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Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw was a key piece to the franchise's 2020 World Series championship, one that didn't include a victory parade due to restrictions in Los Angeles from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fast forward to 2024, and Kershaw unfortunately dealt with an injury-riddled campaign that only saw him make seven starts all season before missing the rest of the year due to bone spurs in his toe. While Kershaw may not have made the impact that he was hoping to make on this Dodgers championship team, that wouldn't keep him from celebrating with his teammates.

"This is the best thing I've ever been a part of," Kershaw said, as he soaked in the victory parade. "Two-time! Two-time!" he added yelling to the fans.

Kershaw is now a two-time World Series champion, and this time, he got to complete the title victory with a celebration that he deserves as a longtime pillar for the franchise.

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to meet in the World Series for the first time since 1981 to renew MLB’s most common Fall Classic matchup, and there is no shortage of story lines.

New York vs. Los Angeles. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman vs. Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. 2004 Boston Red Sox postseason hero Dave Roberts facing off against 2003 Yankees postseason hero Aaron Boone in the managerial battle of wits. And plenty more talking points that will surely surface throughout the series.

The Dodgers took two of three from the Yankees when the teams met at Yankee Stadium in June, but both rosters have undergone significant changes since then. And of course, games are managed much differently in the World Series than they are in the summer.

Here’s your guide to the most anticipated Fall Classic in years, as the staff picks x-factors for both teams and predicts how it’ll all play out in the country’s two most populated cities.

1. What's the biggest x-factor for the Dodgers to win?

Tom Verducci: Blake Treinen. His sweeper is video-game crazy good. He is Dave Roberts’s best arm, which means he is someone Roberts will not be able to save for the ninth inning. Time to damn the Law of Exposure. Roberts has to put Treinen on Soto, Judge, Stanton in every meaningful spot from the seventh inning on. His stuff is so good you don’t worry about hitters seeing him multiple times in a series.

Stephanie Apstein: Whether Alex Vesia can pitch—effectively—after missing the NLCS with an intercostal injury. As the Dodgers' top lefthanded reliever, he is their best shot at navigating the pocket of lineup that includes Juan Soto. If he can't go, or if he struggles, that will ask a lot of Anthony Banda, their only other lefty. 

Emma Baccellieri: Starting pitching. L.A. has an entire rotation's worth of starters on the IL. Having a great bullpen helps, of course, but only so much. The Dodgers will still need quality work from the trio of Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Can Flaherty bounce back after his last disastrous outing against the Mets in the NLCS? Can they get any meaningful length from Buehler? The Dodgers don't need their starters to be outstanding. But they do need them to be at least adequate. 

Will Laws: How will Freddie Freeman look in the wake of a sprained ankle that caused him to miss Games 4 and 6 of the NLCS? He’s 1-for-15 in his last three games while trying to gut through the injury. Los Angeles scored just fine without him against the Mets, but the Yankees’ pitching staff is a different beast, and the former NL MVP makes the Dodgers’ lineup much more fearsome when at full strength.

Nick Selbe: Can any starting pitcher step up? The Dodgers' bullpen was outstanding in the NLCS, but they'll need at least two serviceable starts from Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Walker Buehler. The Cleveland Guardians' vaunted bullpen was not enough to overcome lackluster starting pitching against the Yankees (Cleveland starters accounted for just 38% of innings during the ALCS). Los Angeles doesn't need Sandy Koufax 2.0 to show up, but it will need  from its starters.

2. What's the biggest x-factor for the Yankees to win?

TV: Gleyber Torres. He’s been terrific at getting on base in front of the thick of the lineup. You know he’s feeling good when he’s slashing fastballs for line-drive singles to right field. His defense and base running can be problematic, but the offense can make a difference.

SA: How deep the starting pitchers can go. The Yankees have a typically impressive bullpen assembled from other teams' castoffs, but it is less deep than it has been in previous years, and the Dodgers become vastly more dangerous each time they see a pitcher. New York needs to limit how many chances Los Angeles gets to see its leverage arms. 

EB: Whether they can meaningfully attack the L.A. bullpen. The relief corps has generally been a huge strength in this playoff run for the Dodgers, but they've had to carry a pretty heavy workload, and it's not going to get any lighter in the World Series. They're virtually guaranteed to have at least one (more) bullpen game here. Will the Yankees be able to make adjustments and benefit from repeated exposure to this group? That's especially key if this series goes long.

