West Ham manager Graham Potter could be sacked just nine months after taking over from Julen Lopetegui, and former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is a top contender to replace the Englishman.
While credible reports suggest that Nuno Espírito Santo is in pole position for the potential West Ham job after talks with both David Sullivan and Karren Brady (ExWHUemployee), Bilic is said to be another firm favourite.
Potter has recorded one of the worst win percentages of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, second only behind Avram Grant, who infamously guided the east Londoners to relegation at the end of 2010/2011.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12, Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
A 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace last Saturday, with Tyrick Mitchell the unlikely Eagles hero after his sensational winning goal on the volley, has piled even more pressure on Potter, who is now facing two career-defining games against David Moyes’ Everton and title-chasing Arsenal.
Nuno is said to be considering West Ham’s offer, if they do indeed sack Potter, while it is reported elsewhere that Bilic is open to returning to West Ham after a solid spell in charge from 2015 to 2017.
The latter guided West Ham to one of their highest ever Premier League finishes at the end of his debut campaign (7th), which earned the club a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds, only for Bilic’s men to be dumped out by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu.
Sullivan and co sacked Bilic early on in 2017/2018 with West Ham sitting 18th in the table, but his return could be on the cards if they pivot away from Nuno.
What Slaven Bilic's "first move" at West Ham would be if appointed
Club insider ExWHUemployee has now shared that Bilic is already making some interesting plans, in the event he is appointed to replace Potter.
After speaking to the tactician himself, Ex claims that Bilic’s “first move” at West Ham would be to bring Mark Noble in as an assistant coach, and he’s plotting a few other backroom hires already.
Noble, a West Ham legend and their current sporting director, exemplifies exactly the type of spirit needed to lift the club from their ongoing slump and resurrect some much-needed positivity around the London Stadium.
The move would make sense, but the jury is out on whether Bilic really is the right man to move West Ham forward.
Abishek Porel, one of four players retained by DC after IPL 2024, hasn’t set the stage on fire, but has been able to do what the team has asked of him
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-20251:03
Who will finish in the top four?
Abishek Porel is currently the second-highest run-getter for Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025 behind KL Rahul. He hasn’t reached there – 225 runs in eight innings – with big, crushing-the-opposition knocks, but regular, crucial contributions at the top of the order. And those have been coming because “I know my game and the support staff knows my game,” Porel says. The team knows what it can get from Porel and he knows what he can give the team.The season started with a two-ball duck for Porel, one of four players – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Tristan Stubbs the others – retained by DC ahead of the last auction. Porel said he was “feeling the pressure”, but the big men in the backroom, coach Hemang Badani, mentor Kevin Pietersen, captain Axar and others made him pick himself up, and “I am getting the results”.”I am enjoying myself, enjoying every innings I play,” Porel said at a press conference after DC beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on Tuesday night for their sixth win in eight games this season. “I am trying to find ways to get better each time I bat. I talk a lot with Hemang sir and KP at training, trying to figure out what I can work on to do better. What I do in training, I bring to the matches.Related
Kevin Pietersen is helping make Delhi Capitals' players better cricketers and loving it
Pujara gives Rahul credit for smooth LSG-DC transition
Pant goes the other way – what's the rationale?
Mukesh four-for sets up comfortable win as DC close the gap up top
“Pitches keep changing, but I know my game and the support staff knows my game, what I can do and can’t do. They always ask me to be free, bat with freedom, not worry about other things. They say they are with me at all times. I had a couple of bad outings, scored a zero in the first game, and was feeling the pressure, so they all backed me: ‘We are with you, don’t worry.’ KP backed me, Hemang sir backed me, the captain backed me, KL [Rahul] always backs me, he reminded me, ‘You did well against LSG [Rahul’s former team] last year].’ It motivates me.”Kuldeep keeps telling me, ‘You are a very good batsman, you have great timing.’ This is very important for a player. Even if you don’t back yourself, these people are always backing me. This motivates me to play with freedom and play to my strengths, and I am getting the results.”
