WHAT ANDONI IRAOLA TOLD AMINE ADLI BEFORE HIS 95TH-MINUTE WINNER AGAINST LIVERPOOL
Amine Adli’s 95th-minute strike seals a wild 3-2 win for Bournemouth, ending Liverpool's 13-game unbeaten run in a January classic.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola couldn’t hide his excitement after his team’s huge win over Liverpool. The Cherries broke free from the relegation zone, and you could feel the relief. They’d only managed one win in their last 14 matches before this. Then, in the 95th minute, Amine Adli slammed home the winner. Liverpool had clawed back from two goals down to make it 2-2, but Bournemouth just kept pushing and snatched it at the death.
“It’s a massive win for us,” Iraola told BBC Sport. “We were in a tough spot, especially last week—numbers were down, defenders missing. But we’re finding ways to get points against tough teams. I’m really proud of the players and what we’re doing. We’re adapting and picking up big results.”
When Virgil van Dijk scored right before halftime, Bournemouth probably feared things might unravel. Then Dominik Szoboszlai levelled it in the second half. But Adli showed up when it mattered most.
“That’s exactly when you don’t want to concede,” Iraola said. “We wanted to hit the break two goals up. Van Dijk’s was a solid goal, and we knew Liverpool would keep coming. We let in two from set pieces.
“But after it went 2-2, we started playing better. It felt like we had nothing to lose. It turned into a proper end-to-end game—Liverpool versus Bournemouth, anyone’s to win.
“We needed this. We’re on 30 points now, but we still need more, and we need them fast. The fight’s not over. We’re still down in the relegation mix, so we have to keep scrapping for every point.”
Liverpool, meanwhile, looked a bit worn out after their midweek Champions League match against Marseille. Manager Arne Slot admitted his players just couldn’t match Bournemouth’s energy.
“A few of our guys ran out of steam, that’s for sure,” Slot said. “I can’t blame them—two days ago, we were playing away in Europe.
“Even though we went 2-0 down, we fought back well. Honestly, it didn’t feel like we deserved to be two behind at that stage.
“The team showed real character, clawed it back to 2-2, and then the game just opened up. Both sides had their chances; maybe Bournemouth even had more than us, which shouldn’t really shock me, considering we just played away in Marseille two days ago.
“We’ve had to lean on the same players for the last stretch of games, and sometimes, by the end, some of them are just spent. You could see that today.”
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.”
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