WL: Carlos Rodón’s starts have an especially wide range of outcomes, as we’ve already seen this postseason. If New York’s likely Game 2 (and Game 6, if necessary) starter can pitch like he did in his first ALCS outing, New York will be in terrific shape. If he looks more like he did in the ALDS, that’ll put a lot of pressure on a bullpen that was already exposed a bit last round.

NS: Base running might seem like a boring answer, but it could prove to be the difference. The Yankees ranked last in FanGraphs' base running metric, 24th in stolen bases and 29th in speed score. They had so many gaffes against Cleveland that radio broadcaster John Sterling exclaimed they ran the bases “like drunks.” In a series that looks like it will be tight, the little things could determine who comes out on top.

Newcastle United’s season has been a tale of mixed fortunes.

There had been questions over their attack in the opening weeks, with the team struggling to find fluency in front of goal.

They entered Sunday’s home fixture with one of the lowest expected goals tallies in the Premier League, a worrying sign for a side competing on multiple fronts this campaign.

Yet there have been positive signs of improvement. A 4-0 win against Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek and a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend offered encouragement.

Across those two games, Newcastle scored six and conceded none, showcasing both attacking progress and defensive resilience.

Their defensive record, in particular, has been outstanding.

The clean sheet against Forest was their sixth of the season, built on the formidable partnership of Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman.

Botman, finally free from the injuries that plagued him over the last 18 months, looks back to his dominant best.

With such a strong foundation at the back, Eddie Howe’s side have not had to rely on prolific attacking displays to keep pace in the league and Europe.

But injuries have caused problems. Both starting full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, are set for extended layoffs, and that has forced Howe into reshuffling his defence.

Dan Burn, a natural centre-back, has been deputising at left-back, and while his height and physicality bring certain advantages, the role exposes his weaknesses.

How Newcastle defeated Nottingham Forest

Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest was convincing in the scoreline, but the performance showed areas that still need work.

Offensively, Howe’s men created plenty. They registered an xG of 3.28 – their highest in a single Premier League game this season – and fashioned six big chances, firing 18 shots.

Bruno Guimarães was exceptional, dictating the game and earning a 9.4 match rating, via Sofascore.

His curling strike in the 58th minute opened the scoring while he then won a penalty after being fouled. Man of the moment, new mega-money striker, Nick Woltemade confidently dispatched the resulting spot kick to seal all three points.

Defensively, Newcastle looked solid throughout. Forest mustered only five shots, four on target, but none that truly tested Nick Pope.

The only real scare came from former Magpies Chris Wood in the second half, though it was ruled offside.

For a side that has kept six clean sheets already, this was another example of their defensive discipline shining through.

Yet it wasn’t all perfect. While the centre-backs were imperious and Guimarães orchestrated midfield, the flanks were less convincing.

Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga both struggled to stamp their authority in wide areas, and Burn’s positioning at left-back behind Gordon became a notable concern.

Dan Burn's struggles against Nottingham Forest

Dan Burn has been described by one content creator as “the stuff of nightmares” at left-back.

Against Forest, that description rang true again.

Despite Newcastle controlling much of the game, Burn’s vulnerability in one-on-one situations was visible and will surely be noted by future opponents.

Statistically, Burn’s outing summed up the dilemma.

He registered a 6.9 match rating according to Sofascore, produced one assist, and made two clearances, one interception, and one tackle. But he was also dribbled past twice, highlighting his discomfort against quicker, more agile opponents.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

While his aerial dominance and strength are assets, at full-back, he is often exposed for pace and movement in behind.

This isn’t an isolated issue. In midweek, Union Saint-Gilloise repeatedly targeted Burn’s side in the Champions League, recognising it as a potential weakness.

More dangerous Premier League opponents than Forest are likely to do the same.

Newcastle’s next fixture away at Brighton could prove especially difficult, with Yankuba Minteh expected to test Burn’s defensive ability down the wing.

Burn’s situation is complicated by his England call-up, where he will likely feature as a centre-back.

While that suits his natural game, it denies him the opportunity to gain more rhythm at left-back, a role Newcastle increasingly need him to adapt to.

The positional adjustment could even influence the way Howe sets his team up, as Burn’s lack of mobility on the flank can alter Newcastle’s pressing and transition play.

