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Saturday features a loaded 16-game slate in Major League Baseball, but I’ve narrowed down my three favorite bets to help you navigate today’s slate.

With rookie sensation Paul Skenes on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Los Angeles Dodgers, I have a pick for him as well as a trio of moneyline picks (two in a parlay) to consider on Aug. 10. 

Let’s cash some bets to kick off the weekend on a high note!

MLB Best Bets Today for Saturday, Aug. 10

• Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves Moneyline Parlay (+111)
• Paul Skenes OVER 6.5 Strikeouts (-150)
• New York Mets Moneyline (+110) vs. Seattle Mariners

Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves Moneyline Parlay (+111)

A two-team moneyline parlay to kick off the action? Why not!

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are in a prime spot to pick up a win over the Chicago White Sox, who snapped a lengthy losing streak earlier this week. The White Sox have since lost two in a row, and now it has Chris Flexen on the mound against Justin Steele, making this an easy bet. 

Flexen has appeared in 24 games (22 starts) for the White Sox this season. They are a brutal 2-22 in those games, making him the easiest pitcher to fade in baseball. 

Steele hasn't been as good this season as he was in 2023, but he still has a 3.33 ERA. The Cubbies should roll on Saturday. 

Atlanta Braves

Following a similar line of thinking, I’m taking the Atlanta Braves and Max Fried as road favorites against Colorado Rockies starter Dakota Hudson.

This will be Hudson’s 18th start of the season, and the Rockies are a dreadful 3-14 in his first 17 outings. With Fried (3.70 ERA) on the mound, I’d be shocked to see Atlanta lose to one of the worst teams in the NL on Saturday. 

Paul Skenes OVER 6.5 Strikeouts (-150)

If Paul Skenes is pitching, I’m betting.

After back-to-back starts with six or fewer strikeouts, Skenes’ K’s prop has dropped all the way to 6.5 for this matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team he already diced up earlier this season. 

Skenes has yet to allow more than three runs in a start all season, and he’s pitched six or more innings in 11 of his 14 outings, a great floor for the OVER on his strikeout prop. 

After punching out eight Dodgers earlier this season, I think Skenes gets back on track in the K department tonight. The Dodgers average 8.46 strikeouts per game this season, so there is a little wiggle room for Skenes with this prop sitting lower than we’ve seen it since the first few starts of his career. 

New York Mets Moneyline (+110) vs. Seattle Mariners

Seattle has one of the worst offenses in baseball, and it's going to run into a buzzsaw on Saturday with lefty Sean Manaea on the bump for the New York Mets.

Over his last three starts, Manaea has allowed just two total runs, pitching back-to-back starts with seven innings and no earned runs, allowing just eight hits. 

He's got a tough matchup against Logan Gilbert (3.05 ERA), but the M's have lost Gilbert's last four starts and are just 11-12 when he's on the bump in 2024.

With New York surging over the last two months, I think this is a great spot to jump on it as an underdog.

Mic'd Up: The former Canadian national team player backed Vancouver for MLS success, but says Miami might have found a groove

Kaylyn Kyle is Canadian and proud. And she finally has something to shout about in MLS. The Whitecaps were supposed to struggle this year. They fired their coach before the season started, and had their star man pick up a serious injury. There are rumors that the team could be sold – and, perhaps even relocated. 

So much for all of that. The Whitecaps are among MLS Cup favorites, and after winning the first of their best-of-three opening round series against FC Dallas, certainly look the part.

"It's such a great organization," Kyle, the Apple TV studio analyst, tells GOAL. "The ownership is amazing. The fan support is amazing. And I think that's the one thing is, they've shown up through the good, the bad and the ugly."

Thomas Muller is their star man. The former Bayern Munich forward has taken to MLS more effectively than most would have imagined. With him pulling the strings and grabbing the goals, they have a real chance. But his presence here alone is far more symbolic, Kyle argues.

"He was always going to suit Major League Soccer to perfection, and he's done just that," she says. "He's likable, and the fact that he chose to go to Vancouver tells you everything you need to know. Because no really global superstars ever choose to go to the Vancouver Whitecaps."

