MAN UNITED 3-2 LIVERPOOL: RED DEVILS QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THANKS TO KOBBIE MAINOO'S SUPERB LATE WINNER - AFTER TWO ERRORS SAW BITTER RIVALS MOUNT SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK

Maybe it was actually sweeter for Manchester United to win this way. To give their great rivals some hope and then snatch it away from them again

Michael Carrick and his United team are back in the Champions League and this was quite some way to do it.

Fifteen minutes in and United were two goals up and rampant. Liverpool scored seven at Anfield against Erik ten Hag’s version of United back in 2023 and, after those early goals from Matheus Cunha and then Benjamin Sesko, Carrick’s players must have sniffed some kind of ultimate payback.

Liverpool were hopeless and hapless. Full of possession and territory but all at sea once United’s red waves of counter-attack broke on their shores.

Oblivion beckoned and United and their supporters would have given anything at this stage to be able to dish out a proper hiding. They have suffered enough at the hands of their great rivals in recent times.

But if that wasn’t to be possible then maybe this was a perfect alternative. To drag Liverpool up from their knees and then catapult them back down into the dirt.

Twice in the first eleven minutes of the second half, United coughed up the ball to give Liverpool two goals and parity. It was a comeback that came from nowhere. 

It was the perfect start for United as Matheus Cunha struck inside six minutes at Old Trafford

Young substitute Amad Diallo was the first to err, Dominik Szoboszlai running clear to score. Then, almost immediately, goalkeeper Senne Lammens messed up a short goal kick and Cody Gakpo rolled the ball in to an empty net.

All of a sudden – and for a while – calamity looked as though it could  be United's. Liverpool were now the better team.

Harry Maguire made a great block to deny Gakpo and then Lammens hacked a ball off his line after a scramble at a set piece.

For both teams a draw seemed palatable as the clock ran down but Carrick’s United are running hot in a way that Liverpool are not.

Benjamin Sesko bundled Manchester United's second over the line just eight minutes later

The defending champions’ efforts at the back end of games have been pretty woeful this season. And so when Alexis MacAllister cleared Luke Shaw’s cross to the edge of the penalty area with 13 minutes left, it was no great surprise that Kobbie Mainoo was there to drive the ball back low and hard and in to the corner.

It was an emphatic finish and it seemed appropriate. For United’s football had been this way and Liverpool’s had not. Liverpool were much better in the second half but still needed two United mistakes to get them back in to the game.

Over the piece, they were pretty limp going forward. No cleverness, no element of surprise and certainly no pace.

United remain far from the perfect team but they do know how to make things happen and here – when they needed to – they absolutely did. At times they did here what Liverpool used to do to them. Soaked up pressure, stole the ball and then sprang forward devastatingly.

Dominik Szoboszlai halved the deficit for Liverpool after Amad's error early in the second half

Indeed, their start was breathtaking. Carrick’s team had been out of the blocks quickly against Brentford on Monday but this was Liverpool so this meant more.

United have pace to burn these days. Their opponents are not so blessed, especially with players like Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike missing.

So we were treated to the sight of United sitting happily in their own half and watching Liverpool pass the ball around in front of them. Then, when they took possession themselves, they were able to break with menace. Liverpool couldn’t cope and were fortunate only to be two goals down by half-time.

United’s first goal came from a corner and though it carried a little luck, it was also the result of early pressure.

Liverpool only half cleared the ball to the edge of the penalty area and when Cunha’s first shot came back to him off Ryan Gravenberch, his second struck MacAllister and bobbled in to the corner past Freddie Woodman in the visitors’ goal.

Woodman has enjoyed himself since replacing Giorgi Mamardashvili towards the end of the Merseyside derby. He helped to win that game and did likewise against Crystal Palace a week later. But this was different.

Liverpool were up against it from the first whistle and by the time we had played 14 minutes, United had doubled their lead.

This one came after a long VAR check but was correctly awarded. Liverpool may have thought they had seen off the danger as Woodman blocked from Sesko. But when the ball was recycled and Shaw crossed to the far post, Bruno Fernandes’ header across goal was pawed out by the Liverpool keeper and that enabled Sesko to bundle it in.