The debate is already growing among fans about whether Newcastle should look into the free-agent market for a temporary left-back solution until Hall returns.

Burn has been a dependable servant and remains a strong squad option, but in this role, he is certainly on borrowed time in the starting lineup.

As Howe looks ahead to a congested autumn schedule, managing this weakness could be as important as Newcastle’s improving attacking play.

While the defence remains one of the most reliable in the league, the left-back situation is one clear that rivals will aim to exploit.

90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 5, 2025

Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold was back at Anfield on Tuesday with Real Madrid in the Champions League and received a hostile reception from home supporters on Merseyside. The full-back's decision to leave his boyhood club at the end of last season and head to the Santiago Bernabeu enraged many fans who made their feelings known ahead of kick-off, but the player chose to see the funny side.

• Liverpool fans boo Alexander-Arnold

  The boos rang out around Anfield when Alexander-Arnold's name was read out over the tannoy ahead of the game. The defender was named in Xabi Alonso's squad for the Champions League fixture after recovering from injury and is back on Merseyside for the first time since his controversial departure in the summer. Alexander-Arnold chose to leave at the end of his Liverpool contract, although Real Madrid ended up paying a €10 million (£8m/$11m) fee to release him early so he could feature for Los Blancos at the Club World Cup.

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  The boos from the crowd didn't appear to have bothered Alexander-Arnold. The defender was spotted laughing and smirking with his team-mates during the warm-up despite the chorus of disapproval ringing out from the stands.

• Alexander-Arnold told to enjoy Anfield return

  Alexander-Arnold's career at Real Madrid is yet to really get going as he suffered a hamstring injury in September and has not featured for the club since then. The defender started on the bench for Real Madrid against Liverpool, with manager Xabi Alonso having told the former Red to enjoy his time back on Merseyside.

  "We haven’t spoken about that precisely [the reception that awaits Alexander-Arnold] but we have spoken about the team and the club," he told a pre-match press conference. He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way. So I am not going to say how he needs to feel it. For sure his history is different from mine, he was born and bred in Liverpool. I remember him from a young age in the academy and then coming to the first team and winning the Champions League. So he needs to enjoy the moment because it is nice to be back.

  "He is good. He didn’t play [against Valencia on Saturday] because of the context of the game but he is available for any number of minutes. Tomorrow he may play and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities. He is in a new stage for him – sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad. So he needs to enjoy the moment because it is nice to be back."

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• Slot happy to welcome Alexander-Arnold back

  Liverpool manager Arne Slot insisted he would welcome Alexander-Arnold back to the club but couldn't guarantee the fans would be pleased to see him again. He told reporters: "I can only tell you what kind of reception he gets from me; I have great memories of the player and the human being. He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive and have memories from watching him on television which were only positive as well – I can remember multiple great moments of his in a Liverpool shirt. He will get a warm welcome from me. Let’s first wait and see if he is on the pitch tomorrow. How the fans react I have no clue but he gets a warm welcome from me, that’s for sure."

England's record cap holder, Fara Williams, has weighed in with her opinion on Mary Earps, after the former Lionesses No.1 made comments claiming successor Hannah Hampton was rewarded for "bad behaviour" when Sarina Wiegman restored her to the squad. The former midfielder accused Earps, who retired just before Euro 2025, of lacking respect towards her team-mate and manager.

• Williams: Earps should have provided detail

  Recalling being asked to write a book of her own, Williams explained in a column for that Earps must have known that the comments made about Hampton would have generated headlines, but the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper has hit out at the situation.

  Williams called on Earps to be more specific if she was going to bring up Hampton at all: "If Mary is going to be open and honest about the situation, she needs to go into more detail about the supposed bad behaviour rather than leave it up in the air.

  "I personally don't know if there was bad behaviour from Hannah, but even if that was the case, she served her punishment after being left out of the squad. If you look at Hannah's career from that moment onwards, I feel she has shown great growth, reflection and development to bounce back."

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  'Baffling' to see Earps talk publicly about a team-mate

  Earps has admitted wanting to retire upon finding out that Wiegman was planning to make Hampton England's new starting goalkeeper for the Euros. She was initially persuaded to stay, but given the very sudden nature of her eventual decision and announcement, Williams suggested it was inevitable that something would eventually come out about how it happened.

