MatériaMais Notícias

Após a vitória do Athletico-PR, por 1 a 0, diante o Coritiba, Luiz Felipe Scolari pontuou alguns aspectos do clássico. O treinador destacou que o Furacão foi mais superior e ressaltou os pontos conquistados pela equipe como visitante.

Na partida, o Coritiba conseguiu finalizar 24 vezes. Dessas, Bento e a falta de pontaria foram as principais armas do Athletico, que finalizou em 11 oportunidades.

– O Coritiba teve mais possibilidade de vitória pelo que fez em campo. Sofremos pela qualidade deles. Sabemos valorizar. Pelo espírito, vontade, disciplina, conseguimos vencer – pontuou o comandante da equipe.

Além disso, Felipão valorizou a sua sequência de quatro jogos sem derrotas longe da Arena da Baixada. Ao todo, são três vitórias (Cuiabá, Juventude e Coritiba) é um empate (Corinthians).

Estamos contentes. Essa era a nossa meta. Fizemos o que queríamos. Tivemos a oportunidade no fim do jogo do que a gente devia ter feito antes. Esperamos continuar assim – finalizou.

This came in response to former player Roger Telemachus’ testimony that a group of senior white players had a big hand in selection at the 2007 World Cup

Firdose Moonda28-Oct-2021

Cricket South Africa has not been able to find “any evidence” that a clique of players influenced selection in the past, and stands by the robustness of its current selection policy, which came into effect in 2014. That was the testimony of Eddie Khoza, CSA’s acting head of cricket pathways, who appeared at the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings on Thursday and responded on a variety of issues including controversies in team selection.Asked specifically about Roger Telemachus’ assertion that a group of senior white players known as the “big five” had a big hand in selection at the 2007 World Cup, Khoza, who was not working for CSA at that time, said it was difficult to corroborate some of Telemachus’ allegations.”I do respect Mr Telemachus, he is one of the players who played for the Proteas. But the issue of a clique that controlled selection may not be entirely true, because of the policies we have in place,” Khoza said. “From where I am sitting, we tried to verify the statements that he made. We couldn’t go to Goolam (Rajah, the former team manager who died of Covid-19 earlier this year). We cannot verify some of the assertions. I have to have the confidence that the policy was followed in terms of what needed to be done. If there was a clique, we don’t have any evidence of it.”Khoza conceded the ombudsman’s assistant Sandile July’s point that if there was a “big five”, the players in that clique would not have labelled themselves as such, and that because there was no formal complaint laid at the time does not mean that the experience of players of the likes of Telemachus is invalid. But, he said, things are different now. “Things have changed. We have certain mechanisms we have put in place to detect certain issues,” Khoza said. “Our relationship with SACA (the South African Cricketers’ Association) is also at a different level. If any player cannot even speak to the union themselves to say I have this issue with CSA, I will hear from SACA.”At the time of Roger Telemachus, you have to accept that certain things might not have been in place to bring some of these concerns to the fore. It’s very unfortunate. I want to make sure everybody that comes through cricket has a positive experience. It was saddening to me listening to some of these former players, who I regard as my heroes, to hear that they went through some of these issues.”CSA’s lawyer, Aslam Moosajee, who led Khoza through his testimony, acknowledged that “Roger Telemachus may have suffered from the fact that prior to 2014, there were no clear guidelines on who was ultimately responsible for selection”.Related

SJN report says CSA discriminated against players on the basis of race

Michael Holding: Quota 'an unnecessary burden for players of colour in South Africa to carry'

