All posts by h716a5.icu

Let’s make no mistake about it: Liverpool were outfought and outthought against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. That’s four Premier League defeats in a row for Arne Slot’s side, and the crisis has very much deepened.

Will it get worse? Here is a team so well equipped for the trials and tribulations of the campaign, having won the Premier League at a canter last year and only improving, ostensibly, across the summer transfer window.

But this has not been the case. Barring Hugo Ekitike, practically all of Liverpool’s summer additions have fallen by the wayside under Slot’s wing. However, the likes of Mohamed Salah have failed to lead by example.

Salah did score late on, a fine goal after being dropped in midweek. But it was too little too late, with so many Redman flattering to deceive.

Liverpool's worst performers vs Brentford

Salah has been among the most heavily criticised Liverpool players this season. And the rebuke has been justifiable. But the 33-year-old returned to goalscoring form and will now build on that.

However, Florian Wirtz still leaves so much to be desired in the Premier League. The £116m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen racked up two assists on Wednesday evening against Eintracht Frankfurt, but he still looks a shadow of the world-class prospect under Xabi Alonso’s wing in Germany.

He just doesn’t look right in his playmaking berth. Mismanaged and misutilised? Certainly so. However, Wirtz has been abject in the Premier League and he squandered a glorious chance to break his duck in west London.

Milos Kerkez might be the pick of a bad bunch. Signed from Bournemouth for £45m in July, the 21-year-old has been woeful all season, unable to demonstrate any of the athletic qualities that earned him such esteem last year.

There’s another senior star who has been inexcusably bad of late, and he is threatening to become the club’s new version of Jordan Henderson.

Liverpool's new version of Jordan Henderson

For so many years, Virgil van Dijk has been an indomitable force in defence for Liverpool. But he’s the captain, and he’s on a sinking ship right now.

Questionable decision-making and bereft of confidence, the Dutchman is in danger of becoming the next Henderson, who led Liverpool to so much glory in his time but ended his time at Anfield with a whimper.

Henderson, 35, was part of the Brentford side who defeated Slot’s team on Saturday, and he showcased his leadership and experience to steer his side to a priceless win. Van Dijk was the polar opposite as he failed to manage his troops.

The Liverpool Echo gave the skipper a 5/10 match rating, but in truth, that’s almost generous. Van Dijk has not even a semblance of coherence on the left side with the struggling Milos Kerkez, and Liverpool are altogether spinning out of control, with their most experienced and unflappable defender at the epicentre.

Stats

#

Minutes played

90′

Goals conceded

3

Penalties conceded

1

Touches

95

Accurate passes

69/76 (91%)

Chances created

1

Tackles won

1/2

Recoveries

3

Interceptions

0

Clearances

14

Ground duels won

3/4

Aerial duels won

7/9

You might say Van Dijk was unlucky to have conceded a soft, and ultimately damning, penalty on the hour mark, swinging his leg out to meet Dango Ouattara’s own and falling victim to a tight VAR call.

But then you might also point toward the longer stretch of dismal form from the esteemed Dutchman, who, aged 34, will start facing questions over whether he has lost something crucial to his game, and whether that special something is now irretrievable.

This is what happened to Henderson during those final days. Sold to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, the England international was among the biggest scapegoats as Liverpool toiled throughout 2022/23, missing out on Champions League qualification. Might history be repeating itself here?

Perhaps most concerning of all is the sense that Liverpool need to spend big money on new defenders, having just emerged from a record-breaking summer transfer window with a wealth of elite recruits and having smashed the British transfer record not once but twice.

Liverpool are being consistently outplayed in the Premier League. Slot needs to change things fast, else this calamitous situation will devolve into something far graver for the Dutch tactician.

Worse than Van Dijk & Konate: Liverpool must instantly drop 4/10 flop

Liverpool slumped to a fourth successive defeat in the Premier League.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 26, 2025

Free agent slugger Juan Soto's market is heating up quickly, as expected, with the star slugger the prize of the market this offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Soto is set to begin with prospective teams this week in California. The Toronto Blue Jays will get the first meeting with Soto, followed by the Boston Red Sox. After that, the two prohibitive favorites, the New York Mets and New York Yankees will get a chance for Soto to hear their pitch.

The Yankees would certainly love to have him back impacting the middle of their batting order. The 26-year-old Soto hit .288 this season for the Bronx Bombers, with 41 home runs and 109 RBI in 576 at-bats.

