يرى مدافع ليفربول الأسبق، جيمي كاراجر، أن الريدز كانت لديهم فرصة للفوز وإقصاء باريس سان جيرمان من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وخرج ليفربول من البطولة على يد باريس سان جيرمان بركلات الجزاء الترجيحية بعد الخسارة في الأشواط الأصلية والإضافية بنتيجة 0-1 وهي نفس نتيجة الذهاب لصالح الريدز.
سجل عثمان ديمبلي هدف المباراة الوحيد أمس في ملعب “أنفيلد”، وحاول ليفربول أن يهز شباك باريس سان جيرمان في أكثر من مرة ولكن فشل لاعبوه في ذلك بسبب تألق الحارس، جيانلويجي دوناروما.
اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت: خروج ليفربول من دوري أبطال أوروبا ظلم.. وأعرف كهولندي خسارة ركلات الترجيح
وقال كاراجر في تصريحات عبر قناة “CBS Sports” الفضائية: “بصراحة، لا أجد الكلمات المناسبة في هذه اللحظة، أشعر بالإحباط، لكن في النهاية، الفريق الأفضل هو من فاز”.
وتابع: “لقد رأينا كيف لعب باريس سان جيرمان في مباراة الذهاب، وكنت قد وصفت فوز ليفربول حينها بالسرقة، لكن في هذه المباراة، وخلال أول 20 إلى 30 دقيقة، كنت أشعر أن ليفربول سيفوز بها بسهولة”.
وأضاف: “لكن ليفربول لم يتمكن من التسجيل مبكرًا رغم امتلاكه لفرصتين أو ثلاث، ثم جاء هدف باريس سان جيرمان، وبعد ذلك أصبحت المباراة سجالًا بين الفريقين، ومع دخول الأشواط الإضافية، بدا الأمر وكأن باريس سان جيرمان سيطر تمامًا على المباراة”.
وأتم: “من حيث كنت أجلس في مدرج الكوب، كنا نأمل فقط في الوصول إلى ركلات الترجيح، كنا نتمنى ذلك بشدة. إنها أشبه بالمقامرة، أي شيء يمكن أن يحدث فيها”.
Well, it wasn’t quite the swashbuckling win fans would have been hoping for after the performance on Saturday, but Tottenham Hotspur picked up another important three points in the Europa League last night.
Ange Postecoglou’s side didn’t blow away AZ Alkmaar, but they were undoubtedly the better team and had some of the attackers been that bit more clinical, they could have come away with a few more goals.
That said, a win is a win, and among the starting lineup were some impressive performers, notably the young Mikey Moore, who demonstrated why he should be starting more games in the future – quite the opposite of one of his teammates.
Moore's sensational performance
Postecoglou finally handed Moore his second start of the season last night, and while he looked impressive off the right in the first half, he reached another level entirely off the left in the second half.
The young Englishman may not have scored a goal or registered an assist, but for large parts of the second 45, he was undoubtedly the North Londoners’ best attacker and was able to get the fans on their feet every time he had the ball at his.
That may sound hyperbolic, but it’s an opinion shared by James Maddison, who described him as “Neymar on the left wing,” and the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, who awarded the 17-year-old an 8/10 on the night for his ‘electric display.’
It might still be ever so slightly too early to claim Moore should be starting every game for the club going forward, but based on his performance last night, he should now get far more game time, especially as the starter he replaced on the left put in a display that must see him removed from the lineup for some time.
Timo Werner's performance in numbers
German winger Timo Werner is the player in question who has surely played himself out of the team.
The former Chelsea ace started off the left against AZ and put in a performance so disastrous that Postecoglou hooked him at halftime, and for good reason, with Kilpatrick awarding him a 5/10 on the night and writing that ‘his woeful run in front of goal continued.’
It may sound harsh, but it’s an opinion backed up by the 28-year-old’s statistics, as in his 45 minutes of action, he took one shot on target and one off target, missed a big chance, failed in 100% of his dribbles, maintained a passing accuracy of 68%, misplaced 50% of his crosses and long balls, lost 100% of his aerial duels, lost the ball 11 times and was offside once.
