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The mood around West Ham United at the moment is not a great one.

After finishing last season just five points above the Premier League relegation zone, there was hope from fans that the club would go big this summer.

However, while the likes of El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters and Mads Hermansen are good players, they simply aren’t enough on their own, and as things stand, it does not look like Mateus Fernandes will be making his way to the London Stadium anytime soon.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as the Hammers are now being linked with an international ace who could be an upgrade on Fernandes.

West Ham target Fernandes upgrade

With Edson Alvarez now moving to Fenerbahçe on a season-long loan, the Hammers’ need for midfield reinforcements has become all the more pressing.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It looked like Fernandes would be the player to come in and help rejuvenate the middle of the park, but with Southampton rejecting the club’s first offer and demanding in excess of £50m, the transfer now feels dead in the water.

Fortunately, it now looks like the East Londoners are eyeing a move for another midfield talent, someone who’d be an upgrade on the Portuguese ace.

At least that is according to a recent report from Jacob Steinberg, who has revealed that West Ham are now looking at Quinten Timber.

Steinberg does not mention how much the Feyenoord captain might cost, but reports from earlier this summer claimed that an offer of around £25m could be enough to seal the deal.

While that is still a sizeable sum of money, it may well prove to be good value for the Dutch international, especially as he would be an upgrade on Fernandes.

How Timber compares to Fernandes

The first big advantage to signing Timber over Fernandes is his positional versatility.

While the Southampton star can play in a few midfield positions, the Dutchman is far more versatile and, as well as central, attacking and defensive midfield, has played off the right and left as well as in the defence.

Moreover, the Feyenoord star has far more experience than the former Sporting CP star. As well as captaining the Dutch giants, he has made 105 appearances for them, 33 for Utrecht, and won five senior caps for the Netherlands.

In contrast, the Saints gem has made just 45 appearances for the South Coast side, 35 for Estoril, ten for Sporting and is yet to win a single senior cap.

Moving on to what really matters for the fans, their output, and this is another area in which the former Ajax prospect comes out on top.

For example, in his 26 appearances last season, totalling 2054 minutes, the “extraordinary” midfielder, as dubbed by Mikel Arteta, scored six goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.71 games, or every 293.42 minutes.

For his efforts, the Olhão-born ace scored three goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3409 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 4.88 games, or every 378.77 minutes.

Finally, if you still need convincing, then taking a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers should do the trick, as the Feyenoord star comes out way ahead for most relevant metrics.

These include things like non-penalty goals plus assists, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, tackles won and more, all per 90.

In other words, the 24-year-old is a midfielder who is just as comfortable creating and scoring goals as he is breaking up play.

Ultimately, Fernandes looks to be a very talented midfielder, but in every way from the price to his experience and the numbers he puts up, Timber would be the better signing for West Ham.

West Ham now launch first approach to sign Barcelona "genius" in £26m deal

He’s a wanted man…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 20, 2025

Arsenal's clash with Newcastle United turned ugly on Sunday as Mikel Arteta was forced to restrain one of his coaching staff who clashed with Joelinton at full-time. The Gunners came from behind to beat the Magpies 2-1 as Eddie Howe's side continue to struggle at the bottom half of the league table after registering just one win in six games in the Premier League this season.

• Arteta had to restrain his assistant

  Mikel Arteta was forced to get involved in a post-match tussle between one of his assistant coaches and Newcastle star Joelinton. As the coaching staff of both clubs were exchanging pleasantries following the exciting Premier League clash at St James' Park, Joelinton angrily approached the Gunners bench and confronted the coach, who, according to , was Miguel Molina. Arteta quickly got in between the two and separated them, before putting his arm around Molina and dragging him away from the scene. 

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  Arsenal registered crucial comeback win

  Arsenal were trailing at half-time as Nick Woltemade scored the opening goal in the 34th minute. Mikel Merino then came off the bench in the second half and scored the equaliser in the 84th minute before Gabriel Magalhaes scored the winner in injury time. The win helped the Gunners reduce their gap with league leaders Liverpool to two points, who had lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday. 

• Newcastle's injury setback

  Newcastle dealt a major injury blow during the Arsenal clash as Tino Livramento was stretchered off the pitch after going down on the ground awkwardly following a callous challenge from William Saliba in the air. Howe later confirmed that the full-back will face a lengthy lay-off. 

