Sports
Arne Slot Has Big Cody Gakpo and Milos Kerkez Problem
Arne Slot must be wondering what’s happened to his Liverpool team after throwing away a two-nil lead to draw 3-3 against Leeds United, and fans are suggesting there is a disconnect between two of his players.
The Reds were in control when Hugo Ekitike came up with a brace in the space of two minutes and seemingly looked to have sent the visitors on their way to victory. But a clumsy challenge from Ibrahima Konate in his own box allowed former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin to get the Peacocks back into the game.
Anton Stach then struck an equaliser as the Whites stunned the Merseyside giants, who were shellshocked and in desperate need of somebody to come to the fore. That man was Dominik Szoboszlai, undoubtedly his team’s best player this season, who made it 3-2 with a fine finish.
Slot’s nightmare continued, though, as right at the death, the hosts came alive from a corner, and Ao Tanaka arrived at the back post to strike past Alisson Becker. The crisis continued for the defending champions, and glaring issues are taking hold, including a lack of chemistry between two teammates, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans.
Leeds 3-3 Liverpool – Fans Think Gakpo Has ‘Beef’ With Kerkez
Much has been made of Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah for his side’s last three games and the Egyptian forward wasn’t even used tonight. But Cody Gakpo remains a starter despite not quite reaching the levels of last season and he isn’t clicking with summer signing Milos Kerkez.
There were several occasions when Kerkez offered Gakpo an option on the overlap and was in space to receieve the ball but was ignored. The Hungarian has endured a difficult start to his Anfield career but he isn’t being helped by a lack of cohesion with Slot’s left winger.
Fans have highlighted this after watching the pair in the Leeds draw. One fan wrote:
“Milos Kerkez is basically doing bleep test here because of Gakpo. Feel bad for him.”
Another added:
“Gakpo has to have beef with Kerkez why does he refuse to pass him the ball?”
One fan wants Gakpo to answer for his reluctance to use Kerkez:
“If Gakpo ever does an interview again someone got to ask him what’s his beef with kerkez! Just refuses to pass him the ball.”
Another wrote:
“Honestly get Gakpo out of this team. Just pass to Kerkez when he over/under laps you for f**ks sake you can’t cross the ball.”
One supporter is frustrated with the Dutchman wasting possession:
“Milos Kerkez wastes so much energy busting a gut to help Gakpo, only for the latter to refuse to play the pass & instantly lose the ball.”
Another joked:
“Reckon Kerkez must’ve beat Gakpo at fifa or something. Gakpo just plays like there isn’t an overlapping left back.”
One fan hit out at Gakpo:
“The lack of chemistry between Kerkez and Gakpo is painfully bad and I think it’s genuinely all on Gakpo. He ignores him at every single opportunity. So jarring.”
Kerkez was one of the Premier League’s best left-backs last season and his signing was viewed as a great piece of business. He was tipped to become Andy Robertson’s long-term replacement but he has failed to replicate his form shown at Bournemouth last season.
The 22-year-old thrived in Andoni Iraola’s side and was particularly effective working in tandem with those in front of him such as Luis Sinisterra. There’s a reason he finished that campaign with six assists in the league.
Liverpool and Kerkez Ruing Luis Diaz Exit
Had the Reds not opted to sell Luis Diaz in the summer, it could well have been the Colombian attacker starting on the left wing this season. He was important to Slot last season, and the team’s nosedive may have the club’s higher-ups kicking themselves over his sale.
Diaz was a pure left-winger while Gakpo possesses a more versatile profile that often sees him drift inside. That’s not to say that the Dutchman isn’t an excellent footballer who was a standout performer in last season’s title win.
“The impact he’s had on the squad, the way he plays is different, and he’s been exceptional” – Andy Robertson on Diaz in April 2022.
But Kerkez may have benefited from playing with Diaz, who is flourishing at Bayern Munich after his £65.5 million move. The decision to sign Ekitike and Alexander Isak was always going to result in one or two exits but the Colombian shouldn’t have been sold.
Folarin Balogun’s availability for the United States of America for the World Cup clash against Belgium has sparked controversy in world football.
The former Arsenal striker was dismissed in the Round of 32 win against Bosnia & Herzegovina after finding the net earlier in the same match. However, the red card caused outrage among US supporters, as Balogun appeared to accidentally land on his opponent’s ankle.
While it was widely seen as the wrong decision by the referee and VAR on the day, the way the ban has now been suspended for a year hasn’t gone down well.
FIFA denied the US government played any part in the decision, but it has become public knowledge that a call was made from the White House.
Trump Admin Brought in ‘Expert Lawyers’ For Balogun Case
It has now been claimed that White House officials were a bit more involved than anyone is admitting. In fact, OutKick’s Clay Travis has reported that Trump’s administration took legal steps to ensure the striker would be available for the next game.
That involved gathering ‘expert lawyers’ to present evidence to FIFA. Their biggest argument was that slow-motion replays violated rules set by football’s governing body.
Belgian FA’s Reaction to FIFA Suspending Folarin Balogun’s One-Game Ban
The American striker will be available against Belgium.
Travis posted on X: “President Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card.”
He then added that Trump even alerted Gianni Infantino that the appeal was filed and let him know his feelings on the matter. Although it is still maintained that FIFA’s independent committee made the final call:
“Specifically, they challenged the use of slow-motion instant replay to give the red card, which they argued violated FIFA rules. The president also conveyed to Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, that the appeal had been filed and he believed the red card penalty was excessive.
