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Liverpool were left furious after Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header against Manchester City was ruled out for offside, despite Andy Robertson not touching the ball. The Dutchman thought he had equalised from a Mohamed Salah corner, but VAR sided with the on-field officials. And here's why Arne Slot's team did not end up getting a goal that could have had a big impact on the game.

Van Dijk goal ruled off in Man City loss

Liverpool were denied what they believed to be a legitimate equaliser in the first half of their Premier League clash with City at Etihad Stadium. After falling behind to Erling Haaland’s opener, Van Dijk met a corner from Salah and directed a powerful header past Gianluigi Donnarumma, seemingly restoring parity for the visitors. The Liverpool captain sprinted away in celebration, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short the jubilation.

Robertson was deemed to be in an offside position during the play, standing just a yard from Donnarumma inside the six-yard box. Although the Scotland international made no contact with the ball and attempted to duck out of its flight path, VAR confirmed that his movement was enough to interfere with the goalkeeper’s ability to play the ball. The Premier League’s Match Centre later clarified that Robertson’s proximity constituted “an obvious action which impacted an opponent’s ability to play the ball,” meaning the goal could not stand.

The decision proved divisive, particularly as Donnarumma appeared unlikely to have reached the header regardless of Robertson’s position. While City took advantage of the reprieve and doubled their lead before the interval, Liverpool’s players were left visibly frustrated — with Arne Slot animatedly remonstrating with the officials on the touchline. It was a key moment in a match where fine margins once again played a decisive role.

AdvertisementFans fume at VAR's offside decision

@TheKopWatch commented on X: "Side netting. GK is getting nowhere near it. Robertson doesn’t block his view of the ball. How on earth is that disallowed?"

@markgoldbridge wrote: "Got to say that is a joke. Keeper is at full stretch and Robertson isn't interfering with play. Another shocker."

@Abdulba71267148 fumed: "Complete robbery."

@JonnyGibson33 explained: "He's miles away from the keeper the ball, literally moving away from the goal and then ducks. Incredible decision."

@holly82649091 claimed: "They want a title race between Arsenal and City."

@mo11salahh took shots at the inconsistency: "Bernardo Silva against Wolves last season. Robertson against city this season. Man City goal given. Liverpool goal NOT given."

Getty Images SportWas Robertson actually in Donnarumma's 'line of sight'?

The controversy stems from Law 11 of the FA’s rules on offside, which outlines that a player can be penalised even without touching the ball if they “make an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”. In this instance, Robertson’s quick duck to avoid Van Dijk’s header was deemed an “obvious action”. Officials concluded that his proximity to Donnarumma caused hesitation in the goalkeeper’s movement, constituting interference.

The Premier League’s post-match explanation described Robertson as being “in an offside position directly in front of the goalkeeper”. However, replays suggested the full-back was actually slightly to Donnarumma’s left, leading to debate over whether the “line of sight” element of the rule applied. While Robertson’s motion to evade the ball was instinctive, officials interpreted it as influencing Donnarumma’s reaction, and therefore as active involvement in the play.

The controversy reignited broader frustrations over VAR’s inconsistency in judging offside interference. Similar incidents in previous seasons have seen goals allowed when players appeared to obstruct goalkeepers, further blurring the line between passive and active involvement.

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VAR continues to split fans on a weekly basis

The fallout from the disallowed goal is likely to continue, with Liverpool supporters and pundits demanding greater clarity from the Premier League’s officiating body. While the decision may have adhered to the letter of the law, the interpretation will once again draw criticism for its subjectivity — particularly in high-stakes fixtures like this one.

City, meanwhile, took full advantage of Liverpool’s deflation, controlling the tempo in the second half to preserve their lead and maintain their unbeaten home record.

It didn’t take long for Game 1 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers to produce its first gaffe.

At the bottom of the first inning, Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo turned what might have been a single into a triple for Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman after misfielding the ball. 

Freeman hit the ball down the left field line, causing Verdugo to chase it down. It looked like Verdugo slipped in the process and couldn’t play the ball cleanly. Freeman, who is reportedly still dealing with a lingering ankle injury, was thus able to round the bases and leg out a triple.

To make matters worse, cameras caught Verdugo blowing a bubble with his gum just as he committed the mistake.

Fans roasted Verdugo for his embarrassing move.

Yankees' Gerrit Cole was able to keep the Dodgers off the board after Freeman's triple, and the game remained tied, 0–0, after the first inning.

