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A number of Liverpool supporters having been hailing Dejan Lovren following a tweet in which he mocked Manchester City’s Champions League final defeat.

The Reds’ season may have ended last weekend, but there was still one huge game to complete the 2020/21 campaign on Saturday night. City took on Chelsea in club football’s biggest match, with the Londoners prevailing 1-0 in Porto thanks to Kai Havertz’s first half goal.

It was yet another European failure for Pep Guardiola and his City side, with Liverpool’s increasingly fierce rivals still yet to win the competition despite spending vast sums of money down the years.

Someone who seemed to take an element of delight in City losing was Lovren, who joked on Twitter that their lack of a Croatian player proved costly. The former Liverpool man pointed out that the last nine Champions League winners have all contained at least one player from his homeland, with Mateo Kovacic the latest example.

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Liverpool fans react to Lovren’s tweet

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to revel in Lovren’s tweet, in which he said that City “should buy some Croatian players” [sic] and added “Congratulations Chelsea!”.

“That is actually a brilliant tweet”

Credit: @GagsTandon

“Would have him back at LFC only for this.”

Credit: @thescousefoodie

“My guyyyy”

Credit: @the_2nd_born

“Hahahahaa I love you man!”

Credit: @Nizamkarmal

“Give Deggs some medal!!!!!”

Credit: @im_your_gent

“Ahahahah, you’re amazing @Dejan06Lovren. YNWA”

Credit: @_lottiemilyy

In other news, Liverpool have reportedly confirmed the valuation of one Reds player this summer. Find out who it is here.

The American put up some of the best minutes-per-goal numbers in European soccer, but was limited to mostly substitute appearances

To put it lightly, the last year-and-a-half or so has not been kind to Gio Reyna. It began with a slew of injury issues that derailed his progress. It continued on to a World Cup overshadowed by an unfathomable controversy that included blackmail and betrayal. And then, on Saturday, with a chance to end the season on something of a high, Borussia Dortmund totally threw away the Bundesliga title, with Reyna powerless as his side handed Bayern Munich another trophy.

One one of the lasting images from the draw with Mainz was Reyna clearly shaken after the final whistle. It’s become something of a common sight, a teary Reyna, as unfortunate as that is. For a player that is so naturally talented, nothing has gone right for quite some time.

Which leads us to the future, both immediate and long-term. Reyna will soon join up with the U.S. men’s national team most likely, giving him a chance to distance himself a bit from the disappointment in Dortmund. The German giants will then tour the U.S. this summer, where Reyna will likely be a star attraction in the club’s friendlies.

The Bundesliga season will then begin as Dortmund and Reyna will have to go again in yet another attempt to take down Bayern. And, for Reyna, 2023-24 is his most important season yet.

After several years of setbacks, missteps and disappointments, next season should be the season Reyna finally makes the leap as he begins his age 21 season. And next season should be the season that Dortmund finally unleash Reyna and let him flourish after stifling him for so long.

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  A limited role in a big moment

  Edin Terzic, several times, called on Reyna to be patient. Injuries had slowed his progress and limited his fitness, the Dortmund manager said, and, because of that, Reyna had to be willing to accept a supersub role.

  Accept it he did. He thrived in it, too, coming on several times to swing games in Dortmund’s favor or lock up results with major goal contributions. It was Reyna who nearly single-handedly lifted Dortmund to their title on that last day. With his side needing three goals to win the game, and earn enough points to hold off Bayern, Reyna provided assists for both of the home side's goals.

  Moments after coming on, Reyna swung the game back in Dortmund’s favor, breaking down a Mainz defense that previously looked quite unlikely to be broken down. He found Raphael Guerriero for Dortmund’s opener, bringing much-needed life into Signal Iduna Park. He assisted Dortmund’s second, too, although that one was a bit less dramatic. By the time Niklas Sule scored in stoppage time, Dortmund knew it was all but over. There would be no miracle.

  But it does beg the question: where would Dortmund be if Reyna had been given a little bit more time? And where would Dortmund be if Terzic had just trusted him a bit more than he did down the stretch with the title on the line?

