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Lionel Messi is pretty reliable over free-kicks, but one of his latest strikes for Inter Miami appeared to hit an unsuspecting toddler in the crowd.

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• Argentine icon bagged brace in 'Clasico'
• Had chance to complete treble late on
• Radar from set-piece was a little off

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was in action for the Herons against Florida neighbours Orlando City on Saturday. He bagged a brace in that contest and was looking to complete a ‘Clasico’ hat-trick when lining up a set-piece in the closing stages.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi’s effort did not miss by much, but he did send it curling narrowly over the crossbar. Those in the stands had little time to react as the 20-yard effort came sailing their way, with spectators sat close to the pitch finding themselves very much in the firing line.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  A young supporter, sporting a black Inter Miami kit, appeared to be struck by the ball as it ended up stuck on her seat. The youngster in question avoided any injury, but they were a little shaken and tears flowed as the game continued around her.

Tottenham Hotspur's start to the Premier League season has been completely unprecedented, with nobody expecting Ange Postecoglou to hit the ground running with such immediacy.

However, the Australian is good value for their fine form, having instantly cultivated a feel-good atmosphere around an outfit that has been severely lacking positivity in recent years.

The football is free-flowing and all-action, yet remains methodical and exciting. With no European matches to burden them either, it remains to be seen just how high this season's ceiling could be.

What makes such a stellar start to the term even more impressive is that, whilst he did delve into the market, the former Celtic boss hardly overhauled the entire squad. Wisely trimming it down by pushing out the dead wood, whilst acting shrewdly to bolster in key areas, the bulk of his first team is still made up of stars from previous regimes.

From the side that beat Sheffield United last weekend, four of the starting XI were signed during the last window, whilst the rest had been brought in by Antonio Conte aside from one other. Given their performances throughout last season, the difference in play style and results is stark.

However, there has arguably been one standout player from those latter seven starters, who has made the most surprising resurgence after just five Premier League games. Although James Maddison is stealing every headline, whilst Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero continue to excel at the back, Yves Bissouma has been undeniably bossing it in the engine room.

How good is Yves Bissouma?

Having signed for just £25m in the summer of 2022, this acquisition turned heads with the splendid bargain they had seemingly achieved after the 27-year-old had starred for Brighton and Hove Albion.

As a combative midfield general with the ability to pick a pass or pull out a piledriver from long range, it was expected that the Mali international would uphold Conte's midfield with power and poise.

However, for whatever reason the Italian seemingly lost all faith in the ability of his new signing, and he would make just ten league starts all season. In September he did note: "The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect."

The £55k-per-week star would see little increase in game time though despite his tactical knowledge surely growing, with his 6.68 average Sofascore rating a truly disappointing figure for someone who promised so much.

As is often the way with a new managerial appointment though, Postecoglou's clean slate has allowed the 6-foot enforcer to recapture, and even surpass the form that saw him lauded on the South Coast.

After all, his 7.56 average rating makes him Spurs' fourth-highest-rated player for this current league term, buoyed by a 90% pass accuracy, one key pass, 2.4 interceptions, 3.4 tackles and 7.2 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

Such exploits simply had to be lauded, as Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville led the praise after their opening-day draw with Brentford: "Bissouma is my player of the match. He has been brave, gone past people, broke play up. An all-round performance."

Sitting at the base of the midfield, screening the back four with a creativity and calmness not seen since Mousa Dembele, Bissouma is integral to the way Postecoglou wants to play by offering the defensive foundation and a metronome all-in-one.

However, there is a star of the past, a certain Luka Modric who would arguably occupy this role better if hypothetically, were he to return in his prime, given that such a period saw the star in question named as the best player in the world.

Why did Luka Modric leave Spurs?

Although his period in north London did not even come close to the heights he would reach elsewhere, Modric still remained a classy presence with the potential to do great things under Harry Redknapp.

After all, in his final season in England, the Croatia international clearly did enough to warrant the £30m fee paid to secure his services; a figure that looked even better after the now 38-year-old was voted the worst signing of the season in Spain.