Minutes
45′
Expected Goals
0.15
Shots on Target
1
Shots off Target
1
Dribbles (Successful)
1 (0)
BIg Chances Missed
1
Touches
33
Passing Accuracy
13/19 (68%)
Crosses (Accurate)
4 (2)
Long Balls (Accurate)
2 (1)
Aerial Duels (Won)
1 (0)
Lost Possession
11
Offsides
1
In all, it was an abysmal showing from the experienced attacker and one made to look even worse by the sensational display from Moore in the same position in the second half.
Ultimately, while the young Englishman has certainly played himself into contention for more games going forward, Werner has undoubtedly done the opposite, as if he cannot perform in the Europa League; what hope does he have in the Premier League?
Levy wasted £21m on Spurs flop who was just a "poor man's Soldado"
Spurs have wasted a lot of money on forwards over the years, but this striker might have been the most disappointing of the lot.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are reportedly gearing up for a blockbuster transfer for Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic.
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Al-Nassr looking for quality reinforcements
Have swooped in for Kovacic and Mitoma
City could bring in Juve midfielder Douglas Luiz
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Al-Nassr have been closely monitoring Kovacic, hoping to add him to their squad as a marquee signing. However, despite their interest, no official approach has been made so far. One major obstacle complicating any potential deal is City's need to find a suitable replacement before allowing the former Chelsea midfielder to leave.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
While City are not actively looking to offload Kovacic, they are exploring reinforcements in midfield. The club have shown interest in Juventus star Douglas Luiz, but negotiations over a loan deal have stalled due to disagreements between the two clubs.
DID YOU KNOW?
Initially, Al-Nassr had aimed to complete Kovacic’s signing before the summer transfer window closed, but difficulties in adjusting their foreign player quota prevented them from finalizing the move. However, the Saudi giants are not stopping at Kovacic. Reports indicate that Al-Nassr is preparing a massive £140 million ($174m) raid on the Premier League, targeting multiple high-profile players before the Saudi transfer deadline.
One of their key targets is Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, who is expected to finalize a £64 million ($80m) move to Riyadh. The Colombian striker is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to complete his medical and sign his contract, joining Ronaldo in Al-Nassr’s attacking lineup. They have also set their sights on Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, tabling an astonishing £90 million ($112m) bid for the Japanese winger.
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WHAT NEXT?
Al-Nassr’s aggressive pursuit of Premier League stars highlights their determination to bolster their squad with world-class talent. After signing Ronaldo, they are yet to conquer the Saudi top flight and their latest transfer ambitions signal their intent to change that trend.
Manchester United and Erik ten Hag may look to cling on to their current four-game unbeaten run in all competitions as a reason for optimism, yet even that can’t hide the continued sense of doom and gloom that has enveloped the club.
Last weekend’s comeback win over Brentford helped to momentarily drag the Red Devils out of a crisis, yet there was to be more frustration in midweek, with the Premier League side putting in a limp display away to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
Unlike Mourinho, who – despite his at times tiresome touchline antics – remains box office, United are anything but, with Christian Eriksen’s opener coming amid an otherwise lifeless attacking display.
That 1-1 draw showcased once again the club’s shortcomings in front of goal, having thus far scored just seven goals in eight Premier League games this season. Only three teams in the division have scored fewer.
Ten Hag will, at least, be able to abandon his bizarre Noussair Mazraoui experiment amid the return of captain Bruno Fernandes from suspension, while Rasmus Hojlund – who scored the winner against the Bees – can be reinstated ahead of the floundering Joshua Zirkzee for today’s clash with West Ham United.
Joshua Zirkzee's start at Man Utd
There will be calls for patience regarding the Dutchman’s inauspicious start at Old Trafford – and rightly so – yet that patience is beginning to wear a little thin amid Zirkzee’s early struggles.
