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Goal looks at the players whose deals are due to end, which of them could leave and who might still be at Old Trafford come 2018-19

It's a little over 22 years since the Belgian footballer Jean-Marc Bosman won a landmark case in the European Court of Justice which allowed footballers to break free of clubs at the end of their contracts, and the pre-contract agreement which has since been brought into the game means that from January 1 players with expiring deals can sign with potential new employers six months ahead of a move.

This January, Manchester United find themselves in the kind of position many clubs have been left in since the Bosman Ruling came into effect, with as many as nine of their players holding contracts which are due to expire at the end of the current season.

The one thing they do have going for them is that six of the nine involved have club-option extension clauses written into their deals, which allows the Old Trafford hierarchy the freedom to add 12 months to their contracts if they are unwilling to let them go.

Getty ImagesDaley Blind

The Dutch utility player has lived a somewhat nomadic existence since signing for United in the summer of 2014 under Louis van Gaal, being variously used as a midfield anchor, a centre-back and latterly a stand-in full-back.

While United do have the option of adding a further year to his deal, even Blind’s father Danny has admitted that they may do so simply to command a transfer fee in the summer. “That is not an illogical idea, because his contract expires,” Blind Sr told Ziggo Sports. “Manchester United still has the opportunity to trigger an option for an extra season. They might do that, because then they can receive a higher transfer fee.”

AdvertisementGettyMichael Carrick

The 36-year-old club captain has had an almost non-existent 2017-18 season thus far after undergoing a procedure to correct an irregular heart rhythm.

Having been restricted to a single Carabao Cup appearance to this point, Carrick has had no opportunity to persuade Jose Mourinho and his staff to consider keeping him on for a further year and he is highly likely to finally wave a last goodbye to Manchester United two years on from what appeared to be his farewell under Louis van Gaal. Mourinho has even admitted in recent days that he is likely to seek a replacement for Carrick in the transfer market during the summer 2018 window.

Marouane Fellaini

United have been rocked over the past couple of months by the realisation that their exhaustive attempts to persuade Fellaini to sign a new deal had come to a dead end and the Belgian now looks set to leave Old Trafford in the coming months.

Having missed the last 10 matches due to injury, Fellaini’s importance to the make-up of Mourinho’s squad has rarely been more evident. That would make his exit difficult to stomach, hence the manager’s insistence that he is not about to give up hope of the midfielder staying on but at this point it would appear Mourinho’s belief is misplaced.

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GettyAnder Herrera

While the club are yet to officially confirm it, Ander Herrera has already been told his expiring contract will be topped up with a club-option 12 months for season 2018-19. He may not have featured quite as much this term, but his form last season was enough to win him the club’s Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award and also underline his importance to the United squad.

Mourinho has hinted that a midfield addition will be one of his priorities next summer but Herrera’s willingness to fight for the cause will not be given up easily despite his lessened status in the manager’s second season.

Erik ten Hag's team didn't just drop two points at Selhurst Park – they also lost Casemiro for Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates.

The last time Erik ten Hag visited Selhurst Park, he had just been confirmed as Manchester United's new, permanent manager.

Sat up in the stands, he likely recoiled as his soon-to-be squad laboured to a 1-0 defeat that would have seen then drop into Europa Conference League had West Ham managed to beat Brighton.

has changed at Old Trafford since then – Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles and Hannibal Mejbri all started against the Eagles back in May – and Ten Hag deserves endless credit for orchestrating the club's turnaround in such a short space of time.

However, there are limits to the Red Devils' progress, and talk of United mounting a title challenge was dealt a double-blow on Wednesday as they returned to the scene last season's crime against football.

Not only did Michael Olise's stunning free-kick ensure their nine-match winning run came to an end, a second-half yellow card for Casemiro means he will miss this weekend's mammoth showdown with Arsenal.

In truth, the result was what United deserved. If not for some trademark heroics from David de Gea in goal, they could have lost the game. Bruno Fernandes – who scored his side's goal, finishing off Christian Eriksen's cutback – even admitted as much at full time.

