Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Did Daniel Farke emerge from a defeat with his position strengthened? On an inspired substitution and tactical change at Man City and the question of whether Leeds should keep Farke:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Why defeat to Manchester City could unlock key to saving Leeds’ season

Leeds now have seven defeats in eight but a change of tactics against Man City came very close to reaping rewards

www.independent.co.uk

November 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Phil Foden said it was one of the wildest games he played in. He decided it, but only after a superb Leeds comeback and Man City lost a 2-0 lead. On Man City 3-2 Leeds:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

How Phil Foden rescued a result Man City hardly deserved

Manchester City 3-2 Leeds United: Daniel Farke had Pep Guardiola on the rack with a storming comeback, until Foden’s late winner

www.independent.co.uk

November 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Liverpool need a change of results and fortune. Arne Slot is reluctant to change personnel or tactics. So what will change?

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

It’s clear Liverpool need to change. Is Arne Slot the man do it?

Liverpool are conceding goals at an alarming rate but Slot has continued to trust his methods. Is it the definition of madness?

www.independent.co.uk

November 28, 2025 at 10:32 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Two months ago, it would have been inconceivable that Arne Slot's position was a subject for discussion. Now he accepted it is normal questions are asked. Should he stay? Will it get better? On Slot and Liverpool:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Can Arne Slot save his job from the wreckage of Liverpool’s season?

Liverpool’s latest chastening defeat at Anfield, losing 4-1 to PSV in the Champions League, means the club hierarchy has no choice but to consider whether the manager is still right for the job

www.independent.co.uk

November 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Another shocker for Arne Slot, hardly the Dutch master at Anfield as PSV Eindhoven capitalised on Liverpool's awful defending in a historic rout. On Liverpool 1-4 PSV:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

No way out for crisis-ridden Liverpool as PSV run rampant in 4-1 Anfield humiliation

Liverpool 1-4 PSV: Struggling Reds’ dismal season goes from bad to worse as defensive howlers help excellent PSV romp to victory

www.independent.co.uk

November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Defeat to Leverkusen means that, if Man City lose to Real Madrid, they can get a maximum of 16 points in the CL league phase. 16 brought a top-eight finish last season. There are reasons to think it won't be enough this season:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pep Guardiola got his maths wrong and it could cost Man City in Champions League

Manchester City’s second string lost to Bayer Leverkusen and it has left their chances of automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stages needlessly in peril

www.independent.co.uk

November 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

On Liverpool and the Dutch connection at Anfield:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Going Dutch: How Liverpool inadvertently became the Netherlands’ best team

The steady stream of Dutch players and backroom staff to Anfield is proof of how the Netherlands has made football one of its greatest exports

www.independent.co.uk

November 26, 2025 at 9:24 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

A defeat that Pep Guardiola should blame both himself and his players for. Guardiola picked his reserves, a decision that backfired as Manchester City suffered a rare home CL loss. On Man City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Pep Guardiola’s milestone night falls flat and he only has himself to blame

Manchester City 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen: On his 100th game in charge in the competition, Guardiola picked his second-string side and watched as they were beaten by managerial complacency

www.independent.co.uk

November 25, 2025 at 10:08 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

After Ruben Amorim's best run as Man Utd manager, defeat to Everton highlighted some of the enduring issues - a lack of strength in depth, lack of second-half goals, the players who have left, 3-4-3...
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

A year on from Amorim’s arrival Man United remain stuck in a rut of their own making

Misfiring signings, injuries to promising players and a refusal to budge from 3-4-3 have all combined to leave United floundering when they should be forging ahead

www.independent.co.uk

November 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Manchester City came 22nd in the Champions League group stage last season, when their struggles gave Josko Gvardiol sleepless nights. Now their European campaign has begun better. Gvardiol and Guardiola on the difference:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

How last year’s has-beens Man City are bridging the gap to Champions League elite

City are much changed from the side that didn’t even make the last 16 in Europe’s premier competition last season

www.independent.co.uk

November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

A slap in the face for Michael Keane, a kick in the teeth for Ruben Amorim. Idrissa Gueye got an odd red card and David Moyes a magnificent, long-awaited win, but Man Utd were dismal. On Manchester United 0-1 Everton:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Gueye’s slap becomes a blow for Amorim as 10-man Everton beat Man United

