Ireland have named five potential debutants in their 15-man Test squad to tour Bangladesh next month, while Mark Adair and Josh Little are fit to return for the T20I series that follows.Ireland were without their two senior seam bowlers for the recent T20Is against England but have received a boost to their preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup with both available for Paul Stirling’s side. Adair underwent knee surgery in August, while Little had been suffering from a side injury.The Test leg will see Ireland play a multi-match series for only the second time. Top-order batters Cade Carmichael and Stephen Doheny, allrounder Jordan Neill and left-arm seamer Liam McCarthy have all received maiden call-ups, while legspinner Gavin Hoey, who is uncapped in Tests, also returns to the squad.They will be captained by Andy Balbirnie, with Ireland having won their last three Tests dating back to February 2024.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Andrew White, Ireland Men’s selector, said: “It is fantastic to have Test cricket on the horizon again – and with that we are excited to see Cade Carmichael come into the Test squad following his ODI debut against the West Indies earlier this year.”Not only has he had a great season, but he has also demonstrated the qualities required to be an international cricketer in this format. Cade compiled an excellent century against Afghanistan A in a four-day match in the UAE earlier this year, and anyone watching his two ODI appearances against West Indies will have noticed his composure and his technical ability against quick bowling.”Stephen Doheny is another player who has had a good domestic season and demonstrated a number of technical changes that we hope will enable him to be successful going forward.”It is likely that we will need all of our seamers across the back-to-back Tests. Given the recent number of injuries we have been managing, and the volume of cricket in the coming months, we will need to proactively manage the group in what will undoubtedly be hot and humid conditions. This is only the second time we have played consecutive Tests as part of a tour – it’s a challenge I know the squad will relish as they adapt to Asian conditions.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20I squad is broadly similar to that which played against England, with the additions of Adair, Little and batter Tim Tector. Neill and seamer Graham Hume were omitted.”In terms of the T20 squad, the likelihood is that spin will play a more prominent role – so Gareth Delany, Matthew Humphreys and Ben White are expected to provide options in this area,” White said. “And with Mark Adair and Josh Little returning to the squad, Graham Hume makes way on this occasion.”On the batting front, the 15-player squad allows us to bring in Tim Tector while retaining Ben Calitz to give us middle-order depth.”

Ireland Test squad

Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Curtis Campher, Cade Carmichael, Stephen Doheny, Gavin Hoey, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Liam McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Jordan Neill, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young

Ireland T20I squad

Paul Stirling (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

Fixtures

November 11-15 – 1st Test, Sylhet
November 19-23 – 2nd Test, Dhaka
November 27 – 1st T20I, Chattogram
November 29 – 2nd T20I, Chattogram
December 2 – 3rd T20I, Dhaka

A dominant 4-0 win for Stuttgart in the Europa League was overshadowed by controversy after Go Ahead Eagles forward Victor Edvardsen mocked Angelo Stiller with an offensive gesture, sparking backlash and a brief on-field scuffle. While Wesley Sneijder condemned the act as “absolutely unacceptable,” Stuttgart downplayed the incident and strengthened their push for a top-eight finish.

• Edvardsen mocks Stiller in Stuttgart's win over Eagles

  What should have been a routine European fixture turned volatile in the 73rd minute when Go Ahead Eagles substitute Edvardsen fouled Atakan Karazor before provoking Stiller with a mocking gesture, repeatedly pointing at his nose. The moment ignited chaos. Stuttgart players immediately confronted the Swede, a scuffle broke out, and referee Mohammed Al-Hakim struggled to restore order amid shoving, shouting and rising tempers.

  Stiller himself was visibly furious, arguing with Edvardsen and the referee before both players were cautioned. The tension briefly halted the flow of the game, but its emotional weight lingered. Former Dutch star Sneijder, working as an pundit for , condemned the act sharply: “I find it sad. Such things are absolutely unacceptable.” His words echoed the dominant sentiment across social media, where the clip spread rapidly.

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  Stuttgart refuses to escalate matters amid Stiller incident

  Despite the incident’s intensity, Stuttgart chose restraint as their official stance. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth, speaking after the match, declined to fuel the controversy further.

