The midfielder opened the scoring in Bilbao before Alexia Putellas put the gloss on a memorable victory over the eight-time European champions
Barcelona made history in numerous ways on Saturday when they beat Lyon 2-0 to win a third Women's Champions League title. It capped an historic first quadruple for the women's team, saw them defend a European crown for the first time and took them third all-time in the list of UWCL winners, behind only Lyon and Frankfurt. It also gave Jonatan Giraldez, set to leave his role as coach to take charge of the Washington Spirit, the perfect farewell.
It was a result that took a lot of grit, hard work and concentration, because this was an incredibly even match. The first half was very tight, with half-chances for both teams, making it impossible at the break to predict whose name would be etched on the trophy come full-time. However, things changed just after the hour, when a sprinkle of Aitana Bonmati magic allowed her to burst into the box and, via a deflection off a super unlucky Vanessa Gilles, break the deadlock.
From there, Barca assumed control and they were never going to let go. Lyon threw everything at them but to no avail, the second goal in the match scored by the other Ballon d'Or winner in the Catalans' squad, two-time recipient Alexia Putellas, who came off the bench in stoppage-time and produced a simply world-class strike to put the result beyond doubt.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from San Mames…
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WINNER: Aitana Bonmati
Is it a stretch to say Bonmati's second Ballon d'Or is in the post? The midfielder shone brightest again on Saturday as Barcelona triumphed at San Mames to be crowned European champions, and a performance like that, on the biggest stage club football has to offer, means it feels incredibly likely that she will again be honoured by later this year.
That's before we get to the Olympics this summer, too, where Bonmati will be central to Spain's quest to follow up their Women's World Cup triumph with a gold medal. With that in mind, something quite incredible would need to happen for anyone to pip her to that Ballon d'Or.
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LOSER: Sonia Bompastor
That this was Bompastor's final game in charge of Lyon was disappointing. The 43-year-old has had three wonderful seasons in the dugout at the club for whom she shone as a player, winning seven trophies in that time, including the Champions League in 2022.
Before her widely-reported move to Chelsea is likely to be revealed in the coming days, it would've been a wonderful high to go out on had she made that total eight and added another European crown, then, and Lyon were well in this incredibly even game under Bonmati's game-changing strike.
However, it was not to be and to go out on this note, one which doesn't represent the success of her time in charge, will hurt.
WINNER: Caroline Graham Hansen
One player who will certainly be in contention for that Ballon d'Or alongside Bonmati is Caroline Graham Hansen. The winger was electric throughout the encounter in Bilbao and constantly caused the Lyon defence problems, with most of Barca's best moments in the first half in particular coming through her.
It was a performance typical of her simply incredible season, one which has produced numbers of sheer disbelief. In the league, for example, Graham Hansen has racked up 19 goals and 18 assists in just 23 games.
But the Norway star has been playing at this level for years and, somehow, she's never even made the Ballon d'Or longlist. That is absolutely going to change in a few months' time – and she's sure to be quite high up the final rankings, too.
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LOSER: Vanessa Gilles
Gilles had a superb game on Saturday. She completed 29 of her 30 attempted passes, made a truly outstanding block to deny Mariona Caldentey in the first half and helped keep Salma Paralluelo extremely quiet. But unfortunately, it was off her that Bonmati's strike deflected to take it beyond Christiane Endler and give Barca an important lead in Bilbao.
After that moment, the Catalans felt in real control and not at all like they would let it slip. There's no doubt, then, that it will hurt Gilles that this poor slice of luck fell her way on an otherwise strong night.
اقترب نادي الزمالك من التعاقد مع مدافع فريق زد خلال فترة الانتقالات الجارية، في ظل سعي القلعة البيضاء لتدعيم فريق الكرة قبل انطلاق الموسم الجديد.
وكان الزمالك نجح في التعاقد مع 3 صفقات خلال الميركاتو الصيفي، المغربي محمود بنتايج ظهير أيسر فريق سانت إتيان الفرنسي، والفلسطيني عمر فرج، وأخيرًا محمد حمدي الظهير الأيسر قادمًا من إنبي.
طالع | بطولات يكشف بنود تعاقد محمد حمدي صفقة الزمالك الجديدة
وعلم “بطولات” أن الزمالك توصل لاتفاق مع نادي زد بشأن ضم محمد إسماعيل مدافع الأخير وتجرى في الساعات الحالية الاتفاق على المقابل المادي.
