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GOAl looks at the must-see cities hosting the Women's World Cup in New Zealand

New Zealand is getting ready to welcome an influx of football fans this July and August, with four cities hosting games at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

From the capital city Wellington to Dunedin in the South Island, fans from Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia will be moving around the antipodean islands following their teams, while the locals will no doubt enjoy a carnival atmosphere.

Here, GOAL takes a closer look at the four Soccer Cities in New Zealand playing host to Women's World Cup games in 2023.

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  Wellington

  Stadium:	Wellington Regional Stadium
  Capacity:	39,000
  Address:	105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6140

  Wellington's Regional Stadium – also known as Sky Stadium – is the Wellington venue hosting a number of games at the World Cup this year. Home of A-League side Wellington Phoenix, the wonderful waterfront ground has a capacity of 39,000 and is sure to produce a cacophonous atmosphere.

  Which games are on in Wellington?

  Date	Match
  July 21	Spain vs Costa Rica
  July 23	Sweden vs South Africa
  July 25	New Zealand vs Philippines
  July 27	USWNT vs Netherlands
  July 29	Sweden vs Italy
  July 31	Japan vs Spain
  August 2	South Africa vs Italy
  August 5	Round of 16
  August 11	Quarter-final

  Wellington will welcome a broad array of fans from across the world during the Women's World Cup, with nine matches to be played, including games involving the hosts and the USWNT.

  There will be seven group games and two knockout fixtures.

  Where to stay in Wellington

  The map above has a variety of options for places to stay in Wellington.

  Things to do in Wellington

  • Ride the Wellington Cable Car
  • Weta Workshop tour
  • Visit Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Hike Mount Victoria

  Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and no trip there would be complete without heading up on the Wellington Cable Car for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

  Fans of the films should definitely make time to visit the award-winning Weta Workshop and do a tour of the place where movie-making magic is conjured.

  If you fancy learning more about the fascinating history of New Zealand, pencil in a visit to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which is an educational hub, teaching visitors about Maori astronomy and much more.

  A cultural melting pot, the city has no shortage of cafes to while away the hours – try the flat white – and if you're a bit more active in your disposition, why not have a go at the nature trails leading to the top of Mount Victoria?

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  Auckland

  Stadium:	Eden Park
  Capacity:	48,276
  Address:	Reimers Avenue, Kingsland, Auckland 1024

  Auckland's Eden Park is the biggest stadium in New Zealand being used at the Women's World Cup.

  A veritable fortress for the All Blacks rugby union team, the Women's World Cup will be the venue's most notable use for soccer.

  Which games are on in Auckland?

  Date	Match
  July 20	New Zealand vs Norway
  July 22	USWNT vs Vietnam
  July 24	Italy vs Argentina
  July 26	Spain vs Zambia
  July 30	Norway vs Philippines
  August 1	Portugal vs USWNT
  August 5	Round of 16
  August 11	Quarter-final
  August 15	Semi-final

  Auckland will host a total of nine games at the Women's World Cup, including the opening game between New Zealand and Norway on July 20.

  As well as six group matches, Eden Park will be the venue for a round-of-16 game, one quarter-final and a semi-final.

  Fans from the United States, Spain, Italy, Argentina and Portugal are expected to visit the city, so there will be a brilliantly diverse atmosphere during the tournament.

  Where to stay in Auckland

  Check out the map above for places to stay while in Auckland.

  Things to do in Auckland

  • Visit Sky Tower
  • Whale watching
  • Visit Auckland Domain
  • Kayak to Rangitoto Island

  Auckland is "the perfect mix of city sophistication and a natural playground" according to newzealand.com and it is fair to say that there is no shortage of things to do in the North Island metropolis.

  The Sky Tower is an iconic sight on the Auckland skyline – it is actually the tallest structure in New Zealand – and adventurous visitors can actually do a Sky Jump from the 328m-high structure or try a Sky Walk.

  Wildlife lovers who relish the outdoors can go on a Whale safari from Auckland Harbour, with a variety of species to be found in the Hauraki gulf, including dolphins, orca, minke whales and more.

  Auckland Domain is one of the biggest public parks in the city and is very central, offering outstandingly beautiful views of the gulf and volcanic Rangitoto Island – which can actually be reached via kayak.

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  Hamilton

  Stadium:	Waikato Stadium
  Capacity:	25,111
  Address:	128 Seddon Road, Frankton, Hamilton 3204

  Waikato Stadium in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa is a 25,000-seater rugby stadium that will be used for group games at the tournament.

  Situated on the banks of the Waikato river, the city of Hamilton is where figures such as former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and rugby coach Warren Gatland were born.