  "I saw it, but from a distance it was still difficult for me to assess. It's about Europa League points for Deventer just as it is for us," he said. "So if emotions are running high and then quickly subside, and the referee takes the right measures, then it's not all that big of a deal. Therefore, everything's fine."

  Stuttgart’s intention was to move past the flashpoint quickly, focusing instead on their strong European campaign. Stiller, substituted in the 80th minute, received visible support from teammates, and the squad regained composure almost instantly.

  After five matches in the Europa League, the Bundesliga club stand 12th in the table with three wins and two defeats. However, the differences in points aren't much with top spot holder Lyon on 12 points while Stuttgart are on nine.

• Stuttgart demolish Go Ahead Eagles in important Europa clash

  The team delivered one of their most complete European performances of the season, dismantling the Go Ahead Eagles 4-0 at De Adelaarshorst. Jamie Leweling opened the scoring in the 20th minute after pouncing on a defensive error, then doubled the lead at the 35-minute mark with a composed finish. Bilal El Khannouss extended the advantage in the 59th minute, and Badredine Bouanani sealed the result deep into stoppage time.

  The win moved Stuttgart to nine points pushing them back into contention for a Europa League top-eight finish. Their broader season only strengthens the optimism: Stuttgart sit fifth in the Bundesliga with seven wins from 11 matches.

  The team also continue to rely heavily on Stiller, whose evolution into one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders is becoming impossible to ignore. Even amid transfer speculation, Wohlgemuth maintains composure.

  “He has a contract with us. It’s far too early to speculate about that… Of course, one or two clubs will have had their eye on him. He's having an outstanding season. Maybe he'll even play in a World Cup, we'll see. We're happy he's with us."

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  What comes next for Stuttgart?

  Stuttgart's form across competitions suggests a squad capable not only of competing but also of evolving into a consistent presence in major continental fixtures with clash against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on December 6.

  For Stiller, his storyline remains one of the season’s most intriguing subplots. Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, and Premier League clubs continue to monitor him closely. Yet Stuttgart insist they will handle the growing interest without distraction. Internally, they acknowledge the attention is natural given the midfielder’s exceptional season, but outwardly they maintain a steady, controlled approach.

Moises Caicedo has set himself the challenge of becoming a deadlier defensive midfielder by adding goals and assists to his game, despite shouts that the Chelsea superstar is the best player in the world in his position. The 24-year-old has started justifying his £115 million price tag after becoming a destructive ball-winner and one of the leaders of this young Chelsea team.

Caicedo beginning to justify £115m price tag

Caicedo was signed by Chelsea from Brighton in 2023 in a then-record British transfer fee worth £115 million (€130m/$152m). Just 21 at the time, Caicedo initially struggled to live up to the lofty expectations set after the money spent by Chelsea. As has become the norm in the world of social media, the ex-Independiente prodigy was quickly labelled a 'flop', particularly from a large section of Arsenal and Liverpool fans online after he had turned down their advances the same summer to join the Blues. 

However, as the season progressed and he gained rhythm, he started delivering impactful performances from the middle of the park. At the start of the 2024-25 season, he was even handed the captain's armband against Servette in a Conference League fixture, a slap in the face of the naysayers and evidence of his growing stature within the Chelsea dressing room. He finished the season with Conference League and Club World Cup titles. He was also the only Chelsea player to feature in all 38 Premier League games, as Enzo Maresca guided his team to a top-four finish in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. 

This season, his star has only shone brighter. He has become perhaps the first name on the team sheet under Maresca and has rubber-stamped his credentials as one of the best midfielders in Europe, if not the best. Most recently, he delivered a gargantuan performance from midfield in the 3-0 hammering of Barcelona in the Champions League. At just 24 years old, one can only wonder how scary he would look as a player when he enters his prime, which is still a few years away.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCaicedo wants to become even better

Despite all the plaudits he has been routinely receiving for his standout displays, Caicedo is firmly of the belief that there's a lot more he can do. In his humble opinion, he doesn't believe he's the best in the business.