ويحق للزمالك الحصول على مستحقات مالية لدى نادي زد من نسبة انتقال عمر خضر من زد لأستون فيلا وفق التعاقد المبرم حين ضم نادي زد اللاعب من القلعة البيضاء والتي تقترب من نصف مليون دولار.
ومن المقرر أن يتنازل مسؤولو الزمالك عن المستحقات المالية نظير ضم محمد إسماعيل لاعب زد.
ويستعد فريق الزمالك لمواجهة الشرطة الكيني، في إطار منافسات ذهاب دور الـ 32 من عمر بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، يوم السبت المقبل 14 سبتمبر.
Royals are nearing a point of no-return, and with Buttler and Stokes set to leave next week, their task only gets tougher
The Preview by Shashank Kishore in Jaipur19-Apr-20197:01
Dasgupta: Mumbai have all their bases covered
Big PictureRajasthan Royals love to flick switches midway through the season, when everyone but them see the obvious. Their decision to bat Jos Buttler in the middle order in 2018 had many chuckle in disbelief. In seven innings, he managed just 120 runs at a strike rate of 126.30. When they decided to open with him, Royals had already slumped. But Buttler almost single-handedly steered them to the playoffs by making 428 runs in the next six innings at a strike rate of 165.9.Now, midway through 2019, they are in another slump, needing to win at least five of the remaining six games to have a shot at making the playoffs. Buttler has opened right through, but he is only going to be around for another five days. They have flicked another switch now out of desperation, trying out options to possibly fill the Buttler void when he leaves. In the previous game, Ajinkya Rahane dropped down the order, and Rahul Tripathi opened, a position where he’s had most of his IPL success at, albeit under Steven Smith at Rising Pune Supergiant two years ago.Form Guide
Rajasthan Royals: Lost to Kings XI by 12 runs, beat Mumbai by four wickets, lost to Super Kings by four wickets Mumbai Indians: beat Capitals by 40 runs, beat RCB by five wickets, lost to Royals by four wickets
A question they have to address, though, is about Rahane’s position. Can they have him at No. 4, a spot with a complex job description? Especially when their opponents – Mumbai Indians – are trying to find ways to bat Kieron Pollard higher up the order? Currently, he simply can’t get enough batting time despite playing the most impactful knock of the tournament till date. Steven Smith, around whom their retention strategy was formalised last year, sat out the last game, and Sanju Samson batted at No. 3. Is that a formula to take forward?There are many questions, and very few answers, and Royals will need to do something very quickly before mathematical possibilities, too, dry up. The issues with the batting run so deep that the bowling seems to be the least of their worries at the moment. And only time will tell if they’re starting to run out of patience with their costliest signing, Jaydev Unadkat, whose five wickets in six games have come at 46.20 and an economy rate of 11.Mumbai, meanwhile, are cruising. The big concern for them prior to facing Royals is perhaps the lack of rest as they will take the field in a little over 36 hours following their victory over Delhi Capitals. The perennial slow starters have started to roar and look unstoppable at the moment. At this rate, they may even be able to offer Jasprit Bumrah some rest once they enter the safe zone, but for that they need at least two more wins. On form, and on paper, that could come on Saturday.Kieron Pollard lifts one over the off side•BCCIIn the newsFor Mumbai, Ishan Kishan will be back in contention after missing Thursday’s game because of the flu. Doubts remain over Jason Behrendorff. If he continues to sit out, it could mean more time for Ben Cutting or a re-entry for Mitchell McClenaghan. Ben Stokes is likely to return for Royals after missing the previous game because of an illness.Previous meetingButtler’s scorching 43-ball 80 against his former franchise helped Royals offset another poor death-bowling show, as they chased down 188 with three balls to spare. Jofra Archer’s three-for was their highlight with the ball.Likely XIs Rajasthan Royals: 1 Jos Buttler, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Sanju Samson (wk), 4 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Ashton Turner, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Dhawal Kulkarni Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Kieron