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  Supersub or super mistake?

  Terzic was content to keep Reyna as a supersub, and super he was. In 22 league appearances, Reyna scored seven goals, with five coming off the bench. He also provided two assists off the bench to go with two assists in the Champions League.

  Only four Dortmund players – Julian Brandt, Donyell Malen, Sebastian Haller and Jude Bellingham – scored more goals than Reyna. Haller played the fewest minutes of that quartet with 1,225, with Brandt and Malen, the two leading scorers with nine goals each, played 2,397 and 1,706 minutes, respectively.

  Reyna, meanwhile, played just 625 total minutes. He averaged a goal involvement every 69 minutes. Those are astounding numbers for any player.

  That’s better than Golden Boot winner Christopher Nkunku, who was the only Bundesliga player with more xG per 90 than the American star. Only Erling Haaland had a better minutes-per-goal ratio in Europe’s top five leagues.

  Terzic was careful with Reyna, and, at times, he was right to be. The American does have an injury history and he was dealing with some post-World Cup disappointment. But Dortmund were clearly a better team with Reyna on the field, and their title push would have been better off with the American playing a bigger role.

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  'It was in our hands'

  Over the last six months or so, there have been far too many disappointed statements made on Reyna's social media accounts. The latest, obviously, came after the Mainz draw that doomed Dortmund to second place. "It was in our hands," Reyna began, "and we let something we worked so hard for, slip away."

  That Dortmund did. Both Bayern and Dortmund, numerous times, tried to hand the Bundesliga title to one another, seemingly playing hot potato with the trophy all year long. In the end, it was Dortmund that were burned as they tossed an 11th consecutive title right back to Munich.

  Dortmund and Reyna were, obviously, heartbroken by it all as the club fell short once again, this time in the most heartbreaking fashion yet. "Remember that setbacks are a part of life," Reyna continued, "and even though it may be tough right now, it’s important to keep pushing forward and learn from the experience. Sorry to the fans and city of Dortmund, but we can’t thank you enough for the incredible support shown throughout all the ups and downs."

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  The next step

  Reyna and Dortmund will no doubt already be thinking about going again, about using the 2023-24 season to finally take down Bayern. They'll say that this season was a warning shot, a step forward, even it still ended a step short of where it should have ended.

  For Reyna, though, next year has to be the year, the one where he takes the big leap. It'll be his fifth season with the Dortmund first team and, despite being just 21, it's time for Reyna to shred the young player label and become a star.

  He's seen those around him do it, players like Haaland and Bellingham. While those two have elevated their game into a different stratosphere, Reyna has been forced to watch on, hit by injuries on the bench.

  For Reyna, the time is now. Bellingham is set to leave, the latest starlet that used Dortmund as a launch pad to a life-altering, big-money deal. And, while there will be competition for attacking places, it's time for Reyna to do what his predecessors have done: become elite.

  He'll be motivated to do so, no doubt, after the disappointments for club and country. And, if he looks at his numbers from this past season, he should see confidence lifted by them. He was fantastic nearly every time he was on the field.

  The key for Reyna is to stay on the field, stay healthy, stay active. If he does, he can be Dortmund's next star. If he doesn't, there will be questions about his future and what comes next.

The USWNT won its friendly against Ireland on Saturday, but likely lost a player who would have starred this summer.

It was a match that could have been, and should have been, a vital building block for the U.S. women's national team ahead of this summer's World Cup. The team saw several stars return and a goal from an unexpected regular as it, eventually, battled to a 2-0 win over a World Cup-bound Ireland.

A good win, for sure, but one that will matter little given what else happened in Austin on Saturday afternoon. On a day where the U.S. fine-tuned for the World Cup, it also lost a player the squad has been counting on for this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

Mallory Swanson's devastating knee injury in Saturday's match will be the story of this two-game set, as it leaves the U.S., potentially, without a star. Swanson was far and away the USWNT's most in-form player so far this year, with seven goals in five games entering this two-game set.

