Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard passed the Topps FC quickfire quiz with flying colours, showing off his knowledge of modern football history when answering questions under pressure. The ex-Rangers and Aston Villa boss was put on the spot in a test of his wits, but showed why he was once considered one of the game’s greatest minds on the pitch by remaining cool when in an intense spotlight.

Gerrard put under pressure in quiz

Gerrard, a player who loved a sliding challenge in his heyday, had to tackle the Topps FC quickfire quiz. He proved that despite retiring from playing football almost a decade ago, he still has as sharp a mind as ever, coming back with rapid responses to all the questions laid before him.

AdvertisementWatch the clipLegendary midfielder shows off his extensive knowledge

In an interview with GOAL, Gerrard had to answer questions about current players at pace, and the link between them was that their names spelled out his own last name.

Question: G – Nottingham Forest midfielder who didn’t sign for Spurs?

Gerrard: [Morgan] Gibbs-White.

Q: E – Brazil wonderkid who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras?

Gerrard: Estevao.

Q: R – 16-year-old winger making headlines at Liverpool?

Gerrard: Rio [Ngumoha]!

Q: R – goalkeeper who shared last season’s Golden Glove?

Gerrard: [David] Raya.

Q: A – Fulham winger who played for Barcelona and Middlesbrough?

Gerrard: [Adama] Traore.

Q: R – Man Utd legend who Martin Keown shouted at?

Gerrard: [Ruud] van Nistelrooy.

Q: D – Brighton captain who led them from League One to the Premier League?

Gerrard: Lewis Dunk.

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Gerrard shows love for Ngumoha

Gerrard, who is considered to be one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players and served as captain at Anfield for over 10 years, was noticeably enthusiastic about the chance to namedrop Reds wonderkid Ngumoha, who has since turned 17 and signed his first professional contract with the club. Ngumoha became the youngest scorer in the history of the men’s first team when he popped up with a 100th-minute winner in their 3-2 victory away at Newcastle United in August. This was also the latest winning goal Liverpool had ever scored in the Premier League.

Already a vital part of Arne Slot’s first-team squad, Ngumoha has helped Liverpool maintain a perfect start to the 2025-26 campaign, winning seven games across all competitions thus far, including five in the Premier League and one apiece in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Ramesh Mendis has been added to Sri Lanka’s squad for the second Test against Australia, while seamer Vishwa Fernando and top-order batter Lahiru Udara have been released from what had been an 18-member squad. Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda confirmed the changes, and said Ramesh had joined the squad on Monday.Ramesh had been dropped both from the Test XI, and later from the squad entirely, on account of what Sri Lanka’s team management believed to be a sub-par bowling performance against New Zealand in November.But having conceded 654 for 6 in the first innings of the first Test against Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka have brought back Ramesh. Partly this is down to his bowling form in the ongoing first-class competition – the Major League Tournament – in which he has claimed 24 wickets at an average of 21.91 plus scored 260 runs at an average of 52 from six innings.His bowling returns among the top Test teams has been more modest, however, though he has played all 15 of his Tests so far in Asia. Against Australia, for example, he has seven wickets at an average of 40.85 from two matches that were played in Galle in 2022.Sri Lanka will seriously consider him for a spot in the XI given the inexperience in their spin attack. In the previous match, in which Sri Lanka slipped to their worst Test defeat in history, Sri Lanka had two frontline spinners playing their second Test.The second Test starts in Galle on Thursday.

It took Aston Villa a long time to finally kick into gear on the transfer front, but they’re now starting to make serious moves.

Last weekend, Unai Emery welcomed the arrival of Evan Guessand in a potential £30 million deal from Nice – their first major signing of the window – but NSWE are not done there.

In what is expected to be a hectic final two weeks of the summer window for the club’s president of footballing operations, Monchi, it is believed the Spaniard is eyeing a host of other late incomings.

Departures are fully expected too, with Leon Bailey left out of Saturday’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United amid his talks to join Roma – which are seriously progressing.

To combat losing the likes of Bailey, Villa are believed to be firm contenders to sign Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, who Enzo Maresca confirmed has a chance to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Villa are among the clubs to be offered Jackson, a player who Emery knows well from their time together at Villarreal, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll opt to meet Chelsea’s lofty price tag or could even agree a loan with an obligation to buy (talkSPORT).

Amid their links to the Senegalese, it is also reliably reported that PSG attacker Marco Asensio could make a return to the Midlands.

The former Real Madrid star made a real impact on loan at Villa from the European champions over the second half of 2024/2025, scoring a brace against Chelsea and notching three Champions League goals over two legs against Club Brugge.

