Liverpool’s current transfer strategy is being shaped by two powerful forces at once: the looming question of Mohamed Salah’s future and the opportunity to move for Bournemouth’s breakout star Antoine Semenyo. Salah remains the system‑defining figure that every tactical decision still revolves around, while Semenyo has emerged as the most realistic Premier League‑proven profile to both support and, eventually, partially replace the Egyptian’s output in Arne Slot’s evolving frontline. Salah’s Power Over Liverpool’s Present Mohamed Salah is not just Liverpool’s star; he is the reference point that shapes how the entire club thinks about squad building, wage structure, and tactical identity. Everything from the type of forwards Liverpool recruit to how much risk they can take defensively flows from what Salah gives them in the final third. Salah’s goals and assists have carried Liverpool through multiple tactical eras, and even now, at 33, his expected departure – whether in 2026 or later...
After Osasuna defeated Barcelona 4-2 on Saturday despite having just 25% of the ball, Barcelona's undefeated record in La Liga is ended.
Given that Barcelona had won all eight of their previous La Liga visits to El Sadar, it ought to have been an easy victory. Osasuna, however, had a surprise in store.
It eventually came back to haunt manager Hansi Flick when he started a few young players, such as Pau Víctor, Pablo Torre, Gerard Martín, Pau Cubarsí, and Sergi Domínguez.
Under Flick, Barcelona has only conceded 5 goals in La Liga, while they have scored 4!
After scoring on the counter both times, the hosts took advantage of a 17- and 19-year-old center-back combination to take a commanding 2-0 lead in just 28 minutes. After forty minutes, Barcelona, on the other hand, had no shots.
After arriving late in the box, Bryan Zaragoza ran ahead and past goalkeeper Iñaki Peña Sotorres from a tight angle, surpassing Ante Budimir as the club's all-time La Liga scorer.
Minutes into the second half, Barcelona must have had a blistering conversation during halftime, suggesting that the comeback was imminent. Víctor's unexpected strike wobbled badly and sent Sergio Herrera to sleep, winning 2-1.
But even with Flick bringing on big guns Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona was unable to muster any meaningful offensive play and lost three times in a row when they broke. On his record-breaking night, Budimir secured a brace while Domínguez gave up a penalty.
Furthermore, Osasuna's historic victory was sealed when substitute Abel Bretones scored from long range after depriving the Spain prodigy of the ball, even if Yamal ultimately reached the upper right corner on his own.
As a result of their first home victory over Barcelona in twelve years, Osasuna now sits sixth in the table. If Real Madrid defeats Atletico Madrid on Sunday, they will trail Barcelona by one point.
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