"No," Caicedo told when asked if he is the best defensive midfielder in the world. "So many [players are better than me]. I don't want to say to the world that I'm the best because there’s no truth to that. In my mind, I'm the best version of myself, if you know what I mean? It's different when you say you are the best in the world to the world. 

"There are so many good players in my position. I'm doing my best. But I need to show more because I feel like I can do more. With goals, with assists, I can feel it. I know I play in a position where I help the centre-backs, but I can do more." 

He then referenced one of the plays during the 1-0 win over Spurs in October, in which he laid an assist for Joao Pedro's only goal of the game after some monstrous defensive work.

"You saw against Tottenham? I believed I could get that ball back, then I did, then I made an assist. I can do that in every single game. I believe in myself and, for sure, I'm going to do it."

Is he better than Declan Rice? Caicedo answers

A debate as to who's the best midfielder in the Premier League is slowly brewing up. Caicedo is right up there in that conversation, but so is Arsenal star Declan Rice, who has been integral to the Gunners' title charge early on this season. 

"Declan, everybody knows how good he is," Caicedo said of his counterpart. "It will be a great battle, me and him. It's very nice, very special and like he said, we play in different positions.

"People compare him and myself but I'm so happy he's doing really well. I enjoy watching him play because he's so good. I want to play against the best defensive and attacking midfielders in the world and he's one of them. I'm waiting. It’s nice that people compare us, but we are not fighting. He wants to do well. I’m going to fight. I’m ready. Everybody is ready. I’m looking forward to it."

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Getty Images SportCaicedo confident of bringing Arsenal down to earth

Mikel Arteta's men are currently on a 16-game unbeaten streak, which has seen them earn a healthy six-point lead over Chelsea in the race for the league title and has firmly established their status as one of the favourites for the Champions League. They remain the only side in the competition to win all five games. 

Caicedo is not too fazed by the challenge the Premier League table-toppers will pose when they visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday. "Why not?" the 24-year-old replied when asked if his team could humble Arteta's troops. "They are doing really well, but we haven’t faced them yet."

Arsenal defeated rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the North London Derby, and there was some controversy on display during a pulsating affair, with one particular matter piquing the interest of Mark Goldbridge.

The Gunners went into the clash knowing that a victory would put them six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, while Spurs had the opportunity to move into the top four.

On this occasion, Mikel Arteta was able to claim a valuable triumph against Thomas Frank’s side, beginning with a deflected Leandro Trossard strike before Eberechi Eze enhanced his reputation as a Gunners’ fan favourite with a brace at the Emirates Stadium, the second of which coming just after the interval.

Spurs rallied in the second half, and Richarlison’s long-range strike caught out David Raya in stunning fashion. However, the home side had already done more than enough to secure the victory beforehand, keeping their charge for the title well and truly on track.

Eze completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, earning derby folklore status after joining Arsenal despite interest from Tottenham during the summer window to complete a 4-1 rout.

Next time out, Arsenal face the small matter of taking on Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium, pitting two of Europe’s heavyweights against each other in the capital on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Tottenham face the unenviable task of going to Paris Saint-Germain, presenting a challenge of great might against the reigning Champions League holders.

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Thrills and spills underpinned another pulsating affair between both sides, though it wasn’t an evening that was short of controversy, which is usually the case with both sides fighting tooth and nail for local bragging rights.

With that in mind, Goldbridge took to social media to point out something he believes VAR missed during a dramatic affair at the home of the Gunners.

Mark Goldbridge takes aim at VAR during Arsenal vs Spurs

Taking to X, Goldbridge took issue with Eze’s first goal being allowed after two Arsenal players were in the line of Guglielmlo Vicario’s sight as he struck sweetly into the bottom corner.

In theory, Goldbridge has a point, given that Virgil Van Dijk saw a goal ruled out in similar circumstances during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City before the international break.

Nevertheless, there is an argument to be had as to whether either player is actually preventing Vicario from saving Eze’s strike, something that is likely to dominate headlines over the next few days after a momentous victory for the Gunners.

Either way, Arsenal appear to be in fine fettle and have taken command of their mission to claim a first Premier League title since 2004, which is becoming more likely with every passing week.