With Jacob Ramsey leaving for Newcastle United, Villa have begun negotiations to re-sign Asensio, with personal terms on a three-year contract already agreed (Sky Switzerland).

Aston Villa in 'advancing talks' to re-sign Marco Asensio in cut-price deal

Now, according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, those discussions are progressing well.

Villa are in ‘advancing talks’ with all relevant parties over a deal for Asensio, with Emery a ‘big fan’ and personally keen to bring the Spaniard back on an indefinite basis.

PSG are also open to the possibility of green-lighting this potential deal for a ‘cut-price’ fee, considering the 29-year-old has just one year left on his £120,000-per-week contract, which comes as a major boost for Villa in terms of avoiding the ever-swinging PSR axe they’ve had serious trouble with this year.

Earlier this summer, NSWE actually pulled the plug on a move for Asensio over costs, according to Veysey, but it appears they’ve pulled a U-turn and are now working on an agreement.

Emery praised Asensio during their spell together last term, and after losing Ramsey, the tactician could get a major boost in the form of his comeback.

MatériaMais Notícias

O time feminino do Santos venceu o Real Ariquemes por WO na tarde desta segunda-feira (12), pela última rodada da primeira fase do Brasileirão Feminino. A partida seria realizada no Estádio Aluízio Ferreira, em Rondônia.

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Já rebaixada, a equipe mandante não se apresentou ao campo no prazo estipulado pela CBF. Portanto, as Sereias ficam com os três pontos e 3 a 0 no placar.

As jogadoras do Real Ariquemes se recusaram a subir ao gramado em forma de protesto contra os salários atrasados do elenco. A lateral Gabi Lira concedeu entrevista e reforçou a manifestação.

– Nós estamos com dois meses de salário com atraso. Nossa briga é pela modalidade. Hoje não entramos em campo para que a gente possa deixar, de alguma maneira, um ponto positivo para que as novas gerações possam saber que futebol feminino tem direitos. Não pode mais se brincar com isso – afirmou a atleta, ao SporTV.

O Santos já estava com a vaga ao mata-mata garantida antes mesmo do jogo desta segunda. O time aguarda os confrontos dos rivais para saber quem será seu adversário na próxima fase.

After a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City on the opening day, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a defensive reinforcement.

Pereira positive despite Wolves' business

It’s been a tough summer for those in the Midlands. Since losing Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to both Manchester clubs, it’s easy to argue that Wolves have failed to strengthen. Whilst arrivals such as Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias have at least handed Vitor Pereira some attacking depth, it’s currently unclear whether either of those fresh faces will have enough quality to replace Cunha.

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Despite any concern that they’ve not done enough in the transfer window, however, Pereira chose to remain positive before Man City arrived to bring his side back down to earth last weekend.

Whether that 4-0 thrashing courtesy of Pep Guardiola’s side has changed things in the transfer window will now be interesting to see, especially amid reports that Wolves have already made their move in pursuit of a defensive star.

Wolves submit first Krejci offer

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Wolves have now submitted an opening offer to sign Ladislav Krejci from Girona worth as much as €30m (£26m). The 26-year-old centre-back has been granted an exit this month and it’s now those in the Midlands that could be about to take full advantage to land a key defensive reinforcement.

Minutes

2,440

2,670

Progressive Passes

144

108

Tackles Won

16

36

Ball Recoveries

101

168

When compared, it’s clear that Krejci and Emmanuel Agbadou would form an impressive partnership in Pereira’s backline. Whilst the Girona star impressed most in possession last season – completing 144 progressive passes – Agbadou did more than enough off the ball to convince Molineux that he should be at the heart of the Wolves defence.

Dubbed a “superb player” by scout Jacek Kulig in 2022, Krejci is someone that Wolves should push to sign before the deadline. Whether their opening offer is enough to secure the defender’s signature remains to be seen, however.