But Ten Hag & Co. cannot afford to lick their wounds. If their fledgling title hopes are to become reality, a result this Sunday is essential.

For now, here are GOAL's winners, losers and ratings from Selhurst Park…

GettyThe Winners

Arsenal:

As one might expect, the Palace fans in the Holmesdale Road end went ballistic when Olise's free-kick nestled in the back of the net. And, somewhere in north London, a certain Spaniard likely enjoyed it very much too. Coming into this one, United supporters had been getting the calculators out to prove that their chances of catching Premier League leaders Arsenal were far from remote. However, that late goal means Mikel Arteta's side remain eight points clear at the summit of the standings, with Ten Hag's team having only managed to move ahead of Man City on goal difference. And United will now have to try to prevent Arsenal from taking another significant step towards the title on Sunday without Casemiro, their midfield talisman. All in all, not a bad evening for the Gunners.

David de Gea:

He is not perfect, that has been well established. But my word, has De Gea still got some magic in the locker. Just before the break, Odsonne Edouard let fly with a shot that everyone in Selhurst Park thought would loop under the bar. De Gea had other ideas, using every millimetre of his right arm to push the ball out onto the woodwork. A few minutes later, Fernandes netted what appeared to be the winner. De Gea was called into action again late in the second half, though, reacting swiftly to parry away Marc Guehi's header. Unfortunately, he was left with no chance for Olise's free-kick, but without him, United would be coming away from London with no points at all.

Patrick Vieira:

The Crystal Palace manager was in a foul mood after his side's narrow defeat to Chelsea last weekend. When asked if he felt his players deserved something from the game to kick off the post-match formalities, he simply said: "Yes." It was one of a string of monosyllabic answers offered by the frustrated Palace boss, who later took aim at the Blues' market-distorting purchase of Mykhailo Mudryk. He would've been desperate to put things right against United, but the footballing gods can be cruel, and he was subjected to almost a carbon copy of Sunday's game for 91 minutes. Again, Vieira set up his midfield excellently to frustrate the far-wealthier opposition. Again, Palace had chances. And again, for a long time, it looked like his side would get nothing. But then, up stepped Olise. No doubt, there will be no one-word answers in his post-match press conference this time around.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Casemiro:

"No, no, no, no, NOOOOO!" We imagine that was roughly Ten Hag's internal reaction to witnessing Casemiro slowly shadowing Wilfried Zaha in the closing stages of this one before scything him down. The resulting yellow card means the Brazilian will miss United's gargantuan trip to the Emirates, in a development that will have Arteta licking his lips. Fred or Scott McTominay are the most obvious possible replacements, although Lisandro Martinez can also play in a defensive midfield role. It goes without saying, but all three of those options are a universe away from what Casemiro could have offered.

Antony:

You just can't take your eyes off of this guy. However, his eminent watchability is not always a good thing – and one short passage of play in the first half summed up the Brazilian's Jekyll and Hyde existence perfectly. After silencing the braying home crowd with a delicious back-heel through the legs of Tyrick Mitchell, Antony played a wayward pass in the general direction of Bruno Fernandes, who was not happy. An on-field spat ensued, and went on for some time – largely thanks to the stubbornness, or petulance, of the £85 million forward. Antony is always going to be unpredictable, it's part of what makes him great. But when it doesn't come off for him, like tonight, he can end up looking a little silly.

GettyMan Utd Ratings: Defence

David de Gea (8/10):

Made a sublime save from Edouard early on and pulled off another impressive stop when Marc Guehi diverted a corner onto goal 15 minutes from time.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (7/10):

Enjoyed a fascinating, running battle with former team-mate Zaha down the left. Did not offer much offensively, but gave as good as he got against Palace's talisman and made a stunning, goal-saving challenge at the death.

Lisandro Martinez (7/10):

Shaky start. Had to be bailed out by Varane when he miscued a header. Was bandaged up after being elbowed and bravely soldiered on. Some of his passes were superb. Booked.

