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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has claimed that INEOS' latest set of redundancies have shown a "clear path" and "vision" towards success.

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• Man Utd have made a number of redundancies
• Amorim praises the cost-cutting efforts
• Show 'clear path' towards success

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  INEOS have been overseeing a number of cost-cutting measures at Manchester United over the last few months, as a lack of performance on the field has caused the Red Devils to face major financial troubles. At Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company has undertaken almost 200 job cuts, among other redundancies.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Last month, Amorim seemed to blame Manchester United players for their part in the job cuts, much to the dismay of first-team stars. However, the Portuguese coach has now claimed that INEOS' redundancies has showcased the minority owners' vision as they look to lead the Red Devils back to the top.

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  WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking to the media, Amorim said: "I see a clear path, I see that from the board also. They are doing difficult changes, they are not popular, but they are doing them because they have a vision. That is clear.

  "But in the future we need to show some results – because you can make a lot of changes and if we don't have results, people won't feel confidence and happy. The good thing is we have a clear path, now it's hard but we are doing things to achieve success in the future."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

  The Portuguese has not helped Manchester United turn around their form as of yet, as such, Amorim has claimed that he does not think he has improved as a coach.

  He said: "Better? It's hard to say. I'm not winning games so sometimes I don't feel like I'm a better coach! I've lived here for three months, I've lived through certain things where I'm a more complete manager. Because sometimes you need to lose, to be in a poor situation, to grow. I felt that in these three months.

  "I'm not going to die if I lose three games in a row. That's something I've learned here. I can cope to maintain the energy. I'm learning a lot about myself but I prefer to win games. That is clear. But we are surviving and doing everything. Today it's really hard but this is going to help us in the future."

Aston Villa suffered defeat to Crystal Palace in midweek, being knocked out of the League Cup in the process.

For Unai Emery, it could be a blessing in disguise, especially with more Premier League and Champions League ties to come between now and Christmas.

Nevertheless, he will still be disappointed that they have missed a chance to end their major trophy drought, especially with Manchester City also being knocked out of the competition.

Emery will be looking ahead to the tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as a chance to secure a firm grip on the fourth spot in the league table. There may be a few changes made, as some players failed to perform well against the Eagles.

Emiliano Buendia should be dropped for Villa

The Argentinian midfielder was making just his second start for the club since returning from a cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out for the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign.

Deployed in the number ten role by the Spaniard, Buendia was given a rare chance to shine against Palace, but he failed to really showcase his abilities.

He did make one key pass and had a shot on target, yet the former Norwich City gem could only succeed with one of his three dribble attempts, lost possession 11 times, and won just two of his 13 ground duels during his 78 minutes on the field.

Of course, it will take time for him to get back to full match fitness, but this was a disappointing showing in a game where he could have laid down a marker for Emery.

Against Spurs, the manager will likely switch things up and this could see Morgan Rogers come back into the starting XI.

Morgan Rogers will be unleashed by Emery

The youngster has been in fine form for Villa this term. In the top flight, he has scored twice, grabbed two assists, created four big chances, and averaged 1.3 key passes per game.

These statistics show that the Englishman has cemented his place as the main attacking midfielder in Emery’s tactical system this term, given his ability to make things happen in the final third.

Former striker Tony Cascarino lavished praise on the player in September, saying: “He reminds me a little bit of Jamal Musiala. He’s that guy that picks up the ball and he’ll just make runs and he’ll create problems for others.

“He’s got a lot about him. Comparing him to Musiala, well that type of player, that’s a really big praise because Musiala’s a real talent. But I do see something in Morgan Rogers where he’s got that ability.”

High praise indeed and if Villa aim to secure yet another win, Rogers must start against Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

He is hitting his best form at exactly the right time and there is no doubt Rogers has a bright future in the game ahead if he maintains his current level of performance. That’s a certainty.

Therefore, Emery must ruthlessly ditch Buendia from the starting XI, after his struggles last time out, and bring the England U21 international back into the starting XI, as the Argentine whiz failed to take his chance to impress in the cup.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shared his thoughts on Manchester United's squad and admits some players are simply not good enough for the Red Devils.

