Alisson Cassiano News

Erling Haaland mocks Brazil with laughing post after ending Selecao's World Cup dream

Erling Haaland needed just one social media post to capture the mood after producing one of the biggest performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Norway striker scored twice in a dramatic 2-1 Round of 16 victory over Brazil before sharing a light-hearted reaction online that quickly grabbed fans' attention. His latest heroics not only ended Brazil's title hopes but also sent Norway into uncharted territory with a place in the quarterfinals.Erling Haaland reacts after firing Norway past BrazilHaaland once again proved why he is one of world football's most feared forwards. Norway had to remain patient against a Brazil side that missed several chances, including a first-half penalty from Bruno Guimaraes that goalkeeper Orjan Nyland comfortably saved. Brazil also came close through substitute Endrick, who failed to convert a clear opportunity after a clever pass from Vinicius Junior.The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute. Haaland rose above Brazil's defence to meet a cross before calmly beating Alisson with a composed finish. Just 11 minutes later, he struck again, driving a precise effort into the corner to put Norway in complete control.Brazil managed to pull one goal back, but the late response was not enough to stop Norway from securing a famous victory over the five-time world champions.Shortly after the final whistle, Haaland celebrated the result with a brief Instagram post that read:"Well well well😂."The simple message quickly spread across social media as fans celebrated Norway's biggest World Cup achievement in decades. The victory also booked Norway's first-ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal, where they will face the winner of the Mexico versus England Round of 16 clash in Miami on July 10.Erling Haaland continues record-breaking FIFA World Cup campaignHaaland's tournament statistics continue to place him among the greatest World Cup starts ever seen. The Manchester City striker has now scored in each of his four appearances at the tournament and sits alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe on seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot.His latest brace also added several remarkable milestones to an already memorable campaign. According to Opta, Haaland's seven goals in his first four World Cup matches are the most by any player since Gerd Muller scored eight during the 1970 tournament.He has also become only the fourth player to score four match-winning goals in a single World Cup. The exclusive list includes Gerd Muller, Salvatore Schillaci and Grzegorz Lato, placing the Norwegian among some of football's most iconic tournament performers.Haaland's journey has been impressive from the opening stages. He scored braces against Iraq and Senegal in the group stage before missing Norway's defeat to France. He returned for the knockout round against Ivory Coast and scored the winning goal before delivering another match-winning display against Brazil.Norway will now carry growing belief into the quarterfinals.With Haaland producing goals in crucial moments and the team showing resilience against elite opposition, the Scandinavian side has transformed from tournament outsiders into genuine contenders. Their dream run continues, and Haaland remains firmly at the heart of it.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.

2026-07-06

Andy Robertson and Alisson moment spotted right after Brazil beat Scotland at World Cup

Andy Robertson and Alisson shared a touching moment after Scotland's 3-0 World Cup defeat to Brazil in Miami. It was the first time the pair had been reunited since Robertson left Liverpool at the end of the season to join Tottenham on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract. It was a bruising night for Scotland, who finished third in Group C and now rely on other results to reach the round of 32. Brazil struck early, with Scott McKenna's error gifting Vinicius Junior the opener inside 10 minutes, before the winger added a second on the stroke of half‑time. Manchester United's Matheus Cunha wrapped up the scoring, firing in Brazil's third as they claimed top spot on goal difference despite finishing level on seven points with Morocco. Later, Group A results only deepened Scotland's troubles, with South Africa's surprise 1-0 win over South Korea worsening their position in the third‑place rankings. The African nation began the evening bottom of the group, but their victory secured a place in the next round for the first time in their history. The result pushed Scotland down to seventh in the third‑place teams. Robertson approached Alisson at full‑time, and the pair shared a warm embrace. They chatted briefly before Alisson appeared to wave up toward a member of Robertson's family in the stands. While it may have been Robertson and Alisson's first outing on different sides of the pitch, that will now become a regular occurrence in the Premier League . FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page Robertson spent nine years at Anfield , making 378 appearances and scoring 14 goals while providing 69 assists from left‑back. The Scotland captain was a central figure in a side that collected a haul of major honours, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League . Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

2026-06-25

Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi? World Cup prodigy profiled as Liverpool make 'direct contact'

