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da brwin： Celtic have the chance to win the domestic treble for the second time in three seasons when they travel to Hampden Park to take on Aberdeen in the final of the SFA Cup this weekend.

da apostebet： The Hoops have already won the Scottish Premiership title and won the League Cup, beating Rangers on penalties, in the first half of the campaign, which means that a win on Saturday would clinch the treble.

Brendan Rodgers is seemingly not satisfied with that, though, as the Scottish giants are already eyeing up players to come in and bolster the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller has been linked with a cross-Scotland switch to Glasgow, whilst Peterborough star Kwame Poku was recently linked with a move to the club.

The Scottish giants have, however, already wrapped up one signing before the summer transfer window even opens for business, as Kieran Tierney will be joining the club on a free transfer at the end of June.

Why Kieran Tierney is an exciting signing for Celtic

The Scotland international’s contract with Arsenal is due to expire this summer, and it has already been confirmed that the defender will be returning to Parkhead for a second spell in Glasgow.

This is an exciting signing for the Hoops for multiple reasons, not least because of the emotional backdrop to it. Tierney came up through the academy system and made his breakthrough in the first-team before starring for many years.

As you can see in the graphic above, the defender made 170 appearances for the club before his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019, and won five Scottish Premiership titles in that time.

He came up through the academy as a Celtic boy and achieved great success with the team, which is why his return could be an emotional one for him and the supporters heading into next season.

It could also be an exciting signing because of the quality that Tierney can provide from a left-back position, as shown in the impressive highlights package above.

The flying full-back scored eight goals and provided 37 assists during his first spell at the club, which shows that he is a defender who likes to burst forward to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.

This means that he could provide Rodgers with another attacking outlet down the left side, due to his ability to score and create goals from a left-back role, to support the winger ahead of him.

However, it is also worth pointing out that the 27-year-old is due to return to Celtic with a concerning injury history that suggests that he could miss a lot of matches for the Hoops.

Kieran Tierney’s injury history

Season

Injuries

Days missed

Games missed

24/25

1

160

18

23/24

3

103

21

22/23

0

0

0

21/22

2

116

17

20/21

4

87

19

19/20

1

97

19

18/19

5

140

27

17/18

1

23

5

16/17

1

86

16

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Tierney has been absent for at least 16 games in seven of the last nine seasons of his career for Arsenal, Real Sociedad, and Celtic combined.

This means that there may also be a degree of concern over the move, as his injury history suggests that the defender may not be a consistent performer, due to a lack of availability, for Rodgers.

With this in mind, Celtic could land an even more exciting signing than Tierney by swooping for Blackburn Rovers attacker Tyrhys Dolan on a free transfer, having been linked with an interest in the English forward.

Why Dolan would be more exciting than Tierney for Celtic

Whilst the Championship winger would not arrive at Parkhead with the same emotional connection with the supporters that Tierney has, Dolan could be a more exciting signing for Rodgers and the Hoops for footballing reasons.

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Firstly, at the age of 23, the English star would be more of a long-term signing for the Hoops because he is four years younger than the Scottish dynamo. This means that he could be a part of Rodgers’ team for many, many, more years to come, making him an exciting signing for the future, as well as the present.

Dolan would also arrive as a durable and dependable performer from a physical perspective, as he has not had any notable injuries that have kept him out for significant periods, unlike Tierney.

This suggests that the Blackburn star, described as “absolutely terrific” by journalist Elliott Jackson, would be far more likely to be available week-in-week-out during the season, which is backed up by his statistics for the English side in the 2024/25 campaign.

24/25 Championship

Tyrhys Dolan

Appearances

44

Touches per game

38.1

Goals

7

Conversion rate

14%

Big chances created

7

Key passes

44

Assists

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Dolan featured in 44 of their 46 league matches in the Championship, and contributed with 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined.

Whilst that return in front of goal may not be hugely exciting on paper, it is worth taking into account that Blackburn averaged 49.1% possession per game and only racked up 51.7 xG in 46 matches, the 16th lowest amount in the division.

This means that Dolan has not been playing in a dominant, successful, and attacking side with Blackburn, which is why his personal numbers are not particularly amazing.

Now, the thought of a player who can score seven goals and create seven ‘big chances’ in a defensive Blackburn team playing in a dominant, front-footed, Rodgers-coached Celtic side is an exciting thought, as he would have far more opportunities to showcase his ability at the top end of the pitch.

This is another reason why the 23-year-old star could be an even more exciting signing than Tierney for Celtic, because of the untapped potential that the Northern Irish boss could get out of the winger.

Dolan would arrive as a young talent with huge potential and an encouraging injury record, rather than an experienced head with a concerning availability record, and it is now down to the club to strike a deal for his services.

