روي كين يكشف مشكلة ليفربول الحقيقية الموسم الحالي

أوضح لاعب مانشستر يونايتد السابق روي كين، محلل قنوات “سكاي سبورتس”، المشكلة الرئيسية التي يعاني منها ليفربول هذا الموسم.

وواجه ليفربول نظيره فرانكفورت الألماني مساء أمس، الأربعاء، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وحقق ليفربول فوزًا مهمًا على نظيره الألماني بخماسية مقابل هدف جعلته يستعيد ثقته مرة أخرى بعد عدم الفوز في 4 مباريات متتالية.

وكان آرني سلوت قد اتخذ قرارًا بجلوس محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت للمباراة الثانية على التوالي بدوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد جلوسه أمام جالطة سراي في المباراة السابقة.

مكث الريدز 4 مباريات متتالية في جميع المسابقات لا يعرف طعم الفوز وخسرها جميعًا، أمام كريستال بالاس وتشيلسي ومانشستر يونايتد وجالطة سراي.

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وقال روي كين، في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ليفربول إيكو”: “أعتقد أن أكبر مشكلة يواجهها ليفربول هي طريقة دفاعه، في الهجوم لا يزال هناك تهديد على المرمى، فهم يمتلكون الجودة لكن دفاعيًا يعانون كثيرًا”.

وأكمل: “لقد قلنا في بداية الموسم بالعودة إلى مباراة الدرع الخيرية، أنهم كانوا يستقبلون العديد من الفرص ولكنهم كانوا لا يزالون يسجلون”.

وأتم”الآن ما زالوا يستقبلون الكثير من الفرص والكثير من الأهداف، هذه هي المشكلة الأكبر، على سبيل المثال آرسنال يهاجم ويدافع كفريق واحد لكن ليفربول غير مترابط أبدًا”.

Hazlewood expected to return to IPL for playoffs

ESPNcricinfo understands that the RCB quick is expected to return to India after a period of rehab on a shoulder niggle back in Australia

Andrew McGlashan23-May-2025

Josh Hazlewood has had an outstanding tournament with 18 wickets at 17.27 from ten matches•Getty Images

Josh Hazlewood is firming to make a return to the IPL 2025 for the playoffs with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after coming through a period of rehab on a shoulder niggle back in Australia.Hazlewood, who missed RCB’s last match before the IPL was suspended, returned home during the hiatus and has since been training in Brisbane as part of Australia’s preparations ahead of the World Test Championship final.ESPNcricinfo understands that he has emerged from those sessions well and is expected to return to India although it has yet to be confirmed. Hazlewood has had an outstanding tournament with 18 wickets at 17.27 from ten matches.Related

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RCB are assured of progressing and have two matches remaining in the league phase – against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27 – which will determine their route through the playoffs.The IPL was Hazlewood’s return to action after an injury-hit home summer where he did not feature again after suffering a calf strain in the third Test against India, which followed a side problem that kept him out of the second Test in Adelaide. He subsequently missed the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy.He is expected to return to the side for the WTC final against South Africa, edging Scott Boland out of the XI, having narrowly missed out on the 2023 decider against India amid recovery from Achilles and side injuries.The Australia players and staff who have remained at home will leave for the UK on May 29 with those at the rescheduled IPL joining as their tournaments conclude. Only Hazlewood and Josh Inglis (Punjab Kings) will be involved in the playoffs from those in the Test squad. The IPL final takes place on June 3, leaving just under a week to prepare for South Africa should either remain at the tournament until the end.Captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head will finish their season with Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 25. Mitchell Starc opted not to return to the tournament with Delhi Capitals.Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Beau Webster and travelling reserve Brendan Doggett are currently playing county cricket.

Rogério Ceni deve ser anunciado como novo técnico do Bahia

MatériaMais Notícias

Rogério Ceni deve ser anunciado como técnico do Bahia nas próximas horas. O treinador estava sem clube desde que deixou o São Paulo, em abril deste ano. O ex-goleiro e ídolo do Tricolor vai assumir o lugar deixado por Renato Paiva, que pediu demissão após muitas críticas pelo desempenho ruim no Brasileirão.

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+ Qual é a ligação da SAF do Bahia com o grupo City?

