The police have now arrested the man. At no time was there any danger to other people. The police are still unable to provide any information about the man’s identity or his motive.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyWHAT NEXT?

UEFA have been criticised for their security woes at the tournament, particularly after six pitch invaders disrupted Portugal's game against Turkiye.

Warner said he wants to take a call after taking part in the back-to-back T20 World Cups

Daniel Brettig11-Feb-2020David Warner has flagged his likely retirement from T20Is following the two T20 World Cups to be played in consecutive years, and also explained why he has chosen to skip the Big Bash League for much of his international career.On an emotional Australian Cricket Awards night for Warner, he took out the Allan Border Medal as the national team’s best player across all three formats despite an abominable Ashes series in which Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne scored the runs that allowed Tim Paine’s team to retain the urn in England for the first time since 2001. He fared far better on home soil after adopting the belligerent, aggressive batting approach that Australian cricket followers have grown used to, and also made runs on the brief India ODI tour last month that was the last series that featured in the medal’s voting period.At 33, Warner is starting to consider how to approach the remainder of his career, and the dropping of T20Is from his schedule appears the next step he will take to prolong it – albeit only after the T20 World Cups in Australia later this year and in India in 2021.ALSO READ: David Warner, Ellyse Perry win top honours at Australian Cricket Awards”I don’t have a BBL team; I took a break during this period, and that was about my body and my mind, making sure I’m getting ready for the next series that comes up,” Warner said. “If you look at T20 internationals, we’ve got back-to-back World Cups as well, that’s probably a format that could be one I’d probably drop in a few years.”I have to look at the schedule; it’s going to be very difficult [for me] to play all three forms, and good luck to all the guys who want to keep playing that. You talk to guys like AB de Villiers and Virender Sehwag, these guys who’ve done it for a long time, it does become challenging. Having three young kids and my wife at home all the time, the constant travelling becomes very difficult. If it was to come down to [leaving out] one format, it would probably be the international T20s.”As for the BBL, Warner denied that its rapid growth to a 61-game tournament, after starting as a 20-game, state-based event in 2005 and then growing to 31, 35, 43 and 59 games under the BBL banner from 2011 onwards, was a factor in him avoiding it. Warner’s manager had said last year that his client would consider playing in the BBL but that it would need to be financially “worth his while” to do so, but the opener also indicated that some CA-contracted players were uneasy about taking the spots of cricketers who had represented their clubs for the whole event.Ellyse Perry, winner of the Belinda Clark medal poses with David Warner, winner of the Allan Border medal•Getty Images”For me it’s about working out timeframes with different series, identify when you need a bit of a rest,” Warner sad. “Generally, we play a Test series and go into a one-day series. We went to India and then generally you have a one-day series at home, back-to-back games and then you go away. So, it was a bit different this year; I was able to have that opportunity to have that break which I’m grateful for.”A lot of the guys try to go back and play as much as they can. Sometimes, you look at the finals as an example, they come back and play the final, you’re taking someone’s spot as well, which is always tough as a player, you don’t want to come back and just take someone’s spot for one game. So, this opportunity was great for these guys to go out and play, and to see Smithy and Gazza (Nathan Lyon) and them take part in it and win the title is fantastic.”There had been plenty of tears from Warner as he accepted the medal, after not even being invited to last year’s ceremony, which predated CA’s lengthy reintegration process for him, Smith and Cameron Bancroft after their Newlands bans.”I had no doubt that I had the capability of being back here again. It was obviously a lot of hard work and commitment to be able to put my hand back up for selection for one, and go away and just do what I know best and that’s to try and score as many runs as I can in any competition I was playing in,” Warner said. “There was obviously a lot of work behind the scenes to reintegrate the three of us and I really appreciate the way that unfolded and the way we were reintegrated back into the team and into the fold, and that was by having net sessions as well at the Test matches, keeping our sharpness up against quality bowling, and I’m extremely grateful for that.”There were tough times there with me and, my wife having two miscarriages, there were a lot of things going on in my life away from cricket that I had to work on, and I was able to do that and that was the thing about not having cricket there. I had to work out what was going to be best for me. I had to work on my fitness, me and my wife are a great team, we have three beautiful daughters, and we really enjoy each other’s company.”Australia’s next assignment is a tour of South Africa for three T20Is and three ODIs, taking Warner and Smith back to the scene of their transgressions for the first time in nearly two years. Warner said his experiences in England last year, where he was able to shrug off a constant stream of abuse from crowds while never once retaliating, would be helpful memories.”I knew what I was walking into in England and I know exactly what I’m walking into in South Africa,” Warner said. “You just look at the recent series against England; it doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you’re probably going to cop something of some sort. You’ve got to try and get that out of your head and not let that affect you. I’ve well and truly learned my lessons from last time. It’s going to be great to go back over there, and I’m just really excited to get out there against South Africa and hopefully come home with a win.”