Of course, there will be some stiff competition here. Inter Miami made their first game look easy. LAFC will be there. FC Cincinnati look good. But this is the fun of MLS playoffs. They're chaotic. They're unpredictable. But, like with Vancouver, they can also make the unlikeliest of stories come to life. 

Kyle discussed the Whitecaps, MLS playoffs and the Canadian men's national neam in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of analysts, announcers and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON MLS PLAYOFFS

  GOAL: MLS playoffs, what have you made of them so far?

  KYLE: Home teams are absolutely dominating. Eight of the games that have already kicked off, all eight of the home sides have won in dominating fashion. Also the big stars stepping up in big moments. You know, we've seen Kevin Denkey, we've seen Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller. But it's been very entertaining. So it's going to be really interesting to see how these best-of-three-games series go.

  GOAL: Were you expecting that?

  KYLE: It was funny. Something like 68 percent of the teams usually win if they do have that home field advantage in the best-of-three series. And then there was an amazing stat. The top four finishers in the regular season in their conference, one of them goes on to win MLS Cup. The last time that a team outside of that was back in 2010, which is insane to think and insane to see. But this is what makes Major League Soccer so funny. Obviously, we saw Inter Miami get knocked out last year by Atlanta United. So anything can happen. But so far, the home team is looking pretty good.

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  ON MLS CUP FAVORITES

  GOAL: Let's talk favorites. Cincinnati look pretty good, but who have you got?

  KYLE: I don't think that's a bad shout. I have Vancouver, I have LAFC, and I have Inter Miami. I had an LAFC vs. Inter Miami final, but I could also see a Vancouver vs. Inter Miami final. Genuinely, the only thing with Inter Miami against Nashville – I'm interested to see how Nashville do in the second game, because they just played really scared in the opening match. Which I wasn't really ready for, because I didn't think BJ Callaghan would come up with that sort of game plan against Inter Miami. And Inter Miami's defense actually looked good for once, which was weird. I'm really interested to see how that looks going forward. 

• Imagn
  

  ON VANCOUVER

  GOAL: Talk to me about Vancouver: Is there a little bit of national bias there?

  KYLE: It's not even national bias. It's a team that I obviously grew up with, throughout their academy. They took a chance on a small town girl from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, so they have so much love in my heart. It's such a great organization. The ownership is amazing. The fan support is amazing. And I think that's the one thing is, they've shown up through the good, the bad and the ugly.

  They win the Canadian championship, but like, they've never really had powerhouses like a Thomas Muller within their squad. Tristan Blackman winning defender of the year. Then you have Ryan Gauld, who's been out injured, but he's back fully fit now. Add Brian White, Sebastian Berhalter, and I think it's a team that finally we can say they have a deep squad. And I never thought I would be able to say those words. 

  GOAL: With Muller, did you expect him to be this good?

  KYLE: He was always going to suit Major League Soccer to perfection, and he's done just that. He's likable, and the fact that he chose to go to Vancouver tells you everything you need to know, because no really global superstars ever choose to go to the Vancouver Whitecaps. There were inklings about Chicago maybe in the mix for him and other teams in Europe, Saudi as well. And so when the news broke, I'm like, no way. 

  And just speaking with people on the ground in the city, former national team teammates, friends, colleagues, are like, "this city's transformed." And even they opened up the upper bowl, which they never do for games. You see it with the Vancouver Canucks when they've gone on big runs in the playoffs in the NHL, that it just galvanizes the city. And Canadians, we love supporting our sports teams. You look at the Toronto Blue Jays right now in the World Series. It's really, really cool to see, and I really hope they do well. Because I love the manager, I love the players, and obviously I love the city.

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  ON CANADA AND THE WORLD CUP

  GOAL: Lastly, on Canada and the World Cup? What do you make of the prep? And what are your expectations for Jesse Marsch's side?

  KYLE: It was interesting, because I've been following them around. I spoke to the manager, and he was like, "If we make it out of our group in a certain situation, we'll end up playing our next two games in Vancouver." So they'll have that home field advantage, which would be huge. I think they're well managed. I think this is the best group of Canadians that we've seen on the men's program.