Ceni assume o Bahia na 16ª posição do Campeonato Brasileiro, logo acima da zona de rebaixamento. O time briga diretamente com Vasco e Santos na luta contra a degola. A informação sobre o acerto de Ceni com o time baiano foi divulgada inicialmente pelo jornalista Yuri Santana, no X, antigo Twitter.

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Em sua carreira como treinador, Ceni tem um título do Campeonato Brasileiro no currículo pelo Flamengo. O treinador também teve sucesso no Fortaleza, onde fez ótima campanha e se destacou no cenário nacional. Enquanto Ceni não chega, Rogério Ferreira, auxiliar técnico, segue treinando a equipe.

+ Confira a classificação atualizada do Brasileirão e veja os próximos jogos

Forget Nico: Pep must drop "world class" Man City star who lost the ball 12x

Yet another disappointing result for Manchester City.

On Wednesday night, the Sky Blues were held to a 2-2 by Monaco at Stade Louis II in the Champions League, despite leading twice, only to concede a penalty in the final minute.

Let’s start with the positives for the Citizens, namely Erling Braut Håland, who scored two magnificent goals in the Principality, taking his tally to 52 goals in just 50 Champions League appearances.

He has reached that landmark so quickly that, as noted by BBC Match of the Day, he has to be compared to clubs, not players, having scored more goals in his first 50 Champions League outings than Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, Celtic, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Club Brugge, Lille, Anderlecht and Dinamo Zagreb… we could go on!

Despite these exploits, dating back to last season, Pep Guardiola’s team have now won only four of ten league phase fixtures, despite winning 28 of 36 group stage games beforehand.

A few donning all black on Wednesday night did not cover themselves in glory, giving Guardiola some big selection decisions ahead of Sunday’s tricky trip to Brentford, so should he leave out arguably his most trusted lieutenant?

Nico González's difficult night in Monaco

Just as Manchester City were seemingly set to pick up all three points, les Monégasques were gifted a route back into the game.

As the clock was about to hit 90, a Monaco free-kick played into the box found Eric Dier but, as he headed the ball towards goal, Nico González came charging in and kicked the England defender in the face.

After a very long VAR consultation, referee Jesús Gil Manzano pointed to the spot and, to the surprise of many, Dier himself stepped up, sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way and ensuring it finished 2-2.

More broadly, since arriving from Porto on deadline day in the winter for £50m, Nico has struggled to make an impact in sky blue.

Chalkboard

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

Despite his compatriot Rodri’s continued injury issues, the la Masia academy graduate has started only 13 Premier League or Champions League games since debuting in February, deputising at Wolves on the opening day and against Burnley on Saturday.

Nevertheless, for someone who arrived for such a huge amount of money, and with impressive pedigree behind him, he is yet to consistently deliver, his only league goal for the club coming against Bournemouth in May, not that this is what he’s in the team for.

In summary, Nico is in danger of becoming the next Kalvin Phillips, signed for £50m to alleviate the burden on Rodri, before being cast aside and forgotten about, but there is another Manchester City player, who has made over 400 appearances for the club, who is at risk of losing his place in the team.

Pep must consider benching 'world class' Man City star

The Citizens’ trip to Stade Louis II this week evoked memories of their only previous visit to the Principality in March 2017, dumped out on away goals after a thrilling 6-6 aggregate draw.

That Monaco team, who would go on to reach the Champions League semi-finals and win the club’s only Ligue 1 title since 2000, contained Kylian Mbappé, Radamel Falcao, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy, João Moutinho, Tiémoué Bakayoko, Thomas Lemar and a certain Bernardo Silva.

The Portuguese winger moved to Manchester for £43.5m the following summer, making 415 appearances for the club to date, winning 17 major honours to date, but he did not enjoy a happy return to the French Riviera.

The table below documents his statistics from Wednesday night’s draw.

Bernardo vs Monaco

Statistics

Silva

Match rank

Touches

70

8th

Shots on target

1

7th

xG

0.07

10th

Accurate passes

49

9th

Key passes

1

13th

Duels contested

6

14th

Duels won

1

26th

Possession lost

12

4th

Sofascore rating

6.0

29th

Stats via Sofascore

As the table notes, despite registering plenty of touches, Silva did not do a lot with the ball.

He lost possession on 12 occasions, only Phil Foden of Man City players did so more, also losing five of the six duels he contested, meaning he still has no goals and just one assist to his name this season.

