Sports
Every Arne Slot Signing at Liverpool Ranked From Worst to Best
It was never going to be easy replacing a Liverpool legend like Jurgen Klopp, but it seemed as though the Reds had found the perfect successor in the form of Arne Slot. A second Premier League title appeared to confirm that he was picking up from where the German tactician left off.
But if his first year at Anfield was a dream, his second year is quickly becoming a nightmare. The Merseysiders have hit a huge rough patch, losing six of their last seven matches, with question marks over their head coach starting to creep in after their most recent loss to Crystal Palace.
That poor form is magnified even more considering that the club significantly backed their manager in the summer, with many of their new recruits struggling to make an impact. So, in the midst of that, GiveMeSport thought we’d compare all of Slot’s signings for Liverpool and rank them from worst to best, based on multiple ranking factors.
Ranking factors:
- Player performance – how they’ve performed for Liverpool so far
- Total paid – has the deal represented good value for money?
- Reputation in football – is the player highly-rated in world football?
9
Freddie Woodman
Transfer fee – Free
This might be a little harsh on Freddie Woodman, considering that he was never meant to make much of an impact. Signed from Preston as a free agent, the 28-year-old is primarily at Anfield to make up the numbers as a third choice goalkeeper, which means he was always destined for last place.
In fairness to the Englishman, he has at least made a competitive appearance for the Reds. Unfortunately for him, it came in the 3-0 loss against Crystal Palace — not an ideal way to make your debut. He might well earn a couple more outings on an irregular basis during his year-long contract, but you wouldn’t bet on the former Newcastle man getting many minutes.
8
Milos Kerkez
Transfer fee – £40m
Milos Kerkez to Liverpool felt like it was destined to happen all summer long. The Hungarian international had become one of the most exciting full-backs in the league during his two years at Bournemouth, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year for 2024/25.
Which begs the question — where on earth has that player gone? Since completing a £40m move to Anfield, Kerkez has been a shadow of his former self, looking defensively lax and scared to go forward. Things have got so bad that Gary Neville has even urged Slot to drop the left-back, with the 21-year-old needing to buck up his ideas.
7
Jeremie Frimpong
Transfer fee – £29.5m
Signed for a relatively small sum of £29.5m, Jeremie Frimpong seemed like an effective replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Dutchman offered a similar threat going forward while at Bayer Leverkusen and was relied upon by Xabi Alonso.
Although he’s featured nine times for Liverpool since joining, that does come with a few caveats. He was sidelined early on with a hamstring injury and his minutes have been restricted since coming back, with Frimpong not completing a full 90 in the Premier League or Champions League so far. He’s also been benched by both Conor Bradley and, bizarrely, Dominik Szoboszlai, and will now miss six weeks after picking up another injury. Hardly the impact Liverpool fans would have expected from him.
6
Florian Wirtz
Transfer fee – £116m
When confirmation came through that Liverpool had beaten the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City to the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz, supporters likely wore grins from ear to ear. They had just brought a marquee player in, someone who had racked up 44 Bundesliga goal contributions over the last two seasons.
But in performances so far, the German international hasn’t been able to replicate that same form. Wirtz has just three assists to his name so far, with games often passing him by, and he is widely considered to have been a huge disappointment. Having built a reputation as a truly elite playmaker in world football, there is every chance he could prove to be the coup which fans thought he would be. But that’s the only reason why he places above Frimpong and Kerkez so far.
5
Alexander Isak
Transfer fee – £125m
A lot of time was spent umming and ahing about what to do with Alexander Isak. Here you have a player who scored 23 Premier League goals for Newcastle, cementing his status as one of the best strikers in the world. Similarly to Wirtz, fans were over the moon when the record-breaking £125m deal was confirmed.
But, as with his new German teammate, supporters have not seen enough from their new striker so far. Everyone was convinced that he would shine after getting back to full fitness, but just one goal and one assist in all competitions so far represents a measly return on investment. Now sidelined with a groin injury, we will have to wait even longer until we see the best of the elite finisher again.
4
Geovanni Leoni
Transfer fee – £26m
For 81 minutes, it seemed as though Liverpool had signed the centre-back they were crying out for. Giovanni Leoni looked exceptional against Southampton, earning rave reviews for his performance in the Carabao Cup fixture. But any excitement fans had to see him play a Premier League game was cruelly ripped away from them when he went off injured.
News then confirmed that he had ruptured his ACL and was set to miss multiple months of action. Nevertheless, the former Parma defender showed plenty of promise, enough to suggest that he could make the difference when he returns to full fitness.
3
Federico Chiesa
Transfer fee – £12.5m
This season has done wonders for Federico Chiesa when it comes to his ranking in this list. Slot’s only incoming last term only featured six times in the Premier League in 2024/25, a result of fitness issues and competition for places. It seemed as though the £12.5m transfer was set to go down as a miss.
