Newcastle United arguably put in their besst performance of the season as they beat Benfica 3-0 to make it back-to-back wins in the Champions League.

Though the Magpies have struggled to get going this season, especially from an offensive standpoint, their success on the continent is evidence of Eddie Howe’s abiding tactical quality, with the cogs sure to start whirring as the new batch of players work toward a continuation of last year’s illustrious success.

That starts now, in the Premier League. Last weekend, United lost on a trip to Brighton, and they languish in 14th place, just nine points from eight games.

But a closer look at the new phase Howe is championing demonstrates exactly why he is valued as “one of the top managers in the country, if not the world” by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

He adapts, and the tactician must showcase that nous yet again on Sunday, when Fulham are welcomed to St. James’ Park. However, that frontline does need some work, even with Nick Woltemade firing on all cylinders.

Newcastle team news

Howe said that Newcastle must produce their best possible performance if they wish to turn over a gritty and well-balanced Fulham side in the Premier League.

The Cottagers claimed three points at St. James’ Park last season, but they have lost three on the bounce in the Premier League and are there for the taking, with Joachim Andersen and Antonee Robinson both sidelined.

A promising update on the injury recoveries of Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall: both full-backs are nearing the end of their rehabilitation and are back on the grass. Anticipate further developments in the coming weeks.

While Howe reported no new injury concerns, he did confirm Sandro Tonali “will be touch and go” after struggling with illness this week.

Meanwhile, summer signing Yoane Wissa’s wait for his debut rages on, still in recovery from the knee injury suffered on international duty. The 29-year-old’s rehabilitation will stretch toward the Christmas period.

More praise was heaped on Woltemade. The German striker continues to deputise as Wissa’s recovery continues, and given the richness of the purple patch he is riding, few will have concerns about his presence at number nine (other than the Fulham defence, that is).

However, while the striker is firing, Howe will hope to see more from his wide forwards. In fairness, Harvey Barnes bagged a brace in midweek, with Anthony Gordon claiming the Man of the Match award in the Champions League.

But Anthony Elanga continues to leave much to be desired down the right, and it’s for this reason that Newcastle’s most underrated star could be the difference-maker on Saturday afternoon.

Howe must unleash Newcastle's "unsung hero"

Has there been a more compelling success story at Newcastle over the past few years than that of Jacob Murphy? The 29-year-old was written off after years as a journeyman, but has pieced together an iconic career on Tyneside.

Last season, in particular, Murphy was in fine fettle, stepping up after Newcastle failed to sign a right-sided forward and posting nine goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

Some return, that. Howe hailed his protege as “the ultimate professional”, and his is a story that up-and-coming hopefuls will use as fuel for many years to come. It’s never too late to turn things around.

The veteran has only featured as a substitute across Newcastle’s past two Premier League matches, and his stability and industriousness could be perfect against Marco Silva’s organised outfit.

That is not to say he’s without his flair and creativity on the ball. As per FBref, Murphy ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90.

He might not have Elanga’s pace or Barnes’ natural eye for goal, but with Gordon clicking into gear and Woltemade undroppable at the front of the ship, this could be the line-up to develop and sustain synergy and fluency across the full 90.

You will need no reminder that the Magpies have only won two of their eight Premier League fixtures so far this season.

It stands as a testament to Murphy’s resilience and unwavering belief in his abilities that he has established himself as one of the key components of Newcastle’s journey since the PIF takeover and subsequent appointment of Howe.

Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle

Rank

Player

Apps

1

Bruno Guimaraes

164

2

Fabian Schar

160

3

Dan Burn

159

4

Jacob Murphy

145

5

Joelinton

139

Data via Transfermarkt

He might not be the most prolific player in the mix, but Murphy is unquestionably among England’s most underrated players in modern times, hailed as an “unsung hero” by journalist Scott Wilson for his knack at coming up trumps for the Toon.

And anyway, with three goals and four assists across 13 matches against Fulham, Howe would be restoring the experienced winger to the starting line-up against the side he has chalked up more direct contributions than any other across his career.