  But now that Earps has gone public, Williams said it lacks respect: "I honestly didn't like Mary’s comments about Hannah. It's quite baffling to see Mary come out publicly and talk about a former international team-mate in this way.

  "Looking back at the way her retirement played out, I was expecting something to come out eventually. It was bound to happen when you consider a player as popular as Mary to retire on the eve of a major tournament, although I couldn't have predicted Mary to talk about Hannah in the way she did, because you need to respect your team-mates whether you like them or not. The extract from the book has confirmed my initial thoughts because she described that an uncomfortable environment in camp led to her decision."

• How can a player question Wiegman?

  Williams said that Wiegman even discussing her intention to bring Hampton back to the England squad following a brief spell out of favour was more than she ever got from a manager. The Dutch coach has won three back-to-back European Championships with two different countries and has led to teams to each of the last two World Cup finals. For those achievements and her known player management skills, she commands more respect than most in the game.

  "Regarding her comments about Sarina, the fact that the England boss sat her down to explain the reasons why she was bringing Hannah back shows the respect she has for Mary," Williams continued. "I was in the England set-up for around 19 years and not once did a manager tell me that they were thinking about bringing a player back into the fold – it just doesn't happen.

  "Sarina is a three-time back-to-back-to-back Euros winner and reached the World Cup finals for the last two tournaments – how can you as a player question her decision-making given her achievements? Mary also revealed that she was unhappy after Sarina didn't watch one of her games for Paris Saint-Germain. Unfortunately for her, the French league isn't as televised as the WSL, so if she wanted Sarina to get a closer look at her performances, maybe it would've been better for her to stay in [England]."

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  Earps needs to 'own' what she wrote

  Earps has been accused by Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor of lacking class and Williams rounded back on the idea that Earps, for all her protestation this week, must have known the impact that the book and subsequent comments made in the press while promoting the release, was going to have.

  "She will have to deal with the backlash because she decided to put these comments out in public, so there are going to be opinions," the pundit said. "It's time for Mary to own what she wrote in the book because if she tries to backtrack from them, that's not a good look. Mary is a very smart person and, for whatever reason, she must've known that her quotes on Hannah and Sarina would make the headlines.

  "I'm sure the book contains more details about her journey in football and the difficulties that she had to overcome to become England No.1, but those comments about her former national team manager and international team-mate have become the biggest story."

Leeds United will not head into the international break on the back of a positive result, but they will head into it off the back of a positive performance against Tottenham Hotspur.

The result did not fall their way, because of deflected goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, but it was a performance that should have left supporters feeling positive heading into the rest of October.

The Whites were incredibly unfortunate to come away from the clash at Elland Road with nothing because they created enough chances to potentially win the game, let alone to get a point.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was guilty of missing a huge opportunity to score in the first-half when he fired high and wide after Noah Okafor won the ball back in the Spurs box.

As you can see in the table above, that was one of four ‘big chances’ created by the hosts, and Okafor was the only player who managed to convert one.

That goal from the Switzerland international was ‘created’ by Brenden Aaronson’s shot that was spilled by Guglielmo Vicario, in what was another promising display from the USA international.

How Brenden Aaronson has revived his Leeds career

It is fair to say that there were doubts over whether or not the American attacking midfielder would be a useful player for Daniel Farke in the Premier League heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

As you can see in the graphic above, Aaronson failed to deliver a single goal or assist in ten appearances against the other five teams in the top six in the Championship last season, which shows that he struggled against high-quality opponents.

The 24-year-old lightweight also managed just one goal and three assists in 36 appearances in the Premier League for the Whites in the 2022/23 campaign under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce, per Sofascore.

Farke changing the system from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 cast further doubt over Aaronson’s potential involvement this season, as he played as a number ten in last term’s promotion-winning side.

However, the former RB Salzburg star has found a home for himself on the right wing in the 4-3-3 system, starting four Premier League matches so far, and has shown signs of promise on the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Aaronson is unfortunate not to have an assist to his name in the division, as he has created three ‘big chances’ in four starts so far.

The Leeds winger has also provided quality out of possession with his impressive work rate on the flank, winning 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game and the majority of his physical battles on the deck.

His work rate off the ball and the creativity that he has shown with the ball at his feet has helped him to revive his Premier League career with the Whites this season.