Soto is also in historic company as he enters his prime. As Passan noted, Soto is eighth all-time in OPS+ among players with 3,000 or more plate appearances through their age-25 season. His OPS+ of 160 trails only Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Jimmie Foxx, Albert Pujols, Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby. That is certainly good Hall of Fame company to be in.

Soto will likely command the longest contract in MLB history due to his age and talent. Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres currently holds that record for contract length with his 14-year, $340 million contract. Soto's deal could break the record for contract length, and is expected to exceed $600 million in guaranteed money.

Carlo Ancelotti has called out Vinicius Jr for his angry reaction after being substituted by Xabi Alonso during Real Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico win over Barcelona, describing the forward’s behaviour as “a mistake”. The Brazil boss revealed that he has since spoken directly with the 25-year-old, confirming the issue is now resolved as both player and coach look ahead to next month’s international fixtures.

Vinicius' outrage towards Alonso after El Clasico sub

Real Madrid may have celebrated victory in El Casico on October 26, but the post-match discussion was dominated by Vinicius' frustrated reaction to being substituted in the second half. The Brazilian winger, replaced by Arda Guler in the 72nd minute, appeared visibly irritated and went straight down the tunnel rather than joining his teammates on the bench, and his actions sparked immediate controversy.

In the hours after the match, Vinicius took to social media to issue a public apology, acknowledging that his emotions got the better of him. The apology helped calm tensions inside the Real Madrid camp, with reports confirming that he had also spoken privately to Alonso to clear the air. Despite the brief drama, club insiders emphasised that there was no lasting rift between player and manager.

The incident came at a delicate moment in Real Madrid’s season, with Alonso’s team fighting to maintain their lead in La Liga and navigating a tight Champions League schedule. While the 2-1 win over Barcelona reinforced Madrid’s credentials, the outburst briefly threatened to overshadow what had otherwise been a statement performance. However, both the player’s apology and Alonso’s composed handling of the matter ensured that tensions did not escalate further.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAncelotti personally told Vinicius 'he made a mistake'

When unveiling Brazil’s squad for their upcoming November friendlies, Selecao boss Ancelotti was asked to comment on the situation, and did not hold back. “We have a very good relationship with Vinicius. When something happens, we make sure to talk about it,” Ancelotti said. “I spoke with Vinicius about the issue, about his reaction. I told him what I thought — that he made a mistake. He apologised, and it’s a resolved matter. He’s a very important player.

The veteran manager, who previously coached Vinicius at Real Madrid, also made clear that his relationship with the forward remains professional and focused. “He doesn’t have a problem here or in his club, or with his coach [Alonso]. As for his personal life, it’s his — I’m not his father nor his brother, I’m just his coach,” Ancelotti clarified.

Getty ImagesVinicius and Alonso have already cleared the air after drama

Vinicius Jr’s fiery temperament has long been both his greatest strength and a recurring source of controversy, as his competitive drive occasionally boils over in high-pressure moments. In this case, his frustration stemmed not from a personal issue with Alonso but from dissatisfaction with his own performance and desire to stay on the pitch.

Ancelotti’s intervention was significant given his longstanding influence on Vinicius’ development. It was under the Italian’s management at Real Madrid that the Brazilian evolved from a raw, inconsistent talent into one of the world’s best forwards, leading the club to Champions League and La Liga titles.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesVinicius crucial to Brazil's 2026 WC plans

Despite the short-lived drama, Vinicius remains central to both Real Madrid and Brazil’s plans heading into a crucial phase of fixtures. Ancelotti included the 23-year-old in his latest squad for the November friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, with the matches set to take place at London’s Emirates Stadium and Lille’s Decathlon Arena, respectively. Alongside teammates Rodrygo and Eder Militao, Vinicius will be expected to lead the attack as Brazil continue fine-tuning their system under Ancelotti’s leadership.

The upcoming games also offer Vinicius an opportunity to shift focus back to his on-field performances after a turbulent few days. Brazil are seeking to bounce back from their shock 3-2 defeat to Japan in October, and Ancelotti will be counting on his Real Madrid contingent to provide both quality and stability.

For Real Madrid, the matter now appears closed. Alonso has already accepted Vinicius’ apology, and the player has also started Los Blancos' clash with Valencia on the weekend, and will do so again at Anfield against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Atlanta Braves just got more bad injury news.