Pollard, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Krunal Pandya, 7 Suryakumar Yadav, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 Jason Behrendorff, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Lasith MalingaStrategy punt Mumbai’s Powerplay run rate is the second-best this season, while they top the chart in the death overs. However, in the middle overs, they have been among the worst. There’s definitely a case for Pollard to bat a spot higher, considering he’s playing as a pure batsman. This could mean leaving out Suryakumar Yadav or dropping him down the order. Considering they have the Pandya brothers to follow, this may not be a bad call. Note: when Pollard scores fifty, Mumbai win three out of four games. Three Royals bowlers (Dhawal Kulkarni, Stokes and Unadkat) feature in the top five for bowlers with the poorest economy rates at the death. Can Royals use Archer and Shreyas Gopal, who concedes at just 4.7 in this phase, instead? He is yet to concede a boundary too across 6.1 overs in this period.Stats that matter Legspinner Rahul Chahar’s dot-ball percentage of 58.3 in the Powerplay is the fourth best in IPL 2019. Archer tops the list with 69.20%. Chahar also has the third-best dot-ball percentage – 46.2% – for all spinners in IPL 2019. Tripathi has faced fewer dot balls in the first 20 balls than Rahane, and has the fourth-best IPL strike rate since 2017. Rahane, in fact, has a dot-ball percentage of 47.60 for the first ten balls (since 2015), while the corresponding number for Tripathi is 39.70. The in-form Hardik Pandya needs two more wickets to reach 100 in T20s. He needs just 52 more to clock 2000 T20 runs as well.
يقترب مدافع منتخب مصر الأولمبي، عمر فايد، من الرحيل مرة أخرى عن صفوف نادي فناربخشة المنافس في بطولة الدوري التركي خلال الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.
وانتقل فايد إلى صفوف فناربخشة في الصيف الماضي من المقاولون العرب ولكن رحل سريعًا على سبيل الإعارة لمدة موسم لنادي نوفي بازار في الدوري الصربي.
والآن خرجت أنباء عن رغبة نادي بيرشوت في الدوري البلجيكي بضم المدافع المصري هذا الموسم لمدة عام أيضًا حتى 30 يونيو 2025.
اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير توضح حقيقة رغبة مورينيو في ضم ستيرلينج إلى فنربخشة
وكان نادي فناربخشة قد أفاد في تصريحات خاصة لـ “btolat.com” قبل أيام أن فايد خارج حسابات المدرب، جوزيه مورينيو، هذا الموسم وبالتالي سيكون أقرب للرحيل معارًا.
وبحسب مصادرنا في النادي التركي فإن فايد لديه عرض بالفعل من نادي بيرشوت الذي يدربه أسطورة ليفربول وفناربخشة السابق، ديرك كاوت.
كاوت حصل على مهمة تدريب بيرشوت قبل أسابيع وهي رابع التجارب له منذ الاعتزال في عام 2018 بعد مسيرة طويلة من الإنجازات.
وأفاد المصدر في تصريحات خاصة: “هناك رغبة قوية من جانب كاوت في ضم عمر فايد لأنه يراه موهبة جيدة وسيحاول التوصل لاتفاق معنا لأن علاقته بنا جيدة للغاية منذ أن كان لاعبًا بصفوف الفريق”.
ويعمل كاوت على ضم العديد من المواهب خاصة العربية حيث كانت هناك أنباء عن رغبته في التعاقد مع لاعبي اتحاد جدة الشباب، فيصل الغامدي ومروان الصحفي، بحسب الصحافة السعودية.
Brazil icon Marta has announced that she will retire from international football this year, bringing to an end a legendary career spanning 22 years.
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Marta announces this will be her last year with BrazilExplains why she is 'very calm' about decisionCould go out on a high at OlympicsWHAT HAPPENED?
Marta debuted for the national team back in 2002 and is today widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the women's game, largely due to her performances on the biggest stage with Brazil.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Sadly, the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year has never won a major title with her nation, largely due to a previous lack of investment in the team. She did, however, help them reach a World Cup final in 2007 and has two Olympic silver medals to her name. There is still a chance of winning gold this year too, at the Games in Paris.
WHAT MARTA SAID
Speaking to , Marta said: “If I go to the Olympics, I'm going to enjoy every moment, because regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team.
"As of 2025, there's no more Marta in the national team as an athlete, there isn't. This is my last year, and I can confirm that here. There comes a time when you have to understand that the time has come."
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DID YOU KNOW?
