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Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has moved swiftly to shut down claims that he urged Endrick to leave Real Madrid in the upcoming transfer window, insisting he never told the young striker that a loan move was necessary to secure a place with the Selecao at the 2026 World Cup. The 19-year-old sensation is on the brink of sealing a January loan switch to Lyon as Los Blancos have reportedly thrashed out a deal with the Ligue 1 outfit.

• A dream move that hasn’t taken off

  When Real Madrid secured Endrick from Palmeiras in 2022 for a monumental deal worth up to €60 million, much was expected from the prodigy. However, he has struggled to find his rhythm in the Spanish top-flight. His debut season showed sparks of brilliance as he scored seven goals in 37 appearances. It was enough to convince Madrid that they had unearthed a gem, but his second campaign has been a completely different story. A hamstring injury derailed his pre-season and forced him to miss both the Club World Cup and the start of Madrid’s league campaign. By the time he recovered, Xabi Alonso had put him behind Gonzalo Garcia in the pecking order. He has racked up 11 minutes of La Liga action this campaign, in a 4-0 win over Valencia. 

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  Ancelotti shuts down rumours

  Speaking to , Ancelotti struck a firm tone. 

  "He's a very important player because he's one of the talents to have come out of Brazilian football," he said. "We're evaluating him. But it's not true that I said Endrick should leave Real Madrid to go to the World Cup. That's a matter between Real Madrid and the player. He needs to talk to the club and make the best decision for himself and for Real Madrid."

  According to , Real Madrid have accepted Lyon’s proposal in principle after weeks of negotiations. The French side, led by Paulo Fonseca, edged out late interest from Manchester United and Aston Villa. The Red Devils tried to swoop in after Benjamin Sesko’s injury, but Endrick had already been convinced Lyon was the right move. The young Brazilian sees Lyon as a safe place where he can start every week, regain sharpness, and rebuild his confidence.

  "It’s important for Endrick to start playing again," said the Italian coach in an interview with . “I spoke with him at the start of the season. He was injured, but now he’s fine. He needs to think with his team about what’s best, talk with the club, and decide what suits him."

• Madrid wanted Endrick to stay in Spain

  Madrid were initially leaning toward a La Liga loan, which would have helped him adapt and maintain continuity within Spanish football. There was also the matter of his upcoming Spanish passport, which is just six months away, and that made staying in Spain attractive. Endrick, however, pushed hard for France. He wanted a clean slate to start afresh and, most importantly, guaranteed minutes, which Lyon can provide him. Alonso had asked him to show patience and wait for his opportunity to shine in the Spanish capital, but the forward had other ideas. 

  "Of course, I’d like him to have played already," the Real Madrid coach admitted. "But the situations in our recent matches have been very tight since Endrick returned. I hope he can get those minutes soon. He’s training well, he’s ready, but the right moment has to come."

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  Endrick looking for a fresh start in France

  It has been reported that Endrick's entourage is already looking for a house in Lyon. This could well mean that personal terms have been agreed and only the formalities remain. The French outfit have been toothless in attack, with Czech forward Pavel Sulc having emerged as the highest scorer with five goals. Fonseca hopes that the addition of Endrick will add more firepower in attack and solve their goalscoring issues. The Brazilian will be hungry to prove himself to Ancelotti as a World Cup berth is on the lines.

Tottenham are believed to be in the market for new forwards as we slowly approach the January transfer window, as co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange reportedly set their sights on a La Liga star.

Thomas Frank has led the north Londoners to a solid start this season, even if there are some concerns surrounding their general creativity in open play.

Spurs succumbed to a dismal 1-0 loss at home to Chelsea in their last Premier League match and failed to lay a single glove on the away side — attempting just one shot on target all game as a frustrated Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence snubbed Frank’s handshake at full-time.

Frank’s men went off to a chorus of boos and were largely chastised for their toothless display, but a 4-0 midweek rout of FC Copenhagen in the Champions League came as a much-needed hangover cure as van de Ven sent a clear message with his Puskas Award contender.

Summer signing Xavi Simons, who’s faced wave after wave of criticism since joining in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig, put in a Player of the Match performance too. Simons also perhaps should’ve had even more assists to show for his efforts, with Randal Kolo Muani missing two glaring chances after being set up by the Dutchman on both occasions.