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• Ratcliffe discusses Man Utd squad
• Says some players are 'not good enough'
• Continues to back Amorim to succeed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United are in the midst of a dismal season despite bringing in Ruben Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag as manager. The Red Devils are currently down in 14th place in the Premier League table and Ratcliffe has admitted some players are "overpaid" and "not good enough."

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  WHAT RATCLIFFE SAID

  Speaking to BBC Sport, Ratcliffe said: "If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn't buy, we're buying Antony, we're buying Casemiro, we're buying Onana, we're buying Hojlund, we're buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we've inherited those things and have to sort that out.

  "For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we're paying £17m to buy him in the summer. It takes time for us to move away from the past into a new place in the future."

  He responded as follows when questioned if he was implying that such players weren't suitable for Manchester United: "Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time. We've got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.

  "There are some great players in the squad as we know, the captain is a fabulous footballer. We definitely need Bruno, he's a fantastic footballer."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  When questioned about the potential departure of young starlets like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, Ratcliffe added: "No no. We won't be selling players because of the state we are in financially.

  "The club had got bloated so we reduced that and will finish it with a lean and efficient organisation. That's how we will address the costs. The player decisions will all be focused on how we are going to improve performance. That's all."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Manchester United are back in action on Thursday in the Europa League which is their only chance of silverware left this season. The Red Devils take on Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, with the tie level at 1-1 after the first leg in Spain.

After an encouraging start that saw them navigate some particularly intimidating fixtures away to Manchester City and Aston Villa, Arsenal’s season is starting to come apart.

Mikel Arteta’s side are winless in their last four Premier League games and sit in fourth place, four points behind City and nine behind leaders Liverpool.

Overall, the North Londoners just haven’t looked themselves over the last month or so, and unless something drastic changes, their chance of lifting the title come May seems all but over.

However, while the doom and gloom are near enough impossible to ignore, there are still some positives, such as the performances of one of the club’s most important players, someone who’s seen his valuation explode under the management of Arteta.

Arsenal's top performers

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s look at the next best performers for Arsenal this season, by goals and assists, that is.

Coming in at number three is Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli, who is having an odd season so far this year.

The former Ituano gem endured a disappointing campaign last year, in which he could only muster up a tally of eight goals and five assists in 44 games, and while he’s undoubtedly doing better this year, he can still be frustrating.

For example, in his 17 appearances thus far, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and provided three assists, meaning he’s already just about on track to beat his haul from last year.

Yet, at the same time, there have been more than a few moments in games where it feels as if he’s holding onto the ball for too long and constantly making the wrong decision.

The North Londoners’ second most productive player so far this season has been Kai Havertz, who has also had a few frustrating moments here and there but has generally performed well enough.

The former Chelsea ace has made 15 appearances so far this season – 14 of which have been as a striker – in which he’s scored seven goals and provided one assist, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement every 2.12 games.

However, he cannot hold a candle to Arsenal’s most productive player this season, a player who has seen his valuation reach incredible heights under Arteta.

Arsenal's valuable superstar

So, as you might’ve been able to guess by now, the Arsenal star in question is, of course, Bukayo Saka.

He might not be the flashiest of players or have the most exciting highlight reel.

Yet, when it comes to being an effective attacker, there are few better than him, as evidenced by his impressive haul of four goals and seven assists in 15 appearances, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement once every 1.36 games this season.

When you consider his performances this season, alongside his outstanding overall record of 62 goals and 60 assists in 241 senior appearances for the Gunners, the explosion in his valuation over the years begins to make a lot more sense.

For example, according to Transfermarkt, the Hale End “monster”, as dubbed by journalist Mark White, was worth just €13m – £11m – around the time Arteta took charge in December 2019, and since then, their valuation of the England international has grown practically exponentially.

Just three years into the Spaniard’s reign, in December 2022, they priced the North Londoners’ sensational poster boy at €100m – £83m – for the first time, and now they consider him to be worth an astonishing €140m – £116m.

That means the era-defining academy graduate has seen his valuation soar an astronomical 954% under the tutelage of Arteta, and while things aren’t looking rosy for the Gunners at the moment, we’d be surprised if that number doesn’t just keep on rising.

Ultimately, there are plenty of incredible players in this Arsenal squad, but none are as crucial to the team or project as Saka, and his current valuation is just a representation of that fact.

