Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is aiming to win back-to-back matches in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since arriving at Ibrox in the summer.

The Light Blues manager seems to be under constant pressure and recent performances and results have not done much to get any supporters who are not pleased with the direction of travel back onside.

The highlights above illustrate why there is a section of the fanbase that is less-than-pleased with the performances, because the manner of the goals that they conceded against Sturm Graz in the Europa League was not good enough.

Martin needed a stoppage-time winner from substitute Max Aarons to claim his first league win for the Light Blues last week against Livingston, as they were on the verge of failing to win a sixth successive Premiership game.

However, that win over Livingston does mean that the Gers can string back-to-back league wins together by coming out with all three points against Falkirk this afternoon.

What is the state of play of the Rangers squad heading into their last match before the international break?

The latest Rangers team news

Mohamed Diomande is back and available for selection after he was suspended for the 2-1 defeat to Sturm Graz because of his red card against Genk last week.

The Ivorian midfielder was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Livingston in the Premiership last weekend, though, so he may have to settle for a place on the bench again today.

Another player who may return to the squad is Lyall Cameron. He came back from injury to take his place on the bench against Sturm Graz after missing the win over Livingston, and could be among the substitutes for the clash this afternoon.

Three players who may miss out, though, are Kieran Dowell, who has not featured in a squad since August, Dujon Sterling, who is out with a long-term Achilles injury, and Rabbi Matondo, who has yet to make an appearance this season.

This means that Martin should have plenty of options to pick from across the park to put a team out on the pitch that is capable of delivering a performance that results in all three points coming back to Glasgow.

Starting XI for Rangers against Sturm Graz

Position

Starter

GK

Jack Butland

RB

James Tavernier

CB

John Souttar

CB

Derek Cornelius

LB

Jayden Meghoma

CM

Connor Barron

CM

Nicolas Raskin

CM

Thelo Aasgaard

RW

Oliver Antman

ST

Youssef Chermiti

LW

Djeidi Gassama

The Light Blues head coach may want to make some alterations to the starting line-up, as shown in the table above, from the 2-1 loss in Austria on Thursday night.

Martin’s side gave up three ‘big chances’ to the hosts, per Sofascore, and only created one of their own in the 90 minutes, which shows that they struggled defensively and offensively.

With this in mind, we have taken a look at some of the changes that the former Southampton boss could make to the XI for this clash with Falkirk, as Rangers look to head into the international break off the back of a win.

The Rangers changes Martin should make to face Falkirk

Starting off between the sticks, Jack Butland should keep his place in spite of an error for Sturm Graz’s opening goal. The former England international made a series of impressive saves that kept the scoreline down in Austria.

Martin may also stick with the exact same defensive line of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, and Jayden Meghoma, because there are not many suitable alternatives.

Tavernier, as captain, should keep his place. Meghoma is the only natural left-back in the squad, Cornelius is the only natural left-sided centre-back, and Nasser Djiga has not done enough in his performances this season to suggest that he can outperform Souttar.

However, the Rangers head coach may make three changes to his starting line-up further up the field in the midfield and the attack, starting with the middle of the park.

Thelo Aasgaard could finally be dropped from the starting XI after starting the last seven matches in the Premiership and the Europa League combined without delivering a single goal or assist.

His lack of contributions at the top end of the pitch should see him removed from the line-up, which could open the door for Nedim Bajrami to start in the left-sided central midfield position.

The Albania international scored against Alloa Athletic in his only start of the season in the League Cup, curling the ball into the top corner with a brilliant finish.

This suggests that the former Sassuolo star could offer more of a threat in the final third than Aasgaard has, as the summer signing from Luton is yet to score or assist a goal for the club.

Nicolas Raskin and Connor Barron could keep their places in the starting line-up in midfield next to Bajrami, but there could be two alterations to the front three.

Gassama, after scoring against Sturm Graz on Thursday, could keep his place in the starting XI, but the last game before the break could see Martin hand youngster Findlay Curtis a rare chance to impress.

The Scotland U21 international has scored three goals in all competitions this season, a return only Gassama has bettered out of the attackers, and could replace Oliver Antman to provide the Finnish winger with a rest before international duty.

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Martin’s third and final change to the starting line-up could come in the centre-forward position, after Youssef Chermiti failed to impress from the start against Sturm Graz.

