Arsenal will take a 2-2 draw back to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 clash with Sporting CP next week for a place in the quarter-finals.
Both teams played out an entertaining four-goal thriller in Lisbon on Thursday evening, with both the Gunners and the Lions trading first-half headers from a corner before Granit Xhaka’s deflected effort salvaged a point after Paulinho fired the hosts in front ten minutes after the break.
Mikel Arteta’s side failed to assert their dominance in the final 28 minutes, despite registering more possession (68%) and registering more shots total shots (14).
It could have been a different story had Gabriel Martinelli bagged a goal with his sensational mazy solo run.
After picking up the ball near his own penalty box, the Brazilian winger danced past three players, then rounded the goalkeeper but the sheer speed of Jeremiah St. Juste thwarted him before he could fire the shot into the empty net.
His display certainly deserved a lot more as he was largely starved of service, whilst similarly for Bukayo Saka, his outing should have been rewarded with the victory in Portugal…
How did Bukayo Saka do vs Sporting CP?
In the words of analyst Statman Dave, the England international was “electric” at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, having earned the joint-highest Sofascore rating for the visitors (7.8).
Saka was successful with eight of his nine dribbling attempts, proving to be a complete nightmare for his opposite number, who registered the fourth-worst rating for the home outfit (6.4).
The Hale End sensation was at the forefront of every Arsenal attack, managing an 87% passing accuracy, 69 touches and two successful long balls and he did so without forgetting his defensive tasks, with a total of three tackles – only bettered by one other player on the pitch – and he won 12 of his 15 duels (80%), via Sofascore.
Valued at £106m by CIES Football Observatory, Saka was said to have ’caused Sporting all sorts of problems with his pace and trickery’ by journalist Chris Wheatley after the match.
Such a performance certainly warranted more than a draw, especially considering it could have easily been a game in which Arteta rested his star man, thus a win would’ve been just dessert for taking such a big risk, with the north London giants fighting for their first Premier League title in nearly a decade.
Arsenal’s “monster” – as once hailed by writer Mark White – was evidently one of the top performers in this encounter, it’s just a shame that his efforts were not rewarded with more.
AND in other news, Arteta could unearth Arsenal’s next Ashley Cole in “versatile” Hale End sensation…
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman is facing a spell on the sidelines, and a reliable journalist has revealed the potential severity of his injury that was sustained at St. James’ Park.
What's the latest on Sven Botman's injury?
The Magpies were the hosts on Sunday as they welcomed Liverpool, but despite the visitors going down to ten men following the dismissal of Virgil van Dijk, Eddie Howe’s side suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat thanks to substitute Darwin Nunez securing a brace, and unfortunately for the boss, the scoreline wasn’t the only negative to occur that day.
The Dutch international was forced off the pitch with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury on 87 minutes and was replaced by Matt Targett, and whilst Lewis Hall, who has joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea, is in the building, he’s not yet ready to be involved. Quizzed on the youngster’s fitness, the manager said:
“He's trained with us, but he's not played a game during pre-season. He's only trained, so he's some way short of being match-fit."
With the 23-year-old seemingly out of action, PIF have already been assessing their centre-back options in the market, with Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio and Benfica’s Antonio Silva the two primary names to have been linked, and whilst reinforcements may well be needed, a promising update has now emerged on the situation of Botman.
How long is Sven Botman out for?
Taking to X, The Daily Mail's Craig Hope revealed that Newcastle are hopeful that Botman won’t be out for an extended period of time if the preliminary signs are anything to go by in a positive update.
“Understand early indications are that Sven Botman has avoided serious damage to his ankle after injury suffered on Sunday. More news awaited ahead of weekend but I’m told it’s not as bad as perhaps first feared.”
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman.
Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Botman has started all three games and has been an integral member of Howe’s squad, so considering the hugely positive impact he has on the side, it will come as a huge boost for the boss to learn that he’s not out for a lengthy spell at Newcastle.
The Muy Manero native, who is naturally left-footed, is currently averaging three clearances and two aerial wins per top-flight game this season, via WhoScored, not to mention that he’s won all five of his tackles made, showing how much of a rock he is at the heart of the backline.
The St. James’ £90k-per-week earner, who has recorded an assist since putting pen to paper with the black and white stripes, even has the versatility to operate out wide at left-back, making him a great option for the manager to have at his disposal should he need him to play out of his natural position.