After the Braves secured their spot in the postseason by winning the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday, they got some deflating information. Ace starter Chris Sale is unlikely to pitch in Atlanta's wild card series against the San Diego Padres.

Sale was in line to start the second game of the doubleheader after the Braves lost the first 8–7. He experienced back spasms and was scratched shortly before the game and was replaced by Grant Holmes. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker isn't planning to have his best starter any time soon.

After the game, Snitker said he does not expect to have Sale for any of the three potential games against the Padres.

Sale is the runaway favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award after compiling an outstanding season. The 35-year-old lefty finished the 2024 campaign with an 18–3 record, an NL-best 2.38 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings.

The Braves have been beset by injuries this season. Star righty Spencer Strider missed most of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery while reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and All-Star third baseman Austin Riley are also out for the season.

Atlanta's rotation is in flux as the team heads West to take on the Padres.

Worcestershire hit back with two late wickets on rain-truncated day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Hampshire 146 for 2 (Middleton 79, Weatherley 62) vs Worcestershire Worcestershire struck two late blows after Hampshire’s batters had laid a solid foundation on a truncated first day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Hampshire, in search of their first championship victory since mid-May, closed on 146 for two having reached 127 without loss before losing openers Fletcha Middleton (79, 101 balls) and Joe Weatherley (62, 130) in a late burst of play in poor light.They were blows badly needed by Worcestershire, bottom of Division One and desperate for a win to sustain their slender hopes of survival.After a wet outfield prevented play before lunch, the home side chose to bowl in conditions still damp from morning rain, but the assistance for the seamers they hoped for did not materialise. Pakistan pace spearhead Khurram Shahzad was expensive as Weatherley and Middleton put 50 on the board by the 14th over.The Winchester-born openers, perhaps inspired by the adjacence of a cathedral, were little troubled by a Worcestershire attack bruised by last week’s heartbreaking defeat to neighbours Warwickshire. Having dominated the first half of the match at Edgbaston, the Pears suffered a devastating defeat as Warwickshire chased down 393 on the last day.Back on home turf, the Worcestershire attack, with Matthew Waite returning from paternity leave in place of Sussex loanee Bertie Foreman, again toiled. Middleton hurried to his half-century from 51 balls and Weatherley followed to his from 103.The openers were looking forward to a productive evening session only for the rain to return during the tea interval and prevent play until a late resumption at 6pm. Hampshire’s openers ventured back out with little to gain and everything to lose – and the home side took advantage of the murky, moist conditions. Middleton edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, who took a superb catch in front of first slip, and Weatherly edged Ben Allison to Ethan Brookes at second slip.The wickets were an unwelcome postscript to a hitherto excellent day for Hampshire but they have still set down a solid platform from which to push for a victory that would lift them away from the relegation zone – and pretty much sentence Worcestershire to end the season in it.

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message of support to his Portugal team-mates ahead of their meeting with Armenia. The Selecao currently top Group F ahead of the final round of World Cup qualification games but defeat to Ireland on Thursday means they need to win to book their trip stateside next summer. And ahead of the game, Ronaldo took to Instagram to throw his backing behind the national team.

Ronaldo suspended for Armenia clash after red card

Ronaldo was sent home from the Portugal national team over the weekend ahead of their game against Armenia. The 40-year-old was shown his marching orders in the Selecao's 2-0 loss to Ireland last week as a Troy Parrott brace confirmed a huge win for the Boys In Green on Thursday.

The Portugal captain endured a frustrating evening at the Aviva Stadium last week having been sent off on the hour mark for an elbow on defender Dara O'Shea, marking the Al-Nassr striker's first ever dismissal on the international stage. Ronaldo is suspended for today's game against Armenia, and with straight red cards on the international stage resulting in a two-game ban, he would miss Portugal's World Cup 2026 opener should they avoid the play-offs.

Ronaldo was sent off despite insisting before the Ireland defeat that he'd be a 'good boy' upon his return to the country, stating: "I really like the fans here. The support they give to their national team is lovely.

"For me, it's a pleasure to play here again, I hope they don't boo me too much tomorrow – I swear that I'm going to try to be a good boy."

AdvertisementRonaldo's Instagram post to colleagues

Ronaldo will be watching the game from home, but voiced his support for the national team with an Instagram post on Sunday morning. "Go team! All together today and forever! For Portugal and for our flag!" the message read on his official social media account.

In Ronaldo's absence, Goncalo Ramos is expected to lead the line for Portugal against Armenia. The PSG striker has played as Ronaldo's deputy throughout qualifying, featuring off the bench in all five Selecao games.

