The EFL Cup has always been the first major piece of silverware on offer during the English football campaign, and although it may play second fiddle to the FA Cup, it is still a competition teams are eager to win.

In recent years, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool have dominated, but who has won the competition the most? We’ve taken a look at the clubs who have won the League Cup more than once since its inception in 1961.

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Teams who have won the League Cup more than once

Club

Titles won

Liverpool

10

Manchester City

8

Manchester United

6

Chelsea

5

Aston Villa

5

Tottenham Hotspur

4

Nottingham Forest

4

Leicester City

3

Birmingham City

2

Arsenal

2

Norwich City

2

Wolves

2

12 Wolves 2 titles

Starting the countdown is Wolverhampton Wanderers, who won both League Cup finals they have played in. The first came in 1974 against Manchester City, defeating them 2-1 after a late winner from John Richards.

Six years later in 1980, the Old Gold were once again Wembley winners, this time against European champions Nottingham Forest, with Andy Gray scoring the winner against Brian Clough’s side.

11 Norwich City 2 titles

Norwich City have also won two League Cup titles, the first of which came in 1962 when the finals were played across two legs. The Canaries faced Rochdale and won 4-0 on aggregate.

Defeats in the 1973 and 1975 finals followed before winning their second League Cup in 1985, beating Sunderland 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a goal from Gordon Chisholm.

10 Arsenal 2 titles

Many may have expected Arsenal to have more than two League Cup titles to their name, and they could have if not for the six final defeats they have suffered in the competition.

Their two triumphs came in 1987 and 1993, both of which were 2-1 wins at Wembley over Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday respectively. They last reached the final in 2018, losing 3-0 to Man City.

9 Birmingham City 2 titles

Almost 50 years passed between Birmingham City’s two League Cup wins, with the first coming in 1963 against rivals Aston Villa. The Blues ran out 3-1 winners across two legs, with the damage done in the first leg at St Andrew’s.

In 2011, Birmingham famously beat Arsenal after a dramatic late goal from substitute Obafemi Martins, who pounced on a mix-up between Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny to steal the cup for the Blues.

8 Leicester City 3 titles

Leicester City are currently the only side to have three League Cup titles on their honours board, the first of which was won in 1964 against Stoke City.

In 1997, a replay was required for the Foxes to get the better of Middlesbrough at Hillsborough, with Steve Claridge netting an extra-time winner. Three years later in 2000, Leicester lifted the trophy again in what was the last final at the old Wembley, beating First Division side Tranmere Rovers 2-1 after a double from captain Matt Elliott.

7 Nottingham Forest 4 titles

Nottingham Forest have won four League Cups, with the Reds winning back-to-back titles on two separate occasions under Brian Clough.

The first League Cup double came in 1978 and 1979 around the time of their European glory, beating Liverpool 1-0 after a replay and Southampton 3-2. They repeated the trick in 1989 and 1990, defeating Luton Town and Oldham Athletic in Wembley finals.

6 Tottenham Hotspur 4 titles

Tottenham Hotspur have also lifted the League Cup on four occasions, beating Aston Villa 2-0 in 1971 and Norwich City 1-0 in 1973. More than 25 years passed before their next triumph in 1999 and their most recent major honour came back in 2008.

Since that win, Spurs have tasted League Cup final defeat on three occasions – to Manchester United in 2009, Chelsea in 2015 and Manchester City in 2021.

5 Aston Villa 5 titles

Aston Villa were the first-ever winners of the League Cup, overcoming a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the 1961 final against Rotherham United to prevail 3-2 aggregate winners.

The Villans then defeated Norwich City 1-0 in 1975 and required two replays in 1977 to get the better of Everton. After no wins in the 1980s, Villa won two more League Cups in 1994 and 1996, defeating Manchester United and Leeds United at Wembley.

Villa have twice had the chance to secure a sixth title but lost in the 2010 and 2020 finals to Manchester United and Manchester City.

4 Chelsea 5 titles

The second team on five League Cup triumphs are Chelsea, who have suffered Wembley heartbreak on three occasions since 2019, two of which were penalty shootout defeats.