He's better than Trossard: Arsenal must regret selling star for just £200k

The “sizzling” sensation is now worth 16400% more after being sold for just £200k by Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 12, 2024

Man City will be without star striker Khadija Shaw and winger Aoba Fujino for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Chelsea.

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• Shaw & Fujino suffer 'significant' injuries
• Both key players for City
• Won't be available for first leg of UCL tie

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Shaw was already a doubt for Wednesday's European fixture after Man City interim boss Nick Cushing admitted that she left Saturday's League Cup final defeat to Chelsea with a hamstring issue. However, for him to confirm that Fujino, City's scorer in that game, will also be out is a further blow to their attack.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City are already dealing with a lot of other injuries, too. Lauren Hemp has been sidelined since November due to a knee surgery, with the same fate meaning Alex Greenwood has been absent since December. Rebecca Knaak, signed in January to help bolster a backline depleted by the latter's injury, has not played since late February due to a hamstring issue either, with it unclear if she will return.

• WHAT CUSHING SAID

  Speaking in his press conference on Tuesday, Cushing confirmed that both Shaw and Fujino would be unavailable. "Both of them are muscle injuries, so they're probably not going to be ready for this game, but we'll leave it with the medical team," he said. "I think the problem with these type of injuries is it's going to take a few days to even be able to diagnose how long. The problem is, I think they're significant. For me, it's about just leaving it with the medical team, understanding that I've got to find a solution for this game and then we'll roll on to the next one and see where we are."

  Asked for more information on the extent of their injuries, Cushing replied: "I think when you've got muscle injuries and you can't diagnose the time frame, it's ultimately not going to be one that you're going to turn around quickly.

  "That's two significant players missing, but these moments just give opportunity for other players."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  An injury to Shaw at the end of last season coincided with City losing serious ground in a Women's Super League title race they were leading. Fortunately, the team has a more natural back-up for her this time around, in Vivianne Miedema. It's likely that the Dutchwoman will be pushed forward from her midfield role to lead the line, while Jess Park or Laura Blindkilde Brown could come into midfield. January signing Kerolin and young academy product Lily Murphy should compete for Fujino's wide role, though Park can also play in the front line.

It’s been just under a year and a half since Ange Postecoglou was named the new Tottenham Hotspur manager, and to say a lot has changed would be a massive understatement.

The Australian has brought back the entertaining and attacking football that Spurs used to be known for back in the day, and while success is yet to come, it feels like the club is moving in the right direction.

Moreover, the former Celtic boss has welcomed a plethora of talented new faces to the club who have already become core members of the first team.

That said, not all of his signings have been hits, and there is one player in particular, who he was excited about securing, who should be axed from the team.

Postecoglou's best signings

Okay, before we get to the negative stuff, let’s look at a couple of Postecoglou’s best signings since taking the reins in North London last summer, starting with Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch defender joined Spurs from VfL Wolfsburg in a £43m deal last summer and has already become arguably the most important player in the team, in no small part thanks to his incredible pace.

The 23-year-old became the fastest player in Premier League history last season when he clocked an incredible sprint speed of 37.38km/h against Brentford.

This supreme gift, combined with his footballing intelligence, allows the manager to play a higher line than most, safe in the knowledge that the Wormer-born titan will get back in time to stop counter-attacks.

Moreover, his blistering pace has also helped the team in attack more than a few times, as even with the ball at his feet, the ten-capped international can outrun most opposition players and either get a shot off himself or play the perfect pass to his teammates.

Speaking of goals, though, another of the Australian’s best signings is Brennan Johnson, who, after a slow start to the season, has become an invaluable provider of them.

The Welshman has racked up an impressive tally of nine goals and one assist in 19 appearances, equating to a goal involvement on average every 1.9 games.

However, his effectiveness off the right highlights the ineffectiveness of another Postecoglou signing on the other flank.

The Ange signing who must be axed

So, with the signing primarily playing off the left, it should come as no surprise that it is German winger Timo Werner.

The former Chelsea ace first joined the Lilywhites on a six-month loan deal from RB Leipzig in January, and while fans were understandably unsure at the time, the manager wasn’t, telling the press after the attacker’s debut for the club that he had the potential to be “really exciting for us once he get to understand our game.”

