Cincinnati Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz is used to stealing bases whenever he wants to but during a key moment in Wednesday night's loss to the Seattle Mariners he was called out while trying to swipe second thanks to a rare call that he had nothing to do with.

This all happened in the bottom of the eighth with no outs in a two-run game. As De La Cruz broke toward second, Reds left fielder Austin Hays swung and missed on strike three. His momentum from the swing then caused him to fall toward home plate as the catcher made the throw to second. Umpire Chris Segal quickly called batter's interference on Hays, which meant De La Cruz was out, too.

This isn't something you see every day at the MLB level, but it seemed like the right call despite some fans being upset about it:

While the announcers wondered if contact had been made between the hitter and the catcher, that doesn't need to happen for the call to be made. The rule states that if the batter does anything to hinder the catcher's attempt to make a throw, then the batter is out. The runner would have to return to his previous base, unless it happened on a strike three call. Then the runner is out, too.

De La Cruz led the league in steals last season with 67. This year he has just four through 18 games. The Reds fell to 9-9 with the 5-3 loss.

Anything can happen in baseball. On Easter Sunday, one of those things did.

As the Chicago Cubs hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, a seagull hit the jackpot, grabbing itself a full hot dog as it cruised across the stadium.

Getty photographer Griffin Quinn also hit the jackpot, as he captured a brilliant image of the bird, with the dog, in flight.

Baseball fans on social media had fun with the bizarre moment.

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has now made a major decision on Pedri’s fitness ahead of the Champions League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Tuesday.

The Blues will be looking to return to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday, having been unable to overcome Qarabag last time out, drawing 2-2 away at the Azerbaijani side, but they should be heading into the game with renewed confidence.

Enzo Maresca’s side have put together a good run in the Premier League, winning their last three matches without conceding, most recently securing a 2-0 win at Burnley courtesy of goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.

Maresca was particularly happy with his side’s defensive showing, saying after the game: “The way we competed I am very happy.

“To come here and not concede is very difficult. It’s normal to concede something. But overall they only had one real chance. During the game they didn’t have any big chances and during the game we had loads of chances.”

However, the manager will be well-aware that Tuesday’s opposition will be much tougher, and the west Londoners have now been handed a boost heading into the Champions League encounter…

Hansi Flick set to leave Pedri out against Chelsea

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Pedri is now unlikely to travel to London ahead of Tuesday’s game, as Flick and his coaching staff believe it is not worth risking the midfielder, who suffered a hamstring injury near the end of October.

The 22-year-old is now a serious doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge, having missed training on Sunday, which will be welcome news for Maresca & co, who need every advantage they can get heading into the game against the reigning La Liga champions.

Lauded as “amazing” by journalist Muhammad Butt, the Barcelona star has been absolutely integral for Barcelona over the past year, regularly displaying his ability to dictate games, set-up chances for his teammates, and drive the ball forward.

Pedri’s key statistics	Average per 90 (past year)
Assists	0.17 (80th percentile)
Passes attempted	91.85 (98th percentile)
Progressive carries	3.42 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons	1.40 (97th percentile)

That said, the La Liga side are likely to be just as fearful of Chelsea’s midfield, with Fernandez scoring his fifth goal of the season against Burnley at the weekend, while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has waxed lyrical about Moises Caicedo this season.

As such, Chelsea should no doubt fancy their chances heading into Tuesday’s game, taking on Barca in a competitive game for the first time since a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou back in 2018.

Moises Caicedo and Pedri have been named among the best midfielders in the world

The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

5

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025

Liverpool’s issues run far and wide this season, and Arne Slot’s second season is falling from a concern to a calamity. Nottingham Forest pitched up at Anfield on Saturday and won 3-0. That’s six defeats from seven Premier League matches for the champions.

The fact that Liverpool produced a confident and front-footed performance for the first half-hour, before Murillo pounced after a corner, is immaterial. Even the residue of the fluent and coherent and tenacious spine has deserted Slot’s side.

Things can change quickly in football, but on the basis of the current evidence, Liverpool will struggle to secure a place in next season’s Champions League, let alone challenge high-flying Arsenal for the title.

Change is needed, a strange thing to say given the Reds’ record-breaking summer of spending. But with such glaring tactical problems, it feels likely that FSG will authorise a signing or two this winter.