Sciver-Brunt’s second consecutive fifty made sure Mumbai kept a perfect 5-0 record against Giants

Ashish Pant18-Feb-2025There was an air of inevitability right from the time a beaming Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bowl in Mumbai Indians’ second match of WPL 2025 against Gujarat Giants. Teams chasing had won every single game so far this season. Couple that with Mumbai’s 4-0 record against Giants coming into this match and odds were stacked heavily in Mumbai’s favour.And the game panned out accordingly.Hayley Matthews’ frugal three-wicket squeeze backed up by two-wicket hauls from Nat-Sciver Brunt and Amelia Kerr helped bowl out Giants for 120. Sciver-Brunt then continued her stellar run with the bat, scoring her second fifty on the bounce to shepherd Mumbai’s chase.She finished with 57 off 39 balls as Mumbai chased down the target by five wickets and 23 balls to spare. The win not only helped Mumbai open their account in WPL 2025, but also extended their lead over Giants to 5-0. Giants are now the only side in the tournament to not have a single win against a particular team.Giants’ powerplay malfunctionHarmanpreet spoke at the toss about capitalising in the first few overs before the dew set in. She went pace from both ends up top and the move paid dividend with Sciver-Brunt accounting for Beth Mooney, who sliced a simple catch to Sanskriti Gupta at backward point in the second over.Shabnim Ismail then got rid of Laura Woolvardt, whose lofted drive could only go as far as S Sajana stationed perfectly at deep cover. That reduced Giants to 14 for 2, which four balls later became 16 for 3 when Matthews sent back D Hemalatha whose across-the-line heave was caught wonderfully by Kerr sprinting to her left from deep midwicket.Ashleigh Gardner, Giants’ wrecker-in-chief in the first two matches, started fluently again striking a four and six but was undone by a Sciver-Brunt slower delivery which she mistimed to Sajana at deep midwicket.At 28 for 4 after six overs, Giants couldn’t have asked for a worse start. This was their third-lowest powerplay score in the WPL and comfortably the lowest for any team this season. What also hurt Giants were the sheer number of dot balls at the start. Twenty-six of the 36 balls in the powerplay were dots, the joint-most in WPL history.Nat Sciver-Brunt used the scoop again•BCCIDeol fights, no one else doesIt might be a case of Giants worrying about the dew later on or just them not trusting their defence enough that despite the fall of wickets, the batters continued going for their shots. Deandra Dottin got going with a reverse sweep, but a wild mow across the line off Kerr brought about her downfall, with Yastika Bhatia executing a quick stumping.Kashvee Gautam, like many of her team-mates, started strong smashing debutant Parul Sisodia for two fours and then lifted Ismail for a six over long-on, but like the others, flattered to deceive edging Matthews behind.In all this, Harleen Deol stood tall. She played the waiting game, but did not let any scoring opportunities go. The sweep became her ally as she breached the gaps with consistency during her 31-ball 32.But the wickets continued to fall at the other end and when Deol departed with the score on 103 for 8 in the 17th over, the end was nigh. However, Sayali Satghare and Priya Mishra ensured that Giants played out their full quota of 20 overs.For Mumbai, Matthews was miserly in her four-over spell going for just 16. She bowled 16 dot balls in her spell, as did Sciver-Brunt while 19 of the 24 balls that Ismail bowled were dots.Sciver-Brunt’s flawless fifty in MI’s first winComing into the tournament, there were questions raised on Sciver-Brunt’s form considering she had a relatively quiet Ashes. In a matter of two innings, she’s brushed aside the doubters.A 121-chase was never going to be daunting. Matthews started fluently, striking three fours but ended up smashing a rank long-hop from Tanuja Kanwar straight to Deol at square leg. If Giants were entertaining any thoughts of a collapse, Sciver-Brunt shut that down quickly.She got going with a fierce pull first ball and it was one-way traffic thereon. Dottin was crashed through point before Priya Mishra was pulled through square leg twice in three balls. While Bhatia fell mistiming Mishra to long-on and Harmanpreet was trapped in front by Kashvee, Sciver-Brunt stood like an immovable force.It was not just power but also precision and the ability to find gaps at will that kept Sciver-Brunt going. She added a 45-run stand with Kerr off 38 balls to take Mumbai closer. She took 34 balls to collect her fifty before falling just seven runs shy of the target. G Kamalini, on debut, struck her first ball for four while Sajana finished the game by depositing Dottin over mid-off to give Mumbai their first win of WPL 2025.The win has taken Mumbai to second place on the points table while Giants’ NRR has taken a hit, though they are in third place.

Newcastle United have made it through the storm that was the summer transfer window, and Saturday’s controlled victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers has got the ball rolling for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Premier League proved a happy playground for the Magpies last season, who also won the Carabao Cup and have qualified for the Champions League, which looms very large indeed.

It’s a shame that Alexander Isak won’t be with the Toon, but the Sweden striker forced his way out and signed for Liverpool in a record-breaking deal.

In different circumstances, Elliot Anderson continues to go from strength to strength away from St. James’ Park, and while the homegrown talent would have been a perfect fit in this United side, Howe moved to sign some kind of replacement in Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey could be Howe's new Anderson

It’s been over a year since Anderson left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in a £35m deal, forcibly cut away by PIF because of PSR.