Alongside Dan Burn, the northeast outfit have Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Hall when he's ready as their other options at centre-back so there is sufficient cover, but with the former potentially on his way out over the next few days, the hierarchy will be safer dipping into the market to bolster their defensive ranks further.
Erik ten Hag has set his sights on adding another one or two players to his Manchester United squad before the summer window slams shut in a couple of weeks.
Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount have already joined the Old Trafford side and although there is the need for another defender, especially if Harry Maguire departs in the next few days, Ten Hag could also be tempted to sign a midfielder.
A Premier League star has been linked, and it appears as though the Red Devils are ready to make the next step to securing his signature.
Who do Man United want to sign this summer?
According to The Guardian, United look set to make an approach to Everton with regard to a potential deal for Amadou Onana.
Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…
The Belgian only joined the Toffees from French side Lille last year, with the Merseyside club reluctant to sell this summer.
Sean Dyche would only entertain bids of over £50m as per the report and Everton are under no pressure to sell one of their prized assets so soon after arriving in the Premier League.
Who has played for both Man United and Everton?
United have endured mixed success by signing players from Everton throughout the previous 20 years.
The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini didn’t quite live up to expectations during their spell in Manchester, yet Wayne Rooney was arguably Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest signing.
Rooney joined the Red Devils aged just 18 having shone at the 2004 European Championships for England, yet it was his breakthrough at Everton which convinced Ferguson to make the move ahead of the 2004/05 season.
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A debut hat trick set the tone for what would turn into a glory laden 13 years at Old Trafford, netting 253 goals in total. As it happens, Ten Hag could repeat United's Rooney masterclass by managing to convince Onana that a move along the M62 would be the best for his development.
The 21-year-old showcased his impressive defensive abilities from the heart of the Everton midfield as he was arguably one of their few bright sparks in an utterly woeful campaign that nearly culminated in their relegation.
He ranked third across the squad for tackles per game (2.2) and also finished in the top five for interceptions (1.1) and lost possession just 7.7 times per game, one of the lowest totals in the team.
Hailed as a “tenacious tackler” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Belgian certainly could add that extra bit of bite into the United midfield and make them more formidable.
Winning a total of 4.2 ground duels – at a success rate of 59% – undoubtedly backs up this praise from Kulig and although potentially costing in excess of £50m, it would be a wise investment for not only the upcoming season, but for the next five to ten years.
Rooney arrived at Old Trafford under undue pressure to succeed and he more than repaid the club’s investment.
Onana may offer totally different qualities to that of the former forward, but he can still have a similar sort of impact by arriving in Manchester.
Arsenal are ready to make a move for FC Barcelona’s Ansu Fati, with a new report sharing how much a deal could cost.
Are Arsenal signing Ansu Fati?
The Gunners and Mikel Arteta have brought in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya so far this summer at a combined cost of around £200m.
Reports have suggested that the club’s attention is now on player sales as they aim to bring in around £100m – half of which could be on moving on striker Folarin Balogun.
Bringing in funds could then allow Arteta and sporting director Edu to make a late swoop for a new signing, with Fati a player who has been linked with an Emirates Stadium transfer for large parts of the summer.
Earlier in the month, it was claimed that the Gunners made a "very tempting offer" to sign the attacker, however, a move failed to gather pace and the figures of the bid weren’t disclosed.
However, it appears as if Arsenal are still looking to sign the Spaniard before the deadline, with a fresh update emerging.
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal and Arteta “are now ready to step up their interest in the talented winger”. The report claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and the player’s agent Jorge Mendes are set to meet to discuss Fati’s future.
The player is keen to stay at the Nou Camp, however, the Catalan giants are open to a loan deal if Arsenal are prepared to cover his £200,000-a-week wage. In any permanent deal, Fati could command a fee in the region of £50m.
Ansu Fati in action for Barcelona.
How good is Ansu Fati?
Fati is primarily a left-winger who can also play on the right or as a centre-forward and has progressed through the famous Barcelona academy. Now 20 years of age, Fati has made 111 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring 29 times and registering 10 assists.
Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…
However, he has endured a number of injury issues, missing more than 100 games for club and country in recent years, so there could be some risk in any possible loan or permanent transfer.
Despite this, when fully fit, Fati appears to be a real handful in the final third, with manager Xavi Hernandez labelling the forward as “dangerous” and a “star”.
"We started him on the left today but we know we can play anywhere,” Xavi said.