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da doce： The Premier League has been honoured by plenty of iconic midfielders since its creation back in 1992. Whether it be no-nonsense defensive midfielders, passing maestros who control the game or attacking midfielders who score as many goals as some strikers, plenty of legends have come and gone.

da fazobetai： But who is the best midfielder in Premier League history? Ranking such an accomplished group of players is no easy task…

Ranking factors Honours Appearances Goals Assists Teams played for What others have said about them 20 best midfielders in Premier League history: in pictures

Top 20 midfielders in Premier League history

Rank

Player

Clubs played for

1

Paul Scholes

Man Utd

2

Kevin De Bruyne

Chelsea, Man City

3

Steven Gerrard

Liverpool

4

Frank Lampard

West Ham, Chelsea, Man City

5

Ryan Giggs

Man Utd

6

David Silva

Man City

7

Roy Keane

Nottingham Forest, Man Utd

8

Patrick Vieira

Arsenal and Man City

9

Yaya Toure

Man City

10

Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal, Chelsea

11

David Beckham

Man Utd

12

N’Golo Kante

Leicester City, Chelsea

13

Rodri

Man City

14

Michael Carrick

West Ham, Tottenham, Man Utd

15

Claude Makelele

Chelsea

16

Xabi Alonso

Liverpool

17

Luka Modric

Tottenham

18

Paul Ince

Man Utd, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolves

19

James Milner

Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool, Brighton

20

Gareth Barry

Aston Villa, Man City, Everton, West Brom

20 Gareth Barry Aston Villa, Man City, Everton, West Brom

Starting the countdown is the Premier League’s record appearance holder – Gareth Barry. Playing more than 650 top flight games, Barry was a reliable figure during his career and was known as a more defensive-minded midfielder who could also chip in with goals in the early stages of his career.

The Englishman earned a marquee move to Man City from Aston Villa in 2009 and would go on to win the top flight and the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium.

Gareth Barry’s Premier League stats

Appearances

653

Goals

53

Assists

64

19 James Milner Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool, Brighton

Another long-lasting central midfielder who has been the engine for numerous sides he has played for is James Milner.

After bursting onto the scene at the age of 16 for Leeds United in 2002, Milner has gone on to have an extremely successful career, winning multiple honours with Man City and Liverpool.

At the age of 39, Milner, who has played in a variety of midfield roles throughout his career, is currently still going with Brighton and may have his eyes on breaking Barry’s record.

James Milner’s Premier League stats

Appearances

637

Goals

55

Assists

89

18 Paul Ince Man Utd, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolves

Paul Ince had the perfect blend of attacking and defensive qualities as a central midfielder, even managing to squeeze in a stint with Inter Milan between playing for Man Utd and Liverpool.

A member of the first squad to ever win the Premier League, Ince would win the trophy again in 1993/94, with his last Premier League appearance coming for Wolves in 2004.

Former teammate Christian Ziege once said of Ince: “He goes forward looking to score goals and goes backwards to defend his own goal with the same determination. Not a lot of players have that – good at defending and going forward.”

Paul Ince’s Premier League stats

Appearances

306

Goals

42

Assists

29

Titles

2

17 Luka Modric Tottenham

Arguably one of the best signings Tottenham have ever made in the Premier League is Luka Modric, who would spend four years in north London before Real Madrid came calling in 2012.

The Croatia icon caught the eye with his exceptional passing and playmaking ability, and even though he didn’t win the league with Spurs, is still regarded as a great.

Modric went on to become a Ballon d’Or winner, which wouldn’t have surprised Harry Redknapp, who called the midfielder Tottenham’s one “world-class player” back in 2010.

Luka Modric’s Premier League stats

Appearances

127

Goals

13

Assists

15

16 Xabi Alonso Liverpool

Another midfielder who could dictate the tempo of the game was Xabi Alonso, who signed for Liverpool in 2004 from Real Sociedad.

The Spaniard, who was Rafael Benitez’s first addition at Anfield, would go on to form a brilliant partnership with Steven Gerrard on Merseyside and help win the Champions League in 2005.

In the Premier League, Alonso may not have lifted the title, however, he was called “by some distance, the best central midfielder” Gerrard has played alongside.

Xabi Alonso’s Premier League stats

Appearances

143

Goals

14

Assists

17

15 Claude Makelele Chelsea

Chelsea legend Claude Makelele was so good as a defensive midfielder during his career that it is now well known as the the “Makelele role”.

The Frenchman actually only moved to England and the Premier League at the age of 30, but during those five years at Stamford Bridge, won two titles under Jose Mourinho.

Recently, Mourinho named Makelele in his best XI of players he’s worked with, which just shows the impact he had on the iconic manager.