Now, though, Swanson's World Cup is in doubt.

There were some positives to be taken from this, for sure, despite the overwhelming negative that looms over it all. Sophia Smith returned, as did Julie Ertz, who could make a late run at a World Cup spot. And then there's Emily Fox, the unlikely goalscorer in the first half, and Lindsey Horan, who sealed the result with a penalty in the second.

GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Austin…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Alyssa Naeher (7/10):

  The USWNT probably didn't expect to rely on Naeher here, but it certainly did, especially in the first half. Naeher made several big stops as Ireland pushed for the opener.

  Crystal Dunn (7/10):

  Strong on the left side, notably teeing up Rodman for a chance early in the second half. The debate will rage on over her best position, but it can't be denied that she is one hell of a left back with this team.

  Becky Sauerbrunn (7/10):

  Solid as always. You know what you're going to get with the 37-year-old veteran.

  Naomi Girma (7/10):

  Two goal-line clearances on a crazy scramble in the first half. Girma has nothing left to prove. She is the present and future of the USWNT.

  Emily Fox (8/10):

  Doesn't score many, but this was a good one. A fantastic finish from the full back, who has grown into one of the most reliable players in a USWNT shirt even when she isn't on the scoresheet.

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  Midfield

  Lindsey Horan (7/10):

  Shook off an early knock to stay in the match. Was solid enough, but nothing spectacular until drawing and, ultimately, converting a penalty in the second half to seal the win.

  Andi Sulivan (7/10):

  A good night for Sullivan, who got the assist on Fox's goal. A solid, physical performance from a player battling for a spot in the starting XI.

  Rose Lavelle (8/10):

  So damn smooth on the ball, Lavelle put in a typically solid performance. Could have had an assist or two, but it wasn't to be.

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  Attack

  Mallory Swanson (6/10):

  Forget the rating as it simply doesn't matter. This was a nightmare day for Swanson, whose World Cup hopes may very well be over after a catastrophic knee injury. That's bad news for the USWNT and even worse news for Swanson, who has been in the form of her life this year. Fans will nervously await test results.

  Alex Morgan (5/10):

  Aside from a goal-line clearance early, it was very, very quiet from Morgan. Nothing to worry about, though. It happens.

  Sophia Smith (6/10):

  Had one absolutely magical sequence down the right that saw her beat three defenders. So smooth on the ball, but nothing too dangerous in her return to the national team.

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  Subs & Manager

  Trinity Rodman (6/10):

  Had several golden chances in the second half, but couldn't quite get them on target. Dangerous as can be, but just lacking that end product.

  Ashley Hatch (6/10):

  Was seconds late to a rebound on her best look of the day. Great hustle and effort, but didn't quite shine and, given the state of the USWNT forward pool, she may be running out of time to do so.

  Emily Sonnett (6/10):

  A few good runs after replacing Dunn, but nothing special.

  Julie Ertz (7/10):

  She's back! In her first game in over 600 days, Ertz looked like her old self. The U.S., even now, is simply a better team with Ertz as the No.6, as crazy as that is after all of this time without here.

  Ashley Sanchez (N/A):

  Replaced Lavelle with just a few minutes left.

  Vlatko Andonovski (6/10):

  Getting closer and closer to figuring out a starting XI, although he'll now have an extra decision to make should Swanson be out for the summer.

Aston Villa are set to face significant transfer competition as they look to sign West Brom star Matheus Pereira.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days and weeks have suggested that Dean Smith’s side are monitoring the 25-year-old ahead of the transfer window opening.

And now, according to French publication, Foot Mercato, Villa will face a battle with fellow Premier League side West Ham in the race to sign Pereira this summer.

The report adds that the two English sides aren’t the only ones interested in the Brazilian however, with clubs from Germany, Italy and France also said to be keeping a close eye on the play-maker.

Lange must act now

Hailed as a “genius” who “who has a technical ability that I have never seen before” by former Nurnberg coach Nate Weiss, Pereira was one of West Brom’s best players last season in the Premier League.