Manchester United have finally found the solution to their goalkeeper issue. Over the last few years, dating back to the end of David de Gea’s final couple of seasons, there were too many errors made by the Red Devils’ shot stoppers.

Andre Onana was signed by Erik ten Hag as De Gea’s replacement, but he constantly struggled, and his long-term number two, Altay Bayndir, also has his frailties.

Onana made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League and Europa League last term, as per Sofascore, while Bayindir has made two from just ten top-flight outings in total for United.

Thus, the Old Trafford side signed Senne Lammens this summer, who has since gone on to start two games. His debut against Sunderland showed great promise, and he performed well away to Liverpool.

There have been some real standout moments from Lammens so far in just two games.

Lammens’ key moments for United so far

It has been a superb start for Lammens since breaking into the first team at Old Trafford. He kept a clean sheet on debut and managed to keep the likes of Alexander Isak at bay in the hostile atmosphere that is Anfield.

On his debut, he made some big saves. He pushed a well-struck effort from Granit Xhaka wide and did well to narrow the angle on Chemsdine Talbi’s effort, which he promptly saved.

Teammate Mason Mount said he was “solid” on his first start.

His second appearance saw him pull off a few more great saves, but he did something else integral to help United secure a famous Anfield victory. His execution of Ruben Amorim’s game plan was spot on.

Against the Reds, Amorim asked his new goalkeeper to go long when he had the ball. United aimed to win second balls and get at Liverpool, which worked perfectly for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener.

Lammens was pinpoint with his long passing, pulling the Liverpool centre-backs apart and helping United nail a plan which won them the game.

The Belgian has made a huge impression at Old Trafford already. Competition for places could soon be great, with one on-loan United star a player who could really challenge him.

Man Utd loan star can rival Lammens

There are a fair few goalkeepers on United’s books at the moment. Lammens has cemented himself as the number one under Amorim, Bayndir is his backup, and Tom Heaton is the third choice. Onana will return next season, too, as he is only on loan at Trabzonspor.

However, someone who could really force his way into the reckoning is Radek Vitek. The 21-year-old Czech Republic star is currently on loan at Bristol City in the Championship, where he is shining.

He’s played 11 games so far for the Robins and has an impressive record already. He’s only conceded 11 goals in that time, keeping four clean sheets and winning their player of the month award for August.

The United academy star has pulled off some excellent saves, too. This one against Hull City was arguably his best, diving low to his right with cat-like reflexes and tipping it away from goal.

It was a superb piece of athleticism.

The numbers from Vitek’s time in the West Country further highly Vitek’s talent. He has a save percentage of 75% so far in the Championship, and averages 4.3 completed long passes each game, too.

Saves

3

33

Save percentage

75%

75%

Passes completed

14.1

155

Long passes completed

4.3

47

Clean sheets

4

0.4

It will be fascinating to see how Vitek fits in at United. Red Devils correspondent for the Daily Mail, Nathan Salt, said he is “about to rocket” in 2025/26, and it is easy to see why.

It has been an impressive start from the Czech shot-stopper.

Lammens has made a fantastic start to life in Red, but he will have good competition in the next 12 months if these sorts of performances continue. Indeed, with the consistency Vitek is showing this term, there is easily a case to be made that he is even better than the Belgian.

Amorim might one day be in the unenviable position of having to pick between the two. Certainly, Vitek’s form this term will do his United career no harm.

Amorim has unlocked the new Bruno Fernandes in "world-class" Man Utd star

Manchester United already have a player on the books who can emulate Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 22, 2025

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has backed Lamine Yamal to find his best form despite an ongoing groin problem. The German also looked to diffuse any further disagreement between La Blaugrana and the Spanish national setup, sharing his belief that Luis de la Fuente's coaching staff will "take care" of the 18-year-old superstar when he hooks up with La Roja for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

Yamal's niggling groin injury a cause for debate

The wonderkid has missed seven games this season due to pubalgia; a chronic injury that comes from a tear to the small tissue in the groin or lower abdomen. While he has returned to the starting lineup in the past few weeks, Barcelona were without their young superstar for the majority of September, with Yamal also missing a La Liga tie against Sevilla in early October due to a recurrence of the injury. Flick's comments would suggest his young star is close to being back to his scintillating best. 

Yamal's selection for Spain's upcoming fixtures against Georgia and Turkey set up a fractious exchange between club and country, with Flick previously suggesting the Spanish federation (RFEF) had previously failed to look after young stars. 

