Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.

Cody Gakpo gets too much hate, but he’s still a goner
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Cody Gakpo gets too much hate, but he’s still a goner

Liverpool are finally starting to wake up and just had a dominant offensive performance against relegation candidates West Ham United, winning 5-2. And despite all the criticism levied at him this season, Dutch left winger Cody Gakpo played a crucial role in the win. Gakpo scored his sixth goal of the season as part of the Liverpool romping of their hapless East London counterparts, giving the forward a two goal cushion ahead of right winger Mohamed Salah in the season goal charts. And beyond the goals, Gakpo, as usual, had a nifty creative role with a trio of key passes, standing out as one of the several Liverpool players who had their way with a West Ham defense filled with gaps. Chance creation has never been the issue for Gakpo, and against weaker opponents like West Ham that...
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Mohamed Salah quietly sets concerning personal worst record
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Mohamed Salah quietly sets concerning personal worst record

Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah worked his way back into Arne Slot's starting lineup after a brief exit, but he continues to concern Kopites with a poor record in front of goal, now failing to score in 10 straight games. As relayed by Centre Goals, despite Liverpool dominating relegation candidates West Ham United 5-2 this weekend with three goal contributions from Hugo Ekitike, Salah failed to get involved in the party on the right wing, now making it a personal record 10 straight games without a goal in a Premier League game for the Egyptian icon. It is a career worst for Salah, who is one of the greatest players in Premier League history but has not looked like it this season. Salah's dribbling ability and speed have noticeably taken a huge hit, as Father Time has very much caught ...
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Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid get one more bit of bad news on the Kylian Mbappe injury front

Kylian Mbappe suddenly had to miss the second leg of the Champions League playoff round against Benfica with his left knee acting up, and it looks like he will miss the next Champions League match against Manchester City, too. Once again, Real Madrid will face Man City in the Champions League knockout stages, and while there was optimism at first that the French superstar would be able to feature in the first leg, it looks like that will be too soon of a comeback. According to a report from Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo, Mbappe will have to miss three more weeks with this latest left knee tweak, taking him out of the first leg vs. Pep Guardiola's men. Mbappe was already ruled out for Monday night's tough game against rivals Getafe, which was obvious, and he will also miss the ...
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Manchester City get positive Erling Haaland injury news after late scratch vs. Leeds
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Manchester City get positive Erling Haaland injury news after late scratch vs. Leeds

Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland suffered an injury in training just before the Saturday Premier League fixture against Leeds United, but he is not expected to miss the next game against Nottingham Forest. A shoo-in for the Premier League Player of the Season award and the obvious top Golden Boot candidate, Haaland is the only out and out striker for Man City, and any time he is missing for them, it is a huge blow. The good news is that although he is missing the Leeds game, the injury is minor and will not take him out of the Forest game, as Jan Aage Fjortoft reports that he is expected to play against Forest on Wednesday night in the Premier League. If Haaland cannot play, Man City's best bet to cover the striker position is to use a twin headed forward duo, much...
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Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Dortmund want to bring Inter Milan star back to relevancy as Nico Schlotterbeck replacement

Nico Schlotterbeck has been central to Borussia Dortmund's success this season but is fully expected to leave for a bigger club, so BVB are monitoring center back options with Inter Milan owned defender Benjamin Pavard on their transfer radar. Per a report from German outlet Sport Bild, Dortmund are eyeing Pavard as a summer 2026 transfer. Although he is on loan at Marseille this season, it is highly unlikely for OM to sign him permanently from the Nerazzurri, and he clearly has no future in Milano. Pavard was a star in the Bundesliga before moving to Serie A in the fabled Inter back three, which is his best fit as a player in that wide center back role. He was a phenom for Stuttgart, shining brightly with his technical quality on the ball, and then he was a key part of Bayern Munich...
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Max Allegri addresses rumors on his AC Milan future
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Max Allegri addresses rumors on his AC Milan future

Former Juventus manager and serial Scudetto winner Max Allegri has pulled AC Milan up to second place in Serie A, and despite rumors about a potential parting of ways with the club, Allegri is stating publicly that there is no discontent behind the scenes. Ahead of Milan's next game against relegation candidates Cremonese, Allegri said, via Fabrizio Romano, “There’s total harmony with AC Milan. We are on the same page, working together. The club is planning for AC Milan future. I am happy to be here”. It would be insanity for Milan to part ways with Allegri, but the rumors come more from the idea of there being disagreements on future planning between Allegri and the club's leadership, which has been notorious for skimping on quality in the recent past. But it looks like it is all...
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Manchester United want to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout CBs
28Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Manchester United want to sign one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout CBs

Manchester United have been hampered by injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez at the center back position, and they are interested in beefing up their quality at the position, preparing to show an interest in Newcastle United star Malick Thiaw, per Sport Bild reporter Christian Falk. Thiaw was discarded by AC Milan despite being one of the best young defenders in Italy, tabbed by Paolo Maldini for greatness before the incomparable Maldini himself was canned by the miscreants at RedBird Capital. Well, Thiaw has been a revelation for Newcastle this season, balling out alongside Magpies veteran Fabian Schar, throwing himself at challenges and showing a high degree of technical quality and athleticism both on the ball and in defense, fulfilling the potential both Schalke and...
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Michael Carrick quietly has some great Mason Mount injury news
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Michael Carrick quietly has some great Mason Mount injury news

Manchester United veteran center midfielder has had an awful time at Old Trafford because he just can't stay on the pitch, and the former Chelsea man has most recently been out since the end of January with another knock, missing three games in total. But Mount has missed less time with injury this season than in any of his previous seasons since his big money transfer from Stamford Bridge, and now Man United manager Michael Carrick says that the England international is close to a return. Carrick told reporters at the press conference before the Crystal Palace game, via mufcmpb, “Mason is getting closer really. He’s on the grass and getting closer, looking at being around training soon. [We’ve] just had to be patient and he’s a good player, so we’re making sure he’s ready. The good ...
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Inter Milan could try to steal one of Liverpool’s biggest gems
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Inter Milan could try to steal one of Liverpool’s biggest gems

In addition to center midfielder Curtis Jones, Liverpool's young breakout center back Giovanni Leoni is another talented player Inter Milan are eyeing as a possible summer 2026 transfer target. According to a report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are not ruling out a move for the young Italian this summer, as they remain interested in the former Parma phenom despite an awful injury this season. Leoni was dazzling for Liverpool in central defense at a time when veteran Ibrahima Konate was struggling in a contract year, but he tragically suffered a torn ACL in his debut against Southampton in the League Cup. Liverpool fans are high on Leoni, and the club undoubtedly is, too. They signed the 19-year-old for a hefty 26 million pounds this past summer at a tim...
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Michael Carrick offers concrete Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez injury updates
27Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Michael Carrick offers concrete Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez injury updates

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has gotten the best out of Patrick Dorgu and is ready to do the same for Lisandro Martinez. He will get to work with Martinez in just a few days, though he did state that Dorgu's injury will take longer. On Sunday, Man United will face a dangerous Crystal Palace side at Old Trafford, and at the press conference before the game, the Man United head coach somewhat left the door open for Martinez to be a part of the proceedings. Carrick said of the injuries to Dorgu and Martinez, via utdreport, “Patrick [Dorgu], we're still talking weeks, but he's progressing well. Licha [Lisandro Martinez] is much closer to a return than Patrick. It will only be a matter of days. We'll see in the coming days.” Licha has recovered well from his torn ACL to be...
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