Youssef Chermiti

Premiership

Europa League

Appearances

2

2

Starts

0

2

Goals

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Assists

0

0

Ground duel success rate

14%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

0%

38%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £8m signing from Everton has struggled in and out of possession for the Light Blues in the Premiership and the Europa League since his move in the summer.

This is why Bojan Miovski should be brought back into the XI, because the Macedonia international is a proven Premiership performer who may just need something to go his way to start hitting form.

The left-footed star, as shown in the graphic above, proved his quality in Scottish football during his time with Aberdeen, but it is now down to him to show it for the Gers.

Miovski’s only goal for Rangers to date came against Hibernian in the League Cup, whilst Chermiti is yet to score for the club, and he will be hoping to add his first league goal this afternoon.

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Predicted Rangers XI to face Falkirk: Jack Butland; James Tavernier (C), John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Jayden Meghoma; Connor Barron, Nicolas Raskin, Nedim Bajrami; Findlay Curtis, Bojan Miovski, Djeidi Gassama

Manchester United are in the market for new talent and could look to beat Real Madrid to a signing that could revolutionise their engine room under Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd preparing for trip to Anfield

Renewed optimism is in the air at Old Trafford after a victory over Sunderland before the international break showed a degree of competence that hasn’t always been present this season.

Nevertheless, Manchester United travel to Anfield on Sunday as the Premier League gets back underway, which will be a stern test of character for a group that needs to start putting points on the board.

Delving into Amorim’s side, it is clear that midfield is one area that could be improved once the January transfer window opens. However, BBC reporter Simon Stone doesn’t believe Red Devils target Carlos Baleba will arrive at Old Trafford in January.

He explained: “No, I don’t. (believe Baleba will join Man Utd in January). Why would Brighton sell halfway through the season? It wouldn’t really make sense and unless someone leaves, who would be left out to accommodate them?

“I think Casemiro has done OK. It is more how effective Bruno Fernandes is being. I just don’t see a world where Fernandes is left out and there are too many ‘number 10s’ already.”

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While Sekou Kone continues to impress at Carrington and could be one option, there is still room for another figure to enrich the Red Devils centrally as they bid to find their way back to being one of the elite sides in English football.

Now, they could be set to compete with Real Madrid to secure a midfielder who is becoming one of Europe’s most in-demand players due to his performances.

Man Utd looking to beat Real Madrid to Adam Wharton

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are looking to beat Real Madrid to sign Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and could offer £60 million to acquire the England international.

With uncertainty over Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro’s future at the club, the Red Devils are willing to act swiftly to thwart the La Liga giants, who see the former Blackburn Rovers man as an ideal replacement for Toni Kroos.

Adam Wharton in 2025/26 – Premier League (Fotmob)

Chances created

11

Pass completion

155

Successful dribbles

6

Duels won

19

Interceptions

6

Capable of breaking up play and building the game in equal measure, Wharton has registered a solitary assist in ten appearances across all competitions this term, helping Crystal Palace’s early charge for European football.

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Oliver Glasner won’t want to lose his prize asset, who was dubbed “incredible” by Eberechi Eze. However, Manchester United are prepared to act before other clubs can snare their pursuit of the Three Lions star.

Bringing new blood into the squad is something Amorim will hope can reignite the Red Devils’ fortunes, albeit recruiting Wharton will be easier said than done.

Leeds United bolstered their options in the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window by swooping to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer.

The former England international was available after his Everton contract ran out at the end of June, and the Whites moved to add some Premier League experience to their squad.

Calvert-Lewin scored three goals and missed 16 ‘big chances’ in the top-flight for the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which means that he was a risky signing for Leeds after such a dismal year in front of goal.

So far, the English striker has scored one goal and missed four ‘big chances’ in five appearances in the Premier League for the Whites this term, which suggests that he is on course for similar struggles in the final third.

Daniel Farke will be hoping that the experienced number nine can turn his form around and start to finish the high-quality chances that will come his way.

Leeds may need a reliable and consistent Premier League striker to fire them to safety this season, which is why it remains a source of regret that the club were unable to sign Erling Haaland many years ago.

The story of how Leeds United almost signed Erling Haaland

When the Norway international, who is now a superstar at Manchester City, was 17 years old and playing for Moldes, Leeds came incredibly close to bringing him to Elland Road.

Agent Hayden Evans once revealed that he offered Haaland to Victor Orta, the sporting director of the Whites at the time, and brought the young striker and his family over to Thorp Arch.