'I am not a racist' – de Kock apologises, will take the knee

Ram Slam fixing: CSA ACSU officer denies racial discrimination

Why Zondi turned down de Villiers when he wanted to return

The 2014 policy, which excludes the captain from having a vote in selection, came into place after Hussein Manack, a former selector who also appeared at the SJN, proposed that CSA formalise the process. Manack’s testimony focused largely on the non-selection of Khaya Zondo for an ODI in India back when AB de Villiers was captain – de Villiers was adamant that an out-of-form David Miller play ahead of Zondo. Khoza said not picking Zondo at the time was a “missed opportunity, especially with the challenges we are faced with trying to encourage black African batters to come to the fore. At the time, Zondo was performing. If we would have taken the opportunity then, how many aspirations of young cricketers would we have reached out to?”He clarified that a formal complaint was lodged in the Zondo instance and that CSA put in place a subcommittee to investigate. “They felt it was unfair but not on the basis of race,” Khoza said. “But we still missed an opportunity.”Khoza maintained that selection is a complex and subjective process, and that CSA is continually refining its process. “Selecting is a very contentious issue. It doesn’t matter which sport. When it comes to cricket, there’s different views because you are not only playing here at home but you are also playing away and the strength of the type of combinations you might find might differ,” he said. “It’s an issue that’s why we normally leave it to independent people to facilitate for us. We need to make sure they are assertive enough and the bridge between them and the players is brought closer so that there is a better understanding.”The hearings are expected to conclude tomorrow, with the end of CSA’s submission and a guest appearance by Michael Holding. Among those whose responses have not been heard are director of cricket Graeme Smith and former captain AB de Villiers. Both have submitted written affidavits, which have not yet been made public.

“These sorts of games, we just have to bin it and move on. I don’t think any sort of panic will come into the camp.”

Matt Roller23-Oct-20213:17

‘With so much experience, you’d expect West Indies to be able to play to the situation’

Kieron Pollard said it was “unacceptable” for an international team to be bowled out for 55 like his West Indies side were in their T20 World Cup opener against England in Dubai on Saturday night, but stressed that they would “bin it and move on” rather than making wholesale changes to their side or strategy.West Indies, defending champions following their triumph against the same opponents in the 2016 edition, were bundled out for the third-lowest score in men’s T20 World Cup history on a blameless surface, which Pollard described as “a good wicket to bat on”.Related

Simmons: West Indies batters will 'continue to be aggressive' but shot-selection should improve 'tenfold'

Stats – West Indies' worst batting effort in T20 World Cups and first loss to England

England launch T20 World Cup campaign with rout of West Indies

It was their third successive defeat since they arrived in the UAE, following losses in warm-up matches against Pakistan and Afghanistan, but Pollard insisted that the best attitude for his side would be to forget about the game rather than over-analysing their collapse.”There’s no words to explain it,” he said. “Being bundled out for 55 is unacceptable. We accept that – we accept the responsibility. These sorts of games, we just have to bin it and move on. I don’t think any sort of panic will come into the camp. We just need to accept it – we have to take it on our chests as big men and move on, because this is international sport.Watch the T20 World Cup on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of England vs West Indies is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

“In the warm-up games, sometimes the intensity is a bit down with all the teams. Even though Afghanistan and Pakistan won, the intensity wasn’t still that great. For us it’s a matter of finding our straps. We haven’t batted well in the three games so far and we have to find a way to get a competitive total on the board.”West Indies opted against selecting Roston Chase, who had won a T20I call-up on the back of an excellent season for St Lucia Kings in the CPL and had appeared to be their designated ‘anchor’ in the Marlon Samuels role in the middle order. Pollard said that while Chase would be considered, he was not inclined to make “wholesale changes” on the back of a freak defeat, and said that the promotion of Dwayne Bravo to break up their run of left-handers might have worked on another night.”You can look at all sorts,” Pollard said. “Yes, Roston has got the opportunity to be selected in the squad, but we thought that this was the best XI to go out and try to win the first game for us. Just because we’ve been demolished in eight-point-something overs and made 50-odd, doesn’t mean there’s going to be wholesale changes because, as we know, when you’re not playing and you’re on the bench, your stock tends to go up a lot higher. We just need to bin it and try to come back stronger.”We lost a couple of wickets early on and expected the guys to bat a couple of overs, just knock it around and see if we could set it up for the back end but we kept losing wickets, hence the reason Bravo went up to break the trend of the left-handers, just to knock it around a bit more. It didn’t work today and these things happen. We have a plan for how we want to play this game. It didn’t come off today.”Obviously, we play a lot of cricket around the world, and this is not the first time something like this would have happened in any team or any environment. This is not something that’s new to any of us because you would have had it as you play a lot of cricket. With the experienced guys, in a situation like this, it’s easy for us to move on. We have another game in three days’ time and with this group, each game is important. It boils down to a four-game mini-tournament and we’ll take that and move on.”