The story behind his Lilywhites exit is an interesting one too, as it was Chelsea who he first pushed to join in 2011 after a string of bids from the Blues were turned down by Daniel Levy. Unsurprisingly unwilling to sell to a rival, when the Santiago Bernabeu came calling, he saw his prayers answered.

Despite that, the 5 foot 8 trickster remained full of regret regarding the manner of his departure: "My one regret is that I didn’t win a trophy with Tottenham, despite us being a strong team who played good, attractive football. I’m sorry for the way I left. I wish we had parted in a nicer way. I hope fans understand that I followed my dreams."

The silky maestro would quickly put such foolishness behind him with years of fine performances though, with age seemingly having no bearing on the quality the Croat delivers.

It would be hard to argue against the notion that Modric reached his peak during the 2017/18 season, as his stellar domestic displays fed into a sensational World Cup run, which led to the creative hero ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or monopoly by winning the award in 2018.

Journalist Liam Canning would offer his praise to the Los Blancos ace, supporting his secondary award of winning the World Cup's Player of the Tournament: "Luka Modrić is the rightful player of the tournament. Makes football look so easy. World-class."

His showings in La Liga that year help to outline exactly what made that such a special year for the former Dinamo Zagreb superstar, as his 7.34 average rating was buoyed by a 90% pass accuracy and six assists, alongside 1.5 key passes, 1.2 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

As the best in his role during these prime years, it seems that Bissouma would understandably never be able to compete with the levels of the man capable of dictating the pace of any game due to his immense talent. Admittedly, there are few in history who even come close.

Modric will forever remain a legendary figure who was given the platform for his initial success by Spurs, and for that, the club should be proud.

Whilst their current squad will go about their business with incision as they seek to maintain their fine form, it must be noted that swapping Bissouma out for the 168-cap wizard would likely take them from a plucky, overperforming outfit to genuine challengers for the elite honours. What they would give for that.

Mexico has dreams of being "a world power in women's soccer", and La Tri’s run to the Gold Cup semi-finals has only highlighted its rise

Mexico’s historic win over the United States women’s national team at the W Gold Cup seemed to come out of nowhere. The U.S. had won 16 games on the bounce against its neighbour, keeping clean sheets in each of the last six. Given Mexico hasn’t qualified for either of the last two World Cup tournaments or any of the last five Olympic Games either, even a USWNT in transition was expected to win this game.

Except that’s not painting the full picture. Mexico’s 2-0 triumph over the U.S., its first victory over the four-time world champion in 14 years, and its progression to the semi-finals of this Gold Cup, by way of an entertaining 3-2 win over Paraguay, have been anything but out of the blue.

For the last eight years, Mexico has been building towards a moment like the one it is enjoying right now. With a domestic league that is growing at an exponential rate, a focus on developing the next generation and some fantastic results for the national team at youth level, it has been a matter of when, rather than if, La Tri would piece it all together on the big stage.

And now that we are finally seeing it come to fruition, it feels like a watershed moment. “I think this is the start of a new era,” Lizbeth Ovalle, scorer of the first goal against the USWNT, said after that incredible win. She could well be right.

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  Change of direction

  Eight years ago, it was rare for Mexico’s top talent to be playing at home. Indeed, when La Tri last played at a Women's World Cup in 2015, just three names on its 23-player roster represented Mexican clubs. The top league in Mexico wasn’t professional and, with a lack of coverage and support, Mexican players were instead allocated in the NWSL, the top league in the United States.

  It meant lots of Mexico’s top talents could play in one of the best leagues in the world, but it’s hard for a nation to grow in women’s soccer when almost all of its stars aren’t even in the country. With there also concerns about the playing time that some of these players got in the U.S., in 2016 the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) decided to take a new route. Mexican players would stop being allocated in the NWSL and a new domestic league would launch instead: Liga MX Femenil.

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  Focused on Mexico

  Liga MX Femenil has always had specific regulations in place to enhance the development of Mexican talent. To begin with, it was an Under-23 league with just two overage players allowed per club. All of these players had to be born in Mexico.