The 38-year-old, who will continue to play for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL at club level, also explained why she is "very calm" about the decision to step away.
"I'm very optimistic about the development we're seeing with young athletes," she said. "We have a very qualified team, with very talented girls and, over the years, you'll see that it really is what I'm talking about, it's very fertile ground. For this reason, I feel very comfortable saying: ‘Look, I'm passing it on to you, I'm passing the baton, and you carry on this legacy'."
Albie Morkel’s 12-ball 26 on a sluggish surface helped Heat nudge ahead of the DLS par score; Abbott set it up with a four-for
The Report by Liam Brickhill21-Nov-2018AFP
AB de Villiers warned before this game that Kingsmead was the type of ground where even he never really feels in. It rang true as batsmen from both teams struggled to impose themselves in a low-scoring, rain-reduced affair. It wasn’t until Albie Morkel and Khaya Zondo came together in a rapid 40-run stand that Durban Heat found their way in pursuit of Tshwane Spartans’ 139 for 9, and when the rain came down, Durban were seven ahead of the DLS par score. This soon translated into victory.There were a couple of new faces on either side, with David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen having returned from Australia, and Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza turning up from national duty with Zimbabwe. But Morkel and Zondo aside, even the seasoned internationals – de Villiers included – were undone by a testing surface. Kyle Abbott collected 4 for 27, while Lutho Sipamla picked up 3 for 22, and might have got a couple more had the rain not brought the game to a premature end.Coming together with the chase wobbling at 83 for 4 in the 13th over, Morkel and Zondo spanked six fours and three sixes in the space of three overs to push the home side well ahead of the par score. They were so far ahead that even Sipamla’s dismissal of both men in the space of three deliveries was not enough to bring Spartans back into the match.Sipamla had also started well, his third ball bringing a wild heave across the line and a thin edge off Morne van Wyk’s bat. Van Wyk had launched Durban Heat’s chase with a flurry of boundaries, taking four fours off Williams’ second over. After he fell Heinrich Klaasen and Hashim Amla managed to tick over at just better than a run a ball. Jeevan Mendis upset the balance with the quick wickets of Klaasen and David Miller, but Spartans just didn’t have enough runs to defend.Spartans had been put in after Durban captain Morkel won the toss, and they lost three top order wickets inside the first half of an innings that never really get going amid regular wickets. Those strikes included the big one of de Villiers, who top-edged Keshav Maharaj with the breeze for the only six of the innings but then missed a reverse sweep to be pinned lbw for 10 by the same bowler.At the other end, Gihahn Cloete rattled to his second successive fifty with a selection of big drives and mis-hits in testing conditions, but Spartans could only take 39 from the Powerplay. It wasn’t until a 39-run stand between Cloete and Sikandar Raza that they were able to lay platform.Raza endured a torrid time from Marchant de Lange, the fast bowler repeatedly targeting him with short pitched deliveries as he sought ways – sometimes ungainly – to survive and turn the strike over. Cloete went to a 37-ball fifty in the 14th over, but he and Raza then fell in successive overs as Spartans faded against Durban’s pace attack.Having got past Raza and Robbie Frylinck, Abbott closed things off by dismissing Rory Kleinveldt and Sean Williams in consecutive deliveries in the final over of the innings. His late strikes stopped any thoughts of a Spartans surge, ultimately keeping them to a total that set Durban Heat a gettable target amid the rain.
يستعد فريق برشلونة، بقيادة المدرب هانز فليك، لخوض مباراة ودية جديدة، في إطار مبارياته في معسكر الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية استعدادًا للموسم الجديد.
ويلتقي فريق برشلونة مع نظيره فريق ميلان، على ملعب “بنك ستاديوم” في الولايات المتحدة.
وخاض برشلونة مباراتين وديتين حتى الآن، حيث فاز في الأولى على مانشستر سيتي بركلات الترجيح 4-1، قبل فوزه على ريال مدريد بهدفين لهدف.
في حين أن ميلان خاض 3 مباريات ودية، الأولى أمام رابيد فيينا حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله، قبل أن يفوز على مانشستر سيتي 3-2، ثم ينتصر على ريال مدريد بهدف نظيف. موعد مباراة برشلونة وميلان الودية اليوم
تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 2:30 فجر يوم الأربعاء، 7 أغسطس، بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة برشلونة وميلان الودية اليوم
تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة الكويت الرياضية الأولى ويمكن استقبالها عبر قمر نايل سات بالتردد التالي:
11054 – عمودي – 27500 – 2/3
ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا
Leeds United want to sign a pacey new forward in the January transfer window, coming after he was once compared to France legend Franck Ribery.
