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Liverpool won for the sixth match in succession as they beat West Ham United 3-1 at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Nayef Aguerd tripped Mohamed Salah in the penalty box and the Egypt international got back up and composed himself to smash the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out to make it 1-0.

Jarrod Bowen then equalised for the Hammers shortly before half time as he stooped in front of Virgil van Dijk to nod the ball into the bottom corner of Alisson's goal.

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota then won the match for the Reds in the second half as they both got their names on the scoresheet with instinctive finishes in the box.

How did Mo Salah perform against West Ham?

The Liverpool star was the outstanding performer of the match for Jurgen Klopp's side as he caught the eye throughout the game with his wizardry on the right flank.

Of course, he won the penalty himself and converted it to put his team in front and also showcased his creativity as he split open the West Ham defence on a number of occasions.

As per Sofascore, Salah created two 'big chances' for his teammates and was not rewarded with any assists, which suggests that his fellow attackers let him down at Anfield.

Sofascore rewarded him with a rating of 8.7 for his performance, which was the highest on the pitch for either team, and his six duels won out of ten played a part in that as he displayed his physical strength against a combative David Moyes team.

That said, he was not the only to catch the eye with Dutch titan, Van Dijk, also impressing.

How did Virgil van Dijk perform against West Ham?

The Dutch central defender was partly at fault for the equalising goal as he failed to deal with the cross and allowed the England international to get ahead of him to score.

However, the former Southampton star did his best to make up for that error with an outstanding performance outside of that one questionable moment.

As per Sofascore, van Dijk won an incredible 13 of his 15 (87%) individual duels, showing that the towering Dutchman dominated the opposition for the majority of the match.

The 6 foot 5 colossus also made four clearances to go along with two tackles and two interceptions over the course of the 90 minutes, as per Sofascore. He was in the right place at the right time to make numerous vital defensive interventions to prevent West Ham from testing Alisson further.

His sublime and dominant defending was then capped off with a superb contribution in possession as his header for Jota allowed the Portugal international to make it 3-1.

Sofascore rewarded the Dutchman with the second-best rating in the match with an 8.5, which was justified by his colossal defensive work to go along with an assist for the final goal.

Therefore, van Dijk dominated West Ham alongside Salah and was one of the stars of the show for Klopp as the German head coach's side came away from the match with all three points, thanks in no small part to his captain's performance.

Former Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta can look back on his spell at Elland Road with plenty of pride as he enjoyed plenty of success in Yorkshire.

Whilst his time at the club ended on a low, with relegation back down to the Championship, the Spaniard did oversee some fantastic football under Marcelo Bielsa that led to a second-tier title and a ninth-placed Premier League finish.

The 44-year-old Sevilla chief had mixed success in the transfer market with a number of flops and successes throughout his tenure with the Whites.

However, he may also look back at some of the players who almost joined the club and wonder what could have happened if things had gone differently.

One target who was reportedly on the verge of a transfer to Elland Road before it eventually fell through and caused Orta looked elsewhere was Michael Cuisance ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Were Leeds interested in Michael Cuisance?

The Daily Mail reported in September 2020 that Leeds were closing in on a deal to sign the versatile midfielder in an £18m deal from Bayern Munich.

It was claimed that the club were discussing a five-year contract with the French gem and that the player was looking for a move in search of regular game time after failing to become a regular with the German giants.

However, the move did not go ahead as planned and Sky Sports then reported that the talented youngster had failed a medical in Yorkshire, although there were no specifics given as to why that was the case.

Cuisance has played the majority of his football as a central or attacking midfielder but Orta did not opt to sign an alternative with directly similar qualities as winger Raphinha was brought in for a reported £17m after they failed to sign the Bayern prospect.

However, the £18m target is a left-footed ace who can play out wide on the right and the plan may have been to utilise him out wide, which is where the Brazil international went on to thrive after his move from Rennes.

Why did Leeds want Cuisance?

Orta and Bielsa eyed up a deal for Cuisance after he had made his first-team breakthrough for Bayern during the 2019/20 campaign, following on from his move from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2019.

The France U20 international made ten appearances in all competitions and contributed with one goal and one assist from a midfield position, which both came in his nine Bundesliga outings.

That came after the central midfielder had played 39 senior matches in two seasons with Gladbach and chipped in with zero goals and three assists.

He started ten top-flight games in those two campaigns and this shows that the young Frenchman was set to arrive at Leeds with limited first-team experience under his belt.

