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Chelsea have reportedly joined Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Koln’s rising star Said El Mala. The 19-year-old winger, who only broke into the Bundesliga this season, has taken Germany by storm with his pace and dribbling skills, quickly turning into one of Europe’s hottest young talents.

• Bundesliga breakout catching Europe’s eye

  El Mala, who signed a long-term deal with Koln until 2030, has become one of the most talked-about young players in Europe. His pace and dribbling skills have made him a standout player on the Koln side. Scouts from England have been monitoring him closely, and reports that Chelsea are the latest club to show interest. Earlier, reports confirmed that Bayern Munich and Dortmund are also eyeing to sign the 19-year-old next summer. 

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  Koln want to hold El Mala for long-term

  While European giants are eyeing to sign the German winger, Koln want to keep hold of their young star. Last summer, they rejected a written €14 million offer from Brighton, which was verbally raised to €20m (£17m/$23m). According to , the club might only consider bids around €50 million (£44m/$58m) range if El Mala continues to impress. With no release clause in his deal, the Bundesliga club are in full control and wants to take full advantage of his growing value.

• El Mala shines in Bundesliga debut

  Signed from Viktoria Koln in 2024, El Mala spent last season on loan back at his old club, scoring 13 goals in 32 appearances. Returning to Koln this year, he immediately impressed on the Bundesliga stage. His stunning solo goal against Hoffenheim and earlier strike versus Freiburg have made him one of the league’s most exciting young wingers. 

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  What's next for El Mala

  With no release clause and rising interest from top clubs, El Mala is expected to be one of the biggest names in next summer’s transfer window. If he keeps performing like this, Koln will soon have to decide whether to cash in or hold on to their young rising star. For now, the young German winger’s focus remains on helping Koln climb the Bundesliga table, where they sit sixth with three wins from six games.

Liverpool have had an unblemished start to the Premier League and Champions League this season after securing narrow victories against the likes of Arsenal, Atlético Madrid and most recently Everton.

First-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and new signing Hugo Ekitiké were enough to see off their Merseyside rivals, even after Idrissa Gueye’s second-half goal looked like Everton may be able to mount a comeback.

After emerging victorious in the derby, Arne Slot was quizzed about how his team coped with a difficult run of fixtures: “This is also the reason why teams like us, Chelsea, all the ones that are playing in Europe need a squad like this, because you need to play so many games.”

The depth of Slot’s squad will be on full display in their opening League Cup game this week as he confirmed that five of the weekend’s starters will be absent from the fixture.

Five ruled out of Southampton League Cup clash

In his pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed that a number of players would be rotated when Liverpool face Will Still’s Southampton. The players that fans won’t be seeing on Tuesday night are Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Van Dijk, Salah, Szoboszlai and Konate have played the most minutes of any Liverpool outfield players this season, and Gravenberch has played the ninth most, which is likely why they are being rested against this poor-form Southampton side, with all five also playing three games in the space of six days last week.

Despite being one of the favourites to push for promotion this season, Southampton have had a poor start to life back in the Championship with only one win from their opening six games.

While it has not been confirmed by Slot, another player who could be rotated for Southampton is Goalkeeper Alisson. Last week, The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele shared that new goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had been “pencilled in” for a debut in this fixture.

Predicted Liverpool XI vs Southampton

One of the biggest benefits of Liverpool’s big summer is that they have high-quality options on the bench when they need to rotate. When defensive changes have been made this season, it has been Joe Gomez or Waturo Endo who have filled in at centre-back, but it seems likely only the former will start there against Southampton. Gomez is likely to be paired with 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni, who arrived from Italian side Parma in the summer.

In midfield, Slot could start Endo and Curtis Jones. Jones had been out of the side due to an injury sustained before the international break, but he got minutes against Everton, suggesting he is ready to be reintroduced to the team.

Only three players have scored more than one goal for Liverpool this season, and with Gravenberch and Salah confirmed to be out of the lineup, they will need to come from elsewhere. This could be the perfect opportunity for Florian Wirtz to find his shooting boots and show fans why Liverpool spent so much on him.

Alternatively, Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer, Rio Ngumoha, could be given a chance. His three appearances this season have only amounted to 20 minutes of game time, with the highlight being his late winner against Newcastle.

With Southampton’s poor form, trying out some of these lesser-used players will unlikely run much risk. Each of the players mentioned would find game time against Southampton valuable for different reasons, and the match may serve as the perfect opportunity for Slot to give them what they need.