While Elanga will be desperate to impress after going without a goal or an assist across his first 12 appearances in black and white, Howe will know the importance of using the midweek Champions League victory as a springboard.

Newcastle simply have to return to winning ways in the Premier League, and with Murphy on the right, fuelling in-form pair Gordon and Woltemade, it might just be the perfect blend.

Related Howe can forget Elanga by unleashing Newcastle's teen who's 'like Yamal'

Eddie Howe may turn to the academy to help build fluency down Newcastle’s right side.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 23, 2025

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has accepted his "share of responsibility" for his side's poor form following their Champions League exit. However, returning forward Tim Weah has blasted talk of a "total crisis" at the club, pointing out they are still second in Ligue 1 and just two points behind reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.

• Weah dismisses 'total crisis' claims

  Marseille are reeling from a 1-0 home defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League which followed a disappointing league draw against Angers, amplifying the pressure on the squad.

  Despite their European exit, which leaves them 25th in the Champions League league phase, Marseille remain second in Ligue 1. They host Brest at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday, knowing a victory could send them to the top of the table – at least until PSG face Lyon the following day.

  Weah, who is returning from injury, was defiant when facing the media, expressing his confusion at the severe external reaction to the team's form.

  "I read that it's a total crisis and I don't understand anything," Weah stated. "It's not like we're 10th, we're two points behind Paris. We're not getting the results we want, but it's not the end of the world. We have to stay focused on our work and not look at the others."

  The United States international, who has played for other high-pressure clubs including PSG, Juventus and Celtic, insisted the internal mentality remains positive.

  "Pressure? It doesn't surprise me at all. When you lose it gets a bit crazy but players shouldn't look at that," Weah added. "The mentality of the group is very good. We just have to do the job, everyone is calm here, all the noise is outside."

  While Weah acknowledged the team is "not playing our best football," he attributed the difficulties to a significant injury list rather than a fundamental flaw.

  "There are a lot of injuries, important players, and it's difficult because you're playing matches every three days," he explained.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  De Zerbi accepts 'justified' criticism of poor form

  De Zerbi, however, took a different tone and shouldered the blame for the performances that have frustrated the fanbase.

  "The criticism of our play in the last three matches is justified, I say that without shame and I take my share of responsibility," De Zerbi admitted. "It's a difficult moment – like after Rennes – because we're not playing well. Losing against Atalanta and drawing against Angers has frustrated us."

  He added: "The responsibility is mine."

  De Zerbi provided a detailed update on his squad's fitness, revealing the extent of the personnel issues that have forced his hand.

  Leonardo Balerdi remains unavailable for the Brest match. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Neal Maupay may only be fit enough for the bench with "reduced playing time." Weah's status will be assessed after training.

  On a positive note, Emerson will return from suspension. De Zerbi is optimistic that the situation will improve significantly next week, projecting the return of Balerdi and "perhaps" Facundo Medina, while Kondogbia is expected to regain 100% fitness.

  The manager also gave an update on Bilal Nadir, who collapsed last week, stating: "He trained with us yesterday. He's better but he's not yet at 100%. We'll assess him today, but if he's in the squad, he'll be on the bench."

• Manager defends controversial rotation policy

  The injury crisis was at the centre of De Zerbi's defence of his squad rotation, which has drawn criticism from supporters.

  "Some say I change the lineup a lot, but do you think I change it because I'm confused or because I don't want to worsen the injury situation?" De Zerbi asked. "We're trying to manage playing time, to avoid a Nayef Aguerd getting injured like he did at Auxerre. It's the same for Balerdi at Lens.

  "I don't like changing five or six players per match. But like all teams, you have to rotate the squad."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• De Zerbi analyses Atalanta defeat and tactical approach

  Reflecting on the midweek Champions League exit, De Zerbi defended his tactical approach, including the team's tendency to pass backwards.

  "You get frustrated when we go back, and I get frustrated when we retreat too," he said. "But sometimes, to move forward more effectively, it's also enough to simply pass the ball back once."