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  Gunners' focus shift to Europe

  After picking up a win in a crucial fixture on Sunday, Arteta's side now shift their focus to Europe as they host Olympiacos in a Champions League clash at home on Wednesday. Their next Premier League fixture is against West Ham at Emirates Stadium on October 4. 

Celtic now look to be closing in on their eighth signing of the summer transfer window, in another boost for manager Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers "very pleased" with his Celtic side

The Scottish Premiership champions maintained their 100% winning start in the league this season on Saturday, sealing a routine 3-0 victory at home to Livingston. Speaking after the game, Celtic manager Rodgers was in positive spirits, with his side already six points clear of rivals Rangers after just three matches.

“I was very pleased. I thought the performance was really good. We started well and with the tempo that we wanted. There were a lot of changes but the fluidity in the team was very good and we got in to some good areas in the first half. In the second half, we had a good flow in the game and scored three very good goals.

“Defensively we’re strong, we’ve conceded only one goal in four domestic games. And today, against a team that are very compact and tight, we showed some really good moments of football.”

Now, the positivity appears to be continuing at Celtic, with the Hoops looking to be on the verge of completing another summer signing, following a new update.

Celtic close to completing 8th summer signing

Taking to X on Monday morning, Anthony Joseph reports that Celtic are closing in on the signing of Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, with a medical scheduled in the UK this week.

This is brilliant news for anyone of a Celtic persuasion, with Balikwisha a long-time transfer target who could make them even more of an attacking force.

The Belgian has scored 30 goals in 145 appearances for Antwerp, predominantly shining from the left wing, but also being able to do a good job on the opposite flank and in more of a central role.

That said, the one slight concern for Rodgers will be Balikwisha’s injury history, with the 24-year-old suffering plenty of absences during his career.

Talks open: Celtic in "negotiations" to sign full-back similar to Johnston

The Hoops could be busy before the deadline.

1

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 24, 2025

But hopefully, he has rid himself of those fitness woes, coming in and being an immediate key man for Celtic, giving the Scottish champions the additional firepower that they have craved throughout the summer window.

Manuel Neuer is leaning towards extending his stay at Bayern Munich despite expectations he could retire in 2026. The 39-year-old goalkeeper, who has been the Bavarians’ No.1 since 2011, is still producing at the top level and has already kept three clean sheets this season. His decision could shape Bayern’s future plans between the posts.

• Neuer’s Bayern chapter may not end in 2026

  Neuer signed a deal earlier this year to stay at Die Roten until June 2026, but retirement may not come when that contract expires. According to , the legendary goalkeeper is now considering extending his career even further, with the decision left entirely in his hands.

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  Why Neuer’s choice shapes Bayern’s future

  The 2014 World Cup winner's future has significant implications for Bayern’s long-term strategy. While Jonas Urbig is the current understudy, the Bavarians have yet to lock in a clear succession plan. If Neuer continues, it would buy the club time to prepare his eventual replacement, but it could also stall development opportunities for younger goalkeepers.

• Germany legend's glittering career with Bayern

  Since joining from Schalke in 2011, Neuer has made 569 appearances, winning 12 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League trophies. Even at 39, he remains a key figure under Vincent Kompany, already recording three clean sheets in eight matches this season. While he has essentially ruled out a Germany return, his club-level consistency shows little sign of decline.

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  What lies ahead for the Bayern captain

  Bayern will continue to rely on Neuer as their No.1, including their upcoming Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. With the team chasing more silverware on multiple fronts, Neuer’s experience remains invaluable. A decision on his long-term future is expected next year, but all signs suggest the iconic goalkeeper is not ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

An “unbelievable” manager has now emerged as Manchester United’s top target to replace Ruben Amorim, who has made a poor start to the new campaign.

Doubts over Amorim's Man Utd future after slow start

With Man United winning their final game before the international break, defeating Burnley 3-2 at Old Trafford, Amorim appears to be safe in the short-term, but there are doubts about how long the 40-year-old will be able to last in the job.

