Liverpool will meet their most fierce rival Manchester United on March 5, 2023, at the home, Anfield. Manchester United won the 1st one by 2-1 when they invited Liverpool to their fortress, Old Trafford. It is time for the scousers to make a comeback in this through the biggest match of the Premier League. On the other side, the red devils would like to continue their form by doubling the fixture. Let's go through the history of this fierce and bitter rivalry of Liverpool vs Man United, The North West Derby, which is simply the most exciting fixture of any Premier League Season.
Liverpool vs Manchester United Image -Michael Regan/Getty Images
Liverpool vs Man United: North West Derby History
Referee Howard Webb holding Manchester United defender Gary Neville from Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, 2010 Image -AFP
The Clubs share 67 major domestic trophies; Liverpool has 19 League titles, Eight FA Cups, and nine League Cups, while Manchester United just edges the trophy haul with 20 League titles, 12 FA Cups titles, and six League Cups.
It's not only the medium of football that creates an intense rivalry between the two cities. There is an economic and Cultural enmity that extends far beyond the 90 minutes of sporting combat that we will experience this weekend.
The raw passion involved in a football match between Manchester United and Liverpool is symbolic of over two centuries of inter-city contention. Economically and culturally, Manchester outclassed Liverpool, and since then, the Merseyside city has never regained the advantage.
Liverpool dominated English football in the 1970s and 80s, leaving Manchester United in its shadow. The Scousers' relentless control claimed 19 major domestic trophies in 17 years and catching them looked unattainable.
That was just the start of an amazing rivalry. Sir Alex Ferguson joined United to manage them. He completely changed the situation and become Manchester's modern-day merchant. The great United manager was determined to bypass Liverpool, just as the ship canal had done over two centuries before.
Throughout the nineties and noughties, Manchester United won 21 major domestic honors in 18 years. They won the 19th league title in 2010-11, which ensured that United surpassed Liverpool as the most successful domestic football club in history. Liverpool had been knocked off their perch.
Sir Alex Ferguson with the Premier League Title Image - Goal.com
Post-Ferguson era:
Manchester United fans remained furiously envious of Liverpool's superior record in European competition. And Liverpool fans know it. It is no wonder the rivalry between them remains as uniquely intense as it did hundreds of years ago.
United's run came to an end in 2013-14 when Sir Alex Ferguson resigned as a manager for United after 16 years of inspiration. From then, United was never able to rise up again to the same level. They lost their mentality and passion. Liverpool and Manchester City took over them in the Domestic Competitions. Although Manchester United is still the most successful of the other English clubs, the aura that Sir Alex Ferguson created, no one was able to replace that for United.
Liverpool won 1 Premier league, 1 FA Cup, and 1 EFL Cup since then. Jurgen Klopp made them hungry once again for the titles. Manchester United appointed Erik Ten Hag as their manager in the 2022-23 season. Now it looks like the glory days are coming back once again for Manchester United as they won their sixth EFL cup. They are still in contention for the league race and the FA Cup. Liverpool is out of the title charge and from other every competition in England.
Curtis Jones & Marcus Rashford fighting for the ball Image - Man United Core
The history sets the scene, explains the needle, and helps one understand why both sets of fans take this simple game of football so seriously. The stage is set once again for passion and envy and it will deliver another classic encounter filled with electrifying tension and high drama.
Is Manchester United's rivalry with Liverpool the most bitter? Give me your thoughts below or hit me up on Twitter@abishek_018
Hello and welcome to another day of LIVE football coverage on Sportz Point. Tonight, we have one of the biggest rivalries in football history scheduled for us.
Manchester United are in the 13th position on the points table with only 37 points, and Ruben Amorim would love to add more three to that after his first Manchester derby as United boss.
In the meantime, Pep Guardiola, who had tasted defeat in the Champions League, last time he faced Ruben Amorim as a Sporting Cp coach, won't mind taking the revenge.
So, sit back and relax as we bring you everything on the Manchester Derby.
LIVE Updates
Apr 6, 2025, 3:34 PM
Final Score
Apr 6, 2025, 5:32 PM
Final verdict
It was eventually a boring, actionless Manchester Derby where both teams could have been better. City lacked the depth in their attacking front, while United could not take the chances in the second half.
Zirkzee tried his best to do some damage in the second half, while Bruno was the best player on the field and won the Player of the Match award as well.