  Over time, these regulations have changed. The age limit was slowly and steadily raised until being removed completely, replaced by a rule that requires clubs to allocate 1,000 minutes of game time per tournament to U20 players and the establishment of an U17 league. Foreign-born Mexican players were permitted to participate from the third season onwards and each team was granted two international spots in season five, a number that has since grown to four.

  “The media or people always ask: ‘How can we take our best players offshore?’ And I always ask: ‘Why do we want to send our best players overseas and not bring the best players to our league?’” Mariana Gutierrez Bernardez, head of Liga MX Femenil, said in long conversation with GOAL during that fifth season. “Our vision is not to take our best players offshore, it’s that the best players come here because we are going to be that top league. We're very ambitious on that.”

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  International flavor

  The league has since welcomed lots of international stars, including United States forward Mia Fishel, Nigeria goal-machine Uchenna Kanu, Colombia icon Catalina Usme and two former Barcelona stars, Andrea Pereira and Jennifer Hermoso, the latter of whom won the World Cup last year as a Pachuca player.

  The limits on these international spots and the rules in place regarding minutes for young players mean this star power doesn’t restrict Mexican talent, either. Compare Mexico’s 2015 World Cup roster to this year’s Gold Cup roster and it is totally different. Instead of just three players playing at home, now only three players play abroad. The U.S. is the only other nation at the Gold Cup to have so many of its players in its own domestic league.

  "Since international players are allowed to play in our league, I think that made the league take a huge step forward in terms of the physicality, in terms of tactical play," Itzel Gonzalez, who plays for Club America and Mexico, told . "I see different teams adopting different styles of play. I think that's really interesting to see how that's going to develop, having teams with stronger identities. The type of players that we have as a country are influencing the style of play in different teams and also obviously at the national-team level."

  Having these foreign players with different experiences is only beneficial for the young talent coming through, too. Can you imagine what Alice Soto, Mexico’s most promising teenage talent, has learned from playing alongside Hermoso? What an experience to get at 17 years old.

  Throw in the increased interest in Liga MX Femenil from abroad, which has resulted in numerous international friendlies for clubs across the league, against teams from the U.S., Germany, England, Spain and more, and the players and teams across Mexico are getting plenty of opportunities to improve.

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• Promise for the future

  That minimum game time rule that Liga MX Femenil has put in place for Mexico’s young talent is also, unsurprisingly, having an impact on the youth national teams. Last year, La Tri won the CONCACAF U20 Championship for just the second time in its history, beating Canada in the semifinals and the U.S. in the final.

  Mexico has always had a team capable of challenging for CONCACAF honors at youth level, consistently reaching finals with the U20s and U17s, but to get over the line and win the whole thing felt significant.

  The federation’s big challenge has been in progressing these young talents through the national-team setup in a fluid way that helps it grow into a team that could also have success at senior level. Appointing Monica Vergara, a woman who led Mexico to its first World Cup final at any level with the U17s in 2018, as head coach of La Tri in 2021 felt like a step in the right direction, then.

Arsenal's revolution under Mikel Arteta has been a measured one, with the Spaniard having seemingly planned out the progression he sought to usher in which culminated in last year's title push.

Having now reached the pinnacle of English football once again, whilst also competing in Europe's elite competition, he will be hoping to take the next step and add many more major honours to his trophy cabinet, the likes of which they certainly have the squad and the philosophy to challenge for.

However, in his haste to return the Gunners back to where they belong, and where they had been absent from for so long under Arsene Wenger and later Unai Emery, there were perhaps a few missteps taken that saw some stars discounted too early, or their potential overlooked.

Whilst few could argue with the decisions to terminate both Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's contracts, given how their careers have dwindled since, with Konstantinos Mavropanos, that was far from the case.

In fact, since Edu and Arteta sanctioned his exit, they have only been made to rue such a move, as the defender has slowly rebuilt his reputation, returning to the top this summer.

How much did Konstantinos Mavropanos cost Arsenal?

