Sports
Salah Proved Carragher Spectacularly Wrong with Explosive Interview
The next couple of months are going to be very interesting at Liverpool Football Club.
Tensions have spilled over following the Reds’ poor start to the season, with Mohamed Salah publicly speaking out about his individual situation at the Anfield outfit.
Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League standings – 10 points off the top of the table in the defence of their crown.
Head coach Arne Slot and the players have come under increasing pressure and scrutiny, given some poor performances, and things boiled over in the aftermath of their thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday evening.
What Carragher wanted
Salah did not get onto the pitch for the game at Elland Road – the second time that has happened in the last three matches.
Fingers are being pointed at Liverpool’s players and Slot himself, with the head coach under pressure to keep his job, despite having won the title in his first season at the club last year.
A huge investment was made into the team, with Liverpool breaking the British transfer record twice in the summer window, but performances on the pitch have not matched that financial outlay.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher singled out Salah in a rant on Sky Sports at the end of November, following Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
He said: “It’s always Virgil van Dijk that comes out [and speaks] and as I said the captain should do that but there should be other players in that dressing room coming out and speaking for the club.
“A year ago this weekend Mohamed Salah wasn’t shy in coming out and speaking about his own situation, about the club not offering him a contract. I only ever hear Salah speak when he gets man of the match or he needs a new contract, I’d like to see Mohamed Salah come out as one of the leaders, one of the legends of Liverpool, come out and speak for the team.”
Salah’s response
Now, Salah has responded, but in completely the wrong way.
The Egyptian has come out and spoken about the team, but once again on his own situation, rather than what’s going on as a collective.
He clearly wanted to get something off his chest, as Salah was more than happy to stop for reporters in the mixed zone after the Elland Road clash to have his say on sitting on the bench again.
Salah said: “I could not believe I was sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. That’s the third time. It’s the first time in my career I think. I am very disappointed, I have done so much for this club over years, especially last season, It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.
“That’s how I feel it. Someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me a lot in summer. Now I’m on bench so I can say they haven’t kept those promises.
“I used to have a good relationship [with Slot]. Now we don’t have any relationship and I don’t know why. Seems like someone does not want me in the club. I called my mum and dad and told them to come to the Brighton game.”
A new war of words
In some ways, Salah did what Carragher asked, he came out and spoke after a disappointing result. And it was not just about being man of the match or his contract situation – although he did naturally bring that up – but he did not “come out and speak for the team” like Carragher wanted. He came out and spoke about himself and his issues.
With Monday Night Football to come on Sky Sports, for Manchester United’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Carragher is sure to have his say once more. And Salah may not only be having a war of words with Slot, but with the Sky Sports pundit too.
Sports
Man Utd Eyeing Move to Sign Lille Star Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Manchester United are not only looking to bolster their midfield options this summer, with a new left-winger also being looked at for the transfer window.
Jadon Sancho has officially left after his contract expired, while Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund have departed permanently, leaving the club short of options in attack for the new season. Marcus Rashford is now an option to return to the first-team fold after Barcelona opted against making his loan permanent, but there are still options being looked at.
One of those is understood to be West Ham star Crysencio Summerville, but the club are also looking at alternatives, including one Ligue 1 sensation.
Man Utd Eyeing Fernandez-Pardo
According to Sky Sports, Lille star Matias Fernandez-Pardo has emerged as a potential target for Man Utd as they look to bolster their forward options.
Fernandez-Pardo, who has been described as ‘one of the most promising forwards in Europe’, enjoyed a fine breakout season in Ligue 1 in the 2025/26 season as he scored eight goals and registered six assists in all competitions.
The 21-year-old is capable of playing on both wings and also as a number ten, and Man Utd have identified the youngster as a potential option to come in and strengthen their forward line, as they prepare to enter the Champions League following their third-placed finish in the Premier League.
While there has been no formal contact or approach yet, United are alert to market opportunities at either left-wing or left-back, with a belief that Patrick Dorgu is capable of playing in both positions if needed.
Fernandez-Pardo has also attracted the attention of clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa this summer, but Lille are understood to be holding out for a big fee for their star forward as they look to keep hold of him for at least another campaign.
Fernandez-Pardo Could Be Wildcard Signing
Carrick has made it abundantly clear that if it were up to him a new left-winger would be coming into the squad this summer.
The potential return of Rashford has potentially lessened that need for an immediate starter to come in, but he can’t and won’t play every game, while it’s fair to say that Dorgu and Matheus Cunha are both at their best in different roles.
Adding Fernandez-Pardo to the squad would provide quality depth and competition for the attacking positions, and his versatility means he’d be a welcome addition at Old Trafford for the right price too.
Sports
Everton Eyeing Deal to Sign Man City Star Rico Lewis
Everton are pushing to make some big additions to their squad this summer, and David Moyes has identified another option that could come in and do just that.
