Latest news with #No9
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool now only have ONE solution to no.9 problem and he's PERFECT
Liverpool now only have ONE solution to no.9 problem and he's PERFECT Gyokeres looks set to be Liverpool's new No. 9 Just a few weeks ago, Anfield Watch assessed the different strikes available on the market and identified that Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres would be the idea candidate to become Liverpool's new No. 9. Advertisement His £55m release cause is particularly reasonable for a 27-year-old who has a prolific track record of goalscoring, both in Portugal and in England's second tier, no one seems to be looking at him. 35 goals and 13 assists in the 2023/24 season, and 52 goals and 12 assists in his last campaign. This is including his efforts in Europe's premier competition - the Champions League. He's an incredible finisher and simply a rare opportunity in the market, which is scarce for talent. Sooner rather than later, Liverpool will need to make a decision about if they want to sign a striker this summer and who exactly that striker might be. Advertisement Liam Delap made a swift move from Ipswich to Chelsea last week and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt is also favoured to move in the same direction, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig is now having advanced discussions with Arsenal over a potential move, and Victor Osimhen is now scheduled to have a medical with Al Hilal, so he's also off the cards. Apart from Delap who had a £30m release clause, the other three had hurdles that Liverpool might not have been comfortable jumping over. Ekitike, for example, is unlikely to move for under €100m (£84m), Sesko is valued at £92.5m and Osimhen is said to have been after extraordinary wages. We're now in a problematic position. It has been further emphasised that Joao Pedro is available at Brighton, but dream signings such as Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid and Alexander Isak at Newcastle are set to be off the market. The options are seemingly extremely limited. It was reported a couple of days ago that 'more names will emerge in the next weeks' if a striker is in fact on the shopping list after all, but we've allowed ourselves to be bypassed by other teams. Advertisement Once the signings of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez are finalised alongside Jeremie Frimpong, the club's business for the remainder of the summer will be fascinating to watch. Other positions are still in need of recruitment and the options in the striker department at least are slim pickings right now. But in Gyokeres, there remains an obvious solution and one the Reds should look to explore. Because he is pretty much perfect for what Liverpool are looking for right now. He is a pure goal threat and if Liverpool want a striker who scores goals, they will not find anyone better.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Luis Diaz is Liverpool's No 9 for now – but should he stay there?
Title winners without a prolific No 9. It's a statement not quite strong enough to kickstart a fans' chant but a point that should not be overlooked, given how many Premier League champions have been underpinned by a prolific centre-forward. For those who think Liverpool have been gifted the trophy for 2024-25 by way of misfortune elsewhere, consider how Arne Slot rejigged his side when searching for the magic formula. Advertisement For a third of the season, Liverpool have played a traditional left-winger, Luis Diaz, down the middle in an attempt to plug a gap. Often-injured first-choice No 9 Diogo Jota has missed a quarter of the campaign and just two of his six Premier League goals during it have come in 2025. Darwin Nunez, meanwhile, is on a wretched run of failing to score in 24 of the 28 games he has played in, and has started just once this calendar year (against bottom-by-a-mile Southampton). Liverpool have had to roll out Jota when fit despite his drop in form, persevere with Nunez and then redesign Diaz into the all-action figure he is steadily becoming, while relying on goals from elsewhere. They aren't the first side to win the Premier League without a top-scoring striker — Manchester City did so in 2021 and 2022 with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne as the key attackers, while Mohamed Salah fuelled Liverpool's own 2020 triumph from the right side of their forward line — but it is still a notable feat. Salah has again been the main source of goals this season, scoring 30 times in his first 38 appearances of it across all competitions. Slot builds his attack around the Egyptian but has not been tempted to move him into a central position as he has been so devastating from the right, both with his goals and creativity. So the question that remains is whether Diaz is growing in stature as a No 9 or if a new centre-forward is essential for Liverpool this summer? The obvious answer, given the shortage of goals, would be the latter. But there's more to it than meets the eye. Diaz has scored 17 goals for Liverpool this season and chipped in with five assists, although most of those have been from the left wing. In his 13 Premier League games as a centre-forward, he has scored five times, with his overall total boosted by the hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in a 4-0 win in the Champions League in November. Goals against Tottenham and Arsenal