  Despite the 1-0 loss, De Zerbi pointed to statistics as evidence that the performance was not as negative as the result suggested. Marseille registered 15 shots to Atalanta's six, with four on target.

  "We had more shots on goal than Atalanta, we entered the box more often, but they scored. That disappoints me," he said.

  Weah added that the team felt aggrieved by a refereeing decision in the match: "There's a real disappointment against Atalanta… It's a disappointment because there was a penalty, but we have to take responsibility because we didn't play a very good match."

The Athletics are preparing for a move to Sacramento ahead of the 2025 MLB season, having bid farewell to the city of Oakland and the beloved Coliseum.

There will be plenty of things to get used to in their new, temporary home in west Sacramento at Sutter Health Park. Among those will be the rather bizarre location of the A's locker room.

During a sitdown with Chris Rose on Tuesday, A's slugging outfielder Lawrence Butler revealed that the team's locker room at the new stadium will actually be located behind center field.

"What I know, as of right now, is that they're making renovations to the field and stuff like that. I know our locker room is going to be in center field. They're turfing the outfield. … That's pretty much all I know," Butler told Rose.

Butler did not seem excited about the locker room location, and suggested that "it's probably going to suck" and called it a "sticky situation."

The A's are expected to remain in Sacramento through the 2027 season, though players don't seem overly excited about the upcoming changes that will come with playing at Sutter Health Park.

Danny Rohl is close to being named as the new Rangers boss, and Sky Sports have shared a live update from outside Ibrox after an “11th hour and 59th minute” twist.

Rangers on brink of Rohl announcement after late breakdown in talks

“Let’s start with the huge developments in the last half hour,” said a Sky Sports presenter live on TV on Monday afternoon. “Danny Rohl looks set to be named as the new head coach at Rangers.”

The 36-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday head coach had ruled himself out of the race to become Russell Martin’s successor last week when Kevin Muscat appeared to be front runner.

However, it emerged on Sunday night that no agreement could be reached with Muscat, which threw the Ibrox club into managerial limbo ahead of the Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Brann in Norway.

Sky’s Adam Binnie has now reported live from outside Ibrox, shedding some light on just how close they were to appointing Muscat: “The club continued into advanced talks with Kevin Muscat which fell through at the 11th hour, or the 11th hour and 59th minute.

“After all that falling out, that meant that Rohl was back in contention… now he is the leading candidate and is expected to take over.”

Rohl, who Binnie confirms was third choice after Steven Gerrard and Muscat, led The Owls to a 12th-place league finish in his only full season as a manager before leaving the troubled Yorkshire club in July.

Rangers’ Under-19 boss Stevie Smith was in interim charge for the 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday. Former Gers defender Smith took over first-team training along with B team coach Brian Gilmour, goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo and head of performance Rhys Owen, on Martin’s departure.

The Ibrox club sit sixth in the William Hill Premiership with nine points from eight fixtures and are 13 points behind leaders Hearts.

Gers fans disgruntled by the failure of Martin, the start to the season where Rangers were also bounced out of the Champions League play-off on a 9-1 aggregate defeat by Belgian side Club Brugge, and latterly the new boss recruitment process, have turned against chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell.

A banner was held up at half-time during the Dundee United game which read: ‘Stewart, Thelwell pack your bags and go before we pack them for you’.

The Oakland A's will play their final games at Oakland Colesium later this week. As the team prepares to move to Sacramento where they will wait for a stadium to be constructed in Las Vegas, owner John Fisher penned an open letter to the fanbase, which really annoyed a lot of people.

Among those completely unimpressed by Fisher's letter was ABC7 sports director Larry Beil who called the letter a "great work of fiction." Beil took a few minutes out of Monday's broadcast to pick apart Fisher and his letter saying A's fans considered his "explanation was both weak and long overdue."

Beil read parts of the letter with his voice dripping with sarcasm and annoyance. And then he went off.

"So you heard Fisher's statement," said Beil. "Let me tell you what reality is. OK? John, you tried five different extremely flawed stadium proposals, you never even got close to a shovel in the ground. Yes, Oakland politics is often a mess, I will give you that. But John, you surround yourself with incompetent yes men. And because you were born into a billionaire family, apparently never learned you have to spend money to make money. See Joe Lacob and the Golden State Warriors. Your buddy, who still wants to buy the team!"