The VAR check was for a handball against the scorer and there may have been one. But TV didn’t provide conclusive evidence and United had distance between themselves and their opponents.

It had been a frantic start but the game settled into a rhythm for a while thereafter. Liverpool had plenty of the ball but did nothing with it. By half-time, all Slot’s team had to show for their territory were two shots wide from 20 yards and one from Gravenberch that arrived from even further out and was saved by Lammens comfortably.

United, meanwhile, continued to carry intent and menace. Indeed when Bryan Mbeumo broke down the right to cross low, Fernandes should have done better than drill a first-time shot wide of the near post from twelve yards. Had that one gone in to make it 3-0, we would have been spared all the subsequent drama and excitement.

Cody Gakpo then levelled terms after a wayward pass out from goalkeeper Serge Lammens

As it was, when Liverpool did find a way back in to the game it was completely unexpected. Carrick made a change at half-time as Amad replaced Sesko and one of the young forward’s first contributions was to pass the ball straight to Szoboszlai.

The Hungarian still had half of the field to navigate but with United defenders backing off, he turned past Maguire comfortably and pulled his left-foot shot across Lammens and into the corner from 14 yards.

One mistake was careless and shouldn’t have been cause for panic. The second, coming in the 56th minute, was unforgivable. This one came from the modern obsession with short goal kicks and blew up in United’s face as Lammens passed straight to MacAllister and he worked the ball to Szobozslai who squared calmly for Gakpo to score.

Utter embarrassment suddenly beckoned for United and for a while it looked possible. Liverpool were the better team for twenty minutes and half chances were theirs. They needed to take one, though, and that they didn’t eventually cost them. Mainoo’s finish really was fabulous.

Liverpool pushed again at the end. It would have been hard to begrudge them a point. But the right side of the fine margins continue to elude them and a cameo from young winger Rio Ngumoah wasn’t enough to save them.

This was league defeat number eleven for Slot’s team. Sunderland and Leeds – both promoted last season – have lost only one more each. Both United and Liverpool will in all likelihood both play Champions League next season but they way they feel about that will be quite different.

- IAN LADYMAN

FIFA GIVES CLUBS AN EXTRA WEEK BEFORE RELEASING AFCON STARS

Liverpool could be without Egyptian forward Mohamed for several English Premier League matches during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament (PETER POWELL)

Star players such as Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Achraf Hakimi will be able to play for their clubs for an extra week until December 15 before joining their national teams at the Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA said on Wednesday.

Top European clubs such as Salah's Liverpool, Mbeumo's Manchester United and Hakimi's Paris Saint-Germain face losing key players for up to five weeks for the 24-nation tournament in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.

But they had feared it could be even longer until FIFA amended its rules to soften the blow for clubs by delaying the release date by a week.

The decision came after "fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF to reduce the impact on various parties," FIFA said in a statement, referring to the tournament organisers, the Confederation of African Football.

"It was also decided to encourage member associations participating in the 2025 AFCON and clubs releasing players... to engage in good faith bilateral discussions in order to find appropriate individual solutions," FIFA added.

Before FIFA's ruling, players had been required to show up for international duty by December 8, meaning that English Premier League clubs could have been without vital players for up to seven or even eight league matches during a particularly busy part of the season.

The competition falls at an awkward moment for the likes of high-flying Sunderland and rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers who could be without up to seven and five players respectively.

Liverpool will be without Egypt forward Salah, Manchester City will have to do without his international team-mate Omar Marmoush and Algeria's left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, while United will lose Cameroon's Mbeumo, Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo and Morocco full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

On the other hand, league leaders Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds will be unaffected.

French and European champions PSG will lose Hakimi, the reigning African player of the year, but other European giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus will not see any players involved.

Bayern Munich's Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea, will be at the tournament but will not miss many Bundesliga games as the league will be on its winter break from December 22 to January 8.

Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal are amongst the tournament favourites.