“The plan for the future is obviously to play for India, play for the national team for many years. But right now, what matters more to me is the IPL trophy”Abishek Porel
There has been just one other failure for Porel this season: a run-a-ball 7 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Apart from that, he has scored 34* in 18 balls vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), 33 in 20 vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), 33 in 25 vs Mumbai Indians (MI), 49 in 37 vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) and 18 in nine balls vs Gujarat Titans (GT), before scoring 51 in 36 balls to give DC exactly the start they needed against LSG. The last four games have been as opener, as DC have tried to find a fix in the absence of the injured Faf du Plessis and the out-of-touch Jake Fraser-McGurk, with Karun Nair going out with Porel at the top.Porel has gone at a strike rate of 146.10 this season. Not earth-shattering, but DC have got what they want from him after he had given them 327 runs in 14 matches last season, scoring at a strike rate of 159.51.And though higher honours might be some way away, Porel has reason to dream, short term as well as long term. “The plan for the future is obviously to play for India, play for the national team for many years,” he said. “But right now, what matters more to me is the IPL trophy; how we can do better, how I can contribute to making DC IPL champions.”
Embattled Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was dealt a crushing insult by LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari on Tuesday, when he gleefully compared her tenure to that of Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. Badenoch and Amorim both took on their respective roles in November 2024, and have presided over some of the worst results in the history of two of the UK's most successful institutions.
WATCH: Ferrari compares Badenoch to Amorim
The Conservatives have lost swathes of their councillors and members to the surging far-right vehicle of Nigel Farage, Reform. Now polling as low as 17% with the general electorate according to the latest YouGov polling, calls for Badenoch to step down have accelerated.
Badenoch was doing her media rounds on Tuesday morning, after she had addressed her members at the Conservative Party's annual conference in Manchester the day before.
Ferrari used the opportunity to direct the jibe at a slightly bemused Badenoch, comparing the politicians requests for more time to that of the Portuguese manager.
"If this was like football Mrs Badenoch, you need to look across to Old Trafford, the manager of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, who keeps saying ‘give me time’ and keeps losing matches," said Ferrari. "You’re losing councillors, you're losing support, you're losing members. You are the Ruben Amorim of politics Mrs Badenoch."
Badenoch largely skirted around the comparison, instead focussing on her attempts to lead the party through its current predicament.
"Well, that is certainly not the case. What we are doing is shedding a lot of the baggage of the last 14 years. I remember last year, we had people defecting to Labour because Labour was doing well in the polls. Now we have people defecting to Reform, because Reform is doing well in the polls. We need people in the party who are here for the right reasons."
AdvertisementBadenoch and Amorim – two leaders destined for the chop?
It's unclear who out of Badenoch or Amorim should be more insulted by Ferrari's jibe. A recent survey of Conservative Party members found that more than half think Badenoch should leave her role. While no such poll of Red Devils supporters exists, it's not hard to think that given the Portuguese's 17 losses in just 36 competitive games at United would likely return similar numbers.
Man Utd legends continue to criticise Amorim
Several of United's most decorated players have continued to question the manager's methods of late. Paul Scholes recently claimed the Portuguese is "getting too much time" considering the lack of success on the pitch.
On the latest episode of Scholes delivered a damning verdict on Amorim's reign.
He said: "I feel like with Ruben Amorim it’s got to the point where we don’t want to talk about sacking managers all the time and Manchester United do give managers enough time.
"He’ll never get booed by the fans and it wasn’t until that Brentford game [where they lost 3-1] where I thought, ‘He’s getting a little bit too much time’ and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things come to an end."
Wayne Rooney similarly questioned Amorim's performance on a episode of his podcast: "I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportMan United prepare for Liverpool clash
Unlike Badenoch, Amorim has a massive chance to quiet his detractors in the coming weeks. After the international break, United will square off against their fiercest rivals Liverpool in a Premier League clash that could have profound impact on both club's respective seasons.
