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Representing her country on the biggest stage and set to make a massive transfer decision, it's a huge summer for the 19-year-old

As the clock ticked into the third minute of stoppage-time, the Netherlands still needed a goal to send them to the Women's World Cup. The 2019 runners-up had produced 21 shots, 10 on target, and hit the post three times but the scores remained goalless between them and Iceland, who were on the verge of qualifying for their first tournament instead. But then, with mere seconds remaining, 18-year-old Esmee Brugts sent those in the stands at Stadion Galgenwaard absolutely crazy.

Picking the ball up on the left wing, Brugts whipped in a dangerous cross with her right foot, one which left Iceland goalkeeper Sandra Sigurdardottir helpless as she waited to react to any contact on the delivery. But it evaded all in the box and, to the despair of those in blue, nestled right in the bottom far corner. The Netherlands had won it.

As the visiting players dropped to their knees in disappointment, fighting back tears, those in orange celebrated wildly, the entire bench racing down the touchline to join in. Entering her third season with PSV, Brugts’ talent had been known about for a while now – but this was the biggest moment of her career to date.

Ten months on, the teenager is at that very World Cup, her first at any level, as part of what is going to be an absolutely massive summer in these early years of her very promising career.

Praised for her work-rate, technical ability and wonderful footballing intelligence, let GOAL introduce you to a player who could be signing for one of Europe’s elite once her work in Australia and New Zealand is done…

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  Where it all began

  Brugts started playing football around the age of five for SV Heinenoord, the team based in the village where she was born and raised. She stayed there for eight years before joining FC Binnenmaas, having been spotted by coach Marius Heinerman and persuaded to move.

  Despite being the only girl in a team full of boys, Brugts regularly stood out. “She did so well that when I was putting the names on paper, she was always the first one,” Heinerman told GOAL last year. “She always wanted to give her best.”

  Also a star in the Netherlands youth teams, putting up incredibly prolific numbers with the Under-17s, the young forward was very highly sought after when she turned 16 years old. In the end, she would sign for PSV and quickly become a regular in their starting XI, winning the Dutch Cup in her first season.

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  The big break

  After steadily building a reputation with her domestic performances, either as a wide player or as a No.10, Brugts was given her international debut by then-head coach Mark Parsons in February 2022. With it the second-to-last international break before the Netherlands squad for the Euros would be announced, she didn’t have a lot of time to make an impression and get herself on the roster – but she still managed to do so.

  Still just 18 years old at the time, it was the biggest moment of her career to date, and Brugts showed why she was chosen in the three substitute appearances she made, adding energy and creativity whenever she had the chance to.

  While her role at the tournament wasn’t huge, it certainly raised her profile and marked her out as one to watch for the years to come.

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  How it's going

  Brugts only became more and more important for PSV as each season went by, improving her goal contributions year on year before departing the club this summer.

  Unsurprisingly, a whole host of Europe’s elite clubs have been keeping tabs on her, with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Paris-Saint Germain, Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt all linked with the teenager in recent months.

  With the national team, meanwhile, Brugts’ role has changed dramatically. She was largely operating in the forward areas in her first experiences with the senior team, sometimes from the start but more often from the bench.

  Now, she’s become a regular in the Netherlands line-up, though usually playing as an orthodox left-back or left wing-back under new head coach Andries Jonker.

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  Biggest strengths

  There’s a lot that stands out about Brugts. Heinerman said the first thing that caught his eye when he started to coach her as a young girl was her mentality. “Even when the season ended, she still wanted to train,” he explained. “With the boys, when we lost a game, she was always critical of herself. ‘That must be better. That must be better. That must be better.'"

  As for her footballing traits, Brugts’ footwork is a huge strength, as is her creativity. “You just pass the ball to her and you just look and enjoy what is about to happen,” Maxime Snellenberg, her team-mate at PSV, told GOAL. “She's very good, I think, in the small spaces – one, two touches and then she can be gone. She has very good shots, very hard and strong. That's also a very good quality. She's a hard worker as well. Sometimes she's so tired that she can't walk anymore! She runs a lot for the team. She's a very good team-mate.”

  Meanwhile, when GOAL asked Parsons about his decision to include the teenager in his Euros squad last year, the coach spoke highly of her “scanning, awareness and game insight”.

