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Winning the Premier League title is easier said than done, but defending that crown is then another challenge entirely. It makes Pep Guardiola’s and Sir Alex Ferguson’s consecutive title wins in Manchester that much more impressive and exposes the level that Arne Slot looks incredibly unlikely to reach at Liverpool this season.

The Reds spent over £400m in the summer, breaking their transfer record twice. It seemed as though the Premier League title could only be destined for Merseyside, but the reality is that Liverpool are on course to endure one of the worst defences in Premier League history.

Although others have recovered to end the season strongly in the past, the Reds look destined to enter the history books among nine other previous champions.

20 Best Strikers in Premier League History Ranked

Where does Erling Haaland rank?

By
Charlie Smith

May 8, 2025

Ranking factors:

• League finish – how far the champions fell after securing the title the season prior.
• Club context – The context of the champions’ situation, such as injury issues and other deciding factors.

10

Arsenal 2004/05

From invincible to 12 points behind winners Chelsea, Arsenal failed to follow up their historic campaign a season prior in the 2004/05 season, as Jose Mourinho arrived in style at Stamford Bridge. Whilst it was always going to be difficult to follow the Invincibles, the Gunners would have been disappointed with their blunt title fight.

Defeat against Manchester United ended their unbeaten run and from there, their cloak of invincibility evaporated. Arsene Wenger’s side won one of their next five games, leaving Chelsea to take full advantage.

9

Man Utd 2003/04

Man Utd can be forgiven for being up against the Invincibles in the 2003/04 campaign, but it’s still a season that didn’t meet the incredibly high expectations set by Ferguson. The Red Devils slipped to third place, despite leading the title race in early January.

After defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, United didn’t recover and allowed Arsenal to take full control on their way to a historic title win. To make matters worse, those at Old Trafford also fell behind Chelsea in the same season.

8

Liverpool 2020/21

The 2020/21 season saw Liverpool’s Anfield superpower handed its very own Kryptonite, as the world came to a standstill courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were fears that the Reds wouldn’t even get the chance to end a dominant title win the season before, but football soon resumed and they ended their wait for glory, albeit in an empty stadium.

A season later, anything that could go wrong did for Jurgen Klopp as injuries piled up and Liverpool were left with a centre-back partnership of Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips. It was touch and go whether they’d secure a top four finish, but Alisson Becker’s stunning header against West Bromwich Albion ensured that Liverpool ended a nightmare campaign in glorious fashion.

7

Chelsea 2017/18

The first season under Antonio Conte is one to remember for most clubs, but what tends to happen next is anything but memorable. The Italian arrived at Stamford Bridge in the 2016/17 campaign and secured the English crown after changing to a back three and reviving Victor Moses into an excellent wing-back.

One season later, however, and a public fall-out with Diego Costa sparked the start of Chelsea’s downfall. The Blues looked a shadow of the champions that they became a season prior and were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth and 4-1 by Watford, before Conte lost his job at the end of the campaign.

6

Man Utd 2013/14

Over 10 years ago, Man United last entered a Premier League campaign as defending champions. And that’s where their problems commenced. In their first campaign without Ferguson, the Red Devils finished as low as seventh as David Moyes lasted until April before facing the sack.

At the time, the Scot took much of the blame, but United’s problems didn’t end when they sacked him. In fact, in the last decade, things have only become worse and worse for the Red Devils, who finished as low as 15th under Ruben Amorim last season.

5

Blackburn Rovers 1995/96

Like Man United in 2013, Blackburn Rovers went from lifting the Premier League title in the 95/96 campaign to finishing as low as seventh one season later. Blackburn, again like United, lost their manager at the end of their title-winning campaign, with Sir Kenny Dalglish choosing to resign off the back of success.

As a result, the champions struggled under Ray Harford and dropped to as low as 17th at one stage, before a revival in the second-half of the season took them up to seventh. It was a season to forget and not enough to keep hold of Alan Shearer, who netted 31 goals before heading to Newcastle United.

4

Leicester City 2016/17

It was back to reality for Leicester City in the 2016/17 season after they pulled off the miracle of all miracles one year prior. From shock champions, the Foxes found themselves attempting to avoid relegation, as Claudio Ranieri lost his job and the late Craig Shakespeare was left to pick up the pieces.

The champions still sat 17th by the time that February arrived, before Shakespeare picked up five straight wins to take Leicester to a 12th-place finish. Statistically, it is the worst title defence in Premier League history, but the context of their squad and just how great a shock their title win was in itself matters here.

3

Leeds United 92/93

Although Leeds United were technically not defending the Premier League title, the 1992/93 season was the first campaign of the rebranding and they entered it as English champions. After winning three of their first 10 games, the Whites’ title defence was all but over and the departure of Eric Cantona to Man United in January all but confirmed that.

By the end of the campaign, a Leeds side who lost their best player finished as low as 17th, with United taking full advantage to begin an incredible run under Ferguson.

2

Liverpool 2025/26

No one could have predicted the season that Liverpool are having. The Reds won their opening five games, albeit by utilising stoppage-time in dramatic fashion more than once, and looked on course to defend their crown when it all clicked. But then it never did click.

