Tag Futebol

Life before VAR was different. When goals would fly in undissected and celebrations could go on uninterrupted. That was a life without the need for weekly referee shows and the dreaded wait for the finest offside calls, but it is ultimately the reality of modern-day Premier League football.

Alas, what if it wasn’t? What if VAR didn’t exist? And the Premier League was forced to rely on the timing of the linesman’s flag and the whistle of the referee and referee only?

Stat site quawka have played out that scenario and put together the Premier League table without VAR errors this season.

Related Premier League Set-Piece Goals Rankings 2025/2026

Who are the best from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins?

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 12, 2025

The ‘errors’ are voted by Squawka followers in polls based on the most controversial VAR calls every week and the latest standings have now been revealed.

Note: The standings have been compiled on the basis that penalties which should have been awarded would have been converted.

20 Wolverhampton Wanderers: +/- 0 places

Unfortunately for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans, not even a life without VAR errors would be enough to stop their current rot. The Midlands side are yet to have an error go against them, but have actually had one go in their favour.

With or without VAR, Rob Edwards’ side sit rock bottom on two points and without a single win in the first 12 games of the Premier League season. Whether it comes courtesy of refereeing decisions or on their own merit, Wolves desperately need three points from somewhere.

19 Leeds United: -1 place

With one error going their way, Leeds United should be among the few sides grateful for VAR in the Premier League this season. The Whites would be two points worse off without it and one position lower than where they currently find themselves.

Defeat at the hands of Aston Villa left Daniel Farke’s men in the dropzone last time out and those at Elland Road now have the task of keeping their composure in a desperate attempt to survive at the first time of asking.

18 Burnley: +1 place

Although they’ve had one error go against them and none in their favour, Burnley’s point total wouldn’t change without VAR. The Clarets would remain on 10 points, but in 18th rather than 19th. That shows just how tight the relegation scrap is down at the bottom and the difficulty of the task on Scott Parker’s hands.

The Burnley boss will at least be hoping to have more VAR calls go in his side’s favour in the coming months.

17 West Ham United: +/- 0 places

Like Burnley, West Ham United’s point total wouldn’t change if VAR wasn’t around. The Hammers would still sit just outside the dropzone on 11 points, despite having one VAR error in their favour.

Nuno Espirito Santo has so far done an impressive job to steer those at the London Stadium in the right direction, but will be well aware that there’s still plenty to do, with or without the help of VAR.

16 Nottingham Forest: +/- 0 places

At their third attempt this season, it seems as though Nottingham Forest have got their managerial appointment right. Sean Dyche mirrored Nuno’s achievement from last season by winning at Anfield, but did so in far better style – thrashing the Reds 3-0 in shocking fashion.

It was in that game that the Tricky Trees had a VAR error go against them, when Igor Jesus’ goal was controversially disallowed for handball just before the break. It wasn’t enough to stop Forest, however, whose points and position have not been affected by the technology.

15 Brentford: -1 place

Having had two VAR errors go in their favour and two go against them, it’s been a busy season for the technology at Brentford. As it turns out, the Bees would rather have the video assistant available, given that they’d have lost a point without it and drop down to 15th.

It has been a solid start for Keith Andrews, who is proving doubters wrong every week, but he will be well aware that every point matters in the Premier League.

14 Fulham: +1 place

If anyone has reason to complain about VAR this season, it is Fulham. The West London side would move up one place in the Premier League and would have collected an extra two points without the technology this season.

Marco Silva’s men have had one error go their way and three go against them – the worst difference in the Premier League. As they look to push on from early relegation concerns, the Cottagers will be desperate for that to change.

13 Newcastle United: +1 place

Just like Fulham, Newcastle United would be two points better off without VAR and would be sat in 13th, rather than 14th. Of course, it still wouldn’t be enough to hide how poor Eddie Howe’s side have been at times in the current campaign, but life without the technology would have at least taken them closer to European places.

Howe is unlikely to look for excuses, however, and will be aware that the Magpies simply must kick on before they are down and out in the race for Champions League qualification. They’ve had two errors go their way and three against them.