The Blues first ran out as winners of the competition back in 1965 against Leicester City and won it again in 1998 with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Since the turn of the millennium, Stamford Bridge has added three more League Cups to their trophy cabinet, defeating Liverpool in 2005 and Arsenal in 2007 at the Millennium Stadium before winning at Wembley again in 2015 against Spurs.

3 Manchester United 6 titles

Five of Manchester United’s six League Cup wins have come in the last 20 years, with their only triumph before then coming back in 1992 under Sir Alex Ferguson after a Brian McClair goal was the difference against Nottingham Forest.

The Red Devils and Ferguson then added three more League Cup titles between 2006 and 2010, defeating Wigan Athletic, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Jose Mourinho won Man Utd’s fifth League Cup in 2017 before Erik ten Hag claimed the club’s sixth in 2023 against Newcastle United.

For the second time this week, Manchester United suffered a Premier League defeat, this time a 3-2 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

Previously, that is not a sentence one can say since Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge of the club at the end of October, but Ruben Amroim’s team put in a poor performance once again.

The Red Devils conceded in the second minute of the game. It was a corner that proved to be their kryptonite once again after the two goals Arsenal scored from those situations on Wednesday. Nikola Milenkovic rose higher than any United defender to nod the visitors into an early lead.

It was Rasmus Hojlund who pulled United level just 16 minutes later. The Dane showed excellent striker’s instinct to follow in Alejandro Garnacho’s rebounded shot to make the score 1-1, and it remained that way at half-time.

Just as they did in the first half, Forest began the second 45 minutes with an early goal. Morgan Gibbs-White’s 47th-minute long-range strike somehow found its way past Andre Onana. Seven minutes later, Chris Wood scored a header which was bizarrely left by Lisandro Martinez and nestled into the back of the net.

Bruno Fernandes managed to pull one back for the Red Devils, but they ultimately slipped to another defeat. There were certainly some disappointing performances from Amorim’s side.

United’s worst performers vs. Forest

It was a really dismal day for several players, but Onana was someone who particularly struggled. He has been impressive so far this term with six clean sheets to his name, but the former Ajax goalkeeper struggled against the East Midlands side.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper was really poor for Gibbs-White’s strike from outside of the box. There was minimal movement on the shot but Onana was wrong-footed and the ball could only clip his outstretched leg on the way in. For Wood’s header, he was in no-man’s land and could not get anywhere near the ball.

He received a 3/10 rating from The Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst. He was critical of Onana and said he ‘committed a howler’ for the first goal. After a good season so far, it was a day to forget.

Martinez also had a tough day at the office. His part in Forest’s third was disappointing. He left Wood’s headed effort as though it was going wide, but instead, it glanced off the post and nestled into the net. Luckhurst gave the Argentine a 4/10, explaining that ‘sloppiness crept into his game’ after some good performances.

It was certainly a poor day for United’s defence, and Diogo Dalot, who played higher up the pitch, was another player who did not perform well.

Dalot’s stats vs. Forest

Operating at left wing-back for the stormy affair at Old Trafford, Dalot had little impact on the game as a whole. He struggled with his crossing once more and wasted a key chance at the end of the game. With United in a good position and bodies ahead of him, Dalot chose to take on an ambitious shot rather than find a pass.

The United number 20’s stats from the game, courtesy of Sofascore, certainly suggest it was a tough day at the office. He had 75 touches and a pass accuracy of 84%, losing the ball an outrageous 20 times and failing to complete any of his nine crosses. Off the ball, Dalot committed three fouls and won six from nine duels.

Stat

Number

Touches

75

Pass accuracy

84%

Passes completed

38/45

Crosses completed

0/9

Number of times possession lost

20

Duels won

6/9

Fouls committed

3

Luckhurst gave the Portugal international a 4/10, just as he gave Martinez. He explained that the wing-back was ‘busy yet ineffectual’ down the left flank, pointing out his poor crosses and noting it is ‘difficult to think of a pinpoint delivery’.