Raphael Varane (7/10):

Pretty classy. Covered for his team-mates on more than one occasion and used the ball fairly well.

Luke Shaw (5/10):

Looked to find Antony with raking, long balls – but rarely did. Had a testing night defensively against the dual threat of Olise and Clyne.

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GettyMidfield

Casemiro (6/10):

Fared well against a strong Palace midfield for the most part. Made a string of recovering challenges when the pressure was on – but that yellow card is a massive blow for his side and perhaps wasn't necessary.

Christian Eriksen (6/10):

Created Fernandes' opener with a sublime run and cut-back. Not a lot else came off, though, with Palace cutting his usual passing lanes off superbly.

Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

Had all the time in the world to pick his spot and made no mistake, putting his side 1-0 up. Created a few more openers after that.

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Everything you need to know about the new Barcelona kits for the 2023-24 season

Barcelona and Nike team up once more for another top-drawer kit campaign, as the La Liga heavyweights seek to celebrate their return to the top of the Spanish football pyramid. With Xavi restoring much-vaunted league silverware to Camp Nou, supporters will be ready to celebrate a temporary move to the Olympic Stadium with a fresh fit to suit a champion.

👕 Shop the Barcelona 2023-24 kits at Nike

Nike unveiled the all-new Barcelona 2023-24 home kit on June 15, inspired by the first women’s supporters’ club from 1971 who played the first-ever women’s football match at the Spotify Camp Nou. The new home kit has the classic broad stripes in original blaugrana colours but with a significant detail – the badge set into a diamond. The away kit was unveiled on July 26, releasing an all-white kit for the first time in over 40 years that is inspired by club legend Johan Cruyff.

The American sportswear giant has been the club’s long-term apparel provider, and is extending that partnership across the upcoming season, as the Blaugrana look set to stick with tried-and-tested classic colours for their latest crack at football domination.

So, what new kits will Barcelona wear in 2023-24? GOAL takes a look at the jerseys that are set to be sported by Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and more, while we also give you the lowdown on rumours and leaks alongside details on how to buy them online.

Barcelona 2023-24 kits

Nike unveiled the all-new Barcelona 2023-24 home kit on June 15. The new kit is unique as it is the Club’s first to be inspired by the women’s team.

The home kit features the classic broad stripes – synonymous with Barca – in the original blaugrana colours, the significant detailing coming through with the badge set in a diamond.

The diamond represents the first women’s team to ever play a game of football at the Spotify Camp Nou, an example of Barça’s pioneering spirit, always adopting a leading role in both sport and society, allied with continued success. 

The jersey will feature the men’s and women’s team main partner, Spotify, whose logo is on the front, alongside the Nike logo. The Ambilight TV and Bimbo brands will be on the men’s and women’s first team jersey sleeves respectively. The UNHCR/ACNUR logo will again feature above the number on the back. 

The Barcelona 2023-24 home kit is available to buy right now from Nike, with a replica men’s shirt retailing at £79.95.

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Barcelona has released its first white-away kits since 1979. The innovative design pays tribute to the man who developed Barca's playing style – Johan Cruyff. Based on the second kit worn by the blaugranes during the 1970s. Just like the first kit harks back to the spirit of the Barça Women’s team that played their first-ever game at the Spotify Camp Nou in 1970. The jersey is predominantly white and features red and blue stripes on the sleeve cuffs.

The kit is available to buy now from Nike for £75.00.

As with the away strip, there is not too much known about the finer points of the 2023-24 third kit Barcelona will sport this coming season, though if their anticipated change number sticks to its planned design, it will need a face-lift.

Early leaks and speculation suggest Barcelona’s third option could opt for a colour tone not seen on their alternative options since the 2019-20 campaign, with a return to an aquamarine-eseque hue, alternatively described as mint and turquoise.

Simple block patterns with little deviation bar traditional Barcelona trim are anticipated,, but as it stands, there is no concrete info on both design and collar structure for this option.

As with plenty of other third-choice kits for next season, not much is known about an exact release date, but you can expect it to match the price of their other strips, retailing at an anticipated £75.00 through Nike.