He scored 11 goals and provided a further six assists in the top-flight alone, and did his absolute best in recent weeks to perform an improbable rescue act for his side – in fact, his last eight games in the competition saw him score six times and set up another three as well.

After a sparkling performance earlier this year, Match of the Day pundit Jermain Jenas said of the £17m-rated gem: “He’s just silky. When he’s on it, he’s just got that lovely left-foot, (tucked) his penalty away, the delivery into the box for set-pieces was brilliant, and he wanted to showcase his skills.”

It’s no surprise then that Smith is keen on bringing him to Villa Park, and it’s exactly why Johan Lange appears to be risking the manager’s wrath by potentially letting West Ham steal a march and swoop in.

Given how Villa performed last season, Smith will be keen to ensure his new signings are made as soon as possible so as to help integrate them into pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.

Just dawdling and letting other clubs, and that too a Premier League rival when it comes to a European place next season, would be an absolute nightmare.

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Not only would it have Smith fuming, but it would also make the club’s fans livid too. These Villa fans have already made clear just this month how much they want Pereira to be signed and letting him slip through their fingers into the Hammers’ hands, would have them up in arms.

Meanwhile, Villa are heading for another major Charles N’Zogbia disaster…

NXGN has selected the best American players born on or after January 1, 2004 – but will they go on to fulfill their potential in the coming years?

The U.S. men's national team was the second-youngest team at the 2022 World Cup but, somehow, that may only be the tip of the iceberg. Youth development has been taken to a whole new level in the U.S. after years of playing catch-up with the rest of the world.

And after decades of laying the foundation for a true soccer culture, the process is starting to bear fruit as academies have churned out a conveyor belt of young talent.

Players like Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna have all been named to NXGN lists in the past before becoming USMNT superstars. Names like Ricardo Pepi and Gaga Slonina have too as they await their big breaks on the international stage. And who knows who's up next? At this point, it's hard to keep track of all of the Americans capable of making the leap to stardom.

Although there aren't any Americans on the 2023 NXGN Nine list of world football's most talented teenagers, there are plenty that could be fighting for such an honor in the years to come.

With all that in mind, check out the USMNT's NXGN Nine for 2023…

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  Matai Akinmboni (D.C. United)

  You have to be doing something right to be earning praise from Wayne Rooney at just 15 years old…

  That's exactly what happened for Akinmboni when he made his debut last season for D.C. United, becoming the third-youngest player to ever feature in an MLS match.

  “He’s 15 and I have to protect him. But I just felt he was ready to come in and play," Rooney said after handing Akinmboni his debut. "Is he going to play every game? Of course not. He’s still a very young boy. But for him and for us to see him playing in an away game in difficult circumstances and performing the way he did as a 15-year-old – he’s got a very bright future."

  The now-16-year-old central defender has featured four times in total for D.C., having trained with Bayern Munich prior to signing on with his local club. His stint at Bayern likely came about due to his uncle, former Bayern and Ghana star Sammy Kuffour, but it's clear that there's plenty of talent there.

  Akinmboni, who was born in Maryland, has played for the U.S. at the Under-17 level, but is still eligible to play for Nigeria or Ghana.

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  Keyrol Figueroa (Liverpool)

  The son of a Honduran legend, Figueroa is already making waves in the U.S. and in Europe.

  His father, Maynor, played for Wigan and Hull in England before ending his career in MLS, but Figueroa doesn't look set to follow in his footsteps with Honduras. While Maynor earned 181 caps and legendary status with the Honduran team, his son is a regular with the U.S. U17s, and he looks set to stay with the U.S. long-term.

  At club level, Figueroa is already making waves in the Liverpool academy after arriving at the club as an U14 player. A pacey striker, Figueroa is a much different player than his dad, who made his name as a reliable defender for years.

  He's just 16 now and is playing for Liverpool's U18s as he looks to follow in his father's footsteps by making it in England and, ultimately, at international level.