After breaking their transfer record twice to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Liverpool have been a shadow of the champions that they became. Truth be told, they’ve looked like a squad still in mourning for their teammate, Diogo Jota.

Mentally, Liverpool look entirely drained. Physically, they’ve been outmatched. The effect of Jota’s passing is undeniable, but Slot must find a tactical solution to steady the ship before his side, who sit 12th after 12 games, make unwanted history.

1

Chelsea 2015/16

The return of Jose Mourinho restored Chelsea’s glory in the 2014/15 season, but things were far from special one season later. The legendary manager started the season by arguing with physio Eva Carneiro, who eventually won a £5m settlement, and things only got worse from there.

After nine losses in 16 games, Mournho was sacked by the Blues and replaced by Guus Hiddink. The caretaker manager finally got Eden Hazard firing on all cylinders again to win the famous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ and end Tottenham Hotspur’s title hopes, yet it was not enough to restore Chelsea’s pride. They ended the campaign in 10th.

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

Somerset batter brought in for third ODI after finding form in Blast

George Dobell01-Jul-2021England have added Tom Banton to their squad for the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Bristol on Sunday.Banton, the 22-year-old Somerset top-order batter, hit a 47-ball century in the Vitality T20 Blast at the start of the week. He has played six ODIs and nine T20Is for England.He joins the squad to provide back-up with Dawid Malan currently absent for personal reasons. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, of England’s first choice batting line-up, are also missing as they recover from injury.Related

• Anderson hopes Hundred encourages 'positivity' for Test players

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• SL cling onto crumbs of comfort as England look to roll on

• Blistering Banton batters Kent with 47-ball Somerset hundred

• De Grandhomme denied on debut as Banton returns to form

In a different era Banton, who has more than a touch of Kevin Pietersen about his batting, might already be established in the England limited-overs sides. But with the side currently blessed with impressive depth of top-order options, Banton has been obliged to wait for another opportunity. He has been preferred to other options such as Phil Salt, Alex Hales or Sam Hain.Somerset confirmed that Banton will miss their derby in the Blast against Gloucestershire on Thursday evening, as well as their home fixture against Middlesex on Friday.England are 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series and take on Sri Lanka at The Oval in a day-night game on Thursday.

Crushing loss in Hamilton cannot dent celebration of series win, ahead of blockbuster 2025

Vithushan Ehantharajah18-Dec-2024Two blokes walk into a pub in Hamilton.One is wearing Ben Stokes’ batting gloves, having donned them for the 10-minute scooter ride from Seddon Park, where he had obtained them from England’s Test captain. The other is wearing Brydon Carse’s Test jumper – a surprisingly good fit considering he was giving up about a foot in height to the Durham seamer.Punters revelling in freshly-acquired souvenirs felt like an sound allegory for the journey this England team has embarked upon in 2024. Their joint-busiest year of Test cricket has provided room for a regeneration. Of the 24 players have been used, seven had the honour of wearing that kit for the very first time.Each has seized their chance in different ways across a variety of roles. Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Carse have made themselves immediate first-teamers. Jacob Bethell’s assuredness over the last month has brought on a pleasing headache. Shoaib Bashir, for all his pluck, remains a work in progress.The new year offers more bucketlist moments for a new-look team, with India at home and Australia away. For those at the opposite end of the spectrum, 2025 promises to be a legacy year. Defining for the project Stokes and Brendon McCullum have embarked upon together. Legend-lifting for Joe Root. Status-deciding for Harry Brook. “Get a ticket early,” urged McCullum, as much to supporters as the cricketers desperate to be in the mix for those blockbuster events.Shoaib Bashir benefitted from Stokes’ empathetic captaincy in India, but that trait was misplaced in Pakistan•Joe Allison/Getty ImagesGetting excited about all that can wait. On Tuesday, much like those two punters, England were celebrating. It did not take them long to shed the frustration of a 423-run defeat in the third Test. Coolers of drinks made their way onto the field not long after the broadcast cameras were switched off. A first series win in New Zealand since 2008 was toasted, before morphing into a celebration of Tim Southee’s retirement. Both teams mingled late into the day, before everyone piled into the home dressing room. Games were played – namely “Zimmy Zimmy”, a staple of university students, essentially ‘pass the parcel’ based on rhythm and numbers – before goodbyes were said.Such geniality between these two teams is nothing new, of course. Nor is an England team’s affinity with the gorgeous vistas and range of outdoor activities (not just golf) this country provides. But while the extra-curricular parts of 2023’s New Zealand tour felt like a bit of a lads holiday – camaraderie high on the agenda ahead of that summer’s Ashes – this was more of a spa retreat.A Queenstown base to start, the odd course along the way, and encouraging players to take the scenic route from Wellington to Hamilton to enjoy the best of what the North Island has to offer after establishing an unassailable 2-0 lead in Wellington. England achieved the primary objective of this trip, but they also ticked off a secondary: de-stressing from a wearying 12 months.The 4-1 loss in India at the start of the year crushed a few older souls, the 2-1 loss to Pakistan on the other side of the home summer tested newer spirits. It was during the former that Stokes realised the team needed more dynamism. And as much as that would come from a refresh, his return as a functional allrounder would be integral to that.Fast forward to Pakistan and Stokes’ obsession to get back to the “old him” had reached untenable levels. By his own admission, he had “ruined” himself by ramping up his own training levels after a left hamstring tear in August had wiped out the hard work of the previous six months.Brydon Carse has inked himself into England’s first XI after some thrilling displays as the third seamer•Getty ImagesHe was tetchy, off the pace as captain and, worst of all, had lost the empathetic perspective that had been a vital crutch for his leadership. A trait all the more important given the number of players new to the environment.Stokes has been able to rediscover his emotional equilibrium on this trip. He came out to Christchurch ahead of time to surprise his family, many of whom, including his mother Deb, were in attendance at Hagley Oval for pretty much every ball of the first Test. Time with loved ones has perhaps brought a reminder for perspective. Reflections of his captaincy came in the weeks following the Pakistan series, and subtle changes have been made. Even with the recurrence of his hamstring injury, the 33-year-old seems to be in a much healthier place.Perhaps the most interesting strand of 2024 to tug at is the other side of the personnel transition. Punting on young “unproven” talents is the easy bit. The hard part has been moving on the established ones.James Anderson was the highest profile example of this. A necessary parting of ways, conducted via an uneasy hotel meeting, meant that Stokes, McCullum and managing director Rob Key came with a good deal of heat from all corners (including the man himself, of course). The silver lining for Anderson is, much like Southee this week, he got closure. The others have not been quite so lucky.Related