  Which games are on in Hamilton?

  Date	Match
  July 22	Zambia vs Japan
  July 25	Switzerland vs Norway
  July 27	Portugal vs Vietnam
  July 31	Costa Rica vs Zambia
  August 2	Argentina vs Sweden

  Hamilton will host a total of five group games at the Women's World Cup, with fans from Argentina, Sweden, Portugal and Zambia among those expected to descend on the city.

  There will be plenty of intrigue when Zambia play Japan, while the August 2 clash between Argentina and Sweden should draw a crowd.

  Where to stay in Hamilton

  You can browse places to stay in Hamilton with the map above.

  Things to do in Hamilton

  • Hamilton Gardens
  • Waikato Museum
  • Hamilton Zoo
  • Hobbiton moview set

  The famous Hobbiton movie set from Peter Jackson's trilogy can be found in the Waikato region, just 45 minutes from Hamilton. You can take a guided tour of New Zealand's 'Shire' and avail of 'Second Breakfast' while there.

  Hamilton Gardens will transport you around the world with its amazing variety of concept gardens, with Chinese, Egyptian and tropical influences to be found, all within the centre of the city.

  The Waikato Museum is a must for any culture enthusiast, with an array of local, Maori exhibits to peruse.

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  Dunedin

  Stadium:	Forsyth Barr Stadium
  Capacity:	28,744
  Address:	Anzac Avenue, Logan Park, Dunedin, Otago

  Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin is the only Women's World Cup venue situated on New Zealand's South Island. Known as the Glass House due to its magnificent clear ceiling, it is a multi-use stadium that was previously used for the 2015 U20 World Cup.

  Which games are on in Dunedin?

  Dunedin will host a total of six group matches at the Women's World Cup, including Switzerland vs New Zealand in Group A, Japan vs Costa Rica in Group C and Netherlands vs Portugal in Group E.

  Date	Match
  July 21	Philippines vs Switzerland
  July 23	Netherlands vs Portugal
  July 26	Japan vs Costa Rica
  July 28	Argentina vs South Africa
  July 30	Switzerland vs New Zealand
  August 1	Vietnam vs Netherlands

  Where to stay in Dunedin

  Check out the interactive map above for places to stay in Dunedin.

  Things to do in Dunedin

  • Visit Larnach Castle
  • See local wildlife
  • Visit Port Chalmers
  • Do a brewery tour

  Dunedin takes its name from the Scots-Gaelic name for Edinburgh (), which translates as 'Hill fort of Edin'. As such a strong Scottish heritage is woven into the Otago city, with Larnach Castle being a fine example.

  Built in 1871 by William Larnach, who was born to Scottish parents, the castle is just 20 minutes away from the city centre and is a wonderful option for a day out, with mesmerising views of the Otago peninsula.

  If Victorian architecture isn't your thing, you might prefer a wildlife tour, either on land or sea, to see the abundance of rare species which live in the region. Dunedin is known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand, with a variety of penguin species, albatross and kiwi living in the Otago area.

  Sight-seeing can, of course, be thirsty work and you can tend to that by going on a tour of one of the local breweries, such as Speight's or Emerson's craft brewery.

As well as saddling the club with debt and letting the takeover drag on, the owners' mismanagement can be seen in the team's limp finish to 2022-23

Three weeks ago, Manchester United’s place in the top four of the Premier League and a return to the Champions League looked practically assured. Now, though, they are anxiously looking over their shoulders, feeling the heat from a resurgent Liverpool and dreading the very real prospect of their number one objective evading them at the last.

While Liverpool have awoken from a difficult campaign and hit their stride at the business end of the season with six consecutive victories, United’s exciting season has spectacularly come off the rails. Erik ten Hag’s side have taken only four points from their last four league matches, and in their last six matches in all competitions they have only won once inside 90 minutes, scoring just three goals.

After losing back-to-back games against Brighton and West Ham, United are only one point ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool and need to win three of their last four matches, against Wolves, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham, to be assured of a top-four finish. It is hardly a mammoth task, but with the way United have been playing recently, three wins is far from guaranteed.

The team that in March Jurgen Klopp described as “a results machine” is now looking rusty and faulty, its features no longer working properly from overuse. United have played more matches than any team in Europe’s top five leagues and have been badly affected by injuries to their two first-choice centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. But too many games is no excuse. A team of United’s size and ambition should be going deep in all competitions and must be set up to do so.

Which is why the blame for the team’s sudden decline should fall squarely on the Glazers woeful management of the club and for dragging the sale of the club on for months.