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In line with the expected classy designs of their home and away strips, Barcelona’s 2023-24 training kit looks set to keep the tasteful feel intact, opting for a two-tone number between contrasted shades of grey.

A lighter, soft-steel hue forms the bulk of the main body, while darker, slate-coloured accents cover the arms and shoulders for an impressively deft effect.

The Blaugrana are no stranger to a grey number of course, though it is historically a shade reserved exclusively for their goalkeeper kits, with this season’s change strip for shotstoppers bearing some tonal similarities.

There is no official release date set for the pre-match jersey, but with stock suggested to be close to the shelves, we can expect to see a summer 2023 launch.

Christian Pulisic's father had a muted reaction to his son's goal for AC Milan against Lazio, and went viral as a result.

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USMNT international scored second goal in 2-0 winMilan beat Lazio at San SiroPulisic's dad did not reactWHAT HAPPENED?

Pulisic scored the opening goal in Milan's 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday, but his father Mark was the only person that did not stand up and cheer from his section of the San Siro stands. The USMNT star's father was sat watching on, and a fan posted a video showing him before and after his son's goal, and his demeanour barely changed.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pulisic has enjoyed a superb start to life in Italy after his move from Chelsea, scoring three goals and laying on an assist in Serie A across just eight games. His father, though, may believe he can do better.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 25-year-old scored his first two goals for Milan in his first two games for the club, and had gone three games without a tangible contribution; against Cagliari last week he provided an assist, and then scored against Lazio.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Milan play Borussia Dortmund in their second Champions League game on Wednesday. Pulisic and Co will then prepare for a trip to Genoa in Serie A, with the international break set to come into effect thereafter.

There's few more beautiful sights in football than a player finding the back of the net after defying gravity – but who did it best?

Premier League fans have been treated to hundreds of amazing goals since the competition's inception back in 1992, with some of the best players in the world producing moments of wizardry that defy belief. There is one specific type of goal that elicits more joy than any other, though, because of the technical ability and sheer audacity that is required to pull it off.

Instant hero status is bestowed on those that manage to execute a perfect overhead kick. They are rarely seen during normal passages of play, not least because of the inherent risk of embarrassment that comes with the shot selection.

But there is no defence against it when its done right. For a player to get a strong enough connection to beat a goalkeeper with their back to goal everything has to be perfect, from their positioning and timing to their concentration and general poise.

The English top-flight has probably seen more of these wondrous goals than any other league in Europe, and picking out the best of them for a top-10 list is no mean feat. But every so often a return to the archives becomes a necessity.

There will always be those who take to the skies in a bid to write their name into Premier League folklore, and GOAL is here to rank the greatest overhead kicks in the competition's history to date…

10Sebastian Haller (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2021)

West Ham supporters never really saw the best of Sebastien Haller, who arrived at the London Stadium from Eintracht Frankfurt in a club-record £45 million ($57m) deal back in July 2019. A modest return of 14 goals from 54 appearances highlights the fact that the Borussia Dortmund striker wasn't settled in England, but one of those efforts still ranks among the best of his entire career.

It came when Crystal Palace visited West Ham in December 2021, as David Moyes' side found themselves in dire need of inspiration after falling behind to a first-half header from Christian Benteke. Haller provided it as he swivelled in mid-air to meet a Vladimir Coufal cross from the right wing, with his powerful effort nestling perfectly into the top corner.

Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita could only watch on helplessly as it flew past him, and it earned West Ham a valuable point in their pursuit of European qualification. Moyes described Haller's strike as a "wondergoal", which was more than fitting, and served as a reminder of his superb natural instincts in the box.

Advertisement9Gary Cahill (Aston Villa vs Birmingham City, 2006)

Gary Cahill is best remembered as a quick, reliable defender who rose to the top because of his impressive ability to the read the game. But the former Chelsea and Bolton star also had an eye for goal. He bagged 28 Premier League goals in total, including a sublime bicycle kick to open his account when he was on the books of Aston Villa.