Speaking on Sky Sports News in 2023, one content creator labelled Silva “world class”, while Ben Littlemore of Transfermarkt argued last year that he was Man City’s most important player.

In Guardiola’s managerial career, Silva is the player he has picked most, 34 times above Kevin De Bruyne who is second on the list, but now might be time to start phasing out the 31-year-old.

On the bench on Wednesday, the Citizens had both Oscar Bobb and Savinho, with Jérémy Doku starting on the opposite flank, all of whom offer a lot more dynamism and direct attacking play than Silva, emphasising why two of that trio should be in the team to take on Brentford come Sunday afternoon.

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بسبب السوبر.. رابطة الدوري الإسباني تغير موعد مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد

أعلنت رابطة الدوري الإسباني اليوم الأربعاء، عن موعد مباريات الجولة الـ19 من الليجا،  والتي كان من المفترض أن موعدها محدد مسبقًا.

ويتصدر نادي ريال مدريد ترتيب بطولة الدوري الإسباني برصيد 27 نقطة، وبفارق خمس نقاط عن برشلونة صاحب المركز الثاني.

وعزز ريال مدريد صدارته في ترتيب الدوري الإسباني، بعدما هزم برشلونة بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم الأحد الماضي، في كلاسيكو الجولة العاشرة من المسابقة المحلية.

وأكدت رابطة الدوري الإسباني، أنه حدث تغيير في موعد مباريات الجولة ال19 من البطولة، وذلك بسبب ظروف إقامة بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني في المملكة العربية السعودية.

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وسوف تلعب بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني في المملكة العربية السعودية وتحديدًا في جدة بين يومي 7 يناير و11 من نفس الشهر ، على ملعب الإنماء.

وكان من المفترض أن تبدأ الجولة الـ19 يوم 11 يناير، وهو نفس موعد نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني، حيث يشارك كلًا من ريال مدريد، وأتلتيكو مدريد، وبرشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو.

وبناءً على موعد مباريات كأس السوبر، فقد قررت رابطة الدوري الإسباني تقديم مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد في الجولة ال19 لتلعب يوم 2 ديسمبر من العام الحالي بدلًا في شهر يناير.

وعلى الجانب الآخر سوف يواجه ريال مدريد أتلتيك بلباو يوم 3 ديسمبر كذلك بدلًا من بداية العام المقبل.

وكان برشلونة قد حقق بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني العام الماضي، عقب انتصاره الكبير على ريال مدريد 5-2 في نهائي البطولة المحلية.

Chelsea now in pole position to sign £80m "key target" ahead of PSG and Liverpool

Chelsea are one of the world’s most active clubs in the transfer market, and they could now be set to beat Liverpool and PSG to the signing of a proven Premier League star.

Chelsea left with problems to juggle amid hectic fixture schedule

Winning the Club World Cup was a momentous moment in recent Chelsea history, and particularly for the club’s finances.

BlueCo took home over £80 million worth of prize money after reigning victorious in the States, and this helped them end last summer’s window as one of England’s biggest spenders.

However, if recent developments are anything to go by, the physical output expended by players over what was a very long 2024/2025 season, with the CWC to blame for this, may have created some frustrating consequences for Enzo Maresca.

Cole Palmer is out for six weeks due to a groin problem, meaning the England international now joins Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill as long-term absentees from the line-up.

Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half

Offering his honest opinion, former Blues star Pat Nevin believes Chelsea’s pre-season has something to do with the recent absences they are experiencing.

Either way, there will be opportunities for other Chelsea players to stake their claim in light of Palmer’s absence, including Blues loanee Facundo Buonanotte.

Nevertheless, January will be very important, given it offers a chance for Chelsea to strengthen their lighter areas by recruiting top talent.

Chelsea now frontrunners to sign Morgan Rogers

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now the frontrunners to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, and could beat rivals Liverpool to capture the England international.

Starting off this term with two assists in his opening ten appearances across all competitions, the 23-year-old is valued at around £80 million, and he is also being closely tracked by Paris Saint-Germain.

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Amid a return of 30 goal contributions in 2024/25, Chelsea have identified Rogers as a “key target” moving forward, and they believe internally that he is ‘well-suited to both the intensity of the Premier League and the competitive demands of European football’ present at Stamford Bridge.