It is certainly a surprise that Dalot did not get substituted. Noussair Mazraoui came on for Leny Yoro around the hour mark, but he could have easily slotted into left wing-back. Tyrell Malacia is beginning to regain fitness and could also have come on to replace the former Porto man.

It will be interesting to see if Dalot keeps his place in the side for United’s next assignment, a trip to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, or the next Premier League game; the Manchester derby.

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Tottenham Hotspur were defeated by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in a damaging blow to Ange Postecoglou’s season.

Form and performances have been choppy of late, and while Postecoglou’s grumbling about injuries carries weight, there’s no excusing the in-game management and obstinate grip on a tactical approach that won’t work with the tools on hand.

Square pegs in round holes? Tottenham certainly have the feel of an outfit struggling to marry its players with its identity. Yet again, Spurs suffered defeat in the Premier League. Nine losses from 18 fixtures – only Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton have picked up more.

For Nuno Espirito Santo, this must have felt like retribution after his woeful – and brief – stint down N17, whereas Ange has stepped deeper into a mire that is on the cusp of swallowing him up, injury crisis or not.

Interestingly, patchwork centre-back duo Archie Gray, 18, and Radu Dragusin can hold their heads higher than most. Tottenham were failed by a lack of belief, energy and inspiration.

The Tricky Trees have shot 11 points clear of the 11th-place Lilywhites, who may drop deeper still before the matchweek concludes.

Spurs' worst performers at Forest

While some would describe Tottenham’s Boxing Day performance as ‘abject’, Nuno’s regimented troops deserve a nod. They stuck to their game plan, executed it professionally, and defended as one. They outfought and outthought the struggling Londoners.

Six defeats from ten top-flight fixtures. Tough times for Tottenham. Defensively, Spurs have been terrible at times this season, albeit with most of its core parts sidelined, but it was the attack that served as the crux of the drama for the visitors.

Heung-min Son is a modern club legend and still one of the elite Premier League forwards – on his day. But he is declining. Aged 32, the South Korean’s deficiencies were exposed against a physical and organised Forest backline, with journalist Mitch Fretton even commenting that the skipper had been “absolutely awful again” in a numb and toothless effort.

At number nine, Dominic Solanke struggled but lacked any meaningful service. On the right, Brennan Johnson was his lively self but flattered to deceive in front of goal, testing Matz Sels three times, as per Sofascore, but failing to really take the chances with confidence.

Tough times all over. Tottenham have the quality, the attacking intent and the long-term vision, but something has got lost somewhere, something important and indefinable. Is it tactical inflexibility that is letting Tottenham down? Or are the players and their manager being foiled by injuries that have exacerbated concerns and stripped a thrilling brand of football down to its bare bones?

Things need to improve, to be sure, and there’s one man above all others who can serve as the catalyst for positive change. Dejan Kulusevski is shaping into a superstar, but he wasn’t at the races in Nottingham.

Dejan Kulusevski's worst display of 2024/25

Playing in the number ten role, Kulusevski failed as Tottenham’s attacking conduit, limiting Solanke in front of him and failing to impress himself upon the sturdy hosts’ defence.

Dejan Kulusevski – Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Attacking midfield

11

3

2

Right winger

5

3

1

Central midfield

4

0

3

Centre-forward

2

0

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

He’s a dynamic player, confident across a range of positions, but Ange’s first-class utility man was foiled against a Nottingham Forest system that marshalled and minimised his noise and threat.

Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has been a vocal advocate of Kulusevski this season, championing the Sweden star’s ascent to the uppermost echelon of Premier League players, but he could only award him with a 5/10 match rating yesterday, noting that lethargy claimed him as the match dragged into the crucial later stages.

Dejan Kulusevski – Stats vs Nott’m Forest

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

70

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Pass accuracy

35/44 (80%)

Key passes

2

Possession lost

26x

Dribbles (completed)

6 (2)

Tackles + interceptions

0

Total duels (won)

14 (3)

Stats via Sofascore

Kulusevski’s lack of defensive effort on the day proved particularly problematic, losing 11 duels and failing to even win a single tackle or interception. Sure, he was in an advanced role and Tottenham dominated possession, but Forest excelled in their hemmed-in positions, absorbed the rubbery firepower and struck through Anthony Elanga, masterfully countering.