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  Kobi Henry (Reims)

  USMNT fans are constantly keeping an eye on one starlet at Reims, Folarin Balogun, but he may not be the only American-eligible starlet at the French side worth looking out for.

  Henry joined the club in June 2022, becoming one of several USL starlets to make the leap to Europe. He had broken through with Orange County SC in the years prior and even earned his first USMNT call-up in December 2021 at the age of 17.

  Primarily, though, he's featured for the youth teams, playing at U17, U19 and U20 level. Still, that 2021 USMNT call-up was a sign that those at U.S. Soccer are high on him as he matures as a central defender.

  Henry hasn't yet made his first team debut for Reims, featuring exclusively for the club's reserve team.

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  Cruz Medina (San Jose Earthquakes)

  Medina looks to be the first player to truly emerge from MLS' new developmental pathway, MLS Next Pro.

  The San Jose Earthquakes midfielder featured heavily in the new competition in its 2022 debut season, and it's been all up from there. He signed his first professional contract with the Earthquakes last June, having already completed a training stint with Bayern Munich a few months prior.

  Internationally, Medina has absolutely dazzled with the U.S. U17s. He scored against Argentina and Portugal in 2022 and was then dominant during the U.S. team's run through the CONCACAF U17 Championships.

  Up next will be his MLS debut, and there are few better coaches to play under than Luchi Gonzalez, who is renowned for his ability to develop talent.

  Medina is one of his big projects in San Jose as the Quakes look to nurture a midfielder that has the talent to reach the top.

The England attacker was the star of the show once again as the Red Devils overpowered the Toffees at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford has done it again!

The 25-year-old forward was the hero for Manchester United, powering them to a 3-1 victory against Everton in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford on Friday evening.

The England international ensured a positive start for his team as he exposed Ben Godfrey on the wing before sending a dangerous ball towards the back post for Antony to slide in the opening goal.

It was his good footwork that resulted in United's lead being restored, too. He sent the ball into the box early in the second half to catch Everton goal scorer Conor Coady off guard, resulting in an own goal from the defender.

Everton thought they had pulled level once again through Dominic Calvert-Lewin but VAR put an end to their celebrations. Rashford, as the architect of all of United's good work, then put an end to any of the Toffees' hopes of getting a draw when he finally got the goal he deserved, converting a late penalty to put the game beyond doubt.

United are now on a seven game winning run and Rashford has been pivotal to that, having scored in each of his last five matches for the club.

Below, GOAL takes a look at the winner and losers from an entertaining cup tie at Old Trafford.

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  The Winners

  Marcus Rashford:

  Rashford's renaissance continues! The England international maintained his excellent form with another strong performance. He made easy work of Ben Godfrey down the left side to set up his team's opening goal. He was a danger throughout the match and his fancy footwork and dangerous ball in created United's second. To cap off a near-perfect night, Rashford made international teammate Pickford look silly, waiting for the Everton 'keeper to move before rolling his penalty into the opposite corner.

  Demarai Gray:

  He was Everton's brightest player throughout the game and the man most capable of causing a threat for the visitors. That was summed up quite well when he charged forward and blasted the ball in off of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The goal would have been just reward but sadly for the Toffees it was ruled out because he was marginally offside in the build up. If his side are to pull away from the relegation zone Gray is going to need to produce a few more performances like this one.

  Alejandro Garnacho:

  United's rising star came off the bench and made an impact as his burst into the Everton box ended with him being brought down and earning a penalty for his side. The youngster is making a case to be given more playing time at United and after Antony and Anthony Martial both underwhelmed once again, it may be time for Erik ten Hag to give him a proper run in the starting XI.

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  The Losers

  David de Gea:

  The goalkeeper gifted Everton their equaliser with a calamitous moment. As the ball was whipped in, De Gea stood up against his post and let it slip through his legs which allowed Conor Coady to rush in and knock it over the line. Much like his compatriot Kepa Arrizabalaga's error against Man City the previous night, it really was impossible to decipher what on earth he was thinking. At least it didn't cost his side in the end…

  Anthony Martial:

  A quiet and fruitless performance from the French striker as he often seemed out of sync with the rest of the United attack. Martial took too many touches on the ball and needed more time and space than any defence will afford him, making it far too easy to keep him quiet at Old Trafford on Friday. He needs to find form soon or he'll find himself slipping back down the pecking order.