  “She can dribble, pass, shoot, cross, defend – with one-v-one defending, defend with one-v-one pressing," he said. "But it's the game insight and intelligence that I think we're going to be enjoying for a few years.”

  Also on that list of top qualities has to be Brugts’ versatility. She’s excellent coming off the left, onto her stronger right foot, in particular, but can play on either wing, as an attacking midfielder or, as we’ve learned in recent months, in a defensive role.

A double from Rodrygo rescued a forgettable performance from Los Blancos to seal a narrow win.

Rodrygo scored Madrid's equaliser and eventual winner, a brace that redeemed yet another flat showing from Los Blancos, giving his side a 2-1 win against Sevilla.

Neither side has much to play for at this point. Madrid are confined to second place, while Sevilla's focus is trained on the Europa League final midweek — a mindset clear in the home side's much-changed lineup.

Still, Sevilla didn't make things easy for Los Blancos. They took the lead early, with Rafa Mir latching onto a loose ball and guiding his shot into the roof of the net. The home side could've had a second, and hit the woodwork with Thibaut Courtois beaten.

Still, Madrid enjoyed extended spells of possession and eventually capitalised. In the 28th minute, Erik Lamela clipped Aurelien Tchouameni's heels outside the box. Rodrygo lashed home the ensuing free-kick.

The Brazilian was at it again in the 70th minute, winding through the Sevilla defence before coolly side-footing his finish past a frozen goalkeeper. Rodrygo has found his scoring touch of late, with three in his last two fixtures — a welcome return with Benzema out.

And although his fine vein of form will have little impact on Madrid's season, it has served as a much-needed boost for a side stumbling across the finish line.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Thibaut Courtois (6/10):

  Couldn't do much about Sevilla's goal. Not called into action otherwise.

  Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

  A solid shift, although Marcos Acuna got the better of him at times.

  Eder Miliato (5/10):

  Perhaps could have gotten rid of the ball in the build-up to Sevilla's opener. Needs a break.

  David Alaba (7/10):

  Made a couple of excellent recovery tackles and distributed well. In terrific form.

  Ferland Mendy (6/10):

  Working his way back into the side after a few months out. An agreeable performance with his Madrid future in jeopardy.

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  Midfield

  Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10):

  Won the free-kick that led to Madrid's equaliser. Made a rash tackle or two. Some encouraging moments, but he's still learning.

  Luka Modric (6/10):

  Finally looking tired. Didn't exert his usual influence on the game. Short of his lofty standards.

  Toni Kroos (6/10):

  Completed the most passes in the match, although he wasn't very expansive in his distribution.

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  Attack

  Federico Valverde (5/10):

  Cut inside too often when Madrid sorely lacked width. Deservedly subbed after 54 mins.

  Rodrygo (9/10):

  Deployed in a central role, despite not liking the position. Scored two excellent goals. Do Madrid need to sign a striker this summer?

  Dani Ceballos (6/10):

  Looked very uncomfortable at a modified left-wing position. Much better in central midfield, where he had some nice moments. Clattered by Acuna.

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• Subs & Manager

  Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

  Brought on to play left-midfield. Put in a good shift. Then moved to left-back, when he was even better.

  Alvaro Rodriguez (6/10):

  Perhaps unlucky not to start. Madrid had a far more obvious target when he was on.

  Nacho (N/A):

  No time to make an impact

  Antonio Rudiger (N/A):

  No time to make an impact.

  Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

  Working with limited resources with Benzema and Vinicius out, but decided to play five central midfielders and a winger up front — a configuration that didn't exactly spell success. Was saved by the ever-improving Rodrygo to snatch three points on the road.

With a mass exodus on the cards at Celtic this summer, the Hoops will need to get their recruitment strategy in place swiftly.

Of course, that will depend on if and when the new incoming manager at Parkhead is announced.

What’s the word?

With Odsonne Edouard potentially heading for pastures new, the Bhoys will need to find new players to bolster their attack.

One such forward could be Aaron Boupendza. The winger currently plays for Hatayspor in Turkey but plans to lure him to Glasgow are now reportedly in full flow.

90min linked the flying attacker with a move to Celtic a few months ago but reports closer to his homeland in Gabon suggest that the deal has progressed. According to Gabon Review (via Milliyet) the Hoops have started negotiations to sign Boupendza.

