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The Eredivisie fixture between Ajax and Groningen was abandoned in the sixth minute, after an ultras group set off hundreds of fireworks in honour of a recently deceased supporter. Referee Bas Nijhuis initially suspended play for half an hour before abandoning the game entirely as the pyrotechnic display continued after both teams retook the field.

• Shocking scenes in Amsterdam

  Shortly after kick-off at the Johan Cruyff Arena, ultras set off flares and began shooting fireworks towards the playing surface. That prompted a significant delay. 

  Videos from the venue appear to show the pyrotechnics landing on the pitch, with areas of grass temporarily catching fire. 

  During the pause in action, Nijhuis spoke with ESPN, saying:  “If you want to hurt your club, then you should keep doing things like this. It’s disgraceful.” 

  Several of Ajax's players appeared to take exception to the demonstration, with captain Davy Klaassen waving his arms at this own supporters in disbelief, while striker Wout Weghorst was pictured shaking his head on the broadcast. 

  Following the second stoppage, the referee added: "I can no longer guarantee the safety of the players. I won't do that anymore."

  Shortly after, the game was officially abandoned, with Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema permanently suspending the game as per the advice of the Dutch Football Association (KNVB). 

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• AFP
  

  Ajax's statement after Groningen tie abandoned

  Ajax condemned the actions of the fans responsible for the shocking scenes in an official statement, which read: "Ajax finds what happened in the stadium tonight utterly scandalous. We apologize to everyone affected in any way. The safety of spectators and players has been jeopardized. This is unacceptable. We emphatically distance ourselves from this misconduct. Fireworks have no place in the stadium.

  "Spectators in the affected section of the stadium were frisked. Dogs were also deployed to detect fireworks, both inside the stadium before it opened and as spectators entered. Other preventative measures were also implemented. Despite this, we were unable to prevent this situation.

  "We will, of course, review the camera footage to try to identify the perpetrators and investigate in other ways who is responsible. If this leads to the identification of perpetrators, we will take appropriate action."

• Ajax crowd issues

  Nijhuis also called upon Halsema to investigate ongoing issues involving Ajax supporters, and the security measures taken at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 

  There have been notable stories around fan violence at Ajax fixtures in the past few years. Last season, clashes between local football fans, the police and Maccabi Tel Aviv ultras made international headlines, while the violent scenes in the buildup to Ajax's 2023 fixture with fierce rivals Feyenoord were described as "horrific". The visitors were leading 3-0 when that game was called off in the 56th minute, as the home support threw flares and fireworks onto the playing surface. After the game, Ajax supporters attempted to break into the stadium. 

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• AFP
  

  What comes next?

  It is highly likely that the game will now be continued behind closed doors, as was the case with Feyenoord and Ajax's abandoned fixture in 2023. That tie was continued with the score at 3-0 to the visitors, however, with Ajax and Groningnen's fixture sitting at 0-0 with just five minutes played, this game could be completely restarted. 

  The KNVB is expected to announce a new date for the game to be played within the next two weeks.

One Manchester United star could now leave Old Trafford in 2026, according to Sky Sports, and it seems Ruben Amorim and INEOS are clashing behind the scenes.

Amorim calls out Man Utd midfielder at Carrington

A big talking point again so far this season at Old Trafford has been on Amorim’s system and finding a position for captain Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese star has dropped deeper to allow summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to occupy the two number 10 roles in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system. There hasn’t been room for Manuel Ugarte, though, who has struggled for game time after previously starring under Amorim at Sporting CP.

It has now been revealed that the Man Utd manager wasn’t happy with Ugarte following the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. In fact, Amorim criticised Ugarte in front of his Man Utd teammates during a Carrington meeting towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Amorim felt that Ugarte ‘had let his work rate slide from their time together at Sporting’, adding that the midfielder ‘had gotten comfortable and said he did not recognise him as the same player from their first stint together’.

One midfielder who Amorim has been rating in 2025 is Casemiro, however, a worrying transfer update for the Man Utd boss has now emerged.