Cuisance had yet to prove himself to be a reliable performer in a major European league, due to his sporadic appearances for Gladbach and Bayern, and had not contributed much at the top end of the pitch in the way of goals and assists.

Raphinha joined Leeds after the French midfielder's move to Elland Road collapsed.

How many goals did Raphinha score for Leeds?

If the two deals were linked, it turned out to be a blessing as the exciting winger scored 17 goals in 67 games for the club.

The Brazilian forward enjoyed two fantastic years in Yorkshire as he proved himself to be a reliable performer at Premier League level with his ability to score goals and create chances on a regular basis in the final third.

He contributed with six goals and nine assists in 30 top-flight appearances during his debut campaign to help Bielsa's side finish in the top-half of the table. In that time, the left-footed magician created 12 'big chances' in total and produced 2.1 key passes per game for his teammates.

Raphinha followed that up with 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League games throughout the 2021/22 season, as Leeds retained their status at the top level under Jesse Marsch, before his £55m move to Barcelona in the summer of 2022.

Where is Cuisance now?

Cuisance, meanwhile, has failed to kick on in his career and is currently with VfL Osnabrück on loan in the second tier of Austrian football.

The 24-year-old talent joined Marseille on loan from Bayern after his switch to Leeds fell through and scored twice in 30 appearances for the French side.

He eventually completed a permanent exit from the German giants to join Venezia in Italy during the January transfer window in 2022 and has only scored twice in 26 outings for the club to date.

How much is Cuisance worth now?

The former Leeds target, who was once described as a "rotten egg" by ex-Bayern player Markus Babbel, is currently valued at €3.6m (£3.1m) by FootballTransfers.

This means that Cuisance's value has plummeted by a staggering 83% from the £18m that Leeds were seemingly willing to splash on his services in 2020.

The midfielder, three years on from that transfer saga, is still yet to prove himself to be a consistent performer at the top level and now finds himself playing second-division football in Germany.

Whereas, Raphinha joined Leeds and instantly became a star for Bielsa on the right flank, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

The Brazil international joined for £17m and was sold for £55m and this means that Orta and the Whites made a significant 224% profit on him within a two-year period, to go along with his exceptional displays in the Premier League.

Therefore, the former Leeds chief avoided a huge blunder with Cuisance as his career trajectory since that summer suggests that he would have been a huge flop and cost the club a fortune, due to his lack of quality on the pitch and his decreasing market value.

He should now look back on the collapsed deal for the France U20 international as a blessing in disguise at the time as, in hindsight, it saved the Whites millions.

Argentina U-23 boss Javier Mascherano says he is in talks with Lionel Messi to join his side at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

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• Mascherano in talks with Messi over 2024 Olympics
• Di Maria rejects chance to go to Paris
• Messi has busy summer schedule ahead

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi could be in for a busy summer, with the Olympics taking place between July 24-August 10, the Copa America running from June 20-July 14, and Inter Miami potentially in Leagues Cup action between July 26-August 25. Ahead of this busy schedule, former Barcelona team-mate Mascherano has put the feelers out to the 36-year-old.

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  WHAT JAVIER MASCHERANO SAID

  He told Tyc Sports: "Lionel is aware that age is also catching up with him. Even though he is Messi, he has to manage his workload because he has had a year of heavy activity. We don't want to bother him; we simply extended an invitation for him to join us at the Olympics. We believed it was necessary to extend this invitation so that he has the time to think it over and analyze it because he would have to leave his club."

  Mascherano also revealed that Emiliano Martinez was also in consideration but that one players has already ruled himself out: "How could we not consider Dibu Martínez? We have the advantage of having the World Cup-winning team. There are many players who bring quality. Dibu is among the best goalkeepers in the world.

  "Ángel (Di María) appreciated the call, but he has no intention of going to Paris. We have ruled him out; he wants to give space to the younger players."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi is turning 37 this summer so managing his schedule to prolong his career is key. The World Cup winner has already won a gold medal for his country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Argentina will be looking to defend the Copa America title they won back in 2021. Inter Miami will also be keen to ensure the veteran doesn't play too much football so an interesting summer lies ahead.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Messi has a busy schedule before heading off on international duty later this month, with Miami facing Nashville twice, Montreal, and D.C. United before Argentina take on El Salvador and Costa Rica on March 23 and 27 respectively.

Arsenal are considering a swoop for a new defender in January to provide competition for Oleksandr Zinchenko, with a fresh report detailing the chances of him moving to the Premier League.

Who are Arsenal linked with?

