Liverpool midfielder Thiago was ruled out of the Reds’ Carabao Cup final triumph over Chelsea because of a tight hamstring, according to reliable journalist Paul Joyce.
The Lowdown: Thiago suffers cup final heartache
Jurgen Klopp’s side secured a memorable triumph at Wembley on Sunday, beating the Blues 11-10 on penalties following a goalless draw after 120 minutes.
However, Thiago played no part in the game despite being named in the initial starting line-up, only to incur an injury during the warm-up.
The Spaniard was seen in tears on the touchline as the match got underway, leading to immediate concern regarding the severity of the issue.
The Latest: Joyce confirms extent of Thiago’s injury
According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, Thiago suffered a ‘tight hamstring’ which deemed him unable to take part in the match.
Instead, Naby Keita took his place in midfield and largely did well.
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The Verdict: Could be worse
In truth, this update could certainly have been worse, for instance if it were a torn hamstring leading to a long spell on the sidelines.
However, it is still a worry for Liverpool ahead of a huge run of fixtures, with Thiago’s fitness issues always a problem throughout his career and Klopp needing to manage him carefully.
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He has only made 50 appearances for the Reds since joining nearly 18 months ago, which speaks volumes about his lack of availability.
In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a multiple Champions League winner. Read more here.
Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans has been reacting to Jed Steer’s injury against Chelsea in the week.
The Lowdown: Steer stretchered off
Steer sealed a loan move to Luton Town in January and was impressing in the second tier, keeping three clean sheets in four games. [Transfermarkt]
He was handed a fifth start against Chelsea in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening, however, the 29-year-old had to be stretched off in the first half after going down off the ball. It appears to be an achilles problem for the goalkeeper, who is set to undergo a scan on the issue.
The Latest: Evans reacts
Evans took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to react to Steer’s injury. He labelled it as a ‘horrible injury’ for the Villa man after he made a promising start to life at Kenilworth Road.
“A horrible injury for Jed Steer who is carried off on a stretcher for Luton Town Such a shame for him as he was doing so well on loan from AVFC.”
The Verdict: Fingers crossed
Steer, who Tammy Abraham labelled as ‘brilliant’, was finally getting some much-needed game time after serving as back up to Emiliano Martinez over the last 18 months.
He helped The Hatters into the Championship playoff places with wins over West Brom, Stoke City and Derby County, so hopefully, the injury isn’t as bad as first feared and he can be back playing before the season is out.
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Steer does have previous when it comes to achilles injuries, though, but fingers crossed this latest problem won’t keep him out for too long.
In other news: Lange plots revenge on Tottenham as Villa now make pre-contract move for ‘extraordinary’ player.
Wolves have the chance to secure a much-needed Premier League victory this evening as the Old Gold welcome Watford to Molineux, who will also be keen on picking up a positive result to try and get themselves out of the relegation zone before the end of the season.
With three defeats in their past three league outings, things haven’t been particularly positive for the Midlands club in recent weeks.
Now with this next game just hours away, it seems as though Wolves have been handed a double injury blow which will surely be a big concern for Bruno Lage.
What’s the news?
According to a recent Twitter post from Tim Spiers, the Old Gold will be without Nelson Semedo and Ki-Jana Hoever for tonight’s clash.
The Portuguese international was forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury during the 2-1 defeat away at Arsenal and will be out of action for the next few weeks, whereas Hoever unfortunately picked up an injury during the recent 2-0 loss against Crystal Palace in the first half.
Lage surely furious
Given how the pair play in the same position, this will undoubtedly weaken the right-wing back area of the pitch for the Old Gold and be a massive blow for Lage who will surely be furious with the situation.
Semedo has been a consistent part of the team this term, featuring in 23 matches and ranking as the manager’s eighth-best performer in the top-flight so filling his boost won’t be easy.
The situation is made worse by who may have to deputise. It seems as though the former Benfica manager will have to rely on Jonny Otto to fill in for the injured duo, which may not be ideal for the team given how he’s not long recovered from a long-term knee injury and could be in danger of doing too much too soon as a result of the injuries to Semedo and Hoever.
However, with the Spaniard managing to win seven of the 13 duels he was involved in after replacing the 20-year-old at the weekend, as well as making one key pass and completing 100% of the dribbles he attempted, this could make him a suitable option for the time being, as long as he keeps his fitness up and gets back into the rhythm of the game after such a long time out.