Fotmob shows that the Halesowen-born playmaker, previously labelled “excellent” by Thomas Tuchel, has created seven chances and completed seven dribbles in the Premier League this campaign. He is beginning to motor after a slow start to life following a difficult summer where speculation over his future was rife.

Looking to steal a march on their rivals, Chelsea could now be set to tap into his long-term potential by offering a package that reflects his scope to develop into a world-class star.

Vaughan 'staggered' by England's bowl-first decision as India dominate at Headingley

India piled on 359 for 3 on the opening day after being handed first use of the pitch by Ben Stokes

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-20251:45

Manjrekar: Rahul, Jaiswal made England bowling look ‘insipid’

England were left to rue their “staggering” decision to bowl first as India piled on 359 for 3 on the opening day at Headingley. The past six Leeds Tests have been won by the team bowling first, but former England captain Michael Vaughan said he was shocked to learn that Ben Stokes had chosen to field under clear skies on a dry, hard pitch.Stokes said after winning the toss that his side would “look to use the early conditions”, and England’s bowling consultant Tim Southee said at the close that they had seen enough in the pitch – “a little bit of moisture” – to think that the new ball would move around. Instead, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill both hit fluent hundreds to put India in control.England have pulled off fourth-innings run-chases against Australia (2019 and 2023) and New Zealand (2022) at Headingley in recent years, and were on the wrong end of one by West Indies in 2017. But Vaughan suggested that Stokes had paid insufficient attention to the conditions, with Leeds enjoying unusually warm weather so far this summer.Related

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“I’m a bit of an old-school traditionalist here at Leeds that, when the sun shines, it’s quite an easy decision, particularly with the build-up to the Test match and it being so dry and so nice,” Vaughan said on the BBC’s . “I was staggered… when I heard he was going to bowl first. I thought, traditions have gone out the window.”I know England have won chasing here quite a number of times over the recent times, but you always have to pick your decisions on that moment: just because you’ve won a year ago, two years ago, or three years ago, it can’t really affect what the decision is today. And they’ve allowed India with a youngish batting line-up and a new captain to just go and play.”Vaughan said that he was particularly surprised, given the inexperience of England’s attack, with two of their seamers – Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse – sharing only ten caps between them. “You look at the suits of the England side and their strength, really, is in the batting,” he added. “Ben just had a gut feeling, I guess, and in recent times it’s worked.”Southee defended the decision, and gave credit to India’s openers – Jaiswal and KL Rahul – for making conditions look easier than they were. “With the colour of the wicket yesterday and a little bit of moisture left in it, we thought there’d be a little bit left in it this morning,” he said. “There was a little bit of assistance there, but for the rest of the day, it was a pretty good surface.”

Santos vai cair para a segunda divisão? Redação do Lance! opina

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos ficou um pouco mais aliviado após reencontrar o caminho da vitória diante do Bahia, mas o clube do litoral paulista permanece na zona de rebaixamento e com indícios fortes de que pode cair para a segunda divisão. Ainda com 14 rodadas para o fim do Brasileirão, o Peixe vai cair ou não para a segunda divisão? A redação do Lance! opinou sobre o tema.

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

Confira as opiniões dos jornalistas do Lance!:

Rafael Oliva, repórter (Ainda indefinido)

Toda cartilha do rebaixamento foi preenchida pelo Santos, que tende a cair. Um alento foi a vitória sobre o Bahia, já que era um confronto direto. A tabela dos próximos jogos também é favorável, mas o cenário do Peixe é de incógnita, pois nem sabemos ainda qual será o técnico até o final do campeonato. A probabilidade maior é de queda, mas vamos aguardar os próximos passos.

Gabriel Teles, redação (O Santos não cai)

Se olharmos as estatísticas, o retrospecto no primeiro turno e todo desenrolar dos jogos que estão pela frente, o Santos está no caminho da Série B do ano que vem. Contudo, a vitória do Peixe contra o Bahia escancara um fator que transborda a matemática presente no futebol. Não dá para ignorar o poder de reação que foi mostrado em um importantíssimo confronto fora de casa. Está tudo em aberto! O jogo contra o Vasco pode reafirmar (ou não) a existência de um “gás” para sair desta situação.