Leeds enjoy promising start under Farke
The appointment of former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke in July has, thus far, may have been proved the right call, with Leeds looking like fairly safe contenders for promotion back to the Premier League.
While the Whites have dropped points in seven Championship matches this season, Leeds were in fine form prior to the international break.
Winning four out of their last five league games, Farke's side were starting to gain real momentum. They next take on struggling Rotherham United before hosting Swansea City at Elland Road – two games where Leeds look odds-on to reign victorious.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Speaking on the Monday Night Club last month (via Leeds Live), pundit Chris Sutton tipped Leeds for immediate promotion while expressing his belief that Farke is indeed the right man.
"He's not an exact like-for-like [replacement]. He obviously managed Norwich City, got them a couple of promotions out of the Championship but struggled in the Premier League," Sutton said.
"I don't necessarily think that was all down to him, the squad just wasn't strong enough. In terms of Leeds fans wanting an attacking brand of football, he certainly ticks that box.
"He has had so much to deal with, there's been a big overturn of players, and I suppose his biggest issue is all Leeds fans wanting to find the next Bielsa. I think he will get them up this season, I really do, just because of his knowledge of the Championship, his nous and know-how, and the way he sets his teams up. I think Leeds have done well to appoint him."
Leeds United's home stadium, Elland Road.
However, with the January transfer window approaching, it is believed that Leeds are plotting ways to strengthen and reinforce Farke's push to the top flight.
Leeds eye Ryan Kent loan deal
Indeed, it is believed club chiefs are now weighing up a move for Fenerbahce winger and ex-Rangers star Ryan Kent.
The 27-year-old, since opting for a Turkish Super Lig move after leaving Ibrox on a free, has struggled under manager Ismail Kartal – who doesn't seem to favour him.
Kent has made just seven league appearances this season, with only one of them being a start. As a result, it appears Fenerbahce are willing to let him leave on a temporary deal in January.
This is where Farke's men come in, as according to TEAMtalk, it is believed that Leeds are keen on signing Kent mid-season.
Kent has previously been praised for his "incredible" speed by former Gers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with Owen Hargreaves once telling TNT Sports that he can be a bit like Franck Ribery.
Ryan Kent strengths (via WhoScored)
Passing
Key passes
Dribbling
Holding on to the ball
“I love watching Ryan Kent; technically, he’s absolutely brilliant. It looked like Franck Ribery when he used to do it for Bayern," said Hargreaves on the winger after a past performance against Borussia Dortmund (via Liverpool Echo).
“Absolutely exceptional with the ball at his feet, running at players is his greatest attribute. He shocked everyone there. Dortmund won’t have known much about him, but in the changing room, they’ll be asking who he is.
“Premier League clubs will be looking at him. He caused so many issues for Dortmund.”
Newcastle United just keep on going. Injuries, suspensions, and early-season disgruntlement concerning squad cohesion have all come into play on Tyneside this season, but Eddie Howe's side have hurtled through the gears and now stand a good shot of significant success both domestically and in the Champions League.
Having defied expectations to finish fourth in the Premier League last season, Newcastle have rebounded from a wobble in the 2023/24 term's early phase, losing three straight, to climb into European contention, though having dropped points across two of their past three matches there will be an increased weight on the forthcoming fixture against Arsenal.
Indeed, Mikel Arteta's title-chasing side travel to St. James' Park this evening to continue their fight for a first Premier League trophy in two decades, but will be met by one of Europe's most unified forces.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Newcastle's ascendancy over the past few years has been a product of Howe's ability to instill his system into the squad, and the fact that it has suffused every corner means that injuries, of which there are many, do not necessarily prove to be detrimental.
Newcastle team news
Matt Targett is the latest player to pick up an injury after tweaking his hamstring in the opening phase at the Theatre of Dreams, though United are emboldened by the goalscoring return of Joe Willock in midweek.
Club record talisman Alexander Isak is not expected to be back until after the international break later this month, though the Toon boast a worthy replacement in the prolific Callum Wilson.