• Tim Southee joins England set-up as 'special skills consultant'

• Tim Southee in line to replace Anderson as England bowling coach

• 'Bionic Man' Ben Stokes embarks on rehabilitation after hamstring surgery

• Ben Stokes ruled out for three months with recurrence of hamstring tear

• Stokes urges England to stay in the now as Ashes year looms once more

Jonny Bairstow was parked after notching 100 caps at Dharamsala in February. The 2022 Bazball poster boy will enter the new year as a dead weight on the central contract list until October, without any clarity on whether his international future is actually over. Similarly, Ben Foakes sat out the last six months of his deal as Smith came in to offer the best parts of both keeper-batters.Ollie Robinson, once regarded as a vital cog in the Anderson-Broad succession plan, has also not been seen since that tour, He is unlikely to feature again under the current regime, as much through losing the trust of McCullum and Stokes as the emergence of Atkinson.Even serial reserve batter Dan Lawrence seems to have run his race after underperforming as a fill-in opener in the Sri Lanka series when Zak Crawley broke his finger. It was a thankless task in an unfamiliar role – both of which Bethell has excelled in the last month.Ollie Pope finishes 2024 with his place in jeopardy despite launching it with a hall-of-fame innings in Hyderabad•Getty ImagesIndeed Bethell has now brought a further awkward conversation around Ollie Pope. A man who started the year with a star-turn in the heist of Hyderabad now finds himself at a peculiar juncture in his international career.England’s vice-captain is a team man in a team of team men. His initial play for the No.3 spot was a way of getting into the XI, but as his stint has gone on, there has been a growing sense his presence in the role has been for the benefit of others. It allows Root to remain at four, and Brook at five. Just as importantly, Pope’s average remains above 40 in that position.But Pope’s selflessness is also why he now finds himself in a conundrum. There was no surprise when he took the hit of moving down the order to No.6 for this series, so that he could keep following the injury to Jordan Cox. Stokes in particular lauded him for doing what was best for the team. But the vacancy allowed Bethell to state an all-too-attractive case.It is a case that does not have to be answered for a good few months, given England’s next Test is not until May. But it is remarkable to think a player who began 2024 with a hall-of-fame innings and went on to captain four Tests in the middle is now ending it with such uncertainty.Alas, that is international sport. And the growing pains of a revamp are these necessary evils – tough decisions that, in the case of Pope, might seem contrary to the team’s promoted values of backing players unequivocally, ridding them of fear and rewarding their loyalty.Therein lies the main takeaway from this year. The results read nine wins and eight defeats, but majority of the year post-India has been about revitalization and amending the broad brushstrokes of the first two years.Stokes and the England team might not like the word “ruthless”, but there is no better word to describe the mentality they will need to adopt as 2024 comes to a close. With India and Australia on the horizon, 2025 will be about winning at all costs.