While Spurs made a serious statement with their display against Copenhagen, this one-off attacking masterclass shouldn’t paper over the cracks too much.

According to recent reports, Paratici and Lange could attack the January market in search of final third reinforcements, with Tottenham described by some as the favourites to sign former Brentford star Ivan Toney on a loan-to-buy deal.

Journalist Mark Brus also reported earlier this week that Paratici is working on a behind-the-scenes deal for Brentford’s Kevin Schade, with a winger seen as one of the club’s top priorities heading into winter.

Now, as per Spanish media sources, one of the names they’re considering is Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.

Takefusa Kubo wants to join Tottenham with Spurs prepared to pay release clause

Indeed, Kubo has apparently emerged as a priority target for Lange and Paratici.

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham are now prepared to match the £53 million release clause in Kubo’s contract, signaling their serious interest in bringing him to the Premier League. Kubo also views Tottenham as an ideal next step in his career, and one which could offer him the “competitive boost he so desires”.

The 24-year-old, who joined Sociedad from Real Madrid in 2022 after failing to break through at the Bernabeu, has been subject to “several” failed transfer attempts from Spurs in recent years, but the club are now “determined to go all out” for his signature.

Interestingly, this potential transfer could give Spurs huge commercial gains in the Asian market once again following the departure of South Korean icon Son Heung-min last summer, with Kubo having a large fan base of his own in Japan.

On the field, Kubo has racked up 24 goals and 18 assists in 146 total appearances for Sociedad, fairly modest numbers, but his versatility could be very attractive from Frank’s perspective.

The winger also has fantastic one-v-one ability, completing more successful take-ons per 90 than any other Sociedad player in La Liga last season with an impressive 2.1 per game (WhoScored) — which is also more than any Spurs player managed in 2024/2025.

What’s more, former Mallorca CEO Maheta Molango tipped Kubo to become an eventual superstar during his loan spell there in 2019/2020.

Manchester United have been warned that a stunning return to Old Trafford for Scott McTominay is unlikely to happen. The Scotland international has been starring for Serie A champions Napoli, earning comparisons to Frank Lampard with his goal scoring exploits, but Wes Brown has told GOAL in an exclusive interview why another transfer agreement with the Red Devils is not in the pipeline.

• Talisman: Serie A winner McTominay heading to the World Cup

  Having parted with academy graduate McTominay in the summer of 2024, when sanctioning a £26 million ($34m) sale, United are being linked with a move to bring a familiar face back into their ranks.

  Recruitment whispers have started after seeing the 28-year-old midfielder become a talismanic presence for club and country. He helped Napoli to a title triumph last season, being named MVP in the process, and has just steered Scotland to their first World Cup finals since 1998.

  McTominay posted a career-best return of 13 goals in 2024-25, with full potential being unlocked in his game after being freed from the shackles that had been holding him back in Manchester. There is little suggestion that he wants to retrace professional steps, but interest in his services is expected to be stepped up in 2026.

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  Man Utd return? McTominay deal considered to be unlikely

  Quizzed on whether United should be looking into a deal, former Red Devils defender Brown – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “It would be a lot of money for Man United to get him back. I’m so happy that Scott has gone away and done so well – he has done better than so well! He’s been excellent.

  “Would it happen? Probably not. The respect from that getting talked about is unbelievable. What an achievement by Scott, for one. Sometimes when you leave really big clubs, it can be difficult to keep a level going – normally it is a dip. But he’s got better and better. He’s a great lad and he’s determined to do the best he can. I can’t see it happening, but I can understand why there are whispers.

  “Could he come back? He’s got the legs. He now plays in the right position, which isn’t holding midfielder. I’ve been trying to tell people that many, many times. Because he’s big, everyone thinks he’s a holding midfielder. He’s got the legs, can go up and down, and every fan will tell you that he gets in the right position to score goals.”

• Transformation: Holding midfielder to free-scoring one

  Brown added on McTominay’s transformation: “He used to do it for United, but not often because he wasn’t told to make them runs and get into positions. If he gets into positions, I’m not going to say he is Frank Lampard yet, but he is up there with making the right runs to get a midfielder into a scoring position. It’s hard to defend that type of player, who understands that role and gets into those areas where he can score – and has the mentality to think he can score.