“FIFA’s independent committee reviewed the decision and agreed the penalty was incorrectly given, rescinding it under their rule 27 authority.”
US President Thanked FIFA For Balogun Ban Decision
Immediately after Sunday’s news broke that Mauricio Pochettino would have his star striker available for the last-16 tie against Belgium, the country’s president was quick to post a social media message.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Causes Stir With Reaction to FIFA Suspending Folarin Balogun’s Ban
The Swede is ‘happy’ for the USA.
Trump thanked FIFA ‘for doing what was right’. Doing so only fuelled the outcry that something suspicious may have happened behind the scenes between known friends Trump and Infantino.
The 80-year-old posted: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Wayne Rooney has torn into FIFA president Gianni Infantino, telling him he should be “ashamed of himself” for the decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card ban for a year.
The USA striker, who has impressed at his home World Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the three matches he has played thus far, was sent off against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32 match last week.
Balogun was initially not sent off, but after a VAR review, referee Raphael Claus deemed it to have been serious foul play, with the replays showing the striker planted his studs down the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s achilles and turning his ankle.
Balogun felt red card decision was harsh
It was an innocuous incident, with Balogun clearly showing no intent as he vied for the ball, trying simply to plant his foot in the ground as he challenged for possession, but the rules are clear and the incident did not look good when watched back.
Speaking after the game, Balogun said: “I think as you all saw, if there’s nowhere else to put your leg, it’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair.”
Balogun was expected to miss the USA’s round of 16 clash with Belgium as a result of the sending off, but FIFA have suspended the ban for a year, with US president Donald Trump thanking them for “doing what was right”.
It is understood that Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the ban. FIFA have stated that the ban was suspended “in line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not related to match-fixing”.
Speaking on the BBC, Rooney could not believe the decision.
He said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace, I really do. I know it was UEFA but I got a three-game ban before Euro 2012 so I was due to miss the three group games and I got asked, or basically told that if I go over to Switzerland and do a training session with a bunch of kids the third game gets taken off.
“I agreed to do it because I didn’t want the three-game ban but I thought it was wrong. But for this to be suspended, they either take the red card away, which I think is probably the right decision and then he can play but to suspend it for a year I think is an absolute disgrace.
Rooney takes aim at FIFA president
“Infantino should be ashamed of this because I think the sportsmanship of this game is in question here and if I’m one of the USA’s opponents I would be absolutely fuming, I think it’s wrong in every way.”
Belgium were fuming, with a statement reading: “The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday.
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“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
USA vs Belgium: Trump Makes Call to FIFA to See Folarin Balogun World Cup Ban Lifted
Sources: The White House got involved.
Media outlets in Mexico have made their feelings about England clear after the two nations played out a classic World Cup tie at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night.
A Jude Bellingham brace and Harry Kane penalty were enough for the Three Lions to eliminate one of the host nations on their own turf after a week of speculation around how they’d cope in the conditions. The altitude inside the famous ground turned out to be no problem.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were forced to work extremely hard by a team that breezed through the group stage and Round of 32 without conceding a single goal, but their attacking quality proved to be vital. Now, local media have weighed in on the 1966 winners.
It was a close encounter which threatened to boil over at times due to the tense atmosphere inside the ground, but the press in Mexico have been full of praise for the English players.
Several outlets made sure to give credit to the opposition while expressing the disappointment of being beaten on home soil. Mediotiempo wrote (per Daily Record):
“That dreaded altitude never affected the English, who arrived prepared for all kinds of hostilities and crushed the Mexican dream of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in history with three goals.
“It was disappointing to see them fail defensively at the worst possible moment, succumbing to the infamous English long balls. In the end, they fought hard, but with little skill and a lot of heart.”
‘Game of His Life’ – England Fans Stunned By Unsung Hero in World Cup Win vs Mexico
England stunned Mexico at the 2026 World Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory, and one unsung hero has received plenty of praise.
Speaking about Javier Aguirre’s efforts to throw the kitchen sink at 10-man England, they conceded that they were simply facing a ‘top team’. “He pinned the English back in their own half, but no one could provide the spark of creativity needed to break down a top team, and it all ended as it began: just a dream.”
The Mexican Record were even more complimentary of specific players in the Three Lions’ line-up. “It wasn’t South Africa. Nor Korea or the Czech Republic. Not even Ecuador. It was a world champion, the team with the most powerful league on the planet,” they wrote.
Kane and Bellingham were among the handful of players singled out for praise: “A team with the legendary Harry Kane. With stars like Bellingham, man of the match, or Saka, or Rice. Even Pickford shone.”
Jude Bellingham Praised For Actions After England Win
In addition to his star power on the pitch, Bellingham specifically has captured the imagination of Mexicans for his gesture after the game. He has been praised by El Universal for his actions, which ‘touched many hearts’.
A video quickly emerged online of Bellingham comforting 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora. The youngster asked to swap shirts with the Real Madrid ace, who responded by saying: “Give me yours too.”
The Mexican outlet appreciated the Englishman taking the time to acknowledge the rising star amid his country’s celebrations: “Undoubtedly, a gesture to applaud from the English player, who, full of euphoria and joy at qualifying for the quarter-finals, took the time to acknowledge the Mexican gem, who played a good game.”
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