Month: May 2023

Manchester City lifted the Premier League trophy for a fifth time in six years after seeing off a spirited challenge from Arsenal.

But while Erling Haaland swept up all the individual accolades this term, there were plenty of others stars deserving of recognition for their efforts. 

We turn the spotlight on some of the English top flight’s lesser heralded heroes in LiveScore’s alternative end-of-season awards.

Best signing: Alexander Isak (Newcastle)

Naturally, this award should probably go to Haaland as well — but our gong goes to another Scandinavian striker instead.

Newcastle are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2002-03 after a stunning campaign on Tyneside, with the likes of Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson all enjoying fine seasons at St James’ Park. 

Yet it is Alexander Isak, signed from Real Sociedad last August for a club-record £63million, who looks to be a genuine superstar in the making.

Initially plagued by a thigh problem, the 23-year-old Swede netted 10 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign but more notably showcased breathtaking technical ability.

A jaw-dropping assist against Everton in February drew widespread comparisons with Thierry Henry and Toon fans have every right to think they have a future club legend on their hands.

Honourable mentions: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Casemiro (Manchester United), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Neto (Bournemouth)

Best youngster: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

It is easy to forget that Bukayo Saka is only 21.

The Arsenal ace is already established as one of the best wide players on the planet and just keeps getting better and better at his boyhood club.

Saka’s 25 direct goal involvements were instrumental to the Gunners’ unexpected title charge, which only faded in the season’s final weeks.

Crucially though, he has the attitude to match his impressive ability — speaking with the maturity of a player far beyond his tender years, as well as shouldering plenty of responsibility.

Tying down Saka to a new long-term contract last week means the future remains extremely bright for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Honourable mentions: Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Evan Ferguson (Brighton), Sven Botman (Newcastle), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Biggest overachievers: Brentford

If the Premier League table was ordered by wage bill, Brentford would be staring at relegation to the Championship.

Instead, the Bees spent most of their 2022-23 campaign dreaming of Europe, with Thomas Frank’s side eventually having to settle for a ninth-placed finish.

While most of their headlines have circulated around Ivan Toney’s 20-goal haul — and his eight-month betting ban — Brentford’s habit for punching above their weight is very much a squad effort.

Highlights included a famous double over champions Manchester City, as well as memorable home victories over Manchester United and Liverpool.

While they fell two points short of continental qualification, do not be surprised to see the West Londoners defy the odds again next term.

Honourable mentions: Brighton, Bournemouth

Biggest underachievers: Chelsea

This award is barely up for debate.

While Tottenham also endured a miserable campaign, it is their London rivals who take top spot after spending an obscene amount of cash only to finish an embarrassing 12th.

American co-owner Todd Boehly has poured north of £500m into the Blues since taking charge one year ago and is already on his fifth different manager, with Mauricio Pochettino the latest to take the reins.

The Argentine is tasked with knocking a bloated and imbalanced squad into shape and injecting some confidence into a group that lost eight out of 11 under interim boss Frank Lampard.

Surely things cannot get much worse at Stamford Bridge.

Honourable mentions: Tottenham, Leicester, West Ham

Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw has signed a two-year contract extension with the Women’s Super League outfit running to the summer of 2026.

The Jamaica international, nicknamed Bunny, scored 31 goals in 30 City appearances in all competitions in the 2022-23 season and has netted 50 times for them in total since joining in 2021 from Bordeaux.

Shaw, 26, said: “I’m delighted to continue my journey with this amazing group.

“Everyone made me feel welcome from the first day I came here. I enjoy the way we play and I’m at a stage now where I understand the way we play and I can only get better and grow.

“I think here at City is the perfect place for me. I put all my effort and time on the pitch and obviously for the position I play and the quality I have around me, I know I’m going to be in positions to score goals.

“I’ve always said Manchester feels like home away from home too. I enjoy coming into the City ground every day and training with the group, vibing with the girls and I also have family here, so Manchester has felt like home ever since I arrived.

“I just want to thank our fans for everything, all the love and support they’ve given me since I arrived. I’ll just try my best to continue repaying them on the football pitch.”

City boss Gareth Taylor said: “Bunny’s growth and development as a player over the past two years, but particularly this season, has been fantastic and we’re thrilled to see her extend her contract with us.

“She has thrived having had the opportunity of extended runs in the team throughout the current campaign and has shown on a regular basis what a talent she is and why we brought her to the club.