The Toffees are yet to formally announce any deals during the current transfer window, but have already agreed deals for Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney and Chelsea starlet Arthur Barratt, while they are also closing in on an agreement for Chelsea winger Tyrique George following his loan at the club last season.
But after allowing Seamus Coleman to depart at the end of his contract, and with Nathan Patterson expected to be on the move, a right-back has been eyed as a priority position to strengthen.
Everton Eyeing Rico Lewis
Jack Grealish is someone that the club are very keen on bringing in from Man City on a permanent deal if they can, but TEAMtalk now report that his City teammate Rico Lewis has now also emerged as a target.
The right-back, who has been described as ‘extraordinary’, struggled for regular first-team football in the 2025/26 campaign under Pep Guardiola, having lost his place as a starter to Matheus Nunes.
Now, despite Guardiola being replaced by Enzo Maresca, it has emerged that the five-time England international will be allowed to leave this summer, with all parties believing a transfer is in their best interests.
Everton are understood to be a club who could emerge as serious contenders for his signature, with his homegrown status versatility and availability making him a genuine target.
Lewis has played in both full-back positions as well as midfield under Guardiola, and it’s the type of deal that could help Everton to fill a number of holes in their squad for a relatively modest fee. Both Lewis and City are open to an exit, although no asking price has been mentioned.
Everton Need Right-Back Additions
With Coleman no longer a player at the club, and Patterson expected to move on, Everton are light on options at right-back heading into the new season.
Recently it has been Jake O’Brien playing there, but he is a centre-back by trade and bringing in someone with an engine and an offensive threat from full-back would provide some exciting new options.
Lewis can do that, while also being comfortable playing in midfield if needed, and it could be a shrewd bit of business for the Toffees to get done, and may even help to build a relationship with City that could see a deal for Grealish, and potentially others, easier to do in the future.
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Everton are looking at options to improve their frontline this summer, and have explored a move for an Arsenal star.
Sports
VAR Expert Casts Clear Verdict on Folarin Balogun Red Card vs Bosnia
A VAR expert has provided a strong verdict after USA forward Folarin Balogun was controversially shown a straight red card during the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun, the former Arsenal and England youngster who currently plies his trade at club level for AS Monaco, put the USA 1-0 up on the stroke of half-time.
But he was left heartbroken midway through the second half when Brazilian referee Raphael Claus showed him a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic following a VAR review.
While the incident looked relatively innocuous in real time, slow-motion replays made the incident appear far more serious. “I think it is accidental, but that looks horrible,” BBC Sport commentator Jonathan Pearce said at the time. “I think there is only one outcome here.”
The referee then announced to the crowd: “The number 20, United States, committed a serious foul. The final decision is red card.” Watch the incident below:
Pochettino: It’s Never a Red Card
Despite playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men, the USMNT secured an impressive 2-0 victory at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, with Malik Tillman doubling the joint-hosts’ advantage late on.
The USA will now be without Balogun, their top scorer at this summer’s tournament with three goals, when they face Belgium in the last 16 on Monday night.
“For me it’s never a red card,” USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said in his post-match press conference, per the Independent. “Watching after on TV… there was never intention to step on the player.
“[It’s] a normal action in football that happened by accident. It’s never intentional. That is why for me it’s never a red card.
“I think today, the 50/50 decisions, not one went for us. The players reacted very well, we controlled that emotional part of the game, how they managed the situation was amazing, we were mature enough to continue competing.”
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VAR Expert Casts Clear Verdict Over Balogun Red Card Decision
Amid the intense debate over whether or not Balogun deserved a straight red card, VAR expert Andy Davies has provided a firm verdict in his ESPN column. Davies says:
“Balogun can feel unfortunate to be red carded in this situation as, in my opinion, this was not a red card offence.”
He continued: “With both players challenging for ball, the contact from Balogun on Muharemovic, while it looked bad in slow motion, was purely accidental and an unfortunate result from two players challenging for possession of the ball in a normal football movement.”
Curiously, it’s suggested that a VAR protocol was broken with this particular review. Davies adds:
“VAR made their recommendation to the referee based on slow-motion and still replays, which is not aligned with VAR protocols, as these should be used for only point-of-contact purposes in a red card tackle situation.
“Once at the screen, however, it would have been a surprise if the referee did not send off Balogun considering the pictures he was presented by VAR.”
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Meanwhile, a FIFA official has confirmed to The Athletic that a team cannot appeal against a red card of subsequent suspension. The official pointed to its regulations and Article 66.4, which states: “A sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures.”
As a result, Balogun is currently ruled out of the Belgium fixture and could miss further games – provided the US reach the quarter-finals – should FIFA’s disciplinary committee choose to extend the suspension.
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