All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Aston Villa have had a strong start to the season, despite a defeat in their second game. The Villans have an exciting campaign coming up in 2024/25, with their return to the Champions League set for after the international break.

Their opening game of the Premier League saw Unai Emery’s side overcome a tough away fixture at West Ham United, winning 2-1 thanks to a debut goal from Amadou Onana and a Jhon Duran strike.

Their second outing saw them suffer a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal before they bounced back with a 2-1 win over Leicester City. Across the three fixtures, there has been one player in particular who has impressed, Morgan Rogers.

Morgan Rogers transfer value in 2024

22-year-old attacker Rogers joined the club from Middlesborough last January, making the switch from the North East to the Midlands for a fee in the region of £8m, with the deal potentially rising to £16m.

He has really impressed for the Villans and has improved leaps and bounds under Emery so far. The former Manchester City academy player has worn the claret and blue shirt 19 times, and has three goals and an assist to his name so far.

He particularly impressed this season against Arsenal. Rogers received an 8/10 rating from 90Min journalist Tom Gott for his performance against the Gunners, who praised him for the “massive influence” he had.

Indeed, that was reflected in his stats from Sofascore. Rogers was spellbinding with the ball at his feet and competed five out of seven dribbles, as well as creating two chances and one big chance.

Touches

48

Ground duels won

8/10

Dribbles completed

5/7

Key passes

2

Big chances created

1

Given his impressive performances for Emery thus far, it might be surprising that his value is less than the £16m overall fee they may end up paying. According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at just £13m and is one of the lower-valued players in their squad.

In fact, one of his midfield colleagues who is valued higher did not even cost the club a penny.

Youri Tielemans value in 2024

The player in question here is Belgian Youri Tielemans. The 27-year-old signed for Villa on a free transfer after leaving Leicester City at the end of the 2022/23 campaign and had a big impact on their midfield during his first season at the club.

The former Anderlecht wonderkid, who was described as an “outrageous” midfielder by football scout Antonio Mango, has become an important cog in the machine that is Emery’s midfield following a slow start to life in claret and blue.

He has played 49 games for the Villans to date and could bring up his half-century in their next game against Everton on Saturday afternoon. In that time, the Belgian has scored three times and grabbed eight assists.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Like his teammate Rogers, the Villa number eight has started the season impressively and has played 90 minutes in all three of their games so far. He already has one assist to his name, setting up Onana for his debut goal against the Hammers at the London Stadium.

It is no surprise, then, that the Belgian’s value has spiked dramatically since he made the move to Villa Park. Tielemans is now worth an impressive £21m, more than Rogers, which certainly reflects his performances over the past 12 months.

Given the fact he did not cost the Villans anything, the 27-year-old can certainly be considered a wonderful piece of business from the Midlands outfit. Tielemans has already had a superb impact on the squad, and he will be hoping he can continue this form ahead of a historic season at Villa Park.

Aston Villa struck gold on £12m titan who's now worth more than Martinez

Former manager Dean Smith knew how to spot a talented player…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 7, 2024

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro rejected a late move away from the club last week, despite the Red Devils agreeing the terms of his departure.

Man Utd going through "process" under INEOS

A poor start to the Premier League season has once again seen Erik ten Hag’s position in charge of the Red Devils questioned, but the Manchester United boss insisted that fans needed to have faith in the process at Old Trafford.

Quizzed on outside speculation, the Dutchman explained: “It doesn’t impact me. I know where we are in the process and what we have to do and where we are going.

“I have said before we are still in a transition period. We have to integrate a lot of young players in the team and still have to deal with injuries and bring players back into the team.

Man Utd line up double signing in the same position including 17 y/o talent

It is all part of their club’s plan to continue their rebuild.

1 ByBen Browning Sep 13, 2024

“Before anyone thinks about excuses, no, we have to win every game. I know that. The team knows that. It doesn’t matter who is available.”

It comes after a summer which saw the Red Devils spend the second most money in Europe, behind only Chelsea’s scrambled squad building efforts. They shelled out in excess of £200m on five new faces, with Manuel Ugarte joining from PSG on deadline day to cap off a summer that also saw Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro also make the move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United’s summer transfers

Player

Fee

Leny Yoro

€62m

Manuel Ugarte

€50m

Matthijs de Ligt

€45m

Joshua Zirkzee

€42.5m

Noussair Mazraoui

€15m

Several stars have also left, including Scott McTominay, who headed to Napoli in the final week of the transfer window. However, one of his teammates has opted against following him out of the club.