18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi put in one of the standout performances of the 2026 World Cup so far when his side ripped apart Brazil in the first half of the 1-1 draw between the two sides in New Jersey on Saturday, June 13. Morocco were electric in the first half. Brazil could scarcely catch a break, caught in possession again and again. The somewhat controversial African champions, who were awarded this year's AFCON title in a boardroom rather than on the pitch, seized the initiative and capitalised on Brazil's disjointed display with a 21st-minute goal chipped over Liverpool keeper Alisson by Ismael Saibari. Bouaddi was at the heart of it all, monstering his duels against grown men and dictating his team's high tempo from a deep role. The youngster played the full 90 on only his fourth appearance for his country, completing 60 of his 66 passes and sending two of them into the final third. It didn't take long for the rumour mill to go into overdrive. The World Cup is the biggest stage of all for young players to announce themselves, and within a day Fabrizio Romano had announced on his YouTube channel that clubs were lining up for the Lille prospect. According to Romano, whose unorthodox, lone wolf style of football journalism is nevertheless consistently reliable for accurately predicting transfers, "direct contact" was made with Bouaddi's agency before the World Cup by several clubs including PSG - who "absolutely love" the player - plus Arsenal and Liverpool. Romano claimed both Premier League clubs had held meetings with Bouaddi's agents, but after such a confident performance against the side ranked sixth in the world, more interest and potential competition is to be expected. Bouaddi was born in the small, medieval town of Senlis in northern France to Moroccan parents. His father, Hassan, a banking executive, served as the deputy mayor of nearby Creil, where Bouaddi grew up and started his football journey at AFC Creil. With Hassan having been a handball player in his youth, he supported Ayyoub to pursue football as a serious option. Emerging from more stable surroundings than many other young players in France, it perhaps speaks to Bouaddi's character that he then chose to commit to the country of his family's origin rather than the country he represented at five youth levels. Indeed, Bouaddi only declared for Morocco last month, the day after France announced their World Cup squad - which he was absent from. The cynical read would be that the Moroccan national team's rise in recent years - this being the third successive World Cup the Atlas Lions have qualified for - and the opportunity to start in midfield offered Bouaddi an opportunity he couldn't turn down, at least after receiving confirmation that he would not feature for his country of birth. A more forgiving interpretation, and the aspect that deserves credit, is that Bouaddi has chosen to represent his ancestral home despite the wealth of opportunities and the quality of training facilities in his country of birth, arguably turning down a greater opportunity to actually win competitions like the World Cup in future. Morocco should certainly not be ruled out as potential winners, and are ranked only one place behind Brazil in seventh, but France have probably the best squad in the tournament - and with N'Golo Kante surely playing his final World Cup, Bouaddi would have likely been in the frame to start in defensive midfield for the current champions by the time the next edition rolls around. Instead, in picking his family's country of origin, Bouaddi has made a brave decision that many members of Les Bleus' squad did not, and it will be to Morocco's benefit. Bouaddi will have been playing first-team football for three years by the time October comes, having made his debut for Lille just days after his 16th birthday in 2023. He made 18 appearances in that first season, and featured six times in the UEFA Conference League (managing one assist, the first goal contribution of his career) during Lille's run to the quarter-final. The following season (2024/25), he started 11 times in Ligue 1 and increased his minutes nearly tenfold to 1,148. Already, Bouaddi was establishing himself as a controlling midfielder. Across that league campaign, Bouaddi was in the top 10% of Ligue 1 midfielders for tackles per 90 and showed off an impressive passing range, completing 88.1% of his passes - with an impressive 76.0% of his long balls finding their target. He also began to show more confidence on the ball, completing exactly half of his 28 attempted dribbles at a rate of 1.10 per game. Bouaddi made his Champions League debut during that campaign and went on to feature nine times in the competition, starting seven games at the age of just 17. Lille impressed in the competition, finishing seventh in the league phase in its first season. The French side beat both Madrid teams and thrashed Feyenoord 6-1 away in the final game, only losing to Sporting CP in the first game and Liverpool, who topped the league phase that year, in the penultimate game. They were dispatched 3-2 on aggregate by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, but Bouaddi could hold his head high having played a large role in their surprising run, maintaining high pass completion numbers and grabbing an assist in the rout of Feyenoord. In the most recent season (2025/26), Bouaddi was much more involved again for Lille. Starting 28 times and more than doubling his minutes in Ligue 1, the Moroccan's chance creation exponentially increased from 0.39 per 90 the previous season to 0.81; his dribbling, too, became more frequent (1.31 successful dribbles per 90) and more effective (60.7% dribbles successful). Few players achieve a dribble success rate higher than 50%, but Bouaddi (from a defensive midfield role) completed 34 dribbles over the course of the season, putting him in the top 2% of Ligue 1 midfielders for successful dribbles at the age of just 18. Bouaddi's tendency to come away with the ball in most 50/50 situations, which he showed against Brazil, has been one of his strongest traits over the last year. Winning 56.6% of his overall duels, and 64.1% of his aerials, Bouaddi is in the top 20% of Ligue 1 midfielders in both of these attributes, and the same can be said for his 5.84 ball recoveries per 90. His profile overall is similar to that of Elliot Anderson, in that he is a defence-first midfielder but not really an out-and-out No. 6. Bouaddi also possesses a grace on the ball that belies his age, and standing at 6'1" has the frame to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League. All in all, Bouaddi has made 100 senior appearances - 96 for Lille and four for Morocco - and at 18 is considerably more established than the 19-year-old Yan Diomande or the 20-year-old Jeremy Jacquet , neither of whom can yet boast 60 combined club and international appearances. This gives Liverpool a substantially larger amount of data to peruse when assessing his situation, and if Romano's report is accurate the Reds appear to like what they see. The eye test is perhaps the greatest indicator overall of what Bouaddi could bring, and his future in the game looks extremely promising. Liverpool supporters will surely be keeping a close watch over his performances for the remainder of the tournament, though any movement on a potential transfer will likely have to wait until Morocco's World Cup journey comes to an end. On the evidence of Saturday, we could be waiting a while. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page

