Olise and Cherki score brilliant goals in training
Guardiola on reaching Champions League: 'Depends on us'
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, shared his thoughts on the upcoming Premier League clash against Fulham and weighed in on his team's prospects of securing a UEFA Champions League spot.
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New York Times
41 minutes ago
- New York Times
Can Jeremie Frimpong boost Liverpool's 2025/26 Champions League winner odds?
For more stories like this, click here to follow The Athletic's sports betting section and have them added to your feed. In the 2011 movie 'Moneyball,' Brad Pitt, portraying Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, sits in the middle of a conference room table surrounded by scouts during an off-season meeting. As the discussion of the team's direction unfolds, Beane is abruptly cut-off by a scout concerned about their ability to replace a crucial player: Jason Giambi. Advertisement 'Billy,' the scout says, 'we got 38 home runs and 120 RBIs to make up.' 'Guys listen,' Beane interrupts, 'We're still trying to replace Giambi. I told you we can't do it. Now what we might be able to do is recreate him — recreate him in the aggregate.' Losing a generational player like Trent Alexander-Arnold is not something even a club like Liverpool can shrug off. Despite his departure, the Reds still have the best odds to win both the Premier League (11/5) and Champions League (11/2). But should they? With Jeremie Frimpong already in the fold and the potential acquisitions of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez on the horizon, Liverpool's plan to replace their homegrown star is coming into view. Let's explore if it'll be enough to find value in their current odds. It sounds silly, but Alexander-Arnold is truly a footballing unicorn. A right-back who could hold his own defensively but also doubled as one of the world's best ball-progressors and chance-creators is a rarity. To come in with expectations that Frimpong is Alexander-Arnold's successor would be quite unfair — they're not remotely the same player. Alexander-Arnold ranked 17th in Europe's big five leagues with 65 passes into the penalty area this season. Despite playing as a wing-back in the Bundesliga, Frimpong had just 29 this year. To put that into context, the player in 16th was in the running for the Ballon d'Or — Raphinha — most of this past season. Alexander-Arnold was essentially an attacking midfielder hiding as a right-back whereas Frimpong is, well, not. When it comes to progressive passes (passes that move the ball at least 10 yards closer to the opponent's goal), Alexander-Arnold ranked 19th and was once again surrounded by a bevy of talented midfielders like Nicolò Barella and Youri Tielemans. Frimpong ranked 10th…on his team. Even Leverkusen's defensive midfielder Robert Andrich had more progressive passes than Frimpong this season. Advertisement It's at about this point where you're probably asking, 'So what does Frimpong do exactly?' The answer to this is simple: He runs, quite often and quite fast. According to PFF FC's physical metrics provided to The Athletic, Frimpong sprinted more than any other player in Germany last season. In total, the new Liverpool signee had 800 sprints (classified as runs that exceed 25 KM/hr), 15 more than the next closest player. That willingness to run is far more reminiscent of Andy Robertson than Alexander-Arnold, except that Frimpong is an absolute speed merchant. The 24-year-old was clocked with the second-highest max speed in the Bundesliga last year — 35.33 km/h — only bested by FC Heidenheim's Sirlord Conteh. Alexander-Arnold's on-ball orchestrating is gone, but Liverpool still need someone to play right-back. If you can't replace Alexander-Arnold, you might as well find a player with an elite trait at a cheap price. That's what Liverpool have done. But it's clear with the interest in Wirtz and Kerkez, the Reds know they will need more help to fill the Alexander-Arnold-sized hole. Heading into the 2025-26 campaign without Alexander-Arnold puts a lot more on Mohamed Salah's shoulders. Salah's scoring streaks get plenty of acclaim, but his shot-creation for teammates is underappreciated. The Egyptian led Europe's big five leagues in expected assists while also leading Liverpool in passes played into the penalty area. A large part of Liverpool's success stemmed from Salah's ability to work in concert with Alexander-Arnold. Salah's 488 progressive passes received topped Europe's big five leagues and were fueled by his former right-back's ball-progressing prowess. For anyone who watched the team, the formula was obvious: Alexander-Arnold moved the ball up the pitch to Salah, and then the two of them combined to terrorize opponents in the final third. In order to find value in their title-winning odds, Liverpool need to recreate this dynamic. With Alexander-Arnold headed off to Spain and Frimpong not the creative type, Salah needs a new partner-in-crime. Enter, stage-right: Wirtz. While the odds suggest this transfer is far from sealed, the reason for Liverpool's aggressive pursuit of the 21-year-old is obvious. The Reds' recruitment team likely put far more thought into this, but if Alexander-Arnold was the 17th-best player in the world at playing the ball into the opponent's box, it makes sense to go after the player who finished one spot behind him — Wirtz. Advertisement The problem for Liverpool is that Wirtz alone can't replicate all of Alexander-Arnold. The German midfielder is more of a threat in the attacking third — he led Leverkusen in shot-creating actions with 5.66 — than he is a contributor to a team's build-up play. Wirtz just ranked eighth for Leverkusen when it came to passing the ball into the opponent's final third, miles behind Granit Xhaka, who led the team in progressive passes. To fill that final hole in the build-up play, Liverpool are turning to Kerkez. At first glance, it's hard to see how Kerkez could come close to matching Alexander-Arnold's ability. The 20-year-old did lead Bournemouth in progressive passes with 159, but that number falls well short of Alexander-Arnold's 232 from last season. However, passing isn't the only way to move the ball forward — players can dribble, too. If you combine progressive passes and carries, Kerkez is much closer to Alexander-Arnold's tier of ball progression. Alexander-Arnold authored 283 progressive movements last season. Thanks to 106 