Better days lay ahead, but the 24-year-old – who also lost the ball on 26 occasions – will be frustrated after assuming a sort of talismanic burden this term. It’s scary to think that the north London club would be consigned to a more miserable and perhaps managerless position were Kulusevski not in the picture.

He wasn’t solely to blame – not at all. Had Son not spurned that glorious chance on the counter, it could have been a different tale indeed.

Football is stuffed with such variables, and dissecting them with an analytical lens can only get you so far. What’s clear is that Kulusevski failed to harness the giddy quality that has been on show so often this term. It was his worst display of the campaign, but given that he has carried the ugly rocks of collective disharmony, such a performance was always going to lurk round the corner.

And now we find the root of the problem: is this a reflection of the Swede’s struggle or a comment on how Tottenham are letting him down? He can’t play this role every single week, not with his peers failing to hold their weight.

And so then. We sit and wait for this interminable winter streak to finish up. Ange waits for his injured stars to return to the brood. How much will change, when that fateful day arrives?

Kulusevski and co failed to turn up today, and no amount of absent personnel can detract from the fact that capable and tested Premier League players couldn’t shift their weight.

So then. Tottenham sit and wait. Sit and wait. Something needs to change – what will it be?

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Pakistan wicketkeeper picks up a few batting tips from India batter during pair’s stint at Sussex

Sreshth Shah11-May-2022Among all the batters Mohammad Rizwan has seen or played with, he believes Cheteshwar Pujara is second only to Younis Khan in terms of concentration.Rizwan has been observing Pujara closely, with both players representing Sussex in the ongoing County Championship in England. Last month, Rizwan shared a 154-run partnership with Pujara to help their side to a mammoth first-innings lead against Durham.”In my life, the player with the highest levels of concentration and focus I have seen is Younis ,” Rizwan told . “So No. 1 is Younis . After that, it was Fawad Alam but now Pujara is No. 2 and Fawad Alam No. 3.”Pujara has averaged 143.40 so far this season with four centuries in seven innings, and shared a few tips with Rizwan on how to bat in English conditions.”I try to find out what makes these three guys so good in terms of their focus and concentration,” Rizwan said. “I keep talking to Younis about this. With Fawad, I haven’t talked a lot about this.”With Pujara, I had a chat when I had just come to England and got out a couple of times. He told me a few things, that you should play close to your body. Now it is no secret that we play a lot of white-ball cricket and there we play well away from the body because the white-ball doesn’t swing or seam much and you are always looking for runs.”So here, I got out chasing a couple of wide deliveries early on. Then I sought him out at the nets and he said, ‘in Pakistan or in Asia, we are accustomed to forcing our drives. You cannot force your drives over here. Secondly, you have to play closer to your body.'”It’s a rare occasion for an India international and a Pakistan international to represent the same team, but Rizwan said that it didn’t feel “strange” at all. He also said that outside the international arena, cricketers feel part of a “larger family” and are looking to help each other get better at the game.”Believe me, I haven’t felt strange at all about it [playing alongside Pujara]. I even joke around with him and also tease him a lot. He is a very nice person and his concentration and focus are unreal. If you can learn something from someone else, you must take that opportunity.”The cricket fraternity is like a family for us. But if you are playing for Pakistan and your own brother is playing for Australia, then you will, of course, try to get him out because you are playing for your country. But that fight happens only on the ground. Otherwise, we are like a family. If I say ‘our Virat Kohli’, then I will not be wrong. Or ‘our Pujara’, ‘our Smith’ or ‘our Root’, because we all are one family.”Like Hasan Ali said that when he meets James Anderson, he would try to learn something from him. It just means we are all part of one family and we share knowledge with each other if it would help someone improve their cricket.”