"John, you're a serial penny-pincher," Beil continued. "You've destroyed your family's great name and legacy because of your cheapness. As for the statement about loyal A's fans, quote, I wish I could speak to each of you individually, end quote. Seriously? John, we've been trying to interview you for years, but you always choose to remain invisible. Unless you're begging politicians for public funding, then you're out in front in Las Vegas."

Beil hopes that other owners and the Players Association can still do something to stop this move, pointing out that Fisher still doesn't have a financing plan for the stadium in Las Vegas. Apparently, Oakland's greatest chance to keep the A's is ownership's addiction to failure.

Clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters had marred a game between the two sides in Sharjah in 2022

Danyal Rasool28-Aug-2025

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan urged fans to avoid a repeat of the ugly scenes that marred Pakistan and Afghanistan’s clash in Sharjah in 2022, saying that cricket brought “people and nations together”. Sharjah will host the opening game of the tri-series between the two sides.The end of the see-sawing game, which Pakistan won by one wicket in the final over, was followed by clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters in the stands, leading to the PCB writing to the ICC in protest, with then-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja calling it “hooliganism”. Several Afghanistan fans were detained by the Sharjah police following the incident. However, no arrests were made.Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have politically soured further since. But this time around, there is heightened awareness about the potential for flashpoints. There are separate sections at the stadium for Pakistan and Afghanistan supporters, and greater alertness to nip potential crowd trouble in the bud.Related

Afghanistan bring back former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as fielding coach

Afghanistan pick 16 of 17 Asia Cup squad members for UAE tri-series

Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE gear up for Asia Cup rehearsal

It is, however, not the first time supporters of the sides will be separated in the general stands; that was also the case in 2023 when they played a bilateral series against each other. There are sizeable diaspora populations of both nations in the UAE, particularly Sharjah, and fixtures between the two sides have been historically well attended in the country.”[My] message to everyone who comes and watches the games in the stadium is that cricket brings unity,” Rashid said. “It brings people and nations together. It sends a peaceful message. This game is all about enjoyment. We play this game to enjoy ourselves and give entertainment to the crowd and the fans. It’s just a game of cricket. I ask people to come, enjoy themselves, support their respective teams and enjoy every moment of the game.”Rashid also believed the format, as well as the short nature of the tri-series, meant assigning a favourites tag to any side was difficult. “No team is favourite, especially in T20Is. You have to play good cricket. One or two players can totally change the game. Everyone will be trying to deliver their best performances.”Pakistan play back to back games, taking on UAE on Saturday following their contest against Afghanistan on Friday. The final, after two rounds of fixtures, is on 7 September.

Liverpool have much to sort out over the coming weeks.

It’s perhaps a measure of the club’s reputation and the expectation that comes with their football that three defeats in succession have been met with such hysteria from outside and dismay from within.

But Liverpool sit just one point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, and Arne Slot demonstrated last season, when he led the Reds to the title, his ability to overcome obstacles and create a formidable system.

But after such heavy expenditure, the scrutiny is on the Anfield side.

The players will no doubt have been remonstrated for their error-strewn performances, a consistent problem throughout the campaign, but there’s no question the system needs oiling besides.

Defence, in particular, has been a pressure point for the outfit this season, and all is not right within Virgil van Dijk’s domain.

The state of play in Liverpool's defence

All is not right. Imbalanced and bereft of confidence at the back, Liverpool are littering their displays with mistakes. At the epicentre is Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign and wanted by Real Madrid. The France international’s performances have led Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to brand him as “absolutely shocking”.

And Van Dijk is not infallible. The legendary Dutchman turned 34 this summer, and while he has still been monstrous as Liverpool’s captain and defensive leader, against Chelsea, he flattered to deceive, with GOAL writing of his faults during both of the Blues’ goals and giving him a 4/10 match rating.