Predicted Liverpool XI vs Southampton: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Gomez, Leoni, Robertson, Jones, Endo, Wirtz, Chiesa, Isak, Ngumoha

Bayern Munich have been told it would be a “must” to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck if contract talks with Dayot Upamecano collapse. With the Frenchman’s future uncertain and Liverpool monitoring the situation, Lothar Matthaus believes the German international could be the ideal replacement one who already knows the Bundesliga inside out.

• Bayern weigh Schlotterbeck move as Upamecano future hangs in balance

  Upamecano’s contract standoff has created an unexpected headache for Bayern, prompting the German champions to explore potential replacements. The French defender, who remains a cornerstone of Vincent Kompany’s backline, has yet to agree on an extension beyond 2026 amid stalled negotiations over wage demands.

  Upamecano’s representatives are reportedly pushing for a package worth around €15 million (£13m/$16m) per year along with a hefty signing bonus, terms Bayern are reluctant to meet. With talks dragging on, uncertainty has grown inside the club over the defender’s long-term future.

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  Matthaus urges Bayern to act quickly on Schlotterbeck

  The situation has led Bavarians to identify Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck as a prime target should they fail to reach a breakthrough. The 25-year-old has emerged as one of Germany’s standout defenders, excelling for both club and country, and his contract in BVB runs until 2027.

  Club legend Matthaus has made his stance clear: Bayern cannot afford to hesitate. He insisted that Schlotterbeck should be viewed as more than an alternative rather, as a logical successor if Upamecano leaves.

  "If things don't work out with Upamecano, then Schlotterbeck would definitely be more than an alternative. Then bringing him to Munich would almost be a must," Matthaus said. "Because he's familiar with the Bundesliga, because he plays alongside Tah on the national team."

  He added: "That would make sense to me, because his contract wouldn't run as long. But it might be a bit cheaper than with [Nick] Woltemade… Price tag, price tag, yes, thin ice. But that's the contract term, you have to take that into account. That's why I say: Yes, Schlotterbeck would be cheaper than Woltemade!"

• Liverpool interest fades as Bayern’s urgency grows

  Liverpool’s withdrawal from the race to sign Schlotterbeck has opened the door for Die Roten to make their move. The Premier League giants had been monitoring the BVB defender amid uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate’s future, but they have since shifted their focus elsewhere after failing to land Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

  Despite that, the Reds’ defensive depth remains stretched, with young centre-back Giovanni Leoni sidelined by a serious ACL injury. Reports in England suggest Liverpool could revisit the centre-back market in 2026, possibly reigniting their pursuit of Guehi when he becomes available on a free transfer.

  For Bayern, the stakes are more immediate. Losing Upamecano without a replacement lined up would weaken Kompany’s defensive setup ahead of another demanding campaign across domestic and European competitions. Schlotterbeck’s familiarity with the Bundesliga, combined with his strong left-footed profile, makes him an ideal candidate to slot seamlessly into Bayern’s backline.

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  Der Klassiker could influence Bayern’s transfer direction

  The timing of this transfer debate couldn’t be more symbolic, with Bayern and Dortmund set to clash this weekend in Der Klassiker. The champions have started the season flawlessly, winning all six of their Bundesliga fixtures to sit top of the table with 18 points. Die Borussen, meanwhile, hope to end that streak and inject new life into the title race.

  A strong performance from Schlotterbeck in this high-profile encounter could further strengthen Bayern’s resolve to move for him especially if Upamecano’s contract saga drags into the winter. Sporting director Max Eberl is said to be leading efforts to either secure Upamecano’s renewal before January or prepare a contingency plan.

  If talks fail to progress by the new year, Bayern could push aggressively for Schlotterbeck ahead of the summer transfer window. Dortmund, however, are expected to fight hard to keep their defensive linchpin, with the player’s camp reportedly reluctant to commit to new terms until they have clarity on the club’s sporting direction.

Enzo Maresca is an imperfect head coach, but there’s no denying the progress he has made at Chelsea since replacing Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Last season, Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League and recovered their place in the Champions League, having gone two years without a taste of top-drawer European action.

The Blues are rebuilding, and their sights are set on the biggest prizes out there, aforementioned. The transfer strategy has been polished in the windows since those turbulent early BlueCo days, but there is work still to be done, even with exciting additions across the summer.