Casemiro makes deadline day U-turn

That comes as Football Insider report that midfielder Casemiro changed his mind on a Turkish deadline day exit to join Galatasaray. The Turkish transfer window closed on Friday, and they detail that the Brazilian midfielder had initially given the green light to a move away from Old Trafford, only to change his mind and opt for a stay in Manchester until at least January.

Perhaps more tellingly, Galatasaray had already reached an agreement with Manchester United over a loan move for the Brazilian, which would likely have seen the Turkish side take on some but not all of his £350,000 a week wages, a salary that makes him the club’s top earner.

Casemiro has come in for plenty of criticism following his early season performances, being at fault for two of Liverpool’s goals in their recent 3-0 win over the Red Devils. At the start of the season, however, Ten Hag dubbed him a “very important” player for the club.

“I think, as a team, we work good together and I think that makes it for Case very easy. Then he can bring his skills in and then you can see his importance for the game and for our team”, he explained. “He is a big leader for us and very important for the team.”

With Ugarte now in the building though, and Man Utd seemingly ready to sanction a loan exit for the former Real Madrid ace, his days in Ten Hag’s first team look to be numbered, and United are already planning to sign new midfielders next summer which could signal his departure.

It's not very fair is, it? Come on Erling, these people have families. The rampant Norwegian is proving to be the usual source of chaos, chaos that once all is said and done will probably see Manchester City beat Arsenal to the Premier League title for the third year in a row.

Haaland is a robot, an alien, a footballing juggernaut who destroys everyone and everything in his wake.

As Arsenal slumped to a 1-1 draw with Brighton in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, Man City responded in emphatic fashion. Well, their striker responded.

Pep Guardiola's main man was at it again at the London Stadium to down West Ham in brutal, mesmerising fashion.

Haaland's performance against West Ham

The Norway international's hat-trick against Ipswich Town the weekend prior felt inevitable. Kieran McKenna's men performed some admirable business in the transfer window but very little can prepare you for the onslaught of Haaland.

The Tractor Boys went 1-0 up but the powerhouse forward responded by knocking three goals past them. Well, he was at it again against West Ham on Saturday evening.

Another hat-trick was notched up to take his early season tally to seven goals in three outings. For anyone who doesn't have him in their fantasy team, quite frankly, what are you playing at?

This is an unstoppable beast and the way in which he took his trio of goals in the capital two days ago was freakish. The second was a rasping crunching effort that soared past the goalkeeper and the third, out of nowhere, was quite magnificent.

Haaland ran in behind and comfortably slotted the ball past substitute goalkeeper and former Arsenal man Lukasz Fabianski as if he wasn't even in the net.

So, good luck Gunners. Truly, good luck finding a way to beat Man City when they have him up front.

How do they respond? Well, despite not adding a centre-forward to their ranks over the summer, they are beginning to build quite the weapon up front.

Arsenal's answer to Haaland

Now, hear us out, but Kai Havertz does have similar attributes to Haaland.

He may not have the goalscoring prowess – although that is improving – but he has a lengthy build that ensures he is a nightmare for defenders, boasts remarkable strength and is left-footed.

That last one is rather tenuous, admittedly, but like we said, hear us out for a few minutes, he has come a long way since his blase attitude was said to be "like Mesut Ozil" by Paul Merson.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the £65m signing from Chelsea is actually the same height as City's no.9. So, there's the first box ticked.

Where else are they similar? Well, they've got that style of play that looks rather effortless. The German has already been compared to a figure like Dennis Bergkamp and it's clear to see why.

He may not be as graceful as the great Dutchman but like Haaland, that wirey frame and the long strides they possess come in handy when looking for two things; someone to hold the ball up and someone to regularly hassle defenders.

Until recently, Havertz had been playing as more of a false 9 in the Arsenal team. Yet, in 2024/25, he's been given the keys to become the leading man. The way he took his goal against Brighton on Saturday was Haaland-esque, racing onto a ball in behind and plonking the ball over Bart Verbruggen.

Stylistically there are also clear differences. Haaland has pace. Havertz isn't blessed hugely in that department. The numbers do tell us something interesting though, even if we can't quantify their biggest similarity; strength.