Tottenham have beaten Arsenal in the race to sign Irish wonderkid Mason Melia in a record-breaking transfer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

North London rivals were vying for MeliaSpurs had the last laugh after agreeing to pay £1.5mHas been handed a contract until 2031Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Spurs have agreed to pay £1.5 million plus additional bonuses for the talented forward, smashing the previous highest transfer fee for a League of Ireland player. The previous record stood at £500,000, which Celtic paid Shamrock Rovers for Liam Scales in 2021.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Melia, who is currently 17 years old, has signed a long-term contract that will keep him at Spurs until 2031. However, due to Brexit-related regulations, he will not be able to officially join the club until January 2026, when he turns 18.

The young striker has been making waves in Irish football for some time. At just 15 years old, he made his senior debut for St Patrick’s Athletic – and scored in the process. His rapid rise attracted interest from nearly every top English club, including Manchester City, where he previously spent time on trial. Melia’s performances for St Pat’s have been impressive. Since making his debut, he has featured in 54 first-team matches, scoring 10 goals. His recent call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad further highlights his growing reputation.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

St Patrick’s manager Stephen Kenny, who previously managed the Republic of Ireland national team, has spoken highly of Melia’s potential.

"Mason is a terrific talent with an exceptional attitude and a real appetite for hard work," Kenny told the club's website.

"He has had a dramatic impact for one so young, his performances in our Conference League games playing as a central striker against high-calibre opposition were of real quality. Mason has repeated those performances at international level for Ireland and has a bright future ahead for his country."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2023, Melia made history by becoming the youngest player ever to compete in an FAI Cup final. He played a key role in helping St Patrick’s Athletic defeat Bohemians to win the trophy, further solidifying his status as one of Ireland’s brightest young talents.

Liverpool were made to work for their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Arne Slot’s side put in an impressive performance to ensure they earned all three points and stayed at the top of the Premier League table, ahead of early title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

Liverpool took the lead against the Blues on Sunday via a Mohamed Salah penalty. The Egyptian legend slotted home from 12 yards following a foul from England international defender Levi Colwill.

Chelsea, however, got themselves back into the game through Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson. The Blues number 15 latched onto a pinpoint through ball from Moises Caicedo to equalise for the West London outfit. It was originally given offside, but after a VAR check, the striker was deemed onside.

The goal did not hinder Liverpool much at all, and just three minutes after Jackson’s strike, they managed to take the lead again. This time, it was Curtis Jones who found the back of the net, converting a well-placed cross from Salah.

Despite late pressure from Enzo Maresca’s team, Liverpool managed to hold on for all three points at Anfield. There were some eye-catching performances, although Jones was a standout player.

Jones’ stats vs. Chelsea

Liverpool academy graduate Jones has become an important player in Slot’s short tenure at the club so far. The 23-year-old has played seven times in all competitions this term, but Sunday’s performance was perhaps his very best all season.

The midfielder starred against the Blues, capping off a wonderful showing with his goal. He met Salah’s deep cross to the back post before Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal could react, taking a touch and lifting the ball over him to win the game.

Outside of that, the former England under-21 was superb off the ball, working hard and often coming out on top in duels. He also won the penalty which led to Salah’s opener.

His impressive showing was reflected in his stats from Sofascore, with the midfielder creating two chances and winning six from his eight attempted ground duels.

Stat

Number

Touches

56

Pass accuracy

90%

Passes completed

37/41

Ground duels won

6/8

Tackles won

3/4

Chances created

2

Penalties won

1

Jones’ performance earned him a deserved 9/10 rating from Mark Delgado, journalist for This Is Anfield. He explained the Reds number 17 ‘played an important role’ in helping to nullify the impact of Chelsea star Cole Palmer.

As good as Jones was against the West Londoners on Sunday, there were several players who were just as effective, including striker Darwin Nunez.

Nunez’s stats vs. Chelsea

The 2024/25 season has not really seen Nunez get much of an opportunity in that famous Red shirt. He has played eight games in all competitions but has just 367 minutes under his belt, equal to four full 90-minute games.

Sunday afternoon, however, provided him with the perfect chance to show why he deserves more game time. Diogo Jota unfortunately picked up an injury and was subbed off after 30 minutes, giving Nunez the platform he needed to shine.

It is fair to say the Uruguayan attacker took it with both hands. He received an 8/10 rating from Delgado, who was full of praise for the striker. He explained the Reds number nine ‘looked very locked in’ at Anfield, praising him for a ‘hard-working display’ against Chelsea.

His stats from the game certainly reflected his all-round performance. The 25-year-old won seven from 12 ground duels and two from five aerial duels he contested. On top of that, he won three from four tackles and four fouls.