  “Scott is slowly becoming that player, where he knows where to be, the runs to make when defenders are out of position or have got their mind on the striker. It’s a shame he couldn’t have shown that a lot more at United because they weren’t in a good moment, weren’t winning every week and sometimes you can’t express yourself as much. Plus, he was a youth team player. I think it’s hard for them to do it straight away when you have got superstars in the team – you hold back a little bit.

  “But Scott is doing his thing now. It will be very interesting. Napoli, after a year or two – even though they all love him – will probably want to sell to get good value for him. You just have to see how it goes.”

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  Where next? McTominay contract & transfer talk

  McTominay is under contract in Naples until the summer of 2028, which is helping to keep his valuation high. Said asking price could rise even further if he catches the eye on a global stage with Scotland in 2026, with La Liga giants Barcelona already among those to have been credited with interest.

The Cleveland Guardians had the tying runs on base against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of their Monday night tilt . A disastrous bit of baserunning turned a golden opportunity into two outs and no one on as Gabriel Arias got caught trying to swipe third base, then got physical with Manny Machado to earn an interference call.

The bizarre play caused Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to come out and plead his case that a balk should have been called or perhaps that a runner should be allowed to tackle the third baseman—anything that would have improved the situation.

The Padres would get out of the inning without giving up a run and proceed to not give up another run en route to a 7–2 victory.

They say one sees something new every day in baseball which is fun but also a reminder that one's team can, at any second, do something to hurt their chances of winning in ways never even conceived of before it happened.

Liverpool have now reportedly held concrete talks to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, as they look to the January transfer window in an attempt to solve their problems.

The Reds are in a crisis, that can no longer be denied. Defeat against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday slammed home just how much trouble Arne Slot’s side find themselves in. Their crown has evaporated, their dominance has subsided and they sit in the bottom half after 12 games in the Premier League.

Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher had his say on the Reds’ problems on Monday Night Football, saying that he would like to see Mohamed Salah come out and speak for the side.

“A year ago this weekend, Mo Salah wasn’t shy in coming out and speaking about his own situation, about the club not offering him a contract.

“I only ever hear Salah speak when he gets man of the match or he needs a new contract. I would like to see Salah come out as one of the leaders, one the legends of Liverpool, come out and speak for the team. It shouldn’t always be the captain.”

The Egyptian, however, may decide to let his football do the talking as Liverpool desperately look to get back on track against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.

The Champions League has often handed the Premier League champions some much-needed reprieve this season, with victory over Real Madrid the best win of their season last time out.

Now, the visit of PSV presents Slot’s side with a similar opportunity to turn results around, before squaring off against West Ham United this weekend.

"I'm told" – Romano shares what Slot thinks about his own Liverpool future

Arne Slot is under pressure at Liverpool and Fabrizio Romano has delivered a telling update on his future.

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 24, 2025

Meanwhile, in the middle of their dismal period of form, Liverpool have reportedly been getting to work off the pitch on much-needed reinforcements.

Liverpool now "seriously working" on Semenyo deal

As reported by Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are now “seriously working” on a deal to sign Semenyo from Bournemouth in the January transfer window.

Despite suggestions he has chosen to join Manchester United, those at Anfield have reportedly held “concrete talks” in pursuit of the winger, who has a release clause worth around €70m (£62m).

There is plenty of competition, but Liverpool should go all out to land Semenyo in January. They’ve missed the direct ability that Luis Diaz provided them – the ability that draws fouls, breaks low blocks down and evades an opposition press. Semenyo, however, can offer them exactly that.

The Bournemouth star has enjoyed 10 more successful take-ons than Salah so far this season and has earned high praise from ex-Liverpool man Jamie Redknapp as a result. The Sky Sports pundit described Semenyo as “unique” earlier in the campaign.

Who is to blame for Isak's form at Liverpool?

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at Florentino Perez after the Real Madrid chief reignited accusations over the Negreira case during his latest assembly speech. Perez linked Barca’s historic success to payments made to the former refereeing vice-president, prompting a fierce response as Laporta accused Madrid of “obsession” and weekly attempts to influence referees in a fiery escalation of the long-running rivalry.

• Perez reignites Negreira accusations as tensions explode again

  Madrid president Perez reopened the Negreira controversy, using his most recent Assembly intervention to once again question Barcelona’s integrity and imply historic refereeing corruption. His comments immediately triggered a new wave of tension between the two giants at a time when La Liga’s title race is heating up.