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has even suggested the Portuguese coach could be gone by the end of the year, saying: “He looks lost. I don’t think his body language and emotional response are giving a good impression to his players or the Manchester United fans,

“Looking at him, I’m not sure he’ll make it to Christmas, to be honest, because it feels like United are one poor performance or defeat away from a crisis.”

The former Sporting CP boss has struggled ever since his arrival at Old Trafford, with his points per match ratio particularly concerning, and the shock defeat at the hands of Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup certainly won’t have done the manager any favours.

Consequently, according to a report from Football Insider, Man United have now started to identify potential replacements for Amorim, and they have selected Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as their top target.

INEOS are not actively looking to bring in a replacement for their manager straight away, but they have now started to assess the market, and Emery has emerged as an appealing option, given the job he has done at Villa.

The 53-year-old replaced Steven Gerrard at Villa Park in November 2022, taking over when the Villans were just above the relegation zone, and he has since led them to the Champions League and Europa League in back-to-back seasons.

Man Utd join race to sign £40k-a-week England int'l who's impressed Tuchel

The Red Devils “have been looking at” an England player, who has impressed during the current international break.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 9, 2025

Emery could be "unbelievable" Amorim replacement

While the Spaniard has undoubtedly done a fantastic job at Aston Villa, there are doubts over how much further he can take them, given his current employers’ PSR issues, which limited their spending in the summer transfer window.

As such, a move to Old Trafford could potentially appeal to the Villa boss, who has enjoyed an incredibly successful career up to this point, winning 11 trophies across spells with Sevilla, Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain.

Villa striker Louie Barry, who is currently on loan at Sheffield United, has also praised the former PSG manager’s training sessions, saying: “Unai Emery is an unbelievable coach for improving players. It was crazy to me how similar the training was to my time in Barcelona.”

Should they sack Amorim, Man United could do with bringing in a proven Premier League manager, who has a history of winning trophies, and Emery ticks both boxes.

The financial benefits of Manchester United moving to a new multi-purpose stadium are becoming clear with a new forecast predicting a £100 million ($133.4m) windfall if they sign a lucrative deal with the NFL. United have recently announced plan for a state-of-the-art 100,000-seater ‘New Trafford’ which would be located next to the famous current ground, but plans are still in the very early stages.

• Time for overdue move to new stadium

  Sport finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has claimed a UK-based NFL franchise could happen, which comes hot on the heels of United unveiling their ambitious stadium plans. The plans are part of a larger regeneration scheme for the surrounding Trafford district, aiming to create a vibrant waterside area with homes, businesses, and public spaces along the Bridgewater Canal. The new stadium's design, initially featuring a trident-shaped canopy and three towering masts, has been revised due to land acquisition challenges and cost concerns. The estimated cost for the stadium is £2 billion ($2.6bn), with the entire regeneration project potentially exceeding £3 billion ($4bn). Construction is anticipated to take around five years, with a target completion date of the 2030-31 season. Fans have been consulted, with a majority favoring a new stadium over redevelopment of the existing one. Concerns exist about financing, with reports suggesting the club might seek public funding for infrastructure. 

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  Money-spinner potential for United

  Speaking to Compare.bet, who offer NFL betting, Professor Wilson said: “A Super Bowl or NFL regular season game could generate around £10million at a stadium like Old Trafford, potentially increasing to £15 million with optimal pricing and ancillary services. It represents a significant opportunity. Taking NFL games outside of London to other parts of the UK, such as Old Trafford, would be interesting as it would engage a different demographic. Strategic partnerships, like a long-term deal between Manchester United and the NFL, could be worth over £100 million over a decade. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is currently the most aligned with US stadiums, which is why Spurs has been cultivating that experience. The new Old Trafford build is also being designed to be a multi-event stadium, similar to SoFi Stadium in California.”

• NFL explosion in the UK

  The NFL's presence in England dates back to exhibition games like the American Bowl series, which saw its first fixture at Wembley in 1986. However, the crucial shift came in 2007 with the launch of the NFL International Series, featuring regular-season games played outside the United States. The first of these landmark games saw the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium. The success of these initial games led the NFL to schedule regular-season games in London annually, solidifying a strong following in the UK. The series has expanded to include multiple games each season at iconic venues such as Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars have become a staple of the London Games, playing a home game in the UK annually since 2013. In 2022, the series expanded further to include games in Germany, highlighting the growing international reach of the NFL.