They suggested that Celtic offered a sum of €6.5m (£5.5m) to begin with, but that was rejected by Hatayspor. Negotiations have continued and it now appears that Paradise chiefs are ready to throw €8m (£6.8m) at the 24-year-old.

Unfortunately, with other Turkish clubs interested in prising him away, his preference is to remain in the Super Lig.

Perfect Elyounoussi replacement

Celtic may be in the hunt to find a successor for the exit-bound Edouard but replacing Mohamed Elyounoussi will also be important.

The Norwegian is heading back to Southampton now that the season in Scotland has concluded, but it feels highly unlikely that Dominic McKay and co will cough up the £5m required to sign him permanently. They’d be much better off saving their money and spending it on Boupendza instead.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-favre-mcgregor-mccann-tierney” title=”Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

The Gabon international finished as the Super Lig’s top scorer this term with 22 strikes in 36 outings, proving himself to be a ruthless and clinical finisher.

His assist tally amounted to just one but, with his ability to play on the flanks, he could perfectly fill the void left behind by Elyounoussi.

The Norwegian only beat the goalkeeper three times in his final 16 league matches of the campaign but he still ended 2020/21 with 17 strikes in all competitions. That made the 26-year-old Celtic’s second top scorer, so they’ll need to find a replacement from somewhere.

Compared to Kylian Mbappe, better options than Boupendza won’t come much cheaper for the Parkhead hierarchy. Blessed with speed and quick feet, his dribbling is incredibly similar to Elyonoussi’s.

The Celtic loanee registered 2.3 per game in the Premiership this season, while Boupendza managed 2.6 dribbles per game in Turkey. That meant he completed 93 take-ons throughout the campaign, the second highest in the whole of the Super Lig.

Celtic must ensure that negotiations go well here; the Gabon international would be a superb acquisition in the final third and an upgrade on what they had this term.

AND in other news, Hoops could be set for huge blow after worrying Celtic news, fans should be scared…

Crystal Palace host Arsenal this evening as Roy Hodgson takes charge of his final ever game at Selhurst Park as Palace boss.

The former England manager announced his imminent departure earlier in the week after four relatively successful years with the south London outfit.

Premier League finishes of 11th, 12th and 14th represent a healthy return for Hodgson during his reign with the capital club, and the 73-year-old will be keen to end the season strongly this time around.

Two wins in Palace’s final two games could see them match their best ever league position under their departing manager, and this London derby should make for entertaining viewing.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects the Eagles to line up on Wednesday evening, with two changes from the side which started against Aston Villa last time out…

The usually ever-present Vicente Guita found himself on the Palace bench for the first time this season last time out as Jack Butland earned his first Premier League start since May 2018, but the Spanish keeper should take up his usual spot between the sticks for the visit of the Gunners.

In defence, it’s likely to stay the same as the dependable centre-back partnership of Gary Cahill and converted midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate continue to put in good performances. Patrick van Aanholt is expected to follow Hodgson out the exit door, meaning Tyrick Mitchell will make his fifth consecutive start, with Joel Ward on the opposite flank.

Hodgson will be forced into making at least one change in the centre of the pitch after Eberechi Eze suffered a season-ending injury. The more defensive-minded Jairo Riedewald could replace the talented 22-year-old and give James McCarthy more support and protection.

Two of the forward positions are guaranteed to be occupied by Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke after the pair both got on the scoresheet over the weekend, but Jordan Ayew will be punching for a recall from the off after Andros Townsend’s mediocre display, meaning the £7.2m-rated winger (as per Transfermarkt) could drop to the bench.

And, in other news…Steve Parish headed for huge mistake over £55k-p/w Crystal Palace speed demon – opinion

Victory over Southampton on Friday will see the Gunners back at the top table of European football for the first time since 2017

Arsenal are just one win away from guaranteeing themselves a return to the promised land. It’s been more than six years since the Gunners last graced the Champions League, but victory against Southampton on Friday will guarantee that Mikel Arteta's side will be back competing in Europe’s top club competition once again.

Clearly, there is far more at stake for Arsenal this season, with the Premier League title still on the line.

But guaranteeing Champions League qualification for 2023-24 will be another important milestone in the club’s route back to competing with the best Europe has to offer.

So what will a return to the Champions League mean to Arsenal going forward?