He added: “They were in the middle of a first-team session and [Thomas] Christiansen at the time stopped the session and came over to Erling, hugged him and talked about football – that went really well – and Christiansen was impressive, frankly.”

Evans also revealed that Orta had a Leeds shirt with Haaland’s name on the back, and that the teenage forward was keen to make the move because he was a Leeds supporter at the time, having been born in the city.

However, the agent claimed that the deal broke down because Molde wanted £4m for the Norwegian talent and the Whites were unable to commit to that amount of money in the Championship, whilst Orta’s idea for Juventus to sign and then loan him to West Yorkshire did not go through either.

Since then, Haaland has scored 94 goals in 104 Premier League matches and 52 goals in 50 appearances in the Champions League in his career, per Transfermarkt, to become one of the best attackers in world football.

What Leeds would give to have a player of his quality in their bid to avoid relegation from the top-flight this season. Although, if they had signed him at the age of 17 and he progressed as he did with Molde, RB Salzburg, and Borussia Dortmund, the Whites may not have had him on their books for long.

The West Yorkshire outfit, however, produced an incredibly valuable young talent who was then compared to the brutish centre-forward from their academy in Archie Gray.

Leeds hit the jackpot with Archie Gray

Leeds hit the jackpot with the English youngster after he rose through the ranks at Thorp Arch before emerging as a key player under Farke in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Whites did not have to deal with a selling club wanting millions of pounds for Gray, as Molde did with Haaland, because he spent his entire academy career with the club, which meant that the versatile star did not cost them a penny.

He made 11 appearances for the U18s and 26 appearances for the U21s before Farke decided to make him a permanent member of the first-team squad at the age of 17, the same age that Haaland was when he came close to a move to West Yorkshire.

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Along with making a breakthrough in first-team football at a similar age, the English starlet was also compared to the Manchester City star by journalist Phil Hay.

Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, the reporter said: “Archie Gray, he just seems to come from the genetically modified school of Erling Haaland. Every time you see him he gets taller and bigger. He looks like he’s about 25 when he’s actually 17. He’s just physically amazing and also technically very good.”

Farke clearly saw the same things that Hay saw from the teenage prospect, because the 2023/24 campaign was Gray’s breakthrough season in the first-team.

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The 17-year-old wonderkid started 40 of his 44 appearances in the Championship that term, whilst he has also started all three of the club’s play-off games, including the final against Southampton at Wembley.

23/24 Championship

Archie Gray

Appearances

44

Starts

40

Assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.8

Ball recoveries per game

4.5

Duel success rate

55%

Dribble success rate

57%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gray held his own from a physical perspective, winning 55% of his duels, which backs up Hay’s comments about his physique.

The Whites hit the jackpot with the England U21 international, who came through their academy system, because Farke was willing to put his faith in the youngster to start week-in-week-out at right-back as a 17 and 18-year-old.

As a result of the platform that the manager provided him with, Gray’s performances in the Championship at such a young age led to him sealing a big-money move away from Elland Road in the summer of 2024.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur swooped in to sign the English youngster for a fee of £30m, which meant that Leeds made a £30m profit on a player they did not have to pay a fee to sign at academy level.

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Therefore, the Whites struck gold with Gray because they developed a £30m talent from their academy system in an era where homegrown players can sometimes have their pathways blocked by expensive signings from other clubs.

There’s no denying the last few seasons have been nothing short of an embarrassment for Manchester United – especially considering the glory days achieved under Sir Alex Ferguson.

From Carabao Cup first round exits against League Two opposition, to 15th-placed Premier League finishes, it truly has been a period to forget for the fanbase on the pitch.

However, Ruben Amorim has shown glimpses of transforming the situation over the last couple of outings in the Premier League, with key results starting to arise.

A win against Sunderland saw the Red Devils keep their first clean sheet of the 2025/26 campaign, before claiming a remarkable 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Such a performance saw Amorim’s side limit the defending league champions to limited opportunities throughout, with goalkeeper Senne Lammens producing the goods between the sticks.

However, it’s safe to say it’s not been a straightforward process for the manager, especially considering the failures his side suffered last campaign.

How bad United were defensively throughout 2024/25

If a side as big as United are finishing 15th in the Premier League table, there are evidently fundamental problems within certain areas of the pitch – many of which needed addressing.

The defensive department came under huge scrutiny throughout 2024/25 and rightly so, given the lack of quality that was on display for prolonged periods of the campaign.