- AFP

BRUNO FERNANDES IS CARRYING MANCHESTER UNITED ON HIS SHOULDER

 

'MY JOB IS SO HARD' - ADMITS MANCHESTER UNITED ISSUES MOUNTAIN AMID INJURIES

Ruben Amorim was forced to name a depleted squad against Tottenham (John Walton/PA)

Ruben Amorim bemoaned how hard his Manchester United job was after his injury-hit team lost 1-0 at Tottenham on a day where Amad Diallo was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Diallo sustained an innocuous ankle ligament injury in training this week but was not the only absentee in north London with Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer unavailable with knocks, while Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen were ill.

The aforementioned six joined the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount on the treatment table, which left Amorim with limited options at Spurs as he largely named a bench full of teenagers and watched his team lose for a 12th time in the Premier League this term to drop to 15th.

Amad Diallo has been ruled out for the rest of the season (Martin Rickett/PA)

“I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard but I’m here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs. I will try to do it, I will try to win again,” Amorim told Sky Sports, with a trip to in-form Everton up next.

“In this moment it is more than the idea or system. In this moment it is like survive and to think the small things, improve the small things for the next game, to not even look at the table or the schedule or nothing.

“Of course I have to because we have a lot of games and we have three competitions with a small squad at the moment.

“That part is my part but the players, everyone in Carrington, just focus on the next game, the next training and that is our goal.

United are down to 15th after defeat at Tottenham (John Walton/PA)

“Just focus on the next game and let’s do everything to win some games to finish the season and then think in the big picture.

“In this moment it is to try to keep the players healthy, recover some players and to focus on what we have to in the next game. That is our goal.”

However, former United defender Gary Neville was critical of Amorim’s tactics and in particular his deployment of midfielders Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, during Sky’s commentary on the game.

Neville said: “United may win today and may score goals, but I have to say that the structure of the team is awful.

“The gaps in that midfield between Fernandes and Casemiro. That’s a tactic, they’ve been asked to do that, Bruno’s been asked to come out to this side and it isn’t right.

“Bruno Fernandes is playing right-wing, the two of them in midfield are split, it’s embarrassing. You wouldn’t see this in under-9s or under-10s football.”

Amorim expressed hope that Yoro and Eriksen would return for Saturday’s clash at Goodison Park but does not expect Mainoo to be available.

He added: “It’s hard to know. Let’s wait a few more days. I think Leny and Chris were sick so they will recover.

“Of course Chris has the heart situation and we have to be really careful with that. It’s nothing about the heart. I am just saying the heart rate has to be controlled because he has a fever. I think he will recover.

“The rest we will see. Kobbie is out. Amad is out for sure until the end of the season.”

Quizzed on what the injuries are down to, Amorim insisted: “I think it is everything together.

“Amad was alone. He was doing a tackle. The feet were sticking in the grass and some players felt during training sickness so it is everything.

“Sometimes in moments, everything goes wrong but we have to face the challenge and to focus on the next game. That’s all.”

- George Sessions

BENARDO SILVER: MAN CITY 'PLAYED LIKE UNDER-15S'

Bernardo Silva said Manchester City "played like under-15s" in the closing stages against Manchester United after the out-of-form Premier League champions slumped to a dismal 2-1 derby defeat on Sunday.

City appeared to be limping towards a much-needed victory at the Etihad Stadium before a calamity of errors late on, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty in the 88th minute before a stoppage-time winner from Amad Diallo.

Both goals were a result of sloppy defending from City, particularly the opener after Matheus Nunes gave the ball away before chopping down Diallo in the box.

The defeat means City have won only one of their past 11 games in all competitions, continuing the club's worst run of form since 2006.

"We deserved what happened," Silva told Sky Sports. "At this level, a game or two is unlucky. We can't say this is lucky or unlucky -- 10 games, it's not about that.

"Minute 87 in a derby, winning 1-0 and our corner ends in a penalty for them, if we make these stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go, you deserve to pay for that. Looking at the game, I think there was only one team that could win the game, but at the end we lost.