Casemiro leaving Man Utd for free a real possibility

According to Sky Sports, the prospect of Casemiro leaving Man Utd on a free transfer is a ‘real possibility’.

It is stated that the Red Devils hold an option to extend the Brazilian’s stay by an additional year, but that may not happen as United look ‘to free up space on the wage bill to strengthen the midfield area next season’.

Casemiro, who is Man Utd’s biggest earner on £350,000-a-week, has been a regular under Amorim and the manager ideally would want the midfielder to stay until 2027.

Reports have claimed that Amorim and the club’s executives are at odds over Casemiro’s future. The manager thinks he is still needed at Old Trafford, whereas executives are asking for a wage cut instead of triggering the extension option, something which Casemiro is unlikely to accept.

Since joining in 2022 from Real Madrid, the now 33-year-old has made 135 appearances for Man Utd, scoring 20 goals and registering 13 assists. A regular alongside Fernandes this season, Amorim has selected Casemiro ahead of Kobbie Mainoo and Ugarte, praising the Brazilian recently.

“I think he gives a lot of experience. He’s so important for us. Today he ran 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, in 2026, it looks as if Amorim could lose one of his important players, potentially putting a strain on his relationship with INEOS in the process.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "terrible" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing

India and Pakistan are in Group A with Oman and UAE; Group B has Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong

Danyal Rasool26-Jul-2025 • Updated on 02-Aug-2025India and Pakistan are pitted against each other in Group A at the 2025 men’s Asia Cup, set to be held in the UAE from September 9 to September 28. Their group-stage meeting will be on September 14 in Dubai*, with two more potential games between them should both reach the final. Dubai, where the final will also be played, will host 11 games while Abu Dhabi will host eight fixtures.Last week, the dates for the 17th edition of the tournament were announced by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup, the tournament will be played in the T20I format and, for the very first time, will feature eight teams, a bump of two from the previous edition.

Key group-stage matches

Ban v SL, Sept 13, Abu Dhabi
Ind v Pak, Sept 14, Dubai
Ban v Afg, Sept 16, Abu Dhabi
SL vs Afg, Sept 18, Abu Dhabi

Apart from India and Pakistan, Group A includes Oman and hosts UAE. Group B has Afghanistan and Hong Kong, who kickstart the tournament in Abu Dhabi on September 9, alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.The top two teams from each group will move on to another four-team group for the second stage, with the top two teams of that group proceeding to the final on September 28.The venue and dates for the tournament were finalised at the ACC’s annual general meeting in Dhaka last Thursday, where the Asia Cup was one of the key points on the members’ agenda. The fate of the tournament had briefly been thrown into uncertainty following the India-Pakistan military skirmish in May. After the AGM in Dhaka, Naqvi had addressed a press conference about the imminent notification of the Asia Cup dates, though he had stopped short of confirming specific details at the time.The India-Pakistan fixture is, by far, the most financially lucrative fixture in the Asia Cup. The format of the tournament and the placement in the same group make at least two India-Pakistan matches likely, the second on September 21 – also in Dubai – if it happens. It also leaves open the possibility of a third meeting in the final in Dubai on September 28. There has, however, never been an India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup.India are the official hosts of the tournament, but, after an agreement between the BCCI and the PCB earlier this year, tournaments held in India or Pakistan will see a neutral venue provided for the other side for a three-year period. The agreement came about ahead of the Champions Trophy held in Pakistan earlier this year. India played all their games, including the one against hosts Pakistan, in Dubai. The final, which India qualified for and won, was also held in Dubai.India are the defending champions, having beaten Sri Lanka in the final of the previous edition in 2023. Sri Lanka won the previous T20I edition, beating Pakistan in the final in 2022.*1700 GMT, Aug 2: The news story was updated after the ACC released the detailed schedule