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Fernando Diniz não foi poupado de críticas após o empate do Fluminense em 2 a 2 diante do Red Bull Bragantino neste sábado (13), no Maracanã, pela primeira rodada do Brasileirão 2024. Na web, torcedores do clube das Laranjeiras demonstraram insatisfação com o treinador depois do apito final.

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As principais reclamações dos tricolores são direcionadas a escolhas de Diniz tanto na escalação quanto nas substituições. A opção de escalar Martinelli mais uma vez como zagueiro e a fragilidade do sistema defensivo do Fluminense na temporada. Contra o Bragantino, o time sofreu dois gols de bolas aéreas em um espaço de seis minutos.

Confira algumas declarações de torcedores do Fluminense sobre Fernando Diniz após a partida contra o Bragantino.

Após o empate diante do Bragantino, o Fluminense volta a campo na próxima terça-feira (16), às 21h30. A equipe enfrenta o Bahia fora de casa, na Arena Fonte Nova, pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão 2024.

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Philadelphia Phillies star first baseman Bryce Harper left Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves after he took a 95-mph fastball from Spencer Strider off the elbow. X-rays were negative and he was officially ruled day-to-day with a right elbow contusion.

Harper missed his third straight game Friday as the Phillies kicked off a home weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, he provided an update on his recovery, which still has an uncertain timeline.

"Still super sore," Harper said Friday via NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Obviously doing treatment. Not sure when I'm gonna play again. He hit me in a pretty bad spot. The swelling's gone down, which is good, but it's a pretty tough spot where he got me. Just trying to be smart about it."

Phillies manager Rob Thomson and Harper both said they don't think a stint on the injured list is necessary and he'll remain day-to-day for the time being. Harper took ground balls before the Phillies faced the Brewers Friday, but has yet to swing a bat since the injury.

"We'll have to see [when he can return]," Thomson said via the . "We have to get the swelling out and him be pain free, or close to it."

Harper is slashing .267/.375/.450 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs through 54 games this season as the Phillies sit atop the NL East at 36-21.

Aaron Civale's second season with the Milwaukee Brewers could potentially be his last.

Civale has made five starts for the team this year but was recently demoted to a bullpen role after the Brewers promoted top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski to the big leagues. Misiorowski took over Civale's spot in the rotation, leaving the 30-year-old right-hander frustrated with his new role.

According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of , Civale has requested a trade from Milwaukee in the aftermath of his demotion to the bullpen. The 30-year-old has never made a relief appearance during the regular season throughout his seven-year career, having started all 122 games he's played in.

Rosenthal reports that Milwaukee is "exploring its options" when it comes to potentially trading Civale, though nothing appears to be imminent. This season, Civale owns a 4.91 ERA with 19 strikeouts and seven walks across 22 innings on the mound. He missed nearly two full months of the season from late March until May while dealing with a strained left hamstring, having returned from IL on May 22.

Civale was only acquired by the Brewers last season at the MLB trade deadline in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, but could already be heading toward the exit door after just 19 total appearances for the organization.

Time was when a trip to Anfield was like stepping into your own personal horror movie. Liverpool have spent much time planting the seeds of fear on their home turf, and Jurgen Klopp made that garden grow.

Then Arne Slot put on the gloves and helped Liverpool evolve into an even smoother and more stylish outfit than when Klopp departed, taking the Reds through the campaign and out the other end with a Premier League title in tow.

But that’s no longer the case. This season, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven have all beaten Liverpool on Merseyside. This sanctum of stability has been reduced to just another ground, and Slot has to fix that quickly if he is to continue his project over the coming years.

Liverpool might have avoided defeat at home to Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the point gained merely papers over the glaring problems that have left many fans shaking their heads at the false dawn at West Ham United last weekend.

It was a performance which left plenty to be desired.

How Liverpool performed vs Sunderland

After the draw, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris spoke of his surprise that his side were afforded so much time and space to play through Liverpool and carve out opportunities in the danger area.

There lies the crux of Liverpool’s problems. They are too weak and brittle, not just suffering from a soft underbelly but a doughy outer shell too.