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Moving forward, with tonight’s opponents having lost 18 of their 27 played league games so far this season, everyone at Molineux supporting the home side will be expecting a big performance and all three points, or else there could be a major cause for concern at the Midlands club.
In other news: Forget Hwang: Lage must finally unleash “special” £100k-p/w ace, Wolves badly need him – opinion
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Paul Brown has shared what he’s spotted in recent weeks on the touchline as he makes a claim involving Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte.
The Lowdown: Topsy-turvy Tottenham…
The ever-inconsistent Lilywhites succumbed to another defeat over the weekend, losing 3-2 away to Manchester United on Saturday evening.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick cemented a third loss in six Premier League games since the start of February. with Tottenham seemingly unable to gain any sort of momentum. Spurs’ stop-start run of form will be a source of real frustration for Conte as he chases a previously unlikely top-four finish.
Potentially as a result, certain players in the Spurs squad have been the subject of his wrath on the touchline, as Brown shared what he has noticed in recent weeks.
The Latest: Conte goes ‘crazy’ at Royal…
Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist has spotted that Tottenham defender Emerson Royal drives Conte ‘crazy’ on the touchline whenever he plays.
Brown explained: “He’s been pretty bad in the last few weeks when I’ve seen him, and he seems to drive Conte crazy at times, you watch him on the touchline.”
The Verdict: Royal’s future up in the air…
Matt Doherty is now the Italian’s number one choice at right-wing-back following a very good run of form over the last few games. Indeed, exceptional performances against the likes of Everton and Leeds United have seemingly propelled the Republic of Ireland international to the forefront of Conte’s plans at Spurs.
This has plunged Royal’s future at the club into uncertainty, with reports emerging in the last week that Tottenham are now open to offers for the Brazilian, coming less than a year after signing him from Barcelona.
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It remains to be seen whether the 23-year-old will leave in the summer or if he can fight his way back into Conte’s plans, but the latter scenario is looking rather unlikely as things stand, with Royal not starting any of Spurs’ last three league games.
In other news: Tottenham make pre-summer move as they chase ‘massive’ signing for Conte, find out more here
Celtic have the chance to secure another Premiership victory this afternoon if they beat Ross County, after securing their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup earlier in the week.
However, it seems as though Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou will have to do without one of his prime attacking options this afternoon.
What’s the news?
Speaking in his recent press conference (via 67hailhail), the 56-year-old revealed that Hoops winger James Forrest will not be available to take on County this afternoon as a result of a knock he picked up in Monday’s 3-0 cup win against Dundee United.
A product of Celtic’s youth academy, Forrest has gone on to make 440 senior appearances for the Parkhead side across all competitions, scoring 97 goals and providing 97 assists along the way, highlighting what a significant figure he has become at the club.
Postecoglou will be sweating
This setback has definitely come at a bad time for the 30-year-old from an individual point of view, as he scored his first league goal of the campaign in Celtic’s previous outing against Livingston, He also registered an assist in the recent cup win, which could have put him in a good place to potentially start today as well.
Taking into account how Forrest has an extensive injury record to his name, including a knee problem earlier in the season which kept him out from August to October, it could be more to do with the rate at which he’s picking up issues rather than the seriousness of this latest one which would be a cause for concern for his manager at the moment.
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Moving forward, the best thing we can hope for is that Forrest can recover from this latest injury scare as soon as possible and maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season to help Celtic potentially secure the league title for which they are currently on course. For now, though, the manager will be sweating over the latest absence for the in-form 30-year-old.
In other news – Forget Starfelt: £22k-p/w Celtic gem with 107 aerial duels won has been “outstanding”
Newcastle United have emerged as contenders to sign Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Johnson shines for Forest
Steve Cooper’s side are enjoying an excellent season, with promotion to the Premier League far from out of the question and an impressive run in the FA Cup also capturing the hearts of both Reds fans and neutrals.
Amid a host of strong performers, Johnson has arguably been his side’s star man in 2021/22, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists in the Championship.
The 20-year-old’s performances, hailed as ‘wonderful’ by Wales manager Robert Page, have led to interest from top-flight clubs, and now another rumour is doing the rounds.
The Latest: Newcastle eye up move
According to The Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in acquiring Johnson’s signature this summer, following their big-money takeover last October.
The Forest hero is among the player ‘being discussed’ by the £320billion-worth owners of the Magpies, as Eddie Howe looks to make serious inroads in the transfer market.
The Verdict: Promotion key for Forest?
Forest’s hopes of keeping hold of Johnson may well hinge on whether or not they seal promotion, with the youngster now surely feeling he is a top-level player, having won four Man of the Match awards from WhoScored this season.