It was not a classic striker’s performance from Nunez, although he has proven he can find the back of the net, despite some inconsistency at times. With a busy schedule coming up for Liverpool, this performance will no doubt be a massive confidence booster.

He is a player who can make a huge impact on the game, even if he is not scoring. Former Manchester United right-back and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville explained in 2023 that the Uruguayan would “frighten” him as a defender.

Next up, the Reds face RB Leipzig away from home in the Champions League tonight. Slot could well decide to start Nunez whether or not Jota is injured, as he looks to find his best form under the Dutchman and continue on from Sunday’s impressive performance.

Liverpool target Nunez replacement who was on the brink of joining Chelsea

He’s on fire so far this season.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 22, 2024

Rangers won 2-0 at home to St Johnstone on Sunday night and now a positive injury update has emerged from Ibrox, acting as an added boost going into the international break.

Rangers seal much-needed win

Phillipe Clement’s side had to wait until Sunday night for their latest Scottish Premiership assignment, knowing a win over St Johnstone was vital. Rangers were eight points adrift of Celtic by the time the game got underway, following their rivals’ late victory away to Ross County earlier in the day. Thankfully, the Gers sealed a relatively straightforward 2-0 victory at Ibrox, with Vaclav Cerny scoring both goals.

Ianis Hagi’s late red card did cause an element of nerves, but ultimately, Rangers had got the job done by that point, as they closed the gap on Celtic back to five points heading into the latest international break. While the Gers’ victory was met positively by supporters, there is still undoubted pressure on Clement to keep his job, with performances and results proving to be far too hit-and-miss so far this season.

He needs a string of good results after the break, or he could find himself in real trouble, and having as many players fit as possible will only help in that respect.

Rangers handed fresh injury boost

Taking to X, Four Lads Had A Dream report that Danilo is expected to return to training for Rangers after the international break, in a significant update for Clement, while Ridvan Yilmaz is also “hopefully” on the brink of a return to action too.

Having Danilo back in the fold is such important news for anyone of a Gers persuasion, with the 25-year-old becoming such a fans’ favourite since arriving from Feyenoord last year. More importantly, though, the Brazilian is an excellent player who makes Rangers stronger when he is in the team.

Neil McCann has heaped praise on the forward in the past: “I think he’s showing he’s got the movement, the pace and an eye for where he should be. The only thing he needs to work on is his end product. He could have easily had five or six goals tonight. Once he gets used to the league and the tempo he looks as if he will become a real good find for Rangers.”

The return of Yilmaz could also provide a significant boost for Clement, who once described the full back as a “fighter”.

83% duels won: Rangers titan was even better than Cerny vs Saints

The Light Blues colossus enjoyed an impressive evening at Ibrox.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2024

Keeping both of them fit to contribute regularly to the title charge will be a challenge in itself, so it will be a case of managing them carefully once they return to the fold after the international break.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has provided an injury update regarding winger Chiedozie Ogbene, having been stretchered off away to Brentford.

Ogbene injured in Ipswich defeat to Brentford

The Tractor Boys suffered a heartbreaking day at the office on Saturday afternoon, eventually losing 4-3 to Thomas Frank’s Bees side.

Ipswich led 2-0 in the first half, only to see that lead evaporate and for the visitors to trail 3-2, but it looked as though Liam Delap had earned his side a point with a late equaliser, despite Harry Clarke’s red card.

There was still time for Brentford to find a winner, however, and Bryan Mbeumo struck deep into stoppage time to inflict a cruel loss on the Tractor Boys, who are still searching for their first win back in the Premier League after nine matches.

Not only was Ipswich’s defeat tough to take, but a serious-looking injury to Ogbene compounded their misery, with the 27-year-old forced off on a stretcher after picking up an Achilles issue. Now, further information has emerged regarding the severity of the issue.

McKenna provides Ogbene injury update

Speaking after the game on Saturday [via RTE], McKenna revealed that Ipswich ace Ogbene could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with his injury described as “serious”:

“It looks serious, unfortunately. It looks like it could be an Achilles tear, so that would be devastating for him and for us. That’s what I’ve been told at the moment. We hope that won’t be the case but I think that’s what looks most likely.

“Is it a six-to-nine-month injury? You’ll have to get a medical opinion on that but an Achilles tear is a big injury, so we hope that it won’t be that but I think the consensus at the moment is that it is.”