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  Lost billions that could have gone on the squad

  Let’s start with the basics. Since they bought the club in a highly controversial leveraged buyout in 2005, the Glazers have taken more £1.1 billion out of United. According to football finance blogger Kieron O’Connor of the Swiss Ramble, United have paid £743 million in interest payments since the takeover, when the Glazers acquired United for £790m but only put up £200m of their own money, saddling the Red Devils with eye-watering debt.

  Between 2010 and 2022, the club has paid out £517m in interest, almost as much as the rest of the Premier League in the same period. The six members of the Glazer family who have been directors have also taken an estimated £50m in directors’ fees in that time. In the last seven years, they have collected £166m in dividends.

  If you count the £465m the Glazers have received in selling Class A shares, none of which has been reinvested in the club, the total amount the family has taken out of United stands at more than £1.6bn. That’s £1.6bn that could have been spent on transfer fees, salaries and redeveloping a creaking Old Trafford and outdated training ground, but instead went towards enriching a billionaire family.

  In terms of owner funding between 2012 and 2021, United ranked bottom of the Premier League on minus £154m. Manchester City’s owners invested £684m, Chelsea's £516m. United may have spent large sums of money recently – they have the second-largest wage bill in the Premier League, only trailing Chelsea – but all that money has come from the club itself and its vast commercial revenues, a lot of which stems from its heritage and the sustained success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

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  Frantic spending after a nightmare start

  United fans have held huge protests against the Glazers since 2005, with the demonstrations gaining extra momentum this season. Rival supporters have had little sympathy on the whole with their complaints, however, pointing to the large amount of money the club spent in the summer, when they splurged £229m on six players.

  Take Jamie Carragher poking fun at Gary Neville after the defeat at West Ham, pointing to the fact United spent big on Casemiro and Antony in the summer, and saying that it was not the fault of the Glazers that Erik ten Hag was deploying Wout Weghorst as a No.10 to little effect.

  But Carragher’s point merely underlines how badly United have been run. As Neville said in his reply to Carragher, the owners have only dipped into their pockets and spent big when things have gone badly wrong, pushing through the deals for Casemiro and Antony after the club’s woeful start to the season, when they lost back-to-back matches against Brighton and Brentford. And their frantic spending in the summer led to them being left with no cash for transfer fees in January, forcing them to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with Weghorst on a loan and bring in Marcel Sabitzer as another temporary measure.

  Liverpool, by contrast, snapped up Cody Gakpo for half the amount of money United had spent on Antony, while Arsenal made smart deals for Jorginho and Leandro Trossard. And Arsenal and City did their business early when they signed Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Erling Haaland, respectively, ensuring they were not forced to pay over the odds.

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  Not enough money to buy a De Gea upgrade

  A lack of forward planning has also led to the problems United have had with their goalkeeper. David de Gea has been one of the club’s most important players over the past decade, but is no longer suited to the modern game due to his lack of ability on the ball.

  While City, Arsenal and Liverpool long ago recognised the need for a ball-playing goalkeeper, United kept faith in De Gea thanks to his shot-stopping ability. But his capacity to make world-beating saves is fading, and this season he has made four costly errors leading to the goals.

  His catastrophic error against West Ham saw him equal Hugo Lloris as the most error-prone ‘keeper in the Premier League this season. United, however, are set to renew the Spaniard’s contract as they do not have enough funds to buy a goalkeeper as well as a new top striker.

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  Lack of transfer expertise

  Even though United’s form has suddenly exposed the squad’s limitations, the problems have not occurred overnight. Their issues are down to years of neglect. Take the fact that the club only hired a sporting director for the first time in March 2021.

  And they decided to promote the relatively unknown John Murtough to the role rather than get an prominent figure. Murtough’s lack of experience in the transfer market was exposed last summer when United persisted in trying to sign Frenkie de Jong when it was clear he wanted to stay at Barcelona, and when he flew to Turin to try and do a deal for Adrien Rabiot, only for the midfielder's wage demands to be too high.

  United also failed to sign Moises Caicedo in 2021 from Independiente del Valle in a low-cost deal. The Ecuador international is now one of the most valuable midfielders in the world. United have instead favoured signing high-profile names such as Casemiro and Ronaldo, quick fixes that create fresh problems down the line when they go past their peak and have little or no sell-on value.

How to watch Inter vs Juventus in Coppa Italia in the USA, as well as the kick-off time and team news.

Inter will lock horns with Juventusin the Coppa Italiasemifinal at San Siro on Wednesday.

▶ Watch Inter vs Juventus live on Paramount+ today!

▶ Watch Inter vs Juventus live on BT Sport today!