“We wanted him to cut inside, but if he has two chances, he scores one, he is dangerous in the box. There are some players who are very good but I think he is just a star.”
As per FBref, Fati has ranked in the top 1% for attacking midfielders and wingers over the past 12 months for attacking touches, shots and non-penalty xG, showing his attacking spark.
He also ranks highly for pass completion and progressive passes received, so with Arteta seemingly after another wide attacker to rival the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Fati could be a player to keep an eye on in the final days of the window.
West Ham United have surprised plenty of neutrals this season, remaining unbeaten in the opening four Premier League games, with only Manchester City earning more points than David Moyes' side.
Those at the London Stadium will just be hoping that the international break didn't halt their momentum entirely, and they simply pick up where they left off, starting with a clash against the treble winners at the top of the league table.
It hasn't been an international break full of good news, either, with reports emerging that one key player is now refusing a contract extension, casting doubts over his West Ham future.
What's the latest West Ham United news?
Since losing Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported £105m in the summer transfer window, West Ham have done well to pick themselves back up, both on and off the pitch.
Only time will tell, of course, whether their spending proves to be smart, but on paper the arrivals of the likes of Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, and Edson Alvarez all coming through the door certainly looks like solid business.
The focus now may well be on keeping hold of the players, given that they've just bid farewell to Rice in the summer transfer window. Unfortunately for the Hammers, though, they could be set to suffer another blow.
According to Sean Whetstone, via West Ham Football, Pablo Fornals has decided not to extend his contract at the London Stadium. West Ham Football Tweeted: "Hammer Pablo Fornals has decided NOT to take up an unilateral option to extend his contract at West Ham, nor has he agreed to sign a new contract meaning he will be free to leave next summer.
"Fornals signed a five-year contract in 2019 which will expire next June. He cost the Hammers £24m with up to £6m add-ons. Fornals has made 184 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions."
How has Pablo Fornals performed this season?
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
It would be some blow for West Ham if Fornals not only left, but left as a free agent next summer. The midfielder is still an important part of Moyes' side, having featured in all four Premier League games so far this season, with the London club leaving many impressed in the last month or so.
When on form, the Spaniard has deservedly received plenty of praise, including from Moyes, who said, via the official West Ham website: "Pablo is a player that we really like. He is a great energetic player who does great work for the team, and he also has a knack for coming up with goals. There was the one at Bournemouth and in the semi-final. He has been a great team player over the last two years, and I have really enjoyed working with him. He is a great boy.”
With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see how the Hammers act when the January transfer window comes around. With Fornals on course to leave for free next summer, they may yet decide to cash in on the midfielder, who has been at the club for four years now.
Considering how much of a difference Mikel Arteta has made to the trajectory of Arsenal, it’s currently difficult to revise any negativity surrounding the Emirates over the years.
Since the Spaniard’s arrival as manager of the club in December 2019 following the dismissal of Unai Emery, he has gradually transformed the sense of togetherness on and off the pitch in north London, subsequently improving results.
The Gunners took Manchester City to the wire last season, finishing second after spending the majority of the Premier League season leading the pack. While it wasn’t meant to be for Arsenal to be crowned champions, they were restored to the Champions League.
As many associated with the club know too well, it hasn’t always been rosy at the Emirates for both Arteta and those before him, as the club were away from Europe's premier competition for seven years before their return this week.
It wasn’t long ago that players would leave Arsenal for bigger things and even more recently that the squad lacked cohesion, however Arteta has induced a change in demographic, with young stars locking down their futures in north London.
Along with extending the contracts of their top talents, the Spaniard and Edu had an impressive summer of business, welcoming Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and David Raya to the fold to bolster the side.
Gone are the days that the transfer windows were fuelled by anxiety of losing key players, although in hindsight, the Gunners allowed one player to leave far too soon in a talent that could have thrived under Arteta.
When did Serge Gnabry play for Arsenal?
In 2011, German youngster Serge Gnabry joined Arsenal’s academy from Stuttgart and spent five years associated with the north Londoners before ending his time in England to return to his homeland in 2016.
While he spent most of his time developing in the academy, the winger managed to secure 18 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s first team with his most notable performance coming against Tottenham in the FA Cup.
At 18 years old, Gnabry was influential against Spurs on a monumental occasion at the Emirates in 2014, seeing him lauded as “bright” and a player with a “good football brain” by Wenger in reaction to his display on the night.