On paper, it was an effective night in Istanbul for the former Bologna man as he provided the assist for Eriksen’s first-half strike, yet that was a rare moment of quality in what was ‘another anaemic performance from a goalscorer who seldom scores goals’, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.
It is that measly return of one goal so far that has brought much of the criticism, with journalist Mark Ogden suggesting that the £36.5m signing is “nowhere near United level”. It is then no surprise that talk of a return to Serie A in January has been mooted.
Looking limp in front of goal – having again been a day late and a dollar short as a chance evaded him against Thomas Frank’s side a week ago – the 6 foot 4 striker’s casual approach is also beginning to grate, having notably lost the ball seven times from just 21 touches on Thursday, while also winning just two of his eight duels.
Not that the summer signing is alone in having underwhelmed this season, with one of Ten Hag’s regulars having perhaps gone under the radar for his poor form of late.
Ten Hag must drop his nailed-on Man Utd starter
Injuries – as they were for much of last season – are again beginning to whittle United down to their bare bones, with the defensive unit, in particular, having been hampered thus far.
Leny Yoro
Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro are currently absent, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia – neither of whom have played this season – are also yet to make their returns from injury.
That said, with Malacia pictured in training this week – and with Jonny Evans likely to return against the Hammers – Ten Hag does have options to still to choose from, hence why his continued faith in Diogo Dalot may need to be tested.
The Portugal international has largely been an impressive performer since the Dutchman took charge, shaking off the presence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka to end last season as the club’s Players’ Player of the Year, having signed a new five-year deal back in the summer of 2023.
Whether it be at right-back or left-back, the 25-year-old has gone on to start every game so far in 2024/25, with his place in the side rarely questioned. But should it be so nailed on?
The trip to Turkey showcased the defender at his worst, having failed to get tight enough to Allan Saint-Maximin for the home side’s equaliser, while he also simply watched as Sebastian Szymański drifted in behind him in the first half, with a sliding Manuel Ugarte ultimately sparing his blushes.
That was then compounded by his failings at the top end of the pitch, with Dalot spurning a gilt-edged opportunity to tee up either Hojlund or Marcus Rashford in attack, only for his ill-judged pass to prove too wayward for the stretching Rashford.
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Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
As journalist Alex Turk has stated, there is a sense that supporters are “settling for him because there are more pressing areas to address”, yet often has the former Porto man proven something of a liability at the back.
That was notably the case as he hauled down teenager Tyler Dibling against Southampton back in September, while he was also culpable for failing to track Brennan Johnson as Tottenham Hotspur opened the scoring at Old Trafford earlier this month.
The £85k-per-week star held his hand up for that mistake and rightly so, but such errors are becoming far too frequent. Who can forget his unnecessary lunge which sparked Chelsea’s fight-back at Stamford Bridge last season.
It’s not even as if he is making up for those mistakes by providing too much of an outlet in an attacking sense, having still only registered six goals and 11 assists in 170 games for the club. He’s no Trent Alexander-Arnold, put it that way, even if it his record does stack up fairly well compared to many of his rivals this season…
Dalot vs PL ‘Big Six’ right-back’s (2024/25)
Player
Games
Goals
Assists
‘Big chances’ created
Diogo Dalot (Man Utd)
8
0
1
3
Kyle Walker (Man City)
5
0
0
1
Rico Lewis (Man City)
8
0
2
0
Pedro Porro (Spurs)
8
1
0
1
Ben White (Arsenal)
6
0
0
0
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
8
0
1
5
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
6
0
0
0
Stats via Sofascore
Perhaps the departure of Wan-Bissaka – who United will, ironically, come up against today – has left Dalot too safe and secure in his starting berth, with fresh competition needed to keep him on his toes.
As such, there could be worse moves to make than to deploy Mazraoui on that side, with Lisandro Martinez slotting in again at left-back, allowing either Victor Lindelof or the returning Evans to partner Matthijs de Ligt in the heart of the defence.