• The end of a long journey 

  Before we get into what the return of Champions League football will bring to Arsenal in terms of finances and squad building, the first thing that must be said is that it will bring to an end a long and difficult journey for the club.

  It’s been six years since Arsenal were last in Europe’s most prestigious competition. For a club that had been used to dining out at the top table for so long, that has been incredibly hard to deal with.

  Fans have had to endure some pretty miserable moments in the Europa League, including the mauling by Chelsea in Baku and the disappointment of Olympiacos, Sporting CP and Villarreal.

  So to be able to put that period behind them and once again walk out at Emirates Stadium on a Champions League night will be absolutely huge for everyone connected to the club. It will also be a real symbol of just how far they have come in such a short space of time.

  It wasn’t long ago that Arsenal were bottom of the Premier League after the worst start to the season in the club’s history. Now they can soon start preparing for a return to the biggest club competition in the game.

  It will be a very special moment when that Champions League anthem is played at Emirates Stadium for the first time next season.

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  A huge financial boost 

  Clearly, this will be a huge thing for Arsenal and owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE)

  They’ve had to operate without the riches of the Champions League since 2017, and even though they have still spent well during that period, the extra cash that it will bring will be most welcome.

  The difference between what’s on offer in the Champions League and Europa League is vast. UEFA figures for the 2021-22 season show that in the Champions League just over £1.76 billion ($2.2bn) of revenue was shared between the clubs involved. That fell to £409m ($509m) in the Europa League.

  When Arsenal reached the Europa League final in 2019 and were beaten by Chelsea, they received just £32m ($40m) in total revenue from that run through the competition. Chelsea, as winners, received £39m ($48.5m).

  Compare that to last season in the Champions League, when Chelsea pocketed just over £80m ($99.5m) for reaching the quarter-finals, and it shows you just how big the difference can be.

  Manchester United meanwhile, who topped their group, but then were knocked out by Atletico Madrid in the last 16, still received around £68.5m ($85m).

  That is what will be on offer for Arsenal next season.

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  Spending big in the transfer market 

  More money will bring more opportunities in the transfer market.

  Arsenal have still spent well since 2017, but the extra cash that will be coming the club’s way will certainly help when it comes to continuing the squad rebuild that Arteta and Edu have been undertaking.

  The focus this summer will be on adding real quality, with Arsenal looking to sign players they believe could make an immediate impact on the squad.

  Declan Rice is a priority target, and the expectation is that Arsenal will push hard to see off real competition from Chelsea to land the West Ham captain.

  Signing a player like Rice, given the potential price tag and the level of rival clubs also in the mix for the England international, would have felt almost impossible at Arsenal just a short time ago.

  But the journey they have been on, and with Champions League football on the horizon, it is now a very distinct possibility. 

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  A more attractive proposition

  To sign players of the stature of Rice, you have to be an attractive proposition. Arsenal have always been one of those, but being able to offer Champions League football just takes it up another level.

  Every single top player wants to play in Europe’s elite competition. If you can’t offer that, especially if you are battling with rival clubs that can, then you are always at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiations.

  So Arsenal having the lure of the Champions League once again will only make it easier to land their priority targets, something they have struggled to do at times in recent years.

The American coach has turned down two jobs in England at the final hour since being sacked by Leeds, and both decisions were totally correct

In a recent statement on social media, Jesse Marsch said he planned to take some time away and wait until the right opportunity fell his way. He'd just disembarked from the Leeds United rollercoaster and, before leaping onto another one, the American coach was going to take time to think.

For a little while, though, it seemed that we'd see Marsch back in the dugout quicker than expected. There have been multiple rumors, multiple reports, that Marsch was nearing a return, only for later reports to reveal that talks fell apart at the last minute.

For whatever reason, Marsch is still unemployed despite two offers to return to the Premier League.

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One came from Southampton, who currently sit 20th and bottom of the English top flight. The other? Leicester City, who are one spot above the Saints. Both considered Marsch and, if reports are to be believed, Marsch considered both before opting, at the final hour, to steer clear.

Did Marsch make the right choices? Almost certainly yes. For a coach whose career is at a crossroads, this next job will be key to defining his place in the European hierarchy. Get it right and he'll be in demand. Get it wrong and that may be it for him at the top level.