The formidable French manager gushed over the teen, stating that he is a “strong believer” in his talents, as things looked as though they could blossom into something special for the youngster in north London.
The following year, things took a horrible turn for the winger, as he was left dejected after a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, where he was handed just one Premier League appearance by Tony Pulis.
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Speaking of his time in the Midlands, Pulis claimed that Gnabry was “nowhere near it” with reference to his ability to be good enough to represent the Baggies.
Eight years later and the 43-cap German international has won the Champions League and five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, where he has been deemed good enough to play, with talent scout Jacek Kulig once backing him to become a "future legend".
Why did Arsenal sell Serge Gnabry?
Looking at what Gnabry has achieved since his dreary spell at West Brom, it becomes more and more confusing as to why he was permitted to leave north London by Wenger.
In the summer of 2016, the winger was sold to Werder Bremen for a figure reported to be in the region of £5m, a move that allowed the youngster to gain consistent game time and show his worth in his homeland.
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At the time, Gnabry was not considered to be on the cusp of senior football, certainly after his disastrous spell at West Brom that left him far from being ready to jump into the first team of the Premier League side.
A player of Arsenal’s academy and a forward that showed glimpses of his true potential, the German left the club on good terms to seek a new chapter in Bremen.
What is Serge Gnabry’s market value now?
Based on what the 18-year-old showcased against Spurs on that special night in his budding career, it should have been anticipated just how good the explosive talent would become, which he quickly demonstrated in the Bundesliga.
In the 2016/17 campaign, Gnabry contributed to 13 goals in the German top-flight for Bremen, scoring 11 and assisting two to announce himself as a player to watch.
After one season, the former Arsenal prodigy was snatched up by TSG Hoffenheim, where he took his form to the next stage in the 2017/18 campaign, scoring 10 goals and assisting seven in the league, which paved the way for him to be on the move again.
The summer of 2018 marked a pivotal moment in his career, as he signed for Bayern Munich for just €8m (£6.9m), where he has since become an integral member of the side having secured 159 Bundesliga appearances so far.
Revising his market value today tells a very different story to the figure he was sold by Arsenal for and the figure he was signed by Munich at, with CIES Football Observatory valuing him at €50m (£43m).
Why is he worth that much?
Along with cementing himself as a star in Bavaria, the 28-year-old has contributed to 94 goals – scoring 60 and assisting 34 in the league – which only tells half of the story of his success.
In the 2019/20 campaign, the German won the biggest domestic prize, claiming a Champions League winners medal in a tournament that he scored nine times in to assist in firing his side to the trophy.
Since leaving north London, the winger has returned to the capital on two notable occasions in the Champions League, showing his love for Arsenal by scoring a formidable four goals against Spurs in the group stages of that 2019/20 edition.
Gnabry tormented the Lilywhites after the showdown by tweeting “North London is RED”, however his time terrorising Premier League sides was far from over, as he advanced into the Round of 16 that term and scored two goals against Chelsea.
This year, normal service seems to be resumed in terms of his form against English sides, as he scored this week against Manchester United at the Allianz Arena.
It will be hoped that Arsenal don’t meet Bayern in the tournament this season, not just for their abysmal record against the German champions, but to avoid facing the same fate as the Premier League sides before them when up against Gnabry.
Wenger will look back in shock at the price he sold the winger for, with hindsight being a wonderful thing, particularly when it comes to business in football.
Glasgow Rangers return to action this evening as they host Swiss side Servette at Ibrox in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier.
What is the latest Rangers team news?
Light Blues head coach Michael Beale has revealed that left-back Ridvan Yilmaz and central defender Ben Davies will not be available for selection, although they are both expected to be back in action before the end of the month.
The club also confirmed on Tuesday that Fashion Sakala has officially left the club on a permanent basis to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Fayha.
Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…
Glen Kamara, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, and Tom Lawrence will also be absent for this game as the English manager opted against including them in his UEFA squad list.
Will Todd Cantwell start against Servette?
One player who must be unleashed from the start for the Gers tonight is attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell, after Beale placed him on the bench against Kilmarnock on the weekend.
Rangers lost 1-0 on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership and the former Norwich maestro was given less than 30 minutes to turn the game around as a substitute.
Meanwhile, Sam Lammers lined up in attack and failed to produce a shot on target or key pass in 84 minutes, which could lead to him being dropped for the Englishman.
The former QPR tactician must now name the 25-year-old maestro in his starting XI tonight alongside Kieran Dowell as they could cause serious problems for the opposition with their respective attacking quality and pre-existing relationship.