Villa hosted Birmingham City in April 2006 with both sides struggling at the wrong end of the table, and Villa ended up taking the spoils with a 3-1 victory, as Cahill grabbed their all-important second goal after an incredible leap.

The ball was headed in his direction after an ugly goalmouth scramble, but Cahill's finish was a thing of beauty as he rose to turn home an unstoppable first-time volley. It was a piece of athleticism that no one knew he had in his locker at the time, but it set the tone for him to go on and become a genuine goalscoring centre-half.

8Rory Delap (Southampton vs Tottenham, 2004)

When most football fans hear the name Rory Delap, they think of Stoke City's throw-in specialist who successfully riled up legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on multiple occasions. But the Ireland midfielder was also very capable of conjuring up something spectacular.

Delap delivered his career-best strike for Southampton against Tottenham at St Mary's in March 2004, after going exactly two years without a goal. No one expected to see Delap running into the box to try and latch on a loose ball, but that's exactly what he did, and he had the speed of thought to adjust his body for a bicycle kick after realising it was dropping behind him.

Delap couldn't have hoped for a cleaner connection as his shot then rocketed past Kasey Keller in the Spurs net. It proved to be the difference between the two sides and ensured that Delap will always have a special place in the hearts of Saints' supporters.

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7Andy Carroll (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2017)

Andy Carroll was once considered to be the brightest talent in English football. The Newcastle academy graduate was unplayable on his day, a big brute of a centre-forward who caused nightmares for defenders in the air, but injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.

After a failed spell at Liverpool, Carroll joined West Ham on a permanent deal in 2013, and went on to score a respectable 34 goals for the club. His standout effort came in a 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace in January 2017, which to this day probably remains the best goal ever scored at the London Stadium.

Michail Antonio stood up a cross for Carroll to meet at the back post and he turned his body perfectly to execute an acrobatic overhead kick, which was barely visible as it flashed into the net. The crowd was left stunned, but it came as no surprise to then-West Ham boss Slaven Billic, who said after the game: "He does it in training, although he is normally hitting the post! I am afraid he will get injured when he does it in training."

Marco Silva believes that the "best team won" and feels proud of Fulham for "controlling" the game in their late win against Manchester United.

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Fulham beat United 2-1 at Old TraffordIwobi scored an injury-time winnerCottagers coach Silva basking in glory Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Fulham pulled off a stunning upset against the Red Devils, to secure their second victory at Old Trafford since 1963, thanks to Alex Iwobi's injury-time goal. Calvin Bassey capitalised on a defensive lapse to open the scoring and when it seemed that Harry Maguire's late equaliser salvaged a point for the hosts, Iwobi struck to break United hearts.

Silva naturally loved what he saw from the sidelines and the manager made it a point to rub the defeat on the faces of their more illustrious opponent by claiming that they were the better team over the course of the 90 minutes.

AdvertisementWHAT SILVA SAID

Speaking to , Silva said: "It is a big win for us. For sure, a great feeling for our fans, who were loud from the first to the last whistle. The players deserved it, clearly, the best team won the game. We were the team which played better, created more chances and had more control of the game.

"It is a fantastic feeling for us to come here and win against a side in a good run of form. We knew we would have to play at a high level and that's what we did. They had two or three moments as well, they are a quality team but we controlled it very well. I'm pleased how we played at the start of the second half."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

United struggled to assert themselves in attack in the absence of injured striker Rasmus Hojlund and they were made to pay dearly for looking toothless in front of goal. It was their 10th defeat in the Premier League and this one was a mortal blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification as they now find themselves eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Iwobi's goal, timed at 96 minutes and four seconds, happened to be the second-latest winning goal ever scored against United in the Premier League and the latest by a visiting team at Old Trafford since the 2006-07 season.