Claude Makelele’s Premier League stats

Appearances

144

Goals

2

Assists

4

Titles

2

14 Michael Carrick West Ham, Tottenham, Man Utd

Despite winning five Premier League titles with Man Utd, Michael Carrick is arguably a midfielder who went under the radar during his career.

After coming through at West Ham and joining Tottenham for two years, the Red Devils made their move in 2006, with Carrick spending 12 years at Old Trafford.

Known for his passing qualities and ability to control a game, Sir Alex Ferguson even called Carrick “the best English centre-midfield player” in 2014.

Michael Carrick’s Premier League stats

Appearances

481

Goals

24

Assists

40

Titles

5

13 Rodri Man City

One of the best defensive midfielders in the current modern-day era, Rodri has been Man City’s most important player since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Replacing Fernandinho at the heart of the City midfield, Rodri has even come up with some crucial goals, including netting the Champions League final winner to complete a treble for Pep Guardiola’s team in 2023.

A four-time Premier League winner, Rodri has also lifted the Ballon d’Or at the Etihad Stadium and has been called a “reference point for every aspiring midfielder in the game”.

Rodri’s Premier League stats

Appearances

174

Goals

22

Assists

21

Titles

4

12 N’Golo Kante Leicester City, Chelsea

Arriving in England for just over £5m in 2015, N’Golo Kante would go on to star in his first Premier League season, helping Leicester City shock the world to win the title.

The Frenchman made more tackles and interceptions than any other player in 2015/16 and would move to Chelsea a year later, where he would lift the title again at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard and Joe Cole even said that having Kante is like having “two” in his position due to his engine, and he has gone on to become a world-class midfielder.

N’Golo Kante’s Premier League stats

Appearances

227

Goals

12

Assists

17

Titles

2

11 David Beckham Man Utd

One of the best set-piece takers in Premier League history, David Beckham was a quality right-midfielder at Man Utd in the top-flight between 1995-2003.

The Englishman won six league titles during that time and was named as the Ballon d’Or runner up in 1999, highlighting the impact he made at Old Trafford.

A global icon, Beckham was only 20 years of age when he became a regular under Sir Alex Ferguson, who called the right-midfielder “magnificent” before he left for Real Madrid.

David Beckham’s Premier League stats

Appearances

265

Goals

62

Assists

80

Titles

6

da supremo： Well, that is about as deflating a night as Arsenal fans are going to experience this year.

da winzada777： Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night, and instead of repeating the heroics of their game against Real Madrid, they seemed to just shrink.

It took all of three minutes for the visitors to take the lead through Ousmane Dembélé, and while the Gunners had a few chances of their own, the French side was undoubtedly the better team overall, taking a 1-0 lead back to Paris next week.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against PSG

It would be fair to say that, apart from David Raya, none of the starters really stood out for the right reasons, but there were undoubtedly a few who stood out for all the wrong ones.

Indeed, with Thomas Partey forced to sit out through suspension after his daft yellow card in Madrid, Arteta’s side were forced to make some changes.

The most notable of which saw Mikel Merino play in midfield with Leandro Trossard playing as the centre-forward.

While it was Merino who saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside, Trossard had a poor night at the office and didn’t give Arsenal the out-ball his Spanish colleague has provided so well since becoming a makeshift striker.

Not only did the Belgian struggle to hold up the play but he was also missed a gilt-edged chance in the second half. Sent through on goal, the winger came close to equalising from close range but was denied fabulously by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG net.

Gabriel Martinelli was another who missed a fine opportunity to score on what was a frustrating night for the Brazilian.

Following on from his winning goal at the Bernabeu earlier this month, there was hope, if not an expectation, that Martinelli would once again rewind the clock to his 22/23 form against PSG last night, but that just didn’t happen.

While he still fulfilled his defensive duties, the Brazilian wideman was a frustrating watch in attack, failing to make the most of the few chances created for him.

Moreover, with how often Hakimi got forward, there was certainly space for him to exploit, but he just couldn’t, and then, with almost the final kick of the game, he blazed the ball into row Z.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, who awarded the winger a 5/10 at full-time, and one backed up by his statistics.

For example, in his 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old failed to find the back of the net with an expected goals figure of 1.08, took two shots off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed two big chances, made just six passes, misplaced two of three crosses and was offside once.

Martinelli’s game in numbers

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

1.08

Expected Assists

0.03

Passing Accuracy

6/10 (60%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Shots On Target

1

Shots off Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (2)

Lost Possession

8

Big Chances Missed

2

Offside

1

All Stats via Sofascore

However, as bad as Martinelli was, one of his teammates was even worse.

Arsenal's worst performer vs PSG

So, while a few other starters let themselves down somewhat last night, one quick glance at social media will reveal to you just who the worst offender was: Martin Odegaard.