It’s not just ensuring Chelsea get bang for their buck with incomings, but getting it right when selling a first-teamer too. There have been a few to frustratingly slip through the Stamford Bridge turnstiles over the years.

Chelsea's worst modern sales

Chelsea typically sell well. While the Londoners catch their rivals’ frustrations with big-money transfer windows, this is enabled through the calculated and extensive impetus on the exit front, raking in hundreds of millions each year.

But it doesn’t always go to plan, and more historical cases would reveal the rueful sales of Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, both of whom left Chelsea in the early stages of their careers and built themselves up in Europe before returning and cementing their legacies.

It would not be outrageous to claim that both would get into the Premier League all-time 11. Not outrageous, only contestable.

Romelu Lukaku also falls into that bracket, having left the young for Everton when young and since becoming one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. The fact that the Blues re-signed him for £97.5m and then he flopped emphasises the bungled club-player relationship.

Salah might be the most egregious of the lot, though, leaving for Roma in a £15m deal before returning to England two years later and going on to achieve greatness on Merseyside. Now he’s 33, still starring for an indomitable Liverpool team.

And there may be fears in the Chelsea offices that they have repeated that former mistake.

Why Chelsea sold Noni Madueke

Madueke arrived at Chelsea as an untested and unknown prospect. He had found regional acclaim in Holland with PSV Eindhoven and made the leap back to his homeland to form part of a new world order at Stamford Bridge.

It was a testing period for the club, and Madueke, at times, toiled, but that was to be expected; the winger was 20 years old at the time, after all.

Described as a “mentality monster” by personal coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst during his younger days, the 23-year-old struggled to maintain a consistent clinical level across his two-and-a-half years at Chelsea, but his attitude was right and the talent was there for all to see.

Arsenal certainly saw it, snapping him up this summer for £55m. A healthy sum, and one Maresca’s side can be forgiven for accepting, especially when considering the wave of attacking signings welcomed to the Bridge.

It was only last season, of course, that the England international scored a hat-trick in his favourite place, underscoring his potential in the Premier League.

And his start to life over in north London has shown Chelsea the error of their ways, with Madueke already making startling headway in Mikel Arteta’s system, even hailed by ex-Manchester United defender Paul Parker as being “better than Bukayo Saka.”

Some might take offence to that one, but it does underscore the player within, now coming into his own.

Madueke’s potential was always a lofty thing, and it’s telling that he has played six times for Arsenal and has yet to register a goal contribution. Even so, the consensus is unanimous: he’s been great.

According to data-led platform FBref, Madueke ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, highlighting an incredible well of athleticism and pace from which he draws on each match.

Might Chelsea have a Salah repeat on their hands? Let’s hope not. It’s worth remembering that the Egyptian only left Italy and signed for Liverpool after he had turned 25, and eyebrows were raised in a similar fashion to Madueke’s cross-London switch.

Now, he’s an all-timer in the English game. Like Madueke, Salah is a right-sided forward, and he’s one of the greatest goalscorers to do it.

His is a tale which hammers home the fact that development in football is not linear. He came into his own at a later age, but, as with Madueke, both were talented enough as youngsters as to warrant Chelsea’s attention.

Chelsea have more than enough quality in the locker to ensure this does not detrimentally hamper them in their ambitions, but there’s no question that, if Madueke makes considerable progress over the next few years, this might become another sale to join the rueful departures of Salah, De Bruyne and the like.

Roman Abramovich, at least, didn’t sell Salah to a direct rival, and instead shipped him out to Italy, where he developed and grew the fundamentals that allowed him to return to the Premier League and become a superstar.

But Madueke already looks like a more polished and incisive player over at the Emirates, and while Arsenal have swept up so much of Chelsea’s rubbish over the years, it’s beginning to look like Madueke will buck that trend.

Maresca has a bigger talent than George who's "the future of Chelsea"

The sensational youngster looks the real deal for Chelsea.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 26, 2025

Football's lawmakers will discuss giving VAR the power to review second yellow cards at a meeting in January. The International Football Association Board's (IFAB) advisory group has confirmed the proposal will be submitted, which would expand VAR's remit beyond its current limitation of only reviewing straight red cards. The move is based on the idea that second yellow cards are often match-changing decisions which should be subject to review.

• Major shake-up of VAR rules

  IFAB will consider proposals aimed at both speeding up the game and improving communication between players and referees, according to . One proposal involves extending the eight-second countdown currently applied to goalkeepers holding the ball to also include throw-ins and goal kicks, with the intention of reducing time wasting. 