With Malacia and Shaw hopefully back in the frame before too long, there will be an interesting decision to make regarding who Ten Hag opts for on that right flank moving forward, with Mazraoui offering a real threat to Dalot’s regular role.
It may seem improbable for the former Ajax boss to make such a change for the trip to the London Stadium, yet with three points desperately needed, something has to give.
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شهدت الجمعية العمومية الاستثنائية للاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، التي عُقدت اليوم، حسم ستة مقاعد في اللجنة التنفيذية للاتحاد بالتزكية، بعدما لم يترشح أي منافس ضد الأعضاء الذين ترشحوا للمناصب المخصصة لمناطقهم. أعضاء اللجنة التنفيذية بالاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”
الكاميروني صامويل إيتو (منطقة الوسط).
التنزاني والاس جون كاريا (منطقة الشرق والوسط).
الليبيري مصطفى راجي (منطقة الغرب A).
الغاني كيرت أوكوراكو (منطقة الغرب B).
الجزائري وليد صادي (منطقة الشمال).
الكونغولية بيستين كازادي (مقعد المرأة).
طالع أيضًا | أشرف صبحي: مصر مستمرة في دعم الكرة الإفريقية.. وخصصنا لـ “كاف” أرضًا بالعاصمة الإدارية
ويعكس هذا الاستقرار داخل اللجنة التنفيذية استمرار الثقة في الأسماء التي تواصل العمل داخل الاتحاد الإفريقي، في ظل توجه “كاف” لتعزيز برامجه التطويرية والبنية التحتية للمسابقات الإفريقية، مع التركيز على تحسين الموارد المالية للاتحاد وتعزيز التنافسية على المستوى الدولي.
وجاءت تزكية الأعضاء الستة بالتزامن مع التجديد لرئيس الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم، الجنوب إفريقي باتريس موتسيبي، لفترة جديدة بالتزكية، بعدما لم يترشح أي منافس ضده، ليبقى على رأس “كاف” دون الحاجة إلى تصويت.
ويواصل موتسيبي قيادة الاتحاد القاري بعد أن تولى منصبه لأول مرة عام 2021، خلفًا للملغاشي أحمد أحمد، حيث يسعى إلى استكمال خططه لتطوير الكرة الإفريقية وتعزيز حضورها عالميًا.
Mitchell Starc is set to take his place in Australia’s line-up against Sri Lanka after overcoming a fierce blow on the knee from a Mitchell Marsh shot during training although coach Justin Langer admitted the team “were really worried” for a short time.Starc was struck on the right knee by a straight drive in his follow-through during Australia’s Tuesday night training session at the ICC Academy. He left the session with a heavy limp and in some discomfort, but was moving without assistance.Starc trained fully on Wednesday with a compression bandage on his knee but did bat and bowl during the session with medical staff continuing to monitor his bruising but Langer was upbeat.”He’ll be playing, don’t worry about that. We had a couple of nervous moments. In the nets Mitch Marsh smacked one back at him and hit him straight in the right knee,” he told . “We were really worried about it, but he is that tough. He is an elite athlete and he’s bloody tough. He came out, trained yesterday and he’ll be up and running.”Related
Starc's clarity of role brings confidence in white-ball cricket
Langer says Australia will be flexible in selections depending on conditions, opposition, match-ups
Australia have two matches in three days, as they face Sri Lanka on Thursday and England on Saturday, and management of their fast bowling stocks will be critical.Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all played in Australia’s opening win against South Africa in Abu Dhabi as part of an attack with only four specialist bowlers. It was the first time all three had played a T20I together, having played six times together in T20s for Sydney Sixers in 2012, with the Sixers winning all six games.Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar were left out of the win over South Africa and Langer said the decision was very tough. The coach stressed Australia would be flexible throughout the tournament with their selections, depending on conditions and match-ups.