2026-06-16

Erling Haaland has done Arne Slot a huge favour but Liverpool boss knows what is coming

There are moments in sport when far too much is read into one particular incident. In cricket’s 1999 World Cup, Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa appeared to take an easy catch off the bat of Australia’s Steve Waugh but prematurely tried to throw the ball up in celebration before securing control. Legend has it that Waugh, the Australian skipper, approached Gibbs and said: “You’ve just dropped the World Cup mate.” A good line (although Waugh later denied saying those exact words) but a bit over-the-top considering a semi-final and final were still to be played at that stage of the tournament. It would be more than a bit over-the-top to say that Erling Haaland’s 27th Premier League goal of the season - scored at the Vitality Stadium - has kept Arne Slot in his job. But it has not done the Dutchman's cause any harm. Even if Bournemouth had taken what would have been a very well-deserved win over Manchester City, Liverpool would still have been odds-on to beat Brentford at Anfield and make sure of a Champions League place. And even if the doomsday scenario of missing out on Champions League football happens - it would take and extremely freakish pair of final-day results for that to be the case - it would still not be a certainty that Slot’s position would be untenable. But all those things aside, Haaland’s 95th minute equaliser was a very welcome gift for Slot and Liverpool. The chances of a Liverpool loss and a Bournemouth win at Nottingham Forest PLUS a six-goal turnaround in goal difference are extremely slim. That is what it would take for Liverpool to be consigned to Europa League football this Sunday. Slot’s team cannot relax but it will quickly become clear that supporters can concentrate on other end-of-season formalities. And the main formality will be giving Mohamed Salah the send-off he thoroughly deserves after nine truly magnificent years of Liverpool service. Since his social media statement last weekend about Liverpool needing to return to ‘heavy metal football’ - widely and correctly interpreted as a direct attack on Slot and his methods - ex-players and pundits have been queuing up to heavily criticise Salah. Wayne Rooney has not been alone in suggesting Slot should not involve Salah in the squad for the match against Brentford. Salah, it seems, has broken some sort of professional code. But this is one of those scenarios where the ex-pros and pundits have a total disconnect with the match-going fans. They are not putting themselves in supporters' shoes. It seems Liverpool supporters look at Salah’s comments in one of two ways. Certainly the ones I know. They are either a) delighted Salah made them and like him even more for it. Or b) they accept he is indeed selfish but if the comments increase pressure on Slot, then no problem at all. If ANY pundit or ex-pro thinks fans inside Anfield on Sunday will show disapproval of Salah’s ‘heavy metal’ social media remarks, they are living on another planet. He will get love that is unqualified. Instead, even though Haaland has made a Champions League place for Liverpool almost certain, there will still be pressure felt inside Anfield. But it will all be felt by Slot. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page