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  Will the Super Bowl come to UK?

  So, could regular season matches be augmented by the biggest match in the sport, the Super Bowl? Professor Wilson said: "The NFL in London is more lucrative than the Champions League in the States. The NFL market in Europe is bigger than the Champions League market in America. You get inward tourism, with people flying over from North America and Europe for the NFL. This is in contrast to people flying out of Europe into America to watch a Champions League final, which would have a much more local market. Both games would sell out, but the new revenue generated for the NFL with the Super Bowl would far exceed that from the Champions League final in the States."

Heading into the 2025 summer transfer window, Arsenal fans were expectant. They were promised an unprecedented summer and despite the slow pace with which a deal for Viktor Gyokeres was completed, the Gunners indeed had a crazy summer.

That striker deal was finally wrapped but Andrea Berta strengthened Mikel Arteta’s squad in every single position possible.

At the back, Kepa arrived from Chelsea in a £5m deal while Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, two of the most exciting young defensive talents in Europe, both signed.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was the marquee addition but he was joined by former Brentford skipper, Christian Norgaard.

It was the forward line that was bolstered most, however. Gyokeres, of course, was the big addition but beside him came Noni Madueke – a signing that sparked controversy – and one that had the whole fanbase unified; Eberechi Eze.

What those signings have done is take this squad to the next level. It’s another phase and level of progression for Arteta’s side and even with a whole host of injuries – namely to William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka – they swept aside Nottingham Forest with ease on Saturday.

It’s not the first time that Arteta has chosen to take the team in a new direction; Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are testament to that.

The Jesus and Zinchenko sagas at Arsenal

In the summer of 2022, Arteta knew he needed something to take his project to the next level.

In order to do that, he signed Jesus for £45m and Zinchenko for £30m from Manchester City within just a few weeks of each other.

Proven winners, players he knew from his days as assistant head coach to Pep Guardiola, this was a strong recipe tor success and indeed they changed the game when they first arrived.

Zinchenko allowed a huge level of tactical progression. The left-back is one of the finest inverted full-backs in European football which allowed Arsenal to gain more possession and control the tempo of a game more efficiently.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

How about Jesus? Well, he brought spice, he brought trickery and he brought goals. The Brazilian’s first few months at the Emirates Stadium were a sight to behold.

A proper Brazilian forward, Jesus was spellbinding. He beat players for fun and, importantly, he scored goals. In his first nine Premier League outings, he bagged five times and also registered four assists, proving to be a unique all-round threat.

The trouble is, while Arsenal got better as a squad, the importance of Zinchenko and Jesus became less and less.

The Ukrainian, for all of the good he brought in possession, was a liability defensively and Jesus, well, he just can’t seem to stay off the treatment table.

We all got a reminder of just how good the 28-year-old is when he scored six goals in the space of five games over the 2024/25 festive period, including a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.

Yet, his season was turned upside down when he ruptured his ACL in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Even before that, however, he was beginning to be phased out by Arteta. Kai Havertz was now the golden striker.

At left-back, meanwhile, Arteta upgraded on Zinchenko by adding Riccardo Calafiori to the fray. The emergence of Hale Ender, Myles Lewis-Skelly, also bumped him further down the pecking order.

Arsenal’s game-changers were no longer game-changers; they were merely spare parts in this squad.

The same is now happening for two of Arteta’s most trusted forward players at the Emirates. It would be a surprise if they started games regularly again.

£66m Arsenal duo are going to suffer this season

What a transfer window Arsenal had. Yet, unfortunately for two players in the forward line, they may well find themselves reduced to bit-part figures, just like Jesus and Zinchenko in the last few years.

The players here are Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, key components of the Gunners’ forward line for a number of seasons now.

Unfortunately for Martinelli, he doesn’t look as though he’ll ever live up to his sky-high potential. Once described as a “talent of the century” by Jurgen Klopp, it feels like a long time now since the Brazilian netted 15 Premier League goals in a single campaign.

It also feels like a long time since Trossard’s 17-goal haul in 2023/24. That season, only Bukayo Saka scored more goals for Arsenal.