India broke their own record to put up the fastest 100 in men’s Test cricket in Kanpur against Bangladesh

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Sep-20241 – India’s hundred came in just 10.1 overs, making it the fastest team hundred in men’s Tests (where data is available).India broke their own record by 2.1 overs – they had taken only 12.2 overs against West Indies in last year’s Port of Spain Test.24.2 Overs needed for India to reach the 200-run mark. It is the fastest-recorded team 200 in men’s Tests, bettering Australia’s record, who got there in 28.1 overs in their second-innings against Pakistan in 2017 in Sydney.India also broke the record for fastest team 150 and 250. The previous fastest team 150 was also by India off 21.1 overs against West Indies in 2023, while the previous quickest 250 came in 34 overs by England in their 2nd innings vs Pakistan in 2022 in Rawalpindi.3.0 – Overs that India needed to get to fifty. It is also the fastest recorded team fifty in men’s Tests, bettering England’s record – 4.2 overs against West Indies in Nottingham and in Birmingham earlier this year.0 – Instances of India completing their fifty inside the first 20 balls of the innings in men’s internationals (all formats) before Monday. Their previous fastest fifty was in 3.4 overs, also against Bangladesh, in last year’s Asian Games (T20I).ESPNcricinfo Ltd8.22 India’s run rate during their 285 for 9 in Kanpur is the highest in men’s Test innings (minimum 200 balls). The previous highest was 7.36 by England against Pakistan when they made 264 for seven in 35.5 overs in the 2022 Rawalpindi Test.No team had a run rate of eight in a Test innings where they scored 100-plus runs, before India on Monday.14.34 – The scoring rate during the 55-run opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, which came in only 23 balls.It is the fastest fifty partnership in men’s Tests in terms of run rate (where data is available – complete FOW data is available only since 1998).The previous highest run rate for a partnership of 50-plus runs was 11.86 by Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes, who added 87 off 44 balls against West Indies in Birmingham, earlier this year.5 Number of Indian batters to have scored 20-plus runs while striking at 100 and more in the first-innings in Kanpur, the joint-most in a men’s Test innings. England also had five batters scoring 20-plus runs at a strike rate of 100 and more in their first innings against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2022.96 – Sixes hit by India batters across the eight Test matches they have played in 2024. These are the most sixes hit by a team in a calendar year in Test cricket, bettering England’s tally of 89 in 2022.Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing•BCCI4 – Recorded instances of a player hitting the first two balls they faced in a Test innings for sixes, including Rohit off Khaled Ahmed in Kanpur.Foffie Williams against Jim Laker in the 1948 Barbados Test was the first.Two other India batters have also done it – Sachin Tendulkar off Nathan Lyon in the 2013 Chepauk Test and Umesh Yadav off George Linde in the 2019 Ranchi Test.4.5 Overs in which Hasan Mahmud conceded 50 runs in India’s first innings. Only two bowlers had conceded 50 runs in fewer overs in a men’s Test innings since 2002 – 4.2 by Graeme Cremer against South Africa in 2005 and 4.4 by Murali Kartik against Australia in 2004.34.4 Overs batted by India before declaring, the fifth shortest declared first-innings in men’s Tests. The total of 285 for nine is also the lowest-ever declaration total for India in the first innings.

Former England Test opener has been unable to break into Surrey’s Blast side

George Dobell26-Jun-2021Mark Stoneman has joined Yorkshire as a loan signing for the T20 Blast.Stoneman, the Surrey top-order batter, is available for five of Yorkshire’s final six Blast games starting with Saturday’s match against Northants. He is required to return to Surrey ahead of the final group game (against Nottinghamshire on July 9) to prepare for the County Championship game against Somerset that starts on July 11.Yorkshire recently learned they were to be without Dawid Malan for the remainder of the group stages of the tournament, and he was added to Englands’s ODI squad as a replacement for the injured Jos Buttler. The club are also without Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Adil Rashid and David Willey on England duty, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Will Fraine are injured.Related

• Phillips smacks 94* again as Gloucs sack Hove

• Lilley cracks 99 not out as Parkinson stymies Yorkshire run-chase

• De Grandhomme denied on Hants debut as Banton returns to form

• Pope finds spark as Surrey extend Middlesex's misery

• Buttler ruled out of Sri Lanka white-ball series with calf injury

Stoneman, who has a modest T20 record (he averages 20.38 with a strike rate of 118.01) has been unable to break into the Surrey T20 side this season with Will Jacks and Jamie Smith preferred at the top of the order when Jason Roy has been on England duty. He made only one appearance in the Blast last summer.”With the number of players we are now missing due to England commitments and injury, we felt we needed to add a top-order batsmen to our squad for the latter stages of the group,” Yorkshire’s first XI coach Andrew Gale said.”We have made a great start to this year’s Vitality Blast and seen some great contributions from some of our younger players, but feel like the addition of an experienced batsman at the top of the order is important to help keep up the momentum.”Mark Stoneman certainly fits the bill for what we were looking for; an experienced player who will fit in at the top of the order. His quality is well-known and we are looking forward to welcoming him into the squad.”Yorkshire are second in the group after eight out of 14 matches, behind Nottinghamshire on net run-rate.

The Herons let a late lead slip in a wide-open contest, but stayed firm favorites for the Supporters Shield after a 2-2 draw

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• David Ruiz opened scoring, Leo Campana bagged second
• Aleksey Miranchuk late leveler sealed chaotic 2-2
• Leo Messi played 30 minutes in second game since injury

• Brett Davis-Imagn Images
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Inter Miami got off to a bright start, but couldn't hold on as they drew 2-2 against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

  grabbed the lead much against the run of play, David Ruiz finding the bottom corner after receiving the ball unmarked in the box in the 29th minute. Miami entered halftime with a 1-0 lead but Atlanta would respond.