Bernardo Silva and Manchester City slumped to a derby defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

"It's not one game; it's a lot of games lately. We have to look at ourselves. You can't say oh it's a bit unlucky, no. It's the decisions you make. Today in the last minute, we played like under-15s."

Silva added: "It's quite normal that we're not very happy at the minute. Not just this game, but the last month. We have to do better individually and collectively because it's not the standards of Manchester City."

Fellow midfielder Phil Foden was similarly dismayed as City -- who have the lowest points-per-game in the entire league since the beginning of November -- fell to an "unacceptable" loss. The Englishman also suggested City's problem was a "mental thing."

"Massively [disappointed] -- the game was in our hands," he told the BBC. "We were 1-0 up and controlling the game. We had a lot of possession. Seems to be the story at the moment. I don't know what happens but we switch off and they score two goals.

"It keeps happening at the moment. We have to stick together now, rebuild and go again.

"You can concede at 1-1 but you can't concede straight after, that's unacceptable.

"At the start when you lose a couple of games [it's not a mentality problem] but when it happens a lot it feels like a mental thing. We need to get out of that and get back to winning ways and pick ourselves back up."

- ESPN 

MAN UNITED'S RÚBEN AMORIM REVELS IN 'FERGIE TIME' MAGIC VS CITU

Ruben Amorim said he was proud of his players for believing something "magic" could happen in "Fergie time" after earning his biggest win yet as Manchester United manager with a 2-1 win against rivals Manchester City.

United were trailing 1-0 before Bruno Fernandes struck an 88th-minute penalty and Amad Diallo -- hailed as "unstoppable" by his captain -- netted a late winner, befitting of Sir Alex Ferguson's team of old.

"Fergie time" was famously coined about Ferguson's United teams frequently scoring in the allotted stoppage time, and often beyond.

"It was incredible," Amorim told the BBC about the finale at the Etihad Stadium. "I think we deserved it. It was a very tough match but we believe until the end. We managed to score, we needed that win, it was important for us and for our fans.

"We were in the game for 90 minutes and that is very good. We talk about the Arsenal game, we played well in the first half but they were not believing that we could win. Today was so much more different.

"I also believe. Then we have Fergie time and we put the things together and something magic happened. It was a good day for us."

The win at a beleaguered City outfit was a statement victory for Amorim, who arrived from Sporting Club in November, and a much-needed one after back-to-back Premier League defeats. Heading into Sunday, United had lost 2-0 at Arsenal and 3-2 against Nottingham Forest.

"They [the fans] needed it," Amorim said. "Just like us, but you can see the way they celebrate is special. But we need to continue. Our club needs to win these kinds of matches, I understand the happiness of our fans but we need to continue.

"We need to improve a lot of things but today the guys deserved the win. They were in it until the last minute and that is important for us."

Ruben Amorim praised a statement win for his Manchester United team at Manchester City on Sunday. PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

United's saviour on Sunday was Amad who is revelling in a prominent role in Amorim's system, particularly with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho dropped from the squad entirely at the Etihad.

The youngster earned the penalty for the opener and skillfully rounded Éderson for the winner.

Fernandes told Sky Sports about Amad: "He showed again today he is always alive. That is why he gets the penalty, why he gets the goal. He has been brilliant. When he is like this he is unstoppable.

"I just want him to keep working, that is what he has been doing. It is great what he did today but I am sure he can do this every week. We want this week in, week out. He is now getting his chances, deservedly."

Amorim stressed the need for patience with the winger but still praised his progress.

"Erik [Ten Hag] and Ruud [Van Nistelrooy] did a great job with him, we continue that," Amorim said. "Really important. All the players fit in my system. If they want to be in it, if they are talented, every player can fit in this system.

"He can play different positions, he is very humble. We have to be very careful with Amad because sometimes in our club we put young players in a special place. Lets stay calm with him."