But there is some risk, of course, in turning down jobs like this. Will an opportunity like this present itself to Marsch again?

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  What Marsch is looking for

  At this point in career, the thing Marsch needs most is a little bit of stability.

  He had little of it at Leeds, where he was given the impossible task of following a legend in Marcelo Bielsa. He did so admirably, keeping Leeds in the Premier League at the end of a difficult 2021-22 campaign, but it all went sour this season.

  Despite investing heavily in January, Leeds were finished with Marsch in February, moving on to Javi Gracia as they fight their own relegation battle. His time with Leeds lasted just 37 games.

  That follows a stint with RB Leipzig of just 21 matches. In a world that is very 'what have you done for me lately?', Marsch is coming off two consecutive jobs that lasted less than one full season.

  Because of that, the pressure is on for his next job and Marsch, certainly, will want to be part of project rather than another relegation fight.

  Despite the Ted Lasso nonsense thrown around due to his nationality, Marsch is generally regarded as a tactician that does know how to work with young players. He did so at Red Bull Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls, but, with clubs like Leipzig and Leeds, winning trumps all.

  Knowing that, it's hard to imagine Marsch jumping into an unstable situation, even if two have already presented themselves to him alongside a chance to return to the Premier League.

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  The case against Southampton

  The first club to approach Marsch was Southampton, who did so shortly after the American left Leeds.

  The Saints parted ways with Nathan Jones in February, with the Welsh boss lasting just 14 games in charge after replacing Ralph Hasenhuttl in November. It was Marsch that was earmarked to become the club's third manager of the season before he, ultimately, turned it down.

  Reports indicated that Southampton had tracked Marsch since his time in New York and his similarities to Hassenhuttl tactically made him a good fit for the club. Ultimately, though, he decided against it.

  According to , Marsch was offered a six-month deal with an option to extend at St. Mary's. Despite the short contract, Marsch held positive talks with the club before pulling out at the last minute.

  Reports claim that Marsch felt the timing was simply off and the task of keeping Southampton up was too great, especially with his backroom staff still working at Leeds. Given what he had just gone through, he likely just didn't want to fight a losing battle.

  And that's exactly what Southampton looks like right now: a losing battle. As things stand, the club sits dead last in the Premier League, four points from safety. They face an uphill battle to survive and will most likely be in the Championship next season.

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  The case against Leicester

  While the timing felt strange with Southampton, it certainly wasn't for Leicester. It had been about two months since his Leeds exit when Marsch was offered the Foxes job but, once again, at the last moment, he pulled out.

  It has been reported that the Foxes were fully ready to appoint Marsch, and Marsch was fully ready to be appointed, only to pull out again at the final stages of talks following Saturday's loss to relegation rivals Bournemouth. Once again, Marsch was unconvinced and decided to not take the job.

  On paper, it's an interesting choice. Leicester, as a squad, have significantly more talent than Southampton and are a much bigger name thanks to their historic Premier League title run in 2016. They have legitimate international talent, even if their record doesn't show it this season, and stylistically should be able to play in Marsch's high-pressing system.

  Once again, though, it appears Marsch was unwilling to dive head first into a relegation battle. The Foxes currently find themselves in 19th place, two points from safety. They're winless in their last eight Premier League matches and, like Southampton, are now a favorite to get relegated.

  N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez aren't walking through that door and, even if they were, it may not be enough to save Leicester. Marsch, apparently, reached the same conclusion, opting to pass on the job.

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  What this all means

  Despite all that went wrong at Leeds, Marsch still finds himself in the mix for Premier League jobs. That has to be good news, right?

  Most likely, yes. It's good for Marsch that Premier League clubs still see him as a legitimate candidate, even if the clubs in question might seem Championship-bound. It appears his reputation in England remains intact and that those in the know respect the work he has done in his career thus far.

  However, this may be the quality of club Marsch is looking at in this point in his career: relegation-threatened. The big clubs aren't going to come calling given his last two jobs so, if he wants to stay in the Premier League, this may be the best he'll get.

  That doesn't mean this is the only time he'll get it, though. Marsch, more than likely, is just waiting to see what comes this summer. Clubs all over the world will be looking for new managers and, even if they are relegation fodder, he'll have 38 games to build them up and not just eight.