2026-05-20

Liverpool latest: Alisson transfer talk takes twist as star given 'new home' warning

Liverpool have an opportunity to secure Champions League football this week, after which focus will inevitably shift towards the summer transfer window. Victory against Aston Villa would confirm a top-five finish, but anything short of that would leave the door ajar for their rivals. Irrespective of what transpires in terms of the club's final league position, the Reds may well conclude they need to strengthen their squad over the summer. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will depart in the summer and they may not be the only exits , while questions continue to be asked about the future of manager Arne Slot Alisson is yet another long-serving player whose long-term future at Anfield has been speculated about. The Brazilian has been absent of late through injury and even if he remains there is likely to be a requirement for experienced reinforcements to compensate for the departure of Salah and Robertson. There has already been substantial discussion about what the summer might hold for the 2024/25 Premier League champions. We've examined some of the latest transfer developments. Juventus and Liverpool have been in contact regarding a potential switch to Turin for goalkeeper Alisson, according to reports emerging from Italy . There have also been suggestions that Michele Di Gregorio could move in the other direction, though some doubt has since been cast. FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page Juve stopper Di Gregorio, 28, has played 83 times in all competitions across two seasons at the Allianz Stadium. He is reportedly eager to make sure of regular first-team football next term, either in Italy or elsewhere, and the Bianconeri bringing in Alisson could force him to seek out pastures new. The same reports indicate he may not be guaranteed such a role at Liverpool either, with Giorgi Mamardashvili widely anticipated to take over as the first-choice keeper if Alisson departs. A further possibility for Di Gregorio could be a switch to Tottenham, should the London club steer clear of relegation, with Guglielmo Vicario linked with a return to Serie A in the summer. Harvey Elliott is amongst the Liverpool players whose fate could depend on what happens to manager Slot. According to former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy, the 23-year-old should prepare for a future away from Anfield if the Dutchman continues in charge next season. Elliott was allowed to join Aston Villa on loan by Slot but the move hasn't worked out for him. He is set to return to Anfield in the summer having barely featured under Unai Emery, with the Spanish boss' preferences making a permanent move all but impossible. "For Harvey Elliott, if Arne Slot stays in charge, he needs a new home," Murphy told Aceodds.com . "I felt for him this year at Villa, what's gone on. It's my understanding that it's not down to him." He went on to say: "The reality is he's a super player. He's very creative, brave on the ball. He's a Premier League level player for sure and he'll be desperately open to a change of manager because another manager might really like that type of player." Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 by clicking here

2026-05-14

Liverpool dream starting XI next season: Five signings as Michael Olise and £120m star join