At the Emirates Stadium, Edu and Mikel Arteta have been heavily linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, whilst Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez are two additional names to have been mentioned in recent weeks.

The Gunners had also previously been credited with an interest in Aston Villa centre-forward Ollie Watkins, but with him having since signed a new long-term contract in the Midlands, that puts any kind of potential deal next year out of the equation.

In N7, Zinchenko is the only natural player that the boss has available at left-back so it’s definitely an area that needs addressing, and it would appear that the hierarchy have turned their attention towards Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez, who joined his side last summer from Real Madrid (Transfermarkt – Gutierrez transfer history).

Spain’s youth international still has another four years remaining on his deal (Girona contracts), so Michel Sanchez’s outfit are in a strong negotiating position, but if the following update is to be believed, the 22-year-old is someone who chiefs are willing to test their resolve for.

Miguel Gutierrez transfer update…

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside) in a transfer update on Miguel Gutierrez, Arsenal are "keen" on the defender at Girona. The Estadi Montilivi star's performances have "caught the attention" of the board in the capital, and with the club assessing their options in the market for a new left-back, they have highlighted the talented prospect as an ideal candidate.

The La Liga outfit could easily demand a big sum for their prized asset due to his contract situation and it's stated that he would "likely to be tempted to join", but at this stage, it remains to be seen whether this is a move that will come to fruition in January.

How good is Miguel Gutierrez?

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gutierrez is a “solid” defender which is proved by him averaging 2.4 clearances per league game so far this season (WhoScored – Gutierrez statistics), highlighting his desire to get stuck in and throw himself into challenges, but he’s equally strong in the offensive aspect of his game.

The Wasserman client, who is naturally left-footed, has posted seven contributions (five assists and two goals) in 44 appearances since joining Girona which shows that he loves to use his pace to burst down the flank, take on his marker and create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third.

Furthermore, Gutierrez only pockets £5k-per-week (Girona salaries), so he would be a more than affordable option for the Gunners because that would make him the lowest-earner on their books (Arsenal salaries), so should the opportunity present itself, this seems like a no-brainer of a deal to pursue at the start of 2024.

In leg two of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie, Cade Cowell started the comeback for Chivas, scoring a wickedly powerful header.

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• Chivas beat Club America 3-2
• Cowell scored booming header
• Knocked out of CCC 5-3 on aggregate

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A delightful cross sent into the box by Alan Mozo saw Cowell connect brilliantly, leaping over a defender and smashing the ball into the back of the net. The stunning header gave his side the perfect start to try and turn the tie around after losing the first leg at home, 3-0. Chivas did go on to win the game 3-2 but it's Club America who progress after a 5-3 aggregate victory.

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  WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cowell moved from the San Jose Earthquakes to the Liga MX powerhouse in January for a fee of $4m, becoming the first-ever American to take the pitch for Chivas. Since his arrival in Mexico, he's scored four goals in all competitions, including his effort Wednesday evening. He's also earned the nickname across the club's fanbase for his brilliant celebrations and hysterical antics on the training ground.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR COWELL AND CHIVAS?

  There's hope that Cowell will be a part of the USMNT U-23 setup this March for a pair of international friendlies against Thierry Henry's France and the Guinea national team. Otherwise, at the club level, Chivas – rather ironically – take on Club America again this weekend, but in Liga MX this time.

After knocking out Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal, third-tier side Saarbrucken pulled off another incredible feat to reach the semi-finals of the cup.

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• Saarbrucken beat Bayern in second round
• Pulled off last-minute winner vs Gladbach
• Face Kaiserslautern in semi-finals of cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 3. Liga team hosted Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach in the quarter-finals of the competition on Tuesday. They found themselves a goal down just eight minutes into the clash at the Ludwigspark Stadion but pulled level three minutes later. They managed to hold off the pressure from their top-flight opponents for the rest of the half and put up a better fight after the break, despite Gladbach enjoying the lion's share of possession. Incredibly, the home team managed to seal the victory when Kai Brunker popped up in stoppage time to make it 2-1.

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• WHAT BUNKER SAID

  Match-winner Bunker was elated after the game and told : "I'm just proud of everyone right now. I could just cry. I don't know what will happen today. Now we can aim for the final."

  Saarbrucken coach Rudiger Ziehl added: "The fact that we managed to do what we did is really crazy,"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gladbach are the third Bundesliga side to be knocked out by the third-tier team. After beating Karlsruher in the first round, they were paired with Bundesliga champions Bayern and emerged with a 2-1 win. They then beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the round of 16.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SAARBRUCKEN?