“She scored goals regularly in France and America prior to joining us and has now shown what she’s capable of in England too – which says a lot about her ability.

“She is still a young player though who wants to improve and is hungry for success and we’re only scratching the surface with her which is a very exciting prospect as we aim to develop her even further over the next three years.”

Rob Page expects to welcome Tom Lockyer back into the Wales squad in September after the Luton defender collapsed during Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final.

Lockyer was stretchered off after just eight minutes of the Hatters’ Wembley win against Coventry and remains in hospital.

But Luton boss Rob Edwards has reported the 28-year-old is “fine” and Wales manager Page said Lockyer was in good spirits during a 20-minute telephone conversation he had with the central defender on Monday.

“You are always going to phone your players and show them support,” said Page after confirming Lockyer would be absent from next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey.

“It was just to say that we are here for him, in any capacity.

“I am not going into detail of what’s happening or what’s going to happen. That’s conversations we are going to have with Luton Town Football Club.

“It would be silly of me to even suggest what those reasons (for his collapse) were and the most important thing in this is health.

“For us it’s just about getting him fit and ready for our camp in September.”

Wales, who picked up four points from their opening two qualifiers in March, travel to Latvia in September.

David Brooks has been recalled to the Wales squad for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.

Brooks, who was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma while on international duty in October 2021, announced he was cancer-free in May last year.

The 25-year-old midfielder returned to club action for Bournemouth in March and started the Cherries’ last two Premier League games.

Page said: “I wanted to pick him in March. He played some minutes before that camp and I wanted to get him involved as soon as possible.

“But I get that it was too soon and it was more beneficial for him to stay behind and play for Bournemouth Under-23s in a game that was organised for him.

“Brooksy is definitely part of the changes I wanted to make post-World Cup and the way we want to play. He’s back fit, starting games in the Premier League and has the quality to be in our plans moving forward.”

Neco Williams is also included after fracturing his jaw playing for Nottingham Forest last month. The 22-year-old has not played since.

“He’s not played minutes because of the significance of the injury but he will be fit for camp,” said Page.

“You can’t take away every risk and I think he’s got a protection to wear for that reason.

“He’s so many weeks down the line so I’d think the opportunity of a refracture is very unlikely. We’ll get the medical team to assess him on camp and take away the risk as much as possible.”

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey (calf) and goalkeeper Danny Ward (dislocated finger) have also been named in Page’s 25-man squad despite fitness issues over the pair.

Skipper Ramsey has missed Nice’s last three games in Ligue 1.

Page said: “The little niggle, and that’s all it is, has probably come at a good time for him.

“He’s at an age now where he knows his body and how to manage it.

“He’s got one eye on these two games and it is not an issue. Aaron has played more football this season than he has done for the last few years.”

Bristol City youngster Joe Low has been called up into the senior squad for the first time to replace Lockyer.

The Premier League has delivered another scintillating season of world-class football as Manchester City retained the title for the third consecutive year.

Arsenal ran them close but ultimately could not keep up with Pep Guardiola’s side, who are chasing the Treble.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa sparked a glorious comeback under Unai Emery to secure European football next term while Newcastle, Manchester United, Brighton and Liverpool will all be planning their tours abroad.

It was heartbreak for Southampton, Leeds and Leicester but jubilation for Everton after they escaped relegation on the final day.

As fans sit back and reflect on a historic campaign, we turn the spotlight on five of the brightest stars in the 2022-23 season.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland’s inclusion was inevitable after the Norwegian picked up the Golden Boot on his debut campaign for City.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker has excelled under Guardiola — scoring 36 goals in the league and forming a lethal partnership with Kevin De Bruyne.

Haaland may be a genuine contender for the Ballon d’Or next year if he can go on to lead City to glory in the Champions League and FA Cup and replicate United’s famous feat of 1999.

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane became the first player to record 30 league goals in more than one Premier League season with a brace against Leeds on the final day.

The No10 has been phenomenal for an average Spurs side, who would likely be battling at the bottom of the table were it not for their talisman.

England’s captain enjoyed another record-breaking campaign for his boyhood club, scoring in 26 different matches — the most ever in a single season.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s title charge was spearheaded by captain Martin Odegaard, who tallied 22 goal contributions in 37 top-flight games.

Haaland’s international team-mate has come up clutch for Mikel Arteta several times this term, scoring against Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Brighton as the North London outfit cemented a second-placed finish.

No player won possession in the attacking third more times than the No8 (49) and the playmaker thrived in opposition territory, completing a league-high 665 final-third passes.