ESPNcricinfo previews the latest round of matches in the NatWest Blast

Freddie Wilde05-Jun-2015North Group
Yorkshire v Lancashire, Headingley, Leeds, 6.30
Headingley is sold-out for the blockbuster Roses match between third-placed Yorkshire and Lancashire, last season’s beaten finalists, who lie seventh. In a round replete with England players, Yorkshire possess a squad teeming with international quality after Joe Root and Adam Lyth have been released to join the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid and Glenn Maxwell. Andrew Hodd and Will Rhodes miss out on selection.Lancashire do welcome back Jos Buttler but are without James Anderson who was not released by the ECB. Alviro Petersen is also not in the squad having attended a Cricket South Africa player-of-the-year event on Wednesday. Tom Smith is left out.Northamptonshire v Worcestershire, The County Ground, Northampton, 6.30
Worcestershire add international pairing Moeen Ali and Saeed Ajmal to their squad, with Sachithra Senanayake ending his brief stint at the county. Northamptonshire meanwhile welcome Olly Stone back into the squad after an injury for what will be Shahid Afridi’s last match with the county before he departs for the Caribbean Premier League. Both Northamptonshire and Worcestershire have played just two games, with Northamptonshire having lost them both and Worcestershire winning one and losing one.Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 6.30
Leicestershire will be pleased with their start that sees them sitting fourth in the table after four matches but they face a tough challenge away to Nottinghamshire who have added Stuart Broad and Ben Hilfenhaus to an experienced and high-quality squad already boasting Alex Hales, James Taylor and Darren Sammy.Leicestershire welcome overseas signing Umar Akmal for his first match of the season. Akmal comes into the T20 Blast on the back of some excellent form for the Lahore Lions in the Super 8 T20 in Pakistan. Andrea Agathangelou and Matthew Boyce also come into a 14-man squad that is without Kevin and Niall O’Brien who are on international duty as well as Grant Elliott whose spell at the county is over.Derbyshire v Durham, The 3aaa County Ground, Derby, 6.30
Derbyshire will be looking to build on their impressive victory over Lancashire last week when they host Durham. Durham have named Ben Stokes in their 14-man squad but are without Calum MacLeod who is on national duty and have left out Graham Onions and Barry McCarthy from last week’s squad.Derbyshire meanwhile have named Nathan Rimmington in their squad for the first time after his introduction was postponed by injury. Rimmington replaces Hashim Amla in the squad. He has also ended his stint at the county.Sam Northeast is skippering a Kent side who have become the season’s surprise packet•Getty ImagesSouth Group
Kent v Gloucestershire, The Kent County Ground, Beckenham, 5.30
High-flying Kent, who have won four from five, host Gloucestershire, who haven’t played since Michael Klinger’s hundred carried them to victory over Essex in Game Week 2. Kent have added Matt Hunn and Ryan Davies to their squad that beat Somerset and have left out David Griffiths. James Tredwell is still out with injury. Gloucestershire meanwhile haven’t included Robbie Montgomery in their squad.Somerset v Hampshire, The County Ground, Taunton, 5.30
Hampshire moved to second in the South Group with a strong win against Middlesex on Thursday and will take a big stride towards the quarter-finals if they can win a tough fixture away to Somerset. Somerset have added Tom Groenewald to their squad from their thrilling defeat against Kent. All eyes will surely be on Chris Gayle who has plundered 243 runs from his two innings in the T20 Blast this season.Glamorgan v Middlesex, The SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, 6.30
Both these counties have shown glimpses of promise this season but both have been beaten twice and a third defeat could quickly turn a promising start sour. Glamorgan, who have won the last four encounters between the two sides have not yet named their squad. Middlesex, meanwhile, have added Kyle Abbott to the squad that was beaten by Hampshire on Thursday.Surrey v Essex, The Kia Oval, London, 6.30
Only five matches into the season it is already approaching must-win time for Essex who are at the bottom of the South Groups having lost four matches. Essex have, in fact, lost eight of their last nine matches having won all of the eight preceding that. They face a Surrey side also in need of a win having lost two of their three matches.England Test captain Alastair Cook will make a rare appearance for Essex having been released by England and is joined in the squad by Aron Niijar and Jamie Porter with Nick Browne, Mark Pettini and Callum Taylor making way. Surrey have added Aneesh Kapil to last week’s squad and may add Gary Wilson depending on the outcome of Ireland’s Intercontinental Cup match against the UAE which is taking place in Dublin.

