Analysis

Paul Scholes and Marco Materazzi have delivered strong criticism of Manchester United’s transfer decisions. The heavy investments made by Manchester United in recent years to sign players have not translated into satisfactory results on the field, prompting soccer icons like Paul Scholes and Marco Materazzi to weigh in on those transfer decisions. In a recent appearance on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes discussed the roster changes Manchester United need to make ahead of next season, stating that at least eight players in the squad should be moved on this summer and replaced with new talent. Among those mentioned is Harry Maguire, who recently extended his contract through 2027. “I’m thinking about a Manchester United team you want to win the league and the Champions League… I’m not sure you’d do that with Maguire,” said the former English midfielder, who made more than 700 appearances for the Red Devils between 1993 and 2013. Luke Shaw was also identified by Scholes as a player whose time at the club may be over. “When he was playing consistently, I don’t think there was a better left-back in the world, not just Europe. But if you’re asking me now… I’d sell him. He doesn’t play enough games,” he said. Harry Maguire of Manchester United. That list also includes high-profile names such as Mason Mount—whom Scholes questioned due to his fit alongside Bruno Fernandes—as well as lower-profile players like Lenny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee. Materazzi points to Manchester United’s ‘biggest mistake’ While Paul Scholes focused on the players Manchester United should move on from, Marco Materazzi pointed to a past decision: the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli in 2024 for around $34 million. “McTominay is an incredible player from start to finish. I don’t understand how Manchester United sold him for almost nothing, because his value, in my opinion, is €60 to €70 million or more. It’s the biggest transfer market mistake we’ve ever seen, without a doubt,” said the 2006 World Cup champion with Italy during a promotional event, according to Mundo Deportivo. Manchester United have spent a fortune on signings The fact that Manchester United have gone 13 years without winning the Premier League and 18 without lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy can be explained not only by the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, but also by years of poor executive decisions that have impacted the team’s on-field performance. Financially, the Red Devils remain one of the most powerful clubs in the world, but that has not translated into results. In fact, last summer they were among the biggest spenders in the transfer market. Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Manchester United signed four players: Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens. The club spent close to $288 million on those deals—an enormous outlay that has yet to be justified by performances on the field.

Liverpool Struggle in Paris as Mohamed Salah Call Dominates Debate Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint Germain offered a familiar European lesson, control matters, efficiency matters more. Yet the central discussion after the final whistle was not purely about the performance, it was about the absence of Mohamed Salah and the reasoning of Arne Slot. […] The post Arne Slot discusses Mohamed Salah snub in Liverpool’s defeat to PSG appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has blasted their season as 'unacceptable' - and says they need another Anfield miracle to stay in the Champions League.

Arsenal remain on course to achieve success this season despite Carabao Cup final setback

Liverpool fell to defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, but an intriguing subplot to come from defeat in France was Arne Slot's snub of outgoing club legend Mo Salah

World Cup 2026 will be full of prolific goal-getters but who will win the Golden Boot?

Clubs at risk of relegation tend to hire pragmatic coaches - but Spurs have not done that by appointing Roberto de Zerbi.

Jamie Carragher didn't hold back in his assessment of Florian Wirtz following Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League defeat to PSG

Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann were the key protagonists, dropping deeper to help Diego Simeone's side to success at Camp Nou

After impressing during his loan spell with Aston Villa in the Premier League last season, Marco Asensio (182cm/6’0”, 76kg/167lbs) ended up making a permanent move from Paris Saint-Germain to Fenerbahçe for a reported €7.5m fee on the first of September. At the time of writing, Asensio has made 24 goal contributions in 24 Turkish Süper […] The post Marco Asensio Scout Report At Fenerbahçe 2025/2026: Reasserting Elite Playmaking Quality – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

In this clip from the final word, Dan, John and Chris discuss if Liverpool's approach was too negative after their 2-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg of the quarter finals of the Champions League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Liverpool captain says “probably no one gives us a chance” of overturning a two-goal deficit at Anfield next week

When Arsenal travelled to Everton in December, they took a cautious approach in possession. This was, I think, for a few reasons. Firstly, in the preceding fixtures the Gunners had played games that were far more transitional than I think Mikel Arteta would have liked. They had squeaked past Wolves at Emirates Stadium the weekend […] The post 300,000 passes appeared first on Arseblog ... an Arsenal blog.