Alexander Isak toiled in the final third, a few wayward strikes illustrating the record signing’s lack of sharpness. However, it is inconceivable that FSG should have spent around £200m on the Swede and Hugo Ekitike only for Slot to implement a system that cuts off pathways to the central strikers.

Some will take encouragement from the home side’s gear-raising final flurry, seeking out a winner after the fleet feet of Florian Wirtz led to a Nordi Mukiele own goal to restore parity.

But Liverpool are not just shorn of confidence but tactical fluency too. Slot’s strategising across the 2024/25 campaign earned him a reputation for being a “genius” and a “football scientist”, as remarked by Dutch legend Marco van Basten.

Gone is that air about the former Feyenoord boss. Against the Black Cats, Liverpool secured a hard-earned point to narrow the gap on Chelsea after their defeat at Leeds United. Elland Road is where Liverpool head next.

But imbalances and erraticness have become indivisible for the champions this season, whose title defence is in tatters and whose players have fallen by the wayside.

Ibrahima Konate was culpable of some shaky moments, as has so often been the case this term, but there was another Redman who struggled against Sunderland, leading observers to suggest he has morphed into that late version of Fabinho.

Liverpool star looks "like Fabinho in his final season"

Alexis Mac Allister has been abject this season, so far removed from the “superstar” of a midfielder, as said by pundit Joe Cole, who influenced Klopp and then Slot’s trophy-winning campaigns of recent years at Liverpool.

Having spoken about this testing start to the season earlier this week, Mac Allister suggested that he is now back to full fitness after missing out on pre-season and suffering early injury issues. But this was a performance that left much to be desired, underlining the drop-off that is suggestive of a player whose athleticism has gone walkabouts.

Against Sunderland, the 26-year-old failed to impress. Again. He was so slow and stodgy on the ball, and while he won both of his tackles and three of five contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, no chances were created by a player who need to do more and remind the Premier League of his all-encompassing skillset.

Alexis Mac Allister in the Premier League

Stats (per 90)

24/25

25/26

Goals

0.17

0.00

Assists

0.17

0.20

Touches

64.41

64.04

Pass completion (%)

83.5

85.4

Shot-creating actions

4.16

2.73

Progressive passes

6.13

4.34

Progressive carries

1.25

1.72

Successful take-ons

0.55

0.40

Recoveries

5.13

4.14

Tackles won

2.01

0.61

Interceptions

0.76

0.61

Aerials won

0.66

0.51

Data via FBref

After the draw, one content creator even said Mac Allister “looks like Fabinho in his final season”, having “physically fallen off a cliff”.

Fabinho was a stalwart for the club over an illustrious period of Klopp-led success, but he did indeed succumb to a loss of aggression and physicality at the end, at the epicentre of Liverpool’s abject 2022/23 campaign.

This feels similar. The only difference is that Mac Allister is supposed to be stepping into the prime of his career, and is instead languishing so far below expectations it beggars belief.

Can Slot spark a turnaround? Should the Dutchman do so, it feels like Mac Allister will be needed in fine and sustainable fettle, and that has been anything but the case over the past several months.

Mac Allister has been terrible, but his struggles are symptomatic of the wider tactical and mental plague that has spread across Slot’s system this season.

It’s not good enough. It needs to change. Mac Allister is 26, but already he is starting to look like the leggy version of Fabinho, who was sold to Saudi Arabia has Klopp began a midfield rebuild that started with Mac Allister’s signature.

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Crystal Palace may have a big decision to make in the January transfer window, with it being revealed Real Madrid are preparing a bid for one of their key players.

Palace fighting for European qualification

Palace have taken major strides under the helm of Oliver Glasner, winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history last season, which granted qualification for the Europa Conference League, and they are now knocking on the door to make it to Europe once again.

The Eagles are flying high in the Premier League, currently sitting in fourth, moving into the Champions League places as a result of a 2-1 victory away at Fulham last time out.

Adam Wharton once again put in a top-quality performance, assisting Eddie Nketiah’s opening goal, with the Englishman attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

Real Madrid have also been named as potential suitors for Wharton in the past, but he is not the only Crystal Palace star of interest to the Champions League club, according to a report from Spain, which states they are now preparing a €40m (£35m) offer for Marc Guehi.