Former England batter dies at home in Perth

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-20252:30

Remembering Robin Smith

Robin Smith, the former England batter who went toe-to-toe with some of the greatest fast bowlers of the 1980s and 90s, has died at his home in Australia at the age of 62.Smith played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at 43.67 with nine centuries, including three against West Indies – the team that so often brought out his pugnacious best.Smith’s signature shot was a front-foot square cut that was, by many estimations, one of the fiercest strokes in the world game, and it enabled him to thrive in cricket’s adrenalin-fuelled fast lane. This was especially true on England’s memorable tour of the Caribbean in 1990, when Smith was instrumental in England’s victory in the first Test in Jamaica, and again on home soil in consecutive 2-2 drawn series against West Indies in 1991 and 1995.At Edgbaston in 1993, Smith produced a remarkable innings of 167 not out in an ODI against Australia, a score which would remain England’s highest in the format for 23 years, until surpassed by Alex Hales in 2016.However, his perceived weakness against spin counted against him at key moments of his career, in particular with the emergence of Australia’s Shane Warne, whose success in his maiden Ashes tour in 1993 persuaded the selectors to omit Smith from England’s subsequent visit to Australia 18 months later.Ironically, Smith and Warne became lifelong friends – a relationship that was central to Warne’s decision to sign for Hampshire in the latter years of his career.Born in South Africa in 1963, Smith was brought up to be a professional cricketer, and would spend hours honing his technique in the bespoke cricket net that his father built at the family home in Durban, and in which Barry Richards and Mike Procter counted among his practice partners.Richards’ own connections with Hampshire had, in turn, persuaded the club to take a punt on his two young neighbours. Smith’s elder brother Chris would also go on to play for England after emigrating from South Africa in the early 1980s, but Robin’s debut – against West Indies at Headingley in 1988 – was the more eagerly anticipated of the two.Robin Smith on his way to 90 against West Indies at Lord’s, 1995•Getty Images

In a sign of things to come, his maiden innings comprised a century stand with his fellow South African import, Allan Lamb – another great player of West Indian fast bowling – only for England to collapse to a ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh.Smith was still arguably in his pomp at the age of 32 when he played his final Test, against his former countrymen South Africa at Cape Town, at the end of a disappointing 1-0 series loss in January 1996. With England’s supremo, Ray Illingworth, keen to usher in a new generation, Smith was bracketed with England’s older guard and cast aside, despite boasting a batting average that – of the players with whom his career overlapped – only David Gower and Graham Thorpe could better.Post-career, Smith’s struggles with alcoholism were poignantly addressed in his 2019 autobiography, The Judge: More Than Just A Game. However, only last week, he attended the first Ashes Test in Perth, and spoke widely to the media about his ongoing recovery. He also attended an England Lions training session at Lilac Hill at the invitation of Andrew Flintoff.A statement from his family confirmed that Smith had died unexpectedly in his South Perth apartment on Monday, and that the cause of death is unknown.”Since his retirement from the game in 2004 [Robin’s] battles with alcohol and mental health have been well-documented but these should not form the basis of speculation about the cause of death which will be determined at postmortem investigation,” the statement added.”This is an immensely difficult period for us all whilst we try to come to terms with our bereavement, and we would therefore much appreciate consideration for our privacy by media and cricket followers alike.”ECB Chair Richard Thompson said: “Robin Smith was a player who stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world, meeting spells of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and an incredible resilience. He did so in a way that gave England fans enormous pride, and no shortage of entertainment.”He was a batter ahead of his time which was typified in that unforgettable unbeaten 167 from 163 balls in an ODI against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.”His record at Hampshire is exemplary, and he’ll be remembered rightly as a great of Hampshire CCC. We’re desperately sad to learn of his passing, and the thoughts of all of us in cricket are with his friends, family and loved ones.”

West Ham are scouring the market for a new striker as Niclas Füllkrug prepares to depart the London Stadium in January, and a former Tottenham forward has now entered their radar.

Nuno Espirito Santo has called upon Callum Wilson and Lucas Paqueta to play the striker role in Fullkrug’s latest injury absence, but even once the Germany international returns, he won’t be donning Claret and Blue for long.