Despite spending £450m this Liverpool team remains in transition and has one foot out the exit door - and must overcome the fiercest of opposition and their own self-doubt to salvage their season

Speaking on CBS Golazo post-match, Carragher described the gulf between Liverpool and PSG as 'startling' and claimed Slot's tactical switch had actually made his side more open.

Two camps who will get their respective Europa League quarter-final adventures underway on Thursday night, Freiburg will welcome Celta Vigo to Germany for their first-leg battle. Suffering a spectacular late collapse against reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on their return from March’s international break last weekend, Freiburg will know the importance of claiming an immediate […] The post Freiburg vs Celta Vigo Bet Builder Tips – 4/1 Europa League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

Reds legend delivers scathing assessment after PSG lesson in Champions League quarter-final opener

Arne Slot and Liverpool are on the ropes.

There are no camps before the U.S. names its World Cup roster, so what does coach Mauricio Pochettino need?

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich met once again in the UEFA Champions League, two years after their previous knockout encounter, but this time with very different identities. The Real Madrid of Álvaro Arbeloa arrived in the middle of an inconsistent season, struggling to find continuity in their performances. Bayern, in contrast, travelled to Estadio Bernabéu […] The post Real Madrid Vs Bayern Munich [1-2] Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg 2025/2026: Vincent Kompany Press & Structure Take Control – Tactical Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.

Ibrahima Konate has been called out by former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher, who has claimed the Frenchman makes mistakes every time he takes to the pitch in what has been a challenging season

Was Wednesday's 2-0 loss Liverpool's worst performance under Arne Slot? Our writers weigh in on that and all the other moments that mattered from the UCL quarterfinal first legs.

An energetic display capped off by a piece of world-class magic; Wednesday's performance is exactly why Barça rate Julián Álvarez so highly, and the reason Atleti won't give up their talisman cheaply.

It was the silence that was striking. Save for the Atletico Madrid supporters high up in the half-finished Camp Nou, the atmosphere had been sucked from the stadium. Barcelona deflated and defeated by their old foe Diego Simeone on a night of firsts.

Liverpool boss slammed for 'wrong' tactics Kick Off

Chelsea paid £65.1 million in agent fees between February 2025 and February 2026, making them the highest-spending club on intermediaries in the Premier League for the third consecutive season, and a former top-flight chief executive has not held back in calling out the club’s sporting directors over the figures. According to FA data, Chelsea’s agent […] The post Former CEO is furious with what Chelsea just did for the third year running; It cost the Blues £65.1 million first appeared on Premier League News Now.

Liverpool have been urged to sack Premier League title-winning manager Arne Slot and hire a 'perfect' former Chelsea boss as his replacement.

Liverpool produced a fresh formation in a bid to combat PSG on Wednesday night, which surprised Luis Enrique, but it didn't stop his side securing a dominant win

The Red will need a more aggressive performance at Anfield if they are to overturn the deficit

Hansi Flick's side played half of Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win with 10 players, but familiar issues up front were just as big a factor

As the Premier League resumes after a three-week hiatus, we analyse the data to look at which clubs are at most risk of being relegated

ISAAN KHAN: A Gyokeres-Havertz axis was not in Arsenal's grand plan. But they might just have stumbled upon a handy solution to unlock their faltering attack.

With one game down and one to go in each quarter-final, what have we learned and who looks likely to advance to the last four?

Match of the Day pundits Rory Smith and Stephen Warnock look at the impact Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold had on the Champions League quarter-final first leg between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Match of the Day pundit Stephen Warnock looks at the importance of David Raya to Arsenal's hopes of winning the Champions League.

Hansi Flick questioned the value of having VAR following Barcelona’s 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid, after Marc Pubill avoided being sent off for a bizarre handball incident. Goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth saw Atleti leave Camp Nou with a smash-and-grab 2-0 win, with Pau Cubarsi’s red card late in the first […] The post ´Why do we have VAR?´ – Flick questions officials after Pubill avoids red card appeared first on Soccer News.