Celtic dropped points in the Scottish Premiership for only the second time in 16 matches when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Dundee United at Tannadice Park on Sunday.

Their only other draw came against Aberdeen, a match that finished 2-2 after they went into the break at 2-0 up, and they remain nine points clear at the top of the table.

Brendan Rodgers was without some of his players for the clash with Dundee United, though, as Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty, and Cameron Carter-Vickers all missed out through injury.

Celtic’s defensive record has been outstanding this season and that has been, in part, thanks to the likes of Trusty and Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence.

Celtic's outstanding defence

The Hoops have only conceded four goals in 16 league matches, keeping 13 clean sheets, as Kasper Schmeichel has enjoyed a sensational start to his career at Parkhead.

Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, and Trusty have all started at least nine league matches for the Scottish giants so far this term, and have all played important roles in the fantastic defensive record.

Appearances

Liam Scales (14)

Tackles per game

Auston Trusty (1.8)

Interceptions per game

Cameron Carter-Vickers (1.6)

Clearances per game

Liam Scales (4.6)

Blocks per game

Auston Trusty (0.8)

Aerial duels won per game

Liam Scales (6.1)

As you can see in the table above, all three of those centre-backs have excelled in different areas and Rodgers does not have one player in that position who has been a standout in every defensive situation, which illustrates the strength in depth.

However, there is one central defender in the squad who should finally be ditched when the January transfer window opens for business – Stephen Welsh.

Why Stephen Welsh should be sold

The Scottish defender started and helped Celtic to keep a clean sheet, albeit against a toothless Dundee United side, on Sunday but that was his first league outing of the season.

He had been an unused substitute in 13 of his last 14 appearances in the matchday squad, with his only other start coming against lower league side Falkirk in the League Cup.

This does not suggest that Celtic are getting value for money from Welsh, when you consider that he is reportedly earning more per week (£8.6k) than Scales (£5k), per Salary Sport.

Welsh, who is also worth 10 times less (€800k) than Trusty (€8m), per Transfermarkt, has only made 11 league appearances and started six games since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst Scales has started 46 in that time.

Anthony Joseph recently reported that KV Mechelen have made a loan bid to sign the defender, who wants regular game time, and that Celtic are open to offers for the rarely-seen dud.

The Hoops must, now, push for it to be a permanent deal, or for them to cover all of his wages, as his lack of minutes on the pitch over the last 18 months shows that they are not getting value for money, given that Scales has been far more important to the team and reportedly earns less.

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Hopefully, a move away from Parkhead will also allow Welsh to play regular football and kick on his career, whilst also saving Celtic plenty of money in wages.

After a dreadful period before the international break that saw them slip down the Premier League table, Arsenal look back to their brilliant best.

Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 13 goals in their last three games while conceding just three, and there have been standout performers all over the pitch, from Bukayo Saka in attack to Gabriel Magalhaes in defence.

However, for all the excellent displays from players in the starting lineup to those on the bench, a few players remain on the periphery of the squad.

West Ham United (A)

5-2 (W)

Sporting CP (A)

5-1 (W)

Nottingham Forest (H)

3-0 (W)

Chelsea (A)

1-1 (D)

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Fortunately, if recent reports are to be believed, one of those players could be set to make the club a hefty profit next month, a player the manager once thought would become an important member of the team.

Arsenal's standout performers

Okay, before we get to the player who should be moved on next month, let’s examine a few of the stars who’ve reignited Arsenal’s title charge over the last week or so, starting with club poster boy Saka.

The Hale End icon was one of the few players in impressive form prior to the international break, racking up four goals and seven assists in 15 appearances, but has reached another level over the last three games, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

In all, the fan favourite “monster”, as dubbed by journalist Mark White, has established himself well and truly as the Gunners’ most important player this season.

1

Saka

7

11

18

2

Havertz

9

1

19

3

Martinelli

4

3

18

4

Trossard

4

2

18

5

Odegaard

1

3

8

=

Rice

1

3

18

=

Magalhaes

4

0

19

Still, it cannot be forgotten that his best form often comes when playing alongside another of the team’s best players, Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian returned to the team just before the international break, but it was against Forest that he looked back to his best, and since then, it’s become crystal clear that when he starts, the North Londoners are twice the team they are without him.