Leoni’s long-term injury is a cruel one; after FSG failed in their late-window bid to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, Liverpool’s centre-half options were already limited, and the young Italian might have earned his fair share of chances to impress.

Now, Slot’s central defensive line is somewhat threadbare, and the rumour mill is already churning, with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck emerging as a target. However, Sky Germany have since put a dampener on that budding saga, with Bayern Munich’s interest building.

While there’s an anticipation lingering over Liverpool’s interest in Guehi, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, many feel January reinforcements are needed if the squad are to compete for silverware across the different shoots.

Well, Liverpool might actually have an academy star, gunning for a first-team spot at Anfield, with the quality and confidence to play a part at the senior level this season.

The Liverpool teen who can fix Konate & Leoni blow

Last season, Slot showed he was willing to promote youth at Liverpool when unleashing teenage defender Amara Nallo in the Champions League. But Nallo suffered a nightmarish senior bow, sent off during that defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

Nallo hasn’t featured since, but in Wellity Lucky, Liverpool might find another up-and-coming talent who could earn his keep in Slot’s system this season.

Lucky, 19, is a core member of Rob Page’s U21 set-up, and he has captained the team once already this season. No doubt, the youth has looked at Jarell Quansah’s own ascension from the Reds academy and believes he can emulate his countryman, now playing for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

Born in Spain, Lucky has been capped for England U16s but remains open to either nationality as his career progresses. He left Real Zaragoza’s youth academy aged 13 and signed for Liverpool, since featuring 27 times for the U18s and 28 times for the U21s.

Journalist Bence Bocsak has already singled out the “highly-rated” prospect for praise, commenting that he is “composed on the ball” and boasted the highest pass completion of any Liverpool U21 player last season.

It was only this summer that the rising star was awarded a new three-year contract with the club, and the expectation is that he will earn a chance at getting some minutes at the highest level with a continuation of hard work and promising performances.

It was only this week that Lucky stood out for the U21s in their 2-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Crewe Alexandra. Lose though they did, he produced an impressive performance at the back, and Slot may well have taken note.

Minutes played

90′

Touches

111

Accurate passes

88/94 (94%)

Possession lost

7x

Chances created

1

Dribbles

2/2

Recoveries

6

Tackles won

3/4

Interceptions

2

Clearances

2

Duels won

6/6

It’s particularly interesting to note Lucky won all six of his contested ground duels, underscoring his natural composure and timing. Moreover, that crisp possessional play was on full show, with 94% of his passes completed against the League Two opponents.

This all points toward a potential future in Slot’s senior set-up. Liverpool may well be reaching a point at which left-field solutions are required to see the club through to the end of the campaign, and Jurgen Klopp’s success with the aforementioned Quansah emphasises the gains that can be found in adding a youth talent to the ranks when alternative, senior options have been exhausted.

With Konate sent home early from international duty with France this month after sustaining a slight injury issue during the loss at Chelsea the other week, Joe Gomez may be called upon for the forthcoming Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

Gomez is a seasoned professional, but what about the bench? Might Lucky find himself taking a seat among his senior peers? Certainly, it would be a steep risk to throw him right in at the deep end, but the teenager’s underlying data and the noise around his name suggest he might just provide the depth and quality required over the campaign – and maybe beyond.

Their answer to Semenyo: Liverpool have a future "best winger in the world"

Liverpool have so much talent within Arne Slot’s squad.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 16, 2025

It would be fair to say that, at West Ham United, Nuno Espírito Santo has one of the most challenging jobs in the Premier League.

The Portuguese manager has to drag a massive club out of the relegation zone, but unlike in seasons past, the promoted sides are actually putting up a fight.

However, the win over Newcastle United showed two things: the squad are behind him, and it has more than a handful of quality players in it.

There is one in particular who could end up becoming Nuno’s new Morgan Gibbs-White, and no, it’s not Freddie Potts.