  Now that they've got Qatar kind of under their belt, they have the experience of what it means to play in a World Cup, the different competitiveness of what a World Cup brings. And then obviously having Alfonso Davies back fully healthy and fit will be huge. And then you have, you know, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, the players in that squad that have that European experience and have that World Cup experience. It's going to be brilliant for our Canadian side to see, and I really hope they make it far. 

For the first time since the initial period after the Saudi-backed takeover, Newcastle United’s transfer business carried the air of planning rather than panic.

Last summer had been defined by a scramble to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which led the club to reluctantly cash in on academy graduates to balance the books.

Twelve months on, the Magpies appear to have learned their lesson.

The sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125 million and Nick Woltemade’s arrival from Stuttgart for £69 million dominated headlines this window.

Newcastle also pushed through a £55 million deal for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, finally landing the striker they had pursued after failed attempts to sign other targets.

The additions of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, and Anthony Elanga further highlight the blending of established professionals with younger, developing talents.

Newcastle have adopted a strategy resembling that of Chelsea, who invest heavily in youth prospects that can be integrated into the first team or later sold for a profit. The policy shift feels directly linked to the scars of last summer, where the club’s lack of foresight in sales forced them into unwanted departures.

The most painful of those was Elliot Anderson, a boyhood product whose departure still lingers among supporters.

Anderson was the one that got away

Few transfers captured Newcastle’s PSR reality quite like the exit of Elliot Anderson.

Born in the North-East, Anderson represented pure profit under financial rules, having come through the academy system.

In 2024, he left for Nottingham Forest, with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading the other way in a deal that neither the player nor the club truly wanted. Newcastle’s desperation at the time was obvious.

Winger Yankuba Minteh was reluctantly sold to Brighton while late moves for Isak and Anthony Gordon had even been considered to balance the books. The decision to sanction Anderson’s departure was a clear by-product of heavy spending in the early takeover years without meaningful outgoings.

For Anderson, however, the move proved beneficial.

At Forest, he escaped Newcastle’s midfield, where Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton occupied all the available slots.

Instead, he became a vital cog in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, registering 37 league appearances last season, with two goals and six assists.

The statistical profile underlines his all-round game.

Anderson ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19) and 77th for shot-creating actions (3.07), demonstrating his ability to influence the final third, per FBref.

Off the ball, he impressed too: 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07) and 87th for clearances (2.40), showing a willingness to work in deeper areas.

His successful take-ons, at 1.18 per 90 (89th percentile), reflect a player capable of carrying the ball under pressure.

That form earned Anderson his first senior England call-up, switching allegiance after previously representing Scotland at youth level.

For Newcastle, it was bittersweet: a homegrown talent thriving elsewhere, sacrificed in the name of compliance.

Alfie Harrison is the next big thing

While Anderson may be the one that got away, Newcastle could yet be vindicated in their youth-first policy if Alfie Harrison fulfils his potential.

Signed from Manchester City in January 2024, Harrison has been described by The Secret Scout as “one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in England.”

The 19-year-old has already clocked up 40 appearances for Newcastle’s youth sides, producing six goals and 13 assists, per Transfermarkt.

He even featured against Atlético Madrid in pre-season with the first team, a sign of how highly he is regarded by Eddie Howe’s coaching staff.

Though a loan move was discussed over the summer, Harrison has stayed put to train alongside senior internationals – exposure that could only accelerate his development.

Harrison operates best as a classic No.10, thriving between the lines where he can execute key passes or make late runs into the box.

That, however, is the tactical sticking point.

Howe rarely employs a traditional playmaker, preferring a midfield trio built on intensity and physicality.

Still, the hope is that a pathway is there.

Newcastle’s push to stockpile young talent in anticipation of both PSR pressure and long-term squad building creates room for players like Harrison to emerge.

If his numbers at youth level translate to the senior game, the Magpies could have unearthed a future star without the financial sting of another enforced sale.