It was a night that demanded a captain’s display, but instead of that, the Norwegian international put in what content creator Connor Humm described as a “hall of shame” performance.

The man who should be unlocking defences for the Gunners was instead completely ineffective for the vast majority of the game, and even when he did do something right on occasion, he’d only go and lose the ball or make the wrong pass right after.

It was possibly his most disappointing showing of the campaign yet, which is odd for someone who has undoubtedly been one of Arsenal’s best players of the Arteta era. However, since his ankle injury earlier in the campaign, he’s been way off it, scoring just five times in 2024/25.

While that sounds unfair, it is once again an opinion shared by the aforementioned Braidwood, who gave the 26-year-old a 4/10 match rating, while Humm further laid into him, saying that he was so anonymous at times that he may as well have just “sat in the stands.”

Unsurprisingly, such damning indictments of the captain are more than justified by his statistics, as in 89 uninspiring minutes, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.08 and no expected goals figure, he misplaced 100% of his crosses, didn’t take a single shot, failed in five of six dribbles and only won 25% of his duels.

Odegaard’s game in numbers

Minutes

89′

Touches

42

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.08

Assists

0

Passing Accuracy

24/27 (89%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (0)

Shots

0

Dribbles (Successful)

6 (1)

Duels (Won)

8 (2)

Lost Possession

14

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, last night was a massive disappointment for Arsenal, and if they are to overturn PSG’s one-goal advantage next week, then Odegaard is going to have to either put in a substantially improved display or be dropped entirely.

Indeed, his performance meant the team were practically playing with ten men at the Emirates and in truth, he may not be good enough to be a regular starter anymore.

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da bet sport： Well, after a thumping win away at the weekend, Arsenal returned to form with yet another draw last night.

da dobrowin： The result against Crystal Palace was the North Londoners’ 13th tie of the Premier League season, and while it wasn’t a total disaster, it would not have been what Mikel Arteta would have wanted to see ahead of next week’s colossal Champions League game.

From practically the first minute to the last, it felt like a game played in slow motion, and aside from Jakub Kiwior and, perhaps to a lesser extent, Leandro Trossard – the Gunners’ goalscorers – the entire starting lineup was poor.

That said, there were at least a couple of players that stood out as being particularly disappointing, such as William Saliba.

Saliba's performance vs Crystal Palace

Now, it should be said that away to Real Madrid last week, Saliba was almost perfect right up until he lazily gave the ball away to Vinícius Jr mid-way through the second half.

Unfortunately, instead of putting together a solid performance ahead of next week, the Frenchman made another silly mistake when, entirely unforced, he passed the ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta close to the box, who then saw David Raya off his line and pulled off a brilliant finish.

It was the sort of mistake fans might have been worried about Kiwior making, but instead, the Polish international was once again assured at the back while the former Saint-Étienne gem struggled.

We weren’t the only ones disappointed by the Bondy-born monster either, as Arsenal writer Charles Watts gave him a paltry 5/10 match rating at full-time, describing him as a ‘bit off it,’ which may be rather kind.

With all that said, there can be no doubting Saliba’s immense ability and importance to the team, so he should still be starting the game on Tuesday.

However, the same cannot be said for one of his fellow starters last night.

Arsenal's biggest underperformer against Crystal Palace

Now, as we’ve already said, there were a number of players who let themselves down last night, from Raya to Gabriel Martinelli, but only one starter was so dismally poor that he should not start another game for the club: Raheem Sterling.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Arsenal

Statistics

Crystal Palace

2

Goals

2

1.22

Expected Goals

1.75

4

Big Chances

4

12

Total Shots

15

6

Shots on Target

4

705

Passes

325

3

Corners

6

68%

Possession

32%

All Stats via Sofascore

Yes, in what was just his 12th inclusion in a starting lineup for the Gunners this term, the Chelsea loanee might have managed to put in his most lacklustre showing yet.

Unlike Saliba, he wasn’t directly at fault for a goal, but he was also never likely to score or create one either, as when he wasn’t losing the ball, making the wrong run or fading out of the game entirely, he looked bereft of ideas.

It might sound hyperbolic, but once again, it’s an opinion shared by Watts, who slammed the Englishman for being a “passenger” when he came off and then gave him a damning 3/10 match rating at full-time.

Unsurprisingly, the Kingston-born ace’s statistics more than back up this appraisal, as in 60 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.02, took no shots on or even off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, took just 19 touches, made just ten passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, lost four of five duels and was dribbled past twice.

Sterling’s game in numbers

Minutes

60′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.02

Assists

0

Shots

0

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

Touches

19

Passes

10

Crosses (Accurate)

2 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (1)

Dribbled Past

2

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, it was a real night to forget for Arsenal, and while Saliba will undoubtedly come back stronger and remain a crucial part of the team, Sterling should not start another game for the rest of his loan spell.