Liverpool search for winter signings

With Ibrahima Konate so horribly out of sorts and free to talk to overseas suitors in January, out of contract at the end of the season, there is an understandable anxiety about Liverpool’s defensive depth, let alone the stability of the backline.

This club’s reputation as masterful strategists has disintegrated over the past few months. The squeals of delight from rival fans are loud, and it goes without saying that it’s crucial that sporting director Richard Hughes gets it right if dipping back into the market come January.

Liverpool need a centre-back, sure, but that’s not the extent of their issues, with Slot actually hinting in the past week that his club’s transfer arm may extend in a different direction.

Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are preparing to launch a statement bid for Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, who has been earmarked as an alternative to Antoine Semenyo, admired by FSG and with a £65m release clause that becomes active in January.

Liverpool might have broken the British transfer record on Alexander Isak this summer, but they are now looking to smash that once again with a deal for the French winger, who is valued at €200m (about £177m).

Change is needed at Anfield, and with Olise added to the fold, the intensity and sparkle that have been so sorely lacking may be rekindled.

What Olise would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool have been lacking something out wide this season, and a large part of that has been the failure to effectively replace Luis Diaz.

Diaz, sold to Bayern Munich this summer, was so dynamic and dangerous, and in his new teammate Olise, Liverpool could restore that style of wide forward to their set-up.

Olise has been described as “easily a top-five right winger in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and with the need for a Mohamed Salah replacement intensifying, this could be the perfect move to go for, the Les Bleus star only continuing to go from strength to strength.

Whether Liverpool opt for the cheaper route in signing Semenyo remains to be seen, but this would be a statement, and Olise has proven his capacity to succeed in different systems and different areas.

Of course, there is a big difference between playing for Bournemouth and starring for Bayern Munich. The Cherries are an attractive and impressive outfit, but they lack the offensive freedom of Die Roten at the peak of the Bundesliga.

Goals scored

0.63

0.55

Assists

0.63

0.27

Shots taken

4.62

1.91

Shot-creating actions

6.82

3.28

Touches (att pen)

7.55

3.64

Pass completion (%)

81.6

69.4

Progressive passes

6.40

3.55

Progressive carries

5.45

3.19

Successful take-ons

2.31

1.91

Ball recoveries

4.72

5.28

Tackles + interceptions

1.36

1.82

Olise would be able to transfer his elite-level experience back over to the Premier League, where he has played so spectacularly before, and provide Slot’s side with creative and physical upgrades, echoing Semenyo’s skills in that regard.

But he would also give Liverpool the Diaz-like presence they have missed since the summer. The Colombian’s energy and core strength made him a fearsome Premier League winger, and with 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions last term, he was instrumental in propping up Slot’s reputation.

Podcast host Ryan Dilks said five years ago that Olise was a “superstar in waiting”, destined for the top, and now that has been put into practice, with the 23-year-old in his second season at Bayern and currently boasting nine goals and ten assists across 18 matches in all competitions this season.

It cannot be understated how much of a detrimental effect Diaz’s sale has had on Liverpool’s form and fluency this season. Olise would fix that. As per Sofascore, he has won 4.4 duels per game in the Bundesliga this season. His final season in the Premier League with Palace? Olise averaged 5.7 duels per match.

Liverpool are crying out for this kind of winger, and while Semenyo would add qualities that the club need, Olise is equally tenacious and physical, and he’s far superior from a technical standpoint and proven as one of the game’s most prolific wide forwards around.

Liverpool have slipped and slid into a morass of their own making. There are many circumstances surrounding this current crisis, but Slot is making many questionable tactical decisions and the players themselves have lost every shred of confidence and work-rate, two fixed points of the Dutch coach’s successful first season in charge.

It’s clear that there isn’t enough width and energy down the flanks, and so Olise could be the perfect Semenyo alternative to replace Salah by handing back to Merseyside a bit of Diaz-esque flair.

Semenyo upgrade: Liverpool want to sign "the best youngster in the world"

Liverpool look set to make a move for another elite-level youngster this January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

They might not have won, but Chelsea put in an incredible performance against Arsenal on Sunday evening.

Enzo Maresca’s side were comfortably on top for most of the first half, and even when Moises Caicedo got himself sent off, they remained competitive.

Moreover, there were sensational displays from across the pitch for the hosts, including, of course, Reece James.

However, there was another starter, someone who was previously lambasted by Gary Neville, who was just as crucial to the result.