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Kieran Trippier led Newcastle to Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years as the Magpies continued their resurgence under new ownership.

The former Spurs and Atletico Madrid full-back has been an ever-present under Eddie Howe and provided huge contributions in both attack and defence.

Bruno Fernandes (119) is the only player to create more chances than the England international (110) and only Marc Guehi (162) won possession in the defensive third more time than Newcastle’s No2 (145).

Alisson (Liverpool)

Liverpool may be disappointed with their season, but it could have been much worse had Alisson not been at the top of his game.

The world-class Brazilian managed to keep 14 clean sheets and even picked up an assist during the Premier League campaign, punting through to Mohamed Salah as Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 in October.

Alisson made 108 saves across the 38-game term and is a strong contender to become the Reds’ Player of the Season.

England boss Sarina Wiegman names her squad for this summer’s World Cup on Wednesday with injuries having been the major talking point in the build-up to the announcement.

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson has been ruled out of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand that gets under way on July 20 after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament last month.

Fellow Euro 2022 winner Fran Kirby will also be absent due to a knee problem and Beth Mead, who won the Golden Boot and was named player of the tournament for that competition, is a serious doubt as she recovers from an ACL injury sustained in November.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze (both knee) have been sidelined of late as well to add to Wiegman’s worries, while one-cap goalkeeper Sandy MacIver has made herself unavailable for selection as she focuses on recovering from a groin issue.

The injury to Williamson has prompted speculation over whether her fellow defender and predecessor as skipper Steph Houghton, who is yet to play under Wiegman, might be recalled.

The 35-year-old was included in the provisional Euros squad last summer as she worked her way back from an Achilles operation but did not make the final cut and, while featuring regularly for Manchester City of late, she has not had further involvement with England.

Speaking shortly before Williamson’s injury, Wiegman said the chances of Houghton making the World Cup squad were “not that high” while stressing she would “never close the door”.

In attack, there could be a return for Bethany England, a member of the Euros-winning squad who was last called up by Wiegman for matches in September.

The forward has scored 12 Women’s Super League goals since moving from Chelsea to Tottenham in January.

England kick off their World Cup campaign by facing Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 and will also play Denmark and China in Group D.

Their 30-game unbeaten run under Wiegman that included last summer’s Euros triumph on home soil, the first major trophy in the team’s history, ended in their most recent outing, when they were beaten 2-0 by Australia in Brentford last month.

Wiegman, a runner-up at the 2019 World Cup in France with her native Netherlands, will be at a grassroots club in Birmingham for the announcement of her 23-player squad on Wednesday afternoon.

Sutton Coldfield’s Boldmere St Michaels FC, formed in 1883, is home to 70 teams covering 18 different age groups across women’s, men’s, girls’ and boys’ football. Around 60 girls and boys are set to be taking part in half-term sessions there on Wednesday.

The Football Association said in a statement that the location decision “follows the Lionesses’ equal access success and has been made to highlight the strong connection between the grassroots game and England teams”.

It added: “This will reinforce the squad’s determination to positively impact participation levels, inspire future generations and also the crucial role grassroots clubs have played in the players’ development.”

Earlier this year the Government announced a package to boost school sport and equal access to it, which followed the England squad calling for change in an open letter published just after they won the Euros last summer.

The FA said that while that had been achieved, it remained its “strategic objective for girls to have equal access to football in the community through growing the number of girls teams within grassroots clubs and ensuring Weetabix Wildcats and Squad sessions are easily accessible”.

LiveScore Daily is here to deliver all the big talking points from the world of football throughout the day. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.

Ed’s gone

Edwin van der Sar has decided to leave his role as Chief Executive Officer of Ajax.

The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper took on the position of the club’s Marketing director in 2012 before being promoted to CEO four years later.

But the 52-year-old’s duties will now be transferred to the Board of Directors from June 1 onwards following a tough season for de Godenzonen, which saw them finish third in the Eredivisie and 13 points behind rivals Feyenoord.

Van der Sar said in a statement: “After almost 11 years on the board, I am done. We have experienced wonderful things together, but it has also been an incredibly tough period. 

“I am very grateful for the people I have met and worked with during my second career at Ajax, and what we have achieved and been through together.

“I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things. 

“It doesn’t feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That is why I have decided to resign.”