  Alex Iwobi:

  The Nigeria international was stretchered off with a nasty looking injury following a challenge from Tyrell Malacia. Iwobi has been one of Everton's best players so far this season and he and coach Frank Lampard will be hoping for good news as a long-term absence would deal a huge blow to their hopes of crawling away from the Premier League's bottom three.

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  Manchester United Ratings: Defence

  David de Gea (4/10):

  He was hardly kept busy in this game but he completely buckled the one time United needed him to be alert.

  Diogo Dalot (7/10):

  The Portugal international was constantly available on the overlap for Antony but the Brazilian hardly ever used the option. Made a vital clearance to preserve United's lead.

  Raphael Varane (7/10):

  Looked strong at the back once again and comfortable on the ball but was hardly put under pressure defensively.

  Luke Shaw (6/10):

  Once again used at centre-back and looked comfortable alongside Varane. Harry Maguire will feel his time in the starting XI may well and truly be over with Shaw's resurgence.

  Tyrell Malacia (5/10):

  Made some wild challenges in this match and left a bit of a gap in the defence at times.

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  Midfield

  Casemiro (7/10):

  A solid performance from the 30-year-old. He is always there to clean up in front of the back four and is such a calming presence for the Red Devils. They missed him after he was taken off and replaced by Fred.

  Christian Eriksen (6/10):

  Had a dangerous shot in the first half and was comfortable on the ball with his neat passing which helped set the pace in midfield and also carved out a few chances for his side.

  Bruno Fernandes (5/10):

  Not the best performance from the Portugal star. He opted for some fancy flicks when United needed him to keep it simple and he hardly had a huge impact on the game.

Rumoured Leeds United target Matthew Sorinola has rejected a new deal at MK Dons, acting as a potential boost to the Whites.

The Lowdown: Sorinola impresses for MK Dons

The 20-year-old has shone for the League One club this season, making 23 starts in the league and enjoying a total of 40 appearances, in all competitions. Manager Russell Martin has hailed him as ‘excellent’ in the past, clearly rating him highly to utilise him so often at such a young age.

Sorinola has chipped in with one League One goal and four assists from left-back, with his performances leading to interest from a number of clubs.

The Latest: Sorinola rejects new contract

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of the sides keen on acquiring the youngster’s signature this summer, perhaps partly due to Ezgjan Alioski being expected to leave Elland Road.

Chelsea, Bournemouth and Norwich City are also mentioned in the report, as are Scottish Premiership heavyweights Rangers and Celtic, with the youngster allegedly deciding to quit Milton Keynes this summer as his ‘future lies elsewhere’.

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The Verdict: Rival for Leif Davis?

Despite Sorinola’s quality, it would be a huge surprise if Marcelo Bielsa was targeting him as a regular next season, given his lack of experience.

A more established replacement for Alioski needs to come in, but the MK Dons man could rival Leif Davis for the backup spot, looking to prove they could be the long-term first-choice in the role.

The fact that the report states that Sorinola wants regular playing time suggests Leeds may want to avoid a move, however, allowing Davis and someone like Nicolas Tagliafico to dovetail with one another instead.

Another alternative could be to sign him and loan him back to a club lower down the English football ladder, so this feels like one to just keep an eye on for now.

In other news, one Leeds player has been tipped to leave the club this summer. Find out who it is here.

After being left out of the line up by Erik ten Hag for disciplinary reasons, the England forward came off the bench to score the winner at Molineux

Manchester United are into the top four of the Premier League table, but they needed Marcus Rashford to save them from a disappointing draw against Wolves as the forward stepped up from the bench to seal a 1-0 win at Molineux.