James' performance vs Arsenal

James has undoubtedly been one of the best right-backs in the Premier League for some time now, but Maresca has taken to playing him in midfield more often this season.

The Italian opted to start his captain there again on Sunday, and while there was plenty of talk around the battle between Declan Rice and Caicedo, it was the Cobham graduate who stole the show.

For example, while Trevoh Chalobah was the one who headed home the Blues’ goal, it was the versatile James who delivered it with pinpoint accuracy from the corner.

However, the academy graduate did far more than just provide an assist.

In his 94 minutes of action, he played two key passes, won 100% of his tackles, won 11 of 12 duels, didn’t get dribbled past at all, recovered the ball twice, completed three of his four crosses, took one shot and completed 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

94′

Assists

1

Big Chances Created

1

Key Passes

2

Crosses (Accurate)

4 (3)

Shots

1

Touches

50

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls Won

4

Interception

1

Clearances

1

Recoveries

2

Ground Duels (Won)

6 (6)

Aerial Duels (Won)

6 (5)

In addition to all the measurable metrics, the 25-year-old also showed his leadership skills, helping to marshal the team in the moments the Gunners exerted pressure of their own.

Described as “absolutely ridiculous” by one analyst and “gargantuan” by presenter Olivia Buzaglo, the Redbridge-born international was unsurprisingly, and deservedly, named as the man of the match.

Without him in the middle of the park, there is a good chance that Chelsea would not have won that game, which is what could be said about another starter who has been heavily criticised over the last few seasons.

The Chelsea star on a par with James

The excellent news for Maresca and the Stamford Bridge faithful is that there were more than a few starters who truly shone last night.

Chalkboard

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

Be it Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernández or even Pedro Neto, who carried the ball up the pitch and into dangerous areas again and again.

However, when it comes to someone who was previously lambasted but exceptional against Arsenal, it’s impossible to look past Robert Sanchez.

Prior to this season, the Spanish goalkeeper was seen as something of a blunder waiting to happen between the sticks, and to some extent, that is what he’s been for much of his time in West London.

In fact, just last season, after a loss against Manchester City in which he was at fault for one of Erling Haaland’s goals, Gary Neville claimed “he’s not good enough.”

However, since the start of this season, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has been far more impressive, and on Sunday evening, he was as important as James for the Blues’ win.

On top of stopping a number of good efforts, like Gabriel Martinelli’s in the first half, the 28-year-old was effective in possession and confident in collecting crosses.

In fact, football.london’s Bobby Vincent awarded the keeper an 8/10 match rating at full time, writing that it was a ‘top performance.’

Minutes

94′

Total Saves

3

Saves in the Box

2

Goals Prevented

1.18

High Claims

2

Key Passes

1

Touches

60

Recoveries

11

Unsurprisingly, the statistics back up this appraisal: in his 94 minutes of action, the shot-stopper made three saves, two of which came inside the box, prevented 1.18 goals, made two high claims, played one key pass, took 60 touches and recovered the ball 11 times.

Ultimately, while it will take some time to shift his old reputation, Sanchez is well on his way to doing so, and was as important as James in Chelsea’s draw on Sunday.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has fallen way below the standards Thomas Frank will have expected, with the Dane previously working with numerous elite-level talents.

During his time as Brentford manager, he oversaw the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, with both players managing to register 20+ goal seasons in the Premier League.

At present, the Lilywhites don’t have a player capable of achieving such feats, with Richarlison the current top scorer on five goals from his first 12 appearances.

Investment is no doubt needed during the upcoming transfer windows to provide the manager with the ammunition he will need to take the club to the next level.

With January rapidly approaching on the horizon, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting multiple players who will improve the situation within the final third.

Spurs’ hunt for added attacking signings this January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been named as just one of the Premier League sides interested in a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Ghanaian international, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other clubs interested in a deal for the 25-year-old this winter.

According to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites are willing to meet the attacker’s current £65m release clause, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a move to North London.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently being lined up by the Spurs hierarchy, with Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa another talent the board are closely monitoring.

The Spaniard has already scored 11 times in his 18 appearances across all competitions, subsequently showcasing the impressive goalscoring nature he possesses in the final third.

The same news outlet has also confirmed that the Lilywhites are also willing to fork out a reported £80m for the 21-year-old’s signature, which could see the hierarchy splash £145m on the pair.

