LIVERPOOL 2-3 BOURNEMOUTH: WHAT JAMIE REDKNAPP SAW ON THE SKY SPORTS FOOTAGE THAT LEFT HIM FUMING
Jamie Redknapp brands Liverpool "amateurish" for taking seven minutes to replace Joe Gomez in their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth.
Jamie Redknapp didn’t hold back after Liverpool’s loss to Bournemouth, calling their decision not to replace the injured Joe Gomez downright amateurish. Liverpool ended up losing 3-2 in a wild game at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
It looked like the Reds were clawing their way back—Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai scored to erase a two-goal deficit. But then, deep in stoppage time, Amine Adli grabbed the winner for Bournemouth.
The real drama came with Bournemouth’s second goal. Alex Jimenez scored while Liverpool were down to ten men. Gomez had just gone off hurt, and for whatever reason, Wataru Endo hadn’t come on yet. The Liverpool bench was fuming, but the damage was done.
Redknapp, who used to play for Liverpool, didn’t hide his frustration. On Sky Sports, he said, “You could see Gomez was badly hurt. Sure, give him a minute or two, but then you’ve got to make the change. It took Liverpool seven minutes to bring someone on, and they paid for it with that second goal. Honestly, it’s hard to believe you still see this kind of thing at this level.”
He said they’d gone over the footage, trying to figure out if maybe Liverpool had a good excuse—was there a chance to kick the ball out, was there a free kick, was the manager telling the players what to do? But no one seemed to step up. Redknapp pointed out that, sometimes, players need to take charge too. “You realise you’re a man down, Gravenberch drops into defence, and you ask yourself, ‘How do we fix this?’ But nobody did. No one was saying, Let’s get the ball out and get a centre back on. They missed the chance.”
He wasn’t done. “Arne Slot is on the sideline, telling his players to get the ball out so they can get Endo on, but they’re still giving him instructions. Just get him on the pitch. That’s the most important thing—get your kit off and get out there, mate. I called it amateur at half-time. It’s not good enough. Endo should’ve been on four minutes earlier. If he were, that goal never happens.”
After this loss, Liverpool is stuck in fourth place in the Premier League, only one point ahead of Manchester United, who still have to play Arsenal on Sunday.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
Must Read