  Saba Lobzhanidze equalized for the home side shortly before the hour mark, his deflected header squirming through the legs of Drake Callender in the 56th minute. Yet, Miami appeared to be in winning position as Leo Campana put Miami back ahead within two minutes of Lobzhanidze's goal, with Campana's free kick flying into the net via the legs of Dax McCarthy. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez would then come off the bench looking to pad the visitors lead.

  However, Atlanta would respond again, though. United's new star DP Aleksey Miranchuk curled in an effort into the top corner – his first MLS goal since joining the team this summer. It was no more than they deserved on the night.

Advertisement

• USA Today
  

  THE MVP

  How about a different inverted attacking midfielder impressing on Wednesday? Messi may have had his moments, but this night belonged to Miranchuk. The former Atalanta forward, known for his love of Hip-Hop, provided all sorts of rhythm for his side's midfield on Wednesday night.

  He created three chances, played eight passes into the final third, and scored an absolute peach of a goal to grab a well-deserved point for his team. A fine performance from the big-money man.

• THE BIG LOSER

  What a miserable evening for Dax McCarthy. The veteran midfielder seemed to be at the center of everything that went wrong for the home side against Miami. First, he inadvertently diverted the ball into the path of Ruiz for the visitors' first. Then, he gave up the free kick that led to the second. It seemed to be a benevolent act when he was hooked after an hour.

• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Miami's focus remains steadily on their Supporter's Shield hunt. play NYCFC on Saturday, in what will be Messi's first appearance in an MLS match in New York City. The club now needs just nine points to tie up the best record in the league, and prime themselves for a playoff run.

The last few months have been a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, especially considering the topsy-turvy nature of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Lilywhites won the Europa League under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, with the Aussie delivering on his promise of always winning a trophy in his second season.

However, it was somewhat overshadowed by the 17th-place finish in the Premier League, which ultimately cost the 60-year-old his job in North London.

The responsibility of building on the triumph was handed the way of Thomas Frank, with the Dane joining the club from fellow top-flight club Brentford during the off-season.

Despite his arrival, some players have struggled to match the levels they produced last campaign, which will have no doubt been frustrating to the new manager.

The Spurs players who have struggled in 2025/26

After arguably his best-ever campaign in 2024/25, Brennan Johnson has endured a dismal current campaign and has often failed to deliver when called upon by Frank.

The Welsh international has only netted two league goals in 2025/26 to date, subsequently dropping down the pecking order and only making five starts since the Dane’s arrival.

He was even sent off in the latest Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen, which pretty much sums up the decline he’s endured over the last few months.

Johnson hasn’t been alone in struggling to match the levels he produced last season, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur another who’s been unable to produce on a consistent basis.

The Uruguayan international has only made eight starts to date, but his numbers from the current campaign showcase his dismal form in North London.

He’s ranked in the 43rd percentile for passes completed and has only been able to make 0.5 interceptions per 90 – often struggling to make an effect in and out of possession.

The Spurs star who needs to be offloaded

The decline of some players has led to the recent additions during the summer, with the hierarchy landing Mohammed Kudus in a £55m deal from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international has since replaced Johnson on the right-hand side of the attack and has already made an immediate impact for the Lilywhites.

He’s scored once and registered four assists in the Premier League to date, with the latter of the two tallies the joint-highest of any player in England’s top-flight.

Kudus would have been joined in the final third by Dominic Solanke, but the Englishman has massively struggled with injuries and has been out of action since the end of August.

He’s been struggling with an ankle issue over the last couple of months, subsequently restricting him to a total of just 31 Premier League minutes in 2025/26.

As a result, the hierarchy decided to delve back into the transfer market to complete a loan deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani from French side PSG.

The 26-year-old’s move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but after a couple of months, it’s safe to say that the deal so far has been a disaster for everyone involved.

He’s struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with the loanee subsequently failing to score in any of his eight outings across all competitions.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of form since his transfer on Deadline Day, with the former Juventus star undoubtedly struggling to meet expectations in England.

He’s only registered a total of 0.47 shots per 90 in England’s top-flight – with such a tally ranking him in the lowest 1% of all other attackers in the division this season.

Kolo Muani, who earns a reported £150k-per-week, has also registered just 1.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.4 aerials won per 90, which place him in the first percentile – further highlighting his lack of positive impact to date.

Such form backs up one content creator’s previous claim about the forward, with the Frenchman previously being dubbed “one of the most overrated players in the world”.

It’s evident that the move to date has been a huge failure, with the club desperately needing to cut ties and allow other players to stake their claim for a starting role.

His loan deal shouldn’t be made permanent in either of the two windows before it expires, but it’s crucial the club do invest big and land a new talisman for Frank.