The 24-year-old is yet to score in qualification but will fancy his chances of getting on the scoresheet in Porto when Portugal face off against Armenia. The Havakakan have lost four of five group games to date, including a 5-0 loss to today's opponents back in September, and have conceded 10 goals in total in the process.

AFPKey man returns for Portugal for Armenia clash

While Roberto Martinez is unable to call upon Ronaldo, the Portugal boss welcomes back another key attacker, who sat out the 2-0 loss to Ireland due to a ban of his own. Bruno Fernandes missed the defeat due to suspension but is expected to return to the starting XI for the meeting with Armenia.

Martinez is expected to go with a strong XI despite the calibre of opposition on Sunday afternoon. Portugal may sit top of the Group F in World Cup qualifying but their lead has been cut to just two points following a 2-2 draw with Hungary last month and Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Ireland.

Ireland take on Hungary in the other Group F tie, with the pair split by just a single point heading into matchday six. Back-to-back wins over Armenia and Portugal has seen Ireland force their way back into playoff contention but they need to win today in order to leapfrog Hungary into second.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Ronaldo set to return to action with Al-Nassr

For Ronaldo, he'll hope to quickly move on from Thursday's dismissal when club side Al-Nassr face Al-Khaleej next weekend. Jorge Jesus has overseen a 100% start to the Saudi Pro League season, winning all eight of their opening matches.

Ronaldo has been a star player for Al-Nassr this season, scoring nine times in the Saudi Pro League. Only compatriot Joao Felix has scored more goals than the legendary striker this season, the former Chelsea man having struck 10 times.

Upcoming opponents Al-Khaleej, meanwhile, sit sixth in the table and have won two of their four away league matches this season. 

Manchester City are said to be preparing for Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior, but rivals Manchester United are also among the clubs battling to sign him from the Spanish giants.

The Brazilian is one of the best wingers in world football currently, becoming a superstar at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti heaping praise on him during their time working together.

“Right now, I think he is the most decisive player in the world. Everything he does is a dribble away from a defender, an assist or a goal, and he does it for the full 90 minutes – he just never stops.”

His current situation at Madrid isn’t necessarily the happiest, however, and journalist Guillem Balague has explained why there is some friction with Xabi Alonso.

“The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Xabi Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.”

Man City preparing offer for Vinicius

Now, a report from Spain claims that Manchester City are preparing a bid for Vinicius, with Premier League rivals United and Chelsea also in the mix to sign him.

There is apparently “no apparent intention to renew” his current contract, with Pep Guardiola’s side waiting to pounce and complete a stunning piece of business. He reportedly “doesn’t feel valued as he expected” at the Bernabeu, leading to “mounting tensions” emerging.

It goes without saying that the idea of Vinicius in a City shirt is an incredible prospect, given his status as one of the best footballers on the planet.

The 25-year-old possesses remarkable natural talent and skill, but most importantly, he backs that up with strong end product, bagging 64 goals and 44 assists in 217 appearances for Madrid.

Vinicius has also netted eight times for Brazil, and will likely be one of the star attractions at next summer’s World Cup, with former England international Owen Hargreaves lauding him last year.

“His finishing is crazy. His decision-making in front of goal is amazing. He looked very angry in the second half. I don’t know what Carlo [Ancelotti] said to him, but if he plays like that, he’s definitely unstoppable. We saw those clips there – four or five bodies around him, and they can’t even deal with him.”

Erling Haaland's Man City "escape route" as striker's opinion about Real Madrid shared

This would be a disaster.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 1, 2025

If City were able to pair Vinicius with Haaland in their attack, it would make for stunning viewing, and he has the ability to be a future Etihad great if a move does materialise.

Pep can make Haaland even better by unleashing Man City's "proper maverick"

Juan Soto made sports history this offseason, signing a record 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, a contract that has clauses that could push the deal to $805 million.

According to Soto, it wasn't even the biggest contract offer he received this offseason.

Appearing on the Spanish-language with Dominican reporters Vian Araujo Puello and Ricardo Rodríguez, Soto confirmed that his negotiations came down to five teams: the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and the Mets.

“The Mets weren’t the ones who offered the most money,” Soto said, according to NJ.com. “There were teams that offered more than the Mets.”

The Instagram teaser for the interview ends after Rodríguez asks whether Soto would be willing to name those teams. The full podcast is set to be released on Sunday.