  Additionally, it will be recommended that the existing policy of allowing only team captains to speak with referees about decisions be made a mandatory rule. The eight-second rule has been used twice so far this season, when Martin Dubravka delayed too long with the ball for Burnley against Tottenham and Caoimhin Kelleher for Brentford against Liverpool. Controversially, Brentford took a total of nine minutes 18 seconds to take just ten throw-ins during the game against Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium.

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  VAR decision expected early next year

  A statement from IFAB said: "In relation to the video assistant referee (VAR) protocol, it was discussed that, among others, the video match officials (VMO) should have the possibility to intervene when an incorrect second yellow card has been given. A relevant proposal will be submitted to the Ifab’s Annual Business Meeting, which is due to meet on 20 January 2026 in London. Deliberations included whether the countdown principle could be applied to throw-ins and goal kicks and how to reduce the amount of time lost owing to stoppages caused by injuries and substitutions."

• VAR-reaching powers have grown in recent years

  Since its 2019 introduction, VAR has been a constant source of controversy. While intended to increase decision accuracy, VAR has frustrated fans, players, and managers alike with its inconsistencies and slow execution. Critics argue it has diminished the matchday experience by sapping the emotion from goal celebrations. Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said, "This constant erosion of referees' authority… is diminishing the authority of the referee". And Anthony Gordon bemoaned VAR’s intervention in him not being awarded a penalty in 2023, he said: "I don't mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch, but I don't understand the point of VAR. Either get rid of it or get better. It's that simple, there are too many mistakes." Despite complaints and admitted errors, like the infamous Luis Diaz offside incident at Tottenham in 2023, the Premier League maintains VAR has increased overall correct decision-making. However, a 2024 YouGov poll revealed nearly 90 per cent of matchgoing fans want changes or for it to be scrapped completely. Most opt for reform rather than abandonment, citing delays and communication issues as primary concerns. 

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  No guarantees move will be given green light

  There is no indication if the move to include yellow cards will definitely be taken up and there is resistance from those within the game in England. FA chief executive and IFAB board member, Mark Bullingham, told the in July: "There are regular discussions in IFAB about what VAR should be, and how it should move forward. I think our position is that we’re in a good place now. Of course if someone brings an item forward for IFAB to consider, then as a group we’ll consider it. But as a group we don’t necessarily think that VAR needs to be extended at the moment. We think there’s enough interruptions to the game in the current model."

Manchester United are now readying a £70m bid for a “world-class” midfielder, who could join as part of a Kobbie Mainoo swap deal.

Mainoo fails to force his way into Amorim's plans

It is clear that Ruben Amorim isn’t the biggest fan of Kobbie Mainoo, who is still yet to start a Premier League game this season, despite Man United making an awful start, with their most recent setback coming in a 3-1 defeat against Brentford.

With Casemiro suspended, Manuel Ugarte came into central midfield, alongside Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo once again had to settle for being a substitute, with the 20-year-old being brought on for the final 25 minutes of the game.

Having been unable to force his way into Amorim’s plans, there have been suggestions the Englishman could be ready to move to a new club this winter, and rivals Manchester City have even been named as surprise potential suitors.

That said, with Amorim now under significant pressure, receiving criticism from club legend Wayne Rooney, the midfielder may soon have a new manager, who is more willing to give him consistent game time.

For now, however, INEOS are persisting with the 40-year-old, and Mainoo’s future remains up in the air, with a report from Spain revealing the youngster could be used as part of a swap deal for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.

Man United are said to be preparing an offer of around €80m (£70m) for Valverde, but they may be willing to use their youth product as a makeweight in negotiations, in order to reduce the cost of the operation.

Fabrizio Romano says legendary 4-3-3 manager wants Amorim's job at Man Utd

He’s previously won a top-flight title and enjoyed a distinguished playing career.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Sep 29, 2025

However, Real Madrid are currently showing little interest in sanctioning a departure, with the midfielder emerging as one of their most ‘trusted’ players, so it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible.

"World-class" Valverde could take Man Utd's midfield to next level

Let’s make it clear — Man United definitely shouldn’t consider letting Mainoo leave, given that the England international has previously shown he has what it takes to perform at the top level, excelling in the 2024 FA Cup Final.

That said, signing the Real Madrid star for straight cash should still be a very attractive proposition, having proven himself over a number of years in La Liga and the Champions League, with Jurgen Klopp once dubbing the maestro “world-class”.