  Ziehl's team will come up against 2. Bundesliga team Kaiserslautern in the semi-finals of the competition. Only one Bundesliga team remain in the competition, with runaway leaders Bayer Leverkusen facing Fortuna Dusseldorf in the other last-four tie.

Liverpool could look to make defensive signings in the January transfer window and one "incredible" ace has been backed to move to Anfield.

Liverpool need to sign defenders…

The Reds' season has just lost its momentum in recent weeks, with the 2-1 defeat away to Tottenham setting them back significantly, and Sunday's 2-2 draw at Brighton also proving to be a frustrating afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp's side are only three points adrift of Spurs and Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and the fact that Manchester City are only one ahead of Liverpool is a bonus, but improvements are needed if they are to go all the way this season.

The summer transfer window was all about the midfield rebuild at Anfield, with four new players signed in that area of the pitch, and five going the other way, including Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

Now, it may be time to start focusing on the defence, considering both Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip are in their 30s, while Andy Robertson hits that milestone next year. Signing a centre-back who is also capable of playing at left-back could be seen as ideal, and a new update could give Liverpool fans some confidence about it happening.

Piero Hincapie transfer update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, The Redmen TV presenter Paul Machin backed the Reds to complete the signing of highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie in January or next summer:

"I think Liverpool would have moved for one in the summer if there'd been a little bit more time and they'd been able to get the midfield targets sorted sooner. I think it's a very, very high priority.

"The other one probably on top of that shortlist is Hincapie from Leverkusen. He will be right at the top of that shortlist. He’s young, talented and can fulfil two roles. That's the profile of defender Liverpool will need moving into January and next summer."

Hincapie has been linked with Liverpool a number of times in the past, and although a summer move failed to materialise, it does feel as though they see him as an ideal signing in the near future. In truth, it is hard to find many negatives against the Reds bringing him in, with the 21-year-old already a key figure for Leverkusen – Hincapie's potential been described as "incredible" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

Last season, the Ecuadorian averaged 2.5 clearances and two aerial duel wins per game in the Bundesliga (Whoscored – Hincapie statistics), and his ability to shine at both centre-back and left-back could appeal so much to Klopp, as well as his long-term ceiling.

There is an argument to say that both Van Dijk and Robertson are not quite the players they used to be – the latter was at fault for Lewis Dunk's late equalier in the 2-2 draw with Brighton – and Hincapie could be seen as someone who can challenge both for minutes straight away.

Gareth Southgate's side struggled to create anything of note before Endrick's late goal secured victory for the visitors

England may have been without a number of key men, including Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and an array of full-backs, but the way in which they struggled against an inexperienced Brazil side in their 1-0 defeat on Saturday should be a real cause for concern so close to Euro 2024.

The Three Lions dominated possession in the first half but it was the visitors who had the better chances, as Kyle Walker cleared off the line from Vinicius Jr before Lucas Paqueta struck the post and Raphinha fired wide after robbing Harry Maguire on the edge of the England box.

England's best chance of the first half came when Ollie Watkins was played in by Phil Foden, but he was denied by a fine challenge from Fabricio Bruno. Debutant Anthony Gordon was then denied twice by Bento either side of half-time, but the home side struggled to create much of note.

They were made to pay with 10 minutes left, too, as Vinicius broke clear of the England defence, and though Jordan Pickford saved his shot, teenager Endrick was on hand to tap into an empty net for his first international goal.

GOAL rates England's players from Wembley Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Jordan Pickford (6/10):

  Didn't really have to stretch himself to make a save until Vinicius' effort in the build-up to the goal. Distribution decent, as always.

  Kyle Walker (6/10):

  Got back well to deny Vinicius on the line, but in doing so tweaked his hamstring, forcing him off after just 20 minutes.

  John Stones (6/10):

  Carried the ball out of defence and showed some nice touches when stepping into midfield. Lost Vinicius a couple of times, however, and was left in his wake for the goal.

  Harry Maguire (4/10):

  Fortunate not to be punished by Raphinha after his poor touch on the edge of his own box. Looked shaky at other times, too, as his performance didn't inspire confidence for the summer.

  Ben Chilwell (3/10):

  Failed to take his opportunity. Looked off the pace from the outset, while his final ball when attacking was abysmal. Replaced midway through the second half.

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  Midfield

  Conor Gallagher (7/10):

  Was excellent for the first 30 minutes, as his pressing caused a number of turnovers high up the pitch. Faded thereafter as he began to run out of steam.