Cantwell and the ex-Everton prospect played 24 matches alongside each other on the pitch at the same time during their spell at Carrow Road and won a league title in the Championship together during the 2020/21 campaign.
This means that they already know how to function in the same team and know what it takes to be successful in doing so, which is why they could be an excellent partnership for the Gers in midfield.
Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.
Both players carry a goal threat and have the potential to be a match-winner tonight from the middle of the park. Cantwell showcased his ability for Rangers during the second half of last season after his move from Norwich in January.
The Canaries academy product, who was once described as "outstanding" by journalist Josh Bunting, scored six goals and provided four assists in 13 Premiership outings.
He also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 in that time, which was the third-highest score at the club – only behind Borna Barisic and James Tavernier.
Malik Tillman (ten) was the only midfielder who scored more league goals than the 5 foot 10 wizard last season, which illustrates how important the talented maestro was to Beale when you consider that he was only at Ibrox for five months of the campaign.
Dowell is also a player with the potential to be a scoring threat as the left-footed dynamo produced ten goals in 26 Championship starts for Norwich across the 2020/21 and 2022/23 terms combined, which shows that he is able to regularly chip in with strikes when given the opportunity to start.
These statistics show that both midfielders are capable of scoring goals from the middle of the park, or from a wide position in Cantwell's case, and would be able to hit the ground running alongside each other because of their experiences in England.
Therefore, Beale must start them against Servette tonight in order to give the Light Blues the best chance of building up a healthy lead to take into the away leg later this month.
Liverpool were linked with a move for Real Madrid star Federico Valverde this summer, and a new update has given Reds fans hope of one day luring the midfielder to the Premier League.
Where did Real Madrid find Federico Valverde?
Back in 2016, Real Madrid signed Valverde from boyhood team Penarol in Montevideo. Having been promoted from the youth set-up to the first team two years later, as per Transfermarkt, he’s since gone on to make a total of 208 senior appearances in the Spanish capital.
Carlo Ancelotti’s central midfielder still has another four years remaining on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped FSG and Jurgen Klopp from highlighting him as a potential candidate to bring to Merseyside.
The Secret Scout reported that the Reds submitted an enquiry for the 25-year-old last month alongside his teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, having failed to secure the services of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia who both ended up joining Chelsea, and it wasn’t long before they took their initial interest one step further.
Spanish outlets claimed that FSG then tabled a €60m (£51.8m) offer for the Uruguay international, and whilst a deal failed to come to fruition before September 1st, it sounds like there is reason to believe something could happen in the future.
Are Liverpool signing Federico Valverde?
According to reports in Spain (via Football365), Valverde “half regrets having made this decision” to stay at Real Madrid and believes that the best thing he could have done would have been to have “packed his bags”.
The La Liga star has a “feeling of being secondary” and knows that he “needs more prominence” after saying “no” to joining Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United over the summer.
The Los Blancos veteran has “already noticed” that he won’t be a regular starter this season, so there’s a possibility that he could look to seal an exit in January.
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.
How many goals has Federico Valverde scored?
In La Liga during the 2022/23 campaign, Valverde posted 11 contributions (seven goals and four assists) in 34 games which is an impressive return for a central midfielder, form which has seen labelled a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
The Montevideo native has also recorded 11 shots so far this season which is the second-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef, not to mention that he’s extremely calm and composed on the ball averaging a 90.7% pass success rate.
Furthermore, Madrid’s £133k-per-week earner, who has the versatility to operate in eight different positions over the midfield and attack, will know what it takes to compete and be successful having secured ten pieces of silverware since the start of his career, so he will possess the same winning mentality of the current squad who are already at Kirkby.
Finally, Valverde shares the same agent, Wasserman, as both Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones, so should the hierarchy attempt to make a second move for their target in the new year, the existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small advantage in getting a deal over the line in 2024.
For all the illustrious success of the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool, there are few of a Reds fellowship who will not acknowledge that the journey under the German’s stewardship has not been tumultuous.
Liverpool’s success is steeped in sagacious work, from the furrowed brows of those in the transfer department to the tactical team devising strategies for those plying their trade on the verdant Anfield blades.