12 Liverpool: +/- 0 places

Liverpool can’t even fall back on VAR controversy to hide just how disastrous their title defence is going. The Reds would still sit on just 18 points after 12 games without the technology.

That said, no team in the Premier League has had more VAR errors go against them than the four that Liverpool have. Whilst Arne Slot’s side simply haven’t been good enough, they could certainly do with a tad more luck when it comes to the officiating.

11 Bournemouth: -3 places

Without VAR, Bournemouth would be one point worse off and sit 11th rather than eighth — highlighting just how tight much of the Premier League table is after 12 games. The Cherries have largely impressed in the current campaign, but have had the fortune of enjoying two VAR errors in their favour and none against them.

Just one point adrift of the Champions League places, Andoni Iraola could yet Bournemouth to greater heights than ever before in the Premier League.

After being mired in a years-long stalemate with the Chicago Cubs since his retirement from MLB in 2007 stemming from his reluctance to apologize for his apparent use of performance-enhancing drugs, Sammy Sosa is returning to the organization that he called home for 13 seasons.

Sosa, who on Thursday released an apology for past "mistakes," was invited to the 2025 Cubs Convention by team owner Tom Ricketts.

Sosa said the following in his statement, obtained by multiple outlets, including Jon Heyman of .

"There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games," Sosa wrote. "I never broke any laws, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize."

Sosa, who belted 609 home runs in his 18-year MLB career, enthralled baseball fans during the summer of 1998, when he and Mark McGuire embarked on a historic home run chase, with both sluggers eventually breaking the then-record of 61 home runs in a single season.

But in what became known as the Steroid Era in baseball, both Sosa and McGuire were alleged to have been users of performance-enhancing drugs, and those accusations, as well as his apparent poor behavior towards the end of his tenure in Chicago, alienated him with the franchise.

On multiple occasions, including in 2014, Sosa almost had a homecoming at Wrigley Field. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts remained steadfast that he would not welcome the six-time Silver Slugger back into the friendly confines until he apologized for his transgressions.

Both were true to their words.

Ricketts said the following in a statement.

"We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and reaching out," Ricketts wrote. "No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody's perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game or the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.

"We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, while it is short notice, we hope that he can attend."

There is no official word on whether Sosa plans to attend the convention, but he had this to say at the end of his statement.

"In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

Sosa, the 1998 National League MVP, fell short of receiving the votes needed to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in his final year of eligibility on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot in 2022.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has reportedly lost more than £800,000 in a fraud case that saw funds "unknowingly" sent out of his bank account. Said losses are said to have occurred between September 2022 and June 2024, with the Spurs star initially unaware of what was going on. A suspect in the case was arrested over a ago and faces a possible prison sentence.

• Suspect in Bissouma fraud case faces threat of prison sentence

  has revealed that Bissouma suffered significant financial losses at the hands of Maurice Gomes. The 31-year-old was taken into custody during 2024 following a report to authorities from Bissouma.

  The Metropolitan Police confirmed in October 2025 that Gomes had been charged with "two counts of fraud by false representation". If found guilty, then the maximum sentence for each offence is 10 years behind bars.

  Money is said to have been moved out of the VIP bank account that Bissouma holds with Coutts – a brand used by many celebrities, including billionaire business owners and members of the royal family.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bissouma may be required to give evidence

  has obtained court records that report on how Gomes is alleged to have "dishonestly transferred Bissouma’s cash to himself without the Premier League star’s knowledge or consent".

  According to prosecutors, Gomes was behind illicit transfers that total £834,334.40. He stands accused of acting "to make a personal gain", with Bissouma being left in the dark. The Spurs star is said to be on a £50,000-a-week pay packet in north London.

  It is unclear how Gomes was able to access the account in question, with any possible links to his victim yet to be revealed. Bissouma – who lives in a £1.4million, six-bedroom house in Enfield, north London – is due to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court on November 7 and is expected to give evidence if the case goes to trial.