Progressive carries

1.33

2.00

Progressive passes

1.00

3.33

Passes completed

6

15

Passes into final third

0.33

0.33

Shot-creating actions

1.67

2.67

Tackles won

0.67

0.67

Touches

16.7

32.3

As we noted above, there are clear differences in some areas. Havertz is more creative, boasting more progressive passes per 90 minutes. There is a reason former teammate Roberto Hilbert once declared the Germany international has "some things Ozil had". This time we're comparing the two Germans in a positive light.

That said, they aren't really too dissimilar in the carrying department. They don't complete an awful number of passes per 90 minutes and defensively they've actually been relatively on par this term, leading the press with 0.67 tackles apiece.

There is little chance that Havertz ends up ending the campaign as prolific a goalscorer as Haaland but both of them, with their languid and rangy playstyles, will prove key in the destination of this season's Premier League title.

Less touches than Raya: Arsenal must look to bench 5/10 star after Brighton

Arsenal dropped their first points of the season on Saturday lunchtime.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2024

Well, that wasn't really the start fans were hoping for.

After a summer of promising performances in preseason and a flurry of exciting signings, Tottenham Hotspur got their Premier League campaign underway last night with a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Leicester City.

Now, in the first half, Ange Postecoglou's side looked electric and like they could've scored three, but therein lies the biggest issue with their display: they didn't put away their chances.

The North Londoner's wastefulness was punished in the second half by none other than Mr Leicester, Jamie Vardy, who nodded one home in the 57th minute to level the score.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, there were several disappointing performances on the night, including debutant Dominic Solanke.

Solanke's performance in numbers

So, while the result can't be solely blamed on Solanke, it's also hard to deny that in his 99 minutes of action, the £65m striker was extremely wasteful in front of goal.

There were several times when the former Bournemouth ace got onto the end of a brilliant piece of play only to snatch at the ball or fire it directly at Mads Hermansen in the Leicester goal.

The 26-year-old didn't impress Express journalist Amos Murphy, who awarded him just a 4/10 on the night, writing that he 'ought to have found the back of the net at least once' and will 'have to be less profligate in the future.'

Minutes

99'

Shots on target

3

Expected Goals

0.36

Goals

0

Big Chances Missed

1

Lost Possession

8

Offsides

1

Passing Accuracy

15/19 (79%)

It may sound like a harsh assessment of the Englishman, but it's one backed up by his statistics. For example, in his 99 minutes on the pitch, he took three shots on target and produced an expected goals figure of 0.36, yet he failed to score a single goal, missed one 'big chance', lost the ball eight times, was offside once, and maintained a passing accuracy of just 79%.

It wasn't an abysmal showing, and fans shouldn't jump on him right away, but the fact he failed to take any of the chances that came his way was disappointing, although there was another starter who was just as bad.

Udogie's performances in numbers

Yes, unfortunately, one of the other disappointing stars from last night's clash was left-back Destiny Udogie.

Again, like the rest of his team, he wasn't dreadful, and at points in the first half, he looked on it, but as the game dragged on, and especially in the second 45, he began to struggle.

The Italian struggled to cope with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku on the Foxes' right, and it was his cross that found Vardy's head for the equaliser.

Like Solanke, the former Udinese ace was given just a 4/10 by Murphy, who wrote that it was not his 'most convincing performance' and that he 'gave up too much space' for Fatawu.

His statistics from the game do not make for pretty reading either, as in his 99 minutes of action, he was dribbled past once, lost nine out of 14 duels, failed in both his crosses, lost the ball 13 times, committed four fouls and failed to complete a single dribble.

Minutes

99'

Dribbled Past

1

Duels (Won)

14 (5)

Crosses (Successful)

2 (0)

Lost Possession

13

Fouls Committed

4

Dribbles Completed

0

Ultimately, playing one of the promoted teams away from home in your season opener is always a potential banana skin, and while some issues need to be addressed, there is plenty of time for Postecoglou and Co to bounce back from this early setback.

Spurs could land Solanke his dream signing in sensational £100kp/w "wizard"

The incredible talent would be unreal with the £65m man.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 19, 2024

Leeds United have offered Adam Forshaw the chance to extend his stay at Elland Road, according to reports.

Is Adam Forshaw out of contract?

The Whites’ central midfielder has been a long-time servant in LS11 having first arrived from Middlesbrough back in 2018, but with the 31-year-old not getting any younger and suffering several long-term injuries, he’s started to fall out of favour.