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João Marcos, repórter (O Santos cai)

O Santos está cumprindo toda a cartilha do rebaixamento até agora: escândalos extracampo, trocas de treinadores, contratações sem critério, jogadores afastados, punições no tribunal… por mais que a matemática ainda dê chances ao Peixe, as derrotas nos dois confrontos diretos, contra Cruzeiro e América-MG, fazem do time cada vez mais candidato à queda.

Paulo Victor, editor (Ainda indefinido)

É difícil cravar, pois o Santos tem um bom goleiro e um centroavante matador. Eles costumam segurar as pontas em várias ocasiões. Porém, talvez não seja o suficiente este ano. Já faz tempo que o Santos vem ensaiando um rebaixamento para a segunda divisão. O jogo contra o Vasco vai dizer muito sobre o futuro do Peixe. Hoje, o Vasco é melhor.

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Fábio Lázaro, repórter (O Santos cai)

Sim, vai ser rebaixado. Independentemente da vitória contra o Bahia, que deu uma boa sobrevida, o time segue na zona do rebaixamento (e já pela quinta rodada consecutiva), tem oscilado bastante e não é garantia que no próximo jogo repita a atuação. Tanto em questão de nível técnico, quanto em comprometimento e entrega. Precisa provar mais. Fora que quando o time grande entra no limbo é sempre muito mais difícil tirar.

Vinícius Perazzini, editor (O Santos não cai)

Pela vontade que mostrou contra o Bahia e o peso da camisa, não será rebaixado. É um time com um ótimo goleiro e um atacante de alto nível – Marcos Leonardo seria titular em qualquer equipe do futebol brasileiro. Mesmo que o conjunto esteja desarrumado, é possível acreditar na salvação.

Izabella Giannola, redação (O Santos cai)

Se continuar com o futebol medíocre que está apresentando esse ano flerta e muito com o rebaixamento. O jogo contra o Bahia foi um caso completamente a parte.

Alexandre Guariglia, repórter (O Santos cai)

Sim, vai cair. Apesar de ter sido um respiro a vitória sobre o Bahia, o time não parece ter força e material humano para fugir da zona da degola.

Matheus Guimarães, redação (Ainda indefinido)

Difícil cravar. Vai depender muito do jogo contra o Vasco, que está em melhor fase, apesar da tabela. Mas creio que o Santos será rebaixado para a segunda divisão se perder este confronto direto. Fora isso, o Santos está seguindo estritamente a cartilha rumo à Série B. São incontáveis os problemas dentro de campo. Além disso, a turbulência fora das quatro linhas é mais um aditivo para o rebaixamento.

ريال مدريد يتخذ قرارًا بشأن صفقة جويهي وسط اهتمام ليفربول وبايرن ميونخ

يسعى نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني للتعاقد مع قلب دفاع لتعزيز صفوف الفريق، تحت قيادة المدير الفني تشابي ألونسو، وقد ارتبط بعدة أسماء.

وربطت تقارير صحفية بين ريال مدريد وكل من دايوت أوباميكانو لاعب بايرن ميونخ الألماني، إبراهيما كوناتي مدافع ليفربول، ومارك جويهي من كريستال بالاس.

وكشفت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية عن آخر التطورات المتعلقة بارتباط ريال مدريد بجويهي، وموقف النادي الإسباني من التعاقد معه.

وبحسب ما ورد، تراجع ريال مدريد عن فكرة التعاقد مع جويهي، وذلك بسبب المطالب المالية للاعب الذي ينتهي عقده مع كريستال بالاس بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

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وتشير الصحيفة إلى أن مطالب جويهي المرتفعة، سواءً من حيث الراتب أو مكافأة التوقيع، تجعل من شبه المستحيل تعاقد ريال مدريد معه.

ويعد جويهي محل اهتمام لكل من ليفربول وبايرن ميونخ الألماني، وكان النادي الإنجليزي يسعى لضمه في السوق الصيفي الماضي، لكن المفاوضات فشلت في اليوم الأخير للانتقالات.

 

West Brom have signed a "menace" who looks like another Pereira-type player

Ryan Mason has had plenty of time now to chew over West Bromwich Albion’s disastrous 3-0 defeat away at Millwall last time out in the unforgiving Championship.