  A source told : "This has been deeply hurtful for Yves. It’s been a tough year for him on and off the pitch, and this hanging over his head will have contributed to that."

• Spurs star had watch stolen during trip to Cannes

  Bissouma had a watch worth £255,000 stolen in June 2024 during a visit to Cannes. He was stood outside a luxury hotel in France with his partner when the incident in question took place at around 4am.

  The 29-year-old has also endured a tough time in his professional life of late, with no appearances for Tottenham being made in the 2025-26 campaign. His last outing for the Premier League giants came on May 25 against former employers Brighton.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  January sale of free agency: What next for Bissouma?

  He has made exactly 100 appearances for Spurs since joining them from the Seagulls for £30m ($39m) in 2022, but faces an uncertain future at club level. His contract is running down, with free agency set to be hit in the summer of 2026.

  Bissouma is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. He picked up that knock a matter of seconds after stepping off the bench for Mali in a World Cup qualifying clash with Madagascar on October 12.

  Said ailment has required surgery, with Bissouma having posted on social media from his hospital bed: "Everything went well. I thank God for everything that happens to me. Everything happens for a reason I’m simply following my destiny. Grateful to God for His protection." Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: "Biss unfortunately had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that unfortunately, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle, they'll keep him out for weeks."

  Bissouma missed the start of the 2025-26 season while nursing a separate fitness problem, which scuppered any plans of a transfer to Turkish side Fenerbahce being lined up.

  While he is set to become available for noting at the end of the current campaign, there remains a chance that a sale will be sanctioned by Spurs in January – allowing them to generate a fee for a player that no longer forms part of long-term plans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

MatériaMais Notícias

Independentemente do candidato que se tornar o novo presidente do Corinthians a partir de janeiro de 2024, o clube alvinegro terá mudanças no seu departamento de futebol. Alessandro não seguirá como gerente, abrindo espaço para um novo profissional. O nome de Rodrigo Caetano circula nos bastidores políticos do Timão, mas até agora não houve contato algum de qualquer postulante ao cargo máximo no Time do Povo nos próximos três anos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansEx-jogador acusa o Corinthians de ‘compra casada’ na contratação de Eduardo Ramos durante a primeira passagem de ManoCorinthians13/10/2023CorinthiansPróximo de feito histórico com a Albânia, entenda por que Sylvinho saiu ‘chutado’ do CorinthiansCorinthians13/10/2023CorinthiansCapitão da Seleção Brasileira, Casemiro quase iniciou a carreira no CorinthiansCorinthians13/10/2023

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Caetano está empregado no Atlético-MG, onde no ano passado renovou o seu vínculo até o fim de 2026 com o clube mineiro.

Representante da oposição, Augusto Mello admite internamente o desejo de, caso eleito, contar com alguém considerado de alto escalão no mercado para comandar o futebol corintiano. No entanto, ele ainda não abriu conversas com possíveis nomes para assumir a função. O candidato passou os últimos dias focado em definir os associados que o acompanhariam na formação da sua chapa, registrada na quarta-feira (11).

Já no lado da situação, que tem André Luiz de Oliveira, o André Negão, como aspirante à presidência do Corinthians, a definição de um gerente passará diretamente pela escolha do diretor de futebol. De acordo com o estatuto do clube alvinegro, essa função não pode ser remunerada. Existem boas chances do ex-presidente Andrés Sanchez ocupar essa função e voltar a ser o homem forte do futebol no Timão.

continua após a publicidade

Ainda não foi definido oficialmente se Andrés vai ocupar alguma função diretiva no Timão, no caso de André ser eleito. Esse é o desejo do candidato, mas existe receio sobre uma repercussão negativa com o movimento. De toda forma, Sanchez terá influência direta no clube alvinegro em uma possível administração de Negão por conta da proximidade entre os dois.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Ainda assim, a ideia é ter um profissional remunerado na equipe de futebol para fazer a função de gerência, hoje exercida por Alessandro. O intuito seria que essa pessoa fosse um elo entre a diretoria e o campo, enquanto o diretor de futebol trabalhasse mais nos assuntos envolvendo o mercado.

continua após a publicidade

No caso de Augusto, a ideia é ter um executivo de futebol e um gerente. Sobre esse segundo cargo, há chances de ser exercido pelo ex-zagueiro Chicão. A função de diretor ainda não foi discutida internamente.