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da mrbet： Celtic have the opportunity to claim a place in the final of the SFA Cup this afternoon when they face off against Scottish Premiership rivals St. Johnstone in the semi-finals.

da dobrowin： The Hoops are aiming to retain their crown in the competition after they beat Rangers 1-0 in the final last season, thanks to a last-minute strike by Adam Idah.

Brendan Rodgers will want his team to secure the trophy once again as it is likely to complete a domestic treble for his side, as they are on the verge of winning the Premiership and have already won the League Cup.

The Scottish giants should also come into this game with a fair bit of confidence, despite losing 1-0 to St. Johnstone in the league recently, because they come into it off the back of a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the top-flight.

Two goals from Reo Hatate and strikes from Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Anthony Ralston secured all three points for the club in emphatic style last time out.

However, Rodgers should still look to make some alterations to his starting line-up for this semi-final clash with St. Johnstone, by bringing Jota and Nicolas Kuhn back in.

Why Nicolas Kuhn and Jota should start for Celtic

James Forrest started the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on the right side of the front three and failed to do enough to keep his place in the XI, as he ended his time on the pitch with zero goals, zero shots on target, zero key passes, and zero ‘big chances’ created.

The experienced Scottish forward did not provide enough quality at the top end of the pitch to justify his continued inclusion in the team, particularly when there is a player of Kuhn’s quality waiting in the wings to return to the line-up.

Celtic’s right wing battle

24/25 Premiership

Nicolas Kuhn

James Forrest

Appearances

28

18

Goals

10

0

Big chances created

10

3

Key passes per game

1.7

1.0

Assists

8

4

Completed dribbles per game

1.9

0.5

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the German attacker has offered significantly more in the final third than Forrest in the Premiership so far this term, with ten more goals and four more assists.

This suggests that Kuhn has a far greater chance of being a difference-maker in the clash with St. Johnstone this afternoon, because he has proven his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right wing.

Meanwhile, Adam Idah should also drop out of the side in order for Jota to be brought back in, which would allow Maeda to play through the middle, on the left wing.

The Portuguese starlet has scored four goals, created three ‘big chances’, and registered two assists in six league starts for Celtic since his permanent return to the club from Rennes in the January transfer window at the start of the year.

Jota has shown that he can still make a big impact at the top end of the pitch in a Hoops shirt, which is why he should come in for Idah after the striker’s dismal showing against Kilmarnock.

The Ireland international started last time out and played the opening 60 minutes without managing a single effort on goal. He also failed to create any chances for his teammates or complete any dribbles, as the forward failed to offer much, if any, quality in the final third.

Therefore, Rodgers must brutally ditch Idah and Forrest from the starting line-up in order to bring Jota and Kuhn into the team on the wingers, whilst moving Maeda into the centre-forward position against St. Johnstone.

Making alterations to the attacking set-up should not be the only tinkering that the Northern Irish head coach does, though, as the manager must boldly unleash Maik Nawrocki from the start.

Why Maik Nawrocki should start

The Polish central defender has rarely been seen on the pitch for Celtic this season. He has played two matches in the Premiership and made one substitute appearance in the SFA Cup.

Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, and Dane Murray have been selected ahead of him at various points throughout the campaign in the centre-back positions, but he recently got two opportunities to shine against Rangers and Hearts in the league.

Injuries to Trusty, Scales, and Murray provided Nawrocki with a chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a key player for Celtic when called upon, which is exactly what he did.

Maik Nawrocki

Vs Rangers

Vs Hearts

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Legia Warsaw star took his chance to prove himself in both of those matches, dominating the Rangers and Hearts attackers whilst being incredibly reliable in possession.

These statistics show that Nawrocki, who was once described as “aggressive” by Rodgers, has the defensive attributes to be a rock off the ball, as well as having the qualities on the ball that make him reliable in the build-up, and that is why the boss should use this cup match as an opportunity to bring him back in from the start.

Trusty and Scales, despite being naturally left-footed players who are more comfortable progressing the ball down that side, have shown that they have an error in them this season.

Scales has made one error that led to a shot and given away one penalty in the Premiership, whilst Trusty has made a staggering four errors that have led to shots and one that has led to a goal in the league.

Chalkboard

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

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This shows that both of them are capable of making mistakes that can let teams back into games, which was the case when Nawrocki was dropped for Trusty in the 1-0 loss to St. Johnstone. The USA international slipped up down the left and needlessly fouled his man, which led to the winning goal.

Nawrocki has not made a single error that has led to a shot, goal, or penalty in 12 league appearances since the start of last season, which is why Rodgers must boldly unleash him ahead of the two left-footed defenders this afternoon.