And so it remains quiet. Manchester United’s executive committee have held talks, but as yet, there are no suggestions that Erik ten Hag is set to join the ever-growing list of managers to have faced the axe in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
There was so much progress in year one, a third-place finish and a Carabao Cup success, with Alejandro Garnacho emerging and Marcus Rashford looking reborn after netting 30 times in all competitions. Were United coming back?
No, frankly, is the answer to that question, with year two providing a car crash of a campaign, resulting in the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish. A triumph at Wembley, however, served as a more than adequate sticking plaster and a reminder of what the Dutchman could achieve in the dugout.
The 54-year-old had cried injuries last season – and rightly so – but after another summer of heavy spending and with largely a fully fit squad at his disposal, the excuses have run dry. There is nowhere left to turn.
This is Ten Hag’s team, and on current evidence, it simply isn’t a very good one. The Red Devils find themselves languishing in 14th after their poorest start to a Premier League season. The records just keep tumbling.
A week of chaos in Porto but relative calm at Villa Park has provided more confusion than clarity over the former Ajax man’s future. Now the question remains as to how many United execs does it take to change a lightbulb? Or sorry, rather how many United execs does it take to change a manager?
Man Utd's manager search
Is it Sir Jim Ratcliffe? Is it Omar Berrada? Is it Dan Ashworth? Quite who will be the man to pull the trigger at Old Trafford remains to be seen, with the club’s new boardroom gaggle now facing a pivotal week to contemplate just what to do with their floundering manager and his team.
Man Utd execs – Ashworth, Ratcliffe, Berrada
If recent reports are to be believed, candidates are already being lined up, with Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst reporting earlier this week that out-of-work boss, Thomas Tuchel, is under consideration.
That has been backed up by talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, who also threw another contender into the mix who is already operating in the Premier League – Thomas Frank.
It is believed that the Brentford boss has ‘admirers’ at the Theatre of Dreams and could come into the equation, having also been linked with the Chelsea vacancy over the summer, prior to Enzo Maresca’s appointment.
Thomas Frank's record vs Ten Hag
On the face of it, there may be those who would see the hiring of the Dane as rather uninspiring, considering that he has only thus far managed Brondby and the Bees at senior level.
Vocal United content creator, Mark Goldbridge, is among those to have voiced his opposition to the 51-year-old in recent times, as he stated that the club wouldn’t be that “stupid” to turn to a manager who “thrives on 30% possession and counters.”
In truth, it would be stupid not to consider Frank amid the work he has done in the capital in recent years, having steered Brentford into the top flight and kept them there with relative ease for three seasons.
He may not be a glamorous name – nor play the tippy tappy type of football of the likes of Maresca, as Goldbridge alluded to – but boy is Frank’s approach effective. As shown above, he’s also not one to mince his words…
Ten Hag himself has no doubt come unstuck against the west Londoners in recent years, memorably seeing his side ship four goals at the Gtech Community Stadium back in August 2022, as the rampant hosts piled the pressure on the new United boss.
United did win the next two meetings between the two sides, although it took a desperate double from Scott McTominay last October at the death to seal a 2-1 triumph.
That was followed by a 1-1 draw in March in which the Red Devils were simply overrun, even despite taking an initial lead through Mason Mount, with the home side attempting 31 shots to United’s 11, while their xG of 3.29 was also far ahead of the visitors 0.59, as per Sofascore.
Stat
Brentford
Man Utd
Possession
47%
53%
xG
3.29
0.59
Big chances
6
2
Total shots
31
11
Goalkeeper saves
4
4
Fouls
7
14
Corners
14
4
Passes
377
450
Tackles
16
14
Free kicks
14
7
Yes, Frank’s methods may not be conventional, but he has found a way of playing that can prove almost unplayable, as indicated by his side’s quick starts so far this season, having scored inside the first minute in three successive league games, prior to last weekend.
With Brentford also currently ahead of United in the table – despite Ten Hag’s £600m spend over the last two years or so – it provides further evidence of what Frank can do and just why he could represent an upgrade on the under-fire Dutchman.