But, in the end, both teams looked like the Premier League is done for them, and they now need to end the season as quickly as possible.
This was Koushik Biswas with the real-time updates for you. I hope you enjoyed the coverage.
Ugarte went for quick volley but missed the target.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:57 PM
69' | Onana with another save
Marmoush with a beautiful and powerful side volley. But, it went straight to Onana.
Onana, with sun on his face, did well to make the save.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:55 PM
67' | Yellow card
Dalot gets the yellow card for pulling down Doku.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:53 PM
65' | Onana makes a save
Marmouns with a curling inswinging free-kick and Onana had a good look at it before making a dive to make the save.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:52 PM
Who will break the deadlock?
Apr 6, 2025, 4:50 PM
62' | Is it a penalty?
Ruben Dias dived inside the penalty box to block a cross from Dorgu.
But, it came off his chest.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:47 PM
58' | TOP CLASS FROM NUNES
Top class from Nunes as Bruno clipped one from the right for Dorgu to head the ball inside the goal.
Nunes came flying and headed the ball away for a corner.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:46 PM
58' | Change for United
In: Lindelof
Out: Maguire
Apr 6, 2025, 4:45 PM
57' | Change for City
In: Doku
Out: Foden
Apr 6, 2025, 4:43 PM
54' | Good from Ederson
Ederson first dealt with a deflection from close range and then grabbed a cross from the left by coming out aggressively.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:41 PM
53' | Easy for Onana
Easy grab for Onana as Kevin went for a shot from outside the box with his left-foot.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:39 PM
Will Amorim win first first Manchester derby?
Apr 6, 2025, 4:37 PM
48' | Chance for Foden
Huge chance for Foden as Marmoush's missed ball fell nicely for him.
But after a poor first touch, he allowed Mazaroui to clear that one.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:34 PM
46' | Yellow card
Yellow card for Beranrdo Silva for a foul on Garnacho.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:33 PM
Second half starts!
City starts things off in second half.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:19 PM
Half-time | MUN 0-0 MCI
No goals in the first half. Only one short on target from each team, and we had a timid half at Old Trafford.
Surely, we will see a few changes from both teams in the second half.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:16 PM
45' | 2 minutes added
2 minutes added as injury time.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:15 PM
44' | United asks for a yellow
Silva caught Bruno with a trailing leg. It looked worthy of a yellow, to be fair. But, the referee decided against it.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:12 PM
40' | Save from Ederson
Casemiro made a right-footed effort from close range. But, it went straight to Ederson.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:11 PM
40' | Gundo takes his chance
Gundogan, who is yet to score since returning to Etihad from Barcelona, took a chance with a right-footed shot.
But, he missed the target.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:10 PM
A few good run from Marmoush
Apr 6, 2025, 4:08 PM
Will he find the net tonight?
Apr 6, 2025, 4:03 PM
31' | Ooooppsss
Onana could not reach for the corner flying in from the left. But Mazraoui was there head the ball away from danger.
Apr 6, 2025, 4:00 PM
29' | Chance for Ugarte
Garnacho won the ball back for United, and he quickly played it to Bruno. The Portuguese then clipped the ball over for Ugarte to go for a volley. But, he could not make a great connection.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:59 PM
27' | Another chance for Dorgu
Bruno Fernandes with a good ball for Dorgu, wide on the left. Though they were expecting a cross from him, Dorgu decided to go for a shot.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:55 PM
Chance for Dorgu
Chance for Dorgu to latch on to a cutback from right.
But as he was getting closed down by Silva, a heavy touch did not help him make a use of the chance.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:54 PM
22' | Maguire to rescue again
Kevin found Foden making a run inside the box via a through ball.
However, Harry Maguire came running before Foden could make use of that pass from Kevin.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:51 PM
20' | Chance for United
Huge chance for United. Dalot with a clipped ball from right into the box.
But, Garnacho could not latch on to that after slipping inside the box.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:49 PM
18' | Save from Onana
One touch and quick turn from Kevin de Bruyne before he went for a left-footed shot.
However, the Belgian could not find the power he was looking for.
Easy save for Onana.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:47 PM
16' | Maguire does well
Harry Maguire did well to make a run from the behind to stop Marmoush going for a left-footed effort. Corner for City.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:46 PM
A few early chance created by Foden
Apr 6, 2025, 3:43 PM
12' | Foden is down
Phil Foden is down after a tackle from Casemiro.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:42 PM
10' | Foden misses the target
Nunes did well in making the run before passing the ball to Foden. Foden first went a bit deep and then took a chance with a left-footed shot.