Liverpool have been in rude health of late and Saturday's 4-1 drubbing over Brentford is yet another step toward the Premier League title, two points above second-placed Arsenal after 25 matches.

Jurgen Klopp is leaving at the end of the campaign, however, and no weight of silver-laden success will allay the poignancy of the lionised German's departure.

That said, the facts are what they are and Liverpool must prepare for Klopp's exit, and while the appointment of a new manager is crucial, the club has been left in a great position to continue the dynasty created back in 2015.

The senior set-up is welled over with talent but just as importantly, the Anfield academy is thriving at a level unseen for many years, with teenager Kieran Morrison just one of the myriad prospects looking to make waves.

Liverpool's next Connor Bradley

Morrison might be one of many but few can claim they boast as much natural quality, with the Northern Irishman, aged only 17, flourishing in his formative years after joining the club from Manchester United as an U14, recently ending speculation about his future by penning new terms with the Anfield side.

Morrison is a creative midfielder with an impressive level of dynamism, having enjoyed prolific success across the current campaign "across a variety of different positions", something that coach Marc-Bridge Wilkinson was quick to praise.

Across ten starting appearances in the U18 Premier League this term, Morrison has plundered seven goals and three assists, notably scoring a sublime hat-trick against Middlesbrough, leading journalist Jack Lusby to praise his "outstanding" efforts.

Given his Northern Irish roots, Morrison could well be Liverpool's next Conor Bradley, with the fast-rising right-back producing some exceptional performances across recent weeks, posting one goal and five assists since the new year.

The 20-year-old has bided his time over recent years and earned his stripes on loan with Bolton Wanderers last year before finally taking a snipe at a first-team spot, and Morrison could take a leaf from his countryman's book in this regard.

Having also made his debut in the Premier League 2, Morrison is one of the most exciting prospects around and given his attacking qualities in midfield, he could be the perfect understudy for Dominik Szoboszlai.

Shades of Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool completed the signing of Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for £60m back in July and he has been one of the centrepieces as the Reds enjoy a resurgence, pumping energy and spark and creativity into the engine room.

Described as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai has scored five goals and provided four assists under Klopp's wing while completing 88% of his passes in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, also averaging 1.8 key passes and 6.3 ball recoveries per match.

With a mean shot and an impressive technical ability, Szoboszlai has been a key cog in the system and he could provide Morrison with the perfect template to succeed in the Premier League.

Morrison has showcased his ability to spread goals and assists across his play while maintaining fluency in his overall performance on the pitch.

Therefore, Liverpool might find that they already have the dream heir in their grasp, they need only guide him to the fore over the coming years.

Roberto Martinez has been accused of being 'scared' to remove Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal's XI as the debate over CR7 rages on.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ronaldo still yet to score at Euro 2024Broke down in tears after missing penalty vs SloveniaChris Sutton believes CR7 is 'a hindrance' to PortugalGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Martinez has chosen Ronaldo to start in all four of Portugal's games at Euro 2024, despite the 39-year-old failing to provide any attacking returns aside from a solitary assist. The Al Nassr forward is evidently desperate to break his duck at the tournament – he had eight shots in total in the last-16 against Slovenia, and displayed numerous acts of selfishness – and Sutton believes his presence is beginning to hurt the Seleccao.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo may not have the blistering pace he possessed in his twenties, nor the nous or desire to press from the front, but it's nearly impossible to imagine him sitting on the bench while someone else does his job. And therein lies the problem for Martinez – how does he axe a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who is coming off a 50-goal season for Al-Nassr, regardless of the effect that doing so would have on the harmony of the squad?