It’s safe to say that 2024/25 was not one full of too much success for either player. While Martinelli did score inside the Bernabeu, he and Trossard both ended the term with ten goals apiece from 51 and 56 games respectively.

It’s not an awful tally, but you need more, particularly when Arsenal were contending with injuries to the likes of Saka, Havertz and Jesus.

So, over the summer of 2025, Arsenal have undergone another level of progression, one that could spell the end for any thoughts both Martinelli and Trossard had of gaining regular starts.

Indeed, with Madueke and Eze having entered the fray, immediate upgrades have been sourced on the £270k-per-week duo. We saw that first-hand during Arsenal’s win over Forest at the weekend.

While Madueke didn’t leave the pitch with a goal or an assist, he was relentless down the right-hand side and showcased why he will be the most natural back-up and competition for Saka. He completed five key passes and also registered five successful dribbles.

As for Eze, he was a breath of fresh air on the left-hand side of the attack. Jinking past players for fun, he was the player who registered the assist for Gyokeres’ goal.

Running in behind, the Hale Ender was picked out by Calafiori. Eze did not need a touch to set himself, ultimately sliding the ball into the path of the big Swede who couldn’t miss from a matter of yards out.

It was a performance that evoked memories of the 2022/23 side, one that Jesus and Zinchenko were part of. The football was slick, it was sweeping and it got past the Forest defence with ease.

Unfortunately for the £66m-rated pair of Trossard and Martinelli, it’s not good news. Still, for fans of the club, it was incredibly refreshing to see a pair of wingers with the desire to beat their man.

Arsenal star looks like their best bargain since the days of Henry & Vieira

Very rarely does a player feel like a bargain but Andrea Berta has struck gold on this one.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 15, 2025

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have been urged to dispense with manager Phil Parkinson and appoint Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg as the Welsh club aim to finally reach the Premier League. The club have endured a difficult start to life in the second-tier after flying up the divisions from non-league, and the pressure is ramping up on the Wrexham head coach.

• Wrexham's difficult start

  The Welsh club have flown up the divisions since Reynolds and Mac took the reigns, but have appeared to hit something of a plateau after their promotion into the Championship. Thus far this season, Phil Parkinson's side have won just two of their 10 games, drawing four and losing four. As a result, they sit 19th in the table, and are already eight points behind the play-off places, increasing the pressure on manager Parkinson. Now, Anders Limpar has insisted that the club should make a change, and look towards a former Invincible in Ljungberg. 

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  Limpar's recommendation

  Limpar told Hajper: "Should Ryan Reynolds speak to Freddie Ljungberg about the Wrexham job in the future? Yes, why not! Freddie Ljungberg is a good communicator. I think he’s ready to step in to take on another team. He has the right personality.

  "Unfortunately he got the sack from Wolfsburg and then suddenly he just stopped but that’s not fair on Freddie because when he talks about football, he is a very clever guy and he can see the systems as an analyst as well. For whoever gives him another chance, he will be an unbelievable manager.

  "In general, if you ask a Swedish person about Wrexham they don't have a clue but for those of us who are following the Premier League and the Championship, for sure they are known as a small club who are trying to get up the leagues.

  "We have (Olof) Mellberg, Freddie and Henrik Larsson. All three are potentially very good managers. It was between Graham Potter and Olof Mellberg for the Swedish job. So give them a chance. There would be no regrets for the club."

• Ljungberg's CV

  Ljungberg was previously an interim manager at Arsenal but has never actually managed a senior team for any length of time. He did work in the Gunners' coaching staff for some time, doing so between 2016 and 2017, and then again between 2018 and 2020. Upon his departure, he confirmed his desire to pursue new managerial opportunities, but they have not been forthcoming. 

  At the time, he said: "I have decided to leave my first-team assistant coaching role at Arsenal to progress my management experience. I have been involved with this club on and off since 1998 and am grateful for all the opportunities they have given me both as a player and as a coach.

  "I wish Mikel and all the team every success for the season ahead. Thanks also to the fans for their constant support and for always being by my side. I hope we will all meet again soon."