For example, the Drammen-born dynamo picked up an assist against the Tricky Trees and Sporting before scoring a penalty against the Irons on Saturday evening.

The former Real Madrid wonderkid’s haul for the season so far stands at four goal involvements in eight games, and now he’s fit again, we wouldn’t be surprised to see that number balloon in the coming weeks.

However, while the Gunners’ number seven is reaching new heights and their captain is getting back to his scintillating best, there are a few squad players who look even further from first-team action than before, including one who left Arteta excited when he first joined, but now must be sold for a hefty profit.

The Arsenal player who must be sold

In January 2023, Arsenal were in the midst of an entirely unexpected title race with Manchester City, and were actually leading Pep Guardiola’s league-winning juggernaut at that time, so the club opted to bring in some reinforcements.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s incredibly talented winger Leandro Trossard was signed for £27m, Italian international Jorginho made the increasingly uncontroversial move from Chelsea to the Emirates, and while both of those players have become incredibly useful members of the squad since, the same cannot really be said of the third signing made that month, Jakub Kiwior.

The Polish defender joined the team from Serie A side Spezia for around £20m.

While he was a surprise addition to most fans, Arteta was delighted about his arrival and seemed to see a bright future for him at the club, describing him as “a young versatile defender who has shown huge potential and qualities with Spezia in Serie A.”

Unfortunately for the Tychy-born ace, he was limited to just eight appearances in his first six months at the Emirates. Yet, in September of the following season, the manager once again reaffirmed his belief in him, claiming that the 24-year-old had the potential “to be great.”

Last season did see the versatile defender get more game time, as across the full campaign he made 30 first-team appearances, with the majority coming at left-back, but following a poor display against Bayern Munich in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final, he once again became more of a bench option.

This season has seen the 31-capped international make just ten appearances, totalling 374 minutes, as summer signing Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and even Myles Leiws-Skelly seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order, which makes a recent report touting him for an exit particularly interesting.

Appearances

8

30

10

Starts

6

18

2

Minutes

498′

1594′

374′

Goals

1

1

0

Assists

0

3

2

According to Caught Offside, there are ten clubs that are now interested in signing the former Spezia star, with Italian giants AC Milan and Napoli, as well as Sevilla already making contact over a potential deal.

The report claims that while the latter two have inquired over a loan move, the Gunners would prefer a permanent sale and would be tempted by offers in the region of €40m to €50m, which converts to about £33m to £41m.

In other words, if the club are able to sell the £58k-per-week ace for the higher sum, that would represent a profit of at least £21m, and for all the talent and potential he has, that seems like too good a deal to turn down, especially when Arteta already has a plethora of left-backs to choose from.

Ultimately, it would be fair to say that Kiwior’s move to Arsenal last January has not really worked out on the pitch, but should he move on for such a significant price in January, or even next summer, then his original transfer would have to be considered a success, at least from a financial perspective.

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West Bromwich Albion will be aiming to pick up their second win in December when playing back at the Hawthorns up next after losing on the road to Watford.

The Baggies haven’t been at their best on their own patch this season, however, with just three victories coming their way from ten games in the Championship, as collecting a bumper six draws has often stopped them in their tracks from picking up a crucial three points.

Carlos Corberan will be anticipating a response from his side’s disappointing 2-1 loss to the Hornets though, with the Spaniard also eager for Josh Maja to break his goalscoring duck when Bristol City come to town today.

Maja's form for West Brom

Maja will obviously be granted some slack for his current barren patch in front of goal, considering he has fired home ten strikes when at the top of his game in the tricky league, away from failing to find the back of the net during his side’s last five league encounters.

The former Sunderland attacker did attempt to create some openings for his teammates in the narrow loss at Vicarage Road though, with two key passes amassed, but zero shots on the Watford goal meant another game passed him by without a second-tier strike being buried.