  Perez referenced charts, statistics and historic disciplinary data as he accused the Catalan giants of benefiting from improper influence between 2001 and 2018, the 17-year period in which Barca were alleged to have paid €8.4 million to former refereeing vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

  He outlined his stance bluntly in front of club members: "It’s not normal that Barcelona has paid the vice president of referees more than €8m for at least 17 years, whatever the reason," Perez denounced before the members. "I repeat: whatever the reason, it’s not normal."

  He continued to say that Enriquez Negreira held "a key position in the refereeing hierarchy," responsible for referee promotions and demotions. "A period that coincides, coincidentally, with Barcelona’s best sporting results in our country," added Perez.

  The Los Blancos president also presented numerical data to justify his argument: "Real Madrid had a net balance of two red cards in 2021,” he explained. "And Barcelona, 61 red cards. That’s a difference of no less than 59. On the other hand, during the same period, the balance in Europe is almost identical: +12 for Barca and +13 for Madrid."

  These remarks set the stage for a fierce response, one Laporta delivered within hours during an institutional visit to Andorra.

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  Laporta blasts ‘obsession’ and accuses Madrid of weekly referee pressure

  Laporta responded forcefully, framing Madrid’s approach as a long-standing campaign to undermine Barcelona’s achievements. He opened with a direct attack: "Now that I remember the statements made at the Madrid Assembly, which I haven't had a chance to comment on, and now that I'm in Andorra I'll address them. I think they're out of line; they reveal Madrid's obsession with Barca. It seems they have to talk about Barca to justify who knows what. They're constantly involved in the legal proceedings of the 'Negreira Case,' which they're dragging out like chewing gum because they know there's nothing to it, but it's a way of justifying something that isn't true: Barca has never bribed referees, and referees generally don't favor Barca; they've always favored Madrid."

  The Barca president then escalated his criticism by accusing Madrid of manipulating public opinion through media channels: "If they're caught up in this 'Barcelona-itis,' I'm delighted, because these are usually times when Barca is successful and triumphant. Real Madrid's television channel is trying to influence referees every week."

  His defiant message reflected a club determined not to let Madrid control the narrative, especially with legal proceedings and media pressure intensifying around the Negreira case.

• A rivalry torn open as Laporta cites officiating controversies

  Laporta also referenced Los Blancos' recent 2-2 draw at Elche, pointing to two controversial goals involving Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. as evidence of what he sees as favorable treatment. He argued that Madrid benefited from decisions that should never have stood: "Just last week, Real Madrid scored two goals that, in my opinion, clearly involved Bellingham handling the ball, and in the other, Vinicius broke Inaki Pena's nose. Those two goals shouldn't have stood, and Barca would be leading the league now."

  The Barca president then returned to a historical perspective, insisting Madrid’s accusations were rooted in resentment for Barcelona’s most successful era: "They have a persecution complex against the best period in Barca's history. They didn't like that Barca was the world's leading team from 2004 to 2015, when Barca was dominant, and they're trying to find excuses that lead nowhere. We were the team that played the best football, recognised, admired, and esteemed for what we gave, recognised for what we did, and admired for how we did it. We won many titles, and Barca's style of play was admired all over the world, so don't make excuses."

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  A new chapter in the Madrid-Barca divide

  The fallout adds another layer of turbulence to a rivalry already stretched by Super League disagreements, legal battles, and constant refereeing disputes. Barcelona's leadership is adamant the Negreira case will not tarnish their legacy, while Madrid insist questions must be asked.

  With the La Liga title race entering a decisive phase and both clubs preparing for crucial fixtures, domestic and European, the political war between the presidents is likely to continue running parallel to events on the pitch. Laporta’s final message was clear: Barcelona will not be intimidated, and they believe Madrid’s growing fixation only proves their continued relevance.

The Boston Red Sox shook up the organization on Sunday by stunningly trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants just three years into his 10-year, $313.5 million deal.

The decision to trade Devers ultimately seems to have stemmed from his unwillingness to put the team first when it came to his defensive position. He was initially displeased about having to move to DH after the team acquired Alex Bregman to play third base, and was resistant to the idea of playing first base in the wake of Triston Casas's season-ending injury.