Russell Martin retains belief that Rangers will come good in the long run after beginning their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 Ibrox defeat to Genk.

Gers midfielder Mohamed Diomande was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute for his challenge on Zakaria El Ouahdi. In added time in the first half, Gers keeper Jack Butland saved a penalty from former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, but the South Korean eventually opened the scoring in the 55th minute and it proved to be the winner.

Martin, who had no complaints about the red card, has won four times in 14 games since he took over in the summer and the remaining fans in the crowd of 37,898 – the lowest in a European game at Ibrox since Rangers came back to the top flight – chanted against him at the final whistle.

When asked what gave him continuing confidence, he said: “Well, the way the players train, the way they stick together in the second half, the feeling inside the training ground, so I can’t control anything else apart from that. We will work, learn from tonight.

“Have a bit of perspective on tonight and how difficult it was after the red card. Because whether you like it or not, it changes a lot when you are down to 10 men for so long in a game in a European tie.“So, learn from it, especially the first half, where we hurt ourselves a little bit and got trapped too much.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rangers man was just as bad as Diomande vs Genk

Rangers began their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Genk, but the sent off Mohamed Diomandé as not the only man to blame for this defeat.

Sep 26, 2025

“And then get ready to prepare and perform and win on Sunday. I’m disappointed we lose. The red card changed the game a lot. I was looking forward to getting to half-time. We had a few key points across to help the performance.

“We started fine, we had a bit of control and then we had a 10-minute spell where Genk got on top because we just didn’t look after the ball anywhere near well enough, forced it a little bit, and then we defended too deep because we didn’t take care of each other with the ball.

“And then I thought we rode that out and it looked like we were getting a bit of control back. Then Dio gets sent off, so it’s frustrating for us, really frustrating. I asked them to be really aggressive and not just defend for 45 minutes to try and get a draw and get a point, so I thought we looked a threat.

“And they had a couple of moments but they didn’t cut us open. It wasn’t like we were defending relentlessly and we had a couple of moments ourselves. So I’m frustrated. The red card changes a lot but I’m proud of the effort in the second half.

Genk boss heaps praise on "special" Rangers fans

Genk boss Thorsten Fink was pleased to leave Ibrox with a 1-0 win and recalled playing at the Govan stadium for Bayern Munich in 1999, when the two sides drew 1-1 in a Champions League group game.

He said: “I was happy to see the crowd today and the fans in the stadium. I was here in 1999. I didn’t play, but I was on the bench. Rangers drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich.

“They played a very good game against us. I have been a coach for a long time, but it was my first time coming here as a coach so it is a nice victory for me.

“There is always a good atmosphere here. They supported their team from what I saw. When I was here with Bayern Munich there were more fans, 52,000 I think.“They are special, special fans. The atmosphere in 1999 I will never forget. Today the fans were good as well. I was happy to be here.”

Newcastle United head back into the Champions League this mid-week as the unbelievable might of Barcelona travels to St James’ Park to do battle with Eddie Howe’s Magpies.

Of course, last time the Toon found themselves deep in the illustrious competition, they did manage to upset a giant of Barca’s magnitude in Paris St. Germain on their own patch, with Dan Burn’s heroic effort culminating in a famous 4-1 triumph.

History could well repeat itself, therefore, when Hansi Flick’s La Liga outfit rock up to St James’ Park at full volume.

However, before anyone gets too carried away, Howe will have to make some decisions about his starting XI, with Harvey Barnes one player in danger of dropping out.

Barnes' early season struggles at Newcastle

While Nick Woltemade is now up and running in his new location, having just scored the decisive match-winning goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, on the other hand, Barnes is struggling to get going.

Despite starting just 17 Premier League games last season due to injuries ravaging his chances at consistent minutes, the former Leicester City ace would still manage to pick up a standout nine goals and four assists along the way.