Klopp arrived at Liverpool with the club moored in a harbour leagues away from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and the deteriorating Manchester United, decades without league triumph and yielding just one League Cup honour since the indelible success in the Champions League and FA Cup under Rafa Benitez’s wing in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Premier League
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Champions League
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FA Cup
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League Cup
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FIFA Club World Cup
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UEFA Super Cup
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FA Community Shield
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FIFA Best Men's Club Coach
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PL Manager of the Season
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Trophy list sourced via Transfermarkt
Winning every major honour accessible – aside from the Europa League – since Klopp’s appointment, Liverpool have soared to heights unseen for an age, and the squad that he meticulously crafted has etched its story not only into the club’s lasting history but that of European football itself.
Klopp is the architect, but it is his acquisitions that have had a transformative effect on the pitch, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane staples of rise.
Now entering a new chapter, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez and co look to lead the next wave.
Perhaps the shrewdest signing, however, one who very much serves a central role to this day, is Scottish full-back Andrew Robertson , whose signing in 2017 revolutionised the left channel on the red half of Merseyside.
How much did Liverpool sign Andrew Robertson for?
When Robertson was purchased from relegated Hull City for a grand sum of £10m, there was a chorus of contentment from the club’s rivals, mouths twitching skywards in smirk satisfaction, the Reds were not making the lucrative moves to close the gap on those at the top.
The Premier League giants were undoubtedly on the up under Klopp and had welcomed the likes of Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the fold that summer, though few anticipated what was to come.
Robertson had spent three seasons with the Tigers, joining alongside, interestingly, Harry Maguire in 2014 for just £3m, and forged 115 displays for his former outfit, scoring five goals and supplying ten assists.
Praised as “fantastic” by journalist Ryan Dilks for his role in Hull’s promotion-winning 2015/16 campaign, to say the 29-year-old has gone from strength to strength across his career would be a disservice to his meteoric rise.
Liverpool unearthed a gem, true, but Klopp moulded the flanker into a glimmering diamond, and he is now the “complete player”, as has been said by former Liverpool ace Fabio Aurelio.
How much is Andrew Roberton worth now?
According to Football Transfers', Robertson is currently worth around £48m, which signifies a monumental rise in value of 380% since Klopp acquired his services way back when.
At the peak of his powers, the site's reliable valuation model deduced his worth at a whopping £68m, and while this has depreciated over the past few years, largely due to Liverpool's fluctuating fortunes, he is still the third most valuable full-back in the world, behind only teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea phenom Reece James.
The Scottish star has now made 272 appearances for Liverpool, scoring nine goals and supplying 63 assists, and may well be the greatest left-back in the Merseyside outfit's history, having played a central role in each of the aforementioned major honours won under Klopp's tutelage.
Once noted with bemusement by rival fans, upon transferring to Liverpool, Robertson is now comfortably one of the most important members of the Reds' system and has been integral in the rise to prominence, boasting superlative technical skills and an unrelenting engine to maraud up and down the left channel splendidly.
Hailed as a 'role model' by Sir Kenny Dalglish, the 62-cap international could be the shrewdest signing of the modern era at Anfield.
Why is Andrew Robertson worth that much?
A creative demon, Robertson currently boasts the record of most assists in Premier League history supplied by a defender, with 57 – interestingly, this is just four behind Salah, who joined Liverpool the same summer.
The £100k-per-week machine has been simply incredible, and despite Liverpool's struggles over the past year, still ranks among the top 8% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Described as a "Duracell Bunny" by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott for his turbo-charged approach, the gem also offers an underrated level of defensive ability, recording a career average of one interception, 1.5 tackles and 1.8 clearances per game, as per WhoScored.
Now 29 years old, the 5 foot 10 ace is still contracted to Liverpool until 2026, and will continue to dominate the left flank for years yet, providing an all-encompassing sheen and allowing the likes of Luis Diaz and Nunez ahead of him to have an unceasing battery of supplementation.
Liverpool's rise under Klopp has been built on astute purchases, with so many diamonds crafted from unrefined rock since the 56-year-old German set to work eight years ago.
Robertson will go down in perpetual Anfield lore as one of the most brilliant captures in modern history, with his acquisition transforming the left-back role and providing a consistent offensive threat and defensive security for years.
Despite raising a few eyebrows after his paltry signing, there will be few outfits at present who would not rue the missed opportunity to sign a player for peanuts, now comfortably one of the best full-backs in the world.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea tenure hasn’t got off to the most seamless start and the pressure is already building after the sheer amount of money that was spent by the club in the summer.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton boss will be keen to secure a second Premier League win of the season and it is Aston Villa who will stand in their way this weekend.