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It is now down to the manager to make that big decision to take Scales out of the XI to bring the rarely-seen Polish colossus back into the side today.

da pixbet： Following a disastrous start to life at Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers are reportedly already considering sacking Valerien Ismael and could yet hire a former MLS manager in his place.

Ismael already under pressure at Blackburn

da apostebet： Coming in to replace John Eustace, who completed a shock move to Derby County, many would have been hoping for Ismael to pick up where the man he replaced left off. That has proved to be anything but the case, however. Since arriving, the former Watford manager has won once in eight games, which has seen Blackburn fall from play-off hopefuls to mid-table obscurity in the Championship.

Valerien Ismael at Blackburn Rovers

Date

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Norwich City

01/03/2025

Derby County 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

08/03/2025

Stoke City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Cardiff City

15/03/2025

Portsmouth 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

29/03/2025

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Middlesbrough

04/04/2025

Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday

08/04/2025

Luton Town 0-1 Blackburn Rovers

12/04/2025

After finally picking up the first win of his reign last time out, Ismael will be desperate to see his side kick on and finish the season strongly in the remaining four games.

The Blackburn boss told reporters after defeating Luton: “Congrats for the boys. Until the red card it was the gameplan we expected. In the first half we wanted to be really strong as we knew we had to face the challenge with a team who are fighting to survive.

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“They put a lot of balls in the box so you have to defend and show togetherness and we made it perfectly. In the transition we didn’t play well. We wanted to get more in behind but the main focus was to stay strong. That was the first step and the second one was to get behind them and we made it perfectly with the goal we scored.”

Even after that long-awaited victory, however, Blackburn may already be running out of patience and could reportedly turn towards a fresh candidate.

Blackburn considering Wayne Rooney

According to talkSPORT, Blackburn will now consider hiring Wayne Rooney if they decide to sack Ismael in the coming weeks, offering the former MLS manager a much-needed lifeline in the process. The Manchester United legend has endured a nightmare spell in the technical area in recent times, with his stint at Plymouth Argyle the last in a growing list of failed moves.

There’s no doubt that Blackburn would be taking a major risk. As disappointing as Ismael has been, it could be argued that he needs a full summer in charge before those at Ewood Park deliver their full judegment.

Blackburn must act with caution and not fall down the path that Birmingham City once followed by hiring Rooney. The Blues were play-off hopefuls under Eustace, but decided to welcome the Premier League icon nonetheless.

That same campaign they soon sacked their new manager and relegation followed. Blackburn, at all costs, should avoid taking the same risk.

da leao： Celtic turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup on Sunday.

da 888casino： The Hoops are hoping to win the SFA Cup in order to complete a domestic treble for the second time in the last three seasons, after Ange Postecoglou did so in the 2022/23 campaign, as they have already won the League Cup.

Brendan Rodgers is aiming for a perfect domestic campaign despite losing Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January.

The Scottish giants sold their Japanese forward to the French side for a reported fee of £10m earlier this year, but they also managed to bring Jota back to Parkhead in return.

Celtic reportedly paid a fee of £8m to sign the Portuguese winger, 18 months on from selling him to Al Ittihad for £25m, which essentially meant that the club received Jota and £2m from Rennes, in a roundabout way, for Kyogo.

There may not be too many complaints about the way that things turned out for the Hoops in that window, because the forward has hit the ground running in his second spell at Parkhead.

Why Jota has been a good signing for Celtic

The former Benfica whiz had big expectations on his shoulders upon his arrival in Glasgow in the January transfer window, due to what he had produced in his two seasons under Ange Postecoglou.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota delivered consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in those two Premiership seasons under the Australian head coach, with 21 goals and 21 assists.

This meant that it was a reasonable expectation for Jota to come in and immediately bolster the squad with instant performances on the pitch when he arrived in January, and the forward has met those expectations.

24/25 Premiership

Jota

Appearances (starts)

10 (6)

Goals

4

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

3

Assists

2

Dribbles completed

10

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese starlet has already contributed with seven goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in six Premiership starts this year.

This shows that he has provided the instant impact that was expected of him, and rightly so, given his proven quality at that level, which is why he has been an excellent signing for the Hoops.

It was a terrific opportunity for all parties involved to bring Jota back to a club where he knows he can be a star player, and the forward will hopefully continue to impress in the final third in the months and years to come in Glasgow.

Despite all of this, Celtic are now being linked with an interest in a young talent who could go on to become even better than the Portuguese sensation at Parkhead.

The latest on Celtic's interest in Premier League starlet

According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are one of a number of clubs chasing a deal to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that both Celtic and Rangers are interested in a swoop for the 17-year-old attacker, and that teams across Europe have also made contact with the player about a possible move this summer.

It states that teams have become aware of his potential availability after the England youth international turned down a professional contract to remain at Selhurst Park.