Inigo Martinez has revealed that he "didn't even dare" tell his former coach Hansi Flick about his decision to leave Barcelona over the summer due to their "exceptional" relationship. After playing a major role in Barca's domestic dominance, the ex-Athletic Club centre-back left for the Saudi Pro League to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
Inigo Martinez begins new chapter at Al-Nassr
In a shock transfer during the summer transfer window, Martinez left Barcelona to sign a lucrative deal with the Riyadh giants. The centre-back moved to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has joined Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo. His exit came after he played an extremely important role in helping Barca win La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana in addition to a semi-final run in the Champions League last season.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMartinez reveals how he shared the news of his Barca exit with Flick
In an interview with , Martinez said: "It's true that Hansi Flick had a lot of affection for me, but he also knew exactly what I brought to the team, not just on the field, but also off it. He saw me as a key piece, a pivotal element in his plans, so when a part of that puzzle fell apart at the last moment, suddenly and unexpectedly, it was natural for him to feel some doubt or confusion in that situation.
"He considered me a constant in the team, so any change surprised him a bit, which is normal – that's football. I think the surprise came from the fact that he found out while I was on the plane, more than anything else."
"Honestly, I didn't dare tell him right away. There were moments when I told myself: 'Tomorrow, I'll tell him tomorrow.' Then tomorrow came, and I'd say: 'Later, not now'. It was a long journey after the last match: several hours on the bus, a few stops at gas stations, then to the airport, and there, on the way, I spoke to his assistant, Marcus Sorg, and told him I wanted to talk to the coach because I had something on my mind that I needed to tell him."
"Finally, I decided to talk to him on the plane. And indeed, the news caught him completely off guard – a surprise, of course, for him."
Barca showing signs of faltering, but Martinez remains confident
The Catalans headed into the recently-concluded international break on the back of consecutive losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla, with critics emphasising on Flick's "suicidal" high-line tactics. Martinez, however, believes his old club will "fight and win titles."
“Being Bara's manager is complicated," he added. "Flick is clear, demanding, and has been the first to punish those who arrive late. But this year, he may notice that something isn't working as well and is nervous about the pressure, like any Barca fan. Even so, I have no doubt that Barca will fight and win titles.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportInjuries threaten Barca's chance ahead of El Clasico
The Catalans find themselves in a miserable spot owing to their mounting injury crisis. The likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo are certain to miss the clash against Real Madrid on October 26, while doubts remain over the participations of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez.
The board hopes to bail out last season’s teams who haven’t paid their players fully
Mohammad Isam26-May-2025The BCB will introduce revenue distribution for the first time in the BPL in a bid to bail out last season’s teams that haven’t cleared their dues to players. The decision was taken during the BPL’s governing council meeting in Dhaka on Monday.The payment issue came to the fore last season after Durbar Rajshahi’s overseas players boycotted a match over non-payments. Their local players had also skipped a training session during the tournament as a mark of protest. Towards the end of the tournament, the payment delay left some of the overseas players stranded in their hotel in Dhaka.After Durbar Rajshahi kept missing the payment deadline, Bangladesh’s sports ministry put pressure on the team owner Shafiqur Rahman.The BCB, in principle, has decided to allocate a portion of the tournament’s ticket sales to the seven franchises according to their final position in the points table. The four teams that reached the playoffs last season will get Taka 5.5 million (US$45,000 approx.) and the ones that didn’t reach the playoffs Taka 4.5 million (US$36,000 approx.).”This is the first time that the BCB will distribute revenue from ticket sales to BPL franchises,” a BCB statement said. “The disbursement, scheduled ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, will be conditional upon the verification of payment acknowledgments from the respective players.”The BCB also threatened legal action against the franchises that are still defaulting on payment obligations.”The final disbursement amount for each franchise will be determined proportionally, based on the percentage of outstanding player payments they have cleared relative to their eligible share,” the statement said. “In addition, the Governing Council has decided to pursue legal action against any franchise that continues to default on payment obligations despite repeated official notices. This decision reflects the BCB’s commitment to ensuring contractual accountability and maintaining the integrity of the league.”
Reporter Graham Smyth has shared a “concern” he has about one Leeds United star, who has now been dropped by manager Daniel Farke.
Leeds off to solid start despite Bournemouth setback
Conceding a late equaliser is always a kick in the teeth, and Farke will be disappointed that his side were unable to hold on for all three points against AFC Bournemouth, especially given that the German believes they did enough to get the win.