The Elland Road veteran was handed just five starts in the Premier League last season across the reigns of Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce, so he’s significantly low down in the pecking order.

The Liverpool-born talent’s contract is currenlty going to expire tomorrow and he was all set to depart upon it’s conclusion having been named on the released list alongside Joel Robles, Will Brook & Stuart McKinstry, but it seems that club chiefs have had a late change of heart regarding his future in Yorkshire.

Have Leeds offered Forshaw fresh terms?

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have “offered a new contract” to Forshaw in what they describe as a "U-turn". The Whites have “invited” the midfielder to link up with the squad for pre-season training and the two parties are “in talks” about the possibility of staying on the books ahead of the new season in the Championship.

The 49ers’ fresh offer has been tabled on “reduced terms” and it’s stated that he is now “weighing up his options” because he has “several other clubs” monitoring him.

Should the 49ers keep or sell Forshaw?

Leeds will know that Forshaw doesn’t contribute in the final third having posted zero goals or assists across all competitions last season, and whilst he won’t be a regular starter moving forward, he’s still a valuable asset to keep in the building should unforeseen circumstances occur.

The Wasserman client loves to get stuck in having won nine out of his 12 tackles during the previous campaign, not to mention he also recorded an 84.2% pass success rate which was higher than any other of his first-team peers.

Hailed a maestro that causes “all sorts of problems” with his pass selection by journalist Josh Bunting, the £20k-per-week earner provides the manager in charge with wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in all five positions in the centre of the park which is a great quality to possess.

Finally, Forshaw knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the required level having been part of the squad that achieved promotion back in 2019/20, so his experience will be vital to retain to help try and get out of the second tier at the first time of asking.

Alongside a new midfielder and striker, the goalkeeper is another position that simply must be upgraded by Chelsea.

The incoming Mauricio Pochettino is attempting to fix the mess of the new ownership, who have spent around £585.5m but have failed to source a consistent and reliable shot-stopper.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is a name that has been linked to solving this damaging conundrum.

What’s the latest Giorgi Mamardashvili to Chelsea?

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues are keenly tracking the Valencia man.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the favourites to join the West Londoners after it was revealed that the club has ended its interest in Inter Milan’s Andre Onana.

It is understood that Chelsea have also distanced themselves from AC Milan’s Mike Maignan as they were put off by his mammoth £80m asking price.

Therefore, Mamardashvili has now become the focus and is viewed as a cheaper and more attainable alternative, with a reported £26m price tag.

Is Giorgi Mamardashvili a good signing for Chelsea?

The Georgian joined Valencia on a permanent deal in December 2021 and has made 63 appearances for the club, conceding just 71 goals whilst keeping 18 clean sheets.

During his debut campaign for Los Che, the 6 foot 5 titan went 560 minutes in a row without letting in a goal.

As recognition for his swift and smooth acclimatisation to Spanish football, the eight-cap international was named in Marca’s La Liga Discovery of the Season term.

Last term, he played every game for Valencia in the league and was arguably the team's most important asset, as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

A player of this reputation, form, and potential dramatically differs from Edouard Mendy, who is set to leave.

When the Senegalese arrived in West London in 2020 he was an incredible breath of fresh air, as he conceded just 29 goals in 44 games as he won the Champions League.

However, since this ceremonial moment, it has just been downhill for the 31-year-old, who has made more errors that have led to goals (2), than he has clean sheets (1) in the Premier League this term, as per Sofascore.

Despite Kepa Arrizabalaga’s highly questionable consistency, Mendy still couldn’t break back into the first team after injury and began just one of the club’s last ten top-flight encounters.

Therefore, it is a position that desperately needs to be addressed as Mendy has been labelled as a “liability” by the Athletic's Liam Twomey to underline his untenable predicament.

Comparatively described as “sensational” by a journalist, the signing of Mamardashvili would therefore be a fantastic replacement for Mendy.

Celtic haven't just been eyeing a new manager but fresh backroom additions team too, with The Scottish Sun reporting that the club are eyeing a deal for Scott Brown as a new assistant manager should John Kennedy leave.

Who is the next Celtic manager?

The Scottish Premiership side are currently without a boss, having seen Ange Postecoglou exit the club and decide to try his luck in the Premier League with Tottenham. He spent two seasons with the side and won all that there is to win in Scotland and has now decided to head to England.