Why Spurs’ £102k targets would be Frank’s answer to Son & Kane

Over the last few seasons, the Spurs faithful have been massively blessed with numerous attacking talents, but none more so than Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

The pair featured together for just shy of a decade in North London, with the duo breaking numerous long-standing records during their time alongside one another.

As a result of their success alongside each other in the Premier League, they combined between one another for a staggering 47 goals in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally is higher than any other partnership in the division’s 33-year history, highlighting the success they achieved when featuring together at the Lilywhites.

However, none of the players remain on the books in North London, with Son moving to LAFC in the recent summer window, whilst Kane joined Bayern Munich a little over two years ago.

Frank will no doubt be wishing he could rely upon such stars in the present day, but he could be about to get his own version, if the hierarchy complete deals for Semenyo and Samu this January.

The former of the duo would likely occupy the left-wing position, but did possess a huge attacking threat, as seen by his tally of nine combined goals and assists in the Premier League this season.

His underlying stats further showcase his talents in attacking areas this campaign, with the Ghanaian completing 1.9 dribbles and creating an average of 1.4 chances per 90.

Out of possession, the Cherries star has been just as impressive, subsequently making 5.3 recoveries and winning possession 0.9 times per 90 in the final third – with both ranking him in the top 15% of attackers in the league.

Antoine Semenyo – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

11

Goals & assists

9

Take-ons completed

1.9

Chances created

1.4

Progressive passes

3.6

Passes into opposition box

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

Recoveries made

5.3

Stats via FBref

However, he could form a deadly partnership with Samu in the years to come, with the Spaniard potentially being the beneficiary of Semenyo’s quality in North London.

During his spell in Portugal with Porto, the 21-year-old has already demonstrated his clinical nature, as seen by his remarkable tally of 36 goals in his first 60 outings for the club.

This campaign alone, he’s posted a 64% shot on target accuracy rate, whilst achieving a 0.86 goal per 90 record – ranking him in the top

8% of all strikers in Europe to date.

His tally of 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90 showcases his picker instincts, which could see him getting on the end of Semenyo’s mazy runs in North London.

The duo, who earn a combined £102k, would cost a reported £145m this January, but such a figure would be superb business for two players of their quality.

Since Kane and Son’s respective departures, the club have been lacking quality in forward areas, with various moves for Semenyo and Samu finally handing Frank the talent he’s craved since taking the reins.

Related Frank must drop Bentancur to unleash Spurs star who's just "like Modric"

Tottenham Hotspur face PSG looking to claim revenge for the UEFA Super Cup final.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco ficou no lucro com o empate sofrido contra o Fortaleza no jogo de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, no Castelão. Apesar da pressão dos donos da casa do iníco ao fim, o Cruz-Maltino soube sofrer para segurar no empate.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

A verdade é que ninguém esperava uma grande atuação do time carioca. O elenco contava com desfalques importantes como Payet e João Victor, além do pouco tempo de preparo com o novo técnico interino Rafael Paiva. Mas a esperança era sair com um bom resultado para levantar o astral e levar o jogo para a decisão em São Januário – objetivo concluído.

O Fortaleza tomou conta da partida e obrigou Léo Jardim a fazer defesas milagrosas que salvaram o resultado para o Vasco. Não à toa, o goleiro ficou com a maior nota do time no Footstats (8,9). Boa atuação também do trio de defesa montada por Paiva: Rojas, Maicon e Léo deram conta do serviço de fechar a zaga vascaína.

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Por outro lado, o Gigante da Colina tem sofrido muito com o ataque. A falta de eficiência no chute final fez o Vasco sofrer muito em busca dos resultados em 2024. Apesar do time finalizar muitas vezes, pouquíssimas bolas vão na direção do gol. Vegetti acabou ficando com a pior nota do elenco na partida (4,5), sendo seguido por Lucas Piton (4,7).

Tanto Rafael Paiva, quanto Ramón Diáz, não conseguiram chegar em um denominador comum em relação ao trio ofensivo. Vegetti parece ser a única unamidade, mas as pontas giram em todos jogos com Rossi, David, Rayan e Clayton. Além de Adson ainda entrar nessa briga.

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O meio-campo também preocupa. Desde a perda de Paulinho e Jair, parece que nada dá certo no centro do campo. Matheus Carvalho entra bem, mas oscila. Mesma coisa com Sforza e Galdames. O Payet, que antes parecia ser peça essencial no elenco, já não é unanimidade.