The two teams will face each other in the fourth and final Derby d'Italia of the season for a place in the Coppa Italia title decider. The first leg between the two teams was a feisty affair that ended 1-1.

Juan Cuadrado opened the scoring just seven minutes from regulation but a stoppage-time penalty from Romelu Lukaku ensured Inter returned to Milan with all to play for at the San Siro.

Inter ended a five-game winless streak in Serie A at the weekend with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Empoli. Now they will look to bring that form against Juve in a crucial knockout encounter.

Meanwhile, the Bianconeri have got a shot in the arm after they were given back their 15 points earlier deducted to force their way into the top four in Serie A. However, they have lost two of their last three matches and Massimiliano Allegri will be urging his troops for a positive response.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S., as well as how to stream it live online.

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  Kick-off time

  Game:	Inter vs Juventus
  Date:	April 26, 2023
  Kick-off:	4:00 pm EDT
  Venue:	San Siro

  The game is scheduled for April 26, 2023, at San Siro. It will kick off at 4:00 pm EDT in the USA.

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  How to watch Inter vs Juventus online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	NA	Paramount+

  In theUnited States (USA) it can be streamed live on Paramount+.

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  Team news & squads

  Inter team news

  Milan Skriniar (back) will be missed due to injury while Henrikh Mkhitaryan remains a doubt. Samir Handanovic is suspended so Andre Onana should stand between the sticks.

  Romelu Lukaku should start up front along with Lautaro Martinez. Nicolo Barella along with Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcelo Brozovic should slot in at the centre of the park.

  Inter possible XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco; Martinez, Lukaku

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Onana, Cordaz
  Defenders	Bastoni, De Vrij, Acerbi, Dimarco, Fontanarosa, Dalbert, Bellanova, Darmian, Zanotti, D'Ambrosio.
  Midfielders	Brozovic, Asllani, Barella, Gagliardini, Dumfries, Gosens, Carboni, Calhanogllu.
  Forwards	Correa, Martinez, Lukaku, Dzeko

  Juventus team news

  Juve will miss Moise Kean with injury and the suspended Juan Cuadrado. Meanwhile, Mattia Perin, the cup keeper of Juventus, should replace Wojciech Szczesny who has recovered from a heart issue.

  Federico Chiesa, Angel Di Maria and Dusan Vlahovic could start up front with Adrien Rabiot, Manuel Locatelli and Fabio Miretti in midfield.

  Juventus possible XI: Perin; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; De Sciglio, Miretti, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Di Maria; Vlahovic

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Perin, Pinsoglio, Szczesny.
  Defenders	Sandro, Gatti, Rugani, Danilo, De Sciglio, Bonucci, Bremer.
  Midfielders	Locatelli, Fagioli, Miretti, Cuadrado, Barrenechea, Rabiot, Paredes, Pogba, Kostic.
  Forwards	Iling Junior, Di Maria, Soule, Vlahovic, Milik.

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  05/04/2023	Juventus 1-1 Inter	Coppa Italia
  20/03/2023	Inter 0-1 Juventus	Serie A
  07/11/2022	Juventus 2-0 Inter	Serie A
  12/05/2022	Juventus 2-4 Inter	Coppa Italia
  04/04/2022	Juventus 0-1 Inter	Serie A

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  Useful links

  • Transfer News

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • GOAL Featured Stories

Premier League side Aston Villa are reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce centre-back Attila Szalai.

There seems to be no shortage of interest in the defender, with Lazio and Napoli interested, along with other Premier League outfits like Leicester City and Newcastle United.

Fenerbahce want £21.5m for Szalai

Hungarian outlet Blikk have reported about Szalai, stating that the defender is attracting plenty of suitors from across Europe and Fenerbahce want a fee of £21.5 million to part ways with him. This could make the 23-year-old the most expensive Hungarian player in the game’s history.

The report claims: “His outstanding performances have also attracted the interest of top European clubs. Among others, Leicester City are third English club interested, Newcastle United and Aston Villa in the UK are also interested. Napoli and Lazio in Italy are competing for him.”

Szalai has made 15 appearances in the Turkish league this season, scoring two goals already and picking up a rating of 7.00. The defender stands six foot and two feet tall and he has won 2.7 aerial duels per game, making 1.3 tackles per game as well for the side.

Szalai would add depth to the Villa back line

As things stand, Dean Smith’s men have four out-and-out centre-back options – Ezri Konsa, Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings and Bjorn Engels (as per Transfermarkt).