There's a lot of work to be done at Liverpool this summer. The reigning Premier League champions have spectacularly underwhelmed this season. It'll be a bitter pill to swallow seeing either Arsenal or Manchester City take the crown that Arne Slot's side worked so tirelessly to claim last year. Major surgery on a squad that is set to lose several established names will be needed. Should the Reds secure Champions League football next season, which looks likely, the club's coffers should be in a suitably healthy state to help with any rebuilding. Here, we take a look at Liverpool's dream first XI for next season , should they manage to work the summer transfer window to their advantage this season, with five new signings slotting in, including new boy Jeremy Jacquet FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page One of the biggest areas Slot will be tasked with solving is between the sticks. Alisson can make a claim to be Liverpool's best-ever keeper and still has a year left on his current contract. However, his 2025/26 season has been heavily impacted by injuries and his struggles could signal the end of his time on Merseyside. Juventus have become serious contenders to sign him. Giorgi Mamardashvili will most likely take over from Alisson, with Freddie Woodman being a competent deputy when called upon this summer. However, PSG's 24-year-old Lucas Chevalier could be a shrewd move to challenge Mamardashvili. While the Frenchman was dropped by Luis Enrique mid-season, he has showcased enough talent and could need a change of surroundings to reignite his career. Liverpool have simply failed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid last summer. Conor Bradley has shown flashes of his ability at full-back but has battled several injuries while Jeremie Frimpong is yet to cement the position as his own. While Tottenham Hotspur have been breached time and time again this season, Pedro Porro is one Premier League-proven defender who shares many of Alexander-Arnold's attributes . Under former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, Porro was adept at winning possession back high up the pitch, pulling off defence-splitting passes and was handy in his duels. A stint at a club with a functioning back four could propel the Spanish star to new levels. On the other side of the pitch, Milos Kerkez has come on leaps and bounds since joining from Bournemouth last summer, and with Andy Robertson's departure, the left-back spot is now his to lose. It goes without saying that with so many veteran names departing Liverpool, keeping Van Dijk in the heart of their defence is imperative. The Dutch's captain's leadership qualities will be vital for Slot as his team beds in several younger players. While Ibrahima Konate could sign a new deal to keep him at Anfield, incoming 20-year-old centre-back Jacquet, who signed for the Reds in January for around £55million, will most likely be eyed to partner and learn from Van Dijk. There will be a fierce tussle for Nottingham Forest's Anderson this summer. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder, who it has been reported could cost potential suitors as much as £120million this summer, would bring a new dimension of steel to Slot's midfield, something that has been deeply lacking this season. Alexis Mac Allister has struggled this term and could be sacrificed for transfer funds this summer. Curtis Jones seems to have fallen out of favour with Slot, while Wataru Endo will most likely leave the club. While Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is also a contender to slot into Liverpool's midfield, it's Anderson who could partner Ryan Gravenberch in a double pivot or take on defensive duties alone, with the ever-impressive Szoboszlai helping him out. Wirtz, while struggling to live up to his £116m price tag so far, should be given a free role so he can showcase his undeniable talent. On paper, it's a dream proposition. Olise, with 41 goals in 104 appearances for Bayern Munich, seems a direct replacement for Mo Salah, who is leaving the club this summer. The mere sight of the Frenchman marauding up the right flank this season, tormenting and probing with his deadly left foot, will have given Liverpool fans food for thought. Joining Olise, should Liverpool be able to prise him from Bayern for upwards of £100million – one report has even put his price at £173m – is Ekitike cutting in from the left. The Frenchman's season has been cruelly cut short with a brutal Achilles tendon injury, but his 17 goals in his maiden term prove the 23-year-old is up to the task. Complimenting them is Alexander Isak. While it's been a far from perfect debut season for the British record signing, the Swede is still one of the deadliest strikers in Europe and it's surely only a matter of time before he discovers his rhythm and gels with his new team-mates. Liverpool's dream first XI for 2026/2027: Lucas Chevalier, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Pedro Porro, Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Elliot Anderson, Florian Wirtz, Michael Olise, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike. Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 by clicking here