Erik ten Hag revealed before kick-off that in-form Rashford had been left out for "internal disciplinary reasons", but with United struggling to break down their relegation-threatened hosts, the Dutch coach turned to the England international at half-time.

Rashford came up trumps, scoring one while having another ruled out for handball by VAR as he proved the difference on a day when United's other attackers put in displays to forget.

But who were the biggest winners and losers from Saturday's game? GOAL breaks it down…

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  The Winners

  Marcus Rashford:

  All the talk ahead of kick-off at Molineux centred on Rashford following Erik ten Hag's decision to drop the forward due to disciplinary reasons, and now all the talk after the game will focus on the England international, too. Brought on at half-time to give United the spark that they had been missing without him, Rashford stepped up as the game entered its closing stages, trading passes with Bruno Fernandes before driving into the box and firing past Jose Sa for his third goal in as many games since the World Cup. As long as he maintains his discipline, Rashford is undroppable right now.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka:

  Heading into the January transfer window, it felt almost certain that Wan-Bissaka would be moved on by United this winter, but the waters have now been muddied somewhat. With Diogo Dalot having returned from the World Cup with an injury, Wan-Bissaka has been thrust back into the line-up and has barely put a foot wrong. Against Wolves, he looked to get forward and combine with Antony at every opportunity, while in defence he was excellent, with one superb block in the first half ensuring the teams went in level at the break. United could still let the ex-Crystal Palace man go in January, but they may be forced to think about it slightly more than they would have done a week or so ago.

  David de Gea:

  There was speculation leading into the Premier League's return that Ten Hag was ready to move on from De Gea in the coming months, hence him not being handed the same contract extension that others whose deals end next season got in December. And while there remain doubts over what he can do with the ball at his feet, he showed here that he remains one of the finest shot-stoppers in the Premier League when called upon. De Gea did not have much to do, but stepped up twice in the second half, first to keep out a fizzing Ruben Neves free-kick before palming away Raul Jimenez's close-range header in stoppage time, to move himself up into second in the list of most clean sheets for a United goalkeeper. Only Peter Schmeichel now stands above him.

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  The Losers

  Man Utd's long-serving centre-backs:

  When Luke Shaw was named as Raphael Varane's centre-back partner against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, illness was cited as the reason for Harry Maguire only being a substitute and Victor Lindelof not being in the squad. But four days on, and Shaw was again at the heart of the United backline at Molineux, with both Maguire and Lindelof named on the bench. This was the clearest sign since Erik ten Hag took over that the usual starting centre-back duo from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign are now well down the pecking order, with the Dutch coach clearly more comfortable playing a left-back in the middle than he is two naturals in the position. It would not be a surprise if both Maguire and Lindelof were now moved on in the next six months or so.

  United's forward line:

  While Rashford came off the bench to be United's hero, the three players that started in attack had afternoons to forget. Alejandro Garnacho was perhaps a little unlucky to be sacrificed for Rashford at half-time, but the teenager did miss a big chance to break the deadlock after being put in on goal by a poor Nelson Semedo back-pass. Anthony Martial and Antony were, however, both very poor, and can be thankful to Rashford for digging them out of a hole. Both should have scored with their heads in the first half, with Martial cutting a particularly frustrated figure as he dropped deep to try to get involved in the game. Antony, meanwhile, continues to flatter to deceive, and though Ten Hag clearly trusts the player who shone so brightly for him at Ajax, there will soon be questions asked as to whether he deserves his place in the side if performances don't improve.

  Diego Costa:

  Costa is yet to score in a Wolves shirt, and if Saturday's performance is anything to go by, it will be a while before he finds the net in the Premier League again. The ex-Chelsea man was bullied by Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw before being replaced by Julen Lopetegui at half-time, and Costa spent the second 45 minutes sat in the stands alongside new signing Matheus Cunha. It would be a shock if Cunha is not brought straight into the line-up to replace Costa when Wolves take on Aston Villa in their next game on Wednesday.