That didn't sit well with management and ownership, who ultimately pulled the plug on Devers's time in Boston.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz addressed Devers's departure during an interview with baseball content creator Yancen Pujols.

Ortiz offered his honest assessment of the situation, saying, "Players need to take this as an example. Nobody is indispensable. … You need to be smart and you need to understand the situation. Your worst enemy is your ego," Ortiz said, translated from Spanish.

Ortiz suggested that Devers wasn't willing to step forward as a leader and help his team by covering first base due to his ego, and that the trade is living proof that no player, regardless of their contract status or how long they've been in an organization, is out of reach of being traded, especially one who is quarreling with ownership.

Devers played nine seasons for the Red Sox and made three All-Star teams. This year, he has a .905 OPS with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in his first 73 games.

Liverpool are waiting for this nightmare to end, rediscovering the form of last season under Arne Slot’s wing that led to the Premier League title and a summer of sweeping changes.

The signings made this summer were completed after meticulous research, but, nonetheless, the Reds have been dismal this year, lacking identity and inspiration. Even in victory have Liverpool given their opponents plenty of optimism.

It’s worth noting that Liverpool were far better defensively than has so often been the case this term, but this has done little to calm the anxieties of supporters who have been forced to accept a bleak new norm.

Among the bitter pills swallowed has been the form of captain Virgil van Dijk, the centre-back very much at the core of Liverpool’s problems this season and lacking solutions so often provided across his illustrious career at the club.

Virgil van Dijk's drop-off this season

Liverpool’s monster has been made mortal by the tailspin of Slot’s system this season. Ibrahima Konate’s struggles have no doubt been exacerbated by the slow recession of Van Dijk’s indomitability.

He is 34 years old, 35 at the end of the season. It is only natural that the Netherlands skipper should begin to wind down. However, it presents Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes with quite the conundrum as Konate edges toward the expiry of his £70k-per-week contract.

Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for about £27m this summer, but the 18-year-old Italian tore his ACL on his debut against Southampton and is not expected back until the start of next season.

The Italian would have offered a much-needed dimension over the past few months, allowing Slot to enforce more rotation, with Konate having started each of his side’s Premier League fixtures this season despite his rut. Van Dijk is now foundering beside him.

Change is needed, and with the winter transfer window approaching, it’s clear that Liverpool need a centre-back.

Liverpool targeting centre-back this January

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool are set to table a bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi this winter, having reopened direct communications this week with the player’s agents after fumbling a deal to sign him in August.

Guehi is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of the season, and while Liverpool had a clean shot at the 25-year-old at the start of the season, notably even agreeing personal terms with the player, rival interest is now sure to be thick, with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid considered suitors.

Sources suggest FSG are willing to offer around £25m for Guehi’s signature in January, paying something of a premium for one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

What Guehi would bring to Liverpool

Guehi could well be plying his craft for Liverpool right now, but it wasn’t to be as sporting director Richard Hughes gambled and left it late, Palace barring the door at the eleventh hour after failing to find a replacement.

It’s a real shame. Guehi is a seasoned Premier League star who just keeps on evolving. He has been hailed as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, but he is so much more.

As per data-driven site FBref, Guehi ranks among the top 7% of central defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for through balls, the top 6% for assists and shot-creating actions, and the top 15% for tackles won per 90.

If Liverpool succeed in completing a deal for the two-footed centre-half this winter, it could carry the weight of that one-time signing of Van Dijk, who joined from Southampton midway through the 2017/18 season for a £75m fee.

Van Dijk needs no introduction. He is one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, a titan of the game.

He dovetailed into Jurgen Klopp’s exciting team and reinforced it with steel. He was the mortar which filled in the cracks and created a superteam.

Big boots to fill, but Guehi has been extensively profiled and could emulate the Netherlands man by arriving at the season’s midpoint, providing that dearly desired relief.

After such incredible success in recent years, it is staggering that Liverpool have plummeted so far beneath their expected level. This borders on a crisis, and one signing won’t stop the rot for good, but Guehi has the combative, confident defensive style to help put the Reds back on track, with his quality in the build-up something that Konate simply doesn’t possess.

It’s Van Dijk-esque, and given that Guehi would be arriving in January after previous attempts to sign him, this could have the much-needed echoes of that euphoric deal.