For all the disappointment of losing Anderson, Newcastle’s recalibrated recruitment could ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Move over Osula: Newcastle's £35m "monster" is quickly becoming undroppable

Newcastle have added some exciting talent to their ranks this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 25, 2025

If Harrison is given the right platform, the Magpies might just find their next homegrown success story waiting in the wings.

Paul Pogba could be facing another delay in his bid to make a competitive debut for Monaco, with the World Cup winner still working his way towards full match sharpness. Pogba has been out of action since September 2023, having been stung with a doping ban, and is yet to open a new adventure in Ligue 1 – with no unnecessary risks being taken on his fitness.

• No date for debut: Pogba working on fitness

  Monaco are delighted to have Pogba on board, as a proven performer at the very highest level, but are reluctant to rush the 32-year-old midfielder into their plans. He has been playing a full part in training, having overcome the odd knock, and is ready to force open the selection door.

  No definite date is, however, being put in place for Pogba’s long-awaited bow. It was suggested at one stage that he could figure in a meeting with Angers on October 18, but that game has been and gone – along with more outings in domestic and Champions League competition.

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  Monaco boss delivers update on Pogba

  Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli admits that former Manchester United and Juventus star Pogba may still be a matter of weeks away from gracing the field again, which could take him beyond the next international break in November.

  Pocognoli said when delivering an update on Pogba: “We need to still push next week. That will be the best thing, so that he can be in the best conditions to make his return. There is great communication between him and the medical staff to allow him to be in the best conditions and as confident as possible.

  “I am hoping that this upcoming week will answer our final questions. He is close, but there are still steps, notably doing a whole training session at 100%, which he has yet to do. I think we are still a few weeks away. We’ll see if that is before or after the international break, but in any case, it is great to see him back on the pitch and among his team-mates. It allows me to not only find out about the person off the pitch, but also now on it.”

• Pogba patience: World Cup winner biding his time

  Pogba is seeing his patience tested, but accepts that he needs to follow a process that will allow him to return in the best possible condition. He is desperate to get going after losing two years of his career.

  Pogba has said: “I am a determined person, who wants to come back and who wants to enjoy myself on the pitch again especially, because that is what I miss the most. The objective is therefore to make my return to the highest level while taking the time necessary, and being patient. My daily life during these two years has been that of a very present dad. I would take my kids to school, then I would go to training… then I would pick them up from school.

  “So I spent a lot of time with my family and training. Whenever I traveled, I would take my fitness coach with me to stay fit and miss as few sessions as possible. Because I always had this positive thought in mind, that I could return to the field at any time. Of course, there were moments of doubt, but I always wanted to look forward and towards the future. And looking at my kids, I told myself that I wanted them to see me play on the field! I dream of them celebrating one of my goals with a dab! That’s what pushed me to train, to maintain this discipline. Today I am very happy to be at AS Monaco and to return to the job I love.”

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  Feeling at home: Pogba & family settled in Monaco

  After signing for Monaco, Pogba suggested that he could force his way back into the France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. That dream appears to be fading, but anything remains possible.

  He is preparing to grace Ligue 1 for the first time in his career and feels settled in new surroundings alongside wife Zulay and their children. Monaco have four more fixtures to take in before the next international break, starting with a trip to Nantes on Wednesday.

The amount of talent Manchester United have produced from their academy over the years has been astronomical. Of course, you can go as far back as the days of the Busby Babes, the start of the Premier League era, where the Class of ‘92 burst onto the scene, or more recently, when Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford flew the flag for the academy.

Nowadays, Kobbie Mainoo is the only academy graduate to have truly established himself in the first team. That, in many ways, is a sad reflection of the current state of the club, which once prided itself on homegrown stars.

Yet, a few academy players are on the fringes of the first-team squad, with one of the most prominent ones being Chido Obi.

Chido Obi’s Man United career so far

When the Red Devils secured the signing of Obi last summer following his departure from Arsenal, it was a move that piqued the interest of many. The 17-year-old joined United with a huge reputation in academy football.

His record at youth level is phenomenal. For United’s under-18s, he has 12 goals in 10 games, and for the under-21s, five goals in eight. During his time at Arsenal, the Denmark youth international bagged 32 goals in just 21 matches for the Gunners’ under-18s side.