Unfortunately for all involved, that did not end up happening last season, and by the end of the campaign, he had scored two goals and provided three assists in 14 appearances, which wasn’t abysmal, but it was pretty far from “exciting.”

That said, the club opted to bring the 28-year-old back to N17 on a season-long loan this year in a deal that includes an option to buy for around £8.5m, and while that’s not a lot of money, the club should not exercise that option.

We say that because in 15 games so far, the Stuttgart-born flop has scored one goal and provided two assists, which just is not good enough, not for a back-up winger and certainly not for someone who could start an increasing number of games as Son Heung-min continues to age.

Moreover, once the incredibly exciting Mikey Moore has recovered from the virus that has seen him sidelined this month, Postecoglou should axe the £165k-per-week flop from the team altogether, as using the academy graduate as the go-to back-up for Son would be far more beneficial to the club, both now and in the future.

Ultimately, while Werner has shown glimpses of real quality in a Spurs shirt, they have been just that, glimpses, and have been vastly overshadowed by countless frustrating displays in which he’s lacked any real attacking threat.

Therefore, Postecoglou must not exercise the option to buy in the summer and must minimise his game time for the rest of the season.

Spurs wasted £37m on awful AVB flop who earned more than Solanke

The veteran striker couldn’t adapt to life at Spurs.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 28, 2024

Manchester United have reportedly drawn up a four-man shortlist as they endeavour to sign a proven striker during the summer transfer window.

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• Red Devils eager to find more firepower
• Hojlund & Zirkzee struggling in that department
• Proven No.9 will not come cheap

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have struggled for firepower during the 2024-25 campaign, with that lack of end product contributing significantly to the 13-time Premier League champions languishing 13th in the top-flight table under Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It is clear that reinforcements in the final third are required, but acquiring a prolific No.9 is never easy. United will need to spend big if they are to bring in competition for Rasmus Hojlund – who ended his 22-game wait for a goal against Leicester – and Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , there are four names registering on the Old Trafford recruitment radar. Viktor Gyokeres, who Amorim knows well from his time at Sporting, figures prominently on that list. The Swede is, however, being linked with leading sides across Europe.

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  TELL ME MORE

  RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko is another to be attracting widespread interest, while Nigeria international Victor Osimhen – who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoil – has seen a Premier League move mooted for some time. Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt is the final name on United’s wish list.

Ruben Amorim has become the sixth permanent Manchester United manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Despite the array of options at the helm, the Red Devils have been starved of success, failing to win a single Premier League title after the Scotsman’s departure nearly 12 years ago.

The 39-year-old has become the latest man to try and change the fortunes at Old Trafford, but may face a tricky challenge straight away given the lack of impact the squad had under Erik ten Hag.

The club currently sit in 13th place ahead of Amorim’s first outing this weekend, with high hopes that the former Sporting CP boss can lead them back to the top end of the division in the near future.

However, he may have some big calls to make about the long-term futures of some players, who may or may not be deemed good enough for a role in his plans in Manchester.

The huge calls Amorim will have to make at United

Alejandro Garnacho has started the 2024/25 season with a bang, registering seven goals and four assists within his first 18 games in all competitions.

The Argentine has registered the most combined goal contributions of any first-team player so far this campaign, which you would expect, would earn him a starting role under the new manager.

However, the 39-year-old will almost certainly utilise his 3-4-3 system that allowed for his success in Portugal – potentially leaving the youngster without a starting role.

Within the three players at the top end of the pitch, two of them operate in a central position behind the centre-forward, with that role potentially taking Garnacho’s key asset of cutting inside onto his right foot away from him.

The centre-back department may also spring up some surprises, with numerous personnel more than capable of featuring in a three-back system for United.

Out of the current crop of players, a number of them are either certainly out for Amorim’s opener through injury or could be touch and go ahead of the clash at Portman Road.

However, the former Sporting boss’ biggest concern is the lack of a clinical striker, with January presenting the perfect opportunity for the club to land a new talisman.

Man Utd make contact to sign £203k-p/w star

According to French outlet Le10Sport, Man Utd have made contact with PSG over a potential loan deal for striker Randal Kolo-Muani for the remainder of the ongoing campaign.

The 25-year-old, who cost the Ligue side £75m back in the summer of 2023, has only started two league matches this season – with a move certainly benefitting both parties.