When delving into their underlying figures, the Red Devils’ woes were truly something to behold, as seen by their tally of 46 goals conceded in just 38 outings.

Their average 1.42 goals conceded per 90 was the ninth-worst of any side in the division, with such a tally undoubtedly contributing to their demise in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25.

Amorim’s men also produced an xG against of 55.1, a figure that was the 8th worst in the league – showcasing that other sides were easily able to create opportunities in front of goal at will.

Whilst Lammens has fixed the situation between the sticks, the manager will likely still want to improve the situation at the back to help his chances of success at Old Trafford.

However, one first-team player should remain crucial to any attempted efforts, especially if his recent showings in the Premier League under his guidance are anything to go by.

The United player who’s becoming Amorim’s best player

Despite £200m worth of new additions during the summer transfer window, very few of the funds were directed to the defensive unit – with the majority being invested into the forward line.

Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all brought to Old Trafford, with the former of the trio already proving his worth with his strike at Anfield on Sunday.

Harry Maguire also found himself on the scoresheet in such a triumph, once again popping up with a clutch goal for the Red Devils despite his usual defensive role.

The Englishman appears to have forced himself back into the manager’s plans, but he’s not alone in doing so with the 40-year-old’s preferred three-man backline.

Matthijs de Ligt was originally brought into the club last summer for a reported £42m, with real hope of providing key experience at the back given his time at Bayern Munich and Juventus.

However, the Dutchman endured a season to forget in England, only starting 25 league outings and coming under fire for his lack of positive displays by one well respected player in England’s top-flight.

Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher labelled the 26-year-old as “awful” – further highlighting how disappointing he was during his debut campaign at Old Trafford.

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His displays in 2025/26 have been night and day, with De Ligt now becoming a crucial member of Amorim’s squad – subsequently starting all eight league games to date.

Matthijs de Ligt – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

8

Minutes played

720

Pass accuracy

88%

Duels won

5.6

Aerials won

3.3

Interceptions made

1.1

Dribble success

50%

Tackles won

1.9

Stats via FotMob

The centre-back’s underlying stats are just as impressive, subsequently winning 5.6 duels per 90 – a tally that ranks him within the top 20% of all players in the Premier League.

He’s also won 3.3 aerial battles and made 1.1 interceptions per 90, with such numbers undoubtedly handing the side the defensive presence they lacked last season.

De Ligt’s 6”2 stature at the back has allowed him to be a dominant presence within the defensive third, which has led to him undoubtedly being one of the Red Devils’ star performers this season.

There’s a real hope emerging at Old Trafford that he could be a vital player in any success achieved this season – but he desperately needs to stay on his current path.

If the club are to rise up the table, the Dutch international will likely be a key component, with Amorim needing to utilise him on a regular basis throughout the months ahead.

West Ham defender Oliver Scarles was hauled off in their 2-1 loss to Leeds United with what looked to be a serious injury, and insider ExWHUemployee has now shared how long he’ll be out for.

The Hammers are second-bottom in the Premier League and have conceded more goals than any other side in the division thus far.

In his last two games, under-pressure new boss Nuno Espirito Santo has gone with a centre-back pairing of Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, with both men struggling to deal with opposition attacks.

West Ham have precious few alternatives to Kilman and Todibo, with Konstantinos Mavropanos sidelined for the foreseeable future.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

The Greek international, who had been selected for nearly every game since West Ham’s only victory of the campaign at Nottingham Forest, faces up to six weeks out after picking up a hamstring injury at home to Brentford (GiveMeSport).

The last thing Nuno needs is another defensive injury, but according to insider Ex, Scarles has joined Mavropanos on the sidelines with the extent of his injury revealed.

The academy graduate was deployed at full-back against Brentford and started again away to Leeds, but was forced off in the opening 20 minutes after fracturing his collarbone.

West Ham have since confirmed that the 19-year-old has undergone successful surgery on the problem, with Performance Director Richard Collinge estimating he could return in December.

However, while this is the official line from the club, insider Ex believes that Scarles could be out for even longer.

West Ham dealt Scarles blow with real return timeline revealed

Writing via his West Ham Way Patreon, Ex states that Scarles actually faces as long as three months on the sidelines — meaning the teenager might not be back in action until 2026.

The England Under-20 international seriously impressed at youth level for West Ham before breaking into the first-team — even bagging three goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances for the Under-18s.

The attack-minded full-back also notched 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) for the Under-21s, with Scarles since making 19 senior cameos in total for the east Londoners.