Having been signed from Greek side PAS Giannina for a reported £1.8m, this deal was viewed as one for the future, boasting little risk, but immense reward should he reach the lofty potential bestowed upon him.

Wenger, who would retire just years after the acquisition, likely viewed him as the man set to underpin his new-look outfit in the years to come, or at the very least help usher in a successful new era after he had left.

In the end, neither of these would come to fruition, and the 25-year-old would depart having only made eight senior appearances.

Game time was seemingly forever limited during his stay in north London, despite former Arsenal favourite Ian Wright lauding him after a stellar debut: "I haven’t seen a performance like this, the anticipation, the pace, the awareness, from Arsenal for a long time. I don’t think we’ve got anything to lose by playing him. You could put him up against Diego Costa, he looked like he was up for the battle. He’s fearless and has the exuberance of youth. It might work."

He would never get that opportunity to showcase whether such an outstanding first showing was merely a fluke, and with someone so talented, it felt wrong to keep them resigned to a backup role.

A string of loan spells would beckon for the Greek titan, first to Nurnberg before moving to the club he would eventually join permanently, Stuttgart.

It was here that the 20-cap colossus began to rebuild a career left stuttered by Wenger's reluctance to allow him to shine, as he would go on to prove the Frenchman devastatingly wrong.

How much was Konstantinos Mavropanos worth at Arsenal?

Such was his potential, but ultimate lack of game time, Mavropanos would see little change in his value across the four years he spent with the Gunners.

Reaching an apex of just €3m (£2.6m), he would stay at that level up until that eventual permanent exit, where the German side proved how a little bit of faith can go a long way towards repaying a price tag.

It just so happened that the one they paid became inconsequential given the rewards he offered on the pitch, and the eventual remuneration they would receive from a fellow Premier League club.

How much did Arsenal sell Konstantinos Mavropanos for?

As Arsenal sought to usher out some of that talent without taking the risk themselves, his final loan spell to Stuttgart came with some questionable clauses. One being that, were they to avoid the drop, they would be forced to purchase the centre-back for a preset fee.

However, it just so happened that the sum in question amassed to a pitiful £4.5m, marking an exceptional bargain for a defender who had just aided their survival push and was only growing with each passing month.

The Athletic even showcased that it was widely recognised as a bargain deal, with the upfront costs marking some kind of tiny consolation. They noted: "While that final fee of £4.5m is considered to be below Mavropanos’ true market value, it is expected Arsenal will receive full payment up front, meaning they will get a small cash boost ahead of the summer transfer window."

How much did West Ham sign Konstantinos Mavropanos for?

What also sweetened the deal slightly more was the 10% sell-on clause inserted too, suggesting that should Stuttgart cash in, at least the north London outfit would reap some added rewards.

Whilst they were likely therefore delighted to see him sold on for a hefty fee, the fact that it came just one year after they had sold him for such a tiny sum marked a mockery of Edu's business, which is usually so pinpoint and impressive.

West Ham United were the beneficiaries of this deal, securing a rough and ready monster just £20m ready to tackle English football once again, hopefully with greater success and faith than he earned in his last stint.

Therefore, to emphasise that dramatic shift in value, Mavropanos has actually overseen a 344% increase since departing the Emirates.

Why is Konstantinos Mavropanos worth that much?

It is quite easy to explain why the 6 foot 4 star has enjoyed such a rise, as his steady progression throughout three Bundesliga seasons is there for all to see.

His first, during the 2020/21 term, saw him maintain a solid 6.95 average rating, which would improve to 7.13 the following year.

However, the 2022/23 campaign unsurprisingly marked the pinnacle and explains why the Hammers were so keen to strike a deal. His 7.26 average rating made the £50k-per-week ace Stuttgart's second-highest-rated player, with that figure buoyed by his two goals, 83% pass accuracy, 2.2 interceptions and 3.5 clearances per game.

Content creator and Irons fan Will Lebeau clearly got it right when he branded the defender a "Rolls-Royce."