It leaves a role to be filled at Celtic now though, with the club already compiling a list of potential candidates. The main name on that list has been Brendan Rodgers, who is currently without a club after leaving Leicester.

Despite leading the Foxes to an FA Cup triumph, his struggles in the top flight this season led to him departing. Whilst his old side did eventually suffer relegation, he is still a successful manager in the game, especially when you look at his previous stint with Celtic. Last time around with the club, he won the league on two occasions, the Scottish Cup twice and the Scottish League Cup three times too.

It looks like Rodgers is now being lined up for a return to the side and has been offered a big deal to do so – but he isn't the only change that Celtic are targeting for their backroom team.

A report from The Scottish Sun states that Scott Brown is also in the frame for a return to Parkhead, despite currently managing at Fleetwood in League One. That's because they feel that current number two John Kennedy could leave, and Brown would be fitting as an assistant manager for them – the iconic figure still speaks to Rodgers, so should the manager be appointed, he could link-up well with the former Liverpool boss.

Is Brendan Rodgers joining Celtic?

Celtic have made contact already with Rodgers over a potential deal but nothing has been agreed as of yet and the managerial post does remain vacant.

However, if the former Leicester man is appointed as the next Celtic manager, then it could be a very good move by the club. He's been praised by several big names in the game already, with Michail Antonio for example hailing the former Leicester man as an "unbelievable" manager.

Rodgers has previously done an excellent job in Scotland with the exact same club, so knows how to instil a winning mentality and how to build a winning team. If Celtic want to stay on top in the SPL, then they could do a lot worse than giving Rodgers the reins again with Brown as his number two.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Leicester City over a summer move for James Maddison, according to a recent report from 90min.

Is James Maddison leaving Leicester?

Back in May, Simon Jordan told talkSPORT that Maddison would be "one of the first to leave" Leicester this summer, and following their relegation from the Premier League, the midfielder looks like he will be on the move.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Aston Villa are "in the race" for the Englishman, while Newcastle United are "still in talks" having started work on a move back in January. He also claimed Tottenham "may decide to take some concrete steps soon".

Galetti confirms the 26-year-old wants to leave, and The Athletic reports his current club could receive around £40m given his contract is set to expire next summer, though his price may be driven up if a bidding war breaks out.

Tottenham have now taken one step closer towards lodging an official bid, as they have opened talks with Leicester about a summer move for the former Coventry City man, who they have been interested in on a long-term basis.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou has already given the move the green light, but 90min reports the Foxes could hold out for as much as £60m, given the level of interest from numerous top clubs.

Spurs are hoping to beat Newcastle to the England international's signature, and his entourage has also spoken to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal over the last six months.

Is Maddison signing for Tottenham?

One potential stumbling block for Tottenham is the fact they do not have any European football on offer next season, while Newcastle will be in the Champions League, so a move to St James' Park could be a very attractive proposition.

However, the aforementioned 90min report details that Newcastle are unwilling to spend much more than £50m, so if Spurs outbid the Magpies, they could be well-placed to win the race for the Leicester star.

If the Lilywhites are able to complete a move, the midfielder could be a very good acquisition, having been hailed as "outstanding" by journalist Henry Winter back in 2021, while he also impressed considerably last season.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 in the Premier League, Maddison was ranked as the Foxes' best-performing player by a huge margin, amassing a total of ten goals and nine assists – more goal contributions than any other player.

Leeds United are in the hunt for a new manager and West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan will be a 'serious contender' for the vacancy at Elland Road, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest manager news involving Leeds United?

According to The Athletic, Corberan is among the candidates for the manager position at Leeds United as they look to find the right man to lead them in the Sky Bet Championship next term.

The Daily Mail report that Leeds United have made 'early soundings' about the possibility of hiring the 40-year-old, who has a £2 million release clause written into is contract at West Brom.

Corberan has previously spent time at Leeds United in an assistant manager capacity and Whites' chiefs were keen to speak to him back in March following their decision to sack Jesse Marsch; however, West Brom stepped in to offer him an improved contract to fend off interest in his services.

As per Football Insider, West Brom are said to be 'braced for an approach' from Leeds United regarding Corberan, who is tied to his current employers until 2027 contractually.

BBC journalist Adam Pope has endorsed the possibility of Leeds United hiring Corberan on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, stating: “Financially, they’re in trouble [West Brom], we know that. So he needs another challenge. I think it makes a lot of sense Carlos Corberan coming in, whereas a couple of years ago people might think, ‘is he ready for that?’. He’s more than proved that I think.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that he expects Corberan to be in and around the favourites to take over at Elland Road.