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He was clearly starting to impress Nuno too, after being given the starting nod in each of West Ham’s last two Premier League games, so this layoff will be a major blow to him personally.

It was Julen Lopetegui who handed Scarles his Premier League debut last season, with Graham Potter then using the youngster on a pretty regular basis towards the end of 2024/2025.

With Mavropanos out injured too, it represents a golden opportunity for summer signing Igor Julio to battle his way into the starting eleven.

Nuno must give Igor Julio a chance amid West Ham defensive crisis

While Arsenal have signed their fair share of superstars, they’ve also got a proud history of producing them.

The likes of Tony Adams, David O’Leary, Ashley Cole, and Ray Parlour got their start at Hale End before going on to have careers that most players could only dream of.

Even today, the Gunners’ most important player and talisman, Bukayo Saka, is a product of the world-class academy, and Max Dowman looks like he could be the next one up.

However, not every highly rated prospect goes on to fulfil their potential, with Jack Wilshere perhaps being the most unfortunate example of that.

Fortunately, Mikel Arteta has another Hale Ender in his side who could go on to become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

Wilshere's Arsenal career

Before the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Dowman, Wilshere held the title of Arsenal’s youngest league debutant thanks to his appearance against Blackburn Rovers in September 2008.

The youngster would go on to make eight appearances that season and then seven in the first half of the next campaign before he was sent out on a short-term loan to Bolton Wanderers, where he scored and assisted a goal in 14 games.

With this vital experience, Arsène Wenger opted to give the teenage talent a significant role in the side the following season, which saw him make 49 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing nine assists.

It was this campaign that saw him deliver his famous performance against Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side, in which he practically single-handedly outplayed the Catalans’ midfield of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets.

It was around this time that the then-England manager compared the Hale Ender to a young Andrea Pirlo, so to say that there were sky-high expectations around him would be an understatement.

It’s easy to see why many thought the Englishman would be an absolute world-beater, though, as he had incredible close control, an eye for a pass, the ability to carry the ball through the middle of the park, and the perfect attitude.

However, not long after his iconic game against Barça, the Gunners’ great hope began to suffer injury after injury, and from the 11/12 season to 16/17, when he left North London, he missed a staggering 228 games for club and country.

Unfortunately, it was this inability to remain fit that utterly derailed Wilshere’s career, as he had all the ability someone would need to become one of the best midfielders in the world.

The only positive for Arsenal fans is that Arteta now has someone in his squad who could become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

The Arsenal star who could fulfil Wilshere's promise

While fans might immediately think of Nwaneri or Dowman in this situation, the Hale Ender who could end up becoming the player Wilshere was supposed to be is actually Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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Yes, the youngster is currently seen as a left-back in Arteta’s squad, and the second-choice one at that, but that is unlikely to be his long-term position.

After all, the Islington-born gem spent most of his time in the academy playing as a central or defensive midfielder, and when he does come into the first team, he does not overlap; he inverts in the central area.

Lewis-Skelly’s U21 record

Position

Games

G+As

Defensive Midfield

11

1

Left-Back

5

1

Central Midfield

4

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, his best traits, which he shares with the former Gunners star, lend themselves to becoming a world-class central player.

For example, although he’s still relatively inexperienced, he has consistently demonstrated a brilliant eye for a pass and an exquisite left foot to match.

On top of that, in a similar fashion to Saka, the 19-year-old is far stronger than he appears and consistently wins physical duels against opposition players.

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Finally, like Wilshere, the young dynamo is already an excellent carrier of the ball, and is unoutbaly among the best in the squad when it comes to doing it through a congested midfield.

This was on full display against Atlético Madrid last month, when he beat half the side to provide a perfect assist for Gabriel Martinelli to make 2-0.

In addition to all this, the Hale Ender also shares a similar approach and attitude towards games.

For example, his goal and celebration against Manchester City last term more than back up Declan Rice’s description of him as “fearless”, and when you combine that with everything else, it’s easy to see why club insider Hand of Arsenal has dubbed him a “future captain.”

Ultimately, there is still a long way to go, but thanks to his impressive ability, skill set and mentality, there is a strong chance Lewis-Skelly could become the player Wilshere was supposed to be.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s efforts in the Champions League against PSG last night were a vast improvement from the North London Derby, but it still wasn’t enough to claim all three points.