Football Insider adds that PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid have all sent scouts to watch him in action, whilst there are also Premier League teams looking at the teen sensation.

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The outlet reveals that Derry would be open to moving abroad, whether that is to one of those European sides or to Scotland, but it remains to be seen where he will end up next season.

There looks set to be plenty of competition for the 17-year-old talent’s signature this summer, and Celtic must push to win the race for his services, because he could become even better than Jota.

Why Jesse Derry could become even better than Jota

The current Hoops forward came up through the Benfica academy with a return of nine goals and eight assists in 47 matches for the B team, and four goals and eight assists in 17 games in the Youth League.

This shows that the Portuguese dynamo enjoyed an impressive, but not completely outstanding, career at youth level before coming to Scotland to shine under Postecoglou with roughly ten goals and ten assists per season in the Premiership.

Derry, son of former Palace and QPR defender Shaun, has shown incredible promise at youth level for Palace in recent years, to the point where he looks like an even better prospect than Jota did at Benfica.

Per Football Insider, the teenage ace has scored 20 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles at youth level in the current campaign, including nine goals in eight U18 Premier League matches.

As you can see in the clip of one of those 20 goals above, Derry is similar in style to Jota as a left-winger who likes to cut in on his right foot to find the far corner.

The Palace youngster, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has been “tearing things up” at youth level, also scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 17 matches in the 2023/24 campaign.

This means that the England U19 international has scored 31 goals in 44 games for Palace since the start of last season, which is a far superior youth record in comparison to what Jota did with Benfica’s academy before his move to Celtic, whilst playing in the same position.

This, therefore, suggests that the potential is there for Derry, who is reportedly being looked at by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, to become even better than Jota on the left wing by providing an incredible goalscoring threat by cutting in on his right foot.

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That is why Celtic must push to sign the teenage starlet in the summer because he could be an exceptional long-term addition to the squad, as a winger with the qualities to emerge as a first-team star in the future if he can translate his academy form over to senior football to be even better than Jota.

da brdice： This season could have been catastrophic for Manchester City, but they’re now very much on course to salvage the campaign.

da winzada777： On Wednesday night, even without the sidelined Erling Haaland, the Sky Blues swatted aside Leicester at the Etihad, thanks to first-half goals from Jack Grealish and then Omar Marmoush.

This victory propelled Pep Guardiola’s team up to fourth, ahead of a fascinating Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Citizens could also bookend a generally miserable season with silverware, through to the FA Cup semi-finals for a seventh successive season, set to face high-fliers Nottingham Forest at Wembley in three and a half week’s time.

As Man City rebuild, and Guardiola continues to rejig his team, has he found his new Raheem Sterling?

Raheem Sterling's Manchester City career

As outlined by David Mercer of Sky News, Sterling has spent his entire career ‘in the spotlight’ with ‘newspaper controversies’ often overshadowing his sporting talent.

This was certainly the case when he made the £49m move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015, with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker labeling him ‘overpriced’, claiming Man City paid ‘a lot of money’ for a player who hadn’t ‘really done anything that’s worthy of that price’.

Well, fair to say, Sterling did justify his price tag in sky blue, scoring 131 goals and providing 73 assists in 339 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five EFL Cups.

Guardiola labeled him ‘so important’ to their success, while Vincent Kompany believed, at his peak, Sterling was ‘one of the best wingers in the world’. His form at Chelsea and now Arsenal subsequently show Man City were vindicated to sell him for £47.5m when they did.

Now, can Man City’s current mercurial talent, who exists under a similar level of media scrutiny, rediscover his best form and become a key figure for Guardiola once again?

Man City's new Raheem Sterling

By opening the scoring against Leicester on Wednesday, Jack Grealish ended his 473-day wait for a Premier League goal, dedicating it to his younger brother Keelan, who tragically died exactly 25 years ago to the day.

On Wednesday, Guardiola chose to deploy Grealish as the central playmaker, handing him his first Premier League start since Christmas, a decision that was certainly vindicated.

The England international certainly made a strong case to start as the number ten in Sunday’s Manchester derby too, considering both Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne continue to misfire, notably reduced to a role among the subs.

Grealish vs Leicester

Minutes played

90

Goals

1

Assists

0

Touches

68

Accurate passes

51/55 (93%)

Shots

2

Key passes

2

Duels won

1/9

Fouls won

1

Stats via Sofascore.

By his own admission, Grealish has not been at his best this season, but he still has plenty to offer between now and the end of the campaign.

Similar to Sterling, Grealish exists under intense media scrutiny, which John Nicholson of Football365 describes as ‘grotesque’ and hyperbolic stupidity in pursuit of content’.

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The most recent example of this came just last month when the Daily Mail ran a story about Grealish spending an evening in a pub in Newcastle, supposedly ‘stumbling’ out in the early hours of the morning.

Back on the pitch, Gareth Southgate described Grealish as “fantastic”, so let’s compare his campaign to those of the aforementioned Foden and De Bruyne, attempting to decipher who Guardiola should start going forward.

Grealish vs De Bruyne & Foden 24/25 comparison

Statistics

Grealish

De Bruyne

Foden

Appearances

28

31

39

Minutes

1,430

1,698

2,674

Goals

3

4

10

Assists

5

7

6

Chances created

51

54

70

Take-on success %

41.2%

37.5%

40%

Shot-creating actions per 90

5.56

6

4.66

Pass completion %

87.8%

75.9%

84.8%

Touches per 90

37

60

51

Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref, Squawka

As the table outlines, Grealish comes out on top when it comes to dribbling and pass completion, with Foden registering the best statistics overall, albeit he’s played 1,200 more minutes than his compatriot and 1,000 more than De Bruyne.

So, while none of the trio have been at their best, Grealish might just be the man in form, suggesting their ‘new Sterling’ should start at Old Trafford this weekend.

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da bet7： Following news that Kevin de Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, reports have indicated that another player could yet be on his way out of the Etihad.

De Bruyne confirms Man City departure

da realbet： After 10 incredible years full of every achievement imaginable, De Bruyne took to social media to confirm that he is, indeed, set to move on from Manchester City this summer. One of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, the Belgian will bow out as a free agent when his current deal comes to an end in the coming months.

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Saying his goodbyes, De Bruyne released a statement which read: “Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first. Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. “Manchester” will forever be on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.”

Ortega could follow De Bruyne out Man City exit door

Whilst De Bruyne’s exit is bound to be emotional, he’s unlikely to be the only one saying goodbye. According to reports in Germany as relayed by Sports Witness, Bayer Leverkusen have now made contact to sign Stefan Ortega, who will be allowed to leave Manchester City for around €8m (£7m) this summer.

The second-choice goalkeeper will go under the radar compared to the legendary De Bruyne if he leaves this summer, but that doesn’t mean he has been without his own moments to remember at the club.

Pep Guardiola has been among those at the Etihad to praise the 32-year-old, telling reporters after Manchester City defeated Tottenham Hotspur last season: “He make incredible, incredible saves many, many times.”

With the exit door seemingly swinging open nonetheless, Ortega could yet be on his way to Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

da blaze casino： Tottenham have set their sights on another quality attacking midfielder after seeing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White commit his future to the City Ground.

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da apostaganha： Thomas Frank’s side are arguably in dire need of more creativity. The Lilywhites struggled to break down League One outfit Luton Town in the second of their two Saturday pre-season friendlies last weekend, despite fielding a strong side loaded with key first-team players.

While it’s important not to overanalyse summer preparations for the new Premier League season, with Frank’s players regaining match fitness and sharpness right now, the signs were not overly encouraging.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

In an ideal world, Tottenham would have welcomed new playmaker Gibbs-White to N17 by now, having scheduled a medical on July 11 whilst attempting to trigger his past £60 million release clause.

However, in what was an unprecedented turn of events, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis put a halt to the transfer, threatened legal action against Spurs and somehow convinced Gibbs-White to pen a contract extension instead.

Signing the 25-year-old was Tottenham’s priority for the previous fortnight, but those precious two weeks of the transfer window were seemingly wasted. Technical director Johan Lange and his recruitment team must now turn to different attacking targets, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Tottenham are working on signing alternatives to Gibbs-White.

Despite serious links to north London rivals Arsenal, Spurs have been targeting Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze this window, and whilst Mikel Arteta’s side prioritise outgoings right now (Fabrizio Romano), perhaps Lange can use this time to beat the Gunners to his signature.

Eze would be a phenomenal alternative to Gibbs-White, following his campaign of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions at Palace, including their FA Cup-final winning strike against Man City.

However, in the event Arsenal beat Spurs to Eze, there are other viable candidates for the number 10 role at Tottenham.

Tottenham eyeing Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, one of them is Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss.

The 21-year-old was a shining light in an otherwise dismal Foxes side who were relegated right back down to the Championship last term, averaging more key passes per 90 in the final third than any of his teammates in the top flight (WhoScored).

Bailey reports that Spurs are now targeting El Khannouss, coming after they unceremoniously missed out on a deal for Gibbs-White and reports that the Morocco international’s contract includes a £22.5 million release clause (talkSPORT).

The clause was tied in with Leicester’s drop to the second tier, and means the young El Khannouss is available for a very astute fee.

Members of the media, like journalist Antonio Mango, have heralded the African as a “genius” attacking player, with El Khannouss now emerging as a very intriguing option for Lange as we enter the final few weeks of the summer.