  Edu, who was Arsenal's technical director at the time, also lavished praise on the Swede, adding: "We're really sad to see Freddie leave as we know how much he loves Arsenal. However, we know he has had various opportunities over the last 12 months and stuck to the job at Arsenal. Now he has the opportunity to consider other options, and it makes sense for his career at this time.

  "Freddie has made a huge contribution in his coaching role, most importantly when he led the team during that difficult period between Unai's departure and Mikel's appointment. We will forever be grateful for what he did then and what he's done since but fully recognise his desire to move on and be a head coach himself."

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  What comes next?

  Wrexham's next fixture comes against Oxford United this weekend, in what could be fairly termed as a six-pointer. Oxford sit 20th, just one place behind Parkinson's side, and will be out for a scalp this weekend. Parkinson will be hopeful of recording three morale-boosting points as they aim to climb the league table. 

It was one-way traffic for Emma Hayes, who started a young lineup that was determined to dominate from start to finish

There were some factoids that emerged prior to Wednesday night's match between the U.S. women's national team and New Zealand. With an average of just 17.3 caps, this was the least-experienced USWNT lineup in 25 years. It featured three teenagers – for the second straight game – to combine for an average age of 23.2.

Captain Rose Lavelle had 114 caps, more than all the rest of the starting XI combined. But, despite all of their youthful naivety, this U.S. team did something that its predecessors have done for years and years: overpower an overmatched opponent.

Led by the first international hat-trick from relative newcomer Emma Sears, the U.S. never let up against New Zealand in a 6-0 win, and, realistically, it could have been much worse. This was a game with goals in it from the very start and the USWNT made sure to score them. Sears netted three, Catarina Macario got two and Lavelle, the veteran, got one of her own.

It was a masterclass from top to bottom against a New Zealand team that, in reality, had no way of stopping what was to come. The USWNT now have 20 wins, one loss and one draw in 22 all-time meetings with New Zealand.

Coach Emma Hayes will be proud of the decisive outcome. After two tough games against Portugal, she handed the keys to many of her least experienced players for a different kind of test. The expectation was always going to be to win by a lot, not just win, and that comes with its own sort of pressure.

The U.S. was never fazed by that. In fact, they seemed determined to score more and more even as the game wore on.

"It’s exciting to see the future of this team," Michelle Cooper told TNT. "To be able to have multiple players change our starting lineup and still be able to raise the level and get a win out of that, it really speaks to the future of this team and what Emma has done here."

This, then, was a good step for some of the USWNT's younger players, from debutant Kennedy Wesley right up to the likes of Sears, who headlined the group that has been making their way into the team since the post-Olympic phase last year. This was the most lopsided win in that stretch, one that will see the U.S. end an October that started with a surprising low feeling very high.

"We knew that we had another level to go," Macario told TNT post-game. "When you’re apart for like four months or so, and Portugal played a great game against us and it was a different challenge, one that took us a while to solve. But we bounced back in the second game. And I think it’s about staying together and bringing our qualities – that’s what we did today, and we were really intentional in doing that. It was a good end to the camp."

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from CPKC Stadium.

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  WINNER: Emma Sears

  Being in the right place at the right time is, generally, good fortune. There's something special about doing it over and over again and, because of that, there's nothing lucky about what Sears did on Wednesday.

  None of Sears' finishes were particularly spectacular, but the way that she put herself in position to get them certainly was. Against a New Zealand team that was bunkering for their lives, Sears routinely found her way into space, pouncing on opportunity after opportunity to notch three goals.

  It was a masterclass in attacking soccer because, sometimes, doing things the easy way is the best way.

  “Honestly, I want to give a lot of credit to my teammates,” she said. “Especially with that first goal, Michelle served it on a platter for me to tap it in. And yeah, the goals following, it was good to carry on that momentum throughout the game and ultimately get the win.”

  This game was a big statement for the 25-year-old attacker, who, entering the game, had just one goal in her first 10 caps. That came in her debut a year ago. With four now to her name, Sears is pushing for a place in a crowded attack – and, generally, the best way to make that push is to score. Scoring three? That's a strong message.

  "I knew that after my first call-up to the national team, it was an opportunity that I really needed to make the most of," Sears said. "I think a lot of the advice I’ve received since coming back to soccer is to really trust the process and just remember and stay with what I’m good at, and bring that into this environment.

  "As I’ve also heard from some of the more experienced players on this team, in international games, you only get a few opportunities to use in each game, so to show what you’re really great at is super important."

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  LOSER: New Zealand

  We'll call this a "burn the film" game. That's likely what New Zealand should do after this because, in reality, there isn't much to take from it. It wasn't an individual error or moment that caused their undoing on Wednesday. It was simply that the other team was significantly better.

  Luckily for them, they won't face the USWNT every game, and they'll be thankful that's the case. New Zealand were coming off back-to-back losses against Mexico, but the 2-0 and 1-0 scores were more respectable. There's a reason, though, that they've won just one of their 15 World Cup games over the last five tournaments.

  There is simply a gap in quality here and, realistically, there isn't much to learn from this beyond that. So burn the tape and move on, New Zealand. There will be better days ahead and bigger tests, particularly against local rivals Australia next month before World Cup qualifying begins next year.

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  WINNER: Catarina Macario

  This was the version of Macario that USWNT fans have been eager to see. Injuries prevented her from showing that too often over these last few years, but we sure did get a look at the best version of the Chelsea forward on Wednesday.

  There were two goals, of course, as Macario made the most of her moments in front of goal. It was her fourth international brace. She's not a pure striker, though, at least in the traditional sense, which means she'll always offer a bit more in the attack. 

  Her assist on Sears' goal really showcased that fact. When she's on her game, Macario is the type of player who can glue an attack together with her ability to dribble and pass the ball.

  "I love being with this team, I love playing with them and I love playing football," Macario said on TNT. "As a forward, you always get a little frustrated when you don’t score, but I’m just happy to help the team – but I’ll take the goals, of course."

  The USWNT attack was ticking all night, and Sears and Michelle Cooper deserve their share of the credit, too. Don't overlook Macario, though, particularly on a night in which she showed, once again, that she can really deliver at a high level.

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  LOSERS: Those that didn't play

  Those left on the bench must have been salivating. This was the type of game in which everyone and anyone could have gotten a goal or an assist, so spare a thought for those that didn't get a chance. Alyssa Thompson ran and ran against Portugal, but was left out of the squad for this match against New Zealand after playing heavy minutes.

  There's little doubt she would have been among the scorers with the way this game went. Olivia Moultrie will feel that way, too, after netting twice against Portugal on Sunday. Ally Sentnor has proven goal dangerous, too, but was also among those who didn't get in, while even the defenders on the bench might be looking on, going, "What if?"

  This was a game everyone wants to play in, and those who didn't get that chance will be, relatively, disappointed not to get the opportunity.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs made a huge prediction regarding his former club and Liverpool back in 2011, and they are coming back to haunt him now.

Liverpool and Man Utd's spells of success

The Red Devils and the Reds remain the two biggest clubs in English football, enjoying a great rivalry throughout history and having different periods of success.

Liverpool were on top for much of the 1970s and 1980s, winning First Division titles and European Cup glory, but their era of glory ended around 1990, prior to United becoming the dominant force in the Premier League.

For nearly 20 years, they ruled the roost, even though the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal enjoyed strong periods as well, and it felt as though they would go nowhere with Sir Alex Ferguson in charge.

Since the Scot departed, however, United have fallen away dramatically, not winning the league since 2013 and often being a laughing stock, while Liverpool have returned to the top, winning two Premier League titles in the past five years.

Giggs' bold Man Utd and Liverpool prediction in 2011

Speaking back in 2011, Giggs boldly claimed that Manchester United would never collapse and fade away like Liverpool after a period of dominance, which in hindsight, has ended up looking foolish.

It’s fair to say that Giggs’ comments now look foolish, considering United’s period of dominance in the 1990s and 2000s is long gone, having not won a Premier League title in 12 years.

Liverpool are now streets ahead of their rivals, excelling under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, and it feels like a long time before United will be able to compete for the top honours again.

History has shown that both the Reds and Red Devils are far too big not go away forever, though, and there is every chance that United will be back again at some point.

Man Utd’s most embarrassing defeats since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford

The Red Devils have had multiple humiliating losses since 2013.

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 28, 2025

Liverpool could just do without one of their current players tempting fate like Giggs did all those years ago.