- ESPN 

BREAKOUT PLAYERS TO WATCH IN PREMIER LEAGUE L, LA LIGA AND MORE

The domestic European soccer seasons are back, so it's the ideal opportunity to provide a list of up-and-comers from the top leagues. From somewhat familiar names who have waited patiently for their big moments to young players ready to make their mark in a new environment, here are Luis Miguel Echegaray's 10 breakout players for the 2024-25 season.

Just like in life, this game is about chances. Let's see if these names can grab theirs with conviction.

English Premier League

Amad Diallo

Age: 22

Position: Forward

Club: Manchester United

Country: Ivory Coast

Stat to know: He created two goal-scoring chances and completed two one-vs.-one dribbles per 90 minutes in the 2023-24 Premier League season. The only other players with 350-plus minutes to meet those marks last season were Luis Díaz, Leon Bailey, Eberechi Eze, Jérémy Doku, Pedro Neto, Michael Olise and Luis Sinisterra.

Why he'll break out: Since arriving for €21m (plus another €20m in add-ons) after just 24 minutes of action four years ago from Atalanta, the 22-year-old Ivorian has been patient with Man United's plans toward making him a first-team regular. There were two loans with Rangers and Sunderland (where he ended as the club's top scorer in the 2022-2023 season) before a knee injury impeded his process last summer after returning to his parent club. At that time, it wasn't fully certain whether Erik ten Hag would keep the talented youngster, especially because there was a lot of competition on the flanks.

However, after last season's issues with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony, coupled with his return last December, Diallo showed why he deserves a shout and demonstrated glimpses of his worth in the final matches of the 2023-24 campaign. This summer, he lit up in preseason and manager Ten Hag has integrated him into his plans. After starting in the Community Shield, Diallo also started in the season opener against Fulham, and he was very effective, driving toward the box with intent and almost earning a penalty for his side.

He is a very versatile player, able to play anywhere across the attacking line behind the striker, which should be very valuable for Ten Hag, especially in a system that requires quick decision-making on the counter.

"The manager believes a lot in young players, and I hope this season he will give me a lot of game time, but it's for me to prove myself in training and to start in the team," Diallo said during Man United's tour in the U.S. And he has also been getting advice from his compatriot and Ivorian legend Yaya Toure, whom he met on vacation in the Maldives.

"What is said is a secret," said Diallo. "He gave me some advice for the season, so let's see what happens."

I believe this is a key season for him, but he must remain effective as a starter for longer periods of matches -- especially after the hour mark -- as Ten Hag won't hesitate to change things around in the latter stages of matches.

Morgan Rogers

Age: 22

Position: Forward

Club: Aston Villa

Country: England

Stat to know: In 18 appearances across all top-flight English competitions last season (2023-24 Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup), Rogers scored eight goals and provided three assists. Among 203 players with at least 25 shots attempted in English top-flight competitions last season, Rogers' conversion rate of 29.6% (eight goals from 27 shots), only Jean-Philippe Mateta (36.5%; 19 goals from 52 shots) had a better conversion rate.

Why he'll break out: When Rogers arrived at Aston Villa from Middlesbrough this past February, there was some apprehension from certain pockets of Villa's fan base. Was it the necessary acquisition? Given the fact that the club's offensive options were plentiful, as opposed to other positions that were -- at that time -- more in need. Also, would the young attacker be able to keep up with Unai Emery's disciplined demand and Villa's trajectory, as well as adjust quickly from the Championship to the Premier League?

In less than two months, those doubts were erased as the young attacker quickly adapted to Villa's tactics and showed glimpses of his tremendous talent. In April, Rogers had scored in each of his past three appearances at Villa Park, showing the wide range of his repertoire from quick footwork inside the box against Brentford, to cutting inside from the left against Bournemouth, to an instinctive finish over Chelsea.

This summer, Emery has been testing him in more central areas as a striker, and it's mainly because his speed and good finishing can act as another threat behind defensive lines, thus alleviating Ollie Watkins's responsibilities.

This season could be the opportunity for Rogers to truly make a name for himself and while he has represented England at every youth level since U-15s, he has a great chance of earning his first senior call-up, no matter who comes in as the new manager. Oh, and let's set the record straight. Cole Palmer's "cold" celebration? He borrowed it from Rogers.