Aaronson is not the only player who appears to have revived his career at Elland Road, though, as another star has emerged as a surprise key player for Farke.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

An injury to summer signing Lucas Perri has provided Karl Darlow with a run of matches to prove himself in the Premier League, and he has shown that he can be relied upon to be the team’s number one.

How Karl Darlow has revived his Leeds career

The Wales international joined the Whites from Newcastle United on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023 to be the back-up to Illan Meslier in the Championship.

Darlow started one match in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign, because Meslier was suspended, and started the 2024/25 campaign as the second-choice once again.

However, the Frenchman’s poor form between the sticks meant that the Welshman was eventually given an opportunity to shine. He kept four clean sheets and prevented 0.74 goals, per Sofascore, in seven outings in the second tier as Leeds earned promotion to the Premier League.

The Whites then swooped to sign Perri from Lyon for £15.6m in the summer transfer window to be their new number one, which suggested that they did not believe that Darlow could make the step up. Unfortunately, Leeds United’s new signing endured a difficult start to life at Elland Road, conceding 1.99 more goals than expected in his first three appearances, per Sofascore, before picking up an injury.

That injury has provided the Wales international with a chance to prove himself and he has grasped it with both gloves, impressing in several matches in the Premier League.

Darlow, who was hailed as “superb” by reporter Graham Smyth, was even nominated for save of the month for September with his terrific acrobatic stop to prevent Kevin from opening the scoring for Fulham.

During the 3-1 win over Wolves, Smyth claimed that the goalkeeper was doing his best Superman impression, as he “brilliantly” tipped a shot over the bar.

As you can see in the table above, Darlow has outperformed Perri in his outings in the Premier League this season, both as an out-and-out shot-stopper as well as with his distribution out from the back.

-1.9 goals prevented may not jump out as an impressive statistic for the Welshman, but it is worth noting that he ended the Spurs game with -1.40 goals prevented, which was harsh given that Pascal Struijk deflected both goals past the goalkeeper.

His overall statistics, though, show that he has been more effective than Perri between the sticks for Leeds, which is why Farke should keep him in the XI even when the Frenchman is back and available for selection.

Leeds eyeing Chris Wood return in January deal as Nottingham Forest future in doubt

The Whites are looking to complete a deal for an experienced forward.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Oct 4, 2025

Therefore, Darlow has revived his career at Elland Road by stepping up and taking his chance when it came his way, delivering quality performances in the Premier League, and, hopefully, there is more to come from the 34-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro was left disappointed after the club's second consecutive draw in the Champions League against AS Monaco this Wednesday, as he revealed that he called out his team-mates for a poor show, while warning them against making the situation worse in Europe. Porro has been a regular starter at the Premier League club under new manager Thomas Frank.

• Spurs slumped to second consecutive draw

  Tottenham have made an impressive start to their Premier League 2025-26 campaign as they have won four out of the eight matches they have played and are currently sixth on the table, tied on 14 points with Chelsea. This is a significant rise in their form since finishing 17th in the English top-flight last season as under Frank's tutelage, the team looks much stronger than before.

  In the Champions League, Spurs started their journey with a win over Villarreal but since then, they have played out back-to-back draws, which include a 2-2 stalemate against a much weaker Bodo/Glimt and a goalless clash against Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco earlier this week.

  Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was the Tottenham hero on the night as the Italian custodian produced a heroic individual display to maintain a clean sheet. Vicario single-handedly stopped three efforts from USMNT star and former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun to make sure his team remained unbeaten in Europe. 

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  Porro called out Monaco team-mates

  Speaking to , Spanish full-back Porro questioned his team-mates' mentality on the pitch, especially on a grand stage like the Champions League, as he revealed he issued a warning to them. 

  Porro said: "We’re not in a bad situation, but let’s hope the second win comes. The other day in the draw against Monaco, I said it in the dressing room: we don’t have the right mentality, and in this competition, they run you over and you don’t even realise it."

• Frank sounded worried after Monaco draw

  Reacting to the club's poor performance away from home, Frank had told reporters: "The intensity was not at the level we wanted to for whatever reason. I think it's something we've been very good to play with basically every game more or less. Today we couldn't go for whatever reason. That can be momentum, it can be a lot of things. Then I think on a general level we made too many mistakes. Decision-making and simple passes that didn't help on the day. It was a hard point won. I think it was a relatively even first half."