The Leeds manager said: “We had a really good game. I think we deserved to win this game. “At this level, small details can be punished. It is pretty heartbreaking, but I am proud of the performance.”
It was not the first time this season the Whites have conceded in stoppage time, with a Gabriel Gudmundsson own-goal gifting Fulham a victory at Craven Cottage earlier this month, but Farke should be happy with the start his side have made to the Premier League season regardless.
Leeds want to sign new Brazil winger with £50m+ release clause on the cheap
The Whites are looking to sanction an exciting deal…
BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025
The only game in which the newly-promoted team weren’t competitive was away at Arsenal, suffering a 5-0 battering against Mikel Arteta’s side, but otherwise they have looked solid, picking up eight points in their opening six matches.
Leeds started the campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton at Elland Road, with Ao Tanaka receiving the Player of the Match award for his efforts, but the 27-year-old has since fallen down the pecking order, appearing as a late substitute in the past two matches after returning from injury.
Smyth has subsequently shared a concern he has about Tanaka, with the journalist saying on The Square Ball Podcast (via The Leeds Press): “My concern with Tanaka was physicality in the Premier League.
“He got run over a few times towards the end of the last season. I worried a little bit, against the most elite athletes in the Premier League.”
Tanaka may have work cut out reclaiming his starting spot
After suffering an injury against Arsenal, the Japanese maestro lost his place in the side, with Sean Longstaff being brought in, and the former Newcastle United man has certainly made an impressive start.
In the draw against Bournemouth, Longstaff opened his account by scoring the goal to put Leeds into the lead, while also setting up Joe Rodon’s equaliser, in what was a well-rounded performance from the central midfielder, who received a 9.3 SofaScore match rating.
Statistic
Number completed
Big chances created
2
Tackles
6
Accurate crosses
7
Duels won
10
In fairness, Tanaka made a solid start against Everton, having picked up the Player of the Match Award, so he should get another chance to prove himself, but Longstaff has already shown that he could be crucial to Leeds’ survival chances.
Newcastle United have been dealt their perennial early-season injury issues, but there’s little question that Eddie Howe’s side are in a good position to meet their targets this year; perhaps they will even exceed them.
The backline has stood strong and firm for most of Howe’s tenure, but he has reinforced the St. James’ Park defences this summer and appears to have added layers to the existing fold too. Nick Pope has five clean sheets from seven Premier League matches, and as the goalkeeper ranks joint-fifth for saves made (19), all can be observed to be pulling their weight.
However, with Alexander Isak sold to Liverpool for a record-breaking fee, the Magpies entered the campaign freighted with fresh worries about the quality in attack. Yoane Wissa still hasn’t made his debut for the club as he recovers from a knee injury, and that has been fuel for the fire.
But the intensity of the blaze has been allayed through the fast start to life in England of Nick Woltemade.
Newcastle's big-money buy
If Newcastle are fools for spending the big bucks on Woltemade in August, what does that make those who opted against landing such a unique and dangerous centre-forward?
Seven games in, the former Stuttgart man has notched four goals in black and white, and he’s earning the respect and focus of more than just Tyneside’s devoted fans.
Different to Isak, Woltemade still boasts far more than a sharp shot, and his early foray into the English game has told of an exciting future for both player and club, the potential to join Isak and maybe even the legendary Alan Shearer in the highest regard of those strikers who were not one cut but several above the rest.
Four goals in seven hardly make a young and aspiring forward the next Shearer, but already the 23-year-old has proved himself a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League, with the sharpness of mind to rival Isak for the crown as Newcastle’s best modern nine.
However, Shearer’s role and reputation in Newcastle surpassed the success he had as a goalscorer. A true talismanic force, he led the club for many years and understood inherently what it means to be a Geordie.
And Newcastle may have their next version. No, it’s not boyhood fan Dan Burn (although he is of course a legend in his own right).
No, the man in question here arrived from overseas, but he’s an adopted son of this city and one of the key pillars of the Howe era.
Howe's own version of Shearer
It all started with Howe. And then Howe got to work during the January 2022 transfer window and signed a wealth of talented players to climb away from relegation danger and up and up the Premier League ladder.