  Marsch could also take a step down the ladder or, perhaps, a step outside of England. The Premier League isn't the end all be all, especially for coaches that want any form of longevity. Perhaps a move to the Championship or to a different league will give Marsch that type of job he seeks.

  And then there's the U.S. men's national team, which will loom large until either Marsch or the program go in a different direction. So far, it seems Marsch is eager to stay in Europe, but who knows how things will go come the summer.

  Until then, Marsch seems content to wait and see what opportunities present themselves. They are out there, for sure, as evidenced by these two suitors, even if Marsch, quite rightly, decided neither were for him.

The Guinea midfielder is out of contract in the summer, and did his chances of a new deal no favours with a dreadful performance at Selhurst Park

Don't be fooled by the four-game unbeaten Premier League run; nothing about this Liverpool team is convincing.

The Reds, battered in the Champions League by Real Madrid in midweek, missed the chance to boost their chances of qualifying for next season's competition, delivering a performance high on endeavour but bereft of quality as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Jurgen Klopp's side hit the bar in the second half through Mohamed Salah, but barely fashioned a clear-cut opportunity throughout, and were fortunate that their hosts, without a win in nine games in 2023, wasted first-half chances of their own through Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The draw moves Liverpool up a place to seventh in the table, but represents a huge missed opportunity to put some serious pressure on the likes of Tottenham, who face Chelsea on Sunday, and Newcastle, who are without a league game this weekend as they contest the Carabao Cup final.

Klopp cut a dejected figure at the final whistle, and will doubtless reflect on yet another underwhelming display from his underperforming side, albeit one which saw them record a fourth straight clean sheet in the league.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Selhurst Park…

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  WINNER: Tottenham and Newcastle

  This was a result that would have been celebrated by Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe, for sure.

  Despite all their recent struggles, victory for Liverpool would have put them firmly in the mix for the top-four, moving them to within three points of Tottenham and two of Newcastle. With a winnable home game against Wolves to come on Wednesday, the game would have been very much on.

  But you simply cannot rely on this Reds team. They had been unconvincing in winning at St James' Park last weekend, then eviscerated by Real Madrid on Wednesday, and here Klopp's team looked bereft of confidence once an initial 10-minute burst had amounted to nothing.

  They won't be in this season's Champions League much longer, and playing like this, they can forget about playing in next year's competition as well.

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  LOSER: Naby Keita

  If these are the final weeks of Naby Keita's Liverpool career – and let's face it, they should be – then he hardly looks like a player determined to go out on a high.

  The Guinea midfielder had a 45-minute nightmare here, his performance littered with errors and fouls, and devoid of any kind of quality.

  Booked for a cynical pull on the lively Michael Olise midway through the first half, Keita tested the patience of referee Darren England thereafter, conceding three further free kicks as he continuously nibbled at the heels of Palace players.

  It felt like a second yellow was inevitable, and it was no surprise to see Klopp react at half-time. On came Harvey Elliott, off went Keita. He should be off in the summer too. His five-year stay on Merseyside is coming to a pretty tame conclusion.

• WINNER: Insomniacs

  Those hoping for a Saturday night special under the Selhurst Park lights will have been hugely disappointed by what was served up here.

  The worst game of the season? It just might have been. A game of plenty of huff, plenty of puff, but ultimately precious little skill, played out by two teams that look like they can't wait to draw a line under this season.

  Palace haven't won since New Year's Eve, and lack any kind of goal threat without star man Wilfried Zaha, while Liverpool are a team that needs open-wallet surgery in the summer, if they are to have any chance of returning to the lofty heights seen in recent years.

  Klopp named a starting XI with an average age of close to 30 here, and didn't it show? Liverpool were so short of speed, so lacking in ideas, that it almost felt like they settled for a draw in the closing stages. And what does that say about how far they've fallen?

  Still, at least those hoping for an early night had the perfect sleeping pill. And if you're still struggling to drift off, just put this game on repeat.

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  LOSER: Jordan Henderson

  What is it about that holding midfield role at Liverpool this season?

  Having done for Fabinho – who could not even be trusted to start here, and might have been sent off when he did eventually appear – the No.6 position seemed to bring out the worst in Jordan Henderson too.

  For one so experienced, some of the Reds captain's decision-making was truly baffling. Never more so than when he inexplicably stood in the line of a free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the first half, despite it being obvious to everyone in the stadium, and everyone watching on TV, that that was where the ball was heading.