in recent weeks, however, suggest Diaz is growing into the role. Although he remains a drifter, which is natural given he exists largely as a left-winger who is asked to occasionally play down the middle, there's an improvement in his work out of possession. Diaz has the energy and enthusiasm to aggressively close down defenders and press high when required. Slot's instructions allow a little flexibility and movement. The Colombian's work with the assistant, John Heitinga, who has focused on timing runs into the box more effectively and sharpening up his shooting, has helped. Advertisement Ideally, Slot would like his centre-forward — whoever it is — to gobble up chances while also working hard for the team. Diaz has shown examples of both elements this season and has begun to arrive in dangerous positions in recent games and take his chances. He really should have scored twice against Arsenal last weekend, but had to settle for one. The experiment began in that Leverkusen game six months ago and was partially forced upon Slot due to Jota's rib injury and the need to rotate his four available forwards with Federico Chiesa also out. Against Xabi Alonso's German champions, the selection of Diaz alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in the No 9 and No 10 roles coupled two of Slot's most trusted and relentless pressers to help negate Leverkusen's smart, flexible build-up play. Yet Diaz also showed his striker's instincts with a clever run and finish from Curtis Jones' pass. Quickly, Diaz became Slot's most trusted No 9 and frequently started in that role over the next two months, though goals were in short supply until he scored three in two games against Tottenham and West Ham just before Christmas. This was the period when Liverpool's attack began to run riot, with Cody Gakpo, Salah and Diaz leading the way, yet teams began to figure out how to deal with Diaz and blunt him. In January, consecutive away games at Nottingham Forest (a 1-1 draw) and Brentford (a 2-0 win) saw Slot turn to his bench and his natural No 9s, Jota and Nunez, both scored key goals. An injury to Gakpo then led Diaz to transition back to his more natural role but in recent games Slot has reverted to deploying the 28-year-old up top. While it's a very small sample size, Diaz has found himself in the type of goalscoring positions you would expect a see a No 9 to be in. Four goals in his past five games have come from within the width of the six-yard box. Against West Ham last month, he deliberately made a central run which enabled him to finish off Salah's pass. That continued against Spurs a couple of weeks later, with Diaz lurking on the shoulder of the centre-back, and reacting quickly to position himself perfectly to tap in Szoboszlai's cross. He scored a very similar goal against Arsenal on Sunday, as again he was occupying William Saliba and was quickest to react when Salah released Szoboszlai with a pass in behind. Diaz had the simple job of knocking the ball into an empty net but it was another indication he is developing that striker's instinct. What will have pleased Slot is the variation Diaz has shown in his play, along with his finishing. Before he got on the scoresheet in the 21st minute at Anfield last weekend, the attacker should have already celebrated a goal, but he was denied at close range by David Raya. The chance showed how Diaz can drop into deeper areas to help Liverpool build attacks, but also then drive into the box and find space to give himself a goalscoring opportunity. Another major benefit of Diaz playing down the middle is that it has allowed Gakpo to flourish on the left wing, and to be picked more often. While signing a new striker this summer would appear to be an obvious move for Liverpool, doing so would most likely restrict Diaz and Gakpo, who between them have scored 27 per cent of the club's 130 goals in all competitions this season. Advertisement Finding a player who can guarantee an uplift in goals without the team losing any of the aggressiveness out of possession we've seen from them this season will be no picnic, and Slot hinted at the difficulty Liverpool face in this next transfer window in a press conference before the Arsenal game. 'It is not easy to find better players to improve us,' he said. 'They need to be available, and we need to be able to afford them.' The Dutchman insisted there would be no problem convincing a target to join Liverpool, but that the fee involved could still be a stumbling block. Also, to allow room for a new striker, they will need to move one of their current players on. Despite Jota's below-par season, he is still a useful asset and seems unlikely to depart. Diaz, meanwhile, said in an interview last weekend that he wants to stay at Anfield 'for as long as possible' and that he expects talks over the future with his contract now entering its final two years. Liverpool must decide whether to offer him new terms or consider cashing in before his value drops. The former is most likely. Which leaves Nunez, a player whose position is more vulnerable than ever as his third Liverpool season comes to an end. It is now widely accepted that if a suitable offer comes in, the club will not stand in his way. That was not the case in January when there was interest in Nunez from Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia but no appetite from Anfield's executives to break up the team midway through a title challenge. This summer will be different as there's enough time to plan and carry out a mini-rebuild. As previously reported by The Athletic, Alexander Isak of Newcastle is greatly admired at Liverpool but would almost certainly be too expensive, while Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) have also been considered. Finding the right man for the right price could be the key to success next season as Liverpool look to defend their title, but it won't be simple. Diaz, Jota and Nunez might not have been the most prolific trio but there's no guarantee that a new signing is going to do any better. It's going to take a special recruit to improve this Liverpool team.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Hastie making most of chances
Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie is not the demonstrative type. He was a little uncomfortable with the suggestion he is having a breakthrough season. But he is having a breakthrough season. The 24-year-old has impressed in the No 9 jersey and has made the most of his starts. Folau Fakatava has started the last three matches, but Hastie has got the nod for the game against Moana Pasifika on Sunday. The former King's High School head prefect has a good feel for the game. He follows his instincts as often as he does the pre-game blueprint and mostly makes good decisions. He is also healthy. The Australian-born player has had his share of setbacks on the injury front. He injured his shoulder in 2022 and was sidelined for the NPC season. Last year he required surgery when he tripped on a rug and fell through a window. His flatmate and Highlanders first five Cameron Millar had to call an ambulance. But in four weeks he was back playing rugby and back with some extra appreciation for the game. "Yeah, it's been really good. Body's healthy," he said when asked about his season. "I've managed to get a bit more game time this year, so I'm really enjoying that. Every time I get to play, it's always good fun." His performances have attracted some sterling reviews in print. But, at that point in the interview, you got the feeling Hastie wanted to run back to halfway with his head down as was the way for rugby players in this country for decades. "Just doing my thing, really. Nothing too much out of the blue or the ordinary. "Just back myself, back my running game, back my kicking game. "Just go out there and try and play my best footy." His best footy starts by getting to the ruck as quickly as possible and making decisions from there. It is not quite as simple as pass, kick or run. There is a game plan to follow. There might be a gap in the defence to exploit. The game situation might require taking the tempo out of the game and leaving the ball at the back of the ruck a little longer. All those decisions get easier the more experience you have had. Hastie is not there yet. But he does have good instincts. "I like to go for a wee run every now and then and try and get a wee offload away. I think that's one of the strengths of my game. "But yeah, I love that part of my game. And then just do my own role and stick to the game plan." Hastie grew up in Perth. His father is from Dunedin and his family moved back in 2016. He slotted into life in New Zealand nicely. He excelled at sports. Hastie captained the King's first XI cricket team and represented Otago at under-19 level. He was a left-arm spinner but has not played cricket since rupturing his ACL in his last year at school. Injury setbacks are part of the journey for most professional athletes. But it is not always easy to keep your spirits up. "It's quite hard being injured and especially for the whole season. Just try and stay connected with the team. Try and help out where you can. "Just see it as an opportunity to get better in other places." The Highlanders' playoff prospects are on life support. A loss to Moana Pasifika would be a major blow. They are not going into the match with much form behind them. They were dispatched 43-10 by the Crusaders in Dunedin last weekend and well beaten 46-10 by the Chiefs in Hamilton in the previous game. They edged Moana Pasifika 31-29 in February. They had led 31-10 at halftime and were lucky to hold on. Hastie was a standout performer for the Highlanders in that match. Highlanders v Moana Pasifika Kick-off 3.35pm Sunday at Forsyth Barr Stadium The teams Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Sam Gilbert, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), Jonah Lowe, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Hugh Renton (co-captain), Sean Withy, TK Howden, Oliver Haig, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma'u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Rohan Wingham, Mitch Dunshea, Veveni Lasaqa, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Jake Te Hiwi. Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tevita Ofa, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Danny Toala, Kyren Taumoefolau, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Jonathan Taumateine, Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa, Ardie Savea (captain), Miracle Faiilagi, Samuel Slade, Tom Savage, Chris Apoua, Millenium Sanerivi, Tito Tuipulotu. Reserves: Tomasi Maka, Monu Moli, Pone Fa'amausili, Ofa Tauatevalu, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Patrick Pellegrini.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Get in the B3 groove at €495k Farranlea Grove