Engels though, has been linked with a move away from the club as Royal Antwerp are interested in the defender. So signing another defender could make sense in the summer, especially if Engels does leave. As his departure could leave Smith’s men short in the centre-back department.

In other news, ‘There will be no impact’ – Kieran Maguire gives his verdict following key AVFC financial update

Here's where you can watch Cincinnati take on Inter Miami in MLS on TV or stream live.

When FC Cincinnati hosts Inter Miami at the TQL on Saturday, they'll be looking to keep up their MLS season's perfect record. For their part, the visitors will be aiming to win their first away game of the year and end a three-game losing streak.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

With three victories and two draws from their first five games of the year, Pat Noonan's Cincinnati has had a fantastic start to the MLS season and is currently second in the Eastern Conference.

The Ohio team defeated Nashville SC last time out, and Brandon Vazquez scored the game's only goal to extend Cincinnati's unblemished away streak to nine games, dating back to last season.

The team has now matched Portland Timbers' 2012 streak, and if they can contain the hot-shot St. Louis City team when they come to CityPark in three weeks, they may be able to go even longer. Cincinnati is now the only unbeaten team in the Eastern Conference, thanks to the victory.

Inter Miami has had a great start to the season and will be aiming to avoid suffering a fourth straight loss. Miami fell 3-1 in this matchup last year, so Neville will be looking for a better performance from his team this year. The Herons are currently in 10th position in the Eastern Conference heading into this game.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and stream live online.

• Cincinnati vs Inter Miami date & kick-off time

  Game:	Cincinnati vs Inter Miami
  Date:	April 1, 2023
  Kick-off time:	7:30 pm ET
  Venue:	TQL Stadium

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• Where to watch Cincinnati vs Inter Miami on TV & live stream online

  Fans in the United States & across the world can watch MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	N/A	Apple TV

  • Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guide

• Team news & squads

  Cincinnati team news and squad

  Cincinnati will have Alec Kann unavailable but will have the rest of the squad up for selection.

  Cincinnati possible XI: Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Mosquera; Gaddis, Moreno, Nwobodo, Barreal; Acosta; Vazquez, Brenner

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Vermeer, Celentano
  Defenders	Hagglund, Miazga, Mosquera, Arias, Powell, Murphy, Gaddis
  Midfielders	Moreno, Nwobodo, Barreal, Acosta, Kubo, Angulo
  Forwards	Vazquez, Santos, Brenner, Ordonez, Badji

  Inter Miami team news and squad

  Inter Milan will be without Robbie Robinson and Leonardo Campana due to calf strains, Edison Azcona with a sore hamstring, and Ian Fray and Noah Allen because of knee injuries.

  Inter Miami possible XI: Callender; Yedlin, Kryvtsov, McVey, Negri; Gregore, Mota; Pizarro, Ulloa, Jean; Martinez

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Callender, Marsman
  Defenders	Negri, McVey, Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Sailor
  Midfielders	Mota, Gregore, Pizarro, Ulloa, Jean, Duke, Cremaschi, Neville, Duke
  Forwards	Martinez, Lassiter

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• Useful links

  Live soccer on U.S. TV

  Stream MLS matches on Apple TV

NXGN has selected the best English players born on or after January 1, 2004 – but will they go on to fulfill their potential in the coming years?

The NXGN Nine for 2023 has been revealed, with nine elite teenage ballers having been selected as the best in the world among those born in 2004 or later. There were, though, no English players on the list, so where are the wonderkids who could be set for Three Lions honours in the future?

England did, after all, win the Under-19 European Championship in the summer of 2022, while Premier League academies are churning out plenty of homegrown youngsters who have begun making their mark on the top-flight.

Over in Europe, meanwhile, there are increasing numbers of English players making the move and trying to break into teams on the continent after impressing in their youth ranks.

🏆 TOP STORY: Ronaldo reflects on his Man Utd misery

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Will Pep Guardiola leave Man City?

🚨 MUST READ: Inside the mind of Emi Martinez

With all that in mind, check out England's NXGN Nine for 2023…

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  Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)

  Leaving Manchester City’s academy to join Dortmund certainly worked for former NXGN winner Jadon Sancho, so why shouldn’t it work for another English winger?

  Bynoe-Gittens moved to Germany in 2020, and though injuries limited his impact during his first two seasons, the 18-year-old is now a key member of the first-team squad and has already scored a number of key Bundesliga goals.

  He was also an important player for England’s U19 European Championship-winning side in the summer of 2022, with his pace and trickery while cutting inside from the left making him a nightmare for opposition defenders.

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  Alfie Devine (Tottenham)

  Tottenham's youngest-ever player and goalscorer, Devine is closing in on making a proper breakthrough into the first team in north London having been one of the most impressive performers in English youth football over the past few years.