Casemiro has made it clear he is unreliable, with the Brazilian naively getting himself sent off in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea, and at 33-years-old, United are in need of a long-term replacement in the middle of the park.

Over the past year, Valverde has shown that he is a well-rounded midfielder, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and the Uruguayan would undoubtedly be an exciting signing for the Red Devils.

Once a young star and now a veteran leader, Lavelle continues to play a key role as the next generation of U.S. players develops

There was no moment of celebration or, in reality, even reflection for Rose Lavelle. Almost exactly 45 minutes after she'd scored the U.S. women's national team's opening goal against Portugal, Lavelle showed up for her halftime interview totally out of breath. Exhausted, huffing and puffing, Lavelle talked of the need to be better, of the need to push harder.

It didn't happen that way. After conceding from a corner kick just before halftime, the USWNT conceded from another in the second half and went on to lose, 2-1 on Thursday night. It was, in many ways, a stunning loss, even for a friendly. Portugal were an opponent that seemed to be overmatched. Instead, it was the USWNT that struggled to create positive moments in a game that was crying out for them.

The one they did generate was Lavelle's goal, and the performance of the veteran midfielder was a key takeaway, despite the defeat. After missing so much time earlier this year due to injury, Lavelle seems to be fit and fully back, which is massive news for a USWNT currently undergoing a generational shift. 

In this kind of form, the 30-year-old's role cannot be ignored. As USWNT boss Emma Hayes so eloquently put it, "There's only one Rose Lavelle." Thursday was a reminder of that, and why the veteran star still has a major part to play in this World Cup cycle.

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  Returning to form

  Since the Olympics, the USWNT has dealt with a number of major absences. The "Triple Espresso" attacking core of Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman have been almost entirely out since announcing themselves to the world in that gold medal run. Naomi Girma has missed significant time, robbing the U.S. of its defensive leader.

  And Alyssa Naeher retired from international play, kickstarting a USWNT goalkeeping competition.

  For much of the year, Lavelle was missing, too. After undergoing ankle surgery in December, Lavelle missed the first seven games of 2025, a run that included USWNT losses to Japan and Brazil in the spring. She returned with a bang, netting and assisting in the 4-0 rout of Ireland on June 26. After making a cameo in her hometown of Cincinnati in another blowout of the Irish team,  Lavelle then started against Canada on July 2 as Hayes seemed content to ease her back into the fold.

  "We're all delighted for Rose because there's only one Rose Lavelle," Hayes said over the summer. "There really is, both on and off the field, as a character, as a football player, as a human being. [It's] been a tough injury to recover from, but she's such a professional, also a perfectionist.

  "I think Rose is a special player, I always have. I did before I took this job, but now I work with her and I've been able to put her in positions where she can thrive even more, giving her the right structure, and I'm looking forward to many more of those moments."

  Those moments are, ultimately, what have come to define Lavelle's career. It's what put her on the world's stage at the 2019 World Cup, at which she won the competition's Bronze Ball. In truth, though, those moments haven't happened quite as often in recent years.  She struggled with a knee injury at the 2023 World Cup, limiting her impact, and was then overshadowed by the younger goalscorers at last summer's Olympics. She featured in every match, but then did not appear in the final.

  This week seems something of a reminder, then, of what those Lavelle moments can look like.

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  Magical moments

  With just a few minutes left in their NWSL regular season, Gotham FC needed a goal. They'd assembled something of a superteam in recent years, yes, but the Bats knew they needed at least a point in their regular season finale against Racing Louisville if they wanted into this season's playoffs. And, in that moment, Lavelle stepped up as only she does.

  Given a set piece just outside of the box, Lavelle made the most of it. With her side down 2-1 and desperately needing a goal, the midfielder provided it, turning a dead-ball situation into one of those moments of magic that can, ultimately, define a season. It did that for Gotham, who are now into the playoffs.

  "I think the profile of Rose Lavelle is probably the most rare to find when it's a player that can basically do everything at such a high level," Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said earlier this season. "And then on top of that she does the special things on the ball that create – it's why we all watch the sport.

  "Obviously, you want to see goals, but those actions that she produces and how she understands the game is something very different to everyone else and that's what makes her special."

  That free kick was on Sunday. On Thursday, Lavelle didn't have to wait until the game's final moments to make her mark. She did it instantly. Although it should be acknowledged that she was almost certainly offside on her finish, the goal just 33 seconds into the match it was another example of what Lavelle adds to the team: game-defining moments.