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Should Cooper’s team remain in the Championship, the exciting starlet is more likely to demand a switch, whereas he may be content with staying put if they went up.
The lure of Newcastle could become great for players because of the money they are willing to offer, however, and Johnson’s head could be turned by what they are capable of achieving at St James’ Park in the coming years.
This is the third year in a row that they have published losses of over £110m, and given the problems that they have had with Financial Fair Play (FFP), in addition to the real possibility of being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season, the next few years certainly look bleak if you are a Toffees fan.
The Latest: O’Rourke reacts
Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that the latest figures published are a ‘real concern’:
“It’s a real concern for Everton recording these heavy losses again, £120m this year, I think it was £111m the year before and £139m the previous season before that, as well.”
The Verdict: Worrying
These are certainly worrying times for the Goodison Park faithful, who need to concentrate on matters on the pitch, starting with their game away at West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, but may be distracted by the latest accounts.
If Frank Lampard’s team do go down to the Championship, it would be nothing short of disastrous, given the financial assurances that the top flight has to offer.
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Nonetheless, if the Blues can stay up, they can at least look at becoming more financially stable for the next couple of seasons, with the long-term view of wiping out their losses.
In other news, find out what big EFC injury update has now emerged here!
Leeds United will no doubt have a huge task on their hands to secure Premier League survival this season, but it appears Daniel Farke’s look hugely up to the task.
The German has currently led his side to a three-game unbeaten run in England’s top-flight, subsequently securing five points out of a possible nine available.
He’s switched to a 3-5-2 formation over recent weeks, which appears to have made the difference and inspired the club on their pitch and subsequently bolstering their chances of staying in the Premier League.
Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ao Tanaka have both found massive form in recent outings, which has no doubt aided the recent upturn in results.
However, the same can’t be said for one first-team member who has once again fallen below the huge expectations placed upon him by the fanbase at Elland Road.
Why Aaronson has struggled in 2025/26
Brenden Aaronson is a player who has constantly divided opinion amongst the Leeds fanbase during his time in Yorkshire, with his £25m price tag no doubt playing a factor.
The American international struggled during his first stint in the Premier League, but managed to impress in the Championship during the promotion-winning campaign.
He managed to score nine times in his 46 league appearances, subsequently featuring in every second-tier outing and playing a key role at the heart of Farke’s side.
However, in 2025/26, he’s often been asked to operate in a right-wing position, something which has no doubt affected his performance levels in the Premier League.
Aaronson has only started four games to date and has only been able to create 1.2 chances per 90 – with such a tally ranking him within the bottom 30% of all players in the division.
He’s also completed just 35% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst also completing just 0.5 crosses per 90 – subsequently struggling to provide the goods in attacking areas.
As a result, he could find himself further down the pecking order in the near future, or worse, potentially being offloaded by the hierarchy to generate funds.
The Leeds star who could end Aaronson’s stay
With the January transfer window now rapidly appearing on the horizon, the Leeds hierarchy could once again be preparing moves to invest in new talent.
However, it remains to be seen how much the board will hand Farke to make the additions to strengthen their squad in their hunt for survival towards the end of the season.
Another question mark could come over what additions are needed, especially given the recent switch in formation which could require a different profile of addition.
As a result, the hierarchy could look towards some of the players who are already on the books to help provide the quality, including some players who are out on loan.
Joe Gelhardt is one player who is spending the season away from Elland Road, with the 23-year-old currently featuring for Hull City in the Championship.
Such a move was crucial for his development after the Whites’ promotion, but it appears that it’s already worked wonders – with the attacker producing some incredible numbers.
In his 19 appearances for the Tigers to date, the youngster has already netted 10 goals and provided two assists – subsequently demonstrating his all-round quality in the final third.
The former of the two tallies currently ranks him joint-second in the goalscoring charts, with such numbers potentially handing the German the added attacking options he craves.
His underlying stats further highlight the quality he possesses, which could see him end Aaronson’s career in Yorkshire should the club decide to recall him in the coming weeks.
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Gelhardt has registered 1.6 shots on target to date, which also placing 52% of his shots within the sticks – further showcasing his talents when in front of the opposition goal.
Joe Gelhardt – stats at Hull City
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
19
Goals & assists
12
Shot on target accuracy
52%
Pass accuracy
75%
Shots on target
1.6
Successful dribbles
1.8
Duels won
6.4
Fouls won
2.1
Stats via FotMob
He’s also completed 1.8 successful dribbles per 90, whilst creating 1.7 chances per 90, which has led to Jamie Carragher previously labelling the forward as “special”.