With that record in mind, it was probably not a surprise that Obi made his first-team debut for United last season. Although he’s yet to play this season, the 17-year-old has already notched up eight appearances. He also scored twice for the first-team on their post-season tour at the end of 2024/25.

One man who knows a thing or two about being a top-level striker is Alan Shearer. The Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer was impressed with the youngster after his FA Cup efforts against Fulham last season. Shearer said, “I like what I see from Obi”, and described him as a “handful” for defenders.

Obi is certainly an exciting talent and another graduate of United’s academy. However, he is not the only top attacker coming through the ranks at Carrington.

Man Utd may have their next Wayne Rooney

Although under Ruben Amorim, the number of academy graduates involved in the first team has greatly decreased, there is still a pathway available. Obi’s rise through the ranks has certainly proved that.

Well, perhaps next on that path could be 17-year-old forward Amir Ibragimov. The versatile attacker can operate in midfield as a number eight, a number 10, and play on both flanks. He’s certainly left a big impression after his performances for the academy.

Ibragimov has an impressive record of 11 goals and nine assists in 33 games in the under-18s Premier League. The 2024/25 season was his first full campaign in the competition, and he chalked up 14 goals and assists in 22 games.

One of the biggest compliments paid to Ibragimov came from Mail journalists Nathan Salt and Isaan Khan. They compared the United youngster to one of their all-time greats, Wayne Rooney, due to “his vision and his ability to pick a pass in attack”, which is high praise indeed.

Of course, replicating what Rooney did in that famous Red shirt will not be easy. Yet, the 17-year-old has “dangerous” attacking ability, according to Antonio Mango, and can make a real impact in the final third, as his numbers show.

There could be a long way to go before we might see Ibragimov show similarities to Rooney in the first-team. But the way he has performed for the Red Devils’ academy certainly bodes well for the future.

Perhaps he can soon follow in Obi’s path and break into the senior side. If he is half as successful as Rooney was for United, Ibragimov will have had an impressive career.

Man Utd let “little Iniesta or Xavi” go for £0, now he looks like Carrick

Man Utd may regret letting this star go back in 2023

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 25, 2025

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim now personally holds a strong interest in signing an “unbelievable” star, who is open to a move to the Premier League.

Amorim looking to improve squad amid mounting pressure

Amorim was given the benefit of the doubt after a poor first season at Old Trafford, perhaps in light of the fact the manager was working with a squad that wasn’t really his own, having replaced Erik ten Hag in November.

However, the 40-year-old is running out of excuses after spending big in the summer transfer window, with Owen Hargreaves bemoaning the fact that a lot of problems still remain.

Time running out: 5 ways that Ruben Amorim can save his job at Man Utd

INEOS are running out of patience.

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 17, 2025

Hargreaves said: “Where do you want to start? There are a lot of issues. How Kobbie Mainoo doesn’t play in this team I’ll never know. He came on for that game and in half hour he was probably their best player, by a country mile. So first of all he’s got to play.

“Sesko is not ready. He scored a lot of goals in Germany but he didn’t look ready today. You look at Haaland, the way he ran about and pressed, he just wasn’t active enough, I know he didn’t get much service but he’s got to be more active.”

Sesko is yet to get off the mark in a Man United shirt, which raises concerns over the signing of the 22-year-old, while it is also very strange that Mainoo isn’t receiving much game time, given that he is a more natural central midfielder than Bruno Fernandes.

The 20-year-old is yet to start a Premier League game this season, but rather than reintroducing the youngster to the side, it now appears as though the United boss is looking to strengthen his midfield.

According to The Daily Briefing (via Football365), Amorim is a fan of Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves, and holds a strong interest in signing the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man, who could be available for as little as €20m (£17m).

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also named as potential suitors for the central midfielder, who is said to be willing to return to the Premier League.

"Unbelievable" Neves could excel at Old Trafford

Man United have made a point of signing proven Premier League players in recent times, having signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and the Al-Hilal maestro fits the bill in that regard, having impressed during his time with Wolves.