And among the first through the door was Bruno Guimaraes, who joined from Lyon for a £41m fee toward the end of the window. He was 24 at the time, and it was considered a coup.
bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-united-spurs-isak-howe
Into his fifth campaign on Tyneside, the Brazil international has been both a leader and a marvel in the middle of the park, with his combative defending and fierce pressing and elegant passing leading all the big clubs to come sniffing. He has remained loyal.
But the £100m prices that have been mooted here and there underline his skill and the belief from elsewhere that Newcastle have a truly special player in their mix.
Hailed as a “machine” of a midfielder by blogger Thomas Hammond, the 27-year-old has maintained impressive fitness levels and has been deployed more often than any other Newcastle player across Howe’s tenure.
Fabian Schar
5
163
Bruno Guimaraes
5
160
Dan Burn
5
158
Jacob Murphy
5
144
Joelinton
5
138
He’d bleed for the badge, and has been rewarded for his tenacity and commitment with two Champions League campaigns in three terms, winning the Carabao Cup last year besides.
The £160k-per-week talent is unquestionably one of the best in the business, and he is also the captain of the United fold, with Howe speaking in the past of his awe for Newcastle’s “difference-maker”.
Had he never arrived, Newcastle might never have hit the heights reached over the past few years. Perhaps the drive and verve they played with for much of 2024/25 would never have led them to triumph in the Carabao Cup.
But even in defeat, Guimaraes speaks with a passion that cannot be forged, cannot be imitated. The loss to Liverpool in August would be a case in point, having taken a subtle dig at Isak as he held his head high even after Rio Ngumoha sank hearts across St. James’ Park with a cruel last-minute winner.
There stood a leader, a talisman Shearer was proud of watching. Isak might have had the 55-year-old’s respect for his ability to find the back of the net, but Guimaraes is by far a better embodiment of what it takes to wear the Newcastle badge.
Shearer is the all-time record scorer in the Premier League with 260 goals. Even for a phenomenon like Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (who has 94 goals), that will take some beating.
The retired striker said he lived out his “dream” at Newcastle, even though Manchester United came calling when he was at Blackburn Rovers, even though he unlaced his boots and hung them up without any silverware to display across ten campaigns on Tyneside.
Guimaraes bears a trophy in his own cabinet, but he too has had offers from more established superpowers, and he remains when some of his high-level teammates have ventured off for greener pastures.
He wears the armband, and he deserves it. Guimaraes is the leader of this remarkable Howe project, and he is closer to Shearer than Isak ever was.
PIF have overpaid for "mega-money" Newcastle signing & it's not Woltemade
One of Newcastle’s key signings over the summer may well have an “inflated valuation” & it’s not Nick Woltemade.
India white-ball star goes to stumps on 98 not out with Essex’s total set to be comfortably overhauled
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 23-Jun-2025Tilak Varma demonstrated on his Hampshire debut that he is not just a big-hitting white-ball tyro, constructing a patient, unbeaten 98 in the Rothesay County Championship in windswept Chelmsford.The 22-year-old Indian left-hand batter, starting a four-game stint on the south coast, was playing only his 19th first-class game, compared to 119 in T20 competitions, including 25 for his country. But he showed remarkable restraint with a 234-ball vigil to help Hampshire build a measured response to Essex’s first-innings 296. At close of play, they were three runs short of parity on 293 for 4.Tilak was the safe pair of hands in half-century stands with Fletcha Middleton (61) and Ben Brown (42) and one of three figures with Liam Dawson (79 not out). But he did revert to the type of pyrotechnics that have made him a hit in the IPL with two sixes off Matt Critchley, one lost over long leg and the other a vicious reverse-sweep, and a third also to long leg off Shane Snater.Earlier, Kyle Abbott completed his third five-wicket haul of the season, winkling out the last two Essex wickets in short order to finish with 5 for 26 from 19 overs. The effort kept him top of the Championship wicket-taking charts with 37.Essex were boosted by Sam Cook’s release from England duty to play his first Championship match since the beginning of May. He returned to find himself without regular new-ball sidekick Jamie Porter, absent with a calf injury, but struck twice with successive balls in his fifth over. Ali Orr was first to go, turning a delivery uppishly to midwicket, and then Nick Gubbins played down the wrong line and edged to third slip.Middleton