De La Fuente bristled at that idea, pointing out that the winger has started his previous six games for the Catalonian club,  saying the winger is in "perfect condition." 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick calls on RFEF to protect Yamal

Speaking ahead of Barcelona's Sunday night fixture against Celta Vigo, Flick said: "I ask the same of the national team we're making here: that they take care of him. He's changed, he's much better, he's training very well, he does daily treatment in the gym.

"He can return to his best level, he's not at one hundred percent yet. We have to take care of him, here and with the national team. And I think they're doing that too."

Yamal still performing at a high level despite injuries

A recurring soft tissue injury is obviously a cause for concern, but not necessarily a surprise for a young player that has played an extraordinary number of games before his 19th birthday. Yamal has been able to rack up 116 games for La Blaugrana without any real injury concerns. 

Despite his problems this term, he has continued to perform at a high level, scoring five goals and logging six assists in 10 performances for Barcelona this season. He was instrumental in saving his side's blushes in midweek, setting up a goal and bagging one of his own in the Catalonian club's disappointing 3-3 draw away to Club Brugge in the Champions League. 

Reports in Spain also hinted at the Ballon d'Or runner up being unhappy at Camp Nou due to his injury issues, but he dismissed such fears after the midweek match, saying: "There has been a lot of talk about my groin injury, about me being sad, and it was all lies. I was the same as always, I was very happy, I was focused on my work, trying to get back to work and be able to play at this level, which is how I feel best and how I enjoy myself most."

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AFPInternational duty beckons for Yamal

As De La Fuente has pointed out, Yamal has had a consistent run in the starting lineup of Flick's side of late. He will almost certainly be included from the off against Celta Vigo this weekend, before heading off for international duty. 

Spain currently sit top of their group, winning all four of their games without conceding a goal. They can all but secure qualification to next summer's World Cup in North America with a win away against Turkey on November 15. That would require Turkiye to overturn a mammoth goal difference on November 18, provided they can beat Bulgaria. 

Should Spain beat Georgia, it will be interesting to see if De La Fuente will play the 18-year-old, or try to smooth out relations with Barcelona by resting Yamal. 

Both spinners had identical figures of 4-0-21-3 to restrict Dubai Capitals to 141

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2025BBL champions Hobart Hurricanes started their GSL 2025 campaign with a thumping win over ILT20 winners Dubai Capitals in Providence. Their comfortable seven-wicket win was set up by the 78-run second-wicket stand between Macalister Wright (50) and the captain Ben McDermott (48). Hurricanes chased the target down with 18 balls to spare.That Hurricanes needed only 142 to win, though, was courtesy their spin bowlers Fabian Allen and Mohammad Nabi. The two finished with identical figures of 4-0-21-3.McDermott introduced Nabi inside the powerplay of the first innings, and he dismissed Capitals openers Rohan Mustafa and Sediqullah Atal in the third and fifth overs respectively. Allen then got rid of Niroshan Dickwella to leave Capitals three down in six overs.Nabi then dismissed Shakib Al Hasan, caught behind for seven, before Allen took the wicket of Kadeem Alleyne. From 82 for 5, a mini recovery ensued with Capitals captain Gulbadin Naib top-scoring with a 27-ball 31. However, they did not have enough firepower for a big finish.Bhanuka Rajapaksa started Hurricanes’ chase with a six and two fours in his first five balls to move to 15. He was out on his sixth delivery to Mustafa, but that did not stop the Hurricanes’ run scoring. McDermott was the aggressor with five fours and three sixes in his 24-ball 48 while Wright offered support with five fours of his own. Hurricanes scoring rate hovered around ten as the second-wicket partnership blossomed, and when Qais Ahmed broke the partnership, Hurricanes needed only 40 more runs in 9.4 overs.Wright brought up his half-century in 47 balls in the 16th over but could not see the game off, falling to Aryaman Varma. Jake Doran and Nikhil Choudhary finished the chase and took Hurricanes to the top of the GSL 2025 points table.