Kolo Muani, who’s previously been dubbed “superb” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could become Amorim’s new version of Viktor Gyokeres – with the Swede enjoying a phenomenal run under his guidance, scoring 66 times in 68 matches for the Liga Portugal side.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, it’s safe to say there are no current attacking options within the first-team squad who look as though they could match such a feat – with senior options Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund registering just one and two goals in all competitions respectively.

The PSG star, who currently earns £203k-per-week as per Capology, has previously enjoyed numerous impressive campaigns in Europe, with his best season coming back in the 2022/23 season for Eintracht Frankfurt.

He scored 23 times in 46 appearances, but it appears as though his move to Paris has taken a hit on his confidence, with the talisman undoubtedly needing a move to resurrect his once-promising career.

Kolo Muani must surely be tempted by a move to Manchester given the size of the club, but also considering Amorim’s work with Gyokeres – potentially making him the next version of the star who’s captured the attention of sides all over Europe.

However, it’s evident that the new United boss is in the market for a new talisman to help him in his quest to take the Red Devils to the next level during his reign at Old Trafford.

The PSG striker may not be many people’s first choice, especially considering the availability of Gyokeres, but it could be a cost-effective deal between January and the summer, with the opportunity to reevaluate the attacking department in the summer.

Ten Hag's Man Utd flop is now outscoring Zirkzee & Hojlund after leaving

The former Manchester United player has recaptured his form away from Old Trafford.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 22, 2024

Everything you need to know about Sergio Busquets' salary at Inter Miami

After spending 15 seasons with his boyhood club Barcelona, Sergio Busquets decided it was time for a new challenge, joining MLS side Inter Miami to play alongside Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi once more.

Hailed as one of the best defensive midfielders to have ever played the game, Busquets was the architect of Barcelona’s success, leading the team to numerous titles.

Now in the MLS, the Spaniard is not only enjoying the final days of his career, but also earning a more than decent salary playing in the United States.

Exactly how much? GOAL delved into the numbers with the MLS salary guide and found out!

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• Sergio Busquets' wages at Inter Miami in numbers

  Under his current contract at Inter Miami, Busquets earns $168,749 (£129,938) on a weekly basis.

  Meanwhile, his annual salary scales up to $8.7 million (£6.7m), not only making him one of the top earners at the club, but also the league.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in USD	Weekly wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP
  Sergio Busquets	Spanish	$168,749	£129,938	$8,774,996	£6,756,857

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  Top earners at Inter Miami

  As expected, Lionel Messi comfortably sits atop Inter Miami’s wage bill, with Busquets following at number two.

  Meanwhile, former Barcelona stars Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba occupy the third and fourth spots, both earning similar wages.

  Finally, rounding off the list at number five is USA international Julian Gressel.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in USD	Weekly wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP
  Lionel Messi	Argentine	$393,205	£302,772	$20,446,667	£15,744,191
  Sergio Busquets	Spanish	$168,749	£129,938	$8,774,996	£6,756,857
  Luis Suarez	Uruguayan	$28,846	£22,211	$1,500,000	£1,155,018
  Jordi Alba	Spanish	$28,846	£22,211	$1,500,000	£1,155,018
  Julian Gressel	USA	$21,001	£16,171	$1,092,069	£840,906

• Top 5 earners in MLS

  It shouldn't come as a surprise that, apart from Inter Miami, Messi is also the highest-paid player across the league.

  In second position is former Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne, followed by Busquets at number three this time

  Meanwhile, Federico Bernardeschi and Emil Forsberg round off the list in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in USD	Weekly wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP
  Lionel Messi	Inter Miami	$393,205	£302,772	$20,446,667	£15,744,191
  Lorenzo Insigne	Toronto FC	$296,153	£228,042	$15,400,000	£11,858,194
  Sergio Busquets	Inter Miami	$168,749	£129,938	$8,774,996	£6,756,857
  Federico Bernardeschi	Toronto FC	$121,065	£93,221	$6,295,381	£4,847,522
  Emil Forsberg	New York Red Bulls	$116,070	£89,540	$6,035,625	£4,660,000

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Although MLS players earn substantial wages, their salaries appear modest compared to the world's top earners, with none making the top five list.