However, despite pushing past those injury difficulties to start all four of his side’s league encounters this season, the goals and assists have unfortunately dried up, with zero goal contributions next to his name, despite creating two big chances.

For the crunch Champions League opener against Barca, Howe might now be tempted to axe Barnes completely, in favour of starting new recruit Anthony Elanga instead.

After all, Elanga – who cost a whopping £55m to win this summer – even has experience of Europe’s finest competition under his belt, with a goal in this competition coming his way from his minimal chances at Manchester United when slotting home an effort versus Atletico Madrid back in 2022.

While the short-term fix is likely to be the Swede, Newcastle also look as though they a long-term heir for Barnes up their sleeve.

Newcastle's heir to Barnes who could "go to the top"

Newcastle are known to pride itself on being a club that allows its youngsters to impress in the senior mix when the time is right.

The likes of Lewis Miley have experienced that first hand, with the 19-year-old midfield sensation never looking back after making his senior debut for the Toon in late 2023, with 49 appearances in the first team now coming his way.

Seung Soo-Park will hope he can soon follow in Miley’s footsteps in being another raw youngster who settles into the first-team environment swimmingly, having already been praised quite heavily since switching South Korea for English shores.

After all, Park did leave quite the impression on fans of his former club Suwon Bluewings, with a strike bagged back in June last year versus Ansan Greeners FC, making him the youngest ever goalscorer in the history of South Korean professional football.

This milestone even led to shouts that he was Korea’s ‘answer to Mbappe’, with a further three assists heading his way at Suwon before Newcastle gambled on the much-talked-about attacker who has already shown flashes of his fearless excellence in pre-season, based on the numbers above.

Howe must have been impressed by his efforts against Espanyol and Tottenham Hotspur as he named the rising 18-year-old star among his substitutes last time out versus Wolves, with the hope he can develop into Newcastle’s long-term answer to a stuttering Barnes if given time.

Games played

369

Goals scored

92

Assists

62

Age of PL debut

20

When looking at the table above, it’s clear that Barnes didn’t become a recognised Premier League success story overnight, with the Newcastle number 11 having to wait until he was three years older than Park to taste his first ever top-flight contest.

From that point on, however, Barnes’ development would accelerate, with the one-time Foxes youngster once noted as being “devastating” by Sky Sports when learning the ropes at the King Power Stadium, before becoming a fully fledged top-flight regular, despite some wobbles in form.

Howe and Co. will have to be patient and hope their gamble to bring Park to English shores works out, with ex-Suwon head coach Byun Sung-hwan noting that he can “go to the top.”

If Miley and other homegrown examples are anything to go by, he could well be the next off the conveyor belt to shine, with a dream possible scenario seeing Park compete with Barnes to raise the 27-year-old’s declining levels.

Howe's "best" Newcastle duo are now more important than Bruno & Tonali

Eddie Howe might now have unearthed an even better duo at Newcastle United than Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali’s midfield partnership.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

Crystal Palace are ready to compete with Manchester United and Real Madrid in the transfer market to sign Dutch wonderkid Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar as the Eagles plot an ambitious swoop. Smit came into the limelight in 2023 after he scored from 50 yards against Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League and then helped Netherlands win the European U19 Championship last summer.

• Palace to compete with Man Utd & Madrid to sign Smit

  Crystal Palace, along with European giants Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea, have sent scouts to monitor Smit's progress in Europe and in the Dutch league. While it will be an uphill task for the Eagles to compete with the giants, they believe that they can convince the teenager that moving to Selhurst Park can provide a better career pathway, according to .

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Smit compared to De Bruyne and de Jong

  At just 19, Smit's impressive performances for the Dutch Eredivisie outfit have led to comparisons with Netherlands international and Blaugrana midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne. He shot to prominence after scoring from 50 yards against the Catalan giants in UEFA Youth League clash in 2023 and then helped Netherlands to win the UEFA U19 Championship last summer, where Smit was declared the most valuable player of the tournament and finished the competition as joint-highest goalscorer.