A perda de Gabriel Pec, Marlon Gomes e os dois principais volantes da última temporada deixam a impressão de que o time de 2024 piorou. E de fato, os resultados nas primeiras partidas do Brasileirão são piores. Ao fim da quarta rodada do Brasileirão 2023, o Vasco ocupava a 11ª posição com 5 pontos. Hoje, o Cruz-Maltino ocupa a 17ª posição com apenas 3 pontos.

O principal culpado pelo empate com o Fortaleza? A falta de eficiência e objetividade. O principal culpado pela crise que se instaurou no Vasco? A falta de planejamento da diretoria. A busca por um novo técnico e a chegada de reforços vão definir a história do clube da Colina este ano. Por enquanto, a torcida não vê muitos motivos para sorrir.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilFortalezaVasco

Devonshire suffered a laceration on her bowling hand in training

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Flora Devonshire has been ruled out of the ODI World Cup with an injury to her bowling hand. Seamer Hannah Rowe has been approved as Devonshire’s replacement.Devonshire, 22, was set to feature in her maiden ODI World Cup campaign but suffered a laceration on her left hand during a training session. Her injury will need two to three weeks to heal.”We’re all feeling for Flora,” head coach Ben Sawyer said. “She worked hard to earn her spot in this squad and it’s a real shame her tournament is ending early.”Rowe has played 60 ODIs so far and will now feature in her third ODI World Cup. She will not be available for New Zealand’s game against South Africa on October 6 and will join the following day.”We’re pleased to be able to call up a senior player in Hannah Rowe,” Sawyer said. “Hannah’s obviously not a like-for-like replacement for Flora, but she offers an all-round skillset and has experience in sub-continent conditions.”New Zealand lost the opening game of their campaign to Australia by 89 runs. After facing South Africa on October 6 in Indore, New Zealand fly to Guwahati to face Bangladesh on October 10.

Liverpool’s disastrous campaign is showing little sign of relenting at the moment, and there are so many different parts of Arne Slot’s system to criticise.

After the 4-1 defeat at Anfield against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate took heavy pelters for their woeful defensive displays.

However, they were hardly the only Redmen who flattered to deceive, with Cody Gakpo yet again failing to convince on the left side of Slot’s frontline.

It might seem somewhat blunt to say, but Gakpo plays with a lack of dynamism, often repeating the same old patterns. As per Sofascore, he is averaging less than one dribble per game in the Premier League this season, while only completing 39% of his attempted ball carries on the continent.

Though he scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions for Liverpool last season, it always felt like Luis Diaz had more to his game.

Well, now Diaz plies his trade with Bayern Munich, and Liverpool are searching for a left-sided forward after opting against a like-for-like replacement this summer.

Liverpool searching for a left winger

We’re just over one month away from the opening of the January transfer window, and Liverpool’s interest in Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been confirmed.

Semenyo, 25, has been one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League this year, but FSG and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes appear to have earmarked an alternative who may actually prove a better pick than the Ghanaian.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool chiefs have learned that a deal for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior would likely cost the club about £80m next summer, with the Brazil international informing Los Blancos he will not be renewing his contract, of which has entered the penultimate year.

Manchester United are set to rival the Reds for the 25-year-old, while old suitors in the Saudi Pro League are bound to return for his signature. Hughes needs to pull the right strings quickly if he is to get this one over the line.

What Vinicius Junior would offer Liverpool

Vinicius Jr has been a thorn in Liverpool’s side on numerous occasions over the years, scoring five goals and providing two assists across six meetings. It was his goal that sealed the Champions League title against Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2022.

Brought from his Brazilian homeland to the Spanish capital in 2019, Vini has won the whole gamut at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 111 goals and supplying 89 assists across 340 matches in all competitions.

There’s no question that Vinicius Jr would mark an upgrade on a player like Gakpo, offering a wide range of qualities that could even see him replace, metaphorically, Mohamed Salah, as the club legend begins to wind down.

Matches (starts)

12 (10)

13 (10)

Goals

3

5

Assists

2

4

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.4)

2.6 (1.2)

Big chances missed

2

5

Accurate passes

19.3 (81%)

26.8 (82%)

Chances created*

1.8

2.2

Succ. dribbles*

1.3

2.3

Tackles*

0.8

1.2

Duels won*

5.1

5.5

Hailed as “the best player in the world” by teammate Jude Bellingham, it stands as a testament to Vinicius Jr’s level that he is still comfortably outstripping Gakpo as far as respective league stats are concerned, having endured something of a testing campaign under Xabi Alonso’s wing.