The 60-time Portugal international has also caught the eye at Al-Hilal over the past year, particularly impressing with his passing and tackling, while also finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

At 28-years-old, Neves may still have a lot left to give in the Premier League, and at just £17m, he could be a bargain addition to Amorim’s squad.

Former Brazil manager Emerson Leao has launched a fierce attack on Neymar, calling him “not an example to anyone” and claiming the forward is “past his prime”. Leao criticised the 33-year-old's lifestyle, fitness and declining form, reigniting debate over the Santos star’s place in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup plans.

• Neymar’s legacy questioned after harsh criticism

  Former Brazil coach and 1970 World Cup winner Emerson Leao openly criticised Neymar’s attitude, fitness and leadership. In an interview with , Leao branded the Santos forward “not an example for anyone” and insisted he is no longer the player he once was. His comments have reignited long-standing debates about Neymar’s professionalism and commitment to the national team.

  The former goalkeeper explained that his criticism was not just about Neymar’s football, but also his behaviour off the pitch. He claimed that the 33-year-old “hasn’t looked after himself” and no longer influences games the way he used to. Leao also rejected the idea that Neymar can still be the solution for Brazil, adding that he does not believe the forward will make an impact at the 2026 World Cup.

  Leao went further, saying the biggest issue was not Neymar’s skill, but his physical decline. According to him, the Brazilian thinks faster than his body can now respond: "In his head, when he's about to start a play, he knows what he's going to do, but he can't do it anymore. He can't do it anymore. He no longer has the same muscular reaction. The training sequence is gone. He's not the same athlete. It's no use.

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  'He's not the same athlete' – Emerson Leao

  Before delivering his harshest comments, the former goalkeeper explained he always believed Neymar had the potential to become a national hero. He recalled advising the forward early in his career to take care of himself because Brazil would need him. However, he claims Neymar ignored that advice and is now paying the price physically and mentally.

  "I have few words for Neymar," he said. "I think one thing depends on the other: the man outside and the man inside. And so, he doesn't serve as an example for anyone."

  He added: "He hasn't stopped playing football. It's just that he's being asked to perform the same kind of sprints he used to have and no longer has because he's unprepared. So what happens? Injuries and problems happen.

  "He started out as a wonderful player. I remember one day when I played against Santos, he was leaving, and I walked past him and said: 'Look, kid, we're going to need you at the World Cup. Take care of yourself.' That's the only thing he doesn't do."

  Leao admitted his criticism comes with disappointment rather than anger, saying Brazil “missed a great opportunity” to build around Neymar. Despite that, he doesn’t believe the forward should face hatred but insists fans must accept the reality that he is no longer the same player who dazzled in Europe.

• Can Neymar return to Brazil's plans?

  The ex-Barcelona and PSG star's future with the national team remains uncertain. He has not played for Brazil since October 2023 against Uruguay in World Cup qualifying. Although he has returned to Santos, injuries have limited him to just 21 appearances this season, with six goals and three assists. His latest setback, a rectus femoris muscle injury has sidelined him since September.

  Despite Leao’s criticism, current Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has not ruled Neymar out completely. The Italian believes that “when he’s fit”, the forward can still play at the highest level for both club and country. However, he also made it clear that Neymar must first prove his fitness and consistency with Santos before being considered again.

  Neymar’s contract with Santos expires in December 2025, and he is expected to become a free agent after that. His agent, Pini Zahavi, maintains strong ties with clubs like Napoli and Inter, keeping the door open for a potential return to Europe. But any move and a possible return to the national team depends entirely on his ability to stay fit.

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  What next for Neymar?

  The 33-year-old's immediate goal is returning from injury, with expectations that he could be back by November. With his Santos contract entering its final year, he faces a crucial period that could decide his long-term future in football. A strong finish to the season would strengthen his chances of securing a European move and earning back his spot in the Brazil squad.

  Missing out on international football for two years has clearly affected Neymar’s legacy, especially for a player once considered the heir to Pele. As Brazil prepare for the 2026 World Cup across the USA, Mexico and Canada, competition for attacking roles is fierce. Young stars like Endrick, Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli are all pushing for permanent roles in the squad.