• Palace see Smit as Wharton's replacement

  Crystal Palace expect their midfield star and England international Adam Wharton to leave next summer, amid strong interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Eagles want to sign a suitable replacement before Wharton exits Selhurst Park.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Palace's dream start to new season

  Oliver Glasner's side are off to a dream start in the 2025-26 campaign, as they remain the only team in the English top-flight to remain unbeaten after six matches. Palace have also made a winning start to their Europa Conference League journey and are now waiting to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

It would be fair to say that Arsenal were not at their best last night.

Mikel Arteta’s side had the challenging task of playing away at Athletic Bilbao for the opening game of their Champions League campaign, and unlike on Saturday, didn’t exactly blow anyone away.

Granted, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard did their images a world of good with two goals, but other than that, it was an underwhelming performance.

In particular, there was one player who was as inconsequential to proceedings as Mikel Merino was.

Merino's underwhelming performance

With Martin Odegaard out injured, Arteta opted to go with the same midfield three that started against Liverpool ahead of the international break.

However, while that decision made a little more sense at Anfield, where the Gunners were expected to be on the back foot, it was a little more puzzling last night, when they were undoubtedly favourites.

Unfortunately, instead of getting the Merino who scored a hat-trick for Spain and looked like a serious threat, the manager got the one who failed to add a whole lot to the team.

Chalkboard

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

For example, in his 96 minutes of action, the 29-year-old took just a single shot on target, amassed a paltry combined expected goal and assists figure of 0.09, completed just 21 passes and lost the ball 12 times.

It was by no means a horror showing from the Spaniard, but he was most certainly ineffective for large parts of the game.

We aren’t the only ones to think this either, as the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau awarded the former Real Sociedad star just a 6/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘looked stretched’ at points.

However, while Merino did disappoint somewhat, he wasn’t the only one to do so.

The Arsenal star as disappointing as Merino

While they did win the game and were the better side, there were a number of other players who could fit the bill, but we are talking about Eberechi Eze.

Yes, while there is absolutely no doubting the Englishman’s incredible ability and desire, he was rather underwhelming in his first Champions League appearance.

Instead of being a constant threat and source of creative flair like we know he can be, there were parts of the game in which he struggled, notably when it came to understanding what Arteta likes of his left winger. The video clip below encapsulates that perfectly.

In his 71 minutes of action, the former Crystal Palace star took 16 touches fewer than David Raya, registered an expected assists figure of 0.11, completed just 19 passes, played a single key pass, lost the ball ten times and only made one cross.

Minutes

71′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.11

Assists

0

Shots

0

Touches

40

Accurate Passes

19/25 (76%)

Key Passes

1

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (0)

Lost Possession

10

Fouls

2

Crosses

1

Unsurprisingly then, others were just as disappointed by his showing, with Tabuteau giving him a 5/10 match rating, writing that he ‘struggled to get into the game.’

Likewise, one content creator claimed the winger was “totally off it today”, which is a more than fair assessment.

However, while the Greenwich-born ace has to take some responsibility for his lack of threat, last night’s game was perhaps the best example of why the manager has to play him more centrally going forward, as he’s just not a touchline sort of player.

Ultimately, Arsenal achieved what they set out to do last night, but the likes of Merino and Eze will be looking to put in stronger performances in the coming games.

They lost the ball 25x: Arteta must never start Arsenal duo together again

Arsenal sealed a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in their opening Champions League clash of the season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 16, 2025

Liverpool and FSG splashed the cash in 2025, forking out more than £400m in the club’s biggest summer spending spree of all time. Alexander Isak rounded off the Reds’ dramatic window, costing a British record fee from Newcastle United.

