International Football Thread

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Why Liverpool are feeling effects of Trent-shaped gap​

Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Liverpool have been missing Alexander-Arnold's ability on the ball this season

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

After winning the Premier League fairly comfortably last season, Liverpool reinforced their squad with some of Europe's most impressive talent.

Arne Slot's Reds spent about £416.2m on summer signings, the most spent by any club in a window, bringing the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike to Anfield.

But, despite sitting third in the table, Liverpool have lost three matches in a row in all competitions and host Manchester United on Sunday with a few questions being asked about them.

New signings need time to gel but the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid may have had a larger impact on Liverpool's squad as a whole than first thought.

Despite being questioned for his defensive ability at times, the 27-year-old scored 18 goals and contributed 64 assists in his time at the club - but his absence is being felt for less obvious reasons.

Here we analyse what Liverpool are missing this season in Alexander-Arnold's absence.

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Reds struggling against high defensive block​

The Premier League is home to some of the best executed defensive set-ups in the world whether that is in the form of physical high-presses or stubborn and compact blocks.

Bypassing a high press can be done in two ways: by playing through the pressure or by going long and playing over the pressure.

Against a good press or a higher defensive block, Liverpool have struggled to get the ball up the pitch as effectively as they did last season.

This can partly be explained by Alexander-Arnold's on-ball quality and using an example against Spurs last season helps illustrate the point.

Image source,BBC Sport
Image caption,
Alexander-Arnold's ability to play with his weak foot was a huge asset to Liverpool

 

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Mbappe sends Real Madrid top as Getafe self-destruct​

AFP

The victory restored Los Blancos’ two-point lead over Barcelona ahead of next weekend’s Clasico

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Slot seeks solutions as Liverpool crisis deepens​

AFP

Coach blames missed chances for Manchester United loss

 

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Man Utd stretch Liverpool losing streak to four games​

Maguire’s 84th-minute header gives his side back-to-back Premier League wins under Amorim

AFP
October 20, 2025

Photo: AFP

MANCHESTER: Liverpool slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time in 11 years as Manchester United won 2-1 on Sunday to end their near decade-long wait for victory at Anfield.

Harry Maguire's 84th minute header secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in Ruben Amorim's tenure as United boss.

Twelve minutes from time, Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo's opener after just 61 seconds.

Defeat leaves Liverpool four points adrift of Arsenal at the top of the table and Arne Slot still searching for answers in how to get the right blend after splashing out nearly £450 million ($604 million) on new players in the transfer market.

 

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Gordon grateful for Mourinho praise after Newcastle beat Benfica​

The Magpies climbed to seventh place in the table thanks to the victory with six points from their first three games

AFP
October 22, 2025

Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon in action with Benfica's Richard Rios. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle attacker Anthony Gordon said being lauded by Benfica boss Jose Mourinho after the Magpies' Champions League win at home to the Portuguese side on Tuesday was a "big compliment".

The 24-year-old England forward scored the first goal -- his fourth in the competition in three games this season - and made the last in a 3-0 victory at St James' Park as the Magpies overwhelmed Benfica to the delight of a crowd of more than 52,000 people.

 

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Lopez, Rashford inspire Barca rout of Olympiacos​

Teenage star Lamine Yamal was also on target for Hansi Flick's side

AFP
October 22, 2025

Photo: AFP

BARCELONA: Fermin Lopez bagged a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford struck twice for Barcelona in a 6-1 demolition of Olympiacos on Tuesday to get the Catalan giants back on track in the Champions League.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal was also on target for Hansi Flick's side, who lost against holders Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European outing in the league phase.

After a Lopez double, Ayoub El Kaabi pulled one back from the penalty spot for the Greek champions, but Santiago Hezze's red card allowed injury-hit Barcelona to rack up a big scoreline and go provisionally third.

Flick was without Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and several other regulars, but his team were able to build some confidence at the Olympic stadium ahead of the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday in La Liga.

"I'm very happy, we needed a win like that, we ended it feeling good and now to think about the Clasico," Lopez told Movistar after his treble.

"I'm grateful to the team and want to continue in this dynamic."

Barcelona only just scraped a win over Girona on Saturday in a tight Catalan derby, and almost fell behind right at the start against the Greeks.

 

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Revived Rashford soaring for Barca​

They will face Real Madrid today at the Santiago Bernabeu

AFP
October 25, 2025

No English player has appeared in a Clasico for Barcelona since Gary Lineker. Photo: AFP

BARCELONA: No English player has appeared in a Clasico for Barcelona since Gary Lineker in the 1980s, but Marcus Rashford should end that run on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

An injury to winger Raphinha opened the door for Rashford to prove his worth in the first months of his loan from Manchester United.

Rashford has five goals and six assists in 12 games for Hansi Flick's side, mostly operating on the left wing.

 

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nearly £450 million ($604 million)

Most expensive "transition period" in history.

 

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Champions Liverpool lose again, Man United into top four​

Reuters
October 26, 2025



Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai look dejected after the match on October 25. — Reuters

Liverpool’s hold on their Premier League title continued to weaken as they went down 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday, their fourth successive league defeat leaving them sixth in the table.