Guehi has been identified as the ideal target for the Spanish side, who are looking to bring in a new centre-back in the January transfer window, given that Éder Militão is set to spend up to four months on the treatment table.

The Eagles will have a big decision to make in the January transfer window, given that Glasner has already made it clear Guehi wants to leave in 2026, and they are currently at risk of losing him on a free transfer in the summer.

Palace sanctioning Guehi's departure would be major risk

Palace currently have a real opportunity to make more history this season, given that they are currently in the Champions League places, and letting their captain leave next month would jeopardise their chances of finishing in the top four.

The England international has been Glasner’s most consistent performer in the Premier League this season, averaging a 7.40 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player in the squad.

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The 25-year-old has averaged 2.03 tackles per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile compared to other centre-backs, while he has also displayed his attacking qualities, picking up two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.

Although it may be difficult to resist a big January bid for Guehi, given that he is set to leave in the summer, Crystal Palace should resist any approaches and keep the centre-back until the end of the season.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is expected to have retained the backing of FSG after a woeful start to the 2025/26 campaign, but the credit chequed into the bank is fast depleting as the champions flatter to deceive on the problem-solving front.

Soft, slow and stodgy, this is not the Liverpool we know. Slot’s Liverpool, last year, were a dangerous beast, so incisive and unforgiving as they secured toward the Premier League title.

But, nine losses from 14 matches in all competitions and just two wins from nine in the top flight have eradicated any hopes of challenging Arsenal for the trophy this season.

And it’s put Slot’s job on the line.

Why Liverpool could sack Arne Slot

Liverpool managed to avoid defeat at home against Sunderland on Wednesday evening, but the 1-1 draw, secured when Florian Wirtz’s fleet footwork forced an own goal from Nordi Mukiele late on, smacked of desperation.

You would be hard pressed to delineate Liverpool’s tactical identity under Slot’s wing this season. Their shape in the build-up. Their pressing patterns and attacking strategies.

It is damning that so much has been spent on strikers like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, and that number nine is a barren patch at Anfield, with the supply line proving ineffective.

Wirtz needs to do better, but there’s no question that he’s a world-class talent with so much potential yet untapped.

However, this breadth of quality at Slot’s disposal means he simply has to work out a formula for results and impressive performances, with both in short supply.

If the Dutch tactician fails to get a tune out of this squad of elite, big-money players, he will eventually be dismissed by FSG, who might already have their sights set on a replacement.

The perfect Slot replacement at Liverpool

Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes know they and Liverpool’s wider project will lose face if they have to dismiss Slot, but if push comes to shove, they might just do so if it means they can appoint Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

Alonso, 44, acheived unprecedented success with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga as undefeated champions in 2023/24, claiming the DFB-Pokal title too.

This road led to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Spaniard joining the club he played so much football for during his playing career this summer.

However, Alonso also has quite the connection with Anfield, and given the troubles that are plaguing Los Blancos at the moment, FSG may well be primed to pounce if an opportunity to appoint this exciting Slot replacement materialises.

Liverpool did explore a move for Alonso after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be stepping down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but he was in the thick of his Leverkusen tenure and did not feel the time for a step-up was right.

His 3-4-2-1 formation is unconventional, but Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has shown that such a set-up can work out in the Premier League, when in the right hands.

Real Madrid

26

2.35

Bayer Leverkusen

140

2.14

Real Sociedad B

98

1.46

Given that Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong worked under him in Germany, hitting such staggering heights, it could also prove the perfect appointment to get the best out of Liverpool’s immensely talented playmaker.

Wirtz, 22, has not hit the ground running at Liverpool, but the system has hardly opened its arms for such a player. In fact, most of Liverpool’s top players have foundered this season.

Even so, the German international ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Alonso will surely get a tune out of a player he described as “a genius” during their time with Die Werkself.

Wirtz once said that “working with Alonso is a dream”. He lived that dream, and he may do so again before long, with the Spanish manager sure to be at the top of FSG’s wishlist, if Slot is indeed sacked in the coming months.

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