The 32-year-old’s disappointing spell at the London Stadium is set to end after just 18 months, with trusted sources like Fabrizio Romano confirming that Fullkrug plans to seek a new challenge as soon as the transfer window reopens.

Discussions have already been initiated and the player’s representatives are said to be in contact with potential suitors from Germany and beyond.

Fullkrug has made just 27 appearances for West Ham since his arrival on a four-year contract in August 2024, scoring only three goals, with his first season heavily disrupted by two long-term injuries that saw him miss a combined 28 games for club and country.

Niclas Füllkrug’s missed games for West Ham and Germany — 2024/2025

Injury

Missing from

Missing until

Games missed

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

Romano revealed in his GiveMeSport newsletter this week that West Ham are hopeful of finding a striker who would be a better fit than Füllkrug, with the club already considering options.

West Ham have Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee on their list of targets, with the Dutch striker struggling for regular opportunities under Ruben Amorim. The Hammers are also reportedly quite interested in signing Ivan Toney on loan as the England striker looks to battle his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

Nuno’s side explored the possibility of signing Real Madrid’s Endrick on loan too, but the Brazilian teenager is now on the verge of a move to Lyon instead.

Reports in Italy suggest AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez will cost around £21 million to sign in January, amid reports that West Ham are keen on handing the Mexico international a fresh start in the Premier League after a tough time at the San Siro.

While January is a notoriously difficult window, the east Londoners do have options on the table, and one of them is now former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.

West Ham eyeing former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott

According to Turkish media, West Ham are eyeing a move for Parrott amid his scintillating Eredivisie campaign so far, as Fullkrug also ‘prepares to leave’.

The Republic of Ireland international left Spurs permanently in 2024 to join AZ Alkmaar in a deal worth just under £7 million, and he’s since found a new home in the Netherlands.

Parrott’s racked up 13 goals in 14 appearances for AZ already this season, with six of them coming in the Dutch top flight.

The 23-year-old has also fired them to third in the table and four wins from their last five games, with Parrott’s form now attracting West Ham’s attention as AZ make his price tag known.

They want at least £26 million to consider parting company in January, and such a fee would mean they make a near-quadruple profit off hs sale.

Parrott heroically guided his country to the World Cup play-offs after scoring a hat-trick in their 3-2 qualifying win over Hungary on Sunday.

It’s turning out to be quite the year for him, and a return to London could be on the cards if he wills it and West Ham are prepared to pay AZ’s asking price.

Siddique and Simranjeet picked up seven wickets between them for UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025
UAE fast bowler Junaid Siddique picked up 4 for 18 while left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh took three wickets to restrict Pakistan to 146 for 9 in a must-win game for both teams in the Asia Cup.That Pakistan reached 146 for 9 was down to Shaheen Afridi’s late burst: he thrashed an unbeaten 29 off 14 balls, including two fours and six in the last over.Related

PCB clears Pakistan to play UAE; says Pycroft apologised

The start of the match was delayed by an hour. PCB cleared the Pakistan team to play after the board claimed that match referee Pycroft had apologised to their players for his actions during the India-Pakistan game on Sunday.Siddique vindicated UAE’s decision to bowl first on a grassy surface by sending Saim Ayub back for a third consecutive duck. Sahibzada Farhan survived an lbw appeal, which was overturned on DRS but fell soon after top-edging a pull to long leg as Pakistan slipped to 9 for 2 in three overs.Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha had the most profitable stand for Pakistan, adding 61 off 50 balls for the third wicket. Fakhar was the aggressor in the partnership as he smashed offspinner Dhruv Parashar for back-to-back sixes, reaching his half-century off 35 balls.Pakistan, however, lost wickets regularly. Agha, looking to go inside-out over covers, sliced Parashar to deep cover before Simranjeet picked up two wickets in an over. Fakhar fell soon after his half-century, caught off a leading edge at short extra cover, while Hasan Nawaz was trapped lbw. Siddique picked up his third wicket when he dismissed Mohammad Nawaz and then removed Haris with a legcutter.