Jamie Carragher said Arne Slot got his tactics "massively wrong" and that Virgil van Dijk will be pleading with him not to use a back five again after Liverpool were outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain.

OLIVER HOLT AT THE PARC DES PRINCES: It was a picture that spoke a thousand words because this is a Liverpool divided.

Steven Gerrard was quick to call out one Liverpool player who he deemed at fault for PSG's opening goal against them in the Champions League on Wednesday evening

The English Premier League has officially guaranteed a minimum of five entrants for next season's UEFA Champions League following Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Sporting CP.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was heavily criticized by Rafael van der Vaart following the loss to Bayern Munich. The 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu left Real Madrid on the brink of elimination in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Vinicius Junior came under heavy criticism after the match from Rafael van der Vaart. “Vinicius is horrible,” the former Dutch midfielder said during an appearance on Ziggo Sport following Tuesday’s Champions League match in Spain. “He annoys me to no end when I see him.” Van der Vaart went on to explain the reasons behind his criticism of the Brazilian winger. “As soon as he gets a little push, he throws himself down, hoping to see a red card for the opponent, and then gets up as if nothing happened,” he said. However, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player did not hesitate to acknowledge Vinicius’ talent on the field. In fact, he emphasized how that behavior detracts from his ability: “That’s the part that I find sad about him. I find it incredibly sad because he’s a fantastic player.” Rafael Van der Vaart playing for Real Madrid in 2010. Vinicius’ performances this season Criticism of Vinicius is common, and in most cases it is not related to his performances on the field or his ability on the ball, but rather to his behavior. The 25-year-old winger has often drawn the frustration of opponents, who believe he does not always conduct himself with respect. However, Vinicius’ on-field production is beyond question, and that is reflected in his numbers. Even in a season in which Real Madrid have posted disappointing results and gone through a coaching change, the Brazilian has stood out: Vinicius has recorded 17 goals and 13 assists in 45 appearances. Van der Vaart knows what he’s talking about Criticism of Vinicius Junior coming from Rafael van der Vaart carries added weight compared to most opinions. The former Dutch international speaks from experience, having played for Real Madrid and understanding the club’s culture and its fanbase. Van der Vaart began his professional career at Ajax in 1999 before moving to Hamburger SV six years later, where his performances prompted Real Madrid to pay around $15 million for him. In Spain, he spent two seasons with the club between 2008 and 2010, making 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals, and winning one title.

Turner has scored three goals, Tordin has scored two goals.

Unlike Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, Aston Villa can win a European trophy this season and have performed better than Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League.

A certain sequence of events could see a record number of Premier League teams qualify for European football next season

David Raya and Manuel Neuer dazzled in the Champions League this week - but are they among the world's best goalkeepers?

The tactical impact of Raphinha’s absence on Barcelona is profound, with the team looking weaker, slower, and far less aggressive. As a key component of Hansi Flick’s system, his absence does not just remove an attacker — it disrupts structure. Introduction Injuries are part of football, but timing defines their significance. With Barcelona… The post Raphinha’s Injury: Tactical Impact on Barcelona Ahead of the Champions League Quarterfinal first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Liverpool’s decline is not about missed chances alone but a deeper loss of identity, intensity and balance that must be corrected this summer. Liverpool’s season has unfolded in a way few anticipated. From champions to uncertainty in the space of a year, Arne Slot’s side have gone from setting the standard to searching for answers.… The post How Liverpool Can Fix Their Structural Problems This Summer first appeared on Breaking The Lines.

Bayern's cohesion, and their ability to carry out a well-crafted gameplan, makes them strong favourites to progress to the semi-finals

Enzo Fernandez has given Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior the first major internal disciplinary issue of his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge - BBC Sport analyses the situation.

A couple of weeks ago, Total Football Analysis produced a scout report on one of the EFL Championship’s in-form attackers, Harvey Vale, who was on the verge of making his international debut for the Republic of Ireland at the time of writing. We used weighted combinations of raw Wyscout data to build custom metrics tailored […] The post Carlos Forbs Scout Report At Club Brugge 2025/2026: A Direct Wide Threat Built For Transitions – Player Analysis appeared first on Total Football Analysis.