Spurs star was one of the "best in the world", now he's on borrowed time

One Tottenham Hotspur star could be on borrowed time under Thomas Frank in the coming months.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 21, 2025

Caretaker’s challenge should not be under-estimated, especially against dogged opponents

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Aug-2024Not everyone wins their first Test as England men’s Test captain. Not even Ben Stokes.The great saviour of English cricket had an ignominious first go at the big job four years ago. Stepping in for Joe Root, who was expecting his second child, Stokes was on the receiving end of a four-wicket defeat to West Indies at the start of the Covid-19 summer.The lesson here is: it does not matter if you win your first Test. But as Ollie Pope finished shaking hands with the Sri Lanka players and support staff after England had triumphed by five wickets, there was a palpable sense of relief.Victory had taken longer than expected. On day three, both when Sri Lanka were 95 for 4 (27 behind) and 190 for 6 (68 ahead) in their second innings, the end looked nigh. But it was only at 7.18pm on day four, as Pope put his cap back on, tugging it firmly onto his head, that he seemed at ease.Not that this peace lasted long. No sooner had Shoaib Bashir put his arm around him in congratulations, Pope was whisked away for the usual captaincy media duties. He did not mind them, though England captains never do after wins, especially this early into the gig. Thanks to Jamie Smith’s first-innings century and a breezy 39 that lanced the remaining jeopardy from a chase of 205, Pope did not have to talk about himself all that much.For a contest in which England were never really chasing the game, this was the most challenging of four days. It asked of Pope more than he had probably expected to give. There was frustration with Kamindu Mendis’ century and Dinesh Chandimal’s combination of bravery and bloody-mindedness, while the loss of Mark Wood to a thigh injury proved a gross inconvenience considering he had sent Chandimal to the hospital 24 hours before he was heading there for his own scan.Pope fell cheaply in the second innings, reverse-sweeping to slip•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesShorn of a gunslinger that had blown away West Indies’ tail a month earlier, faced with an ever-growing partnership – and target – on a worn pitch that was no friend of batters but even less so of bowlers, Pope had a problem.In that sort of situation, on a slow deck nullifying any lateral movement from the seamers, Stokes tends to bring out the bouncer plan. Hammering a length, fielders spread out far and in close, persisting belligerently as the traditionalists bemoan an empty slip cordon. “If you’ve got the men out, all it is is one tiny mistake where it catches the top half of the bat and goes to the man,” explained Pope of the logic.Unsurprisingly, the stand-in did as the captain would have done. But not for long. Just nine of the 141 deliveries England bowled on the final day were outright short balls, with a further 55 short of a length. Pope gave it a go, but soon realised that Kamindu and Chandimal were actually revelling in it. So, he called it quits.”I was kind of hoping they would just take on every ball and try and pull every ball and eventually one would go to hand,” Pope said. “But they played nicely, they selected which balls they wanted to take on, ducked well. Credit to them for that and that’s probably why we didn’t take it for so long and thought we’d try and play for a few more that scuttle through and go under the bat. But it [the pitch] didn’t quite deteriorate enough to do that.”Sensing the importance of the new ball that would come into play after 80 overs, Pope brought on Matthew Potts and Shoaib Bashir from the 70th over onwards to opt for a fuller, tighter line. And while Kamindu took advantage of the hardness of the new ball to move to three figures, the left-hander was eventually snared with an edge off a good length by Gus Atkinson. Not only was a stand of 117 broken, but it was the first of the final four wickets to fall in the space of 26 balls.Pope dons his blazer in his first Test as England captain•Getty ImagesRoot, who went on to see the chase home, was suitably impressed with Pope.”It wasn’t straightforward,” Root said, having himself captained England in a record 64 Tests. “It was a few different things that you’d have to contend with. It wasn’t your typical English kind of Test match, so hats off to him.”He was very good at changing things up, trying different things, and constantly trying to move the game in the right direction. So again, another step in the way that we want to go as a team. And for us to do it slightly differently this week and still find a way to win is a really good sign for us.”Pope’s batting, however, was the only sour note in what, by and large, was a solid first outing with the armband. On day two, Asitha Fernando bagged his off stump for six. On day four, Pope gave his wicket away in a manner that gave credit to his opposite number.Dhananjaya de Silva had asked left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya to bowl over the wicket to the right-hander. The aim was to frustrate and, in turn, elicit a dud shot. Pope obliged with a botched reverse sweep that fell into the hands of first slip for another score of six.Dhananjaya celebrated exactly as you’d expect; glee across his face, letting anyone and everyone know it was his plan that had come good. Pope, rueful at the time, was not all that dismayed at the end. “It’s an option I like to take,” he explained, as his remarkable century at the start of the year in Hyderabad showed. “Unfortunately it didn’t come off today.”Related

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• Joe Root drops anchor as England go 1-0 up over spirited Sri Lanka