Elsewhere, both members of Howe's starring defensive axis – Sven Botman and Fabian Schar – are doubts, while Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, and Elliot Anderson remain on the sidelines.
Tino Livramento's season by numbers
Howe will have to continue to contend with a mountain of injury issues against the Gunners, though Newcastle evidenced their strength in depth when dispatching dreary Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
When the line-ups were announced on Wednesday, few thought that this makeshift Magpies side would stand a chance against a purportedly superior Red Devils side.
Doubters were emphatically corrected, and the 3-0 scoreline showcased this remarkable squad's credentials, with none more impressive than summer signing Tino Livramento.
The 6 foot Livramento joined from Southampton for an initial fee of £32m, having spent the majority of the 2022/23 campaign injured, with Saints plummeting into the Championship.
Despite his scant match action over the past year, the dynamo has taken to life on Tyneside with aplomb, earning four substitute appearances in the English top-flight so far but playing the full 90 across both Carabao Cup matches thus far, against the two Manchester sides, and excelling on each occasion.
Against Manchester City in the third round, Livramento made eight tackles – including a "match-winning" late lunge on Matheus Nunes, as said by reporter Craig Hope – and won 11 of his 18 contested duels, as per Sofascore, superlative against one of football's most frightening attacking threats.
Howe would have hoped for him to emulate his previous showing this week against Erik ten Hag's Old Trafford side, but he did take his opportunity, earning a stunning assist after an unstoppable cross-pitch dribble and producing an all-encompassing display that Phillip Lahm would have waxed approval over.
Complementing that assist with five tackles, two clearances, success with both of his dribble attempts, also coming out on top in nine of his 12 duels (a 75% success rate), Livramento has announced himself as one of the Premier League's most exciting young talents.
Opponent
Result
Competition
vs Aston Villa (H)
5-1
Premier League
vs Manchester City (H)
1-0
Carabao Cup
vs Sheffield United (A)
8-0
Premier League
vs Paris Saint-Germain (H)
4-0
Champions League
vs Manchester United (A)
3-0
Carabao Cup
*Results provided by Sky Sports
Newcastle have collected quite the list of victories already this season, and there will now be confidence that Arsenal could be the latest to fall on Tyneside, especially with Livramento unleashed from the outset.
Why Tino Livramento should start vs Arsenal
The mere fact that the youngster has provided the perfect performance against the Manchester giants suggests that he would be a custom-made option against Arsenal tonight, who boast an almighty, multi-functional strike force.
Hailed as "unbelievable” by analyst EBL, Livramento's pace and athleticism are exactly what is needed to stifle the threat of players such as Bukayo Saka, who has been integral to Arsenal's rise under Arteta's wing and has undoubtedly cemented himself as one of Europe's most fearsome forwards.
Should Livramento earn a starting spot, then Dan Burn should be moved to the bench; Burn has been a superb member of Howe's Newcastle team over the past few years, but he is not without his frailties and Saka might relish the opportunity to drag him around the byline, as well as threatening consistently down the channel.
The Emirates side's star man has been in stunning form so far this season and has posted five goals and six assists from 14 appearances, praised as "elite" by his international manager, Gareth Southgate.
To illustrate his all-action attacking threat, the £195k-per-week machine ranks among the top 21% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 14% for assists, the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive carries, the top 3% for touches in the attacking box and the top 9% for tackles per 90.
Quite the list of metrics, and a mere illumination of exactly what makes the 22-year-old such a staggering talent; robust and tenacious, he will drive into the danger area and wreak havoc, bursting into the box and deciding which tool he wishes to wield.
Burn is no joke, of course, but he might not be well suited to the task, especially when Livramento has demonstrated his ability against both Manchester sides this season.
It speaks volumes of his potential, and while it may be strange to eject Kieran Trippier on the defensive right flank, the 32-year-old has been deployed at left-back for England of late and could assume the role, with Livramento unleashed down the alternate channel.
The one-time Chelsea Academy Player of the Season is capable across both sides of the backline too, but the balance may be preserved by switching Trippier, allowing the less experienced member to perform in his favoured position.
This could either allow the England international to lock up his teammate, Saka, or Livramento could line up on the left and use his aforementioned defensive attributes to keep the exciting attacker quiet.