  The manager added: "Second-half our performance was not good and Monaco were better than us. It demanded a lot to keep the clean sheet which we did in the end. I think Vicario was very good but we didn't hit the performance level we wanted to, especially in the second half. We're definitely learning [in the] Champions League. Playing away in the Champions League is always difficult. We still need to defend a lot but on the flip side, I think we created some chances, but of course, I want more."

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  Porro a vital cog in Frank's side

  Porro has proved to be an integral part of the Tottenham side ever since Frank joined them from Brentford in the summer, replacing Ange Postecoglou at the helm. Frank has made the Spaniard his first-choice right-back and has established that he has full faith in Porro's abilities. In the current season, Porro has started in every single one of Spurs' matches in the Premier League and the 26-year-old has appeared in 13 matches across all competitions, providing two assists thus far.

  Porro's purple patch since last season has earned him a place in Spain's national team on a regular basis, as in 2025, he has featured eight times for the European champions, the most he has represented the national team in a calendar year since his international debut in 2021.

  The defender will hope that his pep talks inspire his colleagues and they get back to winning ways when they face Everton in a difficult Premier League away trip this weekend. 

All is not well at Manchester United, with Saturday afternoon’s defeat at the Gtech against Brentford keeping Ruben Amorim on nine lowly Premier League wins across 33 matches in the competition.

It’s not good enough, and the ice has worn thin indeed. For INEOS to sack their prized appointment would be an ignominious thing, a real loss of face, but we are approaching the latest critical juncture, and it’s a big one.

Amorim’s candid nature and self-criticism have been both refreshing and blunt, too blunt, across the span of his tenure, but he is capable of picking apart the faults within his Red Devils project. The question is, how much longer can this continue?

Man United host high-flying Sunderland this weekend. The newly-promoted outfit simply have to be put to the sword, else Amorim will join a long list of post-Fergie managers whose tenures became untenable, and they were dismissed.

Already, rumours have cranked up, with the recently sacked West Ham United manager Graham Potter emerging as a candidate. That said, he’s not the only one on their radar.

Man Utd considering recently sacked manager

Potter lasted less than a year in the West Ham hot seat. The Londoners have been in disarray since they parted with David Moyes after the 2023/24 campaign, but there’s no denying the English tactician left plenty to be desired.

Clashes with first-team Irons, including a scepticism over captain Jarrod Bowen’s ability to lead the team, made the 50-year-old’s prospects of turning things around difficult.

Potter is, however, an experienced Premier League manager, something Amorim is not. Described as “a genius” by journalist Sam Morton, the former Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea boss is known for his intricate passing patterns and build-up play, but this didn’t materialise in the desired shape at the London Stadium.

Potter would hope, however, that an ostensibly higher level of technical skill would do the trick at Old Trafford, but there are bound to be reservations over a manager who has failed to hit the mark with each of his past two outfits in the top flight.

Spanish sources suggest INEOS and Jason Wilcox are mulling over making their move if Amorim is sacked, and while it would be a contentious appointment, there’s an even more concerning alternative who has been added to the shortlist.

Man Utd's Potter alternative could be worse than Amorim

Even the most ardent defenders of Amorim’s tactics and expertise as an elite coach would concede that it has been a tumultuous relationship.

And now, the Portuguese boss is running out of time, surely just one or perhaps two bad results away from dismissal, should form not change.

And if push comes to shove, it’s not just Potter on Man United’s radar, with talkSPORT revealing that a three-man shortlist has been compiled, and former Three Lions manager Sir Gareth Southgate is in the running.

It’s actually understood that the Premier League side have been in direct contact with the 55-year-old in recent weeks, even with the hierarchy hesitant to bite the bullet and sack Amorim.

Southgate transformed the feeling around the England Men’s team across his eight-year stint, reaching a World Cup semi-final and falling short in successive Euro finals. Across 102 matches in charge, he achieved an average of 2.08 points per game.

However, there have long been questions over Southgate’s command of the technical side of managing, with former French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit even labelling the one-time right-back as “boring”.

Given that Man United are engulfed in Groundhog Day, walking in the same old familiar territory in the early phase of a season that saw Erik ten Hag dismissed last year (bearing an identical Premier League record after six matches), there can be no more mistakes.

At the 2024 European Championship, England showed off their mentality by reaching the final against the odds, but they flattered to deceive on the tactical front, with critics even struggling to understand what Southgate’s plan was.