Tottenham Hotspur crashed out of the League Cup on Wednesday night when they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

Although it was a difficult away match against the defending champions of the competition, there was an opportunity for Thomas Frank to provide some young players with an opportunity to impress.

The Danish tactician had the likes of James Roswell, Luca Gunter, and Dane Scarlett on the bench, but did not hand a single minute to an academy graduate on the night.

Meanwhile, their local rivals, Arsenal, started four academy graduates in their 2-0 win over Brighton, with Max Dowman starting on the wing at the age of 15.

Tottenham's most valuable former academy players

Bringing through academy talent can save the club millions of pounds, as a young star emerging from the U21s prevents any need to buy a player in their position.

How much would it have cost to sign Kane, who scored 280 goals for Spurs, in his prime? Transfermarkt suggests his value peaked at £132m, which illustrates how beneficial it can be to provide young players with an opportunity to shine.

Harry Kane

£66m

Noni Madueke

£44m

Troy Parrott

£14m

Mikey Moore

£14m

Kyle Walker-Peters

£13m

As you can see in the table above, there are not too many valuable players who have come through the Spurs academy and gone on to establish themselves at the elite level.

Madueke is the other most notable example, other than Kane, and he did not play a single game for Tottenham at first-team level before his moves to Chelsea and Arsenal.

Frank, now, can help Spurs to find their next big academy graduate by making Luca Williams-Barnett his own Max Dowman this season.

Why Williams-Barnett can be Tottenham's own Dowman

The Tottenham youngster is not quite as young as the Arsenal forward, as he turned 17 at the start of October, but he is still an incredibly young and promising talent.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Williams-Barnett, who was dubbed “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, played eight minutes off the bench against Doncaster in the League Cup earlier this season, but Spurs were already 2-0 up against the League One outfit when he came on.

A real show of faith in academy talent is to put them in difficult situations and positions to see how they fare; 15-year-old Dowman starting against Premier League side Brighton in the League Cup for Arsenal on Wednesday, for example.

Williams-Barnett, per Transfermarkt, has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 11 games in all competitions for the U21s this season.

Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven and Richarlison are the top goalscorers in the first-team at Premier League level, per Sofascore, with three goals each.

Williams-Barnett, who analyst Ben Mattinson claimed “scores bangers”, also plundered 20 goals and 12 assists in 23 matches in all competitions at academy level in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

These statistics show that the 17-year-old attacking midfielder, who can play centrally or out wide, has the potential to deliver goals and assists for the first-team if he can carry his performances over to senior level, which may be needed given that Van de Ven is their joint-top scorer in the Premier League.

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ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025

However, it is down to Frank to unearth his talent by unleashing him in the senior side this season, as Mikel Arteta has done with Dowman, to throw him in at the deep end and see if his ability allows him to swim.

Mushfiqur and Litton scored centuries to lift Bangladesh to 476 earlier in the day

Mohammad Isam20-Nov-2025Ireland lost five wickets for 98 in reply to 476 to put Bangladesh in a strong position on the second day of the Dhaka Test. The day started with Mushfiqur Rahim reaching his century in his 100th Test, before the Bangladesh spinners got into their groove.Hasan Murad took two wickets, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam picked up one each so far. Ireland’s debutant Stephen Doheny and Lorcan Tucker were the unbeaten batters, on 2 and 11 respectively.When Ireland bowled earlier in the day, Andy McBrine completed his second six-wicket haul in Tests, both having come at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Matthew Humphreys and Gavin Hoey took two wickets each, making it the first instance of Ireland’s spinners taking all ten wickets in a Test innings.Mehidy Hasan Miraz celebrates after getting rid of Cade Carmichael•BCB