But who else is on Liverpool’s most expensive signings list? Here’s the top 20 with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Alexander Isak

£125m

Newcastle

2025

2

Florian Wirtz

£116m

Bayer Leverkusen

2025

3

Virgil van Dijk

£75m

Southampton

2018

4

Hugo Ekitike

£69m

Frankfurt

2025

5

Alisson

£67m

Roma

2018

6

Darwin Nunez

£64m

Benfica

2022

7

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m

RB Leipzig

2023

8

Naby Keita

£48m

RB Leipzig

2018

9

Fabinho

£44m

Monaco

2018

10

Diogo Jota

£41m

Wolves

2020

=11

Cody Gakpo

£40m

PSV

2023

=11

Milos Kerkez

£40m

Bournemouth

2025

13

Luis Diaz

£38m

FC Porto

2022

=14

Andy Carroll

£35m

Newcastle

2011

=14

Alexis Mac Allister

£35m

Brighton

2023

=14

Ibrahima Konate

£35m

RB Leipzig

2021

=14

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

£35m

Arsenal

2017

=18

Mohamed Salah

£34m

Roma

2017

=18

Sadio Mane

£34m

Southampton

2016

=18

Ryan Gravenberch

£34m

Bayern Munich

2023

Here's a detailed look at Liverpool's 10 most expensive signings: 10 Diogo Jota £41m from Wolves

Liverpool made sure to capitalise on the additional time before the beginning of the 2020/21 season, which had been delayed due to the pandemic, by signing Diogo Jota on a five-year contract from Wolves.

Jota would go on to become a fan favourite at Anfield but tragically passed away in 2025 at the age of 28 after a road traffic accident. He will always be known as Liverpool’s number 20.

9 Fabinho £44m from Monaco

Fabinho credited the exceptional infrastructure in place at Liverpool upon his arrival at the club in May 2018, but it was he who ended up being the much-needed spine for his side.

Having made over 150 appearances at his previous side Monaco, the Brazilian midfielder was sought-after due to his ability to play anywhere in the middle of the park.

With Emre Can on his way out as a free agent to sign for Juventus, Fabinho was deemed as the perfect replacement for Klopp’s side.

Liverpool career

2018-2023

Appearances

219

Goals

11

Assists

9

Liverpool honours

Champions League (2019), Premier League (2020), FA Cup (2022), League Cup (2022), Super Cup (2019)

8 Naby Keita £48m from RB Leipzig

Naby Keita surpassed Andy Carroll’s 2011 £35m record when Liverpool agreed to trigger the midfielder’s release clause with RB Leipzig in August 2017, securing his move to the club for the following season.

It was mostly a tale of two stories for Keita at Liverpool. The first began with promise, potential and hope; the second ended with injury, inconsistency and, eventually, his inevitable release.

Liverpool career

2018-2023

Appearances

129

Goals

11

Assists

7

Liverpool honours

Champions League (2019), Premier League (2020), FA Cup (2022), League Cup (2022), Super Cup (2019), Club World Cup (2019)

7 Dominik Szoboszlai £60m from RB Leipzig

When it was announced that James Milner, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would all be leaving the club, Klopp knew he would need to splash the cash on a brand-new midfield in the summer of 2023.

Soon after completing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m, Liverpool told RB Leipzig they would be triggering the £60m release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai.

The Hungary captain had won the DFB-Pokal with Leipzig and secured a strong third-place finish in the Bundesliga, but it was his impressive performances on the international stage as Hungary’s captain that caught Liverpool’s eye.

6 Darwin Nunez £64m from Benfica

Darwin Nunez signed for an initial £64m from Benfica in 2022 and started so well with the Reds, when his goal secured Liverpool the Community Shield against Manchester City.

However, things never really clicked into gear for the Uruguayan at Anfield, and he was sold to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in 2025.

5 Alisson £67m from Roma

Alisson became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the summer of 2018 when he signed for Liverpool from Roma on a six-year contract.

The deal surpassed Man City’s £35m signing of Ederson in 2017 and turned out to be a pivotal turning point during Klopp’s tenure at the club, having previously lost out on major trophies due to goalkeeping errors.

Although officials at the Merseyside club didn’t reveal the actual fee, his former club, Roma, said the deal was worth up to £67m.

Records are meant to be broken, however, and this one didn’t last long, as Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for £71m just weeks later.

4 Hugo Ekitike £69m from Frankfurt

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the forward as they repalced Nunez.