  Declan Rice (6/10):

  Not asked to provide as much going forward as he does at Arsenal, and therefore felt a little shackled. Barely put a foot wrong, however.

  Jude Bellingham (7/10):

  Looked the most likely to create opportunities for England, and was the target of a number of fouls from the Brazil midfield. Couldn't quite provide that killer moment, but that wasn't necessarily his fault.

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  Attack

  Phil Foden (6/10):

  Couldn't influence the game from the right-hand side as he has done for Manchester City this season. Had a couple of nice touches around the penalty area, but they never came to anything.

  Ollie Watkins (4/10):

  Stepped into Kane's shoes but struggled to get involved in the game. Fabricio's challenge kept him from breaking the deadlock in the first half.

  Anthony Gordon (7/10):

  Grew into the game after a quiet start, and combined excellently with Bellingham down the England left. Denied on a couple of occasions by Bento.

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  Subs & Manager

  Ezri Konsa (5/10):

  On for his debut after Walker's injury but doesn't offer anywhere near as much as the Man City man from right-back.

  Jarrod Bowen (6/10):

  Was bright after coming on down the right.

  Joe Gomez (6/10):

  Got 25 minutes but didn't really make his mark on the game.

  Lewis Dunk (4/10):

  Gave the ball away too often in dangerous areas, most notably with a poor header that led to Endrick's goal.

  Kobbie Mainoo (6/10):

  Had a couple of neat touches during his 15-minute cameo on debut.

  Marcus Rashford (5/10):

  Too often ran down blind allies as he looked to force something.

  Gareth Southgate (5/10):

  Hamstrung somewhat by the amount of players he was unable to call upon, but this was still an uninspiring showing from his team. Can't just rely on Bellingham to produce everything in the final third.

Sunderland are back in Championship action this weekend, but they have been dealt some bad injury news before the game, courtesy of reliable journalist James Hunter.

Stoke vs Sunderland team news

The Black Cats endured a terrible result before the international break, losing 4-0 at home to local rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light, in a scoreline that few saw coming.

While this was undoubtedly a big setback, Sunderland are still in a strong position in the grander scheme of things, sitting fourth in the Championship table and looking like strong contenders to at least seal a place in the playoffs.

The key now is for Tony Mowbray's side to produce a big response to the Middlesbrough defeat on Saturday afternoon, as they make the trip to Stoke City, who are currently in 21st position, languishing just above the relegation zone.

Sunderland aren't without injury problems heading into the game, with Aji Alese, Timothee Pembele, Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda missing of late, and doubts surrounding the involvement of Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard and Bradley Dack this weekend.

Sunderland injury updates

Taking to X on Thursday, Hunter dropped a new injury update, saying the Alese and Pembele Sunderland injuries mean they have been ruled out of the Stoke game: "Injury setbacks for Alese and Pembele. Better news on Cirkin and Mayenda."

Providing more information regarding the Sunderland injuries for The Chronicle, Hunter said: "Aji Alese and Timothee Pembele have suffered injury setbacks which will further delay their integration into Sunderland's Championship campaign.

"And deadline day signing from Paris St-Germain Pembele was making good progress as he built his fitness following a long-term knee injury, but the full-back has also run into problems which will keep him out for at least another month."

Not having both Alese and Dembele available for the trip to Stoke to an undoubted blow for Sunderland, with the duo both seen as important figures who are key to their side's promotion push this season.

The former has made 24 appearances for the Black Cats since signing for them last year, but Alese's statistics make for grim reading so far this season, with injuries meaning he hasn't played a single minute of action.

Meanwhile, the latter joined from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer transfer window, being seen as an exciting addition, but he is another whose absence has been a big blow, resulting in no minutes played to date (Pembele's stats).

The hope is that they are back sooner rather than later, but on the plus side, Mowbray's men have still shown that they can pick up positive results without them in the team. As the season goes on, though, as much depth as possible will be vital, as legs begin to tire and fixtures come thick and fast.

Liverpool's transfer activity has been near flawless since Jurgen Klopp took the helm in 2015, with the German manager's philosophy neatly implemented by players targetted for their distinctive qualities and aptness in the high-octane, high-pressure system.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, and Fabinho – a list that is by no means exhaustive – have all been signed since the watershed moment of Klopp's arrival, with scant room for ineptitude under his sage stewardship.