It’s fair to say the 23-year-old has been thriving of late, awarded the Man of the Match award in each of his first two Three Lions caps and playing an instrumental part for a high-flying Tricky Trees outfit, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “midfield warrior” and a “powerhouse carrier with a bit of passing range”.

However, Howe signed Ramsey from Aston Villa in a £42m package this summer, and while the dynamic midfielder is currently sidelined with injury, he has the skill to play a similar role: athletic and dynamic, he offers a forward-thinking skillset.

If Ramsey can overcome his current fitness setback, an ankle injury, then he could become a real player for Howe’s side.

And should he reach his potential at the club, where would this leave Joe Willock?

Why Newcastle must now sell Joe Willock

Regarding numbers, Newcastle are hardly overloaded in the middle of the park. Sean Longstaff was sold to Leeds United for £10m this summer, and Isaac Hayden departed on a free transfer.

But Willock might find his playing time reduced with Ramsey now in the ranks. Once an attacking midfielder, the former Arsenal prospect has been fashioned into more of a number eight, but injuries and subsequent struggles for form have kept him on the periphery over the past few years.

25/26

1 (0)

0 + 0

24/25

32 (11)

0 + 2

23/24

9 (5)

1 + 0

22/23

35 (31)

3 + 6

21/22

29 (24)

2 + 0

20/21

14 (11)

8 + 0

An energetic and tenacious midfielder, the 26-year-old Willock has been frustrated by hamstring and achilles injuries in recent times, but when on the field he has left plenty to be desired, having been branded as “disappointing” a year ago by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, who was discussing how the Englishman needed to step up, as his ball-carrying ability was a cut above his teammates’ own skills.

That’s no longer the case. Ramsey is a high-level dribbler, and his big-money addition certainly suggests that Howe is willing to invest time and effort into shaping him into the player he ought to become.

If that means that Willock needs to be sold, it’s a sacrifice the manager might be willing to make. After all, Willock earns a healthy salary of £80k per week, which isn’t as much as the £120k-per-week Ramsey, but is actually double the £40k-per-week earnings of Anderson over at the City Ground, as per Capology.

The key points here are twofold: Ramsey is valued, entrusted with a big role in the squad and expected to deliver in the years to come; Willock himself earns a fair wage, but his diminished returns of late suggest Newcastle might not be getting bang for their buck.

The lad’s natural talent was never up for dispute. He’s a sharp playmaker with the movement and vision to make things happen. He’s the complete package. But Newcastle have other such players, and even with Anderson long sold, the arrival of Ramsey issues a warning to Willock, who has only played 25 minutes of football so far this season.

Willock is no longer a spring chicken, and given the strength of Newcastle’s starting midfield trident and the addition of Ramsey, it would appear his days are numbered on Tyneside, should he want to play regular minutes during the prime years of his career.

Given that he earns a pretty penny – double as much as Anderson at Forest – the need to ship him out is only heightened, especially with the likes of Lewis Miley waiting in the wings.

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B Sai Sudharsan scored yet another half-century, this time 82 off 53 balls, and helped Gujarat Titans (GT) post a healthy 217 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Ahmedabad. Speaking to the broadcaster at the innings break, he said it was a good total, given there had not been much dew until then.Earlier, after RR sent GT in, Jofra Archer once again gave his side an early breakthrough. In RR’s previous game, he had bowled Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya first ball. Tonight, he pegged back Shubman Gill’s off stump with the first ball of his second over.But Sai Sudharsan carried on with his sublime form. He ramped, scooped, drove and cut, and steered his side to 50 in 5.1 overs. At the end of the powerplay, he was batting on 39 off 22. Only Wriddhiman Saha (54 vs Lucknow Super Giants in 2023) has scored more runs for GT in an innings in that phase.Jos Buttler, who was welcomed to the crease with a nasty bouncer from Archer, also joined in after a slow start. He was on 12 off 13 at one point but hit four fours in his next six balls to move to 31 off 19.Maheesh Theekshana ended the 80-run second-wicket stand, off 47 balls, by trapping Buttler lbw. But M Shahrukh Khan smashed 36 off 20 to keep GT going.Sudharsan was dropped on 81 by Shubham Dubey off Archer but he could add only one more to his score. But Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan ensured GT ransacked 30 from the last two overs.

Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram’s half-centuries powered the home side in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-20253:23

Boucher and Bangar on MI’s scouting system

Half-centuries from Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh helped Lucknow Super Giants put on 203 for 8 against Mumbai Indians on Friday in IPL 2025. MI captain Hardik Pandya took a five-for for the visitors after winning the toss and choosing to bowl.Marsh survived a caught-behind chance in the first over of the game. But the bowler Trent Boult and his team-mates didn’t hear it, and the opener capitalised in a 69-run powerplay where he hit nine fours and two sixes.The introduction of left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur accounted for Marsh before a slower bouncer from Hardik reduced the in-form Nicholas Pooran’s promising start to a cameo. Rishabh Pant’s lack of form continued as he, too, fell to a slower short ball from Hardik.After going on the attack during Pant’s stay, Markram went back to playing second-fiddle with Ayush Badoni’s entry. Badoni bought some time but got going later on to post 30 off 19 balls. He was out caught behind playing the scoop a ball before the death overs began. LSG made 90 for 4 in the middle (7-16) overs.Markram reached his fifty off 34 balls, which was off the 98th ball of the innings. He fell to Hardik, who bowled two overs at the death in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. A couple of boundaries from David Miller in the final over took LSG past the 200-mark before Hardik helped himself to two wickets to complete a five-for, the first by a captain in IPL history.

Leeds United head back into Premier League action after the international break, eager to pick up their first win in the challenging division since the opening weekend.

Since that 1-0 success over Everton at Elland Road, Daniel Farke’s Whites have depressingly lost 5-0 away at Arsenal, drawn 0-0 with Newcastle United back on home turf, and have even been dumped out of the EFL Cup by a youthful Sheffield Wednesday.

Standing in their way of a first away win of the season will likely be Harry Wilson, with the deadline day target for the Whites no doubt ready to inflict more pain on Farke and Co. by terrorising the Leeds defence at Craven Cottage later today.

Why Leeds will need to contain Wilson

Despite having a deal in the works on deadline day, a last-gasp change of heart from Fulham would see a late move for the Welshman to swap London for Yorkshire fall through.

Having started Fulham’s last contest against Brighton and Hove Albion before this messy situation unfolded, Wilson might well get the nod to start against Farke’s men, too, with a desire to show Leeds what they heartbreakingly missed out on.

After all, despite all the talk about his future and Wilson’s inability to pick up a goal or assist so far this season, he does have a moment of magic like this flicked finish against Brentford up his sleeve.

In total, for the Cottagers, the ex-Liverpool man has a hefty tally of 25 goals and 38 assists next to his name, with his own personal record against Leeds also making him a worthy candidate to start later today.

From six career clashes against Farke’s men to date, Wilson has two goals and one assist to shout about, with one of those goals even coming about the last time the two teams tussled with each other in Premier League action.

The German will be hopeful that his own set of attackers can rain on the Craven Cottage parade, however, as faces such as Daniel James try to get one over on their former employers.

Leeds are even brewing their own homegrown version of Wilson in the U21 ranks currently, and while the starlet in question won’t be featuring this weekend, he is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future.

Leeds' "very talented" homegrown Wilson

After all, the Premier League newcomers are well-known for their conveyor belt of standout youngsters initially learning the ropes at Thorp Arch, before then exploding into life on the senior scene.

Harry Gray is definitely one who could make waves in the first team picture soon, having just been nominated for Premier League 2 Player of the Month after bagging a blistering four strikes from just three league encounters this season.

Alongside Gray, his fellow attacking teammate for the U21s, Josh McDonald is another name that could soon break into Farke’s first-team plans, having already been branded as “very talented” by Hamilton Academical academy director George Cairns when the teenager was still on the books of the Scottish side.

He has lived up to that high praise in West Yorkshire already, with a whirlwind return of seven goals and six assists for the U18s during his debut season in the youth ranks, bumping him up to the U21 fold.

McDonald’s Leeds record

Position played

Games

Goals + Assists

LW

19

6 + 3

LM

9

1 + 3

RW

4

0 + 1

RM

2

0 + 1

Sourced by Transfermarkt

In time, McDonald might well become Leeds’ very own Wilson to soften the blow of the Welshman staying put at Fulham, with his versatility to play down either wing – as seen in the table above – drawing immediate parallels to the adaptable former Liverpool youth product.

Moreover, with eight goals and eight assists next to his name for Leeds, it’s clear he possesses a similar eye for a goal and an assist to the Cottagers’ number eight, away from being dubbed a “lovely” talent to watch when bursting forward with pace by Whites-based content creator Conor McGilligan.

Leeds will just have to wait and see if their raw Scotsman does go on to have a celebrated career like Wilson, but the early signs are very promising.

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