Ster crazy for Poch

Raheem Sterling has voiced his support for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The ex-Spurs boss’ arrival at Stamford Bridge was announced on Monday, just a day after a 1-1 draw with Newcastle confirmed a 12th-place finish for the Blues.

Sterling endured a difficult debut campaign in West London following his move from Manchester City, scoring only six Premier League goals — the first time he has failed to reach double figures since 2016-17.

But the England international is very optimistic about the arrival of Chelsea’s newest manager.

The 28-year-old said: “He will bring leadership, he will challenge players physically and mentally. 

“I feel he is going to come here and he is going to have the personality that everyone is going to respect. That’s what we need, someone in charge.

“From his time before at Tottenham, I heard a conversation about him and he’s the exact person we need.”

Nunez worry

Former Liverpool striker John Aldrige is concerned about the future of Darwin Nunez after the club’s difficult 2022-23 season.

The Reds missed out on Champions League qualification and will instead play in the Europa League.

Nunez, 23, scored 15 goals in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side but Aldrige is worried that persistent injuries will hinder the ex-Benfica man’s time on Merseyside.

The Uruguay international missed Liverpool’s last three Premier League matches of the campaign with a toe problem.

He said: “I have my concerns about Darwin Nunez. It’s the injuries more than anything, though the early sending off didn’t help him. The forwards before him didn’t have the injuries.

“He’s shown what he’s about at times though, and he’s a crowd-favourite. He’s got a little bit of Luis Suarez in him, but probably without the finishing touch. 

“But I think he’ll get better. You’re looking at a centre forward who’s been playing on the left wing. And Cody Gakpo’s a left winger who is playing as centre forward. That doesn’t happen overnight.”

German Jorg Schmadtke has been appointed as Liverpool’s new sporting director.

The 59-year-old, who left a similar role at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg at the beginning of 2023 after more than four years, will take up his post on June 1 once work permit formalities have been completed.

He will replace Julian Ward, who is due to leave the club this summer after more than a decade.

Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon told the club’s website: “Firstly, I would like to welcome Jorg to Liverpool Football Club in the knowledge that he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into a role in which such qualities can only be beneficial both to him and us.

“Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to provide support for Jurgen Klopp, in keeping with our ongoing endeavour to keep growing and developing the club in all areas.

“At the same time as we welcome Jorg, we must also bid a fond farewell to Julian Ward, who has served us with unstinting diligence, fortitude and energy in a number of roles, the most recent one being sporting director.

“We wish Julian and his young family the very best for the future and thank him for everything he has done for Liverpool FC during the past 11 years.”

Former goalkeeper Schmadtke made more than 300 Bundesliga appearances for Fortuna Dusseldorf, Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach during his playing career before moving into administration.

He had spells at Cologne, Hannover and Alemannia Aachen before joining Wolfsburg.

Schmadtke joins a club which, by compatriot Klopp’s admission, endured “a bad season”, finishing fifth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League football next term as a result.

Billy Dodds declared Inverness “ready to go” for Saturday’s Scottish Cup final even though they will have had more than four weeks without a match by the time the Hampden showdown with Celtic kicks off.

The Highlanders have not played a competitive game since losing their final cinch Championship fixture at home to Ayr on May 5.

That result cost them a crack at the play-offs and the squad were given nine days off before returning to training to focus on their bid to pull off a ‘miracle’ this weekend.

“It’s not been ideal and it has been a challenge but it’s not been terrible,” said boss Dodds, reflecting on the month-long gap between matches.

“I would have loved to have been in the play-offs having top-notch games going into the final but it wasn’t to be.

“The bonus about it is we got a wee rest, got them back for three weeks, conditioned them – not that they needed it – had a couple of (bounce) games and a practice game (against Dungannon Swifts), so we’re ready to go. It’s not been ideal but it’s not been terrible either.”

While Inverness have been idle, opponents Celtic have continued playing matches, albeit generally not to the same standard that they had set for the bulk of the season.

The Premiership champions – who will land a domestic treble if they secure the Scottish Cup on Saturday – won only two of their closing six league games, although they did finish their campaign with a 5-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

Asked if Celtic’s recent form gave him optimism, Dodds said: “Did you watch the Aberdeen game at the weekend?

“We respect every opponent, as we have done throughout this competition. We respected Livingston and Kilmarnock and we had to because they’re Premiership teams but we have to focus on what we can do.

“We’re going to need a bit of luck, top-notch performances from my players, my goalkeeper to have a good day. But when I was at Queen of the South (as a coach) and we played Rangers in the (2008) Scottish Cup final we were 2-0 down at half-time (before coming back to 2-2 and then losing 3-2).

