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O técnico Tite era só sorrisos na sala de imprensa do Maracanã, após a vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, pelo jogo de ida da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca. Apesar da felicidade com o triunfo, o técnico tratou de afirmar que a vaga na decisão ainda está em disputa.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFlamengoVÍDEO: Assista aos melhores momentos de Fluminense x FlamengoFlamengo10/03/2024FlamengoEm jogo movimentado, Flamengo vence o Fluminense por 2 a 0 no MaracanãFlamengo09/03/2024FlamengoConvocado por Dorival, Ayrton Lucas deixa o Fla-Flu lesionadoFlamengo09/03/2024

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Vitória incontestável

– Um grande jogo. Um jogo digno da grandeza do Fla-Flu, da qualidade técnica das duas equipes, de uma grande apresentação. E um resultado inconteste. Não dá para avaliar os números agora, não tem jeito. A adrenalina fica projetando uma semifinal ainda aberta. – disse Tite 

Satisfeito com o desempenho, Tite exaltou a superioridade do Flamengo na partida, tanto no ataque quanto na defesa. O técnico completou falando sobre a boa relação que tem com o elenco.

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– Tem uma relação de profissionais que são transparentes e leais. Que querem trabalhar. E querem merecer através do trabalho. Não quer tirar nada do adversário ou de arbitragem, mas também não quer que ninguém tire o que é seu. É um direito que ela tem. Ela procura dentro do trabalho se fazer merecedora. Às vezes o jogo do desempenho não é o jogo do placar, mas às vezes se traduz. Não temos familiares, temos um grupo extraordinário -, finalizou.

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

Na etapa inicial, Flamengo e Fluminense fizeram um clássico movimentado. O Flamengo começou a partida dominando. No início, o destaque foi para Everton Cebolinha, que teve velocidade e inteligência para encontrar espaços na defesa. Sem espaços, o Tricolor só assustou o Flamengo aos 12, mas levou um contra-ataque que quase terminou em gol de Pedro.

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A partir dos 30, o Flamengo voltou a controlar a partida e, aos 46, abriu o placar. Após transição rápida, Pulgar cruzou na cabeça de Cebolinha, que cabeceou para o fundo das redes.

No segundo tempo, o Flamengo seguiu dominando. Mesmo com a melhora Tricolor após a entrada de Lima, o Rubro-negro continuou com a posse de bola e a iniciativa. Após a lesão de Ayrton Lucas, a equipe de Tite começou a jogar mais pelo meio.

Sem Thiago Santos, expulso após falta duríssima em Cebolinha, o Fluminense passou a administrar a derrota por pouco, já visando o segundo jogo, que acontece no próximo sábado. No fim, após um cruzamento incrível de Arrascaeta, Pedro deu números finais à partida.

✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

O próximo jogo das duas equipes é no próximo sábado (16), às 21h, no Maracanã, pelo segundo jogo da semifinal.

Tudo sobre

Campeonato CariocaFlamengoFluminenseTite

In an early blow for new manager Wilfried Nancy, Liverpool have now reportedly agreed terms to sign a young Celtic defender.

Nancy outlines "proactive" style as Celtic announce manager

Celtic took their time, but the Bhoys finally have their new manager in the form of Nancy. The Frenchman has arrived fresh from MLS side Columbus Crew and will be looking to pick up where interim boss Martin O’Neill left off. The 73-year-old took the Scottish giants from title despair back into the race with Hearts, but now it’s up to Nancy to complete the job.

Speaking to reporters after arriving, the new manager said: “I don’t consider myself as a boss. I am a leader. And for me the definition of a leader is create a good environment to help people express themselves. For me, that is so important. Because of my background, I was able to connect with people.

“My style of play is about the way I live. I like to be proactive in my life, I like to discover things. I also like to try things because the more you try things, the more you learn and the more you’re going to maximise your chance to have success in your life.

“We want to take care of the ball. The ball is the only tool in our life, without talking, that we can connect people. So can we use the ball to create emotions? Can we use the ball to score goals? Can we use the ball to have messages between us? So that’s why I want proactive football.”