His effort went left to the goal.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:40 PM
8' | Foden and KDB build up
Ugarte gave the ball in the mid-field and Foden took the advantage to go closer to the box, before passing it to the right to Kevin, who was found off-side by an inch.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:38 PM
4' | City have their breath back
After facing pressure in the first two minutes of the game, Manchester City now have the ball back and are looking to build up the momentum.
Apr 6, 2025, 3:33 PM
1' | Nearly a penalty
Nearly a penalty for United. Garnacho is brought down by Dias at the edge of the box.
Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund are coming in for Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee as Ruben Amorim made two changes to the starting XI that lost against Nottingham Forrest in the last match.
Apr 6, 2025, 2:42 PM
In case you do not know - Kevin to leave City at the end of the season
Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Kevin de Bruyne returned to the starting XI for Manchester City for the Manchester derby, with Champions League qualification on the line.
Manchester Derby Stats since Premier League era started in 1992
Statistic
Manchester United
Manchester City
Overall
Total Wins
26
20
-
Home Wins
12
11
-
Away Wins
14
9
-
Total Matches Played
-
-
55
Draws
-
-
9
Apr 6, 2025, 11:02 AM
Who's ahead in head-to-head in Manchester Derby?
Statistic
Value
Total Matches Played
195
Manchester United Wins
80
Manchester City Wins
62
Draws
53
Goal Statistic
-
Apr 6, 2025, 10:58 AM
Tonight's Venue | Old Trafford Stadium
Apr 6, 2025, 10:55 AM
How to watch the match?
Football fans from India can watch the Manchester Derby live on Star Sports Select HD TV Channel and also can LIVE stream the match on JioHotstar app and website with paid subscription.
Title Race in Top Five European Leagues: What are the equations?
What are the equations in the title race for the top five European leagues? How many points do the leaders need to secure the title? Sportz Point explores this scenario.
European football has gifted us numerous memorable moments and matches this season, and we can expect more to come in the upcoming months.
The top five European Leagues – Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 have different title chase scenarios as the leagues are entering the final lap, leading the clubs to their fate in the 2024-25 season.
England, Germany, and France have witnessed a one-sided battle for the league title this season, except for Spain and Italy, where the champions might be decided even in the closing matchday this season.
In this article, we will examine the league table scenarios, possible equations for the league leaders to secure the title, and the contention for the continental competitions such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for next season.
Premier League
(Image Source | Givemesport)
Liverpool are currently atop the Premier League 2024-25 table, having bagged 73 points in 30 matches. The Reds are edging closer to the title as Arsenal, the second-placed side, dropped points against Everton in a 1-1 stalemate yesterday.
Liverpool have a chance to extend their lead at the top with a win against Fulham this evening, which will see them going 14 points ahead of the Gunners.
The Mikel Arteta-led side has earned 62 points in 31 games so far. As of now, Liverpool only need 11 points from their last eight games to secure the Premier League title for the 20th time in their history.
Liverpool are just four wins away from being crowned Premier League champions.
If it plays out like that, they could win the title at Anfield vs. Spurs then receive guard of honours from both Chelsea and Arsenal 🤯 pic.twitter.com/MVDmpDzRhi
Nottingham Forest have been a surprise entrant for a top-four finish in the Premier League, charging for a UEFA Champions League berth next season. The Forest are now third with 57 points in 31 games – five points clear of the fourth-placed Chelsea.
Fifth-placed Manchester City (51 points in 30 games) and Aston Villa (51 points in 31 games), now sixth, will throw a tough challenge for the Champions League and Europa League berth, whereas seventh-placed Newcastle United (50 points in 29 games) might surpass City and Villa in the race.
Barcelona are currently atop the table with 67 points in 30 matches, four points clear of Real Madrid with 63 points in the same number of games. The title race might go down to the last matchday as these two teams will meet in the fierce El Clasico, scheduled for May 11th, which could decide the potential champions.