  An attacking midfielder who is also capable of playing as a wide forward, Devine joined Tottenham from Wigan Athletic in 2020, and has been included on the bench by Antonio Conte on a number of occasions this season.

  A key part of England's U19 European Championship-winning team in 2022, the 18-year-old has also been praised for his leadership qualities, and could become a captaincy option at both club and international level in the future.

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  Lewis Hall (Chelsea)

  Premier League supporters have seen Hall emerge as an energetic left-back over the past few months at Chelsea, but it is actually in central midfield where the 18-year-old is most comfortable.

  That versatility is perhaps Hall’s greatest asset, meaning he has been able to play with confidence that belies his years in a variety of roles when given opportunities by both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

  There have been some concerns that the Blues’ lavish spending could lead to the pathway from academy to firstteam at Stamford Bridge being blocked, but Hall has shown he is good enough to become a regular contributor over the next few years at least.

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  Rico Lewis (Manchester City)

  It takes a special player to earn Pep Guardiola’s trust at the age of 18, but Lewis certainly seems to have done this season having become a regular in the Premier League champions’ starting line-up.

  The youngest player to ever score when starting their first Champions League match, the England youth international has shown an aptitude to learn over the past months after adapting his game brilliantly to play as one of Guardiola’s famed full-back/central midfield hybrids.

  Talk of a full international call up from England has already begun, and it is now expected that Lewis will be Kyle Walker’s long-term replacement at the Etihad Stadium.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has dismissed suggestions that Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte could replace Jose Mourinho at Tottenham.

Reports coming out of Italy (via Daily Star) claim Conte could leave the Italian giants in the summer if he is not backed in the transfer market, and have named Spurs as a possible destination.

With the north London club in a real battle to secure a Champions League spot after going on a very poor run during the January-February period, Mourinho’s job is now said to be on the line.

Palmer, however, believes sacking Mourinho would be a mistake and cannot see 51-year-old Conte ditching Milan for a return to London.

“I think it’ll be the wrong move to sack Jose, I really do,” the retired England international told FFC. “I don’t see the need to sack him, so when the media are talking about, ‘oh, well, he should be sacked’ and talking about replacements… I mean Conte’s just about to win the league in Italy. Why would he want to leave his club?”

Conte’s first spell in England was a very successful one. At Tottenham’s London rivals Chelsea, the 51-year-old managed to guide the Blues to the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018.

Steven Gerrard looks to have been handed a boost at Ibrox this week after it was confirmed that Rangers captain James Tavernier has made his return to training after a lengthy injury absence.

The right-back has been out injured since Rangers’ 4-3 win against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League in February, and although Gerrard was able to steer his side to title success in the absence of the 29-year-old, his goals and assists have been a big miss.

Fortunately, assistant manager Gary McAllister has confirmed that Tavernier has now made his return to training, although it sounds as if he is doing solo training on the grass with physios rather than with the rest of the first team.

The former Wigan Athletic man has been in outstanding form ever since making the move to Ibrox in 2015 but has been sensational so far this season, contributing 11 goals and nine assists in 29 league appearances. That has seen him average a superb 7.76 WhoScored match rating, which comfortably ranks him as Rangers’ best performer in the Scottish top flight.

Tavernier couldn’t have timed his return much better after it was revealed that Nathan Patterson will be suspended for Rangers’ next four fixtures as a result of him breaking lockdown restrictions earlier in the year.

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This leaves Gerrard without a natural right-back in his squad at the moment, and after some disastrous performances from Leon Balogun in that position in recent games, the manager will surely be delighted that Tavernier is close to a return to action.

If the English defender can pick up where he left off before his injury, there seems no reason why Rangers can’t finish the league season unbeaten, whilst they will also be eyeing success in the Scottish Cup.

Gerrard is certainly a big fan of his captain and was full of praise for him earlier in the season, saying: “I think Tav is someone who, when he goes through the gears, is unstoppable, and we have seen that, or flashes of that so far this season.”

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Therefore, it is undoubtedly a huge boost for Gerrard that his best performer this season is edging closer to a return to first team action, as it seems clear that Rangers are a much better outfit when he is in the side.

In other news… Gerrard handed huge boost with “world-class” beast who was vital to number 55

The England international got the vital goal and the Spanish shot-stopper was on top form to ensure the Red Devils side stayed in the lead.

Marcus Rashford is the man who will get the most credit for his fantastic goal that secured a 1-0 win for Manchester United against West Ham, but this was a success with many fathers.