Luis Enrique’s men secured a 5-3 triumph at the Parc des Princes, but the night could have been a lot better for Thomas Frank’s side at one stage.

The Dane’s side twice took the lead against the reigning Champions League winners, with Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison putting the Lilywhites ahead before and after the break.

However, numerous moments of madness from numerous players subsequently cost the side all three points, with Frank’s side now winless in their last three outings.

During such fixtures, the first team have shipped a total of 11 goals, many of which have been down to failures of one player – as demonstrated in Paris once again yesterday.

Cristian Romero’s dismal display against PSG yesterday

After Frank’s arrival as manager over the summer, he made an immediate impact by naming numerous first-team members as part of his Spurs leadership group.

Centre-back Cristian Romero was named as part of the group, with the Argentine wearing the armband in every one of his starts for the Lilywhites this campaign.

That was no different on Wednesday night, but the 27-year-old did nothing short of lead the side to a positive result, with his various errors costing the side against PSG.

His questionable pass into the feet of Pape Sarr saw the Senegalese star robbed of possession, which led to Fabian Ruiz firing the hosts into the lead for the first time.

Romero also charged down Vitinha on the edge of his 18-yard box, but his sliding effort saw him block the Portuguese international’s strike – which resulted in a penalty and all but killed off the game.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of positive impact at the Parc des Princes, with the defender losing 50% of the duels he entered – subsequently being dominated by the opposition’s frontline.

The Spurs star who was as bad as Romero against PSG

After the manner of the Derby Day defeat on Sunday, it was clear that manager Frank needed to make various changes to try and avenge such a disappointing result.

As a result, the Dane made five changes to his starting eleven, which also saw a switch from a five-back to a more familiar four-back system – one which Romero was at the heart of.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were handed rare starts at the heart of the side, with the duo often linking up with intricate play in large spells of the first half.

With both players aged under 20, there’s no denying that they will have huge parts to play in the immediate and long-term future for the Lilywhites in their quest for success.

However, there will certainly be question marks over a few of the other starters, with Pape Sarr one player who was unable to take full advantage of his recall to the squad.

The 23-year-old was named as a substitute against Arsenal, but was given the chance to stake his claim for a starting role again last night – but he may look back on the game as a missed opportunity.

Sarr certainly wasn’t solely to blame for the host’s third goal, but his lack of awareness after Romero’s pass saw him lose possession in the build-up to Luiz’s emphatic finish.

Pape Sarr – stats against PSG

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

84

Touches

44

Passes completed

26

Errors leading to goals

2

Possession lost

7x

Tackles won

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Blocks made

0

Stats via FotMob

He also could have done more to prevent Willian Pacho’s strike, with the Senegalese international unable to get ahead of the defender to clear the loose ball in the penalty area.

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The youngster’s underlying stats were just as poor, with the midfielder only able to win 50% of the tackles he entered, whilst also being dribbled past twice.

Sarr’s lack of positive impact was highlighted in his tally of possession lost, as he gave the ball back to the opposition on seven separate occasions – often presenting a careless figure in possession.

There’s little denying he put in a shift when out of possession, but he did so to little avail, ultimately leading to journalist Alasdair Gold handing him a 5/10 match rating upon the final whistle.

After such a showing, it’s evident that Bergvall and Gray are both ahead of him in the pecking order, with Sarr needing a huge reaction in the upcoming matches to dislodge the pair.

As for Romero, it was yet another evening to forget, but given his role as captain, he must pick himself and the rest of the team up ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fulham.

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Liverpool are probing the market for reinforcements after a poor start to the Premier League season and could now be ready to break their transfer record in the process.

Despite returning from the international break determined to arrest their slump in form, the Reds were on the end of a comprehensive defeat to Nottingham Forest that hammered home some of the frailties Arne Slot has been trying to address since the beginning of the campaign.

Nevertheless, David James is a firm believer that Liverpool can still have a solid season despite losing six of their last seven top-flight matches, claiming that the Champions League may be where they are most likely to earn success.

He told BBC Sport: “Liverpool do not recruit for one season, they recruit for the future. I believe with the players they signed they can be good, but I was one of those that expected them to be fine from the get-go.

“The test for Arne Slot as manager is whether he can turn this around. Not winning the title this season doesn’t make it a bad season. Comparatively it does compared with last season but he wasn’t expected to win it last season. He has already ticked that box if we are looking at the broader picture. The Champions League now becomes more important and winning it would justify everything this season.”

