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Liverpool look set to appoint Arne Slot as their new boss, but it is a gamble.
Is it a gamble Liverpool need to take? Is there a better way forward after Jurgen Klopp goes?
We argue there is and Liverpool should take it.
Read: https://rb.gy/o3c8h8
Liverpool are set to appoint Arne Slot as their new manager to succeed Jurgen Klopp, but there is a better way for the Reds.
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is ambitious for the Championship club. Inside Futbol went to speak to him.
A former Liverpool player thinks Manchester United caused the collapse of the Reds' title challenge.
Liverpool's title challenge has been badly damaged by a home loss against Crystal Palace, but Jason McAteer thinks the real issue can be traced to Old Trafford.
He feels Manchester United caused the end.
McAteer said:
"I don’t know if there is enough in the tank from the expectation of wanting to get to Dublin for the final of the Europa League and seeing out the title for Jurgen.
"Maybe that expectation has taken them out physically and mentally. It’s taken too much out of them.
"The Man United result last week was, I think, really a blow, a massive blow. To create all those chances and not win the game.
"It was the start of the end."
Is McAteer right?
Xabi Alonso as Liverpool manager? Or Bayern Munich manager?
We spoke to former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann about this and much more.
Check out the interview: https://insidefutbol.com/2024/03/06/exclusive-didi-hamann-talks-liverpool-xabi-alonso-bayern-munich-and-more/638767/
Do Celtic have a weak link at the back? Was there a lack of ruthlessness about their defence?
Yes is the view of ex-Hearts man Allan Preston, who thinks Lawrence Shankland targeted one player in particular.
That player? Liam Scales.
Preston said: "Listen, Scales has been great, he has, but he is still relatively inexperienced.
"I just think Shankland [thinks] I am going to plant myself on you. Carter-Vickers is a different proposition, big, strong beast.
"But Scales has not got at the moment that ruthless streak that Carter-Vickers has got."
Is signing a new CB a priority for Celtic in the summer?
Are Sheffield United the worst team the Premier League has ever seen?
Derby County picked up just 11 points in the 2007/08 season, a whopping 24 points behind the side that finished 19th (Birmingham City).
Richard Keys thinks Sheffield United are even worse than that Derby side were.
He said: "I know the facts tell me that Derby County were the worst ever [Premier League side] when they were relegated with eleven points.
"But I am going to put it to you that we have just watched the worst ever Premier League team.
"I think they are hopeless."
Is Keys right?
In February 2023, former Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder jetted into England to take the Leeds United job.
It all looked signed and sealed as he was shown around the facilities.
Leeds' fan were far from convinced though when the news broke and a backlash forced the club to rethink and the job offer was withdrawn.
Schreuder was baffled at Leeds not giving him the job as planned.
And then Leeds sporting director Victor Orta even wanted to fly to see the Dutchman to apologise personally.
Leeds eventually appointed Javi Gracia, only to then sack him later and turn to Sam Allardyce.
They were relegated.
If the club had stood firm and appointed Schreuder, would Leeds have stayed in the Premier League?
Last season Manchester United lost 9 times in the Premier League and finished third.
This season they have already lost 9 times and still have another 13 Premier League games left.
They include:
Man City away
Chelsea away
Liverpool home
Newcastle home
Arsenal home
How many more games will Manchester United lose and what would that mean for their top four hopes?
Exclusive:
Panathinaikos goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli has stressed he remains committed despite being frozen out of the squad.
In years past when player databases were not as extensive as they are today. international tournaments provided clubs with opportunities to see players that were not on their radar. Often, the tournaments led to moves. Euro 96 in England was one such tournament.
The Czech Republic were sensational and went all the way to the final, in part due to the superb displays of Karel Poborsky and Patrik Berger.
Poborsky's trickery, demonstrated with a superb scooped goal against Portugal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-m_wU7eLk8) and Berger's fierce left foot, made Premier League clubs sit up and take notice.
Poborsky was signed by Manchester United, while Liverpool grabbed Berger.
Poborsky had the higher profile through the tournament, but struggled to live up to the hype at Manchester United and left for Benfica in 1998.
Berger enjoyed much more success, becoming a Liverpool legend and playing at Anfield for seven full seasons; he was even part of the Reds' cup treble in 2001.
Some say that you can't do good business in January transfer windows.
But there are exceptions if your scouting and recruitment department are on top of their game.
Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic stand as shining examples.
Manchester United signed both players in January transfer windows and they went on to become club legends, playing a crucial role in not just multiple Premier League wins, but also winning the Champions League in 2008; both played in the final.
Evra cost just £5.5m to sign, while Vidic arrived for £7m.