took a shine to Snater and drove him five times in nine balls to the midwicket boundary, in the process reaching his second half-century of the season from 61 balls. But he departed straight after lunch when he hammered Simon Harmer to silly mid-on where Paul Walter took a sharp catch. The pair had put on 62.With Porter indisposed, 20-year-old fast bowler Mackenzie Jones was handed a debut. His curate’s egg of an opening spell lasted just two overs, and when he came back for three more he was smashed four times in an over by Brown to various points on the off-side boundary.Tilak reached his half-century via a sharp single that might have resulted in a run-out with a better shy at the stumps. But it was followed quickly by a fourth wicket, after a stand of 68 runs, when Brown slashed Critchley to backward point.There was no respite for the Essex bowlers, though, as Dawson was the latest to join forces with the immovable object that Tilak had become. Dawson’s seventh boundary, steering Cook to third, took him to fifty, though he was fortunate in the same over when an edge was put down in the slips.Dawson marked his reprieve by pulling Cook for six over midwicket and adding another with the same shot against Snater as Essex struggled in vain to break up the partnership.Hampshire had wrapped up Essex’s first innings in 16 balls at the start of the day. Abbott had Cook playing no shot to a ball that swung back in and bowled him. In his next over, Snater went for glory in search of the boundary that would have claimed a second batting point, but slashed wildly at a wider delivery and was caught spectacularly on the slide at backward point.
Arne Slot defended his decision to field a severely inexperienced side on Wednesday night as Liverpool were soundly beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace to exit the Carabao Cup at the fourth-round stage. Only a handful of first-team regulars were involved and multiple played out of their natural position as Slot made 10 changes to his starting XI ahead of what the Dutchman called a "big week".
Liverpool dumped out of cup but Slot defends controversial selection
Speaking to Sky Sports at the full-time whistle, Slot claimed he had little choice but to give youth and fringe players an opportunity to start with a huge week on the horizon for his side. He said it would have been a "stupid choice" if a first-team regular had picked up an injury in the cup tie.
The Reds face Aston Villa, Real Madrid – including potentially the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold – and Manchester City within the space of eight days as they look to get their season quickly back on track, but a sixth defeat in seven games will have done nothing to help the atmosphere around the club after the Eagles left Anfield with a comprehensive three-goal victory.
Slot’s defensive selection was particularly striking, as third-choice Freddie Woodman made a debut in goal, Calvin Ramsay came in from the cold to start at right-back and both Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson started out of position in the centre of a back five alongside Joe Gomez. The fact that the underperforming Milos Kerkez was the only player to keep his place in the XI only raises further questions – though Palace boss Oliver Glasner claimed it would be "disrespectful" to claim Liverpool had fielded a weakened side.
Three teenagers were also handed a start, Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni earning a chance to impress while 18-year-old Kieran Morrison made his debut for the club. Several more young players came off the bench, including Amara Nallo – who was sent off to receive a second red card in two appearances and just 16 minutes for Liverpool’s senior side.
AdvertisementGettySlot responds to criticism and claims injury issues led to selection
"Everybody can have [their] opinion about it but with the squad we have – maybe 15, 16 first-team players available – this is the choice I've made," Slot told Sky Sports.
But he conceded: "It's not of Liverpool's standards to lose five out of six, or six out of seven.”
"Last time we played Southampton here in the League Cup, Giovanni Leoni got injured, and we don't have such a big squad as people might tell, because there was so much focus on the amount of money we spent [in the summer].
"People all of a sudden think we have 25 players available, but we mainly have 20 players then we have four injuries.
"I only have one right full-back, Conor Bradley, as an example, and every time I had to play him twice in three days or three times in seven days [last season], it led to him… that I had to take him off with a hamstring injury or something else.
"Are you willing to take that risk with such a big week coming up? Last time I played a player that wasn't fully prepared – we thought he was prepared but it was the first time – Alexander Isak, he got injured.”