The West Ham players vital to Nuno this season

While it is a simplification, Nuno was able to get the most out of Nottingham Forest by playing a direct brand of football that saw his side defend well and then counter-attack effectively.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

Therefore, while they’ve hardly impressed this season, the manager’s success at the London Stadium could rest heavily on the form of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Fortunately, the first two finally looked like the players the Hammers signed against Newcastle, as between them, they made 16 clearances, won five of seven duels, and were dribbled past just once.

If they can replicate that display more often, then there is every chance the Hammers could start climbing the league.

Another player who was crucial for the Tricky Trees last time out was Elliot Anderson, and while it is still early days, Potts could be the Irons version.

Potts’ game vs Newcastle

Minutes

90′

Key Passes

2

Crosses

2

Passes

33/39

Touches

57

Tackles (Won)

3 (2)

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Recoveries

1

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

All Stats via Sofascore

The academy graduate was unreal against the Toon, demonstrating everything that could make him an excellent all-action midfielder, from crunching tackles to crisp passing and an ability to win aerial duels.

Now, while solidity is going to be important for the East Londoners, they are also going to need to be explosive on the counter, and with a left-hand side of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crysencio Summerville, they’ll have just that.

The former has already shown himself to be a powerhouse of a left-back with a sensational cross on him, while the latter’s speed and close control could give opposition defenders nightmares.

With all that said, Nuno will also need a talismanic Gibbs-White-esque figure in his squad, and the good news is that he already does.

Nuno's new Gibbs-White at West Ham

Now, when talking about a West Ham player who could become Nuno’s new Gibbs-White, plenty of people will think of Lucas Paqueta.

After all, the Brazilian is an attacking midfielder who plays with flair and can grab a goal or provide an assist.

However, in this instance, it’s not really about position, but more stature, personality and importance to the club, which is why it has to be Jarrod Bowen.

Like the Forest ace, the former Hull City star is the Hammers’ captain and really is Mr West Ham.

For example, it was his goal that delivered the club their first piece of European silverware, and he is the player the rest of the team turns to when they are in desperate need of a goal.

Since joining the East Londoners in January 2020, the 28-year-old has scored 77 goals and provided 53 assists in 249 appearances, totalling 19881 minutes.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 152.93 minutes.

On top of simply being world-class, such a return truly justifies Jamie Carragher’s claim that he is “one of the greatest players to have ever played for the club.”

Ultimately, Nuno has a handful of genuinely impressive players in his West Ham squad, but the most important, and the one who could become his new Gibbs-White, is Bowen.

Related West Ham flop now looks totally finished under Nuno after Potts' emergence

Following Potts’ brilliant performance, it might be the end of the line for the West Ham dud.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 4, 2025

يواجه نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، احتمالاً بفقدان خدمات النجم المصري محمد صلاح، خلال فترة مهمة من الموسم، وقبل انطلاق منافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وتستضيف المغرب منافسات كأس الأمم الإفريقية، والتي تنطلق في 21 ديسمبر المقبل، ويشارك بها منتخب مصر.

وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية، يرغب المنتخب المصري في تواجد محمد صلاح خلال مباراة ودية أمام نيجيريا قبل أسبوع من انطلاق أمم إفريقيا.

وفي حال حدوث ذلك، سيغيب محمد صلاح عن مباراة ليفربول أمام برايتون في ملعب “آنفيلد”، والمقرر خوضها يوم 13 ديسمبر المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح: تعرضت للسخرية من اللاعبين وقالوا لي “إنت فلاح”.. وفكرت في العودة لـ الأهلي أو الزمالك

وتستمر أمم إفريقيا حتى 18 يناير القادم، وفي حال استمرار المنتخب المصري في المنافسة، سيغيب محمد صلاح عن سبع مباريات لليفربول.

أما في حال الخروج المبكر للمنتخب الوطني، سيكون محمد صلاح متاحًا للمشاركة في مباراة ليفربول وليدز المقرر لها يوم 31 ديسمبر القادم.

وذكرت “ليفربول إيكو” أن هناك محادثات جارية بين المسؤولين ليفربول ومنتخب مصر بشأن محمد صلاح، وتتقدم المحادثات رغبة في التفاهم قبل فترة حاسمة للنادي وللمنتخب خلال الفترة القادمة.