Yankuba Minteh

Age: 20

Position: Forward

Club: Brighton & Hove Albion

Country: Gambia

Stat to know: He scored 10 goals and provided five assists in the Eredivisie last season. His 1,462 minutes played were the fewest among the 19 players with at least 15 goal contributions, and his 0.92 goal contributions per 90 minutes ranked sixth in the Eredivisie last season.

Why he'll break out: Back in June, when Newcastle United let Yankuba Minteh move to Brighton for £30m, it was clear that this was a forced decision as Eddie Howe's side needed to raise funds to avoid issues with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Regulations.

As a result, Brighton took advantage and now have a playmaker on the wing at their disposal. Let's remember something, too: Brighton do not spend more than £30m unless they think they have to, so there's reason to believe he will deliver. Minteh, who spent last season on loan at runners-up Feyenoord and scored 10 league goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, is an electric wideman, able to use his speed on the right wing to create havoc. But it's not just his speed; his movement is also unpredictable for the opposition.

Against Everton, the Gambia international delivered his first assist for the club with a great run and cross for Kaoru Mitoma that was too much for Vitaliy Mykolenko. He had to come off just before the break due to a collision with the aforementioned Mykolenko, and he was not happy about it, but Brighton's new manager Fabian Hürzeler was impressed by his efforts.

"He made a great impact, but I judge my offensive players on how they work against the ball. They did quite good today. They all have the quality to score, and Minteh is very dangerous in transition," he said after the game. "You saw it already in preseason, you see it every day in training. If you work hard, if you try to improve, you try to win the day and be the best you can every day, then it will pay off. It's not like I was surprised he had this performance because I saw it in preseason, and that is just the confirmation."

Hürzeler's tactics are less patient in possession and more focused on direct approaches where the aim is to be fluid, to go wide and hit the opponent with pace and aggression when they're vulnerable. This is music to Minteh's ears, as he will surely look to make an explosive debut season in the Premier League.

Omari Hutchinson

Age: 20

Position: Forward

Club: Ipswich Town

Country: Jamaica

Stat to know: On loan from Chelsea, he was one of 12 players in the Championship last season with 15 goal contributions (10 goals, five assists) and 50 successful one-vs.-ones.

Why he'll break out: Despite the loss to Liverpool on the opening weekend, I believe Ipswich Town will avoid relegation. Mainly it's because of Kieran McKenna, the highly regarded 38-year-old manager with an eye for adaptability and disciplined creativity wanted by many top clubs before he signed a new deal. But the other reason for my faith in Ipswich is the talent at their disposal, and the 20-year-old Hutchinson is one main example.

Against Liverpool, Hutchinson had a great chance to open the scoring after a fine run, but he didn't have the clinical finish. And that's going to be his major piece of homework. Once he gets there, though, he will be a big player as his pressing, touch and vision are excellent.

Born in England, the attacker has represented the Three Lions at youth level but has also been capped by Jamaica in the past as his father was born in the Caribbean nation (his mother is from Dominica). Last season, he opted out of any international competition to focus on Ipswich's chances of promotion. And this summer he left Chelsea to join McKenna's side on a permanent deal. Hutchinson suits McKenna's system perfectly because he is a winger disguised as a No. 10 and his manager likes to use his creative players out wide. At 20, there's so much more to come, but I think his future is in great hands.

Ethan Nwaneri

Age: 17

Position: Midfielder

Club: Arsenal

Country: England

Stat to know: On Sept. 21, 2022, he became the youngest player in Premier League history to make an appearance in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Brentford.

Why he'll break out: Born in Enfield to Nigerian parents, Nwaneri joined Arsenal's academy when he was 9, and five years later he was part of their U18s. The development continued as Arsenal's academy placed him above his age group and eventually took him to the U21 squad for the 2022-23 season. A few weeks later, Mikel Arteta put him in the first team against Brentford and he became the Premier League's youngest-ever player at 15 years and 181 days when he replaced Fábio Vieira.