The Premier League and Champions League titles have been claimed to signify one of the most prosperous and illustrious periods of the club's modern history, and while the 2022/23 campaign was one of great suffering for a sapped Anfield side, the summer transfer window has been used to comprehensively alter the midfield and restore life and energy to the fold.

Before this incredible chapter, misfires on the transfer front were something of normality, and Iago Aspas was among those to have struggled to integrate and swiftly moved on.

The Spanish gem's time at the club was fleeting and forgettable, but he has been in more than just fine fettle ever since and even outscored two starring Reds members last season.

How did Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz get on last season?

Yes, Aspas scored 12 times in the league last term to lead Celta Vigo to a successful conclusion, finishing 13th with 43 points, three above relegated Real Valladolid in 18th.

His tally was a mark of his consistency since leaving Liverpool, and his 12 league goals actually placed him above two salient Reds stars in Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, though both were severely affected by injury issues.

Indeed, Aspas' return bettered Diaz's (five across all competitions) and Jota's (seven in total), though neither Liverpool forward reached 30 seasonal showings due to their setbacks, very much exacerbating the club's spiralling situation.

Regardless, Aspas is well into his thirties and really did leave little mark of his presence during his time at the club, and it is interesting to bear witness to his resurgence.

When did Liverpool sign Iago Aspas?

Liverpool completed the signing of Aspas in the summer of 2013 after agreeing a £9m fee with Celta Vigo, with the rising star's cutting edge having paid dividends in the Sky Blues' promotion to LaLiga and subsequent preservation of their top-flight status.

Rodgers was seeking to rebuild a Liverpool side that had languished below expectations for too long, and the firepower Aspas was expected to bring was valued as the perfect supplementation for an exciting frontline consisting of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and the precocious teenager Raheem Sterling.

Clearly, a lot has changed since the Spaniard's stint at the club, with Klopp's managerial appointment a little over two years on from Aspas' Premier League debut changing everything. Everyone knows of the effect that the German's tutelage has had.

And while Aspas played a part in a remarkable Reds campaign in 2013/14 that nearly saw an end to the long wait for the Premier League trophy, he only started five times in the Premier League (making 15 appearances across all competitions) and netted his lone strike for Liverpool in the FA Cup, against Oldham Athletic.

He would depart after his debut season in English football, never to return, and while many discarded him as a flop, he has since become a devastating, high-profile forward in Spain.

How good is Iago Aspas?

Ever since Aspas' Anfield departure, he has prospered in his homeland, enjoying a one-year loan spell with Sevilla directly following the end of his stay on English shores – scoring ten goals and supplying three assists from 25 matches across all competitions, though only two in LaLiga, having started four times.

The 20-cap Spain international – with six goals – then re-signed with Celta Vigo in a deal believed to be worth roughly €5m (£4m), and he has been a starring talisman for his long-time club ever since.

Indeed, having completed 467 appearances for Celta Vigo across the entirety of his career, scoring 196 goals and supplying 70 assists, Aspas is now the club captain and has been a prolific and consistent goalscorer in Spain's top-flight across the past several years.

Between 2017/18 and 2018/19, the 36-year-old scored 42 LaLiga goals from just 61 appearances, having reached double figures across every single season since joining the club again in 2015.

Now approaching the twilight phase of his career, the “special” – as he was praised by teammate Brais Mendez – £49k-per-week forward has yet to score this season but has supplied two assists from ten outings, and still very much offers a dynamic spread of skills.

As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 veteran ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 4% for passes attempted and the top 16% for progressive carries per 90.

Seemingly among the most underrated ball-playing strikers in Europe, Aspas' tenacity and age-belying athleticism has allowed him to prosper following his failed spell on Merseyside.

However, while it's a shame that he didn't tap into that talent under Rodgers' wing, the meteoric rise since has dismissed any notion of pathos – candidly, it was just one of those that didn't work out.

Both Jota and Diaz might've been outscored by Aspas last season, but injuries hampered their respective chances of mounting prolific campaigns.

That being said, both players did perform admirably during their time on the pitch, and a restored Liverpool team's start to the current campaign underscores the credentials of both players.

Truthfully, Liverpool failed to bring the best out of Aspas but the blame must be portioned out equally; he failed to integrate into the squad and into English football, with his failure to learn the English language compounding his problem.

At present, Klopp and co will hardly rue the harnessing of his core goalscoring qualities, having built an illustrious dynasty steeped in offensive threat and liquid fluidity.

Although Liverpool fumbled the bag in paying Aspas' transfer fee and shipped him on after one, unsuccessful year, he has now bloomed into one of Europe's most impressive goalscorers,