It will be intriguing, therefore, with the international break giving him that adequate time to assess what went wrong, what Baggies team he selects for West Brom’s return to league action versus Preston North End on Saturday.

The rookie boss will just hope his team doesn’t collapse under the weight of being early promotion candidates, with three defeats in the league to date, only leaving them five points shy of Frank Lampard’s free-flowing Coventry City at the very top of the division.

Worryingly, though, West Brom only have nine goals next to their name when weighed up alongside the Sky Blues’ absurd 27 efforts, with Mason crying out for a Matheus Pereira-type presence in the here and now to take his pedestrian side up a notch.

Pereira's promotion-winning magic

West Brom very much hit instant gold when securing the services of Brazilian star Matheus Pereira in 2019.

Signing initially on loan, with a view to making his switch permanent, Pereira would go on to be a talismanic figure for Slaven Bilic’s promotion-chasers at the time, with ex-Baggies legend Jonathan Greening even stating – during that promotion push – that the spellbinding number 12 can do a “little bit of everything.”

Pereira’s numbers for West Brom

Stat

Pereira

Games played

77

Goals scored

20

Assists

26

Promotions

1x

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Judging from his ridiculous numbers above, it’s clear that West Brom had pulled off a mighty coup, tempting Pereira to the Hawthorns when they did, with his blistering 20 goals and 26 assists from 77 outings pushing the West Midlands outfit up to the Premier League, before relegation was unfortunately served up.

Clearly, after becoming West Brom’s top goalscorer in the daunting top-flight, Pereira was always going to be uneasy about being a big fish in a small pond in the EFL again, with a mega-money switch to Al-Hilal then bringing his whirlwind stay in England to a close.

To this day, however, Pereira is still heralded as one of the most entertaining attackers to have graced the Hawthorns, with the football served up by Mason and Co. so far this season failing to be as captivating to watch.

The 34-year-old does have Isaac Price at his disposal as one entertainer, but there is another member of his camp now who could go on to be a Pereira-style figure, having once lined up for Juventus in the Champions League, before relocating to the Baggies.

The West Brom "menace" who's the new Pereira

While Price does have three goals and one assist next to his name this season already, from just nine league appearances, he has looked poor in recent match-ups, notably away at the Den last match.

Indeed, the usually electric midfielder would manage just one drab effort on the Lions’ goal throughout, with possession also squandered a costly 14 times from his 40 touches of the ball.

Coincidentally, his replacement during the 3-0 defeat in Samuel Iling-Junior could actually be Mason’s own Pereira-type figure, operating as another dazzling left-footer either centrally or on the flanks.

Iling-Junior’s career path

Club

Games

Goals + Assists

Juventus U18s

58

14 + 15

Juventus

45

2 + 4

Middlesbrough

16

1 + 2

Bologna

16

2 + 0

Juventus Next Gen

13

5 + 2

Chelsea U18s

9

0 + 1

Juventus Youth League

8

1 + 2

West Brom

4

1 + 0

Chelsea Youth League

3

0

Aston Villa

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Much like Pereira, who boasted Bundesliga side Nuremberg on his career CV before moving to the Baggies, Iling-Junior has a long list of esteemed clubs on his own unfurling resume, with a youth education that saw the 22-year-old line up for both Chelsea U18s and Juventus U18s.

His time with the Old Lady would even see him make 45 senior appearances – as he was also dubbed a “superb” talent by scout Jacek Kulig during one Champions League outing for the Italian titans – culminating in his parent employers, Aston Villa, splashing out a whopping £12m to win his services in 2024.

He is yet to make a senior appearance for Unai Emery’s men, but with near neighbours West Brom, he is already living up to the “menace” billing once handed to him by scout Antonio Mango, with this terrific solo goal at the end of September, his first ever strike in Baggies’ blue and white.

Mason will be praying that more goals such as this magic solo effort are put away shortly, with Iling-Junior perhaps the force that catapults West Brom into the promotion reckoning more convincingly.

After all, all those years back, Pereira was a similar bright spark capable of such fine individual moments as Premier League football was clinched.

Not just Wallace: West Brom "goalscorer" is on borrowed time under Mason

Despite once costing a considerable amount, this West Bromwich Albion star looks to now be on borrowed time under Ryan Mason.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 15, 2025

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