The evidence suggests that Arsenal can be defeated, and while it will be a tall order against Arteta's hungry side, Howe will know that his match plan could have the Magpies flying high come the final whistle.
Having made a mockery of questions over his £42 million ($53m) price tag, the attacker has the ability to star for the Three Lions this summer
Eyebrows hit the ceiling when Chelsea capped another transfer window of extravagant spending by splurging £42 million ($53m) on Manchester City academy product Cole Palmer in the summer – a player with only a handful of senior starts to his name at the time. Fast-forward six months and that price tag looks more like a bargain with each passing day, with Palmer proving to be one of – if not the – signings of the season.
The attacker has emerged as Chelsea's most important player aged just 21. He boasts 24 goal contributions – added to the two he already had for City before his exit – and is leading the way in pretty much every attacking metric for his new club.
It is little surprise, then, that he has taken strides forward in his international career, too. There was an element of luck to his initial call-up to Gareth Southgate's senior England squad in November amid a raft of injuries, but Palmer's form means he is now well and truly in the frame with Euro 2024 on the horizon. Indeed, he should be starting for the Three Lions in Germany.
England's leading lights
One statistic in particular puts Palmer's sublime form at Chelsea into perspective.
In terms of young English players making a significant mark at the very highest level, Jude Bellingham's remarkable exploits at Real Madrid have justifiably dominated the headlines – but Palmer is now matching his esteemed compatriot's attacking output.
With yet another goal and assist as he inspired the 3-2 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, Palmer moved level with Bellingham at the top of the rankings for goal contributions in Europe's top-five leagues by players aged 21 or under, with both now sitting on 19.
The English duo are outperforming plenty of highly-regarded competition from across the continent, including Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala (13), Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen (16) and RB Leipzig's Paris Saint-Germain loanee Xavi Simons (14).
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Potential to thrill
The prospect, then, of Palmer and Bellingham playing in the same team is mouth-watering. The in-form pair were two ships passing in the night in the last international break as Bellingham withdrew from Southgate's squad just a day after Palmer was promoted from the Under-21s, but March friendlies against Belgium and Brazil could see them line up together for the first time – if Southgate throws his usual caution to the wind.
It might be a little -esque, but a central trio of Declan Rice, Bellingham and Palmer has the potential to dominate in every area of the midfield in Germany. Although he has excelled as a more advanced midfielder in Spain, the Real Madrid star is perfectly capable of fulfilling a box-to-box role and putting in a tenacious defensive shift as well as supporting the attack – something he showed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Rice, meanwhile, is proving himself to be among the best defensive midfielders on the planet in Arsenal's title push and is more than capable of acting as the lone anchor.
Palmer and Phil Foden provide some tactical flexibility for the manager ahead of them. Both are capable of operating centrally or out wide, with the Chelsea man admitting he prefers to play off the right. If he is deployed as an attacking midfielder, though, he has already demonstrated he has the ability to unlock some of the best defences around.
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Big-game player
Indeed, the 21-year-old has already proved he is no shrinking violet on the biggest stage.
This season alone Palmer has bagged for ex-club Man City in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup, netted a penalty against Arsenal, repeated the trick and assisted against Tottenham, fired in another from the spot against his former employers and squeezed home a fine effort on the road at Manchester United.
Goal contributions aside, though, his performance levels have rarely dipped as he exhibits the kind of consistency and swagger that are required attributes if you want to become world-class. His elite mentality would be invaluable in the boiling pot of the knockout stages of a major tournament.
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Outshining his rivals
Much can – and will – change over the next couple of months as Southgate mulls over some big selection decisions, with friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March likely to provide a clearer picture of his plans.
As it stands, though, Palmer should have a clear run to the starting line-up, let alone the squad; the Chelsea man is enjoying a far more productive campaign than his main rivals for an attacking midfield role, with both James Maddison and Eberechi Eze enduring injury troubles, and former favourite Mason Mount almost out of the picture altogether as he struggles for form and fitness at Man Utd.
His former team-mate Foden is enjoying another fine season at City, but he is likely to start on the left wing with neither Jack Grealish nor Marcus Rashford demonstrating anything close to their best form in Manchester. Trent Alexander-Arnold's rebirth as a central midfielder could make things interesting, but even the Liverpool assist machine doesn't carry the same attacking threat.