Paul Stirling’s string of boundaries, including a slog-swept six off Taiju lslam, got Ireland off to a positive start. But he fell lbw to Khaled Ahmed for 27. Captain Andy Balbirnie was next to go, when Murad had him caught at slip for 21. Cade Carmichael became Miraz’s first victim when he fell lbw, camping on his backfoot to play the shot.Murad then bowled the ball of the day, his arm-ball sneaking past Curtis Campher’s defensive push. Taijul Islam then got into the act with Harry Tector’s wicket, as the batter went back to a slightly good length delivery, only to be trapped lbw for 14.Bangladesh’s 476 was built around centuries from Mushfiqur and Litton Das. Mushfiqur became the eleventh batter to score a century in his 100th Test. He completed his 13th century when he took a single off the ninth ball of the second day after being unbeaten on 99 overnight.Mushfiqur though lasted for a short while longer before Humphreys had him caught at second slip for 106. Litton too got to his century later in the first session, taking an adventurous route with a six and a four through the nineties. He added 123 runs for the sixth wicket, making it three century stands in a row.McBrine rounded off the Bangladesh innings after trapping Khaled Ahmed lbw, with 30 minutes remaining in the second session.

Arsenal are now seriously keen on signing Murillo, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, amid a new update on whether Nottingham Forest would consider a sale.

The Gunners are looking to bring in a new centre-back, with Gabriel set for a relatively lengthy spell on the sidelines, as confirmed by Arteta prior to the North London derby, with the manager saying: “Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the Brazil national team and he’s going to be out for weeks.”

“It’s clearly a blow because he’s our leader in our backline and, to me, it’s never a positive thing. The good thing is that we have very good options and we need to stand up now and do the job.”

As pointed out by Arteta, the Gunners have some quality back-up options, with Cristhian Mosquera, who has played a part in keeping five clean sheets this season, the natural replacement for the Brazilian at the heart of defence.

However, at 21-years-old, the Spaniard is still relatively inexperienced, and the north Londoners have now expressed an interest in signing a new centre-back ahead of the January transfer window.

Arsenal now seriously keen on signing Murillo

According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now seriously keen on signing Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, with his current club willing to sanction a departure if they receive an offer in the region of €80m – €90m (£70m – £79m).

The Gunners believe the 23-year-old could make an instant impact in defence, despite already having Gabriel and William Saliba on the books, and Arteta is personally a fan of the Forest star’s progressive style of play.

However, there could be major competition for the centre-back’s signature, with London rivals Chelsea also being named as potential suitors, alongside La Liga giants FC Barcelona.

The Brazilian has been a key player for the Tricky Trees so far this season, making 12 appearances in all competitions, with arguably his best performance coming in the 3-0 victory against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

The Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League title were further boosted when Forest emerged as shock winners at Anfield, with the one-time Brazil international opening the scoring, while also making a number of other key contributions.

Murillo’s performance vs Liverpool

Number completed

Clearances

13

Blocked shots

3

Duels (won)

6 (5)

Tackles

2

Lauded as “monstrous” by journalist Ryan Taylor, the Sao Paulo-born defender could have what it takes to become one of the best defenders in the world, but it would be very difficult for him to force his way into Arteta’s plans.

Gabriel and Saliba have formed a formidable partnership, with the Gunners maintaining by far the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, and Mosquera has proven himself as a solid back-up.

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Arne Slot sat and beamed at the reporters in front of him. The mood had shifted considerably from the pre-match press conference only one week before, when Liverpool prepared for the visit of Aston Villa, having lost four Premier League matches in a row.

Now, the Reds have established the foundation of a revival, having beaten off the Villans and then produced a resounding display to sink Real Madrid in the Champions League. The 1-0 win could have been heftier, save for the many saves of Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.

Liverpool looked like themselves, and we haven’t been able to say that all too often this term. Slicker in attack, far more robust and steely in midfield, whilst the defence kept the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe at bay.

Some, such as Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, still feel improvements are needed in defence, and it might be that Liverpool require external reinforcements, having failed in their efforts to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace last summer.