With Ten Hag seemingly possessing “no playing style” – as per his compatriot, Rene Meulensteen – the former Denmark youth coach would, at the very least, arrive with a plan in mind.
Such an appointment may not go down well with everyone – including the likes of Goldbridge – but having consistently gone down the route of high profile managers, perhaps a final roll of the dice is needed with someone who has proven his worth in the Premier League already.
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Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up being David Moyes 2.0…
Man Utd can forget Van Nistelrooy & Tuchel by hiring amazing Fergie signing
Manchester United could be on the hunt for a new gaffer.
As the full-time whistle rang out, the ever-outspoken Gary Neville was quick to criticise Manchester United’s display. He was appalled, quickly labelling it a “disgrace”.
It’s harsh but true. What this great club has become is nothing short of a laughing stock. From the halcyon days of Sir Alex Ferguson to the rubble, almost quite literally, that engulfs them at Old Trafford in 2024, they are a shadow of their former selves.
This United side under Erik ten Hag, put it simply, has not been good enough and they showed as much against Tottenham on Sunday evening, losing 3-0. Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke were all on hand to put the Red Devils to the sword in a match where the hosts were totally outplayed, even before Bruno Fernandes’ red card.
It was the highest xG (4.67) by a visiting team since Manchester City thrashed Norwich at Carrow Road in 2022. That just about sums it up.
So, who do we blame? You can certainly look to Ten Hag. It’s not getting any better for him, nor is it getting any better for club captain Fernandes.
Fernandes' performance in numbers
Over the last couple of weeks, the Portuguese has started to become a hindrance rather than a help.
It’s a puzzling situation, really. He’s the best player at the club, quite comfortably too. Most things tick through him and when he’s not on song, United struggle.
Last term the former Sporting man was at his brilliant best, scoring 15 goals and supplying 13 assists in all competitions. This season? Well, he’s yet to find the net or assist a single goal in the Premier League. It’s pretty grim reading, truth be told.
It’s over the last three matches now that the Portugal international has really struggled. Handed a 4/10 match rating by MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst for his showing in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Fernandes ceded possession a quite remarkable 34 times.
It didn’t get much better against Spurs this weekend either with the 30-year-old completing just 78% of his passes and losing every duel he entered before being sent off.
Harsh or not, it was a clumsy error from Fernandes who was given his marching orders for a rash challenge on James Maddison. He will now miss the next three games.
That said, he wasn’t the only underperformer in red, far from it.
Diogo Dalot's performance in numbers
Fernandes’ international colleague Diogo Dalot was in sparkling form during the 2023/24 campaign, winning Manchester United’s Player of the Season award.
He deputised well at left-back and flourished at right-back, ending the year with a haul of three goals and five assists.
This season, however, the difference has been stark. Dalot is noticeably struggling at left-back and was given a right runaround by Spurs winger Johnson on Sunday evening.
Handed a 3/10 rating by the aforementioned Luckhurst, he wrote that the defender was ‘so bad for the first goal he held his hands up before Brennan Johnson had scored’.
If that didn’t typify his display then his yellow card did. Dalot gifted the ball away and then in the process of trying to win it back rashly fouled Johnson.
To make matters worse, the 25-year-old completed a dismal total of 74% of his passes, handing away possession 13 times as he somehow survived the full 90 minutes.
Dalot vs Spurs
Minutes played
90
Accurate passes
32.43 (74%)
Touches
55
Key passes
0
Crosses
0
Long balls
4/10
Duels won
3/4
Clearances
2
Interceptions
3
Tackles
2
Possession lost
13x
Fouls
1
Shots
0
Dribbles
0
Stats via Sofascore.
Truth be told, the Portuguese simply has to move back to a right-sided role. He will no doubt thrive there but for now, Ten Hag will surely lust after the return of a certain Luke Shaw.
Saying that, not even he could save the mess at Old Trafford right now. Sadly enough, the Dutch boss has bigger fish to fry than solving Dalot’s inconsistencies on the left.