  Unfortunately for her, it didn't ultimately define Thursday's game. The U.S. shut off after that opening goal, never really getting back in the game after conceding in the first half.

  "I think it felt like a good, fun start," Lavelle said. "I think we needed to keep on that momentum. Unfortunately, we weren't able to. But I think it's always good to get an early goal. I think it helps set the tone. But I don't think we were able to really keep up with it after that."

  It was a bitter defeat for the USWNT, but also a valuable one that sets the team's leaders, including Lavelle, up for a chance to guide the group's younger stars.

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  The value of experience

  It's easy to forget just how inexperienced this current USWNT group is. Of the 26 players on the roster, 18 have 12 or fewer caps. Only four have played in multiple major tournaments. Only three are over the age of 30. Lavelle is one, alongside Lindsey Heaps and Emily Sonnett. Their leadership, particularly coming out of a loss, is vital.

  "You can't compete to win without experience. You cannot. Some of that experience is not just in the things you see on the pitch, it's the sort of things you do not see," Hayes said earlier this week. "I think about Lindsey. Since I've come to this country, what an unbelievable leader she's been, in terms of driving standards, I would say, alongside Emily Sonnet, alongside our Rose in different ways.

  "And not just upholding standards, but actually bringing people into it, so people belong, so they feel valued. And also adapt with the changes that come with the differences in generations, to be able to meet them where they're at. I always say to our less experienced players, 'Look up to these people.'"

  For anyone who has followed Lavelle's career, it is difficult to grasp her status as a USWNT vet. She burst onto the scene so spectacularly during that 2019 run, cementing her place as a rising star next to legends such as Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Julie Ertz and Alex Morgan.

  She's cemented her place among them already but, at 30, she's now heading towards the place in her career where those players were at that 2019 tournament. She's no longer the hot prospect, but the experienced leader, one who, ultimately, will have a big part to play going forward.

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  Lessons from Portugal

  Lavelle said it after the match: she's looking forward to Sunday's rematch, as the USWNT and Portugal will meet again in East Hartford, Connecticut. It'll be a chance to bounce back, and an opportunity for this evolving group to show how they respond to adversity.

  "That's the lucky part about this: we have another opportunity to go out, be better and play more as a team and get on the same page," Lavelle said. "I think we're excited for that opportunity to grow over these next three days and talk about what went right and what went wrong."

  What went wrong, in Hayes' eyes, was clear: the team's play was too individualistic. As Portugal continued to put pressure on the U.S., players tried to break through by themselves, not as a unit. It led to a disjointed performance, one that Hayes is eager to see her team learn from.

  "We didn’t look like a team the whole evening, on both sides of the ball," the USWNT boss said. "We didn’t press together, we didn’t possess together, it felt like a yard off in our brain. I could see that.”

  Unsurprisingly, as a veteran leader, Lavelle agreed.

  "I think we've got to play more together," the midfielder said. "I think we need to find better spacing for everybody to get on the ball. Again, credit to them, they're a great team. But we need to be better in a lot of areas and make little adjustments."

  Only Hayes knows whether or not Lavelle will get that opportunity on Sunday. Rotation is surely coming, and that was guaranteed even before Thursday's performance. With a game on Sunday and then another on Wednesday, Hayes may look to change things up.

  Going forward, though, expect to see more of Lavelle. The U.S. continues to grow as a unit, finding young, exciting players to fill gaps and, in some cases, seize roles previously held by veterans. As long as Lavelle keeps providing moments of magic, though, she'll remain a key part as she helps usher in a new era after being so vital to defining the previous one.

Former Real Madrid attacker and club legend Gareth Bale was "disappointed" by the displays of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior as Los Blancos fell to a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League. Bale claimed that he was frustrated because the Madrid forwards tried to "overcomplicate things" in a rather timid display at Anfield on Tuesday evening.

• Toothless Madrid fall to Anfield defeat

  Real Madrid faced their first defeat in the Champions League this season – and only their second defeat overall – after slipping to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening. A second half goal from Alexis Mac Allister from a Dominik Szoboszlai set piece was enough for the Reds to register only their third win in their last nine fixtures. 

  It was a homecoming to forget for Madrid manager Xabi Alonso and club icon Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose late introduction was drowned out by a storm of boos and whistles from the stands. The Englishman could not make an impact upon his return to Merseyside, as Madrid had Thibaut Courtois to thank for an outrageous performance which kept the scoreline to just 1-0.