PSV Eindhoven visit Anfield in midweek as the Reds bid to move well into the top eight of the league phase, which would result in an automatic place in the last 16 if they were able to finish the job.

January and beyond will be pivotal for Liverpool as they look to build for the challenges ahead, and they could now be willing to shatter their transfer record to land a premium target.

Liverpool submit club record bid for Federico Valverde

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have submitted an offer worth over £131 million for Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde. The Reds would also be willing to make the Uruguay international, who Toni Kroos called one of the ‘top three’ players in the world, their highest earner on over £500,000 per week.

Liverpool's record signings ranked

Willing to double his current wage at the Santiago Bernabéu, the Reds see Valverde as someone who could revolutionise their midfield after falling into a sticky patch under Slot. Simply put, he fits their tactical framework and England’s reigning champions are ready to convince him that Anfield is a place where he can thrive.

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Internally, there is debate at Real Madrid over whether letting one of their high-profile stars leave the club would offer up the opportunity to invest elsewhere, as the size of the offer has caused discourse within Los Blancos’ higher ups, something that may give Liverpool a fighting chance of landing their man.

Federico Valverde at Real Madrid

Appearances

339

Goals

32

Assists

35

With any transfer more likely to occur in the summer, it now remains to be seen whether Valverde will become a statement addition on Merseyside.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl should be delighted with the way that his team ran out 3-0 winners against Kilmarnock with relative ease on Saturday night.

Two goals from Bojan Miovski and a strike off the bench from Mikey Moore sealed all three points for the Gers, who had drawn their previous two games to Dundee United and Falkirk in a frustrating manner.

The German head coach should be particularly pleased with Miovski’s two-goal burst because it will provide the centre-forward with some much-needed confidence after a poor start to life at Ibrox

Why Bojan Miovski has been Rangers' most frustrating player

Out of all of the club’s summer signings, the Macedonia international has been their most frustrating player because he has not delivered at the level that everyone knows he is capable of.

Unlike most of the other signings, Miovski arrived as a proven Scottish Premiership performer who is in the prime years of his career, at 26, after a return of 32 league goals in two seasons with Aberdeen.

Prior to Saturday’s game against Kilmarnock, though, the left-footed forward had only scored one goal in nine league starts for the Light Blues, per Sofascore, and has lost 68% of his physical duels in the division.

Miovski was much improved against Kilmarnock, with two goals, which makes his poor form up to that point all the more frustrating, because that is the kind of performance that he can deliver.

It’s a display that Rohl recognised too. In quotes taken from PA Media, the manager said: “We had a conversation with each other and then he made step-by-step a huge step forwards against Dundee United. He had some good chances. He’s more adaptable at the moment, not just staying on the last line, it helps in building up as well.

“I’m happy when a striker scores two goals, it’s fantastic. In general, we spoke about what I demand from him. He told also what he is thinking at the moment. And then I think, especially after the Falkirk game, we spoke about spaces, what I want to see from the centre-forward and big spaces.”

The 26-year-old marksman is not the most improved player under Rohl, though, as that title has to go to Nasser Djiga, who has stepped up in recent weeks.

Why Djiga is the most improved Rangers player under Rohl

After Rohl’s fourth match in charge, against Celtic in the League Cup, Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar described the Wolves loanee as a “rotten” signing.

Chalkboard

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

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Football FanCast even suggested playing James Tavernier at centre-back at the start of November because of Djiga’s poor form for the club up to that point.

That criticism was fair after several high-profile errors, including a red card against Dundee, an inexplicable defensive mix-up against Club Brugge, and Four Lads Had A Dream claimed that he “genuinely looks lost” during the loss to Celtic in the semi-final defeat that led to Edgar dubbing him “rotten”.

It did not seem like there was any way back for the Premier League loanee, who was as ‘rotten’ as Miovski was, but his run of form since John Souttar and Derek Cornelius picked up injuries has been an impressive response to that criticism.

Because there was an argument, due to his high-profile mistakes, that Djiga was the worst performer in the club, it is only logical that his recent showings make him the most improved player in the squad.

Whilst Miovski scored two goals against Kilmarnock, the striker had not scored in his previous 11 games and is yet to show his quality consistently, and the Wolves defender has now strung several performances together.