A deal for the England international may yet materialise, but Liverpool have widened their scope.

Liverpool preparing to sign a centre-back

Liverpool have not been at the races defensively this season, shipping far too many goals across the opening months of the campaign. The past few fixtures have indeed rebalanced the equilibrium, but time will tell whether this is a false dawn or a sustained return to form.

Despite summer recruit Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury on his debut, the Reds have the resources at the back to achieve their goals this year. However, Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the term and is being considered by Real Madrid. Virgil van Dijk is here until the end of next season at the least, but the skipper is 34 years old and a replacement will need to be signed.

Guehi was earmarked as the man for the job, but that deal fell through on deadline day after Crystal Palace failed to land a replacement.

Liverpool remain keen, but Guehi, who is a free agent in June, is now being chased by a whole host of top European outfits, and so sporting director Richard Hughes has found an exciting alternative with a wealth of Premier League experience.

And that man is Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, who, according to Italian outlet L’Interista, is emerging as a candidate for the centre-back vacancy on Merseyside. Inter Milan are also keen on striking a deal.

Rumour has it that the 28-year-old is available for a relatively affordable €35m (about £31m) fee, too. FSG will maintain their pursuit of Guehi, sure, but Konsa could be a fantastic alternative, and perhaps even a better fit.

What Ezri Konsa would offer Liverpool

Guehi is a talented Premier League player. He is composed on the ball and adventurous in the right moments. He picks and chooses, and he gets it right.

But he is rivalled in this by Konsa, who has actually been described as “one of the best CBs in the world” by journalist Joe Mulberry. Villa’s Three Lions star is not quite so outgoing with his passing, but he is as sharp as a tack and always aware of his surroundings.

Indeed, Konsa is one of the strongest defenders in the duel out there. By placing him alongside Van Dijk or Konate or whoever, Slot’s side will only improve, sending a tactical throughline into the midfield and then to the attack.

25/26

9

60%

24/25

34

69%

23/24

35

76%

22/23

38

72%

21/22

29

64%

20/21

36

68%

19/20

25

57%

Guehi is a commanding challenger himself, but the 6 foot talent hasn’t always been the most convincing aerially. As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old only won 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League last year, albeit having improved in this metric across ten fixtures so far this season.

But Konsa is more convincing in this regard, and partnered alongside a more expansive defender beside him, he might even prove the perfect addition to Slot’s backline. The Dutch coach is all about control, after all, and thus Konsa might hold the key to lasting success.

The Englishman is hardly one-dimensional, though. Konsa is so composed and intelligent on the ball, with Aston Villa writer Ryan McKeown hailing him as a “possession-retaining monster” for Unai Emery’s outfit.

In this, he could excel under Slot’s wing, providing a rhythm from defence and into the centre of the park, keeping things simple while ferrying the ball forward consistently.

Moreover, he is accomplished in a four-man backline, whereas Guehi has principally played in a back-three under Oliver Glasner’s wing at Selhurst Park. Guehi is adaptable, for sure, but might it be that Konsa’s playing style would allow him to sail more smoothly into Slot’s project on Merseyside?

Given that he has played a healthy share of football at right-back, Konsa also boasts versatility that could please Slot. Inverted full-backs are becoming more common in football, and the Villa man’s more pragmatic style suits the role he would be designated to perform. No defender in the Premier League boasts a higher pass completion rate this season than Konsa (94.8%).

Liverpool need to sign a central defender in 2026. This much is clear. However, as we have seen this season, an influx of players from overseas has hampered the fluency that was so effectively strung together last year. Konsa has only gone from strength to strength since joining Villa Park from

He has made 208 appearances in the Premier League, and he is at the top of his game. Guehi would be a credit to Liverpool’s squad, but Konsa might be the better fit, a shrewd signing whose skills would raise the level o those Liverpool players around him.

Slot has just found the new Gini Wijnaldum in "special" Liverpool star

Liverpool produced a show-stopping performance to send Real Madrid packing in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025