LAST sold in 2018, No 9 Farranlea Grove got a very substantial overhaul shortly afterwards, looks and feels like a new home inside, but has a settled, suburban setting with a 'pure Cork' locational marker visible from its long back garden. Cork's iconic County Hall seen from city pad's back garden Seen on the city side to and north east is County Hall, for years Ireland's tallest structure: you know you are the city's western suburbs, in a former farmland spot that became strongly residential (and popular, and most lately pricey too) from the early to mid 1900s onwards out along the Model Farm Road from Dennehys Cross. No 9 Farranlea Grove is a three-bed semi-d set off the Model Farm Road, as equidistant/proximate to UCC as it is to MTU, and the enormous CUH medical campus a few hundred meters away to the south: might a medical professional from there come to the fore for this walk-in order home, one they can walk to and from work to? The 960 sq ft home got a B3 BER as a result of the quite extensive works done in 2018/19, which included underpinning; installing triple glazing and new doors; insulation of all external walls; new wiring and heating (with a stove in the front reception, off-centre in the original chimney breast); all new plumbing and bathrooms (one of the three bedrooms has an en suite). There's also an attractive, pale coloured kitchen, with stacked units all the way to ceiling height, and with slender white quartz tops, plus a smart, sit-down timber breakfast bar/table at a slightly lower height, next to double doors to a patio/rear garden. The carpeted front room connects via an open arch to a rear reception/dining room (also carpeted) next to the kitchen, so it's quite open plan yet compartmentalised, with a ground floor guest WC, and it appears in excellent condition, upstairs and downstairs. With its well-paced front façade with three vertical-shaped windows on each level (one on the left is in the laminate-floored hall, with side entry) No 9 faces due west, and has off-street parking in front for several cars on a gravel drive with perimeter planting. Behind is a lovely, long garden, with old limestone rockery by flower beds, there's a gravel patio space outside the back room's access double doors, and a lawn, mature hedge boundaries, left and right, plus there's a good-sized timber shed at the end of the open space, with County Hall looming in the near distance. Selling are Chloe Reidy and Dennis Guerin of Frank V Murphy & Co, who guide at €495,000, and the Price Register shows is sold in 2018 to the current owners for €335,000. The same selling agents had listed ther E1-rated No 27 Farranlea Grove back in October last with a €375,000 AMV, now sale agreed a bit over the ask, likely to get upgrades such as No 9 did, when next in new hands. VERDICT: despite relatively compact room sizes, No 9 ticks lots of boxes and is certain to view very strongly, with an appeal to medical professionals, as well as to traders-down and FTBs alike, with lower rate 'green' mortgage available thanks to its B3 BER.
The Guardian
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mishka Rushdie Momen review – the poignancy and power of Schubert unleashed
Two Schubert sonatas were the main works framing Mishka Rushdie Momen's programme in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama's Steinway series. Given that both were in the minor mode – the A minor, D784 and the C minor, D958 – together they constituted quite a serious, heavyweight affair for a Sunday morning recital. A pianist of graceful poise and sensitivity, Momen has a highly fluent technique that allowed everything to carry well in this acoustic. And, despite seeming a slight slip of a thing, to use an old-fashioned phrase, in these sonatas she showed that she could unleash considerable power in Schubert's outbursts of high-volume dramatic tension, sometimes shocking in their immediacy. At the other extreme, her pianissimo was often pianississimo, so that lyrical lines, rather than quietly singing out, sounded understated and as a result curiously underwhelming. It was in the mercurial finale of the A minor sonata and the lilting, dance-like F major theme with its chromatic edge, poignant and piquant at every appearance, that Momen captured most expressively the happy/sad ambivalence of this composer's musical makeup. That same tendency to play on vast dynamic contrasts was present in the C minor sonata too, the first of Schubert's final three almost symphonic sonatas in which trauma and foreboding coexist with the consoling beauty of music. Again, it was the Allegro finale – febrile, fast and furious – that communicated best. Three pieces from Janáček's On an Overgrown Path, No 1 Naše večery (Our Evenings), No 9 V pláči (In Tears) and No 10, Sýček neodletěl! (The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away!) formed a neat tripartite sequence. In these Moravian-inflected melodies, Momen negotiated the balance of serenity and volatility in a way which resonated with Schubert. Momen has written about her affinity for the keyboard music of William Byrd and this was manifest in her playing of his Prelude and Fantasia in A minor, MB 12 and 13. Here was fine rhythmic clarity and conviction, but with an element of playful fantasy too. It felt refreshing for being a foil for the big sonatas and, heard in this context was also, for many, an illuminating introduction to the Renaissance master. In recital at Wesley Centre, Harrogate, 2 June ; at Wigmore Hall, London, 8 June