Jones said: “​​Corberan is the one I've heard the most about for this job. I don't know if he's the favourite for the job, but of the names talked about, they definitely like him.

“They've considered him before and kept a close eye on his management style and how he deals with players. I think he'll be a serious contender.”

Would Carlos Corberan be a good appointment for Leeds United?

Given his previous relations with Leeds United and preference to play on the front foot, Corberan is someone who would be an exciting appointment in Yorkshire that would give the Whites some hope that they could challenge for the Sky Bet Championship next term.

Corberan, who was hailed as a "crazy" and is "absolutely obsessed" in a passage from the Athletic, has the ability to mix it up tactically, flickering between slow build-up play, fast transitions and a more direct approach reliant on crosses into the box to strategically outwit the opposition dependent on their style of play, as per Breaking The Lines.

In his time at West Brom, the Spaniard has accumulated 52 points in the English second-tier, presiding over 16 wins, four draws and ten losses in 30 matches in charge, giving him an average points-per-game ratio of 1.73, as per Transfermarkt.

At Huddersfield Town, Corberan also led the Terriers to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final back in 2021/22, narrowly losing out to Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.

Leeds United will need someone who knows what it takes to regularly claim results in what is a notoriously difficult division to get out of and Corberan is someone with a knack of doing that while playing an attractive brand of football.

Liverpool are homing in on their priority target this summer and are now believed to have agreed on a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for Alexis Mac Allister…

What's the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?

That's according to Football Insider, who state that the Reds have now agreed to meet the 24-year-old's release clause and will pay roughly £60m to clinch his services.

Signing a deal worth £150k-per-week, Mac Allister will enter Anfield with license to cement a central role in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing this summer.

Manchester United are among the clubs expressing an interest in the World Cup winner, but it is Liverpool who are now poised to tie up a deal in the forthcoming weeks.

How would Alexis Mac Allister perform at Liverpool?

Anfield's imperious centre has been a rock steadily abraded over the past few years, with the once unrelenting, all-conquering Liverpool midfield now an inharmonious cluster of debris.

Cohesion was somewhat restored over the latter phase of the 22/23 campaign, Klopp's men constructing a seven-match winning streak in the Premier League before a twofold of draws in the final weeks.

Even this brilliant purple patch was not enough to salvage top four, and Liverpool now await football in the Europa League for the first time in seven years; with a fortified nucleus, the Reds could yet return to the top, and the importance of Mac Allister's signing cannot be understated.

The Argentine has been on Brighton's books since departing homeland outfit Argentinos Juniors in 2019, but this season he has truly burst into prominence and has posted a return of 12 goals and three assists from 40 outings for the Seagulls, also starring for Argentina in Qatar and scoring a goal and assist apiece, with the "sumptuous" assist – as described by Gary Lineker – served on a platter for Angel Di Maria in the final against France.

A tenacious and "intelligent" midfielder, as praised by compatriot Sergio Aguero, the £50k-per-week gem's energy and exuberance suits Liverpool's system to a tee.

His high-octane approach fuses with a crisp, deceptively effective ball-playing aptitude – he has completed 87% of his passes in the Premier League this term and averaged 1.3 key passes per game – and, as such, could bring the very best out of Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who has been somewhat out-of-sorts of late.

The Scottish left-back was branded "horrific" by writer Dave Hendrick for a dismal spell against Tottenham Hotspur in the closing weeks of the term, while the Tactical Times also tweeted to remark that Klopp's new "back 3 doesn't suit him" as he is "the definition of a full-back."

In their late-season resurgence, the Reds have implemented a new structure in possession, Trent Alexander-Arnold's inversion into the centre contributing to the central creativity; Robertson, who thrives as a bouncing marauder on the left-flank, has been left at sea and is struggling to acclimatise.

However, with Mac Allister entering the fray, he will have a midfield partner on the left side to match his pace and ease the burden of mixing increased defensive responsibility with creative flair.

It's the start of a new chapter on Merseyside after a forgettable campaign, and Roberton, who has been exemplary for his club since signing from Hull City for a scanty £10m in 2017, a centrepiece in the illustrious success, could flourish at full throttle once more with the rekindling of the Merseyside giant's dissipated verve.