ويغيب محمد صلاح عن المشاركة في مباراة مصر الودية اليوم أمام الرأس الأخضر، حيث تقرر منحه راحة.

Newcastle United confidently got back to winning ways against Athletic Club in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Whenever Eddie Howe’s downbeat Magpies have needed a confidence boost, they have relied on Europe’s elite competition so far this season, with three wins from four in the Champions League now, a far cry from their Premier League form, where they have registered only three wins from ten clashes.

The 2-0 victory that was comfortably picked up against Ernesto Valverde’s visitors would have also been a great morale booster for both Dan Burn and Joelinton, with the under-fire pair amongst the goals to steer Howe’s men to another mid-week victory on Europe’s grandest stage.

Burn & Joelinton's Champions League revival

Safe to say, neither player in question were in the good books at St. James’ Park against West Ham United.

Combined, the Blyth-born centre-back and the Brazilian would only win four of their 11 duels at the London Stadium, with Alan Shearer’s comments that the overall team performance against the Hammers was “lethargic” stemming somewhat from the declining duo’s half-hearted showings.

Yet, this time around, Burn certainly got the Shearer seal of approval when he headed home a thumping effort to gift the Toon a 1-0 lead.

On top of getting the ball rolling on Tyneside, the 6-foot-7 warrior would also come away from the 2-0 win with seven duels won and four ball recoveries, with the star his side has relied on over the years to be physical and valiant back at the forefront against the visitors from Bilbao.

Joelinton also looked back to his intimidating best when he fired home the game-clinching second for the Magpies, with the number 7 shaking off any recent signs of decay, too, when winning his own high tally of four duels.

Yet, while it is encouraging that both Newcastle stalwarts put in significantly improved performances, the worry will be that they will just revert to putting in sub-standard displays when the bread and butter of the Premier League returns.

The same is unlikely to be said of their Player of the Season so far.

Newcastle star looks like their Player of the Season already

There are a couple of names that spring to mind to be in the running to be an early contender for Newcastle’s player of the season prize.

Chalkboard

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

Nick Woltemade has instantly hit the ground running with four Premier League goals after a bumper £65m move from Stuttgart. Yet, he was quiet during the 2-0 win, with only one shot on goal and nine accurate passes next to his name.

Sandro Tonali is also very much at the top of the Newcastle list when looking at who has stood out this season, but it was surely expected that the Italian would be classy again this campaign, having once been noted as a possible £100m player for the future on Tyneside.

On the contrary, while Magpies fans would have been excited this summer that more centre-back depth had been sought after, nobody would have quite been anticipating the instant success Malick Thiaw would find in his new location, after leaving AC Milan behind.

Indeed, Thiaw has already been described as an “incredible bit of business” by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, and for good reason, too, as the £35m spent on his services this summer continues to look like a very wise investment.

In the Premier League this season, the German has looked unfazed by whatever new challenge awaits him, with an 87% pass accuracy, on top of him winning a rock-solid 4.9 duels per game.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

89

Accurate passes

67/75 (87%)

Successful dribbles

1/1

Interceptions

1

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

2

Ball recoveries

5

Total duels won

10/12

He continued his near faultless start to life in England with yet another composed showing on Wednesday night, with an impressive six clearances and five ball recoveries amassed when doing his defensive basics flawlessly.

Winning ten duels, too, which eclipsed Burn’s own sturdy haul on the night, while registering a high 67 passes, the hope will be that the 6-foot-4 fan favourite only gets better with time, having already made a compelling enough argument to be one of Newcastle’s candidates for Player of the Season, just 13 games into his Tyneside stay.

Thiaw spoke of his desire to be taken to the “next level” under Howe’s guidance when joining in the summer, after a stop-start time in Italy, with the first steps he’s made at St James’ Park showing off a star that’s already bloomed into a guaranteed starter.

Newcastle now hold internal talks to sign Ederson amid Joelinton concerns

The Magpies are looking to upgrade their midfield, as there are now doubts over the Brazil international.

1 ByDominic Lund Nov 5, 2025