Jack White takes 4 for 33 on T20 debut as Joe Clarke’s half-century goes in vain

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jun-2025Dawid Malan hit his third consecutive Vitality Blast half-century as Yorkshire, having lost their first three North Group matches, defeated Notts Outlaws by nine runs at Trent Bridge, seamer Jack White taking 4 for 33 on his T20 debut.With Adam Lyth making 29 from 21 and Matt Revis 27 not out from 22, Malan’s 58 from 29 balls helped Yorkshire post 175 for 8.After Malan and Lyth had put on 83 in 45 balls for the first wicket they may have hoped for a few more with left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (2 for 24 from four) and pace duo Dillon Pennington (2 for 29) and Daniel Sams (2 for 31) limiting the damage thereafter.Yet the target still proved beyond the Outlaws in the face of a tidy performance across the board by Yorkshire’s bowlers, led by 33-year-old former Northamptonshire man White, home skipper Joe Clarke making 50 and Freddie McCann 31 but no other batter passed 20.After winning the toss and opting to bat, Yorkshire had been 75 without loss in the opening powerplay, Lyth lofting Matt Montgomery and Sams for leg-side sixes before Malan did likewise to Pennington and Conor McKerr, the latter conceding 22 runs in his first over.Pennington broke the partnership on 83 in the eighth when Lyth, reaching, was caught at cover, Malan departing in the next when he hammered a third six over backward square off McKerr but was caught and bowled off a leading edge next ball.Three wickets in eight balls then tilted the balance towards Outlaws as James Wharton swiped Calvin Harrison straight to deep midwicket and Liam Patterson-White snaffled two in the same over – Harry Duke caught behind and Will Luxton on the midwicket boundary.From 121 for 5, Revis and Will Sutherland added 35 but Sams collected a steepling return catch to remove his fellow Australian and had Jafar Chohan taken at extra cover, conceding just 11 in his last two overs. In between, Dom Bess – reprieved when given out caught behind off a pad – was caught at midwicket.After losing Lyndon James (bowled) and Jack Haynes (caught cover) from consecutive Jack White deliveries in the opening over of their reply, Outlaws recovered to 67 for 2 from six. Clarke and McCann added 63 in 32 balls before the latter top-edged to cover for 31 off 18 trying to reverse-hit leg-spinner Chohan.On track at 91 for 3 from 10, Outlaws suffered a major blow when Clarke, having just completed his fifty with a fifth four to go with two sixes off White and a third off Lyth, holed out to long-off off Bess, with Tom Moores (19 off 22) caught at long-on off White in the next over. Matt Montgomery perished in similar fashion off Will O’Rourke in a tight over that left the home side, six down, needing 55 from the last 30 balls.Back-to-back sixes by Sams off Bess briefly raised home hopes but he fell when he drove the next ball straight back to the bowler, Chohan immediately snaring his second as Patterson-White picked out long-off.After the last over arrived with Notts still needing 17, White made McKerr his fourth victim, conceding only seven more runs.

Liverpool know they are heading into next season without Trent Alexander-Arnold amid his impending move to Real Madrid, and they could be set to lose another star player to the Spanish giants in the future, per reports.

Liverpool look to freshen up in the summer window

Arne Slot has done a miraculous job in the eyes of many Liverpool supporters and will be given backing by FSG to shape his squad following their Premier League title victory.

Nevertheless, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid on a free transfer has delivered a sting in the tail, with the Dutchman now left without one of his best creative outlets from the end of this month.

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s contract extensions have softened the blow somewhat, but there is a clear acknowledgement that the summer window will be a decisive one as the Reds seek to claim further silverware.

With the time for transfer business fast approaching, Liverpool are expected to make a ‘serious move’ for Lyon winger Malick Fofana despite Arsenal also remaining attentive to his situation.

Dean Huijsen and Murillo are candidates for the Reds to strengthen their backline from Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest respectively, though it remains to be seen whether either will arrive at Anfield to shore it up ahead of another challenging campaign.

Fabrizio Romano reveals what he's heard about Liverpool signing De Bruyne

Could a shock move to Anfield materialise this summer?

ByHenry Jackson May 9, 2025

Second-season syndrome isn’t an evil Liverpool want to experience. Forward planning will be needed to ensure that doesn’t happen, and contingency plans have to be identified early to avoid uncomfortable scenarios.

Nevertheless, they could now be set for another considerable blow after the news that Real Madrid are lining up another one of their most talented assets on a free transfer.

Real Madrid looking to press ahead for Ibrahima Konate

Per reports in Spain, Real Madrid want to sign Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool in 2026 should the Frenchman opt against extending his current terms at Anfield.

The report notes that he has shown no willingness to sign a new contract and that his demands have created internal ‘tension’ on Merseyside, which may pave the way for an acrimonious exit next summer.

Appearances

39

Goals

2

Assists

2

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are also keeping eyes on Konate’s situation, though Real Madrid are said to be in the box seat due to their experience in landing lucrative players without having to pay a transfer fee.

Labelled “outstanding” by Virgil van Dijk, the 25-year-old has won 128 duels this season on Premier League duty, becoming a mainstay in Slot’s Premier League-conquering side alongside the aforementioned Netherlands international.