2026-05-09

Football news: Slot casts doubt on Alisson’s future; Livramento blow for Howe

Slot hints at Alisson exit Arne Slot has said Liverpool will act in the best interests of the club should an offer arrive for Alisson this summer and the goalkeeper’s vast experience is not the only factor to take into consideration. Juventus are keen on signing the Brazil international, who is under contract at Anfield until June 2027 after Liverpool recently triggered a 12-month option on his deal. The 33-year-old remains Liverpool’s first-choice keeper and one of the finest in the world when available, but has suffered several hamstring injuries over the past three seasons. Alisson has missed Liverpool’s past six games with a muscle problem and remains a doubt for Saturday’s meeting with Crystal Palace. Liverpool will lose Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of this campaign, prompting a call from captain Virgil van Dijk this week for a new leadership group to “step up”. When it was put to Slot that he can ill-afford to lose another experienced leader in Alisson, the head coach did not give any assurances over his future and claimed the club could have a decision to make. He has previously stated that Liverpool may have to sell “good players” to buy this summer. “Well that is your opinion and I will bring that opinion to the ownership and to Richard,” said Slot, referring to Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director. “The history of all the transfers shows that nothing was done without a purpose or without thinking about it. The people who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club. It [experience] is definitely one argument to keep him but there are other arguments. That is a decision the club has to make if that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract].” Liverpool can take another important step towards Champions League qualification with victory against Palace, who have beaten Slot’s team three times this season already. The Dutchman conceded his side have been dull on occasions but insists there are numerous reasons why his playing style has not prospered this season. “I definitely don’t like hearing that [his team are dull] but in some moments it was true,” Slot conceded. “I would like to react to that with 15 arguments I can hold against it. There comes a lot of criticism with losing games – being boring and what is the style of play? “But I think we might still be No 1 in terms of ball possession and you don’t have ball possession if you don’t press aggressively. But from that ball possession, you would like a Liverpool team to generate more chances. I can tell you exactly why that is not happening, but I don’t want to do that. It is not the moment for it.” Andy Hunter Livramento out for rest of season, fears Howe Eddie Howe is unsure whether Tino Livramento will recover from a thigh problem in time to play again this season. Newcastle’s manager is awaiting the results of a second scan on an injury his England full-back picked up against Bournemouth that could jeopardise the defender’s hopes of being part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad. “We will wait and see whether Tino plays again this season,” said Howe, who revealed that Anthony Gordon would miss Saturday’s trip to Arsenal with hip trouble. Although the England winger’s potential World Cup participation is not thought to be in doubt, Gordon’s absence at a time when he is being linked with a summer move to Bayern Munich has raised eyebrows. Howe, though, was adamant it is wrong to question the former Everton player’s commitment to Newcastle. “Anthony Gordon is injured, 100%,” he said. “So it’s a non-question [to query his loyalty].” After eight defeats in 11 league games, Howe’s job security looks weaker than at any time during his St James’ Park tenure but he insisted he was looking forward to meeting Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian majority owners at a club summit next week. “It’s something that happens regularly, so it’s nothing out of the norm for us,” Howe said. “I always like the chance to talk directly to the owners and to express things from my perspective.” Howe has challenged his team to win their five remaining fixtures and said he believed a lack of confidence rather than disillusionment with his management was to blame for the slump. “Everyone is committed, we are all feeling the pain at the moment,” he said. “But we’re lacking confidence and, when that happens, you can overthink things and try too hard.” Howe was asked why he continued to leave two of last summer’s marquee attacking signings, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, on the bench. “You have to reward players for what they deliver,” said Howe, who is expected to persist with Will Osula as his lone striker at Arsenal. Louise Taylor Guardiola backs Stones for World Cup Pep Guardiola is certain John Stones can play for England at the World Cup despite the defender having only 353 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City this season. While the 31-year-old has endured another injury-blighted campaign, Stones is available for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley and may start as the manager is considering resting many frontline players. Stones last played in the 3-1 FA Cup win at Newcastle United on 7 March but has not featured since and his last league start was the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on 25 October. Under Thomas Tuchel Stones has played 331 minutes for England. Guardiola believes he can “definitely” play at the World Cup this summer. “He has been injured many times, now he is back. The important thing is in two or three weeks he is already training full and well, and this is the best news. I don’t have doubts with John – when he reaches his level, he is a top central defender. I only want him fit and unfortunately, like last season, a lot of the time it is not possible. Still we have tomorrow [semi-final], we have five, potentially six games]. We will see what happens.” Guardiola was asked about the high cost of attending the tournament. On Fifa’s resale site, prices for the United States opening match against Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles were listed earlier this week as costing $4,105 (£3,039), $2,735, $2,330 and $1,940. “I remember the World Cup years ago was a celebration of the joy of football and everyone travelled from around the globe to see their country and it was affordable. Now, in modern times, it is so expensive. I’m not there so