The Yankees, for whom Soto played last season, reportedly offered Soto $760 million over 16 years. Soto has said that it was not a purely financial decision to choose the Mets over a return to the Bronx, however, saying in the podcast clip that it was a "collective decision," echoing his explanation from his December introductory press conference.

"The Mets is a great organization," Soto said after signing with New York. "What they have done in the past couple years showing all of the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try to grow a dynasty is one of the most important things. What you were seeing from the other side was unbelievable."

It might go against everything you’d expect to see from a right wing-back, although the decision to deploy Amad in that role is currently working wonders for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, with the Ivorian striking up a devastating partnership with Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks.

The presence of two left-footers both seeking to cut inside had caused problems in the early knockings of the campaign, not least when they collided in the area in the opening day defeat to Arsenal, with doubts creeping in over whether the duo were simply too similar to thrive together in tandem.

Since the win over Sunderland, however, in which the pair showed shades of Yorke and Cole with their interchanges, this right-wing pairing has simply taken off, with the two men combining at Anfield and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For all the question marks over Amad’s defensive prowess, having been caught out for Morgan Gibbs-White’s header at the City Ground, the 23-year-old is certainly making up for those shortcomings by dominating proceedings at the top end of the pitch.

That impact has no doubt been highlighted even further by the issues on the other flank, with Amorim still yet to find a permanent solution at left wing-back.

Man Utd's solutions at left wing-back

Heading into the January window, this might be an area that Jason Wilcox and co look to strengthen again, amid links to the likes of Inter’s Federico Dimarco, despite having seemingly solved that problem almost 12 months ago.

Indeed, the addition of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu looked to have handed Amorim a perfect fit for this system, with the versatile Dane having previously featured as a winger, as well as at full-back, making him ideal for a rampaging left-sided role.

Perhaps as to be expected for a player who only recently turned 21, however, Dorgu is undoubtedly still a work in progress, a fact heightened most notably at the Etihad, where he had the most touches in the opposition box for United (12), yet had little to show for it.

An improved display did follow last time out against Spurs, having won nine duels in total, although that rawness to his game was seen in the final third, as he lost possession 24 times, as per Sofascore.

That is perhaps why Amorim had turned to Diogo Dalot as an unorthodox option prior to that, albeit with the Portuguese full-back not exactly shining in that role either, having been caught out for Nicolo Savona’s goal against Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old, as is to be expected for a right-footer, looks distinctly uncomfortable on that flank, forced to cut in repeatedly, rather than burst into potential space ahead of him down the left.

There is something of a wildcard option in the form of summer arrival, Diego Leon, although the 18-year-old – who did score a stunning solo goal for the U21s against Spurs – is still finding his feet in the youth ranks, having yet to make a competitive senior appearance.

The Paraguayan, thankfully, isn’t the only teenage sensation that Amorim can turn to in the near future.

How Man Utd can replace Dorgu

It will take more than one transfer window to get this squad where both Amorim and INEOS want it to be, although the Old Trafford side can’t simply rely on incomings and investment – the academy set-up also needs to be utilised.

Perhaps in midfield, the Portuguese coach could look to a player like 17-year-old sensation, Jim Thwaites, while at wing-back, a future star is brewing in the form of 18-year-old, Harry Amass.

The ex-Watford starlet – who made his senior debut last season against Leicester City – ended 2024/25 with seven senior appearances to his name under Amorim, having most notably come off the bench in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon in the Europa League.

Tipped to be “Luke Shaw’s successor” by journalist Alex Turk – with Shaw himself singling out his compatriot as one to watch – Amass has long been tipped for a starring role in the first-team, a fact only heightened by his displays out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

The teenager joined the struggling side on loan over the summer, having since gone on to make a real impression for the Owls, notably netting a delightful strike from range in the recent defeat to Southampton.

That effort showcased everything Amorim would surely want from a wing-back, as Amass took it upon himself to drive into the centre of the pitch, before providing a real quality end product.

Lauded as “one of the most exciting teenage full-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the diminutive talent has started all 11 games since moving to Hillsborough, with ten of those seeing him play the full 90 minutes.

Games (starts)

11 (11)

Goals

1

Assists

0

Big chances created

2

Key passes*

0.7

Pass accuracy*

79%

Successful dribbles*

1.4

Total duels won*

50%

Tackles & interceptions

3.2

Such is the success of that loan spell so far, in which he has featured in a left midfield or left wing-back berth, there is already talk of further moves between the clubs, with United academy stars such as Victor Musa and Gabriele Biancheri in line to potentially follow him to Sheffield.

Whether Amass does actually see out the season in his temporary home remains to be seen, however, with recent reports revealing that there is the presence of a break clause in January, ensuring he could return to United in the New Year.

Should that occur, it would likely be with another loan in mind, although with neither Dorgu nor Dalot nailing down that left-sided role this season, Amorim should certainly consider bringing Amass back into the fold.

Their own Wharton: Man Utd teen looks like he's "stepped out of La Masia"

Manchester United could save themselves millions in the transfer window, by looking for an in-house Adam Wharton.

ByRobbie Walls Nov 14, 2025

GOAL’s writers break down a solid USMNT showing as Mauricio Pochettino looks to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.

There you have it: a win. The USMNT are not, once again, at full strength. They're missing a few faces, falling short of a few pieces. This is probably half, generously, of what a starting XI might look like in seven months. But the results are good. They beat a pretty good Paraguay side, 2-1, at home. Winning is nice. It fuels momentum. It gives Mauricio Pochettino reasons to praise rather than a need to rant. 

Gio Reyna was the headline, of course, handed a surprise start, and got himself on the scoresheet. This wasn't him at his best, but he did show that there's still a player there. Leading striker Folarin Balogun grabbed another goal – and he looks in good form for his country. There were mistakes here and there, but this was otherwise an agreeable Saturday night.]

So, what do we make of all of this? Are there sweeping conclusions to be drawn about Reyna? Is Joe Scally now the center back of the future? And who might have played their way of the squad next summer? GOAL's writers get far too reactionary in the latest edition of… . 

ImagnHow significant was Gio Reyna's performance?

Tom Hindle: Immensely. It has long been said in this space that Reyna is the U.S.'s most talented player whose last name is not "Pulisic." He has struggled immensely for three clubs over the past few years now, and needed a forum to show that he can still contribute. He wasn't exactly spellbinding against Paraguay, but there were glimpses of what he can be. If Reyna's fit, he should start at the World Cup. But that is a pretty significant "if".

Ryan Tolmich: Very. It showed that, even when he isn’t at his best, he can make a difference. Does that translate to a starting gig? Unlikely given the other options. Does that give him a really strong case to make a 26-man roster? You bet, even if that means coming off the bench as an emergency option. There’s a caveat, of course, with his fitness but, as long as that goes in the right direction, Reyna has his chance.

AdvertisementGettyIf Reyna were to make it to the World Cup, who would he replace?

TH: Well, if we run off the assumption that Alejandro Zendejas isn't sniffing it, then it's one of Brenden Aaronson or Diego Luna. Pochettino seems to like Luna a lot, so it'll probably mean Aaronson gets left at home – unless he shows something special for Leeds over the next few months. 

RT: In terms of attacking midfielders, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Weston McKennie are locked in. Then there’s that second group of Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, and Alejandro Zendejas. Only so many of those players can be on a World Cup roster, which means it’ll come down to form and fit when Pochettino ultimately has to balance it out.

Getty ImagesJoe Scally made his long-awaited return, what did you make of him as a third CB?

TH: Uhhhh sure? Scally isn't a starting-level center back in this side, but he's highly rated in Germany, and really should be a part of the U.S. setup. Sometimes you need a guy who can offer cover, and Scally can play in multiple positions. Whether that makes him a starter is up for debate, but there's a strong case to be made that he should be in the squad next summer.

RT: Seems feasible! At the very least, Scally is a good utility guy, which is always welcome in a World Cup squad. He can either start in three positions or be your defensive stopper off the bench in place of the more attack-minded wingbacks. He needs another good performance or two, but, again, there’s a walkable path there.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Based on current form, what are your expectations for the USMNT at the World Cup?

TH: Please do not be deceived by wins against Australia and Paraguay. Round of 16 exit, as per usual. Sure, you can make the argument about "kind draws" and say the U.S. could imitate a, say, Morocco in Qatar 2022, but the dirty little secret is that Morocco side was really very good. Keep expectations level, and anything else feels like a bonus.

RT: It hasn’t changed much, largely because we still haven’t seen this team in the way it will likely be assembled. Maybe the floor is a bit higher than it was a few months ago, but we still don’t really know this team’s ceiling. As always with a World Cup, though, get out of a group and see what happens.