Mooted to earn £70,000 per week at Liverpool, Konate may well be in the hunt for a significant pay rise – something his current employers haven’t been able to find an agreement on as of yet.

With his future firmly up in the air, the Reds may need to sit down sooner rather than later with his entourage to thrash out a deal.

Everton have improved since David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at the helm, but recent results have underscored the need for new attacking quality.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to leave as a free agent at the end of the season, while Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja’s loan deals all conclude in two months.

However, while The Friedkin Group are going to sign forwards of various shapes and sizes, Moyes is also keen to strengthen his midfield, already focusing on a specific profile.

The target in question has plied under the Scotsman’s leadership for several years, and could prove an astute piece of business.

Everton transfer news

Despite the transfer window not yet open for business, the Toffees have already started putting plans into motion with the likes of Monaco’s striking sensation, Mika Biereth, linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Also on their radar is Liverpool’s Ben Doak, yet on this occasion, it looks as though Moyes is targeting experience.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, as per Football Insider, Moyes is targeting a reunion with West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, having fielded the 30-year-old 207 times during his time at the Irons helm, more than any other player.

Though newly-promoted Leeds United are also chasing a deal for Soucek, who is valued at £10m, it’s understood that Everton have the lead in the race given the Czech international’s relationship with Moyes.

Why Tomas Soucek would be perfect for Everton

Soucek has been at West Ham for half a decade, signing on an initial loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020 before completing a £19m deal that summer.

The 6 foot 3 ace would bring physicality to the Everton midfield and might prove to be the perfect replacement for Amadou Onana, who was sold to Aston Villa for £50m last summer.

Described as a “midfield powerhouse” by journalist Antonio Mango, Onana’s presence has been missed on Merseyside, but Soucek could bring his own take on the role next year, working hard in the duel while making darting runs into the danger area to complement the frontline.

Matches (starts)

31 (26)

22 (17)

Goals

8

3

Assists

1

0

Touches*

37.6

40.2

Pass completion

75%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Dribble success

55%

79%

Ball recoveries*

1.7

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.9

3.2

Duels (won)*

5.2 (54%)

4.8 (60%)

As you can see, Onana might be more rounded than Soucek, but the latter man has a killer instinct in the final third, which scant few Toffees players have showcased with regularity this year.

West Ham have only created 50 big chances in the Premier League this season, with just the relegated trio making fewer. This actually shines a positive light on Soucek, whose skill at finding space and striking true has seen him score eight times.

It’s no surprise he’s been called a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, adding intensity and initiative to his fold.

In fact, the £90k-per-week talent ranks among the top 2% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 1% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, further illustrating his combativeness and indeed goalscoring strength.

Everton fans have tasted first-hand the midfielder’s goalscoring ability and must now forge ahead to make a shrewd signing which might just pay dividends, adding an Onana-esque presence at Bramley Moore.

Soucek may not be the fluid ball player that Graham Potter wants at the heart of his West Ham system, but Moyes enforces a different type of brand, one which the veteran midfielder would dovetail right into if Everton make their move in the coming months.

He was worse than Harrison: 5/10 Everton dud proved that TFG need to spend

Everton have lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 28, 2025

Aston Villa are now racing to sign an “impressively complete” defender, who could be available for £39m, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature, according to a report.

Villa's summer transfer plans taking shape

Although Villa’s European exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain was a bitter pill to swallow, they still have an opportunity to make this season a success, with Champions League qualification and a potential FA Cup triumph on the line.

Should the Villans qualify for Europe’s elite competition once more, they should be in a strong position to compete for some top players this summer, and their summer transfer plans are now beginning to take shape.

Having lost Jhon Duran during the January transfer window, Unai Emery is eager to bring in a new striker this summer, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha is among the targets, with a £75m offer on the cards.

Top 1% for dribbling: Aston Villa could win race for "incredible" £100m star

The Villans are keen on signing a forward, whose club may now be willing to sanction a departure this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan is of interest in central midfield, while Lens defender Facundo Medina may also be targeted to strengthen Emery’s options at centre-back, but there will be competition from Bayer Leverkusen.

According to a report from Just Arsenal, another centre-back Aston Villa have set their sights on is Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, having put in some impressive performances this season, but there could be fierce competition from some top clubs.

Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Chelsea are also in the race for Ordonez, while AC Milan headline the interest from abroad, and a deal could be relatively expensive.