I don’t know the reason why. Hopefully they can think about it. Football is for the fans. They have to think about sponsors and this kind of stuff or it will not be sustainable but fans are the key.” Jamie Jackson Branthwaite’s latest injury troubles Moyes David Moyes has said Everton are worried about Jarrad Branthwaite’s hamstring problems after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with the injury he sustained against Liverpool. Branthwaite’s slim hopes of gatecrashing England’s World Cup squad are also over having been taken off on a stretcher in tears in the 87th minute of the derby defeat. The defender missed the first half of this season with a hamstring problem that eventually required surgery. While the latest setback is to a different area and he does not need an operation, Moyes admits Branthwaite’s record is a concern. The Everton manager, who expects the centre-half to be fit for the start of next season, said: “Jarrad is feeling much better because he’s realised it isn’t an injury to the same area as the hamstring operation, it’s in a different spot. It’s like a hamstring injury that any player could get when you could be out for six weeks or so. We hope he gets back. You see the shape of him, and speed is a big part of his game, and when you’re getting to that level I think there probably is a bigger chance of getting hamstring injuries. We feel for him because he played really well in the game. “I hope it’s not [a risk in the future]. I don’t want to say it’s growing pains because it’s far from that, he’s a grown man now, but I think he’s still learning more about himself and what he does. But ultimately he’s had a couple of hamstrings now and we’re worried about it.” Moyes will take charge of his 750th game in the Premier League when he returns to former club West Ham on Saturday. The Scot said Everton were “bubbling away” with anger over their 100th-minute defeat in the derby but, with Beto missing due to concussion protocols, accepted it would not be easy to vent that frustration against the relegation-threatened Hammers. “They are fighting for everything,” added Moyes. “West Ham is a really good football club that shouldn’t be going into the Championship, but the Premier League is unforgiving and if you’re not quite at it, you don’t recruit right or spend enough, you can find yourself in that position. Chopping and changing managers doesn’t help either. Clubs need to look at themselves a bit to see if they can do a better job.” Andy Hunter Nuno plots surprise for returning Everton manager Nuno Espírito Santo plans a few surprises for David Moyes when the former West Ham manager brings Everton to the London Stadium. The Hammers need a win against their two-time former manager to ensure they stay out of the relegation zone. But Nuno, who has previously managed Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, knows the advantages of facing a former club. “It’s not just another game, basically because we’ve been in these clubs. I speak for myself,” he said. “The advantage is that you know the players. You sometimes know the routines. In this case, David knows the routines and knows the players. So we have to try and make new things happen so we don’t become so predictable. But it’s not just another game. It’s always a special game due to respect and love that you have from former clubs. But you want to win. You want to compete and win.” PA Media Rangers and Celtic row over tickets for Old Firm game Rangers have complained to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) after being told they will receive no tickets for the crucial derby at Celtic Park unless they exclude the Union Bears supporters group. Rangers rejected Celtic’s conditions for handing over tickets for the 10 May encounter, which could have a major say in the Premiership title race. Celtic reacted with “surprise and disappointment” that Rangers did not agree to the stipulations. The move comes after a number of supporters invaded the pitch from the area housing the Union Bears after Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox on 8 March. A Celtic player and member of staff were allegedly assaulted as Rangers fans charged towards the Broomloan Stand after visiting fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate. A Rangers statement read: “Celtic informed us that they will not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to our supporters unless we agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears. We have firmly rejected those conditions and have referred the matter to the SPFL board. “Rangers is fully committed to safety at football matches, and we have been clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March. We have been attempting to work with Celtic to mitigate any security concerns for the upcoming match. “At a crucial stage of the season, the removal of away supporters from one of the defining fixtures of the competition would introduce a clear and material sporting imbalance. It would also set a precedent with potentially significant consequences for the league in future seasons. “This game is an opportunity for Scottish football to demonstrate that it can respond constructively to recent events. It should be a showcase occasion and a chance to rebuild confidence in how matches of this nature are managed. “We ask the SPFL board to uphold the integrity of the competition, enforce the rules and ensure that the agreement in place between both clubs is honoured.” A statement from Celtic read: “To be clear, we are ready and willing to make the full allocation as normal available to Rangers, subject to a condition regarding distribution to a particular section. “Celtic’s priority will always be the safety of those attending Celtic Park, and following a detailed risk assessment with regards to the forthcoming match, the club has made a reasonable request of Rangers that tickets are not distributed to a section of supporters which very recently and identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder involving Celtic supporters, staff, police and stewards. “To our surprise and disappointment Rangers have not agreed to this request. Celtic are ready to engage further with the SPFL and Rangers on this matter.” An SPFL spokesperson said: “The SPFL board will now appoint a subcommittee to consider Rangers’ request for a determination under SPFL Rule I27.” That rule dictates that clubs must make provision for a “reasonable number” of visiting fans and allows the SPFL board to determine the number of tickets. PA Media

2026-04-24