But in 2025/26, Liverpool fans have been treated to performances by Chiesa that are closer to the ones which made him stand out at Euro 2020. He’s already played in more Premier League games than he managed last year, scoring twice and assisting once. The 28-year-old now needs to show consistency, but having such a dangerous prospect in the squad certainly isn’t a bad thing.
2
Giorgi Mamardashvilli
Transfer fee – £29m
Finding a successor to Alisson, whose performances have made him a Premier League goalkeeping great, was always going to be a challenge. But Giorgi Mamardashvilli seems to be a more than capable replacement.
The Georgian has already been thrust into the team, thanks to Liverpool’s number one picking up an injury. And while his record so far makes for dismal reading, the team as a whole haven’t helped his cause, with Mamardashvilli making some good stops and looking assured between the sticks. The fact that they only paid Valencia £29m for the shot-stopper also represents decent value for money.
1
Hugo Ekitike
Transfer fee – £79m
There was only ever going to be one player at number one. Hugo Ekitike had some of Europe’s top clubs chasing him after scoring 22 goals in all competitions in 2024/25 for Frankfurt, and it was Liverpool who ultimately won the race, signing him for £69m – with a further £10m in add-ons.
The Frenchman didn’t waste time in demonstrating what he could bring to Slot’s side, showing good link-up play and, more importantly, lethal finishing. His six goals in 13 games indicate that he has the potential to be a star, and it says a lot that his manager will be relying on him — not Isak — to turn the team’s fortunes around right now.
Sports
Man Utd Plotting Move to Sign William Gomes After Ederson
Manchester United are plotting a move to sign another Brazilian ‘superstar’ after reaching a full agreement for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, according to CaughtOffside.
Man United have been tracking Ederson all summer and they have now finalised an agreement with the Serie A outfit to bring him to the Premier League, having already agreed personal terms on a four-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.
The Brazilian has been signed for under £40m having had only a year remaining on his deal with the Bergamo-based outfit, with a move set to be completed at the beginning of July.
The Red Devils are clearly wasting no time in their bid to strengthen Michael Carrick’s squad ahead of more fixtures for the team next season, after they sealed their return to Champions League football.
United have a primary focus on central midfield, with up to two more players expected to follow Ederson in if Manuel Ugarte joins Casemiro in leaving Old Trafford.
They will look at other positions on the pitch too, especially if certain players leave, with one of those expected to be on the wings should Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho depart the club.
Carrick currently has Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to choose from, but they could probably do with another option for the more congested fixture list.
Man United Considering Signing William Gomes
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are among many Premier League clubs considering making a summer move for Porto winger William Gomes.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are also keen on the Brazilian ‘superstar’, who has a €80m (£70m) release clause written into his contract with the Portuguese giants.
Porto have no intention of selling the 20-year-old and would demand a major offer before even considering entering exit talks.
One report in England claimed that United have already sent an official to Portugal to discuss a deal for the right-sided winger, but there has been no formal bid yet.
Gomes ended the 2025-26 season with eight goals and one assist in 28 league appearances for Porto.
Man United Also Eyeing Yan Diomande Move
According to Sky Sports, United are also one of the clubs monitoring another in-demand right-winger in RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.
The Ivory Coast international is another young player who enjoyed a breakthrough season for his club, scoring 13 goals and registering a further 10 assists despite being just 19 years of age.
Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain appear to be the frontrunners for the exciting forward’s signature as things stand, with the former said to be determined to land him before the World Cup kicks off on June 11.
Rated at £87m, the price tag could prove to be impossible for United to pay given the focus on rebuilding their midfield, but he is clearly a player with a huge future ahead of him in the game.
United are also said to be looking at Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to GIVEMESPORT sources, with Michael Carrick and Jason Wilcox both working with him before and being huge admirers of him.
Sports
Michael Jordan Named Only Player He Hated During NBA Career
Throughout the remarkable career of Michael Jordan, there were countless memorable moments, challenges, and triumphs. From off-court controversies and the global brand that turned the Jordan name into a worldwide phenomenon, to the extraordinary basketball ability that captivated fans everywhere.
What MJ also possessed was an unmatched competitive drive and an obsession with winning. He had little patience for anyone who stood in his way.
During his legendary 15-year run in the NBA, Jordan developed several fierce rivalries, and when asked who he disliked facing the most throughout his career, there were plenty of names he could have mentioned.
Michael Jordan’s Heated Rivalries During Career
The basketball icon shared a well-documented rivalry with Isiah Thomas, fuelled by his ongoing feud with the Detroit Pistons. Their numerous playoff encounters played a major role in shaping both Jordan’s rise and the Chicago Bulls’ championship journey.
One of the most famous moments came when Thomas declined to shake Jordan’s hand after a playoff defeat, and the relationship between the two never appeared to fully recover. Yet, Thomas was not the player Jordan ultimately selected.