“This competition’s all about miracles and they do happen. We’re going there with the mindset we can win the game.”

Inverness’ best moment in their history came in 2015 when they won the Scottish Cup, and Dodds is hoping to repeat the feat eight years on.

“I think people remember the fairytales,” he said.

“You just have to look downstairs and see all the boys on the wall when Inverness last won the cup.

“I know it was against Falkirk but they beat Celtic in the semi-final. Things like that are always remembered, and rightly so. Any provincial club who wins a trophy, for example Ross County won the League Cup in 2016, it’s got a right to be remembered.”

Dodds has a full-strength squad to choose from with the exception of long-term absentees Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh, and he already has a good idea what his starting XI will look like.

“Because of the time off we’ve had, I’ve had plenty of time to think about how I’m going to try and nullify Celtic, because they are going to have a lot of the ball, but also try to be a threat as well,” he said.

“I’ve got to try and get that balance. I’ve got an idea of my team but you can never name it until the week’s over in case you pick up an injury or two.”

Jose Mourinho ranks as the best manager Willian has worked with and the former Brazil attacker hopes more European honours will be heading the Roma coach’s way.

Willian was part of Mourinho’s Chelsea squad as the Blues secured a Premier League and EFL Cup double in 2015.

The Fulham winger and Italian coach have since gone their separate ways but Willian still holds Mourinho in the highest of regards, hoping his former boss can lift yet another trophy this season.

Mourinho has guided Roma to the Europa League final, in which they face Sevilla, and Willian made it clear where his allegiances lie for that showpiece on Wednesday.

“For me, Mourinho is the best manager I’ve had, I always say that,” he told Stats Perform. “In the way he works every day, in the way he talks, in the way he motivates.

“He is a different manager and, for me, the best I’ve had. As he says: ‘The special one’. 

“I hope that he wins this trophy because he is a manager that sometimes gives a lot of people the impression that he is arrogant or something like that.

“But on a daily basis, we see that he is a great manager. He jokes when he has to, and he hits hard when he has to.

“He’s real. When you don’t play well, he says it in front of you, but when you play, he says it too. He’s a great manager, an amazing manager.

“He is a winning manager, and he has a chance to win another title in his career.”

Victory over Sevilla would secure Mourinho’s sixth European title of his managerial career, having lifted various UEFA trophies with Porto (two), Roma, Inter and Manchester United.

The most recent of those successes came last season as Roma triumphed in the inaugural Europa Conference League with a final victory over Feyenoord.

Willian understands the frustration Arsenal will have after their failure to push on for the Premier League title, but believes the Gunners can challenge again next season.

Arsenal came close to ending a 19-year wait for a top-flight title before a late-season collapse saw incumbent holders Manchester City seize another crown.

The manner of Arsenal’s faltering finale represented a dramatic downturn after they had led the Premier League table for 248 days of the season.

Willian, who spent a single campaign at Emirates Stadium during the 2020-21 season, has backed his former club to be challengers again soon enough.

“When I was there, I could see that Arsenal had a bright future ahead of them very close because of the way [Mikel] Arteta was working,” the Fulham attacker told Stats Perform.

“The way I saw him working the team, I had no doubt that Arsenal would be back fighting for the top in the next few years.

“Unfortunately, they were fighting with a team that [is on] another level. It’s an outstanding team. It’s not easy to fight for the title with Manchester City.

“They must have a sense of frustration. They were fighting for the title the whole [season], and they let the title slip away practically.

“But they are back in the Champions League. Of course, there must be a bit of frustration, but they have to be happy with what they did. 

“Without a doubt, Arsenal [had] an excellent year, and they have everything to fight for the title again next season.”

City’s latest title is their fifth Premier League crown in six seasons under Guardiola and looks poised to form part of a generation-defining treble with the FA Cup and Champions League finals to come.

The latter in particular remains the chief honour left for the club to win, and Willian believes that it is Guardiola’s intelligent grasp of his squad that makes them such a threat.

“I think Guardiola, with his ideas, [is key],” he added. “He converges that with the execution of the players, which are, as they say here, “top class” players.

“I heard Guardiola once say that he gives the ideas, he tells them what to do, but they also have to have quality on the pitch. Otherwise, it’s no use.

“He is a great manager, I think the best in the world in years, and together with the quality of the players on the field, City is very strong and hard to be beat.”