These statistics should make it even more surprising that there were not more sides battling for such dominant services, and will likely have Edu kicking himself as Mavropanos' career continues to reach new heights.

The 17-year-old has emerged as a top-tier talent and one of a few bright spots in a miserable year for the Blaugrana

Rarely are footballers good enough to be fast-tracked into the Barcelona first team. Most rise through the ranks steadily, awaiting opportunities before emerging into the side in their early-20s. Barca, in fact, haven't had a top-tier centre-back emerge from La Masia in years.

That might just have changed with the arrival of Pau Cubarsi. The lanky centre-back has benefitted from the Blaugrana's injury crisis, and emerged as a potential world-class central defender, keeping himself in the XI with a series of impressive performances.

Indeed, this is a refined central defender with the '' and smarts who seems set to last at the top level for a long time. But who is Cubarsi, where is he from, and why could he be in line for a Spain call-up so soon after his 17th birthday? GOAL takes a look at La Masia's latest jewel…

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  Where it all began

  Like many in La Masia, Cubarsi has roots in Catalonia. Born in Girona, in 2007, 100 kilometres from Barcelona, the centre-back joined his local academy as a youngster.

  At four years old, he was snapped up by Girona, then a struggling Segunda Division side. It didn't take long for a bigger move to come, when Barcelona scouts brought him to La Masia at seven.

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• The big break

  His talent was clear from a young age, but with more eye-catching prospects emerging through the Blaugrana academy – and a strong centre-back corps – Cubarsi wasn't considered elite. Still, he captained youth sides at multiple levels, wearing the armband for Under-13, U-15 and U-17 teams.

  Cubarsi's first big moment came in the UEFA Youth League in 2022. He became the third-youngest Barca player to make an appearance when he saw the pitch against Viktoria Plzen in 2022.

  Six months later, Xavi started to take notice. Cubarsi began training with the Barca first team in 2023, looking to impress on the same pitches as fellow La Masia star Lamine Yamal.

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  How it's going

  Cubarsi's Barca debut felt like a matter of time. The Blaugrana back-line has had issues this season, with a series of first-team central options either injured or out of form. Cubarsi's chance eventually came in the Copa del Rey against Unionistas, when he played the entire second half, and helped shore up a rearguard that had conceded a sloppy goal.

  Since then, he has stayed in the senior squad, appearing in nine straight games, and starting six in a row. He has impressed throughout, looking a natural in the heart of the defence, and forming a steady partnership with Ronald Araujo.

  Xavi summed his performances up after his debut: "He's very well prepared. He doesn't seem 16 when you speak with him. He is a focused and responsible kid. I don't think he lost a single ball, either.

  "He's going to leave his mark on an era, the same as Lamine. We are continuing to build a team with young footballers. These are players who we must build the club's future with."

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• Biggest strengths

  There's a lot to like about Cubarsi's game. At 6'1'' – and still growing – he already has the kind of frame required to function as a top level defender. He might not ever be an imposing physical presence. But if he grows and adds muscle, he will certainly be an excellent all-round defender.

  His best, attribute, though, is his passing ability. Some of his disposition from deep is simply ridiculous. The teenager s the ideal modern ball-playing centre-back, who always looks for the forward pass. He can play the ball short or long, and is in the 88th percentile among all centre-backs in pass completion percentage, according to. His 4.49 passes into the final third per 90 minutes put him in the 81st percentile.

  It's something that Cubarsi's U-13 manager Albert Puig noticed.

  “Pau’s build-up is extremely clean. He can drive the ball up, thread passes to midfielders in the inside pockets but also send long balls to the opposite winger to provide the team with width and shake their opponents around," Puig told .

Sean Dyche could do with all the options that he can get at Everton, who have got off to a rocky start this season, winning just once. That sole win did, at least, come in their most recent outing in the Premier League against Brentford, perhaps proving that they are about to turn a crucial corner in their campaign.

What has helped their resurgent form is the goals of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is finally injury free and on his way back to his best form – something that could keep the Toffees' top flight status intact.