Manchester United climbed up to fourth with a roller-coaster 4-2 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion while promoted Sunderland are in dreamland after a 2-1 win at Chelsea lifted them to second place.

Newcastle United sealed a late 2-1 victory at home to Fulham thanks to an 89th-minute goal by Bruno Guimaraes.

Liverpool, who appeared to have emerged from their slump with a 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, suffered more misery in London after recent defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

 

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FIFA announces new ASEAN Cup for Southeast Asia​

Reuters
October 26, 2025



ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino attend a signing ceremony for the ASEAN-FIFA memorandum of understanding in football development on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 26, 2025. — Reuters

A new tournament, the FIFA ASEAN Cup, will be launched as part of an agreement between FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), aimed at boosting the development of football across the region.

The announcement was made during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding.

The tournament will bring together national teams from all ASEAN member states in a format inspired by the Arab Cup, which was first organised by FIFA in 2021.

 

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“This will be a great addition to the regional football calendar,” Infantino said.

“Through the FIFA ASEAN Cup, we are uniting countries together, and this competition will be a huge success as it will help boost national team football in the ASEAN region and support the development of our sport across all of Southeast Asia.”

World football’s governing body will work with regional stakeholders including the Asian Football Confederation, the ASEAN Football Federation, and the relevant FIFA member associations to finalise the tournament’s format.

 

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Premier League title is Arsenal’s to lose after Palace victory​

AFP | Reuters
October 27, 2025



Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring their first goal with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka ath the Emirates Stadium in London, Britain on October 26, 2025. — Reuters

Arsenal took a firm grip on the Premier League title race with the Gunners edging out Crystal Palace on Sunday as title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City fell to defeat.

City sit just inside the top five, narrowly ahead of local rivals Manchester United who climbed above Liverpool courtesy of a third consecutive victory as they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 on Saturday.

Newly-promoted Sunderland sit fourth after stunning Chelsea, while Leeds United and Burnley also won this weekend as all three are on course to buck the trend of sides being relegated straight back to the Championship.

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Arsenal’s time under Mikel Arteta for a first league title in 22 years looks to have come.

“It’s very early, we’re still in October,” said Arteta, whose team is seeking a first Premier League title since 2004.

“The emotional state is really high but there are a lot of things to get better.”

 

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Front three fire for united​

Ruben Amorim waited nearly a year for back-to-back Premier League wins and can claim to show tangible signs of progress after Brighton were beaten at Old Trafford for the first time in four years.

All three of the Red Devils’ £200 million ($266 million) trio of attacking summer signings came to the fore.

Matheus Cunha scored his first United goal, while Bryan Mbeumo struck twice and Benjamin Sesko grabbed an assist.

“They have a lot of talent. But I really like the way they defend,” said Amorim.

“We can have all the talent in the world but, if we don’t fight, in this league, you have no chance.”

On a weekend in which Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Palace and Nottingham Forest all lost after the exertions of European football in midweek, United are clearly benefitting from being able to concentrate on one match per week.

A top-four finish and return to the Champions League next season is now a more than realistic target for Amorim’s men.

Sunderland are off to the best start from a promoted side for 17 years after coming from behind to win at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds beat West Ham 2-1, while Burnley struck late to win 3-2 at winless Wolves.

For the past two seasons, the likes of West Ham, Wolves, Everton and Forest have been saved by the struggles of the promoted sides.

Last season, Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester combined for just 59 points and 12 wins.

Just over a quarter of the way into the current campaign, Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley already have 38 points and 11 victories between them.

 

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Lyon leave it late to beat 10-man Strasbourg in Ligue 1​

AFP

Substitute Moreira's late heroics sent Lyon fourth on 18 points

Arsenal extend Premier League lead as Man City lose at Villa​

AFP

Bournemouth are now the Gunners' closest challengers in second

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Messi eyes 2026 World Cup despite age and fitness concerns​

Reuters
October 28, 2025



Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) is presented with the MLS Golden Boot for the most goals scored during the regular season before the game against Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on Oct 24, 2025 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. — Reuters

Lionel Messi, still chasing international glory nearly two decades into his career, says he hopes to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America, acknowledging his age and fitness will dictate his role in defending Argentina’s 2022 title.

The Argentine great recently extended his contract with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami through 2028, signalling he is not yet considering retirement despite turning 39 next June.

Speaking to NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will take time next year to assess his physical condition before deciding whether to play in the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” the Argentine captain said in the interview released on Monday.


“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my team, if I am there. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter (and see if I can really be 100 per cent, if I can be useful and then make a decision.

“I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last one, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because its always a dream to play with the national team.”

Messi has enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 20 years, debuting for Barcelona at just 17 in 2004 before playing for Paris St Germain and joining Inter Miami in 2023. He sparked fresh interest in the American league in a critical moment for the sport in North America ahead of hosting next year’s World Cup.

While Messi has amassed countless club and individual accolades, international success had eluded him until claiming the 2021 Copa America before beating France 4-2 on penalties to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the victory.

“It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream. When you ask a player what their dream is, its to be world champion.”

Messi has played in 195 matches and scored a record 114 goals for his country. A return for the 2026 World Cup would mark his sixth appearance in the tournament.