The fact that Gakpo is hitting the target less than once every two Premier League matches is deeply concerning. This is not the rip-roaring prolific form that Slot and Liverpool’s coaches would expect, and his limited output across other areas amplifies the noise. That said, Gakpo is creating a consistent number of chances this season, and that does count for something.

Hailed by former Los Blancos teammate Luka Modric as being one of the Spanish outfit’s “world-class superstars” and as “the best player on the planet” by Statman Dave, signing Vinicius Jr would signal an ominous statement of intent at Liverpool, and now it’s up to the Reds to put the plan into action.

Would that mean the end of Gakpo at Liverpool? The Dutchman did cohabit with Diaz, but there is a difference in quality that Vini would be sure to take advantage of, and it would throw Gakpo to the backbench.

As bad as Konate & Van Dijk: £85m Liverpool duo cannot start together again

Liverpool plummeted to new depths after losing 4-1 to PSV at Anfield in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 27, 2025

Barcelona have confirmed a fresh injury setback as midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out for around two weeks with a soleus problem in his right leg. The midfielder, who has been key for Hansi Flick this season, will now miss crucial La Liga and Champions League clashes. His absence arrives just as Pedri nears his return, reshaping the midfield picture during a demanding run of fixtures.

Barcelona lose midfield mainstay

Barca have confirmed that midfielder Lopez will miss the next two weeks after suffering a minor injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg during Thursday’s training session. It is a major setback for Hansi Flick, who had only just received good news with Pedri cleared for a return against Alaves. 

The club explained in a statement that the midfielder "has a small injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg, and his estimated recovery time is around two weeks.”

The timing is damaging for Flick, as this lay-off rules Fermin out of key La Liga and Champions League fixtures after a heavy 3-0 defeat against Chelsea. And, now the midfielder is expected to miss matches against Alaves, Atletico Madrid, Betis and Eintracht Frankfurt, and it remains uncertain whether he will recover in time to face Osasuna on December 13, only two days after the predicted recovery window ends.

AdvertisementAFPInjury sustained in Athletic Club clash

Fermín had been enjoying a strong season and recently reached 100 appearances for the first team. While highlighting his contribution. His availability had been particularly valuable at a moment when Barca are visibly struggling in the midfield marked with injuries, making this injury even more disruptive for Flick’s squad planning.

Beyond the medical report, the context of Fermin’s injury offers insight into why his absence could weigh heavily on the team. reported that the midfielder is still dealing with the effects of a forceful challenge suffered against Athletic Club, a tackle from Oihan Sancet that resulted in a red card for the Bilbao player. Despite continued discomfort, Fermin pushed himself to start Barca’s Champions League match at Stamford Bridge, where the team suffered a heavy defeat.

He played just over an hour before being substituted, and the accumulated strain appears to have contributed to Thursday’s setback in training. This latest issue marks his second injury of the season and arrives at a time when Barca’s injury list had finally begun to shrink, with only long-term absentees Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Gavi still out.

Pedri returns but midfield still a challenge for Flick

While the loss of Fermin is a concern, Barca did receive a boost in the form of Pedri’s recovery. The midfielder trained normally on Thursday and is expected to be available for the Alaves clash. His return offers Flick more options and could allow the club to manage workloads more carefully, particularly after the intense calendar that has carried the squad into physical fatigue.

Pedri’s return also opens the door for Dani Olmo to reclaim a starting role in attacking midfield, especially with Flick keen to rotate and protect key players. Fermin’s absence had already influenced Tuesday’s lineup in London, where Barcelona struggled without midfield balance and control.

This period demands careful squad management, with Barca chasing ground in La Liga following their Champions League setback. Flick must now rely on the depth of his midfield, including Pedri, Olmo and Frenkie de Jong to navigate the next two weeks.

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Fermin is expected to miss at least four matches, most importantly a key matchup when Atletico Madrid visit Camp Nou, and the crucial Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Should recovery go as planned, the midfielder could return around December 13, which places Osasuna at home as his earliest realistic comeback match. However, Barcelona will not rush him, especially given the recurring nature of soleus injuries. But, the club will hope the setback lasts no longer than the two-week window and that the young midfielder returns in time for a crucial December period.