Liverpool Are Trailing Arsenal In Pursuit Of This Newcastle United Wi… — and more

In a recent report, The Sun stated that Liverpool are trailing Arsenal in pursuit of Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon. It has been mentioned that the Reds are facing competition from the Gunners and Manchester United in the race to sign the English wide player next summer.

Gordon’s Impressive Form In English Football

Gordon is having an excellent campaign at the Tyneside club as he has produced a series of productive displays for them in the Premier League. The Liverpool-born talent has participated in 38 matches for Newcastle this season, scoring 14 goals and earning five assists across multiple competitions.

The 25-year-old is currently among the most feared attackers in European football. Thus, it makes sense for Liverpool to step up their chase to land him at the end of this campaign.

Gordon’s current deal at St. James’ Park will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it tough for the Reds to sign him on the cheap later this year.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

What Should Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Do With Regards To Gordon?

Gordon can use his pace well to get in behind the opponent’s backline at every chance he can get. He is a great dribbler with the ball at his feet and has got the vision to create some inviting chances for his teammates in and around the opponent’s penalty area.

The English wing wizard can strike the ball purely from long range and can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals up top. Gordon is primarily a left-winger but can also operate as a right-sided wide player or as a centre-forward if asked to do so by his manager.

We can expect Gordon to bring more pace and firepower to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot’s frontline. He has what it takes to earn regular first-team football at Anfield and could serve as an ideal, long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah at the Merseyside club.

At 25, Gordon has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him an excellent option for the Reds to consider at the end of this season. With all things considered, Slot would be wise to go all out to win the race for his services in the upcoming summer transfer period.

United Rugby Championship

Cardiff (3) 8

Try: A Davies Pen: Sheedy

Leinster (0) 7

Try: McGrath Con: Tector

Cardiff took a huge step towards making the United Rugby Championship play-offs by ending Leinster's winning streak at a rain-lashed Arms Park.

The Blue and Blacks climbed to third in the table by recording their first win against the Irish province since January 2022.

The hosts led 3-0 at the break in horrendous conditions and went into the final quarter 8-0 to the good thanks to scrum-half Aled Davies' counter-attack try.

Leinster struck with a converted try by their scrum-half Luke McGrath in the 68th minute and suddenly Cardiff, down to 14 men after a yellow card for Jacob Beetham, were creaking.

However, they held on and killed the clock expertly to end the champions' winning run in all competitions at 11 games.

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Cardiff are level on points with second-placed Leinster and crucially have a 15-point lead over those aiming to break into the top eight.

Testing conditions meant the only score of the first half came through the boot of Callum Sheedy, with the Cardiff fly-half knocking over a 19th-minute penalty.

The Blue and Blacks were left to rue the lack of a cutting edge in the 22, especially when Leinster had a spell down to 14 men courtesy of a yellow card for Charlie Tector for a high and late hit on Ben Thomas.

Tector had been introduced after just three minutes when the Irish province lost fly-half Harry Byrne, their only player released from Six Nations duty, to a head injury.

That was an enforced change but four of his fellow replacements – including former France tight-head prop Rabah Slimani and giant South Africa lock RG Snyman – were introduced by Leo Cullen with four minutes of the first half to play.

Cardiff continued to have the territorial edge at the start of the second half, despite playing into the wind, and Davies came up with a key score in the 54th minute.

Jimmy O'Brien failed to find touch with a clearance and the scrum-half ran a good supporting line to finish off the counter-attack, sparked by Cam Winnett and Mason Grady, from flanker Dan Thomas' pass.

Leinster trailed 8-0 and needed to respond, with their hopes boosted by a yellow card for Cardiff wing Beetham on 65 minutes after he was tempted into a deliberate knock-on.

Two minutes later the visitors were over when scrum-half McGrath finished off after a line break and neat offload by replacement full-back Andrew Osborne.

Tector added the simple extras to make it a one-point game but Cardiff held their nerve to earn a vital, and deserved, victory.

Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl said: "We adapted well to the conditions because it was easier to play without the ball, so the kicking came into play.

"Leinster are a quality outfit with what they have done over the years and it was good chance for us to measure ourselves. I was pleased with the game plan and how things unfolded."

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: "I thought that Cardiff deserved the win.

"I am disappointed for our guys, there was lots of good effort and intent but we could get into the game. That was because Cardiff were better with their kicking strategy."

How they lined up

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Assiratti, Thornton, E Rees, Mulder, I Lloyd, Bowen.

Yellow card: Beetham 65

Leinster: O'Brien; Kenny, Ioane, Henshaw, Moloney, Byrne; Gunne, Cahir, McKee, Sparrow, Spicer, Deeny, Deegan (capt), Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: McCarthy, Usanov, Slimani, Snyman, Ericson, McGrath, Tector, Osborne.

Yellow card: Tector 12

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Carwyn Sion (Wales)

TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)

Draws will be on Tuesday Credits: João Gabriel Alves/CBF

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) will hold the draws for the Copa do Nordeste, Copa Verde, and Copa Sul-Sudeste on Tuesday (3), starting at 2 PM. The event will take place at the entity's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and will be broadcast by CBF TV.

COPA DO NORDESTE

A total of 20 clubs will compete in the Copa do Nordeste. In the first phase, the teams will be divided into four groups with five clubs each.

There will be 60 matches over ten dates, with a maximum of 10 dates for the finalists. The champion of the 2026 Copa do Nordeste will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.

The 20 participating clubs will begin their quest for the title on March 25. The champion will be known on June 7, when the second leg of the final is scheduled.

COPA VERDE

The Copa Verde was created by the CBF in 2014. This year, the competition reaches its 13th edition. It will be the largest Copa Verde in history, with 24 clubs from the North, Central-West regions, and Espírito Santo, divided into two blocks with 12 clubs each: the Copa Norte and the Copa Centro-Oeste. The champion of each will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.

There will be 70 matches over ten dates, with at least six games for 12 clubs, a maximum of 10 games for the finalists, starting on March 25 and ending on June 7, a period exclusive to the competition. The competition is divided into four phases: in the first, the 24 clubs are divided into four groups of six clubs, with two from the Copa Norte and two from the Copa Centro-Oeste.

COPA SUL-SUDESTE

Created by the CBF to be contested starting this season, the first edition of the Copa Sul-Sudeste will feature 12 clubs, with teams from the South and Southeast regions participating. The champion will secure a spot in the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.

There will be 42 matches over ten dates, with at least six games for 12 clubs, a maximum of 10 games for the finalists, starting on March 25 and ending on June 7, a period exclusive to the competition. The Copa Sul-Sudeste will have three phases: in the first phase, each club will play three home games and three away games; the semifinals and final will be decided in home-and-away matches.

PRESS ACCREDITATION

Journalists interested in covering the event must register via email: [email protected]. The message must include full name, CPF, company, role, and contact phone number. The registration deadline is until 2 PM this Monday (2). Incomplete and late requests will not be accepted.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.