Doak 2.0: Celtic lost "superstar" for £225k, now he's worth more than Engels

Celtic lost a young talent last year who is now valued at more than club-record signing Arne Engels.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 5, 2025

Before the new manager’s even had the chance to look at emerging stars, however, he’s set to lose young defender Dara Jakiemi to Premier League giants Liverpool.

Liverpool agree terms to sign Jakiemi

As reported by The Secret Scout, Liverpool have now agreed terms to sign Jakiemi from Celtic. They described the 15-year-old defender as “aggressive” and there’s no doubt that he would have been one to watch in Scotland. Now, however, Nancy will seemingly never get the chance to work with him.

Whilst Jakiemi is one for the future, it still represents a frustrating blow for Celtic and shows where they’re at right now. Having lost the likes of Ben Doak in previous seasons to Liverpool, the last thing the Bhoys would have wanted is a repeat.

Nancy should be keen to turn towards the academy if given the chance, even if he is to lose one of his young defenders in the early stages of his tenure. An emerging star would, of course, save Celtic the desperate need of adding several January additions.

Celtic star with 'high ceiling' could be biggest winner of Nancy's arrival

It hasn't been the strongest start to the season for the Kansas City Royals, who, despite sitting at 29-25, are in just fourth place in the AL Central as we approach Memorial Day. There is some reason for optimism, however, thanks to a rising star in their farm system: first baseman Jac Caglianone.

A 22-year-old prospect out of the University of Florida, Caglianone has been on an absolute tear since being called up to the Triple A Omaha Storm Chasers just one week ago. He's slashing .346/.357/.923 with nine hits and 10 RBI over his first six games and 26 at-bats, and homered for a fifth time on Sunday afternoon against the Salt Lake Bees. It's his fourth consecutive game with a dinger.

Here's a look at the monumental swing:

Caglianone finished Sunday's contest three for five, with two home runs and three RBI in the Storm Chasers' 5-4 extra innings win.

It's only a matter of time before the former Gator gets his shot in the big leagues with Kansas City.

Santiago Giménez’s future at AC Milan has become increasingly uncertain, even though his contract runs through 2029. Local reports suggest the Mexican striker may be nearing the end of his spell at San Siro, drawing interest from several clubs across Europe – including a surprising contender in the Premier League with Sunderland.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Joining the Black Cats?

  Among the teams monitoring his situation, Sunderland have surfaced as one of the most serious candidates, according to Calciomercato.com. The Premier League club has started the season in unexpected form, sitting fourth in the table with 19 points, ahead of giants such as Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Their rise – and need for added depth in attack – has put Giménez firmly on their radar.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  A difficult debut season in Italy

  Giménez’s time with Milan has not unfolded as hoped. Through eight Serie A matches, he has yet to score or provide an assist, a downturn that has fueled speculation about a winter overhaul of attack. Giménez has also been linked to West Ham, who are reportedly exploring a swap involving Niclas Füllkrug – a sign that Milan could be preparing to move on from the Mexican forward.

• AFP
  

  Injury concerns complicate his situation

  Adding to the frustration, Giménez is recovering from a lingering ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for several weeks. His absence has hurt his rhythm in Milan and limited his opportunities with the Mexican national team. The lack of playing time has only intensified conversations about whether a change of scenery would benefit both sides.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Other Prem options emerge

  According to the same outlet, Milan would consider signing a new center forward in January – but that move may hinge on Giménez leaving to free up a roster spot. In addition to Sunderland, Brentford have also inquired about a potential loan deal.

  This wouldn’t be his first chance to cross into England: Giménez previously turned down an offer from Nottingham Forest during his final months at Feyenoord.

  Now, with Sunderland flying high and Brentford solidly mid-table, both clubs see an opportunity to bring in a striker who, at Feyenoord, became one of Europe’s breakout goalscorers.

It would be fair to say that the atmosphere around Tottenham Hotspur is not a positive one at the moment.

Thomas Frank’s side might be sixth in the Premier League, but the performances so far this season have been hard to stomach, none more so than the one against Chelsea on Saturday.

Despite being at home, the North Londoners were utterly toothless, bereft of ideas, and the player who best encapsulated their dire display was summer signing Xavi Simons.

It’s still early in his Spurs career, but so far, the Dutch international has been a massive disappointment and should therefore be dropped for another young talent who could perhaps offer a little more urgency.

Simons' start to life at Spurs

Perhaps in part due to missing out on Eberechi Eze, there was a tremendous amount of excitement in the Spurs fan base when Simons was announced.

After all, he’s long been considered one of the most exciting young attackers in European football and, at one point, looked destined to join Chelsea.

Unfortunately, it would be fair to say that the 22-year-old has come nowhere close to justifying the hype so far this season.

In 12 appearances for the club, he has failed to score a single goal and has provided just one assist, which came in his first appearance, away to West Ham in gameweek four.

With that said, while that is a poor return, could it be that the former PSV Eindhoven gem is simply someone who starts seasons a little slower than most?

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

For example, in his first 11 games for RB Leipzig last year, before he got injured, the Amsterdam-born gem managed to score three goals and provide two assists.

Likewise, the campaign preceding that saw the youngster rack up an even better tally of four goals and five assists in his first 12 matches, excluding the curtain-raising DFL-Super Cup.

Therefore, while it would be nice to say that Simons is doing what he does every season and will therefore eventually come good, that is not the case.

Therefore, Frank should keep him on the bench for now and look towards the academy for a temporary solution.

Spurs' Simons solution

With Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison still out, Frank could and probably should look to the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar-Sarr to start ahead of Simons.

Chalkboard

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However, there is another, far bolder option, one he could go with for the ‘easier’ games, or as a first option from the bench ahead of the Dutchman.

That option is Hotspur Way’s most exciting prospect since Mikey Moore: Luca Williams-Barnett.

Now, the first argument one might put forward here is that the Englishman is too young.

However, that would carry a lot more weight if the suggestion was to start the youngster in game after game, but that is not the case.

Instead, it might be worthwhile for Frank and the club to use the youngster as a substitute more often, and then potentially against the weaker teams, hand him a start.

After all, at 17 years old, he is two years older than Arsenal’s Max Dowman, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, is “one of England’s best talents”.

Moreover, when you take a look at his form for the youth sides, it’s clear that he’s way beyond that level now and more than deserving of more senior football.

Williams-Barnett’s youth record

Team

U18

U21

Appearances

30

8

Goals

22

7

Assists

13

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.5

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 11 games for the junior side this season, he has scored eight goals and provided seven assists, which is an average of 1.36 goal involvements every game.

Last season, he was even more effective, scoring 20 goals and providing 12 assists in just 23 appearances, which works out to an average of 1.39 goal involvements per game.

Ultimately, even if it is not from the start, Williams-Barnett has earned the right to play some meaningful minutes for Spurs this season.

Moreover, picking him over Simons could be the wake-up call the Dutchman needs to start playing to people’s expectations.

Related Spurs have signed a frightening young talent who can end Kolo Muani's stay

Tottenham have some painful attacking teething problems under Thomas Frank.

Posts 3 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 3, 2025

Liverpool aren’t quite right this season. Despite an incredible summer spending spree that soared above anything that English football has seen before, Arne Slot’s side are struggling to recapture the verve of last season.

But for Liverpool to have completed an underwhelming start to their title defence and perch at the top of the table after six games, winning the first five before suffering defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Many Redmen have struggled to find their finest form, but not all have flattered to deceive, with Federico Chiesa already looking leaps and bounds above the rarely-seen winger on the margins last year.

Chiesa's Liverpool resurgence

Liverpool hardly broke the bank after replacing Jurgen Klopp with Slot during the summer of 2024, only adding Chiesa to the ranks, and for a shrewd £12.5m fee at that.

However, Chiesa arrived having been ravaged by injury problems in recent years at Juventus, and he spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 campaign on the sidelines, either suffering from fitness issues or overlooked by Slot.

This year, however, he is looking to make up for lost time, already with two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions. So impressive has he been that there have been calls for the underperforming Mohamed Salah to be dropped, and for Chiesa to start from the right.

Hugo Ekitike

9

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

9

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

5

1 (0)

Cody Gakpo

9

1 (2)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

The versatile Italian will play an important role across the term, but there’s another member of Slot’s squad who has fallen deeper into the fringes of the squad and is beginning to look like last year’s version of the 27-year-old.

Slot's new version of Chiesa

While Chiesa is enjoying a resurgence on Merseyside, Wataru Endo’s role at the club continues to become more and more insubstantial, having

Described by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch as being an “unsung hero” for Liverpool, Endo was instrumental in steering Klopp toward a trophy-winning crescendo at the Anfield helm, and he achieved cult status last year for his tough-tackling cameos in the dying embers of matches.

Having joined for about £16m from Stuttgart after Liverpool missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both signing for Chelsea, the 32-year-old Endo has played a crucial role in getting this current Liverpool team off the ground, but he’s into the penultimate year of his contract and has sat as an unused substitute for each of his side’s past three top-flight fixtures.

Tenacious, industrious and a model professional, Endo remains a valued member of Slot’s squad, but it’s hard to see him earning many opportunities, with his quality on the ball admittedly limited.

Given Gravenberch came into his own last year and is now one of Liverpool’s most important players, even said by journalist Beth Lindop to be “on par with Salah and Van Dijk”, it doesn’t look like Endo will be earning a string of starts in the Premier League any time soon, with Slot sure to look for other ways to cover at number six, should the Dutchman fall to an injury.

With Stefan Bajcetic also waiting in the wings and boasting a confidence in receiving the ball, pivoting and progressing forward, there’s a sense Endo’s fringe role at Liverpool may become more peripheral still as the year goes on.

While Chiesa’s bounce-back across the opening weeks of the season serves as inspiration for any footballer looking to pick themselves up from the wayside, Endo is not a spring chicken anymore, and his big moments in Slot’s squad might trail behind him.

Trent 2.0: FSG have already sold a Bradley & Frimpong upgrade at Liverpool

Arne Slot has problems to fix at Liverpool after an up-and-down start to the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 30, 2025

The most valuable player on a pitch is a striker, and nowadays, being a world-class centre-forward is more than just scoring goals.

Starting the press without the ball and linking up play are also two important attributes, but more often than not, a striker is judged by their goal to game ratio.

Currently, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane are viewed as some of the best strikers in world football.

The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Here is a list of 20 of the most iconic centre-forwards football has ever seen, factoring in longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their personal accolades and honours they have won.

20 Hristo Stoichkov

An all-rounded forward and the greatest Bulgarian player in history, Hristo Stoichkov kicks off the countdown.

The powerful left-footed striker was famously signed by Johan Cruyff at Barcelona when he was at the top of his game and made the Catalan giants even better.

Stoichkov won five La Liga titles at the Nou Camp and collected the Ballon d’Or in 1994 after picking up the 1994 World Cup Golden Boot.

19 Kenny Dalglish

Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish wasn’t just a goalscorer and could run games of a football as a centre-forward.

‘King Kenny’ starred in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring more than 200 goals and winning 24 trophies during an iconic career.

18 Gabriel Batistuta

Argentine powerhouse Gabriel Batistuta was a goalscoring machine in the 1990s for Fiorentina, outscoring every other Serie A player in that decade.

Named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list in 2004, Batistuta was known for his aerial ability and physical presence, but when he had the ball at his feet, he was an excellent dribbler and clinical in front of goal and had an unbelievable World Cup record.

17 Harry Kane

Harry Kane is one of the most clinical strikers around, and he’s been finding the back of the net on a regular basis for Tottenham, Bayern Munich and England since 2014.

In fact, Kane has scored 17 or more league goals in 12 successive seasons, and his goalscoring record is remarkable. Now England’s all-time top scorer, Kane may not have the trophies to match his individual brilliance, but he is more than just a goalscorer with an incredible passing range.

16 Karim Benzema

One of the most underrated strikers in recent times, Karim Benzema often hasn’t got the plaudits he’s deserved after starring at Real Madrid for 14 years.

Finally lifting the Ballon d’Or in 2022, Benzema has won 33 honours during his career and scored more than 350 goals during his time at the Bernabeu.

Whether it be in the air or with the ball at his feet, the Frenchman was a nuisance for centre-backs and was often overshadowed by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

15 Jimmy Greaves

Part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup, Jimmy Greaves was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on six occasions in the 1960s and starred for Chelsea and Tottenham during his career.

A Spurs legend with two FA Cup triumphs, Greaves also won Serie A with AC Milan. He finished his career as the highest scorer in England’s first tier of football with 357 goals, highlighting how much of a prolific goalscorer he was.

14 Alan Shearer

The Premier League has been regarded as the best league in the world over time, so Alan Shearer, the divisions all-time top scorer, had to be in the list.

The Englishman netted 260 times in the English top flight for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, winning the title once.

Long range strikes, in the air or from the spot, Shearer could score any type of goal and came third in the 1996 Ballon d’Or.

13 Luis Suarez

Despite plenty of controversies during his career, Luis Suarez’s footballing ability at his peak for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona was incredible.

The Uruguayan has scored goals on a consistent basis for 20 years now and was named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalscorer in 2010, 2014 and 2016.

Suarez has proven he can score all across the world and his 2013/2014 season with Liverpool is arguably one of the best individual seasons the Premier League has ever seen.

12 Wayne Rooney

One of four English strikers on the list, Wayne Rooney is Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer and had every attribute an iconic centre-forward required. From physicality to pace and world-class technical ability, Rooney scored 253 times for the Red Devils and netted 53 times for England.

Dropping deeper in midfield throughout his career, Rooney was unstoppable in his prime as a striker, winning 16 major honours.

11 Josef Bican

Josef Bican represented both Austria and Czechoslovakia on the international stage and was one of the most prolific forwards during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

Capable with finishing with ease with either foot, Bican scored more than 800 goals during his career despite making just over 600 appearances.

A ridiculous goal to game ratio, Bican has rightly gone down as a Slavia Prague legend.

Newcastle United took out their Premier League frustrations on Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Fresh off surrendering a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Arsenal in the top-flight to remain 15th in the top-flight standings, Eddie Howe’s Magpies went in for the kill against their shaken hosts, who might have expected a closer battle, considering they sit top of their own domestic league standings.

The travelling Toon contingent were treated to a goal-fest at the Joseph Marien Stadium, with Newcastle running out convincing 4-0 victors due to a whole host of standout performers, as Anthony Gordon continued his fine form in Europe’s elite competition versus Sébastien Pocognoli’s men.

Gordon's impressive performance in Belgium

Scoring last time out in the Champions League as a Marcus Rashford-led Barcelona narrowly beat Newcastle, Gordon picked up from where he left off at St James’ Park when making the trip to Belgium.

The England international hasn’t had the most vibrant of campaigns so far but was outstanding this week, with the tricky number ten a major thorn in the side of hosts all night long.

He notably completed five dribbles across the course of the one-sided contest. Still, despite his slick nature, it was his partner on the opposing right channel in Anthony Elanga who won the Toon the first of two penalties Gordon confidently put away.

Nick Woltemade had opened the scoring by this point. Still, just on the stroke of half-time, Gordon would essentially end the contest with his coolly dispatched penalty, which beat a helpless Kjell Scherpen, who had to fish another spot-kick out of the back of his net from the electric 24-year-old in the second half.

Winning nine ground duels for the cause as well, Gordon will hope he can put in an equally lively performance when Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest travel to Tyneside next in the Premier League, having yet to pick up a goal or assist this season in league action.

Amazingly, while Gordon did help himself to a brace, there was another Newcastle star who caught the eye even more.

Newcastle star proving he is now one of the best in the world

The Toon do have a lot of exciting players on their books at this moment in time who could easily slot into a lot of elite sides if given the chance to do so. Alexander Isak has now gone but Howe already has another talisman.

Sandro Tonali’s name instantly springs to mind in this regard, with one Toon-focused content creator after the final whistle had been sounded on the big win away at Union, going as far as to declare the energetic Italian as “world-class”.

Fortuitously collecting this assist when his effort was cleverly diverted home by Woltemade only tells a mere fraction of his tale in Belgium, with the relentless drive he has displayed in the Premier League in spades this season – with 3.7 ball recoveries averaged per league clash – on full display in Europe’s premier competition, too, winning four duels in total helping him to completely dominate proceedings centrally.

Tonali dictated the game throughout with 90 touches overall, which led to journalist Henry Winter declaring the 25-year-old as “incredible” for both his quality on the ball and also his unwavering stamina levels.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

90

Accurate passes

64/72 (89%)

Total duels won

4/8

Off the back of another near faultless showing, it’s not completely absurd to say Tonali is one of the best in the world in his central midfield position, right now, with the constantly active number 8 clearly a vital cog capable of helping Newcastle through some treacherous clashes on stages such as the Champions League.

After all, if Ryan Gravenberch is in that conversation for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Tonali should follow closely behind for Howe and Co.

Further hailed as being the “heist of the century” by Magpies-based journalist Thomas Hammond, with Tonali costing around the £55m mark to sign back in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan, Newcastle will hope they can continue to get the best out of their exceptional gem for many years to come, cautiously hoping they don’t fall victim to another Isak situation.

Newcastle's "nightmare" star now in danger of becoming their next Almiron

Newcastle need this man to rediscover his finest form, and fast.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2025

Liverpool are enjoying the fruits of a bold transfer window while simultaneously trusting in their academy.

Under Arne Slot, the Reds have seamlessly balanced blockbuster arrivals with the promotion of youth talent, echoing the philosophy that served them well under Jürgen Klopp.

The summer business was headline-grabbing.

Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee, only for Alexander Isak to eclipse that figure with his £125m move from Newcastle on deadline day.

Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Geovani Leoni and Hugo Ekitike also arrived, while Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and Jarell Quansah were among those to depart.

Despite those upheavals, Liverpool began their Premier League defence with three straight wins – 4-2 at home to Bournemouth, 3-2 away at Newcastle, and 1-0 against Arsenal at Anfield.

Slot has rotated his stars while showing a willingness to reward academy prospects. Against Newcastle, that faith paid off spectacularly when a debutant stole the headlines.

Rio Ngumoha: A star Rises

Rio Ngumoha had been on Liverpool’s radar for months before his 2024 switch from Chelsea’s academy, but few predicted the immediate impact he would make.

Introduced in the 96th minute at St James’ Park, the then 16-year-old marked his Premier League debut by scoring in the 100th minute – becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history.

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Now 17, Ngumoha is regarded as one of England’s brightest talents.

A skilful and creative forward, he combines flair with composure beyond his years. His market value, via Transfermarkt, already stands at €10m (£8m), reflecting his rising reputation.

The England youth international had been gradually integrated into senior training last season, appearing on the bench in an EFL Cup tie against Southampton before making his professional debut in January’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.

That appearance made him the youngest Liverpool player to start a first-team game, and the youngest to feature in the competition for the Reds.

Ngumoha’s rapid ascent has naturally drawn comparisons with other academy graduates who once carried a similar weight of expectation.

For Liverpool, there is a recent example that provides both inspiration and caution.

Liverpool's original Ngumoha

Kaide Gordon was once Liverpool’s golden boy, described by Klopp as a “special talent.”

Signed from Derby County in 2021 for £1m, he was earmarked for a swift breakthrough.

The right-winger wasted little time making an impression, debuting in an EFL Cup win at Norwich and scoring his first senior goal against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.

A Premier League debut soon followed in 2022, and Gordon looked set to carve out a long-term role in Liverpool’s attack.

But progress stalled. Persistent injuries disrupted his momentum and halted his development at a crucial stage.

Last season brought loan spells at Portsmouth and Norwich in the Championship, intended to reignite his trajectory having not played in the Slot era to date. In fact, he’s not been seen in Liverpool red for 18 months.

While those experiences offered game time, they also highlighted the gulf between potential and consistency.

Gordon was linked with another temporary move this summer, but a deal failed to materialise, leaving him to fight for minutes at Anfield.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Now 20, Gordon’s story serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of academy prospects. For every breakthrough like Ngumoha, there are setbacks like Gordon’s. The path from prodigy to first-team regular is rarely linear.

That juxtaposition makes Ngumoha’s situation fascinating. The youngster’s debut winner has elevated him into the spotlight, but Liverpool will be keen to manage his development carefully, avoiding the pitfalls that befell Gordon.

With Slot’s track record of nurturing talent, there is optimism that Ngumoha can continue his upward curve without being burdened by premature expectation.

Ngumoha may be Liverpool’s present and future, but his progression must be handled with care.

The contrast with Gordon illustrates both the opportunity and the risk of investing in youth.

For Slot, the challenge is to integrate Ngumoha while continuing Liverpool’s title defence – a delicate balancing act that could shape the club’s future as much as its present.

Not Ngumoha: Liverpool's exciting 17-year-old could become the next Isak

Liverpool have refined every level of their squad this summer, from youth to senior standard.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2025

Sunderland have seemingly mastered the art of making their home ground a fortress.

Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats are two wins from two at the Stadium of Light already early into the brand new Premier League season, but the Wearside outfit has stumbled to an unwelcome 2-0 loss – away from home comforts – when travelling to fellow newly promoted foe Burnley.

Crystal Palace is the next away test on the agenda for the top-flight newcomers, with Sunderland very much aware that they will have to stifle Jean-Philippe Mateta all match long if they stand a chance at a positive result on their travels to South London.

Mateta's heroics at Palace

While the Frenchman’s future looks to be somewhat in the air at Selhurst Park at the moment – with Leeds United reported to be looking at the 6-foot-4 striker – he will no doubt be raring to go in his bid to pick up more Premier League goals for the Eagles when the Black Cats come to town.

After all, the forceful attacker already has three goals next to his name this season in all competitions, with this confidently tucked away penalty last time out against Aston Villa helping Oliver Glasner’s men beat Unai Emery’s hosts with ease in a 3-0 victory.

Up to a hefty 49 goals in total for Palace, it will be up to the likes of new signing Nordi Mukiele to keep the Eagles’ goal machine quiet, with the imposing number 20 winning 12 duels last match against Brentford – on his debut no less – to restrict the visitors to just one strike.

Le Bris could also be tempted to switch up his personnel up top to try and unearth his own Mateta, with a goalscoring gem in the Frenchman’s ranks ready to be a hero once more to try and steer Sunderland to a much-needed away win.

Sunderland can unleash their very own Mateta

The former Lorient boss certainly has a wide array of options all over the pitch to choose from ahead of selecting his starting XI for the trip to Glasner’s side.

Indeed, he could well feel he needs to draft in Lutshurel Geertruida to try and keep Mateta at bay, alongside potentially feeling like Wilson Isidor is the best option in attack to try and gift his men a lofty, but skilful presence to lead the line, in a similar vein to the Palace number 14.

After all, despite not starting any of his team’s opening three top-flight contests, Isidor already has an impressive two league goals next to his name, with the 6-foot-1 attacker firmly pushing his previous wasteful performances for Sunderland to one side by scoring these two strikes, despite only being on the pitch for a combined 66 minutes.

Mateta has also managed to move on past any of his own criticism by becoming a heroic figure for Palace, having once just scored a weak eight goals across his first three seasons on English shores when primarily used as a substitute option. Now, much like Isidor at the Stadium of Light, he’s a beloved presence at Selhurst Park.

Games played

46

Games started

34

Goals scored

14

Assists

2

Big chances missed

20

Yet, the former Zenit St Petersburg forward will be hoping he can replicate Mateta’s rise even more by becoming Sunderland’s trusted starter in the Premier League – away from being known solely as a man who saves the day from off the bench – with Eliezer Mayenda often getting the starting nod this season over the efficient number 18.

If he were to start against Palace and steer Sunderland to a rare away victory, this would surely be grounds for more opportunities from the get-go from then on.

After all, his well-rounded game as an ice-cold finisher, matched with his ability to be a “one man machine”, as labelled by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, could perhaps allow him to be a recognised Premier League star down the line, like the equally varied Mateta.

With Brian Brobbey also now available for selection, Le Bris is spoiled for choice.

But, he will hope he’s rewarded for gifting Isidor a possible start by his side picking up an away win for the first time this season, as they continue to try to navigate the early choppy waters of the Premier League without drowning under all the pressure.

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