  Henderson had actually done okay in the first 45 minutes, but his second-half performance was dreadful, completely lacking in composure. He repeatedly hoiked the ball up in the air when calmness was required, and he got involved in altercations with Olise and Jordan Ayew as it became clear that yet another game was getting away from his side.

  A skipper's performance, this most definitely was not.

Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has reportedly turned down a move to Liverpool, following a telephone conversation with Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds’ attack has misfired throughout this season, with Mohamed Salah the only individual who can feel happy with his efforts.

Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have both been shadows of their former selves, leading to suggestions that Klopp needs to delive into the transfer market in the summer.

[freshpress-quiz id=“350790”]

Edouard turns down move to Liverpool

According to Anfield Central, Liverpool have ‘withdrawn their interest’ in Edouard, presumably now moving on to other striker targets in the next transfer window after concerns emerged about his playing time.

It is claimed that the Frenchman actually spoke with Klopp on the phone, but that he is worried about a lack of playing time at Anfield, potentially playing second fiddle to those around him.

Transfer Tavern take

Edouard has been a superb servant for Celtic, scoring 81 goals in 165 appearances for the Scottish giants, not to mention having an incredible record of 17 in 13 matches for France’s Under-21s.

At 23, he could have been a shrewd addition by Liverpool, providing a goal threat from the bench and potentially maturing into a regular over time.

That ship appears to have sailed, however, but last weekend’s dire show of finishing against Newcastle United last weekend suggests a ruthless striker is needed this summer.

With Edouard seemingly now off the table due to concerns over playing time, the club could have a job on their hands convincing proven goalscorers to sign as depth rather than sure-fire starters.

In other news, some Liverpool fans aren’t happy with a report linking the Reds with a La Liga. Find out who it is here.

The Reds have endured a difficult start to the campaign, but brighter days lie ahead…

A season which promised everything has so far turned out to be a fairly mixed bag, as far as Liverpool are concerned.

As the Premier League breaks for the World Cup, the Reds sit sixth in the Premier League table, 15 points off top spot and facing a battle even to finish in the top four.

So consistent and so reliable for so long, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been anything but so far. They may have secured qualification for the Champions League last 16 with some comfort, but domestically theirs has been a campaign of disappointment, with moments of promise overshadowed by a series of underwhelming performances and morale-sapping defeats. 

Already, they have lost twice as many league matches (four) than in the whole of last season, but the recent trend, at least, is upward, with a first away win of the campaign at Tottenham followed up by a 3-1 victory against Southampton on Saturday.

The expectation is that they will improve after the World Cup, when key players should return from injury and when they have traditionally come on strong in recent years, but the fact that the idea of a title challenge at Anfield already feels like it is off the table tells you just how much they will need to.

Here, GOAL takes a look at the first three-and-a-half months of 2022-23…

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  Best player

  It was Luis Diaz who carried the fight in the opening weeks of the season, the Colombian showing the kind of energy, skill and determination that so many of his colleagues were lacking. He departed injured against Arsenal last month, but should be back by the time the league resumes on Boxing Day.

  In Diaz’s absence, Mohamed Salah has been the man to step up to the plate. The Egyptian is on 14 goals for the season, including seven in the Champions League, two at Tottenham and the all-important winner against Manchester City. Where would Liverpool be without their Egyptian superstar?

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  Best performance

  Considering they’ve had a 9-0 win and a 7-1 win, it says a lot that the victory over Manchester City at Anfield in October takes this by some distance.

  Liverpool arrived into that game low, having been beaten at Arsenal the previous week, but the sight of Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Co. seemed to stir something in Klopp’s men.

  They delivered a display of immense concentration, defensive solidity, teamwork and counter-attacking quality to hand the champions their first loss of the season.

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  Best goal

  Another award for Salah, whose winner against Manchester City was a masterpiece, showcasing all of his unique talent.

  Reading the flight of Alisson’s long pass was one thing, but to ease Joao Cancelo out of the way while simultaneously bringing the ball under his spell, and then to show the speed and composure to run clear and slot home in front of the Kop, said it all. A very special footballer.

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  Best new signing

  Well the field for this one is a little narrow, but it’s fair to say that Darwin Nunez has already made quite the impression on Reds fans, good and bad.