Despite failing to take full advantage of Real Madrid’s slip-up, Barcelona remain 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙑𝙔 𝙁𝘼𝙑𝙊𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙎 to win the LALIGA title - according to @OptaAnalyst 📊📈 pic.twitter.com/uUQ5lu6uir
Fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao (53 points in 29 games) are already five points ahead of Real Betis, now fifth (48 points in 30 games) with one game in hand. Sixth-placed Villareal (47 points in 28 games) could pose a challenge for both of them for UCL and UEL qualification, with two games in hand to match Betis' tally.
LaLiga 2024-25 Table
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Barcelona
30
21
4
5
83
29
54
67
2
Real Madrid
30
19
6
5
63
31
32
63
3
Atlético Madrid
29
16
9
4
47
23
24
57
4
Athletic Club
29
14
11
4
46
24
22
53
5
Real Betis
30
13
9
8
41
37
4
48
6
Villarreal
28
13
8
7
51
39
12
47
7
Celta Vigo
30
12
7
11
44
43
1
43
8
Rayo Vallecano
30
10
10
10
33
35
-2
40
9
Mallorca
30
11
7
12
29
37
-8
40
10
Real Sociedad
29
11
5
13
27
31
-4
38
11
Sevilla
29
9
9
11
33
39
-6
36
12
Getafe
29
9
9
11
26
25
1
36
13
Girona
30
9
7
14
37
46
-9
34
14
Osasuna
29
7
13
9
33
42
-9
34
15
Valencia
30
8
10
12
34
47
-13
34
16
Espanyol
29
8
8
13
31
40
-9
32
17
Alavés
30
7
9
14
33
44
-11
30
18
Leganes
29
6
9
14
28
46
-18
27
19
Las Palmas
29
6
8
15
33
48
-15
26
20
Valladolid
29
4
4
21
19
65
-46
16
Serie A
(Image Source | X)
Serie A 2024-25 might witness one of the greatest showdowns in the title charge in the league's history, as league leaders Inter Milan dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Parma last night.
Defending champions Inter Milan are currently topping the table with 68 points across 31 games, having played one game more than second-placed Napoli, who have accumulated 64 points in 30 games. If Napoli ends this week with a win, the gap between these two teams will be just one, leading the teams to walk the wire in the final matchdays.
🚨 After Inter’s draw vs Parma today, the Serie A title race is wide open!
Napoli and Inter are neck and neck — and with only a few games left, neither side can afford to drop points.
The pressure to finish in the top four have also intensified in Italy. With Inter and Napoli confirmed to finish in the top four, third-placed Atalanta (58 points in 30 games), fourth-placed Bologna (56 points in 30 games), fifth-placed Juventus (55 points in 30 games), and sixth-placed AS Roma (52 points in 30 games) will battle it out for the last two UCL berths.
Serie A 2024-25 Table
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Inter
31
20
8
3
69
30
39
68
2
Napoli
30
19
7
4
47
24
23
64
3
Atalanta
30
17
7
6
63
29
34
58
4
Bologna
30
15
11
4
50
34
16
56
5
Juventus
30
14
13
3
46
28
18
55
6
Roma
30
15
7
8
45
30
15
52
7
Lazio
30
15
7
8
51
42
9
52
8
Fiorentina
31
15
7
9
49
32
17
52
9
Milan
31
13
9
9
47
37
10
48
10
Udinese
31
11
7
13
36
42
-6
40
11
Torino
30
9
12
9
35
35
0
39
12
Genoa
31
9
11
11
29
38
-9
38
13
Como
31
8
9
14
39
48
-9
33
14
Verona
30
9
3
18
29
58
-29
30
15
Cagliari
30
7
8
15
31
44
-13
29
16
Parma
31
5
12
14
37
51
-14
27
17
Lecce
31
6
8
17
21
49
-28
26
18
Empoli
30
4
11
15
24
47
-23
23
19
Venezia
31
3
12
16
23
43
-20
21
20
Monza
31
2
9
20
25
55
-30
15
Bundesliga
(Image Credit | Getty)
As of now, only six points separate league leaders Bayern Munich and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, though Bayern might attain the Bundesliga 2024-25 title and a first trophy for Harry Kane –if they manage to accumulate 13 from the 18 points available.
Bayern Munich are now ahead with 68 points in 28 games, whereas reigning Champions Bayer Leverkusen have managed 62 in the same number of matches, practically confirming their participation in next season's Champions League.
Bayern are leading in the Bundesliga title race. (Image Credit | ESPN)
However, the race for two other UCL berths will draw Eintracht Frankfurt (third, 48 points in 28 games), FSV Mainz (fourth, 46 points in 28 games), RB Leipzig (fifth, 45 points in 28 games), and Borussia Monchengladbach (sixth, 43 points in 27 games) into a battle, looking for places in continental competitions.
Bundesliga 2024-25 Table
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Bayern
28
21
5
2
81
27
54
68
2
Leverkusen
28
18
8
2
63
34
29
62
3
Eintracht Frankfurt
28
14
6
8
55
42
13
48
4
Mainz
28
13
7
8
46
32
14
46
5
RB Leipzig
28
12
9
7
44
35
9
45
6
Mönchengladbach
27
13
4
10
44
40
4
43
7
SC Freiburg
28
12
6
10
38
44
-6
42
8
Dortmund
28
12
5
11
52
43
9
41
9
VfB Stuttgart
28
11
7
10
51
44
7
40
10
Werder
28
11
6
11
45
53
-8
39
11
Augsburg
28
10
9
9
31
39
-8
39
12
Wolfsburg
27
10
8
9
49
41
8
38
13
Union Berlin
27
8
6
13
25
40
-15
30
14
Hoffenheim
28
6
9
13
34
52
-18
27
15
FC St. Pauli
27
7
4
16
22
33
-11
25
16
Heidenheim
28
6
4
18
32
53
-21
22
17
VfL Bochum
28
5
5
18
28
59
-31
20
18
Holstein Kiel
28
4
6
18
39
68
-29
18
Ligue 1
The redesigned Ligue 1 trophy. (Image Source | X)
Paris Saint-Germain have claimed the 2024-25 Ligue 1 title after beating Angers 1-0 last night, ensuring their fourth successive title with 74 points in 28 games. The Luis Enrique-managed side have been crowned champions with six matches remaining and are now 24 points ahead of the second-placed AS Monaco (50 points in 28 matches).
PSG have clinched another milestone, winning the league title without losing a single game so far, and with six matches remaining, they will look to embrace the 'invincible' tag by ending the season without a single defeat.
PSG have won the 2024-25 Ligue 1. (Image Credit | Getty Images)
If Les Parisiens complete an unbeaten league season, they will join a special group of clubs from Europe's top five leagues that have achieved this feat. This group includes Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, Juventus in 2012, Arsenal in 2004, AC Milan in 1992, Perugia in 1979, and Preston North End in 1889.
However, the race to qualify for next season's UCL will go down to the wire between six teams who are differentiated by only four points – AS Monaco (50), Olympique de Marseille (49), Olympique Lyonnais (48), OGC Nice (47), Lille OSC (47), and RC Strasbourg (46).
Ligue 1 2024-25 Table
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
PSG
28
23
5
0
80
26
54
74
2
Monaco
28
15
5
8
54
35
19
50
3
Marseille
27
15
4
8
54
36
18
49
4
Lyon
28
14
6
8
54
38
16
48
5
Nice
28
13
8
7
52
35
17
47
6
LOSC
28
13
8
7
42
30
12
47
7
Strasbourg
27
13
7
7
45
35
10
46
8
Brest
28
13
4
11
44
43
1
43
9
Lens
27
11
6
10
31
30
1
39
10
Auxerre
27
9
8
10
38
39
-1
35
11
Toulouse
27
9
7
11
35
33
2
34
12
Rennes
27
10
2
15
38
37
1
32
13
Nantes
28
7
9
12
33
47
-14
30
14
Angers
28
7
6
15
26
46
-20
27
15
Reims
27
6
8
13
29
41
-12
26
16
Le Havre
27
7
3
17
29
57
-28
24
17
St-Étienne
27
6
5
16
28
63
-35
23
18
Montpellier
27
4
3
20
21
62
-41
15
(*all stats are accurate as of the time of publishing this article.)
Fewest games to reach 100 Premier League assists: Kevin De Bruyne leaves on a high note
In this article, we explore the footballers who needed the fewest games to reach 100 Premier League assists, as Kevin De Bruyne tops the list with 237 games.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Belgian midfield maestro joined the Blue side of Manchester in 2015 and went on to mark a glittering 10-year career with the club, winning numerous personal and team accolades.
Fewest games needed to reach 100 Premier League assists:
◉ 237 - Kevin De Bruyne ◎ 293 - Cesc Fàbregas ◎ 367 - Ryan Giggs ◎ 445 - Wayne Rooney ◎ 559 - Frank Lampard
The 33-year-old midfielder has accumulated a total of 118 assists in his Premier League career across two spells with Manchester City and Chelsea, having tallied 280 appearances.
However, Kevin De Bruyne is the fastest player to register 100 assists in the Premier League, having played the fewest games among the footballers who have reached this milestone.
Here are the footballers who needed the fewest games to reach 100 Premier League assists.
Fewest games to reach 100 Premier League assists
237 - Kevin De Bruyne*
(Image Credit | Manchester City)
Kevin de Bruyne reached the 100-assist milestone in the Premier League in just 237 games, leaving behind some legendary figures who made it to this mark.
City's legendary midfielder registered his 100th assist in the competition on 8 April 2023 in Man City's 4-1 away win against Southampton. He also became the fifth player to bag a hundred assists in Premier League history.
Kevin De Bruyne reaches 100 assists in the Premier League.
De Bruyne has a total of 118 assists in his Premier League career, spanning 280 games for Chelsea and Manchester City, which is also the second-most PL assists of all time.
Cesc Fabregas, the Spanish midfield wizard, bagged a total of 111 assists across his 350 appearances for Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League.
Fabregas, now retired, earned his 100th Premier League assist on 31 December 2016, in his 293rd appearance in Chelsea's 4–2 home victory over Stoke City.
Febregas is also the third player on the list who has the most assists in Premier League history, while 70 of these came at Arsenal, with the other 41 coming in a Chelsea shirt.
367 - Ryan Giggs
(Image Source | X)
Ryan Giggs, the legendary Manchester United winger, tops the list for the most assists in Premier League history with a staggering 162 assists in 632 appearances, which is also the third-most PL appearances in history.
The Welsh legend took 367 games to reach the 100-assist milestone, having spent almost 25 years at Old Trafford before retiring in 2014.
Giggs is also the most decorated footballer in English football history, winning a record 34 trophies with Manchester United.
445 - Wayne Rooney
(Image Source | Independent)
Wayne Rooney is another Manchester United legend who made it to this list, having bagged a total of 103 assists in the Premier League in 491 appearances across Manchester United and Everton.
The English football legend achieved his 100th Premier League assist on November 6, 2016, during Man United's 3-1 away victory against Swansea City, his 445th PL appearance. He had two assists in the match, both for Zlatan Ibrahimović, with the first of these being his milestone 100th assist in the league.
Swansea 1-3 Manchester United. Goals from Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic seals a crucial win for the reds. #MUFC
Interestingly, that first assist for Ibrahimović also marked the 25,000th goal scored in Premier League history.
559 - Frank Lampard
(Image Credit | TFT)
Frank Lampard, the legendary midfielder for Chelsea, reached the 100-assist landmark in 559 appearances in the Premier League. The milestone assist came in Chelsea's memorable 7-1 victory at home against Aston Villa on March 27, 2010.
Lampard had a total of 102 assists in PL in a total of 609 appearances, having spent different spells across Chelsea, Manchester City, and West Ham United.
Remarkably, he is the only midfielder to have scored over 150 goals and provided over 100 assists in Premier League history.
(*the only active player on this list. The stats are accurate as of 5 April 2025)
FIFA considering play-off game to replace Club Leon at the Club World Cup 2025
FIFA is reportedly considering arranging a one-game play-off between LAFC and Club America to replace Club Leon, who were controversially removed from the tournament.
FIFA is reportedly considering the possibility of arranging a one-game play-off between Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles FC and Liga MX giants Club America to decide which team will represent the expelled Club Leon at the 2025 Club World Cup.
🤯🇲🇽 BREAKING: FIFA has drawn up plans to hold a one-game playoff between Club America and LAFC to determine a replacement team for Club Leon at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. 🇺🇸🏆
A FIFA spokesperson disclosed on Sunday that the organization is actively weighing the feasibility of this play-off match, whereas the winner of this playoff would also receive $9.55 million in prize money given by FIFA to teams qualified from the Concacaf zone.
However, FIFA's consideration does not include the Costa Rican side Deportiva Alajuelense after the club lodged a complaint in 2024, which led to Leon's subsequent removal from the tournament.
Costa Rican outfit Alajuelense’s complaint regarding the multi-ownership issue initiated the investigation by the FIFA Appeal Committee back in November 2024, which eventually led to Club Leon’s exclusion.
FIFA announced the decision to expel the Mexican side Club Leon from the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025 last week due to the club's shared ownership with Pachuca, another team that competes in Mexico's top division, Liga MX.
Pachuca also qualified for the Club World Cup after winning the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Club Leon earned its qualification after clinching the 2023 edition of the same tournament. However, Grupo Pachuca owns both the teams and holds stakes in Spanish side Real Oviedo and some other clubs as well.
This joint ownership violated the multi-club ownership requirements defined under Article 10, paragraph 1 of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Regulations outlined by FIFA.
FIFA is considering a play-off game to replace Leon
Olivier Giroud, LAFC striker (on the left) and Brian Rodríguez, Club America winger (on the right).
According to different sources, FIFA is considering an unconventional approach to organize a single play-off game to determine which team would replace Club Leon in the competition.
Renowned football journalist Ben Jacobs has indicated a showdown between Club America and Los Angeles FC is on the cards, with the winner securing the coveted last place in the Group D, consisting of Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance.
The FIFA spokesperson stated the following on Sunday:
LAFC would participate as runner-up to Club Léon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League through which Club Léon had qualified, Club América would participate as the top-ranked team in the FIFA Club World Cup confederation ranking through which qualification is also determined.
The winner of the play-off would qualify unless legal proceedings rule otherwise.
The plans to commence the process of arranging a play-off will begin if Club Leon loses their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be reinstated to the Club World Cup.
CAS has called for a hearing on April 23 in Madrid, Spain, where Leon and Deportiva Alajuelense both will be presented the opportunity to put forward their arguments. Alajuelense had previously filed the complaint at CAS, asserting that León's inclusion was against FIFA regulations as they have also claimed a spot in the tournament instead.
Both clubs must submit their legal documents by April 2, prior to the hearing on the 23rd. Any announcements concerning a possible substitute will likely not be made until the legal issues are settled.
"I think it's a grave injustice": James Rodriguez expressed his disappointment
James Rodriguez. (Image Source | Fanzword)
The exclusion of Club Leon has heavily affected the Mexican side's talisman player, the Colombian starJames Rodriguez. The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder did not hesitate to express his disappointment regarding this decision. He said:
I think it's a grave injustice. We all believe that. We won on the pitch. The club and the players are hurt by this. If we're out, it's not fair. The team that would replace us would be stained, and football would be stained.
So many fans have planned to travel to the tournament; how do you tell them that they can't go? I have a lot of questions about all this. It's odd. I think FIFA has to get their things together. Football is stained by this.
Andre Jardine. (Image Credit | GOAL)
ESPN revealed that when asked about qualifying for the tournament, Club América head coach Andre Jardine assured his team's eagerness to earn the spot by battling on the field. According to him:
León should go to the Club World Cup. I'm sad for the institution, and I'd like them to find a solution so they can go,
"If it doesn't happen, then América has been doing things well for a long time. It's true that they haven't yet won the Concacaf Champions Cup, which is a dream of ours and a very clear objective.
"We're leading most of the Mexican tournaments and the Concacaf ranking, which is one of the criteria. If you ask me if I want to go to the Club World Cup, of course it's true, but I'd like to go to the Club World Cup by achieving it on the field. That's what we're working towards.
However, nothing has been finalized yet, and FIFA will also have to wait until the CAS hearing is able to curve out any solutionary measure.
Real Madrid is considering Jurgen Klopp as a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid is reportedly eyeing Jurgen Klopp as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti, sparking gambling about a managerial shake-up at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Jurgen Klopp is currently working as a leader of global soccer for the Red Bull group, Klopp stated that he would not manage another English club and might be he will not be interested with management forever. However, he could choose to coach a national team or take a job.
Image Credit: Liverpool Echo
Either of those options might be presented soon to him. According to TRBFootball, Klopp is reportedly one of the options for Brazil's national team head coach after Dorival Junior's dismissal. However, Carlo Ancelotti is also Brazil's top pick, according to different reports, Brazil's national football management has even begun negotiations with him.
According to the reports, Klopp is one of the candidates Real Madrid is working on to replace their manager if Carlo Ancelotti departs. Los Blancos are looking for a manager who has worked with a mix of young players and superstars and the former Liverpool manager most definitely possesses that.
As Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world, there would undoubtedly be some appeal if Klopp were to return to club management. Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid and Liverpool player is reportedly Los Blancos' preferred candidate.
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