Still, the 25-year-old cannot be written off against Liam Manning’s Robins, having averaged a Championship goal every 167 minutes this campaign, meaning his duck must be coming to an end soon.

He could be helped in the contest by Corberan switching up personnel in the middle of the park, with this creative machine perhaps reinstated into the XI over summer recruit Uros Racic.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Mowatt's performances this season

The player in question here is West Brom star Alex Mowatt, with the former Leeds United man having to settle for a place on the bench versus the Hornets last match.

He could find himself back in his manager’s first team plans for the test of the visitors from Bristol, however, as the 29-year-old impressed from off the substitutes bench late on last time out.

From just 25 minutes of action, Mowatt would muster up a hefty 43 touches of the ball, leading to 34 accurate passes being made and one key pass being tallied up.

In stark contrast, from his far superior 65-minute outing, Racic would only manage three more accurate passes, with Mowatt also boasting some impressive numbers across the entire season away from this slender defeat to Tom Cleverley’s men to justify his inclusion later today.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Mowatt

Games played

21

Games started

19

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Touches*

74.9

Accurate passes*

56.3 (90%)

Ball recoveries*

4.6

Total duels won*

3.6

Stats by Sofascore

All in all, it’s been a very positive season for Mowatt so far, with the entertaining Baggies number 27 helping himself to four goals and an assist in the Championship.

But, Corberan also likes the bite his dependable midfielder can give his side centrally, as can be seen in his ball recovery and duels won numbers above, with the Spaniard even referring to Mowatt as a “warrior” in the past.

After all, the experienced star did score this delightful first-time strike when West Brom last played at home to secure a 2-0 victory over Coventry City, meaning it could well be likely his manager shuffles his pack to reintroduce him back into the first team fold.

His constant ability to try and fashion an opening – away from any other standout attributes – could also be a needed boost to a misfiring Maja, as the promotion candidates strive to pick up a win before the hectic Christmas fixture schedule truly kicks in.

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Hugo Ekitike's stellar season for Eintracht Frankfurt has caught the eye of multiple Premier League clubs, per a new report.

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Young striker thriving in GermanyEintracht Frankfurt want €80mRomano reports Premier League clubs already in contactFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The young Frenchman only landed in Germany at the start of this season, but an impressive turn in Frankfurt has made him hot property. Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Premier League clubs are already reaching out to Eintracht about a move in the summer.

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It is believed the club value Ekitike at around €80 million (£67m/$87m), according to Florian Plettenberg. The 23-year-old first joined the club on loan in January 2024, before joining permanently in April of the same year for a fee of €16.5m (£14m/$18m).

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Ekitiké has thrived in Germany, and stepped up to the plate following the departure of Omar Marmoush. He has recorded 32 goal contributions in 43 game this season.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR HUGO EKTIKE?

The youngster scored on his debut for France's U21s against England earlier this week. He will also likely feature in Les Bleus next game against Slovakia.

MatériaMais Notícias

Próximo da estreia na Série B, o Vasco encaminhou mais uma contratação para reforçar seu elenco. Trata-se do atacante chileno Carlos Palacios, de 21 anos, que estava no Internacional e já foi aprovado pelo Departamento de Saúde e Performance da equipe carioca. Ele assinará contrato por três temporadas. A informação foi inicialmente divulgada pelo portal “GE”.

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A negociação entre os clubes avançou nas últimas horas e ambos chegaram a um acordo sem revelar detalhes. O chileno é mais um reforço que chegará para a disputa da Série B, quando o Vasco irá estrear na próxima sexta-feira, às 19h, diante do Vila Nova, em São Januário.

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Além dele, o clube carioca já contratouo lateral-direito Gabriel Dias, ex-Cruzeiro, e os atacantes Erick, destaque do Ypiranga no Gauchão, Zé Vitor, vice-artilheiro do Catarinense com a camisa do Marcílio Dias e Lucas Oliveira, joia do Bangu no Carioca. Deles, apenas o último já foi anunciado oficialmente pelo Gigante da Colina.