Jordan’s list of rivals stretches back even further than his NBA days. One of his earliest competitors was fellow college star Patrick Ewing, who played for Georgetown before going on to enjoy a successful 17-year NBA career, spending most of it with the New York Knicks while averaging 21 points per game.
Jordan’s North Carolina Tar Heels often got the better of Georgetown, but Ewing’s team consistently provided a tough challenge, and the pair developed a competitive relationship over the years.
Michael Jordan’s Pick For Most Hated Opponent
Despite those notable rivalries and confrontations, Jordan had a different answer when discussing the opponent he came to dislike the most. That distinction went to Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miller.
“I don’t really dislike anyone in the league, but playing Reggie Miller drives me nuts. His game is all this flopping-type thing. He only weighs 185 pounds, so you have to be careful; don’t touch him, or it’s a foul. On offence, I use all of my 215 pounds and move him out, but he has his hands on you all the time. I just want to beat his hands off because it’s illegal. It irritates me.”
Miller was also regarded as one of the NBA’s premier trash talkers. Standing 6-foot-7 but weighing only 185 pounds, he knew he could never overpower Jordan physically. However, that approach wasn’t reserved solely for Jordan – Miller used similar tactics against opponents across the league.
While it earned him plenty of admiration, it also created its fair share of enemies. That was simply part of his style. He maximised every advantage available to compete at the highest level, including psychological warfare, and many respected him for it.
Michael Jordan, however, found it far less admirable.
Sports
Ibrahima Konate Reveals Impact of Diogo Jota’s Death
To put it simply, Liverpool had a very poor season in 2025/26. They finished fifth in the Premier League, having been the reigning champions, and failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals in any of the cup competitions.
As a result, head coach Arne Slot was sacked in May, and the club are looking to push forward and appoint Andoni Iraola as his replacement. However, there was one huge mitigating factor to consider when discarding the club’s disappointing campaign.
That was, of course, the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The Liverpool star was killed in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva on 3 July 2025. It sent shockwaves through the football community, and one of his teammates has now opened up on the impact it had on him.
Ibrahima Konate: ‘Diogo Jota’s Death Devastated Me’
Ibrahima Konate was a key player for the Reds in 2025/26, playing 51 games in total, only missing two Premier League games. However, his form was shaky at times, and he certainly wasn’t as consistent as he had been in the club’s title-winning campaign a year before.
It’s no surprise that his best football was not forthcoming after Jota’s death completely disrupted his summer, which should have been spent recuperating. He wasn’t the only Liverpool star to struggle either, and the Frenchman opened up on how hard it was to focus on sport after the tragic loss of his teammate. Speaking on France Inter radio station, via Daily Mail, Konate said:
“Even today it’s hard to believe. His locker was still there in the dressing room, and every day when I was going to training he was coming with us. I remember when I found out when I was in Los Angeles and I couldn’t believe it. It devastated me.
“I didn’t have any interest in anything else at that point. It was the last person anyone would have chosen this to happen to. He didn’t care about anything. He just wanted to be happy and to have a good time with his teammates and his family. He wasn’t interested in fame.
“He was my neighbour as well, so I shared a few more moments with him. It was something powerful that happened to all of us.”
Konate went on to discuss how hard it was to focus his mind on football, but felt that he owed it to Jota and his family, as well as the club’s fanbase. He added: “You go back to football because you have no choice.
“We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties. I think every fan was affected by this too, and I think all that we can do to help them is by winning games. We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There’s no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it.”
Konate Also Lost His Father During the Season
Making the season even more difficult on a personal level, the 27-year-old revealed that his father, Hamady Konate, had been struggling with his health at a similar time and then passed away in January. The French defender recalled:
“I’ve never spoken about it before, but it’s true that at the start of the season, my father was in hospital for several weeks. And actually, in my situation, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too.
“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. And this is the advice I’d give to everyone listening: when you’re feeling down or something’s going on, you need to talk to those around you. It can help you and do you good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.
“The doctors then told us he didn’t have long to live, but we didn’t know it would happen so quickly.”
He stayed available for the club for essentially the whole playing 36 times in the Premier League, only missing one game against Bournemouth on special leave for his father. Konate spoke about the toll it has taken on him, noting: TThere was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend. All of these tragic events happened so quickly and, as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened. But then I had the support of all these fans, who are exceptional at Liverpool.
“My teammates and especially my family, but I also had to learn how to get back on my feet on my own because the team needed me more than ever. And I told myself that it happens to everyone every day, and I know that my father would have wanted me to get back.”
Konate – who is now leaving Liverpool following the expiry of his contract, and looks set to join Real Madrid on a free – also spoke about how players should not be ‘ashamed’ to suffer from depression in football. He concluded: “Depression is personal; it’s deep inside you. When you’re depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that’s what’s hard, and we need to talk about it.”
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