The youngster’s all-round quality is further reflected in his tally of 6.4 duels won per 90, whilst also winning 2.1 fouls per 90 – often tormenting the opposition at any given opportunity.
It’s unclear whether he could return to Elland Road this winter, but it’s evident that Gelhardt is certainly reaping the rewards of constant game time in the Championship.
Any return could further push Aaronson down the pecking order, which in return would all but end his once-promising career as a first-team member in Yorkshire.
Leeds star is fast becoming their best bargain since Pablo Hernandez
Leeds have now stumbled across their best bargain since Pablo Hernandez in this exceptional performer at Elland Road.
Ruben Amorim says his Manchester United defenders are not putting “everything on the line” after their chaotic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.
The Red Devils enter the weekend sixth in the Premier League having lost just one of their last ten matches, but their recent home form is cause for concern.
Monday’s draw with the Cherries highlighted the issues United need to iron out, as while they lead the league in expected goals created (1.82 per game) and only Man City have scored more, the Red Devils have conceded more goals than any side in the top 12.
Man Utd could sign the new Scholes in £290k-per-week "midfield general"
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And Amorim believes his defensive players are not doing everything required to gain some consistency.
United will certainly need to up their game on Sunday, when high-flying Aston Villa attempt to win a 10th straight match in all competitions.
Villa are title contenders, says Amorim
Unai Emery’s side have been victorious in their last six Premier League matches and enter the weekend third in the standings, just three points behind leaders Arsenal.
Asked if Villa are genuine title contenders, Amorim said: “Everything can happen. I think they have a manager with a lot of experience.
“You can see when you watch Villa play, you can sense that it’s a very mature team, he doesn’t panic when he’s losing, doesn’t feel overwhelmed when he’s winning.
“He can control the emotion all the time and I think they are a very strong team. If they are going to fight until the end? I don’t know, but they are capable of that.”
United make the tough-looking trip to the second city without six first-team players.
Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have joined Noussair Mazraoui at the Africa Cup of Nations following Monday’s match against Bournemouth.
Mazraoui’s absence on Monday has been the subject of controversy, with United asking FIFA to intervene after Morocco blocked the defender from playing.
Casemiro serves a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the season against the Cherries, while defenders Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined.
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“I think everyone is well,” Amorim added. “We have one more training but (as of Friday) I think the rest of the guys are ready to go.
“I’m saying that nobody recovered, nobody (new) is out. Just the guys that you already know.”
Tottenham are “on a mission” to scout a young forward who would break their transfer record after missing out on Antoine Semenyo, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Tottenham forced to look elsewhere as Semenyo chooses Man City
Tottenham were heavily linked with Bournemouth winger Semenyo over the summer and ahead of the January transfer window, with David Ornstein revealing the Lilywhites made a sizeable contract offer to the Ghanaian.
David Ornstein reveals major Tottenham salary offer to Antoine Semenyo
The Lilywhites made a sizeable offer…
1 ByBen Goodwin
Semenyo is being chased by just about the entire big six after an incredible start to the season which has seen him score eight times in 16 top flight appearances.
Manchester City are now the frontrunners due to their desire for a quick deal in January, which matches Semenyo’s own ambitions.
“He’s an extraordinary, extraordinary, extraordinary player,” Pep Guardiola said earlier this season.
“His energy, his confidence, his movement – unbelievable. He doesn’t stop running, he attacks space so well, and when he has the ball, you feel something will happen.
“He’s improving every game. Players like him make this league special – always hungry, always brave.”
Spurs will have to look elsewhere as they seek to improve Thomas Frank’s forward options, with Romano sharing their interest in a rising star who is currently away at AFCON.
Tottenham scouting Yan Diomande
The transfer expert revealed on his personal YouTube channel Spurs are “on a mission” to scout RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande, who is included in the Ivory Coast squad in Morocco.
The 19 year-old played all 90 minutes in his nation’s opener against Mozambique and is expected to be one of the breakout stars of the tournament.
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Give Me Sport have reported the versatile forward, who can play on either wing, will cost upwards of £87m, which would be Tottenham’s record signing.
Diomande has scored seven times and provided four assists in 16 appearances for Leipzig this season, including a hat-trick in a recent 6-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Bundesliga official website describes the youngster as having “quick feet and pace to burn”, comparing him to Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Karim Adeyemi.