  Still, Neymar remains motivated by one final chance to shine on the world stage. If he can regain fitness and form, Ancelotti may yet give him an opportunity. But with critics like Leao saying his time is up, Neymar must now prove to fans, coaches and himself that he can still make a difference.

Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.

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  A tense relationship with Ronaldo

  Reports from inside United’s dressing room during Ronaldo’s second coming painted a picture of a frustrated superstar. Without specifically naming Greenwood, Ronaldo, always known for his meticulous approach to football, expressed his dissatisfaction with the club's younger stars in public. He once said: "I don’t mean only in football, this new generation since probably 1995 they are thinking different. The life, the football, the struggles, this has to come from inside of you. You have to accept some times that you don’t agree with."

  Meanwhile, Greenwood was spoken to by United officials for allegedly claiming behind the scenes that Ronaldo's career was "dead", according to .

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  Greenwood picks Bruno over CR7

  With manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggling to get both players on the same page, it seemed inevitable that their partnership at United wouldn’t last. Ronaldo left the club in November 2022, while Greenwood was sold to Marseille last year after a loan spell at Getafe. United decided to part ways with Greenwood after an internal investigation into his conduct off the pitch, despite criminal charges against him being dropped in February 2023.

  In a rapid fire with Marseille's media team this week, Greenwood was asked to name the best player he’s ever shared a pitch with. He didn’t even flinch and answered Bruno Fernandes, another of his former United team-mates, who has been a constant creative presence on the field.

• Greenwood has his say on GOAT debate

  Greenwood also didn’t hesitate to choose Lionel Messi over Ronaldo in the ultimate “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) showdown. When asked to choose between the two legends of the game, he sided with the Argentine maestro. He then named his main idol as the Brazilian Ronaldo, a player whose brilliance in the late 1990s and early 2000s clearly left a lasting impression on Greenwood. When asked to name the best finisher he has seen, though, Greenwood opted for Harry Kane.

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• Greenwood’s flourishing career in France

  Greenwood’s move to Marseille has proven to be a game-changer for the young forward. In his first season in Ligue 1, he netted 21 goals and provided six assists, finishing as joint-top scorer alongside Ousmane Dembele. This season, Greenwood hasn’t slowed down, already contributing three goals and four assists across nine matches in all competitions. His decisive goal in the Champions League against Real Madrid has only added to his growing reputation as a player capable of making a difference on the big stage.

Sir Kenny Dalglish stole headline after headline during his playing days, so it is no surprise his managerial career featured several world-class stars who did the exact same. As a legendary goalscorer himself, it only seemed right that he worked with the likes of Luis Suarez and Alan Shearer from the technical area – even winning the Premier League title with the latter at Blackburn.

The same can be said for Steven Gerrard. The former Liverpool midfielder would have caught a glimpse of Dalglish’s incredible Anfield legacy as a young boy and if you told that same young boy that he’d one day captain the Scot’s Reds, then it would have sounded more like a fantasy world. In reality, however, the Gerrard and Dalglish link-up did happen and even featured a trophy.

Gerrard’s not the only Liverpool icon that featured during Dalglish’s second reign, however. In fact, King Kenny was partly responsible for welcoming Suarez to Anfield in 2011.

After losing Fernando Torres, the Reds swiftly reacted by splashing out £22m to welcome Suarez on deadline day. And soon enough, Dalglish was pictured standing next to both the South American and fellow new arrival Andy Carroll. Of course, what makes that picture all the more iconic is the fact that Carroll cost Liverpool £15m more than Suarez.

The 30-goal involvements in 52 games was just a preview of what was to come from Suarez at Liverpool. The former Ajax man soon reached a new level entirely under Brendan Rodgers, but not many will forget that it was Dalglish who introduced him to the Premier League for the first time.

As good as Suarez and Gerrard were, however, Dalglish snubbed both of them when asked to name the best player that he managed.