Manchester United 0-1 Everton: A spirit David Moyes won at Old Trafford for the first time as an away manager - and the ridiculous red card made it all the greater a night for the Toffees

www.independent.co.uk

November 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Virgil van Dijk says it is a "fact" that Liverpool are in a "mess" as he questions some of his teammates and believes Liverpool have lacked the consistency, mentality and defensive solidity required:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Virgil Van Dijk’s damning four-word statement reveals depth of Liverpool crisis

The Reds succumbed to another shock defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, leaving Arne Slot in trouble

www.independent.co.uk

November 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Nottingham Forest's biggest ever win at Anfield but an awful day for Liverpool, now in the bottom half after a sixth defeat in seven PL games. On Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Liverpool’s title defence is over – how much lower can they go?

Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest: The Reds now sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table after repeating the one feat from last season they would’ve wanted to avoid

www.independent.co.uk

November 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Arne Slot says Liverpool will see the Newcastle Alexander Isak - but in the meantime, he will have to give him minutes ahead of players who perhaps should be on the pitch instead of him:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

What you aren’t seeing in Alexander Isak’s quest to get back to his best

Arne Slot warned that it could be six months before Isak reaches the peak of his powers at Liverpool – but he’s showing glimpses behind closed doors

www.independent.co.uk

November 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley give Liverpool a double injury blow. With Jeremie Frimpong still out, Arne Slot is short of right-backs. But Alisson is back (though not to play right-back):
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Alisson return comes at price for Liverpool as Arne Slot reveals double injury blow

Alisson’s return to fitness has coincided with a frustrating double injury blow for Liverpool

www.independent.co.uk

November 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

On Newcastle, a slow start to the PL season and issues in each part of the team:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The Woltemade problem and Eddie Howe’s challenge to save Newcastle’s season

Newcastle are going well in the Champions League but their flagging position in the Premier League is indicative of the raft of issues in Eddie Howe’s new-look team

www.independent.co.uk

November 21, 2025 at 8:55 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Thomas Tuchel will talk to Trent Alexander-Arnold to tell him about his chances of going to the World Cup. Though it doesn't seem to bode well that he says Jarell Quansah is ahead of him:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The awkward conversation Thomas Tuchel must have with Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold is well down the England right-back pecking order and the Real Madrid star may need to brace for bad news

www.independent.co.uk

November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Harry Kane got the goals. Jude Bellingham got the attention. Thomas Tuchel was unimpressed with Bellingham's reaction to being substituted on his first England start since June. On Bellingham and Albania 0-2 England:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Thomas Tuchel unimpressed as Jude Bellingham reaction takes shine off England win

As England completed a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign, Bellingham commanded the attention on his return: for better and worse

www.independent.co.uk

November 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Four big decisions Thomas Tuchel faces for his World Cup starting XI:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The four big World Cup choices that could define Thomas Tuchel’s England reign

Seven of Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice England XI look locked in but four positions are still up for grabs

www.independent.co.uk

November 16, 2025 at 9:07 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Harry Kane on emulating Pele, winning the Ballon d'Or and why England need an NFL-style playbook:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

The Pele parallels that Harry Kane hopes may take England to World Cup glory

The England captain could match the Brazilian’s goal tally against Albania but has his sights set on a bigger prize

www.independent.co.uk

November 16, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Thomas Tuchel says England cannot win the World Cup without goals from substitutes. Which, in turn, needs players to accept a status as squad players when Tuchel gives them clarity on their roles. Tuchel on the importance of subs:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

How Thomas Tuchel plans to turn England headache into World Cup advantage

The England manager accepts he will need to harness the abundance of options available to him if England are to succeed at the World Cup next summer

www.independent.co.uk

November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Thomas Tuchel seemed to have too many No 10s. So Phil Foden excelled as a false nine and Eberechi Eze scored as a left winger. On England 2-0 Serbia:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Foden and Eze boost World Cup hopes with solutions to England’s No 10 problem

England 2-0 Serbia: Arsenal players scored both goals at Wembley as Bukayo Saka and his Gunners teammate Eberechi Eze secured three more points for the Three Lions

www.independent.co.uk

November 14, 2025 at 12:20 AM

Richard Jolly

@richjolly.bsky.social

Tuchel said Saka should score more goals for England. So he did, and then Eze added another, aided by Foden. On England 2-0 Serbia:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...