The forward could be boosted by the return of another player, too, and one that Everton are reportedly negotiating a complicated deal around.

What's the latest Everton news?

Buoyed by their victory in the Carabao Cup against Aston Villa, Everton will now turn their attention towards Luton Town in the Premier League, hoping to make it three consecutive victories for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, those at Goodison Park have reportedly got negotiations under way over the future of Dele Alli, who continues to edge closer to a return from issues away from the pitch and injuries.

Speaking about the saga for The Athletic, Patrick Boyland said: "Those talks (with Spurs) are already underway but are yet to reach a resolution.

"Everton’s argument, no doubt, will be that this is a unique situation and that the best thing for Dele is to play. The deal does not incentivise that, with a £10million ($12.2m) fee due to Tottenham when he hits 20 games. He is on 13.

"He also needs to get himself fit again. The injury in pre-season was a blow because he was training well and close to a return. Dyche will try to fit him in and Dele may end up being an option in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s role behind the striker. A lot needs to happen before we get there, though."

Should Everton get Dele back in the team?

Dele has had far from the easiest spell at Everton, with issues off the pitch playing a part in his failure to find his feet at Goodison Park, or in his loan spell at Besiktas. But, ultimately, this is a player who once set the world alight at Tottenham Hotspur; a player who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. And, if Everton can get that version of Dele, then they'll arguably have one of England's best midfielders.

Of course, there is no guarantee that they will get the best out of the former Spurs man. Yet, in truth, given their slow start this season, taking a risk on a player who once had so much potential may well be worth it.

Only time will tell whether Dele gets another opportunity on the pitch at Everton, however, and, for now, his focus will be on getting back to full fitness, and working his way into Dyche's plans. With negotiations seemingly underway over his deal, too, it may not be long before we see Dele take to the Goodison Park turf once again.

Often, tense rivalries such as the Tyne-Wear Derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland can be decided in a split-second moment.

Unfortunately for the travelling Toon at the Stadium of Light, it would be a freak instance that would end in the Magpies coming away from the intense Premier League game empty-handed, as Nick Woltemade inexplicably headed past Aaron Ramsdale, mere minutes into the second half.

Labelled as a “nightmare” way to introduce yourself to the Tyne-Wear Derby by journalist Mark Douglas, Woltemade will be fearful that his centre-forward starting spot as Eddie Howe’s main striker is now no longer so secure, with the German off his clinical best for some time now in England.

Woltemade's slump in form at Newcastle

Woltemade’s season hasn’t been full of costly errors, though, with the club-record £69m fee splashed out on the 6-foot-6 striker right at the end of the transfer window, looking like a worthwhile gamble at points this season.

Indeed, at the time of writing, the Bremen-born menace has a respectable seven goals plying his trade on Tyneside from 21 clashes, but it’s clear from his more recent form that he is a striker now low on confidence.

The table above makes for some worrying reading, with the attacker who put away four goals from his first five Premier League contests now nowhere to be found, with Woltemade yet to break his goalscoring duck across December.

He never looked like beating Robin Roefs on Sunday afternoon, either, with just one paltry effort registered at the Dutchman’s goal, from his unmemorable 12 touches of the ball. Woltemade would also only amass two accurate passes, as writer Thomas Hammond declared at the end that he had “absolutely nothing” go his way at the Stadium of Light.

A stint outside of Howe’s starting XI could well do the goal-shy number 27 the world of good, with Yoane Wissa surely wanting to stake a claim to be Newcastle’s main striker, instead, as he emerges from the shadows of his long-standing injury issue.

With January also on the horizon, the powers that be at Newcastle could now be tempted to part ways with one of the Toon’s other underperformers in the upcoming transfer window.

The Newcastle star who Howe could cash in on

It’s set to be a busy start to the year in the Premier League, as top-flight sides far and wide attempt to flex their muscles in the hectic window once more.

On Newcastle’s end, they will be preparing for bids to come their way for Valentino Livramento, if reports are to be believed, with Manchester City allegedly keen on the England international for a price around the £65m mark.