Like Nunez, the Frenchman made an instant impression by scoring on his debut in the Community Shield, whereas Ekitike also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

3 Virgil van Dijk £75m from Southampton

Liverpool’s most expensive defensive signing of all time has arguably been their most important addition in the last decade. Now captain of the Reds, Van Dijk has won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League at Anfield, establishing himself as a Liverpool legend.

The announcement that Van Dijk would join Liverpool at the turn of the new year in 2018 was a world-record deal for a defender at the time – a fee only since surpassed by Harry Maguire’s transfer to Man United (£80m) in 2019 and Josko Gvardiol’s to Man City (£77m) in 2023 – and has proven to be worth every penny.

2 Florian Wirtz £116m from Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for just a matter of months in the summer of 2025 after he sealed a huge £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germany international seemed to snub joining Bayern Munich in favour of heading to Merseyside with the Reds and signed a five-year deal at Anfield.

1 Alexander Isak £125m from Newcastle

Alexander Isak is Liverpool’s and Britain’s record transfer, with the Reds finally sealing a deal on deadline day in 2025.

The Sweden international went on strike for weeks at Newcastle before finally getting his wish with a move to Anfield. Isak signed a six-year contract and set the Reds back a whopping £125m.

أعرب الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن استيائه من الجدل الدائر عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، بعد تداول صور للاعب الزمالك حسام عبد المجيد وهو يصافح مدرب الأهلي عقب مباراة القمة الأخيرة.

وتعرض الزمالك للهزيمة أمام الأهلي بنتيجة 2-1، في قمة الجولة التاسعة من الدوري المصري الممتاز، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وعقب المباراة، توجه حسام عبد المجيد، مدافع الزمالك، إلى مدربه السابق عادل مصطفى، وصافحه مهنئًا إياه بفوز الأهلي، وهو الموقف الذي أثار حالة من الجدل وغضب بعض جماهير القلعة البيضاء.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “في الحقيقة أمر غريب جدًا أن الناس غاضبون، أو أن البعض غاضب، لأن حسام عبد المجيد صافح عادل مصطفى المدرب العام للنادي الأهلي ومحمد بن رمضان بعد الهزيمة”.

وأضاف متعجبًا: “نعم، والله العظيم صفحات كثيرة كانت تقول إنه كان يجب أن يكون غاضبًا وألا يصافحهم وألا يقدم لهم التهنئة! وقالوا إن اللاعب اتفق معهم حتى ينتقل إلى الأهلي، وزيزو.. ما هذا؟”.

طالع أيضًا | أيمن يونس: أعتذر لما قلته عن لاعب الزمالك.. وبيزيرا تعرض للترهيب أمام الأهلي

وواصل: “محمد عواد كان يجلس بجوار أفشة في المدرجات، واللاعبان كانا يمزحان مع بعضهما قبل المباراة وهذا أمر عادي جدًا، يا إخواني، حرام عليكم ما تفعلونه في الرياضة في مصر، يا إخواني، اتقوا الله، والله العظيم إن ما تفعلونه هذا لا يليق”.

وأردف: “والناس الذين يكتبون وينشرون هذه الأخبار والصور، لا يليق ما تفعل، وكفى بالبرامج التي تشعل الفتنة: هذا ضد ذاك وذاك ضد هذا… ما هذا؟ هذا لا علاقة له بالرياضة ولا بالإعلام الرياضي إطلاقًا”.

وأشار: “قل رأيك، اضحك، امزح، لكن ماذا يحدث؟ تتحدثون عن لاعب صافح مدرباً أو زميلاً! أنا كنت أُجري عمليات الإحماء وأنا لاعب، وأذهب إلى جمهور الزمالك قبل جمهور الأهلي في المباريات”.

واختتم: “منهم لله، من صنعوا بيننا الوقيعة في السنوات الأخيرة، فأوصلونا إلى هذه المرحلة، يا جماعة، نحتاج إلى مزيد من العقل والهدوء، المبادرات السابقة كانت جميلة… يا رب تكتمل على خير”.