The likes of Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot and Christian Eriksen all deserve credit for their roles in the narrow victory, while David De Gea produced his best all-round performance in years between the sticks.

The goalkeeper was absolutely magnificent against the Hammers, particularly towards the end of the game as he pulled off some spectacular saves to keep the visitors out.

Martinez and Maguire, too, were solid at the back and Dalot made some important headers to keep upsetting David Moyes' men.

The win sees United extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches and puts them in fifth place in the league.

Erik ten Hag's men sit just one point behind Newcastle and are well and truly in the fight for a top-four finish amid the progress they have made under the new coach.

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  The Winners

  Marcus Rashford:

  The 24-year-old made the difference for his team with the vital goal that secured the three points. Was a good threat throughout the game as he netted for the seventh time this season and the 100th overall for United. Having now scored in two games in a row, he will be hoping to have impressed England coach Gareth Southgate with another strong performance.

  David De Gea:

  Rashford got the winning goal but De Gea was just as important at the back. West Ham grew into the game and pushed for the late equaliser and the Spanish goalkeeper stayed alert to pull off some fantastic saves to protect his team's lead. A prime De Gea display.

  Diogo Dalot:

  The full-back is getting better and better and he put in another impressive performance at Old Trafford on Sunday. Made some vital defensive headers to clear the danger as West Ham's crosses put his team under pressure but he dealt with the danger so comfortably.

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  The Losers

  Jarrod Bowen:

  The West Ham star will be kicking himself after missing a golden opportunity to tie the game up right at the end. Other than that, it was a disappointing performance from the 25-year-old as he failed to create anything against a resolute United defence. Overpowered throughout the 90 minutes and then fluffed his lines with the big chance.

  Anthony Elanga:

  The Swedish winger was United's weakest player in this game. He just looked out of his depth and unable to combine with his team-mates or create anything on his own to justify his place in the starting XI. It was no surprise to see him taken off with 30 minutes still to play.

  David Moyes:

  The West Ham boss looked furious after the game after seeing his side unable to take any of the chances they created. He has struggled to get the best out of his team this season and Sunday's game was another disappointing one. They threatened more towards the end of the game but he does not make the right changes to his team's shape to give them a chance of stopping bigger teams.

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  Man Utd Ratings: Defence

  David de Gea (8/10):

  Pulled off a couple of great saves in the final 10 minutes to keep his team in the league and made a few vital interventions for his side beyond that.

  Diogo Dalot (8/10):

  Made some important headers to clear the danger from West Ham's crosses. A solid defensive performance from the Portugal international.

  Harry Maguire (7/10):

  Left his team exposed a few times when West Ham tried to hit on the counter attack. Had some good moments in clearing the danger around the box, though, including an important one to stop Declan Rice right at the end.

  Lisandro Martinez (8/10):

  Another solid performance from the Argentine defender with his tackles and sensible passing. He has settled in really well and has well and truly defeated the scepticism that accompanied his arrival.

  Luke Shaw (7/10):

  Looked good going forward for the home team and linked up well with Rashford a few times as he looked to create some danger on the left side.

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  Midfield

  Casemiro (6/10):

  Looked strong and made some useful passes to keep things ticking over in midfield for the Red Devils.

  Christian Eriksen (8/10):

  The Denmark international provided a lovely assist for Rashford to open the scoring and was always looking to create something for the home team.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  Linked up well with Eriksen to send in the cross for Rashford for the decisive goal but not his strongest performance overall as he did not create enough for the home team.

Joel Matip sunk Ajax with a late goal at Anfield as Liverpool earned a desperately needed 2-1 win.

Not Mohamed Salah. Not Diogo Jota. Not Luis Diaz. Not Darwin Nunez.

No, the Reds got their Champions League campaign up and running with a clutch winner from centre-back Joel Matip on Tuesday night.

The defender rose highest to head home Kostas Tsimikas’ corner, sparking joyous scenes as Jurgen Klopp’s side put the misery of last week’s abject defeat to Napoli behind them.

In the process, Matip spared Nunez from harsh post-match reactions. The substitute striker failed to take a gilt-edged opportunity late on, dragging wide from Salah’s pass, as an uneven start to his Anfield tenure stumbled on.

Salah had earlier netted Liverpool's opener only for Mohammed Kudus to lash an equaliser past Alisson.

The win means Liverpool move level with Ajax on three points from two games in Group A, and they are next in action on October 4, when they welcome Rangers to Anfield.

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  The Winners

  Joel Matip:

  Where else to start but with the matchwinner? Matip hadn't started for Liverpool since the opening weekend of the season, but he marked his return to the XI in fine style here, his 90th-minute header blowing the roof off Anfield and ensuring the Reds are back in control of their European destiny.