This is an added headache that McKenna could really do without, even if Ogbene hasn’t yet been a hugely important player for Ipswich since arriving from Luton Town in the summer transfer window.

He has featured in five Premier League games so far this season, starting just three of them, but Jamie Carragher waxed lyrical about the Republic of Ireland international last season, saying:

“For me, Chiedozie Ogbene has been absolutely outstanding every time I watch him. He has played on the left and the right and at the moment he is playing right wing back. He’s supporting the play, we know he’s an absolute flying machine. A lot of criticism of a flying winger is if you drop off, has he actually got the quality to thread a little pass or put a nice cross into the box? He has that.”

Squad depth is going to be so vital for Ipswich, in terms of their Premier League survival battle this season, so to suddenly have Ogbene out injured for many months would be an almighty blow.

Premier League Table: Latest EPL standings for 2024/25 season

Stay up to date with the English Premier League standings after matchday 33.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

Hopefully, his layoff won’t be as lengthy as McKenna fears, but given how serious it looked at the time, Ipswich supporters will be understandably concerned about how long he will be unavailable.

Roberto Firmino will not be eligible to play in the Saudi Pro League again this season after Al-Ahli de-registered him from their squad.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Firmino can't play for his club in league
• Dropped to make way for Galeno
• May feature in Champions League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Al-Ahli submitted an updated squad list after the completion of the January transfer window and Firmino has not been included. On deadline day, the club signed Galeno, a Brazilian winger, and Firmino has been axed to make way for him. Saudi clubs are allowed 10 foreign players, and two must be under the age of 21. Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney are registered but now Firmino has dropped out.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While the ex-Liverpool man will not be eligible to play in the Pro League, he can play in the Champions League. Al-Ahli have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition.

• WHAT AL-AHLI SAID

  Manager Matthias Jaissle said: "It was a difficult decision for the club and based on the rules.

  "We appreciate him and he dealt with it professionally. He's still one of our leaders."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Firmino has a contract until 2026 but it remains to be seen if he will seek an exit after being locked out of league football until the end of the season.

Portuguese playmaker Joao Felix has addressed his Chelsea future amid his bright start to life on loan at AC Milan.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Felix was struggling for minutes at Stamford BridgeMilan paid a £5m loan fee to secure his servicesPortuguese open to making a permanent switchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite scoring seven goals in 20 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season, Felix only started three Premier League matches, leaving him frustrated with his lack of game time. This led to Milan securing his services on a season-long loan deal in the January transfer window, reportedly paying £5 million for his temporary move.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 25-year-old wasted no time making an impact, scoring a debut goal in Milan’s 3-1 victory over Roma in Serie A. Early performances suggest he is enjoying his football again, and his recent statements to the media hint that the Portuguese could be already thinking of making a permanent switch to Italian shores in the summer.

WHAT FELIX SAID

"For now, I'm on loan until June, we'll see how it goes," he told reporters. "I'm liking everything: the club, the people, the infrastructure. My family and I have received a great welcome and I want to be in a place where I feel good. Things can change in football, but if there's the chance to stay here, I'd like that."

Felix also expressed his admiration for Brazilian icon Kaka, who is a revered figure in Milan having won Serie A, the Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or during his stint with the Rossoneri.

"My favourite player has always been Kaka, I've spoken about him in the past and met him in the United States where we took part in an interview together," he said.

"He is my idol, but I can't make comparisons between myself and him, I would also like to make history at AC Milan."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Back in London, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca does not seem to regret Felix’s exit, despite the club’s ongoing struggles in attack. Chelsea suffered a disappointing FA Cup exit against Brighton, managing just one goal – an own goal – despite Brighton conceding seven goals against Nottingham Forest the previous week.

"I don't think we miss Joao," Maresca stated. "He is happy at AC Milan, and we are happy that he is happy there."

The contractual situation at Liverpool, hanging over Arne Slot’s promising start to life like a disquieting portrait, needs fixing – and soon.

With the turn of the calendar year, Liverpool’s star triumvirate, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, will all be able to chat with clubs from overseas and begin negotiations toward signing pre-contract deals.

Not ideal and very concerning, although it’s important to remember that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are probably aware of the quandary and are apt to find a solution, preferably one that keeps these brilliant players on Anfield’s books.

It might not happen though, and sadly, Liverpool’s iconic team under Klopp’s wing is fading away, reduced to only a handful who could too be gone by the end of the campaign.