Fewer touches than Alisson & only 2 passes: Liverpool flop must be dropped

Arne Slot has a huge call to make about one player after his showing for Liverpool last night.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 4, 2025

Liverpool are reportedly ready to seek inspiration from a familiar face if Premier League title-winning manager Arne Slot is relieved of his coaching duties at Anfield. With the Reds struggling for consistency in the 2025-26 campaign, and Mohamed Salah cutting a frustrated figure, Steven Gerrard is seeing a stunning return to Merseyside speculated on.

• Klopp also being linked with Anfield return

  Jurgen Klopp has already seen an emotional retracing of steps to Liverpool mooted, with the German having stepped down as Reds boss in the summer of 2024. He saw his successor, Dutch tactician Slot, deliver title glory during a memorable debut campaign.

  The wheels have fallen off since then, though, with the Liverpool bandwagon not rolling as freely as it once was. A bright start to the current season saw a number of late goals recorded, with those efforts papering over some alarming cracks.

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  Points dropped & Salah strop: Why Slot is under pressure

  The Reds have suffered six defeats through 15 top-flight fixtures this season, while also enduring humbling reversals in Champions League competition against Galatasaray and PSV. Two more points were dropped from a commanding position last time out during a dramatic 3-3 draw at Leeds.

  After that contest, Egyptian superstar Salah – who has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s last three games and saw no minutes at Elland Road – came out and aimed a stunning blast at a club that he has represented with distinction across eight glittering years.

  Salah has accused the Reds of throwing him under the bus during a difficult season, while admitting that his working relationship with Slot has broken down. Transfer talk is now raging again around the 250-goal icon who only signed a new two-year contract back in April.

• Return of a legend: Gerrard considered as interim boss

  All was happy in the Liverpool camp back then, but Slot and hisunderperforming players are now facing some uncomfortable questions. The man calling the shots has maintained that he boasts the full support of his board.

  Slot has said when asked if he boasts backing there: “Yeah but not in the sense that they tell me every single minute ‘we support you’, ‘we support you’, ‘we support you’.” We talk a lot. If we are winning, last season, and if we are losing. And then they are helpful to me, to the team.

  “So yeah, we do have those conversations, but they don’t call me in every single minute of the day to tell me that they still trust me. We do have the normal conversations and in those conversations I feel the trust.”

  It remains to be seen whether the Liverpool hierarchy continue to support Slot or start to consider a change in the dugout. According to , some thought has been given to another fresh start.

  It is claimed that “Steven Gerrard is under consideration to step in on an interim basis if Arne Slot is sacked”. If such a move were to happen, then a stunning homecoming would be taken in by the legendary former Reds captain.

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  Gerrard career: Anfield icon & mixed managerial record

  Merseyside native Gerrard took in 710 appearances for Liverpool in his playing days, scoring 186 goals while lifting Champions League and FA Cup honours. He is considered to be a GOAT by many at Anfield.

  The 45-year-old would be available to step in if required by the Reds to take their reins on an interim basis through to the end of the 2025-26 season. That is because his own managerial career is currently on hold.

  He started out in style when leading Rangers to Scottish Premiership title glory in 2020-21, but has since found the going tough at Premier League side Aston Villa and in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq.

  Gerrard’s spell in the Middle East came to a close in January. He has returned to punditry duty since then, while turning down the chance to head back to Ibrox. Any opportunity to return to his roots would be much tougher to snub, with Liverpool still mulling over whether an SOS call needs to be sounded.

The once-white-hot Chicago Cubs have been playing rather docile baseball as of late—they entered Thursday just 5-5 in their last 10 games.

However, they received some good news as a crucial piece of their collective puzzle returned Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs activated pitcher Shota Imanaga from the 15-day injured list and watched him pitch five shutout innings against the Cardinals.

Imanaga, 31, had been out since May 4 with a left hamstring strain. He is 3-2 on the season with a 2.83 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.

To make room for Imanaga, Chicago designated pitcher Michael Fulmer for assignment. The 32-year-old has bounced around the big leagues since an excellent mid-2010s debut that saw him win the American League's Rookie of the Year award in 2016. He was named an All-Star with the Detroit Tigers in 2017.

The Cubs are currently 47-33; they lead the Milwaukee Brewers by 2.5 games in the National League Central Division.