  The focus ahead of the game was on the likes of Vinicius and Mbappe, the latter especially in ridiculous form having scored 18 goals in 14 games ahead of the game. However, the duo had little to no impact on the proceedings, thanks to Liverpool's brilliant structure out of possession coupled with their immense hunger and dedication.

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  Bale blames Vinicius and Mbappe for overcomplicating things

  Speaking on , Bale said: "I think it was that spark that [Thierry] Henry and I were talking about, that we didn't see Mbappe and Vinicius in the final third work a bit of magic and bring Madrid back into the game. It was a bit disappointing that in that final third there wasn't really that kind of quality that you expect from Real Madrid players." 

  Bale also pointed out that Alonso's side lacked a physical presence inside the box. "It's frustrating, I think they overcomplicate things," said the five-time Champions League winner. "Sometimes they just need to try and test the defender. They are clearly faster than anyone else on the pitch. But I think maybe they don't do it because there's no one else in the box waiting for the crosses. Maybe they need that reference number nine." 

• Henry critical of Madrid's attackers

  In the same segment, former Barcelona and Arsenal forward Henry also provided his thoughts and explained what Real Madrid and their attackers could have done better. "I don't understand it," he said. "You have to play with what's in front of you, you have to play the moment. And even if there's nobody in the box, as you said, at least the opposing team has dropped back 30 meters and then you can give the ball to your midfielder, who might have a shot from outside the box. But I don't know, sometimes people try to be clever when there's no need to be."

  He specifically talked about Vinicius:  You have an opportunity at the beginning, for example, Vinicius had Conor Bradley for the first five or seven minutes, and then he let him breathe. Why do you let him breathe? Keep trying until he gets a yellow card and then he can't defend the same way, but it didn't happen that way.

  "Vinicius received the ball one-on-one after a good battle in the first five minutes against Conor Bradley, and he passed it back to his left-back to receive it again… and now it was a one-on-three. Then he attacked alone against the three, and I thought, wait, do the math. You had a one-on-one, try to see what you can do with that. Why do you move the ball back so it comes back to you and you can play a one-on-three? I just don't understand it sometimes."

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  When do Real Madrid play again?

  Los Blancos will take on neighbours Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio de Vallecas this weekend, which is the final game before the upcoming international break. Alonso's troops currently hold a five-point lead at the top of La Liga and will hope to brush aside the Liverpool loss by getting maximum points on Sunday. Post the break, they will face surprise package Elche on November 23.

One Ibrox manager target has ruled himself out of contention to return as Rangers boss, the PA news agency understands.

Significant Rangers manager update from Ibrox

Steven Gerrard had been the front-runner to replace the sacked Russell Martin as head coach, but it is understood that after holding constructive discussions with the club, he felt the timing was not right for a return to Ibrox.

PA understands the conversations were positive, and both sides agreed to leave the door open for the future.

Martin was sacked last weekend after just four months in charge, with the team having won just one of their opening seven William Hill Premiership matches.

Gerrard, who left his role in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq in January, is a hero to many Gers supporters after leading them to the title in 2020-21, which remains the only time they have won the league since their financial implosion in 2012.

He left the club later that year after three years in charge to take over at Aston Villa. In an interview with the ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents’ podcast released this week, Gerrard revealed he had “a bit of unfinished business” in management and wanted “to be at a team that’s going to compete to win because I think that suits me better”.

Rangers star has already admitted he dreams of move away from Ibrox in Gerrard worry

Another concern for the Gers.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 11, 2025

Rangers Under-19 coach Steven Smith is currently overseeing first-team training on an interim basis along with B team coach Brian Gilmour, goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo and head of performance Rhys Owen.

Other names to have been touted as potential successors to Martin include Hearts boss Derek McInnes, former Rangers player Kevin Muscat and ex-Everton boss Sean Dyche.

The last time MLB staged a Players' Weekend in 2019, it was monochromatic. It's back in 2024 and will be a stark contrast with a flood of color.

Players' Weekend makes its return this season, and it'll bring character and personality to the basepaths in new ways.

Players' Weekend Theme Days

Each day of Players' Weekend is themed differently. Friday is deemed fun day, Saturday is deemed cause day, and Sunday is apprecation day.

Here's how the MLB laid out the importance of each day: