THE VAN DE VEN TACKLE: THE SURPRISE REASON VAR REFUSED TO SHOW A RED CARD

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak faces six months out with a suspected broken leg following Micky van de Ven’s tackle.

THE VAN DE VEN TACKLE: The surprise reason VAR refused to show a red Card
Dermot Gallagher officially breaks ranks to defend Van de Ven’s tackle!

After Liverpool's tight 2-1 win against Tottenham on Saturday, everyone's talking about Micky van de Ven's tackle on Alexander Isak. Isak, who scored the first goal, might have a broken leg because of it.

Right after Isak scored, Van de Ven slid in and caught his leg as he planted it. Isak had to leave the game. Everyone was worried; it looked bad. They called for a stretcher, but he managed to walk off with help from Liverpool's medical staff.

The club doesn't think it's an ACL injury, but what they suspect is still pretty serious. Reports said Sunday it could be a lower leg break. But they don't know how bad it is or how long he'll be out until they get more scans and updates.

Lots of people are wondering why Van de Ven didn't get a penalty because the tackle looked rough. Replays showed he went in hard and didn't really have a chance to get the ball, which led to a bad injury for the £125m player.

The tackle started a big argument. The experts on Sky Sports' Ref Watch didn't agree whether it should have been a red card. Jay Bothroyd, a former pro, said that Van de Ven probably didn't mean to hurt Isak, but the tackle was still reckless and deserved a red card.

Bothroyd said Van de Ven wasn't trying to hurt Isak on purpose. He was just trying to stop a goal.

But even though Isak scored, it should still be a red card. He lunged and went right into him. It checks all the boxes for a red-card challenge. They let it slide because he scored.

He was out of control. He's trying to block, but he's not going to get there. If that happened in the middle of the field, it would be a red card.

Dermot Gallagher, who used to be a referee, disagreed. He thinks it wasn't a red-card tackle and that what happened after shouldn't change how you see the tackle itself.

Gallagher said, I don't see anything he did that a normal soccer player wouldn't do. I'd be shocked if that got a red card anywhere on the field.

Players mess up tackles all the time. He was a bit late, but it's not a red card whether it's in the penalty area, the D, the centre circle, or the other half.

But both experts did agree that the ref was right to send off Xavi Simons for his tackle on Virgil van Dijk earlier in the game. Simons went in dangerously on van Dijk, catching his calf with his studs.

Gallagher said about the Simons thing, I want to be clear that I don't think Simons meant to do it, but he did it. Once you see the replay, you can't ignore it.

In today's game, VAR is always going to call that a red card. He's unlucky, but he's going to get a red. You just can't make tackles like that anymore.

FULHAM TABLE €30M PACKAGE FOR BRAZILIAN MIDFIELDER DANILO TO SEAL SUMMER TRANSFER

Behind the race for Danilo. We look at why Fulham are targeting the in-form Brazilian midfielder for a PL return.

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Fulham lead the race for Danilo as Zenit and Palmeiras push for a deal - Courtesy Picture

Fulham are right in the mix for Danilo now, with the midfielder’s name suddenly buzzing again around the Premier League.

At 24, Danilo turned things around at Botafogo after leaving Nottingham Forest, and he’s on fire lately. He looks like one of the best central midfielders in Brazil right now; his form’s making people take notice, both at home and abroad.

In 2026, Danilo scored 10 goals and picked up 3 assists in 23 games across all competitions. He’s not just padding his stats either; in the league, he has 7 goals in 10 matches. That’s a huge return for a central midfielder. He’s finding the net every 3.14 shots and averages over two shots a game.

Danilo isn’t just about goals, though. He completes about 45 passes a match, with nearly 87% accuracy, and he’s setting up chances too – almost two key passes per game.

So, it’s no surprise that Brazil have him locked in for the next World Cup squad. His profile and transfer value just keep climbing, and now there’s real movement in the market.

Fulham are showing intent with a concrete offer.

According to Globo Esporte, Fulham are ready to pay around €30 million (£26m) for Danilo. They’ve been here before, but this time they’re serious. The offer breaks down as €22m guaranteed and another €8m in bonuses matching Zenit’s proposal. Palmeiras want him as well, but pulling off a domestic transfer looks a lot more complicated.

That kind of money puts Fulham in a great spot, especially since Botafogo’s finances are shaky. The club really needs a big sale this summer, and Danilo’s value is peaking.

Unrest behind the scenes at Botafogo

The timing here isn’t accidental. Danilo’s 2026 surge has made him a leader in the dressing room, especially while Botafogo struggles with financial problems and ownership drama.

Folks inside the club see him as their most valuable asset. Selling him could solve a lot of problems. Earlier this year, things got tense; Danilo’s side even threatened to end his contract over unpaid image rights. And while that got sorted, it highlighted just how unstable things are.

Plus, there was the failed deal to send Danilo back to Nottingham Forest in January, scuppered when legal action stopped John Textor from making transfers unilaterally. Now Textor’s out, and the club has to take its big debts seriously.

Fulham have an open window.

All this makes a summer move feel right. Danilo wanted to stick with Botafogo until after the World Cup, but it’s clear now he’s ready; his stock’s never been higher, and top clubs are circling.

From Fulham’s side, they see a midfielder at his best, already experienced in England, playing well, and eager to come back.

And compared to his stint at Forest, this time things look a lot more promising for everyone involved.

So Fulham are lining everything up. Now, they just have to pull the trigger.

INSIDE CHELSEA’S DUGOUT SEARCH: CONTACT MADE WITH ANDONI IRAOLA’S REPRESENTATIVES FOR NEW ROLE

Chelsea’s hunt for stability: Iraola eyed for head coach, plus news on Nicolas Jackson’s future at Stamford Bridge this summer.

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Chelsea shortlist updated as Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, and Marco Silva emerge - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andoni Iraola is one of several names Chelsea is considering as their next head coach this summer.

Rosenior. Last week, Chelsea let Rosenior go after just under four months in charge, even though he had more than five years left on his contract.

With seven losses from eight games, Chelsea decided to move on. They've put Calum McFarlane in charge for now, just until the end of the season. In the meantime, the club’s sporting directors are hunting for a new permanent boss, someone who can lead the club’s long-term plans.

Iraola, currently at Bournemouth, is one of the early candidates. He’ll be leaving his role at the Vitality Stadium when the season ends. Marco Silva from Fulham, who’s out of contract soon as well, has made Chelsea’s shortlist too, and free agent Xabi Alonso is also in the mix. A few more unnamed names are being considered as well.

No one knows exactly who’ll be standing in the Stamford Bridge dugout next season. But Iraola’s in with a real shot. If he does get the job, that could be good news for Nicolas Jackson, who’s set to return from his loan soon.

Jackson went to Bayern Munich on loan last summer. The deal said Bayern had to buy him for £56.2 million (plus a £14.3 million loan fee), but only if he played a set number of games, roughly 40, give or take. So far, Jackson’s made 29 appearances this season. Last week, Bayern’s Max Eberl confirmed they won’t be buying him permanently.

Apparently, it was clear from early on that Jackson wouldn’t stay in Munich, and people close to him said back in February that he was planning to weigh up his options this summer. He hasn’t ruled out coming back to Stamford Bridge.

If Iraola is Chelsea's head coach when Jackson returns, things might get interesting. Iraola’s made it clear he rates Jackson highly. Back when Iraola was managing Mirandes in Spain, Jackson was on loan there from Villarreal. Their paths never crossed directly, but Iraola kept an eye on him.

In fact, Bournemouth tried to sign Jackson in January 2023, six months before Iraola even joined the club. Jackson didn’t pass the medical, though, and ended up at Chelsea instead.

Talking to the Bournemouth Echo last summer, Iraola said, “I know him really well, because he played at Mirandés and I faced him with Villarreal. He’s a very, very good player. He’s quick; he threatens with his pace, and he can also turn, beat his man, and create chances. He’ll work well with the other strikers.”

Asked about Jackson at Mirandes, Iraola added, “I didn’t coach him, but he went there young and played in the second division.”

If Jackson does stay at Chelsea next season, he won’t have an open run at the no. 9 spot. Joao Pedro has scored 19 goals in his debut season, and it’s tough to see anyone displacing him right now.

Then there’s Liam Delap, who’s had a tough first year – just two goals after a £30m move from Ipswich Town. Some reports say he wants to stay and fight for his place, but it’s only going to get harder with Emanuel Emegha arriving this summer.

Emegha is currently at Strasbourg and will join Chelsea at the end of the season. That said, it’s still up in the air whether he’ll actually play in London next year or head out on loan somewhere else.

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