More broadly, however, he happened upon something to rectify; how to switch from being a captain who thinks about the team to a batter who thinks about himself in the instant between marshalling on the field and preparing to bat at No.3. And do it instinctively.”I think that’s probably one thing I can take from this Test – making sure I’m captain when I’m in the field and around it, but when it’s batting time, it’s batting.”I prepared in the same way. But probably from a mindset point of view, that’s just a little learning for me, that I can just draw a line once we’re off the field, get my pads on and that’s my time to focus on myself because that’s what’s best for the team.”It cannot have been easy for Pope to captain as he would have wanted, even if it was just maintaining the status quo, given that Stokes was still in the dressing-room. Even though Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum were on hand for any pep talks requested during the intervals, Pope had to strike a balance between being a surrogate and just being himself.All in all, he seemed to have managed that pretty well. And maybe the best reflection of that was Stokes’s general restlessness. “I think he was bored at times,” Pope said with a smile. “I think he’d much rather be playing.”It would have helped that the team he was leading had a very different feel and age profile. There were only three survivors in this XI from the one that beat South Africa in Manchester two years ago. Half of those changes are down to a combination of injuries to Stokes and Zak Crawley, and the retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson. But this is a team quietly regenerating.”It’s kind of funny,” Pope said, “when you look around every now and again on the bus, you’re like “geez, this is a proper young team’.”For two more games, a 26-year-old will look to scope England’s short-term future. It might only be one Test win in a “tenure” with only two weeks to run. But Pope is already playing a vital role in moulding a team that, once Stokes is no longer around, he might yet call his own.

The Dutchman showed off his unique skillset at Southampton, and could become a fan favourite with a partner-in-crime up front

Erik ten Hag's job is safe again – for now. Manchester United recovered from their humiliating home defeat to Liverpool by picking up a 3-0 win against Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday, thanks to goals from Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, moving up to 10th in the Premier League table in the process.

Rashford and De Ligt grabbed most of the headlines, with the former netting his first goal in 189 days and the latter producing a colossal display at both ends of the pitch to show exactly why United paid £50 million ($66m) to sign him from Bayern Munich. But it was the brilliance of United's second summer recruit from the Netherlands that underpinned the crucial victory.

Joshua Zirkzee was handed only his second start for the club since his £36m ($48m) switch from Bologna, and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. All of United's best attacks went through the 23-year-old as the Saints toiled in vain to pin him down. Zirkzee was also guilty of some wasteful finishing again, but he wasn't signed to be the Red Devils' primary marksman.

For so much of last season, United lacked a creative spark; that's what Zirkzee provides. Rasmus Hojlund will certainly have been rubbing his hands together watching Zirkzee's latest outing because the Dutchman looks like the perfect foil for the Dane, who Ten Hag desperately needs to welcome back from injury heading into a make-or-break run of games…

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  Constant menace

  Zirkzee started in the No.9 role for United on the south coast, and struggled to get involved initially as Southampton dominated proceedings for the first half-hour. The momentum swung in the visitors' favour after Andre Onana kept out a penalty from Cameron Archer, though, with De Ligt rising to head home the opener from a Bruno Fernandes cross just five minutes later.

  Rashford then curled home from just outside the box to give United a comfortable lead, and Southampton were left clinging on until the half-time whistle. Zirkzee started to become the main thorn in their side, and picked up from where he left off in the second half, coming deep to show for the ball before pinging off intelligent first-time passes to get the Red Devils up the pitch quickly.

  The Bayern Munich academy graduate's intelligent movement helped to draw Southampton defenders out of position, too, as he served as the main link between defence and attack for Ten Hag's side. For the first time you could see Zirkzee developing a rapport with Rashford and Amad Diallo as he held the ball up and looked for combinations, while also showing the confidence to dribble past players in tight spaces. Not everything came off, but he was a constant menace.

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  'I'm a little different'

  As per , Zirkzee completed 82 percent of his passes against the Saints, the majority of which went forward, won seven of his 11 duels and racked up an impressive expected goals (xG) total of 1.14. The talented youngster scored on his debut to give his new club victory against Fulham on the opening weekend of the new season, but he properly announced himself as a United player at St Mary's.

  This was the version of Zirkzee who became a cult hero at Bologna. He doesn't have the selfish mindset to be a prolific goal-scorer, and that's okay; United have signed a technically-gifted forward who always wants to be involved in the build-up play and gets more of a kick out of providing chances for his team-mates.

  "I am what I call a false striker," Zirkzee told the in August. "Not a No.9, not a No.10. I am a 9.5! That's my game. Maybe I'm a little different than others. But being different is good, right?"

  It certainly is for United, who only scored 57 Premier League goals last season – the joint-worst record in the top 10. Zirkzee gives them a whole new dimension in attack, and crucially, he's not afraid to take risks.

  "I want to play a pure game," the Netherlands international added. "Nutmegs, chops and backheels are moments that belong in football. That style has value for me. It's the soccer kid in me because it’s supposed to be fun too. You have to pick the right moments. It's intuition. I think I have excellent skills. I spent a lot of time on that as a kid. But if I lose the ball, I want to regain it immediately with the team. But the fancy footwork is part of my game at the end of the day."

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  Zlatan's heir?