Fast forward to this season and, after impressing in the summer during Arsenal's U.S. tour, Nwaneri was on the bench in Arsenal's opening victory against Wolves. As an attacking midfielder, he has multiple attributes: he is excellent on the ball and loves to drive forward, as well as provide key passes. Due to the club's midfield depth -- especially with Mikel Merino's pending arrival -- I would imagine that his success this season will depend on how far Arsenal progress in cup competitions, with the hope that Arteta makes the most of Nwaneri's talent there.

LaLiga

Marc Bernal

Age: 17

Position: Midfielder

Club: Barcelona

Country: Spain

Stat to know: He played with Spain at 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and at 2024 European U-17 Championship. He also had a 100% passing accuracy in the summer friendly against Real Madrid.

Why he'll break out: Despite their financial issues and inconsistencies with leadership in recent years, Barcelona have always been able to rely on their La Masia academy. As Lamine Yamal and Fermín López showed this summer at the Euros and Olympics respectively, the club continue to produce incredible talent that has saved the first team from falling into oblivion.

This season, under new manager Hansi Flick, it's central midfield that is in need due to injuries. Gavi and Frenkie de Jong remain unavailable, while Pedri only recently returned from injury, so the starting responsibilities have been placed on 20-year-old Marc Casadó and his partner in crime: the 17-year-old Bernal.

Let me stress this without hyperbole: The similarities to Sergio Busquets are pretty remarkable. At 6-foot-3, Bernal is an inch taller, but his style is so similar to the Barça and Spain legend. Simplicity is the key to his game, as the teenager moves the ball with so much ease and maturity, but he also likes to get forward, too. When it comes to consistency and a player who can maintain the club's tradition of possession-based control, Barcelona should look no further than this magnificent talent.

Álvaro Djaló

Age: 24

Position: Forward

Club: Athletic Club

Country: Spain

Stat to know: He averaged 0.65 goal contributions per 90 minutes in the Portuguese top flight in 2023-24, ranked ninth among players with at least 1,800 minutes played.

Why he'll break out: Djaló is one of the best additions to LaLiga this season. Athletic Club made a deal with Portuguese side SC Braga for approximately €15m in March, anticipating the summer departure of the highly sought after Nico Williams, but now they might get to see the best of both.

Djaló was born in Spain to Bissau-Guinean parents and started his youth career in Basque country, hence his eligibility to represent Athletic. He plays the same position as Williams -- on the left side of an attacking line -- but is also very happy as a striker, or on the right wing. It's a bit unfair to call this his "breakout" season as he already showed his impact with Braga where he scored 16 goals in all competitions, including five in the Champions League. But LaLiga is different and Athletic, who came fifth last season, have ambitions to finally earn a Champions League spot for the first time in a decade.

Djaló was injured in the preseason friendly against Aston Villa and missed the opener against Getafe but should return later this month.

Bundesliga

Jeanuël Belocian

Age: 19

Position: Defender

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Country: France

Stat to know: He won 65% of his duels in Ligue 1 last season, the best success rate by any teenage outfield player.

Why he'll break out: It's been a busy summer for Belocian's parents, who still live in Guadeloupe, where his family is from. First, they were in Paris to support Jeanuel's older brother, Wilhelm, who took part at the Olympics in Paris and made it to the semifinals of the 110m hurdles. Then, this month will see them relocate to Germany for a few months to help their youngest settle after signing for the German champions from Ligue 1's Rennes for more than €15m.

Belocian is a very smart centre-back with unbelievable athleticism and a dominating left foot, whose strengths lie in tackling, delivery and anticipation. These are all characteristics that remind me of a young David Alaba. He might be only 19, but he played 23 matches for Rennes last season and ranked extremely high in tackles and progressive passes.

Now he enters the school of Xabi Alonso, with a golden opportunity to become a strong piece of this excellent Leverkusen squad. He started in the club's German Super Cup win over Stuttgart and was used higher up the pitch on the left side. Alonso loves his versatility, and this attribute will be Belocian's biggest strength.