Liverpool are changing

Klopp’s exit back at the end of the 2023/24 season is probably the most shocking bit of upheaval for the red Merseysiders in many years, but it has also emphasised a lot of change over the past few years.

The former Liverpool manager is lionised for good reason, having taken the club from its fallen position and raised it back to a place of power at the summit of the continent’s football. Plenty of silverware was won along the way but Liverpool achieved something great, almost indescribable, across those unforgettable nine years.

Should Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah all leave, the Anfield side would only hold a fraction of the team that won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup two years ago while coming agonisingly close to completing an unprecedented quadruple, missing out on the Premier League and Champions League at the final stages, losing both in the space of a week.

The entire midfield has gone and so too has Sadio Mane. Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita were also introduced off the bench against Los Blancos on that rueful evening in Paris.

Should the discussed trio be plying their trade in red for the final term, the lifeblood of Klopp’s reign will be well and truly gone as Slot leads Liverpool into its second year with him at the helm – especially since Giorgi Mamardashvili was signed for £25m plus add-ons this summer with a long-term plan in place to succeed Alisson Becker between the sticks.

Liverpool will need to throw the kitchen sink at convincing this trio to remain at the club, but for 26-year-old Alexander-Arnold, he’ll want to be paid a pretty penny indeed given Real Madrid are interested in snapping him up.

Alexander-Arnold’s on £180k per week so he’s not exactly short-changed, but he’ll want to eclipse the earnings of the rest of the squad and indeed that of the former stars, such as Thiago Alcantara, who was in that Champions League final line up and can only go down as a misfire, given the money involved in signing him.

Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool career

Thiago is one of the most illustrious and influential players of his generation, and Liverpool needed to add some flair to their midfield in 2020, consolidating their position in the Premier League after winning the previous edition.

And thus, Bayern Munich’s Thiago was snapped up for a £20m fee, ending a trophy-laden career in Germany. It was a statement signing for a recognised ‘world-class’ player, highlighting the journey that Klopp had taken the club on.

Across four campaigns, the 46-cap Spain star won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during the aforementioned 2022/23 campaign and clinched the subsequent Community Shield, only managing to complete 98 displays in total.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

He carried natural talent to the nth degree, but injuries, a theme throughout his distinguished career, overcame him on English shores – perhaps Klopp’s gegenpressing brand was simply too much for his brittle-boned, injury-prone frame.

How much Thiago cost Liverpool

Thiago, who was 29 upon joining Liverpool, didn’t cost all that much – £20m (rising to £25m) is not the biggest sum for one of the most naturally talented midfielders in the game.

The severity of Thiago’s injury issues across his four seasons at the club was such that he never completed over 20 Premier League matches in a single term.

Pundit Michael Owen praised the 33-year-old for his “staggering” ability with a ball, surpassing most everyone else, but so too was the length of his injury problems. Especially when considering the fact that Liverpool paid him £200k per week, placing him above everyone at the club except Salah and Van Dijk.

Now retired after his Liverpool deal expired, fans can look back at Thiago’s time at the club with respect and no small degree of reverence, for he was truly something special. However, chances to showcase the full flight of his talent were few and far between, with the salary he took home totalling £38m across the four years of his stay.

Combine that with the fee, rising to £25m, and it becomes clear that Thiago cost FSG over £60m in total despite being non-existent across his final term and struggling for fitness before that point. Perhaps, harking back to earlier, it’s fair for Alexander-Arnold to demand a hefty pay rise if he is to forgo Real Madrid’s interest and pen his long-term future to his boyhood club.

Indeed, his final season as a Red permitted him only five minutes of competitive football, arriving as a late substitute against Arsenal in the Premier League and sustaining a recurrence of a muscular issue that would leave him shackled to the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign, leading to his contract’s expiry.

Perhaps the most painful part of Thiago’s Liverpool career is that it could have been something extraordinary. Had fitness levels held up, the Spaniard could have been the orchestrator in an illustrious era, Liverpool 2.0, and added another layer of cement to his claim as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

For that matter, it’s a real shame that he missed out on Slot’s football: he would have been perfect in the nub of the midfield. Alas, for such costly expenses, Liverpool can only rue the deal, for Thiago fell by the wayside.

Liverpool could unearth a bigger talent than Gravenberch in "special" teen

The Anfield star may well have another superstar on their hands.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 12, 2024