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Leeds United secured a huge win at Elland Road on Friday night as they returned from the international break to claim all three points against Sheffield United.
Their opponents had kept six successive clean sheets in the Championship heading into the match and the Whites were able to breach their Stoic defence twice, with both goals coming in the second half.
Captain Pascal Struijk brilliantly guided a corner into the top corner with a sweet half-volley, before substitute Mateo Joseph sealed the win with a composed finish under pressure inside the box.
The Leeds skipper, who opened the scoring, was one of the most impressive performers on the pitch with his work in and out of possession on Friday.
Pascal Struik's performance against Sheffield United
The Dutch titan, of course, made the breakthrough for the West Yorkshire outfit with a fantastic finish from the corner, but his all-round display was also superb.
Struijk completed 91% of his attempted passes throughout the game, with 75 completed in total, as he remained composed in possession to help build attacks up from the back.
The central defender also won four of his six duels and made three tackles and one interception, to keep the likes of Kieffer Moore, Gustavo Hamer, and Callum O’Hare relatively quiet.
Sheffield United ended the match with just 0.20 xG and zero shots on target against Illan Meslier, which illustrates how well the team defended on the night – Struijk being a huge part of that.
There was one player, however, who was even better than the Leeds captain against the Blades at Elland Road – central midfielder Joe Rothwell.
Joe Rothwell's performance against Sheffield United
The Bournemouth loanee, who has been given an opportunity after injuries to Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu, was incredible in the middle of the park to dictate the game alongside Ao Tanaka.
Rothwell was described as “influential” by Sky Sports commentator Don Hutchinson during the live coverage, whilst LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross dubbed him ‘immense’ and awarded the star a 9/10 player rating.
They were underselling his performances, if anything, as the central midfielder provided a metronomic presence in midfield to stop Sheffield United from getting anywhere near Leeds for large periods of the game.
Minutes played
90
Pass accuracy
94%
Key passes
3
Big chances created
1
Interceptions
3
As you can see in the table above, he completed a whopping 94% of his attempted passes – an even higher success rate than Struijk’s – and the Blades could not stop him from doing what he wanted to do on the ball.
Rothwell was not cautious with his use of possession, either, as he created three chances and one ‘big chance’ – assisting the defender’s goal with a clever corner routine as well.
The English dynamo also showcased his quality off the ball with three interceptions and one block to protect his goal and to win possession back for his side.
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As Rothwell’s immense play in and off the ball was so crucial to Leeds’ dominance in the game, and he created the first goal for Struijk, he was the real hero and star of the show for Daniel Farke on Friday.
Al-Nassr have branded claims that Jhon Duran lives 600 miles away and commutes to Saudi Arabia from Bahrain as “obnoxiously funny fake news”.
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Big-money addition to Saudi Pro League
Has joined all-time great Ronaldo in Riyadh
Reports of daily commute quickly rubbished
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Colombia international striker has become another big-money addition for the Riyadh-based outfit, with a €77 million (£65m/$80m) transfer completed from Premier League side Aston Villa. Duran is now working alongside five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
He is looking to make the most of opportunities to learn from the Portuguese GOAT, but has faced accusations of basing himself outside of Saudi Arabia due to Islamic law that discourages unmarried couples from living together – as he has taken on a new challenge alongside his girlfriend.
WHAT AL-NASSR SAID
It has been claimed that Duran will be taking an 80-minute flight to training on a daily basis, before then returning to his new home in neighbouring Bahrain. Al-Nassr have responded to those reports by saying: “We all heard about what’s called ‘fake news’, but this is an obnoxiously funny fake news! We are happy that our club matters this much. Jhon loves Riyadh and his house is near the club and the stadium. He is our new family member.”
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WHAT NEXT?
Duran is said to have signed a contract with Al-Nassr that is worth close to £17m ($21m) per year, which works out at around £1,900 an hour. He could afford to live wherever he wants, with a private jet always on hand, but would appear to have set up camp close to his new Saudi Pro League employers.