Superb business.
The summer of 1996 was all about where Alan Shearer, who had scored a superb 112 goals in 138 Premier League games for Blackburn Rovers would go.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson thought he had the signing of Shearer all wrapped up. Shearer would lead the line for Manchester United and fire Ferguson's men to even more glory.
But Shearer dramatically chose Newcastle United in a £15m deal.
If Shearer had chosen Manchester United, would the Red Devils have won more trophies? Another Champions League, or two? Or ultimately, did missing out on Shearer make no difference to that time's dominant team?
We will never know.
Is this man safe at Newcastle United? Would he survive finishing outside the Premier League's top six?
The world's best ever left-back? Roberto Carlos must be in the conversation.
An attacking menace when most full-backs took the 'back' part of their position as a golden rule, Carlos strutted his stuff for over ten years at Real Madrid.
Inter did not want to sell him, but needed to raise cash and Real Madrid made what would be one of their best signings of all-time.
Carlos scored 47 times in La Liga, which he won four times. He was also integral as Real Madrid won the Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Oh, and don't forget Brazil, with whom he won the 2002 World Cup. This left-sided sensation not only terrorised the opposition, he also boasted a free kick that had to be seen to be believed.
His famous banana free kick against France in 1997 is the stuff of legend.
Thanks Roberto Carlos, to watch you was a joy.
Marcelo Bielsa is a legendary manager, but he will forever remain a special type of legend at Leeds United.
Bielsa took over a team packed with players used to finishing 15th in the Championship and for whom playing Premier League football seemed a pipe dream.
But they did what he said, they ran as much as he told them to, they changed their diets as he instructed and he made them into a machine.
Promotion to the Premier League came and then a thrilling first season back in the top flight for Leeds.
What would Bielsa have done if given the money to recruit world-class players at Leeds? Many Premier League teams are happy they never found out.
How beautiful a trophy was the Cup Winners' Cup?
It ran from 1960 until 1999 and in its final decade, three English clubs won it:
Manchester United (1991)
Arsenal (1994)
Chelsea (1998)
Should the Cup Winners' Cup be brought back?
Henrik Larsson took Scottish football by storm with Celtic, making unbelievable goals and sensational goal totals his stock in trade.
Larsson scored 35 times in Europe for Celtic, while he helped himself to an astonishing 174 goals in 221 league games.
The Swede won four Scottish league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups, while he got to the UEFA Cup/Europa League final with Celtic in 2003.
A move to Barcelona told those who dismissed his achievements as just in Scottish football that this was a player who could play anywhere - two La Ligas and a Champions League at Barca proved it.
An unrivalled nose for goal and the ability to get us off our seats. Thanks for the memories Henrik.
Are Aston Villa really Premier League title contenders?
Rivaldo was a left-footed force of nature, who notably showcased his silky skills at Barcelona, AC Milan and Olympiacos.
At the Camp Nou, Rivaldo wowed the fans, but his move there denied Steve McManaman the chance to join Barcelona.
McManaman was waiting for a move from Liverpool to Barcelona to go through, when a recommendation from Sir Bobby Robson caused the Spanish side to sign Rivaldo instead.
What did Rivaldo win? It's easier to list what he didn't win because he scooped up most of what he could - the Champions League, La Liga and the World Cup, the very biggest prizes.
Rivaldo also picked up the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Rivaldo this year https://insidefutbol.com/2023/01/12/exclusive-rivaldo-talks-pele-neymar-and-anfield-encounter/590271/
Thank you for letting us enjoy your incredible talents Rivaldo.
Yes, some questioned whether Harry Kane could do it at Bayern Munich.
But Kane is on fire for the German giants 🔥
17 goals in 11 Bundesliga games! 🔥
4 goals in 4 Champions League games! 🔥
The only question now is, not will he score more in the Bundesliga than Erling Haaland did, but how quickly will he do it.
In the 2004/05 season, West Brom managed to survive in the with just 34 points - the fewest there has ever been to survive.
With and all having under ten points after 12 games, will West Brom's record be broken this season?
Clarence Seedorf ranks as one of the top midfielders of all-time.
He is in a select club of having won the Champions League with three different clubs - AC Milan, Real Madrid and Ajax.
Seedorf, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, played in Istanbul when Liverpool trailed AC Milan 3-0 but came back to draw 3-3 and win the Champions League on penalties.
He came back though and helped AC Milan win the Champions League in 2007.
In all, Seedorf won two Dutch titles, one Dutch Cup, one La Liga, two Serie As, one Coppa Italia and four Champions Leagues.
Clarence, it was a pleasure to watch you play!
"We needed a player like him."
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino on Cole Palmer
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