This sounds an alarming echo to Amorim’s own situation at Manchester United, and given that Southgate, who parted ways with Middlesbrough in 2009, has been outside of club management for so long, there is very little to suggest that he would turn the ship around and keep it afloat against the club’s big-hitting rivals in the Premier League.

Typically fielding a more conventional 4-3-3 formation than Amorim’s controversial set-up, Southgate would at least provide some semblance of typicality on that front, and that might do the players good. But would it be enough for it to be a successful appointment, and that after having spent £12m to relieve Amorim of his duties?

Southgate has his perks, for sure. He knows the English game like the back of his thumb, and his man-management skills and ability to cultivate a positive working environment are two facets that would potentially smooth out big wrinkles in the United fabric.

But we cannot ignore the concerns over the depth of his tactical understanding, nor can Southgate’s near two-decade absence from Premier League management be overlooked.

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co do decide to part ways with Amorim in the coming weeks or months, it is imperative that they welcome the right successor to the Theatre of Dreams.

The likelihood of Southgate being the one for the job in the long run feels somewhat slim.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd talent for just £10m, now he's outperforming Bruno

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 29, 2025

Praise continues to flood in for Manchester City phenomenon Erling Haaland, who surpassed 10 Premier League goals in the first eight games of a season for the third time in his career with both goals in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Everton at Etihad Stadium. The 25-year-old has already scored an astonishing 23 goals in 13 matches for club and country this season.

• Haaland continues to smash records

  No player other than Haaland has achieved the feat of reaching double figures in Premier League goals by match number eight, but the Norwegian powerhouse has achieved it in three of his four years for City. If he continues scoring at his current rate, he will score an unprecedented 52 goals this season. Logic dictates that is nigh-on impossible, but logic clearly has not met Haaland.

  The 25-year-old could conceivably reach 100 Premier League goals by early November, his total of 96 leaving four goals to go ahead of matchups with Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Liverpool and a Champions League clash with former club Borussia Dortmund sandwiched in between. The fastest player to the landmark is currently the division’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer, who managed the feat in 124 games – Haaland has played just 105 so far. He is a truly generational goalscorer, and then some – the greatest that English football has ever seen, according to Jamie Carragher.

  Though Haaland himself still feels he has a challenge on his hands to win the European Golden Boot ahead of Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

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  Nevin and BBC Sport pundits heap praise on Haaland

  "The man is an absolute phenomenon," former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "He was walking about and looking fairly disinterested in the game. We had hardly mentioned his name. The ball has landed to him twice and never for a millisecond do you think it's going to end up anywhere but the goal.

  "The thing with Haaland when you see him at his very best is that he just looks like a grown man playing with kids. He has got that back again hasn't he? People just bounce off him, his pace is extraordinary and he looks superhuman. He is alive again."

  Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray said on Final Score: "The scary thing is, he has become more complete this season. He is a better footballer than when he arrived at Manchester City and scored all those goals. He was just a goalscorer then, I think his all-round game is improving."

  The aforementioned Shearer added on BBC Match of the Day: "If you are building from scratch what you want as the ideal centre-forward. Look at Haaland. He has goals, pace, strength, is good in the air. Doesn't mind being roughed up, it doesn't bother him if he doesn't have many touches. He is almost perfect."

• 'I'm disappointed he did not score five!' – Guardiola

  City boss Pep Guardiola said of Haaland following Saturday's victory: "Sergio [Aguero] scored a lot of goals with his head but the presence from Erling, his stature is huge. I am really pleased, not just for the incredible threat to the opponent but [that] we found him much more than the first half. That is really important, when you have these players you have to use them. Erling lives for it. Our delivery of passes has been better and Erling is our key man right now.

  "[I'm] disappointed he did not score four or five," Guardiola added. "All jokes aside, really pleased but we cannot rely on just him, we need other players [to score]. Wingers, attacking midfielders. They have to make a step up and score goals. We play to provide Erling with quality and passing but other players have to step up. The chances were clear, and they have to score. At this level they have to demand themselves. Chances from Savinho and Jeremy [Doku] and Tijjani [Reijnders] – they have to score. They have to do it otherwise we can't do what we want to do."

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  Haaland continues to haunt opposition managers

  Toffees manager David Moyes explained a conversation he had with Haaland at full-time: "I wish he had been somewhere else! Most managers will be thinking the same."