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  Man Utd Ratings: Defence

  David de Gea (7/10):

  Barely tested but made fine saves when called upon to keep out a Neves free-kick and Jimenez's late bullet header.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (7/10):

  Worked tirelessly up and down the right-hand side and made a key first-half block to further highlight his defensive strengths.

  Raphael Varane (8/10):

  Imperious at the back, winning countless headers and making plenty of key blocks.

  Luke Shaw (7/10):

  Again looked comfortable at centre-back, proving Ten Hag right for sticking with him over Maguire and Lindelof.

  Tyrell Malacia (7/10):

  Did well defensively and provided good thrust down the United left when joining in the attack.

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  Midfield

  Casemiro (6/10):

  Solid again at the heart of the United midfield. Has mastered the art of the tactical foul and showed plenty of nous when Wolves looked to attack.

  Christian Eriksen (6/10):

  Dictated the tempo with his passing and provided dangerous deliveries from set-pieces, but couldn't find the spark before being replaced on the hour.

  Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

  A mixed showing from the No.8, as he mixed in overhit passes and wayward shots with some neat touches, the most important of which was the assist for Rashford's winner.

Many Everton fans have been buzzing over a transfer update on Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

As per The Mirror, the Goodison Park club are considering a move for the Fulham midfielder, of whom Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly a big admirer.

He is believed to cost around £25m with two years left on his current deal at Craven Cottage and may seek a move back up to the Premier League if Scott Parker’s team find themselves relegated at the end of the season.

The Cameroon international could well be an upgrade on Everton’s current options in the middle of the park, as he has averaged more interceptions (1.5), shots (0.8) and dribbles (2.7) per game in the top flight than Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan and Andre Gomes so far this season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/https-www-footballtransfertavern-com-everton-fc-transfer-rumours-sergio-aguero-manchester-city-premier-league/” title=”Everton updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Everton fans on Anguissa transfer update

These Toffees were buzzing as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one Everton supporter describing the 25-year-old as ‘class’:

“Would be a decent addition. 100x better than Gomes”

Credit: @bluesofgoodison

“Consider yourself, part of the family!”

Credit: @Pudefc7

“Reckon he’s class me”

Credit: @bobadiIIa

“Exactly what we need, get it done”

Credit: @dannymonnox

“Yes yes yes”

Credit: @EFCMichael7

“I beg”
Credit: @adamsg1878

In other news, this early team news ahead of the West Ham game has left some Everton fans fuming.

Big teams, big names, brilliant shirts.

The Champions League is back and that means an orgy of goals and apparel. The history of the tournament is littered with some seriously sensational kits, so as each club begins their long march to potential victory, we compiled a list of the 10 best Champions League winning shirts. After all, it’s not the winning that counts, it’s looking really good while you do it. 

And if you're looking for a ranking of every Champions League kit for the 22-23 season, you can do that here.

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  Aston Villa 1981-82

  For one of Aston Villa’s most memorable moments, the club was forced to change from its classic claret and blue. In its place, they wore a white shirt that nodded to the usual colours with a claret pinstripe. It was all finished off with a central badge, making it a fitting winner for the tournament 40 years ago.

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  PSV Eindhoven 1987-88

  PSV also departed from their traditional colours for their first, and so far only, Champions League triumph. Eschewing their red and white stripes so that Benfica could wear their all-red home strip, the Eindhoven team instead wore white shirts with a light blue trim, contrasting nicely with the red detailing. 

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  Barcelona 1991-92

  The 1992 Champions League final marked the end of Barcelona’s relationship with cult local brand Meyba, who had produced their kits for 10 years. Barcelona’s final game in a Meyba shirt saw them sport a bright orange design finished off with red and blue sections. A fitting colour for Ronald Koeman to lash home an extra time winner.

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  Marseille 1992-93

  Marseille’s early ‘90s kits have long been an object of desire for collectors, and their Champions League winner was one of the best. The white shirt was finished with adidas’ three stripes in light blue, wrapping round and appearing on the right shoulder and left shorts. Panasonic’s sponsor logo and the Marseille crest also arrived in the same light blue tone.