Raheem Sterling has been one of the brightest sparks in blue so far this year and the English icon could well be the difference-maker when Unai Emery and Aston Villa come to town.
At Football FanCast, we have delved into the history books of this fixture and also the record that Sterling has against the Villains.
What is Raheem Sterling’s goal record against Aston Villa?
Raheem Sterling has faced off against Aston Villa 15 times in all competitions across his career in English football.
The Chelsea man has scored twice in the Premier League against them and also found the back of the net in an FA Cup clash with Villa during his time as a Manchester City player.
All three of his goals in this fixture came whilst he was at the Etihad – he never scored against Villa as a Liverpool player and is yet to get off the mark wearing the blue of Chelsea.
What is Raheem Sterling’s assist record against Aston Villa?
Sterling is quite a versatile attacking player in that he brings both goals and assists to the table.
Villa know this all too well with the Englishman assisting five goals when playing against them.
Two of these came in the only two FA Cup meetings with one league assist coming in his Liverpool tenure, and the other two being from the Manchester City days.
How many goal contributions does Raheem Sterling have against Aston Villa?
Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling.
Combining the two and Sterling has contributed to eight goals in competitions from his 15 clashes with Aston Villa.
The 28-year-old has three goal contributions in the FA Cup, zero in the EFL Cup and then five from Premier League meetings.
What is Raheem Sterling's head-to-head record against Aston Villa?
Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with Liverpool, earned a big-money move to Manchester City and now plays in London at Chelsea. These are three of the biggest teams in English football and so he has enjoyed a lot of victories in his esteemed career.
When facing Aston Villa, the England international has a very solid record, winning 10 of the 15 meetings. Meanwhile, two were drawn and the other three went the way of Villa.
As a Liverpool player, Sterling won twice, drew once and actually lost three times whilst the only meeting as a Chelsea man to date saw his side win 2-0 away from home.
What is Raheem Sterling’s home record vs Aston Villa?
Former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling.
This weekend’s match will take place at Stamford Bridge and so it is fascinating to track how Sterling and co have performed on home soil against Aston Villa.
During his time at Anfield, Villa came and left with seven points from a possible nine, something which Liverpool won’t be keen to look back on.
Success was the motto at the Etihad though and Villa were unable to accrue a single point from their four trips to Manchester. City won all of these games and did so by a whopping aggregate score of 12-2.
Who has Raheem Sterling scored the most goals against?
He may have a solid record against Aston Villa but they are nowhere near the summit of the list of Sterling’s favourite opponents.
When it comes to goals, the four-time Premier League winner has found the back of the net 11 times against both AFC Bournemouth and Watford. Nine is his tally against Newcastle United and Southampton and then Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Arsenal and Norwich City come next with eight.
Who does Raheem Sterling have the most goal contributions against?
Having scored 11 times against the aforementioned duo, they are of course near the top of the list for goal contributions but they do not lead the way.
His 11 goals and four assists against Bournemouth, from 15 games, is bettered by Sterling’s record against West Ham. Eight goals and eight assists against the Irons has them on top and interestingly enough, with six, they are the team against who Sterling has accumulated the most yellow cards. It is worth noting too that the only red of his career was against the Cherries.
How many goals does Raheem Sterling have in September?
Raheem Sterling Liverpool
Sterling was on fire against Luton Town, scoring a brace, but that came at the end of August and he is yet to score this month as we head into the Aston Villa clash.
That being said, he has hit the ground running in numerous seasons previously and has a very healthy record for the month of September.
The boy from Brent has 17 goals in all competitions in the month of September since he became a professional footballer.
10 of these came in the Premier League including a brace against Crystal Palace in 2017. Meanwhile, he struck four times in the EFL Cup and also found the back of the net against Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League.
What is Raheem Sterling's overall Chelsea goal record?
Sterling is of course a recent arrival at Stamford Bridge and so his record as a Blue won’t be blowing anyone away any time soon.
He has netted 11 times for Chelsea, three in the Champions League and then eight in the Premier League.
What is Raheem Sterling’s overall Chelsea assist record?
Raheem Sterling
With his previous clubs, Sterling has had a fairly balanced rate between his goals and assists but that is yet to be the case in the English capital.
For Chelsea, Sterling has four assists, three of which came in the Premier League whilst the other was against AC Milan in a 3-0 UCL group stage victory.