Dalglish names "brilliant" Lucas Leiva as best player he coached

Not Suarez, not Gerrard, not Shearer, but Lucas Leiva was the name mentioned by Dalglish when asked to name the best player that he worked with. The Brazilian midfielder clearly had a fan in the Liverpool legend and the Scot made sure to hand him the highest possible praise when speaking to reporters.

Leiva, to his credit, is still a cult hero at Anfield for the many years of service he gave to Liverpool during some of their most frustrating times in the Premier League.

Ultimately, injuries prevented him from truly realising his potential at the club, but there’s a very good reason why the midfielder kept his place for 10 years on Merseyside and remains a popular figure to this day.

Ange Postecoglou may find himself under increased pressure if results at Nottingham Forest do not improve quickly, according to reports. The Australian 'retains the immediate backing' of the Forest board, who believe extenuating circumstances may have played a role in his failure to win any of his first six matches in charge in all competitions. Fans made their voices heard late on in defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League, though, and the understanding is that things must improve soon.

• Postecoglou has support of board despite tough start

  As reported by BBC Sport, Nottingham Forest’s next Premier League match away at Newcastle United may be a ‘key fixture’ for how Postecoglou’s position at the club is viewed moving forward. Both the result and the manner of the performance are thought to be equally important by the club hierarchy. Postecoglou retains their backing in the meantime, and has full faith in the project he has begun at the club.

  The Australian arrived at the City Ground in unenviable circumstances and will have his work cut out to win over fans, many of whom are not happy at how Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked following a disagreement with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Sections of the home support chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” towards their own manager after Midtjylland went 3-1 up late on Thursday. Chris Wood pulled a goal back from the spot in stoppage time but could not prevent defeat. The result meant Postecoglou became the first Forest manager in 100 years to win none of their first six matches in charge.

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  Enraged Forest fan chants reflect a series of concerning results

  While it felt slightly premature for Forest fans to be calling for their manager’s head after just 24 days and six matches, it reflected the worries beginning to expand within the fanbase. What was supposed to be their most celebrated season in a generation as European football returns to the City Ground, is looking an uncertain one already.

  Just one point was earned from league matches against newly promoted Burnley and Sunderland, while Forest capitulated late on to lose 3-2 at Championship Swansea City in the Carabao Cup. Add that to a 3-0 defeat at home to 19th-placed West Ham United in Nuno’s final game in charge at the City Ground, and it is easy to see why a series of concerning results have led to fan backlash.

  A 2-2 draw away at Real Betis has truly been the only encouraging result of Postecoglou’s reign so far, even that being a game which ended in disappointment as Antony equalised for the La Liga side in the 85th minute. The pressure is on for things to improve, quickly.

• Postecoglou speaks as pressure ramps up

  Speaking on Friday afternoon, Postecoglou said that he does not allow pressure to impact his management, citing his Europa League win despite a miserable domestic season with Tottenham Hotspur as a prime example of this.

  "It doesn't enter my head," he stressed. "My responsibility lies in making sure this football club progresses and gets to a position where it can challenge for things”, said Postecoglou.

  "If I start putting timelines to that or worry about what is going to happen next week then I am not performing the role I have been given.

  "I just don't think it is helpful to anyone. At the end of the day, I have to concentrate on the environment, the training, the way we play, and, as I said last night, I am still very, very strong in my belief that we are not too far away.

  "Put it this way – I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham about three or four months before I did, but that didn't stop me from winning something."

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  Crucial month lies ahead for Postecoglou and Nottm Forest

  It is easy to see why the clash with Newcastle is viewed as of such importance for Postecoglou and Forest. It Is 15th vs 17th as neither side have made the desired start to the new campaign – though the Magpies will be buoyed by a 4-0 win at Union Saint Gilloise in the Champions League, while Forest’s midweek European exploits went in an entirely different direction.

  A heavy defeat at St James’ Park could put Postecoglou under ‘internal scrutiny’ ahead of the international break, where a decision may be taken. Challenging fixtures against Chelsea, Porto, Bournemouth and Manchester United see out the month.

  Postecoglou has the backing of the Forest board, for now – but how long can things continue before Marinakis and co. begin to consider whether they appointed the right man?