  Zirkzee's natural desire to express himself bodes well for his chances of becoming a popular figure at Old Trafford. Crowd-pleasing mavericks have been in short supply for United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, and though Zirkzee's start has been slower than he would have hoped, supporters will embrace him if he continues to push the envelope.

  It also helps that he idolises a certain Swede who did the same thing during his time in Manchester. "I would love it if, in a few years’ time, people said that my game looks a bit like Zlatan Ibrahimovic," Zirkzee told reporters last week. "The start, with the winning goal against Fulham, was nice. Then we lost twice – and you know that at a big club like Manchester United the attention then comes full on. I believe it will be fine. I've always had that. I never doubted it would still work out with my career."

  Ibrahimovic scored a very respectable 29 goals in two seasons with the Red Devils, but the truth is, they signed him too late at 34. The best years of Ibrahimovic's career came at Juventus, Inter and AC Milan between 2004 and 2012, at which stage he was a masterful playmaker as well as a deadly marksman.

  Zirkzee doesn't possess the same instincts in front of goal as Ibrahimovic, but he is equally as imaginative on the ball. And just like the Swedish icon in his prime, Zirkzee uses his imposing physical frame and deceptive turn of pace to barge past defenders at will.

  The arrogant streak that helped bolster the Ibrahimovic brand is not so prominent in Zirkzee, but he doesn't want for self-confidence either. In the Southampton game, there were real signs that the Dutch ace could become a similarly inspirational figure for United, especially when Ten Hag can field his strongest team.

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  Hojlund holds the key

  United have been largely dire to watch in 2024, but on the rare occasions they have clicked as a collective, including in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Ten Hag has opted to play with split-strikers. The Red Devils look far more fluid going forward with that 4-2-2-2 formation and less open out of possession, which is why it should be revived when Hojlund returns.

  Zirkzee and Hojlund could lead the line with Fernandes and either Alejandro Garnacho or Amad backing them up, while Kobbie Mainoo and new addition Manuel Ugarte sit at the base of the midfield in a compact shape that doesn't leave United exposed to swift counters. There is enough firepower there to blow most teams away, too.

  Hojlund was starved of service in his debut season at United but still scored 16 goals, so imagine what he could do with Zirkzee next to him. The former Bologna star will hold the ball up and look to pick out the intelligent runs in behind that Hojlund made so often in 2023-24.

  Indeed, Ten Hag has already admitted that is his ideal gameplan, telling in the summer: "Joshua Zirkzee & Rasmus Hojlund can play together. They compliment each other."

  They look like a match made in heaven on paper. Hojlund's finishing is still quite erratic, but he gets in the right positions and will see a lot more chances with Zirkzee on hand to provide stellar service. The only concern is whether Hojlund can avoid any further injury setbacks, because United don't have another centre-forward to call upon, which has seriously hampered their progress in recent weeks.

Norwich City have held talks with one manager who has a 100% win record over the recently sacked Liam Manning.

When Norwich City could appoint Manning’s replacement

The Canaries finally parted ways with Manning after a seventh straight Carrow Road defeat prior to the international break.

The 2-1 loss to Leicester City was Norwich’s 10th defeat from 15 Championship games, leaving them in 23rd place and four points off safety.

Sporting director Ben Knapper said in a statement that he understood criticism from supporters and is looking to “repair the relationship” with fans.

“We have tried absolutely everything possible to work through this incredibly challenging period but, unfortunately, given the recent run of results and performances, we have been left with no choice other than to make a change at this stage.

“Liam and his staff worked tirelessly to move our football club forward. They are all fundamentally good people and we wish them the very best in whatever comes next.

“We very much understand the frustration and criticism from our supporters at this stage. So far, results and performances on the pitch haven’t been good enough.

“We accept that responsibility, but it’s now imperative that we start to repair the relationship with our supporters and do everything we can to give them something to get behind.”

Something that will get supporters back on side will be to appoint a winning manager, with former midfielder Gary O’Neil linked with the vacancy.

Norwich, according to reliable reporter John Percy, have interviewed O’Neil and want to appoint a new manager by November 22, the day club football returns and the Canaries travel to Birmingham City.

Norwich City hold talks with Will Still

Sky Sports reporters Zinny Boswell, Lyall Thomas and Anthony Joseph shared a Norwich City manager update on Wednesday morning, naming the three bosses who the Canaries have spoken with.

As well as former player O’Neil, Norwich have also held talks with Jon Dahl Tomasson and Will Still, with the former Southampton manager available following his St Mary’s departure earlier this month.

Still, who plays a 3-4-1-2 system, struggled to turn the Saints around, winning two of his 13 Championship games which resulted in his sacking a week prior to Manning.

He did defeat Manning and Norwich 3-0 at Carrow Road in an EFL Cup second round tie, though, which began a terrible spell at home for the former Canaries boss.

Still has a 100% win record vs Manning, and he was impressing over in France with Lens before his move to England, being linked with numerous jobs.

The 33-year-old is still inexperienced in English football, though, and after his spell on the south coast, taking a chance on Still would be a gamble by the Norwich board as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

It could be a risk worth taking, although O’Neil and Tomasson have more experience in English football than Still.