Oscar Højlund

Age: 19

Position: Midfielder

Club: Eintracht Frankfurt

Country: Denmark

Stat to know: He scored the winning goal for Denmark U-19 against France U-19 in November 2023 in European Championship qualifying play.

Why he'll break out: Just what exactly are they feeding the Højlund family? The father, Anders Højlund, played in the lower leagues of Danish football. The mother, Kirsten Winther, was a former sprinter before joining the military. And their children are all professional players: the oldest brother, Rasmus (21), is looking for a big second season at Manchester United once he returns from injury, while fellow attacker Emil (19) recently joined FC Schalke 04 in Bundesliga 2.

But my focus is on Emil's twin, Oscar, who will begin a new chapter with Eintracht Frankfurt after a strong 2023-24 campaign with FC Copenhagen, which included six appearances in the Champions League. I think this could be a promising move for Højlund, a box-to-box midfielder with great vision and ability to get out of dangerous situations. He has a chance to blossom under manager Dino Toppmöller and learn from the veteran World Cup champion Mario Gotze. Watch out for this tenacious Dane, who will surely make the most out of Bundesliga's technical environment, which often allows young players to flourish.

Serie A

Zion Suzuki

Age: 21

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Parma

Country: Japan

Stat to know: He has already won the AFC Champions League, Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup in his young career.

Last summer, Manchester United offered Suzuki the role of backup goalkeeper after agreeing a deal with Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds, but the stopper, who was 20 at the time, rejected the move in favor of more chances of first-team football. As a result, Suzuki stayed on loan with Belgian club Sint-Truidense VV, thus earning more experience in Europe, before moving to Parma this summer.

Born in the U.S. to a Ghanaian-American father and a Japanese mother, Suzuki's family relocated to Japan when he was a child. When he was 16, he became the youngest player in Urawa's history to sign a professional contract and made his J1 debut at 18. He has already represented the Japan national team at various youth levels, as well as the senior side, making his first appearance two years ago.

As American-owned Parma return to Serie A after three years in the second division, Suzuki enters a pivotal time for his development, and if things continue to work in his favor, he will become the No. 1 for Japan in the future. In his debut for Parma, Suzuki made some key long-range saves as they drew 1-1 with Fiorentina. He also started the sequence that opened the scoring for the home side and was excellent throughout. He could do little about the goal he conceded as it was a tremendous free kick from outside the box.

He is also very smart. It hadn't been a week since arriving at Parma before he decided to do his first news conference in Italian.

Ligue 1

George Ilenikhena

Age: 17

Position: Forward

Club: AS Monaco

Country: France

Stat to know: He scored the winning goal for Royal Antwerp against Barcelona in 92nd minute in the 2023-24 UCL season, which gave the Belgian club their first-ever UCL victory.

Why he'll break out: I am not a fan of hype; it is a fragile, thin-iced floor where football's unpredictable nature disrupts a player's plans. Having said that, it is difficult for me to not get excited about this young man. Ilenikhena is a true talent and AS Monaco know it, that's why they spent more than €25m to sign the Nigerian-born teenager who moved to France when he was three.

Ilenikhena started his professional career at Amiens in France before leaving for Antwerp last summer. In one season, the centre-forward scored 14 goals in 50 matches, including a historic one in the Champions League. His dominant left foot is not his only skill as Ilenikhena is also good in the air, quick and clinical in front of goal. It's amazing to think that he started his youth career as a goalkeeper.

At only 17, there is obviously still a lot to do for him to follow in the footsteps of his role model, Erling Haaland. But he has all the tools to shine and, now that he's back in France, he has the opportunity to learn and play alongside certain teammates who can compliment his style such as Breel Embolo and USMNT international Folarin Balogun.

"I get along very well with Breel and Balo'. They are two very good guys who help me on a daily basis," Ilenikhena said after the club's opening league win against St Etienne. "They advise me and explain to me what they were already doing last season, so that I can acclimatize quickly."

- Luis Miguel Echegaray, ESPN

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