Other reports have also suggested that the EFL Cup-winning defender is delaying any new contract negotiations with the Toon, in the hope he can retreat to the Etihad in time.

Pep Guardiola might not be so sure on splashing the cash in such an extravagant manner, though, if he were to watch back the ex-Southampton man’s disastrous display on Wearside in great detail, with the table above pointing out many flaws in the right-back’s game at the Stadium of Light.

Much like Woltemade, the 23-year-old cut an unconvincing presence on the ball throughout, with possession given up a high ten times from his 62 touches of the ball.

On top of his haphazard approach with the ball at his feet, Livramento would consistently shy away from getting stuck in and showing off the gritty sides of his character, winning no tackles or duels across his weak 90-minute display.

He also displayed none of the cutting edge in attack he has shown in the past to be worthy of City’s shopping list, with zero successful dribbles pulled off, just adding to Newcastle’s “negative” approach – as it was branded by the Athletic’s Chris Waugh – which ultimately made them “toothless” and easy to overcome and outmuscle.

At the close of the 1-0 defeat, Howe would hone in on the bizarre nature of Woltemade’s own goal as the sucker punch moment that lost the Toon the contest.

But, it was a drab team effort, too, that resulted in the disappointing defeat, with the under-pressure Magpies boss surely tempted to cash in on Livramento sooner rather than later, especially if he serves up more unexciting displays.

Newcastle now leading Juventus in race to sign "excellent" Serie A defender

The Magpies could land a Thiaw repeat.

By
Tom Cunningham

3 days ago

CBS Sports host Kate Abdo tore into Jamie Carragher on live television in a hilarious speech after his awkward joke about her fiance.

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• Carragher appeared to cross line with crass joke
• Abdo put to bed any reports of a rift
• Thierry Henry and Micah Richards left in stitches

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Tuesday, during CBS Sports' coverage of Arsenal's penalty shootout win over Porto, Carragher appeared to joke that Abdo was not loyal "to Malik", in reference to her fiance Malik Scott, in a joke that left both Thierry Henry and Micah Richards visibly stunned. Abdo replied by asking "Why would you even say that?"

  Subsequent reports seemed to imply that Carragher could well face action over his attempted gag but he did not, and was instead back in the studio for Wednesday's Champions League fixtures, leading Abdo to introduce the panel as a "family".

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  WHAT ABDO SAID

  She said: "After yesterday's road trip to the Emirates, we are back home in our Champions League studio here in London. Good to be here. I am Kate Abdo. This group, we have been together for three-and-a-half-years, I think, and I grew up with a brother, and doing this show I feel like I've gained three more here at the desk. Three more brothers.

  "So let me introduce you to the group again. Thierry Henry, of course, the golden child, can do no wrong, always says the right thing. Sets the example for the rest of us. Can he be intimidating? Yes he can, but he is the big brother we all look up to and aspire to, Thierry.

  "Then there is the middle child, Jamie Carragher, chip on his shoulder, capable of saying anything for attention. Does he go too far sometimes? Absolutely. Does he apologise? Yes he does. But all of us have that one annoying family member that we still love and accept.

  "And then there's little bro! Loud but loveable. Micah Richards. Easy to pick on, impossible not to love. And everybody's favourite. And like a good family, we stick together. Another day, another show."

• THE GOSSIP

  CBS Sports has often been praised for their laid-back presentation as Henry, Richards, Carragher and Abdo routinely banter with each other. It appears that they have all agreed to move forward together, however, instead of dragging the ex-Liverpool defender over hot coals.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The Champions League is at the round-of-16 stage, meaning there will be plenty more games for CBS' group of pundits to analyse. Carragher may well want to bite his tongue the next time a joke pops into his head, however.

Celtic look to have secured the future of a bright young teenage star at Parkhead as Brendan Rodgers and his staff build for the long term in Glasgow's east end, according to reports.