Since John Souttar’s injury

Premiership

Nasser Djiga

Appearances

4

Sofascore rating

7.3

Clean sheets

2

Tackles won

6/8

Clearances

18

Ground duels won

14/18

Aerial duels won

7/14

Error led to shot or goal

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Djiga has really stepped up in the right-sided centre-back role since Souttar picked up an injury on international duty with Scotland, winning an eye-catching 14 of his 18 ground duels in four league outings.

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The Burkina Faso international has shown that he can be reliable at the back for a stretch of games, with no direct errors leading to shots or goals, whilst being dominant in his defensive duels.

Rangers have kept two clean sheets in the last four league games with Djiga at the heart of the defence alongside Emmanuel Fernandez, and Rohl will be hoping that his new defensive partnership continues to shine over the festive period.

The 23-year-old loanee, in particular, needs to prove that his current form is not a flash in the pan and that he has put the mistakes that he made earlier in the season behind him to be a reliable option for the German manager moving forward.

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On current evidence, Djiga is the most improved player under Rohl, going from “rotten” to reliable, but now he needs to do it over a prolonged period of time.

Liverpool fans have been locked in purgatory this season, Arne Slot’s side so far removed from their title-winning selves last season.

But we have seen some progress in recent weeks. Liverpool are unbeaten in four Premier League matches, and their 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League has tightened their foothold on ascension to the knockout phase.

And yet Slot’s side need to improve. The Reds have shown themselves to be tactically imbalanced this year, and with each loss, more confidence has been stripped away, leaving the Premier League champions denuded of their reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous forces.

Slot deserves respect, and it’s clear that FSG are not ready to push the button and eject him from his seat. But something still needs to give, and with the January transfer window less than a fortnight away, sporting director Richard Hughes is weighing up a bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Liverpool's plans to sign a winger

Liverpool want Semenyo this winter, but so, it seems, does the rest of the Premier League. His signature is red-hot, and while Liverpool stand as good a chance as anyone in the race, it would be negligible not to sound out alternatives.

There’s no question that Liverpool miss Luis Diaz, whose pace and directness in the final third now belong to Bayern Munich.

But Nico Williams shares with Semenyo and Colombian similar physical and athletic attributes, and Spanish sources believe FSG are preparing a €95m (equating to about £83m) offer.

The Spain international came close to joining Barcelona in the summer, but he remains with Athletic Bilbao, who are struggling for attacking fluidity in La Liga.

With Semenyo the top target, Liverpool may want to look at the wider picture, with Williams bearing the potential to become one of the very best in the world.

Why Liverpool want Nico Williams

When Spain won the 2021 European Championship, they did so with Williams taking centre-stage. Now 23, Williams was only announcing himself at the time, growing into his skin as one of Spain’s brightest talents.

He isn’t yet as refined as Semenyo, but the sky is truly the limit for this one. Williams’ blistering speed and ability on the ball have caused critics to marvel, gushing over qualities that some defenders simply don’t have answers for. In this, he is already “world-class”, as has been said by journalist Zach Lowy.

While Williams’ output has decreased for Bilbao, this year and last, this speaks of deeper offensive issues at the Basque club. They have scored 15 league goals all season, which means the Spanish winger has been directly involved in 40% of the goalmouth action.

Nico Williams – La Liga Stats by Season

Season

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26

13

3 + 3

24/25

29

5 + 5

23/24

31

5 + 13

22/23

34

0 + 0

21/22

2

0 + 0

Data via Transfermarkt

Williams hasn’t been in the finest fettle this season, but he’s still one of the most dangerous and dynamic wingers in the game. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90.

Even so, it would be ridiculous to try to deny his quality and potential. Hailed as a “nightmare for defenders” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Williams matches Semenyo’s thrill factor, that fleet-footedness which differentiates him.

Semenyo, of course, is riding the crest of a wave in the Premier League. The 25-year-old has scored seven goals and supplied three assists in the division this season. The talk of the town, he boasts a formidable array of underlying metrics, winning 6.6 duels and averaging 1.6 tackles and dribbles per game in 2025/26, as per Sofascore.

Subscribe to our newsletter for sharp transfer insight Curious about Liverpool’s winger hunt and who could fit best? Subscribe to our newsletter for focused transfer analysis, scouting context, and comparisons that illuminate targets like Semenyo and Nico Williams — plus the wider transfer picture.

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But Williams is several years his junior, and he has already demonstrated a capacity to thrive and stand out on the biggest stages. Liverpool need a winger, and while Semenyo would provide instant results, Williams might just be worth the longer investment. He really is that good, and he’s only getting better.

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