  At the top is the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. In second place is Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema, while Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli secures the third spot.

  Meanwhile, Senegalese internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly round off the list at third and fourth position, repectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages USD	Weekly wages GBP	Annual wages USD	Annual wages GBP
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	$4,166,513	£3,224,935	$215,658,680	£167,696,622
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	$2,083,257	£1,612,468	$108,329,340	£83,848,311
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	$1,087,460	£841,708	$56,547,915	£43,768,818
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	$833,033	£644,987	$43,331,736	£33,539,324
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	$722,890	£559,526	$37,590,281	£29,095,364

Liverpool stepped out to a roaring Anfield. It was a din, crashing, bouncing, shaking the pitch and speaking to the players that this was a showdown for the ages.

Manchester City were brushed aside, swept toward a chastening defeat by an unstoppable Red force. Virgil van Dijk rightly played down title talk in his post-match interview, but Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over the beleaguered champions has opened up a chasmic gulf, 11 points, that even City, usually so invincible, capable of clawing back from bruising setbacks, surely cannot bridge.

Arsenal (and Chelsea) sit nine points behind Liverpool in joint-second place, and while both outfits pose a threat, this was a performance for the ages, mere days after Real Madrid were put to the sword in the Champions League.

The Anfield crowd sang, and the squad met them with the most awe-inspiring of efforts. This is beyond the city’s wildest dreams. Jurgen Klopp is gone, Liverpool were heading into the gloomy bogland of an era ended – wasn’t that the narrative?

Only, Arne Slot is proving to be the architect of something special, something magical. He’s inherited a sparkling squad, and with Mohamed Salah at the front, all walks can be conquered before summer stretches down to Merseyside next year.

Mohamed Salah does his talking on the pitch

Salah has been vocal regarding his contractual situation of late, but that hasn’t stopped him from forging perhaps the most incredible individual campaign of his career to date – at this stage, in any case.

The 32-year-old has now scored 13 goals and added 11 assists across 20 matches in all competitions for Slot’s Liverpool, seemingly operating with a feverish desire to claim the biggest prizes and continue an illustrious journey.

The ultimate big-game player, Salah came up with the goods once again on Sunday, savagely pouncing on the Citizens’ weaknesses to carve through a delivery for Cody Gakpo’s opener, before dispatching the penalty to seal the deal after the interval.

Fantastic. The stuff of titles, that. However, trophies are not lifted solely by the flashiness of a club’s superstars. Adversity must be overcome and those outside the limelight must come up trumps to guide their team through tough periods.

The brilliant Ibrahima Konate picked up an injury against Real Madrid and may not feature again until the new year, but Joe Gomez made his first Premier League start of the season and proved himself (once again).

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Arne Slot's real Liverpool hero against Man City

Konate, shoved to the ground by Endrick on an otherwise exultant Wednesday evening, has been cruelly sidelined while at the height of his powers, but Gomez isn’t exactly untested in the biggest, toughest situations for Liverpool.

He thrived. The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle bestowed upon the 27-year-old an 8/10 match rating, writing: ‘Slotted into central defence with the minimum of fuss and covered the right flank when required. One good tackle on Haaland first half and so solid throughout.’

Erling Haaland was a shadow of his usual self, and this is largely down to Gomez’s almost innate partnership with Van Dijk, who he served alongside with regularity during triumphant Premier League and Champions League campaigns back in the dog days of Klopp’s tenure.

Van Dijk will take the spotlight, naturally, but we must tip our hat to this wonderfully dynamic player. He stepped in, he stood strong against the waves of City pressure. Albeit, soft, soft waves, really just lapping at Anfield’s toes. He was the most important player, in a sense, for he stood in for an irreplaceable Konate against the finest team of recent memory. He ran the show.

As per Sofascore, Gomez won both of his duels on the evening, also completing 88% of his passes and succeeding with four long balls, catching the eye with the gumption and accuracy of such balls, struck high and carried aloft through to the surging Luis Diaz, the charging Gakpo.

Stand up, Liverpool. You’ve scored a pair of brilliant victories this week, and the title’s yours to lose. There is, however, a long old road still to walk, and it’s filled with peril.

Good thing the Reds have Joe Gomez, ay?

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