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Virgil van Dijk is in contention to play against Leicester City on Wednesday after an injury scare, according to a fitness update from Jurgen Klopp posted on Liverpool’s official website.

Van Dijk picked up an illness during the Reds’ trip to Dubai last week.

However, Klopp revealed on Tuesday that he has taken part in training this week, raising the possibility that he could be involved on Wednesday.

FFC’s James Jones has identified the one thing that could cost Liverpool the title. Find out what it is in the video below…

Van Dijk has not missed a Premier League game for Liverpool since last January, per Transfermarkt, when the Reds faced Huddersfield Town, and will likely partner either Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren at Anfield.

Indeed, the Netherlands international has been a colossus at the centre of the defence this season, even captaining the club on five occasions, donning the armband in the Merseyside derby against Everton and in wins over Cardiff City, Fulham, Manchester United and Arsenal. He also wore the armband in the Champions League victory over Red Star.

And fans have expressed their delight at the news that Van Dijk is set to continue in the heart of defence.

Benjamin Pavard's magnificent strike and a dogged midfield showing were enough for France to beat Ireland in their second European qualifier

Pavard's wonder strike gave France a 1-0 win over a dogged Ireland side to complete a successful week of Euro 2024 qualifying.

Ireland battled their way to a scoreless first half, and mostly kept France away from the goal, with les Blues only putting one shot on target.

But the visitors found a breakthrough shortly after half time, with Pavard sending a shot in off the bar from 20 yards after an Ireland giveaway. Les Blues failed to create much otherwise. Kylian Mbappe had a penalty shout turned down, while Eduardo Camavinga repeatedly won tackles in midfield to fight off the Irish attack.

Two saves from Mike Maignan at the other end sealed the deal, denying what would have been a famous equalisier.

And although it was far from convincing this time, France left Dublin with a duo of wins to open up Euro 2024 qualifying.

GOAL rates France's players from the Aviva Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Mike Maignan (8/10):

Made one miraculous diving save late on to deny an Ireland equaliser. Did it again a minute later. Two massive moments from the new No.1.

Benjamin Pavard (8/10):

Scored a banger to give his team the lead. Was the best of the back four defensively.

Ibou Konate (7/10):

A composed performance from a young centre-back.

Dayot Upamecano (7/10):

Handled Evan Ferguson well, tidy in possession.

Theo Hernandez (6/10):

Dangerous going forward, gave up a silly foul or two.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Eduardo Camavinga (8/10):

Ate up ground, won his tackles, stopped counter-attacks. Was efficient, if unspectacular, in his passing.

Adrien Rabiot (6/10):

Very tidy, very sensible on the ball, almost scored. A puzzling midfielder.

Antoine Griezmann (6/10):

Didn't dictate the game as much as France would have liked.

Getty ImagesAttack

Kylian Mbappe (6/10):

Booed every time he touched the ball by a raucous home crowd. Probably should've had a penalty in the second half. Ireland did well to keep him quiet.

Olivier Giroud (5/10):

Oldest outfield player to ever start a match for France. Rarely on the ball, fouled a few times, ineffective.

Randal Kolo Muani (6/10):

Caused problems with his pace, put in the yards defensively. Wasn't as decisive in the final third as his team needed on the day.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Moussa Diaby (6/10):

Lively, quick, but failed to break open a tight, physical contest.

Jules Kounde (5/10):

Almost scored a terrific own goal

Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

Won a crucial 50-50.

Lilian Thuram (N/A):

No time to make an impact

Didier Deschamps (7/10):

Benched Aurelien Tchaoumeni and Kingsley Coman in favour of Eduardo Camavinga and Olivier Giroud. France were a bit more sturdy against a dogged Ireland team, but didn't create all that much. His team relied on a moment of magic to win it. Hardly a masterclass, but Deschamps will take the win.