A tendência é que os outros sejam anunciados e se juntem ao grupo ao longo da semana no CT Moacyr Barbosa. Palacios chegou ao Colorado em 2021 como uma das grandes promessas do futebol chileno. Os gaúchos entraram no acordo para pagar o valor de US$ 3 milhões (R$ 16,5 milhões na cotação da época).

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

No entanto, o jovem não correspondeu às expectativas da torcida colorada e deu apenas três assistências e não marcou nenhum gol em 34 partidas no ano passado. Na atual temporada, perdeu ainda mais espaço e entrou em campo somente em 29 minutos. Ele chegará para a disputa de uma Série B intensa com seis campeões brasileiros (Vasco, Grêmio, Cruzeiro, Sport, Bahia e Guarani).

Everything you need to know about Dominik Szoboszlai's salary at Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai has been hailed as one of Liverpool's best signings in recent years, having joined the Reds ahead of the 2023-24 season to become only the third Hungarian player to play at Anfield.

Since Arne Slot's arrival as Jürgen Klopp's replacement, Szoboszlai has become a key figure for the Merseyside team, anchoring the midfield, regularly providing assists, and scoring important goals.

Szoboszlai earns a decent salary at Liverpool, but he is far from being one of the top earners in the squad.

Exactly how much does he make for the Premier League giants, though?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Dominik Szoboszlai's wages at Liverpool in numbers

  The Hungarian earns £120,000 ($155,073) per week playing for the Merseyside team, while his annual compensation reaches up to £6.2 million ($8.06m)

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Dominik Szoboszlai	Hungarian	£120,000	$155,073	£6,240,000	$8

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• Getty Images
  

  Top earners at Liverpool

  The top-earner spot in the Liverpool squad currently belongs to Mohamed Salah, and deservedly so. The Egyptian has been at the top of his game ever since his arrival at the club, winning numerous titles and personal accolades.

  Meanwhile, club captain and defensive leader Virgil van Dijk follows in second position.

  Full-back duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively, with Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister rounding off the list at number five.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Mohamed Salah	Egyptian	£350,000	$452,296	£18,200,000	$23,519,400
  Virgil van Dijk	Dutch	£220,000	$284,300	£11,440,000	$14,783,623
  Trent Alexander-Arnold	English	£180,000	$232,609	£9,360,000	$12,095,691
  Andrew Robertson	Scottish	£160,000	$206,764	£8,320,000	$10,751,726
  Alexis Mac Allister	Argentine	£150,000	$193,841	£7,800,000	$10,079,743

• Top 5 earners in the Premier League

  As it stands, Manchester City's Erling Haaland tops the charts as the highest-paid player in the league, followed by his teammate Kevin De Bruyne in second place. Meanwhile, Salah takes the third spot.

  At number four is Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, while another City player, Jack Grealish, rounds off the list at fifth.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wage sin USD
  Erling Haaland	Norwegian	£525,000	$678,444	£27,300,000	$35,279,099
  Kevin De Bruyne	Belgian	£400,000	$516,910	£20,800,000	$26,879,314
  Mohamed Salah	Egyptian	£350,000	$452,296	£18,200,000	$23,519,400
  Casemiro	Brazilian	£350,000	$452,296	£18,200,000	$23,519,400
  Jack Grealish	English	£300,000	$387,682	£15,600,000	$20,159,485

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Although Haaland and De Bruyne are the top earners in the Premier League, they fail to make the top five when it comes to the highest-paid players across the world.

  At the top sits the never-aging Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Saudi Premier League side Al Nassr. At number two comes Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema, while Riyad Mahrez of Al Ahli makes an appearance at number three.

  Meanwhile, Senegalese internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly round off the list and fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,224,935	$4,166,513	£167,696,622	$215,658,680
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,612,468	$2,083,257	£83,848,311	$108,329,340
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£841,708	$1,087,460	£43,768,818	$56,547,915
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£644,987	$833,033	£33,539,324	$43,331,736
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£559,526	$722,890	£29,095,364	$37,590,281