  He added: "I thought in the main we did a really good job. But then how can you say that? He scored two goals. The second one was a bit scruffy and we had not given him too many opportunities.

  "Later on in the game, I give great credit to our goalkeeper, the way he defended Haaland one-v-one because we had opened up trying to get a goal."

Today, Liverpool fans, may well be the day Anfield erupts as Arne Slot’s brilliant squad of brilliant players clinch the Premier League title.

It’s in Liverpool’s hands. This afternoon, the Reds must simply avoid defeat against Tottenham Hotspur to put the trophy out of Arsenal’s reach and officially end four years of Manchester City dominance, tying Merseyside red ribbons onto the cup for a record-equalling 20th time.

Liverpool have consumately steered their way through the 2024/25 campaign, Slot’s first in the dugout, with such balance and equipoise, such quality oozing across every corner of the pitch.

It’s been a long time since Liverpool started a Premier League matchweek below the division’s summit – it was the term’s ninth round of fixtures, in fact, before City stumbled.

Spurs and Liverpool have played out some memorable matches at Anfield in recent years, but this could be the pick of the bunch, should the hosts hold their nerve and professionally get the job done.

Slot and his coterie have managed to keep Liverpool treading above the water on the injury front this season, and there aren’t too many setbacks to disrupt this potentially watershed occasion.

The latest Liverpool team news

Joe Gomez is set to miss out once again as he continues his recovery from injury. The versatile defender is, however, expected to feature before the end of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an emphatic off-the-bench winner at Leicester City, but Conor Bradley may well reprise his place at right-back.

Tyler Morton is still out, bogged down by an ongoing shoulder issue. It’s unlikely the young midfielder would have featured anyway.

Fringe stars such as Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa will be hoping for minutes, but with Liverpool in need of a professional performance to clinch the title, Slot isn’t likely to make drastic changes.

However, the Dutchman might make one or two tweaks, with Dominik Szoboszlai in line to be dropped from his position standing proud of the central midfield.

Why Slot should drop Dominik Szoboszlai

Szoboszlai has been a regular feature throughout Slot’s first season at the helm, starting 25 times in the Premier League. He ebbed and flowed last year under Jurgen Klopp, but looks more focused and confident in his football.

However, Szoboszlai still hasn’t mastered the art of scoring, of creating goals for his teammates. Across 89 total Liverpool appearances, the Hungarian has only scored 14 times and supplied 11 assists.

Having now gone five Premier League games without notching a goal contribution, the 24-year-old should be dropped; Szoboszlai brings a load of energy and tenacity to Liverpool’s first team, but pundit Jamie Carragher has recently remarked that the Reds “can improve” in attacking midfield, citing the minimal output as a potential issue going forward.

While he’s not a dramatic upgrade from a prolific standpoint, the hosts might want to consider unleashing Curtis Jones from the outset against Ange Postecoglou’s struggling side, with the England international’s

Jones, also 24, has been hailed for his “special” qualities and “complete” approach by Slot, having played an important role this season as he threads things together in the centre while adding a dimension on the edge of the danger area, driving even further forward when he can.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area, and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

This is quite the array of strengths across the sweep of the midfield game, certainly highlighting Jones’ ability to influence a match.

With three goals and seven assists across 41 matches in all competitions this year (just 24 starts), Jones’ ball-playing ability clearly lends itself to a playmaking strength that could spark Mohamed Salah and co back into goalscoring action.

It’s no wonder he’s earned his keep in the Three Lions set-up, impressing on the international stage too.

Not only is Jones crisp in possession, incredibly completing 94% of his passes in the Premier League this season, but he’s also proven himself to be a highly efficient ball carrier, succeeding with 67% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

Getting at this shaky Spurs defence will be crucial later this afternoon, for Liverpool’s frontline haven’t been in the sharpest form as a collective, and they will need support from behind.

Jones has also shown his passion, his devotion, toward Liverpool’s cause, and that is a factor which is bound to come into play against the Lilywhites, with the boyhood star certain to be desperate for a standout performance in a match which could close the title-challenging chapter and indeed send Liverpool back to the top of the English pyramid.

That’s not to say Szoboszlai wouldn’t bring his own brand of burning intensity to the contest, but it may be that Jones is the best option to play alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in this one, freshening things up ahead of what might just prove to be a momentous day for Liverpool.

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