The under-fire forward was handed the armband by Erik ten Hag at Villa Park but again struggled as United slipped to a 3-1 loss

Erik ten Hag raised eyebrows by naming Cristiano Ronaldo as his captain for Manchester United's clash with Aston Villa and then could only watch as his team were cut apart as Unai Emery celebrated his first game in charge at Villa Park with a convincing 3-1 win.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes. Leon Bailey fired Villa in front on seven minutes, and four minutes later David de Gea was picking the ball out of his net again after a wonderful free-kick from Lucas Digne.

United were offered hope just before half-time when Jacob Ramsey deflected Luke Shaw’s shot past Emiliano Martinez, but Villa quickly snuffed out the visitors’ dreams of a revival.

Ramsey went from villain to hero by adding a third at the start of the second half to ensure all three points and make it a perfect start for Emery.

Getty ImagesWinners

Unai Emery:

The former Arsenal boss took charge of Villa for the first time on Sunday and could not have asked for a better start. The Villans flew out of the blocks and left a shell-shocked United 2-0 down with only 11 minutes on the clock. Emery couldn’t hide his joy on the touchline and rightly so. Villa looked totally different from the team that had been struggling under previous boss Steven Gerrard. United did threaten a comeback when they pulled one back, but after a half-time team talk, Emery's side emerged for the second half and quickly finished the job.

Bruno Fernandes:

The Portugal international was forced to sit this one out through suspension and was badly missed by United. Fernandes' form has been questioned at times this season, but without the 28-year-old on the pitch the visitors lacked inspiration, were easily cut apart in midfield and offered very little bite. There was also a lack of leadership and balance in midfield as they limped to a defeat that simply highlighted how important Fernandes is to Erik ten Hag's team.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLosers

Captain Ronaldo:

The Portugal international captained United for the first time under Ten Hag in a move that won’t sit well with many fans, as it’s only been matter of weeks since Ronaldo walked out of the win over Tottenham before full-time. It was not a decision that went well either. United were a complete mess in the first half and in dire need of a driving force to get them back into the game. An own goal by Jacob Ramsey gave them hope but it was quickly snuffed out as Villa went 3-1 up. Ronaldo offered neither leadership nor inspiration on what was a dismal afternoon for the Red Devils.

Erik ten Hag:

Ten Hag's decision to hand the armband to Ronaldo was not his only dubious move. Selecting Donny van de Beek again after an anonymous showing in midweek was curious and he was too slow to change his team when things started to go wrong. A giant slice of luck ensured United were only 2-1 down at half-time and very much still in the game, yet Ten Hag decided not to change his team at the break, keeping faith with the starting XI that had played so poorly in the first half, and was made to pay when Ramsey restored Villa's two-goal lead three minutes into the second half.

United's midfield

Van de Beek was not the only poor performer in midfield as Villa cut open the visitors almost at will. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen offered very little protection and both players were caught out for two of Villa's goals. Indeed the hosts' third saw Ramsey run into the box without anyone near him to put the game out of United's reach. Fred and Scott McTominay have been far from perfect this season, but Ten Hag might rue leaving both players out on Sunday.

Getty ImagesMan Utd Ratings: Defence

David de Gea (5/10): Beaten three times on a tough afternoon for the United backline.

Diogo Dalot (4/10): Has looked good in recent weeks but struggled at Villa Park and missed a decent chance in the second half.

Victor Lindelof (3/10): A real weak link in defence. Caught out for two of the Villa goals and was too easily bullied by the hosts.

Lisandro Martinez (5/10): Couldn’t keep up with Bailey for the opener and was pulled all over the place.

Luke Shaw (5/10): Gave away the free-kick for the second goal but got United back into it with a shot that flew in with a little help from Jacob Ramsey.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Casemiro (6/10): The best of a bad bunch in midfield

Christian Eriksen (5/10): Not a strong enough presence as United were too easily cut open.

Donny van de Beek (3/10): Completely anonymous on his first Premier League start of the season.