Celtic latest updates: Lagerbielke stars, Yang disappointed

Celtic's stars are on international duty following a strong start to Scottish Premiership action, which has seen the Hoops climb to the summit of the league standings with seven draws and one loss from their opening eight encounters, enabling them to claim a seven-point lead over rivals Rangers in second.

Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke netted his first goal for Sweden during the break in a 3-1 victory over Moldova, as he rose high to power home from an excellent delivery from Jesper Karlsson.

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen after the victory, Lagerbielke reacted to what will be heralded as a landmark moment in his career, stating: "It’s a childhood dream to play here at Friends for the national team and then scoring a goal is a bonus. I’m very happy right now. I have scored a few goals in training and then there have been no goal gestures. When you get the chance, you have to try to take it. I think I made a good effort."

Hoops winger Yang Hyun-jun has been talking to Celtic TV about his start to life in Glasgow following his summer move from Gangwon FC and has reacted in honest fashion to his side's disappointing defeat at home to Lazio in the Champions League last week, as he said: "It was such an honour to play in the Champions League. It was a shame I couldn’t show all of my ability as I was feeling a bit nervous since it was such a big game."

Nevertheless, the South Korea international has shown signs of promise since moving cross-continent back in July and has registered one assist in his opening ten appearances for Celtic (Yang statistics – Transfermarkt).

Celtic contract update – Jacob Donnelly

According to a recent Celtic contract update from The Glasgow Times, Hoops youngster Jacob Donnelly has signed a pre-contract at the Scottish champions ahead of penning a three-year deal at Parkhead next summer on professional terms.

The report states that Celtic have managed to fend off competition from several clubs in England to tie down the midfielder, who will join the likes of Mitchel Frame by committing his future to the Hoops for the foreseeable future with the hope of being able to break into the first-team squad.

Offering up chances for young players to break through at Celtic is not something boss Rodgers is immune to at Parkhead when the opportunity presents itself.

Despite not seeing much evidence of that yet, more than likely due to the combination of a pressure-cooker environment and win-or-bust culture in Glasgow, Rodgers was responsible for introducing the likes of Anthony Ralston and Mikey Johnston to the senior picture during his first spell north of the border.

Rocco Vata, MacKenzie Carse and Kyle Ure are among other highly-rated talents at Celtic who look close to making a sustained breakthrough under Rodgers, and it will be intriguing to see who is given the opportunity to step up and stake their claim for a first-team berth in the near future.

Leah Williamson is set to make her long-awaited England return after being included in the Lionesses' April squad, at the expense of Maya Le Tissier.

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• Williamson set for first England game in a year
• Defender back after hamstring injury in February
• Le Tissier misses out but Morgan makes cut

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Williamson was called up by Sarina Wiegman for England's February camp, having made her return from a devastating ACL injury the month before, but had to withdraw from the squad due to a slight hamstring issue. Almost a year on from her last Lionesses appearance, she will hope things go a little more smoothly this time around and that she can play a part as Wiegman's side begin their qualifying campaign for the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro with games against Sweden and Ireland.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester United defender Millie Turner was called up when Williamson withdrew in February and made her debut in the win over Italy, after largely being on the fringes of the England team throughout her career. Following some strong recent performances, though, Turner has the rare honour of being included from the off this time around and it is instead her club-mate Le Tissier who makes way for Williamson. Esme Morgan, meanwhile, makes the cut despite not starting a game for Manchester City since November.

• LIONESSES SQUAD IN FULL

  Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Man Utd), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Man City)

  Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Esme Morgan (Man City), Millie Turner (Man Utd), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

  Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham, on loan from Man Utd), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Man City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Man Utd), Keira Walsh (Barcelona)

  Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Man City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

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• WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

  Wiegman said: "There’s no time to waste. February’s window showed who we are and where we want to go and we’ll look to continue that momentum from the minute we arrive at St. George’s Park next week.

  “We know it’s a challenging [qualifying] group, but it’s really exciting. These are all big games that will test us and that’s the kind of fixtures we want to play in. Every opponent we face is a top nation and we know we have to perform at our best to achieve our goals. We’ll be ready for Sweden at Wembley."