  The good is that the Uruguayan looks capable of scoring bagfuls of goals, that he has personality and work ethic and serious potential.

  The bad is that he marked his Anfield debut with a red card for headbutting Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, which cost him the chance to build momentum early in the season.

  Still, a return of nine goals in nine starts is more than decent. Expect him to get better and better as the season goes on.

Martin Odegaard scored twice as the Gunners made it three wins from three in the Premier League

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League as they continued their impressive start to the season with an impressive 3-0 win against Bournemouth on Saturday.

A superb goal from William Saliba after 54 minutes added to a first-half brace from Martin Odegaard to make it three wins from three for Mikel Arteta's side.

It's the first time since 2004 that Arsenal have started a Premier League season with three successive victories.

Arteta's side were far too good for Bournemouth, with two goals from Odegaard inside the opening 11 minutes settling the contest before it had really even begun.

There was no way back for the home side who were totally outclassed, with Saliba's sensational curling strike early in the second half capping a wonderful performance from the Gunners, who also had a goal from the excellent Gabriel Jesus ruled out for offside by VAR.

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  The Winners

  Winner: Martin Odegaard

  Arsenal's new captain needed a day like this.

  While the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have sparkled so far this season, Odegaard has struggled a bit to make a major impact. He's been tidy, as always, but you felt he needed a big moment to really get his campaign going.

  So to score two goals – the first time he has done that in a single game since he was a 16-year-old playing in Norway – was important, not just to him, but for the team.

  Winner: William Saliba

  The young French centre-back just gets better and better.

  Saliba really must be loving life at Arsenal right now. He made a huge impact in his first two games and produced a faultless performance once again at the Vitality Stadium.

  He was magnificent at the back and in possession and scored a wonderful goal to open his account for the club.

  Winner: Granit Xhaka

  Nothing epitomises the feel good start to Arsenal's season more than Granit Xhaka being serenaded by the fans.

  That's exactly what happened in the second half at the Vitality Stadium as the travelling Gunners supporters started a new chant for the Swiss midfielder.

  Xhaka's strained relationship with the Arsenal fans is well documented, so it felt like a big moment was his name was echoing around the ground as the clock ticked down.

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  The Losers

  Loser: Manchester United

  "You're going down with United."

  That was the song Arsenal fans were directing at the Bournemouth supporters as they enjoyed themselves in the lats south coast sunshine.

  While that might not be true, what this performance did show is how far United now appear to be behind the likes of Arsenal when it comes to the race for the top four.

  Loser: Arsenal's goal difference column

  If there is one criticism of Arsenal's performance, it's that they weren't ruthless enough.

  They had chances to really put Bournemouth to the sword, but didn't take them – with both Jesus and Eddie Nketiah missing easy opportunities late on.

  With the top four race promising to be tight once again, goal difference could end up being key, so this was a bit of a missed opportunity for Arteta's side in that regard.

  Loser: Everyone who captained Jesus

  The official Fantasy Premier League game announced before kick-off that Gabriel Jesus had become the first player ever to be owned by over 80 per cent of managers in the game.

  So there must have been collective groans across the country when he failed to get on the scoresheet. He did at least get an assist, but he also got a costly booking.

  Oh well, there's always next week…

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  (TEAM) Ratings: Defence

  Aaron Ramsdale (6/10):

  Won't have an easier 90 minutes all season.

  Ben White (7/10):

  Great play in the build up to Arsenal's second goal. Continuing to perform well out of position at right back.

  William Saliba (10/10):

  Another superb performance from the young Frenchman. Calm, assured, dominant and scored an absolute worldie. Completed all 75 of his passes. Sensational.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

  Given some tricky moments by Kieffer Moore in the air, but dealt with the big striker relatively well.

  Oleksandr Zinchenko (8/10):

  Quality throughout. Excellent on the ball, caused Bournemouth so many problems with his clever movement.

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  Midfield

  Thomas Partey (7/10):

  Nothing spectacular. Wasn't troubled defensively, so just kept the ball moving. Easy day's work.

  Granit Xhaka (8/10):

  Another fine performance from the Swiss midfielder who seems to be revelling in his more advanced role.

  Martin Odegaard (8/10):

  Two goals, the second of which was a beauty. Match winning display by the captain.