Brugge are looking to hold out for €40m to €45m (£34m – £39m), highlighting the 20-year-old defender’s importance to the Belgian side.

"Impressively complete" Ordonez likened to Rudiger

Despite still being very young, the Ecuadorian has been a key player for Brugge this season, making 41 appearances in all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League, before his side were dumped out by Aston Villa in the round of 16.

In light of his performances this season, the Brugge star has also been lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Kulig has likened the youngster to Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger in the past, given his pace, tackling and heading ability, which indicates he could be capable of going right to the very top.

Ordonez is yet to prove himself in a major European league, but his performances for Brugge this season indicate he could now be capable of making the step-up, so it is promising news that Villa are in the race for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur were made to settle for a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in their Europa League quarter-final first-leg clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday evening.

It was a game in which the Lilywhites had chances to secure the victory but could not find a winning goal that would have given them a crucial advantage in Frankfurt next week.

It was the visitors who took an early lead, just six minutes into the clash. The goalscorer was one of Europe’s most wanted centre-forwards, Hugo Ekitike.

He showed exactly why the biggest clubs want to sign him, cutting inside on his left foot and letting fly a shot from range that nestled into the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy.

However, it was not long for Lilywhites fans to wait before their side clawed a goal back. The equaliser came from right-back Pedro Porro, who met a brilliant cross from James Maddison with a tidy, flicked finish into the back of the net.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Mickey van de Ven almost had a winner for Spurs. However, his header was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos to keep the score on level terms.

It was certainly a disappointing night for the Lilywhites, who could have easily run out winners. There were some poor performances from some of those in a Spurs shirt.

Spurs' worst performers vs. Frankfurt

One of the Spurs players who struggled against the German side was winger Brennan Johnson. He found it difficult to make a real impact on the game at all, barely getting into the game out on the right flank.

In fact, Goal journalist Sean Walsh noticed that the Welshman struggled to stamp his authority on the game, handing Johnson a 4/10 rating for his performance, suggesting that he spent “far too much time hidden behind defenders”.

Another player in Postecoglou’s attacking trio who had a tough night at the office was striker Dominic Solanke. The England international showed glimpses of his best, and although he has been on a lean run of goalscoring form, he did link play up well at times.

However, his stats from the game, courtesy of Sofascore, show just how little he got into the game at times. For example, Solanke managed just 22 touches, completing seven of ten passes and winning three of five aerial duels.

As tough of a night it was for Johnson and Solanke, they were perhaps not Spurs’ worst attackers against Frankfurt.

Chalkboard

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

Spurs' worst player against Frankfurt

It has not been an easy season for Spurs captain Heung-min Son, and Thursday’s clash with Frankfurt summed that up in many ways.

The South Korean international lacked a real potency in his attacking play and did not pose too much of a threat to their opponents’ defence.

In fact, his stats really reflect Son’s struggles against the German outfit on Thursday. He had 61 touches in total, completing 38 of 44 attempted passes. However, the Spurs legend failed to compete either of his two attempted dribbles, and he lost the ball 12 times, once every five touches.

Touches

61

Passes completed

38/44

Number of times ball lost

12

Ground duels won

1/4

Dribbles completed

0/2

Crosses completed

1/3

Key passes

2

Son’s struggles against Frankfurt was a sentiment that the aforementioned Walsh seemed to agree with. He was critical of the Spurs captain, giving him a 4/10 for his performance, explaining that the winger was “seldom a threat in crucial areas” going forward.

It might be a worry for Spurs fans that their number seven’s career is petering out. While it’s certainly a different story, there is reason to suggest he’s winding down in a similar way to another modern-day club icon, Dele Alli.

The former Lilywhites midfielder was, at his peak, “the best” youngster in the world, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

However, Alli’s Spurs career tailed off when he began to have dips in form, and perhaps the same can be said for Son this season. It has certainly not been the easiest campaign for the attacker, who like Dele, has gone from an elite talent to someone struggling to make a real impact at Spurs in pretty swift time.

He has just 11 goals and 12 assists in 43 games, with seven goals and ten assists in the Premier League. Compare that to the 17 goals and ten assists in 35 games he managed last term, and there is certainly a Dele-esque decline in numbers.

It is a shame to see such a legendary Premier League player struggle to find his best form this term. No doubt, Lilywhites fans hope he can get back to the top of his game in what is a huge few weeks for the club.

He's a lot like Dele Alli: Spurs want to sign £20m "freak of nature"

The incredible youngster would be a hit at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 10, 2025