  This was a good snapshot of what the former Cameroon international brings to this Reds team. Defensively he was superb, stepping forward with the ball, reading the game expertly and rarely losing an aerial duel.

  Then, with the clock ticking down, he was there to meet Tsimikas' corner flush to send the Kop wild.

  Welcome back.

  Mohamed Salah:

  You can't keep the world's best players down for long. Salah's start to the season has, like Liverpool's, been a mixed one, but this was much more like it from the Egyptian.

  He buried the first chance that came his way, latching onto Diogo Jota's pass and finishing sharply on his left foot after 17 minutes. It was exactly what Jurgen Klopp will have wanted to see, his forwards linking up to devastating effect, with Salah profiting centrally instead of being marooned on the right flank as in recent weeks.

  When he drift wide, however, he was also dangerous, willing to run at Daley Blind and ask questions of the former Manchester United man. Meanwhile, he showed – as he always does, to be fair – his selflessness and team ethic by chasing back 60 yards to help stop an Ajax counter-attack.

  All in all, a welcome step in the right direction for the Reds' star man.

  Mohammed Kudus:

  Two games, two left-footed finishes of unerring quality, plenty of reasons to get excited about Kudus.

  The Ghanaian is certainly making his mark on the Champions League this season. His goal here looked to have grabbed his side a priceless away point, only for Matip to go and spoil the party late on.

  Kudus was a target for Everton in the summer, only for Ajax to block the move. How glad they must be that they did. The 22-year-old is a top prospect, and one whose name may well be finding its way into the minds of Liverpool's scouting and recruitment team after this.

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  The Losers

  Darwin Nunez:

  The chance was there, and it would have been some goal too. Liverpool, for once in the second half, opened Ajax up, with Joel Matip, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah all combining.

  Salah rolled the ball invitingly into the path of Nunez, who had only been on the field 14 minutes, but the Uruguayan fluffed his lines, scuffing his effort wide of Remko Pasveer's right-hand post.

  It looked like it would cost his side, only for Matip to save the day. Nunez, in fairness, made an impact after coming on alongside Roberto Firmino, but he still looks like a player playing with tension at times.

  He could do with a goal, but Liverpool don't play again until October 1.

  Joe Gomez:

  It feels harsh to single out a player who didn't even play, but when the man who replaces you performs as Matip did here, and then ends the night the hero, then you have to wonder what Gomez was thinking.

  Last week, he was terrorised in Naples, unable to cope with the Italians' speed and movement. It was no surprise that Matip came in for this game, and it is unavoidable that Liverpool looked far more secure with him alongside Virgil van Dijk.

  Gomez will come again, for sure, but for now he has lost his shirt, again.

  The noisy minority:

  Anfield paid its respects to Queen Elizabeth II prior to kick off, as the stadium fell silent for a short period.

  Silent, that is, except for a few isolated idiots, intent on making themselves heard when nobody wanted them to. It was not what anyone needed, not Liverpool, not Ajax, and not the majority inside the stadium who kept quiet.

  No doubt there will be some who look to make a bigger deal of it than necessary. Some will have been desperate for Liverpool fans to show themselves up. As it was, it was only a handful who did.

  The trouble is, the noise of an idiot will always be heard.

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  Liverpool Ratings: Defence

  Alisson (7/10):

  Played some of his side's best passes in the first half. Beaten emphatically by Kudus but immaculate otherwise.

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

  Ajax's equaliser came down his side, and a little too easily as well. Did fine otherwise, including a few excellent tackles on Bergwijn in the second half.

  Joel Matip (8/10):

  His ability to step into midfield was helpful, and he defended on the front foot well. Might have pulled the trigger when well-placed on the edge of the box a few times in the second half. Oh, and he scored the winner too, of course.

  Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

  Stood off Kudus in the box and was punished. Otherwise did what he needed to.

  Kostas Tsimikas (7/10):

  Had his hands full with the experienced Tadic but defended stoutly and put some decent balls into the box, including the one which led to the winning goal.

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  Midfield

  Fabinho (7/10):

  Looked happier with Thiago next to him, and had some snap back in his challenges.

  Thiago Alcantara (8/10):

  Back in the starting XI, he showed how much his absence has been felt. Always in control and able to take an extra touch before finding the right pass. Perhaps tired in the second half, but that was understandable. What he provided for his team was superb.

  Harvey Elliott (6/10):

  Bright and purposeful on the ball, though clearly still learning the positional side of the game as a midfielder. His tidiness is an asset.