GettyWHAT SUTTON SAID

Sutton believes the former Belgium coach needs to stop being scared and bench Ronaldo for the sake of the team. "I'm looking at Roberto Martinez, someone with such a lack of backbone that I'm surprised he's standing up straight in the technical area," the former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers forward wrote for the Daily Mail. "He almost seems scared to axe Ronaldo, who might as well be named Portugal's manager with the amount of carte blanche he is being gifted in Germany. Eventually, a manager must realise when a player is not benefiting the team, no matter who it is. You have to be brave enough to make difficult decisions without worrying whom you might upset."

Sutton added: "Nobody is disputing that Ronaldo had the most magnificent career imaginable. But on Monday night, he looked like the kid who brings the ball down to the local park and then when he's had enough, he sticks it up his jumper and goes home so no one else can play. It was a performance shrouded in selfishness, becoming more embarrassing every time he fluffed a free-kick while Bruno Fernandes stood idly by. The tears that followed his penalty miss were proof that the pressure can get to even the greatest players."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo has already made history by becoming the first player to appear in six European Championships. A goal would see him become the only player in history to score in six different editions of the competition.

A massive storm flooded Estadio Akron and postponed the Chivas-Tigres clash for several hours, with the pitch left visibly underwater. Yet the drainage system worked flawlessly, restoring the field as if nothing had happened. The match ended scoreless, but the stadium’s response impressed FIFA as it readies to host four World Cup games next year.

Getty Images Sport"The pitch was ready in record time"

The venue’s state-of-the-art drainage system quickly cleared the water, leaving the pitch in optimal condition for play. The game eventually resumed and finished in a 0-0 draw, but the real victory belonged to the stadium’s maintenance and engineering teams.

Chivas’ Director of Stadium Operations Ainara Zatarain shared her satisfaction afterward, revealing that FIFA inspectors were impressed with how the facility handled the extreme weather.

“FIFA is happy with us. They were able to witness firsthand how the stadium responded to a very strong storm. The drainage worked perfectly, and the pitch was ready for play in record time," she said. 

With four World Cup matches scheduled to be played at Estadio Akron next summer, Wednesday’s successful test under adverse conditions provided valuable reassurance for both local organizers and FIFA officials that the venue can withstand even the harshest weather challenges.

AdvertisementAFPMonths in the making

Sebastián Muñoz, Turf Manager at Estadio Akron, explained that the newly installed and highly advanced drainage system – along with months of specialized technical work – was key to keeping the surface at FIFA World Cup standards.

“The result speaks for itself. The system extracted approximately 390 liters of water, the equivalent of four centimeters drained in a short period of time, which allowed us to keep the surface stable and playable," he said. "The soil remained very firm and the ball rolled perfectly, thanks to the materials used both in the base and on the surface, as well as the choice of Bermuda grass, a species that grows laterally and provides great firmness.”

Getty Images SportWorking towards the World Cup

Zatarain added that Wednesday’s storm served as the ultimate proof of the stadium’s readiness.

“Wednesday put everything we’ve implemented at the stadium to the test, and it passed with flying colors," she said. "We drained all the water on the field in 35 minutes. FIFA was happy with us and confirmed that everything we installed is working perfectly and on schedule. They told us we’re practically ready to host the World Cup and the four world-class matches scheduled for our stadium.”

AFPChivas' home ground…

With the World Cup less than 10 months away, the Estadio Akron will be primarily used for Chivas' home matches. The club's next home match is this Saturday, when they host defending Liga MX champions Toluca.