Slot cites Southampton match as situation to avoid
"Last time we played Southampton Leoni was injured and it was a red card for Hugo Ekitike. Those are the things we can't use with a big week coming up," he added.
"But there's always a choice. What if I had played Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate], for example, if one of them got injured people would have said, 'what a stupid choice'.
"And also with them [the first-team players] it was very difficult for us, for our starters to beat Palace because it's not the first time we lose against them."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFPUpcoming fixtures could justify Slot's selection
With an important week coming up, Slot can be forgiven for making changes if his first-team stars return to winning ways quickly. It is with little doubt that the Dutchman’s selection will only have added to the increased pressure he could soon find himself under.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said: "It was the wrong team. Make no mistake. He picked a team today that made it really difficult for himself. You've not helped the young players because of the players that are around them. You've made 10 changes from Brentford.
"You can't tell me that he's picked that team today and those subs thinking 'that will get me a result against a really good Crystal Palace'. You might hope you can. I didn't believe for one second they could beat them. He's made a mistake today.”
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has ended the club's pursuit of Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski despite Ruben Amorim being eager to bring the veteran to Old Trafford next summer. Lewandowski's existing deal at Barcelona expires at the end of the season and the Catalan giants are unlikely to offer the Polish forward an extension, which will make him a free agent.
Amorim wanted Lewandowski
According to , Amorim was looking forward to bringing Lewandowski to Old Trafford next summer once the veteran forward's Barcelona contract expired. The Poland legend is in the final year of his existing deal and as of now, there have been no talks of an extension between the striker and the Catalan club, which is a clear hint that the Spanish champions do not want to retain the player beyond the 2025-26 campaign.
Amorim wanted an experienced player like Lewandowski in the dressing room who could contribute goals and also help to inspire the club's youngsters.
AdvertisementgettyRatcliffe won't approve Lewandowski transfer
The report, however, also adds that Ratcliffe has denied Amorim's request as he is strictly against signing players who are in the twilight of their playing careers. In the past, United have run after big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Raphael Varane and Bastian Schweinsteiger but none of the signings have proved fruitful for the team and have instead cost the club millions of pounds in the transfer market and in wages.
At 37, Lewandowski continues to be among the highest-earning footballers in the world as he pockets a wage of around £540,000-a-week. Lewandowski's departure will bring huge relief for Barcelona, who continue to struggle financially and have regularly faced problems in registering players while complying with La Liga rules. United themselves have also struggled to manage their crippling finances and under such circumstances, signing Lewandowski is not a viable option.
Lewandowski's agent hinted at possible departure
Amid speculation over Lewandowski's situation at Barcelona, his agent Pini Zahavi recently dropped a major hint over the striker's future as he told : "Lewandowski's contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2026, and no decisions have been made yet. We'll have to wait and see what happens in the coming days."
Zahavi, however, dismissed rumours suggesting Lewandowski could head to the Saudi Pro League as he added: "There's nothing official regarding negotiations with Saudi Arabian teams. There are no offers at this time."
As Lewandowski's future remains uncertain, reports have emerged that the Catalan giants have started to prepare for life beyond their star striker, with Ferran Torres adapting to a central role under Hansi Flick this season. Sporting director Deco recently stated that Barcelona will not immediately pursue a replacement, yet names like Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Etta Eyong continue to surface in reports.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyLewandowski ruled out of El Clasico
With the season's first El Clasico fast approaching, Barcelona are dealing with multiple injury setbacks. They are already missing the services of star winger Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski will not feature in the high-octane clash at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Lewandowski returned from international duty after the October break with an injury as he was sent for medical tests after informing Barca of the issues regarding his left leg. It was later confirmed that Lewandowski will require a period of rest and will be sidelined for El Clasico. The statement from Barcelona read: "Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury in his left thigh. He will be sidelined, and his recovery time will depend on how the injury progresses. The Polish striker has scored four goals in nine appearances so far in the 2025-26 season. His tally includes a brace against Valencia and goals against Oviedo and Real Sociedad. This season he has also scored two goals for Poland, the most recent coming during the October international break against Lithuania."
In Lewandowski's absence, Flick is likely to field Torres as his No.9 against Madrid, with in-form Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal operating from the two wings.