progressive carries to go along with those 159 progressive passes, Kerkez was responsible for 265. If Frimpong fills his actual position and Wirtz takes over some of the playmaking in the final third, it's Kerkez's distribution from deep that replicates the last part of Alexander-Arnold's production. On the surface, fading Liverpool and looking for value in clubs like Arsenal (5/2) or Manchester City (13/5) to win the title next season would seem to be the right move. In this transfer window, other title-contending clubs have been acquiring exciting talent, rather than watching helplessly as a prime-age, generational superstar leaves town. But like Beane did with the A's two decades ago, Michael Edwards and Liverpool's front office were tasked with replacing an irreplaceable player. The transfer window isn't close to finished yet, but if Wirtz and Kerkez join Frimpong, there's a chance Liverpool will have accomplished that seemingly impossible feat. They just needed to do it in the aggregate. Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Jeremy Frimpong: Daniel Kopatsch / Getty Images)
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Anonymous – Inter Milan Captain Fails To Get Into The Game In 5-0 Champions League Final Loss Vs PSG
Anonymous – Inter Milan Captain Fails To Get Into The Game In 5-0 Champions League Final Loss Vs PSG Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez ended up cutting an anonymous figure in yesterday's Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan. This is the view in today's print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. Advertisement Inter captain Lautaro Martinez did everything to be available against Paris Saint-Germain yesterday. The Argentine had been absent for a few weeks with a thigh problem. This was something he had suffered during Inter's Champions League semifinal tie against Barcelona. However, returning against PSG for the final was always going to be the priority. In truth, however, Martinez hardly need have bothered. Lautaro Martinez Cuts An Anonymous Figure In PSG 5-0 Inter Milan UCL Final GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Lautaro Martinez of Inter looks on during a warm-up session prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa and Inter at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 17, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by) Lautaro Martinez did try to help his team up the pitch. The 27-year-old battled with Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. He would try to chest down the ball and gain some ground to get Inter into the Parisians' half. Advertisement Moreover, Martinez would drop deeper at times. He would aim to offer support in the midfield battle in which PSG were overrunning Inter. Then, the Nerazzurri captain would pick up his head to try and spring a quick add with a forward or diagonal pass. However, in truth, none of this was really to any sort of avail. Time and time again, the PSG defense dealt with Martinez comfortably. And the Argentine lacked the quality or presence in the penalty area to create any real danger.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Brentford set transfer priorities amid interest in Mbeumo and Wissa
Brentford Transfers: Summer Shake-Up on the Horizon Mbeumo and Wissa under the spotlight Brentford's summer transfer window looks poised to test the club's resolve and recruitment strategy. With top-six sides circling, the futures of star forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa remain delicately poised. Together they delivered 39 Premier League goals last season, providing the bite that kept Brentford competitive across the campaign. Advertisement Manchester United are preparing to open talks over Mbeumo. A reported £60 million could tempt Brentford's hierarchy to negotiate. Wissa, too, is attracting serious attention. Tottenham made overtures in January and Nottingham Forest saw a £22 million bid rejected. While no fresh offers have yet landed, interest is expected to escalate as the window progresses. Their potential departures leave a considerable void. Thomas Frank and his recruitment team know that replacing either player—let alone both—would be far from straightforward. Forward planning already underway Brentford's response has been proactive. The club has already confirmed a deal for Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher, bringing the Republic of Ireland international in for £18 million including add-ons. Mark Flekken's move to Bayer Leverkusen for £11 million created the opening, and Brentford wasted no time filling it. Photo: IMAGO They also moved for 18-year-old talent Romelle Donovan from Birmingham City, a £3 million deal which could rise with performance-related bonuses. Donovan impressed while on loan and joins with a long-term view to development, but his arrival won't impact the more immediate need for frontline reinforcements. Advertisement The priority now? A goalscoring winger, preferably right-sided. Despite Kevin Schade's growth over the past 18 months, the Bees have leaned too heavily on Mbeumo and Wissa. That over-reliance has been acknowledged internally. Nigeria international Christantus Uche, currently at Getafe, has been linked. While a deal isn't close, he fits the club's profile: versatile, quick and with resale potential. Midfield and centre-back options being reviewed Brentford also aim to strengthen in midfield, specifically targeting a box-to-box No8 and a more defensively-minded option. That comes even after securing promising Ukrainian Yehor Yarmoliuk to a long-term deal. Advertisement At the back, the Bees are unlikely to invest heavily at full-back. Michael Kayode's loan from Fiorentina has been made permanent for £14.8 million, shoring up the wide defensive positions. The focus now is on spotting undervalued centre-backs—a Brentford speciality in past windows. Uncertainty at managerial level Perhaps most intriguingly, manager Thomas Frank could yet become part of the summer movement. Spurs are reportedly monitoring the Danish coach as they weigh their next step. While no formal approach has been made, it adds another layer of unpredictability to Brentford's off-season. Sales are expected beyond Mbeumo and Wissa. Mads Roerslev and Frank Onyeka are available at the right price, with offers anticipated once bigger moves begin to shape the market. Brentford's transfer window is rarely dull. This one, though, could be season-defining.
